News Alley UpdatesUpdates from City Hall--April 14; 1999
Park & Recreation Department
· The city has had a lot of vandalism
lately throughout our parks. Lake
Ann has had the most activity with
graffiti and damage done to the picnic
shelter and concrete garbage cans.
There has also been a lot of people
driving on the grass leaving deep ruts
and holes. Greenwood Shores Park
also had some interesting graffiti
painted on the aluminum dock and
garbage cans. Park Maintenance
crews have been responding to these
vandalism issues practically every
day. Maybe an article in the Villager
drawing attention to the issue would
heighten people's awareness and
mitigate any problems in the future.
· Tracy Petersen and Susie Kamp,
the newest employees in our depart-
ment, are settling in and gaining more
experience.
Public Works/Engineering
· C.E Haglin Constmction has
submitted a grading permit application
for proposed modifications/expansion
to the westerly parking lot at Pillsbury
(Audubon Rd. & Coulter Blvd.).
The project involves landscaping,
creating 32 additional parking stalls
and more room for track staging and
track parking on site. The work is
anticipated to begin in two weeks and
should be completed in 45 days.
Since the improvements involve less
than 10% of the overall site, this
permit has been administratively
reviewed and approved by staff.
COmmunity Department
· Chanhassen has been named a
Tree City USA for a fourth straight
year. The national award is given to
cities that are able meet four stan-
dards: a tree board or department,
a tree care ordinance, a compre-
hensive community forestry pro-
gram, and an Arbor Day obser-
vance. The recognition compli-
ments the city's commitment to tree
care and also helps in securing state
forestry grants for community
projects. The new Tree City USA
flag and other award materials will
be proudly displayed starting on
May 8, the city's Arbor Day
celebration.
· In a continuing effort to protect
wetlands, lakes and the stormwater
system, the City will be stepping up
its efforts in enforcing proper
erosion control at all construction
sites. The issue ofer0sion control is
becoming increasingly neglected by
irresponsible contractors and
construction workers. We hope
that our stepped uP efforts will
result in a more conservative effort
in maintaining proper erosion
control, keeping streets clean and
preventing storm sewer pipes and.
wetlands from filling up with 'silt and
dirt.
· Lake Riley Retaining Wall
Violations: I spoke to Bill Kirker
(Kirker, Inc.), the landscape
architect who applied for the permit
to 'do the work on Lake Riley
along the bluff. He has assured me
he has made arrangements to have
the wall removed, however, this
cannot occur until road restrictions
are offand the landscape contrac-
tor who put the rocks in can get the
equipment on the site to remove
them. He has submitted a revised
landscape plan which is consistent
with the City's demands as far as
restoration and is generally com-
plying to everything that the City
has requested. I will keep you
posted on any further develop-
ments on this issue.
· Gerald A. Maher- Memorial
Site: I have reviewed the pro-
posed memorial site along Lake
Ann on the Greenwood Shores
Park and what is being proposed
violates several city ordinances and
policies as far as construction and
development along a lakeshore
setback. I am writing a very
sensitive, tactful letter to Mr.
Maher providing for some options
revising the plan so that it is com-
patible with city ordinances and the
environment.
Public Safety Department
· Don McCarville from Country Clean
went to court on Monday for the illegal
outside storage behind his business on
Great Plains Boulevard. The court
continued the case to May 10th; however,
Todd Gerhardt and Bob Zydowsky
inspected the property on Tuesday and
there has been major improvement.
Administration
· The city council should be aware that
:he Mound School Board has given
3oth the cities of Mound and
Zhanhassen notice that we must vacate
:he office in which the PEG Access
Studio exists by May 1. Staff has
~een working with both Lake
Minnetonka's Cable Commission and
rriax to see if they could assist us with
our playback capabilities in the short
~erm. This item will be scheduled for
:he April 26th meeting.