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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 03-31-1994MARCH 31, 1994 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS .... 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR APRIL: APRIL 4 6:OOP.M. COUNCIL STUDY SESSION TOPIC: Park portion of Capital Improvement Program 7:00 P.M. APRIL 11 7:00 P.M. APRIL 18 APRIL 25 COUNCIL MEETING City Council Chambers BOARD OF REVIEW City Council Chambers Following Board of Review COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Council Conference Room TOPIC: School District 284 Park and Joint Powers Agreement 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING City Council Chambers 6:00 P.M. JOINT MEETING WITH DISTRICT 284 SCHOOL BOARD Public Safety Conference Room 7:30 P.M. BOARD OF REVIEW (Reconvene) City Council Chambers CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO March 31, 1994 Page 2 2. WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE -- TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 7:00 P.M. City Council Conference Room . Agenda attached. (M-2) 3. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION -- THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 7:30 P.M., City Council Conference Room. Agenda attached. (M-3) 4. METRO MEETINGS -- The weekly calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Council and its advisory commission is attached. (M-4) 5. MEETING CALENDARS - City Council and City Center calendars are attached. (M-5) 1. MINUTES & AGENDAS: a. School District 281, Board of Education, March 7, 1994. (I -la) b. Wayzata School Board Update, March, 1994. (I -lb) 2. 1994 SPRING STREET SWEEPING -- The Street Division is scheduled to begin the spring street sweeping program on Monday, March 28, weather permitting. In order to accomplish the removal of the sand and debris which has accumulated over the winter months before we receive the spring rains, we contract with a private sweeper company along with using our own street sweeper. There will be give sweepers working in the city on a two shift basis. They will be working from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. With this type of schedule we will be able to sweep the entire city in approximately ten working days. If the weather does not cooperate, we will be looking to start on either March 29 or March 30. 3. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1993 REPORT -- Attached is a report from Craig Gerdes on year end police activity and crime statistics. (I-3) 4. CITIES BULLETIN -- A copy of the March 25 issue is attached. (I-4) 5. NEWSLETTERS & PUBLICATIONS a. Update, Metropolitan Council Regional Blueprint, March 1994. (I -5a) b. News In Between, Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, March, 1994. (I -5b) c. Hennepin Parks Legislative Informer, March 14, 1994. (I -5c) d. Metro Voice, Metropolitan Council, March 1994. (I -5d) e. Plymouth Historical Society newsletter, March, 1994. (I -5e) 6. MEMOS & CORRESPONDENCE: CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO March 31, 1994 Page 3 6. MEMOS & CORRESPONDENCE: a. Letter from Gregory Bohnert, 845 Ranchview Lane, and Bruce Johnson, 820 Shenandoah Lane, regarding the use of the old Women's Section at the Adult Corrections Facility. (I -6a) b. Letter from Daniel Donahure, City Manager, New Hope, regarding the 36th Avenue Street Improvements Project. (I -6b) c. Letter to Jon Parker, DNR Metro Headquarters, from Craig Gerdes, regarding urban deer management planning. (I -6c) d. Letter to Matt Hirschey, 5750 Vicksburg Lane, from Eric Blank, regarding the trail on Vicksburg Lane. (I -6d) e. Letter from Patricia Hayward, 11414 Highway 55, to Mayor and Council, on the State Audit Report. (I -6e) f. Letter from Michele Levenson and Judith Orchard, Transit Travel Demand Consultants, inviting businesses to the 1994 Ride Choice Awards to be held May 17, 1994. (I -6f) g. Report from Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council on the summary of presentations covered at the 1994 Policy Makers Briefing. (I -6g) h. Letter from Marsha Videen, President, East Parkers Lake Improvement Association, regarding a boat launch monitoring plan for Parkers Lake. (I -6h) i. Letter to Marsha Videen, from Councilmember Sheryl Morrison. (I -6i) Dwight D. Johnson City Manager AGENDA WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 26 April 5, 1994 7:00 P.M. I. 7:00 - Call to Order H. 7:05 - Approval of Minutes III. 7:10 - Announcements & Visitor Recognition IV 7:15 - Old Business 1. Review and update of 199 Informational Media Plan 2. Report from the City on number of actions taken in other environmental issues within the year V. 8:30 - Discussion 1. Whole year agenda plan 2. General Discussion VI. 9:00 - Adjourn March 25, 1994 CITU OF PLYMOUTH+ «first «middle «last* <<address* SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 26 Dear «first: Please find enclosed the meeting minutes of Meeting No. 25 held on March 8, 1994 as well as the Agenda for Meeting No. 26 scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 1994 at 7:00 in. the City Council conference room. I am enclosing a copy of a March 23, 1994 memo to the Planning Commission from Barbara Senness, Planning Supervisor, which summarizes the comments and suggestions about the development' of a wetland ordinance as received during the five informational meetings during the week of March 14. Staff information on environmental issues, as requested at the March meeting, will be handed out at the April meeting. If you have any questions please call me at 550-5071. Sincerely, r Daniel L. Faulkner enclosures cc: Fred Moore, Director of Public Works Dwight Johnson, City Manager Chuck Lymangood Anne Hurlburt Ginny Black We Listen • We Solve • We Care 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000 IU151 t CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447 DATE: March 23, 1994 TO: Plymouth Planning Commission FROM: Barbara Senness, Planning Supervisor SUBJECT: Summary of Comments and Suggestions about Wetland Ordinance During the week of March 14, Planning Staff held five information meetings about the proposed wetland ordinance. Staff held three public information meetings, one at Parker's Lake Pavilion and two at Zachary Lane Elementary School and two developer's forums, both at City Hall. A summary of the comments and suggestions made at these meetings follows. PUBLIC INFORMATION. MEETINGS General Comments and Concerns Cost/Tax Base Adding a wetland buffer could result in a reduction in tax base. The future tax base would benefit from protecting wetlands. In addition, there are misunderstandings about tax base --more people may not be the answer. Don't define the quality of the city by tax base alone. Plymouth has been too lenient on development and the way it has affected development is evidenced by the decrease in water quality in Medicine Lake and Parker's Lake. It will cost over three million dollars to clean up Parker's Lake. Restoring water quality may cost more than lawsuits resulting from limiting development. We don't have the right to build on every lot. Developers don't pay for the clean-up of mistakes. The City needs to look at the real value of land. M -c-D-- Land Stewardship We need to remember that we have a future on this earth. We all need to be good stewards. Protecting wetlands also protects the homeowner from flooding. Buffers are important because of the importance of wetlands. Buffer Size There are no easy answers on the size of wetland buffers; there are many variables. If there is no definitive data pointing to one size of buffer over another, the City should err on the conservative side. Impacts on Land Owners/Developers The City needs to remember that land owners will adjust plans when the new ordinance is adopted. This ordinance will give land owners an opportunity to do something different. The City is forgetting that land owners bought land under old rules. If the City imposes this ordinance, it is taking property without compensation. This will result in a negative impact on developers and they won't come to Plymouth. The City needs to allow a reasonable profit for developers. When evaluating the impact of this ordinance, the City should ask developers how much land they have already developed and how easy those sites were to develop as opposed to remaining sites. Developers are speculators and they take their chances that the rules will change along the way. Other Comments Wetland alteration and resulting mitigation should be a last resort and it should be implemented by professionals. Ordinary citizens should have information available to them so they can understand how this ordinance will impact them. The ordinance needs to have some teeth. NURP ponds are not a panacea for water quality. They do not remove all pollutants. Wetland ordinance requirements may conflict with other code requirements, e.g. not allowing grasses to exceed a certain height. 7 Questions About Wetland Ordinance Purpose of Ordinance What is the City's mission in this ordinance? What is the purpose of a buffer? Is it to improve water quality or habitat or what? What percentage of water quality relates to nutrients from fertilizers versus sedimentation? How effective has wetland preservation been in areas where it has been enacted? Legal Authority Does the City have the authority to enact this ordinance? Have other cities had lawsuits following the adoption a wetlands ordinance? Can the City enact a moratorium to make sure there is not a "run" on development while the City is developing the ordinance? Did other cities (e.g. Maple Grove and Chanhassen) have a "run" .on development during the time the City was preparing the wetland ordinance? How will the City enforce this ordinance? For example, how will the City enforce a mowing ban in the buffer? Impact on Development What will happen to existing development after the ordinance is adopted? How will homeowners be informed about these changes? Will a brand new home be treated the same way a home that is, for example, five years old? Will homeowners be able to add on decks, etc. if they don't have the proper buffer? How much development potential will be lost if this ordinance is adopted? Should commercial/industrial properties be treated differently because of NURP ponds? Buffer Zones What is the technical basis for the 30- and 50 -foot buffers? Will the ordinance require a buffer from roadways as well as structures? Who will own and maintain the wetland buffer zones? How do you create a natural buffer around a wetland created as a result of mitigation? Other Ouestions What role can education play in protecting wetlands? K How will this ordinance impact the City's ability to pay for services already in place? Does the City have any firm proposals on how it would address deteriorating wetlands? Suggestions For Ordinance Buffer Size/Function A fifty -foot buffer is too small for adequate protection of wetlands. A ten -foot buffer is no good; 20 feet is better; 30 feet is the absolute minimum; 50 feet is acceptable. Slope should be a consideration in buffer width. Buffers should do more than protect water quality; their purpose should also be to protect wildlife habitat. Because NURP ponds are not totally effective in settling out pollutants, commercial/industrial property should also be required to have a buffer. However, these properties may not need to have a rear yard as well a buffer. Restored wetlands should have the same wetland buffer as natural wetlands or the restoration will not be effective. Fixed Versus Variable Standards The City should limit variances to the new ordinance. The buffer area should be sacred and should not be varied for trails, roads and the like. The City should not be flexible with standards in this ordinance. Flexibility becomes too political. Establish a 50 -foot buffer. There may need to be variances allowed for developers who have made substantial investments in developments adjacent to wetlands. The City needs to be flexible in this ordinance. The City should have a uniform setback from all types of wetlands. Other Suggestions The ordinance needs to be clear in the definition of wetland and wetland edge. The City should not be requiring less than what is required by the Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, etc. In M- oZ °The ordinance should establish a date after which every development in the City is regulated by the ordinance. Mitigating wetland loss will be less necessary if the ordinance is clear that you can't fill just to get one more lot. The City needs to look at both wildlife protection and control in this ordinance. On the one hand, predators are disappearing and we need wetlands to protect them. On the other hand, we have current examples in St. Louis Park where deer populations have grown to the point that the City is now shooting deer. In addition to the buffer, the City should consider banning phosphorous fertilizers and pesticides. The City should make sure that fruit and vegetable compacting from grocery stores goes to the sanitary sewer rather than the storm sewer. The City needs to clarify that the two foot difference in elevation between a structure and a high-water mark should be measured from the 100 -year storm elevation. At the time of homestead, the City should inform homeowners about this ordinance. The City could also require realtors to disclose information about the ordinance. DEVELOPER'S FORUMS General Comments and Concerns Cost/Tax Base The City should evaluate the changes that will result from this ordinance on the broader effects of what Plymouth will become. The City needs to understand that there may be a trade off between protecting wetlands and living with higher taxes. If the City changes the Guide Plan as a result of this ordinance, it will be negatively affecting developers and perhaps citizens who relied on that plan. A reduction in development will mean reducing tax base potential. In addition, the City needs to consider that since area charges are based on an anticipated number of units, if the number of units is lowered, the City may have levied unfairly. Preserving water quality is important. However, unless the City takes a look at all its regulations when it develops this ordinance, it will be creating a situation where the regulation has become excessive. In addition, the City needs to understand that this ordinance might result in existing platted lots on which a developer in the future may not be able to construct a house big enough to meet the City's codes. The City should identify the effectiveness of different sizes of buffers and identify how much these different buffers will cost. The City should determine who benefits from wetlands and make them pay for that benefit. 5 The City needs to identify if wetlands are being damaged in Plymouth. If they are, then the City should move to fix the problem. However, if there is in fact no problem, all the City will be doing by adding a buffer is moving people to Wright County. The acres consumed for development will increase if the City adopts setbacks and wetland buffers. Coordinated Plan/Code Changes If the City plans on making changes to other development standards in addition to the wetland buffer zone, all related changes should be made at the same time. In addition, the City will be better able to answer questions about the comprehensive plan, etc. once the Geographic Information Sysytem (computerized land use, wetlands, etc.), is in place. Bonding requirements for improvements are very high in Plymouth. Therefore, the City should look at how this ordinance affects bonding requirements. Buffer Size The City needs to put out examples of a variety of different setbacks and buffers and what effect each of these different buffers has on protecting wetlands. The City also needs to look at the effect of different slopes and their relationship to buffer widths. Developers are just getting used to constructing NURP ponds, so it is hard to swallow yet another regulation. As a consequence, the City should take a hard look at what the right size is for a buffer. An overall 75 -foot setback/buffer represents an astronomical change in regulation. There are lots of small potholes in northwest Plymouth. Maybe the city should focus on DNR - regulated wetlands or wetlands over a minimum size, rather than enforce a buffer around all wetlands. The City should treat commercial/industrial property differently from residential property. Impact on Homeowners The City should take a measured approach to the wetland ordinance. The ordinance will hurt future citizens more than it will hurt developers. It is hard to put an economical lot on the market in Plymouth. If the city establishes a wetland buffer zone, that will result in more attached housing being built. Residents of adjacent single family homes may oppose any move to a different style of housing next door to them. The introduction of buffers could discourage development of back yard ponding as an aesthetic element in new developments. �_a The City needs to explain to homeowners that the wetland ordinance could impact their ability to add on to their homes. Wetlands are a positive selling point for a development. Comments/Ouestions About Schedule 'The concept of a buffer zone is acceptable, however the shot gun approach to putting it in place is unacceptable. The proposed schedule.is too aggressive. The proposed timetable is not reasonable. The City could end up doing something harmful under this schedule. What is magical about May 16? Who adopted this schedule? Questions About Wetland Ordinance Has the City undertaken an economic impact study as part of developing this ordinance? Has the City quantified what is happening in the marketplace? Has the City inventoried its properties and how they may be affected by this ordinance? What plans does the City have for improving degraded wetlands? Will developments that have NURP ponds be treated differently? Will the City provide greater notice about this ordinance to people who may be non- conforming as a result of the ordinance? What level of reduction in development potential is acceptable? Suggestions For Ordinance The City should not stipulate specific setbacks and buffers. Let the developer do it and make provisions for hardship. Be flexible. Developers should be able to grade the buffer zone and then revegetate the area. Otherwise, even more area will be lost for potential development. The City should consider instituting park credits for wetland areas. Because NURP ponds are not wetlands, the City should not require a buffer around them. The City should consider informing homeowners about this ordinance through home owner association documents and through deed restrictions. U1 0-\- Q-- NIINLTTES WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 25 Tuesday, March 8, 1994 7:00 P.M. PRESENT: Members - Jeff Shopek, Craig Twinem, David Shea, Mary McKee, Sharon Meister, Rita O'Donnell; Staff - Ex -officio - Dan Faulkner; Public Works Director - Fred Moore; Planning Division Staff - Barb Senness; Council Member - Chuck Lymangood. GUESTS PRESENT: John Barten and Jennifer Kuny - Hennepin County Parks Department; Ginny Black - Planning Commissioner, and Ann Bipes. MEMBERS ABSENT: Member - LuAnn Yattaw The meeting was called to order by Chairman Shopek and a round of introductions was made. Mary McKee asked that the official Committee roster be revised to show her office phone number as 931-3099 with her residence number being 473-8738. Sharon Meister requested that her office number be removed from the roster. In addition, it should also be noted that LuAnn Yattaw's office number has been changed but the new number is not available at this time. David Shea requested that the Agenda for the meeting be revised so that Item No. 4, Review of Committee Charge be switched with Agenda Item No. 2, which was the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman. He felt that this was appropriate as the new Chairman should be fully aware of what the Committee would be expected to accomplish in the coming year. His motion to change the Agenda was passed. Member Shea commented that the City Manager's February 1, 1994 memo requesting the Committee to review its original charge involves many very necessary and exciting items and opportunities for "someone." He felt that in order to properly address the new charge this would involve much more Committee time than is currently necessary under the original charge. Council Member Lymangood clarified that the City Council's intent, which was expressed through the City Manager's memo, was for the Committee to look at the charge and focus on those items which the Committee felt are important to address. He commented that the Manager's thought process was enlightening and simply provided a scope of items to consider. Chairman Shopek commented that the reference to solid waste and disposal seemed to be inappropriate for our Committee to address. Fred Moore clarified that there currently is a full time "-N - -Q-- position of Solid Waste Coordinator but prior to the establishment of that position, there was a task force for two or three years when Plymouth first got into the Solid Waste Program. Craig Twinem also commented that EAW's address, Air, Light and Noise, and have little to do with water quality issues. Rita O'Donnell commented that she feels this is an exciting challenge and opportunity whose time has come and if the Committee doesn't take it on, someone else would. The Committee could simply scope out the topics and before items became issues with the City Council, the Committee could prioritize them and provide some direction. She felt that if it is necessary, the Committee could be expanded and she expressed support that the Committee address these challenges, including review of EAW's and EIS's. The possibility of forming sub -committees to address specific issues was discussed and one possibility would be to form sub -committees with a Water Quality Committee member chairing the single issue sub -committee. Mary McKee noted that the Manager's memo identified six major areas of consideration: 1) Recycling, 2) Erosion Control, 3) Air, Light, and Noise Pollution, 4) Open Space, 5) Water Quality, 6) Review of Environmental Assessment Worksheets and Environmental Impact Statements. Additional comments were offered including formation of other City committees to handle those topics which become too large for the Water Quality Committee; have City staff present specific items to the Water Quality Committee in order to clearly define the issue; consider only those issues which relate to water quality. Mary McKee made a motion to table consideration of the Manager's memo until next meeting and request City staff to supply a short memo on: 1) the Recycling Program; 2) the Open Space Task Force; 3) Air, Noise, and Light Pollution, and have each Committee member return with their idea of what they feel the charge should include. This motion passed. At this point in the meeting, Chairman Shopek added an item to the Agenda to allow John Barten to address the Committee on the Soil Sampling Program the Hennepin Parks Department is preparing. Mr. Barten introduced Jennifer Kuny, a University of Minnesota Intern working on the Soil Sampling Program and coordinating several volunteers to obtain names of citizens who are willing to participate in the Soil Sampling Program at no cost to the homeowner. Jennifer requested the Committee's assistance in helping to make telephone calls including a survey of the homeowner, which included approximately six questions pertaining to fertilizer composition and lawn maintenance activities of the homeowner. Council Member Lymangood suggested putting this on the Council Agenda as well as on the City's cable TV network for greater coverage. Revised Agenda Item No. 3 was the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman. A motion was passed that the Committee should proceed with the elections and address the Committee charge at the April Water Quality Committee Meeting. Craig Twinem nominated David Shea for the Committee Chair position, but David respectfully declined. Sharon Meister nominated Mary McKee for the Chairman position and Rita O'Donnell seconded the motion. Chairman Shopek suggested that a Vice Chair be Page 2 M- Q___1 elected with the understanding that this position would take over the Chairmanship the following year. The Committee elected Mary McKee as the new Chairman effective with the April meeting. Jeff Shopek next nominated David Shea for the Vice Chair position and this was seconded by Craig Twinem and passed by the Committee. David Shea asked if the Water Quality articles, which the Committee prepared last year, were going to be reprinted in the Plymouth News. He suggested that Dan Faulkner talk to Helen LaFave, the staff . Communications Coordinator, who prepares the monthly Plymouth News. He also suggested that if we need new articles, we could discuss this at the April meeting. A question was asked if the "Stormie" insert placed in the Plymouth News last year could be reprinted and put in the next Plymouth News. Staff agreed to research and see if there are sufficient quantities left to accomplish some type of distribution. Agenda Item No. 4 was introduced by Barb Senness. She distributed copies of the revised schedule for the preparation of a wetland ordinance as well as a "Notice" of developers' and citizens' meetings to discuss the wetland ordinance issue. Mary McKee commented that she is concerned with adequate notification to Plymouth residents and suggested that there be a press release as well as information on the cable TV channel. Additional discussion was held on notification procedures as well as follow-up notices. Council Member Lymangood suggested that the Commission may want to have its own standard mailing list for Water Quality, Environmental, and other issues of interest prepared in advance so that when the issue arose, the mailing list would be ready. Jeff Shopek mentioned that we should have a sign up sheet at each of our meetings in order to obtain names and addresses of interested citizens in order to include them on our mailing list. The Committee requested that the wetland ordinance issue be brought back to the Committee at its April 5 meeting for further discussion. Barb Senness handed out a wetland ordinance framework dated march 8, 1994 which includes wetland classifications in three rather than four categories. She commented that there are nearly no pristine wetlands in the City nor recreational type wetlands as recreational lakes are protected under shoreland ordinances. She mentioned that wetlands are defined in accordance with the Minnesota State Wetlands Act. Enforcement will be referenced to existing law/ordinance. In the area of setbacks and buffer zones, Barb mentioned that much time was spent reviewing and preparing graphic examples. These examples included existing proposed developments for 1) Metroquip, 2) Trenton Ponds, and 3) The Ponds of Bass Creek. Rita O'Donnell suggested that the staff look at some subdivision proposals that have not yet been approved to show the affect of these situations rather than looking at an approved plan which shows how many lots would be lost. She feels the examples are being skewed toward showing the harmful affects of losing lots. Mary McKee asked if the City can have an affect on the currently proposed development, The Ponds at Bass Creek. Barb commented that this is a good question and City Attorneys would have to help in answering it. The example indicates that 47 lots would be lost with a 30 foot buffer Page 3 (55 foot total setback) and 57 lots would be lost with a 50 foot buffer zone (75 foot total setback). Ann Bipes commented that you need to look at the purpose of a buffer setback, which is for water quality while the building setback is for the purposed of having a back yard. Jeff Shopek commented that some cities require a minimum lot size, which is all upland and therefore, above the wetland edge, which tends to accomplish the same thing as buffer zones and building setbacks. Ginny Black asked why the staff is recommending a 30 foot buffer zone around natural wetlands. Barb Seness explained that the total setback of 55 feet away from the wetland edge is the current consideration of staff with the potential of taking private property and therefore staff is trying to balance both sides of the issue as necessary. Ginny Black commented that over time buffers become a part of one's manicured back yard and it is important to make the buffer large and require natural growth which is not to be changed. It was noted that this will be vey hard to police and preserve these buffer zones. It was noted that the plats. may need to require a specific designation for the natural area by easement or some other legal form. Jeff Shopek commented that we need to address the issue of water quality and how it can be protected and maintained. The real culprit is the phosphorus which enters a wetland and a "no phosphorus" requirement could be put into the ordinance for lawns adjacent to wetlands. The issue of increased density was discussed in order to provide the developer a potential to not lose lots while increasing the distance of construction away from the wetland areas. The possibility of a reduced front yard setback was also suggested. Council Member Lymangood explained how Lundgren Bros. does an excellent job of marketing in the City of Chanhassen in which they use the wetland setback as an amenity and market their developments accordingly. A comment was offered that if water quality is the primary purpose of a buffer zone, the hard setback rules may not accomplish this goal. The use of an average setback, which could be increased in the critical areas and less in the non-critical areas, may address this concern. Jeff Shopek commented that keeping people out of wetlands is really the goal of a buffer zone. From a fertilizer standpoint, the use of phosphorus is really the important issue and consideration should also be given to storm drainage which dumps directly into wetlands. Barb Senness commented that we need to look at all aspects and affects, including the legal issues involved. Fred Moore commented that it is necessary to have a useable rear yard so people can enjoy their back yards without infringing into the wetland area. Ginny Black commented that in order to avoid the possibility of lawsuits, staff needs to research and make findings to support their position. She also commented that in addition to water quality, the buffer zone should also consider the space for habitat. Rita O'Donnell commented that the question of "taking" has not appeared to be a problem in other cities which have passed wetland setback ordinances. Page 4 1,-1-0— Council Member Lymangood suggested that Committee members and guests present give their final comments. Craig Twinem commented he liked the use of an average setback. Ginny Black would like a 50 foot average buffer zone. David Shea commented that he doesn't know why policing an average setback is any easier than policing a set distance. Rita O'Donnell suggested that if averages are to be used, we should stay with a 50 foot buffer zone as a starting point. Jeff Shopek commented that he feels the total 55 feet i.e., 30 foot buffer setback with the 25 foot building setback is fine with some flexibility in the buffer width. Council Member Lymangood indicated that he feels flexibility is fine but the buffer width should not be very flexible but the building setback could be the point of some flexibility. Mary McKee feels a 50 foot buffer is necessary along with phosphorus restrictions. Ann Bipes recommended there be one buffer zone regardless of the type of wetland. Fred Moore commented that he feels the right approach is being taken with public meetings for citizens as well as developers in order to come up with something "reasonable." David Shea made a final comment that mitigation needs to continue at a 2:1 replacement regardless of any change in the State Wetland Act. Council Member Lymangood suggested that future meetings include agendas which have old business items first with new business to follow. He referred to the Park and Recreation Committee Agenda. He also suggested that the Water Quality Committee address the City's water restriction policy as he feels the current policy may actually increase water use. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:55 p.m. Submitted by: Daniel L. Faulkner Page 5 M' 3 Plymouth Human Rights Commission April 7, 1994 7:30 PM Agenda Call to Order II. League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions --Mort Rywek III. Discussion of No Fault Grievance Process and Training IV. Distribute Draft By -Laws V. Other Business VI. Adjourn METRO MEETINGS A weekly calendar of meetings and agenda items for the Metropolitan Council, its advisory and standing committees, and six regional commissions: Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, Metropolitan Transit Commission, Metropolitan Waste Control Commission and Regional Transit Board. Meeting times and agendas are occasionally changed. Questions about meetings should be directed-to_the appropriate organization. DATE: Mar. 25, 1994 _ WEEKS OF: Mar. 28 -Apr. 8, 1994 MLTROPOLTI°AN COUNCIL r, Chair's Informal Breakfast Meeting with Council Members - Tuesday, Mar. 29, 7:3 the ._`�� Midway, St. Paul. Chair's Informal Breakfast Meeting with Council Members - Wednesday, Mar. 30, 7:30 a.m., Sheraton Park Place, St. Louis Park. Metropolitan Council Chair's Informal Meeting with Council Members - Thursday, Mar. 31, 3 p.m., Chair's Office. Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Mar. 31, 4 p.m., Chambers. The Council will consider. a metropolitan urban service area request from Bayport to accommodate expansion of Andersen Window Company; planning assistance grant to Dakota County Township Officers Association; a contract request for major airport planning activities; and other business. Committee of the Whole - Thursday, Mar. 31, immediately following the Council meeting, Chambers. The committee will consider: a notice of funding availability for Section 8 vouchers for homeless and disabled people; approval of plans and specification for the Blaine sewer interceptor; an update on a regional library study; and other business. Legislative Coordinating Group - Friday, Apr. 1, noon, Room 1A. TENTATIVE MEETINGS THE WEEK OF APR. 4 - APR. 8, 1994 Chair's Informal Breakfast Meeting with Council Members - Tuesday, April 5, 8 a.m., location to be determined Minority Issues Advisory Committee - Tuesday, April 5, 4 p.m., Chambers. Transportation Technical Advisory Committee to the Transportation Advisory Board - Wednesday, April 6, 9 a.m., Chambers. Twin Cities Water Quality Initiative Grant Program Information Meeting - Thursday, Apr. 7, 9 a.m., Chambers. Metropolitan Council Chair's Informal Meeting with Council Members - Thursday, Apr. 7, 3 p.m., Chair's Office. Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Apr. 7, 4 p.m., Chambers. Committee of the Whole - Thursday, Apr. 7, immediately following the Council meeting, Chambers. Regional Blueprint Forum - Friday, Apr. 8, 830 a.m., Chambers. Legislative Coordinating Group - Friday, Apr. 8, Noon, Room IA. The Metropolitan Council is located at Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul. Meeting tunes and agenda are subject to change. For more information or confirmation of meetings, call 291-6447, (TDD 291-0904). METROPOLITAN WASTE CONTROL COMMISSION Ad Hoc Committee on Vendor Consultant Selection - Monday, Mar. 28,330 p.m., 1970 Christensen Ave., St. Paul. Ad Hoc Committee for Capital Plan Budget Review - Tuesday, Mar. 29, Room 5, 5th Floor, Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul. The Metropolitan Waste Control Commission is located at Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul, MN 55101. For more information, call 222-8423. REGIONAL TRANSIT BOARD Policy Committee - Monday, Mar. 23, 4 p.m., Chambers. The committee will discuss: Metro Mobility update; Five -Year Transit Plan, chapter one, regional transit overview; draft Phase U Dakota County transit needs assessment; review and approval of the summary of public feedback on ADA eligibility application and process; regional transfer reciprocity agreements; and other business. Meetings are subject to change; please call to confirm. The Regional Transit Board offices is located at on the seventh floor of Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul, MN 55101. For more information or confirmation of the meetings, call the RTB office at 292-8789. METROPOLITAN SPORTS FACILITIES COMMISSION Intergovernmental Relations Committee - Wednesday, Mar. 30, 8 a.m., Kelly Inn, St. Paul. The committee will discuss an update on legislative issues. Joint Meeting of the Capital Improvements Committee and the Finance Committee - Wednesday, Mar. 30., 10:30 a.m., Commission conference room. The committees will discuss expansion plans. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission office is located at 900 South 5th St., Minneapolis, MN 55415. Meeting times and agendas occasionally must be changed. To verify meeting schedules and agenda items, please call Tamra Sharp, 335-3310. rtk,4)m- CITY CENTER MEETINGS April 1994 FIX 117 124 11 25 7:00 PM WATER QUAL- ITY COMMITTEE 7 7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 12 13 14 15 1:00 PM BOARD OF 4:00 PM FINANCIAL 5:30 PM OPEN SPACE ZONING ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE 7:00 PM PRAC 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION 19 20 21 22 7:00 PM PACT 7:00 PM HRA VA 26 27 28 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION *REVISED MEETING ** NEW MEETING 3/31/94 PC 2 IJ 16 23 30 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 3 4 Daylight Savings --set ahead 1 6:00 PM COUNC11 hour STUDY SESSIOIK Easter FIX 117 124 11 25 7:00 PM WATER QUAL- ITY COMMITTEE 7 7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 12 13 14 15 1:00 PM BOARD OF 4:00 PM FINANCIAL 5:30 PM OPEN SPACE ZONING ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE 7:00 PM PRAC 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION 19 20 21 22 7:00 PM PACT 7:00 PM HRA VA 26 27 28 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION *REVISED MEETING ** NEW MEETING 3/31/94 PC 2 IJ 16 23 30 rim"! CITY CENTER MEETINGS May 1994 *REVISED MEETING ** NEW MEETING 3/31/94 3 u� rR CITY CENTER MEETINGS June 1994 *REVISED MEETING ** NEW MEETING 3/31/94 m 11 fw' 25 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 m -s City Council Weekly Planner April 03 -May 14, 1994 Sunday April Daylight Savings—set ahead 1 hour Easter Monday April b:OO PM COUNCIL ' STUDY SESSION, Tuesday Aprils 7:00 PM WATER QUAY ITY COMMITTEE Wednesday April Thursday April? Friday April Saturday April 7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 7MOOPMCOUNCIL MEETING April 10 April 11 7,00 M BOARD OF I REVIEW/ C4tj CJL STUDY April 12 17:OOPMBOARDOF ZONING April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 4:00 PM FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 5:30 PM OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE 7:00 PM PRAC 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20 April 21 April 22 April 23 7:00#couNCH _____ MEETING 7:00 PM PACs 7:00 PM HRA April 24 April 25 6:00 PM JT MEETING COUNCIL/DISTRICT 284 -Pub. Safety Cont Rm April 26 April 27 April 28 April 29 April 30 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION 7:30 PM BOARD OF REVIEW (Reconvene) May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 7 7:00 PMCOUNCIL MEETING 7:00 PM WATER QUAY ITY COMMITTEE 7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 May 13 May 14 7:00 PM COUNCIL STUDYSESSION 7:00 PM BOARD OF4:00 ZONING PM FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 5:30 PM OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE 7;00 PM PRAC 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION "Revised Meeting "New Meeting 3/31/94 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 281, ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING, 4148 WINNETKA AVENUE NORTH 2 March 7, 1994 /(? " The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Keith Moberg, chairperson. : F 1 ROLL CALL Present: Paula Beugen, John Luzaich, Keith Moberg, Bever O'Connor, Meredythe Rossi and Neil Stein, directors, andttsr.�� �, `4 Dahle, superintendent. Director Mary Moreira was excused. `� APPROVAL OF AGENDA Stein moved approval of the agenda. The motion was seconded by O'Connor and carried unanimously. RECOGNITION BY THE SUPERINTENDENT Superintendent's Achievement Award The selection committee for the Superintendent's Achievement Award Program selected Jan Binstock, Lakeview Elementary School/Cavanagh Early Childhood Center school nurse, and Dave Solem, Pilgrim Middle School/Zachary Lane Elementary School bus driver, as achievement award recipients. Binstock and Solem were nominated for excellent job performance by Arnie Brown, retired Lakeview principal, who introduced them and described their contributions to the school district. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION John Schreiner, Golden Valley, related a recent board discussion about the district's student interscholastic eligibility policy to his current topic - students who struggle socially, academically and economically. He stated that the district's current policy with an appeal process seems to be working. He suggested questions to ask when determining athletic eligibility requirements and proposed that athletic eligibility requirements be flexible. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Rossi moved approval of the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Stein and carried unanimously. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 2 Beugen moved approval of the minutes of the February 7, 1994, board meeting. The motion was seconded by Moberg and carried unanimously. O'Connor requested that board members receive a copy of letters that were noted in the February 7, 1994, board minutes. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS The following communications were received: a letter dated March 1, 1994, inviting board members to a display of bird research projects on March 11, 1994, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. at Pilgrim Lane Elementary; a letter dated February 9, 1994, inviting board members to attend the Arts and Academic Awards program on February 23, 1994, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Noble Elementary School; a letter dated February 22, 1994, inviting board members to a 25 -year anniversary celebration and dedication of a new addition at Zachary Lane Elementary School on June 1, 1994, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.; a letter dated February 14, 1994, from Sally Goldberg, Center for Early Learning and Living of the Sciences, Inc. (CELLS) executive director, requesting that the organization be allowed to retain its present space at RHS Resource Center; a letter dated February 16, 1994, from Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Hall regarding handicapped accessibility issues at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School including location of a handicapped door entry system, inaccessibility to the library and library books, and the need for an emergency phone system in the elevator; a letter dated February 18, 1994, from Duane Reynolds, community education and facilities advisory council chairperson, reguesting that the council be included in the district's short - and long-range strategic planning process for space needs and outlining community education's value to the community and the district; a letter dated February 17, 1994, from 23 members of the Language Immersion Program faculty affirming the students, parents and educators of the Middle -Level Alternative Program and expressing regret at the lost opportunity to contribute to the success of another alternative program; a letter dated February 2, 1994, from Susan Drummond, Language Immersion Program parent, regarding her concern about the growth of the program and the need for a parallel language immersion program in the fall of 1994; a letter dated February 14, 1994, from Don Becchetti, Sheri Camper, Susan Cunningham, Mary Jost and Marsha Klimes, Technology Learning Center fifth grade teachers, regarding their belief that technology is an excellent delivery system for the fifth grade curriculum and their feeling that District 281 should have a technology alternative for its fifth grade students and perhaps even third and fourth grade students; a letter dated February 23, 1994, from Jessica Hartstein, sixth grade TLC/Language Immersion Program student, requesting that the LIP middle school program not be sent back to the RHS Resource Center to become an extension of elementary school; a letter dated February 18, 1994, from M. Kay Ruhoff, sixth grade TLC/LIP parent, regarding her School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 3 daughter's positive fifth grade experience at TLC, her opposition to segregating LIP students at RHS Resource Center, her recommendation that the district add an additional elementary alternative program, and encouraging the district to continue sibling preference in all elementary alternative programs; a letter dated February 17, 1994, from Melinda Arvold, LIP parent, regarding her belief that LIP is becoming less efficient as it grows, that LIP students should stay at TLC, that another alternative program should not be added until several issues at LIP are resolved, that moves are part of community education dynamics, that what the LIP needs most right now is stability, and that the district needs to implement a wide -spread communication plan to correct misinformation; and a letter dated February 23, 1994, from Lewis and Renee Werner, LIP parents, requesting correction of the mischaracterization of their letter in the school board minutes of January 24, 1994. Their original letter expressed concern over how the Middle -Level Alternative Program was presented to parents, not with the program itself. They believed that both programs could have progressed at the RHS Resource Center with some joint problem -solving work among all parties involved. CLERK'S REPORT Luzaich, clerk of the board, read the schedules of board meetings, other meetings and superintendent advisory's council. A tentative meeting with high school students was scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 21, 1994. A board workshop after the regular board meeting was scheduled on March 21, 1994. Beugen informed the board of an Interium Family Futures Commission of Hennepin County meeting on April 23, 1994. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Instruction and Information Action School District Issues The school board was asked to take action on the following school district issues: 0 Language Immersion kindergarten enrollment O'Connor moved to limit Language Immersion kindergarten enrollment to approximately 150 students for the 1994-95 school year. The motion failed for lack of a second. Beugen moved approval of the recommendation to limit Language \C> , School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 4 Immersion kindergarten enrollment to approximately 110 students per year, the recommendation's rationale and the action necessary to implement the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Stein. Beugen pointed out a typographical correction under the action portion of the recommendation. Following discussion on proposed legislation that would require districts to accept the siblings of open enrollment students and how legislative action would supercede district policy, the motion was passed unanimously. e Maintain fifth grade at TLC Rossi moved approval of the recommendation to maintain fifth grade at TLC for the 1994-95 school year, the recommendation's rationale and the action necessary to implement the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Beugen. Following discussion about the boundary committee's need for a longer-term recommendation and the need for all middle schools to cover the same grade range, the motion passed unanimously. e Additional elementary alternative programs O'Connor moved approval of the recommendation to develop other elementary alternative programs, the recommendation"s rationale and the action necessary to implement the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Beugen. Following discussion about surveying preschool parents about alternative programs, the need for an alternative program to be accessible at any grade level, and a debate on the following action portion of the recommendation and an amendment to it, the motion was carried unanimously: Assign staff to organize a committee composed of parents and staff to develop a plan for other elementary alternative choices. Components of the plan will include a list of possible choice options: with at least one choice available for the 1995-96 school year; a-p.a-n-far considering choices locate& in locations across the district; providing equitable access at grade levels other than kindergarten to-ehoice p -rags-t-o--a-11 ,,�tiAeat-s; and a plan for status reports to the school board. e Community education facility use policy Luzaich moved approval of the recommendation to develop a policy and procedures to be used when considering relocation of community education programs. Procedures will include analysis of the effects of each relocation on all programs involved and School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 5 will assign responsibility for cost of each relocation. Luzaich also moved approval of the recommendation's rationale and action necessary to implement the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Rossi and carried unanimously. e outside agency leasing policy Beugen moved approval of the recommendation to develop a policy and procedures for leasing excess space to outside agencies that would include the impact on programs and budget. Beugen also moved approval of the recommendation's rationale and the action necessary to implement the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Moberg and carried unanimously. Beugen commended Dahle on his work with the recommendations. Dahle reported to the board that Carroll Vomhoff, director of community education and facilities, is currently working on a leasing agreement with the Minneapolis School District. New and Revised Policies - First Reading Dahle presented the Bus Safety policy. Beugen suggested that the following sentence be added to the Bus Safety policy: Policy implementation, practices and procedures will be consistent with data privacy practice and all other applicable laws. Discussion followed regarding the amount of time videotapes will be kept, when the school board would become involved in a bus safety incident, who would be allowed to view the videotapes, the bus drivers' reaction to the fact that they may or may not know if the camera is on board, the need to work with the custodial union when determining bus safety procedures, and bus drivers' reactions to bus monitors. The bus safety policy procedures will be brought back to the board after review by an attorney and the custodial union. The policy itself will be amended to include compliance with applicable data privacy laws. Dahle presented the Fund Balances for School Districts policy and suggested looking into forming a citizen's advisory task force to provide input on school finance. Dahle presented the Gifts, Bequests and Donations policy and discussed a letter from William J. Lauer, CPA, Malloy, Karnowski, Radosevich and Company P.A., regarding Dahle's question about whether contributed services should be recognized as revenue by the district. Lauer's recommendation was that contributed services should not be recorded as revenue on the district's -V--- \ cam.. School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 6 financial records. O'Connor moved approval of the first reading of the Bus Safety, Fund Balances for School Districts and Gifts, Bequests and Donations policies. The motion was seconded by Stein and carried unanimously. New and Revised Policies - Second Reading Stein moved approval of the second reading of 19 policies. The motion was seconded by Rossi and carried unanimously. The policies on Immunization and Students and Employees with Chronic Infectious Disease were withdrawn. More information on these policies will be provided to the board. Wage Reopener with Food Services Local 284 Beugen moved to ratify the tentative agreement reached between the district negotiations team and the food services union to provide a general one percent wage increase for the 1993-94 school year. The motion was seconded by O'Connor and carried unanimously. Business Proposed Bid Schedule Luzaich moved approval of a proposed bid schedule for the 1994-95 school year. The motion was seconded by Rossi and carried unanimously. District Group Insurance Contract Renewals O'Connor moved approval of the group insurance contract renewals for group health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. The motion was seconded by Rossi. Stein suggested investigating possible cost savings to the district from a cafeteria plan for employee benefits. The motion carried with five yes votes and Luzaich abstaining to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Award of Reroofing Bids Stein moved approval of bid awards for the 1994-95 reroofing project to Dalbec Roofing in the amount of $186,000; to Ettel & Franz in the amount of $71,770; and to Palmer West in the amount of $82,500 for a total of $340,270. The motion was seconded by Luzaich and carried unanimously. Dahle reported that the bid award total is under the projected -2L---\c%- School board minutes - March 7, 1994 Page 7 cost of $475,000. BOARD RAPPORT Dahle presented the District 281 vision statement for board input. The vision statement will be brought before the board for final approval at the March 21, 1994, board meeting. Board members were asked to submit their changes in writing to administration. Dahle reported on a suggestion that a policy be drafted and presented to the board that would ensure that district staff use the vision statement for planning purposes. O'Connor asked about receiving reports from Gary Parks, the district's legislative lobbyist. The board discussed legislative proposals regarding the tax shift, proposed stiffer penalties for violations of the open meeting law, and school board election dates. Beugen requested more interaction between the district legislative lobbyist and school board members. Dahle stated that he will provide board members with the most current legislative information through the use of a MASA fax service that reports on what is happening daily in legislative sessions. Stein discussed Hopkins School District's request to the legislature for a change in their school calendar to allow them to start school before Labor Day. The board discussed proposed transportation legislation. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, uzaich, cllf'k�yf the board Ap}5roved March 21, 1994 The March 14, 1994, regular meeting of the District 284 Board of Education was called to order at the District Administrative Offices at 7:30 p.m. Present were Board members Thomas Ahmann, Howard Casmey, Pat Gleason, Debbie Jamrogiewicz, Paul Landry, Mike Murphy, Karen Parks, and Superintendent David Landswerk, ex officio. RECOGNITIONS Elymouth Creek custodian Doug Winzenburg was recognized as the March Employee of the Month. Doug's hard work, goodwill, and Employee of total commitment to the people at Plymouth Creek distinguish the Month his key role in maintaining smooth operations at the school. Doug exhibits kindness and concern in his interactions with children, other staff; and parents. According to his nominators, he "confronts challenges with enthusiasm." AUDIENCE Jennifer Larsen, vice president of the sophomore class, reported on OPPORTUNITY activities at Wayzata High School. February 15-18 was Heart Week at TO ADDRESS WHS. The 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to THE BOARD Penny Ann Hatcher, Class of 1966, in recognition of her achievements and contributions in the field of public health. Other Heart Week Student Council activities included a blood drive, breakfast, and dance. Funds raised during Heart Week (approximately $5000) were donated to the Minnesota AIDS Project. The Trojets placed third in state competition in jazz/funk and sixth in high kick competition. The Band performed in a winter concert on March 3. Choir will be participating in Region 6AA competition this week and will hold a concert on Thursday, March 17. Wayzata String Jeanie Gaudette reported that highlights of the year for Wayzata Parents Association string groups included appearances by the elementary and junior high groups at an international conference in Chicago in December and the selection of Dr. Barbara Lamb as "Outstanding String Music Educator" by the Minnesota Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. A check was presented to the Board from the Wayzata String Parents Association in the amount of $11.941. This was the third installment supporting an elementary string teaching position. SUPERINTENDENT'S The Board adopted Resolution - Music in Our Schools Month - March RECOMMENDATIONS 1994. The District Music Department has planned special activities Music In Our Schools in the schools to emphasize the contributions to young people's Month development through music education. Women's History The Board adopted Resolution - Women s History Month - March Month 1994. This event is being celebrated nationwide during March: District 284 schools have planned special activities to emphasize the role women have played in our Nation's history. Desegregation/ The Board adopted a Resolution Relating to Desegregation/Integration Integration and Inclusive Education which authorizes the Administration to and Inclusive continue to engage in cooperative planning with other metropolitan Education districts through an ECSU Committee and to seek State funding for implementation of desegregation/integration and inclusive education. FINANCE The Board approved the following: AND BUSINESS February 1994 general checking ................... $1.402,314.58 Monthly Bills January 1994 wire transfer.......................