CC 2016 10 24
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 2016
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, Councilman McDonald,
Councilwoman Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ryan, and Councilman Campion
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Chelsea Petersen, Paul Oehme, Kate Aanenson, Todd
Hoffman, Greg Sticha, and Roger Knutson
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Boulos Toronto, Canada
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Teawanna Burton 3425 53 Avenue No., Minneapolis
Bill Fossen Sartell
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Shelle Clark 60 E 4 Street #708, St. Paul
Nardos Yenie 317 Larpenter Avenue, St. Paul.
Vernelle Clayton 422 Santa Fe Circle
Wendy Sue Kelley P.O. Box 145, Braintree, MA
Jeannie Gilding 29 Broudmeal Heswall, Cheshire, England
Maureen Burns 210 Pond Street, Braintree, MA
Scott Jesse 8189 Stone Creek Drive
Erin Adler Star Tribune
Jeff Filipek Southwest Metro Chamber
Letitia Dyer 8280 Market Boulevard
Linda Paul 8696 Stonefield Lane
Tamara Erickson Chanhassen Dinner Theater
Michael & Michelle Brindisi Chanhassen Dinner Theater
Solveig Theis Chanhassen Dinner Theater
Michael Engelhardt 403 Santa Fe Trail
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you and welcome to this council meeting and for the record I just
want to make note that all City Council members are present this evening. Thank you.
Welcome to this council meeting. Those of you that are both present in the chamber as well as
those of you that are watching on either Mediacom cable channel local access here in
Chanhassen or also observing livestream around the nation and perhaps the world this evening.
First action tonight council is to review the agenda. Council members are there any
modifications to the agenda at this time? There being none we will proceed with the agenda as
published.
Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Laufenburger: Our first item on the agenda tonight is a public announcement. This is the
invitation to the annual Chanhassen Halloween Party. The City of Chanhassen with the support
of our local community sponsors is proud to announce the fourth and final community event in
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the 2016 festival calendar. This is our 32 Annual Halloween Party. You can join us on
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Saturday, October 29 for an evening of fun. Children 13 and under are invited to participate in
a wide variety of activities including trick or treating, hayrides (weather permitting), carnival
games and optional spooky room, refreshments and a family entertainment featuring Brian
Richards Spooky not Scary Magic Show. I invite all area residents, their families and friends to
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join me at the Chanhassen Rec Center from 5:30 to 7:30 on Saturday, October 29. Pre-
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registration is required by Friday, October 28 at either City Hall or at the Chanhassen
Recreation Center. The fee is $5 per child, and if you bring an adult the adults get in free.
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Covers all activities so Saturday, October 29. 32 Annual Halloween Party. Should be a
wonderful and festive occasion. Great for kids and adults as well.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman Campion moved, Councilwoman Ryan seconded to
approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager’s
recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated September 26, 2016
2. Approve City Council Special Meeting Minutes dated October 3, 2016
3. Approve City Council Minutes dated October 10, 2016
4. Receive Park and Recreation Commission Minutes dated September 27, 2016
5. Receive Planning Commission Minutes dated October 4, 2016
Resolution #2016-67:
6. Approve Purchase of New 800 MHz Radios
Resolution #2016-68:
7. 2017 Street Rehabilitation Project: Accept Feasibility Study; Call
Public Hearing
Resolution #2016-69:
8. Minnewashta Manor Street and Utility Reconstruction Project 16-
01: Authorize Advertising for Bids.
9. Approve Massage License for The Massage Space, 18924 Lake Drive East. Owner:
Kristen Wertenberger
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS:
None.
FIRE DEPARTMENT/LAW ENFORCEMENT UPDATE.
Mayor Laufenburger: Chief Don Johnson you’re listed first so let’s have you go first. Welcome
Chief.
Chief Don Johnson: Mayor, council thank you. This is my report for September. We are 40 of
45 firefighters. I’m happy to announce and a little bit sad, we lost a 24 year veteran to retirement
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effective September 30. Jassen Schneider is retiring. I hope to invite his family and him back
to council next month for some recognition.
Mayor Laufenburger: How many years?
Chief Don Johnson: 24 so true west ender. He’s been out there the whole time and decided that
he needed quiet nights for his pager not to be going off so we wish him well after 24 years. We
have 2 firefighters on personal leave. One on medical leave and our rookies are actually doing
very well in class. We hope to have them through their first phase of training by the end of
December. Fire department responses in September were 52 calls for service. 8 of those, I’m
sorry 9 of those were for duty crews with a total of duty crew responses for the year of 78. We
had 28 rescues including 3 motor vehicles accidents with injuries. A kitchen fire at Axel’s
restaurant that was extinguished before the fire department arrived and a mutual aid structure fire
in Eden Prairie. We’ve done live burn training and we have had, tonight we’re doing fire ground
operational roll in training with the trucks so you’ll see several fire trucks out in the community
tonight. We have had a significantly busy few weeks. We did successfully dedicate our
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memorial on October 9 so thank you for being there mayor and the council. We appreciate that.
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October 10 start our visits from the local elementary schools for fire prevention week and it
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ended with our open house on the 16 so we’re ready for a nice little slow fall for ourselves as
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well. Recently on October 12 we did respond to a garage fire on Nez Perce. That fire was
extinguished pretty quickly and that is under investigation. Hopefully we’ll have that ready for
you to review at the next council meeting. I can stand for questions.
Mayor Laufenburger: Any questions for the Chief? Mr. McDonald appropriately acknowledged
the work of the team that put together the memorial and congratulations again to all of them. So
what’s interesting now, this 24 year veteran Jassen who is retiring, will ne also appear on the
memorial is that correct? Eventually.
Chief Don Johnson: Correct. He’ll be the first one to add so we’ll have to figure out how that
happens and when that will happen so, soon I hope.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good to have that problem but certainly we want to recognize Jassen for
his service. Dedicated service to our community for the last 24 years.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Chief Don Johnson: Great, thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright thanks Chief. Lieutenant Kittelson from Carver County Sheriff’s
Office. Welcome Eric.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Thank you. Good evening Mr. Mayor, council members. I have the monthly
law enforcement update for you this evening. First I’m going to start off with a personnel
update. We completed our staff selections for 2017 so this won’t go into effect until mid-
January. We have a couple minor changes. We have one deputy that has accepted a conditional
offer of employment elsewhere so kind of a pre-emptive move there. We’ve selected Deputy
Joseph Derosier as his replacement. I had mentioned there was a few deputies training here this
summer and early into the fall and so I had a chance to watch and work closely for 6 weeks and I
think he’ll be a great fit up here in Chanhassen. Detective Charles Possert was selected to
replace, if you recall back in April Detective Fogarty actually took a job with the DNR. We’ve
had a temporary replacement and that has always planned on being a temporary replacement
until we made our selections for this year so Detective Charles Possert will start in January as
well. And then a couple supervisory moves. Sergeant George Pufahl who has previously been
in the city and Sergeant Pete Anderley who actually filled in for Lieutenant Enevold who filled
in for this position that I’m currently in as the interim for about 3 months about a year and a half
ago so real excited to add those folks to the team. They’ll do an excellent job.
Mayor Laufenburger: So Anderley is coming back?
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Yes but this time as truly as a Sergeant this time.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: He’ll do a very good job. We participated in and had a number of special
events over the course of the month and so I thought I would fill you in on those. We took care
of the Ryder Cup earlier this month obviously. We hosted a Wheels for Heroes event. We did a
number of traffic details at Paisley Park. We had our final Cars and Coffee at the Motorplex the
second weekend of October. We also attended the Fire Department Memorial and Open House
with our canine, our school resource officer and some of our SWAT team members. We’re
happy to join the fire department there. I spoke at the Details with Deputies at the Senior Center.
I attended the Act on Alzheimers community assessment results which we’ll share those with
you shortly. I did a presentation on the Drug Abuse to the Minnesota Prevention Alliance. All
of our supervisors attended performance management training. We handled the homecoming
parade. We qualified at the range. We did some traffic details at the Arboretum and we
currently have a county wide citizens academy going on but half of the residents in that are
Chanhassen residents and so we started doing ride alongs with those and I had passed along to
city staff that we, Deputy Barrett, Carly received high compliments on her work and that inside
look at what we do on a day to day basis from some of the first folks to come out and start ride
along as part of that citizens academy. Moving onto Towards Zero Deaths. The Carver County
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
sheriff’s office is participating along with over 300 agencies from around the state in increased
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education enforcement of the seatbelt and child seat laws from October 14 to October 30. Just
a reminder that in 2015 91 unbelted motorists lost their lives in Minnesota from not wearing
seatbelts and over the last 5 year period 38 percent of the 1,300 killed while riding in vehicles
were not wearing their seatbelts. And in 2015 77 percent of vehicle occupants were ejected or
partially ejected and died were not wearing a seatbelt so needless to say you know I’ve given this
update before. This is an annual event but it’s still extremely significant and currently 93 percent
of the public are routinely and regularly buckling up but we can’t emphasize enough how much
of a different that makes in the unfortunate event of a crash so we want to continue to encourage
people to do that. And then finally we have Halloween safety reminders so folks please make
sure your kids and you plan a route in advance and stick to that. Wear comfortable walking
shoes with good traction. Stay well lit with reflective tape and markings and use a flashlight.
Try to wear short costumes so the children are not tripping over them. If you must wear a mask
make sure that the children can see well or consider using make-up as an alternative. Please
avoid fake weapons and if you must, if that costume just won’t be complete without the sword or
something try to make sure they’re flexible and not rigid. And make sure to check your child’s
candy and then most importantly we ask that everyone be cautious on Halloween when driving
and give the trick and treaters some extra space and room as they’re walking down the roadway
so that is all I have for you and I’ll stand for questions.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good prevention tips Lieutenant. Any questions for Lieutenant Kittelson?
