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02.10.2025 CC MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilmember McDonald, Councilmember Schubert, Councilmember von Oven, and Councilmember Kimber. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; George Bender, Assistant City Engineer; Patrick Gavin, Communications Manager PUBLIC PRESENT: Ruth Kinkade, Chanhassen Linda Paulson, 7603 Frontier Trail Corey Kohnen, Highland Drive James Mady, 7338 Frontier Trail Jennifer Davidson, 7500 Frontier Trail Debbie Loyd, 7302 Laredo Drive Mark Davidson, 7500 Frontier Trail PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None. CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember Kimber seconded that the City Council approve the following consent agenda items 1 through 9 pursuant to the City Manager’s recommendations: 1. Approve City Council Minutes dated January 27, 2025 2. Approve City Council Work Session Minutes dated January 27, 2025 3. Receive Park and Recreation Commission Minutes dated December 10, 2024 4. Approve Claims Paid dated February 10, 2025 5. Approve Letter of Intent and Gift Agreement to acquire property for Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center 6. Approve Agreement with Roers for Fire Training at the Country Inn and Suites City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 2 7. Approve Quotes for Disassembly, Transport, Storage, and Assembly of Office Furniture 8. Resolution 2025-14: Donation of kitchen equipment to Humanity Alliance 9. Resolution 2025-15 Accepting Public Streets & Utility Improvements within the Erhart Farms Development All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS. 1. Citizen Action Request: Ruth Kinkade Ruth Kinkade, Chanhassen, requested that the city allow an accessory 400-square foot dwelling unit for senior citizens to live in. She stated it would eliminate the costs of assisted living and emergency care and allow for residents to live near family. She said that allowing this accessory dwelling unit would increase property value. Linda Paulson, 7603 Frontier Trail, began discussing the road construction project. Mayor Ryan suggested she present her comments during the public hearing. PUBLIC HEARINGS. 1. Resolution 2025-16: Accept Feasibility Study, Conduct Public Improvement Hearing, and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the 2025 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 25-01 George Bender, Assistant City Engineer, reviewed the 2025 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project. He provided an overview of the project schedule with the different tasks to be completed. He explained the proposed project areas and scope. He summarized the public engagement effort for the project, including a previous open house. Mr. Bender explained the planned additional engagement efforts, including the PMP Video series based on the 2024 projects and refrigerator magnets for inspector contact information. He summarized the public feedback summary, noting that most residents were not in favor of the sidewalk addition and the addition of “no parking” along the entire corridor. Mr. Bender explained the street project funding. He presented the estimated budget and cost summary. He presented the preliminary assessment map. He showed a map of the Frontier Sidewalk and explained the estimated cost of $750,000 from a feasibility perspective. He summarized the “no parking” concept and stated that most of the feedback received was opposition. He provided a preliminary assessment summary amount for each area. City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 3 Councilmember McDonald asked for clarification about residents not being in favor of sidewalks but were in favor of the safety of the road. He asked whether safety was for walking on the road or other concerns. Mr. Bender responded that the feedback was related to residents having to walk in the road on the corridor and not having a safe zone apart from traffic. Councilmember McDonald asked if there were any other options. Mr. Bender said that the “no parking” requirement was in response to safety. With cars parked on the side of the road, it makes it harder for emergency response and residents must walk around parked cars. He said that adding a sidewalk in a built-up neighborhood is challenging. Councilmember McDonald asked if anyone brought up the increased maintenance for homeowners, especially regarding shoveling the sidewalks in the winter. Mr. Bender said putting a sidewalk into a built-up neighborhood would ask for something of every property. Councilmember McDonald mentioned that the City of St. Paul was having issues with the sidewalks being cleared since many elderly live along the route. He asked if it would be possible to widen the road. Mr. Bender responded that it would be challenging and more expensive in a rehabilitation area since they are trying to save the curve. He said that on a 31-foot roadway, people would still walk in proximity of traffic. Councilmember Kimber asked if the timeline was impacted by the decision to build a sidewalk. Mr. Bender responded that a vast majority of construction would be done by substantial completion. He explained that the difference between substantial and final completion would be corrections to the project before putting the final product on top. Mayor Ryan said that the assessment conversation among the City Council would take place at the assessment public hearing where there are real numbers. Mr. Bender said that the feasibility study is equivalent to a thirty percent design before starting the final design. He said that the final numbers could go down as they hone the design. Mayor Ryan asked if the second open house would discuss construction staging and logistics. Mr. Bender responded that they would invite the contractor to the second open house. They try to pass on the lowest assessment numbers to property owners. Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing. Corey Kohnen, Highland Drive, said he received approximately $15,000 of assessment. He would need to put in a new driveway and retaining wall. He stated other property owners received a lower assessment. He voiced appreciation to finish the road, but asked who would pay for the portion of the Chapel Hill roadway. City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 4 James Mady, 7338 Frontier Trail, said he paid for the assessment completed in 1990. He asked the difference between the mill and overlay and the reclamation. He reviewed the previous work done on Frontier Trail and expressed concerns with the new plan. Jennifer Davidson, 7500 Frontier Trail, stated that the residents would like a sidewalk, but the large assessment costs and increased sales tax for the Community Center made the decision difficult. She stated that the project seemed like it was to just install curbs. She asked if there were any other ways to address safety issues on the road, such as lights or speed enforcement. She discussed visibility concerns with tree limb growth. Linda Paulson, 7603 Frontier Trail, stated that clear-cutting trees to put in sidewalks was a bad idea. She suggested using the Darth Vadar to tell if people are speeding. She said that there could be reduced speed to help divert traffic. She voiced a need to protect residents. She expressed a need to protect the trees. She suggested getting rid of guard rails. She suggested measuring how many residents walk up and down the road and highlighted the importance of keeping Chanhassen walkable. Debbie Loyd, 7302 Laredo Drive, said the curb was adjacent to an association with voting rights. She said they put up no parking signs years ago because people were parking their cars and trailers along the corridor. She stated it was important for the no parking signs to remain. She expressed the need to slow down the speeds and that sidewalks were not necessary. Mark Davidson, 7500 Frontier Trail, voiced concerns about the low-bid contract. He said it would be beneficial for the contractor to complete the project most efficiently, so the problem does not need to be addressed. He suggested hiring a good contractor to limit change orders and additional costs. Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing. Mayor Ryan said that the assessment costs were a repeated concern. She asked if Mr. Bender would like to address the process before the assessment hearing. She asked about the payment of the portion around Chapel Hill. Mr. Bender displayed the preliminary assessment map. He said that Chapel Hills' main access is off the Great Plains, so their assessment was completed with last year’s project based on the current assessment policy. He said that the assessment is impacted by the density. He said that the amount was a preliminary assessment based on strict calculation. He said that the design would be refined, which would impact the costs. Mayor Ryan said that taking a harder look at the costs was appreciated. She stated that the $15,000 assessment cost would be top-of-mind for residents. She asked for a better understanding of the difference between reclamation and an overlay. City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 5 Mr. Bender said that reclamation is a recycling of the pavement surface. He explained the process. He discussed issues with drainage and compaction associated with freezing and thawing. He discussed a mill-and-overlay and stated that the pavement is monitored to determine the right treatment. Mayor Ryan said there were concerns about assessment, taxes, and sales tax. Mr. Bender said that in the reconstruction area, you would see the curb. He explained that the reconstruction project would rebuild the road area. He said he heard concerns about Frontier Trail having drainage issues. He stated that the reconstruction would address these concerns. He commented that this project would increase the longevity of the roadway project. He discussed the maintenance of city services for sanitary sewer and water mains. Mayor Ryan said there were concerns about speed and safety. Mr. Bender said there would be more tree-trimming. He said if the project moved forward, there would be consideration about what trees to protect. He said if the sidewalk was not a part of the design, that would impact trees. He described all the considerations to determine the maintenance of trees. Mayor Ryan clarified that they would connect with a property owner before tree removal. She voiced appreciation for the comments. She discussed challenges with the project last year and asked Mr. Bender to explain the low-bid process for governments. Mr. Bender stated that Minnesota Statutes require cities to go with the low bidder. He said that it would be the lowest responsible bidder. Mayor Ryan asked if the city would provide contingency plans with the request for proposals. Mr. Bender responded that there were items written in the general contracts about the access to properties and conditions of the roadway. He explained how they enforced the requirement on the contractor previously but noted that the process is not perfect. Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer, commented that they take the qualifications written in the contracts seriously. He said that the more requirements written in the contracts could create more expensive bids. Mayor Ryan said that they wanted to show the city requests high qualifications. Councilmember Schubert said that Frontier Trail uses the other entrance for school bus drop- offs. Councilmember von Oven asked if the removal of the sidewalk would impact assessment values. Mr. Bender responded that the costs of the sidewalk were not included in the assessment values. Mayor Ryan proposed continuing conversations about the parking/no parking across the city and asked for feedback about the inclusion of the sidewalk. City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 6 Councilmember von Oven said he would not force the sidewalk onto residents. He said that the road would not be safer without the sidewalk, and he said it would be important to calibrate expectations when going on walks. He said that walking on the road with additional lights or speed reduction measures would not guarantee additional safety. He said that the parking conversation would be addressed on a broader scale. Councilmember McDonald discussed the safety of the road. He stated that road safety could not be addressed without possible additional financing. He voiced concerns about the increased costs of the assessment compared to other sections. He said the system for road rehabilitation was not going to change, but there could be options to address this specific assessment. He voiced favor about discussing the parking in a different conversation. He discussed the need to readjust expectations. Councilmember Kimber voiced an agreement with the other Councilmembers. He said that he was not favoring the sidewalk, but there needs to be decisions about parking on the roads. He suggested alternate bidding to provide options to the residents. He said if safety was a concern, alternate bidding was the best option. Councilmember Schubert said that the standing water on the road forced residents to walk toward the center of the road. She commented that addressing drainage, increased lighting, and no parking conversations could increase the safety of the road. She said she would be open to talking with the residents about speed reduction. Mayor Ryan talked about parking decisions in the city. She said if they do not move forward with no parking, it would be concerning for trailers to park in this corridor. She said most of the City Council seemed opposed to the sidewalk. Mr. Bender said that there were expenses related to the alternate bidding about the sidewalk. He asked if there was no desire for a sidewalk, they could spend their time better elsewhere. Mayor Ryan voiced appreciation for the residents’ engagement with the project. She said there would be stages before moving forward with the project. She described the continued meetings with the residents, the City Council, and the City Staff. Councilmember von Oven moved, Councilmember Schubert seconded that the Chanhassen City Council adopt a resolution accepting the feasibility study, ordering the improvements, and authorizing the preparation of plans and specifications for the 2025 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 25-01. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS. None. City Council Minutes – February 10, 2025 7 COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. Councilmember von Oven thanked the Communications Director for the Chan Check-In. He said that Councilmember McDonald and he went to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to watch Grease. He encouraged individuals to attend the show. Councilmember von Oven said that Feb Fest went well and said fifty prizes were given away. Councilmember McDonald encouraged individuals to go see Grease at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. He discussed the commonalities he discovered with Councilmember von Oven while watching the play. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. 1. Receive the Fourth Quarter 2024 Economic Development Activity Report CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION. 1. Chanhassen 0.5% Sales and Use Tax 2. 2025 CCSO Work Plan Councilmember Schubert moved, Councilmember von Oven 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 8:34 p.m. Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen City Manager Prepared by Jenny Potter City Clerk