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- MINUTES -
CHASKA CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 26, 2026
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hubbard at 7 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
Roll call was taken. Present: Mayor Hubbard and Councilmembers Grau, Sheveland, Benesh,
and Hatfield.
Also Present: Matt Podhradsky, City Administrator; Elise Durbin, Assistant City Administrator;
Nate Kabat, Community Development Director; Liz Hanson, City Planner; Ashley Cauley, City
Planner; Matt Clark, City Engineer; and Christophe Morschen, City Attorney.
Mayor Hubbard stated that she has seen profound fear and panic over the past several weeks
in the community and has felt the weight of this personally. She stated that, seeing the impact
of recent events, she has wrestled with the question of effective leadership in this moment. She
said the answer looks different depending on the source, and understands the intent behind all
of the approaches is a shared desire to oppose the current conditions impacting the community.
She expressed support and gratitude for the Chaska Police Department for their commitment to
public safety while upholding trust and transparency in the community. She stated the Chaska
Police Department has been an outstanding example of what community policing should be.
Mayor Hubbard said she speaks for the community and reflects shared values that the
community holds dear, and her words can help or cause harm; her priority is to walk alongside
the most vulnerable to ensure they do not suffer through retaliation or harm. She explained
that this approach may be disappointing to some, but the time she has spent working with
affected community members has reaffirmed that this discomfort is a small price to pay for the
greater good. She said silence in this case is not the same as complicity, and in this moment,
she chooses quiet leadership and to be present for those in need and listen with empathy while
choosing to embrace the inherent worth and dignity that each human being deserves as
members of the Chaska community.
Mayor Hubbard said the Council would adopt the agenda for this evening, and then Police Chief
Ryan Seibert would say a few words.
4. Adopt the Agenda
Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Sheveland to adopt the agenda
as presented. Motion carried.
Chief Seibert said he would keep things brief as he was not planning on speaking tonight, but
thanked Mayor Hubabrd and the Council for their leadership. He said nothing has changed for
the Chaska Police Department in the way that they serve the community, and value their

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MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL
January 26, 2026, PAGE 2
partnerships. He said this is an unprecedented time with challenges ahead, but City Staff will
continue to do the right thing.
City Administrator Podhradsky added that Chief Seibert has put a tremendous number of hours
of work into planning for the worst and hoping for the best, to ensure the community is kept
safe. He acknowledged how proud he is to work with someone like Chief Seibert.
5. Visitor Presentation
5.A. Aaron Kuznia - APWA Engineering Technician of the Year Award
Eric Lemke presented Aaron Kuznia with the AWPA Engineering Technician of the Year Award
and said he had worked with Mr. Kuznia for the last 10 years. He introduced Public Works
Director and City Engineer Chad Milner for the City of Edina, and serves on the APWA Award
Committee.
Mr. Lemke explained that there are 1,100 members in the Minnesota APWA chapter across the
state representing various industry vendors. He stated he specializes in work pertaining to
Public Works and services provided both locally in communities and at the state level. He stated
that Mr. Kuznia, throughout his career, has been actively a part of certified training for members
of the APWA and other Public Works professionals and a true ambassador for the importance
of Public Works in the communities.
Mr. Lemke stated that the APWA Awards Committee is made up of 12 people, and each year
they solicit nominations for projects of the year and personnel awards across the state. He said
Mr. Kuznia’s work stood out professionally, and he is truly worthy of the APWA award. He stated
Mr. Kuznia’s work demonstrated innovative applications in technology and equipment, project
management, service delivery systems, outstanding service to citizens, personal growth, and
outstanding teamwork.
Mr. Milner said he was Mr. Kuznia’s direct supervisor for three years in Edina. He said he is
honored to say a few words about Mr. Kuznia and that he deserves this award.
Mr. Kuznia said a lot of people have set him up for success, and he would not be here without
them. He said coming to Chaska has been awesome. He thanked the APWA and the Council
for the opportunity to get this award publicly.