Or comments. Thank you. Let’s hope we have a safe Halloween.
Lt. Eric Kittelson: Me too.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thanks Lieutenant.
PAISLEY PARK MUSEUM – REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
7801 AUDUBON ROAD FROM INDUSTRIAL OFFICE PARK (IOP) TO PLANNED
UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) TO FACILITATE THE USE OF THE BUILDING AS A
MUSEUM; AND APPROVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING NO PARKING ON
MCGLYNN DRIVE.
Mayor Laufenburger: Do we begin, may we begin with a staff report. Ms. Aanenson do you
have a staff report?
Kate Aanenson: Yes I do, thank you Mayor. As we discussed in the work session this item last
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appeared on your agenda on October 10 and at that time you requested that the, permitted up to
12 special event permits which were not all 12 were not used. They selected certain dates and
we now have evidence of how the operation went so from the operator’s perspective things ran
smoothly on the dates. We also have a report from Southwest Transit that things worked
smoothly and also from the sheriff’s office that there were no incidents so that being said things
worked well. We do have information on traffic which I’ll let our consultant talk about but what
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
we did based on the operations and in working with the applicant and how they’re managing that
with their hours of operation we did make some changes. Or are recommending some changes
to the PUD so if I could go through those briefly Mayor, would that be appropriate?
Mayor Laufenburger: Please do.
Kate Aanenson: Okay, also just correcting some Scribner’s errors here. So we added a hotel as
a conditional use.
Mayor Laufenburger: So why don’t you identify where you are in this so we can follow along
okay.
Kate Aanenson: Sure yep, I’m on page 1. Section 1. So we’ve added C. There’s a new C and
that would be conditional uses and it should say the following conditional use.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay I read that as Section 2. Paisley Park Planned Unit Development
2(c) is that correct?
Kate Aanenson: I’m sorry 2(c) correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And you’re adding as a conditional use.
Kate Aanenson: The following conditional use we’d add hotel.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: The hotel then would require to come back to the Planning Commission for a
public hearing and they make that recommendation to the City Council. Again with the
conditional use you have discretion with adding conditions to mitigate the impact of that so it
gives you a little bit more leeway there.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Also then on (d) there would be Scribner’s that would say all conditional and
permitted uses not listed as permitted or conditional so again we’re still prohibiting several
things including outdoor events and liquor sales and consumption.
Mayor Laufenburger: So I’m making note that 2(d)(1) now reads as all conditional and
permitted uses not listed as permitted or conditional uses.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct, thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Alright. Anything else?
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Kate Aanenson: Then for the rest of that the changes that we noted before we showed a strikeout
in bold so anything that’s, excuse me strikeout in italics to show the changes.
Mayor Laufenburger: So what section are you in now?
Kate Aanenson: I’m in F under site plan would say with the north option 1 with an access right
in for buses only and right out for buses and passenger vehicles.
Mayor Laufenburger: So striking the words relocating that north access.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct. 100 feet south.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright.
Kate Aanenson: At this time taking that out.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Anything else?
Kate Aanenson: Yes. Under parking then, parking G. G(5) would be the north access shall be
limited to right in for buses and right out for buses and passenger vehicles.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay that’s a change.
Kate Aanenson: And then G(7) we’d be striking the 230 are required. We’re not requiring at
this time. If they were to expand the use they would have to come back through that process
with any other jurisdictional agencies to get approval for an expansion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Anything else?
Kate Aanenson: Yes. Then G(8) would be the number of guests allowed on the site shall be
limited so that either (a), there are sufficient number of parking, on site parking spaces to
accommodate the guests who arrive by personal vehicle or (b), the guests arrive by bus so again
it’s up to the operator to manage that.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Alright. Noted. Anything else?
Kate Aanenson: On 9 we would add that until all parking requirements have been met and that
would be the ultimate buildout. All access to the site shall be by bus with the exception of
employees, contractors and up to 40 guests per hour maximum.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And then under 10, again this kind of ties back to 8 and 9. If the
on site parking is inadequate, maximum allowable tour sizes shall be reduced to a level that the
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
on site parking is sufficient or the PUD or the site plan must be amended to provide more guests
shall be allowed to be bused to and from the site so again managing that by bussing if they can’t
provide the additional parking.
Mayor Laufenburger: Was there anything else?
Kate Aanenson: On the ordinance itself that would be it.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay can you go back item F(5) just for a moment? I remember there
was some discussion about putting a date on that or is that date in the site improvement
agreement?
Kate Aanenson: I was going to go to that next Mayor so.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, alright. So that’s the changes so far.
Kate Aanenson: Yep so the implementation tool for some of these improvements tie back to the
site plan improvements. Again this is all, would be all part of your motion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
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Kate Aanenson: So strike out from the last iteration that you saw on your October 10 under
2(c) would be relocating that northern, the driveway 100 feet to the south. They’re saying at this
time as long as they’re using right-in/right-out that that’s sufficient. If they want to do more on
site parking with more cars then they’d have to come in and provide additional parking on site
and we revisit that issue as we talked about and a future conditional add that we talked about a
traffic study at 6 months and 12 months.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: So that would be 2(c).
Mayor Laufenburger: Yep.
Kate Aanenson: 2(d) we took out the internal sidewalks. There is a sidewalk coming out of the
back of the tent along the building that would follow going up to the front door so there is an
internal sidewalk which is the safest way to walk along the building there.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: So that is in place.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Kate Aanenson: Then E we modified to say a traffic study shall be completed within, instead of
one year strike one year and say 6 and 12 months.
Mayor Laufenburger: So this is 2(e). This is a change from the packet.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct. And then 2(f) we would qualify that by saying landscaping shall
be planted and maintained per the PUD by the spring of 2017.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Any other changes?
Kate Aanenson: That’s the only changes I have, or that I heard from the.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay and Kate just to clarify this site improvement agreement is
referenced in the PUD so it automatically becomes part of the PUD, is that correct? Mr. Knutson
that’s correct, okay.
Roger Knutson: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Very well. Alright. Is there anything else of the staff report?
Kate Aanenson: No unless you wanted to review some of the summary findings of the traffic
study. We’ve worked hard to make sure that we’ve incorporated the comments that we’ve heard
from your meeting based on the traffic study and how the operations are working to try to
incorporate those into the revised PUD and also the site improvement agreement.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Before you have your concluding remarks, council is there any
question that you would like to address to Mr. Pacyna who conducted the traffic study at this
time? Okay. Ms. Aanenson any concluding remarks?
Kate Aanenson: No. Just that we are recommending approval of the rezoning so there’s 4 actual
items here. The rezoning for the PUD. From the IOP to PUD. The PUD ordinance itself. The
site plan improvement performance agreement. The Findings of Fact and if you wanted to add
the McGlynn Drive.
Mayor Laufenburger: So right now the language on the screen does not reflect the McGlynn
Drive ordinance for parking. So if we wanted to make that part of this it would be part of the
motion.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. So let’s just remember that. Okay. Let me do this. Council, any
questions of council, the council has of staff? Anybody? Okay. At this time I’m going to ask if
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
the applicant would like to speak to the council regarding anything that they’ve observed or any
comments they would like to make. Just state your name and address please if you wouldn’t
mind.
Pat Mazural: Thank you Mr. Mayor, council members. I’m Pat Mazural, 9501 Virginia Avenue
South, Bloomington and I am a consultant for Bremer Trust. Bremer Trust is the special
administrator for the Prince Rogers Nelson Estate. There have been a number of hearings and
sessions here and we just want to take this time to express our appreciation to you and to the
staff. The staff was very diligent in looking at Paisley Park. Making visits there. Helping us
with recommendations. From the beginning they have given us information and
recommendations on the proposed operation which helped shaped the original proposal to you.
And also we wish to express our gratitude to the council. There have been a number of concerns
that you have expressed that we had not anticipated. Concerns that have been addressed. They
have I think helped us to better understand what your city is looking for and have improved the
operation of Paisley Park as we’ve seen over the last several days where it’s been open. Based
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on sessions with the City Council and the further recommendations by staff since October 3
we’ve implemented a number of modifications that were not here the first time we met. An
expanded traffic study will provide all of us with greater comfort as to the traffic flow around
Paisley Park. An amendment to routing of the buses was recommended by the Carver County
Sheriff’s department and that has improved ingress and egress to the site. With the experience of
several open days, 3 of which were the busiest projected days by the operator over the next year,
we know that the busing option works. As you’ve heard Southwest Transit manager
representative has stated that that was working for us over these last few days. The removal of
memorials and management of pedestrian memorabilia has nearly eliminated, greatly reduced
pedestrian traffic along the fence and recommendations from your City’s parks department as to
what will occur along that strip will further reduce pedestrian traffic and in fact will beautify that
fence perimeter. Regulated attendance has been adjusted by the operator to reduce peak times
that are well within the traffic parameters that have been studied. Audubon Road has been
restriped for traffic regulation. The parking lot has been striped, marked so that we have a
specific number of stalls on the interior. An interior drive has been installed for queuing of
incoming cars and a right only exit from the north entrance has been implemented. All of these
are results of recommendations and observations from you and from your staff. If you approve
the application for rezoning continuing communication with the City is desired and it’s
anticipated and if needed continuing adjustments will be made. Our hope is that this is just the
beginning of the conversation between Chanhassen and Paisley Park to continually improve the
experience of the fans of Prince and the residents of the City. Our goal is that for Chanhassen
Prince’s legacy will be as valued and welcomed as was Prince himself.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Mazural. Council any questions of the applicant at this
time? Councilwoman Ryan. Mr. Mazural would you mind standing for a moment.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Councilwoman Ryan: Thank you Mayor. Two just points of clarification please. In the work
session you mentioned or it was brought up that you’ve adjusted the hours of operation. Could
you, could somebody speak to that?
