CC SUM 2017 09 11
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 11, 2017
Mayor Laufenburger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge to the Flag.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Laufenburger, Councilwoman Tjornhom,
Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman Ryan, and Councilman Campion
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Kate Aanenson, Paul Oehme, Todd Hoffman, Greg Sticha
and Roger Knutson
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Janelle Hubeny 7234 Pontiac Circle
Fred & Angie Bialczyk 310 Sinner Circle
Arlis Bovy 7339 Frontier Trail
Justin Bikers 512 Laredo Lane
Charles & Julie Littfin 7609 Laredo Drive
Paul Sustman 590 Broken Arrow
Dennis L. Krill 7613 Laredo Drive
Sharon L. Eischens 7613 Laredo Drive
Cindy MacDonald 4210 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington
Judy Schmeig Box 397, Chanhassen
Cori Wallis 1848 Valley Ridge Trail
Kay Roalstad 513 Laredo Lane
Robert Welliver 403 Del Rio Drive
Nicole Nejezchleba 2851 No. Manor Road
Vicki Ernst 840 Cree Drive
Tony Wichterman 770 West Village Road
Rolland Neve 7635 Nicholas Way
Kristyn Vickman 1535 Hemlock Way
Lita Cantin 6694 Nez Perce Drive
Michael Clause Chanhassen
Lynne Smoltle ?
Rebecca Pederson 503 Laredo Lane
Caroline Camp 7241 Sierra Court
Michael Leonard 8129 Stone Creek Drive
Randy Cantin 6694 Nez Perce Drive
Don & Judy Leivermann 7003 Cheyenne Trail
Kurt & Mary Braun 900 Hiawatha Drive
City Council Summary – September 11, 2017
Kevin Crystal 940 Saddlebrook Curve
Wendy & Pete Pemrick 92541 Kiowa Trail
Mary Hughes 2741 Sandpiper Trail
Erick Hays 2810 Sandpiper Trail
Barbara Coldagelli 7265 Pontiac Circle
Ann & Bryan Qualley 7605 Laredo Drive
Ann Page 10 Hill Street
Barb Nevin 6361 Minnewashta Woods Drive
Ben Jeffrey 6361 Minnewashta Woods Drive
Ron Kramer 1022 Pontiac Lane
Kathy Kladek 6321 Minnewashta Woods Drive
Cindy Kelley 6331 Minnewashta Woods Drive
Lenora Lemke 6781 Redwing Lane
Theresa Hefel 7591 Chippewa Trail
Mack Titus 2747 Century Trail
Roberta Fernandez 7478 Saratoga Drive
Robert Bajorek 7015 Dakota Avenue
Betty Schmeig 7610 Kiowa Avenue
Beth Ann Leonard 950 Saddlebrook Curve
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Laufenburger invited all residents to attend the 2040
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Comprehensive Plan Open Houses being held on Wednesday, September 13 from 6-8 pm at the
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Chanhassen Library and on Thursday, September 14 from 6-8 pm at the Chanhassen Recreation
Center.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom
seconded to approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City Manager’s
recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated August 28, 2017
2. Table Adoption of Parks and Recreation System Plan.
3. Approval of Retail On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor Sales for Off-Premise Consumption for
Buy Chanhassen’s “Night on the Town” on Thursday, September 21, 2017.
4. Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for St. Hubert Catholic Community’s Taste
of St. Hubert Harvest Festival on September 30, 2017.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATION: Nicole Nejezchleba, 2851 North Manor Road, along with 8 of
her neighbors, discussed the Minnewashta Manor Road construction project in their
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City Council Summary – September 11, 2017
neighborhood and asked that due to the delay in construction that assessments be delayed as
well.
PUBLIC HEARING: MODIFICATION TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE
DOWNTOWN CHANHASSEN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO. 11: ADOPT
RESOLUTION APPROVING REDEVELOPMENT PLANS; APPROVE CONTRACT
FOR PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE EDA AND CHANHASSEN
FRONTIER, LLC; AND APPROVE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT WITH
CHANHASSEN FRONTIER, LLC.
