What an exciting introduction! My first meeting as a new member of the Chaska City Council started early...and ran late! Council meetings usually begin at 7:00 p.m., but on Monday, January 5th, we were asked to come in 30 minutes early so we could interview interested candidates for open positions on various city commissions. Several fine Chaska residents applied, and it was nice to see such a large turnout. Unfortunately, that also set the stage for some very difficult decisions.

We started the evening by interviewing the eight individuals who filled out applications for the three available positions on the city planning commission (I am told this particular application was new this year). Since current members of a commission are usually given the first chance to return for another term if interested, and since I've had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Chad Hewitt on the Chaska Planning Commission for several years, I was honored to nominate him for another term. That was the easy part! Each of the remaining candidates brought different skill sets and levels/types of experience to the table - they were certainly a well-qualified group. As the interviews progressed, various members of the council liked different characteristics of the applicants. And yet, it came down to the fact that we had seven interested people and just two alternate positions to fill. It was obviously going to be a very difficult decision, and I personally wish we could have chosen several more. In the end, Dan Keyport and Jean Personius were nominated, seconded, and approved to sit on the planning commission. Unfortunately, in the process we ended up turning away several well-qualified people. I sincerely hope those individuals will consider applying again next year. I am, however, pleased to note that two of them also expressed an interest in serving on the Chaska Human Rights Commission.

We also approved two current members of the Historic Preservation Commission, Joyce Bohn and Mark Kalscheuer, to serve for another term, and invited Debbie Boe to serve as a second alternate (yes, she is my wife). The open seats on the Parks Commission and the SW Transit Commission were not filled that night.

In addition to the challenging task of filling the open spots on the various commissions that night, there were other important items on the agenda as well. The council held a public hearing and discussed a DEED Small Cities Grant application for Block 53 (The Landing) in downtown Chaska - it will be good to see something coming to that location! We then studied and approved the concept for a traffic signal to be located at the corner of Highway 41 and Second Street downtown. Finally, we approved an assessment agreement with Sage Group (the Goodman Group) for improvements associated with the proposed Legends project at Hazeltine. What a busy first night it was!

It should be noted that because of all of the interviewing that night, and the tough decisions that followed, our first council meeting of the year did not start until just after 8:00 p.m.. Our apologies to those of you who were glued to Channel 15 at 7 p.m., wondering where the council meeting was!

Since it's the namesake of your blog, I thought I'd post this here: The Scott County Historical Society (235 Fuller Street South in Shakopee) is screening the 1939 Frank Capra film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur at 7 p.m., Feb. 6. The event is free, with popcorn and soda available for purchase.

I know the citizens of Chaska will be watching closely in the upcoming months to see if you try to build a dam on the site of a boys camp. (That's a movie reference, for those who haven't seen "Mr. Smith.")

Our February 2 meeting started with a short Work Session at 6:00 pm. The City Administrator highlighted two items of interest for the Council and Mayor. (1) Police Administrative Fines are a tool that are being used by increasing numbers of municipalities across Minnesota. Administrative Fines are seen as a way to allow some first time offenders with minor traffic violations to pay a lower fine while still learning a valuable lesson - all by simply eliminating "fees" off the top. Let's say a motorist is stopped for speeding in Chaska, going ten miles per hour over the speed limit. If the Police write a ticket, the district court might impose a fine of $40. But the speeding ticket could end up costing the driver $110. That's because $70 in state surcharges are added to the ticket (and I've heard those surcharges have nearly doubled this past year). Administrative fines could allow some fines to be reduced for the first violation. Chaska may look into the feasibility of this as a way of sending a message to local drivers without draining their bank account. (2) We then discussed the possibility that the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) Hometown Wind Power Program will encourage each participating community to construct/own a small wind generating turbine (please note: these units are much smaller than those large turbines you may have seen in southwestern Minnesota, along the Buffalo Ridge). In addition to cashing in on the winds that seem to blow in our area throughout the year, these turbines will also contribute toward the requirement under Minnesota law that 25 percent of the MMPA's consumed power must be derived from renewable resources by 2025. This will be discussed at greater length in the future, both by the Council and interested citizens. Public input is vital as we consider the benefits of the program, and contemplate potential locations for a turbine in Chaska.

As our regular meeting began, Norm Kraus gave the Council a report on how things are going with the Klein Mansion Restaurant. Apparently some additional problems have been discovered which have added extra expense to the remodeling process and pushed them past their budget. This, along with the current economic situation, has caused progress to slow. Mr. Kraus reported that they are looking at later this spring as the time that they will make a final decision on whether to move forward or not. He said that they still believe the vision of fine dinning in the Klein Mansion is workable, and they hope to move forward this summer.

The Council considered approving a tobacco license and two solicitor's licenses. I shared concerns I have heard from several residents about door-to-door sales people who seemingly watch for residents to arrive home from work, and then literally "pounce" on them as they walk in their home. Solicitors operating in Chaska must have a license, and the City keeps track of complaints received. If you are concerned about a solicitor and how they are operating, be sure to call the Police and share those concerns. You can always ask the sales person to show you a copy of their Solicitor's License, which they must have to operate in our city. If they don't have one, be sure to call Chaska Police.

