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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 02-04-2005Dummy CITY OF PLYMOUTH r;b COUNCIL INFO MEMO February 4, 2005 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) February 9 meeting agenda ............................... Page 2 February, March, and April Official City Meeting Calendars .............................................. Page 3 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings .......................................... Page 9 FOR INFORMATION ... News Articles, Releases, Publications, etc. Home Free Quarterly'Report .............................................................................................. Page 10 News release from the Wallace Group regarding Plymouth Police Department assistance in reducing school bus stop arm violations........................................................ Page 11 Star Tribune Plymouth—related articles from the Wednesday "West Edition": Report on regulations and impact on housing costs ................................................ Page 13 Commentary from Medina Planning Commissioner Tom Supel regardingproperty taxes......................................................................................... Page 15 Sun Sailor news storyregarding suburban efforts to keep the Mission Detox Centeropen......................................................................................................................... Page 16 Invitation to the grand opening of the Minnesota Population Center ................................. Page 19 Staff Reports Update on officer designations for the Planning Commission ........................................... Page 21 Correspondence Thank—you note from TwinWest officials for the Plymouth "State of the City" luncheon.............................................................................................................................. Page 22 Letter to Mr. Choong Yul Lee regarding a proposal for traffic signage and signal modification in the parking lot at the Cub Foods at 35`h and Vicksburg; a copy of Mr. Lee's original correspondence is included....................................................................Page 23 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA February 9, 2005 WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the consent agenda* are considered to be routine by the Environmental Quality Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Committee member, or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 P.M. 2. PUBLIC FORUM —Individuals may address the Committee about any item not contained in *the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve the January 12, 2005 Environmental Quality Committee Minutes 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. No Wake Zone Ordinance Public Hearing 6. NEW BUSINESS A. EQC Orientation 7. REPORTS 8. ADJOURNMENT OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS February 2005 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 3 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION- Medicine Lake Room 4 5 2:00 PM -7:00 PM FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL, Parkers Lake 6 7 8 5:30 PM SPECIAL CRY COUNCIL MEETING: DISCUSS DRAFT POND MAINTENANCE MP ILEMENTATION; Council Chambers 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 9 5:70 PM PUBLIC HEARING ON NO -WAKE ORDINANCE, Coal c"in°'wn " 7.00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQCL Covell Cb - 10 7:00 PM PARK & ITEC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 11 12 ASH WEDNESDAY 13 14 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL,Council Chambers 15 16 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 17 7'00 PM HOUSING a REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), CoundChambem 18 19 20 21 PRESIDENTS DAY - Ci ty Offices Closed 22 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 23 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 24 25 T30AM-9:00AMWC REGIONAL BREAKFAST, uN Radswn Hotelotel & a Conference Center 26 9:OOAMSPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING -SET 2005 GOALS & PRIORITIES: Plymouth Creek Center 27 28 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers Mar 2005 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan 2005 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 modified on 2/4!2005 3 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS March 2005 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 Feb 2005 S M T W T F S 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, Lunch Room 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7:00 PM HUMAN R COMMMISSIISSI ON - Medicine Lake Room 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: DOV,NTONM & OTHER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES: Lunchroom 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Council Chambers 7:00 PM PARK 8 ITEC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 6:00 PM YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM, Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING d REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PALM SUNDAY 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH Good Friday 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH BUSINESS COUNCIL, Sheraton Minneapolis West 12201 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka 27 EASTER SUNDAY 28 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 29 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL 30 6:00 PM BOARD 8 COMMISSION RECOGNITION 31 Apr 2005 S M T W T F S 1 2 Chambers MEETING, Council EVENT - Plymouth 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Chambers Creek Center 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 