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Council Information Memorandum 02-08-2008
CITY OF PLYMOUTH r COUNCIL INFO MEMO February 8, 2008 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS EQCAgenda, 02/13/08........................................................................................................... Page 1 The Public Leadership Academy for Elected Officials.......................................................... Page 2 February, March April 2008 Official City Meeting Calendars .............................................. Page7 Tentative List of Agenda Items for Future City Council Meetings ...................................... Page 13 INFORMATION News Articles, Releases, Publications, Etc ... Metrolink Park & Ride at Four Seasons to Close, Metrolink Rider Alert. ............................ Page 15 Brooklyn Park's Savings Account is a Novel Way to Plan, Article Star & Trib .................. Page 17 Our No. 1 Metro Worry? Transportation, Article Star & Trib.............................................. Page 19 Among Suburban Commuter, Catching the Bus is Catching On, Article Star & Trib ......... Page 21 Golf Courses Make Good Neighbors, Until Owners Want to Sell, Article Star & Trib ....... Page 23 STAFF REPORTS PCC Walking/Jogging Track Survey.................................................................................. Page 26 2008 Assessment for Taxes Payable in 2009........................................................................ Page 27 Engineering: 36th Avenue Reconstruction Project (8104) .................................................... Page 28 Water Resources: Minor Plan Amendment to the Second Generation Elm Creek ............... Page 29 Watershed Management Plan Community Development Pending Planning Applications.................................................. Page 34 CORRESPONDENCE Letter to First Transit, RE: Violation of Contract................................................................ Page 37 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Rezoning (2007098).......................................................... Page 38 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Variance for ESI Design Services (2007111) .................... Page 39 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Variance for Valet Building Services (2008004) ............... Page 40 Letter to Wayzata Public Schools, RE: School Safety Initiatives ......................................... Page 41 Letter from NW Suburbs Cable Communications Commission, RE: Grant Money ............ Page 43 Letter from State of MN, RE: Plymouth Charter Commission Appointment ...................... Page 44 ATTACHMENTS Bond Insurance Credit Rating Outlook and the Impact on Municipal Bond Issuers ........... Page 45 CITY OF PLYMOUTH r COUNCIL INFO MEMO February 8, 2008 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS EQCAgenda, 02/13/08............................................................................................................. Page The Public Leadership Academy for Elected Officials............................................................ Page February, March April 2008 Official City Meeting Calendars ................................................ Page Tentative List of Agenda Items for Future City Council Meetings .:....................................... Page INFORMATION News Articles, Releases, Publications, Etc ... Metrolink Park & Ride at Four Seasons to Close, Metrolink Rider Alert ............................... Page Brooklyn Park's Savings Account is a Novel Way to Plan, Article Star & Trib ...................... Page Our No. 1 Metro Worry? Transportation, Article Star & Trib .................................................. Page ................ Among Suburban Commuter, Catching the Bus is Catching On, Article Star & Trib ............. Page Golf Courses Make Good Neighbors, Until Owners Want to Sell, Article Star & Trib ........... Page STAFF REPORTS PCC Walking/Jogging Track Survey...................................................................................... Page 2008 Assessment for Taxes Payable in 2009..........................................................................:. Page Engineering: 36th Avenue Reconstruction Project (8 104) ........................................................ Page Water Resources: Minor Plan Amendment to the Second Generation Elm Creek .................. Page Watershed Management Plan Community Development Pending Planning Applications...................................................... Page CORRESPONDENCE Letter to First Transit, RE: Violation of Contract.................................................................... Page Letter to Property Owners, RE: Rezoning (2007098)..............................................................Page Letter to Property Owners, RE: Variance for ESI Design Services (2007111) ........................ Page Letter to Property Owners, RE: Variance for Valet Building Services (2008004) ................... Page Letter to Wayzata Public Schools, RE: School Safety Initiatives ............................................ Page Letter from NW Suburbs Cable Communications Commission, RE: Grant Money ................ Page Letter from State of MN, RE: Plymouth Charter .Commission Appointment .......................... Page ATTACHMENTS Bond Insurance Credit Rating Outlook and the Impact on Municipal Bond Issuers ............... Page ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA February 13, 2008 WHERE: MEDICINE LAKE ROOM 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 Environmental Quality Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Committee member, or citizen 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 - 6:00 P.M. 2. PUBLIC FORUM — Individuals may address the Committee about any item not contained in the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - EQC Members may add items to the agenda including items contained in the EQC Info Memo for discussion purposes or staff direction only. The EQC will not normally take official action on items added to the agenda. 4. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve the January 9, 2008, Environmental Quality Committee Minutes 5. PUBLIC HEARING 6. GENERAL BUSINESS A. Refresher, Orientation, and Organization B. Election of Committee Chair and Vice Chair C. Surface Water Management Plan — Bassett and Shingle Creek Watersheds 7. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS 8. FUTURE MEETINGS: March 12, 2008 9. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 IN 5 b IIN k . Thursday, March 27, 2008 5:30-9: 00 p.m., Instructor: Dr. Richard Brynteson, Instruct Facilitators: Mary Jo McGuire and Sherry #3 - Collaborative Leadership A Bridge Over Troubled Waters You can't do it alone. The most important work of the elected lea( vision and achieve common goals. Good leaders build a collective put together and work with teams to make the best possible decisic of consensus building and collaboration. • Explore best practices in consensus building • Participate in a group activity on how consensus building w6rl Thursday, April 24, 2008 5:30-9: 00 p.m. Facilitators: Mary Jo McGuire and Sherry Butcher Guest speakers: Jan Parker: Commissioner, Ramsey County k y3 currencMax es m our world As a leader much; of your work involves lay -be. unpopular: Tri this session„you will explore theknata e of e , <,r, { Tim Penny Program Components: • Expert instructors • Distinguished speakers • Leadership Challenge Practices Inventory and book • All additional workshop materials • A professional journal • Dinner and refreshments at each session • Leadership Certificate, Continuing Education Units' (CEUs) Page 4 Public Leadership Academy for Elected Officials Program details: The Leadership Academy runs for five weeks starting Feb 28 -June 26, 2008 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. (includes dinner.) Location: to be determined February 28, 20018 March 27, 2008 April 24, 2008 May 22, 2008 June 26, 2008 Register by phone at 763.433.1200 or fax at 763.433.1201 First Graduating Class of 2007 Public Leadership Academy for Elected Offtctals 1. Complete the mail-in/fax registration form below. 2. Pay fees by check, .PO or credit card. 3. Only ONE person per registration form. 4. Retain your check as your receipt! No confirmation is sent. Refunds/Cancellation College reserves the right to cancel the offerings should the need arise and you will receive a 100% refund. The workshop will be held unless we notify you of cancellation. Full refund is granted if the re- fund is requested 15 days prior to session. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to the full course fee. Credit Cards are not credited; rather, you will be refunded with a check; Leadership Academy for Elected Officials—Anoka-Ramsey Community College Business Office/ CEU Registration 11200 Mississippi Boulevard Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Name (please Title Address City First Last Phone E-mail Day Company Name MI Security* SSN OR Student ID# '`Providing a Social Security number is voluntary. College uses this information for positive identification to ensure your records are not confused with those of other students. In the records system the SSN is the primary means of identification. Although your reg- istration will be accepted without a SSN, providing it reduces the likelihood of error when matching data with your registration. Program Fee: $695/person Method of Payment: ❑ Check ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard ❑ Discover Card number Exp date Cardholder's /Authorized Signature Date mA n C) ku Rcs m any. Community: College Page 5 Page 6 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS February 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday I Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Mar 2008 S M T W T F S 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 1 2 PM -7 00 PMS Z 0& CE FESTIVAL,RE Pa kers Lake Jan 2008 M T W T F S 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 3 4 S 6 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers 7 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, Parkers Lake Room 8 9 7:00 PM PRECINCT CAUCUSES 10 11 11:31 P.M. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, council chambers 12 1:10 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, council chambe s 13 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Medicine Lake Rooms A & B 14 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 15 7:30 AM MUNICIPAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING (MLC), ' Radisson Hotel, Plymouth 16 17 18 PRESIDENTS DAY- City Offices Closed 19 20 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers 21 6:00 PM BOARD OF COMMISSION RECOGNITION EVENT, Plymouth Creek Center 22 23 24 ' 25 26 5:30 PM SPEC AL COUNCIL MEETING- Rental Licensing & E..wiw Nuisances - Medicine Lake Room 27 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) , Medicine Lake Room A 28 7:00 PM HRA MEETING Medicine Lake Room 29 7:30 AM STATE OF THE CITY MEETING Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers modified on 2/8/2008 Page 7 Page 8 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS March 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Apr 2008 1 Feb 2008 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers '9 10 11 12 13 14 15 6:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, Meeting With Auditors, Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Medicine Lake Rooms A & B 7:00 PM PARK 8, REC ADVISORY COMMISSION(PRAC), Council Chambers COUNCILMEETING, Council Chambers 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 6:01 P.M. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL- Review Contest Entries Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers Environmental Fair 6:00 - 8:00 pm Sunset Hill El m. School GOOD FRIDAY 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 EASTER SUNDAY 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) , Medicine Lake Room A 7:00 PM HRA MEETING Medicine Lake Room 30 31 modified on 2/8/2008 Page 9 Page 10 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS April 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers YARD AND GARDEN EXPO, Plymouth Creek Center 6:00-8:00 pm Fieldhouse YARD AND GARDEN EXPO Pymouth Creek Center 9:00 am -1:00 pm Fieldhouse 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS COMMENCES- set clocks ahead 1 6:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, Discuss Lake Setback Ordinance, Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Medicine Lake Rooms A & B 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers hour 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Ccunc'I Chambers 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 BOARD OF - EQUALIZATION 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, Council Chambers PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCILSHOW, Plymouth Creek Center 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, Discuss Schmidt Lake Sediment Delta, Medicine Lake Room 700 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON (PACT), Medicine Lake Room A 7:00 PM HRA MEETING Medicine Lake Room 9:00 AM -12:00 PM CITY OPEN HOUSE / TOWN MEETING Plymouth Cily Hall PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center 27 28 29 30 6:30 P.M. - YOUTH LEADERSHIPEQUALIZATION CONFERENCE, Plyumouth Creek center BOARD OF 7:00 PM I1 Mar 2008 S M T W T F S May 2008 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 30 31 modified on 2/8/2008 Page 11 Page 12 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items February 26, Special, 5:30 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Discuss Rental Licensing Ordinance and Point of Sale Inspection February 26, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Action regarding possible closing of Pilgrim Lane Elementary School March 11, Special, 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Meeting with auditors March 11, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Approve Renewal of Garbage Hauler Licenses March 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Application for On Sale Wine & On Sale 3.2 Liquor Licenses from CSM Lodging Services, Inc., d/b/a Residence Inn by Marriott -Plymouth, 2750 Annapolis Circle April 8, Special, 6:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Discuss lake setback ordinance April 8, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers April 22, Special, 5:30 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • Discuss Schmidt Lake Sediment Delta April 22, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers April 26, Open House/Town Meeting, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, City Hall Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. Page 13 Paae 14 A transit system operated by the City of Plymouth Location 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Web Site www.ci.plymouth.mn.us click on "Services" then "Transit" Transit Administrator Pat Qvale 763-509-5052 Customer Service Voice: 763-509-5535 Fax: 763-509-5510 Email: transit@ ci.plymouth.mn.us Reminder: Metrolink Park & Ride at Four Seasons to Close City Council to Consider Proposal for Relocation Users of the Four Seasons park and ride lot are reminded that the City of Plymouth's contract with the Four Seasons Mall will end on Feb. 16. Bus riders should not park vehicles in the Four Seasons lot after Fri., Feb. 15. At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Plymouth City Council will consider a proposal to relocate the park and ride to a nearby location on the north side of Co. Rd. 9. The proposal calls for the park and ride lot to be moved to 4445 Nathan Ln. N. (on the west and north sides of the CUB Food store on 45`' Ave. N.). The entrance to the lot is on 45th Ave. N. just west of Nathan Lane. ' If approved, Metrolink buses will begin serving the new location starting the morning of Mon., Feb. 18. Needed improvements to the new park and ride lot, such as re -paving, would be made later this year. Future Communications: A Rider Alerl, reporting on the outcome of the Feb. 12 City Council meeting, will be distributed next week. That update will include the Route 790 departure and arrival times at the new 45°i Ave./Nathan Ln. park and ride lot. Questions? Call the transit coordinator at 793-509-5535. See Map on Reverse Side Published 2/6/08 Page 15 z C- 0Cn 1 Z, > 52ND i Lj 7-4 4 Uj 0 > 40TH D A 38TH x PJ CID < LU T r)l 36T I —7 z Church of the Epiphany Post Office U LLJ A, 41 ST A < 0 Lost' 41SA z -T 0 L6 -AS 0 4C 7- V-- j 38TE & < LU -1 /77 0 Y < Qm UNTON TE RACE WV J p > 7 A 8TH A < 0 > 2f Pilgrim 37TH P Ei i PG 11tary < < _j 3H E7TH AVE 0 < 36TH a 36T L 36TH PL 36TH A 36TH AVE Plymouth Middle School Armstrong Sr. r. High 50TH AVE. Proposed Park & Ride at Cub Foods 45th Ave & Nathan Ln a 45TH AVE Former Park & Ride ;at Four. Seasons Cty Rd 9 & Lancaster Lw 40TH AVE. 35TH AVE Page 16 J I SP 50 1/2 P �Y\ AVE 0 Q) Q) < jj E I /-" ;n, 49!,HH AV of < 481 0 AVE 0 1-- = U tg — c > z -j UN/0w --q < 47TH 2 Lj-O- --i < 0 M4 8-\ < 0 z < of 10� 7 AV 01 -4,, 11\ C/) D 0 z L -5- m Dx RTN 0 LU 0�- z 0 44 Ttq; IZ Zachary lY Lane Elementary 43RD 43RD AVE :7 NES 7711-1 Ll 40TH D A 38TH x PJ CID < LU T r)l 36T I —7 z Church of the Epiphany Post Office U LLJ A, 41 ST A < 0 Lost' 41SA z -T 0 L6 -AS 0 4C 7- V-- j 38TE & < LU -1 /77 0 Y < Qm UNTON TE RACE WV J p > 7 A 8TH A < 0 > 2f Pilgrim 37TH P Ei i PG 11tary < < _j 3H E7TH AVE 0 < 36TH a 36T L 36TH PL 36TH A 36TH AVE Plymouth Middle School Armstrong Sr. r. High 50TH AVE. Proposed Park & Ride at Cub Foods 45th Ave & Nathan Ln a 45TH AVE Former Park & Ride ;at Four. Seasons Cty Rd 9 & Lancaster Lw 40TH AVE. 35TH AVE Page 16 Brooklyn Park's savings account is a novel way to plan By LORA PABST, Star Tribune February 4, 2008 In 25 to 30 years, when the community center in