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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 12-29-2022CITY OF PLYMOUTH COUNCIL INFO MEMO December 29, 2022 EVENTS / MEETINGS Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 2 Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 5 CORRESPONDENCE Minor Variance for 2950 Larch Lane North (2022092) .......................................... Page 7 REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST Plymouth City Council Approves 6.5% Tax Levy Increase for 2023, Sun Sailor ............ Page 11 Viva Las Vegas Set for Jan. 20 at the Plymouth Community Center, Sun Sailor .......... Page 14 District 281 Magnet School Lottery Opens, Sun Sailor ........................................ Page 15 Plymouth Scouts and Cub Scouts Spread Christmas Cheer at Broadwell Senior Living, Sun Sailor ........................................................ Page 16 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 January 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED NEW YEAR’S DAY OBSERVED CITY OFFICES CLOSED 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Board Interviews and City Attorney Presentation Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 8:00 AM COUNCIL STRATEGIC WORKSHOP Plymouth Community Center Cedar Room Page 2 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT February 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers PRESIDENTS DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room 6:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Council Chambers Page 3 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 March 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Council Chambers Page 4 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items January 10, Special 5:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room • Interview candidates for board and commission vacancies • City Attorney presentation on data practices, open meeting law, and ethics January 10, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Oaths of Office: Mayor, At large Council member, Ward 2 Council member, Ward 4 Council member • Recognize Police Citizen Academy graduates (Public Safety Director Erik Fadden) • Recognize Fire Technician Marc Elbin for being a national finalist as the Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year from Firehouse Magazine and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association • Appoint 2023 Health Officer, 2023 Council Secretary, 2023 Official Depository, 2023 Official Newspaper • Approve renewal of liquor licenses for 2023 • Approval of Asphalt Contract for 2023-2024 with Bituminous Roadways for Park Trails, Parking Lots, and Hardscape Surfaces • Approval of Lawn Maintenance Contract for 2023-2024 with AnderSun Lawn Service • Award Yard Waste Site Grinding Contract for 2023-2024 • Approval of Right-of-Way Mowing Contract for 2023-2024 with KP Miller Construction • Approve lease agreement amendment with AT&T for water tower located at 4425 Zachary Lane • Approve 2023 membership dues for Bassett Creek, Elm Creek, and Shingle Creek Watersheds • Adopt Ordinance amending rates and fees • Authorize condemnation for the Chankahda Trail Reconstruction Project - Phase 2 (ST230002) • Approve delegated contract process agreements with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) • Approve purchase of fuel through State Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CVP) • Accept the Planning Commission 2023 Work Program • Accept utilities for continual maintenance in Vicksburg Ridge 2nd Addition (2022046) and Hollydale (2021047) • Authorize acquisition of easements for the 2023 Gleason Lake Drive Improvements Project (ST239001) • Approve final closeout for the Comstock and Schmidt Lake Intersection Improvements (ST220002) • Discuss Fire Truck Donation • 2023 Deputy Mayor • 2023 Council Coordinating Representatives and other agency appointments • Resolution appointing individuals to fill vacant terms on various boards and commissions • Accept results from the 2022 National Community Survey January 21, Special 8:00 a.m. • Council Strategic Workshop January 24, Special 5:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room • Prudential and Four Seasons Update January 24, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Page 5 • Presentation/Updates from legislative representatives February 28, Special 5:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room • City Center Update Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Plymouth City Council approves 6.5% tax levy increase for 2023 By: Kaitlin McCoskey Dec 27, 2022 The Plymouth City Council approves the levy in a 5-2 vote. Voting against adoption of the levy was councilmembers Alise McGregor and Jim Prom. Screenshot Two councilmembers vote against the levy, citing surplus funds and responsibility to residents At the Dec. 13 meeting of the Plymouth City Council, the council approved the city’s 2023 budget and property tax levy. Finance Director Andrea Rich shared that the 2023 budget for Plymouth will increase by a total of 8.63%, or $8,934,379, which includes a 6.69% increase in the general fund budget and a 10.25% increase in the budget for other funds. Page 11 She also shared the changes to the 2023 levy from last year, the total increase of which will be 6.52%, or $2,893,399. Rich said that 23% of residential property tax dollars goes to the city. “So for every dollar in property tax that a resident pays, $0.23 of that goes to the City of Plymouth,” she said, adding that 9% of commercial property taxes go to the city.Rich said Plymouth has the lowest preliminary tax rate for residential and business properties compared to surrounding suburbs, including St. Louis Park, Brooklyn Park, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Bloomington, and Edina. Rich explained how the budget and levy are tied, saying, “The general fund has a balanced budget, and so revenue covers our expenditures. A majority of the general fund revenue is due to property taxes. Those general fund revenues cover the general fund expenditures.” She explained that those expenditures include 13% for general government funding, 7% for community and economic development, 17% for parks and recreation, 36% for police, 13% for fire, and 14% for public works. “You’ll notice that about 50% of that is public safety,” she said. Assistant Finance Director Dalton Larson said that several factors impacted the 