HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 02-23-1995FEBRUARY 23, 1995
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS ....
1. . CITY MEETING SCHEDULE FOR MARCH:
MARCH 7 8:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH 13 7:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING -
Public Safety Training Room
Topic: Discussion of long range financial
and capital improvement plans and funding
for trails and open space programs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH 21 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers
2. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION -- THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 7:30 p.m., Public
Safety Training Room.
3. BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS LUNCHEON -- The Building Division will host its
annual luncheon meeting for builders, contractors and developers on Monday, March 13 at
the Plymouth Holiday Inn. Council members are invited to attend. A copy of the meeting
notice is attached. (M-3)
4. LEAGUE OF NIINNESOTA CITIES -- _1995 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE --
Thursday, March 30. The League's annual Legislative Conference will be held at the
Radisson St. Paul Hotel. A tentative program for the conference is attached. Council
members planning to attend should contact Laurie to be registered. (M-4)
5. METRO MEETINGS ---- The weekly calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Council
and its advisory commissions is attached. (M-5)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MIMO
February 23, 1995
Page 2
6. MEETING CALENDARS - The March meeting calendar is attached. (M-6)
1. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
a. Weekly Building Permit Report for Commercial/Industrial/Public and Use Types.
(I-1)
2. SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION -- Election results for the February 2 District 33B
special primary election is attached. (I-2)
3. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS. ETC.
a. DETD Community, publication of the Minnesota Department of Trade & Economic
Development. (I -3a)
b. Reprint of February 21, 1995 Star Tribune article on the Osseo school redistricting
plan. (I -3b)
c. Reprint of February 21, 1995 Star Tribune editorial concerning the fiscal disparities
law. (I -3c)
4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY - CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter to Brian Knox, 16725 12th Avenue North. Mr. Knox appeared at the last
Plymouth Forum on the issue of access to Gleason Lake. (I-4)
5. MEMOS & CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Letter from James Dern, Minnesota Department of Transportation, advising of the
City's 1995 state aid allotments. (I -5a)
b. Letter from Patricia Wilder, Executive Director, NW Human Services Council,
giving an update on 1995 projects and activities. (I -5b)
c. Letter from Janet Leick, Division Manager, Hennepin County Dept. of Public
Works, on the implementation of a regional county mixed municipal solid waste
hauler licensing program. (I -5c)
d. Memo from Fred Moore regarding additional water treatment required at the Zachary
Treatment Plant. (I -5d)
e. Letter from Maple Grove Mayor Bob Burlingame commenting on the February 13
joint meeting. (I -5e)
Dwight Johnson
City Manager
February 16, 1995
TO: BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS IN PLYMOUTH
FROM: JOE RYAN, PLYMOUTH BUILDING OFFICIAL
You are invited to attend a luncheon meeting with the Plymouth Building Division Staff on Monday,
March 13, 1995 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Plymouth Holiday Inn located at 3000 Harbor Lane
North, Plymouth, MN. Lunch will be provided by the City of Plymouth.
The items for discussion are listed below. If you have any specific questions you would like
addressed, please write it down and return it to the Building Division before March 6, 1995. We will
answer as many questions as time allows. Please RSVP before March 6, 1995 by calling Carlys
Schansberg at 550-5030.
AGENDA
11:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
LUNCH
WELCOME
INTRODUCTION OF STAFF:
EROSION CONTROL POLICY
NEW WETLAND ORDINANCE
ADOPTION OF 1994 STATE BLDG CODE
1995 PROPOSED BUILDING PERMIT
FEE SCHEDULE
QUESTIONS:
ADJOURNMENT:
11:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
JOY TIERNEY, MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH
JOE RYAN, BUILDING OFFICIAL
JOE RYAN, BUILDING OFFICIAL
DON MUNSON, ASST BUILDING OFFICIAL
DON MUNSON, ASST BUILDING OFFICIAL
JOE RYAN, BUILDING OFFICIAL
1:00 P.M.
We Listen • We Solve • We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 - TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
Plan to attend the...
League of Minnesota Cities '
League of Minnesota Cities
rr
1995
Legislative
Conference
Thursday, March 30
Radisson St. Paul Hotel
11 East Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55101
Tentative Program
9:15 a.m. President's message
9:30 a.m. State revenues, the Governor's budget, and cities
Will 1995 be a landmark year for city finances?
10:30 a.m. In-depth discussion of legislative events
11:30 a.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Briefing on legislative issues
League staff will brief you on the most important issues to discuss with your legislators
2:00 p.m. Meet with your legislator at the State Capitol (transportation furnished)
Schedule a time in advance or contact Andrea Atherton at the League to help set
a meeting with your legislator.
Page 6 LMC Cities Bulletin
1995 Legislative Conference
Thursday, March 30
Radisson St. Paul Hotel
1995 Legislative Conference Registration Form
City
Name
Title
Name
Title
Name
Title
(Please print or type)
Registration fee: Member city officials —F-1 advance $30 Non members — ❑advance $45
❑ onsite $45 ❑ on-site $60
Special Needs: If you are disabled and require special services or transportation, or if you have
special dietary needs, please attach a written description to this registration form.
Fee includes conference registration and luncheon.
Make check payable and mail to
Finance Department --LC Advance Registration
League of Minnesota Cities Deadline --March 16, 1995
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126
1995 Legislative Conference Housing Form
Organization�eagt IP nt Minnasnta Cities
Function l9q.13 Legislative egislative Conference Dates March 29-30 1995
All requests for the above group must be received by March $, 1995
Name Company
Last irs
Address
City
Sharing room with
Signature
(Please print ortype)
State Zip
No. of persons
Phone Number
Month Da Year �� Month Day I Year
Arrival Date Arrival Time Departure Date
Check in time 3:00 p.m. Check out time 12:00 P.M.
Accommodations will not be confirmed without a check for the first night's deposit or
use your credit card number to guarantee your reservation. You will be charged for the
first night if reservations are not canceled 48 hours prior to arrival.
Credit card #
OAmex C3 Visa O Mastercard
Expiration date (Please check one)
Special Reduced Rates for
Members Only
$72 Single
$72 Double (2 people)
Special Housing Request: If you have special housing needs, e.g. wheelchair
accessible room, etc. please attach a written description to this housing form.
February 17, 1995
Make check payable and
mail to the
Radisson Hotel St. Paul
11 East Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55101
Page 7
a
METRO MEETINGS1.
z 4
A wee calendar of meetings and agenda items for the Metropolitan Council, its advisory and star ' a1'
�Y 8s 8 Po rY �8 ,
committees, and three regional commissions: Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Parks and
Open Space Commission, and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Meeting times and agendas-aie
occasionally changed. Questions about meetings should be directed to the appropriate organization. Meeting
information is also available on the Metro Information Line at 229-3780 and by computer modem, through
the Twin Cities Computer Network at 337-5400.
DATE: February 17, 1995
WEEK OF: February 20 - February 24, 1995
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
PRESIDENTS' DAY/HOLIDAY - MONDAY, FEB. 20. OFFICES ARE CLOSED.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System - Council District 15 - Tuesday,
Feb. 21, 730 a.m., Redwood Community Center, 311 Elm St. at Co. Rd. 42, Apple Valley.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System - Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m.,
Washington Co. Government Center, 311 Elm St. at Co. Rd. 42, Apple Valley.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System /Council District 14 - Tuesday, Feb.
21, 7 p.m., Falcon Heights City Council Chambers, 2077 W. Larpenteur Ave., Falcon Heights.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System/Council District 16 - Wednesday,
Feb. 22, 9 a.m., Dakota Co. Government Center, Board Room, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System/Council District 3 - Wednesday,
Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Minnetonka Community Center, Community Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.,
Minnetonka.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System - Thursday, Feb. 23, 730 a.m.,
Anoka Co. Courthouse, 325 E. Main St., Anoka.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System/Council District 5 - Thursday, Feb.
23, 9 a.m., Bloomington City Council Chambers, 2215 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington.
Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Feb. 23, 4 p.m., Chambers. The Council will consider the
following items: award of contracts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves program, 1994 status report; procurement of process
chemicals; December 1994 Personnel Report; endorsement of request -for -proposals for Seneca
plant solids -handling services; authorization to execute a professional services amendment to
MCWS for Metro Wastewater Treatment plant secondary treatment improvements; Southwest
Metro Transit Commission budget amendment; Metro Mobility/Americans with Disabilities
eligibility policy; Mayflower/Metro Mobility contract amendment request; Federal Transit
Administration grant amendment application; approval of use -of -wastewater -services 1994
favorable variance; Metropolitan Council support for employee credit unions of the former
Metropolitan Transit Commission and the former Metropolitan Waste Control Commission;
authorization to execute a contract with Coleman Consultants, Inc.; Woodbury comprehensive
sewer plan; -lifecycle and affordable housing report; appointments to the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Advisory Committee; and, other business.
