HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 11-03-1994j I
Y
NOVEMBER 3, 1994
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS ....
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER:
NOVEMBER 3 6:00 P.M. CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS
Public Safety Training Room
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NOVEMBER 7 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers
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NOVEMBER 14 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Public Safety Training Room
Topic: Planning for Northwest Plymouth
Infrastructure Needs
NOVEMBER 21 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers
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NOVEMBER 28 6:30 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Public Safety Training Room
Topic: Ward 2 Candidate Interviews
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NOVEMBER 30 7:00 P.M. CITY BUDGETS PUBLIC HEARING
City Council Chambers
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MIIVIO
November 3, 1994
Page 2 -'
2. STATE GENERAL ELECTION -- TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8. Polls open 7 a.m.,
close 8 p.m. Election results will be available on Cable 12 News starting at 9:30 p.m.
3. OPEN SPACE COMNUTTEE -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 5:00 P.M., Council
Conference Room.
4. PLANNING COMMISSION -- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 7:00 p.m., City
Council Chambers.
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5. PRAC -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 7:00 P.M., Public Safety Training Room. (M-
5) '
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6. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 7:30 P.M.,
Public Safety Library.
7. CITY OFFICES CLOSED -- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 - VETERANS DAY.
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8. LMC POLICY ADOPTION CONFERENCE -- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18. The
League of Minnesota Cities 1995 Policy Adoption Conference will be held at the
Northwest Inn in Brooklyn Park beginning at 8:30 a.m. A copy of the meeting schedule is
attached. Also included is a copy of the 1995 City Policies and Priorities which the
League membership will vote on as part of the conference. Please contact Laurie to
register for the conference. (M -8)
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9. LOCAL OFFICIALS ROUNDTABLES -- With the assistance of the Hamline University
Graduate Public Administration Program, a group of local city officials in the metropolitan
area have developed a series of roundtable discussions on critical issues facing local
governments. Four regional meetings have been planned during November and December.
More specific information on the sessions is contained in the attached letter from Hamline
University. Please R.S.V.P. to Laurie to be registered. (M -9)
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10. HATE /BIAS CRIME SYMPOSIUM -- The cities of Crystal, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park
and Brooklyn Center will co- sponsor this symposium on Thursday, November 17, from 7
to 9 p.m. at the Crystal City Hall. Information on the symposium attached. (M -10)
11. METRO MEETINGS -j, The weekly calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Council
and its advisory commissions is attached. (M -11)
12. MEETING CALENDARS - City Council and City Center calendars are attached. (M -12)
1
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO
November 3, 1994
Page 3
................................................................................... ...............................
1. COUNCIL VACANCY -- Attached is a letter from the City Attorney on the Council's
procedure for filling the Ward 2 Council vacancy. The City's press release on the
appointment process is also attached. (I -1)
2. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
a. Weekly Building Permit Report for Commercial/Industrial/Public and Use Types. (I-
2a)
b. Annual Report from Property /Casualty Insurance Agent. (I -2b)
3. NEWSLETTERS /PUBLICATIONS:
a. Connect, newsletter from Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners. (I -3a)
4. LMC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE -- The League of Minnesota Cities has decided to
develop and offer a Leadership Institute for local elected officials. The Institute is
intended to increase the availability and accessibility of training programs designed to
help achieve good governance in Minnesota cities. This program will begin with a new
program format for the 1995 Newly Elected Officials Conference and continue with
course offerings throughout the year.
City Clerk Laurie Ahrens served as a member of the LMC Advisory Committee to
develop the Leadership Institute this past year. Attached is a letter thanking her for her
service on the Advisory Committee. The Committee consisted of 12 local elected
officials, two City Managers, and two City Clerks from throughout the State. (I -4)
5. MEMOS & CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Letter - from Vern Peterson, Executive Director, Association of Metropolitan
Municipalities, welcoming Plymouth back as a member effective January 1, 1995.
The appointment of the City's official delegate and alternate to the AMM will be on
the November 21 Council agenda. (I -5a)
b. Letter from Eric Blank responding to resident feedback form from Roger Berkowitz,
13235 55th Avenue No. (I -5b)
c. Letter from Daniel and Laurie Lafontaine, 11400 5th Avenue North, to Mayor and
Council, regarding the Plymouth Shopping Center development. (I -5c)
d. Invitation from Gentra Systems, Inc. to attend an Open House for their new facilities
located at 15200 25th Avenue No. (I -5d)
e. Letter from National League of Cities conveying results of a School Violence Survey
conducted by the NLC in September. (I -5e)
f. Memo from Rick Kline, Fire Chief commending Fire Department members for their
response and actions to a construction rescue incident. (I -5f)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO
November 3, 1994
Page 4
g. Letter to Matt Perry from Mayor Tierney in response to his concerns about the water
quality of Parkers Lake. (I -5g)
h. Letter from Michael and Julie Johnson, regarding proposed development in the
County Road 24 and Highway 55 intersection. (I -5h)
i. Letter to Fred Moore, from Cathy Davis, President, Seven Ponds Homeowner's
Association, concerning a drainage problem associated with a berm along Medina
Road. (I -5i)
j. Revised public hearing notice from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advising of a
meeting date change for the 1995 Intended Use Plan. (I -5j)
Dwight Johnson
City Manager
Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission*
November 10, 1994, 7:00 p.m.
*Public Safety Training Room, 2nd Floor
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Visitor Presentations
a. Athletic Associations
b. Staff
c. Others
4. Report on Past Council Action
a. Trail system update
5. Unfinished Business
a. Proposal for private swimming pool
b. Study of unique open spaces update
c. Accessible playground update
d. Seven Ponds neighborhood park update
e. West Medicine Lake City Park update
L Playfield /highschool update
g. PRAC work plan for 1995 update
h. Neighborhood parks' playground replacement update
L Planning for northwest Plymouth
6. New Business
a.
b.
7. Commission Presentation
8. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next Regular Meeting - December 8
M- S',
League of Minnesota Cities
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126 -8044
O 1-i2 s +l
October 26, 1994
L-
TO: Managers and Clerks (Please distribute a copy of these materials to your
mayor and councilmembers)
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FROM: James F. Miller M JL
Executive Direct9
r
RE: , 1995 Policy Adoption Conference and Legislative Policies
Enclosed is a copy of the 1995 City Policies as proposed by the League's policy committees
and Board of Directors. These policies address significant city issues such as local
government aid, annexation,' tax increment financing, and transportation funding.
The policy process was revamped this year with the goal of making policies more relevant
and focused. As a result, all of the policy committees were given the opportunity to examine
their respective subject areas anew, without consideration to previous policies. The outcome
of this process has resulted in fewer, more focused policies for your consideration. The
revised process is described in more detail in the accompanying policy booklet.
The League membership will vote on these policies as part of the LMC Policy Adoption
Conference which will be held on Friday, November 18, 1994, at the Northwest Inn, 6900
Lakeland Avenue North, Brooklyn Park.. (See map enclosed.)
The accompanying ballot should be filled out and returned to Mary Diedrich by Monday,
November 14, regardless of whether you will be attending the conference. The results will be
tabulated and shared with those present on November 18 to help facilitate discussion.
In order for League staff to plan properly for the meeting, please register as early as possible.
We look forward to seeing all of you on November 18th.
OVER
i
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITYIAFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
(612)490.5600 1- 800 - 925 -1122 plus your city code TDD (612) 490.9038 Fax (612)490 -0072
League of Minnesota Cities
October 26, 1994
Dear League Members:
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126 -8044
I am pleased to submit the accompanying draft 1995 Legislative Policies for your
consideration.
This year,--the League followed a new format designed to identify the most important concerns
of cities and to translate those concerns into legislative priorities. Rather than simply
amending previously adopted policies, many of which had been in place for a number of
years, the policy committees were asked to start with a clean slate. Their first task was to
identify problems within their respective areas that cities face or are likely to face in the near
future. Once there was agreement on the problem definitions, solutions, usually in the form
of legislative initiatives or policies, were created.
You will note from the accompanying policy document that it is considerably shorter and, we
believe, more focused than in previous years. It will allow the League's membership and
staff to concentrate on those issues of most critical importance.
Your input is crucial to this process. The League needs your reaction to the definition of
problems and the proposed solutions. With that input, along with comments received from
the various policy committees, the League Board will be in the best position to make
decisions about the content of the 1995 Legislative Action Agenda.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, please accept my sincere thank you for your
contribution to this most important process. _
Sincerely,
Chuck Winkelman
President
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
(612)490 -5600 1-800- 925 -1122 plus your citycode TDD(612)490 -9038 Fax(612)490 -0072
W--W"771 . -
Mark your calendar
18 November 1994
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8� 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
for the
League of Minnesota Cities
1994 Policy Adoption Meeting
(Including a special morning session on "the truth about state and local finances ")
State and local government
finances will probably be the most
hotly debated issue during the
1995 legislative session. Also,
cities will soon conduct "truth in
taxation" hearings to explain their
finances to their residents. City;
officials must be able to communi-
cate effectively both with state
officials and local residents regard-
ing both state and local finances.
The goal of the educational
portion of this year's LMC Policy'
Adoption Meeting is to provide
those who attend with the "truth
about state and local finances."
League staff will present informa-
tion on state, county, school, and
city finances from a state -wide j
budgetary perspective and from
the perspective of local taxpayers.
Additionally, the new head of the
Minnesota Business Partnership'
will speak regarding their goals for
the 1995 legislative session.
Preliminary program
Registration (opens at 8:30 a.m.)
President's message (9:30 a.m.)
Budget status, 1995 session preview, tax hearings
Chuck Winkelman, president, League of Minnesota Cities
The truth about state and local finances (9:45 a.m.)
Background on state finances
(state tax system, revenues, and expenditures)
Background on other governments
(county and school finances)
Background on city finances
(property taxes, city aid programs, etc.)
The city perspective in 1995
Lunch (Noon)
Duane Benson, Exec. Dir., Minnesota Business Partnership,
Former State Senator and Senate Minority Leader
Policy adoption (1:15 p.m.)
Lqlo
League of Minnesota Cities
1. Registration
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126 -8044
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
POLICY ADOPTION PROPOSED MEETING RULES
01'�
Registration shall remain open from the previously announced opening of conference registration until
completion of policy adoption.
2. Voting Privileges
A. The vote on any legislative matter-shall be by acclamation; but at any time before the result of the
vote is announced, the presider may, and shall, if requested to so do by ten or more delegates
present, submit the question under consideration to a vote by municipality, in which case each
member municipality represented shall have one vote.
B. When any vote by municipality is conducted, only one delegate per city shall be permitted to vote on
policy proposals, priorities, or motions. Each current LMC member city shall designate one official
as delegate (and may select another city official as an alternate) for voting purposes.
Only those officials with voting cards for their cities shall be eligible to vote. Possession of the
voting card of the city and the signed voting card register shall be evidence that the holder of the
voting card is the city's delegate for purposes of voting.
3. Committee Reports
The chair or vice chair of each committee shall present the committee report and move adoption of the
policy statements.
Upon a motion supported by at least 10 delegates, the chair shall place on the agenda for discussion requests
to:
A) make a substantive change in the language of a proposed policy,
B) divide a proposed policy statement, or
C) take a position which the appropriate policy committee chair or representative states was not
considered by the committee.
= OVER =
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITYIAFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
(612)490-5600 1- 800. 925 -1122 plus your city code TDD (612) 490 -9038 Fax(612)490-0072
The text of nonprocedural motions and amendments, other than motions to divide a policy statement, must
be submitted in writing to the chair prior to debate.
4. Majority Required
A) Amendments to language or division of proposed policy statements require a majority vote of the
City delegates voting on the motion.
B) Final passage of any policy or amended policy requires a favorable vote of 2/3 of the City delegates
voting on the policy. _.
S. Disputes
Disputes regarding eligibility to vote shall be referred to the LMC General Counsel and may be appealed to
the conference. Such reports or appeals shall be a special order of business and may be taken up at any
time a new question (main motion) is in order.
6. Limits on Debate 1
l
Each speaker shall be limited to three minutes on any debatable question. The chair may extend the debate
limits in order to consider an issue if numerous delegates request to be heard on the issue.
I
The chair may reduce the time allotted for debate in order to complete policy adoption, but in no case shall
the length of time be reduced to less than three minutes per side.
7 Parliamentary Procedure
Precedence. The policy adoption process shall be governed by the LMC Constitution, these rules, and
Roberts Rules of Order, Revised. The conference shall be its own judge of these rules and Roberts Rules of
Order.
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Appeal of the Chair. Debate of the motion "appeal of the ruling of the chair," rule #6 notwithstanding, shall
be limited to two minutes by the appealer and two minutes by the chair. Either may designate another
eligible voting delegate (or LMC o i fficer or board..member) to speak in his/her place.
I
Chan es. Motions to "rescind" and "reconsider" shall require a two- thirds vote of delegates present and
voting.
I -n - I-z,'
r— AIRIORT 494
MET OW
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35W 55
35E
Please put a check mark by your Itop five (5) main priorities (see the full text of the policies in the Proposed 1995 City Policies packet)
❑ ❑
SD -1. Unfunded Mandates LE -13. Local Permitting Authority for Telecommunications
❑❑ LE -14. Adequate Funding for Transportation
SD -2. Personnel ❑
❑
SD -3. Environmental Protection LE -15. - Turnbacks of County and State Roads
❑❑ LE -16. Cooperation Between Counties and Cities Over Coun Roads
❑ LE -12. Telecommunications as an Economic Development Opportunity
OVER
tY
Within Cities
LE -17. State Aid for Roads in Cities Under 5,000
LE -18. State Aid for Urban Road Systems
LE -19. Tax Policies to Encourage - Housing • -
LE -20. State Programs to Encourage Housing
FF -1. Local Government Aid
FF -2. HACA Growth
FF -3. Transfers of LGA/HACA to Schools
FF -4. Levy Limits
FF -5. Levies on Market Value
FF -6. State Deductions from LGA
FF -7. Payments for Services to Tax Exempt Property
FF -8. Delinquent Property Tax Penalties
FF -9. Reporting Requirements
FF -10. Truth -in- taxation
FF -11. Alternative Local Revenue Sources
City Name
r
SD-4.
Absentee Voting
❑
❑
❑
❑
SD -5.
Presidential Primary Voter Designation
❑
❑
SD -6.
Election Judges
❑
❑
SD -7.
Local Government Cooperation and Collaboration _ �__,__,_
_
�, ❑
❑
LE -1.
Workers' Compensation
❑
❑
LE -2.
Growth Management and Annexation
❑
❑
LE -3.
Metropolitan Leapfrog Development
❑
❑
LE4.
State -wide Planning Policy
❑
❑
LE -5.
State Development Strategy
❑
❑
❑ LE -12. Telecommunications as an Economic Development Opportunity
OVER
tY
Within Cities
LE -17. State Aid for Roads in Cities Under 5,000
LE -18. State Aid for Urban Road Systems
LE -19. Tax Policies to Encourage - Housing • -
LE -20. State Programs to Encourage Housing
FF -1. Local Government Aid
FF -2. HACA Growth
FF -3. Transfers of LGA/HACA to Schools
FF -4. Levy Limits
FF -5. Levies on Market Value
FF -6. State Deductions from LGA
FF -7. Payments for Services to Tax Exempt Property
FF -8. Delinquent Property Tax Penalties
FF -9. Reporting Requirements
FF -10. Truth -in- taxation
FF -11. Alternative Local Revenue Sources
City Name
r
LE -6. City Cooperation With Counties and Schools in Economic
❑
❑
❑
❑
Development
LE -7. LGA/HACA Penalties for Using TIF
LE -8. Restrictions on Revenue to Pay LGA/HACA Penalties
LE -9. Economic Recovery Grant Program Funding From LGA/HACA
Penalty
LE -10. State Funding for Economic Recovery Grant Program
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
LE -11. City Involvement with Telecommunications Providers
❑
❑ LE -12. Telecommunications as an Economic Development Opportunity
OVER
tY
Within Cities
LE -17. State Aid for Roads in Cities Under 5,000
LE -18. State Aid for Urban Road Systems
LE -19. Tax Policies to Encourage - Housing • -
LE -20. State Programs to Encourage Housing
FF -1. Local Government Aid
FF -2. HACA Growth
FF -3. Transfers of LGA/HACA to Schools
FF -4. Levy Limits
FF -5. Levies on Market Value
FF -6. State Deductions from LGA
FF -7. Payments for Services to Tax Exempt Property
FF -8. Delinquent Property Tax Penalties
FF -9. Reporting Requirements
FF -10. Truth -in- taxation
FF -11. Alternative Local Revenue Sources
City Name
r
M -(V
Use this space to make any comments or changes to the proposed policies. -
Use this space to suggest and briefly comment on additional policy issues you wish to
be addressed.
If necessary, use additional sheets.