2023 budget this year, including maintaining a focus on capital investments, new city staff positions, fire station and other project debts, and economic challenges such as inflation. Larson explained the budget and tax levy process, saying, “Staff met with the mayor and council over the course of five study sessions where we looked at the budget, we refined the budget, stood for questions, and got us where we are today. The budget process typically starts in the May or June time frame.” “After adoption, the budget will be certified with Hennepin county by Dec. 27,” Larson added. Disagreement over increases Neither the council nor the public raised questions or comments regarding the 2023 budget and levy. However, Councilmember Jim Willis raised concern with rising franchise fees included in the amending fees portion of the levy. “They’re modest increases, but I think given the fact that the utility rates themselves are so much higher, staff was reporting ranges of 20% or more for gas and electricity, that rather than increase the rate of the franchise fee this year, I think it’s going to be raised collection-wise by virtue of the fact that more of the commodity will be sold,” Willis said. Page 12 “I think it would just send a message to our taxpayers, if we could just set this aside for one year, we’d save them a few bucks. It’s not enough money to be material in the range of a $50 million budget, but I think it might send a signal to our residents that we’re trying to do something to hold these city-imposed fees back,” Willis concluded. Despite this motion, city staff explained that the proposed 5% franchise fee increase would equal about $140,000 in street reconstruction funding, while only equaling about $.024 per month for residential taxes on gas and electricity fees. Additionally, staff clarified that the funding is not based on the amount of different commodities sold, but rather a flat rate. Councilmember Ned Carroll spoke up as well. “Councilmember Willis, I really appreciate the sentiment of your motion,” Carroll said. “I’m not sure I can support it, and the reason is I think we’re just kicking the can down the road, and that can is going to get more expensive when and where it ends up landing.” The council voted against Willis’ motion, with members Carroll, Jim Prom, Jeffry Wosje, and Alise McGregor voting against the motion, and members Willis, Julie Peterson, and Jim Davis voting in favor of it. A new motion to adopt the 2023 budget and levy as-is was proposed by Carroll and seconded by Davis. Councilmember Prom stated that he was not going to vote in support of the 2023 budget approval. “We didn’t see a slide on our surplus of $10 million, which is 20% of our levy,” Prom said. “It should be explained to the residents of Plymouth why we’re raising their levy when we have a surplus like that.” Councilmember McGregor also shared that she would not support the 2023 budget and levy plan. “I just – so far – have felt that we should not be increasing our spending during this time,” McGregor said. “I think staff does a really great job, I just think there’s more opportunities for us to be more cognizant of what our residents are experiencing.” Ultimately, the council voted to approve the 2023 tax levy and budget plan with a 5-2 vote, with all other council members supporting it. Page 13 Viva Las Vegas set for Jan. 20 at the Plymouth Community Center Dec 27, 2022 The city of Plymouth offers a new event for adults ages 21 and older – A Night on the Town presents Viva Las Vegas is set for 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 at the Plymouth Community Center, 14800 34th Ave. N. Attendees can look forward to an evening of Las Vegas-style games run by professional card dealers, prizes, hors d’oeuvres, live music and drinks. A cash bar will be available. Childcare Available Childcare for ages 5-11 will be available to Viva Las Vegas ticketholders and costs $20 per child. Space is limited, and childcare must be purchased in advance at plymouthmn.gov/vivalasvegas or by calling 763-509-5200. Children will have the opportunity to play in the new K.U.B.E. indoor playground, have a pizza dinner, watch a movie, play games, participate in arts and crafts and more. Tickets Viva Las Vegas tickets cost $30 and can be purchased online at plymouthmn.gov/vivalasvegas or by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 763-509-5200. Sponsorship Opportunities Organizations may sponsor a table at the event for $250. Sponsors will see their name and logo posted at the table and displayed on signage at the event. Raffle prize donations are also being accepted. Those who donate will see their name and logo posted at the prize table. Call 763-509-5200 for more information. Page 14 District 281 magnet school lottery opens Dec 26, 2022 The lottery has opened for those wishing to enroll their students in a Robbinsdale Area Schools magnet school. The lottery schools include Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion in New Hope, arts-focused FAIR School Pilgrim Lane in Plymouth, and science-focused School of Engineering and Arts in Golden Valley. All magnet schools serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Applications will be accepted until 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Results are expected in March. In the meantime, the district invites potential students and their parents to contact schools of interest to learn more information or schedule a tour. The application process if for students that will enter kindergarten in the fall of the 2023-2024 school year. Children who reach their fifth birthday on or before Sept. 1 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the school year. Busing is provided for magnet school students. Begin the application process at magnetlottery.rdale.org, or contact the enrollment center with questions at 763-504-8080. Page 15 Plymouth Scouts and Cub Scouts spread Christmas cheer at Broadwell Senior Living Dec 27, 2022 On Dec. 5, Scout Troop 3570 and Cub Scout Pack 388 visited Broadwell Senior Living in Plymouth to sing Christmas Carols with residents. Children from kindergarten to high school sang familiar carols that many residents knew by heart. Following the caroling scouts presented residents with Christmas cards and met the pets of residents. Broadwell’s Activity Coordinator Michaela Rabenberg-Zimmerman said, “We hope to continue our partnership with these scouts and make this an annual event.” Page 16