Author: Brent Mareck

The City of Carver is now accepting applications for an impending vacancy on the Carver City Council.  Mayor Elect Courtney Johnson’s current term as City Council Member runs through December 31, 2020.  On Monday, January 7, 2019, Mayor Elect Courtney Johnson will take an “Oath of Office” for the position of Mayor, which will create a vacancy for the remainder of her term as a City Council Member.

The vacancy will be filled through an application, interview, and appointment process undertaken by the City Council.  In order to be considered for the vacancy, interested applicants must meet the following requirements:

1)  Be qualified as a City of Carver voter.

2)  Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age or older upon the date of taking office.

Those interested in applying for the vacant City Council position must submit a letter of interest and statement of qualifications by no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, December 21, 2018.  Applications can be sent by mail or e-mail to:

Mail:      CITY OF CARVER                               E-mail:     [email protected]

c/o Brent Mareck

PO BOX 147

Carver, MN 55315

The City Council will interview all applicants meeting minimum position requirements on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.  This will be the only available date provided for applicants to interview for the City Council position.  The selected applicant will be appointed by the Carver City Council on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, and take the “Oath of Office” on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, during the regular City Council meeting.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Brent Mareck, City Manager, at (952) 448-8737 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Water and sanitary sewer line connections will be madefor the new City Hall on November 7, 8, 9, and 12. 

1.  Crews will start work Wednesday, November 7.   
2.  Although crews will be rotating work on both 4th and Broadway, one street will remain open at all times. 
3.  Underground work will be completed by Friday, November 9.  Both 4th and Broadway will be finished with gravel and remain open for the weekend. 
4.  Paving crews will complete the work on Monday, November 12.

~ Questions may be directed to Brent Mareck, City Manager, at 952-448-8737 or by email at [email protected]  

           

Underground water and sewer piping work is progressing at the intersection of Jonathan Carver Parkway and Spring Creek Drive. The project is on schedule, with Spring Creek Drive expected to open on Monday, November 12. Thank you for your patience!

The Spring Creek Drive access to Jonathan Carver Parkway / CSAH 11 will be closed beginning the week of October 15 to allow for the installation of new water main and sanitary sewer pipes.  The utilities work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, November 9.  Access to the Spring Creek Neighborhood will be detoured as shown in the map below.

The following agencies have been notified of this construction project:  Carver Elementary, District 112 Transportation Office, Carver County Sheriff’s Office, Carver Fire Department, US Post Office, and local sanitation haulers.

If you have any questions or concerns related to the project, please contact Erin Smith, City Planner, at 952-448-8743 or by email at [email protected].

Are you interested in the future of parks and trails in Carver? Can you commit to attending one evening meeting a month to discuss park issues with your fellow neighbors? The Parks Commission has two openings and we need your creativity and energy to help the community move forward! If you’re interested is serving on the Parks Commission, please send an email of interest to Brent Mareck, City Manager, at [email protected]

At their Monday meeting, the City Council set a public hearing for Tuesday, September 4 to consider the establishment of a tax increment financing district and a tax increment financing plan for Lakeview Industries.  The preliminary site plan shows a 143,000 sq. ft. industrial development project for Lakeview Industries to be located just north of Mills Fleet Farm on Levi Griffin Rd.  The proposed project also involves the extension of Dauwalter Road and a request for tax increment financing.  The primary use of tax increment financing would be to serve as a funding source for the development and construction of an extension of Dauwalter Rd.  In addition, the City intends to apply for State grant dollars to partially fund the extension of Dauwalter Rd.

Lakeview Industries manufactures and fabricates flexible components including gaskets, die cuts, molded rubber parts, extrusions, and weather stripping among many other offerings.  Based on initial estimates, Lakeview Industries is anticipating they will employ eighty-five (85) people in the new Carver facility.  Contingent upon receiving the necessary approvals, the current project schedule indicates a Spring/Summer 2019 facility opening.

Based on current river level projections, the Main Street Bridge is expected to stay open.

The Carver Public Services Department is making preparations to close the Main Street Bridge (CSAH 40) in historic downtown Carver by Wednesday, June 27.  The National Weather Service is predicting a crest on the Minnesota River at Jordan by this coming Friday or Saturday.  The Main Street Bridge provides a crossing for Spring Creek in historic downtown Carver.  Spring Creek is typically impacted with backwater from the Minnesota River when river levels are high.

Brian Skok, Public Services Director, will be providing a status and operations update at a City Council meeting on Monday, June 25 at 6:45 pm.

