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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 08-19-2011CITY OF PLYMOUTH rp) COUNCIL INFO MEMO August 19, 2011 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS HRA Agenda 08/25/11......................................................................................................................... Page 1 August, September, October 2011 Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................. Page 2 Tentative List of Agenda Items for Future City Council Meetings ..................................................... Page 5 INFORMATION News Articles, Releases, Publications, Etc ... Plymouth Human Rights Committee, Guest Column Sun -Sailor, Jessica Trites Rolle, V. Chair......... Page 6 Cities extending tax districts to spur jobs, Article, Star & Trib.......................................................... Page 8 Plymouth mosque plan goes forward despite some tension, Article, MNPublic Radio .................... Page 11 Market value credit disappearance: Property tax sleeper, Article, MPR news ................................... Page 13 Ehlers Market Commentary 08/16/11................................................................................................ Page 16 MEETING MINUTES PACTMinutes 05/25/11..................................................................................................................... Page 18 PACTMinutes 07/13/11..................................................................................................................... Page 22 Planning Commission Minutes 08/03/11.......................................................................................... Page 24 CORRESPONDENCE Letter from HC Dept. of Env. Svcs., RE: Residential Curbside Recycling Program ........................ Page 30 Letter to MET Council, RE: Vicksburg Lane Reconstruction Project STP funding ......................... Page 35 MEETING AGENDA- PLYMOUTH GENDA PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011 - 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Parkers Lake Room City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commissioner, citizen or petitioner so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve HRA Meeting Minutes from July 21, 2011. B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Report. C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept Monthly Housing Report. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. First Time Home Buyer Program. Consider forgiveness of First Time Home Buyer loan. B. Vicksburg Crossing. Marketing Report. 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Oppidan Development. Consider request to revise Tax Increment Financing District 1-3 budget to facilitate a new development project. (Tabled from July 21, 2011 meeting.) 5. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 r�Plymouth Adding Quality to Life August 2011 Modified on 08119/11 Page 2 1 2 2:30-5:00 PM 3 7:00 PM 4 7:00 PM 5 6 NIGHT TO UNITE PLANNING HUMAN RIGHTS 1 KICKOFF COMMISSION COMMITTEE Plymouth Creek Center MEETING MEETING Council Chambers Medicine Lake Room 6:30-9:30 PM NIGHT TO UNITE 7 8 9 5:00 PM 10 7:00 PM 11 12 13 SPECIAL COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL MEETING* QUALITY Medicine Lake Room COMMITTEE 7:00 PM (EQC) MEETING REGULAR COUNCIt Council Chambers MEETING Council Chambers 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 6:00 PM 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING COMMISSION Budget Study Session MEETING Medicine Lake Room Council Chambers 21 22 23 5:30 PM 24 25 26 27 SPECIAL COUNCIL 7:00 PM MEETING HRA MEETING Discuss 2012-2016 CIP and Parkers Lake Room 201212013 Budget Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 28 29 30 31 Modified on 08119/11 Page 2 up,�ymouth Adding Quality to Life September 2011 Modified on 08119111 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 jjj� 6 7 8 9 10 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL PLANNING PARK & REC MEETING COMMISSION ADVISORY LABOR DAY Budget Study Session MEETING COMMISSION if NecessaryCouncil Chambers (PRAC) MEETING CITY OFFICES Medicine Lake Room Council Chambers CLOSED 11 12 13 147:00 15 16 17 7:00 PM PM REGULAR COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL MEETING QUALITY Council Chambers COMMITTEE (EQC) MEETING Parkers Lake Room 18 19 20 21 7:00 PM 22 23 24 9:aD AM 6:00-9:00 PM PLYMOUTH PLANNING OPEN HOUSE FIREFIGHTERS 5K COMMISSION FOUR SEASONS Fire Station #2 MEETING MALL STUDY Medicine Lake Room Plymouth Creek 11:30 AM Center PLYMOUTH ON 7:00 PM PARADE HRA MEETING CELEBRATION Parkers Lake Room City Center Area 25 26 27 5:30 PM 28 29 30 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING` Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Medicine Lake Room ,Rosh HaShonah • Joint meeting with PAC to discuss operations Begins at Sunset Modified on 08119111 Page 3 r� Plymouth Adding Quality to Life October 2011 Modified on 08119111 Center Page 4 1 2 3 4 6:30 PM 5 7:00 PM 6 7 8 VOLUNTEER PLANNING RECOGNITION COMMISSION EVENT MEETING Plymouth Creek Medicine Lake Room Center Yom Kippur Begins at Sunset 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL PARK l3 REC 12:00-3:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL QUALITY ADVISORY FIRE DEPT. COLUMBUS DAY MEETING COMMITTEE COMMISSION OPEN HOUSE Observed Medicine Lake Room (EQC) MEETING (PRAC) MEETING Fire Station III Parkers Lake Room Plymouth Ice Cente PLYMOUTH PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION CLOSED 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Medicine Lake Room 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 7:00 PM 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL HRA MEETING MEETING Parkers Lake Room Medicine Lake Room 6:00-8:00 P Halloween o the Creek (� 1 Plymouth Cree 1 Modified on 08119111 Center Page 4 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items September 6, Special, 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Discuss 201?/2013 Budget ('i f needed) • Set Future Study Sessions September 13, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Approve 201212013 proposed budgets, preliminary tax levies and budget hearing date September 27, Special, 5:30 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Joint meeting with Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit to discuss operations September 27, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room October 11, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room October 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room November 8, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers November 22, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers December 13, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Adopt the 2012 Budgets and Tax Levies and 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program Note: Special Meeting topics have been set b1v Council; all othea= topics are tentative. Page 5 Guest Column for Sun -Sailor (308 Words) By Jessica Trites Rolle, Vice Chair Plymouth Human Rights Committee The Plymouth Human Rights Committee has discussed the recent letters to the editor about the proposed Islamic Community Center at Plymouth Boulevard and 34`x' Avenue (the post office building). Our committee respects the rights of all citizens to exercise their free speech rights. At the same time, we are saddened when inaccurate comments are made about an entire group of people based on the hateful actions of terrorists. Vitriolic language does not make our community stronger; it divides and weakens us. It can also intimidate and instill fear in people who are our family, neighbors, friends and co- workers. Such language communicates values and ideas that violate the spirit of this nation built on freedoms of religion, speech and assembly. Yes, our country has weathered tragedies. It is in the wake of those tragedies that we have seen our better selves emerge. It is at those times that we have come together — regardless of race, religion or creed — to be our strongest, focusing on the things that unite us. Every day, citizens of Plymouth do just that: they choose to move beyond their fears. They opt to live, learn, work and recreate with people who may appear different, but with whom they find far more similarities than divisions. Plymouth is a fair-minded community. As we continue to discuss this issue, it is important that we reject hateful words, efforts to paint our fellow community members with a broad brush, and attempts to limit the rights of our fellow citizens. Let's know each other as individuals and neighbors, and remember that our diverse backgrounds, abilities, goals and dreams make Plymouth a special place to live. Page 6 The Plymouth Hunan Rights Committee responds to incidents of discrimination and works to ensure the human rights of all persons within Plymouth. The committee can be contacted 6y calling the Ciry of Plymouth at 763-509-5160. Page 7 Forniat Dynamics :; CleanPrint :: http:,'hvw,-�v.startribune.coin businessi 127601688.htrnl Pagel of 3 _ Paint your StarTribune rrtobile Grower t0 • `�� ti#tp.