Brooklyn Park needs a major repair, city officials won't have to borrow millions of dollars or beg residents to vote for more taxes. Instead, they will make a withdrawal from the city's savings account. The idea is unique in the state -- creating an endowment that over 50 years will pay for $300 million of projects. While many cities do plan for the next 10 to 15 years, national experts are seeing local government officials pick up on the idea of planning city budgets like they manage their own retirement funds. Over the past 10 years, Brooklyn Park has been socking away money a little at a time by making annual transfers from its general fund and making some tax increases permanent. For example, in 1998 residents voted to raise taxes to pay for fire department improvements. When the tax increase expires in 2012, the city could lower taxes, but instead, will keep them at the same level and put the money in the savings account. With this system, the city guarantees that taxes won't go up dramatically when another big project needs to be paid for, said Brooklyn Park Finance Director Cory Kampf. In a recent national survey, hundreds of government financial managers ranked long-term financial planning as one of the top areas of interest, said Anne Kinney, the director of research and consulting for the Chicago -based Government Finance Officers Association, which surveyed a sample of its 17,500 members. The League of Minnesota Cities said it doesn't keep track of cities' financial plans, but financial experts say Brooklyn Park's approach is novel. "Basically, [we're] saying the city has a city hall, public safety buildings, streets and parks that will need to be repaired or replaced over 50 years, just like your house, so how is the city planning to do that?" Kampf said. The endowment currently has a balance of about $7.2 million, but over the next few decades the city, whose projected 2008 budget is $33.9 million, will increase the amount of money it saves. While the plan will undergo revisions over the next 50 years and every new City Council could mean changes to the program, Kampf said he thinks most city officials will continue to save the money because it benefits the city financially. "Over the long term, you're going- to pay less doing it this way," Kampf said. "If you reduced taxes and [parks or roads] fell apart, the tax increase would be massive." Page 17 Brooklyn Park is being fiscally responsible by maintaining taxes and saving the proceeds, said Mark Ruff, a financial adviser with the Roseville office of the public finance advising company Ehlers & Associates. "It's not easy to explain to a taxpayer at a public hearing, but I think Brooklyn Park is right," he said. It's not for everyone While financial experts say the idea works, most cities aren't jumping on board yet. They say they don't have any money left over at the end of the year to save for future projects. And others say even if they did have the extra money, they might not take the same approach because they want future residents to pay for those projects. Andover City Manager Jim Dickinson said his city plans for major projects in the next five years, but also plans beyond that for specific buildings or projects, such as the city's YMCA. When the community center was built two years ago, the agreement with the YMCA said the city had to start setting aside money for long-term improvements after the building had been open for five years. "But you don't necessarily have to set aside money for 100 percent of the expenses because you should also look into the future to who should be paying for it then," Dickinson said of the city's projects. Shayne Kavanagh, who works for the Government Finance Officers Association, recently wrote a book on long-term financial planning for cities called "Financing the Future." He said cities don't need to create a savings fund like the one in Brooklyn Park, but they should at least begin thinking about their future. "I think it's more important for cities that don't have a lot of money to do long-term financial planning," he said. While Brooklyn Park's plan has only been in the works for about 10 years, Kampf said the city finally has enough money saved to pay for a $1 million rehab of the ice arena and a $2 million expansion of a maintenance facility in the next couple years. "It's an ongoing process of tapping into [the fund] a little bit, but making sure we put something into it," Kampf said. The alternative would be that when the city needs to do a project, they would take out a loan for it and then raise taxes to pay it off, Kampf said. "The not -me -not -now is a short-term outlook from a city's point of view," Kampf said. "The infrastructure will crumble and suddenly your community becomes less livable." Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Page 18 Our No. 1 metro worry? Transportation By MARIA ELENA BACA, Star Tribune February 4, 2008 In a year that saw the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River, conspicuous construction that has snarled sections of metro roads and constant debate over funding, it may not come as a surprise that transportation emerged as the top concern of metro -area residents. Released Monday at the Metropolitan Council's State of the Region event at the Minneapolis Central Library, a recent survey it commissioned found that 37 percent of Twin Cities metro -area residents identified "traffic congestion, road conditions, limited transit options and other transportation challenges" as the region's top problem. Finishing a close second, 32 percent of residents listed crime as the most important issue facing the region. The survey had a 3 percentage point margin of error. Still, in his State of the Region address, Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell focused on transportation and natural resources while also mentioning development and infrastructure among the council's priorities. Bell touted progress on the North Star rail line to link outlying northern suburbs with downtown Minneapolis. He also touted the expansion of the Hiawatha light rail to the new Twins ball park and construction of the Central Corridor LRT between the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In addition, he highlighted bus line developments made possible by a $133 million federal grant. Bell received enthusiastic applause from the audience of elected officials, municipal employees, residents and other stakeholders when he indicated that the Central Corridor LRT was his "No. 1 priority." "Let me be clear on this point," he said. "We at the council are strongly committed to securing the necessary federal funds to move forward with this project." Still, there were skeptics in the audience. "There was nothing bold in this vision, no plan to fund a real, robust transit system in our region," said Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL -Minneapolis, who said he was offering the "Democratic response" to Republican Bell's address. "Without that, it's just rhetoric. Unfortunately, the Pawlenty administration and the Met Council really have not taken the steps needed to adequately build a transit system in our Page 19 region.... We have been proposing for years a regional sales tax to fund expansion of transit." 'Green' priorities Bell also addressed ways regional government is trying to become greener as part of an effort to meet the metro area's needs in 2039. Part of his immediate goal is to acquire land for what would become seven new regional parks and seven new trails for the metro area. In all, the Met Council's goal would be to add more than 17,000 acres of park land and 700 miles of trails by 2030. Currently, the metro area has a 53,000 -acre park system. Bell touted the Metro Transit system's 19 hybrid electric buses, the first of 169 to be delivered over the next five years, and the drive to increase buses' use of biodiesel and other renewable alternative fuel sources. The annual Residents Survey results were based on interviews with more than 1,300 residents who were polled during October, November and December 2007. Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409 SURVEY: A listing of metro -area residents' concerns for the city. B5 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Page 20 Among suburban commuters ... Catching the bus is catching on By DAVID PETERSON, Star Tribune February 4, 2008 Tony Pistilli never used to take the bus to work. But a new job downtown taught him what it costs to park there. He decided to give it a shot. And he was surprised. "I really think there's a big misconception out there that buses are stinky and there's all these grimy people on them," said Pistilli, of Brooklyn Park. "And it's just not that way! You meet the same people over and over again, whether it's the 8:02 or the 7:56, and they're just like you." In fact the only weekdays he ever drives are the days he has to go to a meeting of the Metropolitan Council, which runs the region's main bus system. He's a member of the council. If Pistilli is the most ironic of suburban transit converts, he is not exactly the only one. On the contrary, the high cost of gas and parking are helping wrench a vast army of suburbanites from behind their steering wheels -- so much so that riders complain they often have to stand, and transit officials are warning that they are bumping up against capacity. New statistics for 2007 show that ridership on Metro Transit's express services and the major suburban providers has soared by nearly 2 million over the past two years. Plymouth's system last year grew eight times faster than the year before. SouthWest Transit, serving Eden Prairie and points west, jumped the 1 million rider mark for the first time. A newly launched express service out of Shakopee is seeing double-digit monthly increases. Transit officials say they could be pulling far more drivers off the road, reducing traffic congestion and limiting the emissions blamed for climate change, if they had the money for more buses and park-and-ride spaces. "We can't keep growing at these rates," said Beverly Miller, executive director of Minnesota Valley transit, which covers parts of Dakota and Scott counties. "We have no capacity to do that. People aren't going to keep coming to us if there's no place to park, and no place to sit on the bus." Scheduling limits Katie Robers of St. Michael is living proof of the system's limits. Robers, who works for a Minneapolis law firm, had to stop grabbing a Maple Grove bus Page 21 for a whole school year when her son's school bus started arriving at 8:20 a.m. The last express bus left Maple Grove at 8:26. "I couldn't get there in time," she said. "If there were a bus at 9, 1 would have taken it." Mike Opatz, who runs that system, says there's a reason for that: no place for her to park. "By the time our last bus leaves, all of our stalls are full. You see a few cars park illegally, sneaking over to a private lot, which we definitely don't promote. I can't put any more buses on after 8:26. There would be nowhere to park. I am not going to make a bad situation worse." Although the big jump in riders coincides with the big jump in gas prices over the past couple of years, a surprising number of suburban transit users say that heightened concern about emissions and climate change also play a role. "I do have an SUV, I feel you need one in a northern state," Robers said, "but even though if you knew me you'd be, like, 'You're no environmentalist,' I do like to balance out that cardinal sin with the little things you can do." Sharon Heimerl of East Bethel agrees. "I'm trying to be 'green' and leave the carat home." Emily Miller, coming in from Eden Prairie, says that while "money is an issue, in some ways it's more environmental. You see the stop -and -go traffic on the crosstown [highway] and just think of all those greenhouse gases." A mindset change She agrees with Pistilli that it's a mindset change for many suburbanites. "At first I was very anti -bus. I'm a control freak who wants to drive myself." And Miller confesses to a certain image, beforehand, of bus riders. "You sometimes think they're creepy people muttering things -- I don't mean that in a bad way -- but it's a bunch of people from Eden Prairie and the southwest suburbs just going to work downtown, or kids to the U. It's not a creepy experience at all. " Such comments are a sign, however, that the once -controversial decision to allow suburbs to opt out of the region's transit services and create their own is likely playing a role today in easing suburban riders onto the bus. But there's still some resentment, Pistilli said. "Everyone recognizes there are these nice black buses, more expensive ones, going to the rich southwest suburbs. Living in the northern suburbs, I hear that from people all the time." Still, many others agree that riding the bus makes everyone who does so a little bit richer. Jan Rivers, of Minnetonka, a competitive intelligence researcher at the big downtown Minneapolis law firm Dorsey & Whitney figures that parking alone would cost her $2,640 a year, or twice what a full -fare ride would cost -- and she, like many others, gets an employer discount. "Why on earth," she adds, "would I want to drive?" Page 22 arT `ibu esc i MIN, , NEAPOLI S ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Golf courses make good neighbors, until owners want to sell By ERIC M. HANSON and JENNA ROSS, Star Tribune staff writers February 4, 2008 Ron Vannelli and Mike Olson don't know if their Andover property has a future as a golf course. Andover's Planning Commission says the course won't have a future as anything but. Vannelli and Olson own Woodland Creek Golf Course. But its view is prized by neighbors. And its official status as open space is valued by the city. So the decision on what to do with the land isn't up to the owners alone -- a source of frustration for Vannelli, who has told the city that the course is not financially successful. "We've struggled for four years there. We've tried everything," he said. Nationwide, rising land values and diminished demand are an incentive for golf course owners to sell out. Last year, U.S. golf course closures outpaced openings, according to the National Golf Foundation. The same was true in 2006. But many golf courses are zoned as open space; thus cities can prevent development of the property. That's sparking battles between course owners and cities around the metro area. It's happened in Eden Prairie, where a course owner had planned to sell his struggling course to a housing developer for as much as $18 million; in Plymouth, where the city recently removed two courses from restrictive zoning but kept another in it; and in Eagan, where the city denied an owner's request to rezone. That last case is still in court. In each city, neighbors and residents have leaned on public officials to maintain the space they've counted on for their views, their recreation and their property values. But Vanelli says, "There's nobody who can tell me that it has to be a golf course. The day you do that -- telling a private business what has to be there and how they have to operate -- I think it's a little out of whack." Controversy in Andover In Andover, neighbors who live on or near Woodland Creek crowded a Jan. 22 planning commission meeting to oppose a zoning change request Vannelli and Olson made that potentially would have allowed housing development on a portion of the course. Jim Nelson is a Woodland Creek neighbor who helped organized the turnout and who lives in a townhome built a few years ago by Vannelli and Olson -- complete with a golf cart garage. Page 23 Nelson said the course's owners haven't put enough into promotion and upkeep. Future development will bring more golfers, he argues. And while he doesn't golf, Nelson said he wants the course because the value of his home is partly tied to it. "People have actually spent money buying their own golf carts on the assumption that it would be a golf course forever," he said. The Andover City Council is scheduled to consider the zoning change request Wednesday as part of a comprehensive plan update. The planning commission has recommended denying the zoning change. Course owners say it's unfair to saddle them with an unprofitable business. But they know the odds are against them. "Let's face it: City councils are very sensitive to the mass of residents rather than the single interest of the golf course owner," said Curt Walker, executive director of the Midwest Golf Course Owners Association. "You've got one voter versus 100." Richard Singer, consulting director with the National Golf Foundation, said cities typically like to keep open space zoned as open space. Sometimes, cities acquire the courses and run them as municipal facilities. But most often, he said, "They want to stand by the zoning that exists. Their position typically is: If it was designed as open space, that's pretty much what it is.... For you to develop on it, you basically have to get the city to approve that. Some are successful, some are not." What the courts have said Cities cannot arbitrarily deny a request, Singer said. But sometimes, "arbitrary" ends up being defined by the courts. In one such case in 2006, the state Supreme Court found for the city of Mendota Heights, reversing an earlier decision that the city's denial of a zoning change was arbitrary. Left unanswered in that case was a question of whether a city's decision to deny a request might trigger a claim for "inverse condemnation," or "taking of the property," said Tom Grundhoefer, chief legal counsel for the League of Minnesota Cities. That's an issue in Eagan, where in 2007 the state Supreme Court reaffirmed the city's authority to deny a zoning change but returned the case to District Court to determine whether compensation is warranted. George Hoff, Eagan's attorney in the case, said it's scheduled to be back in court in early summer. Other -cases