CC 2015 05 26
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 26, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge to the Flag.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Laufenburger, Councilwoman Tjornhom,
Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman Ryan, and Councilman Campion
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Chelsea Petersen, Paul Oehme, Kate Aanenson, Todd
Hoffman, Greg Sticha, and Karen Engelhardt
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Jacob Fritz 7385 Ben Bow Trail
Bryant Bornhorst 3091 Dartmouth Drive
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you and welcome to this City Council meeting. To all those that
are in the council chambers as well as those of you watching at home on Mediacom Cable
Channel 8. I wish you could see, we have probably close to 100 people here in the chambers
today. First of all I want to, first let me just the agenda. Is there council members, are there any
modifications to the agenda overall? And if not we will proceed with the agenda as printed.
Okay, we will do so.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: PRESENTATION OF $2,500 DONATION FOR
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, KLEINBANK.
Mayor Laufenburger: We at the City Council are always anxious to receive money from the
community so I understand there’s a donation to be made for the Summer Concert Series. Is that
correct? Do you need me out front for this Chelsea? Okay. We have with us this evening from
KleinBank here in Chanhassen, this is Nancy Madsen and we are accepting a donation of $2,500.
This is specifically for the Concert Series that KleinBank has supported for a number of years, is
that correct Nancy.
Nancy Madsen: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: And we are thankful for the role that KleinBank plays in this for the City
of Chanhassen. This is a concert series that takes place generally at City Center Park here and it
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begins… June 17 and it continues even into July.
Chelsea Petersen: All the way into August.
Mayor Laufenburger: All the way into August so on behalf of the City we accept this donation
so thank you very much Nancy. Would you extend our appreciation to KleinBank.
Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Nancy Madsen: Thank you very much.
Mayor Laufenburger: Greg can we deposit this?
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mayor Laufenburger: Is there any item that council or anybody would like to consider
separately?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: May we move D(6) to New Business this evening?
Mayor Laufenburger: Sure. Did you have a question about that?
Councilwoman Ryan: Just for further conversation and discussion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. So I will D(6). I will make that item G(1), first under New
Business. Okay.
Councilwoman Ryan: Thank you.
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor, could I request that the Children's Learning Adventure item be also
moved off consent just for some brief discussion?
Mayor Laufenburger: Did you have a question about that? Well just identify yourself.
Peter Coyle: Sorry. Peter Coyle, Larkin-Hoffman on behalf of the developer and the applicant.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And that is item 10. We will move that immediately after item
D(6).
Peter Coyle: Thank you very much.
Mayor Laufenburger: Anybody else? So may I have a motion to approve consent items D(1)
through (12) minus 3 which has deleted. Minus 6 and minus 10.
Councilman McDonald: So moved.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilman McDonald. Is there a second.
Councilwoman Ryan: Second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilwoman Ryan.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Ryan seconded that
the City Council approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City
Manager’s recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated May 11, 2015
2. Receive Park and Recreation Commission Minutes dated April 28, 2015
3. Item Deleted.
Resolution #2015-32:
4. Approve Resolution of Support for State Funding Grant, Slope
Failure, Gaye Guyton, 10083 Great Plains Boulevard
Resolution #2015-33:
5. Approve Resolution Accepting $2,500 Donation from KleinBank
for Summer Concert Series
6. Move to G(1)
7. Item Deleted
8. Redstone Ridge, 6341 and 6400 Teton, Chris May:
a. Final Plat Approval
b. Approval of Development Contract
9. Approval of Housing Action Plan
10. Moved to G(2)
11. Approval of Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Community Bank
Customer Appreciation Night, Chanhassen Rotary Club
12. Approval of Fireworks Display Permit, Lake Minnewashta Fireworks Committee, July 4,
2015, Pyrotechnic Display, Inc.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
None.
LAW ENFORCEMENT/FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATE.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good evening Lieutenant.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Good evening Mr. Mayor, council members. This is a special night for the
fire department so I’m going to keep the law enforcement police report brief. Fairly average
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
month in calls for service and activity for the sheriff’s office. One thing I wanted to highlight is
that we are part of the Towards Zero Deaths initiative and that right now we’re in the seat belt
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mobilization of enhanced education and enforcement that began on May 18. Since that date to
about 5:00 this evening we had 59 citations county wide and 12 in the city of Chanhassen for no
seat belt. Lack of seat belt usage is the contributing factor in almost half of all fatalities in
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Minnesota in vehicle crashes so I wanted to highlight that. That’s going on through May 31.
And also I’m proud to announce that we did a pre-enforcement survey that we do every year
before and after our mobilization and the city of Chanhassen leads the entire county at 98 percent
seat belt usage.
Mayor Laufenburger: Wonderful. Wonderful. Before you go, any questions from council? I do
have one, just a comment. I noticed in your report Lieutenant that there was a lot of visibility on
the inattentive driving or texting while driving.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Could you just speak to that? Was that, that was a program that was in
place for several weeks wasn’t it?
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Yes, that’s also part of the Toward Zero Deaths initiative and that goes, that
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precedes the seat belt initiative and during the same reporting period, May 18 to today we had
just 2 texting and driving citations so I think the word is getting out about that as well.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good. Well let’s hope it’s getting out verbally and not via digital
communications right?
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, thank you very much Lieutenant.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Next we have our monthly update from our Chief, Fire Chief Don
Johnson. Chief.
Chief Don Johnson: Thank you Mayor and council. As you can see I brought a few friends with
me tonight. This is a little bit of a fire department night. I’m happy to start with our report for
April. We’re at 45 of our 47 authorized. We have made some movements on our hiring practice
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or hiring processes. On May 5 we did have an informational meeting. We did sign our
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candidates up for oral interviews starting June 2 with a fire department panel and a command
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staff panel. Followed by physical agilities for those that pass the panel, that will be on June 16
so we’re still on target for our hiring date of July. April was an extremely busy month for
Chanhassen Fire. We did have 73 total calls for service. Our monthly average is about 50 so
April was a very busy month. I relate that to the 9 fires we actually responded to. We had 2
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structure fires in town. One on West 62 Street. We had a detached garage fire. We also had
an exterior fire at Choctaw Circle. We had 2 car fires, 3 grass fires and 1 cooking fire and a
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
mutual aid request on an assist to a garbage truck in Eden Prairie. Along with that we had 33
rescue calls in April alone with 2 of those being motor vehicle accidents with injuries. Training
consisted of dedicated fire, basic fire fighting skill stations and evaluation and emergency
medical skills. Other activities that we dealt with was the annual Lion’s breakfast. I didn’t keep
a count but apparently we had a record year for that. We also had the Annual Fire Department
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Banquet on May 1. We were happy to see some of the council and city leadership join us for
that event and we did recognize Jack Atkins as our Fire Fighter of the Year for 2014 at that
event. We’re very excited about that. There’s some information about the investigations from
the Fire Marshal as well as the Fire Marshal’s inspections and activities for the month. With that
I’ll keep that short. I’ll stand for questions regarding the April report.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Chief. Any questions from council for Chief Johnson? Okay,
thank you. Proceed.
PRESENTATION OF LIFESAVER AWARD TO MEMBERS OF THE CARVER
COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, CHANHASSEN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
RIDGEVIEW AMBULANCE.
Chief Don Johnson: Mayor, council we are here for a lifesaver award presented by Ridgeview
Ambulance to first responders who aided in saving a life in Chanhassen on December 24 of
2014. I would first introduce Dr. Kevin Sipprell from Ridgeview Hospital. Dr. Sipprell is not
only an emergency room physician but our Medical Director for all Carver County fire
departments to address council first.
Dr. Kevin Sipprell: Thank you Chief Johnson. Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Residents
of Chanhassen. Thank you so much for allowing us to come and make this and recognize this
life saving event. And while events like this are actually not terribly uncommon, this one is
particularly unique primarily because of the timing but not only was a life saved in this case but
actually an entire family’s notion of what the holidays are was saved if not even reborn. So
before Chief Johnson actually goes over the details of this event I think it’s important to
understand a few things. We’re talking about sudden cardiac arrest. A condition that kills
almost 350,000 Americans every year. The chances of surviving this are anywhere from 5 to 50
percent. Those rates depend on many, many factors. Something we call a chain of survival. It
all starts with what type of cardiac event is this. Was this event witnessed and if it was witnessed
are those bystanders able and willing to provide CPR or perhaps even use a public access AED if
one is available. Then it moves on to dispatchers recognizing the cardiac arrest. Dispatching the
appropriate resources while actually continuing to provide telephone instructions on how to
continue care for the patient. Then it moves on to first responder care. Paramedic care.