Pat Mazural: Well I think the hours of operation as anticipated and as we request are 9:00 to
9:00. What the operator has been able to do with pre-purchase of tickets has been able to
regulate the flow of traffic. The flow of attendance at Paisley Park so that on certain days in fact
those hours will be reduced if there isn’t a need for them and the anticipation is that the hour, that
the days of Thursday and Sunday will be shorter in duration but in fact we would hope and
expect that the PUD would continue with the hours that are approved, or that have been
discussed.
Councilwoman Ryan: So the change is just temporary correct?
Pat Mazural: Well the change is variable and flexible and I think it’s a show by the operator that
there is no intention to keep the site open just because it can be. That in fact it will be regulated
and we’re limited by the 40 cars per hour and that’s something that the operator is able to see
well in advance and regulate throughout the day.
Councilwoman Ryan: Perfect and to that point, you know a lot of the traffic and the parking
falls on the appropriate management in terms of traffic flow and parking and the spaces available
and people moving in and out and I know there’s been conversation about a parking plan. Could
you or could somebody in your group speak to that more directly? How you’re going to manage
that from your relationships via the website and how you manage that?
Pat Mazural: Yes Councilwoman Ryan. Through the website, through the pre-purchase of sales
the operator is able to collect and has the email addresses for those who are purchasing tickets.
Through that communication they’re able to maintain communication with the guests who are
coming and that’s the way in which they can be instructed as to whether to park at the facility.
Whether to go to the busing facility in order to be shuttled over there. Or any other changes that
may occur so that’s an ongoing communication that’s able to happen with the operator and the
guest.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay, alright thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Mazural, Councilwoman Ryan’s questions were regarding hours but
what are the intended days that the operator will be operating? At least for the foreseeable
future. Can you speak to that?
Pat Mazural: Yes for foreseeable future the operator intends to be open 4 days a week, Thursday
through Sunday. Those are days that are certainly the most popular and the days on which, as I
mentioned earlier Thursday and Sunday will be shorter, or are expected to be shorter with the
full hours on Friday and Saturday.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Perfect, okay. Any other questions of the applicant? Alright, thank you
Mr. Mazural.
Pat Mazural: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: We may have other questions for you so don’t go far alright. Just a
reminder, we have many people in the chamber this evening and I’m pleased to have you here to
observe our process and deliberating over this. There has been public comment available at the
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Planning Commission on September 20. We also offered public comment on October 3 for
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the council meeting and also on October 10 for the council meeting but I recognize that there
may be people here this evening who have not had a chance to appear in front of the council so at
this time I would like to open for public comment the opportunity for people who have not yet
appeared before the council to come forward and express your views and I would just ask that if
you do come forward to express your views, be respectful of the council and the chambers as
well as the other people here and simply state your name and address and we’ll accept public
comment for a few minutes. Come forward if you’d like.
Vernelle Clayton: Mayor and members of the council, my name is Vernelle Clayton. I’m a
resident of Chanhassen. I own a business in Chanhassen and I coordinate the Buy Chanhassen
organization which is a quasi chamber type organization comprised of business owners and
others here in Chanhassen.
Mayor Laufenburger: Welcome.
Vernelle Clayton: Thank you. In that role I recently sent an email around to the, we have a
rather large email list and a relatively small paid membership but I sent an email.
Mayor Laufenburger: Was that an advertisement?
Vernelle Clayton: Yes it was. And basically what I said was, and I’ll kind of paraphrase is that
we, that I as the Chair of the organization, not representing them per se as their thoughts was that
we think that anything that brings, such as this, that brings business, more customers and clients
to our businesses is nothing but beneficial to our community and that our businesses are, the
more successful they are the better products and better services we all get and the more
businesses will come and want to be here in Chanhassen and that just means nothing but lower
taxes for the rest of us. So with that I invited them to respond and most of them were fairly
unexciting but agreeable. You know one of them said right on which I don’t know exactly what
generation he’s from.
Mayor Laufenburger: We accept all generations.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Vernelle Clayton: Yeah exactly. Exactly. I’ll just relate 2 others that were a little more
interesting. One was from a woman who had taken the bus one of the first days it was opened
and noticed that on the way back people were saying well that was really fun. Now what do we
do? Is there anything else going on in Chanhassen so she said Vernelle here is an opportunity.
We have to have information on those buses as to what’s going on so that we can capture their
enthusiasm and their dollars. The other one, and this one is well most of us are just okay taxes,
customers, 1, 2, 3, 4. This one was much more poetic. She said, truly what a gift Prince and his
family members are offering us yet again so we like the idea. Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Ms. Clayton. Is there anybody else that would like to speak at
this time that has not spoken prior?
Jeff Filipek: Mr. Mayor and council members. Sorry for jumping the gun earlier.
Mayor Laufenburger: It’s alright.
Jeff Filipek: Pretty excited about Paisley Park. Just echo a few things.
Mayor Laufenburger: Your name and address please.
Jeff Filipek: Jeff Filipek with the Southwest Metro Chamber. To echo a few things, again our
appreciation for your thoughtful consideration and for all the work that the City’s done. I was
able to take the tour last night and like was mentioned before, smooth. It was a really great
experience and I’ll piggy back on some of what Vernelle had to say. We, I’m going to fall short
of speaking on behalf of all 460 of our chamber members but last week a called a couple dozen
of them. Restaurants, hotels, some retailers, gas stations in the area and it was a resounding yes.
Paisley Park would be terrific for our community and for our businesses. One restaurant last
weekend cited a 36 percent increase in business during the 2 hours so I know you have some
obstacles to discuss and I appreciate that discussion but I think the economic impact and the
benefit to the community for Paisley Park is going to be tremendous.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you Mr. Filipek. Is there anybody else who hasn’t appeared
before the council would like to speak at this time?
Tamara Erickson: Hello council members. I’m Tamara Erickson, Vice President and co-owner
at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. We at Chanhassen fully support Paisley Park happening as a
museum here. We have been partnering with Paisley Park to work through some of the parking
and transportation issues. They have been nothing but amenable to you know our requests. I
mean I don’t think we’ve totally figured that part all out yet but I don’t see that as being
something that’s insurmountable. You know we all at Chanhassen have a great love for Prince.
We want to be part of maintaining his legacy in this community and supporting this venture. We
think it’s really important for the community. Important for business. Keeping Chanhassen just
growing as a tourist, really a tourist mecca. We see it really developing as Paisley Park partners
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
with all of us here in Chanhassen to bring us to the next level and we see a really great future if
this thing goes through.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Ms. Erickson.
Tamara Erickson: Thank you.
Michael Brindisi: Hi council members, Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Your name and address please.
Michael Brindisi: Michael Brindisi, 8035 Erie Avenue, Chanhassen, Minnesota. My cohorts
encouraged me to get up and say something. They said you live here. You should say
something.
Mayor Laufenburger: You live and work here don’t you Mr. Brindisi?
Michael Brindisi: Yeah I’m the president of the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. My partner just
spoke Tamara Kangas Erickson. You know I’ll tell you what I just, they said say something and
the first thing that came to my mind was when I was very young I used to say to myself I don’t
want to be 40 years old and look back and say there was something I wanted to do that I should
have tried and now I think when I’m 80 years old I don’t want to look back and think of
something I haven’t tried. I sort of run my life having faith in people. I always trust my
audience. I believe in them. I believe that they’re smart. I always think of them as smart people
and that makes me be smarter and I kind of put a white piece of cloth on the stage and say it’s a
castle and believe that they’ll believe it’s a castle. I just believe in people and I don’t think
there’s anything that we as a community can’t do but I don’t think we want to be here years from
now thinking I wish we had tried that. Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Brindisi. Anybody else?
Michael Engelhardt: Council members, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Your name and address please.
Michael Engelhardt: Yeah my name is Michael Engelhardt. I live at 403 Santa Fe Trail.
Mayor Laufenburger: Welcome.
Michael Engelhardt: Thank you. I’m sorry if I’m a little outdated with some of my information
but I did work at Paisley Park the opening night. What is it like 3 weeks ago now I guess as a
parking attendant and I noticed a lot of problems there. I understand that they are addressing
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
some of those problems but I did notice one big problem that has not been brought up in any of
the meetings. I don’t know if there was a working meeting before this meeting.
Mayor Laufenburger: There was but.
Michael Engelhardt: Okay I don’t know.
Mayor Laufenburger: Speak freely Mr. Engelhardt.
