July 2012
SHIP CITIZEN RESPONSIBILITY
Vol. 13 - No. 7
Prepared and paid for by the City of Chaska
Chaska River City Days July 27-29
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Mark your calendars for National Night Out Event is Tuesday, Aug. 7
T
he City of Cha sk a will join cities nationwide f o r “A m e r i c a ’s Night Out Against Crime.”
a as block parties, cooko outs, parades and visits i from police, flashl light walks, contests, youth activities and anticrime rallies. There will be visits to the neighborhood p a r t i e s f r om t h e Chaska Police Department, Chaska Fire Depa rtment, McGruff Crime Dog, Target, CenterPoint Energy and Ridgeview ambulance. Chief Knight will also be ma k ing v isits to area parties.
On Tuesday, August 7, neighborhoods throughout Chaska are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “29th Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime a nd d r ug prevention event. National Night Out is sponPhotos by sored by the National Mark Olson, Association of Town Chaska Watch (NATW) and Herald co-sponsored locally by Chaska Police Department. National Night Out is designed to (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention n awareness; (2) Strengthen neighbor-hood spirit and police-community y partnerships; and (3) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborrhoods are organized and fighting back. From 5 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 7, residents in neighborhoods throughout Chaska and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend
Contact: Of f icer Ja n ke, Cha sk a Police Department 952448-4200 or e-mail: jjanke@chaskamn.com k if you a interested in having are your y neighborhood part ticipate.
the evening outside with neighbors and police. Many neighborhoods throughout Chaska will be hosting a variety of special events such
** ***Special this year*** If yo live in the Jonathan you As Association they will pay up to $100 towards supplies to host a National Night Out party in your neighborhood. Please contact them at 952-448-4700 for more information.
Chaska receives recognition from regional magazine I
t’s always great to be noticed! The City of C h a s k a has definitely b e en not ic e d by t he r e a ders of “Southw e s t M e t r o” magazine. This regional magazine provides insider information about lo c a l r e st aura nts, shops, boutiques and recreational activities. It also includes features on local residents with unique stories in Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Victoria, and the surrounding area. At the beginning of each year, the magazine offers a “Best Of” survey to its readers to vote for their favorite businesses in 25 categories. The magazine’s Best of 2012 was announced mid-June and published in the July issue. The Chaska Community Center was recognized as a finalist for the best place for children’s birthday parties. The Chaska Community Center offers four basic birthday party packages: #1 a pool/gym party, #2 ice skating party, #3 playroom party and #4 indoor turf party. Each party package includes des admission for 8 kids and 2 adults, food ood for each child (pizza, juice, chips and ice cream), 1 hour room rental, and invitations (upon request). Theme me birthday party packages are also lso available with themes of Arty Party, ty, Leepin’ Legos, Science Adventure re and Kid’s Kingdom. Theme party ty packages include one and a half alf hours of structured programming ng with 30 minutes of time for cake ke and presents. Invitations, treat at bags, play castle, swimming, open n gym, and ice skating can be added d for an additional charge. For a jumping good time the Chaska a Community Center offers thee Ultimate Play Party for 10 kidss and includes 1 hour of private use of the upper gym which includes a kids climbing wall and inflatable jump castle, 1 hour private use of the Rainbow Party Room, and food for each child (pizza, juice, chips, and ice cream). For more information on birthday party
packages visit http://www.chaskacommunitycenter.com/ccenter/Birthday_ Parties.php or call Facility Coordinator, Jaime Wiemann, at 952-227-7748. The Chaska Community Center was also recognized as a finalist for Best Yoga Studio. The Center offers a wide variety of yoga practices that accommodate all skill levels from the beginner to the advanced. Practices are offered seven days a week, and are available mornings, mid-mornings and evenings. Yoga practices at the Chaska Community Center include Fit Yoga, Hatha, Restorative, Silver Sneaker Yoga Stretch, Power Vinyasa, Kids Yoga and after school yoga for teens. Everyone ages 13 and up is welcome to attend FREE Yoga Baahya. An outdoor vinyasa style yoga that combines yoga poses with nature in a casual practice is offered on Fridays through Aug. 24, 8:30-9:15 a.m. at McKnight Park, next to Jonathan Elementary School. Email Susan at smarek@chaskamn.com to receive the Baahya Yoga forecast on Thursdays. For more information on yoga practices at the Chaska Community Center visit http://www.chaskacommunitycenter. com/pdf/2012SpringSummerYoga.pdf or call Fitness Coordinator, Susan Marek, at 952-227-7780. The Chaska Town Course was selected by the readers of “Southwest Metro” as the t he B e st
Golf Course of 2012. The Chaska Town Course, owned and operated by the City of Chaska, covers 285 acres of oak groves, open prairie and marshlands. Play the Chaska Town Course for this beautiful scenery or improve your game with lessons available for all skill levels. Match play and leagues are a great way to socialize with other local golfers. For youth interested in golf, junior programs are also available. For more information about Chaska Town Course visit http:// www.chaskatowncourse.com or call the golf shop at 952-443-3748. Other businesses located in Chaska were also selected by the readers of “Southwest Metro” Magazine as “2012 Best Of” and include Two Twelve Medical Center/Ridgeview Medical Center for Best Clinic/Hospital, The Mustard Seed for Best Landscaper, Park Dental for Best Dentist and Caribou Coffee for Best Coffee. Recognized as finalists in the “2012 Best Of” were Dunn Bros. for Best Coffee, Metro Dentalcare for Best Dentist and Snap Fitness for Best Fitness Studio. Congratulations to all Chaska businesses both award winning and finalists! Thank you to “Southwest Metro” magazine readers who participated in this survey. It is great to be noticed as a community with the best businesses and amenities in the southwest metro area!
