08.10.2026 CC MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
AUGUST 10, 2026
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 von Oven, and Councilmember Kimber.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmember Schubert.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Eric Maass, Community Development
Director; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Patrick Gavin,
Communications Manager; Jerry Ruegemer, Parks and Recreation Director; Matt Kerr, IT
Manager; Tyler Stahn, Lieutenant
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Balakrishna Chintaginjala, Resident
Kelly Olson, Resident
Katie Hachiya, 7588 Walnut Curve
Emma Howell,1730 Mayapple Pass
Linda Paulsen, Resident
Dawn Farnan, 7408 Fawn Hill Road
Tom Kraker, 801 Pleasant View Road
Edward Szalapski, 850 Pleasant View Road
Robin Beddor, 1050 Pleasant View Road
James Kraker, 860 Fox Court
Michelle, 860 Pleasant View Road
Kellen McManus, 825 Pleasant View Road
Jon Gilbert, 1641 Jeurissen Lane
Rick Opat, 561 Indian Hill Road
Mike, 830 Pleasant View Road
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Celebrate Northern Lights Awards received for MAGC for Communications
Mayor Ryan recognized the Chanhassen Communications team, who were awarded six Northern
Lights awards at the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators Conference.
2. Invitation to Community Day at Chanhassen Recreation Center
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Mayor Ryan invited residents to attend the Chanhassen Community Day on August 15th at the
Recreation Center.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember Kimber
seconded that the City Council approve the following consent agenda items 1 through 18
pursuant to the City Manager’s recommendations:
1. Approve City Council Minutes dated July 13, 2026
2. Approve City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes dated July 13, 2026
3. Approve City Council Special Work Session Meeting Minutes dated July 8, 2026
4. Receive Environmental Commission Minutes dated June 10, 2026
5. Receive Park and Recreation Commission minutes dated June 23, 2026
6. Approve Claims Paid dated August 10, 2026
7. Amendment to Downtown Water Tower Antenna Agreement with Verizon Wireless
8. Approve Temporary Liquor License, St. Hubert’s, September 26, 2026
9. Approve Temporary Liquor License for The Grief Club for the Healing Hearts Soiree
10. Approve Temporary Modification of the Licensed Premises to serve Beer and Wine in The
O.G. Coffee and Wine Bar Parking Lot Area
11. Approve Amended and Restated Parking Deferment Agreement and Updated Public
Pedestrian Access Easement for Avienda Apartments
12. State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement Hotel Inspection
13. Carver County Youth Work Experience Agreement
14. Approve an Encroachment Agreement between the City of Chanhassen and the property
owner at 7196 Pearl Drive (Lot 8, Block 2, The Park 3rd Addition)
15. Approve an Encroachment Agreement between the City of Chanhassen and the property
owner at 8201 Main Street (Lot 1, Block 2, Villages on the Ponds)
16. Resolution 2026-62: CenterPoint Energy Community Safety Grant Award
17. Resolution 2026-63: Certification of Water and Sewer Hook-Up Charges to the County
Auditor
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18. Ordinance 767: Amending Chapter 10 to Permit Temporary Goat Grazing for Vegetation
Management
All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
1. Balakrishna Chintaginjala Citizen Action Request
Balakrishna Chintaginjala, Resident, provided an overview of Innovation Strategy to create high-
paying jobs and bring manufacturing back to Chanhassen
2. Kelly Olson Citizen Action Request
Kelly Olson, Resident, discussed the need for the community to document turtle movement to
understand how to protect wildlife. She noted that there were concerns about turtle safety on
Galpin Boulevard. She provided an overview of different engagements she participated in with
the City of Chanhassen. She asked the City officials to consider ways to protect the turtles on
Galpin Boulevard.
Katie Hachiya, 7588 Walnut Curve, discussed different actions she took to raise awareness of
turtle deaths on Galpin Boulevard, including submitting information to See-Click-Fix and putting
signs up along the road. She attended the Environmental Commission meeting and Kare 11
News. She requested changes to protect the turtles.
Emma Howell,1730 Mayapple Pass, discussed the need to protect turtles along with their habitat.
She said that there had been major impacts to the turtles when the traffic had been rerouted to
Galpin Boulevard. She reviewed different actions residents could take to protect turtles in
Chanhassen.