At a special meeting on Thursday, May 3, (meeting video link) the City Council heard from its Construction Manager (Kraus Anderson) and Architect (Wold) regarding bid results for the Broadway City Hall Project.  With over 100 bids submitted on a variety of work/trade packages, the tabulation resulted in the project coming in at $217,711 over estimated costs.  Kraus Anderson and Wold proceeded to explain the steps they took to prepare construction estimates, as well as reviewed the bid results with the City Council.

Wold went on to present the City Council with concepts that could be considered to reduce construction costs on the project, such as, replacing sections of the brick facade with siding and the elimination of certain architectural features like the pitched roof on the north side of the building.  In addition to building scope changes, the City Council may also consider drawing on $300,000 in funds previously set aside for the Broadway City Hall Project in the City’s Long-Term Financial Plan in the Water and Sanitary Sewer Funds.  As another option, the City Council may choose to reject bids in certain work scopes (earthwork, plumbing, HVAC, and so on) in an attempt to gain more favorable pricing.

The City Council will again discuss options for the Broadway City Hall Project during their work session on Monday, May 7 at 5:30 pm and will likely consider making a final decision on bid award for the project at their regular meeting on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 pm.

The City Council unanimously approved a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at their February 20 meeting, taking another step toward making the Broadway City Hall Project a reality.  The approval of the five-year CIP, which includes an opportunity to petition for a reverse referendum, provides a mechanism to finance the Broadway City Hall Project.  The City Council approved the CIP with a not to exceed financing cost of $4,950,000, which has an anticipated $237 annual tax impact on a $300,000 home.  The current schedule for the project shows a bid opening in late March, followed by building construction starting in May, with an expected completion date of March 2019. 

Beginning in earnest in 2016, the City Council action on February 20 marks the culmination of resident driven design efforts aimed to develop future community spaces in Carver.  In April 2017, the City Council selected as their “preferred choice” the construction of a new building on the existing City Hall/Village Hall site, located at 316 Broadway.  The City Hall design features a street level floor plan with a multi-purpose room, which can accommodate nearly two hundred people.  The street level floor plan also includes a commercial kitchen, restroom facilities, and a lobby.  The second level floor plan includes office space, restroom facilities, conference rooms, lobby, and City Council Chambers.

The City of Carver is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Smith to the position of City Planner for the City of Carver. Smith will serve as the City’s first full-time City Planner.

Smith comes to Carver from the City of Victoria where she currently serves as Interim Community Development Director. Smith has also served as Senior Planner for the City of Victoria, a role which she began in 2015. In Victoria, Smith has reviewed residential and commercial development projects, as well as assisting residents, developers, and business owners with planning and zoning related questions.

A native of Winona, Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and a Master of Arts Degree in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Smith is also an American Institute Certified Planner and has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

“Erin has a unique skill set that combines a thorough understanding of planning practices, with a thoughtful approach to engaging residents and other community stakeholders in the review and decision-making processes, I’m excited to have her join the City’s management team,” said Brent Mareck, City Manager, City of Carver.

The City Council identified the need for a full-time City Planner during their strategic planning process and funded the position through the adoption of the 2018 Budget. Smith will assume her new position on March 7, 2018.

Residents will have another opportunity to provide input and comment on the proposed Broadway City Hall Project on Tuesday, February 20, at 7:00 p.m.  The City Council decided to move the public hearing date on the project, initially scheduled for January 16, after receiving revised budget estimates from Wold Architects and the City’s construction management firm, Kraus Anderson.  At the January 16 meeting, Wold and Kraus Anderson informed the City Council of increases to estimated project costs based on recent discussions and feedback provided by potential bidders on the project. 

As a result of the new bid estimates provided by the architect and construction manager, the City Council directed staff to move forward with recommendations to reduce the cost of the project by approximately $200,000.  The cost reductions include redesigning the roof section on the north side of the building, identifying cost effective interior finishes and building systems, and restructuring the bond/loan sale to reduce capitalized interest.        

These cost saving measures, coupled with an increase of $200,000 to the project budget, resolves the increase in estimated project costs recently presented by Wold and Kraus Anderson.  The end result moves the Broadway City Hall Project to a not to exceed budget of $4.95 million, which is up $200,000 from the previous budget of $4.75 million.  The impact of the Broadway City Hall Project to a resident with a $300,0000 home is $237/year, which is up $19 from the fall budget estimate.  The financing plan for the project also uses existing City funds to pay for a commercial kitchen upgrade in the new building, as well as renovation costs to temporarily relocate City Hall to the Fire Station during construction.

