HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 06-22-2023 CITY OF PLYMOUTH
COUNCIL INFO MEMO
June 22, 2023
EVENTS / MEETINGS
Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 2
Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 5
REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Internet Access Survey Open for Plymouth, Other Residents, Sun Sailor .................... Page 7
Plymouth City Council Discusses New Short-Term Rental
Regulations for Airbnb, VRBO, Sun Sailor ...................................................... Page 8
Plymouth Police to Hold Coffee with Cops July 13, Sun Sailor .............................. Page 11
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June 2023
3400Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447
763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Budget Goals and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
6:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Plymouth Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) discussion and Former Four Seasons Mall site discussion Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
JUNETEENTH
CITY OFFICES CLOSED
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July 2023
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
6:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Environmental Stewardship Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
INDEPENDENCE DAY
CITY OFFICES CLOSED
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
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August 2023
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
6:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Plymouth Ice Center 4th Sheet of Ice discussion Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Budget discussion Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
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Tentative Schedule for
City Council Agenda Items
July 25, Special 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•Environmental stewardship
July 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
•Designate engineer for the Plymouth Blvd Rehabilitation Project (ST240001)
•Approve temporary easement for the MnDOT Hwy 169/36th Avenue Bridge Replacement
Project
•Approve final closeout for Ridgemount Avenue Rehabilitation Project (ST210002)
•Approve agreement with Metropolitan Council Environmental Services for the 2020 Municipal
I/I Grant Program
•Present Annual Financial Overview (City Manager Dave Callister)
•2022 Audit Report
August 8, Special 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•Plymouth Ice Center 4th sheet of ice discussion
August 8, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
August 22, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•2024/2025 Budget – Levy impacted funds and related CIP
August 22, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
•Approve final closeout for 2022 Vicksburg Lane Improvements (ST229005)
•Approve final closeout for Hidden Lake and Beacon Heights 2nd Street Reconstruction Project
(ST229001)
•Approve final closeout for 2020 Street Reconstruction Project (ST209001)
September 12, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•2024/2025 Budget – Levy impacted funds and related CIP
September 12, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
September 26, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•Board and Commission involvement with Council discussion
September 26, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
October 10, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•Special Assessment Policy Overview
October 10, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
October 24, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•2024/2025 Budget – Enterprise funds with utility study and related CIP
October 24, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
November 14, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
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•2024/2025 Budget – Internal service funds and related CIP
November 14, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
November 28, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•2024/2025 Budget – final review if needed
•Review Board and Commission applications
November 28, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
December 5, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•Interview Board and Commission applicants
December 12, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
December 12, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers
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Internet access survey open for
Plymouth, other residents
June 14, 2023
CCX Media is surveying the public about internet use and access to assist the Minnesota Office
of Broadband Development (a division of MN DEED) in gathering information for its Digital
Equity Plan.
The public may view more information or participate in the survey online (also available in
Spanish) at ccxmedia.org/digitalequity. Paper copies of the survey are also available during
business hours at the following locations: Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd; Plymouth
Community Center, 14800 34th Ave. N.; and Plymouth Ice Center, 3650 Plymouth Blvd.
The survey will be open through June 25.
Hosted by CCX Media/the Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission, of which
Plymouth is a member city, NWSCCC received a grant from the state to assist in this effort,
which is aimed at helping ensure equal access to broadband for all.
The Office of Broadband Development, a division of the Minnesota Department of Employment
and Economic Development, defines digital inclusion as “the condition in which all Minnesotans
have the option and opportunity to adopt and use technology – including internet access – in
ways that enhance their daily lives.”
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Plymouth City Council discusses new short-
term rental regulations for Airbnb, VRBO
June 20, 2023
Efforts increased after the March 4 shooting, murder at a Plymouth rental
The Plymouth City Council was presented with an amendment to City Code Section 411,
relating to short-term rental licensing and new license fees, at the June 13th council meeting.
The decision was met by a mix of support and opposition from residents and short-term rental
owners who spoke at the meeting, and the decision was eventually tabled for discussion at the
June 27 council meeting.
The discussion of short-term licensing requirements began the past March, following the March
4 shooting and murder of a 20-year-old Black man, Abraham Archie-Boy Barbly, at a short-term
rental property on the 5800 block of Oakview Lane N in Plymouth.
According to the meeting packet, “At the May 9, 2023, City Council meeting, staff presented a
draft ordinance and requested feedback from the council with the intention of bringing back an
ordinance ready to adopt at tonight’s meeting. Based on the feedback given, the revised
ordinance removes the proposed seven-night minimum rental stay requirement and expands
the notice to neighboring properties.”
A definition of the term “short-term rental” was defined in the packet as “any stay less than 30
days.”
