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Council Information Memorandum 10-03-2008
CITY OF PLYMOUTH rp) COUNCIL INFO MEMO October 3, 2008 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Kick Off Meeting 10/08/08 ................................................. Page 1 PRACAgenda 10/09/08....................................................................................................................... Page 2 October, November, December 2008 Official City Meeting Calendars .............................................. Page 3 Tentative List of Agenda Items for Future City Council Meetings ..................................................... Page 6 INFORMATION News Articles, Releases, Publications, Etc ... Louis Jambois to Leave Metro Cities, Article Metro Cities News ....................................................... Page 7 Will People Recycle More If They Get Rewarded?, Article Star & Trib............................................. Page 8 Minneapolis OK for '09 Instant -Runoff, Official Says, Article Star & Trib ......................................Page 10 Plymouth Metrolink Fare Increase Effective October 1, 2008, Rider Alert.......................................Page 12 Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects, Article NJ Times ..................................................... Page 13 Edina Aims to Let Residents Have More of Their Say, Article, Star & Trib...................................... Page 16 Plymouth Rethinks Dial -A -Ride Cuts, Article, Star & Trib............................................................... Page 18 MEETING MINUTES Planning Commission Minutes 09/17/08 ... ..................................................... Page 20 STAFF REPORTS Fire -Rescue August 2008 Report ...................................................................................................... Page 29 CORRESPONDENCE Letter to Property Owners, RE: Rezoning for Schuett Real Estate (2008077) .................................. Page 35 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Site Plan Amendments for JGM Properties, Inc. (2008084) ........... Page 36 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Highway 55 Culvert Replacement (CP #7138) ............................... Page 37 Letter from Carlson Companies, RE: 494 Commuter Services.......................................................... Page 39 Email from Cascades Neighborhood, RE: Trail.................................................................................Page 40 Letter to Property Owners, RE: Variance for Mohanty (2008094)..................................................... Page 41 Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Kickoff Meeting When: October 8th, 5:00 p.m. — 6:30 p.m. Where: French Regional Park Visitor Center, Plymouth Why: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission and Three Rivers Pail District invite you to attend a meeting to learn about how you can become involved in the Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL project (visit the Medicine Lake TMDL Proiect Website for project info.) What's the problem? There is excess nutrients entering Medicine lake, resulting in excessive growth of vegetation (curlyleaf pondweed) and algae and is causing poor water quality conditions, particularly in late summer. While a number of efforts have already been undertaken to remedy this problem, water quality is still failing to meet Clean Water Acts_ standards, and the Lake has been designated as "impaired". What is a TMDL? TMDL is "Total Maximum Daily Load," the standard for hbw much or a ponutant a lake or river can absorb before water quality is degraded. When a water body does not meet the States water quality standards it is put on the impaired waters list and a TMD study must be completed under Federal regulations. The TMDL sets a threshold for that pollutant and identifies how the daily "load" for that pollutant can be reduced—A Who should attend this meeting? Stakeholders who are interested in participating in the project as a Steering Committee member or those who just want to learn more about the project. The Steering Committee will be drawn from the communities and stakeholder organizations that will be affected by the final TMDL plan Both technical exerts and non-technical are encouraged to participate. Lit � - A Is the Steering Committee just another advisory body?` No. The Steering Committee will be making decisions that will shape the_ __! implementation plan. The Committee will be using technical results to decide tJ course of action for cleanup, i.e., the sources of pollution that should be targeted whether cost, effectiveness at reducing pollution, or some other criteria should d selection of cleanup options; whether cleanup options should include regulato initiatives? Contact Information: Brooke Asleson, Project Manager, MPCA 651-297-8244 brooke.asleson tt,pca.state.tmt.us — - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 'hree River PARK DIS` - 1 Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission October 9, 2008, 7 p.m. AGENDA REMEMBER - THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE ICE CENTER 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Visitor Presentations a. Athletic Associations b. Diane c. Other 4. Report on Past Council Action a. S. Unfinished Business a. Update- Zachary Park Building b. Update- West Medicine Lake Park Building c. Approve Capital Improvement Program 2009-2013 6. New Business a. Review Ice Center Operations - Bill Abel b. Approve outdoor skating Rink plan c. Select name for neighborhood park d. Review Hilde plans 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication 9. Adjourn Next regular meeting - November 13, 2008 Page 2 City of Plymouth Adding Quality to Life October 2008 Modified on 10103108 Page 3 1 7:00 PM 2 3 SEE Absentee 4 1:00 PM PLANNING — Voting Plymouth COMMISSION Begins for On Parade MEETING General Election Celebration Council Chambers City Center Area 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6:30-8:30 PM ENVIRONMENTAL 7:00 PM Volunteer QUALITY PARK Et REC 12:00-4:00 PM Recognition Event COMMITTEE ADVISORY COM- Fire Dept. Plymouth Creek (EQC) MEETING MISSION (PRAC) Open House Center Cancelled MEETING Fire Station III Council Chambers YOM KIPPUR _ ee ins at Sunset 12 13 JIM 14 15 16 17 18 7:00 PM 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL PLANNING COLUMBUS DAY MEETING COMMISSION Observed Council Chambers MEETING Council Chambers PLYMOUTH PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION CLOSED 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH HRA MEETING ADVISORY Medicine Lake Room COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) MEETING Medicine Lake Room A 26 27 28 29 30 31 Daylight 7:00 PM 5:30-8:30 PM Savings REGULAR COUNCIL Halloween on Ends MEETING the Creek Se[ Clerks Back 1 Council Chambers Plymouth Creek Hour Center Modified on 10103108 Page 3 City of Plymouth Adding Quality to Life November 2008 p10103108 1�8:ooAM- - 3:00 PM Absentee Voting 2 3 � 4 � 5 6 7 8 8:00 AM - 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM PLANNING HUMAN RIGHTS Absentee General COMMISSION COMMISSION Voting Election MEETING MEETING Council Chambers Parkers Lake Conference Room 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL PARK Ft REC MEETING QUALITY ADVISORY COM - Council Chambers VETERANS DAY COMMITTEE MISSION (PRAC) Observed (EQC) MEETING MEETING Medicine Lake Room Council Chambers CITY OFFICES CLOSED 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PLANNING HRA MEETING COMMISSION Medicine Lake Room MEETING Council Chambers 2324 25 7:00 PM 267:00PM 27 jjff_! 28 29 REGULAR COUNCIL PLYMOUTH MEETING ADVISORY Council Chambers COMMITTEE ON THANKSGIVING THANKSGIVING TRANSIT (PACT) HOLIDAY HOLIDAY MEETING Medicine Lake CITY OFFICES CITY OFFICES 30 Room A CLOSED CLOSED Mod" d e on Page 4 rp) City of Plymouth Adding Quality to Life December 2008 Modified on 10/03/08 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7:00 PM 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING COMMISSION Council Chambers MEETING Truth in Taxation Council Chambers Hearing 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2:00-5:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Old Fashioned Christ- REGULAR COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL PARK & REC mos MEETING QUALITY ADVISORY COM - Plymouth Historical Society Building Council Chambers COMMITTEE MISSION (PRAC) (EQC) MEETING MEETING Medicine Lake Room Council Chambers 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PLANNING HRA MEETING COMMISSION Medicine Lake Room MEETING Council Chambers 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS DAY CITY OFFICES CITY OFFICES CHANUKAH CLOSED AT CLOSED Begins at Sunset NOON 28 29 30 31 6:00-9:00 PM New Years Eve Event Plymouth Ice Center Modified on 10/03/08 Page 5 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items October 14, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Special Assessment Hearing for Fernbrook Lane Reconstruction Project (1013) • Presentation of Congratulatory Bond to recognize Plymouth being named 41 city (Jonathan North, Ehlers) • Hearing on Delinquent Utility Bills and Other Unpaid Charges • Approve Preliminary and Final Plat to allow "Gutlovics Addition" for three single family lots located at the northwest comer of the intersection of 26`h Avenue and County Road 101 North. Gartner Engineering, LLC. (2007041) (Tabled from September 9) • Approve zoning ordinance text amendment to Section 21130.02— General Landscaping and Maintenance to amend the length of time property owners have to complete the initial landscaping for newly developed properties. City of Plymouth. (2008057) • Approve site plan amendment and conditional use permits for a multi -use park recreation building for West Medicine Lake Park located at 1920 West Medicine Lake Drive. City of Plymouth. (2008075) • Approve variances for setback and impervious surface area coverage to allow construction of a new house and detached garage for property located at 2740 Larch Lane North. JP & Co. (200809 1) • Accept Quit Claim Deed to cancel Purchase Agreement for property located at the southeast comer of County Road 101 and 40th Avenue. Family Hope Services. (2003002) • Presentation of Resolution recognizing Plymouth's #1 Best Place to Live Award (Senators Bonoff, Rest, and Olson) • Authorize payment of annual membership to the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce • Approve amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) general plan and preliminary plat for "Trillium Woods," a continuing care retirement community to be located on property at the southeast comer of the intersection of County Road 47 and Juneau Lane. LCSDevelopment. (2008085) October 28, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Special Assessment Hearing for 2008 Street Reconstruction Project, City Project #8101 • Special Assessment Hearing for 2008 Mill and Overlay Project, City Project #8109 • Adopt 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Program • Announcement of General Election • Oath of Office to Firefighters Blaine Duncan, Blaine Howe, and Brandon Johnson November 10, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers November 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers December 1, Truth in Taxation Hearing, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers December 8, Truth in Taxation Hearing Continuation, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers December 9, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. page 6 Metro Cities News October 1. 2008 Louie Jambois to Leave Metro Cities Metro Cities Executive Director Louie Jambois informed the Metro Cities Board that, effective October 24th he will be leaving the Association after nearly four years of service. Louie has accepted the job of President of the St. Paul Port Authority. In his last month, Louie will assist the Board with recruitment of a new Executive Director and attendant transition issues. The Metro Cities staff has begun the process of replacing Sarah Erickson who left earlier this month to take a position in the office of St. Paul Mayor, Chris Coleman. The applicant solicitation process netted 67 applicants and interviews have begun. With Board concurrence, the interview team of Patty Nauman, Laurie Jennings and Louie Jambois will continue with filling the vacancy. The pool of candidates is very strong. The goal is to have a new staff person in place well in advance of the 2009 Legislative session. The bad news is, Metro Cities staff are leaving the Association. The good news is, 4 of the last 5 staff left to work for member cities. (The 5 th person retired.) The conclusion that we hope our members draw from this is that Metro Cities represents its membership with the quality and professionalism that makes its employees recruitment targets for our members. The association will certainly fill the positions with qualified, high quality people. While we're in transition, we will continue to serve the membership in the same manner that you have come to expect from Metro Cities. Page 7 Will people recycle more if they get rewarded? http://www.startribune.conVtemplates/Print This_Story9sid=30072274 StarTribune.com i MINNEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Will people recycle more if they get rewarded? By JENNA ROSS, Star Tribune October 1, 2008 Judy Piche and her husband recycle "everything." The Maple Grove residents pack their blue 18 -gallon bin and often fill a cardboard box beside it. In early 2009, the couple will begin receiving rewards for their recycling beyond the feel -good kind. Allied Waste Services of Minnesota is introducing a program that will compensate its customers for their used paper and containers with coupons and gift certificates. The program, called RecycleBank, will keep track of recycling levels by neighborhood, using computer chips embedded in each recycling bin and detected by trucks making pickups. The more a neighborhood recycles, the more coupons its residents will receive. RecycleBank is in operation in several states, including New York, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. Here, it has partnered with Allied Waste to offer the program for the first time in Minnesota. Maple Grove is the first city in the state to approve a contract that includes it. In Eden Prairie, where the decision of recycling contractors is left to households, not the city, Allied customers also will begin earning points this month. And more cities are in line for the service. RecycleBank is Allied Waste's answer to a conundrum many recyclers are trying to solve: How to increase the tonnage of materials people are recycling. The percentage of recycling has plateaued statewide for the last decade at about 41 percent. The idea behind RecycleBank is, if you pay people to recycle, they'll put more in their bins. Rich Hirstein, Allied Waste's district municipal services manager, divided recyclers into three categories: The ardent, the casual and the non. He hopes the program gives non-recyclers a reason to start, the casual recyclers a reason to do more, "and then the last category -- the ardent recyclers -- we're trying to reward those people." Before approving the five-year recycling contract with Allied Waste last month, Maple Grove pushed to ensure that the coupons residents would receive would be valuable. "It doesn't do you any good to get a coupon you can get anywhere else," said Gerry Butcher, public works director. "Ten dollars off a $50 grocery bill, on the other hand, is very meaningful." Page 8 I of 2 10/2/201 Will people recycle more if they get rewarded? http://www.startri bune. com/temp I ates/Print_This_Story?sid=30072274 Allied will weigh the materials picked up in a particular run and then calculate and average for those residents whose bins were ID'd by the truck. The neighborhood will split the rewards. In the future, however, Allied hopes to be able to weigh each household's contributions individually and reward recyclers accordingly. For every one pound recycled, a participant will earn 2.5 "RecycleBank Points." The company will log a household's points online, much like a rewards credit card, and residents can choose which coupons they'd like to receive. In Eden Prairie, more than 150 businesses — including Punch Pizza, Lions Tap and Linens 'n Things -- have signed on. RecycleBank will never give the businesses residents' contact information, Hirstein said. The program will use larger bins and a no -sort policy that the companies say leads to people recycling more. Several studies show that allowing people to throw all their recyclables into one bin increases the amount they recycle. Waste Management said recycling rates generally rise 15 percent when they switch from pre-sorted to no -sort pickups. Allied Waste says its rates generally rise 15 to 20 percent. But experts have also found that single -stream recycling can increase the amount of non -recyclable material entering and continuing through the recycling stream. "You hear a lot about single -stream increasing quantities set out at the curb, and that is correct," said recycling consultant Tim Goodman, of Tim Goodman &Associates in St. Louis Park. "Whether or not that increases the recycling rate, there are still questions about that." But Allied Waste, which serves about 150,000 residential customers in the greater Twin Cities area, stands by its recycling rate. It says that it recycles all but about 3.8 percent of what it picks up, and that its equipment easily handles the sorting with minimal contamination. Maple Grove residents will begin receiving their bigger, computer -chip marked carts in January and will begin earning points in February. Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. oft Page 9 10/2/20 Minneapolis OK for'09 instant -runoff, official says http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This_Story?sid=30071784 StarTribLine. corn MINNEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Minneapolis OK for'09 instant -runoff , official says By STEVE BRANDT, Star Tribune October 1. 