Rebroadcasts of City Council debates will be aired on Chanhassen Public Access Cable Channel 8. A schedule will be posted when it becomes available. Read the following story. You may be interested in watching the debate that led to its writing.

Preliminary levy set, despite objection
By Forrest Adams

With one objection, City Councilors on Monday night approved setting a preliminary tax levy that would increase by 3 percent over last year’s.

If the levy is not lowered, property owners of a home valued at $330,000, the average value of a home in Chanhassen, would see a $1.90-3.50 increase in the city portion of their property taxes, less than half a percent increase over what they paid last year. That is, provided they did nothing during the year to increase the value of their home.

The objection to this came from Councilor Bryan Litsey, who argued with Finance Director Greg Sticha that it should increase by 3.45 percent.
At previous work sessions when the budget and tax levy were discussed, councilors agreed with Sticha’s assessment. However, when it came time to vote, Councilor Bethany Tjornhom and Mayor Tom Furlong agreed the increase should be 3 percent, which is closer to the 2.4-percent growth in the city’s tax base this year, as based on new construction that took place.

“The three percent moves us closer to where we want to be,” said Furlong, who confirmed with Sticha that a 3 percent levy increase would not require the city to cut any services. “We want to work toward the 2.4 percent.”

Litsey countered that everybody agreed on urging the city staff to lower the levy as much as possible but that the 3.45 percent increase had been arrived at through a labor intensive process that would be wrong to deviate from. He called it a benchmark.

“I very much agree with working hard toward that, but I don’t want to base it on an arbitrary number,” he said.

The 3 percent increase that was finally passed after much debate, when Councilor Jerry McDonald agreed with Furlong and Tjornhom, results in a total preliminary levy of $10,130,014. If the council had been unable to adopt a motion on a preliminary levy, the maximum levy that the city could adopt would be the same as last year, or $9,854,695.

The difference to property owners between a 3 percent and a 3.45 percent increase is minute, but it means Sticha must find and eliminate $44,551 from the city’s budget. Previously, he and City Manager Todd Gerhardt predicted that if city staff eliminated $100,000 from the city budget, then property owners would not see any increase in their city property taxes. The $44,551 cut out of the levy is part of that $100,000. Sticha said the most logical place to look for the money would be in the general fund, from which less money than was budgeted has been spent on healthcare costs.

The city’s preliminary levy has to be certified with Carver County by Sept. 15. Once the preliminary levy is set, the council may not go above it but could adopt a final levy below it. City Manager Todd Gerhardt said city departments would work on their budgets during the following weeks in order to cut costs and present an acceptable proposal to the city council prior to Dec. 8, when the final tax levy must be set. The truth-in-taxation hearing is Monday, Dec. 1.

A representative for GoCarverGo spoke at the city council meeting on Sept. 8. Check out GoCarverGo, Carver County's new active living web site which provides trail info for all Carver County trails. It's at http://www.gocarvergo.org/

The Chanhassen Parks and Recreation Department has several fun, exciting events and programs coming up over the next few weeks. Call John at 952-227-1122 for more information on any of these events or programs.

Special Events
Halloween Party – It's that time of year again where the spirits and the spooks come out to play. Don’t miss Chanhassen’s annual Halloween Party at the Chanhassen Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Put on your best costume and join us for all the fun during this cool fall celebration. There will be trick-or-treating, live entertainment, carnival style games, hayrides (outside, weather permitting), refreshments, and even a few spooks for you too.

Youth Programs
Sports Unlimited Mini-Sport Sampler – This introductory sports program is designed for young children. It helps children explore baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and flag football in a fun and non-competitive setting. No pressure, just lots of fun while these young children participate in four activities every day through unique Sports Unlimited games. The staff is trained to meet the special needs of young children. The coaches are committed to helping the young athletes start off on the right foot as they take their first steps into sports. Wednesdays, Sept. 17 to Oct. 8, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. $55 Residents/$62 Non-Residents

Barnyard Boogie - Join us for a foot stompin', knee slappin' good time at the Barnyard Boogie Dance on Friday, Sept. 19, 6:30 to 8 p.m. This night is for little farmers and their parents. We'll have a petting zoo, dance, crafts and refreshments. Children under 1 are free, everyone one else $4 per person.

