WS 2005 07 25
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JULY 25, 2005
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:40 p.m..
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilman Labatt, Councilman
Lundquist, Councilwoman Tjornhom and Councilman Peterson
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Justin Miller, Kate Aanenson, Todd Hoffman and Beth
Hoiseth
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
Beth Hoiseth presented a map showing the locations of the neighborhoods that will be holding
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parties on Tuesday, August 2 for National Night Out. The first 28 neighborhoods to sign up
will receive a party pack. She stated she would e-mail an updated map to City Council members
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prior to August 2. Mayor Furlong asked how many years Chanhassen has been hosting this
event, and suggested council members could discuss the results of the public safety review and
citizens survey with the neighbors. Beth Hoiseth reported on another successful Safety Camp
which was held the previous week.
DISCUSSION OF SHOOTING AREAS.
Todd Hoffman showed an updated map with changes to the shooting areas within Chanhassen.
He handed out a sample of the shooting permit that have to be filled out and approved by the city
and landowner. He stated with the construction of 212, it will squeeze the area available for
hunting with firearms. Parcels of 20 plus acres are still permitted bow hunting. Councilwoman
Tjornhom asked about other options to control geese than the early hunt. Todd Hoffman stated
the city could reinstate the goose removal program, which was eliminated a couple of years ago.
Mayor Furlong asked about the volume of hunting that occurs south of Lyman Boulevard. Todd
Hoffman stated that because the early goose season starts September 1, the City Council will
need to take action on this as soon as possible. Councilman Lundquist stated he would be in
favor of keeping the map the same for one more season stating his belief that there won’t be
danger to survey crews, excavating crews, etc. connected with the Highway 212 construction.
Mayor Furlong asked staff to show the areas where most complaints are received. Councilman
Labatt concurred with Councilman Lundquist that he did not think the problem would be this
fall. Councilwoman Tjornhom stated she would go along with whatever the City Council wants
to do. Todd Gerhardt suggested that the areas north of Lyman be dropped, and keep the areas
south of Lyman open for hunting. Mayor Furlong suggested south of Lyman and east of
Audubon. Councilman Peterson concurred with that suggestion. Mayor Furlong also suggested
establishing a distance from the 212 corridor for safety. Todd Gerhardt stated that since MnDot
owns the property within the 212 corridor, they would not permit hunting. It was the consensus
of the council to direct staff to keep the area south of Lyman Boulevard open this year for
hunting with firearms.
City Council Work Session – July 25, 2005
COUNTY GRANT APPLICATION – HIGHWAY 41 PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS.
Todd Hoffman presented background information on the grant application process, noting that
the deadline for application has been extended an additional 30 days. Mayor Furlong asked for
clarification of the dollar amounts, if they were in today’s dollars or 2009-10 dollar amounts and
when construction is expected to occur. Todd Gerhardt explained how the funding process
works with these type of grant applications.
AMENDMENT TO THE PAY COMPENSATION PLAN.
Todd Gerhardt explained that according to state law, the city needs to adjust their pay
compensation plan. Justin Miller explained how the system presently works and that the City of
Chanhassen is on the bubble as a Group 6 city because of it’s population, but that would change
in the upcoming years. Councilman Peterson asked staff to explain why Chanhassen wouldn’t
be compared to cities like Eden Prairie and Bloomington. He stated he was against the annual
cost of living increase and suggested getting rid of the 3 review categories and paying solely on
performance, which would make it easier and more logical to understand. Councilman
Lundquist agreed that that would force a continual upgrade of talent, stating the need to create
flexibility and tools to manage and reward good behavior. Mayor Furlong stated the need to
balance the risk of losing people to other cities. Councilman Labatt concurred with Councilman
Peterson and Councilman Lundquist, and believed in rewarding for performance. Mayor
Furlong agreed with providing the flexibility in dealing with competition from other cities. He
suggested city staff and council take some time to think about what’s been discussed, stating the
importance of getting the employee compensation/benefits policy right. Todd Gerhardt stated he
would follow-up with the city staff subcommittee and provide an update at the first budget
meeting with City Council.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session meeting at 6:55 p.m..
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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