We then paid some bills for the City, and ended the meeting with "Other Business." We summarized council committee assignments. Then I shared a question that several people have asked me: what is the difference between a "Work Session" and a "Regular Agenda Item?" Matt Podhradsky answered that a "work session" allows discussion on a general concept or specific item, without the need for any official action to be taken (no need to pass or approve anything), whereas a "regular agenda item" is often expected to be approved or denied....or some sort of action to be taken. It should be noted that any member of the public can attend a "work session" if they are interested, and I would encourage you to do so. It is a great way to learn more about issues of interest to you.

I attended the February meeting of the Jonathan Association Board of Directors on Tuesday night. Since a good portion of Jonathan is located within Ward 2, I wanted to introduce myself and see if the JA Board had questions regarding any City issues. We talked a bit about stop signs, and also the traffic challenges that currrently exist at the intersection of Engler and Clover Ridge Drive. Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik, who represents District 3 on the County Board (District 3 also contains a fair portion of Jonathan), also attended the meeting and addressed the Engler (Co Rd 10) and Clover Ridge Drive intersection. We agreed that both the City and the County are aware of the traffic troubles that occur at that corner during specific times of the day. Since Clover Ridge Drive is a city street, and Engler is a county road at that point, both the city and the county will need to work together for a solution. However, Commissioner Maluchnik reminded the Board that since the intersection is located near the point where MN Hwy 212 crosses Co Rd 10, MnDOT will likely also have some input into any potential solutions. I believe that upcoming development to the south of that intersection will help drive (pardon the pun) the construction of a traffic signal at that particular corner at some point in the near future.

City Council - February 23 - We began our meeting with a Work Session at 6 pm tonight, discussing the Commitment to Community Task Force (CCTF) that is being formed. This is actually the third CCTF in Chaska - the first was created in the early 1990's and the second in the early 2000's. Many tremendous concepts have come to fruition through these prior CCTFs, including the Chaska Community Center, the Chaska History Center, the Community Center Theatre addition, and the Lodge. The CCTF will seek to develop strategies to enhance and preserve Chaska’s small town values and image. Specifically, the mission of the task force is: to enhance the City of Chaska's "sense of community" including: Community Pride, Community Identity, Community Opportunities, and Community Involvement. Watch for more information coming soon, or contact city hall to place your name on the list of volunteers. We are seeking around 16 individuals to work together on this project, including members of various organizations from around town, along with at least 6 Chaska residents to serve as "at-large" members who do not necessarily belong to any particular group or organization. Residents from all parts of town are needed for this Task Force. The City of Chaska hopes to accomplish great things with the 3rd Commitment to Community Task Force, and we urge you to step forward and be a part of those accomplishments!

Our regular meeting began at 7 pm sharp. We had 2 people speak under the "Visitor Presentation" section of the agenda. First, Mario Cortolezzis told the council about the SAFER program (Search and Find Emergency Responders), which promotes the use of transponders and receivers to aid in the rescue of a missing child (visit www.safermn.net for more information on this program). Next, Dave Jacobson, the Chief Operating Officer for SouthWest Transit, presented the State of the Agency summary to the council. SWT is a top-notch organization. Over the past year, they have continued to provide great service to our community and opened a new Park-and-Ride facility at the intersection of Hwy 212 and 41. They continue to perform at levels that are well above the national average, and they have received numerous awards from across the country. Ridership is consistently increasing, a trend that is expected to continue as fuel prices begin to rise once again.

The "Consent Agenda" included approving the minutes from several recent meetings (Planning Commission, Park and Rec Board, and the EDA), approving a tobacco license for the Gas Depot, and approving a permit allowing Fresh Seasons Market of Victoria to distribute information within the city limits of Chaska (I did pull that last item for a brief discussion, in an effort to assure that pesky salespeople will not pester or harass Chaska residents at their own front door). The final consent agenda item was related to the new Michael's Foods plant which is coming to Chaska, but that item was pulled for further discussion as the next agenda item.

Michael Foods has purchased the former Mammoth building on Highway 41 near 82nd Street. They are currently investing millions of dollars into updates and improvements within that 175,000 square foot building, where they will soon begin operating a potato processing plant. Council members and nearby residents questioned a representative from Michael Foods regarding a report that recently aired on WCCO TV, describing problems at their current location in Minneapolis. That plant, a 1940's era building, has suffered some problems including air quality and odor complaints. We were told that this new Chaska facility will not only feature new and more efficient waste treatment technology (thus eliminating the odor problems), but the layout of this new building should also lend itself to a more efficient manufacturing work-flow. Both the City of Chaska and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will watch closely as operations begin in earnest within the next year or so.

The Goodman Group appeared before the council requesting the approval of a Preliminary Plat, Preliminary Site/Building Plans, and the rezoning of their property at the NE corner of Hazeltine and Highway 41 to PMD-18. This project is very exciting, and I believe it will offer a quality level of senior housing and assisted living options for our community. Construction will begin around one year from now. The council approved the requests.