$129,029,746.02 Gifts The following gifts were received by the District: • $1500 from Golden VallCy VFW Post 7051 for Voice of Democracy Program • $40 from Oakwood PTO for Internet • $1,918 from Oakwood PTO for computer software • $2,350 from Oakwood PTO for media center books and Knowledge Bowl • $11,941 from WaMta String Parents Association for elementary string program Budget The following grants were received subsequent to the end of the Adjustments 1993-94 school year: Federal Drug Pro ram for $35,246.44; Carl Perkins for $5,351; Art Curriculum for $3,000; Violence Prevention; for $24,663; Math/Science Training for $14,636; and Planning /Family Service for $14,965. These grants necessitated budget adjustment increases in General Fund Revenues of $82,896.44 and General Fund Expenditures of $35,589.44. Adjustments to the Community Service Revenues totaled $14,965 in revenue and expenditures in that fund increased by $14,965. HUMAN RESOURCE The following personnel recommendations were approved by the SERVICES Board: Resignations: Mary Vanek, elementary teacher on leave without pay; Steven D B lla, elementary teacher at Oakwood; Stan P tPrc n, supervisor of buildings and grounds, effective April 8 Child Care Leave: Karen Enich, social studies teacher, was granted a one- year extension of her child care leave Contract Modifications: Jill Dani cnn, art teacher at WHS. from .2 to .8 for third trimester, Mary Lama rr, speech/special ed, from .9 to 1.0 for the balance of the school year Professional Leave The following professional leaves of absence for 1994-95 as recommended Committee by the Professional Leave Committee were approved by the Board: Recommendations Leaves without Pay; Brian Ensrud, East Junior High, and Michelle Glynn. Early Childhood One-year Extensions to Leaves: AM Alexander, Robert Kirchner, Rita Lehnert, Caroline O'Hara. Sue Rosenberger. and Pam Slevin Sabbatical Leaves. Jim Hartmann, counselor at West, and Barbara Melbye, German and French teacher at East OTHER BOARD The Board tabled action on a resolution relating to the issuance of ACTION school building bonds and calling for a bond election until a March 21 meeting to be held at the Ad Building at 4 p.m. The Board approved a building plan for the District which calls for a new Grades 9-12 high school which will be a two -wing building on a single campus; converting the existing high school to a Grades 6-8 middle school; the existing junior high schools would become 6-8 schools; and elementary schools will provide K-5 service. The following letter was received from John Fischer on behalf of Terry Olson's immediate family. He requested that it be shared with the District 284 community. We wish to extend a very warm and heartfelt expression of appreciation to this great community for the outpouring. of love, compassion and concern that you have so generously given to Julie Fischer Olson and her daughters, Anne and Hallie. � hundreds of friends attending the memorial service, the overwhelming number of cards. letters Phone calls, the never-ending stream of friends keeping them occupied the countless pans of hot dishes and lasagna, the mortgage payments and the memorial gifts for Anne and Hallie's education and the Wayzata Benefit, are way beyond any anticipated response to Terry Olson's death We miss Terry and so do many of you We are thankful that God's plan has the remedy of time healing everything. We have a long way to go, but this Community is exceptional in easing the pain and making it possible to bear. How can we thank you enough? WAYZATA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Public Information Office Nonprofit Org. 210 County Road 101 North U.S. POSTAGE PO Box 660 PAID Wayzata, MN 55391-9990 Wayzata, MN PERMIT NO. 43 e Jim Willis 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 F`; �S__ 3 DATE: March 31, 1994 TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Dwight Johnson, City Manager FROM: R� Craig C. Gerdes, Director of Public Safety y SUBJECT: STATISTICS The Police Department recently compiled the year end statistics for 1993 as compared with 1992. The statistics show an overall increase of 3% in calls for service. This number is not only consistent with the City's increase in population during the same period, but with the department's re -emphasis on neighborhood watch groups as they tend to cause an overall increase in citizen calls for service both as information and actual occurrences. We have attached a copy of this comparison for your information. Also attached are a similar comparison of 1992 to 1991, which also shows an overall increase of 3% in calls for service, and a section which explains each of the categories broken down in the statistics. The largest increase in 1993 over 1992 was in part. 11 incidents (6%). The most noticeable increases in this category were in narcotics incidents and liquor law violations. These two can be attributed in part to the City's full-time involvement with the Drug Task Force during 1993 and the Sting Operations in the liquor establishments to check on sales to minors. The smallest increase in 1993 over 1992 was in part I incidents (1 %). The primary contributor was burglaries which was down from 345 to 269 for the year. The City is divided into 36 square mile grids. We have also compiled comparisons by grid of three crimes which concern neighborhoods -- burglary, damage to property, and auto theft. The comparison breaks down the last three years. You will note that in most grid areas of the City the three year comparisons remain fairly stable. The department looks for spikes in area and evaluates the problem for possible solutions. Memo to Mayor and City Council Page 2 March 31, 1994 There was a general increase in damage to property incidents in 1992 over 1991 which then returned to a fairly normal number for 1993. City-wide the increase was approximately 30%. A majority of our damage to property calls are damaged mailboxes and house eggings which are primarily juvenile related. In checking over the individual grid comparisons, grids 29 and 19 showed a marked increase in damage to property in 1992. Grid 29 is close to County Roads 101 and 6 and contains Oakwood Elementary School and grid 19 is the area around County Roads 101 and 24. We did have some incidents in the area in 1992 which involved some damage to school ground, parks and homes in the area. We did work the during 1993 through quick response and correction of the problems and were successful in bringing the numbers back down for 1993. Grid 13 (the area around Highway 169 and County 9) shows an increase in damage to property calls for 1993. The department plans on working this area this spring and summer. Auto thefts went from a high of 122 in 1991 down to 86 in 1992 and back up to 112 in 1993. The only grid that shows a marked spike in 1993 in this area is grid 15 (the center of grid 15 is 494 and County 9). The department had a problem with some vehicles being stolen from a car dealership in this area. This problem was connected with several other communities who joined together to work on the problem and resulted in the arrest of two suspects. The other area which could use some explanation is the hazardous and nonhazardous traffic violations. You will note that one is down 12% while the other is up 19%. Generally, you will see similar fluctuations as the department focuses on various types of citizen concerns. In 1993 primary concerns were handicapped parking violations because of changes in legislation and ADA concerns. This generated the increase in nonhazardous violations. In 1994, the department will be focusing on speeding violations as this is the most related citizen concern. As a result, you will probably see an increase in hazardous violations and a decrease in nonhazardous when the 1994 versus 1993 statistics are compiled. Attachments: Definitions of Class I through IV, Year end comparison 1993-1992, Year end comparison 1992-1991, Statistical breakdown of 1991, 1992, and 1993 by grid. STATISTICAL INFORMATION The Plymouth Police Department records police calls for service in four different categories called classes. The first two classes are defined by federal reporting guidelines and include actual crimes. Class I crimes are those defined as major crimes by the federal government. There are eight class I crimes; they are: Murder Criminal Sexual Conduct (rape) Robbery Assault Burglary Theft Auto Theft Arson Class II crimes comprise all other criminal activity and includes: forgery/counterfeiting fraud harassing communications stolen property vandalism other sex offenses narcotics offenses family/children offenses DWI's liquor law violations disorderly conduct miscellaneous other offenses Class III crimes primarily involve accidents and injuries not criminal in nature. These include: fatal accidents personal injury accidents property damage accidents snowmobile accidents drownings medical emergencies suicides suicide attempts natural deaths animal bites fires (with police response) Class IV crimes comprise all other types of calls for service. These include: domestics which do not involve assaults animal details false alarms lock -outs assists to other agencies serving warrants traffic details suspicious information missing persons lost/found property public nuisances all other miscellaneous calls Each monthly report will also show hazardous and nonhazardous violations. These numbers represent traffic citations issued by the officers. Attached behind the statistics are basic definitions of each of the types of calls. 3 Class I: Murder - the willful (non -negligent) killing of one human being by another. The classification of this offense is based solely on police investigation, not on the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body. Not included in the count for this offense are deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder or assaults to murder. The latter are counted as aggravated assaults. Criminal Sexual Conduct - also reported as forcible and attempted rape - the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Assaults or attempts to commit rape by force or threat of force are included. Statutory rape (without force) and other sex offenses are excluded. Other sex offenses, including statutory rape (under age), are considered Class II Crimes. Robbery - taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear. Aggravated Assault - an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempts are included, since it is not necessary that an injury result when a weapon is used that could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully completed. A large percentage of assaults are domestic in nature, or at least are between people known to each other. Our statistics show that in eighty-five percent (85%) in 1992 and eighty-one percent (81 %) in 1993 of our assault cases, the victim and perpetrator were either related or acquaintances. Burglary - the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. The use of force to gain entry is not required to classify an, offense a burglary. Burglary in this program is categorized into ,3 three subclassifications: forcible entry, unlawful entry where no force is used, and attempted forcible entry. Larceny -theft - the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. It includes crimes such as shoplifting, pocket -picking, purse -snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, bicycle thefts, et cetera, in which no use of force, violence, or fraud occurs. This crime category does not include embezzlement, "con" games, forgery, and worthless checks, which are all Class II crimes. Motor vehicle theft is also excluded as it is a separate offense. Motor vehicle theft - the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. Motor vehicles are subclassified as autos, trucks and buses, and other vehicles. This definition excludes the taking of a motor vehicle for temporary use by those persons having lawful access. Arson - any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, et cetera. Only fires determined through investigation to have been willfully or maliciously set are classified as arsons. Fires of suspicious or unknown origin are excluded. Arson was added to Class I crimes in 1980. Class II: Forgery & Counterfeiting - making, altering, uttering or possessing, with intent to defraud, anything false which is made to appear true. Attempts are not included. Fraud - Fraudulent conversion and obtaining money or property by false pretenses. Included are larceny by bailee and bad checks, not forgeries and counterfeiting. Harassing Communications - use of means of communication including telephones and mail to harass another individual. Stolen Property - buying, receiving, and possessing stolen property, including attempts. Vandalism - willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or defacement of any public or private property, real or personal, without consent of the owner or persons having custody or control. Other Sex Offenses - Statutory rape and offenses against chastity, common decency, morals, etcetera. Narcotics - State and local offenses relating to narcotic drugs, such as unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, and manufacturing of narcotic drugs. Offenses - Family/Children - nonsupport, neglect, desertion, or abuse of family and children. Driving Under Influence (DUI/DWI) - driving or operating any vehicle or common carrier while drunk or under the influence of liquor or narcotics. Liquor Laws - State or local liquor law violations, except "drunkenness," DUI, and federal violations. -\-- 3 Disorderly Conduct - breach of the peace. All Other Offenses - all other violations of state or local laws, except traffic offenses. Class III Fatal Accident - motor vehicle accidents which result in a fatality. Personal Injury - motor vehicle accidents which result in the injury of one or more individuals involved. Property Damage - motor vehicle accidents which involve property damage only and no individuals are injured. Snowmobile Accidents Drownings Medical Emergencies - any call for service to which police respond of a medical nature such as heart attack or any call to check the health and welfare of an individual. Suicide Suicide Attempts Natural Death Animal Bites - any call for service regarding an individual or domestic animal who has been the victim of a bite from any type of animal. Fire - any call for service of a fire call to which the police department responds. Class IV Domestic - any call of a dispute between two individuals who have ever lived together or have a child in common where there is no evidence of an assault. Animal Detail - any call for service of an animal nature which does not involve a bite. False Alarms - any call for service in response to a burglary or robbery alarm to a business or residence at which the officer can determine no cause to believe a break-in was attempted. Lock -outs - any call for service to assist individuals who have locked themselves out of their vehicles and/or homes. Assist Other Agency - any call to assist another agency on a case which is not ours. This could involve going out of our city to assist another community such as Maple Grove or assisting another agency serve a search warrant within our community. Warrant Served - the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has primary responsibility for warrants; however if we determine an individual we have contact with has an outstanding warrant, we will serve the warrant. Traffic Detail - any traffic related detail which takes an officer's time from the street. Suspicious Information - this is a listing for any call for service of possible suspicious person(s) and/or vehicle(s) which cannot be confirmed by the officer (gone on arrival) or does not result in criminal charges. Missing Person - this is a listing for any missing adult. Lost/Found Property Public Nuisance - this is any incident which falls under the ordinance guidelines for a public nuisance. It would include such things as junk vehicles, rubbish violations, noise violations, et cetera. Miscellaneous - any other calls which are non -criminal in nature and do not fall under any other category. _IL 3 Traffic Hazardous Violations - any traffic violation which is ticketed by an officer which could result in a situation hazardous to another individual. This would include such violations as careless driving, or through a stop light. Nonhazardous Violations - any traffic violation which is ticketed by an officer which is not hazardous in nature such as parking citations. PL YMO UTH POLICE DEPARTMENT YEAR END STA TIS TICS CLASS I Murder CSC Robbery Assault Burglary Theft Auto Theft Arson TOTALS % CHG 1992 0 33 10 440 345 1311 86 28 2253 55 1993 1 0 1 38 1 13 1 460 269 1 1357 1 112 1 35 2284 1% CLASS II Forgery/ Count Fraud Har Comm Stolen Prop Vandal Sex Off Narc Offenses fam/chid DWI Liq Law Disord Conduct Other TOTALS % CHG 1992 54 213 513 9 794 55 97 26 446 75 47 604 2933 2 1993 1 44 1 211 1 578 1 12 1 713 1 58 1 142 1 6 412 137 68 727 1 3108 6% CLASS III Fatal Acc Personal Injury Property Damage Snwmbl Acc Drown Med Emerg Suicide Suicide Att Natural Death Animal Bites Fire TOTALS % CHG 1992 1 149 888 0 0 1081 2 20 27 47 288 2503 2659 1993 2 163 928 1 0 1150 1 18 27 39 263 2592 4% CLASS IV Domestic Animal Detail False Alarms Lock Outs Assist Other Ag Warrant Served Traffic Detail Susp Info Missing Person Lost/ Found Public Nuis Misc TOTALS % CHG 1992 372 1528 1837 2229 518 671 816 2374 61 248 1655 2659 14968 1993 1 379 1 1571 1 2001 1 2235 1 529 1 611 1 792 1 2452 56 290 1 1472 1 3046 1 15434 3% HAZARDOUS VIOLATIONS NONHAZARDOUS VIOLATIONS TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS 1992 4145 1992 4702 1992 I%CHG, 22657 1993 3647 1993 5578 1993 23418 % CHG -12% % CHG 19% 3% 91 92 91 92 91 92 91 92 PLYMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT MONTH JANUARY -DECEMBER 1992 CLASS MURDER CSC ROBBERY ASSAULT BURGLARY THEFT AUTO THEFT ARSON 0 35 5 379 331 1153 122 15 0 33 10 440 1 345 1 1310 86 1 28 TOTALS 19 yl ZU40 1992 2252 102 CLASS II FORGERY COUNTERFEIT FRAUD HAR. COMM. STOLEN PROPERTY VANDALISM SEX OFF. NARC. OFFENSES FAM/CHILD D.W.I. LIO. LAW 33 170 480 15 608 25 89 49 432 92 54 213 513 9 1 794 55 97 64 463 71 TOTALS 1 y y 1 Z4// 1992 2984 202 CLASS III DISORDERLY PERSONAL INJURY CONDUCT OTHER 46 438 49602 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS FATAL ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY PROPERTY DAMAGE SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT DROWNING MEDICAL EMERGENCY SUICIDE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS MISSING PERSON 265 1528 NATURAL DEATH 32 ANIMAL BITES 54 FIRE 286 3 139 955 0 0 1058 4 23 0 149 888 0 1 0 1081 2 20 27 47 288 i TOTALS 1 V 71 L,) ] 4 1992 2502 -22 CLASS 1V DOMESTIC ANIMAL DETAIL FALSE ALARMS LOCK OUTS OTHIER AGENCY WARRANT SERVED TRAFFIC DETAIL SUSPICION INFORMATION MISSING PERSON 265 1528 2580 248 1655 1 2659 348 1554 1700 1981 540 503 1578 2167 52 372 1528 1837 2229 518 671 816 2374 61 TOTALS lyyl 14, /y6 1992 14,968 12 HAZARDOUS VIOLATIONS 1991 3949 1992 41454% NONHAZARDOUS VIOLATIONS 1991 5499 1992 4702 14 2 LOST PUBLIC FOUND NUISANCE MISC. 265 1528 2580 248 1655 1 2659 CRIMINAL OFFENSES CLEARED 19 91 18Z 1992 162 TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS 199 1 -2-19867 1992 22,706 3 AREA 1 AREA 2 AREA 3 62ND AVENUE GRIDS 5, 6. 7.8 GRIDS 3.4.9. 10 GRIDS 1. 2. 11. 12 BURG BURG BURG THFT THFT THFT DMG DMG DMG AREA 4 AREA 5 AREA 6 45TH AVENUE GRIDS 17, 18. 19.20 GRIDS 15. 16.21. 22 GRIDS 13. 14, 23.24 BURG BURG BURG THFT THFT THFT DMG DMG DMG AREA -s AREA 8 AREA 9 26TH AVENUE GRIDS 29, 30, 31. 32 GRIDS 27, 28,33.34 GRIDS 25, 26, 35, 36 BURG BURG BURG THFT THFT THFT DMG DMG DMG RIDGEMOUNT V B I P R C I O H K N H C W S E W K Y B 1 V 1 Y T U 5 1 2 O 1 R 9 E 7 1 N 0 G 0 W 0 6 / 1 / 0 / 0 9 PL YMO UTH CRIME STA TIS TICS B Y GRID -K-3 1991 1992 1993 1991 1992 1993 AREA 1 AREA 19 BURGLARY 5 1 3 BURGLARY 13 4 8 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 8 14 10 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 28 42 21 AUTO THEFT 10 7 13 AUTO THEFT 3 1 1 AREA 2 AREA 20 BURGLARY 6 9 6 BURGLARY 5 7 9 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 9 19 12 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 24 23 18 AUTO THEFT 1 0 0 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AREA 3 AREA 21 BURGLARY 6 8 7 BURGLARY 27 22 20 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 6 17 14 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 29 31 40 AUTO THEFT 1 0 3 AUTO THEFT 21 8 9 AREA 4 AREA 22 BURGLARY 1 0 0 BURGLARY 24 19 12 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 0 1 3 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 24 40 34 AUTO THEFT 0 0 1 AUTO THEFT 5 4 7 AREA 5 AREA 23 BURGLARY 0 0 1 BURGLARY 2 6 5 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 1 4 2 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 7 4 7 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AUTO THEFT 0 0 1 AREA 6 AREA 24 BURGLARY 2 2 1 BURGLARY 19 18 15 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 0 0 1 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 51 44 60 AUTO THEFT 0 1 0 AUTO THEFT 10 3 5 AREA 7 AREA 25 BURGLARY 1 0 1 BURGLARY 11 11 11 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 0 1 4 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 17 12 12 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AUTO THEFT 1 0 3 AREA 8 AREA 26 BURGLARY 0 0 0 BURGLARY 5 12 5 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 2 4 3 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 6 10 7 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AUTO THEFT 7 0 8 AREA 9 AREA 27 BURGLARY 5 3 2 BURGLARY 17 12 14 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 5 21 10 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 8 12 11 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AUTO THEFT 2 1 2 AREA 10 AREA 28 BURGLARY 1 2 1 BURGLARY 10 8 5 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 4 9 14 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 15 8 16 AUTO THEFT 0 2 0 AUTO THEFT 2 0 3 AREA 11 AREA 29 BURGLARY 3 10 10 BURGLARY 13 13 14 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 28 39 43 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 44 73 41 AUTO THEFT 0 1 0 AUTO THEFT 6 2 0 AREA 12 AREA 30 BURGLARY 2 4 4 BURGLARY 9 11 9 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 28 19 17 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 26 49 32 AUTO THEFT 2 1 3 AUTO THEFT 5 2 2 AREA 13 AREA 31 BURGLARY 32 41 29 BURGLARY 11 4 2 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 46 58 91 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 21 28 7 AUTO THEFT 12 13 9 AUTO THEFT 0 0 0 AREA 14 AREA 32 BURGLARY 7 14 6 BURGLARY 11 3 4 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 17 18 28 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 29 30 22 AUTO THEFT 5 2 3 AUTO THEFT 3 0 1 AREA 15 AREA 33 BURGLARY 11 26 10 BURGLARY 1 13 9 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 9 40 22 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 20 22 28 AUTO THEFT 2 8 20 AUTO THEFT 1 3 0 PLYMOUTH CRIME STATISTICS BY GRID 1991 1 1992-1 1993 BURGLARY 1991 1992 1993 AREA 16 608 794 713 AREA 34 122 86 112 BURGLARY 15 8 5 BURGLARY 11 9 2 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 18 27 20 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 15 21 12 AUTO THEFT 4 6 6 AUTO THEFT 1 1 1 AREA 17 AREA 35 BURGLARY 1 0 3 BURGLARY 10 13 7 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 1 6 3 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 11 13 19 AUTO THEFT 2 1 4 AUTO THEFT 1 1 2 AREA 18 AREA 36 BURGLARY 4 2 4 BURGLARY 30 30 25 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 7 4 9 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 44 31 20 AUTO THEFT 0 1 0 AUTO THEFT 15 17 5 BURGLARY 331 345 269 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 608 794 713 AUTO THEFT 122 86 112 League of Minnesota Cities Cities Bulletin . Number 8 ACTION ALERT Annexation deal close Senate hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 Joel Jamnik A last minute meeting of interested parties held by the chief authors of the annexation legislation, Senators John Hottinger, DFL -Mankato, and Jim Vickerman, DFL -Tracy, has resulted in draft language that might represent an acceptable one-year compromise on the annexation issue. Senators Vickerman and Hottinger will host additional meetings of interested parties in the next few days. We hope these meetings will result in a compromise which the committee will act on next Wednesday in Room 107, State Capitol, at 2:00 p.m. Staff of the League of Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Association of Small Cities (MASC), and the Coali- tion of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) wish to express our gratitude ACTION ALERT to the many city officials that attended the Senate hearing on Thursday, March 25. Even though the committee did not take testimony, the presence of so many city officials undeniably had an immense impact. We urge city officials to make one last effort to achieve our goals in the annexation area by attend- ing next week's hearing. The League would like to thank Senators Hottinger and Vickerman for their leadership in bringing the parties together. And, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of Nancy Larson, executive director, MASC, and Tim Flaherty, CGMC, who led city efforts in negotiating the compromise. Next week's Bulletin will contain further details on the bill. 0 Landfill bill in trouble: Call your representative Joel Jamnik All cities and their residents have suffered because of expensive lawsuits brought under the superfund act. Your city will be sued eventually for waste you and your businesses and residents legally dumped in one of our state's many landfills. Last week's Bulletin includes a map showing a few of the 106 facilities where litigation is likely to occur in the next year or two. The House is hesitating to act because many representatives believe the bill is a bailout for landfill owners and operators. The handful of cities and thousands of small businesses already sued feel quite differently. We implore all city officials to call their representative with a simple message: Please pass an alternative to superfund for landfill cleanup this year. Please call by Monday or Tuesday if at all possible, but call. 0 March 25, 1994 Mandate Alert... Bill would require minimum wage for on-call employees Duke Addicks A bill which would require all employers including local govern- ments to pay on-call employees at least the minimum wage was recently introduced. (S.F.2341, Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd/H.F. 2659, Hasskamp, DFL -Crosby). The League opposes unfunded mandates and has demanded that, as required by law, the commis- sioner of finance prepare a fiscal note on the effect of this bill on local government. If your city has on-call employees, you can calculate the impact of this legislation by multiplying the annual on-call person hours by the minimum wage (now $4.25/hour). Let your legislators know what this proposal will cost your city, and how it would affect your budget and your taxpayers. Additional unfunded mandates can only result in reduced funding for other city services or increased property taxes. 0 Route to: Contents Action alert --Annexation deal close .......................................... 1 Action alert --Landfill bill in trouble, call your representative.. 1 Mandate alert --Bill would require minimum wage for on-call employees............................................................. 1 Contest for "good ideas" to improve lobbying .......................... 2 Audit exemption for small cities and towns progresses............ 3 Citiestestify............................................................................... 3 City officials meet in St. Paul .................................................... 4 Training..................................................................................... 4 Best practices review audit gets Senate committee OK ............ 4 House Tax Committee considers LGA bill ............................... 4 BillSummaries........................................................................B1 Municipal ads .................................................. Inside back cover Contest for "good ideas" to improve lobbying Duke Addieks The League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Advisory Com- mittee is seeking "good ideas" to improve the League's legislative/ congressional policy adoption and lobbying process. The goals of the Legislative Advisory Committee are to ensure maximum member participation and ownership of the policy adoption and lobbying process and to ensure effectiveness at the state and federal levels. If you have a "good idea' please send it to Duke Addicks, director of intergovernmental relations at the League. The person submitting the best "good idea' as judged by the Legislative Advisory Committee, will win a free registration to the League's annual conference and be recognized for their contribu- tion at the annual meeting. 0 The Cities Bulletin is a publication of the League of Minnesota Cities and includes an update of state legislative, administrative, and congressional actions that affect cities. It also includes reviews of metropolitan area issues by the Association of Metropoli- tan Municipalities. The Cities Bulletin lists authors of bill summaries and some articles by their initials. Joel Jamnik -11 Sarah Hackett - SH League legislative staff members are available to answer your questions concern- ing legislation relating to cities. Executive Director Editors Typesetting and design Jim Miller Jean Meble Goad Gayle Brodt Tim Busse Laurie Audette League of Minnesota Cities, 3490 Lexington Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 55126 Phone: (612) 490-5600; Fax: (612) 490-0072; TDD: (612) 490-9030; 1-800-925-1122, plus your city code. Page 2 1994 top issues The League of Minnesota Cities has eight priority issues for the 1994 legislative session. We will include this list every week with a page number after the issue if we include a story. State Aid to Cities - Preserve 1994 level and seek additional funding for future years for LGA and HACA. / page 4 Local Government Trust Fund - Stabilize the LGTF and resolve the current shortfall. / page 4 Open Meeting Law - Clarify require- ments and permit defense of alleged violations. Annexation - Preserve 1992 annex- ation amendments, expand cities ability to annex urban or urbanizing areas, and control growth in nonurban areas. / page 1 Landfill Cleanup Establish new program separate from Superfund to clean up closed municipal landfills. /page 1 Public Employment Labor Rela- tions Act - Reform PELRA's interest arbitration provisions to balance the bargaining power of essential and nonessential public employees. Development/Redevelopment - Remove the aid penalties on TIF for manufacturing and redevelopment districts; obtain additional funding for pollution clean-up. Transportation Systems Funding - Increase funding for roads and transit by extending the sales tax to gasoline; or increase the gas tax and establish dedicated revenue for transit. 