-75
League of Minnesota Cities
1994 Policy'. Adoption Meeting
Friday,' November 18, 1994
Best Western Northwest Inn
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I
Registration form
I
LMC 1994 Policy Adoption Meeting I
I city
Contactperson
Registration deadline
November 14,
I
I
1994
Telephone number
I
Name
Registration
Title
! per person:
I Address
I
.$25
I
I
Make checks payable and mail to: I
I
League of Minnesota Cities I
I City
Policy Adoption Meeting I
3490. Lexington Avenue North
State
Zip St. Paul, MN 55126
I
Feel free to duplicate for multiple registrations I
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Housing form
LMC 1994 Policy Adoption Meeting I
i I
Name
Please specify: I
$55'+ tax single or double I
I Representing
I
I will arrive after 4:00 p.m. Please I
I Address
guarantee the reservation with I
I city
`i
I I
I
(Credit card) Number and expiration date
State
1. Zip
Phone: ( ) I
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Mail to:
I
i Best Western Northwest Inn I
Month /DayNear
I
Month /Day/Year 6900 Lakeland Avenue North I
Arrival
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Arrival time Departure Intersection of 694 and 194 - (exit 31) I
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 -1696 I
I Check in time 3:00 p.m.
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I Check out time 12:00 noon (612) 566 -8855
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Feel free to duplicate for multiple registrations I
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ii=i'
- League of
Minnesota Cities
October 26, 1994
Dear League Members:
3490 Lexington Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55126 -80 1V °rth
44
1 am pleased to submit mit the accompanying draft 1995 Legislative policies
This Year cles for yO1�.
T cities and t Lague followed
Of cities
amending anslate those anew f ° "mat designed to
previously ado concerns into le Identify the
Years, the pol,v pted Policies gislative most im
identify Y committees ' manY of which priorities. Rather p °rtant concerns
Y problems within their asked to start had been in than simply
future. Once there heir respective �� a clean slate. place for
Of legislative initiatives agreement that cities Their a number °f
Initiatives or meat on the areas face or first task was to
Policies, were m deft ns are likely to face '
created. nitio , solutions
You Will note from , usualIy inithe ore
believe m the accom m
staff to � more focused th PanYing polic
concentrate an In Previous Y document that it '
°n those issues of Years. It Fill IS considerably most critical will WlOw the League's shorter
Y0� input is crucial membership and' we
proble to this ante•
ms and the proposed process. The
the various P°licy r solut. League needs you. reaction to
decisions about mmlttees, the ns. with that in
the co League Bo Put, along with coe definition of
content of the 1995 Legislative will b mments
On behalf gislative a in the best received from
of the Board Action A Position to make
contribution of Directors genda.
Sincerely, this most important process. please accept m sincere ely, Y Incere thamk you for yO�.
n
Chuck Winkel ma
President '
t
IA—N Z EQUAL OPPORTUNITY /PFIRRAT
^800- 925- 1122p]usYourcitYcae ft ACTION EMP
0I'ER
TD�490-9038
0)' K
CONTENTS
Letter from the League President
General Policy Statement . ...... ............................... .
•, • iii
LeagueStaff ......... ....... ............................... iv
Legislative Policy Committee Members ............................... v
Policy Development Process ............................... .
Statement of Intent ...... ...........
....... vii
...... viii
.......................
PART I -- 1995 POLICY GUIDELINES
Improving Community, , Life
P g
CL -1. Liveable Communities ............... .
i
.PART II -- 1995 PROPOSED POLICIES
Improving Service Delivery
SD -1. Unfunded Mandates ......................................
SD -2. Personnel ..... ...... ...............................
SD -3. Environmental Protection ................. .
SD -4. Absentee Voting ' .......................................
SD -5. Presidential Primary Voter Designation .........................
SD -6. Election Judges .. .......................................
SD -7. Local Government Cooperation and Collaboration .................
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
NNW
Improving Local Economies
i
LE -1.
Workers' Compensation .... ...............................
6
LE -2.
Growth Management and Annexation ..........................
7
LE -3.
Metropolitan Leapfrog Development ...........................
7
LE -4.
Planning Enabling Statutes .. ...............................
8
LE -5.
State Development Strategy .. ...............................
8
LE -6.
City Cooperation With Counties and Schools in Economic Development ..
8
LE -7.
LGA/HACA Penalties for Using TIF .......
9
LE -8.
Restrictions on Revenue to Pay LGA/HACA Penalties
9
LE -9.
Economic Recovery Grant Program Funding From LGA/HACA Penalty ..
10
LE -10.
State Funding for Economic Recovery Grant Program ...............
10
LE -11.
City Involvement with Telecommunications Providers ...............
11
LE -12.
Telecommunication's as an Economic Development Opportunity ........
11
LE -13.
Local Permitting Authority for Telecommunications .................
12
LE -14.
Adequate Funding for Transportation ................
12
LE -15.
Turnbacks of County and State Roads ..........................
12
LE -16.
Cooperation Between Counties and Cities Over County Roads
Within Cities ... ......... • • „
13
1995 City Policies
-
i
�1 -ci�
LE -17. State Aid for Roads in Cities Under 5,000 ....................... 13
LE -18. State Aid for Urban Road Systems ............................ 14
LE -19. Tax Policies to Encourage Housing ........................... 14
LE -20. State Programs to Encourage Housing .......................... 14
Improving Fiscal Futures
FF -1. Local Government Aid .... ............................... 15
FF -2. HACA Growth ............... 15
FF -3. Transfers of LGA/HACA to Schools ........................... 16
FF -4. Levy Limits ............ ............................... 16
FF -5. Levies on Market Value .... ............................... 16
FF -6. State Deductions from LGA . ............................... 16
FF -7. Payments for Services to Tax Exempt Property ................... 17
FF -8. Delinquent Property Tax Penalties ............................ 17
FF -9. Reporting Requirements .... ............................... 17
FF -10. Truth -in- Taxation ......... ............................... 17
This policy is sent on to the membership without a recommendation
from the Legislative Committee
FF -11. Alternative Local Revenue Sources ............................ 18
0
ii League of Minnesota Cities
M• <
General Policy Statement
One of the most important purposes of the League of Minnesota Cities is to serve as a vehicle
for cities to define common problems and develop policies and proposals to solve those
problems.
The League of Minnesota Cities represents 811 of Minnesota's 856 cities as well as 10 urban
towns and 24 special districts. All sizes of communities are represented among the League's
members (the largest nonmember city has a population of 149) and each region of the state is
represented. 1
The policies that follow are directed at specific city issues. Two principles guide the
development of all League policies.
4
There is a need for a governmental system which allows flexibility and
authority for cities to meet challenges of governing and providing citizens with
services while at the same time protecting cities from unfunded or underfunded
mandates, liability or other financial risk, and restrictions on local control; and
2. The financial and technical requirements for governing and providing services
necessitate a continuing and strengthened partnership with federal, state, and
local governments. This partnership particularly in the areas of finance,
development, housing, environment, and transportation is critical for the
successful operation of Minnesota's cities and the well -being of city residents.
1995 City Policies iii
LEAGUE STAFF WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL ISSUES
Jim Miller, Executive Director
Mandates
Gary Carlson, Director of Intergovernmental Relations
General revenue sources for cities including aid to cities and the property
tax systems, fiscal administration of cities, economic development and
redevelopment, transportation
Duke Addicks, Director of Member Services
Policy formulation, fiscal issues, government innovation and cooperation
Stan Peskar, General Counsel
. Pensions
Joel Jamnik, Senior Intergovernmental Relations Representative
Growth management and land use, environmental protection, personnel
and labor relations, public safety, general municipal governance,
transportation
Ann Higgins, Intergovernmental Relations Representative
Telecommunications, housing, elections and ethics, utility service districts,
transportation
iv League of Minnesota Cities
Legislative
Improving Community Life
Policy Committee Members
Robert Benke, Chair, Mayor, New Brighton
Greg Sparks, Vice Chair, City Administrator,
Worthington
Tom Baldwin, Mayor, Falcon Heights
Jack Barlow, Councilmember, Lauderdale
Jan Callison, Councilmember, Minnetonka
Joan Campbell, Councilmember, Minneapolis
John Doyle, Councilmember, Marshall
Sharon Feess, Councilmember, Brooklyn Park
Fran Hesch, Councilmember, Hopkins
Elizabeth Kautz, Councilmember, Burnsville
Mac McBride, Finance Director, Si. Louis Park
Roberta Megard, Councilmember, St. Paul
Nancy Mikitta, Council President, Red Wing
Lang Nicholson, Councilmember, Moorhead
Wayne Oak, Mayor, Sandstone
John Olinger, City Administrator, Mahtomedi
Joy Robb, Mayor, Robbinsdale
Jolie Sasseville, Public Information Officer, Fergus
Falls
Betty Sindt, Councilmember, Lakeville
Dean Swanson, Councilmember, Crosslake
Improving Local Economies
Director, Hopkins
Duane Hebert, City Administrator, Kenyon
Joe Heinen, Clerk/Treasurer, Sauk Centre
Dick Hierstein, City Administrator, Owatonna
Jon Hohenstein, Assistant to Administrator, Eagan
Jim Hurm, City Administrator, Shorewood
John Hustad, Councilmember, Falcon Heights
Matthew Hylen, City Administrator, Hector
Ron Johnson, City Administrator, Zumbrota
Greg Konat, City Manager, Burnsville
Richard Krier, City Planner, Greenfield
Lynn Lander, City Administrator, Hermantown
Scott Larson, Clerk- Administrator, Cambridge
Michael Martin, Community Development Director,
Caledonia
Jean McConnell, Councilmember, Rochester
Charles Meyer, City Manager, St. Louis Park
R. David Miller, Economic Development Director,
Dodge Center
Kathleen Miller, City Administrator, Lauderdale
Ron Moorse, City Administrator, Orono
Robert Morgan, City Administrator, Branch
Bruce Nawrocki, Councilmember, Columbia Heights
James Norman, City Administrator, Renville
Barb O'Neal, Mayor, Oak Park Heights
Bruce Peterson, Director, Planning & Development
Services, Willmar
Kevin Frazell, Chair, City Administrator, Cottage
Dale Powers, City Administrator, Albertville
Grove !
Steve Sarkozy, City Manager, Roseville
Rosemary Given Amble, Vice Chair,
Terry Schneider, Councilmember, Minnetonka
Councilmember, Bemidji i
Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator, Ramsey
Ronald Anderson, Mayor, Blooming Prairie
Doug Schulze, City Administrator, Sandstone
Chuck Armstrong, Intergovernmental Relations
Robert Skillings, Councilmember, New Ulm
Assistant, St. Paul
Marsha Soucheray, Councilmember, Shoreview
Cathy Bennett, Economic Development Coordinator,
Ginny Sterling, Councilmember, Apple Valley
Mounds View i
Jerry Bohnsack, City Administrator, New Prague
Terry Stone, Mayor, Madelia
Robert Therres, City Administrator, Sartell
Gerald Brever, City Administrator, Staples
William Thompson, Mayor, Coon Rapids
Bruce Bullert, Director, Public Works /City
Joy Tierney, Mayor, Plymouth
Engineer, Savage I
Craig Waldron, City Administrator, Oakdale
Thomas Burt, City Administrator, Rosemount
Tom Wenner, City Attorney - -Rice, Richmond,
Bonnie Carlson, Assistant City Manager, Prior Lake
Royalton, Rockville, Pierz
Jackie Cheryhomes, Council President, Minneapolis
Denny Wilde, City Administrator/Economic
Romeo Cyr, Mayor, Red Wing I
Development Director, Mountain Lake
James Daniels, Administrator, Lake, Minnetonka
John Young, Mayor, Hawley
Communications Commission, Excelsior
Betty Zachmann, Clerk- Treasurer, Winsted
Dan Donahue, City Manager, New Hope
Bob Zagaros, Councilmember, Robbinsdale
Joe Enge, Councilmember, Brooklyn Park
Michael Ericson, City Administator, Watertown
Improving Fiscal Futures
Brian Fritsinger, Community Development Director,
Arden Hills
LaNelle Olsen, Chair, Councilmember, Northfield
Jim Froehle, Public Information Specialist, Fridley
Karen Anderson, Mayor, Minnetonka
Matt Fulton, City Manager, New Brighton
William A. Bassett, City Manager, Mankato
Tom Harmening, Community Development
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Lynn Becklin, Councilmember, Cambridge
1995 City Policies j
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Doug Bunkers, City Administrator, Luveme
Edward Burrell, Finance Director, Roseville
Gino Businaro, Finance Director, Mound
Jerry Clementson, Councilmember, Owatonna
Terry Dussault, Assistant to City Manager, Blaine
Ray Faricy, Intergovernmental Relations Director,
St. Paul
Dan Faust, Finance Director, Maplewood
Steve Froehlich, 'Councilmember, Lauderdale
Kathleen A. Gaylord, Mayor, South St. Paul
Alvin J. Gruis, Councilmember, Rushmore
Francis D. Hagen, Sr., City Manager, Robbinsdale
Lyle Hanks,Mayor, St. Louis Park
Terri Heaton, Deputy Director Admininstrative
Services, Bloomington
Susan Hoyt, City Administrator, Falcon Heights
Greg Isaackson, Clerk- Treasurer, Cottonwood
Barbara Jeanetta, Assistant to City Manager, New
Brighton
Larry Jerviss, City Administrator, Houston
Darrel Johnson, Director of Finance, Winona
Jim Keinath, City Administrator, Circle Pines
Dave Kennedy, City Attorney Crystal/Sandstone
Duane Knutson, Mayor, Fertile
Roy Kruger, Mayor, Byron
Jean M. Lan e, Finance Director, Grand Rapids
Sharon S. Legg, Finance Director, Coon Rapids
Millie MacLeod, Councilmember, Moorhead
Glenn McKee, Councilmember, Burnsville
Steven C. Mielke, City Manager, Hopkins
John Moir, City Finance Officer, Minneapolis
Ed Mlynar, Mayor, Lester Prairie
Gary Neumann, Assistant City Administrator,
Rochester
Karl Nollenberger, Chief Administrative Officer,
Duluth
Steven B. Okins, Finance Director, Willmar
Steven L. Perkins, Council Administrator, Red Wing
John W. Remkus, Finance Director, West St. Paul
Alcuin Ringsmuth, Mayor, Waite Park
Mark Sievert, City Manager, St. James
James W. Smith, Councilmember, Independence
Brad Swenson, City Administrator, Wadena
David Mark Urbia, City Administrator, Blue Earth
Gene VanOverbeke, Finance Director -City Clerk,
Eagan
Dan Vogt, City Administrator, Brainerd
Improving Service Delivery
Michael McCauley, Chair, City Manager, Waseca
Joyce Twistol, Vice Chair, Clerk/Personnel Dir.,
Blaine
Kurt Anderson, Mayor, Crosslake
Neill Atkins, Councilmember, Duluth
Richard Bradford, Administrative Superintendent,
Hoyt Lakes
Janel Bush, Federal Liaison, Minneapolis
Ralph Campbell, Communications, Edina
Francene Clark/Leisinger, City Clerk; Mound
Patricia Crawford, Clerk- Treasurer, Motley
Timothy Cruikshank, Assistant to Administrator,
Mounds View
Jeff Dains, Mayor, Lauderdale
Craig Dawson, Assistant to Manager, Eden Prairie
Jerry Dulgar, City Manager, Crystal
Thomas Ferber, City Clerk, Richfield
Kelly Frawley, Assistant to Administrator, Cottage
Grove
Sue Gehrz, Councilmember, Falcon Heights
Jim Genellie, Assistant City Manager, Hopkins
Theresa Goble, Deputy City Clerk, Brainerd
Jean Gramling, Administrative Assistant, Savage
Carole Grimm, City Clerk, Rochester
Ken Hartung, City Administrator, Bayport
Les Heitke, Mayor Pro Tempore, Willmar
Sue Hess, Councilmember, St. Cloud
Joyce Iverson, Clerk - Rushford Village, Rushford
Mike Johnson, City Administrator, Marshall
Marvin Johnson, Mayor, Independence
Tom Kedrowski, Councilmember, Prior Lake
Laura Kushner, Personnel Director, Roseville
Sharon Leintz, City Clerk, Maple Lake
Ann Lenczewski, Councilmember, Bloomington
.Joe Lynch, City Administrator, Long Lake
Cathy Magnus, Clerk/Administrator, Slayton
Myrna Maikkula, City Clerk, Brooklyn Park
Mary Mueller, City Clerk, Apply, Valley
Molly O'Rourke, City Clerk, St. Paul
Desyl Peterson, City Attorney, Minnetonka
Ronald Rogstad, Administrative Services Director,
Oakdale
Charlotte Samuelson, Councilmember, New
Brighton
Dan Scott, City Manager, North St. Paul
Jill Shorba, Human Resources Manager, Burnsville
Jeanette Sobania, Personnel Coordinator, Plymouth
Glenda Spiotta, Administrator, Sunfish Lake
Jerry Splinter, City Manager, Brooklyn Center
Blair Tremere, Mayor, Golden Valley
Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator, Champlin
Mark Voxland, Councilmember, Moorhead
Liz Witt, Administrative Assistant, Eagan
Krista Witty, MVCOG Executive Director, Mankato
Wally Wysopal, Assistant to Manager/Personnel
Officer, St. Louis Park
V1 League of Minnesota Cities
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League of Minnesota Cities
Policy Development Process
The League's policy development process has taken place over the past five months. The
process began with a member survey of priority issues facing city officials.. The process will
not end with the Policy Adoption Conference. The committees will schedule additional
meetings during the upcoming legislative session to discuss additional issues, develop
alternative solutions, and to discuss strategies to implement the League's policies.
Listed below is a brief chronology of the major events in the policy development process. At
each step, members have the opportunity to participate in the development process.
