03-21-2022 City Council Work Session MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2022
Mayor Ryan called the work session to order at 5:00 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilwoman Rehm, Councilman
McDonald, Councilman Campion, and Councilwoman Schubert.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager;
Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Charlie Howley, City Engineer/Public
Works Director; Kelly Strey, Finance Director; Don Johnson, Fire Chief; Rick Rice, IT Manager;
Lt. Lance Pearce, Carver County Sheriff’s Office; Jerry Ruegemer, Park & Recreation Director;
and Kim Meuwissen, City Clerk.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
James Howarth, Snow Kreilich Architects
Tim Kitella, Kraus-Anderson
Mayor Ryan provided an overview of the work session agenda items along with a time schedule
for each item.
OUTDOOR STORAGE OF BOATS
City Manager Hokkanen provided the City Council with a brief synopsis of the item for
discussion. Specifically, potentially allowing seasonal storage of watercraft (jet skis, boats,
kayaks, paddleboards, etc.) in driveways.
Mayor Ryan invited Councilmembers to provide their input in this item.
Councilmember Rehm would like to specifically look at boats and trailers allowing one
watercraft vehicle to be parked in a driveway for a limited amount of time, i.e. from April 1 to
October 1. This will accommodate residents’ desires and seems reasonable. Mayor Ryan asked
Councilmember Rehm for clarification of trailers. Councilmember Rehm responded that it would
be limited to a watercraft on a trailer.
Councilmember Campion has similar feelings to what Councilmember Rehm proposed by
limiting it to watercraft only. Also, there are so many lakes in Chanhassen and a lot of residents
own watercraft.
Councilmember Schubert is also in favor of allowing watercraft parking in driveways as long as
setback and sight line rules are followed.
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Councilmember Campion added that allowing watercraft parking in driveways would reduce the
need for enforcement from resident complaints.
Councilman McDonald is not in favor of allowing watercraft parking in driveways because
Council previously reviewed this and it was very devisive. If only watercraft parking is allowed,
the residents who own recreational vehicles would get upset because it would be the same
footprint and during the same season. Residents were already given an opportunity to express
their views during public meetings.
Mayor Ryan agreed with Councilman McDonald. She didn’t support it previously and reiterated
that it is a devisive issue and would be a challenge to defend limiting driveway parking to
watercraft only. However, if this does move forward she would like to recommend shortening
the allowed storage period from April to October to Memorial Day to Labor Day or something in
that timeframe. She anticipates that residents who own winter vehicles such as snowmobiles
would be asking for the same thing.
Councilmember Rehm replied that people tend to take their boats out in mid-April to start
preparing them for the boating season and a six-month timeframe would be a clean beginning
and end. Many residents already keep their watercraft in their driveway and it would make it
easier for staff to deal with enforcement issues. Will it be harder for staff to enforce if the time
period is shorter?
Community Development Director Kate Aanenson suggested that that the Planning Commission
weigh in on this issue and put in some parameters on this issue and provide feedback. Some
people will launch their boats but still keep the empty trailers in their driveways so there are
some nuances to be discussed.
Councilman McDonald asked if the City has conducted a FlashVote on this issue. City Manager
Hokkanen responded that we have not but it is something we could use FlashVote for. We
typically use FlashVote when public opinion would be very help to make a decision. In cases
like this where the City Council has a pretty good idea of how they feel about it, it’s often not as
helpful. Also, what we saw through the emails we would probably see the same thing in
FlashVote.
Community Development Director Kate Aanenson stated that the Planning Commission could
review it at their April 19th meeting.
Mayor Ryan requested that the staff report include the parameters discussed. City Manager
Hokkanen suggested that the staff report provide information on specifically what the Council is
considering and not that we are starting over with the process.
Councilmember Rehm added that if the ordinance is passed that public education be provided.
Mayor Ryan recessed the Work Session at 5:20 p.m.
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Mayor Ryan reconvened the Work Session at 5:30 p.m.
FACILITIES STUDY DISCUSSION
City Engineer/Public Works Director Howley introduced Phase II of the facilities study and
displayed a PowerPoint Presentation.
James Howarth from Snow Kreilich Architects and Tim Kitella from Kraus-Anderson introduced
themselves. Mr. Howarth went over tonight’s agenda and reviewed what occurred in Phase I and
the schedule for Phase II.
Executive Summary
Mr. Kitella reviewed the findings of the five City facilities:
• City Hall has adequacy issues that may complicate reinvestment for its intended use
based on the original design
• Recreation Center is unable to meet the growing demand and shifts of current
recreational needs for the city population
• Fire Station #1 has limitations for space, but overall facility is in fair condition
• Fire Station #2 may no longer serve the city in a beneficial manner for its intended
purposes
• Old Village serves current needs and requires a limited investment
The focus tonight will be on City Hall.
Mr. Howarth reviewed the Master Plan process:
• Evaluate current and potential alternate locations for Facilities
• Explore options to accommodate future needs and changing demographics
o Evaluate pros / cons of re-using existing facility structures, remodeling or adding
new building additions
o Evaluate pros / cons of building new replacement facilities
• Identify City goals for sustainability and operational efficiency
o Evaluate pros / cons to identify strategies that can align with City mission,
goals,and long term plans
• Generate cost estimates for alternatives that can be compared with Facility Assessment
cost data to inform City long term financial planning and investments
The following Master Plan Options were presented:
City Hall
• Stay in place: Remodel / Building Addition
• New facility on City-owned property
• New facility at alternate location (new City campus)
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Recreation Center
• Stay in place: Remodel / Building Addition
• New Facility at alternate location (new City campus)
Fire Station #1
• Stay in place: Remodel / Building Addition
• New facility on City-owned property
• New facility at alternate location (new City campus)
Fire Station #2
• Prepare for alternate use: Remodel / fix accessibility issues and deferred maintenance
projects
Old Village Hall
• Maintain current use: Deferred maintenance project(s)
Work completed between January and March, 2022 was reviewed. Project cost estimates were
calculated to include hard costs, soft costs, owner costs, project cost, and cost escalations for
anticipated future change in costs over time.
Mr. Howarth reviewed each facility that included the following information:
• General information (includes year built and major remodel /building projects)
• Current use
• Facility comparisons (Recreation Center)
• Building area
• Deferred maintenance (includes HVAC, exterior enclosure, roof, interior construction,
site work, plumbing, etc.)
A summary and site program analysis was provided for each facility which included goals for
each facility.
Cost data for each facility option along with next steps was presented. Finance Director Strey
reviewed budget impacts.
Discussion/Next Steps
• Review and confirm the proposed project scope(s) aligns with the City’s goals and
priorities
• City Hall – Retrofit versus build new
• Recreation Center – Referendum Task Force to clarify and review the scope
• Fire Stations – To be determined pending other decisions
• Finalize Master Plan Study for City Council action
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Mayor Ryan asked when the next facilities discussion would take place. City Manager Hokkanen
provided an update on the future work session schedule as well as upcoming Referendum Task
Force meetings. The future work session schedule was rearranged so that the facilities discussion
could continue at the April 11, 2022 Work Session.
FUTURE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE
The future City Council Work Session schedule was updated as shown below:
04/11/2022: Facilities Study Discussion
04/25/2022: Fire Department/Public Safety Staffing Update, ARPA Discussion, Short-Term,
Rental, and Business Licensing, City Council Roundtable
05/09/2022: Park Referendum Update
05/23/2022: Southern Chanhassen and Lower Bluff Development Planning
The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk