WS 1999 01 19CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
CONTINUATION OF REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 11, 1999 HELD ON JANUARY
19, 1999
Mayor Mancino called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mancino, Councilman Senn, Councilwoman Jansen,
and Councilman Labatt.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Engel.
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Acting City Manager; Charles Folch, Public Works Director;
Anita Benson, City Engineer; Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director; Pam Snell, Finance
Director; and Mark Littfin, Fire Marshal.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Staffpresented their response to the City Council questions regarding the
accounts payable. Staffpresented budget justification and detailed narrative regarding the need for
each expenditure. The City Council asked various questions regarding several items with staff
responding to their questions.
Mayor Mancino moved, Councilwoman Jansen seconded to approve the Accounts Payable as
presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Mayor Mancino adjourned the regular meeting and the council met in a work session.
NOISE STUDY~ LEWIS ENGINEERING IN CHASKA: Staffpresented the draft noise study for
Lewis Engineering. This study was prepared by David Braul. The recommendation of the study was
to build a berm with a retaining wall. Staffwas directed to meet with the neighbors to explain the
study and gather their input especially regarding costs.
APPOINTMENTS
Board of Adjustments & Appeals: Staff informed the council that there is a
vacancy on the Board. Discussion was held on how other communities handle
variances. Staffwas directed to bring back a study of variance procedures from other
communities.
Planning Commission: Staff informed council of two vacancies on the Planning Commission
and asked if they wanted to advertise or reappoint if current members wanted to remain on the
Commission. Council stated they wanted to be consistent with their policy and advertise the
two vacancies.
Southwest Metro Transit: Staff informed council of the vacancy of council liaison to
Southwest Metro Transit. Council discussed placing this item on their next regular agenda to
fill the vacancy.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PENSION: Staffpresented the Fire Department Relief Association pension
funding request for 1999 and 2000. Staff recommended approving the Fire Department's request.
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JANUARY 19, 1999
Page 2
The City Council requested that staff compare state aid contribution, city contribution, and benefit
levels with other communities of similar population, such as Anoka, Hopkins, Hastings, Ramsey,
Stillwater, Savage, Robbinsdale and Chaska.
Staffwas also asked to explore the option of a Defined Benefit Pension Plan as compared to the
current plan. After the research is completed on this item, staffwill share their findings at a future City
Council Work Session.
EASTERN CARVER COUNTY COLLABORATIVE STUDY: Mayor Mancino and Acting City
Manager Todd Gerhardt updated the City Council on the work completed to date on the Eastern
Carver County Collaborative Study. The Community Leaders Forum has been considering the
possibility of collaborating on a unique project involving the following components:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
K-5 Elementary School
Arboretum Science Resource Center
Library-Learning Center
Outdoor Recreation Space
Community Multi-use Space
Coordination of Comprehensive Land-use Plans
The group is now at the point of moving into Phase II Planning Activities, such as:
2.
3.
4.
5.
Submission of a Planning Grant request to the Minnesota Legislature
Plan development, further definition and coordination
Financial planning
Legal consultation
Engineering, architectural, and construction consultation.
Staff concluded by stating that that this item will be presented on the January 25, 1999 agenda.
REVIEW 1999 MEETING SCHEDULE: Staff presented the 1999 work session meeting schedule.
Items added to the list are as follows:
City Vehicle Purchasing Policy
Uniform Policy
Pay Comp Plan
Release of Information
Elections
Update on Highway 101
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Councilwoman Jansen proposed the following changes to the Council's Rules of Procedure:
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JANUARY 19, 1999
Page 3
Policy:
Guidelines for City Council work sessions.
Description:
City Council work sessions are held in a less formal setting to facilitate a more
comfortable forum for the exchange of ideas between council members, city staff,
outside organizations wishing to address the council, and the general public. These are
informational, fact finding, idea sharing sessions.
No action may be taken on items discussed. Items requiring action must be
placed on a future regular meeting agenda to allow for public notice and
comments.
Schedule:
City Council work sessions will be held in the Courtyard Conference Room every
Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Procedures:
Work session preceding regular council meetings are for the purpose of discussing
items on the consent agenda for that evening. Other items on the agenda for the
regular meeting will not be discussed unless published as such in the newspaper.
However, upon request from a member of the public who is unable to attend the work
session on a regular meeting agenda item, discussion of that item will only be heard in
the regular meeting. In addition, if other business is to be discussed, those items will be
listed in the meeting notice unless they are basic administration issues of no public
interest.
Agenda items for off-week work session will be advertised in the newspaper to
encourage public participation.
Visitor Presentations will be restricted to regular meetings.
Councilwoman Jansen also suggested that a larger table to accommodate staff and
possible visitors would help to facilitate participation in the work session. She suggests
that the table accommodate 11 to 12 people.
Advertising Changes:
Work session listings will note discussion of consent agenda items and all other items
to be discussed. Off-week work session agendas need to be added to the
advertising rotation.
Staff suggested placing the proposed changes on the next City Council agenda for action.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.