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Late May- The League solicits members for ideas and problems. A survey at the Annual
Early June Conference allows members to formally suggest topics.
June, The League President accepts applications for committees and appoints policy
committee members.
The policy committees are: Improving Community Life
Improving Service Delivery
Improving Local Economies
Improving Fiscal Futures
July Committees meet to discuss issues raised in member survey. Committees may
also form task forces to more thoroughly study specific issues. Task forces can
include noncity members with a knowledge of the focus issue.
August Committees and task forces meet to discuss issues and problems, accept
through testimony, and develop policy statements.
September a
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October Legislative Committee meets to finalize policies. The Legislative Committee is
comprised of the League's Board of Directors and the chairs of the four League
policy committees.
November Policy Adoptiol Conference. Members have the opportunity to discuss the
pP
draft policies, propose changes, and suggest additional policies for membership
consideration. I
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December The Board adopts the Legislative Action Plan, based on input from the Policy
Adoption Confeerence.
January Legislative Session. During the session, the policy committees and task forces
through will continue to meet on issues and strategies. Members can assist the
June League's legislative efforts by volunteering to contact legislators on the variety
of issues of interest to our cities.
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1995 City Policies vii
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PROPOSED POLICIES OF
'TIM LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
Statement of Intent
There are many problems which limit the effectiveness of city government to improve
community life, improve the fiscal future and service delivery of city government, and to
improve the local economy.
What follows are statements of the problems facing cities and the solutions proposed to help
resolve these problems. These statements of problems and proposed solutions form the
policy of the League of Minnesota Cities. Additional and alternative solutions to these
problems may be proposed after the Policy Adoption Conference and the members of the
League authorize its Board of Directors to consider and support additional or alternative
solutions, if necessary, to resolve the problems identified in this policy statement.
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viii League of Minnesota ities
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Part I
1995 Policy Guidelines
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IMPROVING COMMUNITY LIFE
CL -1. Liveable Communities
To the greatest extent possible, legislation affecting communities at the state and federal level
should enhance, not diminish, the ability of citizens, businesses, and local governments to
work together in partnership to make every community "liveable. "
PROBLEM. Cities in Minnesota are at various stages in meeting the goal of being "liveable
communities. "
SOLUTION.- The definition of a "liveable community" below will be used to evaluate
proposed legislation to determine whether or not it advances the goal of enabling all
Minnesota cities to become liveable communities. It should also be used by cities to
evaluate their progress toward the goal of becoming liveable communities.
A LIVEABLE COMMUNITY IS:
WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
• share a core of common values including valuing diversity, respect for each other,
and good citizenship
• feel:
* safe
* a sense of belonging
* welcome
• engage in life -long learning activities that:
* prepare them for responsible citizenship
* enhance the enjoyment of life
* prepare them for changing job markets
• participate in the decision - making process of community leaders
• celebrate community
• want to make their home
• have access to:
* good paying jobs
* adequate and affordable housing
* choice of efficient transportation systems including transit, pedestrians, and
bicycles
1995 City Policies 1
* gathering places
* desired information
* choice of cultural and recreational activities
* affordable goods and services, including health care
• are involved in the nurturing of children
• care about their homes, ' community, and the environment
• get to know each other 1
• have the benefit of strong family support and nurturing adults
WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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• is willing to respond to the needs of its citizens
•
•
•
•
•
is actively supported by' enthusiastic volunteers
is open and user friendly
offers opportunities to anyone who wants to get involved
encourages and practices cooperation and collaboration
provides and maintains an adequate infrastructure to meet local reeds
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Part II
1995 Proposed Policies
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IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY
SD -1. Unfunded Mandates
Problem: The cost of federal and state mandated programs substitute the judgment of
Congress and the President and the Legislature and the Governor for local budget priorities.
These mandates force cities to reduce funding for other basic services or to increase taxes
and service charges.
Solutions:
• No additional mandates should be enacted unless the funding for the mandate is
provided by the level of government imposing it or a permanent stable revenue
source is established: Cities should not be forced to comply with unfunded
mandates.
• Cities should be given the greatest flexibility possible in implementing mandates
to ensure that their cost is minimized.
SD -2. Personnel
Problem: A wide variety of state and federal laws have increased the cost of providing city
service to residents by requiring city governments to provide certain levels of compensation,
benefits, or working conditions and limiting city governments' ability to effectively manage
their personnel resources. 1
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Solutions: The federal and #state governments should not continue to pass laws
regulating the private and public sector workplace without a full understanding of the
consequences of each proposal and sufficient safeguards for city taxpayers.
State and federal policymakers should enact reforms which reduce city governments'
personnel costs and /or increase their ability to deliver services efficiently. Specifically:
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• Eliminate or modify ;state mandates such as veterans' preference and civil service
which restrict the ability of local governments to effectively discipline public
employees. Specifically, no public employee should be entitled to more than one
review of a disciplinary action, and no employee should receive full pay for more
than 14 days pending their decision to appeal a local government's proposed
disciplinary action.
• Modify public sector bargaining laws to restrain arbitration awards which exceed
other internal class comparisons or outside cost of living limitations.
• Revise publk employe pension laws to facilitate consolidation of local P ension
plans and the transition to more attractive and fiscally sound pension programs
such as defined contribution `plans.
• Fully consider public employers' financial and operational impacts in any
workplace legislation such as health reform, public safety, and OSHA.
SD -3. Environmental Protection
Problem: State and federal environmental programs are improperly designed to meet their
stated goals, and impose an undue burden on local governments because of a lack of'federal
or state financial assistance. The refusal to finance these programs by the governments
which pass them has eliminated an essential restraining feature in program design and
implementation.
Specific problems include:
• Fragmented program adoption and implementation does not ensure prioritization of
environmental matters or the establishment of comprehensive environmental protection
strategies. '
• "One size fits all" implementation programs force remedial efforts by local
governments for nonexistent environmental problems.
• Permit fees and other cost transfer elements of federal and state programs do not
provide an incentive for environmental agency efficiency, policy prioritizatioli, or risk
assessment.
Solutions:
• Cities should not be required to comply with any unfunded mandate.
• Permit fees should be limited to fifty-percent of the agency's direct operating
costs.
• A comprehensive effort to consolidate, reorganize, and manage state and federal
environmental programs should be required.
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SD -4. Absentee Voting
Problem: Absentee voting is overly complicated and results in rejection of significant
numbers of ballots, while adding to local administrative responsibilities.
Solution: Absentee voting procedures can be streamlined and made more "user
friendly." Adopting reforms proposed in the 1993 -94 legislative session will increase the
League of Minnesota Cities
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number of ballots returned as well as the number that are accepted. In addition,
reforms will decrease current local administrative burdens and costs.
SD -5. Presidential Primary Voter Designation
Problem: Lack of voter interest and anger over political party designation requirements (to
receive a ballot) have resulted in poor turn -out for the presidential primary as well as
increased local election costs.
Solution: The presidential primary is a political activity in which voters indicate
preferences for presidential, candidates of major political parties. Cities are not the
appropriate level of government to take responsibility for administering the balloting
process. In 1996, cities prefer to see the state conduct the primary using a statewide
mailed ballot for which any, local administrative costs will be fully compensated. In
addition, the state should redesign the precinct voter rosters indicating which political
party ballot voters select to 'safeguard voter privacy and ensure accurate recording of
voter ballot selection. Finally, the state should fully, fund the presidential primary and,
if necessary, charge major political parties whose candidates appear on the ballot for an
appropriate share of expenses incurred.
SD -6. Election Judges
Problem: Requirements for, local election judge political party balance (at polling locations)
creates barriers to the effective recruitment of interested persons to serve at polling places.
Restrictions on parents - children- spouses serving at the same location do likewise.
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Solution: The legislature should institute a nonpartisan method for recruiting those
interested in serving as election judges.
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SD -7. Local Government Cooperation and Collaboration
Problems: Some of the most difficult barriers to intergovernmental cooperation result from
geography, demographics, and political traditions rather than financial considerations. In the
past, fiscal and political pressures have resulted in shifting responsibility for the operation
and costs of programs to cities without funding. State policymakers have also often failed to
give cities credit for their extensive involvement in cooperative agreements with other units
of local government to change responsibilities for funding and delivering services.
Solutions: j
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The federal, state, and county governments should:
• Communicate and establish a process of negotiation before shifting responsibility
1995 City Policies 5
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for delivering services from one level of government to another or seeking to
reduce service duplication.
• Transfer authority for use of revenues dedicated to such programs or provide
appropriate and adequate alternatives.
• Strive to improve services, reduce costs, and encourage innovations in the
delivery of services.
• Acknowledge that services delivered through cooperative agreements do not
always result in providing the public with reduced costs.
Cities should:
• Initiate discussions with state and other local units of government to identify
burdens for taxpayers resulting from overlapping services as well as opportunities
for cooperation and collaboration.
• Document and publicize efficient and effective service delivery, including use of
mutual aid agreements and other intergovernmental collaboration.
• Explore methods for improving services, reducing costs, and encouraging
innovative approaches to overcome barriers to intergovernmental cooperation.
The League should:
• Encourage cities and other units of local government to explore opportunities to
negotiate which unit should, be responsible to fund and deliver services or
collaborate on service delivery when appropriate.
• Provide technical and educational resources and opportunities for cities to
overcome barriers to reaching cooperative agreements and /or consolidation with
other local units of government.
IMPROVING LOCAL ECONOMIES
LE -1. Workers' Compensation
Problem: Minnesota's workers' compensation has been identified by business advocates as
one of the primary impediments to business expansion and job creation in our state. Cities
and their officials are concerned about the system's impact on economic development and on
the direct cost to local government taxpayers of providing benefits to employees.
Solutions: In cases where Minnesota is less competitive than neighboring states with
6 League of Minnesota Cities
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regard to workers' compensation costs, the Legislature should act to adjust benefits,
regulate insurance companies, or take any necessary action to put us in line with
neighboring states.
• Minnesota's system can be made more efficient and less costly: the Legislature
should act regardless of our comparative standing.
• The State Department of Trade and Economic Development should develop a
plan to assist local development officials in addressing the workers' compensation
concerns of business people considering location, relocation, and expansion
decisions.
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LE -2. Growth Management and Annexation
Problem: Unplanned urban growth outside of city boundaries has a negative environmental,
fiscal, and governmental impact for cities, counties, and state governments.
Solution: Further urban growth outside city boundaries should be restricted and the
annexation of urban land to cities should be facilitated. Specifically, the League
recommends the following: _
• the preservation of natural resource areas and prime agricultural land should be
encouraged and the development of such land outside designated growth areas to
be served by a city should be discouraged.
• cities should be given; broader authority to extend their zoning, subdivision, and
other land use controls up to two miles outside the city's boundaries regardless of
the existence of county or township controls, in order to ensure conformance with
city facilities and services.
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• state statutes regulating annexation should make it easier for cities to annex
developed or developing land within unincorporated areas which the annexing
city has designated as a growth area.
LE -3. Metropolitan Leapfrog Development
Problem: Urban growth is also occurring outside the metropolitan governance area in a
manner which might have a significant impact on metropolitan systems, somewhat
encouraged perhaps by growth management controls adopted within the metropolitan area.
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Solution: The legislature should study the impact of development moving outside the
seven county metropolitan area as a reaction to Metropolitan Council growth
management programs and require land use controls which reduce leapfrog
development.
LE -4. State -wide Planning Policy
Problem: A renewed concern about urban development has resulted in a necessary review of
the existing framework for restricting or guiding development through local plans and
controls adopted by local governments, and has led some to suggest that the answer lies in
the adoption of a comprehensive state -wide planning process.
Solutions: The League believes that the existing framework for restricting or guiding
development primarily through local plans and controls adopted by local governments
should not be substantially modified, however:
• the state should provide additional financial and technical assistance to local
governments for voluntary, cooperative planning and growth management issues.
• the state should clearly establish the public purposes served by existing state -wide
controls such as shoreland zoning and wetlands conservation and fully defend and
hold harmless any local government sued for a "taking" as a result of executing
state land use policies.
LE -5. State Development Strategy
Problem: The state has not clearly acknowledged the valuable role cities play in developing
and maintaining the economic health of the state and the financial risks cities take in these
efforts.
Solution: A state development strategy should be established by the Legislature and the
Governor to promote job creation, redevelopment and prevention of blight and decay,
pollution clean up, and provision of adequate housing opportunities. In a partnership
between the state and cities, cities should be given the authority to locally implement the
state's development policy.
LE -6. City Cooperation With Counties and Schools in Economic
Development
Problem: Counties and schools frequently want to play a greater role in cities' development
decisions.
Solution: Cities should develop an economic development strategy in consultation with
counties and schools. The "review and comment" requirements of the current tax
increment financing law should continue to be used to educate and involve other local
governments and local legislators about proposed development projects. Counties and
school boards should respond to overtures for evaluation and participation, and should
take advantage of all available informational opportunities.
Because of the effect of decisions by counties and schools on city development activities,
these boards should also confer with cities regarding their plans for capital and tax levy
decisions.
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LE -7. LGA /HACA Penalties for Using TIF
Problem: The LGA /HACA aid penalties have resulted in fewer, smaller, cheaper, and less
challenging tax increment financing (TIF) districts being created. Although the use of TIF
generally improves the state, 7s tax base and economic vitality, cities are now penalized for
trying to create jobs, redevelop decay, or clean up pollution.
Solution: The aid penalty is punitive and should be eliminated. "But for" tax
increment financing, development, redevelopment, pollution clean up, and housing
creation would not have occurred and benefitted the state's economy. The state does
not impose the penalty on qualified housing and hazardous substance subdistricts, and
these penalties should be removed on all other districts.
• All economic development (manufacturing) districts should be exempt because
they are necessary to attract new jobs to the state, and particularly to support
the economic viability of smaller rural cities.
• Hazardous substance subdistricts and soils condition districts are needed across
the state to clean up pollution to protect the state's environment and to create
viable development opportunities within developed cities and should not be
subject to any penalty.
• Renewal and renovation districts should also not be penalized because they offer
the best opportunity for proactive efforts to prevent blight and redevelop
decaying urban areas.
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• The phased -in penalty on redevelopment districts restricts the ability of cities to
address the problems of advanced.urban decay and blighted neighborhoods.
LE -8. Restrictions on Revenue to Pay LGA/HACA Penalties
Problem: There are many
I restrictions on the sources of revenue available for cities to use
to pay the LGA /HACA penalty that is imposed on most new TIF districts.
Solution: If the LGA/HACA penalty is intended to reimburse the state for additional
costs for the school aid program, state restrictions on the source of the "penalty" are not
appropriate. There should be no limitations on the city's payment of the penalty; tax
increments, developer participation, or other sources should be eligible.
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LE -9. Economic Recovery Grant Program Funding From
LGA /HACA Penalty
Problem: The LGA/HACA aid penalty is preventing many valuable development and
redevelopment efforts.
Solution: If the state chooses to continue to impose a penalty for the use of TIF, these
local funds should be contributed to the Economic Recovery Grant Program. These
funds would then be available for cities across the state to retain businesses in the state "
and to pursue business looking to relocate from other states.
LE -10. State Funding for Economic Recovery Grant Program
Problem: The Economic Recovery Grant program is not adequately funded. The state does
not authorize an adequate slate of tools for local governments to assist job creation,
redevelop blight and decay, and provide adequate housing choices. Cities are not well
equipped to compete nationally and internationally for business development.
Solutions:
• Cities should be given authority for property tax abatements as another economic
development tool. The precedent for abatements has already been, established by
the "this old house" program, the contamination tax, and the enterprise zone
program. In addition, Minnesota counties support authorization for an
abatement program.
• Information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) should be
used to determine the remediation needs across the state to provide immediate
guidance for the distribution of Contamination Clean-Up Grants. The state
should commit the resources necessary to address the pollution that has been
identified and acknowledge that this program offers the best opportunity for
clean up of non - Superfund sites.
• The Economic Recovery Grant Program should be given twice its current funding
and establish clear rules to govern its use. The state and federal funds that fund
this program should also be spread over the year to help ensure that projects
across the state have access to the grants.
• The federal government should triple the current appropriation for the
Community Development Block Grant Program, and should simplify the
application process and reduce the paperwork burdens.
• Congress should remove the caps that have been placed on Industrial
Development Bonds and acknowledge that the extensive eligibility requirements
now adequately limit their use.
League of nnesota ities
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LE -11. City Involvement. with Telecommunications Providers
Problem: Deregulation of telecommunications threatens to override local authority to
govern public rights -of -way within cities for private development of the "information
superhighway" through neighborhoods and over city streets.'
Solution: Cities should have the authority to require telecommunication providers to:
• obtain permits and follow local standards for the use of local rights -of -way and
property to lay wire, cable, or other facilities to carry voice, video, or data
signals to locations within city corporate boundaries;
• prohibit redlining an' d uphold nondiscrimination standards -in the P rovision of
telecommunications services at the local level;
support community access to voice, video and information services offered at the
local level;
• design of the local telecommunications infrastructure to meet community
information needs, including community programming services;
• compensate cities for the use of public rights -of -way from any provider of
telecommunication services, including telephone and power companies, -as well as
local cable operators.
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LE -12. Telecommunications as an Economic Development
Opportunity j
Problem: Telecommunications providers may decide whether or not to serve the needs of
cities regardless of size and location. This will restrict local economic development
opportunities.
