HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 03-16-1995MARCH 16, 1995
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS ....
1. CITY MEETING SCHEDULE FOR MARCH:
MARCH 21 6:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Council Conference Room
Topic: Review of 1995 Citizen Survey
7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers
2. YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE -- WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 5:00 P.M., Council
Conference Room.
3. PLANNING COMMISSION -- WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 7:00 P.M., Council
Chambers.
4. BOARD OF ZONING -- THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 7:00 P.M., Council Chambers.
5. SENSIBLE LAND USE COALITION - Growth Management Series -- Wednesday,
March 29, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel in Bloomington, beginning at 7:00
p.m. (M-5)
6. ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES - Twin Cities Urban
Summit -- The Association of Metropolitan Municipalities will host a "summit" on urban
revitalization on Thursday, March 30 at the AMM office, 3490 Lexington Avenue,
beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Tierney was invited along with other Metro area mayors.
Information from the AMM is attached. The AMM Report on Urban Revitalization
referenced in the letter is on file in Administration. (M-6)
7. METRO MEETINGS ---- The weekly calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Council
and its advisory commissions is attached. (M-7)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO
MARCH 16, 1995
Page 2
8. MEETING CALENDARS - The March and April meeting calendars are attached. (M-8)
1. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
a. Weekly Building Permit Report for Commercial/Industrial/Public and Use Types.
(I-1)
2. NEWS ARTICLES. RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS. ETC.
a. City news release on April 8 Police Auction. (I -2a)
b. Reprint of March 12 article from Saint Paul Pioneer Press on affordable housing. (I -
2b)
c. Reprint of March 11 article from Star Tribune regarding the Orfield tax base sharing
proposal. (I -2c)
3. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY - CORRESPONDENCE
a. A status report on all correspondence and inquiries is attached.
4. MEMOS & CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Memo from Fred Moore regarding speed limit determination by the Minnesota
Department of Transportation for City roadways completed in 1994. (I -4a)
b. Notice of neighborhood meeting to discuss the City's study for South Shore Drive
traffic improvements. (Provided by Councilmember Granath) (I -4b)
c. Notice of Metropolitan Council public hearing on an amendment to the Metro
Council's Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan. (I -4c)
d. Letter from Steven Chase, 11901 23rd Avenue North, thanking Eric Blank for his
communications on the status of West Medicine Lake Park. (I -4d)
e. Memo from John Sweeney giving an update on 1995 "Opt -Out" transit legislation.
(I -4e)
Dwight Johnson
City Manager
M-6
Second in a monthly series of programs focusing on growth
0
Wednesday, March 29, 1995-8:3(
Radisson Hotel South and Plaza Tower ■ I-494 and I
Ir�d
Sponsored by: Sensible Land Use Coalition, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Chapter American Planning As
FOCUS
Growth management and development issues affect nearly every aspect of our
lives, from where we will live and work to how our public resources are ultimately
distributed. Indeed, the very quality of our lives will depend, to a large degree,
upon how we manage future growth in our region and how we balance competing
needs, expectations and desires.
In the late 1960s, with the formation of the Metropolitan Council, the Twin Cities
region adopted regional planning as a mans for balancing those needs. This pro-
gram will revisit the times and conditions that brought about this governmental
novelty and assess its effectiveness in meeting its original goals. Attendees will be
given a unique opportunity to examine growth management efforts in the Twin
Cities and compare its effeaiveness to other regions. Speakers familiar with
growth management efforts in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington—two
areas which share many characteristics with the Twin Cities—have been invited to
talk about the growth management experiences in their regions.
MORNING SESSIONS
The Twin CitieslMinnesota Experience (8:30 - 9:45)
Before we look at growth management programs in other parts of the country, this
session begins with a review of the conditions that existed and key issues that were
debated when the Metropolitan Land Planning Act was enacted. Basic strategies
for managing the spread of urban growth will be presented, including the identifi-
cation of the four major "Metropolitan Systems"—sewers, transportation, parks
and open space, and airports—as well as the roles and responsibilities of the
Metropolitan Council, counties, school district, cities and townships.
Lading the session will be noted land use attorney, Robert Hoffman, who was
a member of the Metropolitan Council and one of the principal authors of the
Metropolitan Land Planning Act. He will offer a critical assessment of the effec-
tiveness of the original strategies that he helped to establish. The session will
continue with Curtis Johnson, recently appointed Metropolitan Council Chair,
who will provide a brief summary of the evolution of the Council during the past
two decades and conclude with a discussion on the status of the recently adopted
Regional Blueprint and its expected role in future growth management and devel-
opment efforts.
The Portland/Oregon Experience (10:00 -11:00)
Like Minnesota, Oregon is a state dominated by one large metropolitan region.
Similar to the Twin Cities, the Portland area employs an urban growth boundary
as a mans to contain urban sprawl, promote the efficient use of infrastructure and
preserve resources. Oregon's growth management and land planning system is
often touted as model for others to follow; some in the Twin Cities suggest that
more be done here to implement major pieces of the Oregon system.
Mike Burton, the newly elected Metro chair, and Jon Chandler, chief lobbyist
for the Portland Metro Builders Association, will offer their perspectives on the
effectiveness of growth management efforts in Oregon and Portland through a
discussion of issues such as urban growth boundaries, overall quality of life,
agricultural preservation, the environment, economic development, land prices
and affordable housing.
Aj ement issues and pa'4ectives _
-a.M. 0 4:30 p. r
_1
Oway 100 ■ Bloomin_gtgll
F
nation,. Builders Association. of
Nlinnerota
The SeattlelMrshington Experience (11:00 - 12:00)
Like Minnesota and Oregon, Washington is a state dominated by one large metro-
politan region. Like the Twin Cities, the Seattle area employs an urban growth
boundary to help contain sprawl, promote the efficient use of infrastructure and
preserve resources. The state's approach to growth management, adopted in 1992,
seeks to better manage heavy growth pressures in some sections of the state while
fostering growth and economic development in other sections.
James Street Chair of the Growth Management Policies Board for the Puget
Sound Regional Council and the current Seattle City Council President, and
Keith Dearborn, an attorney with Bogle & Gates in Seattle, will offer their per-
spectives'on the effectiveness of the Washington State Growth Management Act.
Issues to be discussed include designated urban growth areas, overall quality of life,
.agricultural preservation, the environment, economic development, land prices.
and affordable housi
ing.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Economic Impacts of Growth d' Development (12:45 -1:45)
One of the frequent arguments by those opposed to growth management is that
regulations violate landowners' fundamental rights. "What I do on my land is my
business and it doesn't affect you" is a sentiment expressed by those whose devel-
opment plans are either limited or stopped by growth management regulations.
At a time when government at all levels is faced with limited resources, this session
explores the fiscal and economic realities associated with urban expansion.
Paul Tuchler, principal ofTischler & Associates Consulting, will discuss the eco-
nomic and fiscal impacts of growth and development. Tischler has advised many
cities around the country on fiscal and economic consequences of growth, eco-
nomic investments and infrastructure decisions. His remarks will summarize the
findings from those analyses and offer timely advice to the Twin Cities community.
State and Local Approaches (2:00 - 3:00)
What exactly is growth management? What is its potential? What are the pros and
cons? Does it world Where? Under what conditions? What are other states and
cities doing? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed by
Douglas Porta; president of the Growth Management Institute. Potter will
present various growth management strategies and approaches employed by states
and localities from around the country. Porter draws on his many years of research
on growth and development issues.
The -Future of Growth Management (3:15 - 4.•30)
The political and legal landscapes surrounding growth management are changing.
In recent years the United States Supreme Court issued several historic rulings
affecting the ways states and cities plan and their ability to control growth and
development. There have also been major shifts in the roles and responsibilities
of both the federal and state governments with respect to financing of regional
infrastructure. How will these and other changes affect future growth manage-
ment initiatives? Most importantly, what does all this mean for the Twin Cities?
A panel of local and national speakers will offer thoughts on the future prospects
of growth management and react to questions and remarks from the audience.
A lively debate is promised!
Reservation for: GROWTH MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE • MARCH 29 ❑ 4egetmra t Meal firfarred
Name:
Company/Agency:
Phone.
T?e; iommadrand ❑ Member/$50
Nonrefundable reservations due by noon: Mond. March 27 rear bonortd will be
IIbiUrd unleu canctUatiansElNonmember/$75
are rrcrivtd 36houm in
Mail to: Sensible Land Use Coalition advance. $5.00charge
PO Boz 284, Excelsior, MN 55331-9998 1 forinwtnd ❑ *Membership Fee_
For more information call Valerie Williams at: (612) 474-3302 = TOTAL ENCLOSED
Fax reservations to: (612) 470-6640 (I will: _send check or _bring to door)
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
8:00 - 8:30 REGISTRATION
8:30 - 8:35 WELCOME
Speaker. Dean johtuon, President, Sensible Land Use Coalition
8:35-9:45 THE TWIN CITIES/MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE
Introduction: David Long, Program Coordinator and Director, Sensible Land Use Coalition
Speaker: Robert Hoffman, Attorney, Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Ltd.
Speaker: Curtis Johnson, Chair, Twin Cities Metropolitan Council
9:34 - 10:00 BREAK
10:00 - 11:00 THE PORTLAND/OREGON EXPERIENCE
Introduction: Mark Koeg/er, Director and Past President, Sensible Land Use Coalition
Speaker: Mike Burton, Executive Officer, Metro, Portland, Oregon
Speaker: Jon Chandler. Chief Lobbyist, Portland Metro Builders Association
11:00 - 12:00 THE SEATTLE(WASHINGTON EXPERIENCE
Introduction: Blair Tremere, Principal, Public Affairs Consulting
Speaker: James Street, Chair of Growth Management Policies Board, Puget Sound
Regional Council and City Council President, Seattle, Washington
Speaker: Keith Dearborn, Attorney, Bogle & Gates, Seattle, Washington
12:00 - 12:45 LUNCHEON
12:45 - 1:45 FISCAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT .
Introduction: Michael Wazniak, President, Minnesota Chapter, American Planning Association
Speaker: Paul Ttschler, Principal, Tischer and Associates Consulting, Bethesda, Maryland
1:45 - 2:00. BREAK
2:00 - 3:00 GROWTH MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW,
Introduction: Anne Hurlburg Via President, Sensible Land Use Coalition
Speaker. Douglas Porter, President, Growth Management Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
3:00 - 3:15 BREAK
3:15 - 4:30 THE FUTURE OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Moderator.. John Shardlow, Director, Sensible Land Use Coalition
Panelists: Joan Archer, Executive Vice President, Builders Association of Minnesota
James Solent, Regional Administrator, Twin Cities Metropolitan Council
Several speakers from the day's previous sessions will also be featured here.
4:30 - 5:30 RECEPTION
KEY SPEAKERS
Do you belong to.
(please check)
Sensible land Use Coaliti,
_Metropolitan Council
_MN Chaptcr, MA ,
_Builders Association of K
"(/f you would Like to beror
a member of the Sensible Ln
UJr Coalition, join now art.
rave $25 on your wnferen,
registration. GtU 474-33(
for a membership appficatio
Mike Burton, Metro, Portland, Oregon
Newly elected Executive Officer of Metro, the regional government
serving the tri -county metropolitan Portland area. Involved in
regional government for more than 15 years and served as Represen-
tative for the 17th District in the Oregon House for five terms wher
he held seats on the Housing, Energy and Environment Committee.
Jon Chandler, Portland Metro Builders Association, Oregon
As staff attorney and lobbyist, represents builder/developer interests
in the Portland aril. Active in state and local politics and has spoke
and written extensively on land use and environmental issues for
state and national legal and professional organizations.
Keith Dearborn, Bogle & Gates, Seattle, Washington
Attorney and planner with more than 20 years of experience in
land use and environmental law. Played a lead role in creating the
University of Washington's Institute for Environmental Studies.
Won the American Planning Association Outstanding Merit Award
two times for work on a number of regional land use issues.
Robert Hoffman, Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Mpls.
Extensively involved in land use and development for over 25 years
as both a policy maker and attorney. Former seven-year member o:
the Metropolitan Council. Also 14 -year member of the Blooming-
ton Ciry Council, land use law instmaor at Hamlin University, at
member of the Urban Land Institute Dev. Policies and Reg. Count:
Douglas Porter, Growth Management Institute, Bethesda, MD
One of the nation's leading authorities on growth management
approaches. Research published in 25 books and dozens of articles
Formerly directed the public policy research program at the Urban
Land Institute -where he focused on growth management, special
zoning techniques and land use/transportation relationships.
James StreeA Puget Sound Regional Council, Seattle, Washingto:
Served as Chair of the Seattle City Council's Land Use Committee
for six years and is the current Council President. Chair of the
Growth Management Policies Board for the Puget Sound Regional
Council and a member of regional committees responsible for dew
oiling King County's growth management and rapid transit pohcit
Paul Tuchler, Tuchler &Associates Consulting, Bethesda, MD
Over 23 years of experience in conducting fiscal, economic and ill.
ning studies throughout the country. Specialized in fiscal analyse
of growth alternatives; impact fee modeling and revenue strategies
capital improvement plans and growth management studies; and
market and economic feasibility studies.
The Sensible land Use Coalition is a
communiry of land ■n planning,
development and regulatory proles- .
aionak from the publk and private
'Mors. on, miu(on is to promote
communication, enhance education
and provide information that will
-wag, dw developmnu of pWk
policy and foster a balanced
approach oumd (tura ajrecdng lard
we, development and the environ-
ment in Ho—so a. with jpeckl Jocw
on the 7ivin Cut" metro arta
y A,Tre/.Y rr�.4lNM .;rh
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�« peravm...r
JOY TIERNEY
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BLVD
PLYMOUTH MN 55447-1448
' 33ASs;07
qn"r
P
BOARD OF DIRECTORS �A
PRESIDENT
Craig Rapp
Brooklyn Park
VICE PRESIDENT asociation of
Joan Campbell metro ol ita n
Minneapolis P
municipalities_
PAST PRESIDENT
David M. Childs
Minnetonka March 10, 1995
DIRECTORS ~
Bin Barnhart Dear Mayor Tierney:
Minneapolis
Jack Denzer Would you agree that those living in the Twin Cities should have the
Cottage Grove opportunity to be self sufficient and to live and work in safe, viable and diverse
Tom Egan communities? Should individuals have choices in affordable housing and job
Eagan opportunities? Should there be incentives to reduce concentrations of poverty
Ray Faricy in the metro area?
St Paul
Marie Grimm Over the last three years, metro area cities have wrestled with these increasingly
St Paul prevalent issues of urban decay. Unfortunately, the quest for solutions has been
Joan Lynch
largely focused on parochial approaches, which has caused much divisiveness
Susan Hoyt
Falcon Heights
among metro cities. The Minnesota Legislature has also been unsuccessful in
Gerald Otten
solving urban problems, drafting proposals which create penalties, tax base
Ann Langton ski
Bloomington
shifts and potentially jeopardize the future of important programs such as LGA,
P Y J P P P�
Jim Prosser
HACA and TIF. If this process continues without unification and realistic
Jerry Linke
solutions, all cities in the metro area could experience significant losses.
Mounds View
region for those solutions.
Joan Lynch
We need your help and input. We invite you to attend the Twin Cities Urban
Shakopee
Summit at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 30 at the AMM office (3490 Lexington
Gerald Otten
Ave. N). This meeting of key Twin Cities municipal leaders has a dual purpose.
New Hope
First, to establish a process that will enable metro area cities to work together
Jim Prosser
as one unified voice. Second, to find common solutions to the problems of
Richfield
urban decay and develop broad-based support among cities throughout the
Kirk Schnitker
region for those solutions.