Linda Paulsen, Resident, thanked city staff for the storm pond plan and for bringing out goats to
help with land maintenance.
Dawn Farnan, 7408 Fawn Hill Road, requested that they consider the information presented
about the turtles. She noticed there was an increase in dead turtles since they started to develop
the old Prince property. She commented that there were curbs and retaining walls where the
turtles cross Galpin Boulevard.
FIRE DEPARTMENT/LAW ENFORCEMENT UPDATES.
1. Law Enforcement Update
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Tyler Stahn, Lieutenant, reviewed the calls at a glance for the first half of the year. He said that
the largest driver for the calls for service was traffic stops. There was an increase in traffic stops
because the department was fully staffed and some of the officers were highly motivated for
traffic stops. He discussed the increase in calls for service, including the miscellaneous non-
criminal, motor vehicle crashes, and medical calls. He discussed the increased mental health calls
and strategic response and the enhanced traffic initiatives on County Road 101, Bluff Creek
Drive, and Highway 5. He discussed the Highway 5 Construction Traffic Initiative and noted that
stop sign violations were the most common.
Mayor Ryan thanked them for the additional work on the traffic initiatives.
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
1. Resolution 2026-64: Pleasant View Road Rehabilitation Project Improvement Hearing
Charlie Howley, Public Works Director, provided an overview of the Pleasant View Road
Rehabilitation Project. He discussed the existing conditions of the roadway and the different
proposed changes to improve the roadway. He reviewed the different public touchpoints on the
project starting in January 2025 with a City Council Work Session, a November Public Open
House and Public Survey, a January 2026 City Council Work Session, and a July 2026 Public
Open House. He discussed the project layout and the safety improvement recommendations. He
stated there was a new trail consideration and the costs would not affect assessments. He
summarized the project costs for the project, which were programmed to use $2.3 million in
Municipal State Aid Funding. The costs did not include the added trail at the west end. He
reviewed the assessments for the project and stated that the estimated 2027 rate was $5300. He
discussed the project schedule starting with the order improvements starting on August 10th,
2026, and the final design completion in fall 2026. He stated that the construction would take
place between May and October 2027. He reviewed the public feedback received and said that
they did not have strong opposition to the assessment.
Councilmember McDonald asked about pedestrian safety, since the major area that it was
paramount was not covered. He asked if they considered a trail between the western end and the
eastern end. Mr. Howley answered that if they widened the area by one foot, they would be
outside of the right-of-way and would need massive retaining walls. He said they could use
strategic pavement markings.
Councilmember von Oven said that they want to get the variance and use MSA, but they were
more than covered in their current budget to cover the project. Mr. Howley answered that it
would have an impact on the fund, as they could only use MSA funds for specific roads.
Councilmember Kimber said that the proposed trail did not extend beyond the curb rights-of-
way. He asked if they were impeding at all to the north, or if the trail would just impede southern
properties. Mr. Howley answered that the trail would go on the south side. If the trail became a
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reality, they would look closer. There might be a few sections that the road would have to move,
but not globally.
Mayor Ryan confirmed that they were looking at holistic project approval tonight. She asked if
they were looking for feedback on all safety improvements or just the trail. Mr. Howley
responded that he wanted to know if they would like to keep the trail in or out of the project.
Mayor Ryan opened the public hearing.
Tom Kraker, 801 Pleasant View Road, said that the road had a lot of curves and water next to the
road. He thought that a trail on a curve could lead to danger, as vehicles speed on the road. He
worried that widening the road would make safety worse. He thought that the west end was safer
because you could get into side roads to get away from traffic. He requested that the City
Council pass on the trail.
Edward Szalapski, 850 Pleasant View Road, stated that the only issue on the road was speed. He
did not want the road to look more attractive, as people would speed more.
Robin Beddor, 1050 Pleasant View Road, said that it was a rural road and the largest concern
was speeding. She discussed that the trail would benefit people from Fox Chase, but no one on
Pleasant View Road would benefit from the trail. She stated that the right thing would be to not
destroy their neighbors’ front yards, as it is a rural area.
James Kraker, 860 Fox Court, said he was against having a path on the west end of Pleasant
View Road. He thought a path was not needed, as it would increase the speed of drivers.