%/'s#artriGurt@.Ct;trt Cities extending tax districts to spur jobs Article by: DON JACOBSON , Special to the Star Tribune Updated: August 14, 2011 - 2:35 PM With the construction industry in a profound slump, cities around the metro area are taking advantage of a recent state law that allows them to stimulate building activity by using cash balances left over from older economic development zones to help pay for the construction or rehabilitation of private commercial buildings. The idea behind the provision of the 2010 Jobs Stimulus Program, which was extended for another year this spring, was to provide a public financing hand to create or maintain well -paying jobs in Minnesota and give a boost to the state's construction industry, which is suffering through its worst stretch in living memory. Used -- some would say overused -- since the late 1970s, tax -increment financing or "TIF"' districts allow cities to subsidize developers for the amount of increased taxes the improvements would generate for Advertisement This Page Cannot Be displayed a period of time into the future. It's not uncommon for TIF projects to generate surplus or "excess" revenues over time. They ultimately must be returned to the taxing districts, but under the law, cities can also pool them together to provide loans, subsidies and grants "for the construction or substantial rehabilitation of buildings" anywhere in the city. Since it's only a temporary stimulus measure, the law stipulates construction activity financed under the measure must start before July 2013, and that has prompted cities wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to come up with spending plans this year. One city that has done so is Coon Rapids, which has used the TIF pooling to help subsidize an expansion by Medrad Interventional/Possis Medical Inc., a provider of mechanical thrombectomy devices used to treat narrowed or blocked arteries and veins. The company this spring landed a $300,000 grant from the city to help finance an $8.1 million rehabilitation and build -out project within a 263,000 -square -foot industrial facility at 8840 Evergreen Blvd. Based on your corporate access policies, access to this web site ( http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/minnesota_star_tribune_dp_print/BUSINESS_AND_FINANCE_;FD_PAGE_Ni has been blocked because the web category "Advertisements & Popups" is not allowed. If you have questions, please contact IT Helpdesk at ext. 5384 ( helpdesk@ci.plymouth.mn.us ) and provide the codes shown below. Print Powered By `_'d-rr)rmatDynamics' Page 8 http:;/�;ivw.startribune.con/templatcs,'fdcp`'unique=l313507791186 $/16/201 1 Fonnat Dynamics :: CleartPrint :: littp://www.startiibune.com/business,'1276015$8.html Page 2 of 5 Star"fir"Ibune ��P'=•l�tartri�sun�,+airrir The 25 -year-old building is now only partially occupied by Honeywell International's aerospace division, and Medrad/Possis has begun extensive construction work on 100,000 square feet within the structure, said Matt Brown, community development specialist for the city of Coon Rapids. "Possis Medical has been based in Coon Rapids for years and has been very successful here, and when they were purchased by Medrad in 2008, they were c onsidering a number of options that included possibly moving jobs out of the state or even out of the country," Brown said But, using the provisions of the state jobs stimulus program, the city was able to help the company finance the expansion project, thus "leveling the playing field," with the provision that Medrad/Possis create at least 30 new jobs paying $30 to $33.65 per hour. "The construction will be done in two phases over the next couple of years," Brown said. "In the north metro, there's a cluster of medical device -related firms, and our city council feels strongly those kinds of well - paying jobs can have a ripple effect into the rest of the economy and spur additional job creation." Advertisement This Fuge Cannot Be displayed The city is also considering two more projects for which it would tap unused TIF balances for stimulating construction activity. One of them is for RMS Medical Parts Machining, which also located on Evergreen Boulevard. The company -- a contract manufacturer of complex medical device implants and surgical instruments -- is planning a 60,000 -square -foot expansion project. Another is for a planned redevelopment of a vacant former Frank's Nursery & Crafts site on Coon Rapids Boulevard into a 100 -unit senior housing facility. "It's been a really good economic development tool," said Mark Ruff, a financial adviser for Ehlers & Associates, experts on tax increment financing with a client list made up of hundreds of Minnesota cities. "Of our clients, maybe a quarter of them have money they could use for this and about 10 percent have been able to use it." How much it can be used depends on the financial situations of the various cities. Some cities have millions of dollars in excess TIF revenue, while others only have a few thousand dollars to tap, he said. Based on your corporate access policies, access to this web site ( http://ad.doubleclick.net/adii/minnesota_star_tribune_dp_print/BUSINESS_ AND_ FINANCE_;FD_PAGE_NI has been blocked because the web category '"Advertisements & Popups" is not allowed. If you have questions, please contact IT Helpdesk at ext. 5380 ( helpdesk@ci.[)Iymouth.mn.us ) and provide the codes shown below. Print Powered By I_ of; _ http./hvwtiv.startr-ibune.com/templates/fdcp?unique-1313507791186 .'_Dynamics Pae 9 16/2011 Forixiat Dynamics :: CleartPrint :: http://ww��,-.startribune.comrbusiness/ 127601588.litml Page 3 of 3 t rTri b u n le w, ��- a�h%te�w��. , ''� Mf�rr+sta�hiburt��ns "Some cities, like Duluth, have set up competitive processes for businesses to apply for the subsidies," Ruff said. Other Twin Cities -area municipalities have also used the provisions of the legislation to help kick-start construction projects. Among them are Inver Grove Heights, which last month approved loaning $1.25 million from a $3 million fund balance in one of its TIF districts to the developer of the stalled Argenta Hills retail center, with the provision that a long -sought Target store anchor be under construction there by February 2012. The city of Farmington also moved in March to make excess revenues from its downtown TIF district available to help subsidize the redevelopment of a long -vacant lot on 3rd Street into a new dental clinic. The city of New Brighton, meanwhile, has also used the financial tool to help kick-start the construction of a new apartment building in the city's Northwest Quadrant redevelopment zone at the intersection of Interstates 35W and 694. Don Jacobson is a St. Paul -based freelance writer. Advertisement This Page Cannot Be Displayed Based on your corporate access policies, access to this web site ( http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/minnesota_star_tribune_dp_prink/BUSINESS_AND_FINANCE_;FD_PAGE_NI has been blocked because the web category "Advertisements & Popups" is not allowed. If you have questions, please contact IT Helpdesk at ext. 5380 ( helpdesk(&ci.p1ymouth.mn.us ) and provide the codes shown below. Print Powered By ..d _-, rt i,!' ynarnics Page 10 http://www.startribune.comitemplates/fdcp"unique-1313507791186 8 16-2011 a MINNESOTA 00 t? 00 PUBLIC R,A►DIO. Plymouth mosque plan goes forward despite some tension by Rupia Shenoy. Minnesota Public Radio August 18, ?011 Plymouth. Minn. A proposal to mouse a mosque in a soon -to -be -closed suburban post office is now heading to the Plymouth City Council, after being reviewed by° the city's planning commission Wednesday night. About 200 people attended the hearing, which conunissioners tried to limit to a discussion about logistics such as parking spaces, access and building use. But of the 16 or so people who spoke before the commission, two raised objections to the mosque on religious grounds, and the atmosphere sometimes grew heated. "The center of Plymouth is not the appropriate place for this," said resident Connie Sambor. who invoked the Sept. 11, 200 1. terrorist attacks, and said the community was forgetting the attacks too soon. She was interrupted by commission chair Jim Davis. "Ma'am. I'm going to have to cut you off. We're here to talk about the building and the land use issues. not to talk about political opinions." he said. Jeff Baumann, of