The council was then asked to consider closing the McKnight Road Bridge due to public safety concerns. The City Engineer provided several photographs that showed a rapidly deteriorating bridge. It was explained that while the 96 year old bridge has deteriorated much more rapidly than was anticipated just a few years ago, large and heavy vehicles still continue to drive over that structure - despite signage prohibiting such usage. Given the rapid rate of decline of the structure, it was felt that closing and removing the bridge was our best option. Several nearby residents spoke to the council, addressing their concerns (which included the quality of the road itself, the increased traffic expected on 82nd Street once the bridge is closed, and the timeframe for replacing the structure). The city hopes to replace that bridge within 1-3 years, depending on whether money from the federal stimulus package or state funding for infrastructure replacement is utilized. It should be noted that the actual physical makeup of this bridge makes structure collapse possible with the failure of any individual component of the structure...much like occurred with the 35-W bridge near downtown Minneapolis last year. The council approved this request.

Near the end of the meeting, I had three items to share under the "Other Business" heading. Item #1 was to congratulate the Chaska High School Quiz Bowl team on winning the State Championship by defeating 2-time defending champ Eden Prairie. The Chaska team, made up of Sam Peterson, Jordan Hiller, Scott Miller, and Trevor Vossberg (and coaches Chris Lenius and Krista Hammann) topped 100 teams from 39 schools to capture the honors. Item #2 involved boulevard trees in various neighborhoods throughout Chaska, and questioning who is responsible for upkeep and replacement of those trees. City Administrator Matt Podhradsky indicated that while adjacent property owners are responsible for boulevard trees in older neighborhoods in downtown Chaska, the trees in newer neighborhoods such as Clover Ridge are the responsibility of the homeowners association (such as the Jonathan Association, in the case of Clover Ridge). When I asked if that responsibility is permanent, or if it could be side-stepped by a particular association, the administrator said that in the case of Clover Ridge, for example, the developers agreement specifies that Jonathan is the responsible party, so that responsibility could not be transferred or eliminated. Finally, question #3 involved progress on improving the City of Chaska web page. Podhradsky stated that progress is definitely being made. When I told him that several interested citizens had shared with me a desire to be of assistance, Podhradsky requested that any interested residents contact the city and share their thoughts, suggestions, and expertise for improving our web page.

Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2nd, in the City Hall Council Chamber.

I am looking into this, and I hope to have a clearer understanding in the near future.

Traditions at Clover Ridge - I attended the Clover Traditions Annual Meeting on March 4th. As the City Council representative from Ward 2, I believe it is important to stay familiar with the issues facing the residents from my Ward. This particular association represents the townhome portion of the Traditions neighborhood that was built by Town and Country.

Traditions at Clover Ridge has a good Association, and their Board does a nice job overseeing things in their area. The goals of that Association are to maintain their property values, operate efficiently, provide reasonable services, maintain consistent looks and quality, and to seek input from their residents. They are very proactive and forward thinking in many ways. For example, they cut their common electric bill by a substantial amount simply by replacing exterior incandescent light bulbs with more efficient CFLs. They have struggled with "pet issues" on occasion, due in-part to the high density in that portion of Clover Ridge. Their solution to that problem has been to institute a pet registration program. Pet registration provides several benefits for residents. Not only can the association quickly identify problem pets, but they can also quickly identify a pet that is running loose so that pet can be safely reunited with their owners. The actual registration itself is free, but residents who do not register their pets can face a rather substantial fine...so it is well worth it for residents to complete the registration process...now that is a creative way to address a challenging problem!

The association has begun a tree fertilization and maintenance program that is resulting in healthier trees. They continue to work to address pet cleanup and leash concerns. The residents are working with their management firm, Gittleman Management, to assure prompt (and quiet) snow removal in the overnight hours after a snow event. Residents also expressed concern about the speed of drivers on Clover Ridge Drive. I suggested that they call the City of Chaska and request additional police patrols when they notice that occurring. They also elected 3 Board Members for the coming year.

Saturday night I attended a dinner at the Chaska American Legion Post 57 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the American Legion. That dinner event was very well attended, with a large crowd on hand to celebrate the founding of that wonderful organization way back in 1919. Attendees on Saturday evening included members of the Legion Family along with local elected officials. In addition to a great meal, we also enjoyed several inspiring speakers. That list of speakers included, in order of appearance: Steve Nelson (Post 57 Commander), Ralph Hanson (Chaplain), Ken Hammers (1st Vice Commander), Patti Bjorklund (National Security Chr), Dennis Lewiston (First and Third District Dept. Vice Commander), Doug Wendlandt (Third District Commander), Barbara Klehr (Third District Auxiliary President), Dave Vulcan (Third District S.A.L. Commander), Dave Priem (Carver County Veteran's Service Officer), Senator Julianne Ortman (Senator, District 34), Mayor Gary Van Eyll (Mayor of Chaska), Barb Nelson (Post 57 Auxiliary President), Bill Kath (Post 57 S.A.L. Commander), and Karen Kath (Auxiliary Chaplain).

My father was in the Army and fought in Korea many years ago, so I am proud to be a member of the Sons of the American Legion. For more information on that organization, visit www.sal.legion.org or call our local Legion Post at 952-448-4090.