Emergency department care. Cardiac interventions. Intensive care. Sometimes including
something called induced hypothermia followed by cardiac rehab so you see it’s a very complex
chain of events and if one of the links in that chain is broken the system fails and it turns out our
metropolitan area has one of the highest cardiac survival rates in the country, if not the world and
it approaches 50 percent for those witnessed. With by-stander CPR and the shockable form and
that includes the City of Chanhassen where here you have Carver County sheriff’s deputies out
on the streets providing very prompt initial response with CPR and AED’s. Followed by a fire
department that has a long standing commitment to providing exceptional emergency medical
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
care. Continued on the scene as well as in the ambulance in assisting the paramedics which is
truly vital. In this particular case too they used a device called an Auto Pulse. It’s actually a
very expensive device that provides uninterrupted essentially perfect chest compressions on the
scene and in an ambulance. So this is one of many examples on how your city, it’s law
enforcement personnel, it’s fire department personnel and this City Council’s continued
commitment to those emergency services can really impact someone’s life so I, and we at
Ridgeview Medical Center are here to recognize and thank those personnel for providing
exception care. This City Council for it’s commitment to those emergency services and Mr.
Kruse for allowing us to tell his story because sharing stories like this can really touch people’s
hearts. Sometimes enough to make them learn CPR and more importantly willing to provide
CPR when it’s needed. So thank you all for a job that was done absolutely perfectly. You
should all be proud and the citizens of this community should rest assured they’re in very
capable hands. So I’ll turn it back over to Chief Johnson.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Dr. Sipprell.
Chief Don Johnson: This is going to get a little bit interactive. Jim, you want to come up and
join me? Okay so as I read this it will be kind of a synopsis of how we responded in Chanhassen
so as I call your name, what I would like you to do is start to come forward here and we’ll have
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quite a team by the end of this. On December 24, and this includes Jim’s family members
please. On December 24, 2014 Jim had just arrived home from mass and was sitting down with
family to open presents and tell stories. Jim’s daughter Jackie, where’s Jackie? Jim’s daughter
Jackie noticed Jim had fallen asleep. That something wasn’t normal. Jackie’s husband John,
where’s John?
Jackie: He’s trying to get here but he’s lost.
Chief Don Johnson: Okay. Come on in John. Jackie’s husband John thought he may be having
a heart attack. Jackie who had training in CPR previously and John started CPR while other
family members called 911. Carver County sheriff’s deputies, Chanhassen fire department,
Ridgeview ambulance were dispatched to Riley Ridge at 7:32 for a 78 year old male who had
collapsed and was not breathing. Responders were updated in route that a family member had
started CPR. Deputies Kyle Waterstreet, Deputy Ross Thompson, and Sergeant Matt Beck
arrived approximately 4 minutes later and took over CPR while Deputy Kendra Webbon assisted
family members. Not everybody’s going to be here tonight but we’re going to try to get as many
people as we can. Sergeant Beck applied the AED at approximately 7:38 p.m. that delivered a
shock. Ridgeview Medics Aaron Hoover and John Winterfeld arrived and took over primary
care of the patient. Assistant Chiefs Cori Wallis and John Murphy arrived with medics and
began assisting on scene personnel with continued resuscitation efforts. Chanhassen fire fighter
Rob Frisbie and Chris Oakley who were on duty crew that evening arrived with the Auto Pulse
device and applied it to the patient. Captain Matt Keuseman, fire fighters David Arion and
Jassen Schneider arrived in Rescue 21 and assisted with resuscitation efforts as well. Two
shocks were delivered in all with the AED and the Auto Pulse was deployed on the patient.
Medics used IV medications and were able to ascertain a sustainable pulse prior to moving the
patient to the ambulance. Additional fire fighters Troon Dowds and Joel LeFevere arrived
bringing additional batteries for the Auto Pulse and assisted with packaging and loading the
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
patient for transport. Fire fighter Frisbee assisted Ridgeview with transport to Two Twelve.
During transport Jim was reported to have purposeful movement. Jim was eventually
transported from Two Twelve to Abbott Northwest Hospital. As first responders we
unfortunately deal with many more unsuccessful outcomes in these types of calls. It is with great
excitement we stand here this evening with Jim and his family to report a successful outcome.
As you can see these types of situations involve large teams of responders from various public
safety agencies. Quick response. Access to lifesaving technology and exceptional training
allows the pleasure of celebrating Jim being with us today. Jim you have no idea how important
this is for all of us. Both the responders and you to be together again. I would also like to
recognize the family members, Jim’s daughter Jackie and son-in-law John that started CPR.
Your chances of, with your recovery and your survival depended on that. With them starting that
right away. I understand that John has assisted with CPR on two other occasions without
successful outcomes so I’m glad for you John that this one worked out.
John: Third’s a charm.
Chief Don Johnson: Mayor, council please join me in congratulating Jim, his family and the
heroic actions of all of these responders from that evening. Ridgeview is presenting all
responders with a life savers award and that will be handed out by Daryl Roddy, the Director of
Ridgeview Ambulance.
Chief Don Johnson: Jim said he prepared a speech for the evening so Jim I’ll turn that over to
you.
Jim: First of all I’ve got to say thank you to everyone that helped saved my life because I have
read a lot about cardiac arrest since I had one and they said if you’re 4 minutes without a pulse
you’ve got brain damage. You’re 8 minutes without a pulse you’re dead and I didn’t have a
pulse, I guess it’s like 12 minutes but the thing that kept me alive was the CPR was pushing
blood into my system and without that you wouldn’t be seeing me here. As they said they took
me to Ridgeview and they did that lowered the body temperature and took me down to Abbott
and the doctor working on me was a Dr. Mooney. One of the top cardiologists in the cities and
Jackie says how come you’re working on Christmas Eve? He says my wife’s Jewish. So
everything that could go right after the incident went right. And on a side light in the same
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hospital when they were bringing me back to life my great grandson was being born on the 25.
Bring Max up here will you?
Max’s Dad: Born on Christmas Day.
Jim: He’s a keeper. So we almost didn’t cross paths but we did thanks to everybody here and I
really appreciate it. My whole family appreciates it and thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well Jim you might not have heard that but it seems to me that if Max is a
keeper, somebody else thought that you also were a keeper for a little while longer so. Dr.
Sipprell, thank you for that summary of how these things can go so wrong when there’s just one
link in the chain that’s broken and to all of you that were part of the chain, what a great
testimony to the cooperation that all of you provide to one another for a single purpose and that
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
is saving the people’s lives of the people of Chanhassen so just on behalf of the entire council,
the entire City staff and all the citizens, Chief Johnson your role in leading these efforts, thank
you very, very much and we’re very pleased to have Jim around for another Christmas so thank
you Jim and thank you Chief Johnson. You have something else to talk about tonight?
Chief Don Johnson: I do Mayor. Just one last piece on this. We did earlier this year put in for a
public safety grant to the Minnewaukton Public Safety Grant program and Chanhassen was
awarded that grant for a second Auto Pulse machine that we will be putting out at the west end
so we’ll be able to cover the west end as well and have two units in town so we’re pretty proud
of that. We’ll be getting that probably within the next month of so.
Mayor Laufenburger: Could you say again, who was the grant with?
Chief Don Johnson: The Minnewaukton Public Safety.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, very well. Very good.
Chief Don Johnson: Well it only gets better. We are here for another presentation tonight.
Mayor and council I have another presentation for you this evening involving one of our fire
fighters. Rick could you please join me? This is going to get kind of uncomfortable. You’ll
recognize Rick Rice as the IT Manager for the City day by day. At the rest we all recognize him,
Rick as a long standing member of the fire department by night. For the past 31 years Rick has
been a fire fighter responding to the needs of this community. His wife Paula and their children
Mitch and Tina have also endured missed dinners. Middle of the night calls. Missed events and
Rick just leaving the house at a moment’s notice to go help someone in need. Now Paula I don’t
know if he’s ever told you there is a repeater so if he hits the button he gets the last call again. I
don’t know if he’s ever used that to get out of the house but I don’t know, he’s an IT guy so he’s
probably got that set up some other way. Rick has decided to retire after 31 years of service to
this community as a fire fighter. I sat down with Rick one day last week to prepare for this
evening. Here’s what I know about Rick. Rick started with the fire department in February of
1984, and I believe I said this at the banquet but I was actually a sophomore in high school at the
time. Rick was recruited at a, Rick was recruited at St. Hubert’s Church by Earl McAllister
during a pancake breakfast. We’ll have to talk about some recruiting efforts. In his first year
Rick completed truck company operations, Fire Fighter I, and protective breathing equipment.
Over 31 years Rick has accumulated quite a training record with several different state
certifications. Rick has been instrumental over the years in bringing technology solutions to the
fire department. Imagine that he’s an IT guy. Whether it’s computers in the stations, computers
in the trucks, providing expertise on two types of fire department software systems, Rick has
undoubtedly kept us moving forward in the technology world. Rick is currently a fire fighter,
however has held several positions over the past 3 decades including SCBA coordinator, data
coordinator, training officer, lieutenant twice, captain, relief association trustee and he served 6
years on the Carver County Hazmat team. Rick’s most prominent position was as Assistant
Chief, a position that Rick held for 6 years. Rick served on several committees over the years
focusing on several department issues. Social committee, secretary and president. Officer
nomination committee. Call percentage committee. SCBA purchasing committees. Election
committees. Thermal imaging cameras.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Rick Rice: A lot of committees.