Special Meeting/Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Feb. 23, immediately following the Council
meeting, Chambers.
Committee of the Whole - (RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 9)
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System/Council District 11 - Thursday, Feb.
23, 7 p.m., Shoreview City Council Chambers, 4600 N. Victoria St., Shoreview.
Information Session for Government OMcials and Public Safety Professionals on the Region -
Wide Public Safety Radio System - Friday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m., Minnesota History Center
Auditorium, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.
Legislative Coordinating Group (TENTATIVE) - Friday, Feb. 24, Noon, Room IA.
TENTATIVE MEETINGS THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 3, 1995
Community Development Committee - Monday, Feb. 27, Noon, Room IA.
Blue Ribbon Task Force - Monday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m., Room IA.
Transportation Committee - Monday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m., Chambers.
Public Meeting on Region -Wide Public Safety Radio System - Tuesday, Feb. 28, 730 a.m.,
United Labor Center, Room 219, 312 Central Ave., Minneapolis.
Transportation Technical Advisory Committee to the Transportation Advisory Board -
Wednesday, March 1, 9 a.m., Chambers.
Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee - Wednesday, March 1, 1 p.m. Room 2A.
Environment Committee - Wednesday, March 1, 4 p.m., Room IA.
Finance Committee - Thursday, March 2, 4 p.m., Room 2A.
Legislative Coordinating Group (TENTATIVE) - Friday, March 3, Noon, Room 1A -
The Metropolitan Council is located at Mears Park Centre, 230 E- Fifth St, St. Paul. Meeting
times and agenda are subject to change. For more information or confirmation of meetings, call
291-6447, (TDD 291-0904). Call the Metro Information Line at 229-3780 for news of Council
actions and coming meetings.
METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMUSSION
Commission Meeting - Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m., Room 303, West Mezzanine, Lindbergh
Terminal Building. The commission will consider: MSP Alternative Environmental Document -
adequacy decision; MSP long term comprehensive plan update; recommendation regarding airport
leases; oath of office for MAC policy officers; February ADNE levels; final contract payments on -
1994 Airside bituminous construction, equipment building site improvements, St. Kevin's
hazardous materials abatement, and 1993094 Part 150 sound insulation program; contract bids
received for chiller replacement at Energy Management Center and the January bid cycle on the
Part 150 sound insulation program; 1995 CIP adjustment; review of upcoming committee agenda
� -�
items - construction project bids and consultant interviews; executive session for Runway 4-22
extension project; reliever airports philosophy; Minnesota state lottery status; bids received for
purchase of field maintenance equipment; legislative update; pay equity report; Southwest Mutual
Aid Association; secured area access control maintenance agreement; appointment of "responsible
authority' pursuant to Minnesota Government Data Practices Act; Heads Up; litigation update;
federal legislation; legislative position and background papers; state legislation; airport tour for
legislators; and other business.
Metropolitan Airports Commission offices are located at 6040 28th Av. S., Minneapolis, MN
55450. For more information, call Lynn Sorensen at 726-8186.
METROPOLITAN SPORTS FACILITIES COMUIl IISSION
Commission Meeting - Wednesday, Feb. 22, 930 a.m., Commission office conference room. The
commission will hear a report on the Advisory Task Force on Professional Sports Franchises;
Committee of the Whole report on the retreat held January 27 where stadium capital
improvements, commission structure and tenant relations were discussed. A report will be given
by the Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Minneapolis city council assignments and
current legislative issues. The Concessions/Marketing Committee will report on the catering
kitchen, outdoor plaza and fantasy football. The Personnel Committee will report on salary
structure for non -managerial administrative personnel and the 1995 Affirmative Action plan. A
closed session will be held to discuss pending litigation with Piper, Jaffray, Star Event
Management and Adams Outdoor Sign.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission office is located at 900 South 5th St., Minneapolis,
MN 55415. All meetings are held in the Commission office conference room, unless noted
otherwise. Meeting times and agendas occasionally must be changed. To verify meeting
information, please call Tamra Sharp, 335-3310.
METROPOLITAN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMaIISSION
Commission Meeting - Wednesday, Feb. 22, 4 p.m., Chambers. The commission will consider:
video on 1995 Special Park District forum; fourth draft of 1996-97 portion of 1996-2005 regional
parks capital improvement program; legislative update on regional park issues; and other business.
Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission offices are located at Mears Park Centre, 230
E. Fifth St., St. Paul, MN 55101. Meeting times and agenda must occasionally be changed. To
verify meeting schedules or agenda items, call 291-6363.
�� OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
March 1995
Sunday Monday Tuesday
February April
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 6 7 s
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 118 9 I0 11 12 13 14 IS
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 I8 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
26 27 28 30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
City Center Counter Open for
Absentee Voting - 1- 3 p.m.
7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION - Pub. Safety
Training Room
6
5
6
City Center Counter Open to
7p. ns. -Absentee Doting
7
SPECIAL ELECTION
_ HOUSE DIST. 33B
8
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION - Council
Chambers
9
10
11
8 COUNCIL
KyI�N�G jCouncll f
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
WPM SPECIAL, COUN
5:00 PM Open Space Com-
mittee -CouncilConf.
Rm
7:00 PM WATER QUAL-
ITY COMMITTEE -
Pub. Safety Trng Room
7:00 PM PACT - Pub.
Safety LibraryChambersoom
7:00 PM HRA - Council
7:00 PM PRAC - Council
Conf. Room
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
'1,00 PM COUNCIL MEET,,'
INiGouncl%Ilambxs
5:00 PM Youth Sports
Committee - Council
Conf. Rm.
7:00 PM BOARD OF ZONING -
Council Chambers
8:30 AM HRA - Town
Square
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION - Council
Chambers
26
27
28
29
30
31
2/23/95
C_
022195.XLS
Page 1
SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
21 -Feb -95
State
Representative - District 33B
Pct 15 PCT 16
PCT 19
PCT 20
TOTAL
DFL
Kim Koehnen
7 9
13
5
34
IR
Christine Church
1 2
1
0
4
Mark D. Dirkes
2 4
3
3
12
John Garritsen
1 5 1
2
1
9
Darcy Hitesman
46 44
56
40
186
Rich Stanek
82 60
83
57
282
Tim Theisen
1 1
0
1
3
Non-Partisian
0 1
0
0
1
Registered Voters 7:00 a.m.
1919 1691
2052
1909
7571
New Registrations
3 0
1
0
4
Total Registered Voters
1922 1691
2053
1909
7575
Number of Ballots Counted
144 122
158
107
531
Percentage Voting
7% 7%
8%
6%
7%
Page 1
PFA EARNS AAA BOND RATING
Water pollution control fund becomes only the second
revenue bond ever to get Standard & Poor's top rating
Minnesota's Public Facilities Authority (PFA) recently
became only the second open revenue fund in the United
States to receive a AAA rating from Standard and Poor's
for its 1995 bond issue.
The immediate effect of the rating will likely mean
that it will cost the PFA less to borrow the funds it uses to
fund projects.
"Which means we can do more with less," according
to Terry Kuhlman, PFA's executive director.
The rating is a significant accomplishment for the PFA
and DTED, a recognition of their successful management
of the program and of responsible local government lend-
ing practices.
"We think we've earned it," Kuhlman said. "The cities of
Minnesota are good credit risks. Historically, we've got very
conservative municipal government. There has never been a
note in default. And the loan pool is fairly diversified."
For its part, S&P stated in a release that its decision was
based on four key factors:
• the credit quality of PFA's loan program;
• PFA's requirement that its pledged asset investments
FROM THE
WASTEWATER
► ► ►
BACK TO SCHOOL
.�.
Intensive economic
��►ti�onomi(1
Z>1D� .
development training
federal cooperation
starts a new year
;�,, � �o. •r,
► edaCl
.-
tt 1
PFA EARNS AAA BOND RATING
Water pollution control fund becomes only the second
revenue bond ever to get Standard & Poor's top rating
Minnesota's Public Facilities Authority (PFA) recently
became only the second open revenue fund in the United
States to receive a AAA rating from Standard and Poor's
for its 1995 bond issue.
The immediate effect of the rating will likely mean
that it will cost the PFA less to borrow the funds it uses to
fund projects.
"Which means we can do more with less," according
to Terry Kuhlman, PFA's executive director.
The rating is a significant accomplishment for the PFA
and DTED, a recognition of their successful management
of the program and of responsible local government lend-
ing practices.
"We think we've earned it," Kuhlman said. "The cities of
Minnesota are good credit risks. Historically, we've got very
conservative municipal government. There has never been a
note in default. And the loan pool is fairly diversified."
For its part, S&P stated in a release that its decision was
based on four key factors:
• the credit quality of PFA's loan program;
• PFA's requirement that its pledged asset investments
FROM THE
WASTEWATER
COMMISSIONER
BACK TO SCHOOL
New coalition of rural
Intensive economic
interests seeks state/
development training
federal cooperation
starts a new year
be made in AAA securities, or securities sufficiently
collateralized to that level;
excess reserves that are incorporated into PFA's
structure; and
the strength of its existing administration operating a
diverse 77 -borrower program.
