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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 01-02-2009CITY OF PLYMOUTH rp) COUNCIL INFO MEMO January 2, 209 UPCOMING MEETINGS G AND EVENTS Planning Commission Agenda, Wednesday, January 7, 2009 ................................................Page 2 6 INFORMATION News Articles, Releases, ,Publications, Etc ... Star Tribune, Plymouth taking an exit from I-494 Lobbying Group ..................................... Page 3 Star Tribune, Suburbs Can Broaden Their Street -lighting Horizons ......................................Page 5 Star Tribune, Lakeshore Land Values Put Owners in Tax Bind.................:............................Page 7 Robbinsdale Area Schools Update, Facilities Study:............................................................Page 10 City of Plymouth News Release, Proposed Closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School ... Page 11 e•� H 9 _W1 0 Memo Robbinsdale School District, School Closing Recommendation ............................. Page 13 Letter to Robbinsdale School Board Regarding Pilgrim Lane Elementary School..............Page 16 Memo, Medicine Lake Recycling........................................................ I.....................,...........Page 19 Memo 2009 Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Committee:...........................................Page 20 Letter Maurine Shink, Minor Subdivision Approval............................................................Page 23 Letter Rezoning Planned Unit Development General Plan for Wayne Jeske Associates .....Page 24 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009 WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the consent agenda* are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission and will be enacted .by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commissioner, citizen or petitioner so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 5. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve the December 3, 2008 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Wayne Jeske Associates. Rezoning and planned unit development general plan to an addition to the southeast corner of the Tri-State Drilling building and related site improvements for property located at 16940 State Highway 55. (2008109) 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT (Z) ll•Tr b;une.il 0M ; I' IIr NEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Plymouth taking an exit from. 1-494 lobbying group By LAURIE BLAKE, Star Tribune December 20, 2008 Unhappy that Interstate 494 has not been widened through Plymouth as it has through Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, Plymouth plans to pull out of the 494 Corridor Commission. and pocket the $16,000 it would have contributed to the lobbying group next year. Over the past 10 years, the city has paid more than $100,000 to be part of the multi -city group but without obvious benefit, Mayor Kelli Slavik said. "They don't seem to be lobbying anything for Plymouth," Slavik said. "If we are truly interested in getting a third lane on 494, then we need to refocus our efforts and spend that money more wisely." Outgoing Council Member Sandy Hewitt, who chaired the 494 Corridor Commission this year, said it's a mistake for Plymouth to pull out. She said Plymouth won't have the connection with the Minnesota Department of Transportation that it has today. "The benefit of that organization is that it does keep 494 in the eyes of legislators and people at MnDOT who make decisions," Hewitt said. The 494 Commission also works with businesses to encourage employees.to take the bus, carpool or vanpool to reduce congestion on 1-494, she said. "That is really disappointing that our businesses will not be able to have that benefit." Following the example of the North Metro Mayor's Association, which lined up northern suburbs in support of the construction of Hwy. 610, corridor commissions have become a common method for cities to join forces to seek road improvements. Several cities are in the process now of forming a new commission to lobby for improvements to Hwy. 169. Representatives of Edina, Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka started meeting as the 494 corridor commission in 1986 and became a joint powers board in 1988. Plymouth joined about a decade ago. Adding a third lane to 1-494 through Plymouth remains a top priority of the commission, said Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, who represents his city on the panel. "I am optimistic that with the [federal] stimulus package we might see something that.would provide us some money for that." Plymouth is far better off working within a coalition of cities than going it alone, Hovland said. "We've got MnDOT at the table every month." Budget cutbacks played a part in Plymouth's decision to drop out this year, but the city has for years debated the benefit of belonging to the commission, Slavik said. 1 of 2 ( 3) 12/22/2008 3:09 PM Bloomington City Council Member Steve Elkins, who will chair the 494 Commission next year, said it will try to talk Plymouth into rejoining. "We want every city participating," Elkins said. The broader the participation, the more state legislators