Coon Rapids. went a step further. "Aiding the enemy is treason," he said. "These are not my enemies, sir." Davis replied. "Will you please sit down?" "They are the enemy -- they are saying they are the enemy." Baumann insisted before finally yielding the floor. Some commissioners also reported they received anti -Islamic e-mails in the run-up to the meeting. Supporters of the mosque have been looking for a home for a while. The one they settled on sits across the street from Plymouth City Hall. in a big post office that was set to close. The two parties came to an agreement to use most of the building as a community center, but share space with the post office so it could stay open. Page 11 Many of the people who spoke at the public hearing were local Muslims such as Tamim Saidi. who told the commission his fancily is glad to belong to the Plymouth community, eilioyed living there. and wanted a place near home to worship. "This is our home. This is our country, and we love this country." he said. "We have been Here for a long time. and it's time for us to have a place where we can worship." lion -Muslims. including Plymouth resident Steven Miller, also expressed support for the mosque. "I want the community to know that I not only approve of this facility but I do plan on going there and visiting and learning from the people who are there. I hope that you approve this." lie said as meeting attendees clapped. The proposal goes to the Plymouth City Council next week for approval. Page 12 Market value credit disappearance: Property tax sleeper MPRnews Posted at 12:16 PM on August 12, 2011 by Dave Peters (0 Comments) Filed under: Local government finance UPDATE: Here's my conversation with All Things Considered host Tom Crann about the change in how the state cuts you a property tax break. EMBED I HELP Copy and paste the HTML below to embed this audio onto your web page. Audio player code: <iframe title=" rr>innesota news features SPONSOR: Keep an ear out for what local officials tell you this fall about next year's property taxes. They may be providing the absolute truth that they are holding your city or school or county levy flat, but you could still see property taxes rise. It could be headache -inducing both for them and for you. When Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders finally struck a budget deal last month, lots of attention was paid to what is called Local Government Aid (LGA). The final budget reduced by about $200 million what the state had promised cities to help with their local budgets. Another change got less attention, partly because it's complicated, but the elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit could have an even bigger impact on your property taxes. Under the old system, local officials set their total property tax levy and then used a sliding -scale formula to reduce the tax on your house if you were a homesteader. The state then reimbursed them for that reduction. There was a lot not to like about that system. It kept local officials off balance because determining the amount of state reimbursement took many months into the budget year and, moreover, the state in recent years developed the habit of cutting back on that reimbursement. It did so again last month to the tune of $104 million. Page 13 So the program was eliminated and replaced with what is called the Homestead Market Value Exclusion. Instead of figuring your tax and then giving you a credit, the new system effectively "lowers" the value of your home before figuring your tax. In theory, that's an effort to hold you harmless even as the state pulls its reimbursement. In practice? The impact on your tax will vary, and right now there's a lot of head -scratching going on. The main thing to realize is that by reducing your property's value before figuring out taxes, local officials suddenly have a lower tax base to deal with. That means even if the total tax levy is held flat, the tax rate will rise. And that means, first, a greater portion of the total market value in a place will be held by businesses and other non -homeowners. So the property tax burden will shift toward them, i.e. their taxes will rise. But, second, even for homeowners, if the total tax levy is flat, taxes could rise. In fact, on AVERAGE, they WOULD rise. But the extent to which that happens will vary from place to place, depending on the mix of property classes where you live and what your tax rates are now. Homeowner tax increases are likelier in low -tax areas and in jurisdictions that are heavily residential, says Steve Hinze, tax analyst for the House of Representatives, who wrote a short analysis of the new rules this week. Hinze says that's because the new law's effect on the tax base is greater in those areas than it will be in, say, a community with a big power plant paying lots of property taxes. "A zero levy increase is actually a tax increase," Hinze said. He worked out an example of a $200,000 home, using statewide average tax rates and the assumption that everybody will levy the same total property tax amount next year as this year. He shows property taxes on that house rising from $1,924 to $2,005. That's a 4 percent tax hike on a flat levy. If local officials are bound and determined to hold taxes (as opposed to the total levy) flat, they're going to have lower the total levy by the amount of reimbursement they've been getting under the old system. This, of course, stands to reason. Less money coming from elsewhere means either local taxpayers have to pay more or local officials have to spend less. Yet even that's not a clean formula, Hinze said. The ultimate effect will vary from place to place and "the effects are hard to imagine." The League of Minnesota Cities is fielding questions and planning a webinar next Friday for city officials to work through the change, which adds to the much more publicized effect of LGA cuts, says league policy analysis manager Rachel Walker. Those folks are already getting their Page 14 budgets in line for 2012. (The process will be a continuation of the squeeze they've felt for years. For more on the pressures and solutions they've found, see Ground Level's Cities in Crisis coverage.) So take a look at Hinze's example. You should be able to plug in your home's value and get a rough feel for what lies ahead. Then look at your tax bill to remember your current tax rate. Then, as local officials wrestle even harder than they have in the past with budgets, taxes and service cuts, listen closely. Page 15 August 16, 2011 Media Hype in Municipal Bonds Bubbles Over We have said it many times in the past few years, and we will say it again — fixed income securities, particularly municipal bonds and U.S. Treasuries are not the quiet little corner of the financial markets that they used to be. How do you explain to your neighbor why the 10 year U.S. Treasury yield declined from 2.58% the day before the U.S. lost its AAA rating to 2.24% one week later (August 12, 2011)? How also do you suggest to your neighbor to not panic and sell those highly rated, G.O. school district bonds when they hear market commentators predict that municipal bonds are the next big "bubble" and states will soon be running out of money? Why are we hearing about a "bubble" in municipal bonds? This is another case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. The mainstream media like to lump all bonds issued by state and local governments and agencies together as "municipal bonds" when predicting doom and gloom. It is true that municipal bonds as a category include AAA rated, G.O. tax supported debt and non -rated, speculative land development bonds (commonly known as "dirt bonds"). These two ends of the spectrum represent the equivalent difference in credit worthiness between the United States and Greece. But in the media and many people's minds, municipal bonds are municipal bonds, and all of them must be in trouble. How much of the media hype contains truth? Meredith Whitney was again featured on CNBC earlier in August, 2011. This is the same Ms. Whitney who predicted on 60 Minutes in December, 2010, that the municipal bond market would see a massive increase in defaults over the next year. So far, Ms. Whitney's predictions have not materialized. A client of Ehlers recently asked us what facts, if any, were behind Ms. Whitney's predictions. In September, 2010, Ms. Whitney released a 600 page report on the financial condition of the 15 largest U.S. state economies. This report landed her the much -publicized spot on 60 minutes. In June, 2011, Ms. Whitney released a new report expanded to 25 states (outlined in a Fortune magazine on-line report available here). Ms. Whitney's reports are proprietary so we are not able to directly review the numbers, but there are nuances