Solutions.
• Local businesses, schools and educational institutions, and government offices
should have access to information technology and services that meet technical
standards for signal quality at reasonable rates;
Cities should identify how information technology can strengthen local economic
activity, education, workforce training, health care, etc.;
Local units of government should work together to maximize effective use of
information technology to assure that the local information infrastructure can
respond to the variety of needs at the local level.
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LE -13. Local Permitting Authority for Telecommunications
Problem: . City franchising authority is viewed as a barrier to competition in the
development of electronic information networks and telecommunications services.
Solution Current city franchising authority should be replaced in favor of local
permitting authority:
State and federal governments must develop and enforce minimum technical and -
connectivity standards and rate regulation in the absence of competition;
The state should license telecommunications providers to ensure they have the .
financial, technical, and legal qualifications to provide proposed services;
• The state legislature should develop legislation to protect cities' interests in the
management of local public rights -of -way and restructure and simplify the
regulatory framework for telecommunications service providers in the state.
LE -14. Adequate Funding for Transportation
Problem: Current funding for roads and for transit systems across all government levels in
the state is not adequate.
Solution: Minnesota should value, and adequately fund, all transportation systems in
the state. The state needs to provide an objective basis to determine the complete needs
of the road and transit systems, their present condition, and their impact on the
economic health of the state. This should include acknowledgement that delaying
current expenditures will increase costs in the future. Cities support an increase in the
gas tax and urge the legislature to institute additional revenue sources that can be
dedicated to transportation programs. Cities should receive revenues necessary to meet
present and future transportation needs. If funding does not come from the state, cities
should have funding options available to them to raise the dollars necessary to
adequately fund roads and transit.
With the exception of funding for the state patrol, all nontransportation programs
should be funded from a source other than the highway user distribution fund. The
revenues of the highway user distribution fund are collected from transportation users
and should be dedicated to transportation- related services.
LE -15. Turnbacks of County and State Roads
Problem: As road funding becomes increasingly inadequate, more roads are being "turned
back" to cities from counties and the state.
12 League of Minnesota ities
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Solution: Turnbacks should not occur without direct funding or transfer of a funding
source. A process of negotiation and mediation should govern the timing, funding, and
condition of turned -back roads. City taxpayers should receive the same treatment as
township taxpayers. The requirement for a public hearing, standards about the
conditions of turnbacks, and temporary maintenance funding should also apply to
county turnbacks to cities. At a minimum, proposed roads to be turned back to a lower
government level should be brought up to the standards of the receiving government or
should be compensated with a direct payment. Direct funding should be provided for
smaller cities that are not provided with turnback financing through the municipal state
aid system.
t
LE -16. Cooperation Between Counties and Cities Over County Roads
Within Cities
t
Problem: Some counties want increased control over county roads that lie within city
boundaries.
Solution: A formal system of mediation should be implemented to help resolve
technical and aesthetic decisions about county and county state -aid roads within cities.
A negotiated system of review will offer both governments the opportunity to produce
better road projects. Local city and county officials should use available opportunities
for alternate dispute resolution of the issues. Universal arbitration by unaffected parties
should not supersede local authority.
LE -17. State Aid for ,Roads in Cities Under 5,000
Problem; Cities under 5,000 population do not receive any nonproperty tax funds for their
collector and arterial streets.
Solution: State statute should be modified to encourage cooperation and improved
transportation systems by allowing contiguous cities that jointly represent a combined
population of 5,000 or more;to be eligible for Municipal State Aid (M.S.A.).
Participating cities would enter into a formal joint powers agreement and establish a
joint budget that would be governed by a board of elected officials. Cities that
participated in this joint entity would not be required to undertake any formal
consolidation activities.
Cities under 5,000 population that were not eligible for M.S.A. through this cooperative
agreement practice should be able to use county municipal accounts and the five percent
account of the highway user distribution fund.
Uses of county municipal ac � unts should be statutorily odified so that counties can
Y a
dedicate these funds for local arterials and collector streets within cities under 5,000
population. In addition, the five percent set -aside account in the highway user
distribution fund should be used to meet this funding gap.
LE -18. State Aid for Urban Road Systems
Problem: Current rules governing municipal state aid expenditures are restricting the
efficient use of these funds and do not adequately acknowledge the constraints of road
systems in-urban city environments.
Solution: Rules affecting the municipal state aid system need to be changed to
acknowledge the technical and practical restrictions on construction and reconstruction
of urban road systems. New municipal state aid design standards should not apply to
reconstruction of existing state aid streets that were originally constructed under
different standards.. Future changes to state aid rules should improve the balance of
elected officials and engineering professionals in the decision - making process.
LE -19. Tax Policies to Encourage Housing
Problem: State and federal tax policies have, in some instances, limited construction of
housing that is affordable to persons with very low and moderate incomes.
Solution: Tax policy should encourage production and increase the supply of affordable
housing:
• remove the state sales tax on building materidls for production of :aulti- family
rental housing units for which the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and /or
local housing and redevelopment authorities have provided assistance;
• provide additional state funds to increase the supply of housing in locations where
the local housing real estate market discourages construction of housing to meet
local needs, including added funding for the state Affordable Rental Housing
Investment Fund;
• support federal Fair Market Rents (FMRs) at a level sufficient to make
affordable rental housing widely available.
LE -20. State Programs to Encourage Housing
Problem: State programs to increase the supply of affordable housing outside central cities
are not well funded.
Solution: To encourage builders to provide affordable housing outside central cities
funding should be increased for:
M-9
• the Community Rehabilitation Fund to assist cities to design programs to meet
the local need for affordable single and multi - family housing;
• the Homeownership' Assistance Fund to provide for downpayments for low and
moderate income families to purchase their own homes;
• technical assistance to cities to analyze local housing conditions and the need for
incentives, set - asides or other methods to encourage development of housing to
serve employers contemplating business expansion or construction of new
facilities and increasing employment opportunities;
t
• credit enhancement assistance offered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency;
I
• construction financing assistance to encourage local lenders to participate in
family housing development.
IWROVING FISCAL { FUTURES
FF -1. Local Government Aid
Problem: Despite the 1991 dedication of sales tax revenue to the Local Government Trust
Fund, subsequent legislative actions substantially reduced the revenue available for increases
in city property tax relief programs such as LGA and HACA. Although the LGA inflation
index established by the 1994 legislature will ensure modest growth in the LGA
appropriation, it will only maintain the program at a constant dollar level. This will not
reverse the trend toward increased city reliance on the property tax and rapid property tax
growth. j
Solution: The implicit price deflator index should continue to be used to maintain LGA
at a constant, inflation- adjusted level. In addition, lawmakers should provide
additional state resources for further increases in LGA to reverse the rapid growth in
the reliance on the property tax.
FF -2. HACA Growth i
Problem: Homestead and Agricultural Credit Aid for cities does not increase as the number
of benefited properties increases. As a result, property tax relief for new'parcels is actually
provided by shifting taxes to other property owners. In addition, the property tax relief
provided through HACA is not adjusted to keep pace with inflation.
Solution: The household growth adjustment should be reinstated and an inflationary
t
� -g
adjustment similar to the LGA index should be established for future city HACA
distributions.
FF -3. Transfers of LGA /HACA to Schools
Problem: Past shifts of city LGA and HACA to schools provided only imaginary relief from
rapidly rising school property taxes. Any additional shift of city LGA and HACA will likely
have a similar impact on future school property taxes. Also, new shifts will increase the tax
rate disparities between cities and townships and irreparably damage the equalization benefit
of LGA and HACA.
Solution: Any increase in the state's share of school revenues should come from
sources other than further transfers from city property tax relief programs.
FF -4. Levy Limits
Problem: In the past, levy limits have proven to be an ineffective and inefficient way to
limit property tax growth. Control of property taxes through the local budget process and
taxation hearings provides a more effective method of oversight.
Solution: Levy limits should not be imposed on city property taxes.
FF -5. Levies on Market Value
Problem: Applying new referenda levies to market value, rather than tax capacity, shifts the
burden of these property'taxes to homestead properties.
Solution: All property taxes should be based on the tax capacity classification system.
The statutes that require newly approved referenda levies to be applied to market values
should be repealed.
FF -6. State Deductions from LGA
Problem: State administrative costs are deducted from the LGA appropriation. This reduces
the property tax relief provided by LGA and creates hidden appropriations for state-agencies.
Solution: All appropriations that fund state operations from LGA resources should be
repealed.
1 League of Minnesota -ties
�- d
FF -7. Payments for Services to Tax Exempt Property
Problem: Taxable property in many cities is being acquired by non - profit and government
entities. Converting the property to tax exempt status can lead to a serious tax base erosion
without any corresponding reduction in the service needs created by the property.
i
i
Solution: Cities should be allowed to collect payments in -lieu of property taxes or
special assessments from non - constitutionally exempt property owners.
1
FF -S. Delinquent Property Tax Penalties
Problem: Although city finances are affected by property tax delinquencies, cities do not
receive any associated penalties and interest on these delinquencies. Penalties and interest
are split evenly between counties and schools.
Solution: Cities should receive their pro -rata share of all penalties and interest collected
on delinquent property taxes.
FF -9. Reporting Requirements
Problem: Budget and financial reporting requirements imposed on cities by the state often
result in duplication and additional costs.
Solution: Additional requirements for reporting and advertising financial and budget
information should be carefully weighed to balance the validity of the state's need for
additional information with the costs and burdens of compiling and submitting this
information. In addition, all state agencies should be aware of the information already
required by others to avoid duplication of reporting requirements.
FF -10. Truth -in- taxation
I
Problem: The Legislature has mandated how property tax relief is calculated on tax
statements. These calculations have no relationship to actual local receipts for Homestead
and Agricultural Credit Aid.
Solution: In the spirit of real truth -in- taxation, property tax statements should
accurately reflect the actual amount of HACA benefiting each individual property
owner. i
This policy was discussed and sent on to the membership for approval without a
recommendation from the Legislative Committee.
FF -11. Alternative Local Revenue Sources
Problem: State law currently prohibits local units of government from imposing local
income or sales taxes unless specific authority is granted. The only generally available
source of tax revenue for cities is the property tax. Unfortunately, taxpayer discontent with
the property tax has recently reached high levels which has made -financing city services
with the property tax more difficult. The availability of non - property tax revenue sources
would lessen the reliance on the property tax and also allow cities to finance services and /or
facilities that benefit a broader population.
Solution: Lawmakers should acknowledge cities' need for alternative revenue sources
and should provide local authority for additional taxes and /or fees.
1 League of 'nnesota sties
i
E .
HAM L I N E Graduate PublicAdininistration Programs
I 2
UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL a
a
V
October 27, 1994 "
Dear Local Official, t✓ .�
With encouragement and help from the Hamlin University Graduate Public Administratio ograms; we are
presenting the Local Officials Roundtables this fall. We want to invite you and your community to participate
and give shape and direction to what we hope will be an ongoing dialogue among local officials about the diffi-
cult issues we face on the brink of a new century.
I
For more than a decade, the Hamline University Graduate School has provided mid- career educational programs
for many of our professional staff members. Now, Hamline has engaged us in a discussion about how to stimu-
late greater exchange among local�!policymakers and top staff people on issues such as leadership, community
building, crime prevention and control, affordable housing and other challenges facing local government.
We recognized that any such effort would encounter formidable obstacles, such as the very limited time available
to local officials and the constant pressure of more immediate issues in our home jurisdictions. But we also
believe that, if such a forum would provide new ideas and the opportunity to learn from each others' successes
and failures, it would be worth the-time and energy.
i
To that end, we have scheduled four meetings in November and December in roughly the four corners of the
region. With a general theme of "Leadership for Authentic Community Building," each of the specific ses-
sions has been planned by a small group representing Hamlin and local officials in that sub- regional area.
Every meeting will be different. We thought we would learn a great deal more about successful formats by trying
different approaches.
1
Hamlin will be providing some staff support to help us this Fall, including a report on the information and ideas
shared at each session that can be sent to the participants. We are also prepared to have future steps in this ini-
tiative be determined by those who'participate in this Fall's meetings. There is no long -range plan or precon-
ceived direction. The goal is to generate serious, thoughtful dialogue among local officials about the larger
issues we have to grapple with in our communities.
I
We are asking that each jurisdiction send at least two to three people to the roundtable in your sub -
regional area (see enclosed map). Elected and top -level appointed people are preferred, although civic leaders
are welcome too. Of course, you are invited to attend any or all of the other sessions as well, but we hope to
achieve good local representation at the session in your area.
over, please
1536 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104 -1284 — 612 -641 -2968 !'- Fax 612 -641 -2435
Minnesota s First University - Founded in 1854
M-':�
We do request that you RSVP at least five working days before the session by calling Lisa Ray at Hamline
at 641 -2284 and indicating which session(s) you plan to attend. As soon as you RSVP, you will receive a short
article to read to stimulate your thinldng.
All of the meetings will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., beginning with a kick off presentation followed by plenty of
interaction among all of the participants. The charge for each session, which will include a continental breakfast,
is $10.00 per person, payable in advance by returning the enclosed registration form with your check.
We are very excited about the-prospects for this important networking opportunity among both new and experi-
enced local officials in the Metropolitan Area on critical issues, and we hope to see you at one or more of the
Local Officials Roundtables this fall.
We would appreciate it greatly if you would circulate this invitation to the political and administra-
tive leadership group in your organization. All are invited to join us.
Sincerely,
For the Northeast metro planning group.,
Tom Baldwin, Mayor of Falcon Heights
Susan Hoyt, City Manager, Falcon Heights
Terry Schwerin, City Manager, Shoreview
Dennis Welsch, Community Development
Director, Roseville
For the Southwest metro planninggroup.
Karen Anderson, Mayor of Minnetonka
Charlie Meyer, City Manager, St. Louis Park
Jim Prosser, City Manager, Richfield
For the Northwest metro planning group.
Josephine Nunn, former Mayor of Champlin and
Met Council
Bill Joynes, City Manager, Golden Valley
Craig Rapp, City Manager, Brooklyn Park
For the Southeast metro planninggroup.
Tom Egan, Mayor of Eagan
Tom Hedges, City Manager, Eagan
Kevin Frazell, City Manager, Cottage Grove
Greg Konat, City Manger, Burnsville
And from Hamline University.
John Vinton, Director, Graduate Public
Administration Program
Roger Israel, Assistant Professor
Also consulted in the development of the series.
Larry Bakken, Professor of Law, Hamlin U. and
former Mayor of Golden Valley
James Bourey, Administrator, Hennepin County
Grail Dorfman, City Council, St. Louis Park
Sharon Klumpp, Assistant Director, Mn. League of
Cities
Dennis Kraft, City Administrator, Shakopee
Jim Miller, Executive Director, Mn. League of
Cities
Vern Peterson, Executive Director, Association of
Metropolitan Municipalities
Janice Rettman, City Council, St. Paul
Brandt Richardson, Administrator, Dakota County
Dottie Rietow, Chair, Metropolitan Council
Terry Schutten, County Manager, Ramsey County
Ellen Shelton, School Board, Roseville
SCHEDULE OF ROUNDTABLES SESSIONS
NORTHEAST METRO
DATE: November 10, Thursday
LOCATION: Mn. League of Cities Office
3490 Lexington Ave. North, Shoreview
(just south of County Road E on Lexington Ave.)
TIME: 7:30 -9:30 am.
TOPIC: "Building Community Through Leadership,
Not Management"
OPENING COMMEMis: Ruby Hunt, Ramsey Co. Commissioner,
past President of the St. Paul City Council
i
PLEASE RSVP BY NOVEMBER 4
SOUTHWEST METRO i
DATE: November 17, Thursday j
LOCATION: Richfield City Hall Council Chambers
6700 Portland Ave. South, Richfield
TIME: 7:30 -9:30 am. '
TOPIC: "Crime and Personal Security: Realities and
Perceptions"
OPENING COMMENTS: Don Gudmundson, Chief of Police,
Lakeville I
PLEASE RSVP BY NOVEMBER 11
r•TW�410
SOUTHEAST METRO
DATE: December 8, Thursday (in conjunction with
Dec. mtg. of Dakota Co. League of
Governments)
LOCATION: Western Service Center, Dakota County
14955 Galaxy Ave., Apple Valley (County Road
42 and Galaxy Ave.; I block east of Cedar Ave.)
TIME: 7:30 -9:30 am.
TOPIC: "Communitarianism: Balancing Rights and
Responsibilities in our Communities"
OPENING COMMENTS: Lois Yellowthunder, Civitas, a Minnesota
Communitarianism organization
PLEASE RSVP BY DECEMBER 2
NORTHWEST METRO
DATE: December 15, Thursday
LOCATION: Brooklyn Park Community Activities Center
5400 85th Ave. North (85th Ave. between
Regent and Zane Avenues North, adjacent to
Brooklyn Park Police Department and City Hall)
TIME: 7:30 -9:30 am.