Kuhlman said that open revenue programs are typically
considered high risk because there are no taxes backing the
program.
The PFA provides financial assistance, mostly in the
form of low-interest loans, to finance wastewater treat-
ment facilities and other environmental infrastructure.
Capitalization grants are received annually from the
Environmental Protection Agency. These have typically
been used as a debt service reserve to leverage the
Authority's revenue bonds. The capitalization grants are
matched 20 percent by state funds, which are used to award
additional loans.
This year's issue of $89,550,000 is expected to fund
35 loans for 55 projects: The Authority has made loans of
more than $365 million since its inception in 1987.
WASTEWATER
RURAL GUIDE
INFRASTRUCTURE
Rural investment book
The $3.5 WIF program
will be updated to include
may be used for the first
regional blueprints
time in 1995 '
1 C
'A LOT LIKE SCHOOL -- ONLY HARDER'
A new crop of students pursues economic development certification
Between 40-50 community
economic development profession-
als are again expected to register to
train for certification as economic
development finance professionals
this year.
, The certification process is con-
sidered a valuable experience, not to
mention an advantageous resume
item. But to those who think they can
achieve it simply by cruising through
each of the four separate week-long
sessions are in for quite a shock, ac-
cording to DTED senior staffer Mark
Lofthus, who completed the training last
year.
"Certification is meaningful," says
EDFP's
Course Offerings
ED 101- Economic Develop-
ment Finance, Feb. 6-10
ED 201- Business Credit
Analysis, May 15-19
ED 202 - Real Estate Fi-
nance, Aug. 14-18
ED 300 - The Art of Deal
Structuring, Oct. 30 -Nov. 3.
Lofthus. "It is extremely difficult. It's a
lot like school -- only harder. There is a
test at the end of each week that must
LOANS AVAILABLE TO HELP
CLEAN UP NON -POINT SOURCE
WATER POLLUTION
Local units of government have
several low-interest loan opportunities
to help clean up "nonpoint" source wa-
ter pollution problems.
While Minnesotans have con-
trolled most water pollution that origi-
nates from municipal and industrial fa-
cilities, the so-called "point" sources,
"nonpoint" source pollution -- pollut-
ants in runoff and seepage from land
areas -- continues to degrade the state's
water quality.
The Public Facilities Authority fi-
nances a menu of state agency programs
through its state Water Pollution Con-
trol Revolving Fund to help control
nonpoint pollution. They are:
CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP
LOAN PROGRAM. (Minnesota Pollu-
tion Control Agency, 612-296-6300 or
800-657-3864) -- For projects that tar-
get the restoration and protection of a
water resource. Loan funds will be used
to implement Best Management Prac-
tices (BMPs) that address nonpoint
sources of water pollution such as sedi-
mentation basins, stream -bank stabili-
zation, erosion -control practices, etc.
Loan funds may be used to meet the cost
share requirements of the Clean Water
Partnership Grant Program.
AGRICULTURE BEST MANAGE-
MENT PRACTICES LOAN PROGRAM.
(Minnesota Department of Agriculture,
612-296-7686) -- For water quality im-
provement projects that mitigate or pre-
vent nonpoint-source pollution in rural
areas. Examples include animal waste
control systems; abandoned well seal-
ing; structural conservation practices,
such as waterways and erosion- and
sentiment -control basins and terraces;
and non-structural conservation prac-
tices such as the purchase of conserva-
tion tillage equipment.
TOURISM LOAN PROGRAM.
(DTED, 612-297-1291 or 800-657-3502)
-- For septic -system upgrade or replace-
ment of systems that are failing or out of
compliance with state standards.
SMALL -CITIES DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. (DTED, 612-297-1291 or
800-657-3502) -- For septic -system up -
be passed in order to move to the
next session.
"There is a lot of crunching num-
bers, looking at actual companies,
evaluating their strengths, their
weaknesses, analyzing their capital
needs, and putting together projects
that will meet those needs."
The certification course is conducted
by the National Development Coun-
cil, a private non-profit organization
established in 1972 to work with gov-
ernment and non-profit corporations.
Anyone interested in information
about the EDFP certification can call
DTED's Office of Regional Initiatives
at 612-296-9090.
Nonpoint polluters
• Agriculture runoff
• Use of pesticides and
fertilizers
• Feedlot runoff
• Runoff from streets,
yards, and construction
sites
• Leachate` from septic
systems:
• Runoff from forestry and
mining activities
• Highway de-icing
chemicals
Dredging and drainage'
activities
• The loss of wetlands
grade or replacement of systems that are
failing or out of compliance with state
standards.
STORM -WATER LOAN PROGRAM.
(Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/
Minnesota Public Facilities Authority,
612-297-1291 or 800-657-3502) -- For
projects to control nonpoint-source pol-
lution caused by storm water runoff.
NEW COALITION OF RURAL INTERESTS WILL
ENCOURAGE STATE/FEDERAL COOPERATION
'Minnesota Rural Partners' will promote efficient use of government
Last summer, as rain -swelled rivers ravaged
parts of southern Minnesota, Governor Carlson in-
structed us to cut through the red tape of coordi-
nating federal and state programs and get relief to
flood victims as quickly as possible.
His mandate provided a real-world example of
the tremendous efficiencies achieved when the state
and federal government work cooperatively toward
the same goal. In the short term, it enabled Minne-
sotans to receive real dollar assistance to rebuild,
repair or relocate while residents of down -river
states were still filling out forms. In the long term,
it inspired DTED to look for ways to continue that
spirit of cooperation.
One of them will begin in early spring when we
launch Minnesota Rural Partners (MRP), a rural
development council that will combine efforts of
public and private groups to develop responses to
rural needs and coordinate them at the federal level.
As agricultural areas continue to endure eco-
nomic and development changes, MRP will ensure
that government responses not only adapt to the
specific needs of each area, but help coordinate the
many national and local rural development pro-
grams.
MRP is part of a National Rural Development
Partnership, formed last year by Governor Carlson
and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
The "national" part of the Partnership consists
of senior program managers representing more than
40 federal agencies from 16 departments and in-
dependent agencies, as well as national represen-
tatives of public interest organizations. One of the
objectives of this group is to represent partnerships
like ours at the national level.
Specifically, the program has six goals:
1. BUILDING CRUCIAL
INTER- AND INTRA -
GOVERNMENT RELA-
TIONS. The MRP will try
to reduce "turf" issues
among agencies by devel-
oping stronger links be-
tween them.
2. PROMOTING STRATEGIC DEVELOP-
MENT ACTIVITIES. To develop current, accurate
information about rural needs, the MRP, along with
other state rural development councils, will com-
plete a needs assessment, resource inventory, and
strategic plan.
3. MAKING BETTER USE OF EXISTING RE.
SOURCES. A serious impediment to development
in rural areas is the lack of information about re-
sources. The MRP will establish a knowledgeable
base of information about available programs at ev-
ery level.
4. INTERVENING IN A PROBLEM SOLVING
ROLE. The MRP will be able to encourage col-
laboration and help solve conflicts.
S. ADDRESSING REGULATORY AND AD.
MINISTRATIVE IMPEDIMENTS. Like other state
councils nationwide, the MRP will address impedi-
ments to development efforts arising from state or fed-
eral policy, regulations, rules, and resource applications.
6. REPRESENTING A NEW MODEL OF GOV-
ERNANCE. Council members will have a rare per-
spective of seeing programs from the viewpoint of
local businesses, government and development
leaders, and how those programs relate to each
other.
The MRP board is currently interviewing candi-
dates for executive director, a process it expects to
finish by March.
If you have any questions about the MRP, call
Mark Lofthus of my staff at 612-296-9090.
FIRST USE OF WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (WIF)
EXPECTED TO BE MADE FOR PROJECTS IN FY 1995
The Wastewater Infrastructure Fund (WIF),
Minnesota's year-old economic safety net designed to
help finance wastewater projects that fail to qualify for
funding elsewhere, may be used for the first time in fiscal
year 1995.
The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority currently
has $3.5 million for wastewater projects to be adminis-
tered through WIF in combination with the State Revolv-
ing Loan Fund (SRF). During 1995, two or three cities
are expected to receive WIF funding.
"This program was intended to aid communities that
would otherwise be unable to afford these environmental
protection facilities. It is a last resort financing tool," said
DTED. Communit ".=
is published b%the 1VI ,, Me
Department bf Trade and ui
- Economic I)evelopmnt
Y
500 Mefro`Sgizare
u,.
121 Seventh Place East : tx
Saint Paul, Minnesota � T,
55101-2146
800 657 3658 `
£a2-296 5005
F �G12 296`52$
3,
itebecca Helge_
rg
Director of Marke
Cominunicat{b4
Terry Kuhlman, executive director of the Public Facili-
ties Authority. "In the past we've always been able to get
projects in need of grants funded through other programs."
SRF applications are automatically checked to see if a
borrower would qualify for a WIF financing and no appli-
cation separate from the SRF program is necessary, he said.
To qualify, a borrower must have a sewer service
charge (SSC) in excess of $18 per household and an an-
nual SSC in excess of 1.5 percent of the median house-
hold income.
Kuhlman said WIF funds are initially provided as a
loan to fund a project. When the project is constructed
and certified, he said, the loan is forgiven.
NEW RURAL INVESTMENT GUIDE WILL IN-
CLUDE REGIONAL BLUEPRINTS
DTED's popular Rural Investment
Guide, first released in 1993, is in the
process of being updated.
The new version, scheduled to be
released in April, will include signifi-
cant changes, according to DTED's
Mark Lofthus.
Gone will be the extensive refer-
ence section on agency programs.
"People told us it wasn't useful,"
Lofthus said. "They already had all that
information in other resources."
He added that DTED is exploring
other ways to distribute updated pro-
gram information, perhaps on a com-
Minnesota Department of
Trade and Economic Development
500 Metro Square
121 7th Place East
St. Paul, MN 55101-2146
Mayor Joy Tierney
City Of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd -
PLYMOUTH MN 55447-1482
puter disk or on-line networks.
In addition to updating the statisti-
cal information about each region, the
guide will also now include comprehen-
sive sections that underscore the major
goals and strategies of the regional blue-
prints (economic development strate-
gies that have been developed over the
past couple of years).
"In other words, it is a way to make
the rural investment guide more con-
nected to the core strategies we've been
working on," Lofthus said. "It will have
data on each region and also a section
on what they're going to do about it."
Bulk Rate
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 171
St. Paul, Minn.
Osseo school redistricting
4 up ttin some parents
ByDuchesne Paul Drew
school board discussed the issue last
Staff Writer
Tuesday, it emerged from its working
session committed to a plan that has
V�lhen: the Osseo area school board
upset some parents and students.
meets tonight to ,vote on boundary
changes to, accommodate new
"They've done just a horrible job of
schools, there will be many angry,,
'splitting up the kids," said Scott Bro-
frustrated parents and students : on
kaw, a member of the boundaries
hand..
committee who contends that some
*..
areas were shown favoritism.
194t that's nothing new, said Superin-
teident Merl Ramsey, who; said this
"The only people who are getting
round' of redistricting probably will
screwed in the deal are the kids in the
be the last of several disputed bound-
district,". he ' said. The plan that the
's,
Changes in recent years
board is expected to approve would
Q
N ".
cause "massive' amounts of unneces- .
ough. he. acknowledged that the .
sary disruption, especially from the
West redistricting has created some
junior to senior high level," Brokaw
bad blood in the,66-square-mile dis-
said. Parents and students are plan-
uict, Ramsey, said ."I don't believe
ning to protest at tonight's meeting,
,'at it has caused anything different
:he said.
than boundary changes in the past "
T�is fall District 279 will open two
But school : board, ,Member Lynda
Forbes said Brokaw is bitter because
elementary schools to replace two
his plan was rejected. "It's sour
14at it used to lease from the Rob-, "
grapes with Scott," she said. "A 40-
bmsdale School District. In the fall of
member committee, his peers, voted
f996 ' the distriet %Qll open Maple
him down time' and time again. "So
Grove High School to relieve crowd-
for Scott to say that at the eleventh
ing at Osseo High School and Park
hour is unfounded and really not the
Center High School in Brooklyn
truth. Scott was given a fair hearing
Park.
from Day One, and the board gave
1— a fairhearin "she said
The district encompasses most of
Maple Grove, about 60 percent of
Brooklyn Park, about 40 percent of
Brooklyn Center, all of Osseo and
parts of Plymouth, Dayton, Corcoran
and Hassan Township. It has about
21;000 students.
'Though the 43 -member boundaries
committee, which was composed of
parents, was able to reach a hard-
fQught consensus on-' Lines for the
district's 20 elementary schools, no
clear winner emerged when it came
to assigning students to junior and
senior high schools. So when the
i g�
Brokaw said the board's plan would
give undue preference to some areas
when it comes to keeping students
together from kindergarten through
12th grade and to assigning students
to new schools. Placing students
from the district's four junior high
schools (grades seven -to nine) in its
three high schools (grades 10 to 12)
means splitting up friends.
Forbes said the board's plan would
disrupt the fewest number of stu-
dents while addressing the crowding
problems in some schools. "You
can't make everyone happy, but you
can make a lot of people happy," she
said, adding that only about six of
the district's 110 census districts
would be shifted.
Brokaw, who said the board is basing
its decision on incorrect numbers,
said board members' vote on the
boundary issue could cost them their
seats in the next election.
Forbes said the board will do all it
can to ease the transition. Her daugh-
ter, Lesley, a 10th -grader at Park
Center, stands the risk of being one
of the casualties of redistricting be-
cause the proposed boundary change
would send students in their neigh-
borhood to Osseo High School, Park
Center's rival.
But because the board wants to avoid
displacing seniors, Lesley and other
seniors in the district would be given
the option of switching schools.
As for Brokaw, he said he met with
about 200 other disgruntled district
residents Sunday night and expects
many of them to turn out at tonight's
board meeting.
Ramsey said he isn't taking any
sides.
"The bottom line is there is no per-
fect plan, and it is the board's respon-
sibility to approve a plan that they
believe is the best plan," he said.
"We're not saying that it's a perfect
plan, but in terms of aligning neigh-
borhoods, in terms of populating the
schools, which were the goals of the
process," it does that, he said.
Star Tribune/Tuesday/February 21/195
Star Tribune map
StarTribune
Edimtormial
8A Tuesday/February 21/1995
Tax sharing
Making a good program work better
For 4iiore than 20 years now, supporters
of tax -base sharing in the Twin Cities
area _have been conducting a rear -guard
defeuse of the unique program against
those bent on weakening or destroying
it:.4fben referred to as the "fiscal dis-
parities law," its purpose is to partly
close' the revenue -raising gap between
communities with lots of commercial -
industrial property and those with little.
The -goal of the program is to ensure
th—k all communities have reasonably
similar financial resources with which
to underwrite public services for their
residents. The program remains contro-
versial. But today the question is less
whether tax -base sharing should sur-
vNe than whether it should be strength-
eried = and if so, how.
The problem isn't that fiscal disparities
hasn't worked. Even its most severe crit-
ics would agree that the law is doing what
its authors intended. One well-off metro
community, for example, has 21 times as
much commercial -industrial tax base per
capita as one poor metro community. But
thanks to fiscal disparities, which takes a
porti nofnewcommercial-industrialtax
ba: -§.from the rich and redistributes it
among the poor, that disparity is reduced
to a ratio of about 5-1. That's exactly
wl%,t:the critics most of whom come
frdnl' communities that lose in the
ex6liange — don't like about it.
B4 as new calculations.compiled by
the Citizens League indicate, far more
metro' -area communities and taxpayers
cp�n'e out winners than losers. And still
the 'losers remain better off than the
winners.
-11
Of 187 communitiesthatcontributetothe
metro tax -base pool, 138 this yearwill get
To;
more back than they put in — including,
for the first time in several years,
Minneapolis. And while Bloomington,
Eden Prairie, Eagan, Burnsville and
Minnetonka are the five biggest losers,
even after paying into fiscal disparities
they retain a substantial net tax capacity
advantage over fiscal disparities "win-
ners" like Anoka, Coon Rapids, Crystal,
Mounds View, North St. Paul, Richfield,
Robbinsdale and St. Paul.
For all its success, in other words, the
current law leaves plenty of room for
improvement. And with growing con-
cern about the Twin Cities area's con-
tinued tendency to divide itself into
separate concentrations of wealth and
poverty, it's no longer good enough for
supporters of tax -base sharing to de-
fend the status quo. It's time, instead,
for them to join forces in working for
the program's expansion.
The effort doesn't have to go as far as
Rep. Myron Orfield's recent proposal,
for a uniform metrowide property tax.
That's the theoretical ideal- and there
is much besides equity to recommend
it. But even Orfield is now in favor of
something less sweeping' probably .
based on an addition of some residen-
tial valuation, to the,tax base that now
goes into the fiscal"disparities pool.
Whether that's the answer, or some-
thing else, strengthening -the fiscal dis-
parities law ought to be a'cause behind
which the otherwise politically diverse
supporters of tax -base soaring can
unite, just as they have :worked together
all these years in defense of the original
program. Tax base .sharing works; the
need now is to make it work even
better.
ary OF
PLYMOUTR
Mr. Brian Knox
16725 12th Avenue North
Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Dear Mr. Knox,
February 22, 1995
Thank you for speaking at the Plymouth Forum last night and presenting your
views on the issue of access to Gleason Lake. As mentioned last evening, the City
Attorney is investigating this issue and will report back to the City Council within the next
several weeks. A copy of the report will be forwarded to you, or we will notify you if the
issue will be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
Again, thank you for speaking at. the Forum. Please call me on 550-5013 should
you have any questions.