Mayor Hubbard thanked Mr. Kuznia for all his hard work and for making the community of
Chaska amazing.
5.B. Erik Hansen – SouthWest Transit 2025 Year in Review
Erik Hansen of Southwest Transit explained that Southwest Transit operates under an
agreement between Chaska, Eden Prairie, and Chanhassen. He noted that Southwest Transit
is celebrating its 40th year of service and is quickly growing with 14 percent ridership growth
and 614,000 rides last year, driven by new and expanded services.

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 3
Mr. Hansen said that customer satisfaction remains high with a 90 percent range across services
and demonstrates strong cost efficiency with a $12.07 subsidy per ride, compared to a $15.42
subsidy with Metro Transit.
Mr. Hansen stated that in Chaska, ridership is strong, including significant inbound, outbound,
and local trips, and steady use of Creek Station for downtown service. He noted that 52 percent
of Southwest Prime riders are transit-dependent and highlighted the equity and access needs
that Southwest is providing.
Mr. Hansen stated that Southwest Transit has been brought up in legislation to be eliminated,
thanked the Council for their continued support, and encouraged continued advocacy to
maintain Southwest Transit. He added that Councilmember Hatfield is now the Chair of the
Southwest Transit Board, along with Councilmember Grau being a representative, and stated
he appreciates Chaska’s strong representation.
Mayor Hubbard thanked Mr. Hansen and said Southwest Transit provides a very reliable and
valuable service to Chaska. She said the Council will continue to support Southwest Transit to
ensure it stays in the community.
Mr. Hansen said he appreciates the Council's support and lives in Carver County himself, and
the citizens of this area deserve to have the benefit of Southwest Transit.
Councilmember Hatfield said that it was a great year in review of Southwest Transit. She said
the Council all knows how valuable Southwest Transit is in a lot of different ways, but especially
for community events. She added that it is an essential service for a lot of people, and she is
very happy to be the Chair of the Board for the community because she knows how important
Southwest Transit is. She shared that she is very grateful for Chanhassen and Eden Prairie
entering into a Joint Powers Agreement for Southwest Transit in their areas. She thanked Mr.
Hansen for sharing all his information with the Council.
Councilmember Grau said he has appreciated getting to know all the staff on Southwest Transit.
He said Southwest Transit has been great for the community, and his kids still remember riding
the Southwest Transit bus to watch Chaska play in the state tournament, and Metro Transit
would not have done that. He thanked Mr. Hansen for coming out and speaking to the Council.
Councilmember Sheveland shared that her husband is a pilot who utilizes Southwest Transit to
get to early morning flights at the airport, and said it was so helpful, easier, and economical
than driving there himself. She said her husband has a car and could drive there himself, but
Southwest Transit was so much more beneficial for him.
Mr. Hansen said he pushes back at the notion that public transit is only for people without cars,
and that is the reason why. He added that there are a lot of good reasons for public transit,
including economic and environmental sustainability.

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 4
5.C. Lisa Anderson & Matt Udermann - Carver County Update
Commissioner Lisa Anderson provided an update on the Carver County Board, which she has
served on for a year. Ms. Anderson said she and Commissioner Matt Udermann would provide
the Council with a brief county update. She stated that there was a recently updated strategic
plan for the county with a focus on taxpayer value, customer service, physical assets, and
recognition of the residents. She stated that while the plan is straightforward, it reflects the
county's role behind the scenes, and residents may not always realize that county staff are
serving them, and the seamless experience is intentional.
Commissioner Udermann stated that the county partners with the City on roads like Highway
41 and 10, which have been a hot topic because of the roundabouts. He added that Chaska
has done a great job articulating the need for their new Public Safety building, and the county
will do the same with their buildings. He stated that county staff will look at using taxpayer
money effectively and may utilize some of Chaska’s City buildings for displaced county staff
when building out some of the county buildings. He stated that county staff will meet with City
Staff to collaborate on things like that.