Chief Don Johnson: A lot of committees. Banquet committees. Rick got involved to be on the
Chanhassen fire department wasn’t just enough so he also got on Carver Chiefs committees with
GIS mapping and share point sites. Rick was a Fire Fighter of the Year in 1992 and received
Chanhassen’s Public Safety Recognition Award in 1994. Coincidentally Rick has also received
three life saver awards during his career. Rick you’ve been a tremendous asset to the City for 3
decades. You started your dual role when hired full time with Chanhassen in 1997. Since then
you’ve responded day and night to the citizens of Chanhassen and our mutual aid partners. We
will miss your wisdom, your experience and your hard work. Mayor and Council we’re here this
evening to celebrate Rick’s contribution to the fire department. Volunteer paid on call fire
fighters do not traditionally last 3 decades. The work we do is hard on us. It’s especially hard on
our families. Please join me in congratulating Rick and his family on a well deserved retirement.
Before we go we have a couple of gifts. Can I get Rick. Rick’s up here. Paula, I need Paula up
here. Mitch, your wife Alison and Tina, husband Matt and then Jim, can we get Paula’s gifts
please. Where’s Jim?
Assistant Chief Jim Van Asten: Please accept this on behalf of our appreciation for all your
sacrifices and resilience with putting up with Rick all these years…
Chief Don Johnson: Rick we’d like to present you with this white chief’s hat signed by the
department as a token of our appreciation. We have added your call sign Chief 3 on the placard.
A position you served proudly with great dedication for several years. Congratulations. Rick,
the mic is your’s.
Rick Rice: How much time do I have?
Mayor Laufenburger: How much time do you need?
Rick Rice: I won’t keep you very long.
Mayor Laufenburger: Take 31 years if you’d like.
Rick Rice: Well 31 years sounds like a long time until you sit next to Dale and Mark back there.
I feel like a kid again. Not that they’re old but. But I feel really fortunate to be able to serve that
long and I enjoy when some of the charter members were still here and it was kind of neat to be
able to see the people that actually started the fire department, the things that they went through
to get equipment. I heard, like I said I got recruited by Earl McAllister. If he was still around he
could tell you some stories of how he got parts for things. I think there’s some aircraft that were
missing some pieces of equipment but he scrounged things together and I really consider it a
privilege serving with everybody here and again all the fire fighters that have retired, I appreciate
everyone coming here tonight. It means a lot to me that people are here to be, recognize this
event. It seems weird too to be on this side of it because I’m using the guy doing all the, getting
all the information and I kind of like that because I got to dig up stuff. I’d call the wives and
stuff when it came to this and said give me some little stories that they could share when they did
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
the presentation so that’s kind of weird being up here and doing that but yeah, I really appreciate
everyone coming and being here tonight and I just again, I know this department’s in good hands
with the staff here. The fire fighters. The city’s well protected. I want to thank everybody
again.
Mayor Laufenburger: He’s yielding the rest of his time to me. Many of you know Rick as a fire
fighter but those of us who serve on the council know Rick as the solution man to every single
problem with which we could possibly have. With our iPads. With our computers. With our
email and he has been, and I know speak on behalf of the entire council that the manner in which
he works inside the City, which you will continue to do correct?
Rick Rice: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Is, it’s not only professional but it’s calm and you can have the worst
problem and I know he does this with the City professional staff too. You can have the worst
problem but he handles it in such a calm way and so I’m especially thankful for that. Now Rick
and I share a passion. We both have a passion for fly fishing. I do it for therapy. I’m not sure
why he does it. Perhaps for the same reason but I do have, I do have a little bit of advice for
Rick tonight. I brought with me some of my favorite flies and you can barely see these but in
this case I’m going to call these fire flies.
Todd Gerhardt: Just remember Rick you have a day job. Not that 24 hour one. The day job.
Rick Rice: No I’d like to have the opportunity of sleeping at night. Sleeping at night and eating
meals uninterrupted.
Mayor Laufenburger: Chief did you have anything else?
Chief Don Johnson: I didn’t. I’d just like to invite anybody and everyone that tonight for the
fire department we’ve invited our families. We’ve got some retirees that came back. That
speaks to Rick’s standing on the fire department. We’re having cake and ice cream over at the
fire department so everybody’s invited if you can clear the chambers.
Mayor Laufenburger: What I will do at this time, we do have some very important things to
discuss here on the City Council but I’m just going to take a 2 minute recess and give an
opportunity for people to greet Rick and then you can head over to the fire department. Is that
acceptable Chief?
Chief Don Johnson: Sounds good. Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: So we’re on recess for just a couple minutes.
There was a short recess at this point in the meeting.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay we are back in session. Thank you very much those of you
watching at home as we cleared the room of all of the fire department personnel. Next item on
our agenda if New Business.
CONSENT AGENDA: D(6). APPROVE REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM MNDOT’S
2016 METRO MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT PROGRAM FOR POWERS BOULEVARD
AND TH 5 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.
Mayor Laufenburger: May we begin with a brief staff report please Mr. Oehme.
Paul Oehme: Mayor, council members. The item before you tonight is for consideration of a
grant, approving a resolution for a grant for improvements to the intersection of Highway 5 at
Powers Boulevard. Basically adding two left turn lanes. One for northbound and southbound
Powers Boulevard and staff is proposing to make these improvements at this time in conjunction
and hopefully if we get the grant funds that they’d be tied into a larger project that is proposed
for 2016 and that’s acceleration lanes on Highway 5 at various intersections along the corridor.
So I’ll briefly go through both projects at this time. So the larger project, the acceleration lanes,
again this project is currently funded through the, at the State level and it’s for fiscal 2016 and
the improvements are shown here. If I can highlight them here. So basically acceleration lanes
at key intersections. Market Boulevard, Great Plains Boulevard, and Dakota Boulevard and 101
north so currently right now there are not acceleration lanes at these intersections. Just pork
chop lanes that directly transition into main line Highway 5 in each direction. This project
would construct those acceleration lanes, both in the eastbound and westbound lanes at each of
these intersections and they’re shown in green at this, at these intersections so the intersection at
Market Boulevard, 101, CSAH 101 would extend all the way over to Great Plains Boulevard
here so basically adding that third lane so it can be used as a deceleration lane as you enter Great
Plains Boulevard as well. And then the green lines shown here at 101 and at 5, acceleration lane
here and then also as you’re coming out of Dakota by McDonald’s there’d be also another
acceleration lane there shown in green. These improvements are consistent with the corridor.
Council may remember a few years ago that MnDOT did make improvements to Highway 5 at
Powers Boulevard where there was an acceleration lane there to eastbound Highway 5 so
basically those are the type of improvements that are being proposed under this project. So those
are the acceleration lanes. Also there’s going to be proposed to be a new signal at Great Plains
Boulevard. That signal will be replaced due to it’s age and maintenance issues. And then also in
conjunction with that staff is working with MnDOT for pedestrian enhancements and
improvements to the corridor as well. The trail along Highway 5 along the north side is in poor
condition. It was built in early 90’s and in conjunction with that project we would like to see if
MnDOT could replace those trails at this time since there pedestrian improvements at each of the
intersections taking place. The ADA ramps and the push button actuated count down timers and
those type of things are going to be added with this project as well so working on that. And just
last week the staff did hear that the City will likely receive federal funds for replacement of the
trail from Powers Boulevard to Great Plains Boulevard through a federal grant that was
submitted so that, those ones are likely to, the City will likely receive those funds in the near
future but with this project taking place at this time we’re going to be talking to MnDOT about
advancing those funds and seeing if we can incorporate that trail improvement project with the
corridor improvement project for 2016 as well so a lot of things that you’d be seeing out here in
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
the next year. I just wanted to highlight the Highway 5 and Market Boulevard improvements.
Again here I’m just showing the turn lanes here that just basically go right onto the intersection
or the main line traffic. No acceleration lanes so these can, again can be safety issues and we
want to try to mitigate a likewise northbound 101.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Oehme?
Paul Oehme: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: That’s what you refer to, you referred to those as pork chops in that
they’re short and they essentially compel somebody who’s entering to wait until traffic goes past
them before they enter the road.
