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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 09-28-2023 CITY OF PLYMOUTH COUNCIL INFO MEMO September 28, 2023 EVENTS / MEETINGS Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 2 Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 5 REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST Cricket Pitch Coming to Plymouth as City Plans New Park, Star Tribune. ................... Page 7 After 'Lifeline,' Thousands of Duluth Area Youth Hockey Players Will Soon Need Ice, Star Tribune .............................................................. Page 10 Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation to Reduce 2025 Tax Base, Ehlers ........... Page 13 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 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 Plymouth Ice Center 4th sheet of ice discussion/Boards and Commissions Council involvement 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 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 29 30 31 October 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov 6:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Parks Tour SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Council policies review Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED CHA 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room 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 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION 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 November 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Budget discussion/ Review Board and Commission applications Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers SUN TUES MON THUR FRI SAT THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED CITY OFFICES CLOSED VETERANS DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers WED 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION 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 Page 4 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items October 10, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room •Council policies review – including Special Assessment Policy, Vendor RFP, etc. October 10, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers •Approve final closeout for the Zachary Playfield Pickleball Courts Construction (PR229005) and Bass Lake Playfield Courts & Parking Lot Reconstruction Projects (PRN23001) •Declare adequacy of petition, order and receive preliminary engineering report, order and approve plans and specifications, call for 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 15th Avenue Improvement Project (ST220003) •Approve senior condominium building at 18035 Old Rockford Rd (2023042 - DJR Architecture) •Approve site plan and variances to construct a financial institution with drive-through and associated site changes at 10000 Rockford Road (HTG Architects - 2023051) (BURGER KING SITE) •Deny variance for impervious surface coverage at 9600 17th Ave N (2023056 – Tom Li) 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 •Introduce MPA students •Present photo contest winners •Present communications awards •Approve participation in Just Deeds Coalition •Approve Destination Marketing Organization Ordinance 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 •Adopt ordinance amending City Code section 600 concerning garbage and rubbish disposal 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 •Approve 2024 regular City Council meeting schedule •Review 2024 legislative priorities •Approve final closeout for County Road 47 Reconstruction Project - Phase 1 (ST220001) 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 Page 5 December 12, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers •Swearing in PT/OC Firefighters (City Clerk Jodi Gallup) •Recognize Police Citizen Academy graduates (Public Safety Director Erik Fadden) •Adopt final levies and budget •Approve 2024 tobacco licenses •Approve 2024 refuse hauler licenses •Approve 2024 target and trap shoot license •Accept park and recreation donations for 2023 •Adopt polling locations for 2024 elections (if needed) •Approve final closeout for Hidden Lake and Beacon Heights 2nd Street Reconstruction Project (ST229001) •Approve final closeout for 2022 Vicksburg Lane Improvements (ST229005) •Approve final closeout for 2020 Street Reconstruction Project (ST209001) •Approve final closeout for Ridgemount Avenue Rehabilitation Project (ST210002) •Approve payment No. 3 and final for the Bass Lake Estates 2nd Addition Stream Restoration Project (WR220001) Date to be determined: •Closed Session – Labor Negotiations Page 6 WEST METRO 600264518 Cricket pitch coming to Plymouth as city plans new park The Meadows will also include two soccer fields, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, a skating rink, trails, sledding hill and a bicycle course. By: Tim Harlow, Star Tribune SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 — 12:00PM KORMANN, STAR TRIBUNE Gallery: IBIL bowler Taufique Elahi Chowdhury threw the ball toward the wicket during a cricket match against India Market Legends on Saturday at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Brooklyn Park. Cricket players in Plymouth have been asking for a place to play for years, and the west metro city is finally granting their request. A cricket pitch to accommodate the fast-growing sport will be one of the prime amenities of the Meadows, a park the city plans to build over the next two years on a weedy field on the southwest corner of Peony Lane N. and Chankahda Trail. "We are tired of playing on driveways and cul-de-sacs," said Milind Sohoni, a Plymouth resident who led the effort to get the facility included in the $6 million park project. "People get injured if they slide on a driveway. You play with a hard ball and have to have a specific ground." Page 7 Played on an oval-shaped field, cricket has similarities to baseball in that one team hits a ball and attempts to score runs while the team in the field attempts to get the batters out. An inning ends when all 10 batters are out, and the 11-member teams then trade positions. The team scoring the most runs wins the match. Sohoni played cricket growing up in his native India, where the sport is close to a religion. The game, dating to the 16th century, is believed to have started in southeast England. As the British empire expanded, cricket spread to places such as Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, the West Indies, India and Pakistan. But the game never really caught on in the United