Review City Manager Position Agenda
Special City Council Meeting
Monday, July 30, 2001, 6:00 p.m.
Courtyard Conference Room, 690 City Center Drive
1. Discussion of City Manager position.
POSITION PROFILE
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY OVERVIEW
The City of Chanhassen, located in the southwestern portion of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, is
situated primarily in Carver County and a small portion within Hennepin County. The city
encompasses an area of 15,117 acres or 23.6 square miles. The City's 1980 federal census was 6,351;
the 1990 census count of 11,732 represents an 85% increase over the 1980 census figure. In 2000 the
City estimated the population to be 20,321, a 58% increase over the 1990 census.
The City of Chanhassen was organized as a municipality in 1967 and became a statutory City in 1974.
The City's governing body is the City Council, comprised of the Mayor and four Council members. The
Mayor serves a two-year term. Until June 2001, the daily management and administration of the City
was under the direction of the City Manager, Mr. Scott Botcher; he served in this capacity since 1999.
Mr. Botcher left his employment with the City of Chanhassen of his own volition to pursue other
personal opportunities.
The City has 67 full-time employees and 56 part-time and seasonal employees. The City contracts with
Carver County for Law Enforcement services. The Chanhassen Fire Department is a 45-member
volunteer force with a fully equipped fire station and a smaller satellite facility.
Two independent school districts serve the City: · Independent School District 112 (Chaska) has an enrollment of approximately 6,250.
· Independent School District 276 (Minnetonka) has an enrollment of approximately 7,700.
Chanhassen's largest four employers are companies in aerospace, computer software, printing, and
baked goods. As a group, they employ approximately 2,400 personnel. Chanhassen continues to
experience strong residential and commercial/industrial growth. Major projects are currently
underway in the Chanhassen Lakes Business Park and in downtown Chanhassen, as well as continued
building activity in a number of large residential developments. For example, Chanhassen currently
has 6,500 single-family housing units and approximately 300 new homes are built each year. The
community has capacity for another 2,500 homes. About one third of potential commercial
development remains.
The City of Chanhassen has undergone a financial streamlining in the last two years. The City, under
the direction of Mr. Botcher and Finance Director Bruce DeJong, has taken steps to accurately report
it financial positions and to reduce the number of separate funds. The City believes strongly in
communicating financial information in a fashion that accurately imparts to its citizens the municipal
financial condition. The City has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in
Financial Reporting from the GFOA since 1992. Additionally, the City achieved a bond rating
upgrade in 1999 (to A I) and had its long term outlook upgraded by both Moody's and Standards and
Poors' from Neutral to Positive in 1999 and 2000.
The City has also been active in Tax Increment Financing Issues. City staff has testified multiple
times before the Legislature on this topic. Some of the City's TIF Districts has been impacted greatly
by the rate compression actions of the State. In response to this problem, the City has been an active
participant in the TIF grant pool program, utilizing a staff TI:F task force comprised of the City
Manager, Assistant City Manager, Finance Director, Independent Financial Advisory, Auditor, and
TIF Legal Counsel. The actions of this team have made Chanhassen the most successful Minnesota
City in accessing these funds.
Chanhassen's 2001 Adopted General Fund Budget has total expenditures of $7,637,143. For detailed
information about the City's finances, applicants are encouraged to review the most recent audit and/or
CAFR.
OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE CIIANHASSEN CITY MANAGER POSITION
Plans and directs all City operations to ensure delivery of efficient municipal services and that new
development is in accordance with the objectives and guidelines established by the City Council in
parallel with the Metropolitan Council's Comprehensive Plan. Advises the Council regarding impact of
policy decisions and represents the interests of the City of Chanhassen in metropolitan and state activities
as delegated by the City Council.
RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: City Council
Supervises: Department Heads and Support Staff
Indirect supervision over all employees of City government through the
supervisory of department heads.
RESPONSIBILITIES · Plans and directs general administration of city services. Provides advice and/or
recommendations, with supportive data, to the City Council as a guide to policy-making.
· Relieves the Council members of as much administrative detail, inquiry, etc. as possible so they
may devote most of their time to their policy-making responsibilities.
· Prepares agendas for Council meetings and provides supporting data.
· Keeps the City Council informed on important developments that may affect the administration
of the City government and what they will need to know to perform effectively as Council
members.
· Coordinates administration and services being rendered by the various departments of City
government to ensure the best service level is being achieved including:
- Recommending staffing levels as well as other changes in administration as may be
justified to assure a high standard of performance is maintained.
- Appoints, dismisses or otherwise disciplines city employees. Involves department heads in
the identification of achievement goals that provide standards to measure performance.
- Reviews periodically and confers with department managers to assure that progress in each
area is being achieved.
- Oversees implementation of financial and fiscal planning in the City.
· Follows through to assure that all City Council ordinances and directives are correctly
interpreted and implemented.
· Keeps informed on all aspects of municipal government and researches improved methods of
administration.
REQUIREMENTS
· Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Urban Studies, or related field -Master's Degree in
Public Administration preferred
· Minimum 10 years experience in city or county government. Minimum of five years experience
managing a similar size city or county or five years as assistant manager in a larger city or county
· Private sector management experience helpful, not required
KEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES DESIRED
· Lead by example
· Empower staff- encourage positive risk taking
· Define and communicate a vision and know how to get others to follow
· Continue to develop a city staff that values and "lives" the culture of continuous improvement
and best practices to fulfill community needs.
· Capability to envision and prioritize, the issues that face a growing city.
· Ability to implement action plans with customer service as a number one ongoing priority
· Make tough decisions and stay the course despite criticism
· Balance long-term strategy with short term needs
· Proactive communication with council and the sharing of information openly
· Financial expertise
- Cost/benefit analysis
- Creative financing to affect economic development
- Forecast budget variances
- Project revenues
· Demonstrated competence and desire to communicate with community groups
· Implement human resource policies
- Career path planning with regularly structured performance reviews
- Compensation administration
- Hiring expertise relative to community culture and anticipated needs
ISSUES THAT FACE THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN
Short Term
· Implement team strategies with employees and the City Council Property tax
- Citizens identify high property tax rates as a major concern.
Expansion of quality amenities - Institute a process for determining the need for future public facilities.
- Begin assessment for a public works facility expansion
Future tax increment financing district shortfalls
- The City's Debt Service Funds will experience Tax Increment Financing District
generated balloon payments due in 2002 and 2004.
· Expansion of Hwy.5
- Continue working with MnDOT to expand Highway 5 from Powers Boulevard (under
construction)
· Community Survey
-Work to complete and assimilate recently completed community survey data into decision-
making process.
Long Term
· Carry out Chanhassen's strategic plan
- The strategic plan will require coordination and execution by City Staff and the Council.
· Reconstruction of the north leg of State Highway 101
- MnDOT wishes to return State Highway 101 back to Carver and Hennepin Counties. The road
borders both counties and serves as a major collector roadway for Chanhassen
' residents. The reconstruction is anticipated to be controversial because of the number of
homes located near the highway.
Construction of Highway 212 through Chanhassen is scheduled during the next 5 to 10 years
- Participate in Hwy.212 planning to ensure that it meets the transportation needs and to
minimize its negative impact to community,
Housing Diversity
- Promote a balanced housing supply to ensure housing availability for people with a wide variety
of incomes.
Community Facilities
- A needs assessment should be completed for cultural/recreational facilities such as an arts center,
community center, hockey arena, and amphitheater.
Applications will be accepted until . Candidates may apply by contacting