Paul Oehme: Exactly. Yep so you’re basically accelerating on the main line. Main line corridor
which can be somewhat of a safety hazard and accidents have, we’ve documented accidents
because of that issue so.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Paul Oehme: So with that, those are the improvements there. The pedestrian movements we’d,
in conjunction with this project we have talked to MnDOT about making the intersection have
four way, or yeah in each of the legs pedestrian crossing. Right now there currently is only
pedestrian movement crossings at, on the north side of Highway 5 and then on the west side of
the intersection as well. We’re requesting MnDOT to put in access on each of the legs and then
also extend the trail that currently, or the sidewalk that’s on the east side of 101 to that
intersection as well. We’ve talked to Emerson, I think it was last year about their concern along
101 as well and they have a lot of people that cross 101 to get to lunch. They would really like
to have a intersection that is, that has enhancements to it and has a safer access point then there
currently is at Lake Drive so that’s the pedestrian improvements. The improvements at Powers
Boulevard and Highway 5, this is the requested action item. This is the layout of what the
improvements would look like if this were to be constructed so basically there’s currently only
one left turn lane onto eastbound Highway 5 to northbound Powers and then again one lane, one
turn lane onto westbound Highway 5 to southbound Powers so this, the area in yellow is
basically the new pavement that would be added to the intersection and then some of the medians
would be modified to accommodate the turning movements as well. If this project were to move
forward in 2016 a new signal would also be advanced and included in this project as well with
MnDOT so those an overall basic, an overall view of the project itself. Project costs. These still
are kind of high level numbers but the acceleration lanes that are proposed along the corridor,
they’re right at around $1.8 million dollars. State and federal dollars would handle those costs.
Turn lanes at Powers Boulevard and State would handle those costs, and the funds that if the City
would receive the grant application, that would be incorporated in the $1.4 million dollars cost
there. The City share would be, the City would be responsible for the trail improvements on the
north side of Highway 5 and then the signal legs at Great Plains Boulevard. We have two legs,
signal legs there so the City would be responsible for that. Right we’re programming that for
municipal state aid funds so that wouldn’t, that would come out of the gas tax. Not the general
levy tax so overall we’re estimating right around $3.6 million dollars for this project. If the
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
project were to move forward in it’s current proposed scope a joint powers agreement would be,
come before you in later this year. That would identify the costs and the schedules and
responsibilities for the project. The bid opening would take place in February and construction
start would be right around the May timeframe. We’re anticipating construction completion
right around the end of August. This would coincide with the Ryder Cup that would take place
in Chaska so all these improvements would be completed before that event would take place so
with that if there’s any questions about the project be more than happy to try and answer them.
Mayor Laufenburger: Council members, any questions for Mr. Oehme? Councilwoman Ryan
did you have any questions?
Councilwoman Ryan: I do actually have one question. The pedestrian improvement on Market
and Powers was, does that address the concerns, I believe it was at the State of the City Mayor
when some folks from Summerwood were asking about a safe crossing.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good recollection. I think it was at the Buy Chanhassen presentation a
question from Summerwood. They wanted to be able to, they were looking for a countdown
pedestrian walkway at 5 and AmericInn. Do you call that Market?
Paul Oehme: Market, yeah.
Mayor Laufenburger: And that is a new traffic signal. Or earmarked for a potential traffic
signal.
Paul Oehme: It would be earmarked and the countdown timers would be incorporated in the
design if it moves forward.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay, so that would address some of those concerns. And just to clarify
for council the reason why I had asked to bring this out or off consent is because I do believe that
this is a very important project for the City. Just we’ve all faced or known people that have
faced situations either exiting or coming off on 5 and to those areas and I think this is a great
project to address some of those safety concerns for the citizens of Chanhassen and as well as
those traveling through Chanhassen so wanted to discuss it publicly and I think it’s a great
project.
Paul Oehme: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Just to clarify Mr. Oehme, this resolution that we could potentially pass
tonight, this is a resolution which essentially is in support of the grant application. So this is not
the project itself. This is a grant application. Could you just take a minute and explain how a
grant application turns into a project?
Paul Oehme: Sure. So every year, for example this project it would be through a municipal state
cooperative agreement funds so MnDOT every year sets aside several dollars for smaller projects
that help out the trunk highway system and this is a good candidate for that because we’ve seen
accidents and other queuing issues along, at this intersection where there’s back up’s and with
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
the growth in the area we just think that the queuing or the back up’s of these left turn lanes are
going to get worst so we need a little bit more capacity there so basically, so the City would
apply for these dollars and with the support of Carver County and MnDOT go through the
application process. If we’re selected for this, for these dollars and it is very competitive
process, you know these funds have to be used within one calendar year so this project fits in
well with this grant application. So basically what we would do, since this is a MnDOT led
project we would turn over the responsibility and the funds to MnDOT to be incorporated in their
design so they can finish up the design and use that money for construction so it’s a lengthy
process. There’s a lot of documentation and a lot of things that have to go on with this but we
just feel that it’s a very important step in terms of making these improvements in conjunction
with the acceleration lanes too. We’re, you know if we don’t get the dollars right now MnDOT
said we’re going to be out maybe 20-21. 2021-22 timeframe before we potentially could get
these improvements so we’ll try our best to get the money this year and then try to incorporate it
into MnDOT’s project for next year.
Mayor Laufenburger: And just one other question if I may. Did you have another question?
Councilwoman Ryan: No I don’t, thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: You identified the total cost of this whole thing in the neighborhood of
$3.6 million dollars. Not all of that would be federal funds. There would have to be some local
matching funds, is that correct?
Paul Oehme: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And are those local matching funds, are those accounted for in our
CIP?
Paul Oehme: Every year we look at our CIP and address our needs and what our high priorities
are so yes we would definitely incorporate that into the CIP.
Mayor Laufenburger: And while this is not a small amount of money. It’s a size of project that
certainly could be, if we were, if the funds were made available this is the kind of thing that
could be done in a summer, is that correct?
Paul Oehme: Absolutely.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Any other questions? Councilwoman Ryan are you prepared to
make a motion on this?
Councilwoman Ryan: Yes. The City Council approves a resolution of support for a grant
application for intersection improvements at Trunk Highway 5 and Powers Boulevard (CSAH
17).
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you. We have a motion. Is there a second?
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Councilman McDonald: Second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilman McDonald. Any further discussion?
Resolution #2015-34: Councilwoman Ryan moved, Councilman McDonald seconded that
the City Council approves a Resolution of Support for a grant application for intersection
improvements at TH 5 and Powers Boulevard (CSAH 17). All voted in favor and the
motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
CONSENT AGENDA: D(10). CHILDREN’S LEARNING ADVENTURE, 7750 GALPIN
BOULEVARD: APPROVAL OF REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 14 ACRES
FROM AGRICULTURAL ESTATE (A2) TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT-
RESIDENTIAL(PUD-R), AND SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR A 33,000 SQUARE FOOT
CHILDCARE CENTER; APPLICANT: CLA CHANHASSEN, LLC/OWNER:
AMERICANA COMMUNITY BANK.
Mayor Laufenburger: Just give us an opportunity to find this in our packet here. Okay this is a
proposed motion includes the approval of the Planned Unit Development called the Chanhassen
Learning Adventure. Let’s begin with a brief staff report if we may. Ms. Aanenson.
Kate Aanenson: Thank you. What you requested last time is we go back and address the PUD
agreement. The site plan so we included that. We went through with the plan itself and
Councilmember McDonald asked specifically if there was lighting on the top tower of the
building and we went back to the drawings that were presented at the Planning Commission at
the staff level and that was never shown so we recommended that that not be included. I did talk
to the construction representative for the Children's Learning center and they said they wanted
that included and we, or staff’s position was that because it was not represented at the Planning
Commission and in the reports itself. I just want to clarify again where we are on this site. So
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this is Galpin Boulevard. This is Highway 5. West 78. There’s also, while these neighbors
behind came to the meeting and that was mostly Vasserman Ridge. There’s also a subdivision
across the street on Highway 5 that would also be looking at that. We did modify the conditions
of the, as per your request to meet what our standards are for illuminated signs so that was the
10:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and resolving the Nits. How bright it could be and the intensity so that
was a condition of approval. Then we also addressed the location of signs. Signs are permitted
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facing streets so they can have signs facing Highway 5, Galpin Boulevard, and West 78. Right
now they had a sign that’s actually facing, it would be on the west elevation which does not meet
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code. Even if they put them on the West 78 that façade isn’t as high and there will potentially
be a building in front of that at a lower scale so again when we put this PUD together, this PUD.
This use was not a permitted use in the zoning district. We had a lot of requests when we
updated our Comprehensive Plan to put commercial in there and the neighbors didn’t want
commercial. Nor did the staff so we kind of ended up with a commercial looking building in
there and because it’s a PUD you know the staff’s position is that we try to make it blend within
the neighborhood so with the height of that which you agreed to go higher. The Planning
Commission recommended even higher than what the staff had recommended, 37 feet so this is
one of the tallest buildings in the area and with the additional lighting staff recommended again,
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
because it wasn’t represented that it not be permitted so we have modified the conditions to state
those two things. Otherwise I think the conditions are pretty much what was shown.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay so Ms. Aanenson what we have in front of us here is really, this is a
result of the discussion that took place at our last council meeting where there was substantial
discussion about give and take. What was acceptable. What was unacceptable and I recall that
though we could have approved it last time, the direction that we gave to staff was to work
through all the details and then come back with a finished document, is that correct?