0 Printed on recycled paper LMC Cities Bulletin � `1 Audit exemption Cities testify for small cities and towns progresses Sarah Hackett Certain small cities and towns would be exempt from the annual audit requirement under a proposal the Finance Division of the Governmental Operations Committee has approved. H.F.2066, (Cooper, DFL -Bird Island) would exempt cities and towns with annual revenues of less than $100,000 and a combined clerk -treasurer position from the requirement to be audited each year. The committee amended the bill to make a direct appropriation of $15,000 to the state auditor for fiscal year 1995 to perform random audits of these governments. For the program to continue, the Legislature will need to make annual appropriations. To compensate the state, participat- ing cities and towns would contribute $100 per year. The random auditing of five percent of participating cities and the same for participating towns would continue, with audits costing up to $3,000 paid by the state auditor, and excess costs being paid by individual cities and towns. The bill would require the state auditor to report to the Legislature by February 1997, about the "nature, seriousness, and frequency of audit findings." The Legislature would then use this information to determine the future of the exemption process. Jim Gelbmann, deputy state auditor, said approximately 60 cities and 100 towns would be currently eligible for this program. He expressed concerns that the audit exemption would encourage many small cities and towns to consolidate the clerk -treasurer positions in order to avoid the annual audit, and that the internal safeguards provided by separate positions would be lost. The House bill will next be heard in the full Governmental Operations Committee. 0 Cities expressed their displeasure with the CORE report (Commission on Reform and Efficiency) at a recent House Tax Committee hearing. Above: Gary Carlson, LMC senior intergovernmental relations representative, and Terry Dussault, assistant to the city manager, Blaine. Below: Sarah Hackett, LMC intergovernmental relations representative, and Jean Lane, finance director, Grand Rapids. The CORE recommendations would reduce funding for cities by $140 million or 33 percent. Dussault and Lane testified. Photos by Laurie Audette March 25, 1994 Page 3 City officials meet in St. Paul Over 300 city officials met in St. Paul March 24 to hear from legislative leaders, participate in programs, and talk with their legislators. At its yearly Legislative Confer- ence, the League of Minnesota Cities presented programs on the hot issues of the session and briefed city officials before they went up to the Capitol to visit with their legislators. The chairs of the House and Senate tax committees, Senator Doug Johnson, DFL -Cook, and Representa- tive Ann Rest, DFL -New Hope, offered cities some welcome news. Senator Johnson said there will be a local government aid (LGA) increase for 1995. Representative Rest said that the House will take care of the shortfall in the local government trust fund. One of the more controversial issues of the session --term limits --was the topic of a late afternoon panel discussion. Cities oppose term limits, saying they would be especially onerous for small cities where it's sometimes difficult to find people willing to serve in elected positions. 0 1Yaining Workshop on Pollution Prevention Opportunities in Building Maintenance and Turf Management for Minnesota Public Agencies Minnesota Office of Waste Management March 29—Rosemount Advanced Negotiation Seminar Minnesota Office of Dispute Resolution April 7 October 5 Roger Williams: (612) 296-2633 TDD Metro: (612) 297-5353 TDD Non -metro: 1-800-627-3529 Best practices review audit gets Senate committee OK Sarah Hackett A proposal for the legislative auditor to perform "best practices review audits" to examine the proce- dures and practices local governments use to deliver services, S.F.2194 (Riveness, DFL- Bloomington), passed the Senate Governmental Operations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The companion bill is H.F.2934 (Krueger, DFL -Staples). The League has offered guarded support for the proposal. Our primary concern is that the program will lead to new mandates. There is always the possibility that suggested practices become statewide standards, and that recommendations from the legislative auditor will become mandates. We had recommended to the author that the advisory council of local officials have an ongoing role of comment and guidance as the reviews progress. But, Senator Riveness responded that such hands-on involve- ment with the process was not accept- able for this type of objective and unbiased audit review. The Citizens League is primarily responsible for promoting this program for local governments. In his testi- mony, Citizens League Executive Director Lyle Wray stressed that the audits would help local governments identify how to carry out best practices. = He compared the process to total quality management (TQM). He also said local government associations would be helping to distribute the findings and recommendations. Senator Riveness said the new requirement for local governments uses an existing program and process within the legislative auditor's office. He stressed that the program isn't intended to identify worst practices, but to highlight more effective service delivery practices. The bill includes the creation of an advisory council to include three representatives from the League of Minnesota Cities, two representatives from the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, and three representa- tives from the Association of Minne- sota Counties. Senator Riveness also said that the state would even consider using "best practices review audits" for its programs. Funding for the first year of the program will come from a $300,000. . appropriation from the state general fund. As the proposal was drafted, the League stressed that the program not be funded through the local government trust fund (LGTF). Although there was not time for the League to testify at this hearing, we discussed our concerns and recommen- dations with the author before the hearing. 0 House Tax Committee considers LGA bill Gary Carlson The House Tax Committee discussed H.F.2281 (Rukavina, DFL - Virginia), a bill that would increase the appropriation for local government aid (LGA) by five percent for aid payable in 1995. The bill would also repeal the phase-out of the grandfather and establish a minimum distribution for each city equal to the sum of its 1993 LGA, equalization aid, and disparity reduction aid. In addition to League testimony, St. Paul lobbyist Ray Faricy and Mankato City Manager Bill Bassett spoke in support of the bill. The committee did not vote on the bill but will consider the provisions when the House Tax Committee bill is drafted in early April. 0 Page 4 LMC Cities Bulletin 1 2� Bill Summaries Environment Water quality permit fees H.F.2555 (Winter, Steensma, Reding, Goodno) (Environment & Natural Resources) would prohibit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from proposing a water quality permit fee increase until December 31, 1996. After that date, the agency could increase the water quality permit fees by no more than the annual average of the consumer price index for all urban consumers. The bill would require the MPCA to study water quality permit fees and report to the Legislature by February 15. 1995. JJ Financial help for water systems H.F.2717 (Peterson, Bishop, Girard, Winter, Wenzel) (Agriculture) would establish financial assistance and a state revolving loan fund for nonpoint source pollution prevention programs and public drinking water systems. The revolving fund for drinking water would be similar to the existing revolving fund for wastewater treat- ment systems. At least 15 percent of the funds received each federal fiscal year would be available solely for loans to public water systems which regularly serve fewer than 10,000 individuals. Initial funding depends on Con- gress reauthorizing the safe drinking water act and related federal appropria- tions. JJ Wetland exemption for certain cities S.F2244 (Samuelson) (Environ- ment & Natural Resources) would exempt from the wetland conservation act development projects within the boundaries of a second-class or third- class city if the city is in a county or watershed where at least 80 percent of the pre -settlement wetlands are intact. The bill, as estimated by the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the League of Cities, would exempt development projects in Brainerd, Bemidji, Hibbing, and Winona. JJ March 25, 1994 Cleanup program for closed landfills S.F.2304 (Merriam, Morse, Lessard, Frederickson) (Environment & Natural Resources) would establish an alternative to superfund for cleaning up closed municipal landfills. The bill is similar to the amended version of S.F.1133 (Morse), which is likely to be the Senate vehicle for addressing the closed municipal landfill issue. JJ Promoting bioremediation and no liability determinations S.F.2313 (Mondale) (Environment & Natural Resources) would require the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, when approving voluntary response action plans for hazardous site and underground storage tank cleanups, to allow the use of passive bioremediation whenever a site determination assessment indicates a low potential risk to public health and the environment. The bill would also authorize the commissioner to limit the liability of property owners of hazard- ous waste and tank spill sites. JJ Recycled content for products S.F.2372 (Anderson, J.Johnson, Riveness) (Environment & Natural Resources) would establish minimum recycled content percentages for newsprint, glass packaging, and plastic containers; and establish target years for the respective goals. JJ Metropolitan waste board S.F.2495 (Chandler) (Environment & Natural Resources) would establish- ment a metropolitan solid waste management board and transfer solid waste management responsibilities from metropolitan counties to the newly created board. JJ Water quality effluent standards S.F.2518 (Sams, Bertram, Langseth, Day, Lessard) (Environment & Natural Resources) would not require a publicly owned sewage treatment facility to meet more stringent water quality standards, rules, or regulations if the facility met the standards that were in effect at the time of construction. The bill would provide an exception if the state identified a substantial and immediate threat to the public health or to the environment necessitating new or more stringent regulations. In those circum- stances the bill -would require the state to provide a grant covering at least 90 percent of the cost of the new require- ments. In any other situation where a facility is required to meet a new water quality standard the state would need to pay for at least 50 percent of the cost to meet the new standard. The bill would prohibit state standards that are more restrictive than federal environmental protection agency standards unless there is a substantial and immediate threat to the public health, and would require grants in this instance. Funding would come from a state issuance of bonds. JJ Office of environmental assistance S.F.2523 (Merriam, Lessard, Dean Johnson, Pariseau, Morse) (Environ- ment & Natural Resources) would change the Office of Waste Management's name to the Office of Environmental Assistance, transfer other environmental assistance duties from the Pollution Control Agency to the new Office of Environmental Assistance, and clarify the general duties and purpose of the newly reconstituted office. JJ General government Standard county liquor licenses H.F.2579 (Jacobs, for the Commit- tee on Regulated Industries & Energy) (Regulated Industries & Energy) would authorize counties that contain non- urban towns to issue off -sale liquor licenses in addition to combination off - sale and on -sale liquor licenses to restaurants in that town. This require- ment would apparently mean a restau- rant could get an off -sale license without having an on -sale license. JJ B1 Bill summaries continued First responders H.R2582 (Cooper, Kalis, Mosel, Nelson, Brown) (Health & Human Services) would require the commis- sioner of health to adopt rules to regulate first responders. The rules would include standards for first responder training, certification, and equipment and urge adoption of the rules by July 1, 1995. The bill defines first responders as those individuals certified to perform basic emergency skills before the arrival of a licensed ambulance service and members of an organized service recognized by a local government to respond to medical emergencies. JJ Zoning ordinances affecting manufactured homes H.F.2666 (C.Brown, Nelson, Tompkins, Mariani, V. Johnson) (Local Government & Metropolitan Affairs) (Senate companion S.F.2441, Hottinger) would prohibit cities from enacting, amending, or enforcing a zoning ordinance that alters the existing density, lot -size requirements, or manufactured home setback require- ment in any manufactured home park constructed before January 1, 1995, if the park complied with the existing density, lot -size, and setback require- ments when constructed. The prohibi- tion would also apply if the manufac- tured home park did not initially comply, but, the city allowed the construction of the park and the park has operated for three years without the municipality taking enforcement action. (This bill introduced on March 10 has already passed out the local government committees in both the Senate and House.) JJ Building code violation disclosures in the metropolitan area H.F.2752 (Asch, Pugh) (Com- merce & Economic Development) would require state -licensed residential building contractor, remodeler, or specialty contractor to disclose building code violations to the person who hired the contractor. When the contractor applies for a city building permit, the permit must include a list of the outstanding and unresolved citations the licensee must disclose. The licensee would have to inform the person of the city or county office where the person may obtain additional information about the citations. Violation of these disclosures would be a misdemeanor. If the contractor does not disclose this information, the person having the work done could void the contract and the contractor would have to return any payments. JJ State attorney general fees H.E2816 (Orenstein, Kahn, Murphy, McGuire, Bishop) (Govern- mental Operations & Gambling) would require the state attorney general to develop and use a fee schedule for services or service agreements with political subdivisions and state agen- cies. The attorney general would need to prepare an annual expenditure report describing expenditures for each agency or political subdivision which receives legal services from the attorney general's office. JJ Cities cannot give away trees H.E2862 (Workman) (Local Government & Metropolitan Affairs) would prohibit a statutory or home rule charter city or town from selling, reselling, or giving away trees or other nursery stock that the city or town has received at no cost or at a cost that is wholesale, less than wholesale, or nominal. JJ Closure of public hospital meetings H.F.2900 (Greenfield) (Govern- mental Operations & Gambling) would authorize the governing body of a public hospital to close a meeting to discuss decisions, recommendations, deliberations, or documentation of peer review organizations or committees. A meeting could not be closed except by a majority vote of the governing body in a public meeting, and the meeting must be tape recorded and the tape retained for at least two years. JJ Liability for cemeteries H.F.2942 (Onnen) (Local Govern- ment & Metropolitan Affairs) would specify that when cities, counties, or towns contract with or permit a charitable organization to maintain abandoned or neglected cemeteries, the people who do the work for the organization are not employees of the political subdivision. The political subdivision would not be liable for any tort committed by or upon the organi- zation, its members, or persons who do the work as part of the organization. JJ Penalties for data practices violations H.F.2970 (Carruthers) (Judiciary) would eliminate from data practices claims the ability to receive costs and reasonable attorney fees and would reduce the amount of exemplary damages that could be awarded from $10,000 to $5,000 per violation. JJ Restroom ratios in public buildings H.E2973 (Evans, Kahn, I. Ander- son, Carruthers, Pauly) (Governmental Operations & Gambling) would require that public accommodations have a ratio of three to two on the number of water closets for women to the total of water closets and urinals for men, unless there are two or fewer fixtures for men. Public accommodation would include sports or entertainment arenas, stadiums, theaters, community or convention halls, special events centers, amusement facilities, or special event centers in public parks designed for occupancy by 200 or more people. The ratios would apply only to new construction or alterations of existing structures that exceed 50 percent of the estimated replacement value. JJ Bond counsel fees S.F.2291 (Merriam) (Judiciary) would specify that an attorney perform- ing services as bond counsel for the state, state agencies, or political subdivisions could be paid a fair and reasonable attorney's fee based on the time and labor required, the experience and knowledge of the attorney, the complexity and novelty of problems, B2 LMC Cities Bulletin M 4 1) Bill summaries continued the extent of the responsibilities and resifts obtained, and the sufficiency of :assets available to pay for clue services. llond counsels. however, could not Ix paid hosed on a percentage of the amount of the bonds sold. JJ Reorganizing environmental agencies S.F.2298 (Pogemiller, Moe, Stumpf, D. Benson, Doug Johnson) (Environment & Natural Resources) would establish a task force to recom- mend a structure for providing state environmental and natural resource services. The task force would be comprised of several groups including a group of 15 people representing local and regional governmental units including cities. Each group would complete recommendations by October 1, 1994, and designate representatives to serve on a joint committee to coordinate the recommendations of the task forces. The bill would abolish (effective July 1995) the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and many other state agencies to facilitate the reorgani- zation of these state agencies. JJ Personal injury liability statutes: consolidation S.F.2309 (Reichgott Junge) (Judiciary) would recodify and clarify several sections of private party personal liability laws including good samaritan, volunteer and charitable activity, and recreational land use. JJ Possession of tobacco by minors S.F2324 (Johnston, Neuville, Stevens) (Crime Prevention) would prohibit the possession of tobacco products by minors. JJ acquired. The bill does not relieve Soil and water conservation district local governments of their dala uppointn►ents practices obliga►tions,11111 it does relieve S.I{2550(I.1yun. Mondale, any statutory reiluiremenl to provide Murphy. Runleck, Wiener) (Metropx)li- the materials free of charge. in as firm or tan & Local Government) would to an extent that may be commercially require metropolitan area county exploited by the recipient, or otherwise boards to appoint members of metro - used by the recipient for financial, politan area soil and water conservation competitive, or other advantage. JJ district supervisors. JJ Government intellectual property protection S.F.2317 (Morse, Cohen, D. Benson) (Governmental Operations & Reform) would allow a state agency or political subdivision to obtain copy- right, trademark, servicemark, or other protection under federal or state law for intellectual property it developed or March 25, 1994 Minimum wage for on-call employees S.F.2341 (Samuelson, Metzen, Kelly, Kroening) (Jobs, Energy & Community Development) would require every employer, including cities, to pay the minimum wage required by state law to any employee who is on-call. JJ Bureau of business licenses S.F.2496 (Reichgott Junge, Metzen, Wiener, Moe) (Jobs, Energy & Community Development) would expand the Department of Trade and Economic Development's (DTED) bureau of business licenses. It would require the commissioner to determine whether to increase the number and kind of licenses available to the bureau, including licenses required and issued by the federal government and local units of government, and including licenses relating to product characteris- tics, business transactions, market access and competition, environmental standards, use of natural resources, use and development of technology, and tax collection. The bill would encour- age DTED to expand or use branch offices including perhaps offices of local government units as well as electronic links. JJ Local governments/data practices protective orders S.F.2506 (Knutson) (Judiciary) would authorize a state agency or a political subdivision, including cities, to petition the courts for a protective order on any public data. The bill would allow local governments to seek protection from oppressive, burden- some, or expensive requests for governmental data. JJ Local government tobacco licensing S.F.2637 (Sams, Solon, Luther) (Commerce & Consumer Protection) would authorize local units of govern- ment to regulate tobacco and tobacco - related products. The county board would license and regulate the sale of tobacco in the unorganized territory of the county, and in any town or city that does not license or regulate retail tobacco sales. The bill would require that each sales location including each vending machine be licensed sepa- rately. Fees would need to recover the cost of enforcement. The bill would set licensee penalties, provide for compli- ance checks, and require reporting by all local units of government by January 15 of each year regarding compliance checks of licensees. JJ Personnel Final wage payments H.R2559 (Bettermann) (Labor - Management Relations) would modify statutes requiring prompt payment of wages after separation or termination of employees. Existing law requires payment within five days. The proposal would allow payment no later than the first regularly scheduled payday following the employee's final day of employment, perhaps longer if the severance date is within five days of the payday. JJ Agreements modifying workers' compensation obligations H.F.2560 (Bettermann) (L.abor- Management Relations) would autho- rize collective bargaining agreements or other agreements between employers and employees to establish certain obligations and procedures relating to workers' compensation. They would B3 _ f Bill summaries continued ;a be limited to but would not necessarily include all of the following: alternative dispute resolution system to supple ment, modify, or replace workers' compensation; list of medical provid- ers; a list of impartial physicians to conduct independent medical examina-. tions; creation of a light duty, modified job, or return to work program; establishment of vocational rehabilita- tion or retraining programs and safety committees and safety procedures; and adoption of a 24-hour health care, coverage plan. JJ Labor and professional organization employers and officers: Exclusion H.F.2725 (Krinkie, Seagren, Limmer, Haukoos) (Governmental Operations & Gambling) would make future employees of labor unions ineligible for participation in PERA or other public pension plans: JJ Ambulance service rates understate health care regulation H.F.2578 (Cooper, Pelowski, Solberg) (Health & Human Services) would specify criteria for reimburse- ment and exemptions from growth limits and fee schedules for ambulance services. Even though the bill would exempt the all -payer option, that exemption would only last until the commissioner of health has established a rate regulation system for ambulance services based on the recommendations of a study which the bill requires. JJ Public employees insurance cooperative task force H.F2966 (Osthoff, Krueger, Tomassoni, Seagren, Kahn) (Govern- mental Operations & Gambling) would create a public employees insurance purchasing cooperative task force. Membership would include a represen- tative of the League of Minnesota Cities, other public employer groups, and public employee associations. The task force would study the feasibility of establishing a cooperative of all public employers, excluding state employers, I0 hure•hase hospital, dental, and illedical insurance coverage. The bill B4 would require a report by March 1, 1995. The commissioner of the employee relations would coordinate task force activities. JJ Work comp regulations S.F.2475 (Novak, Metzen) (Jobs, Energy & Community Development) would reform the state's workers' compensation system including limiting certain long-term benefits, adjusting supplemental benefits, including coverage for independent contractors, and regulating the work- ers' compensation industry. JJ Public safety Reimbursement for certain DWI enforcement costs H.E2544 (Swenson, Wejcman, Carruthers, Skoglund, Limmer) (Judiciary) would increase the penalties for certain DWI offenses, specify the penalties which must be imposed for others, and make many other changes to the state's DWI statutes. The bill would authorize public agencies, including cities, that incur expenses relating to the apprehension or prosecu- tion (as well as other expenses) of chronic DWI offenders to apply to the state for reimbursement for that portion of their expenses for which payment has not been recovered from the offender. Reimbursement for appre- hension expenses would be set at $50 and $100 for prosecution expenses. The bill proposes financing the reimbursement amounts from the state's general fund. JJ Special legislation Mankato: Port authority powers S.F.2526 (Hottinger) (Metropolitan & Local Government) would authorize Mankato to form a port authority. Effective upon city council approval. Companion H.F.2842 (Dorn, C. Brown, Goodno, Ostrom), SH Transportation Metro mobility limit ll.t?`938 (Workman) (Economie Development, Infrastructure, & Regulation) would remove the limit on the amount the regional transit board (RTB) may spend on the metro mobility program. SH LRT appropriation and bonding H.F.2956 (Wejcman) (Economic Development, Infrastructure, & Regulation) would appropriate $10 million for construction of light rail transit (LRT) in the central corridor to match a $10 million federal grant. The bill would also allow issuance of state bonds up to $10 million. SH Transportation advisory council S.F.2617 (Flynn, Langseth) (Transportation & Public Transit) would create a state advisory council to educate, discuss, and advise the Legislature on the financing of major transportation projects. The council would include three House members, three Senate members, nine public members who are metro area residents. The council would report to the Legislature on preferred financing plans by February 1, 1995. SH Gas tax indexing, transit funding S.F.2746 (Langseth, Johnston, Hanson, Chmielewski) (Transportation & Public Transit) would index the gas tax (currently 20 cents) based on changes in the consumer price index (CPI) and in gasoline usage in the state. Rates would indexed beginning June 1, 1994 (unlike other indexing proposals which are retroactive to 1988). Sixteen percent of the motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) would be dedicated to transit programs statewide. The bill would proportionately decrease any gas tax increase if there is a reduction in the amount of motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) general fund financing for transit. The bill would eliminate the current 80 percent/ 20 percent division of transit appropria- tions to metro/nonmetro programs. The bill would fund a high-speed rail study, electric vehicle study, the Wakota bridge on 1-494, and $15 J million of local bridge bonding. SH LMC Cities Bulletin - REGIONAL BLUEPRINT E NEW DIRECTIONS CHARTED BY DRAFT REGIONAL BLUEPRINT A future course for keeping the Twin Cities area growing and vital is charted in a draft of the Regional Blueprint now out for public discussion. The Blueprint is an action plan for shaping the future economic growth and development of the region. It was prepared by the Metropolitan Council with extensive participation by both the private and public sect Hig is of the d a'Blleprint appear on page 1 and 2. Five ON" houses in April and May will give Twin Citians an opportunity to ask questions about the Blueprint (see details on page 3 and 4). Formal testimony can be offered at a public hearing May 19 and continued on May 20. Copies of the public discussion draft are available by calling the Metropolitan Council Data Center at 291-8140 (voice) or 291-0904 (TDD). The Blueprint builds on the Council's current Metropolitan Development and Investment Framework. The Blueprint recognizes the importance of guiding the land use and physical growth of the region and the fiscal integrity of regional systems like sewers and transit. The Blueprint also addresses broader issues—the competitive challenges facing the regional economy, the deterioration of neighborhoods and poverty concen- trations, pressures on the environment, and the delivery of public services with ever -shrinking resources. 