modified on 2/4/2005 J OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS April 2005 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 Mar 2005 May 2005 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS COMMENCES- set clocks ahead 1 hour 7 O PM BOARD OF EQUALCMme.nCeud SPECIAL Cm COUNCIL MEETING (ImmWebM 1.4—g Bd. of Equafaeon): CT' MANAGER QUARTERLY UPDATE, Coved QhimEln 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake ROOM 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL,Council Chambers 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers TOO PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC),Counc: Chambers 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 8:00 AM-1:DO PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STUDENT WORKSHOP, Plymouth Ice Center 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING b REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 9:00 AM CITY AUCTION, City Maintenance Garage. 4190023rd Avenue PASSOVER 7:00 PM BOARD OF EQUALIZATION (RECONVENED), Counci Chambers BEGINS AT SUNSET 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 6:00 PM YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS, Coun al Chambers 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY Chambers COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers modified on 2/4/2005 T Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items February 22, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Announcement of Wayzata School District's "Putting Family First Day" on March 7 • Receive 2004 unaudited financial reports and approve transfers • Consider recommendation from Environmental Quality Committee regarding E-85 vehicles • Consider change in Liquor License condition regarding signage for West Medicine Lake Community Club • Announcement of "Putting Family First" event on March 7 February 26 (Saturday), Special, 9:00 a.m., Fireside Room at Plymouth Creek Center • Set Council Goals and Priorities March 8, Special, 5:00 p.m., Lunch Room • Discuss City Center concept, parking, Downtown Council, and signage issues • Discuss development/redevelopment process March 8, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers March 29, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers 9 Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. O M t-- O LO Cl) (D Ln M 00 LC) N 00 (D LC) t- L.0 Lo ti (D LO O) r CO M N r r C) d' V (.O (D (D C r r N O r r-- `pCD C, N N O r (D I` 1` V' (O M O S 00 M V a) V r r O CO 00 ti M (D 00 r 00 N r 1- r M r t` ti 0) I` O r Cl) O I'- Cl) O M N LC) d M N r Cl) LO F O N 00 LC) Cr) V CO ti N N O LO CO V CO I` CO M N V N LO (D V O r Cl) T M O T V' CO 1` N N N N 00 a o = O N d' N (M r O M (V O O M r 00 r N t` (D M N N N (D N LO I` Q' N co <- N (3) — 'IT 1` LO N M V O) r- a O = O N � d' IT LO r 1` CO LO r(D r r CO r M O T T (D IT N O T O N moi' N co O 'IT CO (D N N O LO O w N U) F- M w ON N V M T T L() r r LO M M r (D r M OD M �T M 00 1` r— O) O M T NCL r Q) r c} (D r r O N CD N a Cl) W O CDN } M M J � W r'- M N t- ti ti N N O) N M tf) Lf) N `q- CO O (D TIT O O t- N m N CO N O (D V LO r coM O (D LU � O r r r W C3 o 0 N 0 N CY O (V O O) LC) v CO T (V N (D CO T S CO M M N O) ti O T LC) w = N Lf) LO T O) N M M LC) O N N N M C F M r r r O = CD N O z r N JW M T' V T r Ln T O) LO (D O O N co (D I` M CSS O LC) CL m ao LO N— r r- r M V r 1` M IT M O) co r LL O N O v U p CD N N M M M N r T T r M Ll) V r (D M T T LC) r r O f-- N O N O T LO N 1-- N r (M O) T ao I-- N (n r * <n *O E U) (0 (LO 7 O > U C. O - W O fA C O C: (3) Cl)N cl- C OL a m U N m N -0 m N a CO ('J E— U 4) "a (D (n " - 0 O m O O a _7 (/i Ln to '� (n O -9 > " O C O CU) O OLE5 C U L 'a C U C E O a N s Q m U CO 0- a-- C �2� (0 p 7 p 0 Z 0 „_, O O L C a in .- 'a � (n � N 'yCL c O O (0 U U co .0 Cn Q C � (U ` O C— 0 U C O> p ..a . N U O- v- O -= H Q C� C� N� o p +�. Q (1) (D Q) M C Q LL C C p U ` L (n N >CD (n� tl O a tz J Q Q 'c LL to 0 m w Q E O C � a O >> C O >> t EIf O N U a) CO d d — _ C 0 N S O. O Cn �> U> U U Q U U SZ Qo - = O O = = cn tl U (D U- J j Co L W News from THE WALLACE GROUP P.O. Box 21303, Eagan, MN 55121 3750 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122 (651) 452-9800 (651) 452-3504 fax First Student, Inc. For Immediate Release For further information, contact: Aaron Hustedde, The Wallace Group, 651-452-9800, hustedde a.,wallacegroup.com Jeff Pearson, First Student, 763-559-8111, ext. 104, j eff pearson�?fs. firstgroupameri ca. com SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM VIOLATIONS ARE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN Plymouth and Burnsville police departments step up efforts as First Student reports increasing number of motorists putting children at risk They look much like any other red stop sign, but too many motorists seem to think they can go through them without stopping. School bus stop arms are extended when children board or depart from buses, and bus contractor First Student is seeing a growing number of motorists disobeying them. Police in at least two large Twin Cities suburban communities are making extra efforts to educate the public and penalize offenders as they try to put a stop to the violations. First Student's bus terminal in Plymouth has had about two stop arm violations a day on average, according to Manager Todd Bauman. The law of averages says that somebody's going to get hit," Bauman said. "We're trying to be proactive, and educate the public about the problem." Bauman called the Plymouth Police Department for help, and the new police chief, Michael Goldstein, has been responsive. Sgt. Rob Gardner with the department said officers contact the registered owners of vehicles seen running bus stop arms. They can then issue tickets