Chaska council authorizes RFP, forms task force to begin library design process
May 04, 2026 | City of Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota
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The City of Chaska Council on May 4 approved issuing a request for proposals for architectural and engineering services to design a new Chaska Library and authorized staff to recruit a library task force and appoint a council member to that group.
City staff said the design process will include two committees: a library task force of about eight elected and appointed members to meet at four key points in design, and a staff design group composed of city and Carver County staff plus the construction manager. "This is the third of four building projects and we are starting the design earlier because Carver County will operate the library," a staff member said, explaining the shared responsibilities between the county (operation and furnishing) and the city (capital and maintenance).
The proposed task-force composition includes one county commissioner (Carver County has already appointed Commissioner Lisa Anderson), one city council member, one library board member (Amber Barker), one Friends of the Library representative (Jim Wangan) and four at-large residents or business owners. Staff recommended the council appoint one council member to the task force and authorize soliciting community applicants.
The RFP timeline approved by the council calls for issuing the RFP immediately, with proposals due May 26 and interviews the week of June 8; staff said a contract recommendation would return to the council at the June 15 meeting. Staff emphasized the RFP seeks professional qualifications rather than a completed design, and that the design phase would continue through the end of the year with final construction documents in 2027 and bidding in early 2028.
Council members discussed time commitment and coverage for task-force meetings and agreed the process should include robust public engagement. Council member Hatfield moved the motion to issue the RFP, appoint Council member Chevlin to the task force and authorize staff to advertise for community applicants; the motion passed with council assent.
The council directed staff to return with selections and further design milestones as the project advances.
City staff said the design process will include two committees: a library task force of about eight elected and appointed members to meet at four key points in design, and a staff design group composed of city and Carver County staff plus the construction manager. "This is the third of four building projects and we are starting the design earlier because Carver County will operate the library," a staff member said, explaining the shared responsibilities between the county (operation and furnishing) and the city (capital and maintenance).
The proposed task-force composition includes one county commissioner (Carver County has already appointed Commissioner Lisa Anderson), one city council member, one library board member (Amber Barker), one Friends of the Library representative (Jim Wangan) and four at-large residents or business owners. Staff recommended the council appoint one council member to the task force and authorize soliciting community applicants.
The RFP timeline approved by the council calls for issuing the RFP immediately, with proposals due May 26 and interviews the week of June 8; staff said a contract recommendation would return to the council at the June 15 meeting. Staff emphasized the RFP seeks professional qualifications rather than a completed design, and that the design phase would continue through the end of the year with final construction documents in 2027 and bidding in early 2028.
Council members discussed time commitment and coverage for task-force meetings and agreed the process should include robust public engagement. Council member Hatfield moved the motion to issue the RFP, appoint Council member Chevlin to the task force and authorize staff to advertise for community applicants; the motion passed with council assent.
The council directed staff to return with selections and further design milestones as the project advances.
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