Michael Engelhardt: Yeah I don’t know if it was brought up but all the people that were arriving
by Uber and Lift and taxi cab could be dropped off inside the facility. Inside the fence but then
when they were being picked up they had to cross Audubon and get picked up on the corner of,
what is it, McGlynn and Audubon. I don’t know if that has been addressed or if that has been
fixed but I do think that will need to be addressed in the future because I mean we obviously
don’t want a lot of pedestrians crossing Audubon and a lot of pedestrians don’t know to walk all
the way down to Highway 5 to cross and then walk down to McGlynn so I think that will need to
be addressed in the future as a designated pick up location for these people arriving if, that don’t
arrive by bus or by, or take their own vehicle. And also I do think there should be more signing
at the location. One of the things I noticed on the first night is the main sign for the location had
not changed so it still said just the address. It did not say Paisley Park Museum. It did not say
Paisley Park studios. It just had the address and it said main gate, the north gate and we had, at
that time everybody coming in the south gate so I don’t know if that sign has been changed. I
haven’t had a chance to go out to the location but obviously I think that sign will need to be
changed so people know first of all what the actual thing is. I think there should be a sign that
says Paisley Park Museum. And second of all to note that the north gate is for buses. And
thirdly I think, I just, I feel that this whole process has been really rushed from the beginning. I
like to look back and note that Graceland did not open until 2 or 3 years after Elvis passed away
and I just feel like this whole process of opening Paisley Park has been really rushed from the
beginning. Prince, may he rest in peace, died in April and now we are opening the museum 6
months later. Less than 6 months later so I think what I would recommend, what I would like to
see the City Council do is to make sure that all these improvements that are looking at being
made like expanding the parking lot. Regulating traffic are actually made before opening the
museum full time because the thing I’m especially concerned about is the bus traffic and
especially in the winter when there’s going to be 6 foot snow drifts on every corner and we’re
going to have buses traveling back and forth between the transit station and Paisley Park. I’m
just really concerned about pedestrians getting, or those buses being in danger because of a lot of
snow and ice and that’s my comments. Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Engelhardt. Is there anybody else who’d like to speak?
Scott Jesse: Yes Mr. Mayor. My name is Scott Jesse. I live at 8198 Stone Creek Drive here in
Chanhassen. I’m a life long Prince fan so I want to start with that. In past council meetings you
had asked people to state their position. I’m definitely for Paisley Park as a museum.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: You’re welcome to state that position Mr. Jesse.
Scott Jesse: And I have some concerns.
Mayor Laufenburger: You’re welcome to state those too.
Scott Jesse: Thank you. So we’ve had a lot of empirical data from staff and from the traffic
studies which is great. I’m going to provide some anecdotal experience, sort of a self described
expert due to my proximity to Paisley Park. My residence is less than 1 mile from the entrance
to Paisley Park. Pedestrian traffic on Audubon is a problem. Has been a problem and continues
to be a problem that has yet to be addressed adequately. I’m concerned that people are going to
get hurt. The barriers that have been put up to prevent people from walking across the street on
Audubon have actually caused some pedestrians to walk in the street along those until they get to
an access point. It’s a very scary situation because I drive by there every day. To get to my
house I must drive past Paisley Park and that’s been an honor for the last 14 years. I am just
concerned about the way this is being handled from a traffic standpoint. Pedestrian traffic is a
problem. Car traffic is a problem and right in and right out does not necessarily fix the problem
because there’s now stacking on Audubon to get in to Paisley Park. I have safely taken a picture
from my vehicle with a passenger taking the picture of a bus double parked with it’s hazards on
sitting there waiting to turn right with it’s hazards on sitting there. That’s a problem. You
cannot go around that safely. You have to wait until that bus moves. That bus is not intending to
th
move for a period of time if it’s hazards are on and that is my experience on October 13 of this
month. Cars. Uber and taxis were brought up. That is absolutely the case. It’s a massive safety
hazard because people are being dropped off at that north entrance and/or picked up at that north
entrance and the Uber or the taxi drivers are stopping and that is preventing myself and other car
traffic from going past there safely. That has to be addressed. You cannot allow taxi drivers to
just stop right there and pick up and drop off on a street that’s designated for I think it’s 50 miles
per hour on Audubon so that’s a concern. You know a laundry list of things that I want to be
very succinct and make sure that I’m cognizant of your time but just a couple of bullet point
things. We are all fans of Prince I think. You know most people are fans of Prince and we want
to show our respects. That has been changed. That has been taken away from us by not
allowing any more things to be put on the fences and there needs to be a location so that people
can show a place for their respects. There is McGlynn Drive is packed. Anytime that you go
drive by McGlynn Drive it is full and that has to be addressed. You can’t, I heard in the working
session earlier that maybe we could separate those and that’s up to you guys as the experts. I’m
just telling you that that drive is constantly packed with cars and people are crossing that street
and although there was a study being done and I’m sure that it was done with appropriateness,
the problem is people are still illegally walking across the street as they shouldn’t. And then the
restriping is great but it isn’t enough. The cones that are there need to be made permanent so that
people do not turn left into the north entrance. That is a dangerous situation that you have to
address with a permanent solution, whether it be curbing or what have you. And the last
comment I wanted to make was with regards to the hours of operation. You know please don’t
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
leave the hours of operation up to the operator. That’s like the fox guarding the hen house. We
need to have somebody who is relegating it to something similar to what the 5 year process that
happened for Graceland. If the hours are Graceland are successful for Graceland why can’t we
implement those same hours here? Why do we expecting longer hours, deeper hours that will
impact me and my family and my children as we’re trying to utilize this part of our life because
that’s exactly where we have to go anytime we go in or out of our house. With that that’s all I
have, thank you though.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, thank you Mr. Jesse. Is there anyone else who would like to
speak at this time that has not spoken to the Planning Commission or the council before?
Alright. Then with that I will bring this back to the council. Council any questions that you
would like staff to address at this time? If not I will open this for council discussion and/or
motion. Kate would you put that motion up in front of us please.
Councilwoman Ryan: Mayor I have some questions please.
Mayor Laufenburger: Oh please, please. Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: While I think a couple good points were brought up. Mr. Oehme you did
mention in the work session about the, I don’t want to call it the pork chop but that’s what’s
stuck in my head so if you could address the removal of the cones to make sure that the no left
turn is permanent.
Paul Oehme: Yes so Councilwoman Ryan so the intent would be to, we have two options. One
to have the right-in/right-out at the intersection of the entrance, the north access to Paisley Park.
Have a splitter median basically or sometimes they call it a pork chop island in the middle there
so you can only go, exiting out to the north and come in from the south so you can’t make that
left into the site. That’s one option. The other option is to basically put a concrete median,
extend the concrete median from the intersection of Highway 5 where it is today, south past that
north access point and so you cannot make a left into Paisley Park on the north access point so
those are those two options so I think it would be probably staff’s recommendation to extend that
center median on Audubon down south farther than it is today so there’s no opportunity to make
that left into that north access roadway.
Councilwoman Ryan: And so as part of the process is that something that then should be added
to what?
Kate Aanenson: The Site Plan Improvements Agreement.
Councilwoman Ryan: The Site Plan Improvement Agreement to make that a permanent
structure.
Paul Oehme: Yeah that would be fine, yep.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Just let me stop for just a second. Councilwoman Ryan are you
specifically suggesting that that be the solution or are you suggesting that staff work with the
operator to come up with the best solution? What’s your suggestion there?
Councilwoman Ryan: My suggestion is that would be the solution to eliminate any potential left
turns and so make it per Mr. Oehme’s recommendation I agree that I think that should be part of
the site improvement.
Kate Aanenson: We do have a condition in there. If you look at under 2. It’s numbered
incorrectly so it would be 2(d). It says (a) and that would be the restriction would limit potential
for motorists traveling along Audubon Road, a pork chop island should be placed to control the
right-in/right-out. So it’s on page 2 of that, of the site improvement agreement.
Mayor Laufenburger: What’s the section and what’s the letter again?
Kate Aanenson: It’s under required improvements.
Mayor Laufenburger: Required improvement, Section 2 of the site improvement agreement.
Kate Aanenson: So under (c).
Mayor Laufenburger: (c).
Kate Aanenson: So it would allow the northern access to remain but then the qualifier under that
would be that this restriction would limit potential motorists from traveling along Audubon Road
a pork chop island should be placed in the access to control right-in/right-out so the other option
would be as stated by the City Engineer would be extend the median would be the other option.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay just before you do that. Mr. Oehme is there any other, anything else
that could be done? I understand your recommendation of extending that but is there anything
else that could be done?
Paul Oehme: Permanently I think those are our two best options.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay are you prepared to accept then that if we stipulate that it be a
permanent barrier, pork chop little gravy on it, pork chop that you’re willing to accept that that’s
a solution that you’re prepared to go with?
Paul Oehme: Correct, yeah I mean either. Yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright I was just, the only question I was trying to answer is, is that what
you want to stick with because if that’s what you want to stick with then we should make that
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
part of it. If you would like time to review other options then tell us that but I don’t think that’s
what you’re telling us, is that correct?
Paul Oehme: No. I think staff’s comfortable moving forward with saying.
Councilwoman Ryan: For the permanent structure.
Paul Oehme: Right.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay so Kate your modification is under the Site Improvement
Performance Agreement, item 2(c).
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Language to reflect a permanent barrier on the median.
Kate Aanenson: Yes. Well we actually qualified it by saying a pork chop but.
Paul Oehme: We can strike that.
Kate Aanenson: You can strike it and say permanent barrier if that’s.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, duly noted. Anything else Councilwoman Ryan?
Councilwoman Ryan: Yes. A couple more things. The signage. I know everything has to be
approved in order to put signage up. What is the ultimate plan for, you know it’s been discussed
at the last couple meetings, I mean one obviously an identifying sign that this is a museum but
we had mentioned some road signs. Directional signs as well as enter only. Exit only. Those
types of signs. What would be the timing on that?
Paul Oehme: They should be going up you know as soon as the, this item would be approved so
that would be part of the approval to get those signs up as soon as they, it’s been approved.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay. And then last I’d like to discuss as a council or hear from the
applicant to address the concerns about Lift and Uber and taxi cabs and how they are planning on
facilitating those vehicles entering but more importantly my understanding is that the pick up is
where the concern exists.
Mayor Laufenburger: So let’s ask staff, have you had dialogue with the applicant about this?
Okay Mr. Mazural would you mind coming back to the or Mr., and wait for me to ask this
question before you answer it okay. Go ahead you can go there. The question is.
