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City Hall Virtual Tour
Chanhassen City CouncilTuesday, November 4, 2025
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Transcript
[0:00] Hi there, Drew with the comm's
[0:01] department. If you didn't have a chance
[0:02] to see the new city hall building on the
[0:04] November 1st open house, we got a
[0:06] special treat for you, a virtual tour.
[0:08] Come on in. First up, we got the main
[0:11] lobby. Step into a bright open space
[0:13] that immediately sets the tone for your
[0:15] visit. With large glass entrances,
[0:17] modern finishes, and an intuitive
[0:19] layout, the new lobby welcomes guests
[0:21] from all three building entrances. Some
[0:24] features include public seating and
[0:25] workstations with Wi-Fi for remote work
[0:27] or waiting. A warm, professional
[0:30] atmosphere designed to make your visit
[0:31] easier.
[0:34] Up next, we have the senior center. Here
[0:36] is the main room and kitchen. This hub
[0:38] for community connection hosts parties,
[0:40] performances, speakers, game and
[0:42] interest groups for embracing 55 and
[0:44] forward living. In 2024 alone, the
[0:47] senior center in the previous building
[0:49] logged over 11,000 visits. Some features
[0:52] include no annual membership fee,
[0:55] non-residents are always welcome, a
[0:57] modern kitchen for serving small and
[0:59] large events, adventure day trips,
[1:01] lunchons, educational workshops and
[1:03] performances.
[1:05] [Music]
[1:07] There's a conference room in the senior
[1:09] center. This flexible meeting space
[1:10] supports a range of essential services.
[1:15] Over here we've got the classroom and
[1:16] maker space. From wood carving to
[1:18] musical band practice and art classes,
[1:20] this creative space is where lifelong
[1:22] learning and connection happens. Some
[1:24] features. It's the home of the Wednesday
[1:26] wood carvers, art and hobby classes,
[1:29] chan jammers, music group. In the senior
[1:31] center in the previous building, we saw
[1:33] over 8,000 game, creative arts, and
[1:35] group participants. last year alone.
[1:40] [Music]
[1:43] All right, back out to the main hallway
[1:44] and we've got the service desk, a single
[1:46] centralized service counter for
[1:48] streamlining help. Visit the service
[1:49] desk to do anything from paying utility
[1:51] bills to applying for permits or just
[1:53] getting help with general city
[1:54] questions.
[1:56] Heading south down the main hall, we get
[1:58] to the training room with space for 80.
[2:00] This is where staff trainings, public
[2:02] workshops, and open houses take place.
[2:05] City Council meets for work sessions
[2:06] before regular meetings to ask
[2:08] questions, explore issues, and
[2:10] collaborate here. Some features include
[2:12] built-in AV technology and flexible
[2:14] seating for various meeting formats.
[2:22] Across the hall, we've got law
[2:23] enforcement. Chanhassen contracts with
[2:25] the Carver County Sheriff's Office to
[2:27] provide law enforcement services. Some
[2:29] features include a secure visible office
[2:31] within city hall, on-site evidence
[2:33] storage to reduce trips to the
[2:34] government center in Chesca, and a drug
[2:36] dropbox for safe, environmentally
[2:38] friendly disposal of medications. Right
[2:41] next door is the building department.
[2:42] Although many permits are now online,
[2:44] this department remains essential for
[2:46] safety and code compliance. Primary task
[2:48] of the building inspection division is
[2:50] to provide for the city's health,
[2:52] safety, and welfare through the
[2:53] administration of building and fire
[2:55] codes.
[2:58] Down the hall, we've got the finance
[2:59] department and the city clerk's office.
[3:01] The finance and city clerk's offices
[3:03] keep Chanhassing running smoothly and
[3:05] transparently. In the same area, we've
[3:07] got the parks and wreck department. From
[3:09] summer concerts to ice rinks, parks and
[3:11] recreation is at the heart of
[3:12] Chanhasson's community life. This
[3:14] department plans and maintains city
[3:16] parks, trails, and natural areas while
[3:18] offering hundreds of recreation programs
[3:20] for all ages.
[3:25] Wrapping around back out to the main
[3:26] hallway, we've got the reception desk
[3:28] and some artwork. Across the hallway
[3:30] from the reception desk, you'll find a
[3:31] handwoven fiber artwork by artist
[3:33] Rebecca Whitaker that mirrors the city's
[3:36] map. The reception desk is where
[3:37] visitors can get directions, ask
[3:39] questions, or connect with the right
[3:41] department. Designed for accessibility
[3:43] and visibility, it serves as the
[3:45] welcoming center of city hall,
[3:46] reflecting the city's commitment to
[3:48] transparency and service.
[3:52] All right, time to head upstairs. Up the
[3:54] grand staircase. More than just a way to
[3:56] get upstairs. This architectural feature
[3:58] celebrates the natural beauty of
[3:59] Channassen. There's also an elevator
[4:01] nearby if you need one.
[4:05] Once we get upstairs, we can go right
[4:07] into the council chambers. Public
[4:09] meetings are now more comfortable and
[4:11] accessible than ever. Some features here
[4:13] include improved seating and lighting,
[4:15] integrated sound and broadcast
[4:16] technology, overflow seating area with
[4:19] live video and audio.
[4:25] It's also used by planning, park and
[4:27] recreation, and other commissions.
[4:30] [Music]
[4:34] Next up, we've got the break room.
[4:36] Believe it or not, this is a brand new
[4:37] feature. The old city hall had no
[4:39] dedicated staff break area. This is a
[4:42] meaningful step in supporting employee
[4:43] wellness.
[4:45] [Music]
[4:52] Speaking of wellness, we have the
[4:53] wellness room, a private, flexible space
[4:55] for lactation, rest, or personal care
[4:57] needs.
[5:01] Back across the hallway, we've got the
[5:02] fire and IT offices. Offices for the
[5:05] fire chief, fire marshall/ass assistant
[5:07] chief, and city IT professionals are
[5:09] coll-located to support emergency
[5:11] planning and digital operations.
[5:13] [Music]
[5:16] Heading back south, we come to community
[5:17] and economic development and water
[5:19] resources. Community development guides
[5:22] planning, zoning, and redevelopment to
[5:23] ensure thoughtful growth in strong
[5:25] neighborhoods. Economic development
[5:27] supports local businesses through
[5:29] retention, expansion, and attraction
[5:30] efforts to strengthen the city's
[5:32] economy. Water Resources manages storm
[5:34] water systems, sustainability
[5:36] initiatives, and water quality across
[5:38] the city.
[5:42] [Music]
[5:44] Up next is the engineering department.
[5:46] Engineering ensures Chanhassen's
[5:48] infrastructure is safe, efficient, and
[5:50] built to last. This team manages road
[5:52] and utility projects, reviews
[5:54] development plans, and oversees
[5:56] maintenance of the city's storm water,
[5:58] sewer, water, street, and transportation
[6:01] systems. all with a focus on long-term
[6:03] reliability and sustainability.
[6:07] Our last department is administration
[6:08] and communications. The city manager and
[6:11] other key administrative staff work here
[6:13] to lead the day-to-day operations and
[6:14] support the city council's policy
[6:16] decisions. The communications team also
[6:18] works here where they brainstorm
[6:20] creative ideas, manage public outreach,
[6:22] and shape the city's digital presence.
[6:24] Hey, that's my desk.
[6:27] [Music]
[6:32] The porch, a civic gathering place. This
[6:35] porch encourages informal conversation
[6:37] and community connection.
[6:41] All right, now for something that nobody
[6:42] got to see on the November 1st tour, the
[6:45] roof. And look, some solar panels. We'll
[6:49] be doing an in-depth feature on those
[6:51] shortly.
[6:53] [Music]
[6:58] And down here we've got the parking
[7:00] garage.
[7:02] This is where city fleet vehicles park
[7:04] as well as Carver County Sheriff's
[7:06] Office squad cars. And that's it. We
[7:09] hope you enjoyed your virtual tour and
[7:11] we hope you'll stop by in person
[7:12] sometime and say hello.