Michelle, 860 Pleasant View Road, agreed with the comments from the previous residents. She
discussed the speed of cars on their road. She thought that the safety measures were more
important than a relatively short path. She discussed the negative impact of the short path on the
character of the neighborhood. She said she had three properties impacted by the project, so she
had three assessments.
Kellen McManus, 825 Pleasant View Road, suggested that if they design the road for 30 miles
per hour, people still often speed. He encouraged the reduction of the blind corners for safety. He
said his property driveway was short and was concerned about the path going along the
guardrail. The path would need a substantial retaining wall, which would be costly. He said that
the proposed path would not be used by road bikers, but he suggested a designated walking area
within the confines of the existing road width.
Jon Gilbert, 1641 Jeurissen Lane, suggested passing on the trail. He thought improved roads
would provide the necessary safety. He also encouraged increased signage and some tree
removal.
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Rick Opat, 561 Indian Hill Road, said he runs and walks his dog on the road. He thought that
putting a path near the road would make people drive faster. He did not think bikers would
utilize a path. He stated that people do not stop at the stop signs and that speeding is the real
issue on the road.
Mike, 830 Pleasant View Road, thought a walking path was not necessary.
Mayor Ryan closed the public hearing.
Mayor Ryan suggested it was important to make a clear visual of the striping for the residents at
the Public Open House. She said that when there is striping, it would change the look and feel of
the road. She stated she would like additional conversation about the stop sign at Horse Shoe
Curve intersection.
Councilmember Kimber said it was the right time to consider if a trail should go in and if it
should connect to the greater trail system. He stated he was against the trail because the residents
clearly expressed their concerns about the installation of a trail.
Councilmember von Oven stated he would like to see safe passage across the entire roadway. He
thought it would be safer to have a place for people to walk, but there seemed to be opposition to
the trail. He originally wanted a passageway across the entire roadway. He was in favor of the
project itself and was split about the benefits of the path.
Councilmember McDonald said that there were only two east-west roads that took traffic around
Lotus Lake. He thought people took the curve too quickly, and they were looking at a feasible
approach to make it safer. He did want to see the road improved, and he thought that there should
be a trail from Powers to 101. He did not know the utility of the proposed trail in the plan. He
stated he was in favor of the proposed road.
Mayor Ryan encouraged Mr. Howley to check on the safety concerns. She said the proposed trail
did not need to be included in the project. She said if there was an opportunity for another
neighborhood open house to provide visuals and collect feedback prior to final design, that
would be helpful.
Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember von Oven seconded that the
Chanhassen City Council adopts a resolution accepting the feasibility study, ordering the
improvements, and authorizing preparation of plans and specifications for the Pleasant
View Road Rehabilitation Project. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously
with a vote of 4 to 0.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
1. Approve Bid Package #2: Chanhassen Community Center
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Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager, reviewed the Bid Package #2 for Chanhassen Community
Center. She said that they received good bid coverage for the project, which demonstrated strong
interest in the project and confidence in the pricing that they received. She provided a summary
of the bid alternatives for the project. She discussed the floor plan for the project and the exterior
renderings.
Councilmember Kimber thanked the team for their involvement. He said he was a part of the
Parks and Recreation Task Force to discuss the project originally. He thanked the individuals
who run the amazing sports activities and hoped that the venue would assist with the activities.
He said that the amenities in the facility include more than just two sheets of ice and commented
that they tried to build a community center for the community. He thought that the project was
meaningful.
Councilmember McDonald agreed that there was more than two sheets of ice but included
additional community spaces and activity areas. They wanted to design a usable building, and
they would hope would pay for itself. He said that one of the highest costs was for safety, as the
building must meet certain safety requirements.
Councilmember von Oven said he was proud of the work that they completed to get to this point
in the project.
Mayor Ryan thanked RJM for working hard to get the financial numbers down. She said a lot of
work went into the project creation and thanked all of those who participated.
Councilmember von Oven moved, Councilmember Kimber seconded that the Chanhassen
City Council award Bid Package #2, which is the remainder of the Chanhassen Community
Center project, to RJM Construction, as part of the Construction Manager at Risk
(CMAR) delivery method, and authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary
documents. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None.
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION. None.
Councilmember Kimber moved, Councilmember McDonald seconded to adjourn the
meeting. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. The
City Council meeting was adjourned at 9:13 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
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Prepared by Jenny Potter
City Clerk