in the Fortune article that do bear some discussion. Fust, Ms. Whitney is not predicting defaults on general obligation bonds. Rather, she and other commentators have focused on revenue bonds in States that are borrowing for operating costs, have high unemployment, high unfunded OPEB and pension liabilities, and/or a very bad real estate economy. On the face of the analysis, the gaps in State funding are substantial — over $190 billion according to Fortune. In addition, Ms. Whitney makes the claim that 90% of Florida's recent debt issues are revenue (no mention of what type of debt). EHLERS LEADERS IN PUBLIC FINANCE www.ehiers-inc.com Offices in Minnesota: (800) 552-1171 Wisconsin: (800) 717-9742 Illinois: (800) 417-1119 Page 16 August 16, 2011 What does the research tell us? If we make our own generalized determinations based on this research, the State of Minnesota could also fall into the category of risky behaviors outlined by Ms. Whitney. A current budget shortfall was solved in a recent special session primarily by delaying payments to school districts and issuing $700 million of tobacco tax revenue bonds. Yet Minnesota still carries a AAA rating from Standard & Poor's. How is this possible? The answer to this paradox may lie in the ability and capacity of state and local governments to adapt and adjust to new economic forces. As S&P recently stated when discussing the downgrade of the U.S. and its impact on other ratings: `it is important to note that we have not yet taken any action on state, regional or local government ratings. These issues are under review. However, in our view, the individual credit characteristics of those governments can remain stronger than the sovereign even during times of economic or political stress." Credit characteristics cited by rating agencies include management as well as debt levels, local economies, and finances. That is not to say that some bond holders may not get burned in the near future. Investors are seeking higher yields when rates are so incredibly low on the taxable and tax-exempt side. The Bond Buyer recently published an article which commented on the tightening of yield spreads between AAA/Aaa rated bonds and those rated BBB/Baa as evidence that investors are tired of low returns from U.S. Treasuries and highly rated municipal bonds. Despite the gyrations of the stock market and the talk of downgrades, MMD's "AAA" scale dropped dramatically over the past two weeks across all maturities. The five year yield was .9% on August 12, down .26%. The ten and fifteen year yields were down .41 % and .37% respectively with the 2026 maturity now carrying a 3.03% yield. Competitive bids on all ranges of rated and non -rated municipal bonds in the region (found on the attached report) were strong, even on the Monday after the U.S. downgrade. For all of us, the variations in markets remind us that we can be accountable only for that which we can control. Because management is a key factor in ratings, it is important to clearly explain budgeting and debt decisions to the public, the market and to rating agencies and to keep contingency plans in place if suipnses occur. EHLERS LEADERS IN PUBLIC FINANCE www.ehiers-inc.com Page 17 Page 2 Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 7:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Wosje, Vice Chair Kedzuf, Committee Members Rudnick, and Scherschligt, Councilmember Bildsoe. MEMBERS ABSENT: Committee Members Gustafson and Bliss. STAFF PRESENT: Transit Manager Hellekson, Transit Coordinator Maciej, First Transit Representatives Buharin and Baldwin, and Committee Reporter Tiegs-Roussell. Guests: James Clark, Messerli & Kramer; Sherry Munyon, Capitol Access; Connor Welsh, Maple Grove High School; and Jim Arabanos and Brad Greskowiak, AJ Advertising. Call to Order Chair Wosje called the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. at Plymouth City Hall, Medicine Lake Room. Approval of Agenda Motion was made by Committee Member Kedzuf and seconded by Committee Member Rudnick to approve thea agenda. With all members voting in favor the motion carried. Approve Meeting Minutes Motion was made by Committee Member Rudnik and seconded by Committee Member Kudzuf to approve the February 25, 2011 meeting minutes. With all members voting in favor the motion carried. Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit, 5-25-2011 Minutes Page 18 Metropolitan Council Update • Suburban Transit Association (STA): James Clark, Messerli & Kramer James Clark of Messerli & Kramer addressed the committee regarding the financial challenges facing transit. Mr. Clark stated that consolidation of services should be given serious consideration. State Representative Mike Beard of Shakopee will lead a re- evaluation of the Metropolitan Council on Transportation regarding their governance and future role in transit. Legislative Update • Suburban Transit Association (STA): James Clark, Messerli & Kramer James Clark stated that under the House version of the Omnibus Transportation Finance Bill, transit would receive the same appropriations in the years 2012 and 2013 as it received in 2011. The Governor vetoed this bill, too. Mr. Clark urged everyone to contact local legislators to advocate for the future of transit during the special session. A Senate bill to take MVST dollars from the suburban transit cities to fund out -state transit and urban transit, failed this legislative session. Action Item: Chair Wosje asked if transit services are considered an essential service and would it be suspended during a government shut down. Advertising Policy and Proposal • Recommendation. (Handouts provided policy for advertisements for the Plymouth Metrolink Fleet Facilities, and AJAdvertising) Jim Arabanos and Brad Greskowiak of A.J. Advertising proposed to the Committee, advertising on the Metro Transit buses. Advertising with bus wraps, which are similar to billboards, would generate revenue for our transit system. Committee Member Kedzuf stated the advertising must be family -friendly because Plymouth Transit is used by all age groups. Chair Wosje also stated concerns regarding the content of the advertising. The Committee will bring the proposed policy for advertisements for the Plymouth MetroLink Facilities and Fleet, to the Plymouth City Council. Motion to approve the proposed policy for advertisements for the Plymouth Metrolink facilities and fleet made by Committee Member Kedzuf, and seconded by Committee Member ScherschliQt. With all members voting in favor, motion carried. 2 Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit, 5-25-2011 Minutes Page 19 Plymouth Metrolink Transit Operations and Maintenance RFP Update Transit Manager Hellekson stated that the contract is still in negotiations. Review 2010 transit fixed route survey information Transit Coordinator Maciej reviewed the 2010 Fixed Route Customer Survey Summary. Request for approval A request from Plymouth Parks and Recreation, that Plymouth MetroLink again provide free shuttle service between City Hall, West Lutheran High School, and Plymouth Creek Elementary School from 4:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 for Music in Plymouth. Motion was made by Committee Member Scherschligt and seconded by Committee Member Rudnick, to provide free shuttle service for the Music in Plymouth event. With all members voting in favor, motion carried. Fleet update Two Gillig buses have arrived, passed inspections and have had graphics applied. First Transit Representative Buharin reported that one bus kept overheating. The under -seat heaters were the cause and the issue has been resolved. Manager Hellekson stated two buses are in the capital improvement plan for approval in 2011 but, with the legislative special session, she is not sure what will actually happen. Review Plymouth Metrolink Transit Performance Measurements Transit Coordinator Maciej reviewed the performance measurements for January - April, 2011 System Ridership Graph; January - April, 2011 Fixed Route Ridership Graph; January - April 2011 Dial -A -Ride Ridership Graph; January — April, 2011 Riders per Day Chart. Review Plymouth MetroLink Customer Service Log Transit Coordinator Maciej reviewed the February through May, 2011 Customer Service Log. 3 Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit, 5-25-2011 Minutes Page 20 Other Business Councilmember Bildsoe discussed Plymouth City Council expectations of the PACT Committee. City Council has directed PACT to meet quarterly, unless circumstances warrant more frequent meetings. The City Council's direction for the PACT Committee is to discuss strategic and operational issues that will help to support our transit services and increase revenue. PACT should continue to pursue partnerships with the Cities of Maple Grove and Minnetonka that could assist with service, and increase cost effectiveness. The City Council would like the PACT Committee to bring recommendations to the City Council that will help with transit fees. Councilmember Bildsoe suggested scheduling a study session with PACT, regarding strategic transit issues. Action Item: Councilmember Bildsoe requested a transit forum in July to address the following: Identify areas of concern and recommendations Public Works Director Cote and Transit/Solid Waste Manager Hellekson met with the City of Minnetonka regarding consolidating transit services. At this time there has not been a response. Staff will report on follow-up. Action Item: Transit Coordinator Maciej will get ridership numbers from other providers in the region to compare and use for future study. Adjournment Chair Wosje adjourned the meeting at 9:33 p.m. Future meetings: • July 27, 2011 • November 30, 2011 All meetings held at 7:00 p.m.at Plymouth City Hall. Committee Reporter, Diane Tiegs-Roussell E! Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit, 5-25-2011 Minutes Page 21 Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) Special Meeting Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 7:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Wosje, Committee Members Buelow, Gustafson, and Council Member Bildsoe. MEMBERS ABSENT: Committee Members Bliss, Kedzuf, and Scherschligt STAFF PRESENT: Transit Manager Hellekson, Transit Coordinator Maciej, and Committee Reporter Kovacevick. Call to Order Chair Wosje called the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. at Plymouth City Hall, Medicine Lake Room. Approve Agenda Motion was made by Council Member Bildsoe and seconded by Committee Member Gustafson to approve the agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Discuss Plymouth Metrolink Transit Contingency Plan Chair Wosje asked the Committee to consider what the City is prepared to spend to prevent a negative impact on Plymouth transit riders. The purpose of this meeting is to review and recommend the presented Plymouth Metrolink Transit Contingency Plan to present to the City Council to deal with any event that could affect Plymouth transit services. Transit Manager Hellekson presented an overview of the proposed contingency plan. Members and staff discussed revisions to the contingency plan including removing a time requirement in each phase, allowing express buses to travel between any park and ride lots and downtown, allow more flexibility in responding and focus on serving and communicating with Plymouth ridership. Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit 7-13-2011 Special Meeting Minutes Page 22 Transit Manager Hellekson presented an update regarding tentative contingency operations of other suburban transit providers during the state shutdown. PACT members discussed approaching church properties concerning park and ride options during contingency periods. Motion was made by Committee Member Gustafson, seconded by Council Member Bildsoe to direct staff to move ahead with the contingency plan as presented. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Adjourn Chair Wosje adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Future Meetings July 27, 2011 PACT meeting November 30, 2011 PACT meeting K Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit 7-13-2011 Special Meeting Minutes Page 23 Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting August 3, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Dick Kobussen, Gordon Petrash, Scott Nelson, Bryan Oakley and Marc Anderson MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Nathan Robinson STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Senior Planner Joshua Doty, City Engineer Bob Moberg and Office Support Specialist Laurie Lokken 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the August 3, 2011 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE JULY 201) 2011 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the July 20, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. TRYGVE SVARD (2011047) Planning Manager Thomson stated that a revised resolution had been provided to the Planning Commission. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the amended request by Trygve Svard for variances for front and rear lake setbacks to allow a solar panel system for property located at 12075 48'1' Avenue North. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS Page 24 Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 3, 2011 Page 2 7. NEW BUSINESS A. DAVID FELT (2011039) Chair Davis introduced the request by David Felt for a home occupation license for a home service business for property located at 15620 9t' Avenue North. Senior Planner Doty gave an overview of the staff report. Chair Davis introduced the applicant, David Felt, 15620 9th Avenue North. Mr. Felt said that he moved to Plymouth in 2007 and started his business right out of college. He said that as his business grew, he did not realize all the rules and regulations that go into a neighborhood and the way that a business should be run. He said that as his business grew in the earlier years, there was a lot of noncompliance with what the city regulations and guidelines were. He said that once he was made aware of that in December 2010, he did everything that he could to develop a new game plan on how to run our business. Mr. Felt said that he does not have employees working in the home. He said the biggest issue was the parking and the comings and goings of people in the early morning and in the afternoon. He said he thought that he had done everything in his power and that he had proven to the neighborhood that he is now following the guidelines set up by the city. He said he would do everything in his power to be in complete compliance with what those regulations are. He asked that the Planning Commission move forward with the home occupation license. Commissioner Nelson asked if since he made these adjustments in his business and not had the crews at his house, if he had any issues with neighbors or any further complaints. Mr. Felt responded not that he was aware of. He said that he does have an independent contractor, who is also one of his friends, and his vehicle looks like a work vehicle. He said that when he comes over, it is to hang out with him and it has nothing to do with work-related things. He said during the process of applying for the home occupation license, under the regulations and guidelines, he thought he could have one commercial vehicle at his home that had logos and decals and equipment in it. He said once he was made aware that was not legal until he actually received approval for the home occupation license, he removed that from the property as well. He said there are no employee vehicles, trucks with logos or equipment at his house that is out of compliance with what the city requires. Commissioner Kobussen asked where the 40 -foot ladder is stored. Mr. Felt replied that it is in the garage and that it does fit in there. Commissioner Kobussen asked how many personal vehicles he had. Mr. Felt responded that he has two vehicles and a boat as well. Commissioner Kobussen asked if there was plenty of room in the driveway for four vehicles. Mr. Felt replied that he currently does not park one vehicle in the garage due to issues with his garage door openers. He said that he could park the vehicle in the garage when he got that fixed and then he could add another parking spot. He said that he has a poured, concrete slab on the side of his garage for additional parking and that is where his boat is now. Page 25 Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 3, 2011 Page 3 Chair Davis introduced Frank Hendricks, 840 Terraceview Lane North, Mr. Hendricks stated that when Mr. Felt moved in, he started his operations as he said. He said that the parking was atrocious. He said that he moved in to a residential area to live in a residential area. He said that there were up to seven cars parked in the street during the summer time. He said the city has somewhat narrow streets when the curbs have been improved and during the winter time it made it even more difficult. He said that he does not like being in this position but he commends him for running a small business. He said that he owns two small businesses and has resided in Plymouth with his two businesses for 20 some years. Mr. Hendricks said that he first approached Mr. Felt and told him there was a problem here, that there were too many cars parked in the streets. He said that he told him that it was hazardous and a nuisance. He said people are operating before the hours of 8:00 a.m., it's loud, ladders are clanging and that he needed to change it, especially because they are parking