Joel Weinshanker: Joel Weinshanker, New York, New York.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Oh yeah thank you Mr. Weinshanker. The question is have you thought
about how you’re going to solve this problem of Uber and Lift cabs in queuing?
Joel Weinshanker: So specifically to Uber and Lift, once approved Uber and Lift will allow us
to designate the area, just like you would at an arena or even the airport where there’s a
designated area so everyone knows to go exactly at MSP, Uber and Lift they know exactly where
to go. Once approved Uber and Lift will allow us, we’ve already been in contact with Uber and
Lift. It’s just another phone call but they’ll allow us to tell the driver exactly where to come
because I’ve had, to be very frank I’ve taken an Uber back and forth and the drivers just don’t
know where to go so once we make, you know on their GPS, on their thing it will tell them come
into here. Go into here and once that happens we’ll allow not on the in, we’ll allow them to
come in but also any Uber or Lift and they all have the little square will allow them to come into
allow people, and at the end of the day we should allow them to come up to the tent so it
shouldn’t even be. So we should treat them like not dissimilar from how a handicap person
would park. So they would come in. Come up to the, come up to the tent. Come up to the exit
and then we would allow them to come in and out. As it relates to a taxicab company we can
certainly, with the help of the City and staff identify all the different companies that would be a
possibility from the airport to local and we would have those same conversations.
Mayor Laufenburger: So it sounds like Mr. Weinshanker what you want to do is, if approved
you will bring the Uber, the Lift, the cabs onto your property. Work with the, whoever the ticket
holder. Let them exit. Either let Uber or Lift stay there or direct them somewhere else to come
back at a time that the exit is.
Joel Weinshanker: They won’t stay and it’s been my experience that actually there are a number
of Uber drivers who are actually Chanhassen residents so they’re home and then they get a thing
and they come right here. I’ve had 2 Chanhassen residents actually take me to the airport so, but
it would be impractical for them to stay.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Stay right there. City staff where would you like those Uber and
Lift cabs to wait once they leave Paisley and they have to wait for an hour or so, where would
you like them to be? Lake Ann Park? No.
Joel Weinshanker: They’re going to go to other calls. No one’s going to wait.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt?
Todd Gerhardt: We want them on site.
Mayor Laufenburger: You want them to stay on site?
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Todd Gerhardt: Yep. Just like if we allowed up to 40 cars per hour we want Uber, Lift and the
taxis to go on site. Drop their passengers off and then exit just like the buses and cars would.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Councilwoman Ryan does that answer your question you think?
Councilwoman Ryan: So just for clarification, why didn’t you allow them before? Were they
not allowed to come back on?
Joel Weinshanker: It wasn’t that they were allowed it’s when they get a fare it’s what the GPS
tells them to do. So normally, so right now there are no special instructions within the Uber and
Lift system for Paisley Park so they were unsure of what to do but it’s very simple, and it’s done
all the time. The Dinner Theater may even have a similar situation where we just instruct them
come in the south gate. Come through here and here’s what you’re going to pick up people so
we’ll have a designated pick up area just like the airport does. The airport has a designated pick
up area and the Uber and Lift know to go there and the people know to walk there.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay so then this designated area I’m assuming it’s like similar to where
the buses are picking up?
Joel Weinshanker: Exactly.
Councilwoman Ryan: And so how does that work for back up and queuing and that now that
you’re going to have, if you say a number of Uber and Lift and taxi cabs are coming in I would
guess that that’s adding to the.
Joel Weinshanker: It’s a small, small number.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay.
Joel Weinshanker: So we’re looking at, I’m going to ask Shannon Pratt, one percent. Less than
one percent. Less than one percent of the people are doing that and if instructed by the City staff
if it became an issue when we are having buses in, we can instruct them to drop them off at, at
the.
Mayor Laufenburger: The bus terminal. Or the transit station.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay. Okay, thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good question, thank you. Any other question or, Mr. Campion.
Councilman Campion: My comment along the lines of signage Mr. Mayor. I’ve gotten some
commentary via email, et cetera that those ticket holders flying in from out of state or outside the
Midwest may not know what a parking ramp is and so that we may have to.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Differentiating between a ramp and a garage right?
Councilman Campion: Correct. Just wanted to state that for the record.
Mayor Laufenburger: Yeah is it soda or pop? Is it chewing gum or Chiclet like? Just,
Councilwoman Ryan asked this question I think in the work session and I’m going to just usurp
her asking it, Mr. Mazural would you mind just addressing this for a second? Bremer Trust has
been given it’s authority by the Judge to operate as a museum.
Pat Mazural: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: That’s correct. And Bremer Trust has essentially responsibility for
everything that happens on that site, is that correct?
Pat Mazural: As long as it’s the special administrator which is it’s role correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: But things like what happens on the tour, how people buy tickets,
interaction with PPark Management LLC, that is clearly not the responsibility of the City. That
is the responsibility of the operator is that correct?
Pat Mazural: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Just needed to make sure that that’s on the public record because I
think that certainly it’s reflected in some of the communications that all of us have received that
there are people that believe that the City of Chanhassen has some you know financially,
fiduciary beneficial interest in this and that’s not the case. We’re just trying to manage this from
a zoning standpoint. Okay.
Pat Mazural: Correct Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: So thank you Mr. Mazural. Any other questions or comments? Or
motion.
Kate Aanenson: Mayor I just want to make one comment. I did modify the motion to add the no
parking on McGlynn. The resolution for approving no parking. That was added.
Mayor Laufenburger: So right now we’re looking at 5 elements to this is that correct?
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: We’re looking at the rezoning to the PUD. The PUD ordinance itself.
The Site Improvement Performance Agreement as recently modified. The Findings of Fact and
the resolution of no parking on McGlynn.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: And we can handle those all together or we can handle them
independently. Okay.
Councilman Campion: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Campion.
Councilman Campion: I’ll make a motion. The City, the Chanhassen City Council approves the
rezoning of Lot 11, Block 1, Chanhassen Lakes Business Park from Industrial Office Park (IOP)
to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and adoption of the attached PUD ordinance, Site
Improvement Performance Agreement, Findings of Fact and No Parking Resolution for
McGlynn Drive.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, just let me clarify. You didn’t state it but the Site Improvement
Performance Agreement as modified by Kate Aanenson within the last few minutes.
Councilman Campion: Correct.
Mayor Laufenburger: Reflecting the permanent structure preventing.
Councilman Campion: Replacing the pork chop.
Mayor Laufenburger: Exactly. Exactly.
Kate Aanenson: Also modifications that were stated in the PUD.
Mayor Laufenburger: Right. That we went over individually. Okay we have a motion. Is there
a second?
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Tjornhom seconds that motion. We have a valid motion
and a second. Is there any discussion from the council members?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Councilwoman Ryan: I’d like to share some thoughts if I may.
Mayor Laufenburger: You certainly may.
Councilwoman Ryan: I will be voting in favor of the rezoning. However I think it’s important
to express some of the things that have happened over the last 3 weeks. So from the onset I did
feel similar to the gentleman that spoke earlier today that the proposal felt a little bit rushed and
it’s funny because I live by the 5 P’s if many people are familiar with that. That prior planning
prevents poor performance and the prior planning piece is what was missing for me but over the
course of the past few weeks a lot of the concerns and issues that I had have been addressed and
including traffic studies, the McGlynn, the road closure, you know some of the landscaping.
Management coming up with a more of a parking lot plan to facilitate limited cars and buses and
some of the other things that we addressed tonight in terms of making changes tonight with Uber
and Lift and noting some of the hours of operation. These were the changes that we made as a
council because we took the time to slow down. Ask some questions. Observe and then alter the
original proposal so that operationally from the City’s perspective the museum could run
effectively and safely with limited impact to the neighborhood. I think that we did a good job
checking the boxes before proceeding so I want to say that I appreciate the hard work and the
questions that were asked by my fellow council members. From staff as well as Paisley Park
Management to get these things accomplished. However I know this was briefly addressed at the
last meeting, I want to make mention again tonight. There is a process that every business,
resident and anyone who comes before the City with plans is required to follow and as councilors
it is our responsibility to treat every proposal equally, holding it to the same high level of
standards. It is clear now that the initial proposal that we received was incomplete yet somehow
the council took the blame for not moving forward. And then at the second meeting many
questions were addressed but still questions remained so we again put it on hold. In the back and
forth in my mind created a swirl of emails and gave the City of Chanhassen somewhat of a black
eye. We took the brunt of hundreds of emails from very upset people blaming us, the City
Council and some of those emails, as my fellow council members would probably attest to were
somewhat ugly and insulting. So again with proper planning this could have been avoided. On
the flip side we heard from many residents who appreciated us slowing down to ask the
important questions. To challenge the speed at which this was moving because they know
Paisley Park is going to address and affect them daily and directly. So our number one priority
was to represent the people of Chanhassen and be responsible in our decision making. I firmly
believe that Paisley Park will be a great asset to this community. As with many businesses that
operate here, many of those who spoke tonight as well as the thousands of residents who live in
Chanhassen we value the relationship that exists between the two so we want to work together.
Show each other respect that is equally deserved so we can do what is best for our community as
well as the thousands who visit. So our goal was to get this right and let’s make sure we do.
Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilwoman Ryan. Any other comments?
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Councilman Campion: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Campion.
Councilman Campion: I believe I’d like to echo a lot of Councilwoman Ryan’s comments. I’d
say despite an initial bumpy road you know with the way that this got started with the pre-sale of
tickets that the operator has worked with the City in good faith in addressing the concerns and
issues and while all this might be happening pretty quickly relatively if you compare it to
Graceland or others, yeah I don’t feel like we should create obstacles just to draw it out more. I
feel that we’ve addressed a lot of the concerns and will it be perfect? Is it perfect? No but it’s a
work in progress and I think it’s only going to get smoother as it goes forward. I believe that this
is good for Chanhassen and I look forward in the future to buying tickets and taking my family
on the tour.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Campion. Anybody else?
