MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024 
CHANHASSEN CITY HALL, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD 

Summary  

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

i. City of Chanhassen Finance Director Kelly Grinnell reviewed preliminary 2025 budgets and the preliminary 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). 

Highlights in the preliminary 2025 general fund budget included:  

• Revenues up 2.3%, or $363,000, from 2024 

• Property Tax Levy up 2.0% (or $239,000) 

• Intergovernmental revenue up 19.5% (or $91,000) due to increased police and fire state aid  

• Investment income up $50,000 

Staff priority items included in the Park Renovation Fund within the 2025-2029 CIP include: 

• Pickleball Court Resurfacing (Rec Center) 

• Bandimere Park Ballfield Reconstruction 

• Carver Beach Park Playground 

• Lake Ann Park Playground 

• Bandimere Park Playground 

• Bandimere Park backstop replacement 

• Backstops for Meadow Green / Rice Marsh / Carver Beach 

• Dock replacement (South Lotus Boat Landing) 

• Roundhouse Park Pickleball/Tennis Court resurfacing 

Grinnell presented Council with the following 2025 Levy Options: 

• Scenario A: Reduce levy increase to 5.6% (eliminates $180,000 in General Fund Levy) 

• Scenario B: Reduce levy increase to 5.9% (redirect $45,000 of General Fund levy to Park Renovation Fund) 

• Scenario C: Reduce levy increase to 6.2% (redirect $90,000 of General Fund levy to Park Renovation Fund) 

• Scenario D: Reduce levy increase to 6.6% (redirect $135,000 of General Fund levy to Park Renovation Fund) 

• Scenario E: Keep levy at level adopted in September (6.9% increase but redirect $180,000 of General Fund levy to Park Renovation Fund) 

ACTION: The Council expressed its preference to redirect $100,000 of the General Fund levy to the Park Renovation Fund and to reduce the property tax levy increase to approximately 6.4% for 2025. 

ii. Director of Public Works/City Engineer Charlie Howley discussed the Market Boulevard Improvement Project, which would: 

• Reconstruct all pavements (street, sidewalk, trails) 

• Replace W 78th Street Traffic Signal 

• Support Public Utilities 

• Replace select watermain 

• Rehab sanitary sewer structures 

• Replace storm sewer 

• Support Stormwater Management 

• Incorporate Downtown water reuse project 

• Multiple biofiltration basins 

• Incorporate Downtown streetscape/landscaping elements 

• Entrance monument 

• Install activated pedestrian crossings 

Howley discussed how the Market Boulevard Reconstruction Project would enhance pedestrian safety and mobility, improve bike access, and address pavement replacement needs, while also implementing traffic-calming measures like reduced travel lanes, medians, curb bump-outs, and mini-roundabouts, all informed by a traffic study and simulation. 

Howley shared the four phrases of the project (which would roughly start in April 2025 and finish in October) and explained how the project could be completed with a careful consideration of such factors as: 

• 4th of July parade 

• Business customer access 

• Business delivery access 

• Manageable timeframes 

• Contractual obligations, financial penalties  

(Discussion continued following the regular meeting, please see below for ACTION)  

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

iii. Mayor Elise Ryan extended an invitation to the public to attend Chanhassen’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will take place Saturday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. at City Center Park. Due to the construction of the new Civic Campus, this year's ceremony will take place in the athletic fields just north of City Hall (where the Easter Egg Candy Hunt is typically held). The event will include live reindeer, treats, bonfires, s'mores, carolers, a special visit from Santa, and the annual lighting of City Center Park's holiday lights. Although not required, residents are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation to help support Bountiful Basket Food Shelf. 

iv. ACTION: The Council unanimously approved all items on the Consent Agenda: 

• D.1 Approve City Council Work Session Minutes dated October 28, 2024 

• D.2 Approve City Council Work Session Minutes dated November 18, 2024 

• D.3 Approve City Council Special Meeting Minutes dated November 13, 2024 

• D.4 Receive Environmental Commission Minutes dated October 9, 2024 

• D.5 Approve Claims Paid dated November 25, 2024 

• D.6 Utility easement for electric transformer at new City Hall 

• D.7 Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor License to Rotary Club of Chanhassen for February Festival on February 1, 2025 at Lake Ann Park 

• D.8 Award Bids for Civic Campus Bid Package 3: Irrigation & Landscaping, Metal Railings 

xii. Hokkanen gave council members an update (all items still rough and tentative) on several important items regarding the forthcoming Chanhassen Community Center. This included:  

• A timeline for the site acquisition: 

• Letter of Intent: January 9, 2025 

• Purchase Agreement: February 2025 

• Closing: April 2025 

• The City will issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a design and architecture firm. 

• The City will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) and RFQ for a construction manager. 

• The City will issue a RFP for a restaurant. 

• The City will issue a RFP for potential naming right services.  

• The City will provide numerous opportunities for public engagement throughout this process.  

• Construction is set to begin in 2026 and finish in late 2027 or early 2028. 

xiii. Howley continued his presentation from earlier on the Market Boulevard Improvement Project and councilmembers shared their opinions on the project. Some councilmembers expressed concern about traffic flow under the proposed improvement project.  

ACTION: Council members asked Howley to present, at a later date, alternatives to the current proposal that might, among other things: 

• feature additional lanes of traffic throughout the entirety of Market Blvd. 

• feature alternative traffic model flows. 

• take place under a different, more elongated timetable.