Chanhassen Fall Mini-Golf Classic – Tee-off in the third annual Mini-Golf Classic at Lake Ann Park on Saturday September 20! This 9-hole golf course is laid out especially for 3 to 6 year olds. Participants will use a special three-club plastic golf set and sponge golf balls (which will be supplied) while their parent or guardian caddies. Each golfer will receive a photo opportunity with the trophy and a snack upon completion of their round. To schedule a tee call 952-227-1122 (all golfers must pre-register). $7 Residents/$9 Non-Residents

Little Shooters Basketball Clinic – This clinic is instructed by experienced basketball camp organizers Kevin and Mike Lynch. Kevin is a former Minnesota Mr. Basketball, All Big Ten guard at the U of M, and NBA player with the Charlotte Hornets. Mike was an outstanding perimeter player for the University of Great Falls. Participants will learn the basic skills and techniques, cultivate self-esteem, encourage teamwork and fair play-all in a fun and challenging environment. Saturdays, Sept. 27 to Oct. 18, 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. $65 Residents/$72 Non-Residents

Sports Unlimited Multi-Sport Camp – This program helps children explore flag football, soccer, and non-contact lacrosse in a fun and non-competitive setting. No pressure, just lots of fun while the campers participate in two activities (we rotate sports every week) every day through unique Sports Unlimited games. Mondays, Sept. 15 to Oct. 6, 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. $42 Residents/$49 Non-Residents

Kid Smart: Self Defense and Safety Training – Master Malone will teach you quick responses to no win situations directed your way. You will be taught how to get out of holds, what to say, and how to take action, be confident and take control of the situation. Courage medals and self-defense booklet will be awarded to participants at the end of training. Saturday, Sept. 20, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. $35 Residents/$40 Non-Residents

Huffman Memorial results

Huffman Memorial: Runners hit the streets Saturday for the annual Huffman Memorial Run.

AGE GROUP NAME HOMETOWN
TIME
Overall (Men’s) Pete Kessler New Hope
17:24
Overall (Women’s) Heidi Woller Chanhassen
20:38
13 U (Men’s) Spencer Urick Chaska
21:14
13 U (Women’s) McKenna Ryan Chanhassen
27:58
14 -19 (Men’s) Alex Benner Minnetonka
21:45
14 – 19 (Women’s) Anna Dietrich Winsted
25:59
20 – 29 (Men’s) Jesse Adriaens Chanhassen
18:14
20 – 29 (Women’s) Theresa Ausk Plymouth
25:07
30 – 39 (Men’s) Clifford Owen Shorewood
18:26
30 – 39 (Women’s) Heidi Woller Chanhassen
20:38
40 – 49 (Men’s) Pete Kessler New Hope
17:24
40 – 49 (Women’s) Dianne Urick Chaska
20:47
50 – 59 (Men’s) Jim Smieja Belle Plaine 22:36
50 – 59 (Women’s) Sherry Johnston Excelsior
26:18
60+ (Men’s) Glen Johnston Chanhassen
25:04
60+ (Women’s) Beverly Ryan Chanhassen
34:51
Wheelchair (Men’s) No Entries
Wheelchair (Women’s) No Entries

Bring your items to the Carver County Environmental Center on Friday, Oct. 24, and receive $20 in FREE recycling fees. Chanhassen residents can recycle items such as appliances, tires, yard waste and scrap metal. These items have associated fees, but on Oct. 24, the first $20 per address will be free of charge. You will need to present an ID to verify your residency.

Chanhassen crimes

Drug bust
At 6:45 p.m. Carver County Sheriff's Deputies from Chanhassen responded to a call to assist the drug task force. Arrested were a 46-year-old Minneapolis male, a 41-year-old Brooklyn Park female and a 46-year-old New Brighton male. They were taken in for possession and sale of a controlled substance. This took place near the intersection of Highway 7 and 41 on Sept. 29.

Drug bust
Deputies cited a 17-year-old Excelsior male for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and an 18-year-old Minnetonka male for possession of marijuana on Monday, Oct. 6, at 10:24 p.m. The two men were stopped at 851 78 Street West.

Attempted fraud
At 4:26 p.m. deputies were called to 380 Lake Drive East on charges that somebody had attempted to use counterfeit $100 bills.

Theft of bag
Deputies responded to a theft report of a duffle bag that was believed to contain clothes and a cell phone valued at over $300. The call came from 2310 Coulter Boulevard at 5:21 p.m.

Councilors consider merits of work sessions
By Forrest Adams

At some times defensive and testy, at others agreeable and conciliatory, Chanhassen elected city officials considered the value of “work sessions” Monday night during a work session.

Work sessions have been a contested issue for the past month since a City Council meeting when there was an unexpected disagreement over setting the city’s preliminary tax levy, even though it had been previously discussed, without disagreement or commitment, during an earlier work session.

City Councilor Bryan Litsey has been the chief critic, going so far as to suggest in a letter to the editor that work sessions be abolished. His tone softened on Monday, and he said he’s not against work sessions. He thinks, though, that they should be the exception, not the rule.