Chaska’s community celebration includes a weekend of events for all ages! Live music: Lost High way, Orchid and more local Steel talent. Activities: Disc-golf, vo lleyball tournaments, along wi th Parade, and Ar t/Craft Show. For complete list of ev ents and schedules, please vis it ww ChaskaRiverCityDays.co w. m.
Water conservation update: Odd-Even watering is in effect
A
s part of a statee mandate, C h a s k a’s Water Departmentt has implemented an odd-even lawnwatering program. This prog ram greatly reduces the city’s peak water demand during the heavy usage months between May 1 and d Sept. 30. The Water ater Department is asking residents for their cooperation to comply with this program. You are required to limit your lawn sprinkling and other non-essential water use based on your address and the calendar day of the month. If your address ends with an odd number, you may water on odd-numbered calendar days (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.), likewise if your address ends with an even number, you water on even-numbered calendar days (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.). Compliance with this ordinance is mandatory. Failure to comply may result in a $100 fine and/or termination of water service. Non-established new seed or sod is exempt from this ordinance. The Water Department thanks you for your cooperation. For more information you can contact the Water Department at (952) 448-4335.
Tips for Conserving Water Sprinkle lawns early in the morning or in the evening. Don’t sprinkle lawns from noon to 6 p.m. when as much as 75 percent of the water evaporates. Water trees and gardens with a hose or soaker hose rather than a sprinkler. Use mulch around trees, shrubs and flowers to retain soil moisture. Sweep driveways and sidewalks with a broom rather than hosing them down. Repair leaky faucets and toilets. A dripping faucet can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water per day and a running toilet can waste over 1,400 gallons per day.
Southwest Chaska Growth, Development Plan Project Overview Reasons for Updating SW Chaska Plan: The City’s current growth & development plans for the Southwest (SW) Chaska growth area include the Heights of Chaska Concept Plan (2003) and Chaska Biotech Center Concept Plan (2007). At a more general level, the City’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2010) also addresses SW Chaska. These three plans were prepared separately at different times. Since completion of the two concept plans, significant changes have occurred that impact SW Chaska: • New Hwy 212 was completed in 2008 with SW Chaska interchange shifted west to Carver • Hwy 41 River Crossing Study identifies preferred route through SW Chaska • Additional Hwy 212 interchange at CR 140 conditionally approved by MnDOT • Economic recession beginning in 2008 changed the real estate market and scale of new development • New Chaska Downtown Master Plan adopted by City Council in February 2012 Goals of SW Chaska Plan The primary goal of this project is to create an implementable plan for the entire SW Chaska growth area, which will be environmentally, fiscally and socially sustainable long-term The City’s Comprehensive Plan also needs to be updated with a land use plan and transportation plan that aligns with the proposed CR 140/TH 212 interchange. Another key goal is to guide SW Chaska growth and development that will contribute to the revitalization of historic downtown Chaska rather than compete with it. Project Team The City has contracted with a team of professional consultants to prepare the SW Chaska Growth & Development Plan and update the Comprehensive Plan. The consultant team consists of: • Hoisington Koegler Group
(HKGi) - planning & urban design • Design Workshop - urban design & market analysis • W-ZHA - downtown market analysis • Bolton & Menk - civil engineering, transportation The consultant team is working closely with City Staff, including the Community Development, Engineering, Utilities and Parks & Recreation departments. Project Planning Process & Timeline June - December 2012 1. Context Analysis 2. Market Analysis 3. Development Concept Alternatives 4. Preferred Growth & Development Concept 5. Implementation Strategies 6 . C ompr ehen s ive Pl a n Amendment 7. Final Review and Approvals Community Input Three opportunities for general community input are planned during the project: • Community Forum in June • Community Open House in October • Public Hearing in December. Contact Information If you should questions about the process or wish to comment, please contact Kevin Ringwald, Director of Planning & Development (952448-9200 or KRingwald@ chaskamn.com).