the commission can directly influence. Widening of 1-494 through Plymouth is under discussion at MnDOT now because the agency is making lists of projects that could be undertaken quickly under a federal economic stimulus package, said Wayne Norris, acting west area manager for MnDOT and the adviser to the 494 corridor commission. MnDOT is considering how quickly it could add third lanes on that section of 1-494, Norris said. Several ideas are under discussion: simply adding a lane or adding a lane plus a toll lane like the one on 1-394, Norris said. "We really haven't settled on any of those yet." Laurie Blake • 612-673-1711 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. f2 {4) 17/11)/1)1)no 12 -Ar) nre S4'affr burse-com MI:NNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL, MIIrtNESOTA Suburbs can broaden their street -lighting horizons By LAURIE BLAKE, Star Tribune December 30, 2008 In these times of growing concern about energy consumption, its cost and its impact on the environment, Twin Cities suburbs are being urged to look beyond street -lighting options offered by Xcel Energy to find new and more efficient lighting solutions. A new study on municipal street -lighting suggests that suburbs start planning now to replace aging lights over the next few years and that they consider companies other than Xcel Energy to do the work. Although utility regulations require that the cities buy electric power from Xcel, the energy company does not have a monopoly on the sale of poles, lights and maintenance services. Nevertheless, Xcel provides and maintains most of the streetlights in the metro area under 25 -year contracts. Xcel Energy's manager of outdoor lighting, Bob Schommer, said the company plans to stay in the street -lighting business and would like to renew current contracts with new 25 - year agreements. Cities can count on Xcel to be around for the long term, he said. But a report prepared for the Suburban Rate Authority -- an alliance that represents 31 Twin Cities suburbs -- says cities should consider alternatives to current street -lighting and maintenance services provided by Xcel Energy. "Several new lighting technologies are emerging and merit consideration for improved quality of light, decreased frequency of outages and energy efficiency,'' the report says. The Rate Authority is urging cities to get more involved in managing their streetlight systems, saying that if they rely on Xcel to do it all, they cannot expect the best service. Many cities soon will be facing the replacement of streetlights installed 25 to 35 years ago, and what they want to know is "what should we be putting in to replace them?" said Gary Brown, director of engineering and building inspection for Brooklyn Park. The message from the report, said Brown, is to consider options. "Don't just plunge ahead." If cities are prepared for light replacement, there are readily available alternatives to Xcel service that they can consider, the report says. "Today multiple alternative lighting providers are in business, anxious to enter the regional municipal market ... The current lighting choice -- high-pressure sodium -- soon will eclipsed by new white light choices offering better light quality, more energy efficiency and lower mercury content than high- pressure sodium." httrn://www.startribune.com/tem»lates/Print This (5) 'sid=36910944 1/2/2009 When the Rate Authority Was gathering information for the study, private companies provided more details about their services than Xcel has provided, Eden Prairie Public Works Director Gene Dietz said. "They would be able to articulate in detail: We are going to change the bulbs every three years; we are going to do this and do that,"' Dietz said. In contrast, Xcel provides little specific service information, Dietz said. Laurie Blake • 612-673-1711 © 2009 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. httn_//www.startribU.ne.com/templates/Print This (6) sid=36910944 1/2/2009 tarTribUne com , 1vfINI'TEAPOL IS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - Lakeshore land values put owners in tax bind By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune December 20, 2008 When Nancy Edwards bought her parents' Lake Minnetonka cottage eight years ago, she thought she'd live there for the rest of her life. Now she's wondering how she can stay for even the next few years. She can barely afford the property taxes. In 2007, assessors put the market value of Edwards' narrow lakeshore lot at an eye-popping $910,000 -- though the value of her aging home was just $1,000. Her property taxes have increased by double-digit percentages every year since 2004, culminating this fall with a notice that her proposed 2009 taxes would jump more than 27 percent, from $6,443 to $8,190. Edwards, 64, says that would eat up almost all of her Social Security benefits, which she began receiving early. Divorced, she also makes a modest income working part-time as a psychotherapist. "This is an enchanted place, a family heirloom," she said last week, sitting in a living room that looks out over a panoramic view of the frozen lake. "I do not want to be forced into a townhouse. Once you live on water, you can never leave it." Edwards' dilemma is shared by other longtime