[PAGE 1] - MINUTES - CHASKA CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 2, 2026 1. Open Session 2. Closed Session 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. 2.A. City Administrator’s Review Under Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05 Subdivision 3(a), the City Council has the authority to conduct a closed session for the review of any employee under its direct supervision. The only topic of the discussion in this closed session will be the performance review of City Administrator Matt Podhradsky. The meeting will be taped, and the recording kept for three years, as required by the Minnesota Open Meeting Law. As is required by State Statute, a summary of conclusions regarding the evaluation will be given at the next open session of the Chaska City Council. 3. Open Session 4. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hubbard at 7:01 p.m. 5. Pledge of Allegiance 6. Roll Call Roll call was taken. Present: Mayor Hubbard and Councilmembers Grau, Sheveland, Benesh, and Hatfield. Also Present: Matt Podhradsky, City Administrator; Elise City Durbin, Assistant Administrator; Krista Mark, Communications Coordinator; and Christophe Morschen, City Attorney. 7. Adopt the Agenda Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Benesh to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 8. Visitor Presentation 8.A. Legislative updates by Representative Rehm and Senator Coleman Mayor Hubbard thanked Senator Coleman for being there to present her Legislative updates. Senator Coleman thanked the Council for their time and sacrifice, and noted that it is a weird and scary time to be in office right now. She said she had written down a list of the top five things that would come before the legislature this year, but that list changes every few weeks. Senator Coleman said the primary focus this year will be on student and school safety, both internally and externally. She added that while some districts feel well-supported, others feel unsafe, and her goal is to ensure consistent safety measures across all public, private, and [PAGE 2] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 2 charter schools. She said education performance is also a top priority, particularly reading and better outcomes in math and science, with a holistic approach to improve student success. Senator Coleman said another issue that will be addressed is immigration and public safety, and urged bipartisan cooperation at all levels of the government. She noted that despite the deep partisan divide, she is confident that respectful cooperation is possible to restore stability and unite in Minnesota. Senator Coleman states she supports a bonding bill focused on core infrastructure needs like water, waste management, and government buildings, excluding nonprofit funding. She said a long-standing priority is funding local projects. Senator Coleman noted that fraud prevention will be of significant focus as recent cases have highlighted systemic oversight failures, prompting more efforts to strengthen accountability. She noted that she helped introduce a bill that would require at least one site visit before approving program funding to safeguard taxpayer dollars and restore public trust. Senator Coleman acknowledged the challenges of the current political environment and said her expectations for this legislative session are modest, but she is committed to bipartisan collaboration and prioritizing the interests of her constituents over party outcomes. Mayor Hubbard stated there was a handout there for Senator Coleman to take with more information about Chaska’s priorities, and noted that as elected leaders, they are all most effective when they work together. She said she appreciates having an open dialogue with Senator Coleman, and for mentioning City Square West as a top priority, and having the Senate Bonding Tour visit Chaska. She said she understands that, despite it being a bonding year, there might be some limitations regarding the projects that can be completed. Mayor Hubbard said the TIF extension request would be a great tool to help Chaska cross the finish line with its City projects. Senator Coleman asked if that is legislation that they have been working on, or if it needs to be started. Ms. Durbin said the legislation has already been drafted. Senator Coleman said that the Social District legislation has been on her agenda, and other cities have expressed interest as well, so she has worked with Senator Putnam on that to potentially let cities decide for themselves if they want to participate or not. Mayor Hubbard said the Council understands that Chaska is not the only community that saw the opportunity for the Social District legislation, especially when looking at communities like Anoka, Stillwater, and Shakopee that resides right across from the river. She added that Chaska is still a growing community, so the utility extension bonding request for that infrastructure piece to complete one of the industrial parks in Chaska would greatly benefit the community in terms of development and the taxpayers to have that industry locally, as well as job creation. [PAGE 3] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 3 Senator Coleman said a lot of the Senate thought this area was very rural, and the Senate Bonding tour showed them how much this area has grown with the old infrastructure, along with how much money Carver County puts into state coffers that the state does not get back. She said there has been a shift in that narrative, so her hope is to continue to bring home the proverbial bacon for Minnesota. Councilmember Hatfield said she is serving as Chair of Southwest Transit this year, and asked to ensure that the STA partners can continue to opt out and have the bus service for this community. She said Southwest Transit has worked very hard to run an efficient transit service that is essential to many community members, and wanted to reiterate its importance to Senator Coleman. Senator Coleman said Southwest Transit has her support, and she has expressed her concerns to the transportation state Chairs. Councilmember Grau thanked Senator Coleman for coming and appreciated the partnership and her transparency and honesty. The residents of Chaska are growing tired of the rhetoric, and he appreciates her approach. He said he does not think the state is as divided as the perception is, and through conversations, there can be compromise. Senator Coleman said she just spoke with the Chanhassen Rotary, and noted that the media does not cover when bipartisans agree. Mayor Hubbard said the Council has the