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, alright. We have Mr. Coyle, I think you’re present here. I’m going
to give you an opportunity to speak. Just state your name and your address and you specifically
asked for this to be taken from the consent agenda, which is certainly within your ability to do
so, so tell us a little bit about what your concern is.
Peter Coyle: Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of City Council. My name is Peter Coyle. I’m a
land use counsel for Larkin-Hoffman and I’m counsel to the applicant Children's Learning
Adventure this evening.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Peter Coyle: I think that Ms. Aanenson has ably stated the staff report and also identified the
two issues that we want to just briefly seek your indulgence on this evening. The first relates to
the crown lighting. The submission that was made erroneously excluded it from the lighting
package. We are requesting that the council allow lighting of the crown, consistent with the
other lighting restrictions that are imposed on the project itself. In other words when the lights
have to go off for the other elements of the project per your approval, the crown would have to
also be shut down. We reviewed the graphic with the neighborhood and did not get objection to
it so I just want you to know that but that would be one of the items of the proposed PUD that we
would ask that you modify to allow. Apologize if this wasn’t included in the first instance and
part of the discussion when this was before you 2 weeks ago. The second item relates to the
placement of a small sign. Not a small sign but a sign on the west side of the structure. Early on
in our discussions with the neighborhood we agreed that the face, the north face of the building
would not have any signage and would have minimal lighting subject to whatever public safety
requirements there are.
Mayor Laufenburger: So just for clarification. The north face would be that which is facing the
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78 Street, is that correct?
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Peter Coyle: I’m sorry, it would be the, it would be facing to 78 Street correct. So it’s the
bottom face.
Mayor Laufenburger: So I would call that the back.
Peter Coyle: Yes, correct.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Alright.
Peter Coyle: And as you can see it does not contain any signage.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Peter Coyle: Now it’s our understanding and it’s my belief and Ms. Aanenson can correct me if
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I’m wrong, that we could have signage on that face because it faces to 78. We committed to the
residents that we would not do that. We did however ask that there be signage on both the east
and the west faces of the building on the belief that they also faced frontage. Just by way of
illustration the west face would include, this isn’t the depiction of the location but this would be
the signage that would be on the west face. It’s not advertising in the sense of promoting
Children's Learning Adventure. It’s really informational signage but that would be the
approximate scale of the signage and it would be the same thing as is allowed per the resolution
on the east face which is this Preschool information. So that’s the second request. It’s
something that staff recommended against. I’m just here to make that request of you this
evening along with the lighting request and those are my comments. I really appreciate the
chance to be here.
Kate Aanenson: So while there’s no signage right now proposed, that elevation is quite a bit
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lower so again there’s, while the residents may have acquiesced on the West 78 side, there’s
still residents on the other side that are impacted by the visual impact. There is a potential for
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future building out on West 78. It could be an office of some sort. That’s what’s permitted in
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that district so that building would also want signage on West 78 so there will be signs on West
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78 in the future and this side is significantly lower. The back side of the building is
significantly lower and that’s part of the reason why to put it on this side is to get the vertical
visibility why that side is so high so that was our rationale for that.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor I don’t have anything else to add. Those are the two items I wanted to
raise with you this evening. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay just for.
Peter Coyle: …respond to questions.
Mayor Laufenburger: Yeah, just for clarification. So your first, specifically your first request is
to have the bright lights around the, there’s a word you used for that.
Peter Coyle: The crown.
Mayor Laufenburger: The crown of the rotunda, is that correct? It’s the rotunda is on the inside
but it’s the, it’s what occupies outside above the rotunda.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Peter Coyle: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Can I just, yeah. I think just too, I think it’s called a neon band. I think that’s
what your, so I want to, it’s this but it’s technically a neon.
Peter Coyle: Yeah…
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Peter Coyle: So that’s the first item.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And then the second item is you want what you describe as
informational signage on the west and on the east.
Peter Coyle: Well the east face is allowed per staff’s recommendation.
Mayor Laufenburger: It’s on Galpin.
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Peter Coyle: It’s the west face that would be technically facing the 78.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. You used a term Mr. Coyle, you said it’s not something, it’s
informational signage. What?
Peter Coyle: It’s not advertising…
Mayor Laufenburger: Not advertising, okay.
Peter Coyle: ….for Children's Learning Adventure in the same way that their frontage signage is
facing to 5.
Mayor Laufenburger: So.
Peter Coyle: But it is signage.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And you say it’s not advertising. How is the signage on the west
different from the signage which is on the front or the east?
Peter Coyle: It’s not different at all. If you look at this image.
Mayor Laufenburger: Same lettering. Same size letters.
Peter Coyle: It just promotes the preschool.
Mayor Laufenburger: Same back lighting?
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Peter Coyle: Exactly. Exactly.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Okay, alright. Thank you Mr. Coyle. If you just wouldn’t mind.
Any council members have any questions for Mr. Coyle? Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Good evening Mr. Coyle.
Peter Coyle: Good evening.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: When you presenting to us and talking about the crown lighting you
made a statement that the neighborhood didn’t object to it.
Peter Coyle: Yes.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: You said that you talked to them recently and they didn’t object.
Peter Coyle: Yes.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: So tell me how that happened.
Peter Coyle: The gentleman who was here at the last, at the last City Council meeting who’s
name is now going to escape me.
Mayor Laufenburger: Larry Martin.
Peter Coyle: Larry Martin, thank you sir. Has been the contact for us with respect to the design
details as the project has evolved. We had the initial meeting as you know some time ago. I
called Mr. Martin. I PDF to him a copy of the graphics and asked him to review it. They had a
neighborhood meeting that evening or an association meeting that evening, at least as he related
to me, and he responded the next day that they did not have an objection so that’s what I know.
And if that’s contradicted by something else that you’ve heard I can’t speak to that.
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Kate Aanenson: Again if I could just add to that. Mr. Martin may be representing West 78, the
association.
Mayor Laufenburger: Vasserman Ridge.
Kate Aanenson: Right, Vasserman Ridge but what I’m saying is, this side is also equally
impacted and that was never disclosed as part of the public hearing. They haven’t had an
opportunity to weigh in and that was my point.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Tjornhom did you have a follow up of any sort?
Councilwoman Tjornhom: I’m not sure if this is for Kate or Mr. Coyle but when it comes to
signage do we have a different standard if it’s informational versus advertising?
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Kate Aanenson: Well the way that our sign ordinance says is based on how much square foot
area you have so obviously by putting a bigger façade on there, again that’s where that extra
height that they requested allows them. It’s capped out. We try to put a ratio between the,
there’s a diminishing return after you get such a big building that you can’t have a monster sign
so this was capped out at a certain square footage so it’s up to them as to where they want to
place that so they’re only allowed a certain square footage. Some of these signs might have, I
put that in the report, might have been slightly too large as was the wall sign but it’s all can be
resolved. It’s just a little bit larger than would be permitted so you’re having the same message.
You know Afterschool, Preschool on all sides of the building. Again trying to capture that so my
point being is on the back side there will be another building in the future more than likely that
will also have signs on the front and on the back side they will also be lower. So what the
ordinance, the sign ordinance, the interpretation we’ve made in the past is that the City could use
the discretion to say well you get street signs on a public right-of-way is where you’re allowed a
sign. You could choose to say that in this instance we could move it to a different side so this
would be limiting them if you chose to say well we’re okay with putting it on the west side. That
that would be it. That they’ve used that signage so they wouldn’t put it on the, anything on the
back side where they would have that right.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: And so the parcel that you’re talking about that it’s yet to be
developed.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Where there is a potential building. Would they be held to the same
standards as?
Kate Aanenson: Well if they have frontage on Galpin, which they more than likely would, could
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be on the corner there and West 78, they could have signage on Galpin and West 78 so that
would also face the neighborhood so I’m saying there will be signs and that building could be an
office building up to two stories tall too.
Todd Gerhardt: Mayor and council I just.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt.
Todd Gerhardt: Want to provide a comment. This is a PUD so city ordinance really doesn’t
comply in this situation. It’s a give and take scenario. You establish the standards that are
within the PUD that the development has to stand by so just wanted to make sure that you
understood those rules that go along with the PUD.
Kate Aanenson: Yeah to Todd’s point, if you look at what we did at Primrose, that’s all brick.
The Primrose school down on Lyman and 101 so there’s different standards. So this one we
didn’t make them do all brick. They got a pretty tall building so we’re just trying to say, and as
Todd was alluding to, kind of that, the trade off for the PUD. Trying to be more sensitive to the
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
neighborhood. We think being more sensitive to the neighborhood, eliminating that additional
lighting on top would be more sensitive since it was not disclosed at the original public hearing.
Mayor Laufenburger: Don’t go away Mr. Coyle. We may have some more questions okay.
Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Just one little one, I’m sorry.
Mayor Laufenburger: Sure, that’s alright. That’s what this is for.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: During the last meeting when you were here and was this the picture
that was presented to us when it came to the building?
Kate Aanenson: No, because they didn’t show lighting on that before.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: No, okay. Okay, that’s what I was going to ask.