His critique is that the sessions are conducted at such an inopportune time of day that members of the public don’t have time to attend, even though the meetings are open to the public. Unlike council meetings, work sessions are not recorded, so there’s no way for the public to hear the dialogue that goes into making decisions. Often, items that have been discussed at length during a work session appear on the council’s consent agenda during their next council meeting, so the public misses out entirely on the debate that took place on the issue.

The city of Chanhassen has used work sessions for approximately 10 years. Normally held prior to every council meeting, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Fountain Conference Room on the lower level of City Hall, the sessions are an opportunity for councilors to snack on food that’s provided by the city while asking questions and providing feedback to city staff regarding projects, policies and goals. The sessions generally last until the regularly scheduled council meeting in the city council chambers at 7 p.m. After the council meeting, councilors return to finish up any unfinished business in the conference room. On Monday night, councilors were able to go home by 10 p.m.

Work sessions came under Litsey’s fire after the council set the city’s preliminary tax levy, during which time there was a disagreement. When voting for the levy, he stuck to what he perceived was the consensus plan from previous work sessions, but other elected officials voted in favor of a plan that hadn’t previously discussed. He saw this as an arbitrary move and asked what the point of the work session discussions were if nobody was going to follow through on what had been discussed.

Leading off Monday’s discussion, Litsey said he thinks work sessions stymie the openness of government because they’re not recorded. In this way, officials aren’t held accountable for what they say or do, he said. A case in point, he said, was “the council shenanigans that recently took place in setting the preliminary tax levy for 2009.”

Councilors Tjornhom, Ernst and McDonald, with the agreement of Mayor Furlong, countered Litsey by saying that putting everything on camera might not be an efficient process. They said televised work sessions would significantly prolong meetings. Although they may not object to an idea during their group discussions, they don’t commit until it’s actually time to vote, they said. In addition to work session discussions, discussing issues with the public — after work sessions but before the next council meeting — guides their votes, sometimes in different directions.

At the end of the discussion, there was no predominant opinion on what to do about the issue, but city staff agreed to look at what other cities do with their work sessions and report back to councilors at a future meeting. After the meeting, Litsey said he was happy to open up the discussions, in the interests of promoting more open government.

Readers can contact Forrest Adams at fadams@swpub.com.

Bring your items to the Carver County Environmental Center on Friday, October 24th and receive $20 in FREE recycling fees. Chanhassen residents can recycle items such as appliances, tires, yard waste and scrap metal. These items have associated fees, but on October 24th, the first $20 per address will be free of charge. You will need to present an ID to verify your residency.

Items Collected for FREE
Residential Electronics(TVs, Computers, VCRs, Telephones, etc.)
Fluorescent Blubs
Used Oil and Oil Filters
Clothing
Auto/Household Batteries
Scrap Metal
Organics
Household Chemicals and Hazardous Waste:
Aerosol cans with contents
Gasoline
Mercury switches
Adhesives
Lawn & Garden Products
Kerosene
Propane Cylinders
Paint, Thinners, Primers

Benefit for 2-year-old cancer patient
(See story posting)

What: Spaghetti dinner, silent auction, Waconia Performing Arts, trick or treating

Why: Defray medical costs

Where: Chanhassen American Legion

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26

Tickets: $20

To order: Call (612) 532-1202 or visit http://KirrasKorner.loudclick.net

On the city council work session agenda for Oct. 27

Work Session, 5:30 p.m.

A. Develop town center into a more full-service/inviting central business district

The potential for a regional /lifestyle center in Chanhassen will be dicussed during this work session agenda item.

The intention for this type of development would be to provide for the development of regional and community attraction. According to the city council packet, "it shall strive to create a self-sustaining pattern of land uses with cultural, employment, entertainment, housing, shopping and social components."

It would be called a regional commercial district, and would consist of a mixed commercial district with retail and entertainment uses of a scale and function that serves a regional market, according to the council packet.

"Such centers shall be designed with one theme, with similar architectural style, similar exteriror building meterials, and a coordinated landscaping theme, but shall avoid monotony in design and visual appearance."

During this duscussion, city staff will discuss with councilors the elements of downtown Chanhassen, including City Hall/Senior Center, the library, the Carver County License Center )under construction), Chanhassen Dinner Theares, the post office, City Center Park, high-density residential, convenience commercial, transit (to be constructed) and walkable sidewalks.

The 2006 Chanhassen tetail, office and residential market analysis of Chanhassen found not much land available in downtown for development. It found there is the potential for redevelopment with the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in place, and that redevelopment could include retail, residential and office space. However, the analysis found that shopping is not well represented.