have involved additional legal complications. In Eden Prairie, for example, the city's decision not to allow development of the Bent Creek Golf Course turned on whether a developer in the 1970s had committed the land to always remain a golf course. Such a commitment is not reflected on the property's title or in its zoning. But the city unearthed plans for the large development that surrounds the 106 -acre course which included references to the course satisfying the development's open -space requirements. Page 24 The course's current owner, Sam Hertogs, told the city that when he bought a majority interest in the course in 1985, he searched property records and found no restrictions. But Eden Prairie in effect blocked redevelopment of the course -- and Hertogs' planned sale. "Most golf course owners check before they buy; they trace way back," Walker said. "But because they didn't go back to the Magna Carta where some king said no, no, you've got to keep this as a golf course, they're denied their rights." How courses are zoned Cities differ on how they designate and zone a golf course. Most classify courses as "open space," which doesn't allow residential development. Many cities are revamping their comprehensive plans, prompting some course owners to seeking less restrictive zoning. In Plymouth, the three privately held golf courses were zoned under "Public -Semi -Public -Institutional", or P-1 -- the same as churches, the Hennepin County Correctional Facility and Wayzata Senior High. In updating its comprehensive plan, the city let two of three courses -- one long closed for business -- out of that designation. The draft plan now allows residential development, as their owners requested. But the owners of the Hollydale course were denied such a change after dozens of residents rallied to.keep the course zoned P-1. Hollydale owners told the city that they plan to keep operating the course. Said resident Dean Stinchfield: "If the guy wants to sell his golf course, sell it, God bless you. But do it under the plan we've all agreed to.... It's not the city's job to maximize his profits." ehanson(cr startribune.corn • 612-673-7517 jross(@_startribune.com • 612-673-7168 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Page 25 C� 7 i w � U O O �*1 w � C) CS o ooh U c� b "' U ^1 0 00 kn v ,-- O M G1 00 00 O •C� — 00 N O O 0 O ir,00 Cv y o V w 1 � ,z •� N '- N N M M M N� O C 00 N N N r1 N N in o O .. w O d O O l— cT - o a N 00�} :i M C , G, N N N N NN V) d N 00 Ln Cv r r V Cv Q J O E~3—r-C/,C� r N ON 1 N cs O � Cd all44 U ~o cn N � O Cd UC7F-+a Page 26 MEMO CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, -PLYMOUTH, MN 55447 DATE: February 2, 2008 TO: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager Cal Portner, Administrative Services Director FROM: Janene Hebert, City Assessor SUBJECT: 2008 Assessment for Taxes Payable in 2009 The total market value for the City of Plymouth as of January 2, 2008 is $10,018,968,800, down 0.2% from the finalized January 2, 2007 base. The following highlights the overall change in values: While the residential real estate market in Plymouth is relatively stable, the aggregate assessed value of single familyhomes is down 1.6%. This is due primarily to the reduction in the targeted sales ratio we used to establish the values for the assessment. (The sales ratio is the assessed value as a percentage of the actual sale price.) Working with Hennepin County, the ratio was reduced from 95.7% in 2007 to 94.6% in 2008. The 1.1 point reduction resulted in a contraction of the aggregate residential value in excess of $80,000,000. ■ Apartments were up 1.2% due to the strength of the institutional market. The growth combined with new construction, resulted in an overall increase of 2.0% in the apartment market. ■ The commercial and industrial markets grew approximately 1.3%. The value growth, combined with new construction and renovation of properties, resulted in 8.0% and 3.5% increases in the commercial and industrial tax bases, respectively. The net impact on the tax capacity will remain positive due to the increase in the commercial, industrial, and apartment markets. Tax capacity figures will be forwarded as soon as they are available. page 27 DATE: February 6, 2008 TO: Doran Cote, P.E., Director of Public Works FROM: James Renneberg, P.E., Design Engineer SUBJECT: 36" AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT CITY PROJECT NO. 8104 On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, representatives from the Hennepin County Library Expansion met with City staff to discuss the project. According to their project manager, they are anticipating construction to begin in June of 2008, with a completion date in the spring of 2010. In addition, the access off of Vicksburg Lane would be eliminated, therefore, access for the site will be solely on 36t" Avenue. Also, a strip mall is proposed at the Cub parking lot, located at 36"' Avenue and Vicksburg Lane. According to the planning staff, this project is estimated to begin in the summer of 2008, with the completion to be in the fall of 2008. Due to the amount of development construction expected in 2008, it is proposed to delay the reconstruction of 36"' Avenue until late summer of 2009. Construction of the library will still likely be ongoing at that time, but staff anticipates most of the hauling and major truck traffic to be completed at this time. By reconstructing 36t" Avenue in 2009, the construction will be completed by the time the new library is expected to open in 2010. Delaying the project will also allow Community Development, Park and Recreation and Public Works staff time to refine streetscape elements for the City Center in order to incorporate thein into the project as needed. Staff will also be afforded the opportunity to adjust the CIP to fund any additional costs related to these streetscape elements. 09EngineeringTROJECTS\2000-2009\S 104\Memos\De1ay2009.doc Page 28 DATE: February 5, 2008 TO: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager FROM: Derek Asche, Water Resources ManagerbN SUBJECT: Minor Plan Amendment to the Second Generation Elm Creek Watershed Management Plan The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission (ECWMC) proposes a minor plan amendment to its Second Generation Watershed Management Plan. The proposed amendment would revise the ECWMC existing Water Quantity Standards to provide for more stable conditions of the portion of Elm Creek in Plymouth. Historically, the main stream channels within the Elm Creek watershed have been impaired by land development and communities are faced with a growing number of costly stream repair projects and loss of natural resources. The second generation Elm Creek Watershed Management Plan adopted by the ECWMC in 2004 identified streainbank instability as the top priority issue to be addressed by the Commission. A channel study of Elm Creek completed in 2007 included a site survey of 45 channel locations, hydraulic analysis and determination of bankfull channel capacity at the surveyed locations, hydrologic modeling of the current watershed to estimate the frequency of bankfull flow at each location, and an assessment with recommendations of watershed management practices to protect the stream channel from future impacts, as the watershed continues to develop. Conclusions of the study were that many stream channels have been impacted by development, the current watershed management requirements have not been adequate to reduce flow from development to provide for a stable channel, additional watershed management requirements are needed to address channel stability, and extended detention and reduction of surface water runoff should be implemented by the ECWMC to maximize channel protections. The ECWMC proposes through this minor plan amendment that all new development and redevelopment projects that discharge to the Elm, Diamond, and Rush Creek stream channels or tributaries thereof shall provide extended detention and/or runoff volume reduction to protect stream channels in the watershed. The required storage volume for a project will vary based on the proposed impervious ratio of the site and the type of soils o:\Engineering\WTRRESRC\Watersheds\Elm Creek\Ehn Creek Channel Study\proposed_minor_plan_amendment_memo_laurie.doe Page 29 present. Additionally, the minor plan amendment proposes to extended detention storage times from 24-48 hours depending upon the size of the project. The ECWMC anticipates holding a public meeting and taking action on the proposed minor plan amendment to the water quality standards on February 13, 2008 (notice attached). Provided the minor plan amendment is adopted by the ECWMC, development and redevelopment projects in the Elm Creek Watershed will be subject to the proposed requirements immediately. The Notice of Public Hearing includes only the portion of the water quantity standards that are effected by the proposed amendment. If you are interested