in front of his yard and turning around in his driveway. He said it is common courtesy that people can turn around in driveways but not when it is a daily occurrence of cars and trucks that are employees, some of whose vehicles are loud and in poor repair. He said that Mr. Felt took note of it and moved some of the cars so that they weren't parking right next to his house but then they were parking across the street. He said when a car is parked directly across from your driveway or blocking a mailbox or in the winter time when trying to back down an icy driveway, it is hazardous. Mr. Hendricks said that he approached Mr. Felt again around Thanksgiving of 2010. He said he told him that this has got to change and he needed to get an office space as there is plenty of light industrial available. He said Mr. Felt responded that he was just not going to do that. He said Mr. Felt left him with the impression that he would take care of it in the spring and that he might get some light industrial space. He said he told Mr. Felt that was fine and that he would let him finish out his season but if it started back up in the spring, he would file a protest with the city. He said that was what he was forced to do because the same habit started right back up in the spring. Mr. Hendricks said that it has been a long process. He said he has spoken to city staff. He said he just wanted to be clear that this isn't just a window cleaning business. He said it is Christmas lights in the winter time, when there are ice dams there are steamers out there, it's gutter cleaning, etc. He said to say it's a window cleaning service is questionable. He said he has cleaned up his act but he has no license. Mr. Hendricks provided the Planning Commission with copies of correspondence to and from city staff. Commissioner Petrash asked if Mr. Felt has been in compliance the last few months. Mr. Hendricks responded that it has been much better. He said there have been exceptions with overnight street parking and there are still cars parked out in front. He said he would not say that he was in full compliance. Chair Davis introduced Glenn Rood, 15610 9th Avenue North. Mr. Rood said this is nothing personal. He said it is about putting up with a home-based business next door for three years. Page 26 Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 3, 2011 Page 4 He said he hopes it is successful and it sounds like it is. He said the complaint had to be filed because of the noise. He said that he doesn't want to live in a neighborhood with a business because once you have one, you may get another. He said that traffic was a problem. He said people parked in front of their home and in front of their mailbox. He said the biggest thing is that in three years, someone should know that you need a license to run a business in a neighborhood. He said that it has been shown that there wasn't the desire to work with neighbors; otherwise it wouldn't have gone on for so long. He said he is opposed to it but it sounds like it is going to move forward as a recommendation. He said he is not sure how we reward a recommendation when something was violated for three years. He said it is better and it did operate a little bit after it was not supposed to, which is more of an "I'm above the law" attitude. He said he just doesn't want it, whether that makes it right or wrong. Mr. Rood asked that if this is approved, who monitors the activity. He said that it already has been violated for three years. Senior Planner Doty responded in terms of the staff review, we need to review the application that is in front of us, based on the ordinance standards. He said that was what staff did and why we are recommending approval. He said that the business practice moving forward as described in the application does comply with the standards in the home occupation ordinance. He said the previous business practice did not and would not comply with the ordinance. Senior Planner Doty replied to the question of monitoring. He said a home occupation license may be terminated if it is shown not to be in compliance with ordinance standards. He said that the applicant would need to renew the license after the first year. He said we would respond to any complaints from neighbors at any time moving forward and we would respond to each complaint we received. He said that if the applicant moved forward in a manner that wasn't in compliance with the ordinance standards and we received a complaint, staff would follow up and perform inspections as necessary. He said if shown not to be in compliance, the home occupation license could be terminated. Planning Manager Thomson added the first complaint that came to the city was in December of 2010 and the city operates in a situation like this on a complaint basis. She said that once we get a complaint, we do follow up. She said prior to that time, no one had indicated there was an issue. Mr. Rood commented that it is really up to the occupant to monitor their own business. He asked if that would be the intention should this be approved. Chair Davis responded that they should be compliant to the privilege they were given to operate a business in their home. He said that the city doesn't police unless there is a citizen complaint, which the city would investigate. Commissioner Nelson added that this is similar to a situation we had last meeting where somebody had built a patio in their back yard and were unaware that they were within a setback of a wetland until somebody told them. Page 27 Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 3, 2011 Page 5 Mr. Rood asked if these licenses grant you to operate seven days a week. Senior Planner Doty responded affirmatively. Planning Manager Thomson added that there are hourly restrictions during the day that would apply. Mr. Rood asked if we would want home occupation businesses running seven days a week in residential neighborhoods and if that is good practice for neighborhoods when there is industrial space available throughout the city. Planning Manager Thomson responded that the regulations the city has in place are designed to make sure businesses that do operate in residential areas are respecting the character of the neighborhood and that's why there's no exterior storage and there are hours of operation, etc. She said the regulations are designed to maintain a good residential setting. Commissioner Oakley said that we heard from two different sides on this. He said one of the things that he is not sure came out completely is the fact that the complaint was lodged in December, there was a letter sent December 27th with a deadline of February 15th, a follow up letter was sent March 15th with a deadline of May 6th and an application was finally submitted on June 3rd. He said that's not really an indication of complying with the rules as they've been set forth. He said it is important that people follow the rules, that's what holds society together and that applies to the city as well. He said that we have to follow our rules in authorizing home - licensed businesses. He said that he would vote in support of this request. He said there are a lot of conditions in the proposed resolution and he encourages the neighborhood to monitor the business and especially Mr. Felt to stick with the rules and make it a long-term business that can grow into office space in a place that's meant to hold it. Commissioner Nelson said that he echoed Commissioner Oakley's comments. He said one of the things that concerned him was seeing those deadlines that were passed by. He told Mr. Felt that he is a young business man just starting out in a tough economy and he admired him for that. He said with these kinds of things going forward, not only in his business life but in his personal life, and his neighborhood is things that he can't not pay attention to. He said that he would vote in support of this request. He said he encouraged the neighbors to actively monitor this situation and he would also encourage the city to monitor this situation. He said there should not be a lot of leeway given for any infringements on the ordinance and the rules going forward. He told Mr. Felt that if his business does continue to grow and he really hopes it does, he may be better served at looking at some light industrial space. He said he may be able to run his business more efficiently that way. He said he understood the hesitancy with costs and things like that as he, too, used to run a small business in a light industrial area but he has to pay attention to concerns going forward and follow the rules. Commissioner Petrash asked how a license gets revoked and who decides that. Senior Planner Doty responded that when we receive complaints, our housing inspector goes out and investigates the