'A'A'A Metrnpolitao CouncB IRS - LASS MAIL II Mears Park Centre D.S. POSTAGE AA 230 East RRh Street / PID St. P.,1, MN 55101-1631 / SL PaMN 612-291612-291-6359,b9159, TDD 291-090) Permi[No. 029 �v 0 DWIGHT JOHNSON r 2S41Si CITY MANAGER CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH 8LVD -- . PLYMOUTH MN 55447-1448 Recycled paper: Contains at leas[ 50%Dost-consumer waste The Blueprint is the springboard for detailed steps and proposals. It outlines the direction, through collaborative efforts, to achieve five important objectives: -Promote the economic growth of the region as a whole. -Break the cycle of problems— poverty, crime, disinvestment --4n distressed areas. -Guide the growth of the region. -Preserve and enhance the region's natural environment. -Promote the effective and efficient delivery of public services. N ONE REGION, ONE ECONOMY 0 The region's 4economy is the cornerstone of our standard of living and quality of life. It has performed well,lbut its past success cannot be taken for granted. TheTwin Cities area now faces serious challenges— growing international competition, a substantial portion of the labor force lacking needed job skills, infra- structure that must be able to support future economic growth. r, A regional economic, strategy is needed to meet international competition. Everyone with a role in the economy—business, education and govemment—must work together to meet those challenges. Ther Council will take the lead in. coordinating a joint response. It will - work with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to promote development of a regional economic strategy. March 1994 A regional strategy will need to take into account that not everyone has benefitted from economic growth—especially racial, and ethnic minority communities. The Blueprint calls for bolstering education and -job training to better meet business needs. Accordingo the Minnesota Literacy Council, 500,000 Minnesotans. cannot rEad carte, compute, problem solveor, cope with changing condlbons to _. meet the requirements of adult life ,°y ; in our society. 7 The Council will work with education organizations and the business community to foster development of a broad strategy for education, training and retraining to maintain a high-quality work force. The Council will also examine metropolitan systems, like highways, airports and sewers, to make sure they can adequately support future economic growth. The Council will work for a strong business climate. It will examine government regulations that may hinder economic growth. It will also initiate or support a long-term, broad-based strategy to improve the tax climate. N REVITALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS, MORE JOBS Most areas of the region are thriving, but some are seriously deteriorated --with dilapidated housing, high crime rates, lack of I obs and spreading poverty. Although the most severe problems are localized, the problem hinders the success of the whole region. Greater job and housing opportunities are the best solution to REGIONAL BLUEPRINTN poverty, economic decline and crime. But too many barriers hinder job growth in distressed areas. The Council will work to lower those barriers. It will promote more effective use of existing tools like tax -increment financing to encourage redevelopment, industrial revenue bonds to cover the higher costs of redevelopment, and rezoning and eminent domain for assembling land for redevelopment sites. The Council will recommend changes in the property tax system that would encourage redevelopment and reinvestment. One proposal the Council is considering is creation of a metropolitan enterprise fund. The fund could be used for a wide variety of revitalization purposes --cleaning up polluted sites, assembling land, rehabilitating older housing, increasing owner - occupied housing and diversifying the job base in distressed areas. The best solution to poverty is jobs and housing. Creating new jobs is one part of the solution. Another is increasing access to jobs for poor people. The Council will work to develop transportation options to link residents in the central cities with jobs around the region. It will also work to expand opportunities for job e'- training.v At -risk neighborhoods should be more attractive for families of all income levels. The Council will work to target public dollars to distressed areas for housing rehabilitation and homeownership. The Council will also explore programs that can preserve residents' investments in their homes—for example, an equity assurance program similar to the one used in Oak Park, III. It will actively participate in discussions about issues affecting education quality in the central cities and older suburbs. The Council proposes that policies be changed to increase housing opportunities outside poverty concentrations. Poverty concentrations are perpetuated by government housing policies. State law requires a one- for-one replacement of low -and - moderating income housing units that are displaced. Also, federal and state housing programs tend to direct dollars for rental housing production and rent assistance into older areas. Replacement units should be provided, but not in poverty neighborhoods. N ORDERLY GROWTH, EFFICIENT URBAN SERVICES Poor planning raises public service costs and limits people's choices. Well-planned growth keeps infrastructure costs within reasonable bounds and enables communities to better meet the changing needs of residents. The Council will continue its policy of encouraging development to occur within an urban service area, because urban sprawl hinders the efficient provision of public services. The Council supports development in the urban service area with regional systems—such as high- ways, transit and sewers --within planned capacities and regional objectives. The Council will also continue As policy of discouraging 4rban development in the rural area. Urban development'may lead to demands fors"expensive public services that a rural community cannot afford. The Council will work to preserve agricultural land from urban development. Communities need solutions that are tailored to local needs, like transportation and affordable housing. The Council will be a catalyst to encourage communfties to plan together in "clusters" to solve common problems. Well-planned growth saves money and meets residents' needs. Higher -density development in some areas can support neighborhood revitalization and more transit - friendly environments. The Council will guide a portion of the region's growth to corridors where major transit improvements are planned. These are excellent opportunities to encourage higher -density development. The Council will manage the dollars spent on regional systems to maintain a reasonable debt burden. The debt on regional systems must be kept within bounds to preserve the region's triple-A bond rating. E THE ENVIRONMENT, AN ASSET FOR THE FUTURE A healthy environment supports the region's econCmic vitality and livability for future generations. Planning ahead, `at the regional and local levels, can help protect the environment before it is damaged. One of the region's most valuable resources is its water supply. Water supports the life: of the region and economic growth. The Council will develop a regional comprehensive surface water plan to protect the region's water quality and ensure an adequate supply for future development It will also pursue steps toward a goal of " o adverse impact" for the region's rivers, so that the quality of the water leaving the region is as good as when it enters. The Council will work for cost-effective reductions in urban and agricultural runoff, a major pollution source. Planning ahead can protect the environment before it is damaged. Other environmental features, like ponds and wetlands, are equally valuable. The Council recommends that cities be required to incorporate' environmental factors in local land use plans. Preserving .-natural features like drainageways,,avoids costly artificial systems that would'; have to replace them. Tire value' and appeal of properly is Wi8!1 enhanced.+ The urban forest reduces pollutiCn and noise, and makes_neighbori hoods more attractive. Yet it is dwindling because of development and disease. The Council will work with local and state agencies to provide technical assistance to preserve woodlands. It also recommends that woodlands be protected in cities' land use plans. The Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers form one river system, yet efforts to manage them have been piecemeal. The Council will begin steps to coordinate the management of the region's three major Over corridors. REGIONAL BLUEPRINT I 1 w Metropolitan Council Draft Regional Blueprint Find Out More About It ... and Tell Us What,�You Think YOU ARE INVITED discussions with Metropolitan Council members and staff. The open houses will include a 15 - minute presentation, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. You are cordially invited to learn There is no charge for the forum, more about the Metropolitan but please RSVP by calling the They will also feature displays on Council's draft Regional Blueprint Information Line at 291- the four major supject areas of the Blueprint ... and to give us your 6611 (voice) or 291-0904 (TDD). Blueprint the regional economy, comments. Formal comments from reinvestment and redevelopment, organizations are encouraged. RSVPs should be made no later guided growth and the environment. than Wednesday, April 6. F Informal presentations on the Upon request, the Council will Blueprint will continue throughout HOW YOU CAN provide reasonable accommodations the open house�Participants will be PARTICIPATE to persons with disabilities. able to ask questions and talk with Metropolitan Council members and -Attend the Blueprint Forum or any staff. of the five Public Information Open h The following organizations are co - Houses scheduled for April and PUBLIC INFORMATION May. OPEN HOUSES hosting the open houses and joining the Council in inviting your -Attend the public hearing scheduled Anyone interested in the Regional participation: for May. Blueprint is welcome to participate •As"sociation of Metropolitan -Write your reactions to the in one or more of five PublicInformation Municipalities (AMM) Blueprint on comment sheets Oen Houses Open . `.Builders Association of Minnesota provided at the forum and open The open houses are co -hosted with C -Citizens League -Council of Metropolitan Area houses. other organizations and agencies League of Women Voters (CMAL) -Offer formal testimony at the public (see list at right). e �* -Council on Asian Pacific hearing.Minnesotans The open houses are scheduled for: .Dakota County League of -Call the print Information Line Tuesday, April 1J2 Governments (291-6611) -to request information :Land Stewardship Project e„ and to comment on the Blueprint's 4-6:30 p.m. Metro East Development recommendations. Blaine City Hall 8150 Central Ave. N.E. Partnership -Metropolitan Community Action , -FAX (291-6464) your written Blaine Agencies comments. -Metropolitan Council of Chambers n Wednesday, April 20 4f:30 p.m. of Commerce + Area Association of -Request copies of the Update summary and the Center Minnetonka Communityen -Minneapolis Realtors® �a newsletter Blueprint draft from the Council's Minnetonka Blvd. 14600 Minn -Minneapolis Planning Commission Data Center at 291-8140 (voice) or Minnetonka -Minnesota Association of Private 291-0904 (TDD). Postsecondary Schools Monday, April 25 -Minnesota Chapter of the American 4-0:30 p.m. Planning Association Sabathani Community Center -Minnesota Community College BLUEPRINT FORUM 310 E. 38th St. (Room F-1) System Minneapolis Minnesota Higher Education Friday, April 8 Wednesday, April 27 Coordinating Board Minnesota Minority Media Coalition 9-11 a.m. 4-6:30 p.m. • North Metro Mayors Association (registration at 8:30 a.m.) Dakota County Western Service Paul Area Association of Metropolitan Council Chambers Center Realtors® Re 230 E. Fifth St. Library Conference Room Paul Planning Commission St. Paul 14955 Galaxie Ave. :St. •Sensible Land Use Coalition The forum will give professionals in Apple Valley -Sierra Club -Southwest Communities Coalition economic development, community Wednesday, May 4 development, housing and planning 4-6:30 p.m. a better understanding of the new Oakdale City Hall directions proposed in the draft 1584 Hadley Ave. N. Blueprint. Oakdale A formal presentation, beginning at 9 a.m., will be followed by informal 3 ® R.x9dee paper Contains at least 50'•post-consumer waste REGIONAL BLUEPRINT , E BLUEPRINT PUBLIC HEARING The Metropolitan Council will hold a public hearing on the Blueprint on: E BLUEPRINT INFORMATION LINE: 291-6611 By calling the Blueprint Information Line, you can: 0 NEWSLETTER SUMMARY AVAILABLE IN OTHER LANGUAGES In early April, limited quantities of the Update newsletter will be available in Spanish, Hmong, Thursday, May 19 -Find out about upcoming Blueprint Laotian, Vietnamese and 7 p.m., and continued on: meetings and other events. Cambodian languages. Friday, May 20 -RSVP for the April 8 Blueprint Please call the Blueprint Information 9 a.m. Forum. Line (291-6611) for more information. Metropolitan Council Chambers -Register to speak at the May 19-20 230 E. Fifth Street Blueprint hearing. St. Paul -Request information meetings with All people interested in the your group or organization. CABLE TV PROGRAM Blueprint are encouraged to attend ON BLUEPRINT the hearing and offer comments. -Record your comments on the draft People may register in advance to Blueprint. A special cablecast of the Blueprint speak by calling 291-6611 or 291- This line will be operational Forum is scheduled to be shown on Regional Cable Channel 6.. 0904 (TDD). throughout April and May. Showings are tentatively planned for Persons with disabilities may You are encouraged to call the late April/early May. contact the Council at these phone information line for the latest Call the Blueprint Information Line numbers to request reasonable information about Blueprint activities (291 6611) for showing schedule. accommodations for the public and to make your comments on the f hearing. draft document. The hearing record will close at 5 p.m., Monday, June 6, 1994. SCHEDULE AN Written comments, which must be FAXING YOUR INFORMATION MEETING received by 5 p.m., June 6, can be COMMENTS WITH YOUR GROUP mai(ed;;to:fuz s, +c a"r 00A The Metropolitan Council's FAX number of other meetings with Jan Gustafson ♦ is 291-6464. various groups and organizations Metropolitan Council ;umber are being planned. 230 E. Fifth St. St. Paul MN 55101 Ple85e feel free to FAX your For more information about these commegs to Jan Gustafson at the meetings, call the Blueprint Comments may also be FAXED to Council throughout the public discussion phase. Comments must Information Line at 291-6611. Jan at 291-6464. be received bys5 p.m., Monday, hearing draft June 6. ® Also, call the Information Line it you Copies of the public are interested in having of the Regional Blueprint may be 4 representatives of the Council meet obtained by calling the Council's with your group or organization Data Center at 291-8140 (voice) or fe about the Blueprint. 291-0904 (TDD). t t b 4 Nam REGIONAL BLUEPRINT ,+ , 4 News In Betwe*en Vol. 2. No. 8 Association of Metropolitan Municipalities March 1994 - Urban Strategies panel developing findings, recommendations addressing urban decay The issue of urban decay, how it impacts the metro area, and developing findings and recommendations are on the p late for the Urban S+rategies Task Force. The Task Force, meeting for the past several months, has studied the issue of urban decay to try to develop workable, responses to help prevent the metropoli- tan area being envel- oped by decay as have other metropolitan regions. Jim Prosser, Richfield manager, chairs the task force. Some of the pro- posed impacts of urban decay include noting that concentra- tions of poverty, deteriorating housing and increased crime rates can be found in Minneapolis and St. Paul and are growing elements in the first -ring suburbs. Also noted in the impact statements were perceptions about neighborhood safety and stereotyping 'low income." The proposed findings note tax policies and financing mechanisms favoring homeownership over rental, the lack of incentives or resources to remove or replace market -obsolete housing, and many resources are necessary to serve the low income populations. Tentative recommendations indicate that cities cannot by themselves solve the problem of urban decay. By grouping recommendations categorically - e.g., educa- tion and training, diversity, housing, financing alterna- tive, jobs, etc. - they also reinforce the premise that urban decay cannot be solved solely by physical an- swers involving housing stock. Examples of proposed recommendations include assisting disadvantaged youth in gaining education and employment skills, combine resouces from a number of entities to create an environment for positive "life style management changes;' and allocate public resources fairly through- . out the region. The proposed recommendations seek involvement from a variety of resources- local governments, social services personnel, private sources, education and state government. They were developed based on the con- cept that the problem is more than just a city issue; rather it is an issue that requires cooperation and col- laboration to develop workable answers that are long- range and meaningful, not short-sighted and divisive. F�camples of task force tentative findings and recommendations Finding. The causes of urban decay are complex and no single solution exisis for solving the problem. Finding: Increasing the supply of low income housing alone will not solve the problems of meeting human service needs and urban decay. Finding. Lack of job opportunities and training limit the resources available to low income residents to increase their ability to be self-sufficient. Recommendation: In communities with old housing stock, implement an aggressive housing and building code enforcement program with financial assistance for repair or rehabilitation Recommendation: Repeal state law requiring 1 -to -1 replacement within a city when low income housing has been removed, and replace the law with a concept of 1 - to -1 replacement metro -wide. Recommendation: Provide transportation options to link jobs and areas of need. AMM calendar of events 'May' be busy ... Annual Meeting Mark your calendars for the 1994 AMM Annual Meeting. The meeting to elect new officers and board members will be May 25 at Edinborough Country Club in Brooklyn Park Besides dinner.. the annual meeting will have a social hour, the presentation of the AMM Innovative City Award and the AMM Peacemaker Award. Last year's co -winners for the Innovative City Award were Cottage Grove and Richfield. Falcon Heig'nis cla.-i med the Peacemaker Award. A bulletin outlining the particulars of the meeting will be mailed near the end of March. ... Board Nominations The AMM Nominating Committee is seeking candi- dates for vacancies on the AMM Board of Directors. The Nominating committee will be interviewing candidates for vice president as well as several board vacancies. People wanting more information about board mem- bership requirements may call Vern Peterson at the AMM office, 490-3301. A bulletin providing more detail about board mem- bership qualifications will be mailed at the end of March .,.Awards Competition Got a great idea that you just can't keep to yourself? Then why not share it with the AMM membership by entering the Third Annual AMM Innovative City Award. This award recognizes a city's efforts to develop innovative or creative responses for municipal situations. Financial savings isn't necessarily the only goal; a sense of community or a streamlining of service provision are components, too. °Previous wini7ers include two-time champ Richfield for its Adaptive Recreation and Richfield: Rediscov- ered programs, Minneapolis for its C.A.R.E. initiative and Cottage Grove for its community oriented policing program. Also, cities that have resolved sticky situations with- out going to court are invited to enter the Second Annual AMM Peacemaker Award competition. This award honors the city that resolves a dispute through means other than the court system. Falcon Heights won the last year's inaugural award for settling a right-of- way acquisition problem through mediation. A bulletin outlining criteria, deadlines and applica- tions for both awards will be mailed at the end of March The need for the Metropolitan Council to focus more on signifi- cant regional issues and leave daily operations to other appropri- ate entities was one of several basic principals agreed upon by ��/� AMM, both the Association of Metropolitan. Municipalities and the Association of Minnesota Counties. .ill r l� Leaders and staff from both the AMM and the AMC met twice to discuss a possible unified response to the Legislative Advisory agree on points Council on Metropolitan Governance. Among other things, the advisory council bill, as introduced, would eliminate the metro - ' politan operating agencies and fold their budgets, staffs and of re gi onal operations into the Metropolitan Council. Another area of agreement is the recognition that the Metro- politan Council should not be an operating agency but should governance have strong planning powers. The two associations also agreed on the point that a new selection process was needed for Metro- politan Council members. The AMM and AMC disagree on how the process should change. Craig Rapp, Brooklyn Park manager and AMM vice president, said, 'The election issue was a fairly minor component in the (Continued on Page 4) AMM Legislative Update (Action through Wednesday, March 23) The AMM is tracking 50 -plus bills during this short session These proposals range from solid waste man- agement, anagement, housing and aids to local government to proposals concerning the "best practices" regarding the provision of city services and extending a moratorium on allocation of a band within the 800 -megahertz radio spectrum until a Metropolitan Council task force examining a region -wide trunked radio system com- pletes its work METROPOLITAN COMPREHENSIVE CHOICE _HOUSING ACT: Would penalize cities that have barriers to creating low and affordable -housing. Metropolitan Council also would be directed to allocate comprehen- sive choice housing needs to cities and towns. (HF2171-Orfield; SF1991-Novak) HF2171 passed the House Housing and the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs committees and re-referred to Taxes committee; SF1991 in Jobs, Energy and Economic Development; no action. METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURAL REFORM ACT: Would change the Metropolitan Council to an elected body and would eliminate various regional boards. (1-x`2 &0rfield; SF2015-Flynn) 1=6 passed from Local Government and Metropoli- tan Affairs and re-referred to Transportation; SF2015 passed Metropolitan and Local Government Committee as amended to eliminate elected Met Council and have Council be appointed at will and pleasure of the gover- nor (no staggered, fixed terms). Now on Senate floor. METROPOLITAN REINVESTMENT ACT: Would originally have taken taxes on homes more than $150,000 and placed the revenue in a loan -and -grant housing and redevelopment program administered by the Minnesota Housing Forane Agency. Author delete - all amendment makes bill straight fiscal disparities program that pools taxes on homes valued at $150,000 or more. (H12174 -Orf eld; SF1875-Mondale) HF2174 3 _ sb passed as amended by author in Housing Committee and re-referred to Taxes. SF1875 in Jobs, Energy and Economic Development Committee. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING ACT: Would add a 5 -cent gastax and establish a sales tax dedicated to transit; also would place a constitutional amendment on the 1994 ballot to repeal the gas tax dedication. It also designates certain projects as a prior- ity to receive funding. (IHiF2173; no SF companion) HF2173 in House Transportation Committee. No action. METROPOLITAN_ PUBLIC WORKS ACT: WQuld require a 32 -hour work week at minimum wage with benefits for single able-bodied recipients; may also include Hennepin County's welfare reform measures for single parents. (IkF2152-Orfield; SF2196-Riveness) HF2152 in Health and Human Services Committee; SF2196 in Family Services Committee. No action in either committee. METROPOLITAN TRUNKED RADIO SYSTEM: Would extend moratorium for allocating certain channels in 800 -megahertz band for public service use until 1995 and would extend life of Metro- politan Radio Systems Planning Committee until 1995. a3F1996- Kelley; SF1826-Mondale) HF1996 passed from Regulated Industries and Energy Commit - (Continued on Page 4) Senate, House offer bill status, committee schedule phone numbers The Senate and House of Representatives both provide up-to-date status of bills as they move through the legislative process. To learn the status, companion, authors or other fingertip information for House bills, the numbers to call are House Index, 296-6646, or the House Clerk's Office, 296-2314. The Senate numbers to call regarding legislation are Senate Information, 296-0504 or Senate Index, 296-2887. For recorded messages regarding committee sched- ules, people may call 296-9283 for House committee schedules and 296-8088 for Senate committee schedules. Legislative update (Continued from Page 3) tee and re-referred to Local Government and Metropoli- tan etropoletan Affairs. SF1826 passed from Metropolitan and Local Government Committee and sent to the Senate floor. MINNESOTA LAND PLANNING ACT: Would adapt the Oregon Land Planning Act to evolving Twin Cities regional governance structure. (12126-Orfield; SF2362-Chandler) HF2r_,� is in Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee. SF2362 is in Metropoli- tan etropoletan and Local Government Committee. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND HOUSING COMPLIANCE FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS: Would link highway funding and sewer extension requests to compliance with choice housing allocation. (HF2172-Orfield; SF1896-Pappas) HF2172 is in Trans- portation Committee. S171 896 passed as amended from Transportation Committee and sent to Senate floor. Amended to include planning provisions only. money or result in more effective 41bservice delivery. (HF2934-Krueger; SF2194-Riveness) SF2194 passed as amended from Governmental Opera- tions Committee and re-referred to Finance. HF2394 is in Governmental Operations Committee. Metro governance (Continued from Page 2) . context of our discussion Our conversation focused on day -today operations versus visioning and long-range ping , The two groups coriducted-separate reviews of the current Metropolitan Council governance system and offered recommendations for strengthening the Council in the future. The AMM report recommended an elected Metropolitan Council while the AMC document en- dorsed an appointed panel The city and county organizations met to explore areas of agreement between the two reports so they could offer a more united approach to proposals for improv- ing the regional governance system "If the cities and the counties demonstrate that they can agree on something such as this, that's pretty powerful," said john Boland, AMM legislative consult- ant. Oak Park Heights joins AMM The AMM welcomes Oak Park Heights to the family! The addition of Oak Park Heights brings AMM membership to 71 cities containing about 90 percent of the metropolitan area population. Barb O'Neal is the mayor of Oak Park Heights and LaVonne Wilson is the administrator -treasurer. Council members are jack Doerr, Dean Kern, Dave Schaaf and Richard Seggelke. NPDES permit seminars planned Informational seminars on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction site storm water permit requirements are scheduled for April 13 at two Twin City locations. The morning seminar is from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Thunderbird Hotel in Bloomington. The after- noon seminar is from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Northwest Inn in Brooklyn Park The seminars are sponsored by the state Pollution Control Agency. Construction projects disturbing five or more acres of total land area must have the NPDES General Storm Water Permit for Construction Activity. Land disturbance includes clearing, grading, excavating, or construction of roads, residential homes or commer- cial/industrial buildings. People wanting more information may call the MPCA storm water program staff, 296-7219. The Association of Metropolitan Municipalities is at 3490 Lexington Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55126. The tele- phone number is 490-3301; fax, 490-0072 This edition was mailed to mayors, council members and managers/ administrators for all AMM member cities. 