2008 The city's top election official is urging that Minneapolis go ahead next year with the voter - approved ranked -choice voting method -- even if it requires hand -counting. Elections Director Cindy Reichert made that recommendation after rejecting proposals from two companies for equipment to handle the new voting method. If the council agrees, which seems likely given past votes, the new voting method will go ahead in 2009 unless it's blocked by a pending lawsuit. But the probable use of hand counts to settle some contests could delay the announcement of some winners by a day or more. Ranked -choice voting, also known as instant -runoff voting, was approved in a 2006 charter referendum. It allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference for city elections. Generally, the weakest candidate is dropped at the end of each round of vote -counting, and second choices made by supporters of each dropped candidate are added to the votes of surviving candidates until one hits the required threshold for election. "It's good to know that our elections department feels confident that we can do it," said Council Election Committee Chair Elizabeth Glidden. Fair Vote Minnesota, which promoted the new method, called Reichert's recommendation "a significant step forward." But using a hand count in 2009 also makes it likely that some winners won't be known on election night. That has Council President Barb Johnson, a foe of instant runoff, fuming. "This is like back to the Stone Age. It's absolutely ridiculous," she said. If the new method had been used in 2005 city elections, hand -counting would have delayed the results of the mayors race and three council races until at least the next day. That's because current machines count only first -choice votes for candidates. If a candidate's first -choice votes reach the required 50 percent threshold in a single -seat race such as mayor or council, then there's a winner. If not, second and third preferences cast by some voters would need to be hand -counted. The recommendation was surprising given that Reichert, who didn't return calls Wednesday, has previously expressed doubt about going ahead with the new method in 2009 and concern about hand counts. 1 of 2 10/2/2 Page 10 Minneapolis OK for'09 instant -runoff, official says http://www.startTibune.com/templates/Print This_Story?s id=30071784 But Council Member Cam Gordon said the speed with which the city counted ballots during last month's state judicial race recount may have assuaged Reichert's skepticism. That task was expected to take three days in Minneapolis but finished in one. That recount involved about 40,000 Minneapolis ballots, but the last city election had 71,000 ballots, and some would need to be hand -counted twice if the second choice of voters didn't put a candidate over the required threshold. The charter amendment specified that instant -runoff voting be used next year unless the council spells out why it's not ready. A group called the Minnesota Voters Alliance filed suit in December in Hennepin County District Court to block instant -runoff voting in Minneapolis. It argues that the system isn't permitted by the state Constitution. That challenge is scheduled for a court hearing on Wednesday. Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. 2 of 10/2/20 Page 11 A transit system riaeYALERT,� Plymouth Metrolink operated by the Fare Increase effective October 1, 2008 City of Plymouth On August 13, 2008, the Metropolitan Council approved a fare increase Location for the region. Effective October 1, 2008, the following fares will be in effect: Plymouth City Hall Express fare during rush hours* $3.00 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Express fare during non -rush hours $2.25 Plymouth, MN Local fare during rush hours* $2.25 Local fare during non -rush hours $1.75 55447-1482 Web Site Reduced Fares (ID Required) Senior, youth and Medicare fare during non -rush www.ci.plymouth.mn.us hours (regular fare during rush hours*) $.75 click on "Services" Persons with disabilities for any trip $.75 then'Transit" * Rush Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:30 p.m. Customer Service If you have any questions, please contact Plymouth Metrolink at 763 -509 - Monday - Friday 5535 or e-mail us at transit(.&ci.ylymouth.mn.us. 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. September 29, 2008 Voice: 763-509-5535 TDD: 763-509-5065 Fax: 763-509-5510 transit@ci.plymouth.mn.us Page 12 Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects - NYTimes.com Zbc lctu I]ork a ttttc5 rry, rir s.rom October 1, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/ 10/01 /business/01 muni.html?_r=1 &or... Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH PPIXIEfl•GRIEXOLY G04MAt SPJn50i E0 6T Cities, states and other local governments have been effectively shut out of the bond markets for the last two weeks, raising the cost of day-to-day operations, threatening longer-term projects and dampening a broad source of jobs and stability at a time when other parts of the economy are weakening. The sudden loss of credit, one of the ripple effects of the current financial turmoil, is affecting local governments in all parts of the country, rich and poor alike. In New York, a real estate boom has suddenly gone bust. Washington has shelved a planned bond offering to pay for terminal expansion and parking garages already under construction at Dulles and Reagan National Airports. Billings, Mont., is struggling to come up with $70 million more for a new emergency room. And Maine has been unable to raise $50 million for highway repairs. "We really are in terra incognita here," said Robert O. Lenna, executive director of the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, which helps that state's towns and school districts raise money. He said he had worked in public finance for 34 years and had never seen credit evaporate so completely. Maine had already begun some of its road work when the bond markets stopped functioning, so now it is scrambling for bank loans to keep the dump trucks rolling. If money does not start flowing soon, Mr. Lenna said, Maine will have to cancel some of its road and bridge projects. The only alternative would be what New York City did on Monday: Go into the locked -up markets and whip up demand by offering to pay investors a very high return. Analysts said the dysfunction in the municipal bond markets appeared to signal the end of an era of relatively cheap money for governments and, probably, the start of an era of tough choices for communities. When the market starts moving again, they said, it will look a lot like the municipal bond market of to years ago, before the arrival of financial wizardry in the form of structured -finance products, which lowered borrowing costs but added big new risks. Instead, governments will probably be issuing plain -vanilla bonds with fixed rates of interest, higher than they are accustomed to. And higher rates suggest some degree of belt -tightening, especially difficult in places where tax revenues are being squeezed because of falling real estate values and the slowing economy. Municipalities will probably be able to function, but may not expand services, said John V. Miller, chief investment officer at Nuveen Asset Management, a municipal bond investment firm. "For some, the level of service they provide will decline." Some governments, already straining to balance their budgets, will have to cut payrolls, he said, and others may decide to raise taxes. Page 13 1 of 10/1.____ ..__ ___ Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/0Immi.html? r=1&or... Last year, governments across the country issued about $23 billion of fixed-rate municipal bonds in September. This September they issued $15 billion — all but about $2.2 billion of it in the first two weeks of the month, according to Municipal Market Advisors, a research and strategy firm. Tight money is already becoming apparent in some states. In Montana, officials had planned to sell $130 million of bonds to the public last December to pay for a new emergency room, cancer center and improvements at the Billings Clinic, a 272 -bed hospital in the state's largest city. But they were dissuaded by higher interest rates even then. "I've been second-guessing it since then," said Michelle Barstad, executive director of the Montana Facility Finance Authority. "Things just keep getting worse and worse." The authority borrowed $6o million of the total cost from private lenders in May, but is now unsure where to get the remaining S70 million. Ms. Barstad said one option under consideration was to borrow about $2o million from local banks and scale back the project, at least for now. "We're just sitting on our hands like everybody else, trying to figure out what to do and how we do it," said Ms. Barstad, adding that she would welcome a return of the days of simple, fixed-rate bonds. The credit crisis caused Athens -Clarke County, Ga., to delay a $22t million bond issue planned for the day Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. The county has been planning for to years to upgrade three sewage treatment plants built more than 40 years ago when the population was much smaller. The county's finance director, John Culpepper, said he had delayed the issue rather than raise the monthly