residents of the state's lake shores, especially those who bought land when it was far less expensive and those who retired on fixed incomes. They never anticipated the last decade's rapid run-up in property values -- or the rise in property taxes that can quickly consume Social Security and pension income. While in many parts of Hennepin County 2009 property taxes are holding stable or only inching up, lakeshore property is an exception. Continuing demand for shoreline property means that assessed values are rising even in a flat real estate market. "They don't make lakeshore anymore," said Bill Effertz, assistant assessor for Hennepin County. In some cases, the impact of rising land values has increased because of the phase-out of limited market value, which capped tax increases for some homeowners despite escalating property values. The program will be gone for taxes payable in 2010. Demand for shoreline Carroll Gabriel, 76, has lived on Lake Independence in Maple Plain since he was 13, when his parents bought the land he still lives on. In 1945, Gabriel said, living on the lake wasn't i _.r� ( 7 ) 17!1n/*)()OR1')_5X PM special, except that "it meant that you didn't have to water the cows in the summertime." He and his wife, Marlaine, raised a family on the lake. Over the years he has sold some land and given plots to his children, who live next door. Two years ago, a nearby lot sold for $500,000. Gabriel's property value -- he has 650 feet of shoreline and lives in a 100 -year-old farmhouse -- shot up to $1.4 million. When the Gabriels complained about the valuation to city officials, it was knocked down to $922,000, with all but $50,000 of that in the land. Next year, the Gabriels' property taxes are slated to go up another 1.0.5 percent, from $10,776 to $11,904. For now, Gabriel said, he and his wife are sitting tight. "It's a million -dollar view, but you can't eat dirt," Gabriel said. "We'd like to keep it for our children, but last year we looked around for a different place. We thought this was ridiculous.... "With our children next door and our grandkids, too, we're close-knit. How much is it worth it to live here? I guess we can take it for a while." Sally Kitzman, too, would like to hang onto her Lake Independence lot for her daughter. A widow, Kitzman, 78, bought two lake lots with her husband in 1968, paying about $15,000. By 2007, the market value was $632,000. Next year, the taxes on the two lots will increase 34.5 percent, to $6,322. That would consume about 45 percent of what Kitzman said is her annual income from Social Security and her deceased husband's small pension. "I'm on energy assistance as it is," Kitzman said. "If l didn't have my daughter [who helps her pay the taxes]; I wouldn't be able to stay here." She loves the wooded lot, the cardinals she sees at the bird feeder and her simple home. A neighbor walks the newspaper from her mailbox to her door each day and clears her steps and driveway of snow. "I won't sell," Kitzman said. "I love it here. It's my little house, and I would never leave it." Some relief available Several programs offer seniors help with increasing property taxes, said Hennepin County Assessor Tom May. People whose incomes are low compared with their tax burden can get property tax refunds. Another state program offers a refund for homeowners whose taxes increase more than 12 percent if that tax is not due to new construction. And the state's senior tax deferral program allows people age 65 and older with annual incomes of $60,000 or less to defer property taxes if they have lived in their home at least 15 years and meet other requirements. The program, essentially a low-interest loan from the state, requires those taxes to be paid when the home is sold, transferred to a new owner or no longer qualifies as homesteaded. Only 171 Minnesotans enrolled in the program for 2009, 88 of them in Hennepin County. „r' ( 8) 12/22/2005 2:55 PM May said the low number may be linked to reluctance to have liens placed on property. May said he understands the dilemma for property -rich seniors, but he said assessors must base assessments on market values and sales trends. He said homeowners have to decide what's important to them. "There are seniors in large homes where they raised a family; they want to stay there, and the taxes are high for one person in the house. It's a choice." Edwards' parents lived in the Lake Minnetonka home for 45 years. They expanded and modernized the circa -1900 lake cottage. Memories of Edwards' parents are everywhere. Her mother, irritated at the pink stone surrounding the fireplace, stained it beige and brown. Her woodworking father built bookcases and laid new wood floors. Edwards has photos of her kids when they were small, hovering in wonderment over a stringer of enormous northern pike. Now her children are grown, and Edwards has eight grandchildren. And they, too, love the lake. To make ends meet as she faces a tax bill that soon will approach $700 a month, Edwards drives a 12 -year-old Oldsmobile and keeps her winter thermostat at 60 degrees. Once a year for the past four years, the same couple has rung Edwards' doorbell to ask if her house is for sale. Edwards doesn't know their names -- the conversation never gets beyond her "no." And she intends to keep it that way. "When you wake up in bed, all you see is water and treetops," Edwards said. "I'm leaving here feet first. Mary Jane Smetanka • 612-673-7380 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. (9) 12/22/2008 2:58 PM O DISTRICT 281 ROD D I �15DA LE area schools Number 44 UPDA. TE January 2009 Facilities study: Right -sizing recommendation A facilities study team led by Wold Architects and Engineers recommends closing Sandburg Middle School and Pilgrim Lane and Sunny Hollow Elemen- tary Schools at the end of this school year to right - size Robbinsdale Area Schools. The recommendation is one of four options that the team presented to the school board on Monday, January 5. Selection of one of the options is intended to help the school district run more efficiently by solving the district's excess capacity problem. A December. report indicated the district has enough excess ca- pacity to consider closing up to two elementary schools and potentially one middle school due to recent declines in enrollment. The facilities study was identified by the community as an important goal in the district's 2008 five-year Strategic Plan. Why recommend the "K-5" option? "The other options don't deliver the same scale of benefits, and they don't support as efficient a deliv- ery of educational initiatives," said Scott McQueen, project manager for Wold. No matter which option is chosen by the school board, the popular International Baccalaureate Mid- dle Years Program (IBMYP) and the pre -Advanced Placement programs at the middle school level would be kept intact, and in some options would have an opportunity to expand. Timeline Jan. 13 Public meeting, 7pm, Cooper High School Jan. 20 School Board meeting—choose option The meeting on January 20 will be live on Cable channel 22. Questions or comments E-mail: Robbinsdale_Are_aS_c_fiools@rdale.kl2.rn_n.us, Hotline voicemail: "We will keep our referendum promises to lower class size and restore the programs and activities that were cut over the last two years," said Superintendent Stan F. Mack. "We can sustain these restorations for a longer period of time by right -sizing our operation." Four options proposed The four options that will be considered by the board propose closing different combinations of schools. The "Two Phases" option would close Pil- grim Lane and Lakeview Elementary Schools in 2009 -10 and close a middle school in 2012-13. The "K-6" option moves 6th grade to elementary schools, closes Northport and Lakeview Elementary Schools and Robbinsdale Middle School in 2009-10. Most Northport and Lakeview students would move to the former Robbinsdale Middle School space alongside Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School (RSIS). The "K-5" option closes Pilgrim Lane and Sunny Hollow Elementary Schools and Sandburg Mid- dle School in 2009-10. It also moves RSIS to Sunny Hollow. A "K-5" option variation would close Pil- grim Lane and Noble Elementary Schools and Sand - burg Middle School in 2009-10. It moves RSIS to Sandburg. 763-504-7988, or go to www.Rdate.org > Facilities Study. Produced by Robbinsdale Area Schools Community Relation 1 0) if -763 .504 City of Plymouth News Release For Immediate Release January 2, 2009 Contact: Laurie Alu ens, 763-509.5051 Plymouth Residents Encouraged to Share Thoughts and Questions about Proposed Closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School at Robbinsdale School District's Jan. 13 Public Meeting The Robbinsdale School District is considering closing three schools, including Pilgrim Lane Elementary School in Plymouth. The public is invited to ask questions and provide input to the Robbinsdale School Board at a meeting Tues., Jan. 13, 2009, 7 p.m., at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, 8,230 47th Ave. N., New Hope. The school board is considering the school closures after a facilities study team, led by consultant Wold Architects and Engineers, recommended closing Sandburg Middle School and Pilgrim Lane and Surmy Hollow Elementary Schools at the end of this school year. This is a Robbinsdale School District issue and a decision of the school board, but it will impact Plymouth, according to City Manager Laurie A hens. The Plymouth City Council passed a resolution in March 2008 opposing the closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School. The resolution also encouraged Plymouth residents to attend and participate in public information meetings to discuss school closures. Ahrens noted that the City Council reiterated its opposition to closing Pilgrim Lane Elementary School in recent contacts with the school superintendent's office. The recommendation to close the three schools is one of four options that the facilities study team will present to the school board. Selection of one of the options is intended to help the school district nun more efficiently by solving the district's excess capacity problem. A December report indicated the district has enough excess capacity to consider closing up to two elementary schools and potentially one middle school due to recent declines in enrollment. The school board is expected to make a decision on which plan to implement at its Jan. 20, 7 p.m., meeting at the Education