Chanhassen Villager - Chanhassen Scoop: Fall 2008 - Comments

Work session topic: water,

FAdams — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:35:01 -0600

Work session topic: water, sewer fees may increase

Facing reduced utility revenues and slower revenue growth than previously anticipates, the city is looking at utility rate increases to be effective in 2009 and beyond.

A spokesman for the engineering firm employed by the city to analyze the city’s rates recommended rate increases. He recommended water rate increases of 5 percent per year in 2009 and beyond; sewer fees would increase 5 percent per year in 2009 and beyond; storm water fees would increase by four percent in 2009 and beyond; water connection fees would increase by 6 percent; sanitary sewer connection fees would increase 7 percent annually in 2009 and beyond; storm water quantity fees would increase by 7 percent in 2009 and beyond; and storm water quality fees would increase by 20 percent (before a Met Council credit to the city based on improvements to reduce clear water inflow into the city’s storm water pipes that the city funded in 2008).

The residential quarterly storm water fee remains below the metro area average of approximately $10 per quarter.

The proposed rates would provide sufficient revenue to pay routine operating expenses, pay for capital improvements to upgrade and expand the system and provide prudent cash balances in the city’s water operating fund, according to the analysis conducted by the firm.

These are the same rate increases that were previously projected during the city’s 2007 rate study. In order to keep them on schedule the city has deferred scheduled maintenance expenditures that were based on planned growth that hasn’t occurred, said City Finance Director Greg Sticha. Last year the city council increased water rates at 5 percent for usage upt o 50,000 gallons and 22 percent for uage above 50,000 gallons. These rates comply with a new state law that requires cities to adopt conservation water rates by the end of 2009.

“We were really in a position where we we’re doing inflationary increases for a long time,” said City Manager Todd Gerhardt to explain the need for increases.

The city’s water operating fund balance dipped to just above $2 million in 2008, about $1 million below the target cash balance, because councilors elected to pay for two new wells, numbers 12 and 13 and a well at Minnetonka Middle School West and several pipe repairs under the street, using some of the cash balance. The cost for these repairs was about $3 million. Funds in the account are projected to remain below the target reserves until 2012, when they’re estimated to be about $4.5 million. In order to not continue depleting the cash balance, the city plans in the future to bond for more projects if they cost over $1 million. In 2007 the fund was about $4.5 million.

Councilors questioned city staff and the engineer continually about the need to increase fees, and they staff agreed to bring back additional information to a work session meeting on Nov. 24. Staff will be submitting rate amounts with the ordinance update at the Dec. 9 city council meeting.

Chanhassen Recreation

FAdams — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:47:30 -0600

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

Councilors to review results

FAdams — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:24:53 -0600

Councilors to review results of work session survey

Asked by city councilors to find out if other cities record their work sessions and broadcast them to the public, City Manager Todd Gerhardt plans to report back on his findings during Monday's work session (Nov. 10). The city will then proceed according to the council's direction.

Brooklyn Park: Work sessions are held after most regular meetings (the first four Mondays of each month). The sessions are recorded or videotaped.

Chanhassen: Work sessions are held before every city council meeting. They are not recorded or rebroadcast.

Chaska: Work sessions are held periodically. They are not recorded or videotaped.

Eden Prairie: Work sessions are held before every city council meeting. They are not recorded or videotaped.

Maple Grove: Work sessions are held as needed. They are not recorded or videotaped.

Minnetonka: Work sessions are held once per month, on "off" regular meeting nights. They are audio recoded but not videotaped or rebroadcast on cable TV.

Plymouth: Work session are held as needed before regular meetings or on a special night. They are not recorded, but the public is welcome to attend.

Savage: Works sessions are held on "off" regualr meeting nights from 7 to 9 p.m. They are not recorded.

Shakopee: Work wessions are held as needed on various nights. They are recorded and rebroadcast on cable.

"If we're going to

FAdams — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:01:48 -0600

"If we're going to micromanage every single line item, then let's roll up our sleeves, sit here until 3 in the morning, and micromanage the budget," Litsey said in response to repeated questions from Councilors Ernst and Jerry McDonald directed about public utilities expenditures, such as a 77 percent increase in travel and training expenses (from $4,500 to $8,000) in the $6 million budget.

Mayor Tom Furlong defended the questions, saying the councilors were just trying to understand the budget and the process better. Litsey disagreed.

"You haven't respected one single thing that I've asked in these budget meetings," he fired back at the mayor. "I've asked that these meetings be conducted in the city council meetings, and I've asked that we go through a process. So give me the courtesy, then, of doing the same thing you're doing for Jerry. You're not doing the same thing for me, Mr. Mayor."

Just as the city received a

FAdams — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:24:07 -0600

Just as the city received a credit upgrade because of its fiscal discipline and growing economy, among other things, city councilors continue to disagree with the process they're going through to establish the 2009 budget and tax levy.

That's despite City Finance Director Greg Sticha telling councilors the city's portion of property taxes will not increase for tax payers, on account of a higher city tax levy, because he has found about $100,000 in the city's budget that can be trimmed. He intends to discuss with councilors specifically which areas of the city budget that can be trimmed at the council's Nov. 24 work session meeting.

In a recent city council meeting work session as councilors listened to the 2009 budget request for the public works department, Councilor Bryan Litsey griped about the process. Each city department presents their budget requests to the city council for consideration before the council ultimately passes a tax levy and city budget. Litsey said it's pointless to spend a lot of time talking about department budgets because, he alleged, members of the council aren't going to approve anything that increases the levy, in spite of what various department heads say.

"With all due respect, 'What's the point?'" he asked.

"Nothing is final yet," City Manager Todd Gerhardt countered.

Lisey remains upset about the process used by the council to suddenly decrease the levy for 2009 from a 3.4 percent increase, which they had discussed cooperatively during a work session meeting in August, to a 3 percent increase.

"The budget process," Litsey said, "should be a process by which we listen to staff, we talk about it here, and not have preset numbers, and then do what we think is in the best interests of the city. We're not doing that."

THe criticized the lowering of the levy from 3.4 to 3 percent, and now to 2.4 percent. But City manager Todd Gerhardt defended the process.

"We started in June, and the direction we got was, 'Keep the rate the same,'" he told Litsey. "That's what we heard- not from everybody- but that was the direction from a majority of the people."

Litsey was undeterred.

"We went through a process that took us to a point that arbitrarily got cut. That's my opinion, but now it got arbitrarily cut again down to 2.4," he said. "In terms of budgetting, this is just not the way that businesses do their budgetting. This is not the way the government does it's budgetting."

Councilor Vicki Ernst interjected that she's hoping to cut into the 2.4 percent increase and "get it lower."

Furlong endorses two

FAdams — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:51:31 -0600

Furlong endorses two candidates

Chanhassen Mayor Tom Furlong has endorsed two candidates for city council. Bethany Tjornhom and Jerry McDonald "have elevated Chanhassen to a city nationally recognized as one of the best places to live," according to Furlong.

City’s credit rating

FAdams — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:31:17 -0500

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.

Video: candidate forum The

FAdams — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:30:55 -0500

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.

With regards to the variance

FAdams — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:42:54 -0500

With regards to the variance request, it has been tabled, not denied. It will come back before the council at a later date.

Commentary in support of

FAdams — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:40:04 -0500

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.

The construction of new

FAdams — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:12:33 -0500

The construction of new Highway 212 and the realignment of Highway 101 has provided the opportunity for new development in the area of Highway 212, Lyman Boulevard and Highway 101. The City of Chanhassen is organizing a series of three neighborhood meetings to update residents on the status of the City's comprehensive plan, approved projects and property that may develop in the future:

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - An update of what's new in the City was presented as well as recently approved projects in the area. The properties that have development potential were also shown. Click HERE to view the meeting presentation.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - Detailed discussion of development potential in the area.
Thursday, November 20, 2008

All three meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Thornton Wilder Meeting Room in the Chanhassen Library at 7711 Kerber Boulevard.

If you have questions, contact Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director at 952-227-1139, or Sharmeen Al-Jaff, Senior Planner at 952-227-1134.

On the city council work

FAdams — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:16:56 -0500

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

Service calls decrease in

FAdams — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:33:31 -0500

Service calls decrease in city
Contract with sheriff’s office grows
By Forrest Adams

The city’s contract with the Carver County Sheriff’s Office grew in 2008, while the number of calls for service for deputies in Chanhassen shrank.

The contract grew from $1,250,000 to $1,417,500. The number of calls for service decreased from 1,963 to 1,526, comparing Jan. 1 to Aug. 1.

A new deputy investigator and a new deputy have been added to the contract this year, bringing the workloads for law enforcement agents in Chanhassen closer to what’s found in nearby cities but still leaving them with more residents per deputy. Comparatively, in Chanhassen there are 1,599.6 residents per deputy; in Chaska there are residents per officer; in Eden Prairie there are 940.7 residents per officer; in the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department there are 873.7 residents per officer.

The Chanhassen city council reviewed a police benchmarking report during its Oct. 13 work session but did not discuss any changes to the city’s contract with the Carver County Sherriff’s Office. Councilor Bryan Litsey, also the Chief of Police for the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, noted he thinks there should be more law enforcement in Chanhassen.

However, according to a report provided to councilors that evening by Sgt. Peter Anderley, the number of reported crimes, despite the increased number of deputies patrolling the streets, is trending downward. Decreases in reported crime in the city have been widespread, although there have been some increases.

Most notably, there have been fewer cases of burglary reported. In 2007, 44 reports of burglary had been filed. In 2008, that number fell to 19. That’s a 57 percent decrease. Anderley told councilors that part of the reason for this could be the addition of an investigator in Chanhassen, allowing deputies to spend more time patrolling and less time investigating.

The next largest decrease came in reported cases of property damage, with the total number reported falling from 192 to 142, a 26 percent decrease.

On the increase were reports of theft from vehicle, with 17 cases reported by Aug. 31, compared to 11 in 2007. Other increases include open door reports, up 32 percent from 19 to 28, traffic-alcohol violations, up 23 percent from 44 to 57, medical calls, up 11 percent from 429 to 484, and accidents with deer, up one accident from 21 to 22.

Decreases have been found in reported cases of theft, down seven percent from 73 to 68, response to alarms, down 16 percent from 760 to 640, accidents resulting in injury, down 18 percent from 61 to 50, accidents resulting in property damage, down 18 percent from 347 to 286, disturbances of the peace, down five percent decrease from 277 to 262, driving complaints, down 15 percent from 425 to 361, and citations, which decreased from 1,963 to 1.526, or 22 percent.
Traffic stops still make up the majority of the deputies’ responsibilities, and in this area there has also been a slight increase, from 2,642 to 2,647.

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

Benefit for 2-year-old

FAdams — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:40:51 -0500

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

WaterWise conservation

FAdams — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:54:56 -0500

WaterWise conservation contest winners awarded by City Council

Chanhassen Scoop: Fall 2008

FAdams — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:03:47 -0500

Get the scoop, and give the rest of a scoop if you have one, on the city government and whatever activities are taking place in Chanhassen.