sewer bills to the system's 39,000 customers. "We're going to wait it out for the next month or two, until the market returns to more normal conditions," he said. The Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority has already begun construction of a bigger international arrivals building at Dulles, a new parking deck at Reagan National and other major projects, and said it intended to forge ahead using cash and commercial paper. New York City decided to brave the markets on Monday and ended up having the whole place to itself. It managed to issue $300 million of bonds for public schools, the only issue of the day. The New York Transitional Finance Authority will pay 5.75 percent on those 30 -year bonds, the equivalent of a 10.5 percent interest rate to New York City residents, who will not have to pay city, state and federal tax on the income. Yet even with that rate, the issue was not completely sold, said Mr. Miller of Nuveen. "This is for a very well -liked name, a very well-known name," said Mr. Miller, explaining that New York City's bonds usually sell out quickly. Mr. Lenna said Maine's advisers had warned that it might end up paying interest as high as to percent if it brought its highway bonds to market now. "We're not going to go out and incur these costs," he said. The municipal bond markets had already hiccupped before the latest turmoil. But analysts say the gridlock began in mid-September, when Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. page 14 2 of 3 10/l/2— , .,v ruvl Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects - NYTimes.com httP://Www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/0lmuni.html?—r=]&or of3 Lehman Brothers was one of several Wall Street firms that had created structured -finance products for municipalities for the past few years. These products could be hybrids, allowing a local government to issue what seemed like a fixed-rate bond that could in turn be bought by an investor who received a variable rate of interest. Governments generally prefer fixed-rate bonds because the cost is predictable — but variable-rate bonds were attractive because of their generally lower rates. Securities firms tried to merge the best of both worlds by linking derivatives contracts to municipal bonds. One structured product was a variable-rate demand note, which gave the investor the option of putting the note back to the securities firm if the investor decided the rate was too low. The notes were often bought by mutual funds for their tax-exempt bond funds. The booming demand for those funds, in turn, held down the price of borrowing for states and cities, at least for a while. But when Lehman collapsed, the mutual funds suddenly perceived a risk: the securities firms that had created the products might go out of business. So, owners of the notes put them back to the securities firms that had sold them. The prices investors were willing to pay for the notes plunged, driving up short-term rates for municipal bonds. Securities firms, under pressure, unwound the notes and reconstituted them as old-fashioned fixed-rate bonds. None of this had anything to do with the behavior of local governments or their ability to repay their debts, but it brought the municipal bond market to a halt. Thomas G. Doe, president of Municipal Market Advisors, said his firm was fielding calls this week from government contractors asking how much credit might be available next year. For insight, he pointed to municipal bond data from the 1930s. "During the first few years after the '29 crash, municipal issuance dropped 24 percent," he said. "It wouldn't be unreasonable to think that we could see municipal issuance go from a total of $43o billion last year, to something like $35o billion next year, which would be a drop of 25 or 30 percent." This would not mean widespread bond defaults, he said, just greatly narrowed local budgets. "It's no different from a family budget," he said. "We're not going to go out to dinner any more. We're not going to buy a new car. That's the similarity." Nick Bunkiey contributed reporting. Copwlght 2(708 The New York Times Canna v PI;VXY Policy Search I Cwmtions I RSS I Fist look I Contact Us I Workfa Us See Map Page 15 10/1/20 Edina aims to let residents have more of their say http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This_Story?sid=29810814 StarTribune.com I MINNEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Edina aims to let residents have more of their say By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune September 30, 2008 In Edina, where some residents have felt stymied by rules that limit what they can talk about during the City Council's public comment time, people with something to say will soon have a new outlet. The city is going to experiment with town hall meetings, an open forum where council members do more listening than talking, and residents who want to complain, praise or simply pose a question will be able to talk about anything they want. Other Twin Cities suburbs have held town hall meetings, with mixed results. According to an Edina survey that got responses from eight other cities, five had no such meetings. Shoreview tried out the concept a few years ago, with informational city booths or speakers at most of the meetings, but reported "minimal feedback" from residents. Inver Grove Heights is going to try a town hall meeting next year. But Eden Prairie holds town hall meetings in the spring and fall, and says those meetings were a success. "We spend a lot of time listening to what people say," said Eden Prairie Council Member Kathy Nelson. "People seem more willing to bring up small things and big things, from'We can use a stop sign on this corner' and 'We have a dog problem in the neighborhood' to 'We disagree with budget priorities in the city."' Eden Prairie council members as well as city officials like the police chief, fire chief and public works director usually attend the meetings to answer questions. While Nelson said city officials sometimes get questions they can't answer -- complaints about cable TV service were common for a while -- they try to answer all questions. If officials don't have answers, they promise to get in touch later. Nelson said town hall meeting attendance has been good since she joined the council almost two years ago. "It's quite enthusiastic," she said. "While it's not the kind of numbers you get at the high school football game, getting 50 to 100 people to come out just because they're interested in the community is a good turnout." The meetings give citizens a chance to vent, but Nelson said they've also helped her as a council member. "In council meetings, we spend only half our time listening," she said. "Here, we spent 80 percent of our time listening and 20 percent listening to someone responding ... It's broadened my own scope in town of the people I know." I oft I0n/2( Page 16 Edina aims to let residents have more of their say http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This_Story9sid=29810814 Though no firm date has been set, Edina's first town hall meeting probably will be held in January, with a format that's similar to the arrangement in Eden Prairie. The meeting will last a set period, with speakers given a limited time to talk. There will be no agenda, just an open microphone for people to talk about what's on their minds. Edina Council Member Linda Masica said the idea of a town hall meeting came from residents who wanted a place to speak informally with council members about issues that mattered to them. They wanted somewhere casual, with the council coming down from behind their wall of desks that divides them from the public in council chambers. "We have a very involved population, a very educated and savvy population, and they want to address things that are important to them," Masica said. Edina council meetings already include a time dedicated to public comment, but council rules prohibit speakers from talking about issues that had a public hearing in the last month or that already have a date scheduled for public hearing. Masica said a town hall meeting would free people from those rules and perhaps draw other residents who don't come to council meetings but still have things they want to say. At a recent meeting, Edina council members talked about possibly holding the meeting away from City Hall. But if the meeting is televised, they said, it might be easiest to hold it in council chambers. In that case, the council members might sit informally nearer to residents, rather than remain seated behind the dais. Eden Prairie's town hall meetings have been held in a variety of locations, including fire houses and the senior center. Nelson said at the request of residents, the next one will move back to council chambers. Some people wanted the meetings televised, which wasn't done with most of the meetings that didn't take place in Hall. Residents also have asked if it is possible to pose questions during the meeting via Internet or by using a camera attached to a home computer. City Hall has another advantage, Nelson said. The chairs there are much more comfortable than the folding chairs people