The March 30th Chaska City Council meeting began at 7:00 pm. The first to speak under the Visitor Presentation portion of the agenda was Scott Knight, the Chief of the Chaska Police Department. Chief Knight presented to the Council the Policy Setter Award that he recently received from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), recognizing the City of Chaska for being the first city in Minnesota to pass a Social Host Ordinance to address the problem of underage drinking. Knight and Det. Sgt. Jon Kehrberg accepted the award on behalf of the City of Chaska on March 25 at the MADDs Statewide Recognition Ceremony in St. Paul.

Also speaking during the Visitor Presentation portion of the agenda were Lance and Arlan, two spokespersons from Comcast Cable. They addressed improvements that have been made in their system within Chaska since Time Warner became Comcast over two years ago. The City would like to remind residents that they have several ways to address concerns or complaints. Problems can first be solved by either calling 651-222-3333 or visiting www.comcast.com. If their problems can not be solved through those channels, a Chaska resident can then contact the City Administrator (Matthew Podhradsky) or the Assistant City Administrator (Bart Fischer) for assistance. The Franchise Agreement between Chaska and Comcast provides for those means to find solutions to customer complaints. Chaska resident Mike Hanlon also spoke before the council on this subject, bringing complaints to the attention of the Comcast spokespersons.

After approving the minutes from a previous City Council meeting and EDA meeting, the Council then established the date of April 20, 2009, for a public hearing related to two Federal Stimulus Projects: (1) Hazeltine Bluff Wetland and Ravine Restoration (located at the end of Wildflower Lane) and (2) Birdie Lane Retention Pond and Ravine Stabilization (located adjacent to the Hazeltine Water Tower). Staff will also publish proper notice of these Public Hearings as required.

Next, the Council approved 13 members of the new Commitment to Community Task Force (CCTF), which will begin meeting in April. This is the third CCTF to be formed in Chaska, and it follows on the footsteps of past CCTFs that accomplished many great things in our community (such as building the Chaska Community Center itself, the Theater and Arts CCC addition, the Livery Stable - Chaska History Center Renovation, the Lodge addition at the CCC, the Arts in Public Spaces project, the Neighborhood Block Party Wagon, the Chaska.net Residential Wi-Fi system, as well as taking in-depth looks into green spaces, neighborhood gathering opportunities, promotion of diversity, and improving transportation and communication, etc. The following individuals were appointed to fill the 2009 CCTF from various entities: Richard Kvitek (Park and Rec Board), Molly Kolvumaki (Human Rights Commission), Joyce Bohn (Heritage Preservation Commission), Troy Miller (Planning Commission), Jim Battenberg (the Jonathan Homeowners Association), Nancy Kracke (ISD 112), as well as six citizens serving at-large from around the community of Chaska: Kevin Norby, Bob Roepke, Mike Huang, Nicholas Mason, Jay Rohe, and Laxmi Govindan. The Council then had to decide who to name as the representative from the City Council. This was not an easy choice, as we had three council members who had expressed an interest in serving. I must admit that I was one of the three who wanted to serve on the CCTF, in part because I have seen the wonderful things past CCTFs have accomplished within our community and I see great potential for our community in the future. After much discussion, the council decided to make this appointment based on seniority so Chris Schulz was named as the City Council representative. It is always better to have too many interested applicants than too few. Finally, there are two Youth Representative positions that are still remaining to be filled.

The council then paid bills for the end of March.

Under "Other Business," I mentioned signs I have noticed around downtown that are faded and in need of replacement. The City Administrator said that those would be replaced with the upcoming reconstruction of the intersection at 2nd Street and Highway 41. I also mentioned that I had just received my tax statement from the county, and it showed a decrease in property values over the last year. We discussed the impact that could have on property owners and local units of government, and decided that we should have the county auditor speak before the council at some future date. Next, Councilmember Ford mentioned the Open House at the CCC on Sunday, paying tribute to Jay Rohe, Bob Lindall, and Dave Pokorney, for the years they have given to public service in Chaska. He also mentioned the upcoming PGA, and wondered what the city has planned. Matt highlighted a few things, including a jazz festival in City Square Park during that week. Councilmember Businaro asked about upcoming planned developments within the city, and Matt summarized several including: (The Landing/Block 53, Gateway, apartments SE of the CCC on Engler, another building coming in SW of the corner of 41 and Engler, Victoria Point, Clover Field, Hazeltine Plaza, the Ridgeview ER (on target for this year), the Hospice Center near Lake Bavaria (almost completed), Ed Campus (key agreements coming in April), etc. Matt was also asked about the new and improved City Web Site, and he indicated that Phase I should be rolling out by April 15, followed by a Phase II and III in the near future. This is good news, as improvements are definitely needed to make our web site more user-friendly! And, last but not least, Mayor Gary Van Eyll thanked the many residents who had contacted him or sent cards to wish him well after his recent surgery. He is recuperating nicely, and wanted folks to know that he appreciated their thoughts and prayers.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. Our next meeting will be held on Monday, April 6th at 7:00 pm in the Chaska City Hall in downtown Chaska.

I attended a Jonathan Association Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday night, April 14, as the Chaska City Council representative for Ward 2. A good number of Ward 2 residents are also members of the Jonathan Association, so I like to attend their monthly meetings on occasion.

