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11.10.2025 CC MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 10, 2025 Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilmember McDonald, Councilmember Schubert, Councilmember von Oven, and Councilmember Kimber. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; George Bender, Assistant City Engineer; Joe Seidl, Water Resources Engineer PUBLIC PRESENT: Glen Anderson, 290 Lake Drive East Pamela McCran, 6540 Fox Path Gary B, 3301 Shore Drive Mckenna Ewen, 3850 Glendale Drive Helen Gunther, 3628 Hickory Road Ryan Fader, 3401 Shore Drive Jim Jasin, 1124 Parkview Court Kevin Zahler, 6651 Minnewashta Parkway Scott Lacek, 3630 Hickory Lane David Glaza, 2961 Washta Bay Court Konrad Siefker, 6330 Fir Tree Avenue Dan Simmonds, 7351 Minnewashta Parkway Keith Paap, 3601 Red Cedar Point Road Doug Tanner, 3211 Dartmouth Drive Pamela Strommen, 3221 Dartmouth Drive Daniel Mulheran, 3815 Red Cedar Point Road Dave Bishop, 3605 Red Cedar Point Gary Renneke, 3607 Red Cedar Point Road Dan Fagan, 3701 South Cedar Drive PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Ryan thanked Councilmember McDonald and other veterans for their service before Veterans’ Day. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 2 CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember Kimber seconded that the City Council approve the following consent agenda items 1 through 13 pursuant to the City Manager’s recommendations: 1. Approve City Council Minutes dated October 27, 2025 2. Approve City Council Work Session Minutes dated October 27, 2025 3. Receive Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes dated August 26, 2025 4. Receive Commission on Aging Minutes dated August 15, 2025 5. Receive Commission on Aging Minutes dated September 19, 2025 6. Approve Claims Paid dated November 10, 2025 7. 2025 Well Rehabilitation Project 8. Approve Permanent Stormwater Ownership and Maintenance Agreement for Avienda Apartments 9. Dogwood Right-of-Way Vacation 10. Partial Release of Planned Unit Development Agreement (951 W 78th Street) 11. Approve SCALE Hardware and Software Purchase with Computer Integrated Technologies (CIT) 12. Resolution 2025-75: Cooperative Agreement with Hennepin County for the Mill Street Trail Improvement Project 13. Resolution 2025-76: Call Public Improvement Hearing for the 2026 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 26-01 All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS. Pamela McCran, 6540 Fox Path, congratulated the city and staff on the new building and the value they achieved for the money. She appreciated the conference rooms available. FIRE DEPARTMENT/LAW ENFORCEMENT UPDATES. None. PUBLIC HEARINGS. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 3 1. Resolution 2025-77: Accept Feasibility Study, Conduct Public Improvement Hearing, and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the 2026 Great Plains Boulevard/Lake Drive East Rehabilitation Project No. 26-02 George Bender, Assistant City Engineer, reviewed the project schedule for Project No. 26-02. He summarized the proposed project areas and scope along Lake Drive East and Great Plains Boulevard. He provided an overview of the public engagement effort that had taken place to date. He summarized the public feedback they received. He reviewed the intersection control for Great Plains and Lake Drive East and noted that they could either implement a 4-way stop or a mini-roundabout. He summarized the street project funding and noted that the city covers 60 percent of the costs, and the benefiting properties cover 40 percent of the costs. He stated that the estimated budget was 1,400,000 dollars, and the all-way stop was estimated to be under budget, and the mini roundabout was estimated to be over budget. He reviewed the preliminary assessment map and the preliminary assessment summary. He commented that the project was necessary, feasible, within budget, and cost-effective. Councilmember Schubert asked about the assessed properties and asked why all of the properties up to 101 were being assessed when their properties did not touch the road. Mr. Bender answered that they were on a private road and had three main access points, with two roads leading to Great Plains. He said that the only time they would ever receive an assessment was with this project. Councilmember Schubert asked if the developer maintained the private roadway. Mr. Bender confirmed this information. Councilmember Kimber asked about the project timeline for the roundabout rather than the four- way stop. Mr. Bender said that the timeline would be longer for a mini roundabout. Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing. Glen Anderson, 290 Lake Drive East, asked about the definition of an abutting property owner, since they had no land that touched Lake Drive East. Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing. Mr. Bender said that the American Legion generated traffic. He answered that the assessment was a way to fund roads based on traffic usage. He commented that an abutting property owner was similar to an adjacent property owner, so the assessments were related to the traffic being generated. Mayor Ryan requested that Mr. Bender follow up with the American Legion. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 4 Councilmember von Oven moved, Councilmember Schubert seconded that the Chanhassen City Council adopt a resolution accepting the feasibility study, ordering the improvements, and authorizing preparation of plans and specifications for the 2026 Great Plains Blvd/Lake Dr East Rehabilitation Project No. 26-02. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. 2. Lake Minnewashta Slow No Wake Public Hearing Joe Seidl, Water Resources Engineer, reviewed the submitted Citizen Action Request, which inquired about the slow-no wake zone that was triggered during the 4th of July Holiday. He summarized the slow-no-wake regulation and noted that the goal was to allow recreational use while protecting the shoreline and properties from damage. He defined the 100-year flood elevation and the ordinary high-water level. He explained the data collection and verification completed by the lake level sensors and staff members. He provided an overview of how slow-no wake elevations were determined for each lake. He summarized the data and trends of Lake Minnewashta and noted that the slow-no wake would likely be triggered every other year at 945.0. He compared the slow-no wake elevation between Lotus, Lake Minnewashta, and other area lakes. He explained the environmental and recreational impacts, including shoreline erosion, riparian vegetation and habitat loss, and sediment and phosphorus loading. He reviewed the outreach and feedback from the residents. He stated that the City Council recommended increasing the elevation to 945.3 and moving the wait time from three days to one day. Councilmember McDonald asked if the impacts he studied were at the 945.3 level. Mr. Seidl answered that they looked at the 945.3 and the current elevation of 945.0. He noted that the one elevation would cause erosion and the other one would not, but it was a scale. Councilmember McDonald asked if going to a 0.5 would have a negative impact. Mr. Seidl responded that a 945.5 would have more of a negative impact on the lake than the lower elevations. Councilmember McDonald confirmed that there was one slow no-wake event in 2014 with a 945.5 limit. Mayor Ryan reviewed guidelines for public hearings. She stated that the City Council discussed this information, and they were not considering the FEMA high water mark due to flooding concerns. Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Gary B, 3301 Shore Drive, stated he did not know that they were not considering the FEMA high water mark or that they changed the time to three minutes. He commented that they lost 34 days to utilize the lake with the slow no-wake regulations. He noted that people who use the lake were not represented. He stated that some lakes use the FEMA mark, while others use the ordinary City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 5 high-water mark. He said that they could use buoys to make no-wake areas rather than shutting down the lake. He commented that lakeshore owners could take steps to protect their property. He voiced favor for the FEMA standard, as the number should impact a lot of people before taking away the rights of boaters. Mckenna Ewen, 3850 Glendale Drive, said that he submitted the original Citizen Action Request. He asked the City Council to think about their first boating memories. He reviewed how often the lake was not usable based on the city regulations. He noted that the FEMA number should be considered, as the current limit is taking away the rights of residents of Chanhassen. Helen Gunther, 3628 Hickory Road, stated that boaters were not always residents of Chanhassen. She said that the 100-year flood plain was too high and she did not want her property destroyed. She voiced a preference to lessen the wait time without the risk of ruining the environmental properties of the lake. She commented that there needed to be enforcement during the no-wake restriction. Ryan Fader, 3401 Shore Drive, stated that he helped direct the water ski show. He said that the water ski show was beneficial to the community to help teach skills. He stated that the current level impacted their training ability. He requested that they consider increasing the limit. Jim Jasin, 1124 Parkview Court, stated his family had many memories on the lake. He commented that he lived on three sides of the lake, and the only damage he saw was the ice dams. He requested that they return to the FEMA level, or at the very least, the 945.5 limit and one-day restriction. Kevin Zahler, 6651 Minnewashta Parkway, noted that the Lake Minnewashta Preservation board completed two surveys that confirmed some of the information presented. He noted that the residents voted to raise the level. He stated that the key was the environment of the lake, and he wanted grandkids to be able to use the lake in the future. He encouraged them to look at how the lake was used before they set the rules. He said that people were boating one hundred feet away from his home, and they were cutting weeds. He stated that if they raised the level, but had good use regulations, they could all survive together. Scott Lacek, 3630 Hickory Lane, noted that his neighbor was a high-risk property on the lake. He commented that his neighbor’s elevation was below 945, so when the lake level was higher, his lawn would be slightly underwater. He noted that the issue was not the water level, but the wake one hundred feet from shore was the real issue. He referenced a University of Minnesota study that discussed wake. He requested that they complete a financial impact study before making a decision. David Glaza, 2961 Washta Bay Court, voiced support for raising the limit so he could use the lake recreationally with his children. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 6 Konrad Siefker, 6330 Fir Tree Avenue, requested that they raise the limit. He asked how many inches 945.5 would be. He asked if they looked at a good assessment to the 0.5 level for erosion. Mayor Ryan asked what the second question was. Mr. Siekfer answered if they did more analysis on the 0.5 to see if it would give them more days back, and how it would impact the erosion. He asked if there was more than anecdotal evidence regarding erosion. Dan Simmonds, 7351 Minnewashta Parkway, requested that they would like to see the most days available to use the lake. He noted that they live on a lower lot, and the only impact he saw was from the ice in the winter. Keith Paap, 3601 Red Cedar Point Road, noted that his property was low and commented that 945 was a good level. They did work to add riprap and save the shoreline. He voiced support for moving the waiting period from three days to one day. He commented that people can still use the lake for other activities during the no-wake days. Doug Tanner, 3211 Dartmouth Drive, said he was not opposed to the proposed rise in the level. He said that there was no enforcement of the lake restrictions. He asked if they increased the level, the City Council would consider adding enforcement. Pamela Strommen, 3221 Dartmouth Drive, asked if the terrestrial level of growth fluctuated based on where the water was. She asked if limiting a few days would impact things that much. She noted that as a property owner, she was responsible for taking care of her own property. She requested to see more evidence that wave activity was causing erosion. Daniel Mulheran, 3815 Red Cedar Point Road, voiced support for raising the limit. He stated that the low limit created cultural division among neighbors on the lake. He said that there was a financial and time impact from picking a number too low. Dave Bishop, 3605 Red Cedar Point, said that photographs of the lake were available from 1938. He noted that they put up riprap to protect the new, artificial shoreline. He said that natural sand beaches and manicured lawns were not the original shoreline. He stated that they had natural, deep-rooted grass to protect the shoreline and water. He commented that this was a watershed district issue. He voiced favor for 945.5 and the one-day wait limit. Gary Renneke, 3607 Red Cedar Point Road, stated that he was not in favor of changing the level. He cautioned against following the popular vote rather than protecting other residents’ interests. He encouraged that if they were to change the current regulations and there were concerns about damage to property owners, then it would need to be established that the change would not cause damage. A resident asked about the regulations for residents to fix the erosion to property as per the Department of Natural Resources. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 7 A resident asked what percentage would go down if it were reduced from three days to one day wait time. Dan Fagan, 3701 South Cedar Drive, said that nature had its way. On a windy, white-capped day and an icy day, his property and the lake received the most damage, rather than from the boaters. Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing. Mayor Ryan requested the conversion rate from 945.3 to 945.5. Mr. Seidl answered that the slow no-wake was posted in one-tenth of a foot, which would be equal to 1.2 inches. Mayor Ryan asked about erosion protection. Mr. Seidl responded that they engaged with an engineering firm, but there were a lot of assumptions that degraded the integrity of the study. He said that they look at the erosion and wave action out there. They could consider studying, but often the studies are expensive. Mayor Ryan requested that they speak about enforcement. Mr. Seidl answered that the city staff would verify the slow no-wake, then the city staff would notify the Director of Public Works. The Public Works Director will complete a communication campaign to notify residents. They also notify the sheriff’s office, which would conduct enforcement as time allows. Charlie Howley, Public Works Director, said that the city had no ability to do more enforcement, and it was handled by Carver County. If it were a persistent problem, they should lobby Carver County to complete more enforcement. Mayor Ryan asked how many days Carver County monitored the lake during the slow no-wake. Mr. Howley answered that they did not receive a report, but could request one. He heard that they were on the lake a couple of times last summer. Mayor Ryan requested that the city staff find that information from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, for an oversight perspective, and to understand how often they were on the lake with the slow no-wake. Mayor Ryan asked that Mr. Seidl address the natural habitat. Mr. Seidl answered that there was natural selection of species along the lake on a natural shoreline. He said that the ordinary high- water level was considered by the vegetation. Mayor Ryan asked how often it changed. Mr. Seidl responded that he could ask the Department of Natural Resources’ Hydrologist. Mayor Ryan asked about the outlet for Lake Minnewashta. Mr. Seidl answered that it was a natural outlet that the city did not make and that they do not maintain. They do monitor the City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 8 channel for obtrusions. He said they have a stormwater pond near the channel, so they will check it yearly to make sure it is flowing correctly. Mayor Ryan asked about the DNR regulations for property owners. Mr. Seidl reviewed the permitting process with the Watershed District, which manages many of the DNR regulations. He said