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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 12-14-2023 CITY OF PLYMOUTH COUNCIL INFO MEMO December 14, 2023 EVENTS / MEETINGS Official City Meeting Calendars .................................................................... Page 2 Tentative List of Agenda Items ..................................................................... Page 5 REPORTS & OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST Minnetonka Bakery saves Thirsty Whale days after sudden closure, Star Tribune.......... Page 6 Plymouth City Council rejects plans for Eagle Brook megachurch, Star Tribune ......... Page 10 Plymouth to launch curbside organics service, Star Tribune ................................ Page 12 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 December 2023 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Interview Board and Commission applicants Mooney Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT 31 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM CHARTER COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING Medicine Lake Room CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Council Chambers CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Interview Board and Commission applicants Medicine Lake Room 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 January 2024 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED NEW YEAR’S DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Committee and Commission Recognition Event Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Penalty grid for license violations/ Massage ordinance discussion Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 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 4:00 PM COUNCIL WORKSHOP TBD 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 SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT February 2024 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080plymouthmn.gov 7:00 PM HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Council Chambers PRESIDENTS DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED 5:00 PM CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING City Manager Annual Performance Evaluation City Hall 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 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room PRECINCT CAUCUS Page 4 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items January 9, Special 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room •Penalty grid for license violations •Massage enterprise license limits January 9, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers (Peterson remote) •Authorize Finance Director or designee to do electronic fund transfers •Approve 2024 liquor license renewals •Appoint Official Depositories for 2024 •Appoint City Council Secretary for 2024 •Designate Official Newspaper for 2024 •Appoint City Health Officer for 2024 •Approve appointments to boards and commissions •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 acquisition of easements and land agent agreement for the Station 73 (TRIP) Transit and Regional Improvement Project (ST230003) •Approval of Tree Maintenance Contract for 2024-2025 with Ostvig Tree Inc. •Approve 2024-2025 Labor Agreement with International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 5059, Representing Plymouth Firefighters •Appoint Deputy Mayor, Council Coordinating Representatives and other agency appointments in 2024 •Approve Findings of Fact for denial of Eagle Brook Church application January 23, Special , 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers (Gregor absent) •Annual Board/Commission Recognition Event January 23, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers (Gregor absent) •Swearing in of PT/OC Firefighters (City Clerk Jodi Gallup) January 31, Special, 4:00 p.m. •Council Workshop with Chad Weinstein February 6, Special, 5:00 p.m., Council Chambers •Closed Session: City Manager evaluation February 6, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers •Appoint election judges for the March 5 Presidential Nomination Primary Election •Approve final closeout for County Road 47 Reconstruction Project - Phase 1 (ST220001) •Approve final closeout for Hidden Lake and Beacon Heights 2nd Street Reconstruction Project (ST229001) •Approve final closeout for 2022 Vicksburg Lane Improvements (ST229005) February 20, Special, 5:00 p.m., Council Chambers February 20, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Page 5 EAT & DRINK 600326549 Minnetonka bakery saves Thirsty Whale days after sudden closure The north Minneapolis bakery will return with all its original recipes under the ownership of YoYo Donuts. By Joy Summers Star Tribune DECEMBER 13, 2023 — 9:00AM Just days after cake and doughnut fans were mourning the sudden loss of Thirsty Whale Bakery in Minneapolis, hope rises like a sweet dough proofing. Page 6 Alise and Luke McGregor, owners of YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka, have bought the business, offering to keep everything fans loved about the neighborhood bakery intact — including Kyle Baker, who last week made the decision to close it. On Dec. 3 at 5 p.m., the Thirsty Whale owner and baker hit publish on a heartfelt note of surrender. The bakery would fulfill its existing orders, but it was closed for business effective immediately. The outpouring of support and sadness came swiftly. "We had made that post and then came the calls," said Baker. "We got a lot of them asking about the space and wanting to sublease it." There was a barrage of interest in the address, he said, but then came a call from the owners of another small, family-owned business. "I got a call from YoYo's owners asking if we could chat and come up with a solution." The solution would be that the McGregors would assume ownership and retain Baker in the kitchen. "We have a nut-free line and an iconic brand with YoYo Donuts," said Alise McGregor. "We kept talking about how we could expand our business. When I saw [the Star Tribune] story, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, what's going on?' Bakeries like this are the lifeblood of communities." YoYo Donuts (5757 Sanibel Dr, Minnetonka, yoyodonuts.com) opened in 2010 as a dedicated nut-free bakery and facility. It became a popular and safe dining spot for those with nut allergies, and its reputation for exceptional doughnuts grew quickly. A line of nut-free ice cream was added, and the bakery was often filled with neighbors and fans who would drive for miles to get their YoYo fix. As loved as those doughnuts are, the McGregors aren't looking to bring their brand of fried dough to north Minneapolis. Instead, Baker will continue producing what Thirsty Whale fans know and love. Baker began his