I have received inquiries from several area residents regarding boulevard trees over these past several months - asking me who is responsible for the upkeep of those trees - so I have looked into some Development Agreements in an effort to find an answer to those questions. At last night's meeting, I shared my findings from those documents with the Jonathan Board of Directors: the Homeowners Association is responsible for maintaining (and replacing) all boulevard trees in neighborhoods such as Clover Ridge (other than possibly the townhome phases). I understand that the Association is working on a new Tree Policy, but I have not had the chance to study that document yet to see how well it lines up with the dictates of the Development Agreements. I did invite a representative or two from the Association to sit down with a couple of representatives from the City to discuss various areas, infrastructure, and responsibilities. I believe that efforts such as this can help to clear up any misunderstandings that might exist.

The Board also shared their pleasure regarding the new walkway along the recently reconstructed Bavaria Road. Apparently this walkway is already seeing heavy usage by nearby residents, now that spring has finally arrived.

And finally, as a member of the Jonathan Association, I shared a request to expand the Jonathan Association Spring Cleanup Day in the future to include "litter" in addition to "yard waste," which is currently the focus of that event. We had several minutes of good healthy discussion on that subject.

Clover Ridge Village Homeowners Association

I attended the April 23 meeting of the Clover Ridge Village Homeowners Association, as the City Council representative from Ward II. There were four Board members present: Duane, Jack, Marilyn, and Cheryl (who is from their management company, Gassen). The Board and Gassen had a few questions for me regarding issues with the City of Chaska. I referred them on to the correct person within the City, and gave them my contact information in case they need further assistance.

The CRV Association is doing very well, and they seem to be suffering less from various 'economic challenges' than most Associations of similar size and make-up. The meeting was done in less than one hour - it was a very efficient meeting - and I appreciate the invitation to attend!

Chaska City Council, 5/4/09

Our City Council meeting on May 4 began with a workshop at 6:00 p.m., where the Council was briefed on the 2009-2010 budget. In a nutshell, things are tight...but Chaska is in better shape than most communities of similar size and locale. We will likely receive little or no Local Government Aid (LGA) from the State of Minnesota this year, due to their budget shortfalls. In addition, we will likely receive little or no Market Value Homestead Credit from the State - money promised to local units of government by the State to offset lower property tax income due to the Homestead Tax Credit (a homestead credit is a statutory reduction to the general property tax for certain property that is occupied as a person's primary place of residence). Fortunately Chaska does run very lean and efficient. We have eliminated two positions, deferred a position, and also deferred a vehicle purchase, in an effort to tighten our belt. We assume that property values will remain steady to slightly decline over the next year, but those values have stabilized already compared to last year.

Our workshop also discussed the Hometown Wind Power Program, through which the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) will provide one wind turbine to each of the 11 member cities, including Chaska. These wind turbines will help the MMPA meet the Minnesota state mandate for 12 percent renewable energy by 2012. As Chaska moves forward with the process of choosing the best site on which to locate their wind turbine, two locations have risen to the top: Pioneer Ridge and Clover Ridge. The City will host a neighborhood meeting for each location to present information to local residents, answer any questions that those residents may have, and listen to questions and/or concerns. The locations and dates of the neighborhood meetings will be posted on the City web page, and I certainly will post that information in this blog as soon as it is available.

The City Council meeting began at 7:00 pm. During the Visitor Presentation, Jim Battenberg of the Jonathan Association spoke to the Council on three items: (1) thanking the City for hosting Operation Community Pride on Saturday, May 2, in downtown Chaska. He reported that 80 truckloads of yard waste came to Athletic Park from the Jonathan Association alone; (2) thanked me (Greg Boe) for organizing the Clover Ridge neighborhood cleanup. We hope that more neighborhoods will embrace such an undertaking in the future, and (3) he asked about whether residents can spray their own ponds. The answer to that question is complex, as it depends on many variables. Matt Podhradsky, City Administrator, said he would talk further with Mr. Battenberg, and put him in touch with the DNR for more detailed answers to that difficult question.

The Consent Agenda was the next item on the Agenda, and originally included eight items: approval of minutes from the April 20 EDA meeting, approved continuance of a public hearing for liquor license fee adjustments, adopt a proclamation for Municipal Clerks Week, set a public hearing date to amend Chapter 2 Article III Section 20-a Polling Places for June 1, approve 2008 Interfund Transfers, approve utility Red Flag policy, adopt a resolution approving a solicitor's license for Elite Waste Disposal, and adopt a resolution approving the final plat for North Meadow Ninth Addition. Councilmember Businaro requested to pull item #4 for further discussion, questioning the need to move one of the polling (voting) stations for Ward I from City Hall to the Moravian Church. After further discussion, that item was not acted upon. The remaining Consent Agenda items were approved.

A public hearing was held for two Federal Stimulus Clean Water Projects in Chaska: Birdie Lane and Hazeltine Bluff. Neighborhood sentiment seemed to be in support of both projects, and both locations were seeming to be much in need of attention. We hope the federal funding comes through, so that the projects can be completed fairly soon.

The next agenda item involved an appeal to Storm Sewer Utility Charges for Riverview Terrace. That item was continued to June 1, as the property owner was not present at this meeting.