Commissioner Anderson explained that Carver County funds the Sheriff’s Department, Health
and Human Services, Public Works, Parks, Library services, Veteran services, County Attorney,
and Taxpayer services.
Commissioner Udermann stated that Carver County is working on Highway 41 and Highway 5,
along with having a relationship with Community Development and the Historic Society, for
which the county gives money that is not under the county's domain. He added that the county
worked in partnership with the CDA for housing and accelerated four projects in Carver County
through COVID-19.
Commissioner Anderson said she thinks it is really important that people understand where the
dollars go, and the majority of the Carver County budget is spent on Health and Human Services
and the County Sheriff. She noted that operations and the things that keep the county running,
such as roads and bridges, and general government, make up a large portion of their budget
as well. She stated that the county did a lot of work with land, water, and environment, which
all account for about 21 percent of the property taxes that Chaska residents pay to Carver
County. Commissioner Udermann added that these services are paid with levy dollars, and with
the median home value being $500,000, only one percent of that value annually goes to the
county, one percent goes to the City, and one percent goes to the school district. He noted that
he and the rest of the county and City Staff understand the importance of residents
understanding where their tax dollars go, and over the next three years, everyone will be seeing
a lot of shifts in budgeting from both the federal and state governments.
Councilmember Sheveland asked if Chaska resident tax dollars are being spent on the Carver
County Sheriff. Commissioner Anderson stated that Chaska residents do pay for the Carver
County Sheriff; however, the contracted services with the City of Victoria and the City of
Chanhassen pay more because of those contracts.

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Mayor Hubbard asked if the roads and bridges include the dollars that are set aside from the
sales tax that is set aside for the county. Commissioner Anderson answered that the money for
roads and bridges comes from operations, and some of that money comes from the state and
federal government.
Commissioner Anderson discussed the Chaska Library project, which the county is still working
on development plans, along with the Minnesota River Regional Trail, and finished the Family
Resource Center in downtown Chaska.
Commissioner Udermann detailed the work done on the street project on 82nd Street, which
moved much quicker than anticipated, and opened up the path behind the Arboretum to
develop.
Commissioner Udermann detailed Carver County 2026 legislative priorities and noted the final
levy for Carver County is eight percent which he realizes it a lot, but the state is going to see
more shifts over the next several years and the focus has changed to stopping the unfunded
mandates and determine how much will or will not be passed on to the voters, because eight
percent cannot continue to pass year after year. Commissioner Anderson noted that each
percent of the levy is $750,000, and an example of the unfunded mandates includes Mental
Health facility patients who no longer meet the criteria, and used to be funded by the state, and
is now passed on to the county. She added that if all of the mandates on the table were passed
on to the county, it would increase the county budget by $8 million, which equates to a 10
percent county tax levy increase. She stated that county staff are working with the legislature
and taking it very seriously, as these mandates are not what property taxes are supposed to be
used for.
Mayor Hubbard thanked Commissioner Udermann and Commissioner Anderson for their
presentation and noted that a lot of residents do not understand the services that the county
offers.
6. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes
6.A. Approve the January 5, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion by Councilmember Benesh, second by Councilmember Grau, to approve the minutes of
the January 5, 2026, City Council meeting.
Motion carried.
7. Consent Agenda
Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Benesh, to approve the Consent
Agenda Items A through F:
A. Accept Public Improvements – Carlson Bluffs
Motion to accept public improvements in Carlson Bluffs Addition as municipal facilities and adjust
the letter of credit accordingly.
B. Approve Low-Potency Hemp Edible Local Registrations

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 6
Motion to approve low-potency hemp edible retail registrations for Anna Tobacco & Smoke Shop,
Chaska Smoke Shop & Vape, and Chaska Downtown Smoke Shop & Vape, to sell low-potency
hemp edible related products.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-3 Amending 2025 Fund Budgets
Motion to adopt Resolution 2026-3 Amending 2025 Fund Budgets.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-5 Accepting the Donation of Real Property in Fairway Hills
(Outlot A)
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2026-5 accepting the donation of real property (Outlot A –
Fairway Hills).
E. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-6 Ratifying 2026 Cogeneration and Small Production Tariffs
Motion to adopt Resolution 2026-6 Ratifying 2026 Cogeneration and Small Production Tariff.
F. 2026 Appointment Approval for Parks and Recreation Chair Jason Branch & Vice-Chair
Elizabeth Wynveen
Recommendation for City Council Approval of the 2026 Appointment of the Chaska Parks &
Recreation Chair Jason Branch and Vice-Chair Elizabeth Wynveen
Councilmember Hatfield said she is very grateful for all the effort that Chair Jason Branch and
Elizabeth Wynveen have put into Parks and Recreation.
Motion carried.
8. Action Items
8.A. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-4 Approving the Concept Plan on the Holasek
Property (4245 Big Woods Blvd)/Pulte Homes/PC #2025-22
City Administrator Podhradsky introduced City Planner Liz Hanson to present this item. Ms.
Hanson gave an overview of the residential development project.
Mayor Hubbard asked if there would be an off-ramp and if that would be taken into consideration
with the noise mitigation study. City Administrator Podhradsky said the timing of that noise
mitigation study would be similar to when this development would go in, and the City reserves
the right-of-way to build an off-ramp that would take noise into consideration.
Ms. Hanson stated that a representative from Pulte Homes had a short presentation that they
would give to the Council.
Councilmember Sheveland said the façade on these proposed homes looked similar to the Spring
Creek Edition and asked if the plan was to have these homes all look like they are part of the
same neighborhood. She said she appreciates uniformity, but a lot of these houses are starting
to look really similar. Ms. Hanson said, hopefully, this development is going to provide some
variety and diversity in the housing products, such as twin homes, townhomes, and single-family
detached homes.
Councilmember Sheveland asked if the off-ramp would handle all the traffic from this new
development. City Administrator Podhradsky confirmed that the road was designed with this
development in mind and will be able to handle the traffic.

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Mayor Hubbard said the roads in this development are public, and asked if snow removal and
plows have already been figured out. Ms. Hanson said that has not been determined yet, and
the project is not that far out yet.
Mayor Hubbard asked if parking would be allowed on Savannah Way, where the park is going
to be. City Administrator Podhradsky said parking will not be allowed on that road, and there
will be parking on the north and east sides of the park. Mayor Hubbard asked if that is a concern
with an elementary school and the park being there. City Administrator Podhradsky said that is
part of the discussions happening with the school district now, about whether there is sufficient
parking.
Councilmember Grau added that when the fields behind Clover Ridge are used for soccer or
football, parking is a huge problem.
Community Development Director Nate Kabat added that as this development is planned, they
will look at lessons learned from the Clover Ridge project, including parking access and parking
circulation. City Administrator Podhradsky said that they will look at less parking and more at
circulation, which centers around where parking enters and exits the parking lot.
Councilmember Sheveland asked how many units are in the Clover Ridge development. City
Administrator Podhradsky said about 1,000 units.
Mayor Hubbard invited the representative from Pulte Homes to give their presentation on the
development.
Haley Daily-Sievers of Pulte Homes said she was happy to answer any questions about the
development before starting her presentation.
Mayor Hubbard said she does not see an overflow parking allotment for townhomes in the
development. Ms. Daily-Sievers said the garages for the townhomes can fit two cars, and the
driveway can fit two additional vehicles. There will be public streets that they will work with City
Staff on parking and any additional requirements, if needed. Mayor Hubbard said that for snow
removal, parking needs to be considered.
Councilmember Hatfield said additional parking should be strongly considered as household
sizes are increasing, and parking outside can cause issues for snow removal.
