CC SUM 2021 11 22CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 22, 2021
Mayor Ryan called the City Council meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The meeting was opened with
the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilman Campion, Councilwoman
Rehm, Councilwoman Schubert, Councilman McDonald.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Kelly Strey, Finance Director; Don
Johnson, Fire Chief; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Rick Rice, IT
Manager; Jerry Ruegemer, Park & Recreation Director; Bob Generous, Senior Planner; Andrea
McDowell Poehler, City Attorney.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Joel Buttenhoff, Capstone Investors LLC
Dan Parks, PE, Westwood Professional Services
Mayor Ryan asked the City Council if there were any modifications or additions to the
agenda. There were no changes to the published agenda.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Invitation to Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 4
Mayor Ryan is excited to invite everyone to the 2021 Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday,
December 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., presented by the City of Chanhassen, Chanhassen Southwest
Metro of Commerce, the Mustard Seed Landscape and Garden Center, and SouthWest Transit.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Schubert seconded
that the City Council approve the following consent agenda items pursuant to the City
Manager’s recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated November 8, 2021
2. Receive Planning Commission Minutes dated October 19, 2021
3. Receive Senior Commission Minutes dated October 15, 2021
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4. Receive Environmental Commission Minutes dated October 13, 2021
5. Approve Claims Paid November 22, 2021
6. Determining the City will not Waive the Statutory Tort Limits
7. Resolution 2021-68: Accept Donation from Chanhassen Fire Department Relief
Association to sponsor an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
8. Resolution 2021-71: Accept Donation from Charter Bank Chanhassen for Annual Senior
Center Holiday Party
9. Resolution 2021-69: Anthem on the Park, Project No. 2016-08 - Accept Public
Stormwater Improvements
10. Resolution 2021-70: Approve Contract with Shadywood Tree Experts for Boulevard
Tree Pruning
11. Resolution 2021-72: Authorize Purchase of a Bluetooth Card Reader Technology
Upgrade for City Buildings.
12. Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor License to Rotary Club of Chanhassen for February
Festival on February 5 at Lake Ann Park
13. Approve Subordination Agreement with Bridgewater Bank for Chanhassen Gateway
Place (721 Lake Susan Drive)
14. Ordinance 680: Amend Chanhassen City Code Chapter 9: Fire Prevention and
Protection
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None.
FIRE DEPARTMENT/LAW ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
1. Monthly Fire Department Update with Response Data from October
Fire Chief Don Johnson said staffing remains at 35 paid on-call firefighters as they had one
resignation. There is a current posting open with no applicants at this time. In January they will
post for paid on-call, starting with information nights and training in medical in March and the
Fire Academy starting in August. He shared that in October the department ran 86 calls for
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service, with one being Chief only, 18 day-only calls, 36 duty crew calls, and 31 general alarms.
Chief Johnson noted the department continued providing a two-person EMT crew for the high
school sectional and regional games. With the holiday coming, he encouraged people to be safe
while cooking and to use turkey fryers in the driveway, not near the house. He thanked the City
Council for their continued support of the Fire Department.
2. Law Enforcement Update for October
Lieutenant Pearce noted the City had 746 patrol activity calls for service during the month of
October: 52 were crimes including 27 theft-related crimes and one stolen vehicle. Non-criminal
activity was highlighted by alarms, medical calls, and suspicious activity calls. There were 165
traffic stops resulting in 39 citations and 3 DUI arrests. He noted they are seeing an increase in
domestics and domestics resulting in arrest. Mental health calls have been statistically consistent
with previous months and years. Lieutenant Pearce stated the body camera implementation is
ahead of schedule with everyone on patrol having them in October. On October 20th they held a
unity in community meeting at the Chanhassen Library with about a dozen people attending.
During holiday travel season, he encourages everyone to slow down, don’t drive impaired, and
buckle up for safety.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Minnetonka Middle School West (MMSW) Access Improvement Update
Charlie Howley, Director of Public Works/City Engineer, shared an informational update on the
intersection improvement which is meant to improve congestion during morning and afternoon
drop-off and pick-up outside the school. He showed a roundabout concept on screen supported
by MnDOT (a traffic signal or 4-way stop would not be supported by MnDOT). The overall
project cost is about $2.8 million dollars and the City would be acting on behalf of residents and
the traveling public, and would contribute staff time to lead and administer the project. Mr.
Howley noted the City has included $200,000 in the 5-year financial plans to contribute to the
project, and would use the project as an opportunity to replace an undersized trunk watermain
and set up the intersection to support future development to the west. He walked through the
breakdown of project costs, schedules, and potential next steps, noting if they can fill the
$400,000 funding gap the project can be designed and constructed in 2023 and 2024.
2. Approve a Request for Subdivision of Three Parcels into Three Lots and One Outlot
and Site Plan Review for Development of an Approximately 82,000 Square-Foot, One-
Story, Office-Warehouse Building Located at 2100 Stoughton Avenue (River Valley
Industrial Center)
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Bob Generous, Senior Planner, gave a presentation on the property location, noting the parcel is
located in both the City of Chanhassen and the City of Chaska. Access is via Stoughton Avenue
and Audubon Road and the Applicant will propose a septic system as part of the commercial
building. As part of the subdivision they will create three lots, with the site plan consisting of an
82,000 square-foot one-story building with a service bay on the east side. Mr. Generous noted
Staff wants the Applicant to provide enhanced landscaping on Stoughton Avenue to provide
additional screening. Regarding storm water management, the Applicant is proposing a
stormwater pond and infiltration basin. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on
September 7, 2021 to review the proposed development and voted 7-0 to recommend approval of
the project. Mr. Generous noted Staff is recommending approval of the project.
Mayor Ryan clarified that before anything can actually happen the City of Chaska must also
approve.
Mr. Generous replied in the affirmative and stated the Applicant will have to come back for the
final platting.
Councilwoman Schubert moved, Councilman Campion seconded that the Chanhassen City
Council approves Planning Case #2021-19 for preliminary plat and site plan for River
Valley Industrial Center, plans prepared by Westwood Professional services, Inc., dated
August 3, 2021 and Philip D. Johnson, Architect, dated August 3, 2021, subject to the
conditions of the staff report as modified, and adopts the Planning Commission’s Findings
of Fact. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS
Councilman McDonald stated the Rotary Club will host Breakfast for Santa at the Chanhassen
Recreation Center and invited everyone to come out to see Santa Claus.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Ms. Hokkanen congratulated Jerry Johnson, a utility employee who was named the Minnesota
Public Works Employee of the Year. He has worked for the City of Chanhassen for 27 years and
his primary role is taking care of the 32 lift stations. She noted Mr. Johnson is a great, dedicated
employee.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION
1. Fringe Business (BF) District Reclassifying Conditional Uses as Interim Uses Next Steps
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CLOSED SESSION
Closed as permitted by State Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3(c) to consider offers relating to the possible
sale of City-owned property.
Mayor Ryan stated the broadcast of the City Council meeting will end now and is not expected
to resume. The remainder of the meeting will take place in the Fountain Conference Room and
the City Council will return to open session prior to adjourning the meeting and any members of
the public present will be able to rejoin the meeting at that time.
1. Consider Letters of Intent to Purchase City Owned Property Located on Lot 1, Block 2,
Gateway East 2nd Addition, PID 25-3010020
ADJOURNMENT
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Schubert 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 8:33 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk