City Council

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Overview

The City of Chanhassen operates under the "Optional Plan B" form of government as authorized by Minnesota state statutes. Under this plan, the elected City Council consists of a mayor and four council members. Members are elected at-large and serve 4-year terms on a staggered schedule. Elections are held in even-numbered years and coincide with the general election conducted in November.

Responsibilities

The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body for the city. Their duties include:

Adopt and direct the enforcement of ordinances
Appoints commissions, advisory boards, and the City Manager
Guides development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan
Manages the city’s financial operations by levying taxes, approving budgets, auditing expenditures, and borrowing money.

The City Council is dedicated to long-term planning, annually implementing and evaluating a Strategic Plan. These goals and strategies cover a broad spectrum and are items the Council feels need the most attention over the coming year. The Council also establishes Legislative Priorities to communicate with our legislators about issues and concerns that affect Chanhassen.

The City Manager appoints all other city staff.

Meetings

Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

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Members

MAYOR ELISE RYAN

Headshot_Mayor_Ryan-1 Elise Ryan has been involved with the City of Chanhassen for the past sixteen years. She was elected Mayor in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Additionally, Elise served on the City Council from 2014-2018, as well as the Chanhassen Park & Recreation Commission from 2008-2014.

She earned her B.A. from the University of Oregon, where she played tennis and her Master’s Degree in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. Elise’s professional career in marketing communications took her around the country before returning to Minnesota where she worked for Target. Elise is currently the Executive Director for Her Next Play, a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop the next generation of women leaders through sports.

In addition to serving Chanhassen, she has been an advocate for the Minnetonka School District with C.A.S.E. (Community Action for Student Education) and a T.O.N.K.A. Cares Board Member. She served as a Commissioner for Southwest Transit, was a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon member. Elise has lived in Chanhassen since 2006 with her husband Pat and two daughters who attend Minnetonka High School.

Contact Elise by email or at (612) 703-0598.

COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY MCDONALD

Headshot_Council Member_McDonald-1 Jerry McDonald was appointed to the city council in 2007 to fulfill an existing vacancy and then elected in 2008. Jerry was reappointed to the city council on January 11, 2021, and then re-elected in 2022.

Jerry has a B.S./E.E.T. degree from Western Kentucky University, an M.B.A. from Xavier University, and a J.D. from Hamline University. Jerry is the owner of the law firm, the Law Office of Jerry A. McDonald, P.L.C., located in Chanhassen.

Before he was appointed to the Council, he was a member of the Chanhassen Planning Commission for three years and served as chairman for two years. Jerry also is a past member of the Chanhassen Rotary and active with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee. Jerry and his wife Carol have four children.

Contact Jerry by email or by calling (952) 253-1406.

COUNCIL MEMBER HALEY SCHUBERT

Headshot_Council Member_Schubert-1 Haley Schubert was elected to the City Council in 2020. Before City Council, Haley served on the Park & Recreation Commission from 2019-2020.

Haley attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, with a double major in Math and Spanish and a minor in Economics. She is currently the Logistics and Quality Manager at Quantum Controls in Chanhassen. Haley is also a founding member of the Chanhassen Evening Rotary Club.

She is a lifelong resident of Chanhassen and lives with her husband Erick, daughter Lillian, and two rescue dogs, Abby and Luna, in the "Old Town" neighborhood. Haley enjoys scuba diving, CrossFit, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Please contact Haley by email or at (612) 269-2228.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARK VON OVEN

Headshot_Council Member_Von Oven-1 Mark von Oven was elected to the City Council in 2022. Before the City Council, Mark served on the Planning Commission from 2020-2022.

He earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida and his M.B.A. from Xavier University. He has previously worked for Procter & Gamble and Target Corporation and now leads a global analytics consulting practice for Accenture Song. Mark currently serves on the Lotus Lake Conservation Alliance (LLCA) board, is an assistant hockey coach for two Minnetonka Mite teams, and volunteers at Excelsior Elementary.

Mark has lived in Chanhassen since 2016 with his wife, Jaclyn. They have three young children.

Contact Mark by email or at (952) 479-0506.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOSH KIMBER

Headshot_Council Member_Kimber-1 Josh Kimber was appointed to the Chanhassen City Council on January 18, 2023, following Lucy Rehm’s successful election to the Minnesota House of Representatives on January 3, 2023. Before the City Council, Josh served on the Parks and Rec task force since 2022.

Josh has been running his own marketing consulting agency since 2013 based in Chanhassen. His past experience includes working for LifeTime Fitness, Magnet 360, Fallon, and the Minnesota Twins.

Josh moved to Chanhassen in 2009 with his wife Laura, and they have four children: Madelyn, Taylor, Abigail, and Luke, who attend schools in the Minnetonka school district. In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time outdoors on the many trails throughout Chanhassen or at his cabin in northern Minnesota.

Contact Josh by email or at (651) 592-9583.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas, Packets, Minutes, and Videos

Broadcasts

All City Council meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live on Cable Channel 8 and on the city's website.

Rebroadcasts

Meeting videos from July 2016 and later are available on the city's website.
Meeting videos from October 2012 to June 2016 are available on the the City's YouTube channel.
Copies of meeting videos prior to October 2012 can be requested on DVD by contacting Matt Unmacht at (952) 227-1118.

Chanhassen, MN

Resources