Sincerely,
/4t"w
Kathy Lueckert
Assistant City Manager
We Listen • We Solve • We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
85REQ.XLS
Page 1
CITIZEN WILIEST TRACKING
1
Blank
Darren A. DeMatthew
Civic Centerlice Arena
12130194
113/95
1113195
114/95
2
, Gerdes
Darren A. DeMatthew
Pub. Safety Concerns
12130194
1/3/95
1/13195
1112195
3
Moore
Darren A. DeMatthew
Transportation
12130194
113195
1113195
114195
4
Blank
Gordon Hanson
Community garden plots
113195
1/3/95
1117195
114195
5
Moore
Dr. Robert May
19th Avenue - Traffic speed
119195
119/95
1123195
1/23195
6
Blank
Vivian Starr
Bike path - Lk Camelot/ NW Blvd
119195
119195
1123195
1/17195
7
Hurlburt
Mark Denis/DermisHolmquist
Wetlands Ord/1 1115 0. Rockfd Road
1117195
1119/95
2/1195
211195
8
Moore
Randy Meyer
Fleet vehicles - petro product.1service
1119/95
1119195
211195
211195
9
Blank
Lynn K. Japs
Concerns about Proposed #3Pk. Loc.
213195
218195
2/15195
218195
10
Hurlburt
Nancy Cree
Wetlands Ord1NW Plymouth
216195
218195
2115195
219195
11
Johnson
Larry Dowell, TwinWest Chamber
LMC referendum levies
219195
219195
2116195
2113195
12
City Attorney
Brian Knox
Access to Gleason Lake
2/21195 JPF)
2121195
317/95
Page 1
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Transportation Building
395 John Ireland Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155-1899
February 8, 1995
Fred Moore
Plymouth City Public Works Director
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
Re: Notice of Annual Apportionment
Dear Mr. Moore:
The following 1995 allotments have been credited to Plymouth City's state aid accounts in
compliance with the Commissioner's Order #80749, and will be released in accordance with
the current rules.
General Allotment
Trunk Highway Turnback
Total
Maintenance
$54,870
$0
$54,870
Construction
$1,221,307
1 221 307
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Keogh on (612) 296-7414, or Bill Anderson
on (612) 297-3740, of the State Aid Finance Office.
Sincerely,
4es Dennioner of Transportation
An equal opportunity employer
NORTHWEST HENNEPIN
Z -Sb
HUMAN SERVICES, COUNCIL '
Planning, Research, and Coordination of Human Seruices
February 13, 1995
Dear Friends,
As 1995 begins Northwest Hennepin Human Services Councl'has had a number of
exciting accomplishments in just the first 7 weeks!
* We sent out the first newsletter for 1995 to keep the community` informed about
important events;
* We received a grant from McKnight Foundation in the amount of $100,000 for a
two year job banks project;
* We began work on the annual meeting in April by securing George Latimer as the
keynote speaker with the help of Josephine Nunn;
* We have made a number of presentations to our cities on the results of the
phone survey and are nearing completion on the publication of the year-long
citizen participation report;
* We succeeded in our application for a family services collaborative that will
provide $219,000 in implementation dollars for school and community based
activities;
* and we held an effective lobbying training session for grassroots/community
people to learn how to advocate on children's issues;
Every NWHHSC staff person played a large role in the accomplishments of these
tasks, each person taking the lead on a particular project, working in
partnership with community agencies and numerous dedicated volunteers.
This year promises to be a busy and exciting one with transportation, housing and
jobs initiatives, work toward a crisis nursery and support for other programs in
our community, as well as continued work in the various communities on resident
and municipal issues.
We have enclosed press releases and an article on some of these new projects and
on-going initiatives and ask that you assist us in distributing this information
through your newsletters and other means of communicating to your citizens.
afa
V CX Ik
Patricia S. Wilder, Executive Director
Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council
Encl. Job Banks Press Release
Family Services Collaborative Press Release
Success By ® 6 Northwest article
"Invest Northwest" Flyer
BROOKLYN CENTER CORCORAN GOLDEN VALLEY MAPLE GROVE
BROOKLYN PARK CRYSTAL HANOVER NEW HOPE
CHAMPLIN DAYTON HASSAN OSSEO
7601 Kentucky Avenue N. 0 Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
(612) 493-2802
PLYMOUTH
ROBBINSDALE
ROGERS
,enn, InCounty
� An Equal Opportunity Employer
janie,� M. Bourcy, County Administrator
_ r,•
Dear Hauler:
,i February 16, 1995
The metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and
Washington, through the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB), are
in the process of implementing a regional county mixed municipal solid waste hauler
licensing program. The purpose of the Regional County,Licensing program is to
eliminate duplication of licensing by counties. This will result in a system in which
haulers operating in the metropolitan area will submit only one county hauler license
application and fee regardless of how many metropolitan counties the hauler collects or
transports mixed municipal solid waste. The regional licensing program will not affect
municipal licenses that may be required.
Each hauler will be assigned a base county, which will be the county in which a hauler's
office, records and vehicles are primarily located. The base county will issue a base
license and coordinate the issuance of an operating license for each metropolitan county
the hauler specifies as a county in which it collects or transports waste.
A uniform county license fee will be established throughout the metropolitan region.
The term of the license year will be July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. It is proposed
that this regional license fee be set at $50 per truck regardless of how many counties in
which a hauler operates.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners will be considering approval of the Joint
Powers Agreement to establish this Regional County Licensing program at their
regularly scheduled meeting February 21, 1995 at 10:00 a.m. in Room A-2400 of the
Hennepin County Government Center.
The SWMCB has set a public hearing regarding the regional license fee level for
Wednesday, February 22, 1995 at 10:30 a.m. at the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
District, Room 205, 2099 University Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to the public
hearing regarding the fee level, written comments regarding the proposed fee level may
Department of Public Works
417 North Fifth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1309
(612)348-6846 FAX:(612)348-8532
Recycled Paper
Page 2
February 16, 1995
be addressed to the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 235 Fast Sixth Street,
Suite 202, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1919, (612) 222-7227.
The SWMCB and Hennepin County will provide additional information on this regional
program after the fee level has been set, and several informational meetings will be held
throughout the region to explain the program to haulers. Questions regarding the
program may be addressed to Tom Heenan at 348-4491.
Sincerely,
iet Leick
Division Manager
JL/sh
-=- '- C --
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of February, 1995 at 10:30 a.m., in Room
205 of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Building, 2099 University Avenue,
Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) will
conduct a public hearing to receive comments concerning proposed fees for regional
mixed municipal solid waste hauler licenses. The regional hauler licensing program will
require that haulers pay license fees only to the metropolitan county in which the
business is based. Hauling businesses based outside of the metropolitan area and doing
business in the metropolitan area will pay a license fee to only one metropolitan county.
The fees are proposed to be $50 per vehicle for all vehicles used to collect and/or
transport waste in the seven county metropolitan area. Interested agencies, groups or
persons attending the public hearing shall have the right to provide written or oral
comments and suggestions. Prior to the public hearing, written comments may be
addressed to: Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 235 East 6th Street, Suite
202, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105-1919. For further information concerning this issue,
contact Linda Gondringer at the offices of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating
Board at 222-7227.
If you need an accommodation because of a disability, such as an
interpreter or printed material in an alternate format (i.e., braille or large
print), please contact the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board at
222-7227.
Paul McCarron
SWMCB Chair
DATE: February 21, 1995
TO: Dwight Johnson, City Manager
FROM: Fred G. Moore, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL WATER TREATMENT
As has been discussed, in order to meet new Federal regulations, we will be
undertaking additional water treatment at our City water treatment plant. The
additional treatment is only required at the Zachary Plant and will begin in mid-March.
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted new drinking water
regulations which specifiy allowable levels of lead and copper. We were required to go
through an extensive testing program taking samples from users throughout the
community. This was completed in 1992. The analysis of all the samples was
completed in early 1993 and our drinking water met the lead level, but slightly exceeds
the copper level. Since that time, we have been doing analysis and testing programs at
our treatment plants to determine the method to bring our water into compliance with
the copper level.
The water treatment process at the Zachary Treatment Plant has more aeration than the
Central Treatment Plant. This is causing a slightly higher acidic level of the water,
which when it stands for a long period of time in copper piping and will dissolve some
copper. After analysis it has been determined that to correct this situation and meet the
Federal standard, an additional chemical (Ortho/Phosphates) will be added to the water
at the Zachary Plant. This chemical supplies a coating on copper piping and prevents
the water from reacting with the pipes. The addition of the chemical only slightly
increases our cost for water treatment.