by mail with fines of $300 or more to vehicle owners. Any witness can report a stop arm violator by giving a license plate number, vehicle and driver description. Gardner has talked to alleged stop arm offenders on the phone. "Suprisingly, they are quite honest about what they're doing," he said. "Some say they didn't realize they had to stop right away." The sergeant said most of those ticketed plead guilty and pay the fine. Under Minnesota law, anyone who witnesses a bus stop arm violation can report it to police, who after verifying that license plate numbers match the vehicle can then issue a ticket to the registered owner. One stop arm offender was observed by Plymouth's mayor, who reported the offense to the police chief. "It's pretty serious with him and it's been pretty serious with our city council as well," Gardner said. ;r In Burnsville, where a 12 -year-old boy was hit by stop arm violator on November 16 of last year, police have stepped up enforcement efforts. Using information from First Student, the department's traffic enforcement units monitor motorists at bus stops where stop arm violations are most frequent. Burnsville Officer Chris Goodreau, one of the main advocates of the effort, said he L tickets two to three stop arm violators each week, out of about 10 stop arm citations issued by the department. Most violations occur on four lane roads, and about 40 percent of them involve motorists going in the opposite direction of the bus, he explained. Another department veteran, Officer Paul DesLauriers, finds that many motorists he stops are in a hurry. "People are way too aggressive when they drive. They're not organized enough, and they try to make up time on the highway," he said. With bus stop arms, if the first car stops for the red bus sign, those that follow will stop, he said. If it goes through, they all might go through.' Burnsville officers have spoken at school bus driver safety meetings and are working closely with First Student's safety coordinator in Burnsville, Tom Moore. "Our drivers are excited about the whole thing... they believe someone is doing something about a problem that has been largely ignored," Moore said. Officer DesLauriers gave some examples of what motorists say when they're pulled over for running through a stop arm. "I didn't see the bus." "I didn't know I had to stop." "The guy ahead of me did it," or even, "I realized I had to stop, but I drove through it." The view from inside the bus can be frightening for school bus operators, who are monitoring traffic and waiting to give a hand signal for students to cross in front of the bus. Sometimes, vehicles speed around the bus as students are waiting to cross, Bauman explains. "What could happen if just one of those students forgot to look for the signal?" Bauman asks. "Our drivers are getting frustrated, and more importantly, fear for the safety of their students." There's a real simple rule for motorists to follow, Sgt. Gardner said. If the stop arm is out and there's no barrier between the motorist and the bus, such as a concrete median or ditch, the driver must stop. Also, before bus drivers extend the stop arm, they first illuminate their amber flashing lights and then their red lights. When the latter come on, it's safe to assume that the bus is going to stop. Bauman asks motorists to think and act more safely around school buses. "If it was their child on the bus, they wouldn't want this to be happening," he said. With 10 Minnesota locations, First Student serves school districts in St. Paul, Mounds View, Minneapolis and other communities. Its corporate headquarters is in Cincinnati, Ohio. First Student is the largest school transportation provider in Minnesota, and the second largest nationwide. startribune.com Close window Last update: January 29, 2005 at 11:23 AM Plymouth considers denser housing Ben Steverman Star Tribune Published February 2, 2005 The Plymouth Planning Commission is considering a proposal that would give developers more incentives to build housing for middle- and low-income homebuyers. But the proposal would require major changes to long-established rules governing how neighborhoods are laid out and how homes are built. City staff members worked for several months on the proposal. "There's quite a bit of research behind it," said Planning Manager Barb Senness. The Planning Commission is reviewing the 34 -page report, which includes the following changes to city policy: • Allowing an increase in the density of developments that include housing for middle-income families. Developments with more units per acre can save developers and homebuyers more than $20,000 per unit, the report concludes. But the report also warns that the city might want to maintain the option of denying higher density when it would overwhelm streets, sewers and water services. - • Allowing developers to build on smaller or narrower lots. Larger lots increase land costs and increase the costs of streets, sidewalks and other services. The sizes of lots could be varied within a development, the report says. • Allowing more units in each building in multi -unit projects. This rule change would allow developers to build larger buildings at a lower cost per unit while leaving more open space on other parts of a site. • Reducing the number of parking spaces required at apartment buildings. Most apartment buildings currently must have 2.5 parking spaces per unit, but according to city studies, two spaces usually is sufficient. • Increasing from 25 percent to 35 percent the area of a developed lot that can be covered by buildings, pavement or other impervious surfaces. This rule is designed to help prevent pollution from water runoff, and only applies to properties near lakes and streams. But