Councilman McDonald: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilman McDonald.
Councilman McDonald: Yes, thank you. From the onset I’ve never been against Price’s studio
becoming a museum. What I was against was as Councilwoman Ryan had stated, it was very
poor planning. I had a lot of issues with the fact that I knew a lot of things had not been thought
through. Initially what I wanted in order to make this work I wanted a trial period. I got roughly
a month and at that point we did hash out a lot of problems that no one had thought about that
did pop up. We’ve now made this a much better, at least a much better product from the
standpoint of getting people to and from the museum and I do wish to thank the Paisley Park
Management for working with us instead of just burying your head in the sand and you know
trying to fight against us. You have been very cooperative and very open to the suggestions that
we have been making so I do appreciate that and it goes a long way towards again getting me to
really support this. The thing that still bothers me the most is you know one of the things that
Councilwoman Ryan spoke about is treating everyone fairly. Prior to the meeting tonight in
work session we dealt with another developer that has been a couple of years in the making.
They have been a couple of years trying to go through and get a plan through, not only this
council but prior councils and there have always been problems and it always revolves around
traffic, use, what they’re going to do with the site and the impact upon the surrounding area. I do
agree that one of our responsibilities as council members is to look out for the citizens and that’s
what we’ve been trying to do. I feel much better about voting for this because we did manage to
get a 6 month review period and also a year review period and that’s all I’ve ever wanted from
the very beginning was to at least have some leverage to go through and as these problems pop
up how do we address them. How do we go back to the operator and say you’ve got to fix this
because a PUD is very permanent and once a PUD is passed we don’t have a lot of options as far
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
as going back and again getting changes to make everything work better so I’m very pleased
with the way the process has worked it’s way out. I’m glad that the operator did agree to the
review periods. I’m glad that they’re working again to improve the traffic. The fact that you’ve
now gone and reduced the days from 7 back down to 4 I think is you know very good. I know at
some point you’re going to come back and you want to go all 7 days but by that time I’m hoping
that you’ve really got something that you can operate with and you know the in’s and out’s of
and the community also knows the in’s and out’s of so because of all that I’m more than willing
to support it tonight. I think it will be a great addition to the City of Chanhassen. I have heard
from a number of members in the business community that have again told me what it means to
them and I understand that being a member of Vernelle’s very small group of people.
Mayor Laufenburger: Wait are you a paying member?
Councilman McDonald: No, well I do pay something.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, good.
Councilman McDonald: But yeah I understand all of that and one of the things I’ve always run
on was we need to improve the business climate within our community. I’m hoping that the
museum will help to do that because of the spillover to other businesses so all I can say is
welcome to the community and thanks for working with us.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilman McDonald. Anybody else?
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Yes Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Thank you. At the beginning of this process the Mayor did ask us a
question. Are we supportive? Is that what you said? Was that the word you used?
Mayor Laufenburger: Are you support or support with concerns or are you in opposition.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Support, I just wanted to see if it was supportive or what it was and I
had said that I was supportive with, what was the word you used?
Mayor Laufenburger: Concerns.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Concerns, thank you. It seems like that was a long time ago doesn’t
it?
Mayor Laufenburger: 3 weeks.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Councilwoman Tjornhom: We’ve all spent a lot of time together in these chambers. And back
then I said I was supportive with concerns and I, one of my main concerns and I couldn’t put a
finger on it until I really thought about it and that is transparency. If you go to our website, if
you talk to our neighbors, you talk to anybody in this state, this country we’re all screaming for
transparency. You know just do the process. Be honest and let’s work through whatever we are
working with and Paisley Park was never a bad idea. Turning it into a museum. It had obstacles.
Not problems, obstacles and I always believe that obstacles are not impossible to solve but we all
have to figure out what those obstacles are and how to solve them and I think the process just
started out really rough. It started out really fast. In my time as a council member, and I won’t
tell you how many years that’s been but I can tell you that man we will hold homeowners to the
fire for having not enough impervious surface or pervious surface and we’ll bring them back to
2, 3, 4 times just for that and so just to go ahead and rezone something without having the public
being part of the process also which was really important to me, to let their voices be heard just
seemed that’s not who we are and that’s not how we do business and so I appreciate staff. I
appreciate the applicant and my future. My future? My council members besides me tonight for
sticking in there. You know I’m hoping that when we leave tonight, I don’t know if you’ll still
be here but you know we can shake hands in the parking lot and welcome you to Chanhassen and
thank you for investing in us and I really do feel that way so thank you so much for your patience
and your diligence in helping us solve some obstacles and working through them so I too will be
supporting this tonight.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilwoman Tjornhom. There was a question that was
raised 3 weeks ago that continues to resonate in my mind and it was a legitimate question and
that is, do we want to be a tourist town. In my view there are elements of Chanhassen that are
characterized as an attraction or a destination. Whatever words you choose but by definition
tourists are people who travel to our town for the purpose of entertainment or pleasure. We love
it when people come to our community. We conduct festivals to bring people to our community.
We build businesses to bring people to our community. We love it. Businesses love it.
Neighborhoods grow as a result of it. Commerce and industry follows. Civic organizations
grow. Schools rise up to serve the community. Opportunity, prosperity and goodness abound.
And if you’re not convinced just look at this recent lifestyle guide from Chanhassen Villager. It
talks about the good life in Chanhassen. In the City of Chanhassen we’ve observed for the last
50 years that people, business and industry have found something in this city that they want to be
a part of. Yep, even Prince found it to be a nice place to call home and he chose to stay here. To
own property here to build his business and his reputation right here. Now during these 50 years
that Chanhassen’s been a City the City leaders have guided development and growth in a
responsible manner and the City has been recognized and awarded for that over the last several
years. Now yes, we’ve had some hiccups and a few stumbles along the way but the results show
that this community has continued to retain it’s character, quality of life while respecting the
rights of our residents and welcoming visitors and new residents in a hospitable manner as they
arrive. Now the truth is we do not know what the future holds in the coming years. There are
likely circumstances that we encounter that will challenge all of us to modify our Comprehensive
Plan. Our expectations. We may have to rethink green space and retail uses throughout the city.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Guidelines for development might have to change or adjust to an aging population. In 1967 City
Fathers did not know what would happen during the subsequent 50 years and beyond but like all
of us today they were asked to plan as best they could and be prepared to observe and adjust the
plans as necessary and through all we do we help residents and visitors enjoy, prosper, preserve
and enrich our community for generations to come. Now the City did not work to build the
reputation of Prince Rogers Nelson. He did that with his own creativity, his genius and his
artistry. But what Chanhassen did was make this the community in which he chose to stay.
There’s nothing that we as a council can do to change the feelings and the passion that Prince
fans around the world have about Paisley Park, about Prince and his legacy. My belief is that
these people are going to come and they will pay their respects to his legacy and they will
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process his untimely death as they choose. Now to the question that was raised October 3. Do
we want to be a tourist town? I believe that question was answered years and years ago and has
been reaffirmed repeatedly ever since. The only question that remains is will we as a community
welcome Prince fans, whoever they are and wherever they come from with hospitality and all
that that requires or not. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying aye.
Councilman Campion moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded that the Chanhassen
City Council approves, with amendments by City staff, the rezoning of Lot 11, Block 1,
Chanhassen Lakes Business Park from Industrial Office Park (IOP) to Planned Unit
Development (PUD), adoption of the attached PUD Ordinance, Site Improvement
Performance Agreement, Findings of Fact and No Parking Resolution #2016-70 for
McGlynn Drive. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to
0.
Mayor Laufenburger: That motion carries 5-0. Now before you go, in just a moment I’m going
to ask for a 10 minute recess. By the way did you record that 5-0? Did you get that Kate? In a
moment I’m going to ask for a 10 minute recess but before I do let me offer some additional
comments. I want to say thanks to all the people that either raised their voice here in the council
chamber at City Hall or through the public hearing or during public comment. I know that it
takes a little bit of moxie to step up to that microphone. Trust me your voices were heard. I also
want to thank the hundreds of people who voiced their views via email, via social media, via
personal conversations with members of the council, your voices too were heard. I also want to
say thank you to the folks at Bremer Trust and PPark Management who have followed our
process through interaction with the City staff and with residents. You’ve made adjustments in
your plans and operational in response to the City’s request and also to those visitors and
potential visitors. Now yes, as Councilwoman Ryan mentioned I recognize there are
disappointments from some resulting from our deliberations but I’m trusting that you PPark
Management will continue to provide your customers with the assistance that you can. And I
also want to thank City staff for being responsive to council’s request for information and
adjustments. Your wisdom, your experience as always is of the highest quality. Your job is to
ensure that this council has the information we need to make the best decisions for the City.
Once again you have succeeded in your job. Thank you. And to my fellow council members
I’m proud to serve with each of you. I respect your views and your concerns. Your questions
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
and desire for deliberate discussion has resulted in a policy decision on which City staff, the
operators and this community can execute with confidence and with precision, both now and in
the future and I say thanks to each of you. Now at this time we will recess at 8:20 until 8:30. I
know some of you will want to exit the chamber. We are in recess for 10 minutes.
There was a 10 minute recess at this point in the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING: CERTIFICATION OF DELINQUENT SEWER AND WATER
ACCOUNTS; AND DELINQUENT CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: We do this every year. Mr. Oehme is this on you? Mr. Sticha. Welcome
Mr. Sticha, nice to have you here.