have to set up and take down in other locations, she said. Mary Jane Smetanka • 612-673-7380 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Page 17 2of2 10� Plymouth rethinks Dial -A -Ride cuts ht4)://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This Story?sid=29886714 StarTribune.com MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL, MINNESOTA Plymouth rethinks Dial -A -Ride cuts ByJENNA ROSS, Star Tribune September 30, 2008 Because people depend on Plymouth's Dial -A -Ride buses to get to work, class and the grocery store, the City Council's task was difficult: Make cuts to the program without disrupting riders' routines of working, studying or eating. At its meeting last week, a unanimous council voted to raise one-way fares for the curb -to -curb service from $2 to $3. But it opted not to eliminate Saturday hours, as a committee had recommended. "I'm not real thrilled with cutting back hours or increasing fares," said Council Member Bob Stein, "but we have to do one or both." The city began discussing cuts -- and asking for feedback — months ago because of rising fuel costs and decreasing revenue for transit. The council decided that upping fares would be difficult for passengers but doable, while eliminating Saturday service could make it difficult for some people to keep their jobs. Although fewer people call for rides on Saturdays than other days, those who do "are primarily workers," said Sarah Hellekson, the city's transit manager. Increasing the fare to $3 will add $50,000 in annual revenue, according to a staff report. The change goes into effect Jan. 1. Eliminating Saturday service would have saved another $45,000. Plymouth will continue discussing ways to cut the cost of the service, which is open to all residents. One possibility is to cut evening hours. Plymouth's Dial -A -Ride runs until 10 p.m. on weekdays, while similar services in the metro area generally end by 6 p.m. Edina's service, for example, runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other transit programs have approved similar fare increases this year, including Metro Mobility, an areawide transit service for people with disabilities and a certification from their doctor. Its fare rose 50 cents, to $4 during rush hour and $3 at off-peak times. The current $2 fare for Plymouth's Dial -A -Ride covered only a small portion of the $17 average cost per ride during 2007. The remaining $15 came from Plymouth's share of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, which is also lagging. And costs are rising again this year because of higher fuel prices. "I worry that if we don't do this, we'll have greater problems in the future and fewer people will be served," said Council Member Ginny Black. Last year, Plymouth's Dial -A -Ride gave about 65,000 rides, which riders schedule ahead 1 of 10/1, Page 18 Plymouth rethinks Dial -A -Ride cuts http://www.startribme.com/templates/Print This Story0sid=29886714 of time. The service's mini -buses will travel to anywhere in Plymouth, as well as shopping and medical centers just outside the city, including Ridgedale in Minnetonka. At a meeting in August, discussion of the fare increase sparked a larger conversation about the future of Dial -A -Ride, which some council members were concerned is too costly. Getting rid of the service could save about $950,000 a year. Since then, several service organizations have advocated keeping the service and have pushed the city to explore partnerships with groups, churches and businesses. At its meeting last week, the council expressed interest in doing so. In the past, however, the city has "tried to invite partners in, and we tried to be far-reaching," said City Manager Laurie Ahrens. "We did not have a great deal of success -- I would say no success -- in that endeavor." Plymouth residents, too, have had ideas about how to make the service more self-sustaining. "What efforts has the city of Plymouth made to promote the Dial -A -Ride program to increase the number of passengers?" wrote Katrina James in a letter to the city. "I think a lot of people assume the program is just for the elderly or physically challenged. I think more people would consider using the program if they knew more about it." Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168 © 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Page 19 2 oft 10'IC Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting September 17, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair James Davis, Commissioners Terry Jaffoni, Erik Aamoth, Karl Neset and Scott Nelson MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair James Holmes STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Marie Darling and Office Support Representative Janice Bergstrom 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the September 17, 2008 Planning Commission Agenda as amended. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the September 3, 2008 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2008057) Vice Chair Davis introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for a zoning ordinance text amendment to Section 21130.02 — General Landscaping and Maintenance to amend the length of time property owners have to complete the initial landscaping for newly developed properties. Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the staff report. Page 20 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 2 Commissioner Nelson asked if the proposed amendment change would affect existing houses, such as the example cited that is finished but the outside yard is in disrepair. He asked if the permit was issued more than a year ago in the example cited. Senior Planner Darling said it is over one year since the building permit was issued, however, the proposed ordinance amendment would not apply to past date approvals. Commissioner Nelson asked what remedy the City would use to enforce the proposed change. Senior Planner Darling said if landscape development has not started, the City can write a compliance letter alerting a property owner. If a property owner does not comply, the matter can be sent to the City Attorney for prosecution. Commissioner Jaffoni said the proposed amendment to reduce compliance after occupancy from 1 year to 60 days seems steep. She asked if other cities have this requirement and is it considered to be onerous on the part of new owners. Senior Planner Darling stated 11 cities have the requirement and the majority require yards installed upon issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.). She said a few have double date times - either after the building permit is issued or with the C.O. Commissioner Aamoth asked if there has been feedback from the development community in regard to the 60 -day requirement. Senior Planner Darling said there has been no external review of this ordinance. Commissioner Aamoth asked if that would be done prior to the City Council meeting. Planning Manager Senness said the proposed amendment would be less drastic than what comparable communities are doing. She added that the same developers work throughout the area so this would not be a great surprise. Commissioner Nelson asked about the extensions granted for financial, weather, health, etc. in cases where the house is occupied. Senior Planner Darling said financial hardship is not one of the extensions allowed for. She said they could look at extreme circumstances and cited a recent unfortunate situation where the property owner could not comply. Commissioner Jaffoni said the requirement of one year from issuance of the building permit comes back to the developer which goes back to the homeowner. If occupied, the occupant has 60 days to comply. Page 21 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 3 Commissioner Neset said other cities require landscape completion prior to the issuance of the C.O. and the builders are accountable with the guarantees provided. Senior Planner Darling said ultimately the owner pays one way or another. Commissioner Neset said at that point the builder puts up money. He said the C.O. could be held to ensure the builder installs the landscaping. Commissioner Neset added it takes a long time to get someone out to your house to landscape, so consider tightening up the implementation. Commissioner Nelson asked if the C.O. would be used as leverage against the builder for unfinished portions of the project. Commissioner Neset said he considers financial guarantees given by the developer a stricter enforcement and a better way to get it done, rather than leaving it up to the individual homeowner. He reiterated that finding somebody to sod your yard in 60 days is difficult and to make landscape installation a condition for occupancy. Vice Chair Davis referenced his occupancy in February, with landscaping completed in June. He asked how logistics would work in a winter situation. Senior Planner Darling said a specific exemption for weather was written; the time frame would extend to the following June 1. Senior Planner Darling said several cities require either escrows for landscaping or write in a specific new deadline as proposed in the amendment before them. Commissioner