B. 2009 budget presentations

1. Public Works Department

The budget request in the engineering department is $568,700. That's a 5.8 percent increase from the 2008 budget. The The budget request for the fleet department is $583,200, an increase of 31.2 percent from the 2008 budget. The main increase is from fuel cost for the fleet. The estimate was calculated in June when fuel prices were at the highest and futures markets were driving up prices. The budget request for street lightning and signals is $328,400, an increase of 2.7 percent from the 2008 budget. The increase is mainly from equipment repair and replacement of light and signal fixtures.The budget request for sewer operations is $1,962,600, which is 3.6 percent higher than the 2008 budget. The budget request for water operations is $1,401,700, an increase of 4.2 percent from the 2008 budget.

2. Park and Recreation Department

The park and recreation department's budgeted 2009 expenses are proposed to increase $95,200, or 5.35 percent, over 2008 expenses.

C. Discuss process for city manager's performance evaluation

Commentary in support of Gary Foster
By Beverly Foster

Last night the Chanhassen City Council heard a variance request from a couple on Laredo Drive. The couple would like to enclose the deck on the back of their walkout home and add a narrower deck extending the length of the house. This deck would come off their kitchen, allowing the family greater enjoyment of a lake view all year long.

Their current deck extends beyond the 75 foot setback from Lotus Lake due to a 1996 variance. The proposed new deck would be well within that footprint.

The Council saw no hardship in the request, which would allow them to make the variance. At one point Councilor Jerry McDonald implied that the deck should run off another side of the house, a clear impingement on side setbacks which would offer a view of their neighbors’ house instead of Lotus Lake. And so the request was tabled, and the couple sent in search of “mitigating circumstances” that might add weight to their argument.

Should the couple sell their home in a down market and move to another home to get the space they need?

And what is the real purpose of the 75 setback from a lake in Chanhassen? Is it to protect against runoff into the lake? In that case a deck ten feet in the air might not be a concern.

Or is the city denying this request because the couple are just two people requesting the freedom to enjoy their own property?

About ten years ago the city denied a friend’s request to build a deck off his home because his house backed up on a wetland.

When Centennial Hills was later able to build within 75 feet of the same body of water, my friend asked the inspector what had changed. Wasn’t this a wetland?

“Not anymore,” the inspector replied.

Building codes and regulations are an important issue in this election year. Gary Foster, candidate for City Council, proposes we take a common-sense look at all regulations.

In Jerry McDonald’s campaign profile, he says he “understands what the residents want from their city” and if elected he would “give citizens a voice”. Yet if he can find ten citizens that would deny this very reasonable request, Gary Foster could probably find a hundred who would grant it.

Video: candidate forum

The four candidates for Chanhassen City Council, whose names will appear on the ballot Nov. 4, participated in a candidate forum Oct. 28 in the American Legion.

City’s credit rating improves
By Forrest Adams

Taxpayers will save money thanks to the city’s credit rating upgrade.

Rating agencies give cities a credit rating, much like agencies give individuals a credit score.

The city of Chanhassen recently received confirmation that Standard & Poors, a provider of independent credit ratings, gave the city a two-step credit rating upgrade (from AA- to AA+).

The city requested a review of its credit rating in advance of its upcoming bond sale for the construction in 2009 of a new $8.3 million public works facility. About $7.5 million of that is expected to come from the sale of bonds to investors. The remaining funds will come from water and sewer fees. The bond sale is for 20 years at a 4.38 percent interest rate.

A higher credit rating indicates to investors that the city is less likely to default on its bond payments when the bond matures, so the city pays a lower interest rate on the bonds, said City Manager Todd Gerhardt. Gerhardt said the double A minus, versus double A plus, probably will save city taxpayers $160,000 in interest over the 20-year term of the bonds.

This is the second two-step credit rating upgrade provided by Standard & Poors for the city in the past four years. Reasons cited by the agency for the upgrade were the city’s “conservative management practices” and strong property tax base that includes a “growing and diverse employment base.”

The City Council established a goal to provide financial stability and the resources necessary to exercise financial stewardship, implement best practices, and use long-term financial planning tools to ensure that Chanhassen residents are receiving “excellent public services,” according to a press release from the city. This bond rating upgrade meets this goal of strengthening the city’s financial position.

Mayor Tom Furlong was quoted in the press release as saying, “We are proud to receive this credit rating increase, which is a confirmation that Standard & Poors recognizes the significant financial progress that has been achieved by the city of Chanhassen through the combined leadership of the Chanhassen City Council’s fiscal and tax policies and the city staff’s sound fiscal management. We are grateful to all who have played a part in achieving this recognition.”

Readers can contact Forrest Adams at fadams@swpub.com.

Chanhassen Recreation Center, Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:05 am - 9:20 am
Free!!

Come meet our instructors and try out our fun, high-energy
Recreation Center Group Fitness Classes!

Chanhassen Recreation Center: Your destination for fitness, recreation and fun.

2310 Coulter Boulevard · Chanhassen, MN 55317 · 952-227-1400