in reviewing all of the water quantity standards for the Elm Creek Watershed I could provide you with a copy. Attachment: Notice of Public Hearing O:\Engineering\WTRRESRC\Watersheds\Elm Creek\Elm Creek Channel Study\proposed_minor_plan_amendment_memo_laurie.doc Page 30 Legal Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING ELM CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that the Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission will meet in the Emergency Operations Center at Maple Grove City Hall, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway, Maple Grove, MN, on Wednesday, February 13, 2008,at approximately 11:30 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, for a public meeting on a proposed management plan amendment: Description: Minor Plan Amendment to the Elm Creek Second Generation Watershed Management Plan. The proposed amendment would adopt supplemental language to Appendix F. II. 10. Water Quality as follows (underscored): 10. Flow rates in Elm, Diamond, and Rush Creek stream channels are to be maintained at pre -development flow rates for the 2-, 10-, and 100 -year rainfall events by limiting the discharge rates from new development and redevelopment to equal to or less than the existing discharge rates. a. All new development and redevelopment projects that discharge to the Elm, Diamond, and Rush Creels stream channels or tributaries thereof shall provide extended detention and/or runoff volume reduction to protect stream channels in the watershed. The minimum runoff volume to be controlled shall be the channel protection volume (Vcp) in inches obtained from Table 6.2 (below) of the Elm Creek Channel StudX (September 2007). Table 6.2 Required Storage Volume VCP hnpervious Ratio A Soils B Soils CD Soils Soils Protection Volume (Vcp) (inches) 0.00 0.03 0.18 0.22 0.17 0.05 0.07 0.23 0.28 0.22 0.10 0.11 0.29 0.34 0.28 0.15 0.16 0.36 0.40 0.33 0.20 0.21 0.43 0.47 0.39 0.25 0.28 0.50 0.54 0.45 0.30 0.35 0.58 0.61 0.51 0.35 0.43 0.67 0.68 0.58 Paqe 31 0.40 0.53 0.76 0.76 0.65 0.45 0.63 0.85 0.84 0.71 0.50 0.74 0.96 0.93 0.79 0.55 0.86 1.07 1.02 0.86 0.60 0.99 1.18 1.11 .0.93 0.65 1.13 1.30 1.20 1.01 0.70 1.29 1.44 1.30 1.09 0.75 1.46 1.58 1.41 1.17 0.80 1.64 1.72 1.52 1.26 0.85 1.84 1.88 1.63 1.35 0.90 2.06 2.05 1.75 1.44 0.95 2.30 2.23 1.87 1.54 1.00 2.57 2.42 2.00 1.63 b. Extended detention storage time is defined as the time between the center of mass of the inflow and outflow hydrographs. The minimum storage time shall be obtained from Table 6.4 of the Study (below). Table 6.4 Required Storage Time Site Area (acres) Extended Detention Storage Time (hrs) 0 to 1 not required 1 to 30 24 30 to 40 36 40+- 48 c. The minimum recommended outflow orifice diameter is 3". Lower release rates will require infiltration, filtration or alternative practices to provide control of the channel protection volume Vcp_ d. Infiltration, permanent storage or other volume reduction methods are encouraged and maybe applied to reduce or eliminate the need for extended detention storage. e. Current Elm Creels standards require control of 2 -year beak flows. The proposed standard will result in 2-year_peak discharges that are far less than existing conditions; therefore sites meeting the proposed standard will not be required to_demonstrate compliance with the current 2-vear eak control standard. The Elm Creek watershed includes parts of the cities of Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Maple Grove, Medina, Plymouth and Rogers and the town of Hassan. A copy of the proposed plan amendment may be viewed at www.elmereekwatershed.org. Page 32 Persons who desire to be heard with reference to the proposed amendment will be heard at this meeting. Written comments may be submitted to Doug Baines, c/o JASS, 3235 Fernbrook Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447, or emailed to judie@jass.biz. Auxiliary aids for persons with handicaps are available upon request at least seven days in advance. Please contact Judie Anderson at 763- 553-1144 to make arrangements. /s/ Doug Baines, Chair Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission By order of the Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission Published the weeks of January 28 and February 4; 2008. 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E " " aa)) o N ::: > E o U :: Q > CO a m> m N r �N o o :: U.;.; E au'i W n3 aNi m'•'•' a::: co 0 cn co as a F- as a m >E, W o a L ns a o � a c a c O IL E o rn U o C7 c c O ::::�;:::: E c E c n E aa)) m o o .� _IL Q -C=o 06 -nom °) °) U 0 a U (n m ani :::: :::: L L C > O .� O .::;;: ..•:''•''..•:: CD ':::i::•:i: ��:A•.•� '•'. NN �N Ea E E r:�.cSOu.'Q Q`ON O U 0 U O UN LO LO LO C C C '." ' O t� O ti OO o ao O _ '"' O 00 O m .:• O > °D O OO 00 0 N — p N p N N O N N N CD N N U N ,': U N Q N — OD 00 CO N �- 00 0) r r co: r r :: r CO :: O :: O:•: O :: N Nci, p -I- .;. L6 N y -�00 o o o o :_::moo O U:; V i o o o . = � 00D0 O ti o coo 0 0 0 r- O r- O 00 O 00 O (o .. :•:• ca 00 O 00 O :; a— Cl) o" O ti O ti O co O NN C) CDQ NN 7 M N 00 O O N N 9 7 M N O O O N ti N M. a) ^^ca (L Page 36 ........... Cl) cl r a) OLO � U � 0 i:•i:•:'C•: •.•.• (O L co J J ::::':p:•:':•: co c N J Y U N O > _ M O r = + O LO N N I� O r Z M N 3 O O O y- O O i a) Q N aJ 0 - U) s a) :.:... X� 0 Y 7 CO O O ':':'• U •.•.•. .yam Y '....... 0 m Co 0 O O + L ... ....'. O •':.'.''�'. �i O=3 y. '.'.'. '.'.• o'.'.'. 0 0) 0 a) ... 3: :2 0... Qm_ o� o — 0... a) o L2 0 m vj o 'E U C Q O Q CO O C o ..... a a- a) i LL U) co m i /.. o U m: U Q w': .'... O ;:';c':':•:': ::: �' • • U) U) CL _ 4� :::::• :•:•: LJ I (6 N O U i ..0 (n a) O > 7 i (Q C D a) rn O Z D a`) M .O c V m m`m oCL C7 0 _ F- m 1 a CO :::::'::' :':': ri m Z 6 Y 6 a) (1) 0 E E E O 0 0 0 o........'. O o ao •: M'::: �: :;U -Y, '...: O N N O M 0) N p N N �- L d :;Q:•::•:::::•:': Y+ O N N :• CL _ :�: it •::':;::'y':�:�: p co 4ti ti ti � a o N 0 N 0 N 0 .. N -:7:7:1Q 7 M N O O O N ti N M. a) ^^ca (L Page 36 Plymouth1,2p Adding Quality to Life February 5, 2008 Paul Buharin General Manager First Transit 3400 Spring Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Dear Paul: This is a notice of a violation of the contract under Section V(1) Liquidated Damages. On Monday, February 4, 2008, the City received a phone call at 8:09 a.m. from one of two people waiting for the Route 792 bus at 7:55 a.m. When we called First Transit, you had no knowledge of the whereabouts of that bus or the driver. The person called again at 8:17 a.m. We asked you to send a vehicle to collect the waiting riders as the bus still had not appeared. According to the caller, that vehicle arrived at 9:00 a.m., leaving thein waiting for 65 minutes for the bus. The route was effectively missed during the time it should have been operating, and not merely delayed due to acceptable circumstances. Per the contract, Section V(1), a missed trip is defined as a bus that is not actually operated. According to your staff, this bus never left the starting point as the driver never showed up for work. At the least, the riders were waiting well over three minutes for a bus, also a violation of this section of the contract. This incident also promulgates or enforces the perception of unreliability in our Plymouth Metrolink program. Per the contract, the City of Plymouth is assessing liquidated damages in the sum of $500 for this breach of the agreement, since knowing whether a driver showed up for work is within your control. This amount can be deducted from the next invoice. We would also expect that the city will not be billed for that bus route run per the contract Section V(1). If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 763-509-5052. Sincerely, Sarah Hellekson, Transit/Solid Waste Manager shelleksonnci.blvmouth.mn.us 763-509-5052 cc: Doran Cote, Public Works Director Laurie Ahrens, City Manager 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 • wwwci.plymouth.mn.us �i Pana 47 EMIL � Plmoyuth Adding Quality to Life February 8, 2008 SUBJECT: REZONING FOR THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2007098) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by City of Plymouth, under. File No. 2007098, for rezoning from RSF-1 (Single Family Detached 1) to PI (Public/Institutional) for Little Flowers Montessori located at 4155 Zachary Lane North. The proposed rezoning would not result in any changes to the site or existing. Montessori school. The rezoning is requested ,in conjunction with the annual update to the zoning ordinance. 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, February 20, 2008, 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.%:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, ya �� Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2007098propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 • www.ci.plymouth.mn.us Page 38 19) Plymouth Adding Quality to Life February 8, 2008 SUBJECT: SITE PLAN AMENDMENT AND VARIANCE FOR ESI DESIGN SERVICES, INC. (2007111) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of .a request by ESI Design Services, Inc., under File No. 2007111, for a site plan amendment and variance for a 108,017 square foot building expansion for US Foodservice for property located at 9605 54"' Avenue North. 