Ms. Daily-Sievers presented information about Pulte Homes and the planned development at
the Holasek property to the Council. She noted that Pulte Homes wanted to propose
townhomes, single-family, and twin homes for this development to serve every stage of life.
She added that the townhomes will be 1,800 to 2,000 square feet with three to four bedrooms
and two and a half bathrooms, as well as a two-car garage. She stated that the twin homes
are single-level homes with two to three bedrooms at 1,724 square feet, along with two
bathrooms and a two-car garage.

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Councilmember Grau asked if the only shared wall in the twin homes is in the garage. Ms. Daily-
Sievers confirmed that is correct, but the twin homes have their own separate garages.
Ms. Daily-Sievers said the detached homes are 1,810 to 2,515 square feet and will have three
to four bedrooms with two to two and a half bathrooms, will be two-stories, and will have
flexibilities when it comes to aesthetics like siding and porch depth that they would like the
Council’s feedback on and see if there could be exceptions. She explained that by reducing
porch depth from six feet to five feet, it eliminates window and window clearances per building
code above the front porch. She added that Pulte would like to propose two different types of
siding for the detached homes with stone on the front. Ms. Daily-Sievers stated that there are
over 30 unique color packages that future homeowners can select, and would follow the City’s
anti-monotony code.
Councilmember Hatfield asked how the porch and siding impact the affordability of the homes.
Ms. Daily-Sievers answered that these exception items help reduce the overall cost that is passed
on to the homeowner.
Ms. Daily-Sievers y added that the development would consist of 207 units, and would like to
move forward with the application with a mixture of townhomes, twin homes, and single-family
homes, and asked if the Council had any further questions for her.
Councilmember Hatfield said she appreciated the diversity in this development, along with the
trails and sidewalks that will connect to the park. She added that there is always value in
considering the density for the area and adding more parking.
Councilmember Sheveland said that a nice thought would be adding a tot playground for
younger children who may be too little to walk to the nearby park. Ms. Daily-Sievers said staff
would look into that, as well as adding additional parking.
Councilmember Grau echoed Councilmember Hatfield’s comments about the density for that
area, and this development will be very visible from Highway 212, so it is important that people
form positive opinions about the City as they drive and see that space. He said the size of yards
and space between homes may not be important to some, while it will be to others, and should
be considered by Pulte, but he liked the variety of the styles of homes that will be offered.
Mayor Hubbard said Ms. Daily-Sievers did a great job presenting this and was impressed by the
variety of homes offered for this development, especially twin homes that are single-level for
the older residents who would like to move out of their existing family home but stay in the
community. She stated that she is in favor of smaller yards and denser neighborhoods because
the affordability fits the profile that Chaska is looking for. She added that she thinks there needs
to be overflow parking, but she appreciates the park being across the street and the green
space planned inside the development. She stated that if making the porch a little bit smaller
makes the home more affordable, then she is not against that change, and it is only applicable
to single-family homes.

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Councilmember Grau asked what the depth of the porch was. Ms. Daily-Sievers stated that the
porch would be five feet deep versus six feet. Councilmember Grau asked if six feet is the
standard depth for a front porch.
Councilmember Hatfield said her front porch is five feet, and it is enough space to walk around
with furniture on the porch. She asked if there would be railings on the front porch. Ms. Daily-
Sievers answered that at this time, the homes do not have that option.
Councilmember Grau said he would have to measure his front porch to determine how deep it
is, but he understands that the price and economics of the house are important, too, and does
not have a strong opinion on changing the porch depth.
Mayor Hubbard added that the single-family homes also have patios in the back, so there is an
opportunity there to use more outdoor space.
Community Development Director Kabat discussed the background front porches and design
elements.
Councilmember Sheveland said if it saves money and makes the homes more affordable, that
is a huge reason to do it.
Councilmember Hatfield said it matters if there is a railing on the front of the porch, as it takes
up more room. Ms. Daily-Sievers said the size of the pillars is more streamlined and modern
than they used to be, and could be worked on by staff at Pulte.