property. He said that his sole purpose is to determine if there is a violation of the ordinance or the license. He said that he would be looking for a specific violation and if one is found, we would be on stable grounds to terminate. He said that it is possible that the city may give some opportunity for compliance. Planning Manager Thomson added that when we have situations like this where there could be compliance questions, we try to work with homeowners Page 28 Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 3, 2011 Page 6 and there is a legal process to follow. She said that she did not believe we have revoked any to date. She said that we typically do not get many complaints with home businesses. She said that people have tended to follow the rules and respect their neighbors so it has not been an issue. She said that we do have a process by which we can revoke if necessary. Chair Davis said that about four years ago, we had a similar request for a resident running a business out of their home and the neighbors complained so they had to file for a license. He said that they cleaned up their act, they got their license and their license has been renewed twice. He told Mr. Felt that situation is a model of how we would like this to turn out. He said we would like him to keep renewing this because the neighbors are happy. He said he would vote in support of this request on the condition that Mr. Felt follows the rules. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Oakley, to approve the request by David Felt for a home occupation license for a home service business for property located at 15620 9th Avenue North. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, with no objection to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Page 29 Hennepin Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services 417 North Fifth Street, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55401-3206 Ms. Sandy Engdahl City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth 55447 Dear Ms. Engdahl: . . IVED AUG 18 2011 BY' 612-348-3777, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE 612-348-8532, FAX 612-348-6500, Facility INFO Line www.hennepin.us August 17, 2011 The purpose of this letter is to inform you of a recent action by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners which will impact your city's residential curbside recycling program. The Hennepin County Board approved a resolution which establishes new goals for recycling and organics recovery from municipal solid waste. These recycling and organics recovery goals are consistent with the new waste management requirements established for all metropolitan counties by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. A copy of the resolution approved by the County Board is attached for your review. The Resolution requires revisions to the Residential Recycling Funding Policy. The current Funding Policy establishes the standards for municipal curbside recycling programs in order to distribute $2.9 million in recycling grants to cities. County staff is revising the policy to include the new goals and standards which may require changes to your current program. One of the changes under consideration is a cooperative purchasing contract for the processing of recyclables to reduce the costs of recycling service. County staff will be communicating a draft of the new Funding Policy in early September and we will be seeking your feedback on the proposed changes at the next meeting of all municipal recycling coordinators currently scheduled for September 22. The County intends to adopt a new Funding Policy by the end of this year to be effective January 1, 2012. If you are currently seeking a new contract for recyclables collection and processing, we would ask that you delay any action, if possible, to ensure consistency with the new Funding Policy. The goal for the new Funding Policy is to find ways to increase participation in recycling programs, increase the amount of waste recycled, and reduce the costs of recycling service. I believe that we can achieve these goals by working together to purchase the recycling service and standardize the programs across the county. I look forward to hearing your feedback about the proposed changes to the policy and if you have any questions, please contact me at 612-348-3054. Sincerely, Carl Nlichau Director Attachment Page 30 Hennepin County, Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 11-0306R2 [2011 j vmw hennepitt.us The following Resolution was offered by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin: WHEREAS, Hennepin County has been a leader nationally in the management of solid waste for many years, and the recent expiration of long-term contracts, completion of purchase of facilities, and developments in new technologies for recycling waste and organic materials have created new opportunities for improvement in the County's solid waste management system; and WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Board unanimously adopted Resolution 09-0345R1 directing staff to review current waste abatement goals, recommend new increased 10 -year targets for waste reduction, recycling and composting, and identify a variety of strategies to achieve them; and WHEREAS, Hennepin County conducted an extensive public engagement and stakeholder process over the past year to discuss waste management issues with city recycling coordinators, environmental commissions, residents, waste industry representatives, and others to discuss and get feedback on potential strategies to increase the County's recycling and organics recovery rate; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently approved the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan which establishes new goals for Hennepin County in managing municipal solid waste which are 1% by source reduction, 45% by recycling, 3% by organics recovery, 32% by resource recovery, and a maximum of 20% by landfill by 2015; and by 2020, the goals are 2% by source reduction, 47% by recycling, 4% by organics recovery, 32% by resource recovery, and maximum of 17% by landfill; and WHEREAS, Hennepin County will need to revise its Solid Waste Management Master Plan to show how it will reach the new state goals for source reduction, recycling, organic waste and resource recovery, and landfilling; and WHEREAS, Hennepin County has been an active participant in the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB), a joint powers board of six metro counties whose mission is to increase the efficiency and environmental effectiveness of the solid waste management system in the metropolitan area; Now, Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that Hennepin County adopts the goals established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in its Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan except that the county will establish an organics recovery goal of 6% by 2015 and 2020; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County will prepare a Solid Waste Management Master Plan to transform its solid waste system emphasizing waste management practices at the higher end of the waste management hierarchy to achieve the MPCA's goals; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Residential Recycling Funding Policy be revised to: - specify materials to be collected, require single or dual sort collection methods, and require use of County educational and promotional materials for municipal programs; - establish municipal recycling goals to assure the County achieves its recycling goals by 2015; Generated 7/26/2011 2:55:22 PM Page 31 - continue current distribution of all SCORE funds received from the state to all cities within Hennepin County for their recycling programs, and require a municipality to negotiate an improvement program and demonstrate measurable results in order to retain its SCORE funds if the municipality is not on a path to achieving its goals by 2015; - conduct periodic monitoring of municipal programs to assess progress in achieving the city's goal and to determine whether adjustments are necessary; and BE 1-1 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County continue to provide Incentive Grants from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund to help achieve the adopted waste management goals; that existing grants for assistance to cities and schools to recycle organic waste and a reduced tipping fee to waste haulers for organic waste disposal at the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station should be continued; and that the County should continue to collaborate with SWMCB to evaluate options to increase the number of companies in the region that can accept organic waste from institutions, businesses and residents for composting or anaerobic digestion; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County cooperate with municipalities and building owners and property managers to ensure recycling at multi -family housing and focus the county's efforts in the cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Edina, Minneapolis, New Hope, Plymouth, Richfield, and St. Louis Park where most multi -family housing in the county is located; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County investigate opportunities with Waste Wise and other business organizations to inform, support, and promote recycling by businesses and target commercial areas where large volumes of recyclables and organic waste are generated; and work with SWMCB to study financial incentives to encourage recycling and organic waste recovery; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County encourage recycling at local events by providing event planners and hosts with customized technical assistance and resources; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County deliver robust education campaigns that motivate behavior change by individuals; strengthen partnerships with municipalities, community groups, haulers and others to promote our programs and services; maintain the Community Power Grants provided to community organizations; and expand the use of volunteers through programs like the new Master Recycler Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff review outcomes, results and accomplishments in procuring environmentally preferable products for the County per Board Resolution 01-4-263 and recommend changes and updates to the procedures as necessary to maximize County procurement of environmentally preferable products by March 31, 2012; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County review past efforts to support and recycle building and other non -MSW materials and work in conjunction with the PCA and SWMCB to identify opportunities to increase recovery of building and other non -MSW materials identified in the PCA Policy Plan for reuse, recycling, and conversion to energy; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff be directed to draft amendments to Ordinance 13 to include recycling and organics separation goals consistent with the goals established by the MPCA in its Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan, and Amendments to Ordinances 2 and 17, which license waste facilities and waste haulers, to require reporting of recycling rates and volumes to provide the information necessary to measure progress in achieving the county's solid waste management goals; and 2 Generated 7/26/20112:55:22 PM Page 32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff be directed to negotiate a contract with Rational Energies for lease of space at the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station to recover plastic and metal from the incoming waste for recycling; require the company to hire social service organizations to provide staff to sort the waste; evaluate the potential of this process to separate organic waste for recycling into compost; and evaluate the option of replicating this initiative to recover plastic and metal at HERC; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County supports Covanta Energy in its effort to seek a change in the conditional use permit with the City of Minneapolis and the MPCA's environmental review of the additional 11 % throughput at HERC to achieve the resource recovery goal in the MPCA's Policy Plan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County in cooperation with Covanta Energy will actively seek customers for excess steam generated by HERC to optimize waste -to -energy performance. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Environmental Services and Property Services departments will review the most commonly used materials, utensils and disposable products used internally at Hennepin County to identify the most easily recyclable or compostable alternatives. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff be directed to report periodically to the Hennepin County Board on progress in achieving the source reduction, recycling, organics recovery, resource recovery, and landfilling goals established for Hennepin County in the MPCA's Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan. The question was on and there were 7 YEAS and 0 NAYS, as follows: County of Hennepin Board of County Commissioners YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Mike Opat X Mark Stenglein X Gail Dorfman X Peter McLaughlin X Randy Johnson X Jan Callison X Jeff Johnson X RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON 7/21/2011 �cd�fbH(Glll � ATTEST: 3 Generated 7/26/2011 2:55:22 PM Page 33 Deputy/Clerk to the County Board Generated 7/26/2011 2:55:22 PM Page 34 rp)City of Plymouth Adding Quality to Life August 8, 2011 Mr. Kevin Roggenbuck Transportation Coordinator MET COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD 390 North Robert Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 SUBJECT: VICKSBURG LANE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDING SUBMITTAL CITY PROJECT NO. 11029 Dear Mr. Roggenbuck: The City of Plymouth is submitting the enclosed application to the 2015/16 Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) for the proposed reconstruction of Vicksburg Lane between Old Rockford Road and Schmidt Lake Road. The project segment of Vicksburg Lane plays an important role in connecting developing communities in the western portion of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region. The proposed improvements will provide the additional capacity necessary to accommodate future traffic growth and development in the area. The proposed project includes the upgrade of Vicksburg Lane from a two-lane undivided to a four -lane divided roadway with a bicycle/pedestrian trail constructed on both sides. The proposed improvements will consist of multi -modal, capacity, geometric, and access management modifications along the Vicksburg Lane corridor. The City of Plymouth believes this is an excellent candidate for STP funding and looks forward to it being included in the program. Sincerely, Robert L. Moberg, P.E. City Engineer 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel 763-509-5000 • www.plymouthmn.gov Page 35 Federal STP -UG Funding Application Form 1 INSTRUCTIONS: Complete and return completed application to Kevin Roggenbuck, Transportation Office Use Only Coordinator, Transportation Advisory Board, 390 North Robert St., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101. (6.5.1) 602-1728. Form 1 needs to be _filled. out electronically. Please go to Metropolitan Council's Regional Solicitation website for instructions. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM at.the Metropolitan Council FTP site or postmarked on July 18, 2011. *Be sure to complete and attach the Pro"ct Information form. 1. APPLICANT: City of Plymouth 2. JURISDICTIONAL AGENCY (IF DIFFERENT): Same as Applicant (City of Plymouth) 3. MAILING ADDRESS: 3400 Plymouth Boulevard CITY: Plymouth STATE: MN ZIP CODE: 55447 4. COUNTY: Hennepin 5. CONTACT PERSON: Bob Moberg TITLE: City Engineer PHONE NO.: (763) 509-5525 CONTACT E MAIL ADDRESS: bmoberg@pjymouthmn gov 6. PROJECT NAME: Vicksburg Lane — Old Rockford Road to Schmidt Lake Road 7. BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION (include location, road name, type of improvement, etc... ): The proposed project entails upgrading Vicksburg Lane, an "A" Minor Arterial — Expa rider, between Old Ro ckford Road and Schmidt Lake Road in the City of Plymouth. The project will include expansion of Vicksburg Lane from a two-lane u ndivided to a four -lane div ided road way, with dedica ted turn Ian es at major i ntersections and bicycle/pedestrian trails on both sides of the roadway. In addition, the proposed project includes the installation of a permanent traffic signal in place of the temporary traffic signal at Old Rockford Road, and the construction of a new bus shelter in the northwest corner of the Vicksburg Lane and Schmidt Lake Road intersection 8. STP PROJECT CATEGORY - Check only one project grouping in which you wish your project to be scored. "A" Minor Arterials: ❑Reliever NExpander ❑Non-Fwy. Principal Arterial ❑Connector ❑Augmenter ❑Bikeway/Walkway 9. Are you applying or have you applied for funds from another source(s) to implement this project? Yes ❑ No If yes, please identify the source(s): 10. FEDERAL AMOUNT: $4,001,040 13. MATCH % OF PROJECT TOTAL: 20 percent 11. MATCH AMOUNT: $1,000,260 14. SOURCE OF MATCH FUNDS: Local Funds 12." PROJECT TOTAL: $5,001,300 15. REQUESTED PROGRAM YEAR (CIRCLE): ®2015 ❑2016 16. SIGNATURE 17. TITLE: City Engineer r Page 36