Plymouth Community Development Director Grant Fernelius presented more information to
the council on this matter at the meeting.
“Short-term rentals are commonly referred to as VRBO or Airbnb, so that’s what we’re talking
about tonight,” he said. “In terms of the ordinance itself, this would be a new type of rental
license, distinct from long-term rental, so anyone who is operating a short-term rental property
right now with a long-term rental license would need to get a new license.”
Other provisions made in the amendments that Fernelius shared included that the “City will
notify neighboring properties within 200 feet upon [the] initial license being issued, similar to
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[a]home occupation permit or minor variance,” as well as a new fee schedule, consisting of a
$150/year fee for a single unit and a $225/year fee for a two-family dwelling.
Renting without a license would include a potential, repeatable fine of $250 and any property
violations would be limited to a two-strike rule (reduced from the previous three-strike rule),
with fines and/or license suspension occurring with the second transgression. A one-strike limit
was provided for the occurrence of a public safety issue.
According to the meeting packet, “Known existing license holders who operate a short-term
rental will be contacted by the city and will need to comply by August 1, 2023.” The packet also
stated, “All owners or managers will be required to receive training approved by the Public
Safety Department.”
Police Chief Erik Fadden elaborated on the safety training for new short-term rental license
holders, saying “I envision an abbreviated version of what we do for long-term rental licensing
right now. That training consists of a full day, we have members of our department come in and
discuss best practices on warning signs for drug activity, elicit activity, human trafficking type
stuff.”
He added that “legal ramifications” would also be discussed in this training, and it would likely
be held in a group setting “a couple times a year.”
Several residents and short-term rental owners spoke up at the meeting.
One speaker noted there might be issues in getting the short-term rental license if the safety
training is only held a few times a year, as well as the mention of a tenant register in the
amendment, saying, “Usually when you’re renting an Airbnb you don’t get the names of
everyone.”
Fadden responded to the question of the safety training, saying that the process is not solidified
yet and the department “will be able to be flexible and accommodating to [licensees].”
Regarding the tenant register, Fernelius said this was an adaptation of the long-term rental
requirements, in which “the license holder needs to maintain a register of those tenants who
have lawful right to occupy the property.”
“I think the intent here is that if there is a problem, the city at least can go through a process to
identify who was staying there,” he said.
Fadden agreed, saying, “If there’s a public safety issue at a short-term rental property here in
town, we would have some way of contacting somebody that is responsible.” He acknowledged
that “at a minimum, we need some kind of contact info” even if it’s not “every single person
that comes through.”
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“We had a hard time that night [on March 4] finding anyone, a renter, a property manager, that
we could contact to just start trying to figure out who was there,” he said.
Another speaker was concerned that “not having minimum [stays] kind of removes that
barrier” from groups renting one-night stays in a residential area and throwing a party, while
not knowing who is present at the residence.
Another speaker and resident of the Oakview Lane neighborhood property agreed with this
viewpoint, sharing her belief that the incident “occurred because of an allowed one-night
rental.”
Another resident opposed this viewpoint, saying that the incident could occur at any type of
residence, rental or otherwise, as well as the belief that short-term rentals are usually “self-
policing,” with both renters and property owners typically wanting to put their best foot
forward, saying, “you are rated by the host after you stay there, the host is rated.”
After reviewing these questions and concerns, the council voted to table the decision for a
future council meeting, seeming to favor a change from a $250 repeatable fine for license
noncompliance to a $500 escalating fee, in addition to language specifying what would be
required of a tenant registry. The council did not seem to entertain a change back to the
original language of the amendment regarding a minimum night stay.
Mayor Jeff Wosje concluded by responding to those concerned that the council was being “a
little too heavy-handed with requirements.”
“I would just remind a lot of the short-term [rental] owners that a lot of cities don’t allow short-
term rentals, period,” he said. “What we’re trying to say is, be upfront and admit, short-term
rentals are here; let’s deal with it and try to wrap some regulations around it that make sense,
not just for the property owner, but for the neighbors surrounding that property as well. To try
to maintain some sort of balance.”
Follow the Sun Sailor on Facebook at facebook.com/mnsunsailor.
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Plymouth Police to hold Coffee with Cops
July 13
June 20, 2023
Residents are invited to meet members of the Plymouth Police Department during a Coffee
with Cops event scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13 at the Fox and Pantry, 15725 37th
Ave. N.
Attendees can ask questions, see the inside of a police squad vehicle and enjoy a cup of coffee
with officers. The event is part of the Plymouth Police Department’s ongoing community
engagement and outreach initiative.
For more information, call the Plymouth Police Department at 763-509-5160 or
email police@plymouthmn.gov.
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