Jaffoni questioned if 60 days is enough time, regardless of winter. She said lining up contractors, plan selection and interviewing competitive bids, along with bills to pay, etc., make the 60 days too short of a time frame. Commissioner Jaffoni said another option is reducing to 6 months post occupancy or one year from the date of the building permit would give enough time, and would reduce the number of exemptions and subjectivity. Commissioner Neset said Commissioner Jaffoni's point is a good one, but you have to administer something after the fact which plays into his idea that getting landscaping done to city standards by the C.O. doesn't leave the burden on the homeowner to complete the landscaping. Planning Manager Senness said in most cases the landscaping would be the responsibility of the builder rather than the homeowner, and this underlines the fact that it is the builder's responsibility. Page 22 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 4 Commissioner Neset asked if the focus is on specific homes rather than larger developments. Senior Planner Darling said the focus is for specific single family homes. Commercial developments have financial guarantees requiring completion before release. Commissioner Neset said for houses that are being built one at a time the builder should get the C.O. after landscaping is completed. Commissioner Aamoth asked how this would be communicated to a busy homeowner that this deadline is approaching. Senior Planner Darling said under the current process most houses and yards are completed when the C.O. is issued and within the 12 month time frame. She said that typically when landscaping is not completed, most real estate transactions require an escrow account for that completion. Senior Planner Darling said annually there are one or two infill lots where escrow is not held privately, but because of the current financial situation this would be an appropriate time to look at our deadlines. Vice Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Commissioner Nelson said he is in favor of amending the ordinance as long as there is some leeway for circumstances, and said he has been on the side of this as a homeowner twice. He said spring can be brutal and he would be in favor of amending the ordinance using exemptions for circumstances for extending the deadline. Senior Planner Darling reviewed the wording of the proposed amendment for exceptions and Commissioner Nelson said he would support it. Commissioner Jaffoni suggested keeping the one year from date of building permit issuance, but also 6 months from the date of occupancy in case a homeowner doesn't want the builder to put in the landscaping or leave it up to the homeowner. Commissioner Jaffoni said she supports the 6 month date, with the exceptions outlined. She said is comfortable with Commissioner Neset's idea also because it is plain and simple. Commissioner Neset said the cost of the landscaping could be a drag on the person's finances, and with the foreclosure issue, banks are tightening standards on how much a person can get, making it harder for homeowners to get the yard completed. He said he likes money set aside to guarantee someone is going to do the landscaping. Commissioner Neset said that would be important if he lived next door to an unfinished yard, hoping and waiting the city could enforce completion. He said it would be better for neighborhood Page 23 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 5 relations, but he wouldn't want to be the guy who can't afford to finish the yard. Commissioner Neset said he is offering an alternative for consideration, but would support the proposed amendment also. Vice Chair Davis said one drawback is that only larger developments have the financial guarantees and smaller developments would not have this leverage. Commissioner Neset asked about the possibility of holding money in escrow to ensure landscaping would be covered. Senior Planner Darling said that has not been proposed because of the size of this issue. She said requiring every building permit issued to escrow money for landscaping would be holding the entire industry accountable for misdeeds of 3 or 4. Senior Planner Darling said another alternative would be require escrow only for people who get an exception. Commissioner Neset asked if the proposed zoning ordinance change affects only one or two cases per year. Senior Planner Darling said we see one or two per year having difficulty gaining compliance. Planning Manager Senness said with the amendment we would have more leverage to deal with the problem cases, but trying to balance and not catch too many people in the net that would make it onerous on the people who are doing what they ought to be doing. Commissioner Neset said he would support the staff recommendations. Commissioner Neset said hopefully this will continue to be an infrequent occurrence. He said having the city complete a yard seems to be more work than using the City Attorney's office to enforce the zoning ordinance. Vice Chair Davis said he concurred with Commissioner Neset, and said the marketplace is policing itself 99 percent of the time. He said he does not want to throw a net and catch those who are working within the system. Commissioner Aamoth asked if the financial hardship could be included as an exception. Commissioner Neset said he likes that idea but questioned how to establish financial hardship, and leaving it up to the city to validate whether someone has enough money to pay might create more trouble. Commissioner Aamoth suggested adding an amendment to include financial hardship as an exception. Page 24 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 6 Planning Manager Senness said the financial situation is harder to evaluate, and often ends up as a legal issue. She said escrows can be done, but adding financial hardship would be a difficult, subjective thing to add. MOTION by Neset, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to approve the request by the City of Plymouth for a zoning ordinance text amendment to Section 21130.02 — General Landscaping and Maintenance to amend the length of time property owners have to complete the initial landscaping for newly developed properties. Commissioner Aamoth said he supports Commissioner Jaffoni's initial suggestion and will not support this. Commissioner Jaffoni said she supports the 6 -month time frame but added she did not know if 6 months will gain anything over the 60 days. She said 90 or 120 days might give enough time and then she would support the amendment. Friendly amendment by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Aamoth, to modify the 60 days to 120 days. Vice Chair Davis said 120 days is too long. He said the purpose is to tighten down the time frame and he said he will not support it. Friendly amendment by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni to modify the 60 days to 90 days. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH — City Center Design Book (Continued from September 3, 2008) Planning Manager Senness gave an overview of the City Center Design Book. Commissioner Jaffoni commented that the City has done a great job over years of looking and trying to develop this in a way that will be functional, and something the City can be proud of. She said this presents a good compilation of everything that is going on, and the evolution over the years is interesting and positive. Commissioner Jaffoni asked about the time frame for construction of the pedestrian spine and where funding comes from for items the City is responsible for. Planning Manager Senness explained that the CIP program details the funding on all types of improvements. She said the pedestrian spine will be completed in part by the library and Page 25 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 7 the 36`h Avenue street reconstruction in 2009, and as other development projects occur. Planning Manager Senness said portions adjacent to already developed areas need further work and can be funded through the CIP with City funds. Commissioner Neset thanked staff for all the work, and said the area will be beautiful when done. He asked for an overview of the pedestrian spine in the movie theater and Cub area. Planning Manager Senness said there would be three sets of pedestrian facilities, including private sidewalks. In this area, a private sidewalk would be constructed in conjunction with the new strip center by Cub, which will help provide a safe route for foot traffic from 36"h Avenue to the theater and buildings by Applebee's, etc. Commissioner Jaffoni asked if there are plans to install a sidewalk from the cinema to the restaurant area, and said she thinks this would be a potential area pedestrians would want to use. Planning Manager Senness agreed and said they would need to work with the Mann Theater and current restaurants in the area. Commissioner Aamoth recalled a conversation about retail and getting some shopping amenities. Planning Manager Senness said the recent City Council review of City Center affirmed the current plan, with an emphasis on not granting variances. She said there were some changes to the zoning ordinance to allow retail in more areas in City Center and that this would help encourage retail, but it will be a market decision. Commissioner Aamoth asked if other cities, such as Maple Grove, have planned retail spaces, or do they recruit. He asked if is a market driven philosophy. Planning Manager Senness said some cities do promote and recruit particular developers. She said we do not have a large area that is available, and proposals are reviewed to ensure they meet requirements. She added the City Council carefully reviewed the new Inland Development to ensure the buildings will be an asset and will look like the vision the City had in mind. Commissioner Aamoth asked if emphasis is given to potential developers that we have a vision we want you to follow. He asked if there are short term and long term projects. Planning Manager Senness said the CIP program has phases which extend over many years. She added these are not inexpensive projects so they are phased over a period of time. Page 26 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 8 Commissioner Nelson concurred with Commissioner Jaffoni regarding the need for some sidewalk in the middle of the parking lot near the Mann Theater. He said newly encouraged pedestrian traffic will create a park -like atmosphere, and asked if there would be pedestrian plaza modes and if those plaza nodes would be severe weather shelters. Planning Manager Senness said these areas are relatively small in size and would not have structures, just benches and some seating. Commissioner Nelson said a 12' by 12' open air gazebo could provide shelter from the sun, and would be a gathering place. Planning Manager Senness said the library plaza does not have a structure, but this could be discussed with developers of other sites. Commissioner Nelson commended staff for this excellent piece of work. Commissioner Aamoth echoed Commissioner Nelson and said being part of this process was one of the reasons he wanted to be on the Planning Commission. Commissioner Jaffoni echoed Commissioner Aamoth's comment. She referenced the lighting diagram for Vicksburg Lane west of the library and asked why no lights were planned for this area. Planning Manager Senness explained there is a residential area located on the west side of the library. Commissioner Jaffoni said the Plymouth Town Square senior building is located near this network of sidewalks. She said benches would be near entrances, but was hoping benches could be located half way down a long section of a pedestrian spine as well. Planning Manager Senness the nodes would be places for seating, and the library has a number of seating locations throughout the spine area. Vice Chair Davis said most of this area is already occupied with thriving businesses. He asked if there has been supportive feedback from these property owners on ideas we have for their property. Planning Manager Senness said the City has worked closely with the library, Inland and a related project at Cub with respect to the pedestrian spine. She noted that when the City was looking at potentially adding streets in City Center, property owners from some undeveloped and redevelopment sites did not give a positive response. Planning Manager Senness said many projects would be funded through the CIP, while other items would be Page 27 Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 17, 2008 Page 9 assessed, such as the street lights which were done in two phases. She added that there has been no negative feedback on that. Vice Chair Davis said it good to be getting feedback from property owners and the City is reactive to their feedback. Vice Chair Davis reiterated the other commissioners' comments regarding the City Center book, and said it is fabulous. He said the expectation is this book will be referred to for guidance as developers come forward with projects. Commissioner Jaffoni said the desired materials mentioned brick, stucco, stone and her concern is that a number of developments in the area seem to be looking the same. Commissioner Jaffoni said she would encourage City Council and staff to seek more diversity in the structure of our buildings, in particular heights. She recommended staggered, multi-level, and suggested residences above the retail space. Commissioner Jaffoni said staggered positions relative to the setback from the street would create a little more interest. Planning Manager Senness said the City Council concurred with her earlier, similar suggestions and the Council worked with the Inland project to comply and use good materials to do something that doesn't look like everything else. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Vice Chair Davis, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. Page 28 plymoliTh MINNESOTA FIRE -RESCUE MONTHLY REPORT AUGUST 2008 Page 29 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT August 2008 Monthly Synopsis Year-to-date (YTD), the Department answered 906 calls for service. This compares to 1055 calls for service in 2007 (YTD). The highest call volume in August occurred between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Wednesday was the busiest day of the week. Seventy-four percent of calls occurring in August were "Duty Crew" calls. Total Calls Year -to -Date Events By Category FalseAlams Fires 1500 -_ 409/6 1)6/9 aerpressurel 1250 T 1055 E>Vosions 1000 906 pi 750 _ _ Rescue/EMS 500 Good hderd 13% Calls 250 206/6 0 -- \ Ha dous i 1/1107-8/31/07 1/1/08-8/31/08 Conditions Service Calls 10% 70A 40 30 20 10 0 Calls by Time of Day 0600- 0900- 1200- 1500- 1800- 2100- 0000- 0300- 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0000 0300 0600 Calls by Day of Week 50 �- __.._.._— -------- 40 ugW 30 , -m- 10 -1 I__.m -- --- .._�_ ®Aug -O8 0 1 Page 30 Responses were divided between the fire stations as follows: Station I (13205 Co. Rd. 6) 38 Station II (12000 Old Rockford Rd.) 39 Station III (3300 Dunkirk Ln.) 53 Station Comparison 60 53 50 38 39 40 30 ■Aug -08 20 10 0 1 2 3 August 2008 in-service and on -scene (total response) times for emergency events are as follows. These calls represent a breakdown of staffed station (including Duty Crew) response times and non -staffed station response times. A further breakdown of each station's non -staffed station response times are noted. Response Time for Emergency Calls 16:48 -- -- — . 14:24 11:05 12:00 7:19 9:36 7:12 Fug -08 4:48 2:24 0:00 – Duty Crew Not Duty Crew Page 31 Is` Truck 15` Truck 2nd Truck 2nd Truck Number In -Service On -Scene In -Service On -Scene of Calls Staffed Station 1:16 7:19 6:49 11:50 25 Non -Staffed Station 6:06 11:05 N/A N/A 1 Station I N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 Station II 6:06 11:05 N/A N/A 1 Station III N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 Response Time for Emergency Calls 16:48 -- -- — . 14:24 11:05 12:00 7:19 9:36 7:12 Fug -08 4:48 2:24 0:00 – Duty Crew Not Duty Crew Page 31 Sinni%cantor Unusual Events In August, the following response is notable: August 9 Building Fire (6:09 p.m.) August 28 Building Fire (1:47 p.m.) During the month of August, fourteen calls were paged general alarm (all department personnel were alerted). Eleven of these calls occurred in the City, with an average of six firefighters arriving on the scene. There were three calls for mutual aid to partnering cities. $6,300,000 $4,300,000 $2,300,000 $300,000 Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date 1/1/07-8/31/07 1/1/08-8/31/08 Committed Time In August, paid -on-call firefighters worked an average of over 28 hours. Training During the month of August, five topics were offered during eight regularly scheduled in-house training sessions. These topics included Trench, Single Engine Operations, Rescue Equipment, Company Operations and Engine 21. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team, Rope Rescue Team and RAD Team. Sixty-nine members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 431 — an average of over six hours per participating member. Recruitment During the month of August, 70 paid -on-call firefighters served the City of Plymouth. One member left the department. We completed background investigations and psychological examinations for probationary firefighter candidates. 