Community Development Director Kabat discussed affordability of these units and the possibility
of applying the Community Land Trust program to some of these units. Staff is working with
Pulte on this. City Administrator Podhradsky added that there are LAHA funds that the City is
getting each year that could be used for three to four Land Trust homes a year.
Councilmember Hatfield stated that while she feels strongly about the density of homes, if it
makes them more affordable, then she does not feel as strongly about it. She stated that the
Land Trust program is also a great program that could be used for a few of the homes.
Ms. Daily asked if there was any feedback regarding the two siding choices and stone versus
the LP SmartSide.
Mayor Hubbard asked Community Development Director Kabat for his opinion. He answered
that these details will get fleshed out more during the final push for the project. He added that
there is an affordability component and a quality component, and more information to
understand would be helpful.
Councilmember Hatfield said the LP SmartSide was used in the Dell Web and Adelwood
developments, and could be seen when driving by there for context. She said seeing what it
will look like and the quality is going to be important.

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 10
Mayor Hubbard said she appreciated the variety of options and stones for the homes to make
them unique. She said the Council is open to the conversation regarding materials.
Councilmember Sheveland asked Ms. Hanson when the next phase of this development would
be brought to the Council. Ms. Hanson said there is no firm definition of that, but it would be
at least a few months.
Motion by Councilmember Sheveland, second by Councilmember Hatfield to adopt Resolution
No. 2026-4 approving the concept plan on the southern 41.5 acres of the Holasek property at
4245 Big Woods Boulevard, based on the conditions listed therein.
Motion carried.
8.B. Adopt Resolution 2026-07, approving the Preliminary Site & Building Plan & Rezoning for
Peavey Business Center at 4200 Peavey Road/Shaw Construction/PC #2025-21
City Administrator Podhradsky introduced City Planner Ashley Cauley to present this item. Ms.
Cauley presented the item to the Council.
Mayor Hubbard asked if the Council or the Applicant who was present at the meeting. Mayor
Hubbard said this is a great concept plan and stated that it looks like things that had previously
been mentioned were being addressed. She stated her appreciation for the business building
in Chaska.
Councilmember Hatfield said she appreciated that the outdoor storage is being done
thoughtfully. City Administrator Podhradsky added that the City has been talking about this
building site for 20 years, and thinks this is a fantastic use for this site.
Mayor Hubbard said she was excited to see the final plans come through for this project.
Motion by Councilmember Sheveland, second by Councilmember Benesh to adopt Resolution
No. 2026-7 approving the Preliminary Site and Building Plans for Peavey Business Center at
4200 Peavey Road (PC #2025-21).
Motion carried.
8.B.i. Ordinance No. 1077
Motion by Councilmember Grau, second by Councilmember Hatfield to adopt Ordinance No.
1077 approving the zoning ordinance amendment to PID-8.
Motion carried.
8.C. Resolution No. 2026-2 Authorizing the Solicitation of Public Bids for the Municipal Services
Building
City Administrator Podhradsky introduced Assistant City Administrator Elise Durbin to present
this item. Ms. Durbin presented the item to the Council.
Councilmember Sheveland asked if the people who bid for the Public Safety building were
interested in bidding on this project. Ms. Durbin said the Public Safety building had 30 to 40

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 11
different contractors, and the City had construction managers who oversaw the work. Ms.
Durbin said this project will have a similar process.
City Administrator Podhradsky said RJM Construction will tear down their trailer at the Public
Safety building, and will have staff who will come work on the Municipal Services building, so
there will be some of the same people working on this project.
Councilmember Sheveland asked if RJM Construction did a good job working with all of the
subcontractors. City Administrator Podhradsky confirmed that they did a great job, and the City
has worked with them before at the Community Center.
Motion by Councilmember Sheveland, second by Councilmember Hatfield to adopt Resolution
No. 2026-2 authorizing the solicitation of public bids for the Municipal Services Building.