States until more recently. The Minnesota Cricket Association began in the 1980s. And this summer, Major League Cricket made its debut with six teams in the United States. ALEX KORMANN, STAR TRIBUNE Gallery: India Market Legends batter Karanveer Nagpal was bowled out during a cricket match against IBIL at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Brooklyn Park. Cricket pitches have popped up in recent years in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Chaska and Maple Grove. Sohoni, a Wayzata school board member, moved to Plymouth in 1995. As others who had played the game growing up followed, he saw the need for a pitch. He first brought the idea to the city in 2019. "There is just a lot of pent-up demand," he said. Page 8 The new pitch in Plymouth shows how the city is responding to its changing demographics, said Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Tomlinson, who noted the sizable Indian population in the northwest part of the city of 80,000 residents. "There is a very active cricket community here," Tomlinson said. "It's another way to show we are listening to all residents. We are super excited to bring it to the community." The Meadows will also include two soccer fields, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, a skating rink, trails, sledding hill and a bicycle course. Construction is expected to begin in 2024. Sohoni and Tomlinson said the pitch could be used for practices, leagues and tournaments, and to introduce the game to those who are unfamiliar with it. "The goal is to have those who have never played to come watch and play," Sohoni said. "This is a prime example of how diversity, equity and inclusion should be a part of decisionmaking." Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. tim.harlow@startribune.com 612-673-7768 timstrib Page 9 DULUTH 600264518 After 'lifeline,' thousands of Duluth area youth hockey players will soon need ice A new sports-oriented task force might lead the way to new or improved athletic facilities built with an already-approved half-percent tourism tax. By: Christa Lawler, Star Tribune SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 — 12:29PM ALEX KORMANN, STAR TRIBUNE FILE The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena will use up to $200,000 from the city for a temporary ice chiller that will be used for the next three years. DULUTH — The city of Duluth will use up to $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act for a temporary ice chiller to maintain the ice sheet at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena — a short-term fix for the rink used by thousands of youth hockey players and figure skaters each year. Page 10 After that, DECC officials plan to shift to non-ice events for the arena: conventions, concerts and other sports, according to communications director Lucie Amundsen. The DECC Arena's ice plant, installed in 1966, was shut down this past spring after a safety assessment. The plant created ice for the DECC's secondary rink — a closure that did not affect Amsoil Arena, home of the University of Minnesota Duluth hockey teams, or the Duluth Curling Club. Both use different ice plants. The temporary ice chiller gives the arena's users a few years to find, or potentially build, a new facility — time they weren't sure they would have this past March when the ice plant was shut down. "A lot of people thought [the arena] was going to shut down this year," said Duluth Amateur Hockey Association executive director Bob Nygaard, who called the chiller a "lifeline." This lifeline hit days before Mayor Emily Larson announced the formation of an indoor athletics venues task force — a group that will be charged with making recommendations about improved or new sports facilities. And there is money available to make it possible: The Minnesota Legislature extended the city's half-percent tourism tax for improvements to athletic facilities. The city's major hockey tournaments bring in upward of 60 teams each, according to Nygaard, and no indoor rink goes idle. For a while, there was a concern that these would have to be canceled. A study by the University of Minnesota Duluth's Labovitz School of Business and Economics found that the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association's youth hockey operations account for more than $10 million in local economic impact every year. "The DECC Arena is part of the network of rinks in Duluth that support tournaments and competitions, which drive the economic impact through hotels, restaurants, retail and related spending," Larson said in a news release. The new task force is years in the making and born of disappointment about local sports facilities, according to Todd Fedora, a former city councilor who has been named the chairman. It's currently seeking about a dozen sports-minded residents to apply. "I've been chasing hockey sticks or lacrosse sticks for soccer balls for years," Fedora said. "We'd go to tournaments in other communities and the undercurrent seemed to be 'why can't we have something like this in Duluth?' He is envisioning a new athletic complex capable of hosting a mix of sports — with turf, basketball courts and more — in addition to space for Duluthians to just walk. After this past winter, which broke a snowfall record, Fedora said there was limited outdoor practice space available until mid-April, long after metro teams had taken to fields. Page 11 "Now we have a funding source, a meaningful one, it's time to stop talking and start walking," he said. Nygaard said he wants youth hockey facilities to be part of the equation — whether they are separately housed or part of the same facility. The city council unanimously approved of the temporary ice chiller during Monday's meeting — along with a separate ask by the DECC for a $1 million line of credit. The City Council already approved an American Rescue Plan Act investment to help previous tourism tax recipients. This would satisfy that goal. Christa Lawler covers Duluth and surrounding areas for the Star Tribune. Sign up to receive the new North Report newsletter. christa.lawler@startribune.com ChristaLawler Page 12 9/28/23, 8:47 AM Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation To Reduce 2025 Tax Base - Ehlers, Inc. https://www.ehlers-inc.com/newsletter-story/2023-legislation-to-reduce-2025-tax-base/1/6 Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation To Reduce 2025 Tax Base E-Quarterly Newsletter - September 2023 Quarterly Newsletter by Jeanne Vogt, Senior Fiscal Consultant and Jessica Cook, Director | Fiscal Consulting