Center, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope. Please visit the Robbinsdale School District web site, rdale.org, web site for details on the facilities management study and the proposed closings. M in (12) Laurie Ahrens From: key_communicators@rdale. k1 2.mn. us Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 6:37 PM To: Laurie Ahrens Subject: Key Communicators Network - Extra! School closing recommendation made Robbinsdale district to hold public meeting Jan. 13 New Hope, Minn. - A facilities study team led by Wold Architects and Engineers recommends closing Sandburg Middle School and Pilgrim Lane and Sunny Hollow Elementary Schools at the end of this school year to right -size Robbinsdale Area Schools. The recommendation is one of four options that the team will present to the school board on Monday, January 5. Selection of one of the options is intended to help the school district run more efficiently by solving the district's excess capacity problem. A December report indicated the district has enough excess capacity to consider closing up to two elementary schools and potentially one middle school due to recent declines in enrollment. The facilities study was identified by the community as an important goal in the district's 2008 five-year Strategic Plan. "We will keep our referendum promises to lower class size and restore the programs and activities that were cut over the last two years," said Superintendent Stan F. Mack. "We can sustain these restorations for a longer period of time by right -sizing our operation." The four options that will be considered by the board propose closing different combinations of schools. The "Two Phases" option would close Pilgrim Lane and Lakeview Elementary Schools in 2009-10 and close a middle school in 2012-13. The "K-6" option moves 6th grade to elementary schools, closes Northport and Lakeview Elementary Schools and Robbinsdale Middle School in 2009-10, Most Northport and Lakeview students would move to the former Robbinsdale Middle School space alongside Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School (RSIS). The "K-5" option closes Pilgrim Lane and Sunny Hollow Elementary Schools and Sandburg Middle School in 2009-10. It also moves RSIS to Sunny Hollow. A "K-5" option variation would close Pilgrim Lane and Noble Elementary Schools and Sandburg Middle School in 2009-10. It moves RSIS to Sandburg. -The Wold team chose the K-5 option as its recommendation because: - It is the most efficient as it achieves the highest percentage capacity of any of the options; - It produces immediate savings in operations costs; - Enrollment projections indicate the district will likely be right -sized for the next 10 years; - Preserves and potentially enhances current education initiatives for all grades; - It aligns four elementary schools and one middle school with each high school attendance area which aligns all schools to potentially offer International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placement programming; - And it relocates the popular Spanish immersion program (which has a large waiting list each year) to a building where a decision to grow the program by one section at each grade level is 1 /2/?009 (1 3 ) possible. "The other options don't deliver the same scale of benefits, and they don't support as efficient a delivery of educational initiatives," said Scott McQueen, project manager for Wold. No matter which option is chosen by the school board, the popular International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP) and the pre -Advanced Placement programs at the middle school level would be kept intact, and in some options would have an opportunity to expand. "We understand that closing facilities is very hard for families, students, staff and community members," added Mack. "We wish there were other alternatives to closing buildings, but this painful process has been something we've needed to do every few years since the 1970s after our enrollment peaked." Assumptions and criteria The Wold team evaluated various options to solve the district's excess capacity problem using the following assumptions and criteria: Assumptions: - Recommend creative solutions equal to the scale of the excess capacity problem - Focus on options that save the most money or provide.added value at the least expense - Recommend buildings to be closed and sold Criteria: - Solutions must geographically balance schools across the district - Solutions must preserve remodeled buildings and divest of unremodeled buildings when possible Sub -criteria: - Close smaller schools before larger schools; smaller schools are less efficient to operate than larger schools - Close schools with small attendance before those with larger attendance; schools with small attendance are less efficient than schools with larger attendance. Timeline The public is invited to ask questions and provide input at a meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7 p.m. at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, 8230 47th Ave. N., New Hope. The school board will hear the presentation of the options by the Wold team at its 7 p.m, January 5 meeting; will discuss the options at its 5:30 p.m., January 12 work session; and is planning to make