Motion carried.
9. Bills
9.A. Accounts Payable Claims Roster 26-01-2026
Motion by Councilmember Grau, second by Councilmember Benesh to approve the bills as
presented. Roll call was taken. Voting aye: Councilmembers Hatfield, Sheveland, Grau, Benesh,
and Mayor Hubbard. Voting nay: None
Councilmember Hatfield said there are a lot of bills for the Public Safety building, and it is very
exciting.
Mayor Hubbard asked about Comfort Tech Software on page 10, and asked if that is software
used for the City’s website. City Administrator Podhradsky said he would look into that and get
back to her.
Motion carried.
10. Other Business
Councilmember Sheveland:
• Said she was back after having a baby, welcomed Leo Kenneth to her family, and wanted
to wish her other son, Jack, a Happy Second Birthday on January 7.
• Thanked all of the front-line workers, including the Police, and her husband is in the
Department of Defense, and noted they have announced the National Guard to ensure
safe protests.
Councilmember Benesh:
• Congratulated Councilmember Sheveland on the new baby.
• Stated that a lot has happened in the world since their last meeting, and said as a person
who works in Public Safety, it is exhausting. He stated that everybody needs to take a
breath and figure things out as humans, instead of the way that they are going about it.
He added that he may only partially disagree with what is happening, but does disagree
with tactics and image, and there is a better way. He stated that Public Safety workers
are tired, on the front lines, and need a break. He encouraged people to take a breath
so everyone can figure this out with dignity.

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 12
Councilmember Grau:
• Recapped the MLK breakfast event.
• Shared that this was the first Council meeting he was not looking forward to coming to,
due to recent events. He noted that his children have asked questions and want
answers. He stated that he is lucky because he looks the way that he does, and does
not understand the fear that people are living in who do not look like him right now, but
stated it has to be terrible. He said to keep it simple, it comes down to kindness, and
taking that effort to be open and kind to someone who may have different views and
perspectives. He noted that everyone needs to show empathy for others, and regardless
of opinions, two people lost their lives in recent events.
Councilmember Hatfield:
• Thanked the Mayor for her statement at the beginning of the meeting.
• Recapped the MLK breakfast event, and stated that people need to recognize their
privilege and use it responsibly, and show kindness.
• Shared that the community of Chaska is full of helpers, and has really shown up for
residents who needed help with grocery deliveries, and various businesses like Latino
Voice, Little Roos, and Bountiful Basket are full of donations and giving back to the
community.
• Shared about upcoming events, Puzzle Mania (February 7), and Ice Fishing with the Fire
Department (February 14).
City Administrator Podhradsky:
• Thanked City Staff, and he sees the exhaustion in people due to recent events. He
thanked the people who are dedicated to keeping the community safe.
• Shared that the State of the City Address is on Wednesday, January 28, from 6:00 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center theater, followed by the Resource Fair.
Mayor Hubbard:
• Shared that the State of the City Address will also be followed by a woodworking
demonstration.
• Recapped the MLK breakfast event.
• Recapped the winner of the Human Rights Award.
• Recapped a Curling Event Center event celebrating the Chaska Curling Team as they
head to the Olympics.
• Shared that the Chaska Historical Society was featured on Channel 5 for their Women’s
Exhibit.
• Shared that food distribution was rescheduled due to cold temperatures, to Tuesday,
January 27, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Shakopee.
• Shared that she appreciates all the City Staff and organizations that have come together
to try and make a positive impact and help the community during this difficult time.
• Shared that the next Council meeting is Monday, February 2, 2026.
10.A. City Administrator's Report
10.A.i. Bi-Weekly Report 26-01-2026

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January 26, 2026, PAGE 13
10.B. 2025 Building Inspections Year-End Report
10.C. Financial Reports as of 11/30/25
11. Adjourn
Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Benesh to adjourn the meeting
at 10:00 p.m.
Motion carried.