career with fried dough rings, but it was far from calculated. "I literally fell into it. I started at a Cub. I was pushing carts and they needed a doughnut fryer," he said. "I've been baking since I was 19. And it's been a journey. One thing after another and multiple steps to where I am now." Page 7 That journey has had its ups and downs. Baker opened Thirsty Whale with Megan Baker and Sarah Bignell in 2018, after a temporary delay due to a break-in. In 2019, Thirsty Whale appeared on the Food Network's "Halloween Baking Championship," winning over judges with a re-enactment of a scene from Disney's "The Lion King." In March 2019, the Bakers lost their home in a fire that also claimed one of their beloved pets. A year later, the pandemic dealt another blow. When Baker announced the bakery's closure, he was the sole proprietor. "We should have probably looked at things after COVID and been like, 'where do we go from here?' " he said. "Same with the fire. Things that kicked us in the teeth." The decision to close the bakery was not easy, and with all of the challenges of trying to get through the end of the year, even making the decision didn't slow things down for Baker. "There were a couple of nights last week when I worked 12 hours baking, eight hours emailing and doing paperwork, then sleep an hour or two and head back to the bakery to do some more stuff," he said. "I worked through the night one night last week. We used to do that all the time. Luckily, that should be coming to an end." In fact, after meeting with the new bakery owners, Baker planned to head home for an evening, the first in a long time. Page 8 The excitement is just ramping up for the McGregors. "Thirsty Whale is what it is with Kyle leading production," McGregor said. "And, the Thirsty Whale is awesome." Thirsty Whale (4149 Fremont Av. N., Mpls., now has officially reopened its orders and regular business hours — Thursday through Saturday — will resume next week. "I'm excited I still get to be part of the team," Baker said. Page 9 WEST METRO 600326502 Plymouth City Council rejects plans for Eagle Brook megachurch Concerns about traffic, building affordable housing and pushback from neighbors played into the decision to reject plans for a 64,000-square-foot building on the north end of the city. By Tim Harlow Star Tribune DECEMBER 13, 2023 — 7:02AM The Plymouth City Council on Tuesday night rejected a plan from Eagle Brook Church to build a new campus in the west metro suburb. The 6-1 vote defied the recommendation of the city's planning commission, which last month unanimously recommended the council approve the project that called for a 64,000-square-foot building and 685 parking spots on the northwest corner of Chankahda Trail and Maple Grove Parkway. But council members voiced concerns about increased traffic and suggested that the last large remaining parcel of land in the city might better used for affordable housing. Page 10 Pushback from scores of neighbors and residents from both Plymouth and Maple Grove who spoke during Tuesday's meeting also played into the council's decision that came after nearly 3 1⁄2 hours of discussion. A few people spoke in favor of allowing the church. "I struggle with how traffic will impact people living in the area," said council member Julie Peterson, who made the motion to reject the building. While acknowledging that roads immediately near the proposed church could probably handle additional vehicles, "the numbers undershoot what reality would be. Capacity is not the issue, but how does it affect livability. The scale and intensity of this is too much for this area." Council member Jim Willis said approving plans for the church would have an adverse effect on city's ability to build affordable housing as called for in the city's comprehensive plan. "We must take robust steps to accelerate the development of more affordable housing to continue to attract and retain a broad base of residents of all income levels and backgrounds to meet our housing objectives," he said while reading a letter he wrote. In its rejection, the council now must come up with "findings of fact" to support its decision for denying the church's request. The council's next meeting is in January. A developer had previously proposed to build as many as 200 single-family homes on the roughly 56-acre site, but withdrew the plans. Eagle Brook then this fall signed a purchase agreement for the land about 2 miles north of Wayzata High School where the church currently holds services. The property, as it is zoned, would allow for a church. Mayor Jeffry Wosje, who dispelled rumors that he was an Eagle Brook member, cast the lone vote in favor of the church. "I can't think of developments that we ever raise objection to to support affordable housing," he said. "I question that when it comes up for a church." Plymouth is the third city to deny Eagle Brook, a megachurch with 11 campuses in the metro area and one in Rochester, a place to build a permanent home for its west metro campus. Last year, Eagle Brook withdrew plans to buy property in a Minnetonka neighborhood after residents pushed back over concerns about increased traffic. Corcoran has also said no. It was not immediately clear what the church's next steps will be. The Star Tribune reached out for comment but has not yet heard back. Page 11 Plymouth to launch curbside organics service Curbside organics pickup will begin in March 2024; fees will range from $3 to $6 per month, depending on how many households sign up for the service. By Tim Harlo w Star Tribune DECEMBER 8, 2023 — 6:00AM Plymouth residents now have the opportunity to opt into a new organics recycling program led by the city. The City Council at its Nov. 28 meeting approved extending its contract with Republic Services for traditional curbside recycling through 2027, and with it the company will start picking up organic materials such as food scraps and non-recyclable paper in March. Residents will be able to sign up for the city-led organic recycling service this month and carts will be delivered at the end of February. The fee for the new organics service will range from $3 to $6 per month, depending on what percentage of the city's 26,000 household addresses sign up for the service. Prices will rise 4% per year under the contract. Under state law, all residential customers will be charged the fee for curbside organics recycling collection even if they don't use the service. All cities in Hennepin County are now required to offer organics recycling to all households that receive curbside recycling service. Standard recycling rates also will go up over the next four years, rising from $3.29 per month this year and next to $4.75 per month in 2025, $4.94 in 2026 and $5.15 in the last year of the contract in 2027. Page 12