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL WATER TREATMENT
Page Two
There is a down side to the program which we are initiating. Before the new chemical
will adhere to the pipes, it release any iron which has previously coated the pipes. This
could cause rusty water for a period of time. We are scheduling the flushing of the
water system immediately after we begin adding the chemical. Also, if there are
problem areas which develop, we will do additional flushing during the spring and
summer. An article will appear in the March Plymouth News to inform the residents
of this new water treatment process and the possibility of rusty water.
Bob Fasching, Greg Cook, and the water treatment operators have worked extensively
with the State Department of Health and our consulting engineer in determining the
best solution to meet the new Federal standards. Each public water system throughout
the State is different and therefore, there is no one set answer to meet the new criteria.
We will continue to keep you and the City Council informed of any problems which
develop. In accordance with the law, we are required to implement the additional
treatment by January 1996. We will be doing testing in 1996 and 1997 to determine if
our water meets the required standards.
If there are any questions, please contact me.
cc: Tom Vetsch
Bob Fasching
- - City of
MAple rove
9401 Fernbrook Lane, P.O. Box 1180, Maple Grove, MN 55311-6180 612-420-4000
4
February 16, 1995
ruf
Mayor John Tierney
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Mayor Tierney:
Thank you so much for your warm hospitality and friendliness. I felt our joint meeting was
excellent and provided a great first step for our cities to continue to work together and keep in
touch.
I was impressed at all we have in common, and I hope we can make it a regular effort to join
together to learn from each other and address issues cooperatively.
Thank you again.
Sincerely yours,
Jw,�
Robert A. Burlingame
Mayor
RAB:cs
"Serving Today, Shaping Tomorrow"
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Robert A. Burlingame David Burtness Irene C. Koski Donald J. Ramstad
Mayor Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember
®Printed on Recycled Paper
containing at least 15%
postconsumer paper fibers
LeAnn Sargent
Councilmember
s
r
t
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: February 23, 1995
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of Events
Thank you for the salary adjustment that you approved last Tuesday evening for me.
Your thought and consideration is appreciated.
Orfield legislation. Bob Renner, our MLC lobbyist, reports that Rep. Orfield is
temporarily taking a back seat in some negotiations for compromise legislation on tax
base sharing. Sen. Ted Mondale and others are considering a proposal by which the
taxes paid by homes valued at twice the City's average home would be captured. The
captured funds could then either be retained by the City to be used to create more
affordable housing, or would be exported elsewhere as under the current fiscal
disparities law for commercial/industrial property. This would leave most of the City's
tax base unchanged, since we have only 335 homes over $300,000 as of last year. As
such, it would affect us much less than the original complete tax base sharing idea.
However, this legislation would amount to an unfunded mandate, could easily be
modified to be much more burdensome on our taxpayers, and may not have much
effect on the problems of poverty because housing is only one aspect of it.
Tax Increment Legislation. H.F. 147 has been introduced which has the possibility
of tremendously affecting the City's finances. The bill would seem to not allow us to
spend any of our past or future tax increment funds for anything which was not actually
under contract as of February 1, 1995, or is not needed for existing bond payments.
The City has $7 million on hand with another $11 million scheduled to be received in
the next few years. As you know, much of this TIF money is programmed for major
public improvement projects such as the road relocation West Medicine Lake Park,
County Road 9, and the Zachary Lane improvements. The law is rather vague, and it
is not certain to me that it applies to our past accumulation of TIF funds. The law
would not affect our recent approvals of Olympic Steel or P.O.S. since they are
covered by binding contracts.
We will be assembling our team of financial advisors, bond counsel, etc. soon to
review our options in case the bill is approved. Also, we will be networking with other
cities, notably Minneapolis, who have used TIF in somewhat the same way we have.
Dale Hahn has also written Rep. Ron Abrams, one of the co-sponsors of the bill,
asking for clarification.
Snowmobile Request. A petition that appears to meet the 70% requirement has been
received for 32nd Avenue from Pilgrim Lane to Medicine Lake. This petition will be
processed along with any neighbors later this Spring as previously determined by the
Council.
01/17/95 [REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
State of Minnesota
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
sE"SESSION""` HouslJ FILE No.
January 23, 1995
Authored by Oxment, Rest, Abrams and Winter
Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on TAXES
1 A bill for an act
2 relating to taxation; restricting tete use of tax
3 increment financing; requiring additional disclosure;
4 amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 469.174,
5 subdivisions 12, 19, and 21; 469.175, subdivisions 3
6 and 5; 469.176, subdivisions 4b and 4c; 469.1763,
7 subdivisions 2 and 4; 469.177, subdivision 10;
8 469.179, by adding a subdivision.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE ;TATE OF MINNESOTA:
10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.174,
11 subdivision 12, is amended to read:
12 Subd. 12. [ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.] "Economic
13 development district" means a type of tax increment financing.
14 district which consists of any project, or portions of a
15 project, not meeting the requirements found in the definition
16 redevelopment district, renewal and renovation district, soils
17 condition district, mined underground space development
18 district, or housing district, but which the authority finis t
`19 be in the public interest because:
20 (1) it will discourage commerce, industry, or manufacturi
21 from moving their operations to another state or -municipality;
22 or'
23 (2) it will result in increased employment in the state;
24 (3) it will result in preservation and enhancement of the
25 tax base of the state.
26 Seca 2. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.174,
27 subdivision 19, is amended to read:
Section 2 1
01/17/95 (REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
I Subd. 19. (SOILS CONDITION DISTRICT.) (a) "Soils condition
2 district" means a type of tax increment financing district
3 consisting of a project, or portions of a project, within which
4 the authority finds by resolution that the following conditions
5 exist:
6 (1) nnnenal-terrain; the presence of hazardous substances,
7 pollution_ or contaminants or -moil -deficiencies -for -80 -percent
8 of-the-acreage-in-the-district-regaire-snbstentiel-filling;
9 grading; requires removal or remedial action;-or-other-phpaical
10 preparation for use;
11 (2) the estimated cost of the phpaical-preparation-ander
12 e�enee-f}}--bat-exc}nding-eo�ta-direct�p-re�eted-to-roed�-aa
13 defined-in-zection-160701-and-}oeal-improvements-es-described-in
14 nectionn-42970217-subdivision-i;-eianaea-f}}-to-f9};-f}}},__and
15 fl2}7-end-430701; proposed removal and remedial action exceeds
16 the fair market value of the land before completion of the
17 preparation.
18 The requirements of clause (2) need not be satisfied, if
19 each parcel of property in the district either satisfies the
20 requirements of clause (2) or the estimated costs of the
21 proposed removal or remedial action exceeds $2 per square foot
22 for the area of the parcel.
23 (b) An area does not qualify as a soils condition district
24 if it contains a wetland, as defined in section 103G.005, unless
25 the development agreement prohibits draining, filling, or other
26 alteration of the wetland or other binding legal assurances for
27 preservation of the wetland are provided.
28 (c) If the district is located in the metropolitan area,
a29 the proposed development of the district in the tax increment
30 financing plan must be consistent with the municipality's land
31 use plan adopted in accordance with sections 473.851 to 473.872
32 and reviewed by the metropolitan council under section 473.175.
33 If the district is located outside of the metropolitan area, the
34 proposed development of the district must be consistent with the
35 municipality's comprehensive municipal plan.
36 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.174,
Section 3 12
01/17/95 (REVISOR 1 XX/RM 95-1083
1 subdivision 21, is amended to read:
2 Subd. 21. (CREDIT ENHANCED BONDS.) "Credit enhanced bonds"
3 means special obligation bonds that are:
4 (1) payable primarily from tax increments (i) derived from
5 a tax increment financing district within which the activity, as
6 defined in section 469.1763, subdivision 1, financed by at least
7 95 90 percent of the bond proceeds is loc.ited and (ii) estii•tated
8 on the date of issuance to be sufficient ":o pay when due the
9 debt service on the bonds, and
10 (2) further secured by tax increments (i) derived from one
11 or more tax increment financing districts and (ii) determined by
12 the issuer to be necessary in order to make the marketing oL- the
13 bonds feasible.