TOPIC: "Crime in the `Burbs: Learning From Best
Practices"
OPENING COMMENTS: Don Davis, Chief of Police, Brooklyn
Park, and Bob Lutz, Chief of Police, Bloomington
PLEASE RSVP BY DECEMBER 9
-------------------------- - - - - -- --------------------------------------------------------- - - - - --
REGISTRATION FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS ROUNDTABLES ;
� 1 �
I would like to attend the following sessions: — Northeast Metr o Southwest. Metro
Southeast Metro Northwest Metro 0
i
Name:
Title
Organization i
Address
City, State, ZIP j
� Phone
FAX
Enclose $10 per session. Mail to: Graduate Public Administration Program; Hamline University; MS- 1710;1536
Hewitt Avenue; St. Paul, MN 55104. Please reproduce this form as needed. Questions? Call 641 -2284. '
L-------------- - - - - --
----------------------------------------- - - - - -J
NORTHWEST
I+ ��
NOU•MOOO ' I R.T[RiOMN 3 z:,tw
_ Liil�r_a.L`
— •�..LL - - -- mar.': °:;.v:
�.R LRY.RI .�.•� �y:tK
GWDCN I R�OON4 yG:l tAKCTCMR
�Lw
RO[R� I LKK� •• •O.NIGRCR
. , T umc. mc. I RCNLON
SOUTHWEST
r
m -Cr
NORTHERS
tURE" 0011G I [NV.L[ 1M.iMi0il0
i ' SC10i.
T
SOUTHEAST
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
M-0
KNOWLEDGE IS THE
FIRST STEP TOWARD ENDING
HATE CRIMES
You're invited to attend
I
.A HATEBIAS CRIME SYMPOSIUM
i
To be held on Thursday, November 17
7:00 to 9:00 PM
in the Council Chambers
i Crystal City Hall
Corner of Co. Rd 9 and Douglas Drive
Crystal, Minn.
Speakers will include: ' Mayor Meintsma, City of Crystal
Yvonne Price, President, League of
Minnesota Human Rights Commission
Mark Shields, Director, Criminal Justice
& Law Enforcement, Attorney Gen. Office
jJames Mossey, Crystal Chief of Police
William Jackson, Co- Chair, Eden Prairie HRC
f Ed Lohnes, American Indian OIC
Rebecca Lovejoy, Crime Victim Program
{ Coordinator, Gay & Lesbian Community]
Action Council.
Mort Ryweck, State Project Coordinator for
1 State of Minnesota HRC.
Co- sponsored by the cities of Crystal, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.
i
}
I
M -\�
METRO MEETINGS
A weekly calendar of meetings and agenda items for the Metropolitan Council, its advisory and
standing committees, and four regional commissions: Metropolitan Airports Commission,
Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, and
Regional Transit Board. Meeting times and agendas are occasionally ch esoons about
meetings should be directed to the appropriate organization. Mee ting! r n •on is also'available
on the Metro Information Line at 229 -3780. A
DATE: October 28,1994
WEEK OR October 31- November 4,1994 `
1. C6
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
Special MeetbWCommunity Development Committee - Monday, Oct. 31, Noon, Chambers. The
committee will discuss Cottage Grove metropolitan urban service area issues.
Minority Issues Advisory Committee - Tuesday, Nov 1, 4:30 p.m., Chambers. The committee will
consider the proposed 1995 Council budget and other business.
Transportation Technical Advisory Committee to the Transportation Advisory Board -
Wednesday, Nov 2, 9 a.m., Chambers. The committee will consider. St. Paul's transportation
plan; congestion management study; recommendations on the 1998 -99 solicitation package; and
other business.
Environment Committee - Wednesday, Nov 2, 4 p.m., Chambers. The committee will consider.
approval of Wastewater Services rate policy and action plan to moderate rates; authorization to
execute an agency partnership agreement with MnDOT for construction of the Chaska
interceptor, Phase 1; authorization to execute change orders in excess of 5% of original
construction contract amount for MWWTP WSG offices, administration building ramp and
warehouse dock; authorization to execute Amendment 4 to Professional Services MCWS contract,
MWWTP centrifuge dewatering project; Southeast regional treatment plant, Rosemount WWI?;
privatization overview; status of MCWS capital projects; and other bus'ness.
Finance Committee - Thursday, Nov 3, 4 p.m., Room 2A. (The last hour of this meeting will be
closed to the public pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 471.705, Subdivision la [1992] to
discuss labor negotiation issues.) The committee will consider. IBM mainframe hardware and
software upgrade; setting a public hearing for Metropolitan Council and transit 1995 work
program and budget; further discussion 1995 work program and budget; and other business.
Chair's Executive Committee Breakfast Meeting - Friday, Nov 4, 730 a.m., Benjamin's, Kelly
Inn, St. Paul.
Legislative Coordinating Committee (TENTATIVE) - Friday, Nov 4, Noon, Room IA.
TENTATIVE MEETINGS THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 7 - NOVEMBER 11, 1994.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Advisory Committee - Wednesday, Nov 9, 930 a.m.,
Room 2A.
Joint Meeting: Environment Committee and Community Development Committee- Wednesday,
Nov 9, 2 p.m., room to be determined.
Transportation Committee - Wednesday, Nov 9, 4 p.m., Chambers.
Chair's Informal Meeting With Council Members - Thursday, Nov. 10, 3 pm., Chair's Office.
Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Nov 10, 4 p.m., Chambers.
Committee of the Whole on 1995 Budget - Thursday, Nov 10, immediately following Council
meeting, Chambers. .
VETERANS DAY/HOLIDAY - Friday, Nov. 11. Council offices are closed.
The Metropolitan Council is located at Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul. Meeting
times and agenda are subject to change. For more information or confirmation of meetings, call
291 -6447, (TDD 291 - 0904). Call the Metro Information Line at 229-3780 for news of Council
actions and coming meetings.
METROPOLITAN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COM IISSION
Commission Meeting - Tuesday, Nov 1, 4 p.m., Room IA. The commission will consider. request
for'comments on policy on contaminated sod cleanup of regional park land and the 1990 -91
regional parks CIP amendment draft for public hearing; summary of discussions and response to
$150 million trust for public lands initiative; request to approve Dakota County Park grant
increases financed with excess interest; and other business.
I
Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission offices are located at Mears Park Centre, 230
E. Fifth St., St. Paul, MN 55101. Meeting times and agenda must occasionally be changed. To
verify meeting schedules or agenda items, call 291 -6363.
METROPOLITAN SPORTS FACILITIES COMAUSSION
Marketing Committee - Tuesday, Nov 1, 9 a.m., Commission office conference room. The
committee will discuss a Metrodome oral history project and other general marketing issues.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission office is located at 900 South 5th St., Minneapolis,
MN 55415. All meetings are held in the Commission office conference room, unless noted
otherwise. Meeting times and agendas occasionally must be changed. To verify meeting
schedules and agenda items, please call Tamra Sharp, 335 -3310.
r � OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
November 1994
Sunday Monday
October
S M T W T F S
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MEETING
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
City Center Customer Count -
er Open for Absentee
Voting 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
6:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL
-Pub. Safety
Trafatn Room
7:00 PM TTY CObf-
WATERQUAL
M=E- Pub. Safely Library
7:30 PM CITY ATTORNEY INTER,
VIEWS - Pub. Safety Trait Rm
7 :00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION - Council
Chambers
5:00 PM OPEN SPACE
COMMITTEE - Council
Colic. Room
6:00 PM CITY ATTOR-
NEY INTERVIEWS -
Pub. Safety Trng Rm.
6
7
7'60 ,rPM;COUN,CIL MEET''
ChAmbe"r"s
8
®
State General Election -
Polls open 7 am. - close 8
P.m.
9
7:00 Pbi PLANNING COBE%IIS-
SION - Council Chamber
10
7:00 PM PRAC -Pub. Safet y
Trng Rm
11
Veterans Da C' Off-es
y
Closed
12
City Center Customer Count-
er Open forAbsentee
Voting - 8 a. m. - 7p. m.
7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION - Pub. Safety
Library
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
7.�;'}Q0,PM;C6UN,, c,
{i^STUDY�SESSION; Pab.�;
7:00 PM BOARD OF
ZONING - Pub. Safety'
Library
7:00 PM HRA- Pub. Safety
Ting Rfn
7:00 PM PACT -Pub.
Safety Library
20
21
7;00 PM,COUNCIL-- MEET°,
i 3ING CowicilG7iambeis!
22
6:00 PM FINANCIAL
ADVISORY COMMIT-
TEE - Pub. Safety
Library
23
'
24
25
26
Thanks ivin Holida
- City Offices Closed
27
28
29
30
December
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 s 6 7 s 9 10
It 12 13 14 Is 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
6:30'EM *SPECIAI; COUN =:
.Tr`CIL- MEETING 44144�K
ry, Safety Tiaining ioom; fi
Hanukkah
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMUS-
SION- Council Chambers
� 'PM jtITY BUDGETS
Y �PUBLICiIEARING= a�
^� "
•=,- ',.Coullcll,Cil,Mibetso,='�:,,
11/2/94
3
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
December 1994
Sunday .._ y Tuesday Wednesday
November 94 January 95
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6 7 8 9 10 it 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 5 16 17 18 19 20 21
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
27 28 29 30 29 30 31
Thursday
r
y
..
2
Saturday
3
4 -
5
7:00,PM COUNCIL MEET
IN_ G - Council'Ctrombers
7:00 PM WATER QUAL-
TTY COMMITTEE -
Pub. Safety Library
7-
7:00 PM CITY BUDGETS
PUBLIC HEARING
(Reconvene) - Councll
Chambers
8 _
7:00 PM PRAC - Pub.
Safety Trrig Rm
9 - - -
10 - -
7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION - Pub.
Safety Library
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
7:00 PM BOARD OF
ZONING - Pub. Safety
Trng Rm
7:00 PM PLANNING COM-
MISSION - Council
Chambers
7 :00 PM ERA - Pub.
Safety Tmg Rm
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
7.00 PM COUNCIL MEET
ING - Council Ciiambera
7:00 PM PACT - Pub.
Safety Library
Winter begins
25
Christmas
26
27
28
29
30
31
City Offices Closed
6:00 PM FINANCIAL
ADVISORY COMMIT-
TEE - Pub. Safety
Library
7:00 PM PLANNING COM-
MISSION - Council
Chambers
11/3194
r t) .. ib City Council Weekly Planner
November 06 - December 17, 1994
:-,,,-,Sunday
Nov 6
_
Monday
Nov 7
7:00 PM COUNCIL ' '=
<MEETING,-,Coaacil'
Cbamben ' ; - •
City Center
Counter en or
Absentee Voting - d
a.m. -7pm.
..
Nov 8
State General
Election -Polls
open 7 a.m. -
close 8 p.m.
.. ..
Nov 9
..
Nov 10
..
Nov 11
Veterans Day - City
O�cesClosed
..
Nov 12
7.00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION-
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PRAC - Pub.
Safety T Rm
7:RIGH HUMAN
RIGHTS COMfety
LION -Pub. Safety
Library
Nov 13
Nov 14
Nov 15
Nov 16
Nov 17
Nov 18
8:30 AM LMC Policy
Adoption Conf.
Nov 19
7:00PMCOUNCILt
STUDY SESSION =
Pub. Sa&16ytiig,_p•
.R
7:OOPMBOARn OF
ZONING - Pub.
Safety Library
7:00 PM HRA -Pub.
Safety Tmg Rm
7 :OOPMPACT -Pub.
Safety Library
Nov 20
Nov 21
7:06 PM COUNCIL -,•
MEETING - Council
• C"mbirs ; •'
Nov 22
6:00 PM FINANCIAL
ADVISORYCOMM-
TITEE - Pub. Safety
Library
Nov 23
Nov 24
Nov 25
Nov 26
Thanks isin Holida
Citv Offices Closed
Nov 27
Nov 28
Nov 29
Nov 30
Dec 1
Dec 2
Dec 3
6:30 Pk SPECIAI
COUNCII: MEET -A "�
ING- Pub. Safety;, ...
Tr'giriingRoom .. ;;
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMNMION -
Council Chambers
7:00 PM CTTY BURG
ETS PUBLIC HEAR -
-ING 'Co,,.
Chambers; °^ '
Hanu
Dec 4
Dec 5
Dec 6
Dec 7
Dec 8
Dec 9
Dec 10
7:00 PM COUNCIL
MEETING -Corr e0 , t
- Cbamtiers •
7 :00 PM WATER
QUALITY COMMIT-
Safety
TEE - Pub. Safe
Library
7:00 PM CITY BUDG
ETS PUBLIC HEAR-
ING (Reconvene) -
Council Chambers
7 :00 PM PRAC - Pub.
Safe Trn Rm
7 :30 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMIS.
SION -Pub. Safely
Library
Dec 11
Dec 12
Dec 13
7:00 PM BOARD OF
ZONING -Pub.
Safety Trug Rm
Dec 14
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION-
Council Chambers
Dec 15
7 :00 PM ERA - Pub.
Safety TrugRm
Dec 16
Dec 17
11/3/94
ROBERT L.CROSBY
LEONARD M.ADDINGTON
ROBERT R.BARTH
N. WALTER GRAPF
ALLEN D. BARNARD
RICRARD A. PETERSON
ROBERT J. CHRISTIANSON, JR.
FRANK J. WALz
FRANK VOGL
MARINUS W. VAN PUTTEN, JR.
DAVID B.MoasE
JOHN A.BuaroN,JR.
JAMES C. DIRACLES
ROBERT L. MELLER, JR.
JUDITH A.R000SHESHE
SCOTT D. ELLER
BEST & FLANAGAN
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
CHARLES C.BEROUIST
GEORGE 0. LUDCEE
E.JOSEPH LAFAVE
GREGORY D. SOULE
CATHY E. GORLIN
PATRICK B. HENNESSY
TIMOTHY A. SuLLrvAN
BRIAN F. RICE
DANIEL R.W. NELSON
TRACY J.VAN STEENBURO
DAVID J. ZU1)B�.KE '
STEVEN R. KRUGER �
JAMES P. MICHALS
PAUL E. KAMINSKI
JOHN P. BOYLE i
Ross C. FoRMELL
Mr. Dwight Johnson
City Manager
Ms. Laurie Ahrens
City Clerk
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
4000 FIRST BANK PLACE C
CINDY J. LARSON O
Or COUNSEL
TELECOPIER (6121 339 -8897 J
JEANNIcE M.REDING
SABAH CRIPPEN MADISON
Direct Dial: 341 -9720
November 1, 1994
BY TELEFAX
..li
RE: Council Vacancy'
Dear Dwight and Laurie: i s
The purpose of this letter is to set forth the procedure required to fill the vacancy in
the City Council. } -
T 11e City - Charter is controlling. Section 2.07 discusses the process of filling a
council vacancy. Nine different possible reasons for a vacancy are listed in this Section. In
the present situation, the reason for the vacancy is listed in (c), namely, "resignation of the
officer." The Council should therefore declare that a vacancy exists (it is not necessary to
set forth findings since the vacancy results from a resignation) and forthwith appoint an'
eligible person to fill the vacancy until the next regular municipal election at which time the
office is filled for the unexpired term. The City should not hold a special election since the
Charter specifically requires the Council to fill the vacancy. The Attorney General has
opined that where a City Charter sets forth a system of appointing persons to fill vacancies,
State Statutes allowing special "elections would not be applicable. See Op. Atty. Gen., 63a-
11, Dec. 20, 1966.
Mr. Johnson
Ms. Ahrens
November 1, 1994
Page 2
We conclude that the Council should declare a vacancy to exist and proceed to fill the
vacancy by appointment. The same process should be used as was used to fill Mayor
Tierney's council seat.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you on this matter.
ncerelv ours,
L*• jt��-
Paul E. Kaminski
PEK:kjd /24410
cc Mr. Allen Barnard
C � ff�,,
For Immediate Release For More Information:
November 2, 1994 Kathy Lueckert, 550 -5013
Plymouth Seeking Applicants to Fill Ward 2 Council Vacancy
The Plymouth City .Council is seeking applicants to fill the vacant Ward 2 City
Council seat. The seat became vacant when Ward 2 Councilmember Sheryl Morrison
r
recently resigned due to professional demands.
As specified by the City Charter, the City Council will appoint a Ward 2 resident
M
to serve the remainder of Morrison's term. The term runs through 1995. Ward 2 is in
southwest Plymouth. It is bounded by I -494, Co. Rd. 6, Comstock Ln., Co. Rd. 24 and
the south and west city limits. Applicants must reside in Ward 2.
Applications are due at the Plymouth City Center, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., by 4:30
p.m. on Fri., Nov. 18. Based on the applications received, the City Council will select
four to six individuals to interview. The Council will conduct the interviews on Mon.,
Nov. 28. It expects to vote 'on an appointment on Dec. 5.
information, call City Clerk Laurie Ahrens at 550 -5014.
-30-
For an application or more
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550 -5000
DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 1994
TO: DWIGHT JOHNSON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: CARLYS SCHANSBERG, DATA INSPECTION /CONTROL C�
CLERK
SUBJECT: BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED REPORT FOR
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL /PUBLIC & CHURCH USE TYPES
WEEK OF OCTOBER 27 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2, 1994
There were no permits issued during this time period for the above permit types.
:a_-- a\--)
DATE:
November 1, 1994
TO:
1
Dale E. Hahn, Director of Finance
FROM:
Bob Pemberton, Risk Management Coordinator
SUBJECT: ANNUAL REPORT FROM PROPERTY /CASUALTY
INSURANCE AGENT
t
I have attached the Annual Report from T.C. Field & Company who replaced Kraus -
Anderson Agency as our property /casualty insurance agent in 1993. Historically our
property /casualty insurance agents were compensated on the basis of a fixed
commission paid by the insurance carrier or insurance trust. However, in 1993 it was
decided that we would compensate our insurance agent on the basis of a negotiated fee.
