HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 06-29-2023 CITY OF PLYMOUTH
COUNCIL INFO MEMO
June 29, 2023
EVENTS / MEETINGS
Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 2
Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 5
CORRESPONDENCE
City's 2022 Drinking Water Report Now Available ................................................ Page 7
REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST
St. Cloud to Ask Legislature for $100 Million to
Jump-Start Downtown Redevelopment, Star Tribune ........................................ Page 8
In Moorhead, a Rare Opportunity to Hit Reset Button on
Entire Downtown, Star Tribune ................................................................ Page 11
Plymouth Runners Speed Through Music in Plymouth 5k, Sun Sailor ....................... Page 15
Skaters Gather at Plymouth Creek for 3rd Lair Summer Series, Sun Sailor ............... Page 18
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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
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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September 2023
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
CHANGES ARE MADE IN RED
LABOR DAY
CITY OFFICES CLOSED
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Boards and Commissions discussion Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
6:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Budget discussion Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
Page 4
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)
•Public hearing on partial easement vacation of Lot 18, Block 6, Hollydale and Lot 11, 12, 13,
18, Block 6, Hollydale
•2022 Audit Report
August 8, Special 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
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
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November 14, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room
•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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City of Plymouth
News Release
For Immediate Release
June 27, 2023
Contact: Kirill Maloylo
Utilities Supervisor
City of Plymouth
763-509-5934
kmaloylo@plymouthmn.gov
City of Plymouth 2022 drinking water report now available
Plymouth, Minn. – Published each June, the City of Plymouth annual drinking water report is now
available to view online. Like past years, Plymouth’s water met or surpassed all 2022 state and federal
water quality testing, regulations and requirements.
The report contains monitoring results from previous year(s). City of Plymouth water is tested weekly by
an independent, state-certified laboratory. Results are submitted to the Minnesota Department of
Health.
Plymouth's water is regularly tested for more than 100 contaminants, such as bacteria, nitrates,
pesticides, solvents and metals. Water is also tested multiple times per day for appropriate chemical
levels and water quality.
View the report at plymouthmn.gov/waterreport.
The public may download and print the water report, or request a paper copy by calling 763-509-5000
and arranging to pick it up during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) at
Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd.
-30-
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ST. CLOUD 600285099
St. Cloud to ask Legislature for
$100 million to jump-start
downtown redevelopment
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says the public investment should help spur over
$1 billion in private dollars.
By Jenny Berg Star Tribune JUNE 24, 2023 — 5:00PM
J ENNY BERG, STAR TRIBUNE
The city of St. Cloud plans to ask the Legislature for $100 million in bonding dollars to jump-start
redevelopment of downtown St. Cloud.
ST. CLOUD — City leaders here plan to ask the Legislature for $100 million in bonding next year
to spur redevelopment of the city's historic — but struggling — downtown.
The money would be used to increase walkability on both sides of the Mississippi River and help
developers revamp buildings that require extensive work to bring up to code or redevelop.
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Bonding dollars would also help drive an estimated $1 billion in private development at the city's
core, according to St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis, who said he's seen a significant uptick in interest
from private developers since he hosted a downtown summit focused on redevelopment in
December.
"In the time that I've been mayor — in those 18 years — it's night and day for the amount of folks
that are interested in development," he said.
At the December summit, national downtown strategist Chris Leinberger said the key to bringing
foot traffic back downtown is housing — an approach that's been successful in several midsize
cities across the country, including Fargo.
"All the downtowns that we've seen that have survived during COVID and are thriving now are
ones that have focused on the housing piece," said Kleis, noting his goal is to add 1,000
downtown housing units in the next five years.
"Before everybody looked at it as a lost cause, but there's a realization now that we can't lose the
downtown," Windfeldt said. "The hard thing is overcoming the naysayers."
Windfeldt points to a condominium project in 2017 that scrambled to find tenants at first, which
Windfeldt attributes to a lack of residential parking and other downtown amenities such as
grocers. The city has a strategy to bring amenities downtown, which it outlined in its 2015
comprehensive plan that proposes redevelopment of several city-owned parking lots and other
spaces to add housing, hotels, retail and art spaces.
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While many future projects are undefined, Kleis listed a couple that he'd like to see in the next
few years. Topping that list: redeveloping the Herberger's building at the heart of downtown,
which has been mostly vacant since the department store closed in 2018, as well as redeveloping
the Empire Apartments public housing high-rise that's on the river near the convention center.
The Legislature has approved similar requests from other regional cities, including Rochester —
which got about $400 million from the state in 2013 for its Destination Medical Center initiative
— and Duluth, which got $100 million a few years ago to support urban renewal in the
downtown and medical district.
Kleis and Windfeldt are looking to Fargo — which has added 1,600 housing units in the last two
decades — as inspiration. Only about a dozen units were added to downtown Fargo in 2001 right
after the city launched its redevelopment initiative. But that number has seen a gradual increase
each year. Last year alone, about 370 units were added.
"There is a lot of interest. The city is very committed to it. I've never seen the mayor more
committed to something," Windfeldt said. "But it's just going to take time. The community is not
going to see it overnight."
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the amount of state funding Rochester
received in 2013.
Jenny Berg covers St. Cloud for the Star Tribune.
Sign up to receive the new St. Cloud Today newsletter.
jenny.berg@startribune.com BergJenny
Page 10
LOCAL 600285297
In Moorhead, a rare
opportunity to hit reset
button on entire downtown
The city across the river from Fargo is tearing down a mall to rebuild a
downtown in hopes of drawing residents and fostering lively streets.
By Reid Forgrave Star Tribune JUNE 26, 2023 — 5:00AM
JLG ARCHITECTS
Architectural renderings of the planned downtown Moorhead redevelopment project.
Moorhead has long had a chip on its shoulder. With an ambitious rethinking of its struggling
downtown, this western Minnesota city in the Red River Valley is trying to do something about
it.
Moorhead often feels overshadowed by its big-brother city, Fargo, across the river and with three
times the population. A big part of the city's inferiority complex is a downtown that's on life
support, especially compared with Fargo's bustling, walkable downtown.
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But Moorhead is soon to embark on an exceedingly rare project: taking a metaphorical stick of
dynamite to an established downtown and starting over.
What is now a struggling 1970s-era mall will soon become a $300 million-plus re-envisioning. A
library and community center — supported by a half-cent sales tax overwhelmingly approved by
voters — will serve as anchors, with 155,000 square feet of civic space. Private developers plan to
bring more than 1,000 housing units, more than 100 dining and retail spaces, 50,000 square feet
of entertainment space and more than 2,000 parking stalls in garages and surface lots.
"Many places have this historic fabric to their downtown, and it's been depleted, gone to ruins,
and you're always forced to maintain that historic fabric," said Jim Roers, president of Roers, a
Fargo-based company that will be the project's master developer. "Guess what? Moorhead did
away with that in the 1970s. As a result, we get the opportunity to have a clean slate. We can level
everything, and then there's raw dirt in a prime location on the river in an established
downtown."
In the 1970s, the city interrupted its downtown street grid and existing businesses to build
Moorhead Center Mall, a classic example of that era's urban renewal projects that devastated
established American downtowns.
Anchor tenant Herberger's department store closed in 2018. Now, only five mall tenants remain.
On the nearly 2 miles of Center Avenue between the river and 20th Street, there's only one
building with housing.
City backers point out that while there's no center of gravity in downtown Moorhead, there is a
vibrant ecosystem of thriving businesses within a 5-minute walk: a grocery store, a hardware
store, a Scheels, a chiropractor, a theater. What's missing is the people.
"We have those foundational pieces," said Derrick LaPoint, president and CEO of Downtown
Moorhead Inc. "But downtowns that are successful are neighborhoods, not just standalone
central business districts. To support businesses, we need to create a density of people, with the
public interacting with spaces at multiple hours of the day."
Residents here hope this project can reframe Moorhead's reputation in the Upper Midwest.
Moorhead backers talk about their town (population nearly 45,000) not as the 23rd-biggest city
in Minnesota, but instead as part of one of the state's largest metro areas, with Fargo-Moorhead's
population (nearly 260,000) roughly the same as the Duluth and Rochester metros.
The key ingredient to make this new downtown work is attracting a chunk of the existing
population to move there. Proposed housing options in the downtown core would include
rooftop patio condo buildings, walk-up townhouses and river-view apartments.
Moorhead plans to capitalize on an advantage it has over Fargo: The town's elevation is a few feet
higher, therefore less prone to spring flooding. Instead of having Fargo's mammoth flood walls to
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keep out Red River's high water each spring, Moorhead has earthen levees. That means its new
downtown, which is bookended by two public parks, can incorporate the river in a way Fargo's
downtown cannot.
Developers plan to start knocking down the mall this summer, and the first phase of private
development — with 140 housing units and 15,000 square feet of retail — will begin next spring.
Construction of the library and community center is also planned to begin in spring.
Infrastructure plans such as roads and utilities are being finalized.
JLG ARCHITECTS
An architectural rendering shows Moorhead’s downtown redevelopment project, where a new library and
community center will serve as anchors.
The bulk of the project is expected to be completed in five to seven years.
Meanwhile, construction will begin next year on a downtown infrastructure project costing more
than $100 million, using state and federal funds for an 11th Street railroad underpass.