Agenda item #10 was adopting Resolution 09027 to approve a budget amendment to include an I&I Energy Auditor Position. This position should save Chaska more money (by reducing the dollars we pay to Met Council for penalties and sewage treatment fees due to some sump pump flows being directed into the sanitary sewer rather than being day-lighted onto the ground surface (yard) as required. The Council also cancelled the May 18 meeting, scheduled a short meeting at the Chaska Community Center (CCC) on May 15 (12:30 to 4:00 p.m.), and paid some bills.

Under Other Business, Councilmember Schulz reminded Chaska residents that the Veterans Memorial Park Run was coming up on May 16th, and that interested people can still sign up at the CCC. He also mentioned that the Chaska Cubs will host their home opener on May 17. All in attendance agreed that the Cubs are great family entertainment! I had five quick items to share: (1) Michael Foods is moving forward with their improvements within their new plant, and will soon be hosting a Public Open House. Matt does not yet know the date for that open house, but I will post it here as soon as I know; (2) I requested that information and photographs on the Hometown Wind Power Program be posted for residents to study on the Chaska web site, and I was told that they would be available soon; (3) Project Community Pride was a success, with much yard waste brought to the Athletic Park complex on May 2. I was pleased to see the City provide litter disposal for the first time in conjunction with this particular event, and I urged residents to take a few minutes on occasion to pick up litter in their neighborhoods or along their favorite local trail.....perhaps bringing along their children and making it a fun family project! I also commented on seeing a few places (as I cleaned up litter around town) where residents had dumped yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, pieces of sod, and piles of brush, etc) into ravines or along trails or wetlands. Instead of doing that, I would suggest that people bring those types of materials to the Carver County Environmental Center (for a low fee of just $1) or to the City of Chaska cleanup events 2x/year for free, so that they can be properly managed. Matt Podhradsky also reminded residents that dumping your yard waste in such a manner is a violation of city ordinances; (4) I wanted to remind everyone that Christmas in May is coming up this next Saturday, and I hoped everyone would grab their paint brush or hammer and join us at the Guardian Angels school gym at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast, a T-shirt, and instructions for the day, and (5) I wanted to thank Matt Podhradsky and Tim Wiebe (from the City) and Nate Bostrom and Jim Battenberg (from the Jonathan Association) for joining me at a meeting to discuss several items including boulevard trees and ways to work together for greater efficiency. Next, Councilmember Ford discussed the Rotary Dinner (and the George C. Klein Award, given to Barbara Colhapp this year). He also thanked the many people who attended the memorial service for his wife at the Arboretum (I must say that was a very moving event, as several people from around the country shared some very touching thoughts and memories). Councilmember Businaro next addressed the upcoming Town Hall Meeting (with a "State of the City" speech) on May 27 at the CCC theatre, and the recent article in the Star Tribune on public golf courses in Minnesota. Matt said that the Chaska Town Course was unique because Chaska uses an enterprise fund so that it does not rely on property tax dollars to support the golf course as other communities do. Mayor Van Eyll discussed the recent retirement dinner for Jay Rohe, Dave Pokorney, and Bob Lindall, and shared thank you cards that he had received. He also thanked Chaska residents for participating in the Community Pride Project (1200 cubic yards of yard waste and 27 cubic yards of litter were collected).

Our next regular meeting will be on June 1, 2009, in the Chaska City Hall.

Here's some proof of Boe hard at work.

Wind Turbine meeting June 4th

The Chaska wind turbine neighborhood meeting for the two preferred windmill sites has been scheduled for Thursday June 4th from 6-8 pm in the Chaska City Hall. The meeting will be held as an on-going open house for the entire 2-hours, with a formal presentation scheduled for 6:45 pm. Notices should be mailed out to all nearby residents in advance of this meeting.

Click here to view a short presentation on the Hometown Wind Power Program, including descriptions of the turbines, and a look at each of the proposed turbine locations within Chaska.

Neighborhood meeting 5/21

A quick reminder of an upcoming neighborhood meeting that will be held at the new Michael Foods plant in Chaska (101 West 82nd Street) on Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm. This neighborhood meeting will offer information on the permit applicataion process for a water well at the Michael Foods plant, followed by a tour of their newly-renovated facility.

All interested residents are urged to attend this meeting.

The Michael Foods neighborhood meeting was held on Thursday, May 21, at the new Michael Foods plant in Chaska. Attending this meeting were representatives from Michael Foods, the Minnesota DNR, the City of Chaska (Mayor Van Eyll, Councilmember Chris Schulz, Councilmember Greg Boe, Councilmember Gino Businaro, and Water & Sewer Superintendent Dean Hylland), EH Renner & Sons (well drilling contractor for this project), four concerned neighbors, and a representative from the MN Landscape Arboretum.

The representative from the well company explained the process for drilling the new well for the plant, which will draw up to a maximum of 350 gpm (the actual volume pumped at any given moment will vary depending on production needs). The new Michael Foods well will be a FIG well, meaning that at 500+ feet deep it will draw from the Franconia/Ironton/Galesville Sandstone. By comparison, the nearest city well draws 1,750 gpm (a drift well located near Rainbow), while the nearest city FIG well draws 1,000 gpm (located near the water treatment plant).