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. You are hereby notified of and cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth.Boulevard. 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,. Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2007111propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 . Tel: 763-509-5000 • www ci.plymouth.mn.us 'Or Page 39 February 8, 2008 SUBJECT: VARIANCE FOR VALET BUILDING SERVICES (2008004) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform.you of a request by Valet Building Services,. under File No. 2008004, for a variance to exceed the required 25 percent impervious surface area coverage for a porch addition . for property located 15620 40`h Avenue North. 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. You are hereby notified of and cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. 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, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008004propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 • www.ci.plymouth.mn.us Page 40 L2 City of Plymouth Adding Quality to Life February 5, 2008 Mr. Robert Ostlund Superintendent Wayzata Public Schools 210 County Road 101 North P.O. Box 660 Wayzata, MN 55391 Re: School Safety Initiatives Dear Mr. Robert Ostlund: 200 i Tel: 763-509-5160 e Fax: 763-509-5167 On behalf of the City of Plymouth and the Plymouth Police Department I want to thank you for your leadership, advocacy and for the support you have offered towards a myriad of school safety-related programs and initiatives throughout the Wayzata School District. During your tenure, our Department has enjoyed the opportunity to work with several committed and gifted professionals, including a number of principals and administrative staff, on various endeavors to enhance school safety considerations. To name all of those involved would be difficult, but I would be remised if I did not specifically mention Donna Marget, Robert Noyed, Fred Retzloff and Dan Carlson. These individuals have made school safety a priority, and because of their actions, we have established consistent lines of communication; have developed valuable committees; and have used technological measures to enhance campus security. The following is a non -comprehensive list identifying some of the initiatives that have further evolved under your leadership: • Assembled the following teams: School Crisis Response Team, Mental Health Team, Hospitality Team, Communications/Media Team, First Aid Team, Technology Team, Buildings and Grounds Team, Transportation Team, Reunification Team, and the Special Education Team • Wayzata High School full-scale exercise in 2005 • Ensured the continual updates to the District's emergency plans • Updated classroom emergency response packets • Utilized table top exercises at the high school, middle schools, and all elementary schools • Purchased additional safety equipment such as two-way radios and additional security cameras 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 www.ci.plymouth.mn.us __,...0 P'f....... A A • Identified "safe rooms" • Budgeted monies to modify school entries for enhanced security and threat assessment • Allowed for school personnel (Donna Marget) to attend school safety/emergency management training as part of the school/police partnership • Developed lock down procedures • Developed evacuation plans and reunification points for each school • Increased communications between school district and law enforcement Public Information Officers • Allowed for the District's participation and input in the development of the Plymouth Police Department's Critical Response Plans for each school • Continued financial and administrative support for the School Resource Officer program Again, this is only an abbreviated list showcasing the top priority you and the District have placed on student and school safety of which you should be very proud. The work completed by your staff and ours has been incredibly significant and important. I am truly amazed at what has been accomplished over the last few years and I am grateful for the relationship that has been further developed between the Plymouth Police Department and the Wayzata Public Schools under your guidance. Thank you once again for your sustained commitment to this important notion and for the support you have offered to our Department. I wish you the very best and hope that this relationship between both the Police Department and the School District continues to flourish into the future. Best regards, Mich I S.:" oldstein Chief of Police cc: Mayor Kelli Slavik, City of Plymouth Mr. John A. Moroz, Wayzata Public School Board Chair Ms. Laurie Ahrens, Plymouth City Manager NORTHWEST SUBURBS CABLE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 6900 Winnetka Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 763-536-8355 January 30, 2008 J 0`,10 08 LAURIE AHRENS CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BLVD PLYMOUTH, MN 55447 Enclosed you will find a check for the quarterly payment of the 2008 Cable Capital Grant in the amount of $11,543.28. The Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission has increased its capital flat grant to cities by 4%. The grant, to be paid quarterly, is comprised of a flat grant to each city phis a proportional grant determined by the number of subscribers within each city. The schedule for these payments will be January 30th , April 30th, July 30th and October 30th. If the 30th lands on a weekend the payment will be sent prior to the 30th. Your payment breaks down as follows: CITY OF PLYMOUTH 2008 FLAT GRANT $17,404.11 2008 PROPORTIONAL GRANT $28,769.00 ANNUAL TOTAL: $46,173.11 TOTAL DIVIDED BY 4 = $11,543.28 PER QTR. Cities are to spend the money on cable television related purposes however, you do not have to justify your expenses to the Cable Commission. We would suggest however, that you consult with the staff of Northwest Community Television before you actually purchase equipment. Please note that the actual dollar amounts of these grants may change each year depending on the number of cable subscribers. If you have any questions, please call me at 763-533-8196. Sincerely, 77, Greg o re, Executive Director North t Suburbs Cable Communications Commission cc: Helen LaFave Brooklyn Center • Brooklyn Park • Crystal • Golden Valley • Maple Grove • New Hope • Osseo • Plymouth • Robbins D�n^ A2 STATE OF MINNESOTA ! f FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT LUCY A. WIELAND CHIEF JUDGE HENNEPIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55487-0422 (612) 348-9808 January 30, 2008 Mayor Slazik City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 Re: Plymouth Charter Commission File No. 27 -CV -000655181 Dear Mayor Slazik: The Court has received an Acceptance of Appointment and Oath of Office from Judy Johnson. She has now met all statutory requirements and is a duly qualified member of the Plymouth Charter Commission. Her term will expire February 19, 2012. 4Since ly, u Wieland Chief Judge of District Court LAW/vv Enclosure Cc: File City Manager Secretary Charter Commission Vice Chairperson Pane dd E]SPringsted Bond Insurance Credit Rating Outlook and the Impact on Municipal Bond Issuers February 1, 2008 The national credit rating agencies (Moody's, S&P and Fitch) have the credit ratings of many of the major bond insurers under review as a result of their financial exposure to sub -prime mortgage related obligations. Some have already been downgraded by at least one rating agency and others may be at risk of losing their'Aaa' or'AAA' financial guarantee ratings. To understand the effect of this change on a municipal issuer, we have developed responses to some commonly asked questions. This is a rapidly evolving situation and, while general observations herein may remain accurate, specific facts are changing daily. Bond insurance companies guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on debt instruments they insure. Bond insurance has been frequently used to insure bonds issued by local governments. The insurers also guarantee the timely payment of asset-backed securities backed by such things as home mortgages, home equity lines of credit and other consumer loans. Bond insurers have been under scrutiny by the rating agencies as the credit quality of some securities they guarantee has dropped. The sub -prime mortgage defaults, in particular, have reduced the credit quality of the underlying mortgage obligations, threatening reserves of the insurers who backed large numbers of asset-backed securities. Problems in the mortgage market sector could affect a bond insurer's ability to make timely payments to any bondholders if reserves are