The downtown redevelopment plan will feature a Scandinavian-themed design referring to the
city's roots while also nodding to Moorhead's increasing diversity. It will attempt to incorporate
the river, trails, green space and nature. For community leaders, it's as important to be
connected with downtown Fargo as it is to differentiate Moorhead as uniquely Minnesotan; as a
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border city, its more progressive politics can be subsumed by North Dakota's more conservative
politics, along with its Minnesota identity.
Developers and community leaders hope it all combines to send a message: You're in Minnesota
now, not Fargo.
"You talk to people in Moorhead, they're trying to seek and find an identity, a center of gravity,"
City Manager Dan Mahli said. "When you cross the river, you'll feel like you're entering
Minnesota: water, trees, life. It's different. You're not seeing a big floodwall."
Locals have been wowed by the vision, developers and leaders say.
"I can hardly wait for that wrecking ball to take that first building down," said Sheri Larson,
executive director of the Moorhead Business Association.
But one expert on creating sustainable and financially resilient urban cores urges caution about
that type of home-run ambition, instead advocating for slower, more organic development in
struggling urban areas.
"This screams out to me as this whole pattern of very top-down urban renewal concepts: Wipe it
away and put something brand new in its place," said Norm Van Eeden Petersman, director of
membership and development for Strong Towns, a nonprofit advocacy organization. "The
challenge is that the whole scheme is so ambitious. Deals like this go sideways all too frequently."
But Moorhead leaders see little to lose.
"We're tired of being second," Mayor Shelly Carlson said. "We're not trying to be Fargo — but
Fargo is never going to be Moorhead, either."
Reid Forgrave covers Minnesota and the Upper Midwest for the Star Tribune. He started at the paper in
September 2019, returning to his newspaper storytelling roots after eight years as a national sportswriter
for FOXSports.com and CBSSports.com.
reid.forgrave@startribune.com 612-673-4647 reidforgrave
Page 14
Plymouth runners speed through Music
in Plymouth 5k
By: Kaitlin McCoskey June 27, 2023
Runners return from their route, going the distance to support the annual Music in Plymouth event.
Sun Photo by Kaitlin McCoskey
The fundraiser supports the annual Music in Plymouth event taking place July 6
Runners both experienced and just looking for a fun event gathered at 8 a.m. June 24 at the Hilde
Performance Center in Plymouth to support one of the city’s long-standing traditions, the Music in
Plymouth event.
“This year marks the 27th annual running of the Music in Plymouth 5K . Proceeds generated by
the event go entirely to support Music in Plymouth,” a press release said.
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Those runners who pre-registered for the event received T-shirts along with the cost of
registration, and same-day registration was also available for those who wanted to support
Music in Plymouth last-minute.
Music in Plymouth
The Music in Plymouth event itself will take place at 5:30 p.m. July 6 at the Hilde Performance
Center.
A press release stated, “The Plymouth Civic League presents Music in Plymouth entirely free to
the community with the generous support of the City of Plymouth and Plymouth businesses
and residents” every year.
“Citizens are encouraged to be a part of the long history of broad grassroots engagement with
the event with a ‘Friends of Music in Plymouth’ membership with a minimum $25 donation.”
The history of this event reaches back 51 years. The Plymouth Civic League website states, “In
1972, Mayor Al Hilde, Jr. and the Plymouth City Council formed a citizen committee, the
Plymouth Civic League (PCL) to bring a free concert of the Minnesota Orchestra to Plymouth.
The purpose of the committee was to focus on raising community spirit in a sleepy suburb. The
mission of Music in Plymouth, featuring the Minnesota Orchestra, is to br ing the community
together for an evening of high quality entertainment designed to enrich the lives of our
diverse citizenry. “
Every summer since, the Minnesota Orchestra performs in a free concert for the city, joined by
local talent.
“The pre-orchestra entertainment line-up includes Heart & Soul Drum Academy, whose mission
is building bridges across communities connecting youth with the Art of Drumming, cultivating
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personal development, discipline, leadership and teamwork,” stated the press release. “[Also]
the French Cabaret Trio consisting of local favorites Mark Stillman, Francine Roche, and Jim
Price, whose wide-ranging repertoire encompasses popular dance music from Ireland to Italy,
France to Romania and beyond, [as well as] the Genesis Jazz Orch estra, playing freshened big
band arrangements of jazz standards along with a few contemporary jazz compositions.”
After these performances, the Grammy-winning Minnesota orchestra will perform.
Attendees also have the opportunity to engage in a variet y of family-friendly activities, which
will include face painting, tattoo and crazy hair artists, and concessions. Guests are also
welcome to bring picnics, blankets, and chairs to the event. A fireworks display will follow the
event around 10 p.m.