In accordance with that decision we issued a Request for Proposal to six qualified
property /casualty insurance agencies and received six proposals with fees ranging from
$5,000 to $15,000 per {year. The City Council reviewed the proposals and
recommendation of staff and at the Council Meeting of October 18, 1993 appointed
T.C. Field & Company as ,our agent of record.
The appointment was made effective November 1, 1993 which enabled T.C. Field &
Company to assist with the April 1, 1994 renewal of the property /casualty insurance
program. The Council also requested that the agent provide the City with an annual
report on the services provided to the City of Plymouth.
I have reviewed and concur with the agent's report of October 12, 1994. I have found
T.C. Field & Company to be a competent and qualified insurance agency who best
represents the interests of the City of Plymouth. Therefore, I recommend the
acceptance of the report and will continue utilizing their services, unless Z am instructed
to seek new arrangements.
E I
T.C. FIELD COMPANY
Insurance and Bonds Since 1912
October 12, 1994
Mr. Robert J. Pemberton,
Risk Management Coordinator
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447 -1482
Previously you requested that we provide you with a summary of our activities on
behalf of the City of Plymouth over the past year. Following are the activities that we
performed for the City of Plymouth for your property and casualty exposures. '
Assisted with the implementation of the Risk Management Function by providing the
necessary insurance for the transfer of the risks to the insurance company.
Assisted the City in assembling and accurately reporting of underwriting data to
various insurance companies for rating and marketing purposes. We provided the City
of Plymouth with a computer disc so that the application information could be entered
into their computer system. Although there were implementation problems with the
city, we reentered the information into our computer system so that updates in future
years will be simpler. This system improvement allows for easier entry of
information, record keeping, retrieval and minimizes errors in the transfer of data.
This also will provide a cost savings to the city because of the reduction of labor
associated with the application process, which in the case of the LMCIT program is
rather time consuming. T.C. Field & Company is the.only company that has the
LMCIT application in its computer system.
After the application information was collected from the City we marketed the
insurance to highly rated insurance carriers and the LMCIT for the placement of the
City's insurance. We then received quotations for all of the exposures that were to be
transferred. We reviewed the quotations to assure that they were consistent with the
underwriting information that was submitted as well as performed some random
checking of various coverages with other municipalities that we provide services.
In this manner we can determine if the underwriting has been consistent with what has
been provided to other cities.
530 North Robert Street • St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 • (612) 227 -8405 Fax: (612) 227 -0507
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 64016 - St. Paul, Minnesota 55164
Activity Summary for the City of Plymouth
Page 2
f
Quotations are provided to the Risk Management Coordinator with complete rating data
as well as a cost comparison between the subsequent year and the upcoming. The Risk
Management Coordinator `is advised of the causes of the premium adjustments. After
the City reviews and approves the insurance quotation, we provide binders of insurance
until the policies are issued. Once the policies are issued we verify that they are
consistent with the quotations for coverages. We then package the polices and deliver
them to the city. I
Other activities included a'perusal of the City's loss reports to discuss the potential of
closing, or reducing the reserves on any files that are open. Although Mr. Pemberton
does an excellent job of claims management for the city, we feel that a periodic check
is helpful, even for our most sophisticated clients.
Servicing: we provided timely turnaround of policy endorsements for 26 vehicles and
13 pieces of equipment, five requests for additional insured, and marketed and obtained
an endorsement for the fireworks program.
Informed the Risk Management Coordinator of changes in the industry and markets,
and other relevant information that could be beneficial to him and the city.
i
Reviewed and analyzed the exposures associated with the Plymouth Towne Square, and
secured appropriate coverages to treat the exposures.
I -
On behalf of T.C. Field & Company, it has been a pleasure working with you and the
City of Plymouth and we look forward to working with you in the upcoming year. If
you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Lenz
Account Executive
PRINCIPAL
GOVERNMENTAL
YEAR
INSURANCE
OTHER SERVICES
PROPOSED
AGENCY
CONTACT
CUSTOMERS
ESTAB.
MARKET
INCLUDED IN FEE
YEAR FEE
T. C. Field
Mark Lenz
10 cities including
1964
Excellent
Property Appraisal
$7,615.00
Conway Olson
City of Minnetonka.
Service
29 other public
entities
z
Harris - Homeyer
Wm. Homeyer
City of Edina
1981
Excellent
5,750.00
David Crowther
Kraus Anderson
Don Kuplic
City of Plymouth '
1972
Excellent
11,200.00
City of Burnsville
J.A. Price Agency
Maitland Lane ;.
City of Eden Prairie
1933
Excellent
5,000.00
Schadow Agency
Albert Wiinikainen
Minnesota Workers
1949
Excellent
Legal consulting
11,000.00
Kathy Lenzmeien
Compensation
Reinsurance
Association
Alexander &
Larry Bodahl
Many nationwide
1899
Excellent
Loss Control
15,000.00
Alexander
including the states of
Consulting
Minnesota &
Wisconsin
Fall 1994 Connect
A Newsletter from Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners
- tv�c
Vol. I No.3 110 Grand Ave. S. Wayzata, MN 55391 Tel. 473 -2436
Open Every Wednesday Afternoon
St. Mary's Health Clinic Opens at IOCP
The opening of St. Mary's Health Clinic at IOCP on August 31 was
another step in providing health care for all in our community who
need it. The clinic will be open every Wednes-
day afternoon from 2 to 6 and will provide free
basic health care for people who have no other
health coverage- -those in low paying jobs
without medical coverage, children without
coverage, unemployed people whose benefits
have run out,' people waiting to hear about public
` assistance, or anyone without medical coverage
to meet ordinary needs.
The clinics provide free basic and preventive care
Providing health services
to medically underserrned on a personal, caring basis for those who qualify,
people in St. Paul and without a lot of red tape or paperwork. They
Minneapolis 1
neighborhoods. also provide prescriptions, and give referrals for
those with special problems. They do pregnancy
testing, but refer patients to other sources for pregnancy care. The
clinic does not provide emergency or chronic care, but refers pa-
tients to other sources for those needs.
The doctors, nurses and support staff all volunteer their services to
the clinic. They are particularly concerned with preventive care, and
are happy to answer questions you may have about your children's
or your own health. I
To make an appointment, call 690 -7029
Mammograms
get more important every year.
If you are over 40, call to find
out about low -cost or free
mammograms
1- 800 - ACS -2345
Flu Shots
for anyone 15 or older
Wednesdays
Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
St. Mary's Health Clinic
IOCP - -110 Grand, Wayzata
A Word
From
LaDonna
Hi, Friends,
Time to CONNECT again...
This time with information about health
and holiday programs offered here at IOCP
and with updates on other programs,
events, and resources available in the
community.
We hope you find this helpful. Let us
know.
Remember...the purpose of this newslet-
ter is to CONNECT ... with you and your
family gad to CONNECT you and your
family with others.
We want to hear from you.
Are there things that have worked for you
or that you've learned along the way that
might help someone else? CONNECT
can be a forum for sharing your good
ideas and information with others.
As we approach Thanksgiving our hearts
leap up with yours in thanks for our fami-
lies and our children and for all who make
our community a braver and more faithful
place.
Let's keep the blessing going.
I
Please ... help us to CONNECT.
Infectious Diseases
Common to Children
is a booklet of information about
common childhood diseases.
To get your free copy, call
IOCP -- 473 -2436
You Deserve the Best!
Our aim as a staff is to provide personal attention
and assistance when you come to Interfaith Out-
reach. While we continue to serve walk -in re-
quests for assistance in an emergency, making an
appointment before you come will help us pro-
vide the best services.
When you have a need or concern other than
foodshelf or clothing closet assistance:
-Call before you come. Talk with a staff
person. Often we can assist you over the phone or
'--7 3
direct you to additional resources. This can save
time and mileage for you.
-Make an appointment. Doing this will
help us provide individual attention and time to
address your need or concern fully. You may be
asked to bring information with you when you
come, to help the process run smoothly and
quickly for you.
Make a Call - Make an Appointment!
Fun and Games for Your Family
Long'Lake Pioneer Museum
Sunday October 30.
2 -5 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween with crafts and games
Costumes fun but not required
Admission: something for the food shelf
Ridgedale YMCA
Friday, Oct. 28
6 -8 p.m.
For youngsters ages 3 -7
Halloween fun with a haunted house, carnav
story teller
Admission: $2 per child
Butterfields- -320 East Wayzata Blvd
1st Annual Haunted House
Saturday, October 29
4 -8 pm*
Free balloons - -free treats
Admission: $2 per child
(Fundraiser for IOCP)
Long Lake State Bank
will give away free pumpkins
Thursday, Oct. 27
Friday, Oct. 28
Monday, Oct.31
Free cider and cookies on Friday and Monday
YMCA Youth Basketball
For boys and girls in Kindergarten& 1st Grades
Seven Tuesdays -- starting Nov. 1
4 -5 p.m.
For boys and girls in 1st & 2nd grades
Seven Thursdays -- starting Nov. 3
4 -5 p.m.
For boys and girls in lst & 2nd grades
Seven Saturdays -- starting Nov. 5
9 -10 a.m.
For boys and girls in 2nd and 3rd grades
Seven Saturdays -- starting Nov. 5
11 -12 a.m.
Scholarships available
Call Phil Olson, 544 -7708
It's That Time Again --
Holiday Planning Time
IOCP Holiday planning is well under way - -we
know how quickly these warm golden days
lead into the cold and snow of Thanksgiving
and Christmas. Because of our limited space
we must do a great deal of rearranging and
rescheduling to make it all work out - -and it is
even more important than ever that the adopt -a-
family forms be returned immediately.
We will need to use the clothing space for
holiday food distribution, so
Clothes to You will be closed from
November 17 through January 3.
Thanksgiving Schedule
If you have requested Thanksgiving food on
your adopt -a- family form, that distribution will
be:
Tue., Nov. 22 - -9 -5
Wed., Nov. 23 - -9 -6:30
The regular food shelf will be closed
Friday, November 18,
Monday, November 21, and
Wednesday, Nov. 23. 1
IOCP will be closed Nov. 24 &25.
If you have requested food assistance for the
holidays and find that your plans have changed
and you don't need it, it is important that you
call IOCP and let us know.
Christmas Schedule
The Christmas Party will be held on Sunday,
Dec. 18, at St. Bart's Church, 630 Wayzata Blvd
(on Rice St. - -one block west of IOCP)
Again we will have two parties- -
Last name A thru L, come at 1:00 (not before)
Last name M thru Z, come at 3:00 (not before)
Families are responsible for picking up, their own
gifts at the party. -Be sure to leave room in your
car for bringing gifts home.
If you make any special gift pick -up arrangements
(having anyone else pick up your gifts) you must
call IOCP beforehand, and that person must have
your written permission to take your gifts. For
your protection we cannot give your gifts to
anyone without your phone call and written
permission.
If you have requested food for Christmas on your
adopt -a- family form, the food pick -up dates are:
Wed., Dec. 21 - -9 -6:30 p.m.
Thu., Dec. 22 - -9 -5 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 23 - -9 -Noon
The foodshelf will be closed the week of holiday
food distribution, Dec. 19 -26. It will be open on
Wednesday Dec. 28.
IOCP closes at noon Dec. 23.
IOCP closed Monday Dec. 26.
IOCP closed Monday, January 2,1995.
Some Important Phone Numbers
Homeline ----------------------------------- 933 -0017
advocates for people with rent issues
Legal Advice Clinic---------------- - - - - -- 339 -9139
assistance with legal problems in Hennepin Co
Energy Assistance------------------ - - - - -- 927 -5615
assistance with cold weather energy bills
Employment Action Center------ - - - - -- 925 -9195
assistance for those seeking employment
FairShare
Stretch your food budget. For $13.50 and 2
hours of community service you receive at least
$35 worth of top quality fresh food. No income
limit!
The last Saturday of each month. For more
information, call Timmy Andrews, 478 -2170
or Jo at IOCP- 473 -2436.
Free Immunizations
Free immunization clinics for children are sched-
uled for the following locations and dates:
Minnetonka - December 18 2:00 -4:00 p.m.
Oak Knoll Lutheran Church
11400 Wayzata Blvd
Hopkins - November 17 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
December 16
Community Health Dept.
810 First St. South /2nd Floor
Plymouth- November 4 2:00 -4:00 p.m.
City Offices
3400 Plymouth Blvd
Mound- November 18 2:00 - 4:00 p.m
Westonka Community Center
5600 Lynwood Boulevard.
Call Hennepin Co. Community Health 348 - 2741 "'o
�3
Community Offerings
Grief and Loss Support Group
A support group to help people deal with grief and
loss is sponsored by a number of area churches
and all members of the community are welcome to
attend. Grief may be the result of many kinds of
loss - -loss of a loved one through death or separa-
tion, job loss, or any personal loss that causes
suffering and pain.
The group presently meets at Wayzata Community -
Church, Ferndale & E. Wayzata Blvd, on Thurs-
day afternoons, 4 -6. (On December 1 the meetings
will move to Wayzata Evangelical Free.Church .)
Reservations are not necessary. For more informa-
tion call Wayzata Community Church, 473 -8876.
Support for Divorced and Separated
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church offers a
support group for anyone suffering through di-
vorce or separation. The group meets the 2nd and
3rd Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the .
basement of the Holy Name rectory, at 155 Co.
Rd. 24.
No reservations are necessary. For more informa-
tion, call Cindy Forster, 425 -0962.
Do You Need a Friend?
The BeFriender Program sponsored by IOCP
exists to help people through difficult times of
their lives. Through BeFrienders concerned
members of the community are trainedto offer
support and simple, caring friendship in a one -on-
one relationship to people facing challenging life
situations.
If you feel you would like to have a special friend
to talk to.,_call IOCP, 473 -2436.
If N ..... _ . -Fa
Small loans at n
to assist them' in
oiftb'Y ajit1c4l,f�ai
buying useddi,
Loan Program .
-est for low income parents
ng or keeping employment,
I ua�ions. May be used for
air, child care costs, etc.
- - - - - -- -566 -9600
League of Minnesota Cities
October 26, 1994
Laurie Ahern, City Clerk
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Road
Plymouth, MN 55447 -1482
Dear Laurie:
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126 -8044
One of the League's most significant achievements of 1994 occurred last week when the
Board of Directors adopted the recommendations of the Leadership Institute Advisory
Committee. The Committee's work provides an excellent detailed plan of action for
increasing the availability and accessibility of training programs designed to help us achieve
good governance in Minnesota cities. But more importantly, the Committee's
recommendations reflect a commitment to building the Leadership Institute around the
expressed needs and interests of local elected officials and ensuring that local elected officials
are involved in every aspect of the Institute.
The Board of Directors is grateful to you for the energy, time and thoughtfulness you
devoted to creating the recommendations for the Leadership Institute. We are anxious to
begin implementation of the recommendations starting with a new program format for the
1995 Newly Elected Officials Conference. Because of your knowledge and understanding of
the goals established for the Leadership Institute, I hope you will be continuing to serve as a
member of the advisory committee or as a member of one of the curriculum committees.
Again, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your hard work and
dedication to creating the Leadership Institute.
Sincerely,
Chuck Winkelman
President
{t
f
AN EQUAL IOPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
(612)490 -5600 1-800- 925 -1122 plus your citycode TDD(612)490 -9038 Fax(612)490 -0072
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Craig R. Rapp
Brooklyn Park
VICE PRESIDENT
Joan Campbell
Minneapolis
440
as ociation of
metropolitan
municipalities
PAST PRESIDENT
We were delighted to receive the news that Plymouth has decided to again become a
David Childs
Minnetonka
October 27, 1994
DIRECTORS
Mr. Dwight Johnson
g
Bill Barnhart
statement in December and your official membership will commence January 1, 1995.
Minneapolis
Manager - Plymouth
Bloomington
3400 Plymouth Blvd..
Jack
Cotta9 ge Grove
Plymouth, MN. 55447 -1894
Tom Egan
Dear Dwight:
g
Eagan
as we face the challenges and opportunities of 1995 and beyond. There are a couple
=--So-
Ray
SL Pauli
We were delighted to receive the news that Plymouth has decided to again become a
member of the AMM family! You were missed. I also can say that the Board of
Marie Grimm
St Paul
Directors is as pleased as I. As we discussed over the phone, we will send a dues
statement in December and your official membership will commence January 1, 1995.
Coral Houle
However, you will be placed on our membership mailing lists immediately and you
Bloomington
will soon start receiving the same materials and information as our other members do.
Susan Hoyt
Falcon Heights
We look forward to working with you, Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers and city staff
Jerry Linke
as we face the challenges and opportunities of 1995 and beyond. There are a couple
Mounds View
of actions your Council may wish to take in the near future. You should designate an
Joan Lynch
official delegate and alternate and a Legislative Contact person. The persons
Shakopee
designated can be elected officials, staff members or any combination thereof.
Gerald Otten
New Hope
Again, we are happy to welcome Plymouth back into AMM membership and please
Jim Prosser
do not hesitate to call me (490 -3301) whenever we can be of help.