Kate Aanenson: Yeah because Mr. Clement he was asked, I think Mr. McDonald asked if there
was lighting, up lighting and he said no because I think, and you agreed. There was a
miscommunication. It wasn’t until we were going through this with the architect and I was
speaking to him and he said oh no, no. We intended lighting. It was never shown in the plans
that were submitted to the City. That’s kind of where I’m saying well I don’t know if we’ve
really disclosed it to the rest of the.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: And I’m sorry I could have looked I guess in the past packet but I
just wanted to see if this is what was presented to us. This exact picture with the lighting.
Kate Aanenson: No.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: And it just was never.
Kate Aanenson: No.
Mayor Laufenburger: I think, I’m with you Councilwoman Tjornhom. What I recall was Mr.
Clements took us through a printed brochure which essentially showed daylight material so there
was really, I don’t recall that there was any night time, night time photos that were taken of
Cady, Texas or wherever the other ones were so. Any questions or, Councilwoman Ryan?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mr. Coyle just in terms of the lighting, or the sign on the west side. How
do you not have a sign on the west? Is that not part of the structure of the building? So if that
was not there, because obviously it’s a call to where parents are to pick up, is there an alternative
spot for the sign? Would the structure of the building have to change?
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor, council member. The face to Highway 5 includes these two signs.
What we are proposing, just so we’re clear is that the east face and the west face would have the
same signage replicated. Not both signs but one of each. So this face, which would be the west
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
face would have Afterschool also included. And the east face would have Preschool so they’re
informational to that degree and as I indicated we’re not proposing to include any signage on the
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north face, which is to the residents across 78 so the building itself would not change. I guess
we would go without that sign on the west face. That would be the direction of the council based
on your approval if that’s the results.
Kate Aanenson: And just to be clear you’re not looking at the entire sign package but there’s
also a, a monument sign on Galpin Boulevard so that also gives directional information too. So
there’s directional sign internal.
Mayor Laufenburger: Is that monument sign close to the right-in/right-out entrance? Is that
where that monument is or is it?
Kate Aanenson: Yeah, it’s closer up that way, yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Actually it’s at that location, correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. So did I hear this correctly Ms. Aanenson, that there is, that the
word Preschool is acceptable on the east or the Galpin facing side of the building, is that correct?
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: So that is there. So the only change that Mr. Coyle you’re advocating is
putting the word Afterschool as an informational sign on the west side.
Peter Coyle: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, alright. So any other, well did you have another question
Councilwoman Ryan?
Councilwoman Ryan: I did not, thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilman McDonald you had a question.
Councilman McDonald: Yeah I’ve got a couple questions. Let me just walk through all of this.
The picture that’s up here right now what that appears to be is up lighting. In other words there
would be lights down inside the crown that are shining up of a higher intensity but while ago
when Ms. Aanenson was talking with you, you said it was a neon strip.
Kate Aanenson: I said that.
Councilman McDonald: Okay, well what’s there is not a neon strip. What is going to be there?
Is it a neon strip or is it actually that looks like flood lighting that would shine up and then you
know the light would diffuse off the dome.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Peter Coyle: I can’t speak to the technology specifically council member but I believe it’s
recessed. It may well be neon in source but it’s recessed to the degree that it creates the effect of
the lighting that you see but the light source itself is shielded is my understanding.
Councilman McDonald: Okay. And I think from last time when we were talking about the
hours of operation you’re closed at 6:00 pm is that correct?
Peter Coyle: Correct.
Councilman McDonald: And I think that what we talked about was applying our city standard
that we’ve done in a few other areas where by 10:00 all the lights go off and you all seemed to be
in agreement with that.
Peter Coyle: And we still are.
Councilman McDonald: Or would you be in agreement to reducing that lighting down by 8:00
because you know does it really buy you anything for those additional 2 hours?
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor, council member. We’d be grateful for whatever support you would
choose to grant to the project in that respect.
Councilman McDonald: Okay. I guess I would you know bring it back to the council and also
to staff. I mean would that be acceptable as a compromise in all of this that at least by 8:00 then
the lights would go out and that would have a minimal effect at that point upon the
neighborhoods.
Kate Aanenson: Well to be clear we did go through the sign package. We did some questions
on that. We don’t allow up lighting in the city except for the American flag or flags of the State
so this building does have a significant amount of up lighting that they’ve told them they would
have to change so I’m not sure if this is up lighting or neon lighting but it’s, it’s going to be
pretty bright along the skyline. It’s 50 feet up in the air so I’m.
Councilman McDonald: No, I agree.
Kate Aanenson: It’s a PUD and I’m just, I just want to make sure when we get calls that
everybody understands that you know that we’re trying to do sensitive. That’s why we picked
the PUD and try to make it fit into the neighborhood and while Mr. Martin may, he’s
representing Vasserman Ridge, you’re 50 feet up. It’s also going to effect some of these other
people behind the Kwik Trip and the like too so I just want to be clear on that.
Councilman McDonald: Well that’s why I’m asking the questions. I mean there’s a difference
between a neon strip around the dome and up lighting. That’s a big difference in you know the
visual effect to the homes to the north and also the homes across the street so that’s why I was
wondering okay, what kind of light are we actually talking about because that could make a
difference. But then the other thing is that if you’re willing to explore the possibility of reducing
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
the lighting earlier than what we had talked about before, I’m posing a question before council
and also staff, would that be a compromise that would be acceptable?
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor and council member could I just clarify what you’re suggesting there?
Councilman McDonald: Certainly.
Peter Coyle: We would certainly prefer to keep the 10:00 shut off time for the project as you
thought you were accepting at last time.
Mayor Laufenburger: All lighting.
Peter Coyle: Yes. If you’re suggesting a limitation on the crown lighting be 8:00, I mean we’ll
certainly be grateful for that support but I would not be in a position to authorize the reduction of
hours for the rest of the lighting for the building.
Mayor Laufenburger: Right.
Peter Coyle: Just to be clear about that.
Mayor Laufenburger: And I don’t think Mr. Coyle that that’s, the staff isn’t recommending.
Peter Coyle: Understood.
Mayor Laufenburger: Yeah they’re recommending the 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, am I correct on
that?
Kate Aanenson: For the rest of the lighting and.
Mayor Laufenburger: For the lighting that is in the staff recommendation which right now does
not include a dome light of any sort.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct. We’re saying no dome lighting, correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright. Mr. Campion, did you have a question?
Councilman Campion: I have one pretty focused question. So on the rotunda for the up lighting,
do we have any other examples in the City where we have a, I don’t know lumens or a brightness
limitation on lighting so that it, you know it’s not this glowing structure that you.
Kate Aanenson: We don’t have anything this high or this tall and it’s bigger than the movie
theater sign. We don’t have anything like this in town so I can’t, we do have, we do have
regulations on the lumens but.
Todd Gerhardt: Kate you referenced that right now the ordinance doesn’t allow for up lighting.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Kate Aanenson: Correct and so that’s why I’m trying, you know it’s an up light. It’s really not,
in my opinion it doesn’t meet that definition to be that type of feature.
Todd Gerhardt: Typically what Mayor, City Council members, typically what our ordinance
allows for is individual letters to be lit. There can be accent.
Councilman Campion: Or back lit.
Todd Gerhardt: Or back lit but there can be some smaller accent lighting. The landscape
lighting but not to the effect of up lighting or in some cases there has been applications of neon
being used but not enough to make a glow.
Councilman Campion: Now Kate the other up lighting you’re talking about, the image we’re
looking at here would be the, the signs that are shining onto the building.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Councilman Campion: The lower.
Kate Aanenson: You’re right, it’s these up here. Yeah if they’re landscaping pointing down but
if they’re, they had some that were shining up on the building so that, those are the ones. Those
are a nuisance complaint.
Mayor Laufenburger: Yep. We understand.
Kate Aanenson: We have a history of that and.
Councilman Campion: That’s what I wanted to throw out is maybe an alternative to having the
crown lights turned down earlier than the rest of them might be to specify lumens limitation on it
so that it, you know the glow is more limited in nature.
Kate Aanenson: My concern is we’re going down a slope where we don’t permit them and we
have no criteria why we’re basing to say that we’re going to let them do it when it’s a PUD and
we’re saying that you know now, you know with a zone that wasn’t really even permitted we’re
going to let it go in and then we’re going to give it all this extra lighting.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Kate. Any other questions for Mr. Coyle? I have a couple Mr.