Todd Gerhardt presented the staff report and reviewed how tax increment financing districts
operate. Representing the applicant United Properties, Rick McKelvey outlined how the tax
increment financing is a great tool for redevelopment of this property. Mayor Laufenburger
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opened the public hearing. Judy Schmeig, 200 West 77 Street stated there wasn’t a need for
another grocery store and asked for clarification on how many years this property has been in a
TIF district. Rolland Neve, 7635 Nicholas Way explained that he was exercising his First
Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances questioning the impact
this project would have on the school system, increased tax burden, and the lack of integration of
this project into the long term plan that the City has funded. He presented a petition with over
700 signatures opposing the project. Tony Wichterman, 770 West Village Road discussed 5
points pertaining to taxes increasing, overwhelming the schools, overflow parking on
neighborhood and city streets, traffic congestion, and asked that this project be postponed until
the 5 information disclosure requests he presented to the City of Chanhassen are answered. Don
Leivermann, 7003 Cheyenne Trail asked if the apartment project will include Section 8 housing
now or in the future. Michael Leonard, 8129 Stone Creek Drive discussed the impact on taxes
and explained his confusion over having to use TIF money to get this project done when
Chanhassen is ranked 2 or 3 in the nation and development will come. Cindy McDonald, 4210
West Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington, representing Kraus-Anderson Companies as an agent
and representative for the company, stated support for the project. Mack Titus, 2747 Century
Trail discussed that he recently moved to Chanhassen from Huntley, Illinois, population about
26,000, where he was victimized by 2 TIF districts. Roberta Fernandez, 7478 Saratoga Drive,
having recently moved to Chanhassen from Florida, discussed the effects of growth she
witnessed in Florida and her personal experience of owning a business in Chanhassen and having
to relocate to Eden Prairie. She questioned the inequity of how her home is taxed compared to
the Frontier Building. She expressed concern with traffic and asked the council to consider what
their vision is for the city. Michael Brindisi, President and Artistic Director with the Chanhassen
Dinner Theater stated his support for this project and noted that quite a few of the actors were
excited that Aldi’s was going to be located here. Paul Sustman, 590 Broken Arrow Road asked
about the height of the apartment building and the possibility of Section 8 housing in a high
density situation. Pat Fitzsimmons, 7400 Chanhassen Road asked the City Council to vote no on
the TIF proposal and wait until the downtown vision study is completed. Robert Bajorek, 7015
Dakota Avenue asked why a grocery store, and specifically Aldi was chosen for this location.
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City Council Summary – September 11, 2017
Frank Ernst, 840 Cree Drive discussed that the common theme among people he has talked to in
the past has been, do the residents matter? Tom Devine, 7640 South Shore Drive discussed the
extension of Highway 101 north being included in the TIF district boundaries and risks
associated with funding from the State Legislature. Betty Schmeig, 7610 Kiowa Avenue asked
about the possible need for a new fire truck to service the 6 story apartment building and the
impact on the schools. Lita Canton, 6694 Nez Perce Drive explained it was the residents of
Chanhassen’s Constitutional rights to disagree with the redevelopment of this property and the
possible strain on the sheriff’s department. Mark Page on Hill Street asked the council to have
the courage to trust what the people who put them in office are asking them to do. Ron Kramer,
1022 Pontiac Lane discussed how subsidized housing operates and a concern with the number of
parking stalls associated with this project. Janelle Hubeny, 7234 Pontiac Circle congratulated
the City Council members for receiving the Voice of the People Awards in Built Environment,
Natural Environment, Recreation and Wellness and Safety before voicing concern with safety,
concerts in the park, and traffic after this project is built. Beth Ann Leonard, 950 Saddlebrook
Curve asked what the City’s vision is to make Chanhassen unique. Charles Littfin, 7609 Laredo
Drive, having lived in Chanhassen since 1960, stated that this town has been pretty much
destroyed and what is being proposed breaks his heart. Laurie Susla, 7008 Dakota Avenue
voiced concern with the effect the apartment building will have on the schools, the
documentation in the packet does not show the number of people who oppose this project, how
many people can live in an apartment and how that is enforced, and clarification on the need to
upgrade Market Boulevard. Vicki Ernst, 840 Cree Drive, speaking as a past Chanhassen City
Council member for 8 years, the goal at that time was to keep the small town feel of Chanhassen
and asked the council to listen to the citizens. Rolland Neve reviewed the Constitution of the
United States and how it relates to Section 8 housing. Kristyn Vickman, 1535 Hemlock Way
explained that as the meeting was progressing 62 more people had signed the online petition.
Mayor Laufenburger closed the public hearing.
There was a short recess at this point in the meeting.
Councilwoman Ryan reviewed highlights of her “Tale of Two Timelines” presentation detailing
the timeline for the Downtown Vision Study in relation to the Venue/Aldi development prior to
making a motion.
Councilwoman Ryan moved, Councilman Campion seconded that the City Council table
the TIF vote until the City Council meeting on December 11, 2017 with direction to have a
completed vision study which includes public comment. Councilwoman Ryan and
Councilman Campion voted in favor. Mayor Laufenburger, Councilman McDonald and
Councilwoman Tjornhom voted in opposition. The motion failed with a vote of 2 to 3.
After comments and discussion by council members the vote on the following motion was made.
Resolution #2017-61: Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded
that the Chanhassen City Council adopts Resolution 2017-61 Approving Modification to
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City Council Summary – September 11, 2017
the Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown Chanhassen Redevelopment Project Area and
Tax Increment Financing Plan No. 11 and; approve the contract for Private
Redevelopment by and between the Chanhassen Economic Development Authority and
Chanhassen Frontier, LLC and; approve the Public Improvement and Special Assessment
Agreement with Chanhassen Frontier, LLC. Mayor Laufenburger, Councilman
McDonald and Councilwoman Tjornhom voted in favor. Councilwoman Ryan and
Councilman Campion voted in opposition. The motion carried with a vote of 3 to 2.
(There was a short recess at this point in the meeting.)
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. Councilman McDonald provided an update on the
Chanhassen Red Birds season. Mayor Laufenburger congratulated four members of the Red
Birds that were named to the All Tournament Team.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION. None.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom 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 10:40 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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