Richfield
Best Regards,
Mary Raymond
Deephaven
Kirk Schnitker
/
Champlin
Vern Peterson, Executive Director
Charlotte Shover
Burnsville
cc: Mayor Joy Tierney
William Thompson
Coon Rapids
Elwyn Tinklenberg
Blaine
EXECUTNE DIRECTOR
Vern Peterson
3490 lexington avenue north, st. paul, minnesota 55126 (612) 490 -3301
October 28, 1994
Roger Berkowitz
13235 55th Ave N
Plymouth, MN 55442
Dear Mr. Berkowitz:
CITY OF .
PLYMOUTIt
Z sb
Mayor Tierney has forwarded your resident feedback form to me for review and
comment. Your request is to be notified when the trail on the west side of Northwest
Boulevard and crosswalk' at the Bass Lake Playfield is back for City Council
discussion. This item is 1 going to be lumped together with a proposed 1995 trail
improvement program sometime after the first of the year. I'm not sure exactly when
that will take place, but I will make every effort to notify you at the appropriate time.
Thank you for your time and interest in attending the ward meeting.
Sincerely,
eh",O-,
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EB /np
cc: City Manager
I We Listen • We Solve • We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550 -5000
DANIEL & LAURIE LAFONTAINE
11400 Fifth Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55441
November 1, 1994
Re: Plymouth Shopping Center Development
To: City of Plymouth - City Council Members
This letter is to notify the City of Plymouth of concerns regarding the development at
Plymouth Shopping Center, which has resulted in a major change in the run -off levels
of the watershed creek, thus creating a flood problem that previously did not exist. I am
a homeowner at 11400 5th Ave. N in the Wood Pointe Estates development. I was not
notified by any means of the current development, even though my property abounds
the DNR wetland directly. I met with Dan Faulkner, City Engineer, on 10 -28 -94
expressing these concerns.
The in- process development has effectively replaced a non - restricted open channel
outflow with a "dam" across the DNR wetland #699 outflow and funneled its outflow
through a restricted 4' x 525' culvert (see diagrams, pages 3 -4). This action has' raised
the normal level of the DNR wetland by 2', taking away flood storage capacity and
backing up the level of the creek that drains on the eastern edge of our property.
The potential result of the run -off modification is flooding disaster of our home and the
destruction by frequent flooding of portions of our lot. This house was not built on a
flood plain, as certified by documents obtained from the city prior to purchasing the
property and a survey performed by myself, a registered Professional Engineer,
verifying the outflow drainage of the creek, from the wetland into the Highway 55
basin at an elevation of 895.3', long before our house would be at risk of flooding. The
development at Plymouth Shopping Center has created a serious flood risk that
previously did not exist. Although this development proceeded with approvals from the
City, it can not be allowed to exist in its current form. Our house existed first and is
protected by law from private development of watersheds which places existing
property at risk.
Our property has existed for almost 5 years and has never had water spill from the
creek onto our yard, despite flood level storms hitting the metro area (see elevation
diagram on page 5). The 100 year predicted flood elevation of the DNR wetland is stated
to be at 895.3' in the city watershed plan. In the five years we have been living here,
heavy rains have flooded out the Highway 55 frontage road at least twice, which is at an
elevation of approximately 896'. How could the 100 year flood level been attained 2 -3
times in the last five years? Did the analysis used to compute the run off models fail to
consider all the variables in this complex watershed? The potential flooding disaster
created by a plugging of the new outflow culvert could be as high as 902'.
Prior to this change, there was virtual no risk of flood damage because the outflow of
the wetland spilled un- restricted onto Highway 55 in the event of major run -off at an
elevation of 895.3'. With the current development, not only is there a major risk if the
culvert plugs (highly probable since the wetland contains significant debris), but the
2 year storms will create frequent spilling onto our property that previously would not
have occurred. The actions of the City of Plymouth, the DNR of Minnesota, and the
developer has created a major liability risk for a dwelling in which there was virtually
no previous risk.
i
This development should' be stopped until the plan is modified to restore the run -off
channel and DNR wetland to its previous level. There is absolutely no reason that the
shopping center cannot proceed with a channel through the center of the parking lot.
Some form of run -off spillway must be placed to ensure that the water levels will not be
changed.
This demands immediate 'action to stop the project and consider alternatives
look forward to hearing 1 from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
I
Daniel Lafontaine, Homeowner
546 -2752 (H)
494 -2765 (W)
We will
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dialIV I
ited
You are cor inv
I
to attend
n
Oren douse
Celebrating the Opening of Our Y/ew Jailitie
on
c�II rs duII a�, {Joveml er 17, 1994
Jh
Iroin
3:00 - 5:00 P"""
� gentra SVytenzS, inc.
f 5200 25 A, jVenue %' OrtlL Suite 104
Apnoutlti, finnesota 55447
12- 476 -58
,PS
4 `loventiber 7,. 65 8
P.
,1
National 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue_N.W. Officers
League Washington, D,C.- President
of 20004 1 ; %'`ti Sharpe James
Maya, Newark, New Jersey
Cities (202) 626 -3000 f
Fax: 02)626-3043--,.' 1 4�• Viea President
' • :• •+ i i : ��+✓ �ncilwomanat Large, Atlanta, Georgia
n
p�;, r_ I GR V1010 President
• v,:: �. •- S+ `vim P— in
October 27, 1994 ;y{ � c — a , Santa Barbara, California
J
fe Past President
vh �, E. Hood
�` \r yo, Orlando, Florida
„rt' + Execulive D rector
V�b f 1 �' j + Q Donald J. Bout
Dear Mayor: e
Last month you received from the National League of Cities a survey questionnaire about
school violence and a brief letter from me asking for information about what's happening in
your community with regard to this problem. We received a tremendous response from
more than 700 cities and towns, which provided some very revealing current data about the
extent to which school violence has been occurring and becoming a duty assignment for local
police. Thank you very much for the prompt attention you gave to this request.
Our findings paint a striking picture about the additional burden that school violence has
placed upon police and public safety officials in a growing number of America's cities and
towns. The problems of school violence, and the presence of gangs as a factor in these
problems, are evident in cities of all sizes and types. A summary of our findings is enclosed
for your information. Since so many replies were provided by your police chiefs or their
departments, I hope you will share this information with them as well as your city council,
school officials and others interested in these matters in your community.
The survey findings will be released in Washington on Wednesday, November 2. We will
not be identifying the individual city respondents to this survey in releasing the findings, so I
hope you will take the opportunity to speak with your local news media at that time about the
situation in your city or town, as well as your views on the roles of leaders and individuals
throughout the community in addressing these problems. We will also highlight some ideas
provided by respondents in upcoming issues of NLC's newspaper, Nation's Cities Weekly.
Sincerely,
Ir
Donald J. Borut
Executive Director
enclosure
Past Presidents: Sidney Barthelemy, Mayor, New Orleans, Louisiana • Fend Harrison, Mayor, Scotland Neck, North Carolina • Cathy Reynolds, Councilwoman-at-Large, Denver. Colorado
Directors: Lucy T. Allen, Mayor, Louisburg, North Carolina • Ann Azad, Mayor, Fort Collins, Colorado • Lock Beachum, Sr., Councilman, Youngstown, Ohio • Don Benninghoven, Executive
Director. League of California Cities • Jimmy Burke, Mayor, Deer Park, Texas • Anthony Caplzzi, City Commissioner. Dayton, Ohio • Carl Classen, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of
Municipalities • E. W. Cromartie, II, Councilman, Columbia, South Carolina • Charles A. Devaney, Mayor. Augusta, Georgia • John Divine, Commissioner, Salina, Kansas • William Evers,
Mayor, Bradenton, Florida • Martin Gipson, Alderman, North Little Rock, Arkansas • Robert R. Jefferson, Councilmember, Lexington, Kentucky • Steven E. Jeffrey, Executive Director,
Vermont League of Cities and Towns • Walter F. Kelly, Town Council President. Fishers. Indiana • Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tem. West Hollywood. California • Gregory Lashutka, Mayor.
Columbus, Ohio • Sheila Jackson Lee, Councilmember- at•Large, Houston, Texas • Ilene Lieberman, Mayor, Lauderhill, Florida • Sylvia L. Lovely, Executive Director, Kentucky League of
Cities • Millie MacLeod, Council Member, Moorhead, Minnesota • Maryann Mahaffey, City Council President, Detroit, Michigan • Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, Boston, Massachusetts
Thomas F. Morales, Jr., Vice Mayor, Avondale, Arizona • J. Ed Morgan, Mayor, Hattiesburg, Mississippi • Kathryn Neck, Vice Maya, Pasadena, California • James P. Nix, Mayor. Fairhope•
Alabama • Mary Pinkett, Council Member. New York, New York - Sharon Priest, City Director, Little Rock, Arkansas • Carolyn Ratio, Council Member, Turlock, California • Bill Revell, Mayor,
Dyersburg, Tennessee • L. Lynn Rex, Executive Director. League of Nebraska Municipalities • Alicia M. Sanchez, Councilmember, Port Huron, Michigan • Raymond C. Sittig, Executive
Director, Florida League of Cities • Woodrow Stanley, Mayor, Flint, Michigan • Frank Sturzl, Executive Director, Texas Municipal League • Dan Thompson, Executive Director, League of
Wisconsin Municipalities • Max W. Wells, Councilmember• Dallas, Texas • Jim W. White, Councilmember• Kent, Washington • Jack B. Williams, Mayor, Franklin Park, Illinois
Recycled Paper
Survey Finds School Violence Widespread, Increasing; Police Patrol Schools in 70% of Cities; Only 11 % Report No Problem
School violence is far more than a problem afflicting only some troubled urban school systems. A 700 -city survey by
the National League of Cities found that school violence has increased significantly over the past five years in nearly 40
percent of America's cities and towns. Only 11 percent say it is not a problem for them.
One out of four communities reported incidents resulting in serious injuries or deaths in the past year alone. Forty
percent said student or rieighborhood gangs were a significant factor associated with school violence.
Nearly two - thirds of the communities included in the survey were places with populations of less than 50,000; 44
percent were suburban cities and towns.
Seventy percent said their police departments' responsibilities include patrolling schools as a violence prevention
measure. Nineteen percent said metal detectors are used regularly as a deterrent to weapons being brought into their schools.
"School is getting rough in a dangerous way," said Atlanta Councilwoman Carolyn Long Banks, NLC first vice
president. "The academic challenges are being made more difficult by the disturbing presence and growing fear of crime and
violence in our schools." Banks, who is in line to become NLC president in December, has identified public safety as a priority
issue for NLC in 1995, with an intention to focus on rethinking traditional designs and approaches.
Dozens of cities responding to the NLC survey included letters and other documents describing events or actions
taken. "When children attending the schools in our community do not feel safe, then learning cannot occur," said the opening
sentence of a report by the Ad Hoc Task Force on School Violence in Phoenix, Ariz. "When asked on the Arizona Student
Assessment Report if they felt safe in their school, 37 percent of Arizona children responded that they did not feel safe."
A police division commander in a'central Florida city of 44,000 wrote, "The issue of crime and violence on school
grounds is a major concern." An elected official from a medium -sized suburban city in the Northwest wrote, "I live in a city
that is in a state of denial. We have no idea how much is occurring in schools. It is sorely underreported and a rapidly,
growing problem." • ' -
When asked about local trends in'sohool violence over the past five years, 38 percent of the cities said the problem
has increased npticeably, and 45 percent said it is about the same. Only 6 percent said violence has decreased, and 11
percent said it is not a problem. 1
Increasing levels of school violence were reported most frequently in central cities (61 percent) and the largest cities
(55 percent). While becoming less prevalent as city size and metropolitan status changed, at least 30 percent of the cities in
all population categories and types of city (central, suburban, non - metro, rural) said school violence has increased significantly.
Serious injuries or deaths resulting from school violence also have become more widespread than four or five years
ago. Asked about incidents over the past five years in which students were killed or had to be hospitalized, 19 percent of the
cities said such incidents had occurred in a two -year period four and five years ago, compared to 31 percent in a two -year
period two and three years ago, and 26 percent in the past year alone.
The use of metal detectors in schools was reported by 133 cities (19 percent). Among the cities providing
information about when their use began, more than 90 percent said the policy has been in effect for five years or less. Thirty -
eight cities (33 percent) began using them in the past year, and 29 cities (25 percent) said they have been used for two years.
Suburban cities (14 percent) and small cities (17 percent) were the only categories of respondents in which less than 20
percent reported using metal detectors.
Gang activity as a factor in school violence also was most prevalent in the largest (72 percent) and central cities (66
percent). Only among the smallest cities (27 percent) and rural cities (21 percent) was gang activity reported below the overall
average of 39 percent.
The growing level of concern about school violence has led to a significant allocation of local police resources to
address the problem. Among the 70 percent of cities where police are involved in school patrols, nearly half (47 percent) said
school patrols have been carried out for eight years or more, while just over a quarter (26 percent) said they have begun within
the past three years. A majority of the cities assign the police duties throughout the school day and include the school
buildings as well as grounds. Nearly one out of five cities (19 percent) said their schools use security personnel other than
local police, and 18 percent said their schools use other security personnel in addition to the local police. .
Follow -up information received from a number of communities .indicated a.wide.array of local responses, ranging from
monitoring safety and security in school a'eas to extensive assignments as resource officers inside schools. A rural town in
North Carolina with a population of less than 6,000 has assigned two of its 23 police patrol officers to full -time school duties,
while part of another officer's assignment involves drug education programs conducted at local schools.
- In a policy dating back more than 20 years and focused on preventive strategies, a large city in the Northwest now
allocates 17 of its 200 police officers to schools. In the Midwest, a mid -sized city with 88 uniformed officers has one officer
assigned full -time to school safety programs and five others who conduct drug and gang intervention programs in local
schools. Another nearby city has two of its 132 sworn officers assigned to school duties full time. Along with new
assignments and new roles for police officers in schools, cities are working with schools and other community agencies to
develop programs that address several needs of schoolchildren. An after - school program for youth aged 10 -14 in Jacksonville,
Fla., includes a police officer on the team -of specialists that staff each of the seven centers now in operation. An elementary
school principal wrote that two of her problem children had shown a remarkable attitude change since they began attending
the sessions.
A separate section of the survey asked about violence at high school athletic events. Nine out of ten cities said their
police departments regularly patrol some or all high school events, and those patrols have existed for eight years or more
among 79 percent of the cities where they are carried out. Compared to other incidents of school violence, fewer communities
(11 percent) reported serious incidents atiathletic events in the past year, and levels for previous years are comparably lower.
Nine percent of the cities said they use metal detectors at athletic events. More than half of those policies have been
instituted within the past two years, and more than 90 percent within the past five years.
"These findings reveal a situation that has become a widespread concern -- not just a unique and unfortunate
characteristic of a few troubled schools or cities," said Banks. "It has become as prominent an issue as academic performance
or curriculum choices in many schools. What is also important to notice, however, is that in taking steps to prevent it, local
leaders also are finding ways to develop valuable new relationships between our cities and our schools."
Police do not patrol schools
Police patrol schools
'Grounds only
Bullinps & grounds
Beginning /end of day
Throughout day
Selected schools only
High schools only
Lower grades also
Uniformed police only
Non - uniform & uniform
Years Patrols Carried Out
Less than 3 years
At least 5 years
8 years or more
Use other security personnel
No
Yes, but not regular police
Yes, in addition to police
5 -year School Violence Trend
Noticeable violence Increase
About the same
Decreased '
Not a problem
Student deaths and serious injuries
Within past year
Within past 2 -3 years
Within past 4 -5 years
Student /neighborhood gangs a factor
Yes
No
Use of metal detectors
Yes
No
High School Athletic Events:
Police do not patrol athletic events
Police patrol athletic events
All events
Selected events only
Uniformed police only
Non - uniform and uniformed police
Years patrols carried out
Less than 3 years
At least 5 years
8 years or more
Use other security personnel
No
Yes, but not regular police
Yes, in addition to regular police
Student deaths and serious injuries
Within past year
Within past 2 -3 years
Within past 4 -5 years
Use of metal detectors
No
Yes
NLC School Violence Survey
by City Population
ALL CITIES
N =700
Pct. No.
30 213
70 485
136
267
60
346
80
86
222
220
201
26 124
27 133
47 230
64 436
19 127
18 122
38 261
45 307
6 41
11 78
25 173
31 214
19 132
39 271
61 418
19 133
81 651
Pct. No.
10 157
90 543
157
403
342
182
5 29
16 98
79 476
64 418
9 Be
27 176
7 42
14 78
11 62
91 599
9 60
Largest cities
Pop. 100,000+
N =101
Pct. No.
27 27
73 74
12
48
.12
54
22
16
29
44
24
16
23
30
50
22
23
55 53
35 34
8 8
2 2
41 41
46 46
30 30
72 71
28 28
34 34
66 65
Pct. No.
17 17
83 83
11
68
38
22
5
16
63
48
11
36
6
13
10
80 78
20 19
over )
Medium -sized cities
Pop. 60. 100,000
N =155
Pct. No.
26 40
74 116
29
63
7
81
24
23
63
46
53
28
36
60
75
42
37
46 71
44 68
5 8
5 7
32 49
39 60
29 45
52 80
48 75
18 27
82 125
Pct. No.
