04-14-2025 CC WS1
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
April 14, 2025
Mayor Ryan called the work session to order at 5:36 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilmember von Oven, Councilmember
Kimber, Councilmember McDonald, Councilmember Schubert
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Charlie Howley, Public Works
Director/City Engineer; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager; Patrick Gavin, Communications
Manager; Jerry Ruegemer, Parks Director; Eric Maass, Community Development Director;
George Bender, Assistant City Engineer; Andrew Heger, Fire Chief; Jenny Potter, City Clerk
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Assessment Policy Updates
Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer and George Bender, Assistant City
Engineer, discussed the fee schedule and funding impact of a flat rate, noting that while adopting
a flat rate would shift some reconstruction project costs to the city, it would not require new
revenue and remain manageable within existing fund balances. Mr. Howley explained that the
proposed rates would be reviewed annually and adjusted for inflation, with more comprehensive
evaluations occurring every few years to ensure accuracy and compliance with state assessment
procedures.
The City Council agreed to adopt a flat rate of $2,850/unit for mill and overlay projects
(regardless of depth utilized), $5,000/unit for full depth reclamation projects, and $9,270/unit for
a full reconstruction.
Mayor Ryan recessed the work session at 6:58 P.M.
Mayor Ryan reconvened the work session at 8:05 P.M.
Sports Facilities Company Introduction
Jim Arnold from Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) spoke to councilmembers about their
services and offerings, which include end-to-end services for planning, developing and managing
sports, recreation and community venues. The city has engaged with SFC to develop a detailed
financial forecast that outlines the expected revenues, expenses and overall financial
sustainability of the future Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center.
City Council Work Session Minutes – April 14, 2025
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Review Draft Ordinances
Eric Maass, Community Development Director, presented a draft ordinance that would allow
attached and internal ADUs through an administrative building permit process. The City Council
affirmed their support to move the ordinance specific to attached and internal ADUs forward for
Planning Commission review and a public hearing. The City Council also reviewed a separate
draft ordinance regarding detached ADUs, prompted by previous interest in expanding housing
options and recent citizen inquiries. Staff outlined the City Attorney’s recommendation that
conditional use permit, not variances, be the appropriate review mechanism for detached ADUs,
should the City Council wish to pursue them in A-2, RR or RSF zoning districts. Additionally,
the City Council was asked to weigh in on how the city interprets what constitutes a “dwelling
unit,” using a recent project example to explore the distinction between wet bars and full
kitchens under the zoning code.
The City Council expressed its preference that decisions around proposed building projects that
have components of a dwelling unit, but not all required components, remain at city staff
discretion for the time being, trusting staff to incorporate councilmember concerns into future
recommendations.
Winter Parking and No Parking Policies
Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer, revisited a resident petition requesting
the removal of No Parking designations on Kiowa Avenue, Iroquois Avenue and Huron
Avenue—part of the 2024 Street Improvement Project (24-01). Originally discussed at the
January 13 work session, the No Parking designation was implemented to comply with City
Code and the Minnesota State Fire Code, ensuring adequate fire apparatus access on streets with
limited width. While roughly two-thirds of directly affected residents supported the petition, staff
emphasized that the designation aligns with long-standing safety protocols, especially on streets
without sidewalks. Given the broader implications of similar situations across the city, the City
Council opted to discuss the matter as part of a potential city-wide policy review. Staff also
incorporated feedback from a separate Citizen Action Request related to winter no-parking
regulations, allowing both issues to be considered together for consistency and direction.
The City Council asked for further time to assess the city’s No Parking designations in order to
think more holistically about what changes, if any, should be made to City Code to create the
most sensible policy. The council said it would respond soon to the specific resident petition on
Kiowa Avenue, Iroquois Avenue and Huron Avenues.
Mr. Howley presented the City Council with several different methods to tweak the city’s winter
no-parking rules and procedures. The current policy is: On-street parking is prohibited between
November 1 and April 1 between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. On-street parking is also
prohibited when there are two inches or more of snow on a street, the street is not plowed across
its full width, or if the city's Public Works Director determines the street is not safely passable by
maintenance and/or emergency vehicles or equipment.
Options presented included removing the winter-long blanket parking ban and changing to
enforcing parking restrictions any time there’s 1/2 inches of snow until plowing is complete. The
City Council Work Session Minutes – April 14, 2025
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intent was to give residents more flexibility for on-street parking during the winter, such as when
there is no snow.
The City Council expressed their preference to keep the city’s winter parking policy as is with no
changes.
Mayor Ryan adjourned the work session at 9:43 P.M.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Jenny Potter
City Clerk