“The site is closed to the public for maintenance and event preparation the day prior to the
event,” stated the Plymouth Civic League website. “Attendees will be allowed on the grounds
starting at 7 a.m. on event day and may leave blankets, chairs or opaque (not clear) tarps on
the ground. Due to extensive underground wiring and sprinkling systems on site, the City
enforces a strict policy prohibiting staking and roping off of seating areas.”
For additional information about the event, those interested can
visit www.musicinplymouth.org.
Follow the Sun Sailor on Facebook at facebook.com/mnsunsailor.
Page 17
Skaters gather at Plymouth Creek for 3rd
Lair Summer Series
By: Dominic Bisogno dominic.bisogno@apgecm.com June 27, 2023
Isaiah Secrest Mathias Hegman Taylor Griffin
Compete in the advanced-open division at the 3rd Lair Summer Series June 20 at Plymouth Creek Skate Park.
(SUN Photos by Dominic Bisogno)
Plymouth Creek Skatepark was the place to be last week, when the city of Plymouth partnered
with Golden Valley-based 3rd Lair Skate Park and Skate Shop to host a June 20 skateboard
contest.
The Summer Series jam-style contest, part of a tour of summer series events hosted by 3rd Lair,
included no cost to attend or compete, though participants were required to bring their own
equipment.
The contest was split into four divisions, including beginner, intermediate, advanced,
girls/women, and old timers. Girls and women were also able to enter the other three divisions .
The top three in each category won prizes: a goody bag for third place, a skateboard deck for
second, and a new helmet for first.
The event also collaborated with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Be A Boarder, based in the Twin Cities.
Be A Boarder’s mission is to provide access to skateboarding by providing equipment,
education, and community engagement to those otherwise blocked out of the sport.
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The day’s event was judged and hosted by staff from 3rd Lair, with skateboarder and 3rd Lair
ramp builder Swamp Trog as the master of ceremonies.
The beginner division had 16 participants and featured contestants 12 years old and under.
Nick Campbell won the beginner division, with Quinn Kennedy and Laken Kirkeby in second and
third place.
There were 11 in the intermediate division for skateboarders ages 17 and under. Izak Clear won
the division, while Haru Baumgart and Teddy Johnson finished second and third.
Lulu Johnson competes in the beginners division at the 3rd Lair Summer Series June 20
at Plymouth Creek Skate Park. (SUN Photos by Dominic Bisogno)
Lulu Johnson won the girls open division, which had six competitors, while Sophia Traverse and
Olivia Sniezek earned second and third place respectively.
Sophia Traverse competes in the girls-open division at the 3rd Lair Summer Series
June 20 at Plymouth Creek Skate Park. (SUN Photos by Dominic Bisogno)
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The heat turned up for the advanced division, which included five skaters. Reggie Paider won
the division, scoring 68.30 on his best run.
Taylor Griffin finished second with a score of 66.83, and Isaiah Secrest finished third with a
score of 64.45. Paycen Alt and Mathias Hegman also took on the division with scores of 57.77
and 52.67.
Brian Johnson competes in the old timers division at the 3rd Lair Summer Series June 20 at Plymouth Creek Skate Park.
(SUN Photos by Dominic Bisogno)
The final division, dubbed the old timers division, was won by Brian Johnson. Natalie
McMonagle and Sean Larson finished second and third, respectively. The division included
skateboarders who are currently taking adult classes with 3rd Lair.
3rd Lair Owner Mark Rodriguez told the Sun Post he was happy with the event, which proved to
be a positive start to the summer series and a good experience for the community.
“Turnout was great. Nobody got hurt, seemed like everybody had fun,” Rodriguez said. “The
vibe of the spectators was super supportive and that was exactly what we wanted.”
Rodriguez explained that the diversity of participants, from age to gender to race, was an
important part of the goals of the summer series and 3rd Lair to make skateboarding available
to all.
“It’s really important to us. The backbone of our business, our focus, is about expanding
skateboarding participation and making it more accessible,” he said. “Doing events like this
brings out different people that maybe we don’t see as often in the indoor space, and it makes
sure these facilities are being used for the reasons they were built in the firs t place.”
Rodriguez also added that 3rd Lair has had a positive experience working with city parks and
recreation departments to make the summer series possible in metro-area cities like Plymouth.
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“I feel like the cities have made the investment into the infrastructure for these types of
activities and I think it’s important to have folks who come from this background to make sure
these facilities are used the way they were designed for,” Rodriguez said. “Fortunately, around
the Twin Cities, there are a lot of communities that have people in park positions that are
receptive (to skateboarding).”
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