its decision on which plan to implement at. its 7 p.m., January 20 meeting. All meetings are held at the Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope. The meetings of January 5 and 20 will be carried live on Ed's TV Cable Channel 22, and will be replayed at the following times during the week of the board meeting: Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.; Thursday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. The Wold team's Facilities Study report, including the problem, the solutions, 1/2/2009 (1 4 ) possible attendance boundaries and the enrollment report are available on the district's website at www.Rdale.org. About the district's excess capacity problem The Wold team said in a mid -study report in December that the district currently has excess capacity of 1,450 students at the elementary level and 800 at the district's middle schools. According to demographer Hazel Reinhardt, the district's enrollment is expected at the elementary level in the next few years, and will not see an increase in enrollment in the next 10 years. "The district is doing a good job of retaining students from year to year, but there are simply fewer children entering kindergarten each year primarily due to lower birthrates which will lead to a continuing decline in enrollment," she said. School closing history Robbinsdale Area Schools' peak enrollment was 28,101 students in 1971. Since then, the school - aged population has declined, and the district's enrollment has dropped. In 2005-06, enrollment was 13,087. This year's enrollment is 12,349, a drop of nearly 750 students since 2005-06 when the district last closed a facility (New Hope Elementary). Since 1971, the district has continuously evaluated its facilities needs and closed facilities when necessary. In 1972, prior to the inception of the community education and special education programs, 31 buildings were open. Currently, 15 buildings are used as schools; five are used by community education, special education, administration and other programs; four have been leased to other organizations; and seven have been closed and sold. Robbinsdale Area Schools operates 11 elementary schools (K-5), three middle schools (6-8), two high schools (9-12) and an alternative high school in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, including all or parts of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdale. From: lcey_conaraz uni cal ors(ucrdale.lc l 2.nin. Lis Web: www,rd..ale..kI2..>i?,rl..us This e-mail was sent to Iahrens&i.plymouth.nm.us from key_communicators@rdale.kI linn.us. Instant removal by using :}afeR :mov i 1'riracY Vnliq 1/2/2009 ( 1 5 ) City of ymouth Adding Quality to Life January 2, 2009 SUBJECT: Pilgrim Lane Elementary School Dear Chairperson Green, School board members, and Superintendent Mack: The Plymouth City Council and I have been closely following your work on the 281 Facilities Study. We are very disappointed to learn that Pilgrim Lane Elementary School is recommended for closure in three of the four options proposed by your consultant. We have been contacted by many residents who are concerned about losing their neighborhood school. The City Council and I remain opposed to the closing of Pilgrim Lane, and a copy of our resolution is enclosed. We are particularly dismayed with the recommendation to close Pilgrim Lane as Plymouth residents have historically been such strong supporters of 281 school referendums. This week, Councilmember Bob Stein and I requested a meeting through the superintendents office with board members and the superintendent. We hope that meeting can be accommodated. Again, the Plymouth City Council and I urge you to ID consider an option that does not include the closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School. Sincerely, Kelli Slavik, Mayor 3400 Plymouth Btvcj , Plymouth; Minnesota 55447-1482 � Tel: 763-509-5000 www.ci.plymouth.mn.us ,. Savwt ZTrMsmrtata (16) CITY OF PLYMOUTH RESOLUTION NO. 2008-090 WHEREAS, Robbinsdale Independent School District 281 (ISD 281) is undertaking a strategic planning process, which may include closing schools, to address a $5 million budget shortfall following the failure of its most recent referendum initiative; and WHEREAS, one of the schools ISD 281 is considering closing is Pilgrim Lane Elementary School, located in Plymouth; and WHEREAS, more than 25 percent of Plymouth households are located in ISD 281, and 2,284 ISD 281 students are Plymouth residents; and WHEREAS, during difficult budget times, it is vital for the School District to foster relationships with communities and constituencies that are willing to financially support its mission of providing excellent education; and WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth recognizes the essential role education and strong schools play in the health and vibrancy of our community as evidenced by the many partnerships between the City and ISD 281; and WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth Comprehensive Plan includes vision statements citing the importance of education to a healthy community; and WHEREAS, nearly 60 percent of Plymouth voters demonstrated this sentiment by voting to raise their property taxes in the failed ISD 281 referendum; and WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth was one of only two cities that voted in favor of the referendum; and WHEREAS, the City of Plynouth has historically collaborated with the LSD 281 to maximize City and School District resources, including: • Funding the $1.3 community gym at Armstrong .High School; • Building, maintaining and/or financially contributing to several ISD 281 owned parks, playgrounds and playfields, including Pilgrim Lane Elementary, Plymouth Middle School, Arnlstrong High -School baseball field, and Providing facilities for ISD 281 middle and high school teams, 1nCludnlg Zachary Playfield, Bass Lake Playfield, Plymouth Creek Playlield, Plymouth Ice Center; and WHEREAS, the ISD 281 has a financial stake in maintaining strong neighborhood schools because it minimizes the number of families opting to open enroll and promotes healthy property values that yield increased property taxes to support the district over the long-term - and (17) Resolution No. 2008-090 Page 2 of 2 WHEREAS, 941 students attend Pilgrim Lane and Zachary Lane Elementary Schools in Plymouth; and WHEREAS, a number of Plymouth students also attend the highly acclaimed Spanish Immersion Program at Robbinsdale Middle School; and WHEREAS, both TSD 281 elementary schools located in Plymouth, Pilgrim Lane and Zachary Lane, are strong neighborhood schools that dissuade Plymouth families in the district from opting for open enrollment or seeking private school options; and WHEREAS, the district has proactively addressed pending fiscal challenges through building renovation analysis and prudent financial planning; and WHEREAS, ISD 281 's Facilities Renovation Program shows that the renovation of Pilgrim Lane is projected to be less than the renovation costs of other district facilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL: • Opposes the closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School because it would weaken a strong neighborhood school in a community that supported ISD 281's referendum. • Urges the ISD 281 to make its decisions based on sound, long-term financial analysis. • Encourages parents, students and other Plymouth residents to attend and participate in public information meetings planned by the ISD 281 to discuss budgetary, cost- saving and school closing/restructuring issues. Adopted by the City Council on March 11, 2008. (18) 1 Ll�l. 1 V1 1 Laurie Ahrens From: Sarah Hellekson Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 8:41 AM To: Mary Anne Young Cc: Laurie Ahrens Subject: Medicine Lake recycling -last day Importance: High Happy New Year, Mayor. I hope you are well. This is a reminder that today is the last day that the City of Plymouth, through our contractor Waste Management, is collecting residential recycling in Medicine Lake, per your request. This also means that we no longer provide recycling bins to residents of Medicine Lake. If they have any questions, please have them contact me. Thank you. Sarah Hellekson ( Transit / Solid Waste Manager City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 Phone: 763.509.5052 - Fax: 763.509.5510 www.ci.plymouth.rnn.us shellekson@ci.plymout.h.m n.eis Plymouth, Minnesota I Money Magazine's #1 Best Place to Live 1/2/2009 ( 1 9 ) DATE:' December 24, 2008 TO: City Council, through Bob Moberg, City Engineer FROM: Derek Asche, Water Resources Manager SUBJECT: 2009 MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is currently seeking individuals to serve on its Citizen Advisory Committee for 2009. The MCWD has invited the City of Plymouth to appoint one individual (resident of MCWD) and one alternate to serve on this committee. Meetings of the committee are held once each month in the evenings throughout the coming year. The MCWD notes that appointments by District Cities, Townships and local units of government will be accepted until January 15, 2009 with appointments certified by the MCWD Board of Managers later in the month. Contact information on any appointee will need to be to the MCWD by that time (name, address, phone, e-mail). Nominated individuals will be asked to submit a completed copy of the attached application for evaluation by the MCWD Board of Managers. Attachments: application ( 2 0 ) ng-GI:\IiRAL I,11:N1OS DIJUIC INICWU ('nv.cn Ad\w.j, (nmvmlla 2b04.duc Application for Appointment to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Commission, Comic mittee or Task ,Force F ii. / )%fix�iltit9{�h .! h. µ� 6� I �4`.5D' CN'..� 3 .7 blt� eli tN1� .plcao aII ac by, � Aox,. 4f omacfz c, Date: Name: Home Address: ZIP: Telephone: WorkTele1hone: Work Fax Number: —Home E -Mail Address: Occu ration: Employer Employer Address: Application for A>>ointnient to (Enter title of Commission Convnrttee rn T cek Force) -_ t, ?-Describe"our back round,�elated to an ��e uir�d ox c�esiraUle3 ualitcatio>,i'liste�. in the `Uo7unteer�Opporturuty Notice Incliidetany applicable experience w�thSGir�sc„professional or uolunteeiroxganizatron and other government �y` x T ` � F r, ' 'boards'oi cormmssions�.:List`ar�y, awards or spectal,recogtition , t'` '`' List the reasons you want .to seree oii tlns body --..'What ssues�do ou feel the co'mmitlee �houl� be ad"c�ressm �`� �'; ° . t� ,, :;, . ',.