3 Page 32 Duty Crew Proms The Duty Crew Program was in operation on all weekdays during the month of August including Saturdays. Three Saturday shifts was cancelled due to lack of staffing. Forty-seven members participated in the program. STAFFING SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH BY SHIFT Staffine: 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 6 Firefighters 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 5 Firefighters 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 4 Firefighters 100% 100% 96% 96% 88% 3 Firefighters 0% 0% 4% 4% 0% No Staff 0% 0% 0% 0% 12% DUTY CREW STAFFING August 2008 2% 2% ® 4 Firefighters ❑ 3 Firefighters 0 Firefighters 1% DUTY CREW VS. NON -DUTY CREW CALLS FOR SERVICE IN AUGUST 2008 n Page 33 Plymouth Fire Department Public Education Programming August 2008 Page 34 Programs Hours Station Tours Bookmobile/Literacy Preschool Visits K-6 Education Career Talk/Nights Bike Helmet Program 4 15 Car Seat Check-ups 25 25 Assist North Memorial Smokebusters/Seniors 5 5 Smokebusters/Families Ski Helmet Sales Adopt a Hydrant Block Parties 2 3 Parades 1 2 NNO 1 15 Oen Houses 1 10 Fire Ext. Training Business Safety Fairs 1 2 Business Fire Drills Pub. Ed Training Pub. Ed Meetings 2 4 Literature Drops 1 2 Diversity Outreach 1 2 Misc. Programming 1 2 Special Projects Totals 451 87 Page 34 Adding Quchty to Life October 3, 2008 SUBJECT: REZONING AND SITE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR SCHUETT REAL ESTATE GROUP (2008077) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by Schuett Real Estate Group, under File No. 2008077, for rezoning from B -C (Business Campus) to O (Office) and site plan amendment for three small additions. The proposal would allow the two existing town -office buildings located southeast of Old Rockford Road and 45`h Avenue to be converted to a senior memory care facility with 45 rooms. 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 October 15, 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 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, T)tAfi tom, �wlyq�5 Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008077propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 www.ci.plymouth.mn.us 09 Page 35 )Plymouth City of Adding Quchty to Life October 3, 2008 SUBJECT: REZONING AND SITE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR SCHUETT REAL ESTATE GROUP (2008077) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by Schuett Real Estate Group, under File No. 2008077, for rezoning from B -C (Business Campus) to O (Office) and site plan amendment for three small additions. The proposal would allow the two existing town -office buildings located southeast of Old Rockford Road and 45`h Avenue to be converted to a senior memory care facility with 45 rooms. 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 October 15, 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 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, T)tAfi tom, �wlyq�5 Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008077propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 www.ci.plymouth.mn.us 09 Page 35 Adding Quality to Life October 3, 2008 SUBJECT: SITE PLAN AMENDMENTS, INTERIM USE PERMITS, VARIANCES AND A NATURAL PRESERVE FOR JGM PROPERTIES, INC. (2008084) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by JGM Properties, Inc., under File No. 2008084, for site plan amendments, interim use permits and variances to allow a parking expansion on two properties located at 9909 South Shore Drive and 1605 State Highway 169 North. The project also includes a request for a natural preserve. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 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 October 15, 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 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008084propnotice 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, ,Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tet: 763-509-5000 • www.c' ci,,- ,.:: th —,,,; . >1 •7 Page 36 rp)Plymouth Adding Quality to Life October 3, 2008 SUBJECT: TRUNK HIGHWAY 55 CULVERT REPLACEMENT BETWEEN WEST MEDICINE LAKE DRIVE AND SOUTH SHORE DRIVE CITY PROJECT NO. 7138 Dear Property Owner: The City of Plymouth is proceeding with replacement of an existing culvert under Trunk Highway 55 between West Medicine Lake Drive and South Shore Drive. The culvert outlets into a drainage ditch between Famous Dave's and the SKD Architects building. Replacement of the culvert under the north frontage road will take place on October 16 and 17, weather permitting. The north frontage road will be closed between Famous Dave's and the SKD Architects building during this period of time. Replacement of the culvert under Trunk Highway 55 will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17 and will be completed by 5:00 a.m. on Monday, October 20. During this time period, the contractor will be working 24 hours per day to complete the work in time. Trunk Highway 55 will be closed to traffic between West Medicine Lake Drive and South Shore Drive during this period. A detour route using 1-494,1-394 and Trunk Highway 169 will be posted (map enclosed). The north frontage road will be kept open to local traffic over the weekend. Primary contacts during construction are as follows: Gary Lauwagie (Consultant Inspector) 612-759-0762 Jay Murzyn (Consultant Project Manager) 651-485-6999 The City appreciates your cooperation and patience with this important project. Please call me at 763-509-5525 or email me at rmobergt7a ci.pllymouth.mn.us, if you have any questions. Sincerely, Robert L. Moberg, P.E. City Engineer enclosure cc: Jay Murzyn, Short, Elliot, Hendrickson, Inc. 3400 Plymouth Blvd • Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tel: 763-509-5000 • www.ci.plymouth.mmus ,►�� o:E.o..m raoiec S2"-2M7138U.N.twe R..M.,u.e ros r..d.� Page 37 y cn - O c CD 4 7a l tD _! ! -_. Pana 3R Wo . CARLSON TRAVEL j HOTELS 1 RESTAURANTS 1 CRUISES I MARKETING September 23, 2008 Mayor Slavik City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mayor Slavik: I am writing to express my support for 494 Commuter Services. I have had the pleasure of partnering with 494 Commuter Services over the past several years to encourage our employees to use alternatives to driving alone such as carpooling, transit and bicycling. Kate Meredith, Director of Outreach at 494 Commuter Services, has provided excellent customer service to Carlson Companies employees in addressing their commute -related concerns and in helping find a commute option that works best for the individual employee. Kate hosts 2-3 Commuter Fairs (informational table in the lunchroom) per year at both our Towers location in Minnetonka and our Carlson Marketing Building in Plymouth. Cable Channel 12 has featured the free commuting assistance 494 Commuter Services provides to Carlson Companies employees, in their programming a few times in recent years. In recent months, 494 Commuter Services has been an invaluable resource to tum to as our employees struggle with the increasing cost for gas. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me to discuss further at 763-212-1166. Sincerely, � Y, Nicole Dombrowski Rewards & Recognition Event Specialist, Carlson cc: Kate Meredith 701 CARISON PARKWAY, NIINNL"I'ONRA, NIN j5305 I CARLSON.COM Page 39 From: Jeannine Acker[mailto:Jeannine.Acker@atsmedical.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 1:13 PM To: Eric Blank; Diane Evans Cc: Kelli Slavik; grhirt40@yahoo.com; Vicki Murphey; stevefiler@comcast.net Subject: Thanks for the Trail! Dear Eric and Diane (and your entire team), Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The residents of the Cascades neighborhood (Old Rockford Road & Hwy 55) want to sincerely thank you for "our' beautiful, new trail. It is the Cadillac of walking/biking paths! This trail is so appreciated and already being used more than you can imagine. What was once a treacherous walk between our neighborhood and Plum Tree is now a comfortable, safe trek. One of our neighbors who is wheelchair bound commented that it was the first time he has been able to navigate his way out the Cascades development since he moved in 3 years ago! I realize this project is small in scope compared to others you may deal with — but to us it means a lot. Thank you again for your patience and persistence with this important project Kind regards, Jeannine Acker 4740 Vagabond Lane Jeannine Acker Manager, Conventions & Exhibits ATS Medical Fociaed right on cardiae surgepy (763) 557-2270 (direct) (612) 280-6850 (mobile) (763) 553-1492 (fax) www.atsmedical.com `'� Please consider the Environment before printing this email This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. Page 40 City ("117lfl" th Adding Quality to Life September 30, 2008 SUBJECT: MINOR VARIANCE FOR SUNIL AND TAMERA MOHANTY (2008094) Dear Property Owner: This letter is written to inform you that Sunil and Tamera Mohanty, under file 2008094, are requesting a minor variance to encroach 1.87 feet into the 15 -foot required side yard setback for a room addition for property located at 5720 Rosewood Lane North. A minor variance may be approved administratively. If you would like to comment on this proposal, please fill out the attached project description page and return it to the City in the enclosed self-addressed envelope no later than October 14, 2008. While a formal Public Hearing is not required, City regulations require that property owners be notified of such applications. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 200 feet of the site of this proposal. Information related to the application as submitted by the petitioner is available for review at the City Center, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays, except holidays. If you have any questions you may call Associate Planner Jared Noelting at (763) 509- 5463. Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2008094 ivlohanty.doc 3400 Ptymouth Blvd o Plymouth, Minnesota 55447-1482 • Tei: 763-509-5000 • wunv.c.ptymouth.mn.is 44;01 Page 41