The new financing plan preserves the size and use of the interior spaces, as well as the exterior building design developed through the work of the Community Spaces Task Force, the Community Stakeholder Design Session, the Building Committee, and the Heritage Preservation Commission.  The project includes a street level multi-purpose room that can hold events for up to 200 people, a commercial kitchen, restroom facilities, a conference room and a lobby.  The second level floor plan includes office space, restroom facilities, conference rooms, a lobby, and City Council Chambers. 

Upon completion of the Capital Improvement Plan approval process, the current schedule anticipates advertisement of bids in late March, followed by construction in May, with the building expected to be completed in March of 2019.  

Residents and other community stakeholders will have an additional opportunity to voice their support of or opposition to the proposed Broadway City Hall Project at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 20, at 7:00 pm.

Project questions and comments can be shared with Brent Mareck, City Manager, at 952-448-8737 or by email at [email protected].  For more information, please visit the Broadway City Project Page on the City’s website by clicking here.

Over the last week, property owners in the City of Carver received a 2018 Truth in Taxation notice from Carver County. The notice primarily provides information on proposed 2018 property taxes for Carver County, District 112, and the City of Carver.

The City Council will be holding a meeting on Monday, December 4 to get your input on the City of Carver’s portion of the proposed 2018 property taxes. The meeting will be held at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers at 109 Main St. E.  If you’re unable to attend the meeting, please reach out to Brent Mareck (City Manager) by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (952) 448-8737 to share your thoughts on the proposed 2018 budget and property taxes. 

Below is a link to a 2018 budget and tax summary that will be presented to residents and the City Council on Monday night during the meeting.

2018 Truth in Taxation – Resident Summary

2018 Truth in Taxation Meeting

Monday, December 4

109 Main St. E. – 7 pm

Many may remember the old barn that was once situated near White Pine Way, just west of Jonathan Carver Parkway.  The barn, which was in severe disrepair, was torn down and removed from the property earlier this fall.  The property where this old barn once stood will now be home to new families in Carver.  The single-family housing development named Oak Tree, by CalAtlantic Homes, will occur in a number of phases over the next few years.  The Oak Tree development is expected to have 200 single-family home lots.

You’re likely to notice a collection of earth moving equipment, just south of the Carver Crossing Apartment Complex, that will be used to do preliminary grading work for the development over the next few weeks.  Street and utility work for the development will begin in the spring of 2018, once the project has received all of its necessary City approvals.

If you have any questions regarding the Oak Tree Development, please contact Brent Mareck, City Manager, at [email protected] or by phone at (952) 448-8737.

In April, the City Council selected as their “preferred choice” the construction of a new City Hall on the existing City Hall/Village Hall site located at 316 Broadway.  The selection was the result of a Concept Phase involving two task force groups working to select a site and develop a preliminary design for a community space in Carver.  Although not originally developed as an option by the task force groups, the culmination of their work and the feedback collected from residents led to the selection of a new building on the existing City Hall/Village Hall site on Broadway.

As a follow-up to the Community Space Task Force work, a Community Stakeholder Design Session was held to develop design principles for the new building.  One of the most impactful outcomes of the design session was the inclusion of a commercial kitchen as an amenity for the large  multi-purpose room.  This concept, along with the other developed design principles by stakeholders, were used by the Building Committee and Wold Architects to develop a floor plan and exterior elevations for the building. 

The preliminary design features a main level multi-purpose room, which could accommodate nearly two-hundred (200) occupants.  The main level also includes a commercial kitchen, restroom facilities, and a lobby.  The second floor space includes office space, conference rooms, lobby, and City Council Chambers.  During the design process, the building floor plan increased in size from 8,520 sq. ft. to 10,468 sq. ft.  That said, the proposed space is still smaller than the footprint of the existing City Hall/Village Hall currently located at 316 Broadway. 

The City’s Heritage Preservation Committee is currently reviewing preliminary building elevations, with their review likely concluding by late November.  In addition, final revisions are being made to the floor plan, leading the way to a review of the final floor plan and elevations by the City Council in December.   

In order to move forward with the Broadway City Hall Project, the City Council will also be asked to consider the issuance of Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) bonds to finance construction and other project costs.  The City Council will be presented with preliminary financial information on the Broadway City Hall Project at their next meeting on November 20.

