News Alley
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Updates trom City HaIl--March 11, 1998
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Planning Department
. The new Postal Service Annex will
open on March 28. Anyone interested
in touring the building should contact
the Postmaster John Raredon at 934-
6565.
. The next Old Town meeting is
scheduled for March 24. Packets will
go out the week before.
. Regarding the expansion of Pennant
Foods in Chaska, staff has contacted
the Trotter's Ridge neighborhood as
the City ofChaska did not notify them.
This item will be heard by the Chaska
Planning Commission this evening (3-
II). Staff and neighbors are con-
cerned about the lack of landscaping a
the rear of the property, and we are
continuing to work with the city to
resolve this situation.
Park & Recreation Department
. Sentenced to serve workers are
dismantling the old hockey boards
adjacent to city hall this week.
Clearing the City Center Park project
site prior to award of bid will save
the project $15,000 - $20,000. Other
items coming out include railroad
retaining walls, the warming house,
backstops, north side play equip-
ment, and border wood.
. Neighborhood park project meet-
ings associated with the referendum
are ongoing. Some neighborhoods
come out in force, others do not
respond as well. In the event that
play equipment is being installed,
most groups are providing labor
pools. This effort buys each project
an additional $2,000 - $4,000 in
equipment.
. Our two new Park Laborers/Light
Equipment Operators start on March
23"'. Robert Heinen and Jerry
Chalupsky were selected trom a pool
of sixty-six candidates. One is replac-
ing Keith McKinley who resigned in
December. The other is our new hire
scheduled for mid-year. The cost
savings realized over the last three
months allows both these employees
to come on line now.
. The Herman Field Park neighbors
are extremely ftustrated with teenage
drinking, smoking and associated
activities in their neighborhood park.
Beth Hoiseth, Scott Harr, and Todd
Hoffman will organize a neighborhood
group to work on the problem.
Administration
. Downtown Issues: Theis & Talle
appear to be close to closing on the old
Kenny's property. Waconia Ridgeview
has been looking for an expansion site
and the sale of the property could
expedite that process. Theis & Talle
have requested that a legal opinion be
prepared as to current status of the
public parking lot in tront of the
building (see attached opinion trom
Roger Knutson).
. Chanhassen Cinema: Bob Copeland
was estatic over the attendance at the
theaters. He may consider expansion to
16 theaters which may include expan-
sion into the bowling center itself.
. Office Complex: A major office
complex is also considering locating
within the downtown area. The sites
under consideration are all on the
lower elevations behind the Dinner
Theatre, the old drug store, and
County Suites (demolishes the
Chanhassen Bowl). A major office
complex would compliment our
numerous night time uses while
moving us towards completion of the
redevelopment of downtown. How-
ever, the office complex, if coupled
with an expansion in the movie
theaters, would put a major strain on
existing/proposed parking spaces.
Staff has requested Fred Hoisington
to update the parking study previ-
ously completed by his firm (see
attached letter).
. Guy Petersen of Guy's Grill may be
contacting city council members
regarding issuance of an on-sale
liquor license. Mr. Petersen applied
for an on-sale license in 1995 and
was denied by the city council. The
space next to his restaurant is becom-
ing available in the near future and
Mr. Petersen wants to talk to council
members about expanding into this
space to try and get a feel for
whether or not he should pursue the
application.
. Staff has updated the vehicle list
for your review. This item is sched-
uled for the March 30th work
session.
Public WorkslEngineering
. Utility Operator position offered to
and accepted by Cory Wallis who
will start on Monday, March 23,
1998.