Champlin
help identify areas of agreement, and an Executive Summary highlighting the
Beverly Shultz
We believe the AMM has the broad-based, diverse membership to be the
Bayport
unifying vehicle to bolster a successful solution process. Roger Williams,
Charlotte Shover
director of the state Office of Dispute Resolution, has agreed to facilitate this
Burnsville
initial meeting. Sen. Ted Mondale, D -St. Louis Park, whose recent Star
William Thompson
Tribune guest editorial is enclosed, will also speak about the need to find
Coon Rapids
common ground and move forward together. Also enclosed is the AMM
Elwyn Tinklenberg
Report on Urban Revitalization, which can serve as a resource document to
Blaine
help identify areas of agreement, and an Executive Summary highlighting the
major conclusions and recommendations of the report.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Vern Peterson
3490 lexington avenue north, st. paul, minnesota 55126 (612) 490-3301
We hope you realize how important it is for city leaders like yourself to
collaboratively seek solutions to the Twin Cities' urban problems. We thank
you in advance for your efforts and hope you can attend this critical meeting.
Please return the enclosed postcard by Monday, March 27 and check whether
you are able to attend or not. If you have any questions, please contact AMM
Executive Director Vern Peterson at 490-3301.
Respectfully,
Craig R. Rapp Joan Campbell Dave M. Childs
AMM president AMM vice president AMM past president
M, C
For metro solutions we must pull together
By Ted Mondale
Over the past three years the issues of urban
decay, affordable housing and metropolitan
sprawl have seen much deserved attention,
but little actual progress. If we are to find
real solutions to metropolitan issues, solu-
tions that maintain and improve our quality
of life and build and strengthen economic
opportunities in all our communities, we
must start from common ground.
Sadly, much of the debate has focused more
on our differences than our shared interests.
In fact, the political rhetoric threatens ideo-
logical war, pitting cities against suburbs,
public interests against private, DFLers
against Independent -Republicans at a time
when civic leaders are searching for ways to
pull our communities together.
In the last election; urban voters heard that
city problems are exacerbated by wealthy,
callous suburbanites who couldn't care less
about anybody else. The truth fared no
better in the suburbs, where voters heard
that the real goal of metropolitan reform is
to move urban problems into their neigh-
borhoods. This kind of rhetoric distorts the
real issues and precludes any real progress.
Let's challenge some of the assumptions be-
hind this rhetoric. We need to acknowledge
that middle-class people who leave the city
seeking a better quality of life are not.mor-
ally impaired. Let's admit that the urban
core is burdened with older housing stock,
some of it well past its prime and expensive
to maintain. Inner-city land in industrial
areas has long been used and often misused.
These are expensive problems to solve. Let's
admit that one of the biggest challenges
facing low-income, undertrained people liv-
ing in urban areas is the shortage of jobs
that pay a living wage. Let's challenge the
assumption that city taxpayers are "subsi-
dizing" suburban growth while getting noth-
ing in return. For example, the so-called
"fertile crescent" keeps the city of St. Paul
from certain bankruptcy by transferring
over $20 million a year in tax revenues
through the fiscal disparities tax sharing
program. None of us is well served when
the rhetoric of metropolitan reform ob-
scures our interlocking interests.
Solutions to our metropolitan problems
should be built on common ground:
■ Recognition of common interests. We are
all one metropolitan region, and we rely on
one another for our quality of life and
economic futures. Every study shows that
regions with strong core cities enjoy signifi-
cantly higher rates of economic growth than
those with distressed inner cities.
■ Pursuit of approaches that work. A puni-
tive approach to controlling suburban
growth won't work. It will cause develop-
ment to "leap -frog" outside the seven -coun-
ty metropolitan area, making matters worse.
Likewise, the dream of pouring almost un-
limited resources into existing core commu-
nity government agencies will not solve our
problems. It makes more sense to encourage
sensible redevelopment in core communi-
ties and enhance the ability of developing
communities to build neighborhoods with
life -cycle housing.
■ Development of new market incentives.
Middle-class flight from urban areas cannot
be contained by new laws and regulations.
The solution is to change market incentives.
In developed cities we must encourage ur-
ban redevelopment, job creation and expan-
sion, and investment in strengthening exist-
ing communities. In developing areas,
where estimates are that more than 300,000
new housing units will be built by the year
2025, real incentives should be created to
include a range of housing options within
development plans.
■ Examination of infrastructure invest-
ments. Major decisions like airport expan-
sion, Interstate Hwy. 35 expansion and new
bridges into Wisconsin will have a greater
impact on urban sprawl, economic opportu-
nity and quality of life in all our communi-
ties than any given law or regulation, For
real progress in solving metropolitan issues,
we need to get beyond our disagreements
and recognize that core cities, suburbs and
rural areas have resources that must be
developed for the benefit of the whole com-
munity.
We also need to recognize that public and
development interests can work together to
everyone's benefit. An example is the new
law that expedites cleanup of polluted land;
it created a process for the government,
developers and landowners to negotiate pol-
lution cleanup and encourage urban rede-
velopment. In fact, this legislation has won
a national award for its innovative solution
to a nagging problem which has stymied
urban redevelopment. We need more prac-
tical solutions like this.
Our metropolitan area is one of the best
places in the world to live. If we focus on
our common resources and get beyond ouc
regional bickering, we can make progress
toward ensuring that our grandchildren car
make the same claim, whether they live, ir.
Eden Prairie, Hopkins or St. Paul.
Ted Mondale, DFL -St. Louis Park, is t
member oftheMinnesota Senate.
Report on Urban Revitalization
Executive Summary
Draft 1-25-95
The Association of Metropolitan Municipalities formed an Urban Strategies Task Force
in 1993 to help cities better understand the causes of urban blight and to develop
strategies to address the problem. The task force included representatives from 24 cities,
including the core cities, first ring suburbs, fully developed suburbs and developing
suburbs.
The task force reviewed work already completed by others, conducted research and
developed findings and recommendations. The task force identified that a concentration
of low income residents living in deteriorating housing in central city anssuburban
neighborhoods with increasing crime rates and decreasing public and private investment
is a significant problem in the metropolitan area.
The Causes of Urban Blight
The causes of urban decay are complex and no single solution -exists for solving the
problem. The social, economic and physical aspects of the problem are interrelated.
Contributing to the problem of urban blight are:
Families that are young, poor and lacking job training or education;
• Human and social service delivery systems that are uncoordinated;
- Lack of government action to prevent or reduce barriers to affordable
housing;
- A concentration of low income housing and neighborhood
deterioration;
- public policy favoring new structures and facilities over redevelopment
of existing structures and facilities;
• Tax policies and financing mechanisms that subsidize home ownership
while not giving rental property similar treatment;
• A significant demand for low income housing being met by using
older, market -obsolete housing in the central cities and inner -.Ting
suburbs; and,
- Public policy not providing incentives or resources to remove or
replace not
housing.
The study began from the premise that it is the responsibility of government at all levels
to be involved in providing solutions. At the same time it was also assumed that
individuals, families, churches, businesses, associations and groups of all kinds have
responsibilities to work cooperatively with government. The report focuses on the roles in
urban revitalization that must be played by the state government, regional government
including the Metropolitan Council and counties, and local communities/cities.
•:I -IJ VVIIIIIIUfllG0.L Ion I! I..J J.7a .
. V 1
Recommendations to .Achieve Urban Revitalization
The strategy recommended in this report involves addressing needs in four areas: social
needs, housing and neighborhood needs, physical needs and funding needs. The report
makes recommendations in each of these areas, further breaking down the four larger
categories into subgroups. Finally the report makes ten recommendations to the
Minnesota Legislature.
The following summary highlights key recommendations in the four groups and nine
subgroups.. In addition, it lists all ten legislative recommendations.
1. Social Needs
�F
A. Family
Communities should emphasize helping families. In addition to providing for physical
needs such as housing, government needs to partner with religious educational, non-profit
institutions and community volunteers to help individuals participate fully in society.
Welfare laws should be reformed to encourage families to stay together to raise their
children and to allow those receiving public assistance to return to work without losing
health or day care benefits.
Government at all levels needs to gear human service delivery to families, streamlining
delivery, identifying at -risk families and co -locating facilities.
