CC SUM 2018 08 20CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
AUGUST 20, 2018
The City Council met at 5:30 p.m. to tour the West Water Treatment Plant. Mayor
Laufenburger called the special City Council 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 Gerhard, Paul Oehme, and Greg Sticha
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Marlene Schaller 806 Buckingwood Court
A. Jay Schreur 8376 Suffolk Drive
Terry Kroells 1071 Chap Court
Karla Ramsey 400 Deerfoot Trail
Judy & Joel Nybeck 7404 Frontier Trail
Mack Titus 2747 Century Trail
Slammer 491 Bighorn
Ray Murray 6618 Brenden Court
Randy Raddatz 6340 Elm Tree
Larry Koch 471 Bighorn Drive
George & Leah Lucas 410 Cimarron
Charlie Littfin 7609 Laredo Drive
Dave Peck 1521 Lake Susan Hills Drive
Tom & Rose Rolland 6211 Greenbriar
Scott Mason 1280 Lake Susan Hills Drive
Sue Morgan & Linda Scott 4031 Kings Road
Reuben Kelzenberg 7604 Iroquois Avenue
Pat Pavelko 7203 Frontier Trail
Jay Johnson 7496 Saratoga
Chris Dahl 1774 Valley Ridge Trail
PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING DISCUSSION TO ADD
FRANCHISE FEE.
Paul Oehme presented the staff report on the need for additional funding in the future for the
pavement management program. Greg Sticha presented information on how funding for roads
have been done in the past and potential funding options for the future. Mayor Laufenburger
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opened up the meeting for public comments. Mack Titus, 2747 Century Trail asked for
clarification of a transit improvement tax which already exists on his Xcel Energy bill and asked
if the franchise fee is enacted for the pavement management program will it be totally funded by
the franchise fee and not out of his property tax money. Tom and Roseanne Rolland, 6211
Greenbriar explained that they paid their assessment in total up front and asked if they will get a
reimbursement if assessments go away. Tom Rolland stated he would favor the continuation of
assessments because he’s already paid his assessment up front. Jay Schreur, 8376 Suffolk Drive
explained that the roads in his townhome development are private roads maintained by the
homeowners association and if the franchise fee goes through it will be double taxation. He
asked if their association could get a lesser tax because they maintain their own road or have the
City maintain the private road. Charles Littfin, 7609 Laredo Drive explained the discrepancy in
assessments on Laredo Drive between residential and the school, post office, fire department and
other businesses. He suggested people who have paid assessments not pay the franchise fees
until their assessments are paid in full. David Peck, 1521 Lake Susan Hills Drive stated he was
in favor of continuing with the assessment practice along with implementing a franchise fee.
Randy Raddatz, 6340 Elm Tree Avenue expressed his concerned about pre-paying with franchise
fees for something that may or may not be needed in the future and asked about the impact on
commercial properties that do not currently pay taxes and reiterated that he is very much
opposed to the franchise fee. Ray Murray, 6618 Brenden Court asked for clarification on how
residential properties are assessed, how the franchise fees would act as a conduit and if the City
would get reimbursed dollar for dollar. Sue Morgan, 4031 Kings Road asked for clarification on
the franchise fee being a flat fee and not based on energy usage, if non-profit commercial entities
such as churches would be charged, who to contact if there’s a discrepancy on a utility bill, and
because they have an 8 acre parcel of property and were assessed in the past for 3 fictitious lots
and asked if that practice will be the same for the franchise fee. Steve Stamy Slammer, 491
Bighorn Drive asked when the council will vote on the franchise fee issue, if the issue would be
put on a general election ballot, and how the public will be notified if money from the franchise
fees are changed in the future. Jay Johnson, 7496 Saratoga, being a former council member from
the 80’s and 90’s timeframe and a former public works director for another city, stated he was in
favor of keeping the 40/60 assessment practice, implementing the franchise fee to keep the city’s
streets in good condition, 50/50 split between residential and commercial, and exploring ways to
assist low income property owners. Pat Pavelko, 7203 Frontier Trail asked how the average of
$2.2 million dollars per year for street construction was arrived at and where the franchise fee
money will go in the general fund. After clarification Mr. Pavelko stated he would prefer either
the 60/40 plan or the franchise fee. Karla Ramsey, 400 Deerfoot Trail asked that consideration
be given because she lives in an association with a private street. Larry Koch, 471 Bighorn
Drive commended the City Council for having a special meeting to allow the public to address
issues associated with paying for street improvements, would favor continuation of the 60/40
split for assessments, the need to fix Frontier Trail, Conestoga Trail and Conestoga Court, and
that the council make their intentions known that the franchise fee will go towards fixing the
roads in the city. Chris Dahl, 1774 Valley Ridge Trail noted that a franchise fee is not a tax
deductible item, and would rather the money be put on the property tax statements on a yearly
and project basis.
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Councilman McDonald moved, Councilman Campion 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 9:20 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim