01-24-2022 City Council Regular Meeting MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
JANUARY 24, 2022
Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened with the Pledge
of Allegiance. Mayor Ryan noted they have decided to continue with remote meetings and noted
all Councilmembers are present.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilman Campion (via Zoom),
Councilwoman Rehm (via Zoom), Councilwoman Schubert, Councilman McDonald (via Zoom).
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager;
Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Charlie Howley, Public Works
Director/City Engineer; George Bender, Assistant City Engineer; Kelly Strey, Finance Director;
Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Don Johnson, Fire Chief; Lt. Lance Pearce,
CCSO; Ari Lyksett, Communications Manager; and Kim Meuwissen, City Clerk.
PUBLIC PRESENT: None
Mayor Ryan asked the City Council if there were any modifications or additions to the agenda.
After the roll call vote there were no changes to the published agenda.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Invitation to February Festival
Mayor Ryan stated the City of Chanhassen is proud to announce the first event of 2022, the 29th
Annual February Festival. Feb Fest will be held on Saturday, February 5 from 12-3:00 p.m. on
Lake Ann and area residents, families, and friends are invited. Hot concessions and free activities
such as horse-drawn wagon rides, dog-sled rides, door prizes, and bonfires begin at Noon. The
Annual Ice Fishing Contest will run from 1-3:00 p.m. and includes over $6,000 in prizes. The
first clue to the Feb Fest medallion hunt sponsored by Charter Bank will be released on Monday,
January 31 on the City’s website. Mayor Ryan said a very special thanks to the Rotary Club of
Chanhassen for their support for this event.
CONSENT AGENDA: 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 January 10, 2022
2. Receive Economic Development Commission Minutes dated December 15, 2021
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3. Receive Senior Commission Minutes dated November 19, 2021
4. Approve Claims Paid January 24, 2022
5. Ordinance 685: Approve a Request to Amend City Code Reclassifying Certain Uses Within
the Fringe Business (BF) District as Interim Uses
6. Resolution 2022-07: Accept Feasibility Study and Call Public Hearing for 2022 City
Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 22-01
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. Fire Department Update
Fire Chief Johnson updated the Council noting they have 33 paid on-call firefighters with 2
firefighters on extended military leave. He shared recruitment efforts which included working
with the City Communications team to send a brochure out to parents in the school districts,
adjusting the hiring sign, and getting word out about the current open position, noting they have
12 applicants for the paid on-call position with interviews starting in February. Chief Johnson
shared that a full-time firefighter position opened in December and closed January 9 with 8
internal applicants for the position and 3 moving to the final interview for the two positions.
They will also be posting a paid on-call Captain’s position in the next couple of weeks. Fire
Chief Johnson shared that there were 105 calls in December, and total calls for 2021 were at
1,078 which is a record and 17.6% higher than 2020 and 7.6% over 2019.
2. Law Enforcement Update
Lieutenant Pearce reported on November and December activity, noting they had 810 calls for
service in November and 731 in December. Compared to the same months in 2020 calls were
down. They have been busy with a variety of snow events and had 69 crashes with thankfully
only 2 injury crashes. He noted fraud and theft calls for service have increased from previous
months but are down from 2020 numbers. He shared about traffic stops, an increase in medical
calls, and noted that domestic and mental health calls were significantly increased in November
and December.
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Resolution 2022-09: Approve Assessment Policy Updates
Director of Public Works/City Engineer Charlie Howley gave a presentation on updates to the
Assessment Policy, noting tonight’s action is to review and discuss the proposed updates. He
explained that the Assessment Policy gives the ability to assess private property for public
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improvements which is allowed by State Statute 429 as long as the improvement benefits the
property and the City follows the process. Assessments are a tool to help fund improvement
projects and are part of the City’s financial sustainability strategic priority. He shared the
clarifications needed in the document including modifying the interest rate that property owners
being assessed would pay if they elect not to pre-pay in full. Current practice is charging 2%
above the prime rate and the proposal is to change it to 2% above the cost of City financing. The
second change is modifying the maximum term allowed for paying off assessments to make it
based on the amount of the assessment. He shared other minor updates and clarifications within
the policy.
Councilman McDonald asked regarding a private street with two homeowners, if that private
street comes onto a public street and the City does work on the public street, would the
homeowners be assessed for that.
Mr. Howley replied the intent is that both of those properties in the example would get an equal
assessment just as everyone else that has access to that street.
Mayor Ryan asked what the City does now. Are those homeowners not assessed?
Mr. Howley shared recent history would mean the homeowners would not get assessed. For
example three houses on a shared driveway were not assessed and Staff did not feel that was
equitable and want to put it in writing for consistency.
Mayor Ryan clarified the responsibility for three houses on a private street that have driveways
off that street is plowing, maintenance, and everything is paid for by those residents. She stated
now they would also be assessed for another street which she struggles with a bit.
Mr. Howley noted that is the reason it says in the policy if certain conditions are met, those
would be candidates for no assessment or a reduced assessment on a case-by-case basis; he
clarified they would have the ability not to assess.
The City Council discussed the policy including conditions and clarifications.
City Manager Hokkanen suggested the City Council adopt the policy tonight if they are
comfortable with the changes being made and Staff would commit to refining the policy further.
The reason is that there is a public hearing coming the following week and those residents would
be impacted by the interest rate so it would be nice to have clarity for those residents.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Rehm seconded that the City Council
approve Resolution 2022-09 approving the updates to the City’s Assessment Policy. All
voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
2. Adopt 2022 Legislative Priorities
City Manager Hokkanen noted the City has been in the practice of adopting legislative priorities,
which are distributed to legislators to give them an idea of things that are important to the City.
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This helps throughout the year in responding to specific requests and proposals without having to
come back to the City Council. In general, the priorities remain the same as 2021, and Ms.
Hokkanen walked through the proposed changes in the document.
Mr. Howley noted the City received $1.5 million in State funding for the roundabout on
Highway 41.
The City Council discussed ways to finish funding for the roundabout in the next couple of years
and other language adjustments within the legislative document.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Schubert seconded that the City Council
adopt the 2022 Legislative Priorities with changes discussed during the meeting. All voted
in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION.
1. Rate Increase Letter from CenterPoint Energy dated January 10, 2022
Councilwoman Schubert 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 8:23 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk