HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 03-02-2023CITY OF PLYMOUTH
COUNCIL INFO MEMO
March 2, 2023
EVENTS / MEETINGS
Environmental Quality Committee Agenda for March 8 ........................................ Page 2
Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 3
Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 6
REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Getting to know Plymouth’s new community and economic
development director, Sun Sailor ............................................................... Page 8
Headquarters of Optum subsidiary Solutran on the market in Plymouth,
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal ..................................................... Page 12
Environmental Quality Committee 1 of 2 March 8, 2023
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
AGENDA
Regular Environmental Quality Committee
March 8, 2023, 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC FORUM—Individuals may address the Committee about any item not contained on the
regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. If the full 15 minutes are not needed
for the Forum, the Committee will continue with the agenda. The Committee will take no official action
on items discussed at the Forum, with the exception of referral to staff for future report.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. APPROVE AGENDA —Environmental Quality Committee members may add items to the agenda for
discussion purposes or staff direction only. The Committee will not normally take official action on items
added to the agenda.
5. CONSENT AGENDA —These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion.
There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Committee member or citizen so requests, in
which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed elsewhere on the agenda.
5.1 Adopt proposed Environmental Quality Committee Minutes
February 8 Regular
6. GENERAL BUSINESS
6.1 Receive update on the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP)
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
6.2 Conduct annual public hearing for the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
Public Comment #1
6.3 Plymouth Environmental Academy
Plymouth Environmental Academy Topic Preferences
7. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
8. FUTURE MEETINGS
9. ADJOURNMENT
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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
5:30 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Council Strategic Workshop Follow Up/ Prudential Update Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
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April 2023
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov
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4:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HRA Interviews Medicine Lake Room 5:00 PM CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING Labor Strategy Discussion City Hall 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
CHANGES ARE
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5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING City Center Update Medicine Lake Room 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
OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
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May 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 REGULAR COUCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
5:00 PM CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING City Manager Annual Performance Evaluation City Hall 7:00 PM REGULAR COUCIL MEETING Council Chambers
6:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
MEMORIAL DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
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Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative.
EDA refers to the Economic Development Authority
Tentative Schedule for
City Council Agenda Items
March 14, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
Council Strategic Workshop follow-up
Prudential Update
March 14, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
Accept 2023 Work Plan for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Approve updates to Engineering Guidelines and Standard Detail Specifications
Approve Wetland Replacement Plan application for the Chankahda Trail Reconstruction
Project - Phase 2 (ST230002)
Approve Temporary Easement for MnDOT's Hwy 169/36th Avenue Bridge Replacement Project
Approve updated Title VI and language assistance program plans
Approve Bid and Authorize Construction for the Zachary Playfield Pickleball Courts
Construction (PR229005) and Bass Lake Playfield Courts & Parking Lot Reconstruction Projects
(PRN23001)
Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission legal boundary update
Designate Engineer for the 36th Avenue Rehabilitation Project (ST26XXXX)
Renew property and casualty insurance coverage with the League of MN Cities for 2023-2024
and add no-fault sewer backup coverage
Continued public hearing on partial easement vacation of Lot 13 Block 1, Mission Ponds
Order preparation of an AUAR (Alternative Urban Areawide Review) for the former Prudential
Insurance Office Campus site located at 13001 County Road 10 (2022083)
Quarterly City Manager’s Update
March 30, Regular (rescheduled from March 28), 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
Order and receive preliminary engineering report, order and approve plans and specifications,
call for a public hearing, order advertisement for bids, declare costs to be assessed, order
preparation of proposed assessments, and set public improvement and assessment hearings
for the Nathan Lane Area Pavement Rehabilitation Project (ST249005)
April 11, Special, 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
City Center Update
April 11, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Public hearing on approval of resolution on
vacation of rights of ways within French Regional Park
Public Hearing on 2023 Gleason Lake Drive Improvements Project
Public Hearing on 2023 City Center Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Public Hearing on 2023 Street Rehabilitation Project
April 25, Special 4:30 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
Interview HRA candidates
Labor Strategy Discussion (Closed Session)
April 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
Approve a preliminary plat and variances for "Bass Lake Shores" to allow the subdivision of a
2.35-acre parcel located at 12001 County Road 10 (Bass Lake Shores, LLC - 2022072)
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May 9, Special 5:00 p.m., Closed Session
City Manager Annual Performance Evaluation
May 23, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
Plymouth Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) discussion
Page 7
Getting to know Plymouth’s new
community and economic development
director
By: Kaitlin McCoskey March 01, 2023
Grant Fernelius shared his experience, thoughts, and
goals regarding his new role
Plymouth recently gained a new community and economic development director
with the appointment of Grant Fernelius to the role. On Feb. 6, Fernelius began
working for the city, and has already set his sights on several goals for Plymouth.
Submitted Photo
Grant Fernelius began working as Plymouth’s community and economic development director Feb. 6
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The role
According to the City of Plymouth, the role “serves as a one-stop shop for residents, developers
and businesses in Plymouth.
“The department offers services, programs and guidance for residential and commercial
customers in the areas of planning, housing, permits, inspections and business support.”
As the director of this department, Fernelius will have a hand in many different city operations,
not only in development, but also, and perhaps more pertinently, in the redevelopment of
Plymouth.
In a press release, City Manager Dave Callister said: “As Plymouth reaches full build-out, it will
be imperative for the city to continue working closely with developers and businesses to
promote growth and redevelopment. Grant will play a key role in helping shape Plymouth’s
future development and guiding the revitalization of aging commercial areas.”
Overall goals
Fernelius shared several goals he hopes to accomplish in his new role.
“There’s kind of two themes that have emerged in the first couple of weeks that I’ve been here,
in terms of priorities,” Fernelius said. “One is redevelopment.”
He listed redevelopment of the old Four Seasons Mall location, the former Prudential Insurance
site, and the City Center as priorities that will “affect a lot of the work that we do.”
“The other piece is housing,” Fernelius said. “There’s been, I think, growing interest in
affordable housing.”
Affordable housing
Fernelius shared additional thoughts and insights on the issue of affordable housing.
“Housing is becoming increasingly expensive, and it’s vital not just for quality of life, but there
really is kind of an economic component to it as well,” he said. “Employers want workers that
either live close by or can get there using transit. And so it’s important to have good quality
housing at a variety of price points that really serve our community.”
While he explained that the creation of affordable housing can be tricky and nuanced, Fernelius
gave his take on how Plymouth might move towards more affordability.
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“There are, I think, a variety of ways to try to get it done. Part of it is understanding, what is it
that we’re defining as affordable? That word gets thrown out, and there’s different levels of
affordability,” Fernelius explained. “Generally, there’s affordability at 80% of median income,
which is, you know, one level. Then there’s affordability at 50% of median income, and there’s
affordability at 30%. And when you get to the 50% and 30% level of affordability, that requires a
heavy lift in terms of some kind of subsidy to make it affordable on a long term basis.”
Fernelius explained that this approach would require a significant partnership with the federal
government, involving tax credits and other incentives.
“There’s other approaches too,” he said. “Cities have created incentives through their zoning
codes, density bonuses – in some cases they’ve waived or reduced fees to try and help offset
those costs. So there isn’t any one single approach that is going to solve it. It’s really going to
require government at all levels, and frankly the private sector and nonprofit sector, to get
involved to tackle the issue.”
He continued, “But it’s an important one. Housing is really a very important component to
overall community livability.”
Background
Fernelius is coming to his new role in Plymouth with more than adequate experience under his
belt.
According to the press release: “Fernelius has more than three decades of community
development experience. He comes to Plymouth from the City of Coon Rapids, where he served
as community development director since 2015. He previously worked for the City of New
Brighton for 10 years as community development director.
“Fernelius also has robust experience overseeing a variety of housing programs and has
previously served in various Housing and Redevelopment Authority roles at the cities of Fridley
and Columbia Heights.”
The release shared that Fernelius obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of
Minnesota in Housing and Community Development, followed by a master’s degree from
Hamline University in Public Administration.
“I would say my experience in Coon Rapids is probably most similar to what I’m doing in
Plymouth, in terms of a larger community, larger department,” Fernelius said. “A lot of the
programs and services are similar, but there are some things in Plymouth that are different, and
I would say there are some more robust programs and services, particularly on the housing
side, that I didn’t have in Coon Rapids.”
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Fernelius explained that he wasn’t necessarily seeking a job change from his former position,
but that this opportunity was an “unexpected package that arrived in the mail.”
“When I found out about it, I just started to explore it, and really became intrigued by the
opportunity, became intrigued by the community,” he said, adding that he previously lived in
Plymouth and currently lives nearby in Maple Grove, and therefore knows the area well.
“In terms of the community itself, (Plymouth) just has such a great reputation, high quality of
life, it’s a safe community, it’s very attractive in terms of its school and educational
opportunities, a lot of amenities,” he said, noting the Hilde Performance Center and the
Plymouth Community Center. Fernelius described all these things as “tools in your toolbox” as a
community development director.
Given his extensive education and experience, it seems that Fernelius has the trust and
confidence of the City of Plymouth.
Callister added, “Grant excels at building relationships, solving complex problems, and being
open to input and ideas from others. We are thrilled to welcome him to Plymouth and see the
community benefit from his leadership.”
For more information about Plymouth’s community and economic development department,
readers can visit plymouthmn.gov.
Follow the Sun Sailor on Facebook at facebook.com/mnsunsailor.
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Commercial Real Estate
Headquarters of Optum subsidiary
Solutran on the market in Plymouth
Solutran's headquarters building is for sale. It's located at 13305 12th Ave. N. in Plymouth.
GOOGLE
Feb 28, 2023
By: Kelly Busche, Senior Reporter/Broadcaster, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
The Plymouth headquarters of fintech company Solutran, a subsidiary of Optum,
has been listed for sale.
It's at least the fourth office property with ties to UnitedHealth Group Inc.
(NYSE: UNH) or a subsidiary that's up for grabs, either as a sublease, direct lease
or acquisition.
Optum, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, acquired Solutran in 2021.
Solutran didn't return requests for comment about the listing.
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The two-story, 32,000-square-foot building is located at 13305 12th Ave. N. and
was built in 2016. Solutran Properties LLC, which isn't affiliated with Optum, has
owned the property since 2014, according to Hennepin County property records.
The property was listed for sale in the fall and has seen interest from potential
buyers, said Laura Moore, a vice president with Colliers, which has the listing. It's
a Class A building located near major roadways and the Ridgedale Center retail
hub. The building also has lots of natural light, amenities, and several conference
and training rooms.
Moore added that it would be a great building to house another company's
headquarters.
In September, the Business Journal reported Optum's large suburban campus in
Eden Prairie was listed for lease. The former ADC Telecommunications Inc.
campus has 473,000 square feet of office space spread across three buildings.
Optum also has an active sublease listing for a full building, or 155,000 square
feet, at 12125 Technology Drive in Eden Prairie. And, in Minnetonka,
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UnitedHealth has 150,000 square feet in an office building at 12700 Whitewater
Drive up for sublease.
Last year, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth bought several buildings in the area
surrounding UnitedHealth's headquarters.
In March, United Healthcare Services Inc. acquired a 34,000-square-foot office
building on Blue Circle Drive for $2.85 million, as well as an industrial building
at 10201 Bren Road E. for $3 million. Late in the year, UnitedHealth also paid
$1.15 million for property at 6022 Blue Circle Drive. All three properties are in
the Opus Business Park, the Business Journal reported.
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