CC SUM 2021 12 13CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
DECEMBER 13, 2021
Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:14 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; Matt Unmacht, Assistant 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;
and Andrea McDowell Poehler, City Attorney.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Keagan Van Asten
Vivianne Kersten
Mayor Ryan asked the City Council if there were any modifications or additions to the agenda.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
CONSENT AGENDA:
City Manager Hokkanen asked to add an item to the Consent Agenda which is a Resolution
approving the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Minnesota and local
governments and authorizing participation in national opioid settlements.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilman Campion 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 22, 2021
2. Receive Planning Commission Minutes dated November 16, 2021
3. Receive Park & Recreation Commission Minutes dated October 26, 2021
4. Approve Claims Paid December 13, 2021
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5. Authorize Execution of Stormwater Maintenance Agreement for Lot 3, Block 1, Crossroads
of Chanhassen Development
6. Approve Contract for 2022 Policing Services with the Carver County Sheriff's Office
7. Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor License to Rotary Club of Chanhassen for February
Festival on February 5, 2022 at Lake Ann Park
8. Resolution 2021-73: Designate Polling Place Locations for 2022 Elections
9. Resolution 2021-74: Approve Contract for City Hall Furnace/AC Replacements
10. Resolution 2021-75: Accept Additional Funding from the Redistribution of Unrequested
Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Established under the American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA)
11. Resolution 2021-76 Approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of
Minnesota and Local Governments and Authorizing Participation in National Opioid
Settlements
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
1. Fire Department Civilian Award Presentation
Fire Chief Johnson is excited to hand out civilian awards this evening, and invited Vivianne
Kersten and Keagan Van Asten forward to join the Hero Club. He stated a group of friends
gathered at Lake Ann for enjoyment over the summer when they heard a mom yelling into the
water for a young boy who appeared to be struggling while swimming. Ms. Van Asten ran into
the water and asked the mom if she needed help and the mom asked her to please save her son.
Ms. Van Asten immediately swam out to the young boy. Ms. Kersten obtained a cell phone and
called 911 which brought the Fire Department and Sheriff’s office to the scene. Ms. Van Asten
brought the boy out of the water and reported the boy being limp as she swam to him.
Responders did not have to perform any measures on the child. He thinks the girls should be very
proud, and so should their parents, for their actions that day to become involved and do
something. He awarded Ms. Kersten with the Award of Merit from the Chanhassen Fire
Department and awarded Ms. Van Asten with the Lifesaving Award from the Chanhassen Fire
Department.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mayor Ryan would like residents to know that while they may or may not hear a lengthy
discussion on the items this evening, these items have been discussed at length over the past
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many months at City Council meetings and work sessions. Many questions have been asked of
Staff and changes have been made before arriving at this point tonight.
1. Annual Public Hearing for the City's MS4 Permit and SWPPP
Director of Public Works/City Engineer Howley gave a presentation noting a requirement of the
MS4 permit is to provide a minimum of one opportunity per year for the public to provide input
on the adequacy of the SWPPP. An MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and
is defined as a conveyance or system of conveyances including things like curb and gutter, storm
sewers, ditches, and drains. Mr. Howley noted it is also owned or operated by a public entity,
designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water, and is not a combined sewer and is not
part of a publicly owned treatment works. The MS4 permit is designed to reduce the amount of
sediment and other pollutants from entering the waters of the State. A SWPPP is a Storm Water
Pollution Prevention Program or plan that describes strategies and steps that an owner or
operator will take to mitigate storm water pollution. He noted the City of Chanhassen’s SWPPP
can be found on the City website. He walked the City Council through the 6 Minimum Control
Measures and noted the City has stepped up reporting, outreach, and connection articles.
Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing. There were no public comments.
Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing.
The City Council gave Mr. Howley feedback on time of year for the public hearing, and whether
to hold the public hearing at a City Council meeting or at another location such as the library.
2. Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing on the 2022 Budget; Resolution 2021-77: Establish
the 2022 Tax Levy; and Resolution 2021-78: Adopt the 2022 Budget and 2022-2026
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Ms. Hokkanen gave a presentation, noting the Truth-in-Taxation meeting is a requirement by
State Statute to give people an opportunity to have their opinions heard. The City is looking at an
increase of $596,000 which is about 4.9% over the previous year’s levy with the majority of that
going to the General Fund for general operating with a small increase to Capital Fund plans and
a small increase to the Debt Levy. She showed a breakdown on screen of things that affect the
levy increase, noting increases for employee services and inflationary expenses offset by other
revenues. Ms. Hokkanen noted an Economic Development position ($100,000 of impact) in this
year’s budget, as well as adding two Firefighters ($110,000 of impact). She explained they are
using $160,000 of American Rescue Act funding to offset those increases. Ms. Hokkanen shared
successes including the full funding of the Pavement Management Plan, five-year financial plans
for the funds, and an employee compensation study that has developed a fair and equitable
employee pay plan with many positions and duties being realigned to more effectively provide
services, and addressing new vehicles for the fleet utilizing an Enterprise leasing program. A
facilities study is in progress to help plan for the long term to care for the City’s assets. She
shared the budget on screen and noted the estimated impact on sample property values; for a
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$400,000 home the annual change is approximately $12 annually to fund all activities included
in the budget this year. Ms. Hokkanen also explained Capital Improvement Plan Highlights.
Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing. There were no public comments.
Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing.
Councilman Campion moved, Councilman McDonald seconded that the Chanhassen City
Council adopts the Resolution establishing the 2022 Property Tax Levy and the Resolution
adopting the 2022 Budget and the 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan. All voted in favor
and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Ordinance 681: Amendment to Chanhassen City Code Chapter 4, Fees
Ms. Hokkanen noted Staff has drafted a fee schedule that is more comprehensive and creates just
one fee schedule rather than having numerous ordinances that reference fees. The City would
repeal those ordinances and instead have one ordinance that lists every fee. Because some affect
zoning fees it must go through the Planning Commission so they will bring the fee schedule back
before the City Council in January. However, tonight the City Council can adopt the Utility Fees
and Permit Fees as they must be in place January 1, 2022. Ms. Hokkanen is also looking to
eliminate the Technology Fee.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilman Campion seconded that the Chanhassen City
Council adopts an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 4 (Fees) and adopts a summary
ordinance amending City Code Chapter 4 (Fees) for publication purposes. All voted in
favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
2. Resolution 2021-79: Adopt Chanhassen Compensation Policy Manual and 2022 Pay Plan
Ms. Hokkanen stated this is another item the City Council has spent a great deal of time talking
about in 2021. Originally identified in the strategic plan as an initiative to further the City’s goal
of operational excellence, the City hired a consultant to complete a Compensation and
Classification study. Before the Council tonight is the adoption of the 2022 Pay Plan and the
Compensation Policy which moves the City to a step and grade system with 19 grades and 9
steps to move from the minimum to the maximum, achieving mid-market at step 5. The pay
philosophy in adopting this policy is to be at the middle of the market of comparable cities.
Employees would receive a COLA increase (cost-of-living adjustment) in January and if adopted
the COLA for 2022 is set at 2.5% and will be set annually by the City Council. The goal is to
retain and attract employees and help further the goals within the strategic plan.
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Mayor Ryan clarified that the Society for Resource Management estimates that each employee
departure costs about one-third of that worker’s annual earnings and is an impact to the City. She
noted the City wants to compensate employees fairly and keep good workers.
Councilman Campion does not see the manual attached.
Ms. Hokkanen will get the manual uploaded immediately tomorrow, noting there were not
substantial changes since the last time it was published in the packet.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Rehm seconded that the Chanhassen City
Council adopts a resolution approving the Chanhassen Compensation Policy Manual and
the 2022 Pay Plan. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5
to 0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS.
Councilwoman Rehm noted the City was named the best City to live in within the nation and she
thinks it is in large part due to the City workers, so she is happy they have moved ahead on the
Pay Plan. When they hear stories such as Jerry Johnson who slept overnight at one of the lift
stations it makes one realize how hard the employees have been working for the City.
Councilman McDonald has been on the Southwest Transit Commission for some time with the
Mayor and they have looked at a number of studies. One thing that impacted transit was Covid-
19 and one bright spot locally is that the City’s Prime Service, which is like an Uber, has shown
great increase. He encouraged residents to contact himself or the Mayor with their thoughts as to
what transit should provide for the community.
Mayor Ryan suggested doing a Flash Vote on transportation. She also thanked the incredible
Parks and Recreation Team noting the magnificent show outside and throughout downtown with
the lights and said it is truly stunning. She noted it was a hugely successful event with upwards
of 1,000 people attending. Mayor Ryan thanked her fellow Councilmembers, noting it was an
extraordinary year with a great City Council and she appreciates it. Mayor Ryan thanked City
Staff for their tireless work and said they have made incredible strides this year. She believes
Council and Staff really came together this year and worked as a team to get the job done. She
hopes everyone has a very Merry Christmas.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
Mayor Ryan noted Ari Lyksett and her team did a great job on the brand standards and social
media disclaimer and she values that they took the time to put that in place as it will serve the
City very well.
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1. Redistricting Timeline - Excerpt from 2021 Redistricting Guide from the Office of the
Secretary of State
2. 2021 Building Permit Activity November Year to Date
3. Monthly Fire Department Update
4. Letter from Xtream (Mediacom) Concerning Programming Changes and Rate
Adjustments
5. Thank You Card from WeCAB
6. Chanhassen Code Enforcement Specialist Activities for November, 2021
7. City of Chanhassen Social Media Disclaimer
8. City of Chanhassen Brand Standards
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 8:17 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk