MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024
CHANHASSEN CITY HALL, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD

Summary

5:30 P.M. - WORK SESSION (Fountain Conference Room)

Cannabis Ordinance Discussion

Community Development Director Eric Maass and Planner Rachel Jeske discussed a draft zoning ordinance regulating cannabis businesses in the city. Staff presented a draft ordinance which identified specific zoning districts that would allow for retail cannabis businesses as well as zoning districts specific to light industrial cannabis businesses such as cultivators and manufacturers.  The Council unanimously expressed its desire to limit the number of cannabis retail licenses to a maximum of three which is the minimum allowed by state law.  State law requires a city to allow at least one retail cannabis business per 12,500 residents.  It also expressed its preference to maintain control over that number, as compared to relinquishing that authority to Carver County if Carver County was delegated as the governmental unit responsible for licensing retail cannabis businesses.

One element of the draft ordinance included a 500-foot buffer for any retail cannabis business from schools and residential treatment facilities.  The Council was divided on its feelings on requiring a 500 foot buffer around any cannabis retail store, in part because liquor and nicotine stores are not required to have a similar buffer and felt it important to treat similar businesses equally, and recommended continuing the discussion within the Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission as well as soliciting resident feedback through a future public hearing at the Planning Commission.

Pickleball Court Location Discussion

Parks & Recreation Director Jerry Ruegemer presented a summary about the current (and future) state of pickleball v. tennis courts throughout Chanhassen. Residents often ask the city to convert tennis courts to pickleball courts, which costs ~$1,500 to convert. The city currently has ten dedicated pickleball courts (and two additional courts with painted pickleball lines). Four more will arrive when the Civic Campus is completed. The city owns 16 tennis courts. Concerns around pickleball courts include parking and noise.

Ruegemer asked for guidance from the Council on whether the city should convert neighborhood tennis courts to pickleball courts or should they only be constructed in community parks. In September 2024, the Parks and Rec Commission recommended not converting neighborhood tennis courts to pickleball courts and to adopt the practice of locating pickleball courts within community parks in order to create further distance from resident housing.

Council discussed whether to keep pickleball courts within community parks and asked for additional information on expansion costs for new courts, maintenance costs for existing courts, usage and noise mitigation before making a final decision.

Highway 7 Corridor Communities Update

The Council unanimously agreed to support the city’s participation in advancing safety improvements on Hwy. 7 via the City of Shorewood’s receipt of a $200,000 grant and the development of a transportation management organization (TMO) for the Hwy 7 Corridor. A resolution to this affect is on the consent agenda at tonight's Council meeting.

Civic Campus Outside “Fast Plank” Paneling

The Council was asked to pick between two colors – dark brown and light brown -- that would be utilized on some outside design elements for the new Civic Campus. The Council unanimously picked dark brown.

Post-Election Canvassing

The City Council selected a time to participate in Carver County’s post-election canvassing meeting on November 13^th. The primary goal of a canvassing meeting is to ensure that all votes have been accurately counted and that the election results are valid.

7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MEETING (City Council Chambers)

The Council met as the Economic Development Authority (EDA).

• The Council acting as the EDA unanimously approved the Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes dated August 26, 2024 
• The Council acting as the EDA unanimously approved a Resolution Approving Certain Agreements Regarding Refinancing of the Lake at Chanhassen TIF Project 

The Council acting as the EDA adjourned the EDA meeting and opened the regular Council meeting.

• The Council unanimously approved all items on the Consent Agenda:
  • E.1 Approve City Council Work Session Minutes dated October 14, 2024
  • E.2 Approve City Council Minutes dated October 14, 2024
  • E.3 Receive Environmental Commission Minutes dated July 10, 2024
  • E.4 Approve Claims Paid dated October 28, 2024
  • E.5 Approve Agreement for the issuance of a building permit before demolition of an existing house at 3010 W 78th Street
  • E.6 Authorization of Contract for the Rooftop Solar Project on the proposed new City Hall
  • E.7 Approval of Fireworks Show Permit for the Feast of St. Hubert on November 2, 2024
  • E.8 Approve Encroachment Agreement at 2300 Lukewood Drive authorizing placement of a shed in Conservation Easement
  • E.9 Resolution 2024-XX; Authorize condemnation of land associated with the TH 41 Roundabout project
  • E.10 Resolution 2024-XX; Application for a MnDOT Active Transportation Planning Assistance Grant
  • E.11 Resolution Authorizing the City of Chanhassen to Participate in a Process Exploring the Formation of a Transportation Management Organization Along Trunk Highway 7
  • E.12 Adopt Ordinance XXX: Amendment to the Children's Learning Adventure Planned Unit Development (PUD) 
• Lt. Lance Pearce provided Council with a law enforcement update for Q3 2024. A few notable statistics from Q3:
  • 2,734 incidents
  • 920 Traffic Stops
  • “A Crimes” are down 19% compared to Q3 2023 and “B Crimes” are down 17.5% compared to Q3 2023. (Police departments classify "A Crimes" as serious, urgent offenses posing high risks [like assault or robbery] and "B Crimes" as less severe, lower-risk offenses [like petty theft or disorderly conduct].)
  • Theft, fraud and property damage are down.
  • Mental health calls are down significantly.

• Fire Chief Andrew Heger provided Council with a Fire Department update for Q3 2024. A few highlights:
  • The Department responded to 384 incidents, a 12% increase over Q3 2023.
  • The Department has begun a slow launch of its Community Connect service. Community Connect is a safe, secure and free resource where homeowners and businesses can share critical information about their property with the Chanhassen Fire Department before an emergency happens. The Department will work with the City’s Communications Department to inform residents about this valuable service.

• The Council unanimously approved the resolution to certify the delinquent utility accounts.

• The Council unanimously approved the On-sale Beer & Wine license for the O.G. Coffee and Wine Bar located at 600 Market Street, Suite 110.

•  Councilmember Josh Kimber shared his positive experience at the City’s recent Halloween Party, located at the Chanhassen Rec Center, and gave his thanks and gratitude to the Parks & Recreation Department staff for their work in making the event such a success.

• Chanhassen City Manager Laurie Hokkanen provided Council with a summary of recent staff outreach, availability and communications regarding the upcoming ballot referendum on the proposed Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center.