8 12
92 111
31
102
75
47
7
23
110
79
19
54
16
27
25
92 141
8 13
Smaller cities
Pop. under 60,000
N=443
Pct. No.
33 146
67 295
95
155
41
209
34
46
139
130
123
81
74
142
311
63
59
31 136
47 205
6 25
16 69
19 82
24 107
13 56
27 119
73 315
17 72
83 361
Pct. No.
10 40
90 377
115
233
229
113
17
59
303
291
28
85
18
35
27
93 380
7 28
NLC School_ Violence Survey
:. by._City:Ch4racteristic
Central city
Suburban city
Non -metro city
Rural city
N =100
; .N =309
j N =119
N =165
1 Pct.
No.
Pct.
No.
Pct'
Pct.
No.
Police do not patrol schools
31
31
28'
85
27
31
38
63
Police patrol schools
69
69
73
224
74
86
62
102
Grounds only
14
59
26
36
Builings & grounds
41
123
50
49 '
Beginning /end of day
11
22
14
13
Throughout day
54
156
67
65 '
Selected schools only
16
39
13
13 `
High schools only
11
36
25
13
Lower grades also
i
32
104
�;.
30
63
Uniformed police only
i
32
96
38
51
Non - uniform &uniform
33
99
:'
27
40 ,
Years Patrols Carried Out
Less than 3 years
17
50
28
28
At least 5 years
26
52
25
29
8 years or more
i
26
122
36
_
44
Use other security personnel
i
i
No
50
186
72
124
Yes, but not regular police
23
54
25
24
Yes, in addition to police
23
60
21
16
5 -year School Violence Trend
Noticeable violence increase
4) 61
61
33
99
42
49
30
49
About the same
28
28
47
142
46
54
50
81
Decreased
6
6
6
18
5
6
6
10
Not a problem
3
3
14
43
8
9
14
22
Student deaths and serious injuries
Within past year
I 48
48
19
60
24
29
21
34
Within past 2 -3 years
j 45
45
25
77
37
44
28
46
Within past 4 -5 years
I 35
35
16
50
15
. 18
17
28
Student /neighborhood gangs a factor
Yes
66
65
40
121
40
47
21
34
No
35
33
60
181
60
72
79
129
Use of metal detectors
Yes
36
35
14
41
20
24
20
33
No
64
63
86
259
80
93
60
130
High School Athletic Events:
1 Pct.
No.
Pct.
No.
Pct.
No.
Pct.
No.
Police do not patrol athletic events
I
13
13
12
35
.4
5
10
16
Police patrol athletic events
87
86
88
252
96
111
90
146
All events
14 63
32
46
Selected events only
65
172
72
92
Uniformed police only
38
148
64
87
Non - uniform and uniformed police
27
81
31
43
Years patrols carried out
Less than 3 years
6
6
9
18
At least 5 years
19
37
18
23
8 years or more
61
213
86
113'
Use other security personnel
No
52
173
70
119
Yes, but not regular police
11
25
8
14
Yes, in addition to regular police
34
78
37
25
Student deaths and serious injuries
Within pact year
11
19
8
4
Within past 2 -3 years
i
18
32
13
14
Within past 4 -5 years
21
21
6
14
Use of metal detectors
No
80
77
92
259
93
109
93
150
Yes
20
19
8
21
7
8
7
11
f
DATE: November 1, 1994
TO: All Members
FROM: Rick KlineX-t0_—
SUBJECT: 15 Th. Avenue Rescue
On Monday, October 31, the Plymouth Fire Department responded to a subject
pinned beneath a construction back hoe. The incident occurred inside a building
under construction. To complicate the incident the victim was trapped in a 12 foot
deep trench.
The response by fire department members was suburb. After gaining control of the
scene, members proceeded to evaluate the situation and established an action plan
to methodically extricate the victim.
I want to thank all the responders for their professional approach in the successful
removal of the victim. As of Tuesday, the victim has been admitted to North
Memorial Hospital with a fractured pelvis, fractured right femur, and ankle
fractures.
Attached is a note from the on -duty police personnel expressing their gratitude.
cc: Craig Gerdes
� � 0.
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CITY OF
PLYMOUTFF
October 31, 1994
Matt Perry
13 0 Ranchview Lane North
Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Dear Matt,
Thank you so much for the letter you wrote to me about Parker's Lake. It is a
beautiful lake. You and many other people are concerned that the lake isn't as good as it
used to be for fishing and swimming. The City is concerned about this too. We will be
looking at ways to improve Parker's Lake and the other lakes in Plymouth very soon. In
the coming year, the City will study the water quality Plymouth's lakes and will create a
plan to make the lakes better.
Thanks again for writing to tell me about your concerns about Parker's Lake.
Sincerely
J
Joy Tierney
Mayor of Plymouth
We Listen - We Solve - We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 - TELEPHONE (612) 550 -5000
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October 26, 199
City Council President and Members
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
Ladies and Gentlemen:
My wife and I moved to Plymouth this summer. I was born and"
raised in this area and finally had the opportunity to return
after a fifteen year absence. We purchased a new home in June in
the sixth addition of Seven Ponds development. We are very.happy
with our house and we like the "area very much.
We are writing this letter to express our concern, as well as the
concern of our neighbors in this last addition to the
development, over the construction and subsequent zoning of the
area around the new County Road 24 and Highway 55 intersection.
When we purchased this home we were told by our realtor, builder
and, after a trip down to the city offices, the zoning office
about the rerouting of County Road 24 near us. In all cases, we
were led to believe, and actually shown a color map at the zoning
office, that the land freed up by the reroute of County Road 24
was going to be zoned R -1 or residential. A few months after
moving in, we found out, much to our dismay and disbelief that,
in fact, the land is all zoned commercial and has been since
1992.
Although we are upset about the city not being forthcoming about
their zoning plans when we asked as potential buyers, we know
there is probably nothing we can do to stop it and get it rezoned
at this time. However, after returning to the zoning office a
second time, we were able to see the engineering plan for this
7.5 acres. This plan and its apparent approval by the City of
Plymouth are what have us most concerned.
The plan calls for construction of a gas station with access from
the new County Road 24 and from Medina Road. In addition, there
are plans for a convenience store and three fast -food type
restaurants whose only access is Medina Road at the intersection
of Garland and Medina. Since our neighborhood is on the other
side of Medina Road, this puts a fast -food restaurant right
across the street no more that 500 feet away from our homes. It
makes a street, which neighborhood children currently play
around, potentially as busy as County Road 24 is with constant
traffic in and out from people trying to grab a "quick" bite.
All of this creates an atmosphere not consistent with a
Plymouth -type neighborhood.
:=-S\-)
In conversations with the city engineers, we asked why the access
to this commercial area could not be restricted to County Road 24
and /or Highway 55. Their answer was that the county would not
approve an intersection that busy on either of those roads. We
told them we thought;it was negligent for the city to decide to
move an area access that the county said was too busy for those
roads to the heart of one of their neighborhoods without any
thought as to-the danger and disruption it would cause. This
plan is not conducive to good Plymouth planning.
Although many of the things we were told or conversations we've
had cannot be verified, the commercial development plan is in
black and white and on file. We are asking for this to be
reviewed with one ofjthese possible alternatives applied to it:
First, that the.entire 7.5 acres is rezoned
residential or developed into a city park. A city
park or recreation area would be a natural extension
of the future Wayzata High School across the street
on Highway 55.
Second, at least the area south of the old County
Road 24, north of Medina Road (Lots 5 & 6) be rezoned
residential so as to lessen the impact that this plan
would have on our neighborhood.
Third; and thisloption as a minimum is a must in
order to insurelthe sanctity of our neighborhood, that
access to this commercial area is prohibited from being
placed anywherelalong Medina Road at Garland, Everest
Court or Dunkirk` Road.
We hope you and your ±fellow council members will take our
concerns seriously, that you'll review this plan, not be blinded
by any potential income that the city may gain, be aware as to
the obvious flaws inherent with this plan and its negative impact
on our neighborhood,iand make the necessary changes to it.
Thank you for your time and consideration of our concerns.
S3.nce�e ,
hael and Olie ohnson
Seven Ponds Homeowner's Association
Board Of Directors
Dear Mr. Moore:
Residents on Everest Court North and Garland Lane North have a drainage problem
associated with a berm along Medina Road The berm has a low section designed to
allow runoff from residents' yards to drain toward Medina Road. However, the low
section is too high, thus allowing the berm to act as a dam. Not knowing whether the
berm was to high or their grading too low, residents called the developer (Hans Hagan
Homes) and .their builders (MUM Homes, Eagle Crest Homes, or Merit Homes) to
address this problem. Supposedly, the developer blames_ the builder(s) and the builder(s)
blames the developer:., .: .
Since both the developer and the builder are avoiding the issue, we request that the City
of Plymouth intervene in order to determine who is responsible for ensuring adequate
drainage of this section along Medina Road and to ask the responsible party to take
corrective actions.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. We appreciate your assistance in
this rnm- ter.
Sincerely,
Cathy Da is
President
cc: Mr:;Dwigh0ohn2on;,-Eity,,,Midag&�-
Mr..David•A. Anderson, Ward 1 Council Member
Members of the Seven Ponds. Board of Directors.
P.O. Box 47892
Plymouth, MN 55447
Mr. Fred Moore
Director of Public Works
�'
�• . <. `: ,
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
t
October 29, 1994
Dear Mr. Moore:
Residents on Everest Court North and Garland Lane North have a drainage problem
associated with a berm along Medina Road The berm has a low section designed to
allow runoff from residents' yards to drain toward Medina Road. However, the low
section is too high, thus allowing the berm to act as a dam. Not knowing whether the
berm was to high or their grading too low, residents called the developer (Hans Hagan
Homes) and .their builders (MUM Homes, Eagle Crest Homes, or Merit Homes) to
address this problem. Supposedly, the developer blames_ the builder(s) and the builder(s)
blames the developer:., .: .
Since both the developer and the builder are avoiding the issue, we request that the City
of Plymouth intervene in order to determine who is responsible for ensuring adequate
drainage of this section along Medina Road and to ask the responsible party to take
corrective actions.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. We appreciate your assistance in
this rnm- ter.
Sincerely,
Cathy Da is
President
cc: Mr:;Dwigh0ohn2on;,-Eity,,,Midag&�-
Mr..David•A. Anderson, Ward 1 Council Member
Members of the Seven Ponds. Board of Directors.
November 1, 1994
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
To All Interested Parties:
RE: 1995 Intended Use Plan
Schedule Change
The attached notice was mailed to Y ou on October 17, 1994, concerning the 1995 Intended Use
Plan (IUP). Since then, there has been changes to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's
regular public meeting schedule.
I
THE MEETING HAS BEEN MOVED FROM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1994,
TO
r
Wednesday, November 30, 1994
a
The time and place will remain the same as on the first notice.
i
Interested persons are still invited to comment on the proposed IUP prior to adoption. Written
comments may be submitted any time up to November 23, 1994.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call me at (612' ) 2906-7208.
Sincerely,
Mary Jane Schultz
Program Support Unit
Water Quality Division
MJS jmg
520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155 -4194; (612) 296 -6300 (voice); (612) 282 -5332 (TTY)
Regional Offices: Duluth - Brainerd - Detroit Lakes - Marshall - Rochester
Equal Opportunity Employer - Printed on recycled paper containing at least 10% fibers from paper recycled by consumers.
I
111 1
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: November 3, 1994
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of Agenda Items
Voting. We now officially have a six member City Council. The City Attorney
advises that items needing a 2/3 voting majority now need four votes out of six, not the
usual five votes. In addition, if one of the six remaining members is absent, four
votes would still be needed to meet a 2/3 requirement, but only three votes out of five
is sufficient to pass ordinary measures.
Presentations. Sheryl Morrison has been invited to make some public remarks about
her resignation, but it is uncertain whether or not she will be able to attend. If she is
present, we have a plaque for her. Mayor Tierney will also take the occasion to
announce the procedures for filling the vacancy adopted by the Council on Tuesday
evening.
7A. Public Hearing on vacation of a portion of Northwest Boulevard. This is a
routine item associated with the construction of a fence along the Northwest Boulevard
project.
8A. Carlson application for motel and two restaurants. Several residents asked
questions at the Planning Commission meeting, but we have not heard of any
significant or organized opposition. The motel and restaurants have been sited as far
away from residential areas as possible. One resident pointed out that Carlson did not
meet all of its guarantees for landscaping at a nearby building, at One Carlson
Parkway. Staff has verified this and has notified Carlson. One restaurant will be
seeking a liquor license from the City at a later date. This project will be contributing
its proportional share of a future traffic signal at Carlson Parkway and County 15.
Planning Commission voted its approval unanimously, and staff recommends approval
as well.
8B. Stop sign request. at Holly Lane and 19th Avenue. Many area residents want
this sign to both control speeding and discourage cut through traffic to County 101. In
1993, the Council approved a stop sign about 600 feet east at Fountain Lane, and
indicated the matter could be reviewed again in on year. This is another stop sign
request that is not officially warranted by the book. At our Thursday staff meeting,
neither the Public Safety Director nor the Public Works Department could say that a
new stop sign will create any new danger or safety problem. In other words, it will,
likely do no harm. }
We do not know how much cut - through traffic exists. But it seems plausible that some
of it will be discouraged with a second stop sign. A reasonable alternative route to 101
exists nearby at County Road 6. If some cars are in fact diverted from the
neighborhood to County Road 6, which is much better designed for additional traffic,
then a net increase in the overall community public safety could occur. In addition,
the Public Safety Director noted that driver compliance with stop signs is significantly
better than compliance with speed laws. The recommendation of the Public Works
Department is to take no action at this time. However, based upon the discussion at
our staff meeting, I believe that the Council can and should approve a stop sign if the
majority of the neighborhood wishes to have one.
Staff is considering the idea of developing a new stop sign policy for residential streets
to identify realistic criteria for stop signs that are both consistent with public safety
concerns as well as our goal to protect neighborhoods from excess traffic. This might
give the Council, the staff, and the public some definite standards for when stop signs
will be considered. I
8C. Pedestrian Safety Study on Northwest Boulevard at Bass Lake Playfield.
The official study lists many options, but none are fully satisfactory. Solutions such as
a complete traffic signal at 55th or an overpass are impractical or too expensive. Doing
nothing does not solve the problem acknowledged by the study during peak rush hour
traffic. Even constructing a median as a "safe haven" for pedestrians is a major
expense and does not seem to add that much safety. A trail on the west side of
Northwest Boulevard seems to be indicated in any case and is recommended for further
study and consideration.
The real choices seem to come down to an amber flashing light or a red /green
pedestrian signal light, both of which would be pedestrian activated. An amber
flashing light would give the crosswalk much more visibility, but might give
pedestrians a false sense of security that traffic going 45 mph (or more) will slow or
stop for them. A pedestrian red /green signal might solve this problem, but is $50,000
more expensive and might be used to disrupt traffic on Northwest Boulevard at all
hours of the day or night, even when traffic is light. Installation of an amber light
would at least get the wiring in place for an eventual red/green signal if one is needed.
I_Z.
The amber flashing light is a relatively easy and inexpensive first step to see how it
works.
8D. POS Tax Increment Application. This application would help an existing
Plymouth business remain and grow in Plymouth. The TIF funds would be used for
soil correction to "level the playing field" on the cost of developing this site. About
1/5 of an acre of existing, previously disturbed, "medium quality" wetland will need to
be filled for this project. It will be mitigated on a 2:1 ratio and the applicant has
agreed to also voluntarily comply with the draft of the new wetland buffers and
setbacks in the new proposed wetland regulations. TIF funds will not be used to fill
the wetland, but will be used only for soil correction. The district will be on a pay -as-
you-go basis and the $162,000 of assistance would be provided in four years. Our net
state penalty, after administrative receipt of administrative fees from the project, is
about $14,000 per year. After the four years of assistance, the project will pay the
City back for its state aid loss in about seven years. However, the taxpayers as a whole
will receive the equivalent of all lost state aid back in one year after the assistance ends.
Our general thought is that the City can afford to accept several such applications per
year while we are still growing provided the districts are relatively short and that we
will start getting rapid paybacks within five years or so. This is an investment in lower
taxes for the medium and long -range future when our growth will be much lower. This
will the second application to be approved in 1994.
8E. Snowmobile Trails. The recently approved snowmobile regulations provide that
the Council shall approve by resolution certain trails to be designated for public use.
The Public Safety Director has met with a large number of interested parties and has
developed a short "consensus" list for early approval. More additions will be studied
in more detail by a proposed task force which will be balanced among various interests.
The City was supposed to be designating these public trails even under the old
ordinance.
The Department and the City have been receiving a number of calls+about the
ordinance in recent weeks. Some of the calls are protesting the new restrictions, while
other callers wanted a total ban.
9A. Utility Billing Changes. The Finance Department has done an excellent study
showing that over $70,000 per year can be saved if we approve bi- monthly billing
instead of monthly billing of utility bills. This is another good example of staff finding
ways to save money for the citizens. Although an additional $16,000 might be saved
by going to quarterly billing, we have concerns about size of the billings in this case.
The bi- monthly billing proposal allows more time for payment and includes upgraded
service with easier to use return envelopes. Some 'of the planned savings will come
from subcontracting some work out. We are introducing the issue to the Council and
the public and plan to publicize the proposal for public reaction before an ordinance is
implementing the change is brought back to Council.