B. Community Building
Cities need to empower their citizens and involve them in building a sense of community
and devising solutions to community problems and challenges.
Regional government should identify and promote model processes for community asset
identification and community building.
C. Diversity
Communities need to strengthen their ability to support diversity in its many forms --
racial, cultural, age, ability, or economic.
Communities need to recognize diversity and build awareness of it, developing and
implementing a coordinated comprehensive plan for dealing with and supporting
diversity.
11. Housing and Neighborhood Needs
D. Housing
State, regional and local government need to create a climate and provide the tools
whereby a range of housing choices are made available to people throughout the region
who have limited resources.
All levels of government need to cooperate to provide affordable housing throughout the
metropolitan area that has accessible transportation, jobs and social service delivery.
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E. Neighborhood Reitn,cstment/Revitalization
Neighborhood reinvestment/revitalization needs to be addressed with a multi -faceted
approach that considers the desires of neighborhood residents, neighborhood and
surrounding land uses, size, density, transportation impacts and other relevant issues,
Incentives should be provided for middle income families to invest in homes in
neighborhoods with concentrations of poverty. Incentives and financing mechanisms
should be provided to remove and replace market -obsolete, decaying housing.
F. Education and Training
Those providing technical skills training need to make that training relevant to the
T5 job and labor markets. Efforts should be made to retain stridents in general
education programs, motivating them to seek additional skills training and the education
level necessary to earn a living wage. Education on the K-12 level needs to provide the
necessary building blocks for employment.
Communities should market training programs to low income personas and to businesses
needing to improve the skills of their labor pools. Special attention should be paid to
manufacturing and selected services businesses located or wanting to locate near pockets
or poverty or provide jobs to such persons.
G. Jobs
Local and regional economic development efforts should be geared to generate
employment that pays a living wage and that is located near affordable housing.
Regional agencies should develop and coordinate efforts to make commercial and
industrial sites in the central and inner ring suburbs more competitive with those offered
as "greenfield" sites in the developing communities.
9 Transportation
A coordinated, intermodal transportation system must be developed and funded so
everyone in the metropolitan area will have reasonable access to diverse housing, jobs,
educational opportunities, shopping, medical social services and other opportunities. The
system should include an expanded bus system, van pooling, light rail transit, high speed
bus, bicycle accommodations and reverse commuting.
State and federal funding sources should be made available to build and operate a total
transportation system including highway and various modes of transit, Cities and the
private sector must also be involving in the planning process of a coordinated, intermodal
system,
IV. Funding Needs
State government should create a Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Fund to
rehabilitate housing in deteriorating areas and to facilitate the creation of low income
housing opportunities in the developing regions. The fund should include a variety of
programs such as metropolitan -wide rental assistance voucher programs, a loan guarantee
fund to leverage private money for home purchase, a reinvestment/rehabilitation program
for salvageable housing in deteriorating neighborhoods and a development fund to
construct suburban housing for lower income persons.
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A - W
The Metropolitan Council should produce a housing plan which identifies af'f'ordable
housing needs on an area -wide basis using the criteria of income levels, transportation,
jobs, support services, current land use, etc. At this step, political boundaries should not
be' considered.
V. Legislative Recommendations
Housing and Neighborhood Livability
1. The Legislature should repeal the state law that requires 1:1 replacement within
the cities of the first class of low income housing that has been removed,
2. The Legislature should establish a Metropolitan Enterprise Fund at
between $35-40 million per year. The fund would include a variety of
programs such as housing rehabilitation and a rental assisted voucher
program, construction of affordable suburban housing, contaminated soils
clean-up, etc.
3. The state should reform welfare laws/rules so those receiving public
assistance can return to employment without losing health or day care
benefits.
Polluted Sites Policy
4. The Legislature should establish a more effective overall program to deal with
polluted soils clean-up and reuse.
.Economic Development Policy
5. The Legislature should establish a state enterprise or manufacturing job
opportunity zone incentive program for cities where manufacturing job base is
eroding. This could be done in conjunction with an enhanced manufacturing TIF
District program.
6. The Legislature should enact an updated version of the Urban Revitalization
Program, (URAP) that could also be used in suburban.cities based on defined
criteria and demographics.
7. The Legislature should establish a limited tax abatement program for
rehabilitation of aging commercial properties similar in concept to the "This
Old House" program.
The Legislature should amend the TIF law to eliminate the LGA/HACA penalty
for Redevelopment and Pollution Districts and to allow pooling for these districts.
Transportation policy
9. The Association for Metropolitan Municipalities supports a regional transit
system that is based on a combination of integrated traffic management systems
whose components should include HOV lanes, express buses and Light Rail
Transit (LRT) to connect residents to jobs, retail and commercial centers,
JMS Communications 7157553331
14, The Association for Metropolitan Municipalities supports a combined
strategy of gas tax incentives to keep pace with highway maintenance and
construction needs and a dedicated. MVET or other tax source for transit
funding expansion.
P. 67
rq, /
- 1r
METRO MEETINGS m �
A weekly calendar of meetings and agenda items for the Metropolitan Council, its advisory and standing
committees, and three regional commissions: Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Parks and
Open Space Commission, and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Meeting times and agendas are
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 TMn Cities Computer Network at 337-5400.
DATE: March 10, 1995
WEEK OF: March 13 -March 17, 1995
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
Community Development Committee - Monday, March 13, noon, Room IA. The committee will
consider: Lakeville comprehensive plan amendment ISD 194 MUSA land trade; request for
proposals for revised section 8 project -based assistance program; McKinney Act applications for
fiscal year 1995; application for Shelter Care Plus Program and contract for housing services for
Mental Health Services, Inc.; selection of HomeChoice counseling provider; Minnetrista
comprehensive plan,amendment for MUSA addition for Williams PUD; GIS update; and other
business.
Informal Information Session for Legislators and Legislative Staff on Proposed Region -wide
Safety Radio System - Tuesday, March 14, 10 a.m., Room 400 South, State Office Building, St.
PauL
Metropolitan Council Wastewater Services Pre -Budget Meeting - Wednesday, March 15, 7:30
a.m., Holiday Inn Drover's, Hwy. 494 at Concord, South St. Paul.
Chair's Informal Meeting with Council Members - Wednesday, March 15, Sheraton Park Place,
Dover Restaurant, 1500 Park Pl. Blvd., St. Louis Park.
Informal Information Session for Legislators and Legislative Staff on Proposed Region -v ride
Public Safety Radio System: Wednesday, March 15, 2 p.m., Room 125, State Office Building, St.
PauL
Transportation Advisory Board - Wednesday, March 15, 2 p.m., Chambers. The board will
consider: Mn/DOT letter regarding state plan comments; Aviation Guide public hearing report
comments; committee comments on transportation funding; an update on Transportation Plan
Amendment; Mn/DOT Metropolitan District Transportation System Plan; and other business.
Environment Committee - Wednesday, March 15, 4 p.m., Chambers. The committee will
consider: authorization to execute Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services MCWS on Blue
Lake wastewater treatment plant solids processing improvements; CEC awards for Seneca
Wastewater Treatment Plant and joint interceptor projects; Minnesota River Basin Study; report
on streamlining regulatory requirements on MPCA plan and specification approval process;
environmental audit and legislation update; presentation on proposed approach to select
equipment for centrifuge demonstration test; program management presentation; and other
business.
Polluted Sites Work Group - Wednesday, March 15, 4 p.m., Rooms 1B and 1C. rq
Sewer Rate Cost Allocation Technical Advisory Committee - Thursday, March 16, 10 a.m., Rooms
1B & 1C.
Providers Advisory Committee - Thursday, March 16, 10:30 a.m., 5th floor conference room. The
committee will consider: legislative update and Friday report; Providers Advisory Committee
bylaws; Transit Redesign project; capital funding request process; reporting process for regular
route providers; and other business.
March Brown Bag Lunch Meeting - Friday, March 17, 11:30 a.m., Room 2A. Discussion on the
relationship between growth management and the MUSA line.