`:._' ? ; . y', .:•r.. . (21) (22) !:�.; :::1).. /iV1 X. jrf J�S'4 JY.?�,.H�r,'�bp(F"2 Y':� k %1-1 .4Y1::�J.� �r3r..�P`l�1s5fames;�k,r, .flresseanal.or�e Ninbersyono,more-5liart;ew(33'eferenasf S'1- __ Name Address Phone Number iR�Y R,.R0*Z 1-J r<.,i h iuf..h• 1�. i�t Y�+ i `� .iR' i1 "N)•j].1.'.,C�f�� x. 2�.ay'lt '..1 �' 11 F4iF}^v14.i?R�,iv!•1�yi�lt%..S.d,.. t.tnt �)t�e:Sk'.i.'.. h'��•��?.d.����� �. 'I jf)l J. :IVY ��1.t. ���f�i.s���.�Y 3'[,ary'�."i�• ��)J(: nLt�� m�1..?i�6�' afi �'I.A•�a. .�i.�,�l��M�� �(x �.. `� Y `List any�inaneia`�Anterests orassoclations���17.w;h7chyou are�xnuo7.ve�}t1iat m��`��]py zsesen`G�s� lcon�c�o�nt5erest 1 -) :'� 1'1"t1 L' N � C �.i� 16) '� 2, f9 `3 4 �fii J �rll• � h }�L n�� �3:i ( ..SFf"5 T^.l.`s. f.. s..``-� � ar�.H. is ._. .1-.v _..)1. w, }Yk�'.Y':24,. S"'iT".Ij..' Some the inl'orinalion sought on this 1,01-111 is private data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Minnesota Slntute. Chapter 13. The data is being of' requested so that the appointing authority can slake an informed decision as to the appoinuneM to the relevant commission. committee or task Iorce. You uc not required to provide any information. Il,0lrevel'. lailure to answer any olthe questions on this application may cause die appointing authority to reject your application or to select another candidate. The data on this I,0rm will be maintained by the Iblinnehaha C'reck Watershed District in accordance with the Minnesota govern11lcnl Data Practices Act and the non-public portions of the lorm will be available to individuals within the MC'WD work assignnleats reasonable required access. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act applies to the completed application as follows: 1. The nallll' and home address of all applicants are public Int01'matlon. 2. The name. home address. hackg'ound. (education and (raining background and previous wort: experience) oboe selected appliauns arc public information. Signature: Date: Do not submit resumes. letters of recommendation or additional sheets. Applications will be accepter! until 4:30 Pd9 on the date stated in the l 'olunleer Oppornouty Notice. ; I nY questions please call (9.52) 471-0590. Please Return Completed Application To: Appointments Minnelia17a Creek INatershed District ��I 18202 Minnetonka Boulevard 111 RRg ijuieluba Creek lrilalfijrshed District Deephaven, MN 55391 L-lila I l: adl77Il1�CL,'n7117llehahaC]'eeli.Ul'L (22) a VM0 i Si _ y IM � � -. ��,:�: ,r ,.; ,, December 22, 200 SUBJECT: MINOR SUBDIVISION FOR MAURINE SHINK (2008113) Dear Owner/Occupant: This letter is written to inform you that Maurine Shink, under file 2008113, submitted a planning application requesting approval of a minor subdivision to create three lots from one existing lot at 630 Holly Lane North. The proposed lots would allow the construction of two new homes south of the exiting home. The existing home would remain. The subject site is zoned RSF-2 (Single Family Detached 2) which specifies a minimum lot area of 12,500 square feet per lot. Under the plan, the existing 48,754 square -foot lot would be subdivided, creating a 23,731 -square foot property (with existing house), a 12,514 -square foot property, and a 12,509 -square foot property. The proposed lots would exceed the requirements of the RSF-2 district and the City's subdivision regulations. The subject property is legally described as follows: Lot 2, Block 1, Hennepin County, Minnesota. While a formal Public Hearing is not required, it is the City's policy to inform adjacent property owners/occupants of such applications. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 200 feet of the site of this proposal. If you have comments, please call within ten days. INFORMATION relating to this request may be. examined at the Community Development Information Counter, at Plymouth City Hall on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. If you have any questions about the specifics of this proposal; please contact the Community Development Department at (763) 509-5400. Sincerely, n Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planing Manager (23) s� 4. 4s.4 srcU Ws {^n�.:{�4 ,,y y«�s. '�dCL28'ttlobi"7i�'�?"'rys"-�,Ja.:'-I-•;a:,,..._. .. v...... . December 26, 2008 SUBJECT: REZONING, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT GENERAL PLAN FOR WAYNE JESKE ASSOCIATES (2008109) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by Wayne Jeslce Associates, under File Number 2008109, for approval of a rezoning and planned unit development general plan to allow a 1,166 square foot addition to the southeast corner of the Tri-State Drilling building and related site improvements for property located at 16940 State Highway 55, Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 750 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 7, 2009; in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth. City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments. concerning this application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-5450 for more information. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter (lower level); on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, ' / : 'u ` I l V� Barbara G, Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008109propnotice (24)