The DNR representative highlighted the 2-step permitting process (MN Dept of Health and MN DNR), and also explained that there are mechanisms in place that are designed to protect aquifers and existing wells (both private and commercial/public). The well contractor explained that as long as there is a confining layer in place, this new well should not draw down the aquifer that the nearby private wells currently utilize. Once the new well is completed, they will pump maximum water volumes for a certain period of time as a test to monitor for any impact on nearby wells to verify proper confining layer isolation...or lack thereof.

Nearby residents had many questions about the integrity of their private wells, and the impact of the new Michael Foods well on those wells. They also shared other concerns, including noise and odors from the plant once it is up and running, as well as line-of-sight issues due to expansion of the plant and removal of trees, etc. Company officials indicated that the new plant should not have noise or odor problems (their old plant does have some odor problems, but this new plant will not use the same anaerobic waste water treatment system....so those problems should not occur here). The City of Chaska does have the ability to address noise and/or odor complaints, as does the State of Minnesota under certain circumstances. Representatives from the City of Chaska also questioned the representatives from Michael Foods on various issues, ranging from water usage to the notification process. Some of the neighbors indicated that they were not notified before work on the new well began, but we feel it is always better to be a good neighbor and error on the side of caution when it comes to notification and communication with any potentially impacted neighbors.

The evening ended with a tour of the facility and an explanation of the renovation that is in progress, as well as discussions on how the entire plant will function once they are up and running sometime around the first of the year. Everyone appreciated the chance to sit down with company officials and discuss various issues and concerns. We will continue to pursue open dialogue as things progress.

If you have any questions on the Michael Foods facility as their renovation project moves forward, please feel free to contact City Administrator Mathew Podhradsky or your City Council Representative.

June 1 City Council meeting -

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm. The Visitor Presentation was busy, with multiple groups wishing to speak before the Council. Several boy scouts were attending the meeting to watch local government in action, as many were working on their merit badges for communication and government. The next group was lead by the Police Chief (Scott Knight), Fire Chief (Tim Wiebe), and the Assistant Fire Chief (Bill Leinhart), who introduced three young Chaska heroes: Corey Bell, Blake Griffin, and Joseph Nelson - brave young men who saved the life of a neighbor (Steve Schmidt) when his home burned back on April 22nd. I applaud the courage of those Chaska residents, and their selfless efforts to save the life of another person! Chief Knight next introduced Officers Trent Wurtz and Mike Kleber, who have traveled all over the world to teach other police departments and both large and small cities how to recognize and address gang and youth problems before they begin. Their latest training opportunity took them to Canada, a trip that the receiving cities paid for in order to hear from these recognized experts on the subject. Officer Kleber told the Council that most every city has potential gang members either living in or visiting their city, but the key is to recognize those individuals and know how to act/react in a proactive fashion. Next, Les Dahlberg spoke on behalf of the Downtown Business Council, regarding that group's Historic Downtown Revitalization Goals. I like and support many of their goals and visions, including increased signage (to guide travelers on Hwy 212 into downtown Chaska); promoting a downtown that is filled with a healthy mix of specialty retail, office, service, restaurants, and entertainment; providing adequate parking for shoppers and visitors; improved trails (within downtown, connecting downtown to other parts of town, and connecting Chaska to other nearby towns); unique looks (cobblestone streets and/or sidewalks, planters), and so forth. Finally, two residents from Jackson Heights Mobile Home Park (located in Jackson Township within Scott County) spoke to the Council regarding the new Highway 41 River Crossing. Crystal Klein, from the All Parks Alliance for Change served as their interpreter.

The Consent Agenda was next, containing 4 items: approving the minutes from our May 13 meeting; approving Transient and Solicitor's Permits for Sever's Farm Market, Giant Contractors, and Clean Water Action; approving a temporary 3.2% Liquor License for the Chaska Legion Post 57 Wooden Bat Tournament; and approve a Refuse Hauler License for Organic Disposal LLC. I did have 2 questions: (1) since we are issuing several Solicitor's Permits, does the City provide residents with the ability to refuse solicitors from bothering Chaska residents in their homes? (for example, Shakopee Police will provide a sign to their residents when requested, that indicates their preference to not be contacted by door-to-door peddlers...violators can have their peddlers license suspended). Matt Podhradsky stated that while we do not provide such a sign to our residents, a resident can always make such a sign on their own - or simply tell a peddler that they do not wish to be contacted by solicitors - and any solicitor must respect such a request or face the loss of their Solicitors License. And (2) I asked if "Organic Disposal" will only be offering curbside recycling, or would they also offer garbage service and composting (I was told that they will indeed only be offering curbside recycling to Chaska residents).

Agenda Item #8 addressed the fact that our Liquor License Fee is considerably lower than surrounding communities. The Council approved a 3% increase, which will not bring us to within 10% of surrounding communities, but will take a step toward closing that gap without causing sudden financial hardship to local businesses. This subject will be revisited again over the coming months as we study reasonable options for next year.

Riverwoods 4th Addition was Item #9 on the Agenda, with a request for Preliminary Plat approval to construct six single-family homes in an area originally approved for townhomes. The current housing market indicates that single family homes like these would be more popular, so the developer sought approval for this change. The Council approved the request.