Greg Sticha: Good evening Mayor. On an annual basis staff requests of City Council per the
City’s ordinance as well as state statutes 429 and 444 the certification of delinquent code
enforcement and utility accounts to the County Auditor. Taking a look at the numbers as
compared to previous years and noted in my memo to council, very similar as compared to
previous years. We are asking for certification of 2 delinquent code enforcement violations. This
compares to 3 from the previous years. This year’s total is $1,200 as compared to $859 from the
previous year. The current status of our delinquent utility accounts is 230 accounts with a total
value of $130,000 as compared to 229 accounts with a total dollar value of $125,000 compared
to last year. The process as you’re familiar with previous years is to have a public hearing. Give
those who are on the certified delinquent list an ability to present to council reasons for not
having those certified. We have not been presented, staff has not been presented any requests for
not hearing a dispute of the certifications. The delinquent utility accounts will be certified to the
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County Auditor if council approves this evening on December 1. Residents still have until
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November 23 to pay their delinquent accounts. Usually between now and the middle of
November we have approximately a fourth to a third that will pay their accounts in full so
typically the amount that gets certified to the County Auditor is about 75 percent or a little less of
the amount that’s presented this evening. With that I will take questions from council and then
ask council to open the public hearing.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay, thank you Mr. Sticha. Any questions of council?
Councilman McDonald: I have a question.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilman McDonald.
Councilman McDonald: Mr. Sticha, I know in the past that we’ve talked about identifying
delinquent users and we’ve always kind of sided on the side of privacy. At some point does this
become public? Is it printed anywhere that you know so and so is delinquent in their bills?
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Greg Sticha: The property identification numbers are as well printed and posted and published
in the newspaper and they were in I believe last week’s paper. We do not post the actual names
of the owners of the property. We could. I know some communities do but we’ve taken the
stance as a staff to not do that at this point in time.
Councilman McDonald: The only reason I bring it up was I had a client in the city to the south
of us here that had sold a property on a contract for deed so he was still the fee owner,
responsible for everything and he didn’t find out that there were taxes due on it until it showed
up in the paper and someone said hey, did you know your name’s in the paper. I’m just
wondering if any of these properties would go back to someone who’s not actually residing there
that is totally unaware of the fact that they could be responsible for you know quite a large bill.
Greg Sticha: The most common occurrence of a situation like that is if there are rental properties
involved with these PID’s. We do have a number of the properties that are being certified that
are rental properties. However we have a mandatory requirement that all rental properties the
bill actually goes to the property owner. We will send a duplicate bill to the rental. The renter
but all original bills go to the property owner so they should be fully aware that the accounts are
delinquent at this point in time.
Councilman McDonald: Okay so that would even work for a contract for deed where the fee
owner might have sold the property under mortgage and doesn’t really know what the.
Greg Sticha: As long s they’re the property owner we would have sent them a bill.
Councilman McDonald: Okay.
Greg Sticha: They would have gotten several notifications, either mail or email over the last
several months. In some instances notices, 5 to 6 notices would have been sent on some of these
properties.
Councilman McDonald: Okay because I’ve also heard of people that would claim they didn’t
know anything about this and the next thing you know the property’s up for auction so I just
want to make sure that the proper people do receive notice of the fact that there is a delinquent
bill against their property.
Greg Sticha: I would encourage anyone looking to buy a property in Chanhassen, they hire a
very good closing firm to make sure one, that there are no delinquent accounts that are going to
be certified to the property taxes as well as calling City Hall to make sure there are no current
amounts that are due on the property before they close on any home so I would certainly
encourage any potential property owners if they are considering purchasing property to do both
of those things.
Councilman McDonald: Okay, well thank you.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. McDonald are you suggesting that we should change our posture and
include those names? Is that, or were you just asking why we don’t?
Councilman McDonald: Well I know why we don’t. I was involved in that decision but it just,
it came to me in talking to someone and it was a rather large bill and he was quite surprised with
it and had to pay it but that was the only way he found out. Otherwise the person that was
occupying the property at the time would have just continued on and they would have never said
a word. They would have just allowed the property to go for forfeiture for taxes.
Greg Sticha: If it was a Chanhassen property owner he should have gotten notification.
Councilman McDonald: Well yeah he wasn’t.
Mayor Laufenburger: You mentioned a city to the south of us right?
Councilman McDonald: Right.
Mayor Laufenburger: Yeah so not Chanhassen.
Todd Gerhardt: Mr. Mayor, council.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt.
Todd Gerhardt: In a contract for deed situation the tax statement still goes back to the fee owner
of the property so that’s who we notify in any of the delinquencies. Now in a contract for deed it
may spell out that the person you know with the contract was responsible for taxes but you know
it still goes back to the fee owner so he’s the one getting the tax statement. So you know could
he make a copy and take it to his contract for deed buyer? I don’t know but.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well as you said Mr. Sticha there are probably a fourth of these certified
or delinquent utility accounts that will be paid up within the next month or so right so it’s also
possibly these are people who choose to pay at the very last minute you know. Some people do
that.
Greg Sticha: There are a number of properties that do that every year.
Mayor Laufenburger: But the action that the council will take tonight is certify those that are not
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paid by November 23, correct?
Greg Sticha: Correct.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: We turn those over to the County and then that utility bill becomes part of
the property tax statement is that correct?
Greg Sticha: For 2017 yes.
Mayor Laufenburger: For 2017 okay, alright. Any other questions of Mr. Sticha? I’m looking
for a motion.
Roger Knutson: Public hearing.
Mayor Laufenburger: Oh excuse me. I’m looking for, thank you for keeping me honest Mr.
Knutson. Sorry you had to do that. At this time I would like to open the public hearing as is
required by statute. Is there anybody that would like to address the council related to
certification of either code enforcement or delinquent utility accounts? There being none I will
close the public hearing and bring it back to council. Any questions, comment or motion?
Councilwoman Ryan: Mr. Mayor I’ll make a motion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: I’d like to make the motion that the City Council adopts the resolution
certifying code enforcement and delinquent utility accounts to the County Auditor.
Mayor Laufenburger: We have a motion. Is there a second?
Councilman Campion: Second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Campion seconds it. Any further discussion?
Resolution #2016-71: Councilwoman Ryan moved, Councilman Campion seconded that
the City Council adopts the resolution certifying code enforcement and delinquent utility
accounts to the County Auditor. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously
with a vote of 5 to 0.
WEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT-APPROVE AWARD OF CONTRACTS:
A. AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
B. AWARD WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT.
C. AWARD SECURITY CONTRACT.
D. AWARD FIBER OPTIC CONTRACT.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Oehme, is this your’s?
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Paul Oehme: Yes it is.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alrighty. Have at it.
Paul Oehme: Good evening Mayor, City Council members. So with me tonight is Greg Johnson
with WSB. He’s been helping the City through this process. This is to consider awarding
contracts for the west water filtration plant. This has been about a year’s worth of planning to
this date from the feasibility study that was completed back in 2015 to today. The purpose for
the project is to remove the iron and manganese in our west well fields. West wells in the field.
The iron and manganese is the source of the rusty water complaints that the City receives
constantly for, from consumers of the water in this part of the community. The treatment of the
west wells would be at a similar level as what is currently being treated by the east water
treatment plant for the east wells. The plan overview just real quickly is again to remove that
iron manganese and naturally occurring minerals in our water to give a better aesthetic water
quality for our consumers. The customers still can soften the water to their liking with their
home softener but this is not a softening plant. Softening of the water is more of an aesthetic
thing that people like softer water versus some, less soften water so we leave that up to the
consumers to figure that out for themselves. The plant would be designed for 8.64 million
gallons of water per day. It’s about 6,000 gallons per minute. The process would be similar to
the east water treatment plant but include a detention tank to make the treatment process a little
bit more efficient just based upon the pilot studies that WSB and others have conducted in the
west well field. The plant would pump both to the low and high pressure zones so this gives the
operator the flexibility to put water where it’s needed in those different zones. And the design is
basically for the full buildout of the community too so we’re not anticipating needing any
additions to or additional capacity to this plant once the plant is built. In terms of the capacity
needs it should be built to what is needed for our future 100 percent buildout of the community.
So staff has been working with WSB getting the plans and specs ready. About a month ago the
City Council did approve authorizing preparation of plans and advertising for bid for the plant.
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For the project. Bids were taken last Tuesday, October 18 at about 2:00. Bids were tabulated
and checked for errors. We did receive 4 bids for the plant itself and this is basically everything
on the site itself including restoration, the pavement, the cul-de-sac, the grading, landscaping,
those type of things. The lowest responsible bidder was found to be Rice Lake Construction
Group in the amount of $13,880,600. The engineer’s estimate, WSB’s estimate was about $7.5
million dollars which did include about a 10 percent contingency as well. There were some
alternate bids that were included in the bids that were received. However at this time the City
staff is not recommending any of those alternates be taken at this time. The Rice Lake
Construction contract group President is here tonight too so if you have any questions for him
I’m sure he’d be more than willing to talk to you about those. The City also did take bids for
watermain improvements for the filtration plant and then mainly along Galpin Boulevard for
bringing in the raw water from the wells along Galpin Boulevard and then also there’s a well off
of Lake Lucy Road. The blue line here, kind of dashed is the raw water line that would be
brought into the new treatment plant here at Lake Harrison Road and then there’s also
distribution main to tie into the distribution pipes along Galpin in the low and the high zone after
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
the water is filtrated out so that is what is included in this contract. The City did take bids on
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this, on these improvements on October 18 as well at 11:00. Bids were tabulated and checked
for errors. We did receive 5 or 4 bids as well. GF Jedlicki is the lowest responsible bidder and
there were 2 alternates that we’re taking with this bid. One alternate was for gate valves in lieu
of the butterfly valves. Staff is recommending that the City go with the gate valves. They are a
little bit longer lasting valve and a little bit higher quality as well. Get a better warranty with
them as well so staff’s recommendation is to accept the bid with GF Jedlicki in the, and
including alternate 1 in the amount of $1.1 million dollars. $1,164,539 for this contract. The
City also did take quotes on security improvements for this new facility. The City has worked
with Pro-Tech Design on other facilities within the community. Within our city buildings. We
have basically standardized with their technology and their software so staff would recommend
us using them on this future building site as well. They are a State approved contractor on the
bidding list so, and we did check with the City Attorney on that and so we are sure we are going
to get a cost competitive quotes for this type of work. The scope of the project for the security
includes furnishing access controls, the software and the hardware intrusion alarms and also
video services. Surveillance cameras and associated hardware with that. Plus all the installation.