luxury of being in a non-partisan role, and acknowledged that it has to be really challenging. She thanked Senator Coleman for accepting her invitation to come to Chaska to discuss things and wished her luck in the upcoming session. Mayor Hubbard introduced Representative Rehm to present her update. Representative Rehm noted that the legislative session begins Tuesday, February 17, and will focus on capital investments and infrastructure. She stated the Governor has proposed a $907 million bonding package, but bonding requests total $2.7 billion, so there will be significant competition and reductions. Representative Rehm noted that there will be legislation brought forth distinguishing e-bikes from high-powered e-motos after a significant accident with an e-moto and major injuries made headlines. Representative Rehm stated that a package of bills addressing concerns raised by manufactured home residents following a private equity acquisition will be discussed. Representative Rehm added that multiple bills are being developed in response to community impacts and the two deaths related to ICE activities, including requiring identifiable law enforcement with no masks or unmarked agents allowed. She noted that limiting evictions for individuals afraid to leave their homes or go to work will be part of the bills, along with allowing civil rights claims against Federal Agents, and restricting state and local collaboration with [PAGE 4] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 4 federal immigration and enforcement when civil rights are violated. She added that there is a lot of fear in the community, which has also had an impact on schools and workplaces. She encouraged local governments to hold community listening sessions to hear directly from residents how they are being affected by Operation Metro Surge. Mayor Hubbard said she appreciates Representative Rehm for bringing that forward, and said it has been a difficult time, and the limitations that the Council has in their roles, along with the impact on the community. She said the Council’s stance has always been to do what is best for the most vulnerable, but also does not want to do anything that could create harm. Representative Rehm recognized that people are afraid to come forward and speak in a public forum type of way, and maybe a more private discussion would be a better approach. She said rights are being violated, and it is important to stand up for civil rights, address them, and mitigate the damage. Mayor Hubbard said the Council has gathered a lot of resources and is pointing individuals to those resources to give them the best tools available. Councilmember Hatfield said at the local level, listening is important, and they do that differently than larger cities. She said in Chaska she can see the impact this has had, and she does not need a listening session to know that. She said she has been impressed with the community partnerships that have provided a much-needed resource for impacted people, and the Council has heard from those partnerships and what they are experiencing. Mayor Hubbard said she welcomes those conversations, although challenging. She added that effective leadership principles do not apply in this situation because of the circumstances, and it has been difficult for her to navigate the most effective way to walk alongside those who need the most support right now. She said it is important to her that the Council relay actions that would provide the most help and support for the people who need it. Representative Rehm said there are a lot of nonprofits that are doing amazing work behind the scenes, and some cities have been able to put more funding into some of these local nonprofits. She said that working together, they will find their way to address it. Mayor Hubbard said the impact of the situation is felt differently depending on the person and their relation to the matter at hand. Representative Rehm said the tour at City Square West was great, and she does not know what the funding will look like, but the lobbyists have submitted the paperwork. Mayor Hubbard thanked Representative Rehm and Senator Coleman for seeing the goal that they are trying to achieve in Chaska and for supporting the TIF district for City Square West. She thanked Representative Rehm for being instrumental in bringing the Senate Bonding tour to Chaska. She noted that the Social District legislation brings vibrancy to downtown Chaska and makes it competitive with neighboring cities. She added that the Southwest utility extension [PAGE 5] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 5 on the bonding would help Chaska to continue to grow with an incoming industrial park that will help with infrastructure and job creation. City Administrator Podhradsky said the TIF District extension is something that the City did differently this year because he knew it would be difficult for legislators to find the dollars, and the City needed an alternative to get local dollars for a specific purpose. Representative Rehm said she would look into it, and they use TIF Districts in Chanhassen, too, and they are helpful because they do not use state money, which is more palatable. Councilmember Hatfield said Representative Rehm probably heard her give her pitch about Southwest Transit earlier. Representative Rehm said she did hear it earlier, and she is a big fan of public transportation, and this area needs good transportation, and said she would be pushing to keep Southwest Transit intact. Mayor Hubbard said if Metro Transit took over, there would not be the same level of robust service, and there would be long wait times for micro transit. Councilmember Hatfield said Southwest Transit has operated as efficiently as Metro Transit when they recently ran the numbers. Representative Rehm said Southwest Transit is also taking cars off the road, and is the model for transporting people to and from the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Twins games. Councilmember Grau said he would reiterate what he said to Senator Coleman, that the state is not as divided as the media makes it sound, and asked Representative Rehm and her colleagues to continue to try to be a beacon of compromise. He said he believes that if conversations can happen, people are not as divided as they may think they are. Representative Rehm said after the assassinations on June 14, Representative Nash was the one who called and told her that their colleague had passed away. She noted that at the heart of it, everyone just wants what is best for their families and communities. She noted that the House of Representatives is very divided, but work can get done if both sides of the aisle work together. Mayor Hubbard said she commends all of the Representatives for being able to work together. Councilmember Sheveland asked if Representative Rehm had any insight on the bill regarding funding for non-public education bus services, nurses, and counselors. She said her children attend a non-public school in Chanhassen, and it is very important to her to ensure that those schools are operating at the level the state would want. Representative Rehm said that the bill was up in the air, and then Governor Walz said he was not going to cut any funding to non- public schools, so she did not think that was going to change, but she has not heard anything about the bill coming up again. Councilmember Sheveland thanked Representative Rehm for her support regarding that bill. [PAGE 6] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 6 Mayor Hubbard said Representative Rehm's job is not easy, and thanked her for being so responsive, helpful, and supportive of the City and for listening to their priorities. Representative Rehm thanked the Council for all the work they are doing to make Chaska more walkable and to preserve the history of the City. 9. Consent Agenda Motion by Councilmember Grau, second by Councilmember Sheveland to approve the Consent Agenda Items A through B: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-08, Authorizing submission of an application to the 2026 League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Grant Navigator program for grant writing assistance for SW Chaska Park. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 2026-08, Authorizing the submission of an application to the League of MN Cities’ 2026 Grant Navigator program from SW Community Park grant assistance. B. LELS Local #210 Police Officer 2026-2027 Contract and MOA for Wage Re-opener Motion to approve employment contracts for the 2026-2027 period between the City of Chaska and LELS Local 210 with the agreement retroactive effective January 1, 2026. Motion carried. 10. Action Items 10.A. Commission Appointments Assistant City Administrator Elise Durbin presented the item to the Council. City Administrator Podhradsky added that they would continue looking to fill the open positions. Councilmember Hatfield noted that there are open positions for the Human Rights Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission. Ms. Durbin said the applications are not open right now, but will look for guidance from the Council to determine when to open up applications and how long to keep them open. Mayor Hubbard said she thought the Council was going to see if there were any interested members of other Commissions that would like to apply. City Administrator Podhradsky said the Council could reach out to their contacts that might be interested, and he would pass on the application, and if there is no interest, the application would be opened up to the public. Mayor Hubbard agreed that it would be a good idea. Mayor Hubbard thanked all of the people who served on the Commissions, and the new individuals who applied for the Commissions, and want to be more involved in the community. She asked if there was any way to recognize the people who are stepping down from serving on the Commissions at a future meeting. City Administrator Podhradsky said that is something he would look into. [PAGE 7] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 7 Mayor Hubbard asked if the Council had to list out the names and Commissions or make a motion and appoint everyone in one sweep. Ms. Durbin said it would be helpful to do it by Commission so that it is written into the record. Councilmember Grau said he started his public service by joining the Parks and Recreation Board, and it is great to see new people step up. He thanked the Student Representatives who are opting to serve their community at a young age. Councilmember Hatfield added that a youth position was added to the Human Rights Commission a few years ago, and several amazing youths have stepped up to serve in that role. Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Benesh to appoint the Planning Commission members as follows: Garrick Campbell, John Purdy, Sri Raghavendra, Tess Michaletz, and Matthew Rydberg. Motion carried. Motion by Councilmember Benesh, second by Councilmember Grau, to appoint the Parks and Recreation Commission members as follows: Zach Saueressig, Georgiann Keyport for three years, and student Neel Ghatti for one year. Motion carried. Motion by Councilmember Grau, second by Councilmember Sheveland, to appoint the Human Rights Commission members as follows: Katie McCloskey for three years, and student Sean Haga for one year. Motion carried. Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Sheveland to appoint the Heritage Preservation Commission members as follows: James Pleis. Motion carried. 11. Bills 11.A. Accounts Payable Claims Roster 02-02-2026 Motion by Councilmember Sheveland, 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 Motion carried. 12. Other Business Councilmember Hatfield: • Shared the following upcoming events: the Fishing Contest (February 14), the Community Center Carnival (March 6), from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Puzzlemania (February 7). Councilmember Grau: • Thanked the snowplow drivers for keeping Chaska streets clear despite all the snow. • Wished his youngest son, Noah, a Happy Birthday this week. [PAGE 8] MINUTES-CHASKA CITY COUNCIL February 2, 2026 PAGE 8 City Administrator Podhradsky: • Reminded everyone that the next meetings are on February 23 and March 2, due to President’s Day. • Shared that the Council will also tour the new Public Safety building on February 23 at 5:30 p.m., and there will be a Work Session after the meeting on March 2. Mayor Hubbard: • Shared that there is an Open House on February 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Westbrook Community Church for the Highway 44 Big Waters Boulevard project. • Shared the following upcoming events: Fishing Contest (February 14) is a great event with a raffle, Polar Plunge (February 14) at Lake Waconia, and the Sweethearts Dance (February 20) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Event Center, and the Chaska Bash (February 21) at 6:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Event Center. 12.A. City Administrator's Report 12.A.i. Bi-Weekly Report 02-02-2026 13. Adjourn Motion by Councilmember Hatfield, second by Councilmember Benesh to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Motion carried.