Upcoming Schedule:

Review Preliminary Financing Structure for Capital Improvement Plan Bonds
November 20, 2017 – Council Meeting

Newsletter Information / Website Update
December 2017

Establish a Public Hearing to Consider the Issuance of Capital Improvement Plan Bonds
December 4, 2017 – Council Meeting

Approve City Hall Design
December 18, 2017 – Council Meeting

Newsletter Information / Website Update
January 2018

Hold a Public Hearing to Consider the Issuance of Capital Improvement Plan Bonds for the Broadway City Hall Project
January 16, 2018 – Council Meeting

Comments and questions related to the Broadway City Hall Project may be sent to Brent Mareck, City Manager, at [email protected] or by phone at (952) 448-8737.

At the April 3 meeting, the City Council requested additional information and research be collected related to the five existing Village Hall options.  As a result of this additional study, a “sixth option” has been developed for a concept using the existing Village Hall site in the historic downtown.

This new construction option consists of a new two-story, at-grade/no basement, 8,520 sq. ft. building (approximately 4,260 sq. ft. per floor).  The concept includes city hall offices, as well as a dual-purposed space for community events (with a caterer’s kitchen), and City Council Chambers.  The estimated cost of construction is $3,997,661, with an estimated tax impact of $201 for a $300,000 home.

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council will consider selecting a “preferred option” for Village Hall.  The selection would result in City staff developing an “action plan” for the implementation of the “preferred option.”  The action plan would be reviewed and considered at a future City Council meeting.  The City Council will be considering this new downtown option, as well as all the previously discussed options, at their meeting on Monday, April 17 at 7 pm.  For a link to the April 17 City Council Packet click here.

    

Aleta Mechtel, President and Founder of Children of Tomorrow Learning Centers, recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new location in Carver.  Children of Tomorrow staff and business partners, along with Council Member Courtney Johnson and Mayor Mike Webb, took part in the event to mark the beginning of construction for the nearly 10,000 sq. ft. facility.

“With waiting lists at our other locations, we quickly noticed a great demand for childcare and early education in the Carver area and decided to help fill this need in this growing community,” said Aleta Mechtel.

Located at 4745 Dahlgren Road, Children of Tomorrow will be situated less than a mile from the new Carver Elementary along Jonathan Carver Parkway.  The new facility will serve up to 127 children from 6 weeks to 9 years of age and will employ a staff of twenty when it opens in the fall of 2017.

Mayor Mike Webb commented, “Aleta, her team, and the services provided at Children of Tomorrow will be a tremendous asset to families in Carver and the surrounding area.”

Children of Tomorrow Learning Centers are also located in Chanhanssen, Waconia, and Norwood Young America.  For more information on Children of Tomorrow Learning Centers visit www.childrenoftomorrow.com.

The annual Carver Clean-up Day is approaching…with a date for the event to be scheduled shortly.  The City is working with a local hauler on some programming and logistical challenges, due in part to the popularity of the program.  As a result, Carver Clean-up Day will be scheduled later this spring…as opposed to late April or early May.  Once selected, the date will be shared via the City’s website, social media accounts, and in an insert in your utility bill.  Please stay tuned for the announcement!   

At their meeting on Monday night, the City Council authorized the City Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the reconstruction of streets on the west side of Historic Downtown Carver.  The reconstruction, scheduled to begin late this spring, will include sections of Broadway, 5th St. W., 3rd St. W., Hickory St., Jorgenson St., and Ash St.

As a part of the project, 3rd St. W., from Broadway to Jorgenson, will be converted into a one-way street.  The one-way, moving from east to west, will eliminate existing safety concerns when turning on to Broadway from 3rd St. W.   The 3rd St. Bridge will have some minor repairs made to it, however, it will not be reconstructed at this time.  The City will continue to monitor the bridge, but may have to be considered for reconstruction over the next several years.

The proposed design for 3rd St. is shown below.  For a point of reference, Harvey’s is located in the lower right section of the picture.  The City Council had also considered closing the 3rd St. Bridge to vehicle traffic and converting it into a pedestrian bridge.

The City Council also authorized plans be developed for the reconstruction of Broadway from 4th St. W. to 6th St. W.  The reconstruction will include streetscape improvements including sidewalks, trees, decorative street lights, and a decorative clock.  The City will be working with residents and businesses over the next few months to refine the plan shown below.  The Downtown Master Plan designated these improvements as a goal to enhance and expand the commercial area and feel of the Downtown Historic District.  For more information on this project, please visit the 2017 Improvement Page at www.cityofcarver.com.