14 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.175,
15 subdivision 3, is amended to read:
16 Subd. 3. (MUNICIPALITY APPROVAL.) (aj A county auditor
17 shall not certify the original net tax capacity of a tax
18 increment financing district until the tax increment financing
19 plan proposed for that district has been approved by the
20 municipality in which the district is located. If an authority
21 that proposes to establish a tax increment financing district
22 and the municipality are not the same, the authority shall apply
23 to the municipality in which the district is proposed to be
24 located and shall obtain the approval of its tax increment
25 financing plan by the municipality before the authority may use
26 tax increment financing. The municipality shall approve the tax
27 increment financing plan only after a public hearing thereon
,28 after published notice in a newspaper of general circulation in
29 the municipality at least once not less than ten days nor more
30 than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing. The published
31 notice must include a map of the area of the district from which
32 increments may be collected and, if the project area includes
33 additional area, a map of the project area in which the
34 increments may be expended. The hearing may be held before or
35 after the approval or creation of the project or it may be held
36 in conjunction with a hearing to approve the project. Befor,• or
Section 4 3 /-
�!1
01/17/95 (REVISOR J XX/RM 95-1083
1 at the time of approval of the tax increment financing plan, the
2 municipality shall make the following findings, and shall set
3 forth in writing the reasons and supporting facts for each
4 determination:
5 (1) that the proposed tax increment financing district is a
6 redevelopment district, a renewal or renovation district, a
7 mined underground space development district, a housing
8 district, a soils condition district, or an economic development
9 district; if the proposed district is a redevelopment district
10 or a renewal or renovation district, the reasons and supporting
11 facts for the determination that the district meets the criteria
12 of section 469.174, subdivision 10, paragraph (a), clauses (1)
13 and (2), or subdivision 10a, must be retained and made available
14 to the public by the authority until the district has been
15 terminated.
16 (2) that the proposed development or redevelopment, in the
17 opinion of the municipality, would not reasonably be expected to
18 occur solely through private investment within the reasonably
19 foreseeable future and therefore -the -nye -of -tax -increment
20 financing-i5-deemed-necen3ary that the increased market value of
21 the site that could reasonably be expected to occur without the
22 use of tax increment financing would be less than the increase
23 in the market value estimated to result from the proposed
24 development after subtracting the present value of the projected
25 tax increments for the maximum duration of the district
26 permitted by the plan.
27 (3) that the tax increment financing plan conforms to the
28 general plan for the development or redevelopment of the
29 municipality as a whole.
30 (4) that the tax increment financing plan,will afford
31 maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the
32 municipality as a whole, for the development or redevelopment of
33 the project by private enterprise.
34 (5) that the municipality elects the method of tax
35 increment computation set forth in section 469.177, subdivision
36 3, clause (b), if applicable.
Section 4 4
01/17/95 [REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
1 (6) that the projected public beneli:.s of the project
2 exceed the costs, including the costs of the county, school
3 district, special taxing districts, and the state, determined on
4 a present value basis.
5 When the municipality and the authority ;.:re not the same,
6 the municipality shall approve or disapprove the tax increment
7 financing plan within 60 days of submission by the authority, or
8 the plan shall be deemed approved. When the municipality and
9 the authority are not the same, the municipality may not amend
10 or modify a tax increment financing plan except as proposed by
11 the authority pursuant to subdivision 4. Once approved, the
12 determination of the authority to undertake the project through
13 the use of tax increment financing and the resolution of the
14 governing body shall be conclusive of the findings therein and
15 of the public need for the financing.
16 (b) The county auditor may not certify the oriqinal net tax
17 capacity of a district until the tax increment financing plan
16 has been approved by a resolution of the governing body of the
19 school district in which the district is located, if either of
20 the following apply:
21 (1) The district is a housing district.
22 (2) The tax increment financing plan proposes construction
23 of ten or more new housing units or proposes rehabilitation or
24 redevelopment of ten or more existing, but unoccupied, housing
25 units.
26 The governing body of the school district may approve the
27 tax increment financing district under this paragraph only after
'28 holding a public hearing on the question with notice provided in
29 the usual manner for its public meetings
30 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.175,
31 subdivision 5, is amended to read:
32 Subd. 5. [ANNUAL DISCLOSURE.] For all tax increment
33 financing districts, whether created prior or subsequent to
34 August 1, 1979, on or before July 1 of each year, the authority
35 shall submit to the county board, the county auditor, the school
36 board, the commissioner of revenue and, if the authority is
Section 5 5
01/17/95 (REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
1 other than the municipality, the governing body of the
2 municipality, a report of the status of the district. The
3 report shall include the following information: the amount and
4 the source of revenue in the account, the amount and purpose of
5 expenditures from the account, the amount of any pledge of
6 revenues, including principal and interest on any outstanding
7 bonded indebtedness, the original net tax capacity of the
8 district, the captured net tax capacity retained by the
9 authority, the captured net tax capacity shared with other
10 taxing districts, the tax increment received, and any additional
'• 11 information necessary to demonstrate compliance with any
12 applicable tax increment financing plan. An annual statement
13 showing the tax increment received and expended in that year,
14 the original net tax capacity, captured net tax capacity, amount
15 of outstanding bonded indebtedness, the amount of the district's
16 increments paid to other governmental bodies, the amount paid
17 for administrative costs, and the sum of increments aid,
18 directly or indirectly, for activities and improvements located
19 outside of the district, and any additional information the
20 authority deems necQssary shall be published in a newspaper of
21 general circulation in the municipality. The authority must
22 include in the published annual statement a short narrative
23 explanation of the major activities of the district during the
24 past year, including any new activities undertaken and the
25 reason for payments for improvements and activities located
26 outside of the district. This explanation must be written in
27 plain and simple language, easily understandable by an
28 individual not familiar with tax increment financing and real
.29 estate development finance
30 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.176,
31 subdivision 4b, is amended to read:
32 Subd. 4b. [SOILS CONDITION DISTRICTS.] Revenue derived
33 from tax increment from a soils condition district tinder -section
34 46971947-snbdfvr3son-i9; may be used only to (1) acquire parcels
35 on which the improvements described in clause (2) will occur;
36 (2) pay for the cost of correcting-the-untistisl-ter re in -or -soil
Section 6
6
01/17/95 (REVISOR j XX/RM 95-1083
1 deficiencies -end -the -additional -cost -of -installing -public
2 improvements -directly -caused -by -the -deficiencies rr,noval or
3 remedial action; and (3) pay for the administrative expenses of
4 the authority allocable to the district, including the cost of
5 i:'eparation of the development action response plan. The -sale
6 fy-the-authority-of-e-pareel-acquired-and-improved-as-described
7 .n-clataes-fl}-and-f?f-must-be-for-a-price-that-is-no-less-than
8 the -cost -of -acquisition -
9 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.176,
10 subdivision 4c, is amended to read:
11 Subd. 4c. (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.) (a) Revenue
12 derived from tax increment from an economic development district
13 may not be used to provide improvements, loans, subsidies,
14 grants, interest rate subsidies, or assistance in any form to
15 developments consisting of buildings and ancillary facilities,
16 if more than 15 percent of the buildings and facilities
17 (determined on the basis of square footage) are used for a
18 purpose other than:
19 (1) the manufacturing or production of tangible personal
20 proPerty, including processing resulting in the change in
21 condition of the property;
22 (2) warehousing, storage, and distribution of tangible
23 personal property, excluding retail sales;
24 (3) research and development related to the activities
25 listed in clause (1) or (2);
26 (4) telemarketing if that activity is the exclusive use of
27 the property;
.28 (5) tourism facilities; or
29 (6) space necessary for and related tc, the activities
30 listed in clauses (1) to (5).
31 (b) JLJ Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision,
32 revenue derived from tax increment from an economic development
33 district may be used to provide improvements, loans, subsidies,
34 grants, interest rate subsidies, or assistance in any form for
35 up to 5,000 square feet of commercial and retail facilities
36 Mithin-the-mnnicipn}-jurisdiction-of-e-home-rine-charter-or
Section 7 7
01/17/95 [REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
1 ntetntory-city-that-hay-e-popn�etzon-of-57908-or-�ea�. The
2 5,000 square feet limitation is cumulative and applies to all
3 facilities in all the economic development districts within the
4 municipal jurisdiction.
5 (2) The provisions of this paragraph apply only if the
6 following conditions are met:
7 (A) The population of the city in which the district is
8 located does not exceed 5,000, according to the last decennial
9 census, a more recent special census, or the most recent
10 estimate of the state demographer, whichever is least.
11 (H) The per capita adjusted net tax capacity of the city is
12 ten percent or more below the state average for the most
13 recently available assessment year, according to data provided
14 to the city by the commissioner of revenue. The commissioner
15 shall compute per capita adjusted net capacity using the
16 definition of adjusted net tax capacity in section 124A.02
17 subdivision 3a, and the definition of population in section
18 477A.011, subdivision 3. Adjusted tax capacity also includes
19 the value of all captured tax caoacity.
20 Sec. B. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.1763,
21 subdivision 2, is amended to read:
22 Subd. 2. [EXPENDITURES OUTSIDE DISTRICT.) (a) For each tax
23 increment financing district, an amount equal to at least 75 90
24 percent of the revenue derived from tax increments paid by
25 properties in the district must be expended on activities in the
26 district or to pay bonds, to the extent that the proceeds of the
27 bonds were used to finance activities in the district or to pay,
28 or secure payment of, debt service on credit enhanced bonds.