4 slative former • LAKE MINNETONKA REGIONAL PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDING Funding for Phase I Development of Lake Minnetonka Regional Park is included in the Metropolitan Council Parks Bonding Bill request - H.F #2047 and S.F. #1733. This bill requests an appropriation of $14,780,000 for Regional Park System capital projects to match $13.3 million in regional bonding. A total of $4 million is included for Lake Minnetonka Regional Park ($6 million is the cost of Phase I Development). The Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission has requested the remainder of Lake Minnetonka Phase I Development funding in a LCMR project proposal. Hennepin Parks requests your support for full funding of the Metro Parks Bonding bill. Attached for your information is an updated Lake Minnetonka "Briefing Paper" and development concept map. COON RAPIDS DAWWALKWAY REHABILITATION FUNDING The Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners adopted rehabilitation as its proposed management plan option for the Coon Rapids Dam, contingent upon receipt of funding and implementation of an acceptable long term plan addressing the future responsibility of the Dam. Funding is being requested through the state of Minnesota's Dam Safety program capital budget request to be matched by regional funds identified in the Metropolitan Council's FY 1994-95 CIP for Regional Parks. Attached for your information is an updated Coon Rapids Dam "Briefing Paper." MINNESOTA SKI SAFETY ACT SUPPORT A bill known as The Minnesota Ski Safety Act - H.F. #165 to define responsibilities, rights, and liabilities of downhill ski area operators and skiers has for the third year in a row been introduced for legislative consideration. As the operator of the Hyland Hills Downhill Ski Area and being an organization concerned about the safety of all skiers, Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners supports the current bill and requests consideration of your support for its passage during the 1994 session. HENNEPIN PARKS SUBMITS PROJECTS FOR FY 1995-96 LCMR FUNDING Hennepin Parks submitted eight proposals, consistent with LCMR funding priorities and criteria, for consideration of LCMR FY 1995-96 grant awards. The project proposals represent a variety of natural resources management improvements and enhancements of outdoor education and outdoor recreation opportunities for our constituents as well as those of the region and state. Attached is a listing and brief description of the project proposals. In addition, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission submitted a project proposal for partial funding for Lake Minnetonka Regional Park on behalf of the Regional Park System. HENNEPIN PARKS BOARD - PROPOSAL FOR TOTAL APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS A bill, House File #2116, author Myron Orfield, was submitted relating to the appointment of certain metropolitan area special boards and county officials. It is expected that the author may modify this bill which was introduced on February 28, 1994; however, right now the bill proposes specific changes which will dramatically change the manner of determining the membership of the Suburban Hennepin Regional, Park District Board of Commissioners. Currently, five board members are elected from representative districts and two are appointed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. This bill proposes that all seven commissioners be appointed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. At its March 3, 1994 meeting, the Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners took action opposing this proposal. st Anfornwr.9a Update - March, 1994 HENNEPIN PARKS LAKE MINNETONKA REGIONAL PARK BRIEFING PAPER • Fulfilling a Dream, a Priceless Heritage A major park on Lake Minnetonka has been envisioned since the early 1900's. Lake Minnetonka, one of the largest lakes in the state at 15,000 acres, has always received a great deal of public interest and has been used as a recreational retreat. Until the purchase of the 292 acre Regional Park, less than 3% of Lake Minnetonka's 111 mile shoreline was in public ownership and most of that use was severely restricted through parking and other limitations. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park will provide to the public a significant opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful natural resources in the metropolitan area and the state of Minnesota; a lake that has been frequently referred to as a "priceless heritage." • "The Time is Now" for Lake Minnetonka Regional Park Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, when fully developed, is expected to serve over 400,000 people annually. Once completed, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park will be a great asset to the state of Minnesota, the metropolitan area, and to the communities surrounding it. The acquisition and planning of Lake Minnetonka Regional Park represents a significant public investment and commitment. An expectation has been created that Lake Minnetonka Regional Park will soon be open for public use. The "time is now" to fulfill this commitment and provide citizens access to the lake and enjoyment of the park's natural and cultural resources and planned activities. If full development funding is received, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park will be under construction this year as the plans, specifications, and bid documents have been prepared and this project is ready to go out for bids. • Developer's Agreement - Resolution of Support Approved by the City of Minnetrista The planning process for Lake Minnetonka Regional Park has been extensive, involving many public task forces and meetings. Hennepin Parks and the City of Minnetrista have worked together and, as a result, the revised Development Plan and Developer's Agreement has been adopted by both the Minnetrista City Council and Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners. In addition, the City of Minnetrista passed a resolution of support in January of 1994 for the development of Lake Minnetonka Regional Park utilizing state funding. Phase I Development - Estimated Cost $6 Million (1994 cost estimate) The development of Lake Minnetonka Regional Park will be divided into two phases. Phase I Development will encompass construction of all facilities in the 115 acres east of the proposed realigned County Road 44. Specific facilities to be included in Phase I Development include: 1. Boat access/docking 5. Visitor Center 2. Fishing 6. Cultural Resource Interpretation 3. Picnicking 7. Bike/Hike Trails 4. Swimming 8. Recreation Support Facilities Boat Launch: The boat ramp will provide access to the lake. Make ready docks will be provided at this location. Vehicle parking will be located on the plateau at the top of the hill for 48 car/trailer combinations. Multiple Boat Docks: Permanent boat docks will provide for transient boat dockage. A total of 20 slips will be regulated by Public Safety personnel. An emergency services dock will be located near the Visitor Center. Fishing Piers: Handicap accessible fishing piers will be located along the shoreline with access from the Visitor Center and boat launch area. Visitor Center: A Visitor Center will be developed at the existing "Gagne" residence and will support uses such as archaeological, historical and cultural interpretation, park operations, park ranger, and a variety of other visitor services. Swimming Pond: A swimming pond of approximately 1.75 acres in size is proposed for the area immediately south of the large central hill. The pond will have a maximum depth of 6 feet and will have 1,000 lineal feet of shoreline. A concession building and toilet facilities will be constructed as support facilities to the swimming pond. Picnic Areas: General picnicking will be provided throughout the park under Phase I construction. A total of 12 acres is available for picnicking in and around the swimming pond, wooded areas and hills. Trails: Paved bike/hike trails will be provided throughout Phase I Development, as well as, along both sides of the new county road realignment. Also, trail connections will be provided at current and/or proposed city access locations. Phase II Development - Estimated Cost $2.55 Million (1996 cost estimate) Future Phase II Development will include construction of all roads, parking and recreation facilities west of the proposed County Road 44 realignment. Specific facilities to be included in Phase II Development include: 1. Halsteads Bay Boat Access (32 spaces) 4. Bike/Hike Trails 2. Fishing 5. Recreation/Support Facilities 3. Picnicking 6. Trail Connections sh1 /1kmtnka.brf HENNEPIN PARKS COON RAPIDS DAM BRIEFING PAPER UPDATE - MARCH 1994 • Brief Summary of Problem The Coon Rapids bam'f '`a'iriajor,..feature� within Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, which is located on both sides of the Mississippi River in the cities of Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids. The Dam structure is over 80 years old and due to normal wear has deteriorated to the point where the structural deficiencies have threatened the safety and integrity of the Dam. The walkway connecting the regional park property on the east and west sides of the Dam was closed in December, 1992 at the request of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. An engineering study of the Dam conducted by Hennepin Parks in 1993, confirmed the need for structural repairs, identified the scope of repairs, and proposed alternative repair technologies. This engineering analysis was used by the Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners to prepare a management plan for the Coon Rapids Dam. In addition, public meetings were held and written comment solicited to determine public sentiment on the future of the Dam. Options considered included: rehabilitation, removal and hydroelectric power generation. Engineering estimates for rehabilitation of Dam and construction of an independent bicycle/pedestrian walkway is $6.2 million. • Hennepin Parks Management Plan After months of study and consideration of public input, the Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners at its December 16,1993 meeting, adopted a resolution establishing rehabilitation as the preferred management plan for the Dam and walkway, pursuant to the following contingencies: (1) That the Park District receive, during fiscal year 1994-95, needed funding from the state of Minnesota Dam Repair Program and Metropolitan Council regional park funding totalling $6.2 million, and (2) That an acceptable long-term financial plan addressing future dam/walkway repairs and rehabilitation be established. • 1994 Funding Request before the State Legislature Hennepin Parks has requested a $3.1 million funding match for the Coon Rapids Dam be included in the DNR's 1994 State Capital Funding Request Dam Safety Cost Sharing Program for Publicly Owned Dams. This match equals the $3.1 million jointly requested by Hennepin Parks and Anoka County in the Metropolitan Area Regional Park System Capital Improvement Program to be funded with regional bonding. Funding requests for the DNR are reviewed by the House Capital Investment Committee and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division. As of February 5, 1994 the Governor's funding recommendation for dam repair, reconstruction and removal includes $2.5 million for Coon Rapids Dam repair. This is $600,000 short of the $3.1 million that is actually needed to facilitate the rehabilitation. We ask your support to increase the allocation to the DNR to provide full matching funds needed to complete the project. (over) • Feasibility/Practicality of Hydropower Development as a Solution The analysis by Stanley Consultants, Inc. shows that based on certain assumptions regarding the elevation of the reservoir, the rate paid by NSP for the power which is generated, and the bond interest rate on money borrowed to do the project, that hydropower is feasible at the Coon Rapids Dam. However, any large increases in bond interest rates, failure to negotiate a favorable power purchase agreement with NSP, and/or failure to politically or legally hold the pool up in the winter to a greater extent than we do today, will mean that hydropower will not serve as an acceptable solution. Hennepin Parks is also concerned that it is not the appropriate agency to be operating a hydropower facility. The Hennepin Parks Board has established that if rehabilitation is done, it will be accomplished in a manner that will not preclude hydropower generation in the future. • Timing of Dam Rehabilitation Once funding is approved and an acceptable partnership addressing a long term plan for future public financial responsibility is identified, it will take several months to finalize rehabilitation designs, choose a gate system, prepare plans and specifications, secure necessary permits, and enter into contracts. If funding is approved by May 1994, it is estimated that the project could be bid out in the winter of 1994-95 with construction actually beginning in early 1995. The construction is likely to take more than one season to complete because of the amount of work that needs to be done, the difficulty of the work, the unpredictability of the weather and the probability that specialized equipment will have to be ordered and manufactured. For Further Information Contact. Douglas F. Bryant, Superintendent 559-9000 / 559-6719 (TDD) - Copies of Hennepin Parks' Coon Rapids Dam Management Plan Options Report (includes engineering analysis) is Available Upon Request (Previously Distributed to Suburban Hennepin Legislators) ate) sh41c,di.fv14-5 Coon Rapids Dam Briefing Paper Background and History History of Hennepin Parks and Coon Rapids Dam The property surrounding Coon Rapids Dam and the Dam structure, located over the Mississippi river between Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park, was obtained by Hennepin Parks in 1969 from NSP. The Dam structure was purchased for a nominal fee of $15,000, and as part of the agreement, NSP gave Hennepin Parks 225+ acres of parkland and $300,000. In 1974, NSP followed with an additional $500,000 for dam repairs. The last maior repairs to the Coon Rapids Dam structure were completed in 1976, at a cost of approximately $2.8 million. The structural condition of the Dam and its walkway has deteriorated over time. Hennepin Parks has been conducting annual in-house engineering site analysis, to insure public safety while the Dam has continued to be functional. Since 1978, possible reuse of the Dam for hydroelectric power generation has been pursued by both public and private developers who would have been responsible for existing and future repairs as part of any hydropower project; therefore saving unnecessary expenditure of tax dollars. Hennepin Parks has recognized the need to secure funds to repair the Dam, even before there was a immediate concern regarding its safety. In 1988 and again in 1990 matching funds for dam repairs were requested from the state legislature by the Department of Natural Resources as permitted under Minnesota law. Grant monies were not allocated in either year. It was not until 1991 that a determination was made that the structural condition of the Dam had deteriorated to the degree that its safety and integrity were in question. A 1992 inspection resulted in the closing of the walkway. Public Benefits of Coon Rapids Dam • Although Hennepin Parks is the responsible agency, little value is provided to suburban Hennepin taxpayers who financially support the park system. Only 181 homes on the Hennepin County side directly benefit from a recreation pool created by the Dam. Logically, the Dam should be owned/managed by a government agency with a broader taxpayer base or should be in private ownership. Recreational amenities created at the Dam serve a regional metropolitan population and do not just serve suburban Hennepin taxpayers. • Hydro -electric power was generated at this site from 1913 - 1966; and as an alternative, the site could be reactivated. Hydro -power is an environmentally friendly, renewable resource that should be captured and used where viable. A hydro -power facility may be able to generate revenue to cover operating costs and present/future dam repairs, over and above repaying the capital improvement costs. • The walkway provides a trail linkage between the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park property on the east and west sides of the Mississippi river and the Dam creates a recreational pool extending up stream for 5.4 miles. The pool is used by the public for fishing, boating and waterskiing. • The Dam and walkway attract 30,000 - 40,000 (1989 use figure) sightseers annually, to experience the rushing waters of the Mississippi River as well as serving as a unique historical/cultural interpretation. In 1990, total park usage was recorded in excess of 200,000 visitors per year. • The amenities provided by Coon Rapids Dam are consistent with the objectives of the Mississippi National River Recreation Area (MNRRA) Management Plan. The Coon Rapids Dam is located within the MNRRA corridor. sb4/crdiafo_5 SUMMARY OF HENNEPIN PARKS' FY 1995-96 LCMR PROJECTS Redevelopment: Regional Environmental Education Center at Anderson Lakes The Richardson Nature Center, located in the Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, is ideally situated for introducing large numbers of inner-city and suburban school children to the natural world. However the facility, a converted residence, has long been identified in need of a major expansion and re -development in order to meet current demand and to adequately serve the metropolitan area in a manner similar to other full service nature centers. The Environmental Education Center 2000, Study of Environmental Education Centers, conducted by the DNR and funded by the LCMR in 1992, identified the need to improve this Nature Center. This grant proposal requests funding for the construction of a full-service nature center, within the Hyland -Bush -Anderson Lakes Park Reserve, replacing the existing Richardson Nature Center. The proposed center would be a unique environmental education facility, an "Environment Living Center' which would promote an environmentally responsible lifestyle through programs, exhibits and activities and through the manner in which the facility is designed and operated. The "Environmental Living Center" would not only better serve the southwestern metropolitan area as a nature center, but would also be a unique regional resource, providing "hands on" experience for many aspects of lifestyle decision making related to topics such as: energy conservation, waste management, water quality protection, the home environment, and being an environmentally responsible consumer. Total Cost Estimate: $2,130,000 Hyland Lake Park Reserve Bike/Hike Trail Rehabilitation - Improvement Project The 5.1 mile bike/hike trail at Hyland Lake Park Reserve was paved in 1972. Trails were designed for bicycling and walking, with trail widths of 8 ft and curves/grades meeting bicycle use standards at the time. Hyland Lake Park Reserve is one the most heavily used parks in the Hennepin Parks system with an annual attendance of approximately 456,000 visitor occasions. Specifically, bike/hike trail use has increased dramatically over these 21 years. Trail use in 1975 was calculated at 15,500 and in 1993, 76,000 user occasions. Because of this intensity of use, its age, and normal wear and tear, the trail is in need of certain maintenance improvements to keep it in a safe and useable condition. These increasing volumes and types of trail uses are resulting in use conflicts, i.e. walkers, bikers, in-line skaters. In addition, high -use urban recreation facilities, which include trails, should be modified to better accommodate persons with varying abilities. This project would address these safety and use issues by widening the trail to 12 feet, overlaying the surface of the trail and making certain drainage and realignment improvements. This project is intended to be the first in a series of major bike/hike trail rehabilitation projects, starting with parks experiencing the highest use and determined to have the greatest need for safety improvements. Total Cost Estimate: $660,470 LCMR Projects -2- 1/20/94 Site Selection and Design of Regional Residential Environmental Education Center The metropolitan area does not have a public residential center for environmental education. Both the E.E.C. 2000 Study of Environmental Education Centers and the Minnesota Environmental Education Plan identify the need for such a facility within the metro area. This proposed project grant would fund a consultant to work with Hennepin Parks staff to conduct an evaluation study to select an optimum site with a Park Reserve and then working with representatives of the educational and interpretive communities, prepare the program/concept and design development plans for sitework and architecture for the regional residential environmental education facility. Development funding would be requested in future LCMR Project cycles. The site plan would be developed in consideration of state of the art knowledge of universal design concepts and incorporate resource conservation technology within the facility design. The residential environmental center would be available to serve schools and groups from the metro area and around the state. The reduction in travel time and transportation costs would make overnight outdoor education experiences more accessible to many school children. Total Cost Estimate: $48,000 Study Grant for LRT/Scott Regional Trail and State DNR Minnesota Valley Trail Connection The south corridor of the LRT Regional Trail passes within one mile of the junction of the Scott Regional Trail and the State Minnesota Valley Trail. Unfortunately, this direct and important connection is dependent on using, for trail purposes, the causeway and bridge that carry U.S. 169 across the Minnesota River and flood plain. With the opening of the "mini -bypass" bridge (on present U.S. 169), the old bridge over the river is available for trail use. The causeway, however, would need to be shared by trail and road uses. The problem is that the trail would be lower than the road and even the road is subject to flooding (as in the summer of 1993). Despite these obstacles, the trail connection is important. The connection would immediately link over 20 miles of the Minnesota Valley Trail (Belle Plaine to Shakopee) to 11 miles of the LRT (Hopkins to Chaska). Upon completion of the Scott Regional Trail to Shakopee, an additional 13 miles (including three regional parks and the City of Prior Lake) would be added. With a short connection from Hopkins to Minneapolis, the entire city of Minneapolis Trail system would be available. With further connections to be implemented in 1994, the connection would provide a trail from Belle Plaine to the end of the Gateway Trail, a trail almost 100 miles in length. The study would focus on four aspects of the trail connection: 1. How often would the connector trail be flooded at various elevations on the causeway? 2. What is the probability of building a trail on the road causeway, given safety and flooding considerations? LCMR Projects - 3 - 1/20/94 3. Aside from loss of trail use (during flooding and cleanup), what are the impacts of flooding on a trail? This would involve consideration of special construction requirements to lessen flood damage and surveying existing trails that flood periodically. 4. What are the costs of establishing a trail that would be compatible with the roadway, the flooding and the flood plain/wetland complex? Total Cost Estimate: $25,000 Baker Park Reserve Campground Rehabilitation Project Baker Park Reserve's overnight campground was developed in 1979-80. This campground has 210 campsites suited for tents, trailers and motorhomes and serves approximately 59,000 visitors annually. The original development provided a main shower/toilet building and three additional toilet buildings spaced out around the main loop. Since the original construction, the Park District has added showers at the west toilet building, electrified two camper loops (27 sites) and completed various planting projects for screening purposes. The campground serves the metropolitan area as well as visitors and is becoming somewhat outdated when measured against park guest expectations. Additional improvements are needed to better meet current service demands, improve sanitation, and facilitate greater user satisfaction. The proposed project grant would fund the improvements including: - Addition of electrical plug -ins for the balance of the interior loop: Sites with electrical plug -ins have been the most requested and heavily used sites in the campground. Most modern campers are requesting the availability of electricity. Operationally, these sites have proven to be advantageous because of the reduction in the use of gasoline powered generators, which create undesirable noise. A total of 97 additional electric sites would be added. - Increase vehicle pad lengths: Some state-of-the-art recreation vehicles have increased in length since the original campground design and construction. To accommodate this trend toward increased recreational vehicle length, several campground spurs will be increased in length or realigned to provide a pull through spur. A total of 5 spurs would be redesigned to accommodate larger RV's. - Improve sanitary facilities: In an effort to reduce disposal of "gray water" throughout the campground area, a 175 sq. ft. centrally located dishwashing facility will be constructed. As part of this LCMR Projects - 4 - 1/20/94 building, a fish cleaning area will be provided to properly dispose of wastes associated with fish cleaning. Total Cost Estimate: $251,522 Installation of Alternative Energy Applications for Public Recreation This project proposes the use of photovoltaic technology and composting toilets to provide improved amenities at three public camping or picnic facilities within Hennepin Parks as an alternative to traditional septic systems which disrupt large areas of soil and vegetation. The project will also provide opportunity for experiential public education regarding alternative energy. The project will be designed to demonstrate that it is economically feasible and environmentally responsible to provide these support amenities at remote sites in natural areas through use of photovoltaic energy, in a manner that does not compromise the scenic resources. The project will also demonstrate that photovoltaic cells are cost effective in remote site applications. Total Cost Estimate: $99,500 A Holistic Approach to Reforestation With Native Species This project would restore to native forest vegetation, a 200+ acre tract of former 'Big Woods" forest in Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, which is currently dominated by monotypic stands of non-native grasses. A multitude of natural and man-made factors can affect reforestation success, necessitating a holistic approach to this project. A wide variety of inter -related techniques will be employed to maximize reforestation success including: • Controlling the impact of whitetail deer through the use of fencing. • Reducing competition from exotic grass vegetation through mechanical and chemical techniques. • Establishing new,native deciduous woodland plant communities through seedling planting, natural and artificial seeding, and tree spade installation of large seed - bearing trees. • Implementing a cooperative effort with municipalities to collect urban leaf waste to be used as a soil amendment and mulch for newly established trees and shrubs. • Developing monitoring systems to make comparisons between the results of the various demonstrated techniques and reforestation efforts on similar but un -fenced sites. Total Cost Estimate: $493,300 Children's Experiential Forest: Growing Up Together Proposed is a youth environmental education project directed at the development and on-going natural resources management of a 100 acre tract of land within a Hennepin Park Reserve with an outdoor education facility. Each year a group of approximately 30 young people will be selected from a diverse cross-section of schools and organizations in the Metro region to participate in a week-long intensive training program, aimed at investigating natural resources management issues, landscape design, and the integration of human activities into the natural environment. \-_Sc— LCMR Projects - 5 - 1/20/94 These "land stewards" will develop a management plan for the property and meet periodically during the year to monitor its implementation. Work projects prescribed by the plan will be conducted by youth groups and school classes that visit Hennepin Parks for environmental education activities. The proposed project is similar to a national youth program conducted by the U.S. Forest service in the San Bernardino National Forest. The projected outcomes of this project are: (1) an out -of -classroom opportunity for young people to accept responsibility for the management of a natural area, (2) a land management plan which will promote environmental education; healthy outdoor recreation opportunities; youth participation; responsible ecosystem management; and utilize universal access design concepts, (3) increased awareness of natural resources management professions. The proposed project grant will fund a project coordinator, recruitment and selection of participants, camping accommodation and food, tools (shovels, soil testing kits, field guides, etc.) and a portion of materials required for work projects during the first two years of the program. Hennepin Parks will provide a 50% match for the cost of erosion control fabric, topsoil, wood chips, fencing material, bare root trees, signs. Total Cost Estimate: $70,000 ms1-1=9596.sum metro VO A Metropolitan Council Publication on Twin Cities Area Issues March 1994 Advancing toward a ,region -wide radio system Two way radio communi- cation has become an indispensable public safety tool for local government. It's used by police, fire fighters, emergency medical services, as well as for,transit and public works jobs such as snow plowing. And the technology available has advanced way beyond Dick Tracy -type walkie-talkies. The Metropolitan Council estimates public safety radio communication to grow by 55 percent in the next 10 years. Unfortu- nately, there's no channel capacity left for growth. All the ultra high frequencies (UHF) and very high frequencies (VHF) have been licensed to users and are not available to local governments needing to upgrade or expand. To make room for growth, the Council and its radio planning committee (made up of local government officials and public safety professionals) are proposing a region -wide system. They call for a phased approach, building on an initial system proposed