Minnesota’s complex propertytax system was revisited in the last legislative session with the goal of making aordable housing more aordable and reducing propertytax burdens for homeowners and farmers. The legislature adjusted tax capacity rates for aordable housing and raised market value exclusion limits for owner-occupied homes and homesteaded agricultural property. These changes, which take eect beginning with taxes payable in 2025, will loweryour community’s tax base (tax capacity) and shift the propertytax burden to higher-valued homes, market-rate rental property and commercial/industrial property. In this article, we’ll focus on the adjustments to the aordable housing (4d) tax capacity rates and new requirements forTruth In Taxation Notices this fall. We will cover the changes to the homestead  Page 13 9/28/23, 8:47 AM Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation To Reduce 2025 Tax Base - Ehlers, Inc. https://www.ehlers-inc.com/newsletter-story/2023-legislation-to-reduce-2025-tax-base/2/6 market value exclusion and the increase in the agricultural homestead land rst tier limit in our December newsletter. First, to understand the impact of changing the 4d tax capacity rate, it’s helpful to review how local propertytaxes are calculated in Minnesota. To convert a property’s taxable market value to property taxes owed, you: . Multiply the taxable market value bythe statutory tax capacity rate to get the tax capacity; then . Multiply the tax capacity bythe community’s local tax rate to determine taxes owed for that property. A property’s statutorytax capacity rate depends on its classication. For example, a $500,000 home will have a lower tax capacity rate than a than a $500,000 commercial property, and thus pay less in propertytaxes. Current and future tax capacity rates for several property types are listed in the chart below: Qualied aordable rental housing currently has the lowest tax capacity rate. The Legislature further reduced the tax capacity rate for aordable housing for taxes paid in 2025. Aordable Housing 4d Tax Capacity Rate Adjustment Currently, qualifying low-income rental housing has a two-tiered tax capacity classication. The rst $100,000 of market value per unit (adjusted for ination) has a tax capacity rate of 0.75%, while value above $100,000 carries a tax capacity rate of 0.25%. These rates only applyto the qualifying units Page 14 9/28/23, 8:47 AM Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation To Reduce 2025 Tax Base - Ehlers, Inc. https://www.ehlers-inc.com/newsletter-story/2023-legislation-to-reduce-2025-tax-base/3/6 within a property, which means those units must be both rent and income restricted. There are approximately 3,800 parcels statewide that contain 4d aordable housing property, the total market value of which is $9.2 billion. In 2023, the legislature did away with the 4d classication and instituted two new classications. The rst new classication is 4d(1) which replaces the existing 4d classication for qualied aordable rental housing. The new tax capacity rate for 4d(1) properties is 0.25% for all market value. This will result in a lower tax capacity and lower propertytaxes paid by aordable units. Example:A 60 unit apartment building where 100% of the units are qualied aordable housing: Property owners must use the property tax savings for one or more eligible uses including maintenance, security, property improvements, rent stabilization, and increases to the property’s reserve account. Compliance with this provision will be monitored by Minnesota Housing. Two special provisions were enacted for cities whose total tax capacity from 4d(1) properties exceeds 2% of the total net tax capacity of the city. First, these cities must provide approval via resolution for any new 4d properties within their city. Second, they are eligible for two years of transition aid from the State to partially oset the lost tax revenue. If you are one of the 37 Minnesota cities who exceed the 2% limit, contact your Ehlers municipal advisor for a calculation of the transition aid. The second new tax classication is 4d(2), which was established for owner-occupied housing on land owned by a municipal or non-prot community land trust. The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimates there are 1,400 qualifying 4d(2) properties valued at $350 million of total market value in Minnesota. The new 4d(2) properties will have a tax capacity rate of 0.75%. These changes to aordable housing tax capacity rates will reduce communities’ total net tax capacity. When total tax capacity goes down, the tax rate will go up, even when levying the same amount. In addition, the propertytax burden will shift to other property types. This can make it seem like government spending is up, even if there is no levy increase. To mitigate this perception, we recommend that comparing the overall levy increase to prioryears in budget discussions, rather than focus exclusively on changes to the tax rate. Truth-In-Taxation Notice Information Page 15 9/28/23, 8:47 AM Minnesota Property Taxes: 2023 Legislation To Reduce 2025 Tax Base - Ehlers, Inc. https://www.ehlers-inc.com/newsletter-story/2023-legislation-to-reduce-2025-tax-base/4/6 Beginning this fall, a statutory change in the supplementary information that must be provided with the Truth-In-Taxation Notice goes into eect. Under previous law, a separate statement of summary budget information had to be sent, whereas the current law eliminates the need for the summary budget and instead requires comparative levy information to be sent for each taxing entity.View an example ofthe Proposed Property Tax Statement forTaxes Payable in 2024. While the reasoning for providing this comparative levy information is clear, it may prove challenging for some jurisdictions. A common misperception, and an easy assumption for taxpayers to make when reviewing their propertytax statement, is that an increase in the levy results in an increase in funding for that jurisdiction. For example, school districts may see a change in the mix of funding for some sources that are equalized, resulting in shift from state aid to local propertytaxes with no net- new funding. While you typically present this information during your annual TNT presentation, you’ll want to be prepared for a few more calls or e-mails asking whyyour levy is changing! In addition, we recommend working with your County propertytax professionals earlyto be sure you provide the information they need to send out the new statements. For more information, please read the League of Minnesota Cities article. Page 16