CC 2015 11 09
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge to the Flag.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Laufenburger, Councilman McDonald,
Councilwoman Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ryan, and Councilman Campion
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Chelsea Petersen, Kate Aanenson, Todd Hoffman, and
Roger Knutson
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Alissa Irish Minnewashta Parkway
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you and for the record all members of the council are present
tonight. We want to say welcome to all of those of you that are in the council chambers this
evening, as well as those of you watching on Mediacom Cable Channel 8 or l07.2 at home.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilman McDonald
seconded to approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager’s
recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated October 26, 2015
Resolution #2015-68:
2. Well Nos. 2 and 12 Maintenance Project: Award Contract
nd
Resolution #2015-69:
3. Southwest Village 2 Addition: Accept Utilities
Resolution #2015-70:
4. Lake St. Joe’s Cove: Accept Streets and Utilities
5. Receive Park and Recreation Commission Minutes dated October 27, 2015
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: I understand we have a visitor with us tonight. Please approach if you
wouldn’t mind.
Todd Gerhardt: Mayor, we have a student here from the University of Minnesota?
Chanhassen City Council – November 9, 2015
Alissa Irish: No I go to the Art Institute International Minnesota.
Todd Gerhardt: Okay.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Tell us your name please.
Alissa Irish: Alissa Irish.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And your address.
Alissa Irish: I live, my exact address?
Mayor Laufenburger: Well you be as precise as you like.
Alissa Irish: I live on Minnewashta Parkway.
Mayor Laufenburger: Oh so you’re a Chanhassen resident?
Alissa Irish: Well yeah. Technically my mailing address is Excelsior but I consider myself a
Chanhassen.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well we do too. Absolutely.
Todd Gerhardt: If you live, well yeah. It’s close there.
Alissa Irish: It’s like right when I pull out of Minnewashta it’s like welcome to Chanhassen.
Mayor Laufenburger: And is it Alissa Irish?
Alissa Irish: Yes. Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well so tell us, and what’s your purpose in being here this evening Alissa.
Alissa Irish: I’m taking a photo journalism class and we’re supposed to document a news event
and I figured I’d keep it you know in my community and learn a little bit more about what
happens because I don’t really have much knowledge about you know the things that happen in
my community so I’m just sort of in my own little world I feel like so it will be fun to be here
and learn.
Mayor Laufenburger: And what year at the Institute are you? Are you just beginning?
Alissa Irish: I’m graduating in March so I’m in my senior year technically.
2
Chanhassen City Council – November 9, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger: And do you have plans after you graduate Alissa?
Alissa Irish: Hopefully opening my own studio or working with other photographers. I like
doing portraits mostly so.
Mayor Laufenburger: So this really is a class assignment.
Alissa Irish: Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: So and besides that it’s a real class assignment. Anytime you consider the
City Council of the City of Chanhassen a news item, nice job. We’re pleased to have you here
and you should feel free in taking whatever photos you’d like to. Is that true Mr. Gerhardt?
Todd Gerhardt: Yes.
Alissa Irish: Thank you so much.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, well we wish you the best of luck in not only completing your last
year at the institute but also whatever future plans you may have. Wish you the best of luck
Alissa.
Alissa Irish: Thank you.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: We have a relatively light agenda tonight. The next item on our agenda is
Administrative Presentations. Mr. Gerhardt do you have any administrative presentations?
Todd Gerhardt: Well I think it was Mayor Laufenburger and myself attended the Bridge for
th
Youth dedication today at the group home out at West 78 and State Highway 41. Right next to
Westwood Church. Well attended. It’s unbelievable the support that facility has. Westwood is
of course has donated the facility for its use. Not the grounds. It’s still in their name and title
but, but a lot of private donors contributed money. The Rotary contributed. Carver County
Social Services are getting involved and helping with the annual funding for those youth that are
looking for homes or a bed to stay in so just a wonderful program and amazed how many people
really came together to make that happen. So that’s it.
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: Any council presentations?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mayor?
3
Chanhassen City Council – November 9, 2015
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: I don’t have a presentation but I would just like to offer my
congratulations to both school districts for passing the referendums with both superintendents
here presenting a couple of the meetings. I just would like to express my congratulations to both
school districts.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you very much. Well said. Anything else? Well I just want to
make a couple comments. First of all this week, Wednesday is Veterans Day and there are a
number of local schools that are participating in that. I know that Chaska Middle School West
has a very extensive Veterans Day program. Next on the calendar I know that Excelsior School
and the Minnetonka School District has a program. I’ve been asked to make a brief comment
thanking veterans so I will be present both at Middle School West and also at Excelsior. I know
St. Hubert’s has one here and I think the start time on that is 10:15 if I’m not mistaken, or in that
realm and they have a wonderful program as well. And then Chapel Hill Academy also has one
that begins around 1:00. I think they have a reception at 1:00 and then actually a program at 2:00
and the thing that quite frankly inspires me is that the kids are actually the organizers of these
programs and what it tells me is that they’re being instilled with the importance and the
knowledge and the understanding of what has happened or what the veterans in our history have
done to strengthen and to perpetuate the freedoms that we have as a democracy. As a free
country so Veterans Day so let me take this opportunity to say publicly thank you veterans for all
that you do and I look forward to seeing many of you veterans at the, at any of these various
ceremonies. And related to that we have our own Beyond the Yellow Ribbon committee that is
very instrumental in recognizing the importance of not only the veterans but the families of
current active service members so very active, active and appreciative community in terms of
supporting the veterans so excited about that. Just wanted to pass that on. Any other comments
from council? With that I will say that the council will continue its work session in the Fountain
Conference Room immediately following tonight’s meeting and with that I’ll accept the motion
for adjournment.
Councilwoman Tjornhom moved, Councilwoman Ryan 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 7:15 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
4