for the Minnesota Department of Transportation that allows communica- tion across metro area jurisdictions. The Council is asking the legislature to reserve new, 800 -megahertz (MHz) channels provided by the federal govern- ment for shared use by extending a moratorium through June 1995. The Council committee will prepare a system design and develop a governance and financing plan this year for consideration by the 1995 legislature. Construction of the system would begin by June 1996. Local governments with urgent need to expand, such as Minneapolis and Hennepin County, can join the new system as soon as it's established. Other cities can join whenever they need to. As more jurisdictions join, the basic system will grow into an integrated region -wide system. In that system, local governments will retain control over their dispatching. The new system is based on a one-time provision of the new 800 -MHz channels. Under the plan, the channels would be pooled together and shared by all governments, along with towers and other equipment. This option would save money for local governments, which would no longer need to maintain their separate, overlapping and often incompatible systems. Jim Martin Twaway radio communication between jurisdictions Is one benefit of a proposed regliweMde public safety radio system. Trucks, trains and big containers Pressure is building to move goods in and out of the Twin Cities area more efficiently. A fast-growing new method is to transfer large, standardized containers of goods among trucks, trains and ocean- going ships. This "intermodal" freight is currently handled at two rail/truck intermodal terminals in the Twin Cities, one in St. Paul's Midway area and the other in northeast Minneapolis. The St. Paul terminal is approaching full capacity. A unique public-private partnership was formed last year to study regional intermodal capacity needs and related issues. The partnership includes the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and intermodal rail freight service providers, Burlington Northern and CP Rail Systems. The study will identify terminal capacity, size and location criteria. The coordinating group will recommend strategies to provide capacity to meet the needs of businesses and support the region's growing economy. This summer the group will be seeking information from interests affected by the service, such as neighborhood groups. The study is expected to be completed this fail, when a public meeting on the findings will be held. Jim Martin An accelerated program to separate combined storm and sanitary sewers in the Twin Cities is on schedule and having a positive impact on water quality in the Mississippi River. The eight year4ong separation program has resulted in an 80 percent reduction in the volume of sewage and storm water overflow entering the river compared With the amount of overflow in 1986, when the construction began. At that time, an estimated 4.6 billion gallons of untreated sewage and storm water entered the river annually. Test results now show a sharp drop in fecal coliform bacteria counts in the river, compared with monitoring data from before the start of the separation program. Monitoring stations at the Ford Dam in St. Paul show an average drop from 911 parts per 100 milliliters to 234, a drop from 746 to 277 at Robert St. in St. Paul, and from 338 to 174 at Grey Cloud Island near Hastings. The separation program is the most likely reason for the dramatic reduction. Under the program, Minneapolis, St. Paul and South St. Paul have been replacing old sewer pipes that carried both sewage and storm water. Normally, excess flow from the old pipes went to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant. But the pipes weren't large enough to handle the combined flow after storms or snow melt, so the excess flow was discharged into the river. The entire separation program, mandated by Minnesota law, is to be completed in 1995. In addition to the cities'separation program, the Metropoli- tan Waste Control Commission con- structed new regional interceptor sewers to complement city programs. To date, some $219 million has been spent on the separation. Of this amount, $114.7 million has been paid by the three cities, $31.2 million came from the federal government, and $73.5 million from the state of Minnesota. Ford Dam RobE The graph shows the dram fecal coftrM count (parts. � toga--tae5 1986-1992 )er 100 riMiters) of a Mississippi River. About $62 million is needed to complete the program. The legislature has provided $11 million for 1994 construction projects. A state appropriation of $20 million is being requested for 1995 construction. The cities will pay the remainder. The Metro- politan Council was among the early advocates for the program. A free copy of Separating Combined Sewers: Annual Progress Report Year Eight is available by calling the Metropolitan Council Data Center at 291-8140. Ken Reddick =S6— Metropolitan Council Twin Cities emerging from 'Upper Midwest isolation' The Twin Cities is emerging from life as 'an economic and cultural island in the Upper Midwest" and entering a larger, more complex and less innocent world. University of Minnesota teachers John Adams and Barbara VanDrasek describe the metro area as an outstanding place to live, but caution taking the region's good life for granted. 'Twin Citians are loathe to question their 'good life' image, but failure to do so could delay appropriate planning (for the future)," they state. 'The world I grew up in was an economic island," Adams said. "Many metro area residents had family roots to Minnesota farms and businesses. In the 1960s, for example, the business leadership downtown—bankers, financial people, merchants, Daytons and Donaldsons retailers—they all had ties to the Upper Midwest. The metro area was run by home-grown folks who believed 'this is our place, we own it, we run it and we have responsibility to care for it," he added. That home-grown leadership is fading, VanDrasek said. In the last two decades, metro area connections to Greater Minnesota and the Upper Midwest have been loosening while connections to other large metro areas have been strengthening, she said. 'Mobility is higher, there's more through- traffic. If you're transplanted here, you don't have the same sense of ownership," she said. The region also is growing more culturally diverse, with different interest groups and changing population demographics. 'This makes common approaches to solving problems harder to find. There's an extra need to coordinate everyone in decision-making today," added VanDrasek. Adams said, "There's a sense we're beleaguered today. People feel their backs are to the wall economically, so they often take second jobs." This leaves them little time for membership to service clubs, he said, like the Elks, League of Women Voters, Boy Scouts or Advocating regional economic„ societal and environmental issues and solutions = SC 3 Girl Scouts. 'Their memberships are aging and new members are joining more slowly." People don't see their connection to commu- nity service and civic involvement, he said, leading to a declining sense of citizenship. VanDrasek said many who live outside the central cities "don't see how their fate is tied to the central cities." Adams added that people who leapfrog outside the seven -county area to rive "feel it's natural to drive in to the cities for work." Acknowledging that looking out for themselves is important, he said commuters from outside the Twin Cities illustrate a lack of social contract or a "sense that benefits imply costs." Adams also expressed concern about the extent of "unfair subsidies to suburban extensions at the expense of inner-city areas." He said "one billion dollars a year in housing subsidies go to people in the metro area's top half of the income and wealth range." The subsidies come in the form of tax deductions, tax shelters, banking and lending practices, and who pays for new infrastructure on the expanding fringe of the region, he said. With less working capital, "Central cities and first -ring suburbs frantically try to balance their financial books in ways that work at cross purposes to the region as a whole." Adams said central cities try to "expand their tax base with commercial development when we're overloaded with it," and by spending public dollars on downtown build- ings. Those dollars could be used more effectively on public education for young people or better public infrastructure, he said. "There's no need for government to build a downtown office building. When business needs it, business will build IL" "One thing people should know," VanDrasek added, "is that this is still a pretty good place to live." Jim Martin John Adams and Barbara VanDrasek coauthored Minneapo- WL Paul. People Place and Public Life, published last fall. Adams is professor of geography, planning and public affairs. VanDrasek is a doctoral candidate and geography instructor. Both teach at the University of Minnesota. Coming up... The Regional Blueprint is the Metropolitan Council's proposed plan to strengthen and improve the liveability of the metro area by targeting economic growth and land use development. The draft plan will be the subject of numerous informational meetings in March and April, culminating in a public hearing Thursday, May 19, 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers. The hearing will be continued Friday, May 20, at 9 a.m. In April the Council will hold a Blueprint forum for private sector and government staff and several informational open houses at locations throughout the region to discuss the plan and receive comments. If you belong to a group interested in co -hosting an open house, or for more information, call the Blueprint Information Line, 291-6611, starting March 25. For a copy of the document, see "FYI -New Publications," this page. A grant program to reduce and prevent "nonpoint" pollution to the region's major riven will be the subject of an information meeting Thursday, April 7, at 9 a.m, in the Metropolitan Council offices. See story page 4. "Minnesota Water 194,1v a conference on managing Minnesota's rivers and watersheds, will be held April 21 and 22 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The event is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Research Center in cooperation with the Metropoli- tan Council and other water management and research agencies and organizations statewide. For more information, call the water research center at 6249282. E 4 New grant program aims to reduce river pollution Water runoff containing pollutants such as fertilizers„ pesticides and oil from streets and parking lots is a major cause of pollution In metro area rivers and takes. The Metropolitan Council seeks to reduce this "nonpoint-source pollution' through a new grant program, the Twin Cities Water Quality Initiative. Projects to reduce and prevent nonpoint pollution to the Mississippi, St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers in the metro area will be eligible for up to $100,000 annually. Partnerships for affordable housing The Metropolitan Council is developing three demonstration partnerships this year to expand affordable housing in the Twin Cities area. Moving to Opportunity. The Council will join with local and federal government to provide comprehensive counseling services to help 100 families relocate from areas of concentrated poverty to suburban locations, with a support network in place. Metro Partnership for Affordable Housing. To expand affordable rental housing in the suburbs, the Council will collaborate with the Minnesota Housing Partnership and Multi -MAC, a nonprofit service organization of the Minnesota Mortgage Banken Association. The partnership will offer more housing choice for families with low or moderate A PJAadw of the Metropolitan Council March 19% The Metro Voiaereports mond*onactividesof the Whopokan Couixg and issues of regior W interest. For more Irdormadon, ail the Data Center at (612) 291-8140, or 291-0904 (TDD). The Council conducts tongrange plarugng and research for the Twin Ciba metro area, coordl- nates regional planning among local govem menta and metro agendes, and m8aborates' axitical regional problems. sectors lo solving Metropolitan Council, Mears Park Centre, 230 E Fdth5t.5L Pau(, MN 55101. Tekphone (612)', 291-6359, or 2914)904 (TD4 b adWe Director, Ridhard Johnson; Director of Cormunications, Judy Hohmann; Editor, Jim Martin; Graphic Designer, Cliff Burns. A total of $10 million will be made available over five years. The Metropolitan Waste Control Commission is funding the program through its normal charges to cities for sewer use. Eligible applicants include federal, county and city government; soil and water conservation districts; watershed management organizations; public schools; and trade and professional organizations. Projects could include such activities as wetland restoration, creating incomes, and services to help families become self-sufficient. Plans are to acquire and rehabilitate up to 250 single-family suburban homes. Rehabilitated homes would provide one to four dwelling units each for rent to families over the next three years. Housing -jobs -Transportation Link -Up. The Council will form a public-private partnership linking providers of job development and placement services, transportation, affordable housing and others to help people commute from their homes in the central cities to jobs in the developing suburbs. The Council will work with geographic clusters of employers interested in participating in reverse - commute transit. '' leanne Landkamer Practices such as contour plowing on farms and controlling runoff from urban construction sites are among the goals of a Metropolitan Council grant program to reduce pollution to rivers and streams. buffer zones between farm fields and rivers and lakes, and public education. The Council will hold an informational meeting on the program Thursday, April 7, at 9 a.m. in the Council offices, 230 E. Fifth SL, downtown St. Paul. To register, or for more information, call Patti Holmes of the Council staff at 291-6401 or (TDD users) 291-0904. Application materials are available from the Council's Data Center by calling 291-8140. The application deadline for the first round of grants is Friday, May 13. Jeanne Landkamer Metropolitan Council Bulk Rate Mears Park Centre U.S. Postage 230 East Fifth Street PAID SL Paul, Minnesota 55101-1634d • s Mpls., MN ;� rl Permit No. 1610 (Address Correction Requested) FRANK BOYLES ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER 5),J4,' 0 CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BLVD .� PLYMOUTH Mn 55447-1448 c9 r � t rut ti 1`h. Vnw-o k nrintM %with vroPtahl"asnrl ink- on rw rlwl nary rontaininv at tract 10% nostconuimer narwr fifers. = S (zL_ JJ © 1 — jVjj �1nJ . r � 1OR March 1994 VOLUME XIII NUMBER 1 "I" 1&? " 11"?' 1&? ? 14? "7 1&? %? 'I " " 11�? "1 " Third Annual Flower Sale The Plymouth Historical Society is planning their Third Annual Flower Sale to raise money. Enclosed you will find the bright blue flyer and form. This is M order a great opportunity to make your spring flower shopping a breeze. Complete the order form and send it in by April 18th along with your check. Plymouth Historical Society Don't wait -- place your order now to enjoy your April 24th pr flowers flowers this spring and all summer long. 1-, The program will be presented by Ann Theis, owner of The Stained Glass Shoppe. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stained Glass We have openings for two more on the Board of "A History Lesson with Hands-on"`. Directors. If anyone has an interest in Plymouth's history and it's preservation, please Please see the attached flyer for more contact any one of the Board Members. details. The following is the present Board of Directors: The schedule is as follows: Name Telephone Term Sharon Anderson 475-1974 1991-1994 • A short business meeting at 1:15 with election of new Board of Directors who Ben G. Broman 559-5721 1991-1994 Alberta Casey 559-9366 1993-1996 are u for re-election. p Vern Doseth 559-3777 1992-1995 Myrtle Eckes 545-6168 1993-1996 Program at 1:30 p.m. Edith Hopperstad 473-3427 1993-1996 Joyce McCaughey 544-2656 1993-1996 Vern Peterson 559-2317 1992-1995 Barb Rasmussen 533-8444 1991-1994 Gary Schiebe 473-4889 1993-1996 Harvey Schiebe 545-6127 1993-1996 Adeline Schmidt 559-2459 1991-1994 Mable Swanson 545-7705 1991-1994 Elmhurst If you wanted to catch a train to Elmhurst from Minneapolis, you had your choice of arrival times of 7:05 a.m., 10:55 a.m. and 6:55 p.m. This branch line saw three trains a day and they turned off at Elmhurst Junction. Do you know where Elmhurst Station was located? The first person to call 473-4889 with the correct answer will win a Plymouth Historical Mug. "WANTED weavers quitters wood carvers..... 0 • Donation of picture framing services for numerous unframed pictures at the Society. • Two more people to be on the Board of Directors. • Donation of upholstery services for a large rocking chair and ottoman. • Membership dues for 1994. • Weavers and quilters for History Festival on Sunday, September 18th. • Other demonstration events such as butter churning, wood carving, etc. that would fit in with a Plymouth History Festival tt�en-e. OFFICERS The following are the present officers: President Gary Schiebe 473-4889 Vice President Ben G. Broman 559-5721 Secretary Sharon Anderson 475-1974 Treasurer Harvey Schiebe 545-6127 To find out you will have to look at the Electric Short Line Railway (Luce Electric Lines) brochure and time table. It has been enlarged and framed with the brochure, promoting the wonders of Plymouth with its lakes, picnic grounds, boating and dance hall. History Festival and Antique Auto Show On September 17 and 18th, there will be a Plymouth History Festival and Antique Car Show at the Plymouth Historical Building and Plymouth Creek Park. So mark your calendars and watch for future flyers! MAILING AND MEMBERSHIP LIST :j Attention!! For all those who have forgot and not paid their 1994 dues (due by April 1st), we have included a1994 Membership Dues Form. Please send in the form or if you have any questions, please call Alberta Casey, 559- 9366. The annual dues are: Individual $5.00 Family $7.50 Lifetime $100.00 FAMILY HISTORIES The Plymouth Historical Society has quite a few family histories on file. We welcome people to come and look at them, which may help you trace family roots. The following is a copy (as written including spelling and grammatical errors) of one of the histories on file. Francis Asbury Clay was born in Augusta, Maine in 1829. His father Jonothan was born in Maine and was of English descent. His mother's name was Drucilla and little is known about her. In 1851 Jonothan, then a widower, came to Minnesota Territory with his son, Francis, his daughter-in-law and a small grandson, Edwin. They traveled from Maine to St. Louis, and then up the Mississippi to either St. Paul or St. Anthony. Whether they came directly to Plymouth Township or not cannot be definitely stated, but on September 1, 1854 Jonothan went to Forest City where ali others of Plymouth registered and pur- chased their land. Jonothan purchased the E 1/2 of S.E. 1/4 and Lot 8 of Section 32, consisting of 111.17 acres. This land was registered for his son, Francis, although the registration was in the name of Jonothan. Later, on September 1, 1857, he again traveled to Forest City and registered and purchased for his daughter, Rachel Reynolds, the S.W. 1/4 of S.W. 1/4 of Section 33, 40 acres. This was also transacted in his own name. His daughter and husband arrived later than her father and brother and no reference was every made of her living on this land. It is known that later, she and her husband went to live in the vicinity of Albert Lea, where later her father joined her and died. Francis & Matilda Clay In all events, Francis Clay and his father were one of the very first settlers in the township and built a log home amid beautiful maple trees not far from Gleason Lake. They sent for Phoebe Greer, Matilda Greer Clay's mother. Phoebe was the wife of James Greer who was born at Perth Scotland on March 4, 1801, migrated to Maine, meeting Phoebe who was born at Wayne, Maine, marrying her and in his work at sea met his death. Phoebe was born October 12, 1792. Daniel Thompson, a friend of Francis Clay, was paid Phoebe's transportation and went to Maine from Minnesota, to bring her back with him and, of course, to transact personal business. Mr. Thompson was long in returning but arrived in time with Mrs. Greer to allow Mrs. Greer the honor of officiating at the birth of twin sons to Francis Clay and wife, Matilda, on December 25, 1855. It must have been a very happy household. Phoebe evidently was a very independent soul, as she lived alone in a log cabin in the back of the one occupied by Francis Clay's family. She had a nice stove, a spin- ning wheel and other necessary furniture. She took her meals with the Clay family and spent her time in her own house where she carded wool, spun and knit. She could knit and read at the same time according to the comments of Laura Howe Carpenter, daughter of Jonas Hose. She would visit them at intervals to help them with their spinning and weaving. They lent her books and Phoebe would tell them tall stories of her early childhood which the Howe children loved. Phoebe was worshipped by her grandson, Charles, Blanche Rosing's father. One can picture Phoebe in front of her little stove with the door of the stove open to throw more light upon her knitting and tell her grandchildren sto- ries, for that is what she actually did. Her Bible evidently brought her much comfort as she was profoundly interest- ed in reading it. Mrs. Greer's daughter, Matilda Clay, was well educated as evidenced by her being a teacher in School Number 48. It is said that she rowed her three small sons over Parker's Lake and in all possibility, it might have been Gleason Lake as the later was nearer the school and to her home. The school according to 92 -year old Wm. Varner (1953) of Golden Valley, and a life long friend of Charles Clay, was on the present 6th Avenue North right west of the land on which the Minneapolis Work House Superintendent's home is located. Mr. Varner said there was a store there owned and operated by Mr. Logan and the school was a short dis- tance went of that on a little knoll. Regardless, Mrs. Clay, could have rowed, as the lake must have been open, as school for small children was almost always in the spring. Francis Clay was well educated also and was a staunch Democrat and a good Methodist. He was Justice of Peace, elected at the meeting of the first official town meeting in 1858. He was Road Overseerer in District 8' and 9 different years. Not only was he of firm political and religious beliefs, he was a patriot. At the first call for enlist- ments for the Civil War in 1863, he volunteered for service immediately as did seven others of the township. The records of the Plymouth Township Minutes of their meet- ings show that in 1863, he and other men were paid the magnificent sum of $25 as a bounty for enlisting. He was discharged from the Army August 19, 1865, broken in health due to malaria and asthma contracted in the service. Matilda Clay, during the war period, assumed the position as post mistress at the South Plymouth Post Office which was at her home. This was established in 1862 and dis- continued in 1864 when the post office was re-established at Wayzata. It must have been a pleasant occupation for her, as people had to collect their mail and their coming and going must have broken the monotony while her hus- band was at war. Good times were in evidence also, as references were made in newspaper clippings of celebrations on the Fourth of July. In "Old Fence Rail Corners" and in the Howe Memoirs references were made of events such as picnics, barn dances, visits and other good times. Clay's name was mentioned quite a few times. Matilda often told her children of her writing back home to relatives or friends of having gone to a ball in a coach and four. What she did not tell them was that the coach was a bob sled and the team of four, her husband and three other young men who pulled it with her. An item in the book, "Old Fence Rail Comers" mentions a Mrs. French and neighbor from Long Lake. They were traveling to Minneapolis by oxen with Mr. French and stopping at Clay's overnight and continuing onto Minneapolis the next day, returning and spending another night at the Clay's. There must have been many travelers doing likewise as they were in a direct line of trav- el and were extremely hospitable. In 1875 the Clay farm was purchased by Mr. Ottoway, who had been Superintendent of the King Farm in Minneapolis. Mr. Clay, broken in health, moved to Minneapolis with his family and lived between Second and Third Avenues South on Washington. There Mrs. Clay took in boarders and Francis worked at Dean's Sawmill which was located where Basset Creek empties into the Mississippi. From this residence, they moved to Third Street between Second and Third Avenues south. While there, Mrs. Clay started an Employment Office on Fourth Street where the Globe Building now stands, between Hennepin and Nicollet. The site of the office was owned by Wm. Varner, father of the Wm. Varner now living in Golden Valley (1953). From there Mrs. Clay had her business on Third Avenue South between Third and Fourth Streets. The Clay's then built a home on Emerson Avenue North between Eighth and Eleventh Avenues. Francis Clay died in Minneapolis in 1913 and his wife, Matilda, at Winona in 1916. Phoebe Greer, Matilda's moth- er died in Minneapolis in 1885 at the age of 93. The chil- dren of Francis and Matilda were Edwin, born in Maine in 1849, married to Nellie Brown and lived in Minneapolis where he died. Henry and Homer, twins, born December 25, 1855 at Plymouth Township, with Henry dying in 1871 at his home and Homer, marrying Rebecca Ray and dying April 6, 1927. Mary was born in Plymouth in 1858 and died there in 1873. Chas. Asbury Clay, father of Louella and Blanche Rosing, was born in Plymouth on September 10, 1861, married Anna Williams of Minneapolis on November 20, 1883 and passed away November 18, 1934. Bertie was born in Plymouth in 1867 and died in Minneapolis in 1879. Abbey Louella was born in Plymouth March 29, 1873, married Dr. Edwin Muir in 1893 and passed away January20, 1935. Francis Clay and wife, Matilda, and chil- dren, Henry, Mary, Bertie, Charles and his wife, Anna, and Phoebe Greer are all buried at Parker's Lake Cemetery, Plymouth Township. Upon making a map of Minnetonka Township in 1954, 1 came upon some information about Francis Clay which was unknown until then. This map is of the first abstract of lands such as made of Plymouth Township. Francis Clay, purchased by cash the following: October 10, 1855, Entry # 592, N.E. 1/4 of N.E. 1/4, Lot #5, S.E. 1/4 of N.E. 1/4 and Lot #4 consisting of 146.93 acres. This land joined the Jonothan Clay farm on the south. The N.E. 40 of Francis Clay's land lay directly south of and joined the S.W. 40 of Jonothan Clay's land. Mr. Wm. Varner's description of the location of the Francis Clay home, just on the bank of the small lake in Minnetonka Township and on the north, the road which lead to St. Anthony, lay the Francis Clay home. The home the Ottoway's purchased on the Jonothan Clay's original land was not the Clay home because it was built after the Clay's moved to Minneapolis. Francis Clay evi- dently had his home in Minnetonka Township and farmed the Jonothan Clay land in Plymouth. The Francis Clay land as of today has never been farming land to any extent and in all probability the Jonothan Clay land became Francis's after Jonothan's death or maybe before. -. r j A wl t:la, r PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY _TOWN HALL -BUILT 1885 IF L Q W E R Plymouth Historical Society's Third Annual Flower Sale is underway. This year it will be the Tuesday after Mother's Day. A great opportunity to order your spring flowers. Attached you will find an order form so you may order. Please make checks payable to: Plymouth Historical Society And include it with your order. Orders may be mailed anytime between now and no later than Monday April 18, 1994. Mail To: B. G. Broman 4055 Glacier Ln. N. Plymouth, MINI 55446-2721 You may pick up your order Tuesday May 10, 1994 at 3605 Fernbrook Ln. N. (Old Town Hall). Anytime between 9:OOam until 8:00 pm. Additional flowers will be available for purchase also. We hope you again will enjoy the convenience of ordering your spring flowers through the Plymouth Historical Society and letting it benefit from something you would purchase anyway. Please help is needed. If you could help for an hour or more, or if you have any question, PLEASE CALL. Ben G. or Ruth A. Broman at 559-5721 Please _ �` Flower Committee: T^' � keep this ='~ j =_�,\- Ben G. Broman letter asIF— \ �_ = Vern C. Dotseth your reminder. Third Annual PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, FLOWER SALE - 1994 = � � Name Last First Otv. HANGING BASKETS - 10 inch Price BRIDAL VEIL ........... ......$14.00 IMPATIEN Rose.....................$14.00 Pink .....................$14.00 Red ............ .......$14.00 Salmon .... ................$14.00 IVY GERANIUMS Red ................$14.00 Pink_ ................$14.00 Lavender ................$14.00 FUSHIA Swing time (Red/White) ......... $14.00 Dark Eyes_(Purple/Red)........ $14.00 PATIO GERANIUM 10" Tub; ...... $14.00 TOTAL x $14.00 $ GERANIUMS 41" Pot Red ............$ 2.25 Pink ............$ 2.25 White ............$ 2.25 Salmon ............$ 2.25 SPIKES 4" Pot.. ...........$ 2.25 SPRENGERI FERN 4�" Pot ....... $ 2.25 VINCA VINE 4" Pot ............ $ 2.25 TOTAL x $ 2.25 $ VEGETABLES - 31" Po!