Legislative Coordinating Committee (TENTATIVE) - Friday, March 17, noon, Room 1A.
TENTATIVE MEETINGS THE WEEK OF MARCH 20 THROUGH MARCH 24, 1995
Transportation Committee - Monday, March 20, 4 p.m., Chambers.
Sewer Rate Cost Allocation Task Force - Tuesday, March 21, 7:30 a.m., Room 2A.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Committee - Wednesday, March 22, 9:30 a.m., Room 2A.
Executive Committee - Thursday, March 23, 8 a.m., Kelly Inn, Benjamin's Restaurant, I-94 at
Marion, St. Paul.
Metropolitan Council - Thursday, March 23, 4 p.m., Chambers.
Committee of the Whole - Thursday, March 23, immediately following the Council meeting, Room
1A.
Chair's Informal Meeting with Council Members - Friday, March 24, 8 a.m., Sheraton
Minneapolis Metrodome, Anchorage Restaurant, 1300 Industrial Blvd. at 35W, Minneapolis.
Legislative Coordinating Committee (TENTATIVE) - Friday, March 24, 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 SPORTS FACILITIES COMMISSION
Intergovernmental Committee - Monday, March 13, 8 a.m., Sheraton Inn Midway, 400 N.
Hamline, St. Paul. The committee will consider: legislative issues; change or for no. 1 1995
artificial turf replacement project; approve plans and specifications for the 1995 video equipment
project; Met Center property; baseball strike assumptions; preliminary discussion of 1994 audit;
and other business.
Commission Meeting - Wednesday, March 15, 1:30 p.m., at the Commission office conference
room. The committee will discuss the Intergovernmental Relations Committee report; the Capital
Improvements Committee report; the Finance Committee report; and other business.
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 may be changed. To verify meeting
information, please call Jane Brenny, 335-3310.
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 1
5 6 7 8 9 to t l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15 16 17 I8 9 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
26 27 28 30
Wednesday
Thursday
2
Friday
Saturday
-
City Center Counter Open for
Absentee Voting - 1 - 3 p.m.
1
3
7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION - Pub. Safety
Training Room
5
6
City Center Counter Open to
7p. in. -Absentee footing
7
SPECIAL ELECTION
_ HOUSE DIST. 33B
8
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION -Council
Chambers
9
10
11
S4%!(I T. CO�iDTCIL
IN' ' SCo
ETAmt
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
6:15 PM WATER QUAL-
ITY TASK FORCE -
Council ConE Rm.
5:00 PM Open Space Com-
mittee - Council Conf.
Rm
7:00 PM PACT -Pub.
Safety Library
7:00 PM PRAC - Council
Conf. Room
8:30 AM HRA - Town
Square
b0 SPE UN"14"
�1liEET�
e�'Trng R,•
7:00 PM ENVIRONMEN-
TAL COMMITTEE -
Pub. Safety Trng Room
19
20
21
G Q0,PM SPEC T , cou '
`CIi,"MEE1" G Coon
g
a:CiX one
22
23
24
25
5:00 PM Youth Sports
Committee - Council
Cont: Rm.
7:00 PM BOARD OF ZONING -
Council Chambers
7Ao �LII!i 111
„INGC�tl , , :<CIt71tn
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION - Council
Chambers
26
27
28
29
30
31
3/15/95
OO
���^� OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
April 1995
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
6:00 PM CHARTER CO-
MMISSION -Public
Safety Training Room
7 OQi COtJNCIi
4 ,� rC'ooiCII,G'hain bens.
7:30 PM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION -Pub. Safety
Training Room
9
10
5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL
S°f�
raloin
11 _ _
7:00M PENVIRONMEN-
TAL COMMITTEE -
Pub. Safety Trng Room
12 _ _
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION - Councll
Chambers
_13_ _ _
7:00 PM PRAC - Council
Chambers
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
7 b0 COCIL MEE
Ng #x 1 ry yd;
7:00 PM PACT - Pub.
Safety Library
7:00 PM HRA - Council
Chambers
23
24
��
25
26
27
28
29
7:00 PM PLANNING
COMMISSION -Council
Chambers
7:00 PM BOARD OF ZONING -
Council Chambers
30
March May
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
12 13 14 15 16 17 IS 14 15 16 17 .819 20
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
26 27 28 29 30 31 28 29 30 31
3/15/95
T 00
DATE: MARCH 16, 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 MARCH 9 THROUGH MARCH 15, 1995
There were no permits issued during this time period for the above mentioned types.
For Immediate Release
March 13, 1995
CIVA
For More Information:,
Barb Cox, 550-5165
Police Auction Slated for Saturday, April 8
If you are in the market for a bargain, plan on attending the annual police
auction on Sat., April 8 at the Plymouth Maintenance Facility, 1.4900 - 23rd Ave.
N. Viewing begins at 9 a.m. Bidding starts at 10 a.m.
Items on the auction block typically include a wide array of bicycles,
electronic equipment, jewelry, tools, office equipment and other unclaimed
property recovered by Police. A complete list of items to be sold will be available
after March 15. The auction will be held rain or shine.
-30-
We Listen • We Solve • We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS SUNDAY. MARCH 17 199S
Affordable housing
urgent, divisive issue"
for Cities, suburbs p i
■ Mondale, Long look toward solution
with Metro Livable Communities Act,;
LYNDA McDONNELL STAFF WRITER
The two-bedroom Richfield apartment
Marjorie Frazier shares with her daugh-
ters is a far cry from the townhome she'd
like to own in Eden Prairie. She toured
some once with a real-estate agent.
"They were gorgeous, to the max,
very, very lovely," she says. But after
paying her $625 rent bill, there's not
much left from the $660 she brings home
from her bank teller's job each month to
save toward a down payment.
Even managing her current bills would
be impossible if her 20 -year-old daughter
didn't contribute from her job in a de-
partment store and her younger daugh-
ter, a high-school senior, didn't receive
$500 a month in Social Security survivor
HOUSING CONTINUED oN 6A ►
LOOKING
FOR HELP
"It's the rent
that really gets
Me. l work too
much to get pub-
lic
ublic assistance.
I'm still waking
to get on a wait-
ing list for Sac -
tion a.1 feel sti-
fled and . _
stressed. I feel
like there should .
be something
more the govern-
ment can do and
should do."
— Marjorie
Frazier
HOUSING
♦ cDNnNuED FRom IA
benefits. Even so, theyspend 35 percent
of their net income on housing .
"It's the rent that really gets me," says
Frazier, a pleasant woman who wears a
tiny gold cross in her lapel and performs
gospel music in her free time. "I work
too much to get public assistance. I'm
still waiting to get on a waiting list for
Section 8. 1 feel stifled and stressed. I
feel like there should be something more
the government can do and should do."
H Frazier could talk to state legisla-
tors, she'd tell them the Twin Cities
needs more affordable housing — costing
no more than 30 percent of a person's
income. Most lawmakers would agree.
Some 125,000 households in the Twin Cit-
ies — about 15 percent — pay more than
30 percent of their income for housing.
But for two years, legislators have dis-
agreed adamantly on how to make that
happen. Since the central cities and aging
suburbs have the lion's share of cheaper
housing and poor people, urban DFLers
have pressured prosp-rous suburbs to
build more inexpew s , housing. This
would relieve the preswre of rising pov-
erty and social problems at the core,
they argue, and bring low-income city
people to higher -wage jobs in outer -ring
suburbs.
Suburban Independent -Republicans
have told them, in effect to keep their
problems at home. Gov. Arne Carlson
sided with the suburbanites by twice ve-
toing housing bills he considered too pu-
nitive. He's taken a drubbing from edito-
rial writers and church groups for it.
And affordable housing, with its under-
tones of racial and class conflict, has
become one of the ugliest, most divisive
metropolitan issues. "The problem is, the
politics of the issue have become the
roadblock to dealing with the Issue," says
Sen. Ted Mondale, a St. Louis Park
DFLer.
Frazier, who is black, believes the lack
of affordable housing in newer suburbs
stems from white Minnesotans' fears
about race and poverty. "They feel if we
move into their territory, the value of the
houses willgo down, crime will come on
the scene. They figure the farther out
they are, the better."
This year, with Carlson's encourage-
ment, a small band of DFLers and subur-
ban IRs has tried, but so far failed, to
craft a modest compromise that will
stimulate reclamation of land in the cen-
tral cities and construction of low-income
housing in prosperous suburbs. By so do-
ing, they hope to lower the rhetorical
heat and make a first, small step toward
filling the need for affordable housing
and narrowing the gap — measured in
miles as well as money — between the
Prosperous and the poor in the Twin Cit-
ies.
On Thursday, Mondale and Rep. Dee
Long, a Minneapolis DFLer, introduced
the Metropolitan LWable Community
Act. The bill would tap money from the
Mosquito Control District, a surcharge
imposed to fund expansion of roads serv-
ing the megamall, a :right-of-way access
fund and a small portion of tax base
growth in communities that fail to con-
struct affordable housing. .
From those sources, the bill would pro-
duce an estimated $14 million annually
that a Metro Council advisory group
could dispense for Projects that create
middle-income jobs in the central cities,
build affordable housing in developing
suburbs, rehabilitate existing affordable
housing and encourage greater density in
new development
It's a modest sum, but Mondale be-
lieves it could spur efforts to counter the
economic and social forces that are caus-
ing urban sprawl and social division.
Mondale's bill is the byproduct of in-
formal conversations held since last sum-
mer to search for middle ground. Partici-
pants *include Mondale, IR Reps. Todd
Van Dellen and Tim Pawlenty of Plym-
outh and Eagan, and Curt Johnson, chair
of the Metropolitan Council. City officials
from Minneapolis, Maple Grove �d
Plymouth and policy wonks like Lyle
Wray of 'the Citizens league and Bill
Morrish of the Design Center for Ameri-
can Urban Landscape are also regulars.
Notable by his absence.is DFL Rggpp
Myron Orfield, chief author of the vetoed
housing bills of 1993 and 1994. The MyI-
neapolis legislator is a tireless, wW
smart publicist for the growing poveaty
of the central cities and inner -ring sub-
urbs. He is also a tenacious, often nettle-
some advocate of massive tax -base shar-
ing, development controls and penalties .
for communities that maintain barriers
to low -cast housing., I
But a man whose name Is poison to
many suburbanites is a liability in the
search for compromise. "He's not been•a
part of the process," Mondale says crisp.
y. What does Orfield think of Mondale's
bill? "I like it," he says. 1 -
Johnson's continuing involvement in
the discussions reflects the governor's de-
sire for a compromise. "The governor's
made it clear that he thinks we need to
work on these problems," says Johnson,
who was Carlson's chief of staff before
taking charge of the Metro Council:in
January. r
"He's not comfortable with the mit-
match of workers and jobs. That mis-
match is costing us productivity at the
end where the jobs are and rising social
costs at the end where the people are.
Anybody ought to want to fix that. Fixing
that problem is a place where liberal and
conservative thought come together.'.'.. -
But Carlson is unlikely to sign a'bill
that doesn't garner support from subur-
ban IRs. To nudge them, he invited sev-
eral suburban IR legislators to lunch at
his mansion a week ago and encouraged
them to find a compromise. So far, how-
ever, they aren't biting on Mondale's
plan.
Pawlenty asserts that the state's cur-
rent system for sharing a portion of the
commercial and industrial tax base
among metropolitan communities "is not
targeted well or being used efficiently"
He's reluctant to see it extended evemra
smidgen by Mondale's bill. •'ii
He objects to a part of the bill that
would allow the Metro Council to deter-
mine whether a city has met its afford
able -housing goal. H it has not, the com-
munity could keep all the growth in
property tax base from expensive new
homes if it used a portion of that growth
to build affordable housing. Otherwise,.O
percent of the tax base growth would
revert to the council fund.
Pawlenty and Van Dellen plan this
week to introduce an alternative propos-
al that would rely heavily on tax incen-
tives to businesses and developers and
may seek to tap local government aid
now directed at outstate cities. One strat-
egy, Pawlenty says, is to exempt from
sales taxes the building materials used
by suburban housing authorities in af-
fordable -housing projects. "That's 6.5
percent right off the top." Another idea is
giving newer, more prosperous suburbs a
chunk of the federal low -income -housing
tax credits now used largely in central
cities and older suburbs.
Use of mosquito control funds also will
be controversial. Taking $7.5 million
from the Mosquito Control District, mon-
ey Mondale asserts does little to elimi-
nate the pests, would leave $2.5 million
to fight mosquito -borne diseases. But he
anticipates a fight. "From the phone
calls I've gotten, they've got a little net-
work out there," Mondale said.
Desppite the philosophical differences
with DFLers, Pawlenty insists that IRs
want to compromise. "The sentiment in
my caucus has changed. There's a will-
ingness to help distressed areas to rede-
velop. We've got to find the right way."
Since legislative deadlines require that
policy bills pass through major policy
committees by March 31, however, it's
questionable whether a compromise can
be reached in time.
For now, Marjorie Frazier nurtures
disparate dreams that could help her buy
a nice home in Eden Prairie: A lucrative
recording contract for her MUSIC or a
Section 8 housing voucher.
frm the
Star Tribune,
Saturday, March 11,
W
Suburbsc
over ®rfie
1995 North. pitted ag
to get piece of r
Staff
W e
Writer
f4ow come' Eden Prairie spends $456
&r person on government services
and'Blaine spends just $239 annual -
IP And, why can Edina of to
have 42 more city workers than Coon
Japids,,even though it has fewer resi-
ents?
Good
questions — and they're being
:&kW in an often snippy,. take;-no-
Hsonep debate in the Legislature as
'ties'. less -affluent north
e,TwiTi,;Ci
Jb
region'sFs ..am squaring off against
' more -affluent southern
western; b
'And rn, su urbs. The issue, on
-'tlie surfice-ii.,:tax bate sharing, M'in-
lashina..
dr®p
pPoral
ains*t south in fight
ich tax base:',-,;
neapolis DFLer
Myron elds lit,
attempt
0 d�
est legislative divert more
of the affluent suburbs' resources to .
help address the urban problems. of
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and some of
their inner -ring subuft...
But the real phow J is howthe:iouth6rn
and western ='bwhich' :feature..
-
some of the &. lfibst.lash.:
iofiable locales,* are 4eactin
g to being'
seen as privileged, . .bloated. iiWeven
arrogant by their -no-r-thern -neighbors.
The last thing we wanted -to see was
a north versus SOU . th,,'..',.Co6n Rapids.
Mayor Bill 'Thompson said,
Suburbs continued
-FT
Star Tribune Graphic I
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Page 1
CITIZEN REQUEST TRACKING
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Darren A. DeMatthew
Civic CenteriIce Arena
12130194
113195
1113195
114195
2
Gerdes
Darren A. DeMatthew
Pub. Safety Concerns
12130194
113195
1113195
1112195
3
Moore
Darren A. DeMatthew
Transportation
12130194
113195
1113195
114195
4
Blank
Gordon Hanson
Community garden plots
113195
113195
1117195
114195
5
Moore
Dr. Robert May
19th Avenue - Traffic speed
119195
119195
1123195
1123195
6
Blank
Vivian Starr
Bike path - Lk Camelot/ NW Blvd
119195
119195
1123195
1117195
7
Hurlburt
Mark Denis/DennisHolmquist
Wetlands Ord111115 0. Rockfd Road
1117195
1119195
211195
211195
8
Moore
Randy Meyer
Fleet vehicles - petro product./service
1119195
1119195
211195
211195
8-B
Moore
Randy Meyer
Additional issues - fleet vehicles
2127195
2127195
3120195 (r)
10
Hurlburt
Nancy Cree
Wetlands Ord/NW 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
2121195 (PF)
2121195
317195
317195
13
Moore
Steven Chase
Alley Abandonment
311195
311195
3115195
14
Hurlburt
Jon Elam, City of Maple Grove
Multi -city housing program
313195
319195
3122195
Page 1
DATE: March 14, 1995
TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
FROM: Fred G. Moore ector of Public Works
SUBJECT: SPEED L 41T DETEPbHNATION
Last fall the City requested the Minnesota Department of Transportation to establish the
appropriate speed limits on several roadways which were completed during 1994.