drawn down. This is why the credit rating agencies are discussing possible rating downgrades for bond insurers. FSA and Assured are examples of bond insurers not directly impacted by the problems arising from mortgage -related exposures because they have limited exposure to the securities in question. Approximately 47% of municipal bonds by volume, including many general obligation bonds, were insured in 2007. This represented 43% of all municipal bond issues sold in 2007. In competitive offerings, it is common to offer "purchaser's option" insurance where a bond is qualified by insurers and the winning underwriter may purchase bond insurance at their own cost. In this case, the bonds may carry the issuer's rating ("underlying rating") but also reflect the insurer's rating, often times a'Aaa/AAA.' If an issuer's bonds are rated 'A' on their own, this means that bonds insured by an 'Aaa/AAA' insurer carry a 'Aaa/AAA' rating with an underlying rating of'A.' If the insurer's credit rating should decline, the credit rating on the bonds will drop. A drop in the rating of an issuer's bonds due to an insurer downgrade is NOT a reflection on the issuer's general credit. Generally, a decline in the credit rating of a bond will cause the value of the bond to the investor to drop. If the bonds were issued as variable interest rate bonds, it means that any new interest rate assigned to the bonds will increase to reflect the lower credit rating. pring ted springsted.com 651-223-3000 I14 Bond Insurance and the Public Issuer Page 2 Fixed rate bonds are sold by an issuer to an investment bank or other financial institution in a "primary offering." Bond insurance is used if it reduces the overall cost for the issuer by lowering the interest coupons from what they would be if the issue was uninsured and the reduction is enough to offset the premium charged for the insurance. As part of the primary offering, bonds will be sold to end -purchasers that could be individuals, corporations or trusts. The end -purchasers may continue to trade the bonds to other investors throughout the term of the bonds. Bondholders who own insured bonds may find the value of their bonds has declined. This is a direct result of the real or perceived downgrade of the credit of the bond insurer, NOT the result of any action on the part of the issuing municipality. As an example, a triple-A rating of an insured bond means that the rating agencies are confident that the insurer will cover the debt payments in the event the issuer doesn't. If an insurer's credit rating drops, the rating agencies are less confident that the insurer is able to make timely payments if needed. When the credit rating of a bond drops, generally the market value of the bond is reduced. A current bondholder has two options if the insurer's credit rating is downgraded: 1) Continue to hold the bonds in their portfolio to receive the original yield on the bonds; or 2) Sell the bonds in the secondary market at a lower price than before the downgrade because the value of the bond to the market declined with rating reduction. Neither the after issuance credit rating of the issuer or the bond insurer has a financial impact on the issuer's debt service subsequent to the primary offering of fixed rate bonds. Again, for variable rate bonds a reduction in the issuer's or insurer's credit rating will have a direct effect of raising the interest rate on the bonds. In either case the Official Statement provides disclosure to potential bondholders of various factors that are beyond the control of the Issuer, such as insurer's credit, that may affect the bondholders. Issuers need to be aware that a bond rating change is a "material event" under secondary disclosure guidelines. If your bond rating is changed for any reason, your disclosure undertaking for your bond issues probably requires that you notify the NRMSIRs of the change. If you are a Springsted Continuing Disclosure client, we are making every effort to detect rating changes that require action on your part and contact you, but we do not receive notices directly from the rating agencies other than at the time of new issuance. If you receive a notice of a change in a bond rating, please forward it to your client representative immediately. If you are not a Springsted Continuing Disclosure client, we are still available to answer questions, but you should also notify your dissemination agent of any changes in a bond rating. As of this writing, there have been limited bond insurer letter rating downgrades. However, the rating agencies have indicated there is a possibility this will happen to additional bond insurers (see chart that follows). News articles indicate that some insurers are seeking to add capital so they can maintain their triple-A ratings. F Springsted +wim.u.springsted.wcni 651-223-3000 LUZ, Bond Insurance and the Public Issuer Page 3 Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway (owned by billionaire investor Warren Buffet) has started a new bond insurance company. While this may not be good news now for other bond insurers, it is believed they will overcome this current situation and regain their position as a viable option in the future. It will take additional time before the credit rating agencies will make a determination as to which insurers warrant a credit rating downgrade. The problems of the bond insurers have forced investors to rely more on the underlying credit rating of bonds. Recent bond sales suggest issuer's are not choosing to insure bonds on their own, investors aren't looking for insurance and/or insurers themselves are not qualifying new issues for insurance. The use of insurance is based on a cost benefit analysis (cost of insurance is offset by lowered interest rates) and it is no longer clear that a benefit will result from its use. Some of the bond insurers have not been downgraded to date but are on credit watch or have been assigned a negative outlook. Nevertheless, Springsted does not believe there is a reason to preclude "purchaser's option" as a choice for bidders, particularly since the competitive bid process itself will determine if the insurance is cost effective. Some issuers with higher profiles may not want to expose their new bond issues to potential future rating downgrades in the event an insurer is downgraded. In these cases, factors other than financial outcomes have importance and should be included in the analysis. The bond insurance situation continues to evolve. If a particular issue would ordinarily be a good application for bond insurance, insurance should continue to be considered as an option. However, no assumptions should be made about the ability, cost or utility of insurance without a current evaluation of both the market impact of insurance and of any particular insurer at the time of offering. If an insurer is selected, price alone cannot be the sole determinant as various providers may have different market appeal. Summary • Bonds already outstanding that were issued with insurance may be less valuable to an investor if the credit rating of the bond insurer is reduced or if the market perception of the creditworthiness of the bond insurer drops. If the credit rating for your bonds is dropped, you may be required to report it as a "material event". • For fixed rate bonds, any reduction in the value of the bond will affect the bondholder rather than the Issuer because interest and principal payments for the issue were set at the time of the initial sale. • There is no detriment to qualifying competitively bid issues for purchaser's choice insurance. However, the value of an issuer itself choosing to buy bond insurance for a new transaction should be carefully evaluated under market conditions at the time of sale. If you have received a notice of a rating downgrade, have an upcoming bond sale, have an insured variable rate transaction or you have any general questions, please contact a Springsted representative at (651) 223.3000 or (800) 236.3033. v Springsted vl.r;l.5pringsted.com 651-223-3000 fl Bond Insurance and the Public Issuer Page 4 Insurer RECENTLY PUBLISHED INSURER RATINGS As of January 31, 2008* Moody's Rating S&P Rating Fitch Rating CA Financial Guaranty CCC mbac Assurance Corp. Aaa AAA AA Assured Guaranty Corp. Aaa AAA AAA CIFG Assurance North America, Inc. Aaa AAA AAA Capital Guaranty Insurance Company AAA Capital Markets Assurance Corp. (CapMAC) Aaa AAA AAA Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC) Aaa AA AA Financial Security Assurance Inc. (FSA) Aaa AAA AAA MBIA Insurance Corp. Aaa AAA AAA Radian Asset Assurance Inc. Aa3 AA A+ L Capital Assurance Inc. Aaa AAA A Sources used include Fitch website 1/31/08, Moody's release 12/14/07, S&P website 1/31/08. Please note these ratings are subject to change and many of those listed above are under ongoing review, some with negative implications. *Check www.springsted.com for updated information on insurer's ratings. vmpw.springsted.com 651-223-3000 Je