Coyle. I think of advertising as creating a brand and in the case of Children's Learning
Adventure everything is a brand. You know the building. What you do. The programs, all of
that is a brand and I also think of advertising as doing something which leaves an impression
with the audience, whoever that audience might be that is a memorable impression. There’s no
question in my mind that this building is going to leave a memorable impression. With or
without lights it’s presence on Highway 5 is going to be a memorable impression and while I
don’t disagree with your usage of the word informational, bright light Preschool. Bright light
Afterschool on the south facing and on the east facing, that’s, I don’t think that’s so much
instructional as it is advertising so I’m sure that Rick and Cheryl they have a brand that they
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
want to create. Now I’m expressing to you my view on this because I’ve spent time in this
industry and understanding the importance of making an impression. So that’s my view on the
signs. And do you have, Kate can you bring up a visual depiction that would show landscape as
well? Landscaping. Like trees and stuff. Yeah, could you show that. Mr. Coyle do you think,
is this a fair representation of what you think that overall land will look like?
Peter Coyle: Oh boy.
Mayor Laufenburger: Maybe I should ask that question of Ms. Aanenson.
Peter Coyle: Yeah, I’m sorry Mr. Mayor. I’m not.
Kate Aanenson: It’s going to be a while before it gets to that level so I don’t think it will be that.
Mayor Laufenburger: But is this a fair depiction of what the building looks like?
Kate Aanenson: The building, correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, so that means the word Afterschool would be on that tallest wall on
the west side which eventually will be.
Kate Aanenson: Would be over here.
Mayor Laufenburger: Blocked by trees.
Kate Aanenson: It could be.
Mayor Laufenburger: Could be potentially blocked by trees, okay. I do have one question.
You, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it but you said that this lighting was excluded from
the original plans. Do you know why that was Mr. Coyle?
Peter Coyle: Mr. Mayor I don’t think I mentioned excluded. I think it was omitted. I think we
just made a mistake.
Mayor Laufenburger: Omitted? Oh okay, alright.
Peter Coyle: It was unintentional is what I’m saying.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Peter Coyle: I think it was just a mistake.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. I think you understand and Mr. Gerhardt said this pretty clearly
that a PUD takes a development outside of the ordinances and we as a council are obligated to
look at it as a whole and our obligation includes looking at it when it comes to us as a whole and
I can’t speak to how much council members looked at well we’re going to give this but we’re not
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
going to give that. But we can never know what the council might have done had the lighting
been included with the original PUD, you follow what I’m saying Mr. Coyle?
Peter Coyle: Understood. You bet. You bet.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, so here’s my recommendation and that would be, I would like to
see a motion of the original recommendation from staff and then we’re going to pause to see if
there’s an amendment emerges for either lighting, signage or the other. Does that sound
acceptable Mr. Gerhardt?
Todd Gerhardt: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Any member of council wish to make a motion to that effect.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: I will go ahead and make a motion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Mr. Mayor I’d like to make a motion that the City Council approves
the Planned Unit Development rezoning ordinance, site plan for a 33,032 square foot building
subject to conditions of approval and adoption of Findings of Fact.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you for that motion. Is there a second?
Councilman McDonald: I’ll go ahead and do a second on this but then I have a question.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright Mr. McDonald we have a second, thank you. Now is there
discussion or questions?
Councilman McDonald: I have discussion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, Mr. McDonald.
Councilman McDonald: Okay if I understand you what you’re kind of looking for is would
someone up on the council want to add an amendment concerning lighting, is that?
Mayor Laufenburger: Yeah. My desire council members is to put essentially a base in place
which I believe reflects the direction that was given to staff at our last council meeting and staff
came back with that and that’s the motion we have in front of us. But we also have the
comments from Mr. Coyle where he would like to have a couple changes and all I’m asking is, is
there somebody on the council that would like to make changes reflecting any portion of Mr.
Coyle’s request.
Councilman McDonald: Okay then I guess I have a follow up with that because where are we at
with the time limits for having to take action upon this PUD?
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger: That would be a question for Ms. Aanenson.
Todd Gerhardt: I think you have, what is it?
Kate Aanenson: I don’t have my whole case with me here.
Todd Gerhardt: We can initiate another 60 days so we’d need that from the developer but I think
we’re right at the first 60 if I remember right.
Councilman McDonald: Then could I ask a hypothetical of Mr. Coyle?
Mayor Laufenburger: Sure.
Councilman McDonald: If we were to look at lighting and if there were to be a friendly
amendment to this motion to say basically okay we’re probably okay with lighting but just not
the type of lighting that you’re currently proposing to us and we would ask you to go away.
Work with staff. Come up with something that could be acceptable. Would that give you
enough time to propose something to bring back to us?
Peter Coyle: Mayor and Councilmember McDonald, it’s a very fair request and I appreciate it.
Since I hadn’t contemplated that question by showing up tonight I think what I should do in the
interest of my client is to, with respect to that specific suggestion ask you to take action this
evening in whatever manner you feel is appropriate. We’ll continue to, at least on our side of the
table explore the lighting question based on the comment and at least present it back to staff and
see whether it merits bringing it back in front of the council for consideration but I’d prefer not
to hold the project longer by the additional time as you suggested. If that were a condition of
approval we certainly would work with that with an understanding that if we can’t reach an
accommodation on the lighting then it would not be allowed but as I sit here tonight I’d rather
ask that the council move forward with the approval if it’s going to grant it.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you for your comments Mr. Coyle.
Peter Coyle: Thank you very much.
Councilman McDonald: And then Mr. Mayor a question for Ms. Aanenson then. If we vote on
this the way it is, are they allowed to come back and say hey we want to make these changes and
you could bring something back to us as an amendment?
Kate Aanenson: Yes. You can always amend a PUD.
Councilman McDonald: Okay. Okay, I’m finished Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you Councilman McDonald. Any other discussion or
comments?
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
Councilman Campion: I was about to ask the same question that Councilman McDonald asked
so.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Ms. Aanenson, could you just clarify what you just said? Your
statement was.
Kate Aanenson: You can come back and amend the PUD. So right now you’re approving the
standards of the PUD as submitted by the staff.
Mayor Laufenburger: Right.
Kate Aanenson: So if the applicant wants to come forward and bring some more detailed
information for you regarding the lighting, the intensity and it’d be nice to get the photometrics
to see how big the area span is. Some additional information for you and kind of look at that
whole package, then we would come back. They could apply for a PUD amendment.
Mayor Laufenburger: And that PUD amendment, does their application for a PUD amendment
automatically bring it to council eventually or does it go through staff evaluation?
Kate Aanenson: It would go through staff evaluation first and then we’d hold the public hearing
at the Planning Commission and that would come back up to you.
Todd Gerhardt: A new application.
Mayor Laufenburger: A new application.
Kate Aanenson: Yes, correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Is there any further discussion or comment? So we have a valid
motion to approve the PUD rezoning ordinance, site plan for 33,000 square foot building subject
to conditions of approval and adoption of the Findings of Fact. That is our motion and we have a
second.
Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilman McDonald seconded that the Chanhassen
City Council approves the Planned Unit Development rezoning ordinance, and Site Plan
for a 33,032 square foot building subject to the following conditions of approval and
adoption of the Findings of Fact:
Site Plan:
Building Official
1.A building permit is required prior to construction.
2.The building is required to have an automatic fire-extinguishing system.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
3.Building plans must be prepared and signed by design professionals licensed in the State of
Minnesota.
4.Retaining walls over four feet high must be designed by a professional engineer and a permit
must be obtained prior to construction.
5.Fenced “playground” areas must be provided with approved, code-compliant exiting systems.
Engineering
1.The proposed access and turn lane on Galpin Boulevard are subject to Carver County’s
review, approval and permitting.
2.An escrow for the trail work and water service connection shall be collected with the site
plan to ensure that the area is restored and functioning properly after one freeze-thaw cycle.
3.A barricade must be installed at the end of the stub located north of the Galpin Boulevard
access.
4.The developer must contact the city’s construction manager at 952-227-1166 a minimum of
48 hours prior to the wet tap.
5.The developer must obtain any necessary approvals to grade and install improvements within
the Xcel Energy easements on the western and southern portions of the property.
6.The developer shall meet the requirements of the April 9, 2015 review letter from MnDOT.
Environmental Resources Specialist
1.The applicant shall change Chinese elm to Princeton elm and Golden ash to an overstory,
deciduous species selected from the city’s Approved Tree List.
2.The applicant shall revise the plans so that no more than five trees of one species are planted
th
in a row along West 78 Street.
3.The applicant shall change the two proposed swamp white oaks along Highway 5 to an
understory species. The proposed Golden ash to be planted at the southeast corner of the
property shall be moved slightly north to further avoid the OHE line.
Fire Marshal
1.A three-foot clear space must be maintained around fire hydrants.
2.No burning permits will be issued for tree/brush removal.
3.“No Parking Fire Lane” signs and yellow-painted curbing will be required. Contact the Fire
Marshal for specifics.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
4.Twelve-inch address numbers of contrasting color shall be installed on the building side
facing Galpin Boulevard and also on the monument sign at the driveway entrance. The Fire
Marshal must review and approve prior to installation.
Planning
1. The eastern elevation must provide additional windows to meet the 50 percent transparency
requirement or other architectural detailing as outlined in the staff report.
2. The applicant shall provide bicycle parking and storage facilities.
3. Parcel A may be dedicated to the City. Pervious surface credit will be apportioned to Parcel
B.