Attached is a letter from MnDOT on the appropriate speed limits they have established.
After we receive the official order from the Commissioner of Transportation, we will
have the speed limits posted.
Please let me know if there are any questions.
attachment
*,\NNESOT,q
o �
F
tirOF
March 6, 1995
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Metropolitan Division
Golden Valley Office
2055 North Lilac Drive
Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422
Mr. Daniel L. Faulkner, City Engineer
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Re: Speed Zoning - City of Plymouth
Four City Streets
Dear Mr. Faulkner:
Speed zoning studies have been completed for Medina Road, Dunkirk Lane, Fernbrook
Lane, and Schmidt Lake Road as requested by the Plymouth City Council last November
21. Based on the investigation results and as Ed Brown discussed with you, we have
recommended authorization of the following speed limits:
Medina Road
40 mph - between the intersection with CSAH 24 and the intersection
with Dunkirk Lane
Dunkirk Lane
40 mph - between the intersection with County State Aid Highway 9
(Rockford Road) and the future intersection with New County
State Aid Highway 9
Fernbrook Lane
40 mph - between the intersection with County State Aid Highway 9
(Rockford Road) and the intersection with Schmidt Lake Road
An Equal Opportunity EmploYer
Mr. Daniel L. Faulkner
March 6, 1995
Page 2
Schmidt Lake Road
45 mph - between the intersection with Fernbrook Lane and the
intersection with Northwest Boulevard (CSAH 61)
40 mph - between the intersection with Northwest Boulevard and the
intersection with Larch Lane
The proposed speed limits are being reviewed by our Office of Traffic Engineering in
Roseville, which will make the final speed limit determination. As soon as the review has
been completed, you will be notified of their decision.
Before posting any authorized speed limits we suggest that a routine review be made of
each road to assure that all needed signing is in place, visible, in good condition and in
conformance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. When
making the review, special attention should be given to warning and advisory speed
signing for any locations where the posted speed limits cannot be safely maintained. An
example of such a location would be the curve connecting Medina Road to Dunkirk Lane.
We would also suggest that Plymouth monitor speeds on these streets and request a new
study if authorized speed limits are not consistent with prevailing speed patterns. For
example, the proposed speed limit on Fernbrook Lane is five miles per hour lower than
would normally be recommended, given current speed patterns. It is anticipated that
development now occurring will lower prevailing speeds to a level consistent with a 40
mph speed lirnit within approximately the next year. If that reduction does not occur, a
new study should be requested. Traffic volumes (and possibly speeds) can also be
expected to change on Dunkirk Lane and on Schmidt Lake Road west of CSAH 61.
These changes will be primarily due to planned road construction.
Mr. Daniel L. Fualkner
March 6, 1995
Page 3
Copies of radar speed samples obtained during the studies are enclosed for your
information. If you have questions concerning either the data or our recommendations
please contact Ed Brown (797-3129) at this office.
Sincerely,
Michael T. Schadegg
Traffic Studies Supervisor
MS:pl:EB
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NOTICE
OF
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARING ` ✓.',
Regional Recreation Open Space Policy Plan Amendment Regarding EC�'
Regional Recreation Open Space Capital Improvement Program (CIP)` '
for Calendar Years 1996-2005.
The Metropolitan Council's Community Development Committee will conduct a public hearing on
an amendment to the Council's Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan regarding
its regional recreation open space capital improvement program (CIP) for Calendar Years 1996-
2005. (March, 1995 Publication No. 78-95-022) The hearing document is available from the
Council's Data CentCr at 291 -U"1T or 71-^0 2^' ^V9"014 (TTY). The hearing document is also available at
public libraries in the seven -county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The CIP may affect the
standards for determining projects of metropolitan significance in the Metropolitan Significance
Rules.
PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION
When and Where: Monday, April 24, 1995, at 12 Noon as part of the Metropolitan
Council's Community Development Committee meeting
Conference Room 1A, Mears Park Centre
230 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota
Who is
Being Notified: County, city and township key contact people
Selected state and federal organizations
Regional recreation system implementing agencies
Interested citizens and community organizations
How to
Participate: 1. You may attend the meeting and offer oral or written .
comments. You may register to testify in advance of the
hearing by calling Ellie Porter at 291-6312 or 291-0904
(TTY). Upon request, the Council will provide reasonable
accommodations to persons with disabilities.
2. You may submit your written comments which must be
received by 4:30 p.m. May 8, 1995 to:
Arne Stefferud
Metropolitan Council Mears Park Centre
230 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
Questions: Call the following Council staff:
Arne Stefferud, 291-6360 or
Ellie Porter, 291-6312 or 291-0904 (TTY)
OVERVIEW
The Metropolitan Council has revised its regional recreation open space capital improvement
program (CIP) for Calendar Years 1996-2005. This document contains an analysis of the regional
park capital improvement projects against Metropolitan Council funding priorities as well as the
priorities of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission. Based on that analysis,
projects are prioritized under separate categories so that similar projects are compared against
each other.
For the 1996-97 period, projects are proposed to be funded with anticipated revenues from the
Minnesota Environmental Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative Commission on
Minnesota Resources (LCMR.) If that revenue source is not appropriated, the Metropolitan
Council would request bonds be issued by the State of Minnesota in 1996. This state revenue
(Environmental Trust Fund or State bonds) will be matched on a 60/40 basis with bonds issued by
the Metropolitan Council in 1996 and 1997. Another proposed revenue source is federal
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) grants for trail projects.
The 1996-97 portion of the CIP proposes $35,199,800 for park capital improvements from the
following revenue sources:
$20,271,300 of Environmental Trust Fund and 1996 State bonds
$12,998,300 of bonds proposed to be issued by the Metropolitan Council as a 40% match
to state funding.
$1,931,200 of ISTEA grants which are proposed to be matched with State funds on a
80/20 basis.
The funds would be used as follows:
$4.55 million Env. Trust Fund money, $2.388 million of 1996-97 Metropolitan Council bonds and
$1.931 million of ISTEA grants for park acquisition/development projects that were not funded
from 1994 state bonding and 1994-95 Metropolitan Council bonding (pages 1 to 4).
$2.67 million of 1996 state bonds and $1.78 million of 1996-97 Council bonds for land acquisition
(pages 5 to 8).
$4.722 million of 1996 state bonds and $3.148 million of 1996-97 Council bonds for park
redevelopment projects (pages 9 to 10).
$7.923 million of 1996 state bonds and $5.282 million of 1996-97 Council bonds for park and trail
development projects (pages 11 to 13).
An additional $400,000 from the State and Metropolitan Council respectively is proposed to
repair the Lake Byllesby dam in Lake Byllesby Regional Park (page 14).
For the 1996 Legislative Session, the Metropolitan Council will request funds from the State of
Minnesota by project category --acquisition, redevelopment and development. And, if necessary,
system -wide projects if no funds are appropriated for that category in the 1995 Legislative
Session. If less funds are provided by the State of Minnesota in 1996 for a project category, a
reduction will be made only in that category by fully funding projects in priority order until all
funds are allocated. Unfunded or partially funded projects would be the basis for requests for
Minnesota Environmental Trust Fund appropriations for the 1997 Legislative session.
February 25, 1995
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Mr. Blank:
First we wish to apologize in the delay of writing this letter. Due to family
reasons we have been out of town quite frequently.
Thank you for taking the time to write us regarding the status of West Medicine
Lake Park, especially the tennis courts. We appreciate you listening to our
concerns and updating us on the plans.
We as residents living adjacent to West Medicine Lake Park have always had as
our number one goal the preservation of our natural resources. We feel positive
the park plans can proceed with this goal in mind and also benefit the people
using these natural resources.
Thank you again for communicating with us.