Next, Hazeltine National Golf Club requested approval of the Preliminary Site and Building Plans for a new Clubhouse. Plans call for construction to begin this fall - after the PGA Championship is finished - and be completed by September of 2010. While the club first studied refurbishing their existing clubhouse, it was found that such a move would have ended up costing as much or more than simply building a new one, especially once the steps necessary to meet accessibility requirements and such were added to the mix. However, in a way the old clubhouse will live on - since many of the large timbers from the existing clubhouse will be used in the new building. The new layout will lend itself to a nicer appearance as members and visitors enter the property. In addition, the construction of a holding pond will aid the City in our efforts to eliminate erosion in a nearby ravine that currently carries silt into Lake Hazeltine. The Council approved the Preliminary Site and Building Plans request.

The owners of Riverview Terrace appeared before the Council for Agenda Item #11 in order to appeal their Stormwater Utility Charges and request a refund of those fees. In 1983, the Minnesota Legislature authorized local governments to create “stormwater utilities” (Minnesota Statutes section 444.075) and to charge property owners for the use and the availability of stormwater facilities and for connections to those facilities. Funds obtained through a stormwater utility fee must be used to help a community to plan ahead for facilities and programs necessary to meet local needs and federal and state requirements for stormwater management, and to build a fund that will allow each city to meet those future needs in an orderly fashion. The Council noted that this property (Riverview Terrace) has constructed and does operate its own private on-site stormwater system. The Council also recognized that this property is the ONLY property within the city that does not discharge any outflow into any city owned or operated stormwater management infrastructure of any type. As discussions progressed, I suggested that the unique standing of this particular property could indicate the need for consideration of a unique solution....thinking outside the box.....such as creating a partial fee structure of some sort - a solution that would allow the city to collect some fees to be used for the construction of future stormwater treatment infrastructure, while also reducing the property owners total financial burden since they do not connect to or utilize any City stormwater management facilities at the present time. The Council was in support of that suggestion. Staff will write up a proposal and bring it back to the Council for further consideration.

The Council next paid the bills (Agenda Item #12), followed by "Other Business" for Item #13 on the Agenda. Several council members reminded residents of the upcoming Home Town Wind Power meeting on June 4th. I also addressed three other topics: (1) I extended Kudos to the Chaska High School Quiz Bowl Team, who went to the National Championship in Chicago where they took 7th place out of 192 teams! (equaling the highest finish ever by a Minnesota Team!). The CHS team, under the guidance of Chris Lenius and Krista Haman, is made up of Matt Hart, Jordan Hiller, Scott Miller, Sam Peterson, and Trevor Vossberg. Congratulations! (2) While walking around the downtown area recently, my wife and I noticed that the Klein Mansion is in need of repair - as it is suffering from decaying wood work. Since the developer of the Klein Fine Dining project (Mr. and Mrs. Norm Kraus) will be coming before the Council on June 15 for an update on their project, I wanted to let the other Council members know of the troubles I had noticed. And, finally, (3) I discussed concerns I have received from Points West residents regarding the landscaping and noise reduction between Hwy 212 and their neighborhood. When asking MnDOT about that issue recently, I was told that since the Points West neighborhood was approved after the Hwy 212 project, there was limited noise reduction planned for that area. MnDOT maintains that any such work needing to be done in that area would be the responsibility of the City of Chaska and the neighborhood homeowners association. The City discussed the landscaping (and noise reduction steps) that have already been performed in that area, and requested that any additional concerns regarding noise from Hwy 212 should be directed to your council representative and the Chaska City Engineer. On a related note, I have received many positive comments from Points West residents regarding their new neighborhood playground. I personally have biked there via local trails on several occasions, and have been pleased to note good numbers of children (and adults) spending time in the park.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled to be held on June 15th in the Chaska City Hall.

Highway 41 Improvement Discussion

I attended a meeting on Friday, June 5th, along with two other city council members and several downtown business owners. The meeting was sponsored by the Chaska Downtown Business Council, a committee of the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce. City Administrator Matt Podhradsky and City Engineer Bill Monk spoke to the group about several downtown projects (including the Second Street stoplight project and downtown street reconstruction), and also answered questions from the audience.

Phase I of the 2nd Street stoplight project, which will be completed later this fall, will include the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Hwy 41 and 2nd Street and the installation of a raised median at several points along Highway 41 (a stipulation that MnDOT has so far insisted upon). When the project is completed, sidewalks and ramps will be handicapped accessible, and the median will be landscaped where possible in an effort to soften the look and feel of the area. The City will also work to replace any on-street parking spaces lost during this improvement project, as well as attempt to enhance public parking availability in the future.

Specific technical questions can be addressed to Bill Monk, our City Engineer.

Aeon Homes - Clover Field Marketplace

I have been told that representatives from Aeon Homes will attend the City Council meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. I am under the impression that the Aeon officials will address the council and interested residents regarding the incident that took place at their Clover Field Marketplace property on the evening of June 8th.

If you have any questions or concerns, you may wish to attend.

Is it just me, or has the City website been down the last couple of days?