4. The illuminated sign inside the rotunda can be illuminated from the hours of 6:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. at a maximum of 5,000 Nits. During all other hours the illumination may not
exceed 500 Nits.
5. The illumination at the top of the band on the rotunda was not submitted as part of the plans
and is not permitted. Lighting shall not be directed skyward.
6. The wall signs are only permitted on Highway 5 and Galpin Boulevard and must comply
with size standards in the city code. The monument sign shall comply with city code.
Separate sign permits are required for signage.
Water Resources Specialist
1.The pond which discharges directly to the wetland shall be used as a temporary basin
throughout the project. A temporary outlet and inlet shall be designed and constructed. This
basin shall be graded to the approved design upon substantial stabilization of the remaining
site. The plans must indicate this requirement.
2.The bioretention area shall be graded last and perimeter control in the form of silt fence with
metal tee posts shall be installed to protect the area from construction traffic and material
storage. A note shall be added to the plan set to this effect.
3.City code requires that six (6”) inches of topsoil be placed on all disturbed areas to be
vegetated unless other engineered soil is to be used such as in bioretention areas. Topsoil
shall be stripped on the site and stockpiled with adequate erosion prevention and sediment
control practices. The plan shall indicate this requirement and demonstrate how this will be
accommodated.
4.Slopes immediately tributary to wetland shall be stabilized within 48 hours of cessation of
earthwork activities. The slope must be stabilized with a hydraulic erosion control product or
net-free biodegradable erosion control blanket.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
5.Inlets with the potential to have sediment introduced as a result of import/export of materials
shall have inlet protection installed. Dandy bags are not an acceptable inlet protection
device. See City Detail 5302A.
6.Item B2 on Sheet C6 shall be changed to delete the 21-day requirement.
7.A note shall be included on Sheet C6 indicating that the bioretention areas must not be
graded to their final condition until the contributing watershed is stabilized.
8.Item E10 on Sheet C6 shall be changed to read “…due to construction equipment driving
across or materials being stockpiled in the infiltration area.”
9.Quantities of BMP measures must be included. This shall include the volume of topsoil and
the quantity of seed required.
10.Because this site is tributary to an impaired water, the stabilization of all disturbed areas
draining to Bluff Creek must be initiated immediately but in no case later than 7 days. The
exception being those areas to be stabilized within 24 hours.
11.A note shall be included on Sheet C6 indicating that topsoil is to be stripped and stockpiled
onsite such that an adequate quantity exists to place six (6”) inches over all disturbed areas to
be vegetated.
12.Include discussion of receiving water being Bluff Creek which is on the 303D list as
impaired for turbidity and fish indices of biological integrity.
13.Chanhassen requires that metal tee posts are used with erosion control fence. Wooden posts
are not allowed unless explicitly stated by the city. The plans shall use City Detail #5300.
14.City Detail #5301 shall be used for the rock construction entrance.
15.Final stabilization methodologies shall be included as part of the overall SWPPP.
16.Design of stormwater best management practices shall follow the guidelines of the
Minnesota Stormwater Manual.
17.The applicant shall meet the volume reduction requirement set forth in the NPDES permit of
one inch from all impervious surface or demonstrate to the City’s satisfaction that the site
meets one or more of the limitations described in the permit.
18.In the event that a limitation does exist, the applicant shall provide volume reduction to the
maximum extent practicable and shall evaluate the potential of practices beyond infiltration
such as stormwater capture and reuse.
19.The final basin prior to discharge into the wetland shall be designed as a wet detention pond
and must meet NURP recommendations and city design standards.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
20.Curb cuts shall be no less than five (5) feet wide and shall have adequate pretreatment prior
to discharge into the bioretention features.
21.The outlet structure from the pond into the wetland shall not be submerged.
22.A drainage and utility easement shall be recorded over the stormwater management features
and the wetland.
23.The city will maintain the NURP basin upon acceptance of the final product.
24.The property owner shall be responsible for the long-term maintenance of the bioretention
features.
25.A maintenance agreement for the bioretention features shall be entered into by the land
owner as required under the MS4 permit. This agreement shall be recorded against the
property.
26.An operations and maintenance manual shall be prepared by the applicant for the
bioretention features. This shall address the planting schedule, establishment period as well
as presumed long-term annual and semi-annual maintenance requirements.
27.The applicant shall procure all necessary permits from agencies with jurisdiction over the
project area.
28.The site must meet the requirements of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Shoreland rules.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you council. Thank you Mr. Coyle.
Peter Coyle: Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it.
Mayor Laufenburger: Ms. Aanenson. That concludes our business.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: Is there any council presentation this evening?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: I don’t have a formal presentation but I just wanted to comment on
something that the City is doing that I think should get public recognition and it came from the
meeting Minutes from the staff meeting last Tuesday that Mr. Gerhardt sent out and it’s just what
we’re doing. As a City what we’re doing on an environmental front that I think should be
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
recognized. That they are going to be adding additional recycling containers in city buildings
and will slowly roll out organics recycling and then specifically to Mr. Hoffman and as well as
the park and rec department, really appreciate the fact that there will be recycling bins in over a
hundred, or like a hundred and what does it say? 150 new containers throughout the park system
and as somebody that frequents the parks I really commend Adam Beers for spearheading that
effort and for the park department for following up on that. I think it’s a great addition to the
city and something that the residents should really appreciate because I know I do so well done.
Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Any other council presentations? Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Todd Gerhardt: Mayor, council before Councilmember Tjornhom speaks I want to recognize
Chelsea Petersen. She also played a role in that and we went out to competitive bids on our
garbage service. Not only did we save money on our overall garbage service, we added on that
service with Todd coordinating with Chelsea to include recycling so money saved for the city but
also expanding on service.
Mayor Laufenburger: And this is the garbage service that the City contracts for City garbage, is
that correct? Not for citizens right?
Todd Gerhardt: Correct. Anything from fire stations, public works and then all of our park pick
up for garbage.
Kate Aanenson: If I may I’d also like to recognize Jill Sinclair who also was involved in that
too.
Todd Gerhardt: Yep, Jill too.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Very good.
Todd Gerhardt: She played a big role in it.
Kate Aanenson: She did play a big role.
Todd Gerhardt: I forgot about that.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Yes Mr. Mayor, I just would like to thank everybody for yesterday.
For the Memorial Day ceremony. It was truly another wonderful event in Chanhassen so I’d like
to thank the American Legion and city staff for getting everything ready and the volunteers. I
thought St. Hubert’s choir was so sweet as they sang and Mayor you gave a stellar, very
memorable speech. It was an honor to listen to you and I think that you made an impact on all
that attended that day and I was very surprised that both you and Councilmember McDonald are
Navy people. When they started playing the Anchors Away you both rose so I wasn’t sure if you
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
both were just going to leave or actually standing up to be recognized so I want to thank both of
you for your service and for everything that you’ve done for us also.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you.
Councilman McDonald: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you.
Todd Gerhardt: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well I have a wonderful speech writer and editor that lives with me and
Ruth does a wonderful job in helping me prepare but thank you for those comments. It was fun
getting ready and it was fun being part of it too. Any other council presentations? Well wait a
minute. We’re in baseball season. The Chanhassen Red Birds open their baseball, their home
baseball season, the 2015 season of amateur baseball here in Chanhassen this Friday night, May
th
29 and it is Senior Citizen Night and Red Bird Alumni Night so all of you that are watching at
home, if you’re a senior citizen or would like to be a senior citizen, you could prove that by the
manner in which you approach the ticket window, you’ll get in free but more importantly you’ll
get a wonderful night of baseball. Opening night of baseball and you know you’ve got to win
your home opener right?
Todd Gerhardt: Yes.
thth
Mayor Laufenburger: So that’s May 29 so you all come out on May 29.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Who are we playing?
Mayor Laufenburger: They’re playing the Belle Plain Tigers. The dreaded Belle Plain Tigers
from across the river and actually the Red Birds were supposed to play a week ago at Henderson
but it was rained out. And then they’re supposed to play tonight against Shakopee and it was
rained out. And they’re supposed to play tomorrow night at the Dassel-Cokato Saints and we are
hoping the weather will cooperate so that the first game that we play this year won’t be at Storm
Red Birds Stadium. Anyway so Red Birds season underway. You can expect updates
periodically. Alright.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS.
Todd Gerhardt: I just have one item. When we had our joint meeting with the Environmental
Commission there was some discussion regarding recycling or elimination of plastic bags.
Talked with several council members that had concerns about that. Talked with Jill Sinclair and
Jill worked with the Environmental Commission. Wrote an article regarding where you can
recycle your plastic bags and the primary spots are your local grocery stores. Cub, Byerly’s are
the primary ones that will take the plastic bags back so if you didn’t see that, it was a very well
written article. And that’s all I have.
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Chanhassen City Council – May 26, 2015
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
None.
Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilman McDonald seconded to adjourn the
meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The
City Council meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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