Sincerely,
Steven H. Chase et al
11901 23rd Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55441
557-7019
15, , k Q_�,
DATE: March 8, 1995
TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
FROM: John R. Sweeney, Assistant City Engineer/Transit Administrator'
SUBJECT: 1995 "OPT -OUT" TRANSIT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Attached is a legislative update for "Opt -Out" Transit prepared by George C. Bentley,
Legislative Liaison for Plymouth Metrolink. The following issues are addressed in
detail in the legislative update:
• Regional Transit Bonding
• Transit Funding
• "Opt -Out" Transit Initiatives
If you would like any additional information or wish to meet with George Bentley
personally to discuss these issues in more detail, please let me know and I will set up a
meeting as soon as possible.
attachment
cc: Fred G. Moore
Daniel L. Faulkner
6C BENTLEY ASSOC TEL NO.612-937-3504 ' Mar 06 95 18:29 P . 02
iy- 44?
5.7. Lr. BENTLEY ASSOC INC. 7525 Mitchell Rd., Ste. 216 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 937.3502
March 7, 1995
Mi :MO TO: John Sweeney, Plymouth Metrolink
FROM: George Bentley
SUBJECT: Legislative Update
'1'he Legislature is beginning to pick up its pace as the first committee deadline
approaches. By March 31 bills must be out of the policy committees in at least one house,
and either be passed to the floor or to a finance or tax committee. The second committee
deadline is April 7. By that time all bills must have passed out of policy committees in
both houses.
REGIONAL TRANSIT ]BONDING
The Metropolitan Reorganization Act corrections bill, SF 281 (Flynn), passed the Senate
floor last week by a unanimous vote. This bill contains a reauthorization of $32 million in
metropolitan transit bonds, representing bond authority the RTI3 failed to exercise last
year prior to the time frame for issuing the bonds reached its expiration date in state
statute. The surprising aspect of this passage is that Senate members weru apparently not
aware of the bonding authority contained in the bill.
The House Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee will take up this bili
f'or its first hearing on Tuesday, March 7. The House author, Rep. Myron Orficld (I)FL -
Mpls.) can either take up the House file (HF 585) or he can take up the Senate file since
the bill passed the Senate floor. It is expected to move out of committee tomorrow and
go to the House floor.
This bill represents part of the $82 million metro transit bonding package requested from
the Legislature this session. Another bill has been introduced, SF 835 (Pappas) and HF
1037 (Simoneau), that currently requests $82 million in metro transit bonding
authorization. If SF 281 (or its companion, HF 585) is approved by the full House, then
SF 835 and HF 1037 will be reduced to $50 million in bonding authorization when first
heard in committee.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS • CONSULTING
GC BENTLEY RSSOC TEL NO.612-937-3504 Mar 06 95 18:30 P.03
Legislative Update - Page 2
Opt -out transit has a stake in this bonding authorization, since these bills contain the only
metro transit bonding authority likely to be heard this year. Among the $82 million in new
bonding authority, opt -out transit is identified in the Metropolitan Council's Capital
Improvement Plan (C;111) for funding of vehicles, vehicle capital, transit hubs and park and
ride lots,
it appears that the $32 million reauthorization will fly through the Legislature, but the
additional $50 million in new authority is not being "warmly" received by legislators and
may face an uphill battle to receive approval.
SF 835 and HFA 1073 have been referred to the 3'ransportation and Transit Committees in
each House, but have not yet been scheduled for hearings.
'FRAANSFF FUNDING
The transit funding picture remains clouded, with no real momentum being generated in
either the House or the Senate. Senate and House leadership have indicated they are not
willing to move forward with any transportation funding requests until the Governor takes
an advocacy position, something which is unlikely. The Governor has left transportation
out of his "no new taxes" pledge, but that is not seen as strong enough by legislative
leaders
The Metropolitan Council is requesting $93.3 million for the biennium to maintain existing
services, up from an inadequate $69 million during the current biennium. The Governor's
budget recommends $89 million for metro transit, a number that is not adequate but in the
current environment would cause rejoicing at the Met Council if it was approved.
The logjam is over a proposed and necessary increase in the gasoline tax. Highway
advocates indicate the need for at least a five cent per gallon increase in the fuel tax, and
are opposing any significant increases in transit funding above current levels unless fuel
taxes are increased. Other members of the Legislature are opposed to a fuel tax inereasc
but support increased funding for transit.
Three new transit funding bills have been introduced in the past week. The first bill, SF
794 (Ranum) and HF 931 (Wagenius), proposes an amendment to the Constitution that
would undedicate the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund (funded by the Ebel tax and
GC BENTLEY ASSOC TEL NO.612-937-3504 Mar 06,95 18:30 P.04
LcAislative Update - Page 3
license fees), allowing; this fund to also be used for public transit and bicycle and
pedestrian paths. This bill also requires that not less than 45% of the fund be spent in the
metro area and not less than 45% be spent in Greater Minnesota. This concept has been
proposed in the past, and even if it could get past the powerful highway supporters in the
Legislature (which is not likely) it would face a very difficult public vote in 1996.
The second proposal, SF 837 (Pappas), would impose a .1% payroll tax in the metro area
to fund transit, generating about $42 million per year. This payroll tax would be imposed
only on employers, as is the unemployment tax, and would be imposed as an expected .3%
decrease in the unemployment tax takes place. The bill also calls on the Metropolitan
Council to involve local communities in the transit system's route and schedule planning,
to conduct a coordination study of all metro transit services, to monitor development of
electric vehicle technology, and to issue free one-month bus passes to students in grades 5
through 8 who complete a transit curriculum study. This bill is expected to be opposed by
the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and would be a candidate for a veto by the
Governor, if it ever gut that far.
The third proposal, SF 832 (Flynn), is the bill from the State Council on Major
Transportation projects. It proposes a metro -wide sales tax of up to .5% to fiord metro
transit services, eliminates the metro transit property tax, removes limits on Metropolitan
Council transit bonding aut'oority, increases the fuel tax by 5 cents, indexes the fuel tax,
requires a continued study of road pricing for the funding of major transportation projects,
an requires a study of highway jurisdictional transfers. This bill has not been received
warmly by the Legislature and would also be a candidate for a Governor's veto.
Other funding bills may be proposed as the session moves forward, but unless the log jam
over highway and transit funding; is broken there may be some draconian cuts in metro
transit services by the end of this year. Some cuts under consideration would include the
elimination of al weekend service, the removal of service after 6 or 7 in the'evening, and
the elimination of a number of regular routes around the region.
If these cuts took place opt -out transit fiinding would likely be cut back dramatically by
the Metropolitan Council and would face significant cuts of its own. There is a letter
writing and phone calling campaign to legislators being organized by the Minnesota Public
Transit Association (MPTA). Suggested letters and strategies will be made available this
week, and we will put the letter into form for use by Plymouth Metrolink once it is
available.
GC BENTLEY ASSOC TEL NO.612-937-3504 Mar 06,95 18:31 P.05
Legislative Update - Page 4
OPT -OUT TRANSIT INITIATIVES
At a meeting last week, the legislative agenda for Minnesota. Valley Transit Authority and
the Southwest Metro Transit Commission was disclosed to a niceling of opt -out
legislators, opt -out representatives, and some county officials. These initiatives include:
- Change language in the opt -out statute regarding funding, requiring that the Met
Council "shall" provide 900/9 of the local transit property tax instead of the current "may".
- Allow the operating levy to be used for the purchase of capital equipment.
- Allow opt -out systems to retain all of the unused portion of the 9011/a.
- Request an appropriation of $25,000 to be used as a planning grant "for obtaining up
to $25 million for a metro -wide reweise commute program.
Obtain a fair and equitable portion of the Met Council's bonding authority.
You and I will be meeting soon to review this legislative agenda, to determine the impacts
on Plymouth Metrolink, and to decide whether Plymouth Metrolink will be supporting this
agenda.
Later this week I will provide you with an updated list of transportation and transit -related
bills including their current status. If you have any questions, would like additional
information, or would like copies of any bills please let me know.