Also for communication fiber cable is required to connect to the City’s fiber network within the
city. Some dark fiber is requested to be extended to this site. The communication would go, is
necessary for the west plant to talk to the east plant and other infrastructure along the way as
well. Very seamless system if fiber optic is used versus a SCADA system or wireless system.
Carver Link is the company the City has used to install fiber optic in the past. Local company
and the cost for this work is $45,100. The City did take another quote as well with, for this work
with Century Link which was not in your packet but their bid was substantially higher than what
we would be getting, receiving with Carver Link. With that if the project were to move forward
tonight we would, or again considering aware of the contracts. Construction would start, we
haven’t talked to the contractor yet but we’re assuming November-December timeframe and
construction would be substantially completed in say in the April-May timeframe of 2018. Start
up in probably into June of 2018 as well. With that if there’s any questions for staff I’d be more
than happy to answer them.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, let’s begin with are there any questions of Mr. Oehme at this
time? Anybody? I wonder if we could have the President of Rice Lake address us for just a
moment. Do you mind? Would you just please step up to the podium. Introduce yourself. Tell
us your name. Where you’re from and a little bit about your company if you would.
Wade Leonard: Wade Leonard, Rice Lake Construction Group, Deerwood, Minnesota.
Mayor Laufenburger: Deerwood, wonderful.
Wade Leonard: Just near Brainerd if you’re familiar. Our company was founded in 1984. I
joined that company in 1989 and we specialize in the construction of waste water and water
treatment facilities. I was just trying to, most of our workers are located in the metro area. The
metro area being the biggest part of our state so we chase around the 5 state area bidding and
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
building waste water and water treatment facilities. We’ve done in your area we’ve done Prior
Lake. We’ve done Lakeville. We worked in, down at SM&C a fair amount so we’re, we think
we’re pretty good at what we do.
Mayor Laufenburger: Well I know that WSB has had experience with you, is that correct Mr.
Johnson? So we thank you for two things. Number one, for the excellent bid that you’ve offered
and we also thank you that, assuming that the contract is awarded we thank you for doing, doing
the job exactly the way our city staff would like you to do it so.
Wade Leonard: That’s what we strive to do.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, say your name again.
Wade Leonard: Wade Leonard.
Mayor Laufenburger: Wade Leonard, nice to have you here with us Mr. Leonard.
Wade Leonard: Yep, thanks.
Mayor Laufenburger: Any questions of Mr. Leonard? Alright, thank you very much. Any other
questions of council, I mean from council. Mr. Oehme would you just do, remind us of
something. I know that Mr. Johnson with WSB has worked closely with you for a number of
months on this project. Could you help us understand what Mr. Johnson or WSB’s role will
continue to be if any.
Paul Oehme: Absolutely. So WSB is still under contract for the construction administration
services. They’ll have a resident engineer on site looking at daily work that Rice Lake will be
approving. Looking at the, taking quantities. Putting together pay requests for the City. They
do all the inspections. They coordinate the geotechnical work that’s still necessary out on site
during the construction. They coordinate the testing of materials that come into the site. They
also look at the submittals that will be submitted every pump. Every pipe. Every fitting is
there’s a submittal associated with that so WSB will have to look at all that and go through all
our specs here in making sure that they are, the right material is going to be spec’d out, or
brought to the site.
Mayor Laufenburger: So their role will continue until this plant is operational is that correct?
Paul Oehme: That’s correct and they will help us with the start up of the plant and they also help
us with the closing out the contracts of the facility and also the as-built drawings after the plant’s
built and if there’s any changes along the way that we would get a new set of plans and that will
be shown on those plans.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good, okay. Alright.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Todd Gerhardt: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt.
Todd Gerhardt: Paul, what will happen with the park area? Is that any part of this contract?
Paul Oehme: So yes. So the park area that’s just off of Manchester Drive, the cul-de-sac is to be
constructed, will be part of this contract. The grading of the park area will be part of this
contract. The trail that will wind through the park and down to Lake Harrison Drive will be part
of this contract. The installation of the play equipment and the other features that the park
department wants to put in there, that would be not part of the, of this contract. There’s still
some design work that’s necessary with that park so we’re going to be working with the park
department on any potential grade changes that they want to see out there or staging or anything
like that but my understanding is the anticipation of that park would be going in soon after the
park, or the plant is operational in 2018. The summer of 2018.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. And Mr. Johnson, I know your role has been significant with Mr.
Oehme and the City staff. Will you continue in this role with the City of Chanhassen or are you
moving to another project?
Greg Johnson: Good evening Mr. Mayor and members of the council. I will continue as the
project manager of this project.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, wonderful. You’ve done some good work with Paul and we can
see the benefit of the work that you’ve done as evidenced by the timing of the request for bids so.
Greg Johnson: Thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Let’s see any other questions, comment or a motion from the council.
Councilwoman Ryan: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilwoman Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: Just a comment. I know this is about bids tonight but you know there was
quite a big group, a consortium as it relates to this project. Mr. Oehme or Mr. Gerhardt
informing the neighborhood, having neighborhood meetings about construction plans, road
closures, that kind of thing. Will that take place when and how will they be notified?
Paul Oehme: Sure so the first step is to get the contracts signed by everybody, if this project
were to move forward. Next step will be to sit down with the contractor and figure out a
schedule. When he wants to start. The amount of phasing. Those type of things. Once we get
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
that information we’ll notify the neighborhood of when the construction would start. What’s in
the contract too is to close down Lake Harrison Drive for an extended period of time so we
definitely want to let the neighborhood know about that closure and we want to work with the
neighborhoods on you know working through bus issues so we’ll be contacting Minnetonka
school bus services to let them know that that’s going to be a change here potentially the end of
this year and the duration for that. We also want to talk to the neighborhood about if there is you
know private busing that’s in there, work with them on any deliveries schedules and garbage
collection, those type of things too so we’ll, once we get a schedule from the contractor we’ll be
working with the neighborhood on those scheduling items.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay, thank you.
Todd Gerhardt: Hours of operation will also be key. The neighborhood will be concerned with
the hours of operation and make sure we stay within those and we typically follow our ordinance
for those so.
Paul Oehme: And what’s nice I think about the schedule that we’ve laid out is, the contractor it
sounds like he wants to do a lot of the dirt work in the wintertime where a lot of the truck
traffic’s going to be taking place so I think that helps the neighborhood a little bit. You know
there’s not going to be a lot of pedestrian movements in that area and I think if we can get a lot
of the dirt work done this winter into spring plus some of the footing work that’s going to be
advantageous for the project moving forward in the summer. Getting a lot of that dirty work
done in the winter months.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay thank you.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright thank you. Any other questions or comments? Or motion.
Councilman McDonald: Mr. Mayor I’ll make a motion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilman McDonald alright.
Councilman McDonald: I would make the motion that the City Council awards contracts for the
West water treatment plant, Project No. 15-03 as follows: For construction of the west water
treatment plant to Rice Lake Construction Group in the amount of $13,880,600; For water main
improvements to GF Jedlicki Incorporated in the amount of $1,164,539; For security system
improvements to Pro-Tech Design in the amount of $31,493.77; and for fiber optic installation
to Carver Link in the amount of $45,100.
Mayor Laufenburger: We have a valid motion. Is there a second?
Councilwoman Ryan: Second.
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Chanhassen City Council – October 24, 2016
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Councilwoman Ryan. Any further discussion?
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Ryan seconded that the City Council
awards contracts for the West Water Treatment Plant, Project No. 15-03 as follows:
1. For construction of the West Water Treatment Plant to Rice Lake Construction Group in
the amount of $13,880,600.
2. For water main improvements to GF Jedlicki Incorporated in the amount of $1,164,539.
3. For security system improvements to Pro-Tech Design in the amount of $31,493.77.
4. For fiber optic installation to Carver Link in the amount of $45,100.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Oehme, Mr. Johnson and thank you Mr. Leonard for
coming here this evening. We look forward to a great project.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS.
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt, any new news?
Todd Gerhardt: Mayor, council, about 2 weeks ago we had the homecoming parade for School
District 112, Chanhassen High School and we did have a couple little oop’s. One was associated
with the Byerly’s parking lot and the City Hall parking lots. People were accessing kind of
through the parade route at those locations. Next year we’re going to work closer with School
District 112 and part of the permitting process to make sure the businesses along the corridor are
notified and make sure that traffic still flows from other directions so our apologies to the
families that felt as though it interrupted and had an effect on the homecoming parade.
Mayor Laufenburger: Good, thank you Mr. Gerhardt. Appreciate that. Anything else?
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
None.
Councilman Campion 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 9:00 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager Prepared by Nann Opheim
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