that there was a general allowance for a sand blanket. Mayor Ryan asked about the steps in the process. Mr. Seidl answered that it often starts with the city or the Watershed District. Mayor Ryan asked about the one-day versus three-day hold. Mr. Seidl answered that it would drop from approximately twelve percent of the days to ten percent. Councilmember Schubert asked how many days a slow no-wake in the last 20 years there would be at the 945.3 elevation. Mr. Seidl answered that there would be zero days. Councilmember Kimber asked if there was a basis for setting 945.0 for the slow no-wake originally. Mr. Seidl answered that it was a historical number. Councilmember McDonald discussed the freedom for the people who wanted to preserve their property and shoreline, and people who wanted to use the lake. He said that municipalities previously could not control the lakes, and the Department of Natural Resources controls the lakes. He said that 945.3 would have minimal impact on the days that residents could not use the lake. He commented that lakes were there for the public to recreate and use. He suggested adopting the 945.5 because it would not be impacted by the rise and fall of the lake. He stated that the Department of Natural Resources would give its opinion on the correct number. Councilmember von Oven stated that this issue was tied to his personal life. He said that there was no need for the three-day waiting time with the new electronic monitoring. He stated that 945.3 was not chosen out of thin air. He noted that the 100-year flood level was not the correct number, as people would be concerned about their houses flooding. He stated that if the discussion continued, there would be cultural concerns at the lake. He said that 945.3 was the best that the City Council could do to make both parties happy. Councilmember Schubert recalled moments in her childhood when the lake levels were very high, so boats could not leave their lifts. She noted that the FEMA level was too high and caused safety issues. Councilmember Kimber said that his children enjoy utilizing Lake Minnewashta. He said that the average lake level was where the no-wake limit was currently set and expressed support for increasing it to 945.5. He asked if there were ways that the city could help landowners with land improvements if they had additional problems in lower-lying areas. City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 9 Mayor Ryan asked if the city could explore further conversations about how it could help residents with lakeshore improvement. Mr. Seidl answered that the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed District sets its own expectations, so there would be little flexibility to advocate for their residents. Mayor Ryan thanked Mr. Seidl for his diligence in researching the information. She researched the historical discussion on setting the slow no-wake limit originally. She stated that it was an enforcement problem, which makes her lean towards the 945.5. Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember von Oven seconded that the Chanhassen City Council raise the no-wake limit from 945.0 to 945.5 and change it to a one-day waiting period, and forward that recommendation to the Department of Natural Resources for their review and comments. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. Mr. Seidl said that the next steps were to submit paperwork to the Department of Natural Resources for their review and comment period. Mayor Ryan asked if it was approved or changed by the Department of Natural Resources, and if there were more public hearings required. Mr. Seidl answered that this would be the public hearing, whether the Department of Natural Resources approved of the ordinance change or not. Councilmember von Oven thanked the Gunther family for leading the lake association. He encouraged the residents to work together to resolve differences. COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. Councilmember McDonald attended the Riley Bluff Creek Watershed District Awards Dinner. He thought it was a productive time. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None. CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION. 1. Third Quarter 2025 Economic Development Activity Report 2. Third Quarter 2025 Communications Update CLOSED SESSION. 1. Discuss Acquisition of PID 25.8680100, a tax-forfeited parcel City Council Minutes – November 10, 2025 10 Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember Schubert seconded that the Chanhassen City Council enter into a closed session that will involve discussion of bid strategy related to tax-forfeited parcel PID 25.8680100, for which the city is eligible to submit a sealed bid. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS. 1. Discuss Acquisition of PID 25.8680100, a tax-forfeited parcel Mayor Ryan noted that no formal action was taken during the closed session. Councilmember Kimber moved, Councilmember von Oven seconded that the Chanhassen City Council authorize staff to submit a sealed bid to Carver County for the purchase of tax-forfeited property (PID 25.8680100) adjacent to city-owned land, and approve use of Sewer Utility Fund dollars for the bid and associated closing costs. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. Councilmember Schubert moved, Councilmember McDonald seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The City Council meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m. Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen City Manager Prepared by Jenny Potter City Clerk