,29 Not more than 25 ten percent of the revenue derived from tax
30 increments paid by properties in the district may be expended,
31 through a development fund or otherwise, on activities outside
32 of the district but within the defined geographic area of the
33 project except to pay, or secure payment of, debt service on
34 credit enhanced bonds. The revenue derived from tax increments
35 for the district that are expended on costs under section
36 469.176, subdivision 4h, paragraph (b), may be deducted first
Section 8 8
01/17/95 (REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
1 before calculating the percentages that must be expended within
2 and without the district.
3 (b) In the case of a housing districL, a housing project,
4 as defined in section 469.174, subdivision 11, is an.activity in
5 the district.
6 (c) All administrative expenses ate for :activities outside
7 of the district.
8 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 1994, sectioi. 469.1763,
9 subdivision 4, is amended to read:
10 Subd. 4. [USE OF REVENUES FOR DECERTIFICATION.) (a)
11 Beginning with the sixth year following certification of the
12 district, 75 90 percent of the revenues derived from tax
13 increments paid by }properties in the district that remain after
14 the expenditures permitted under subdivision 3 must be used only
15 to pay:
16 (1) outstanding bonds, as defined it subdivision 3,
17 paragraphs (a), clause (2), and (b);
18 (2) contracts, as defined in subdivision 3, paragraph (a),
19 clauses (3) and (4); or
20 (3) credit enhanced bonds to which the revenues derived
21 from tax increments are pledged, but only to the extent that
22 revenues of the district for which the etedit enhanced bon -1s
23 were issued are insufficient to pay the bonds and to'the extent
24 that the increments from the unrestricted 35 Len percent share
25 are insufficient.
26 (b) When the outstanding bonds have been defeased and when
27 sufficient money has been set aside to pay contractual
128 obligations as defined in subdivision 3, para•Iraph (a), clauses
29 (3) and (4), the district must be decertified and the pledge of
30 tax increment discharged.
31 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.177,
32 subdivision 10, is amended to read:
33 Subd. 10. (PAYMENT TO SCHOOL FOR REFERENDUM LEVY.) (a) The
34 provisions of this subdivision apply to tax increment financing
35 districts and projects for which certification was requested
36 before May 1, 1988, that are located in a school district in
Section 10 9
01/17/95 (REVISOR ) XX/RM 95-1083
1 which the voters have approved new local tax rates or an
2 increase in local tax rates after the tax increment financing
3 district was certified.
4 (b)(1) 'If there are no outstanding bonds on May 1, 1988, to
5 which increment from the district is pledged, or if the
6 referendum is approved after May 1, 1988, and there are no bonds
7 outstanding at the time the referendum is approved, that were
8 issued before May 1, 1988, the authority must annually pay to
9 the school district an amount of increment equal to the
10 increment that is attributable to the increase in the local tax
11 rate under the referendum.
12 (12) If clause (1) does not apply, upon approval by a
13 majority vote of the governing body of the municipality and the
14 school board, the authority must pay to the school district an
15 amount of increment equal to the increment that is attributable
16 to the increase in the local tax rate under the referendum.
17 (c) The amounts of these increments may be expended and
18 must be treated by the school district in the same manner as
19 provided for the revenues derived from the referendum levy
20 approved by the voters. The provisions of this subdivision
21 apply to projects for which certification was requested before,
22 on, and after August 1, 1979.
23 (d) The school district must report to the commissioner of
24 education any payments received under this subdivision and
25 notify the commissioner of any agreement entered into under
26 paragraph (b), clause (2). The commissioner of education shall
27 provide this information to the commissioner of revenue upon
28 request.
29 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 469.179, is
30 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
31 Subd. 4. (PRE -1990 DISTRICTS; USE OF REVENUES TO
32 DECERTIFY.) (a) This subdivision applies to a district or
33 project area for which the request for certification was made
34 before May 1, 1990, whether or not the request for certification
35 was made before or after August 1, 1979.
36 (b) Revenues derived from tax increments may only be used
Section 11 10
• 01/17/95 [REVISOR J XX/RM 95-1083
1 for the following costs:
2 (1) to pay outstanding bonds that are secured by revenues
3 of the district and that were issued and sold before February 1,
4 1995, or bonds issued to refund the principal amount of the
5 bonds issued before February 1, 1995;
6 (2) to pay a Finding, written contract. with a third party,
7 secured by or to bt paid from revenues of the district, if the
8 contract was executed before Januai, 15, 1995;
9 (3) to fund ata escrow account to make future payments under
10 a binding contract meeting the requirements of clause (2);
11 (4) to make payments to a school district under section
12 469.177, subdivision 10; or
13 (5) to pay reasonable administrative expenses, subject to
14 the otherwise :.applicable limits on administrative expenses.
15 (c) The authority must decertify the district when tht,
16 following conditions occur:
17 (1) all the outstanding bonds have been paid or defeased;
18 (2) all the contractual obligations have been satisfied or
19 sufficient funds have been placed in an escrow account, which
20 with interest on the i•nvestei escrow account, will satisfy them.
21 Sec. 12. [EFFECTIVE DP C.)
22 Sections 5 to 11 are effective the day following final
23 enactment and apply to all tax increment financinq-districts
24 regardless of when the request for certification was made,
25 including requests made before August 1, 1979. The rest of the
26 act is effective for districts for which the request for
27 certification is made after the day following final enactment.
11
TIF LEGISLATION
HF 147 (Ozment, IR, 296-4306; Rest, DFL; Abrams, IR; and Winter, DFL); and
SF 284 (Olson, 296-1282; Belanger; and Pariseau; all IR) - both restrict the use of tax
increment financing (TIF). The main features are:
Restricting purposes for which some TIF districts can be created
for "economic development districts", authorities must show that the TIF
district will discourage "commerce, industry, or manufacturing" from moving
out of state. Currently, local jurisdictions must only show that the district
will keep these things in their city.
for "soils condition districts," authorities are not allowed to justify the TIF
district for "unusual Terrain," soil deficiencies over 80 percent of the acreage
that require filling or grading. These districts will be restricted to the.
presence of pollution that requires removal or remedial action, and not
merely filling, grading, or "other physical preparation". Under current law,
the joke is that the restrictions for a soil condition district are so
loose that if one has an oil spot on the driveway, the TIF district can be
justified.
Tighter financing of TIF districts
90 percent of bond proceeds must go toward the activity the TIF district is
trying to encourage, instead of the current 75 percent, or 90 percent of the
proceeds from the increments must go toward the activity in the TIF.
Further restrictions on the creation of all types of TIF districts
The increased market value of the site estimated to result from the
proposed development the TIF district is trying to encourage must exceed
increased value that would be expected to occur without the district.
- The projected public benefits of the project in the district must exceed the
public costs.
School districts affected by the proposed district must approve of the district
after a public hearing, if it is a housing district.
Changes the unrestricted use of TIF money for buildings up to 5000 square
feet from cities under 5000 population and home rule charter cities, to cities
under 5000 and cities with 90% or less of the state average per capita
adjusted net tax capacity.
New disclosure requirements
In addition to a currently required annual statement showing the tax
increment received and spent, the original and captured net tax capacity,
and amount of outstanding bonded indebtedness, cities must also report
how much aid they are paying primarily to schools under the aid offset
requirement passed by t he state several years ago, administrative costs,
and increments paid for improvements outside the district. A narrative
must accompany the report, "written in plain and simple language," that
explains the major activities of the district and why payments were made
outside the district.
Restrictions on existing TIF districts created before May 1, 1990 (i.e., before the
requirement that cities must pay school districts for last aid)
Specifically lists what these districts can use increment money for, and
clearly states that once all outstanding bonds have been paid and all --
contractual obligations have been satisfied, the district is to be decertified.
Rep. Ann Rest, the chair of the House Tax Committee, has crusaded repeatedly for tighter
restrictions on the use of TIF. This is a comprehensive tightening that seems to eliminate
just about every possible "loophole" localities have used to continue to expand the use of
TIF. This time she is joined by two IR's and the chair of the Property Tax Subdivision of
the House Tax Committee, Rep. Ted Winter
TIF districts were always supposed to have a "but for" test- that the development would
not occur "but for" the use of a TIF district. In practice, bond underwriters have been the
main determiners of deciding whether the "but for" test has been met, and they have a
significant interest in deciding it has, since they would receive the bond fees. This bill
makes the "but for" test very explicit, which most legislators would publicly say was the
intent of original enabling legislation from the start.
SOURCE: Minnesota Taxpayers Association
Legislative Spotlight, No. 95-03
RCR:jjp:56I6_LWSIa
DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 1995
TO: DWIGHT JOHNSON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: CARLYS SCHANSBERG;`DATA CONTROL/INSPECTION
CLERK
SUBJECT: BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED REPORT FOR
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL/PUBLIC & CHURCH USE TYPES
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16 THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 1995
THERE WERE NO PERMITS ISSUED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD FOR THE
ABOVE MENTIONED TYPES.