- PEPPER o= PEPPER (Sweet Bell) .......... $ 1.25 TOMATOES Better Boy .................$ 1.25 Red Cherry .................$ 1.25 TOTAL x $ 1.25 $ TOTAL Column 1 $ TOTAL Column 2 $ TOTAL OF ORDER $ j%ke Checks Payable To: Plymouth Historical Society BUYER Address Phone # FLOWERS FOR SHADE(4 plants per pack) Otv. BEGONIA Price Red .........................$ 1.25 Pink .:......................$ 1.25 Mixed.........................5 1.25 COLEUS MIX .......................$ 1.25 IMPATIENS Orange.......................$ 1.25 Red .......................$ 1.25 White .......................$ 1.25 Pink .......................$ 1.25 Salmon .......................$ 1.25 Mixed ............. ....$ 1.25 PANSIES-mixed,partial sun .....$ 1.25 TOTAL x $ 1.25 $ FLOWERS FOR SUN(6 plants per pack) PETUNIAS Red (for beds) ................$ 1.25 Red Cascade (trailing) ........ $ 1.25 White (for beds) ---o ........ $ 1.25 White Cascade (trailing) ...... $ 1.25 Dark Blue .....................$ 1.25 Sugar Daddy ...................$ 1.2`. Pink Magic .....................$ 1.25 Pink Cascade (trailing) ....... $ 1.25 SALVIA (red) Short .....................$ 1.25 Tall ....................$ 1.25 SNAPDRAGONS Rocket Mix (tall) .............$ 1.25 Floral Carpet (mix dwarf) ..... $ 1.25 TOTAL x S 1.25 $ FLO14ERS FOR SUN(6 plants per pack) AGERATUM - border ...............$ 1.25 ALYSSUM - border, white ......... $ 1.25 ALYSSUM- border, purple ........ .$ 1.25 DIANTHUS Wee Willie .............$ 1.25 DUSTY MILLER!.- ................$ 1.25 MOSS ROSE .......................$ 1.25 MARIGOLD Dwarf Mix .....................$ 1.25 Dwarf -Yellow ..................$ 1.25 Dwarf Orange ..................$ 1.25 Dwarf Flame Bi -color ........ ..$ 1.25 *Note: Good in shade or sun TOTAL TOTAL �� r1 Dear Member: TYOM 1 I This is a reminder that your 1994 Annual PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dues are payable by April 1. We hope you enjoyed the meetings of our Society during the past year, and we thank you in advance for your continued membership and participation. All members and friends are invited to our regular meetings which are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Town Hall at 3605 Fernbrook Lane. Please tear off the lower part of this sheet and send it with your check in the enclosed envelop: If you,iteTize deductions on your income tax forms, you may qualify for a Yours truly, Alberta Casey, Memberships, 559-9366 2740 Larch Lane Plymouth, MN 55441 I'QV - ------------------------------------------------------- Name Address City State Zip Telephone No. �I am interested in helping with: Cataloging 0 Preservation � Collecting art -facts Programs for meetings Interviews for oral history Other ID Annual Dues: Individual $5.00 Family $7.50 Lifetime $100.00 March 30, 1994 Mr. Dwight Johnson, City Manager City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Dear Mr. Johnson: This has reference to a letter you recently received from Mr. Sigmund Fine, Administrator, Adult Corrections of Hennepin County. We were referred to in that letter as having talked with Mr. Fine regarding use of the old Women's Section for administration and training purposes for the next several years. Mr. Fine did contact us and I believe that was at the suggestion of former Mayor Bergman. Mr. Fine's description of our conversation is basically correct, however, we would like to make sure there is no miscommunication by clarifying the following: --we do not recall discussing 900 employees for training purposes. Although this number appears large we presume it's managed over a reasonable time frame. --this use of the old Women's Section for administration and training would be temporary until the new contemplated Program and Services facility has been added to the Men's Section. At that time the old Women's Section would then be demolished. --in our opinion, allowing use of the old Women's Section for the purpose contemplated and as set out by Mr. Fine in his March 21, 1994 letter should not result in expansion as long as the old Women's Section is demolished upon completion of the Program and Services building. We feel our City Officials should ensure that this temporary use does not become permanent or jeopardize current approved zoning That zoning now restricts all future expansion of population and allows facilities to be increased only by the future Program and Services building In light of Mr. Fine's letter and your conversation with him we felt it important to further clarify discussions we have had. We believe Mr. Fine would agree with the above as he has been very open and straight in our discussions. Sincerely, GregX2ohnert Bruce Johnson 845 Ranchview Lane 820 Shenandoah Lane Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 cc: Mayor Joy Tierney James M. Bourey, County Administrator Sigmund Fine GST Y O,� 4401 Xylon Avenue North Telephone: 612-531-5100 New Hope, Minnesota 55428-4898 TDD Line: 612-531-5109 2c� 40 ly H O March 25, 1994 Dwight Johnson, City Manager City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Road Plymouth, MN 55447 Re: 36th Avenue Street Improvements (Improvement Project 437) Dear Dwight: _I—i U 0 City Hall Fax: #612-531-5136 Police Fax: #612-531-5174 Public Works Fax: #612-533-7650 On February 28, 1994, my staff and I presented a feasibility report to our City Council for 36th Avenue Street Improvements (Winnetka Avenue to Louisiana Avenue). We have been working for some time to properly identify all the issues for this project that are listed below: *Railroad bridge reconstruction eNorthwood Lake outflow improvements •Open channel improvements - City of Crystal (Louisiana to Hampshire Avenue) *Reduce flooding - Winnetka/36th Avenue intersection *Sanitary sewer revision at Maryland Avenue (New Hope to Crystal) *Add turn lanes in 36th Avenue at Winnetka On March 16, 1994, our staff met with City Engineers' Bill Monk (City of Crystal) and Fred Moore (City of Plymouth) to present and discuss our feasibility report for this project. The City of New Hope is very anxious to proceed with this project. We understand the proposed construction and cost sharing will require approval from your City if you participate as proposed in the feasibility report. I would appreciate if you would take the time to review the project with your city engineer and call me with your thoughts. We are anxious to keep this project moving and discuss those issues which you may have at a staff level. I,would hope to have your comments by April 5. Sincerely, Daniel onahue City Manager t.= �n Family Styled Cityvl�p For Family Living CITY OF PLYMOUTR March 25, 1994 Mr. Jon Parker DNR Urban Wildlife Specialist DNR Metro Headquarters 1200 Warner Road St. Paul, MN 55106 Dear Mr. Warner: =. o C. City Manager Dwight Johnson received your letter dated March 11, 1994 regarding urban deer control. As these areas are handled in the Public Safety Department, your letter was referred to my attention. As you noted in your letter, you have been in contact with Barbara Cox, Technical Services Supervisor, from my office. She will continue to be the contact for the City of Plymouth on these matters. Currently, we have a limited bow hunting area within the City and we also received a special permit to eliminate some deer in one specific area of the City during 1994. We have also done yearly aerial surveys of the area. We have had some conversations and sharing of ideas with individuals from Maple Grove and Minnetonka on deer control, however, no regular meetings. We would be interested in the educational opportunities you mentioned and any assistance you could offer. Ms Cox can be reached at (612) 550- 5165. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Craig . Gerdes Director of Public Safety PLYMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT be We Listen • We Solve - We Care 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000 -LL- DEPARTMENT L� C� STATE OF �]HLp.ZO7Q DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PHONENO. 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN 55106 (612) 772-7981 March 21, 1994 City Hall - Plymouth Manager Dwight D. Johnson 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Dear Mr. Johnsons FILE NO. ""- 7 � .i1.i Following up on my letter of March 11 requesting your input on city deer management. I want to give you an address to which to write (our address was on the envelope but not in the letter). Please respond to me: Jon Parker DNR Urban Wildlife Specialist DNR Metro Headquarters 1200 Warner Road St. Paul, MN 55106 Again, my phone number is 612-772-7981. your interest. Sincerely, Jon Parker DNR Urban Wildlife Specialist AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Thank you for tKSTATE OF [`1 LE 0OltQ DEPARTMENT PHONE NO. (612) 772-7981 March 11, 1994 OF NATURAL RESOURCES City Hall - Plymouth Manager Dwight D. Johnson 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Dear Mr. Johnson: FILE NO. In an effort to help municipalities effectively manage deer problems, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning to offer educational presentations and technical assistance to local officials on urban deer control. Our f irst step is to canvass municipalities on the status of their educational needs in this regard, and establish local contact persons. Presently, we are in contact with Barbara Cox, Technical Services Supervisor in your city on matters of deer control. If you wish for us proceed, shall we use this person as our contact, or do you wish to direct us to someone else? We would also appreciate your suggestions as to the best way to proceed with educational activities. We would like to group cities into audiences where appropriate --do you have cities with whom you regularly meet, and with whom you might wish to share deer management planning? If so, which cities? We can offer in-person instruction to local officials on deer management; damage abatement workshops for property owners; educational videos and literature; aerial surveys, if funded locally; and analysis of local deer population trends. Our timeline for completing these activities will depend on the volume of response to the offer. We feel it best to be prepared in advance for deer problems, even if your city does not have them currently, particularly in areas closed to hunting. I look forward to hearing from you soon. S' cerel on Parker DNR Urban ?Wildlife Specialist cc: Barbara Cox, Technical Services Supervisor AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER R� C CITY OF March 24, 1994 P[YNOUTR Matt Hirschey 5750 Vicksburg Lane Plymouth, MN 55446 Dear Matt: Thank you for your letter regarding the trail on Vicksburg Lane. I was sorry to hear of the accidental death of your sister. This is a terrible tragedy, and I know that you and your family suffered a great loss. The City's Comprehensive Park and Trail plan does call for a trail to be built on Vicksburg Lane. As you may have noticed on the improved section of Vicksburg between County Road 6 and Old County Road 9, an off-road trail has been constructed on the boulevard area. Unfortunately, north of Old County Road 9 up to County Road 47, Vicksburg Lane has a rural open ditch design. The ditches are used to take the storm water that runs off the road and send it into various holding ponds. For this reason, it isn't practical to build an off-road trail on this section of Vicksburg at this time. It may be possible, however, to pave one or both of the gravel shoulders for an on -road bicycle lane. I have talked to Fred Moore, the City Engineer, and he is going to investigate the feasibility of such an improvement. I will keep you informed of any new developments on this item. Matt, thank you again for writing and bringing this matter to our attention, and if I can be of help in any way, please feel free to call me at 550-5131. Sincerely, Eric J. Blank, Director Parks and Recreation EBlnp cc: City Manager Director of Public Works We Listen • We Solve • We Care 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000 �0 W Nd ►M IT oAAY GctAaC-GAN 1 j<t-CA-1A-1 pC-3 Std (T i� r b a A o Q jCO N r, u LA AJ 6 Trl-a A f . O N V 1 C - CLAN i Y ���d i i' ff ,z jtit TJFiz^.S 6-P Cakes. 7 A- NI 0 V i c- It s I3 yr >z c . .�L T- uz e � � ►� O A A- 7-0 i1--� 5, FL i t}/S `S N�55�� hRT' e- s T-AR\1I—,-- 1,. 5t1/VAL- L rw,.vIz oA25 60 3Y P.-tvLctfi -�7�5 7-, i N 7- tt F S u"A wtE a I9c, ► 1,14Y srs,1; � ?- was tttT- Y A— C �1 ( Q/ a1TH N4 2 1-(fi` Q N 5 i b15 -"z 1-5 PLY -P" O L-47-tF 6L�-7- j v AV, ►�L �� c� u•t /vl A P 1— ]�. C� rzcs LSI 1=.4 b C- IF- IF- AV5Lj;- e-a1ALA- �PLL.A-5 iz �i N�TZ%1 �- r/Z scen/ 57�� L -t P A Y •LIcl r ff , n4 N .5544-,-- MARCH 22, 1994 MAYOR JOYCE TIERNEY AND PLYMOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS, This letter is regarding the City Council meeting on March 21, 1994. Isn't it about time to put to rest the State Audit Report regarding the Plymouth benefits. I know that I am tired of hearing about it and I am sure that alot of the residents of Plymouth feel the same way. LET IT GO,WILL YOU M Sincerely, Patricia Haywar 11414 Highway 55 Plymouth Minnesota 55447 1994 RIDE CHOICE AWARDS PROGRAM March 24, 1994 Dear Employer. You are invited to join the Metropolitan Transit Commission and our Minnesota Rideshare division for a day of commuter information, ideas and fun on May 17, 1994. Aboard the Padelford Riverboats, we will present the 1994 Ride Choice Awards to those who have made notable efforts in providing innovative commuter transportation programs. We are now accepting nominations for these awards. Please use the enclosed Nomination Form to help us recognize outstanding involvement. F.lso enc:cs..V"s a - =:icn form for \x/crk Scss.on fti� :•: e think you w.11 fired particularly inieresting. We will have a panel discussion that features representatives from employers who have Travel Demand Management (TDM) programs. Because many employers have told us that they want more information on how to put together their own program, we've assembled a panel from employers of different types and sizes. They all have one thing in common: a commitment to innovative commuter solutions and success in implementing TDM programs for their employees. If you don't currently have a commuter transportation program, we invite you to learn more about the benefits of implementing a commuter program for your employees. You'll learn about putting a program together and gain ideas from others who have put together successful activities. Even if you already have a TDM program, we urge you to attend. The Work Session will be filled with ideas for other activities that you may want to implement. And it's a great opportunity for you to network with people from other organizations that have programs. The Work Session is followed by a cruise on the Mississippi River while we have our Luncheon and Awards Presentation. The Master of Ceremonies for the event is local comedian Jeff Gerbino. May 17 promises to be a day filled with innovative ideas for commuter transportation solutions. We hope you or a representative from your organization will be able to attend. Sincerely, Michele Levenson TDM Consultant Ju 'th A. Orchard TDM Consultant enc. P.S. Please RSVP before April 15, 1994. r J;; NORTHWEST HENNEPIN March, 1994 To: Policy Makers From: Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL Planning, Research, and Re: Summary of the presentations covered at the 1994 Policy Makers �- �` I l 3 0 1094 The northwest area of Hennepin County has changed a great deal demographically sic 190. T population increased 25.8% (from 235,663 in 1980 to an estimated population of 296,63-1-M-1792). Northwest Hennepin's population is 40% of the suburban Hennepin County area and 28% of the entire Hennepin County area. One of the areas that the Council monitors is the number of people who are living in poverty. Overall, the number of people in poverty in Northwest Hennepin rose 45% from 1979 to 1989. Children are a major concern of Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council. In 1990, 7.5% (1,407) families with children under the age of five lived below the poverty level. The number of families in poverty with pre-school children rose 89% from 1979 to 1989. In addition, in 1990, 33% (2,704) of female headed households with children under 18 lived in poverty. The number is an increase of 77% from 1980. The socioeconomic status of seniors also needs to be monitored to help meet their human services needs. In 1990, 5.7% of all seniors in Northwest Hennepin County lived in poverty. The Northwest Hennepin area is continuing to learn about and work on issues of diversity. People of color made up 5.5% of the total Northwest Hennepin population in 1990. The total minority population ranges from 0.9% of the total population in Hassan to 10.1% of the total population in Brooklyn Park in 1990. However, even though the area is becoming more diverse, there are no people of color serving as mayors, city council members, or city managers in the Northwest Hennepin area and the staffs in the Northwest Hennepin school districts do not reflect the same racial breakdown of the students. When looking at education, the percentage of people age 25 or older that are high school graduates was 90.2% in 1990, compared to 84.6% in 1980. The percentage of people age 25 and older that have a bachelors degree rose to 26.1% in 1990 compared to 21.3% in 1980. As these demographics show, challenges exist as change occurs and this seems to be especially true when considering how plan for human services that will meet the needs of changing populations. Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council views these challenges as a positive way to make communities stronger. The Citizen Recommendations for the 1993-94 Community Social Services Plan (CSSA), developed by the Advisory Commission of Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council, were recently printed in report form. In the report, the Advisory Commission ranked the areas of human service offered by Hennepin County's Community Service Department in order of priority. The rankings went as follows: 1) Family Services; 2) Chemical Health; 3) Child Protection; 4) Services to Seniors; 5) Mental Health; 6) Physical Disabilities; 7) Developmental Disabilities. The needs, recommendations, and ongoing initiatives for each of these areas were outlined by the Commissioners in the report. Other areas of importance were also included such as Transportation, Violence, Affordable Housing, Employment, and Respite Care. BROOKLYN CENTER CORCORAN GOLDEN VALLEY MAPLE GROVE PLYMOUTH BROOKLYN PARK CRYSTAL HANOVER NEW HOPE ROBBINSDALE CHAMPLIN DAYTON HASSAN OSSEO ROGERS 7601 Kentucky Avenue N. • Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 (612) 493-2802 Services The 1993-94 Northwest Hennepin Community Needs Assessment (via a phone survey) is currently being conducted. This year the survey is being done in three stages. Each stage focuses on a different group of cities in the Northwest Hennepin area. The first stage includes Champlin, Maple Grove, and Plymouth. The second stage surveys people from Corcoran, Dayton, Hanover, Hassan, Osseo, and Rogers. Finally, the third stage covers Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and Robbinsdale. The first stage has been completed and the data has been analyzed. The entire project is expected to be complete by this summer when a final report will be prepared. Communities Organizing Opportunities for People (CO-OP) Northwest is a holistic effort to address the housing, human service and jobs and training needs in the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale. The project also involves school districts, area colleges, Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council, social service agencies and members of the community. The effort, coordinated and administered by Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council, involves 125 participants and organizations. A number of unique projects have resulted from this collaborative effort to date. Cultural Diversity is another area of CO-OP Northwest that has had a lot of activity over the past three years. The cultural diversity project is funded by CO-OP Northwest and a grant from the Minneapolis Foundation. Two years ago policy -makers within the five cities came up with visions and strategies for strengthening city and community responses to diversity. Since then department heads and assistant department heads have participated in diversity training and including diversity strategies in department goals and workplans. The next phase of this effort will be a training for front-line employees. In addition, the project will co-sponsor with the Osseo School District, a community performance of Sticks and Stones, by Syl Jones, as well as continue to develop a bias response plan for these communities. The Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) called the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation has been developed to provide affordable housing for low and moderate income residents of Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, New Hope, Brooklyn Park, and Crystal. The CHDO has been awarded $274,100.00 in federal HOME funds through Hennepin County to rehab housing in the five cities and provide homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income residents. The CHDO retained Gary Stout as director on a contract basis to oversee development. The Northwest Community Law Enforcement Project provides jobs and training opportunities to persons of color living in the northwest Hennepin County area working towards their goal of becoming peace officers in their community. Thus far 4 participants have been hired as sworn peace officers in northwest Hennepin. The project has been provided continued funding of $92,095 from Hennepin County in 1994. The cities participating in the project provide matching support as well. The funds are used to provide assistance, support services and wages to project participants. Legislation to provide continued funding for the project, authored by Representative Phil Carruthers of Brooklyn Center, is being considered by the 1994 Legislature. The Human Services Enterprise Zone is a pilot project with the mission of re -designing the human services delivery system in northwest Hennepin County. The project encourages providers to work together to streamline the system so that services are delivered more efficiently in a way that helps recipients overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Much research has already been conducted to identify barriers to coordinating the delivery of human services and strategies to address those barriers. The project is being funded through a $50,000 grant from MHFA. United Way's Success By 6® Northwest addresses the barriers young children between 0 to 6 years of age face. Three committees have been established in order to identify and remove all barriers to early childhood development so all children have the tools to succeed for life. Senator Ember Reichgott Junge of New Hope is the chair of the 110+ volunteer initiative. The project has 3 sub- committees: Public Awareness, Early Childhood Development and Transportation. The Public Awareness committee provides, publicizes and disseminates resources and legislative information and effects changes in public policy through collaboration. The Early Childhood Development Committee identifies and prioritizes gaps in family and children services and responds to needs through collaborative approaches. This committee provided information on the needs of grandparents as primary caregivers and studied the issue of family resource centers. The Transportation Committee has written a final report on the transportation services and barriers in the northwest Hennepin area. Transportation is the largest barrier to accessing social services. The Success By 60 Northwest initiative is also concluding an analysis of city and county zoning and code regulations by creating a matrix of these regulations. This matrix will serve as guidepost for possible changes in current regulations. The Island Communities Project, funded by Community Action for Suburban Hennepin, empowers mobile home park residents at Dayton Park and Maple Hill Estates to make positive changes in their communities by addressing human service, infrastructure, and community needs. Resident initiatives have been successful through collaborative efforts with human service providers, city officials, and park management. Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council and All Parks Alliance for Change work in tandem to provide guidance, resources, and support to residents. 1993 achievements include: increased awareness of park issues by the city governments, increased resident involvement and leadership development, better communication between residents and management, improved linkage of residents to human services, and the development of tangible goals for improving the quality of life at the two parks. The Enhanced Housing Initiative, administered by Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council and funded by the McKnight Foundation, strives to build a more supportive community for residents of the Ridgebrook Apartment complex. The unique partnership involves residents, Steven Scott Management, CEAP, the City of Brooklyn Park, and School District 279. Community organizers work with residents to identify and address common concerns. Due to these efforts, residents are articulating concerns, creating strategies for solutions, and getting to know their neighbors. The project's first year has seen progress towards the goals of neighbor building, self advocacy, and long- term residency. The Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council (NWHHSC) will be administering the northwest suburban Hennepin region's Family Services Collaborative (FSC). The NWHHSC received a one- year planning grant that will end in January of 1995. The FSC is a collaborative between a School District, the County, and a Public Health agency, as well as human service provider, churches and community members. If you would like additional information on any of these initiatives or projects or need data on this community, please contact our office at 493-2802. Thanks. Y Ms. Joy Tierney., Mayor City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mayor Tierney: rt - (_0 ��_ EAST PARKERS LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION 1151 Kingsview In. N. Plymouth, MN 55447 March 28, 1994 On behalf of the membership of East Parkers Lake Improvement Association I would like to thank the City for its cooperation in realizing the goal of treating Parkers Lake for Eurasian water ilfoil (EVZ-1). By working together for the past three years, we have succeeded in being one of only two lakes in the state to receive 'the whole -lake treatment with Sonar (fluridone). This treatment is expected to eradicate FvN from the lake. The City will be spending between $6000 and $9000 of taxpayer money for the treatment. Additionally, the DNR is investing resources to do the test and study the results to determine the advisability of using Sonar in other lakes. It is estimated that.any additional, or re- treatments would not be allowed for at least three years, subsequent to the analysis of the 1994 treatments. Any future treatments would also be more costly due to the cost being partially cowered this year by matching funds from the Hennepin Conservation District. Given the investment being made of taxpayer money and the fact that a EWM fragment as small as one inch can result in reinfestation, it's extremely important that we have a solid launch management plan in place following the treatment, which wAl take place about May lst. We've been working with Eric Blank on a launch monitoring plan combining some volunteer and paid staff hours that would encompass a small curtailing of hours. However, it would still be difficult and expensive to monitor incoming boats at a launch that is open virtually all daylight hours. E.P.L.I.A.'s Board members would welcome the council's input as to what constitutes the best way to invest the tax dollars being spent on this treatment so that the,integrity of the treatment is maintained. The primary question is whether the. public is best served by a policy of a totally open 24 hour -a -day, seven day -a -week launch that is impossible to monitor, or by limiting the open hours of the launch to a manageable (staffable) level. Any consideration the Council can give this matter will be be reached at 473-1590 if you have questions. Sincerely, Marsha Videen, President CC Eric Blank, Park & Recreation Director Shervl. Morri son . WArrl ? rniinni 1 mA.nlwr SHERYL G. MORRISON WARD 2 CITY COUNCILMEMBER 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 Ms. Marsha Videen, President E.P.L.I.A. 1151 Kingsview Lane North Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Marsha: Thank you for your letter about the upcoming meeting. I will plan on attending. I look forward to working with you in the betterment of Plymouth. Please feel free to contact me with any issues you may want to discuss. More specifically, I also agree that the launch hours present a real problem for maintaining the integrity of the EWM treatments. I would like to further discuss the options and proposals with you at your convenience. Since it appears that time is of the essence in this matter, perhaps we should talk sooner rather than later. If any Council action will be required, you should plan to get the item on the agenda soon, as our agenda already appears to be quite full. I will try to reach you this week by phone. Thank you for the special invitation and I commend your association's efforts to make Plymouth a more beautiful place to live. Very o- n SY} 1 G. Mor 'son S GM / s 1 s/ 197009_1 cc: Mr. Erik Blank, Park & Recreation Director Mayor Joy Tierney City Councilmembers Ir