a 2001 study concluded that the requirement could be removed without hurting water quality. • Allowing builders to install water mains that aren't made of iron piping. PVC pipes are cheaper and don't corrode as quickly, the city staff said. • Reducing the required setbacks for housing from the street and from property lines. The farther a house is set back from the street, the more a developer must pay for driveways and sewer and water connections. For each change in policy, the city could either change the rules for all developers or target the cost-saving measures only at developers who set aside units for middle-income households. Decisions to come The Planning Commission is still in the early stages of reviewing the proposal. "It's a lot to swallow and chew on at one time," Senness said. The City Council would have the final say on changing any city regulations. Council Member Bob Stein, who is the council's representative on the Planning Commission, said he didn't want to comment on the proposal before the commission had a chance to explore the ideas. But, he said, "We're working very hard to provide affordable housing in an expensive suburb." Government guidelines suggest that homebuyers should devote no more than 30 percent of their gross income to housing. At that level, according to the city, households need to earn $59,680 per year to afford a median -priced home in Plymouth, and $34,280 to afford the city's median rent. The city's seven suggestions for cutting housing costs were narrowed down from almost 30 ideas that were initially discussed by the city staff. Other ideas included extending sewer lines into rural areas of Plymouth or allowing narrower streets. Many of those suggestions were rejected as either impractical or unlikely to have much effect on housing costs, Senness said. Stein said that he has been surprised by the lack of public comments on the plan and that he hoped residents would take more of an interest in the proposal. The Planning Commission is expected to consider the plan again in late February or March. To read the report, go to www.startribune.com/136. Ben Steverman is at bsteverm anra,wartrib une. com. 0 Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. startribune.com Close window Last update: January 30, 2005 at 3:10 PM Is that a property tax solution, or just a decoy? Published February 2, 2005 In his commentary, "Reps should address property taxes" (Star Tribune West, Jan. 19), Richard Woodruff appealed to Minnesota property owners to contact their legislators to urge action directed at the possibility that they may experience an unacceptable rise in their property tax bill in 2007. However, his statement of the problem is misleading, and one solution he suggests does not solve the problem. He raises the specter of a large increase in property taxes (67 percent in his example) in 2007 when properties are taxed on the basis of actual market value rather than limited market value. This calculation assumes that the percentage rate of the local levy does not change when assessed market values increase. This is clearly an unreasonable assumption. Each year a dollar amount for the tax levy is set by the local taxing authorities. If the authorities choose to set the same dollar levy, any increase in assessed property values will result in a lower percentage tax rate. Of course, Woodruff is correct that some property owners may experience larger than average increases when the limited market value constraint is removed. But this is a difficult issue to evaluate. Rightly or wrongly, the property tax system is designed to allocate the tax levy of local governments to property owners on the basis of market values, and the imposition of limited market values has distorted the allocation of the tax bill relative to the market system. Some individuals benefit while limited market values are in place while others pay a higher portion of the tax levy than they would if all properties were assigned their correct market value. Woodruff then uses this "potential" for large increases in property taxes in 2007 as a segue to talk about Proposition 13 in California, wherein property tax increases were limited until a property was sold. He concludes that "Proposition 1.3 did protect the property owners." Again, this conclusion is not correct when it is understood that cities establish their levies in terms of dollars, not rates. If, after the imposition of Proposition 13, levies were unchanged, the same amount of local revenue is generated and the only effect of Proposition 13 is to change the allocation of the tax burden among the various properties. Some property owners win and some lose, but it is unclear why introducing such distortions in the market based system is, on net, fair. The Minnesota property tax system is quite complex and can certainly be improved, and I applaud Woodruff for his efforts in keeping this system in front of the legislators. But let's be sure the solution solves the problem. If the problem is the dollar levies coming from local entities, then we should focus on the "duck" (the decisions of the officials and the reasons for those decisions); we should not be decoyed (purposely or by accident) by "solutions," such as limits on assessed values, that only shift the tax burden among the taxpayers. Tom Supel is a retired economist and a member of the Medina Planning Commission. C Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. �.11 1UUIJIV 1�,I121iio41 local community nowspaporsM IL—L.'alForel '? • Select a Town Local News Local News Community Frfi iratinn Calendar Opinion Public Safety Seniors Obituaries Legals Graduation News Local Sports Sports News Sports Briefs Events/Scores MNSun Home Page Archive Classifieds Candidates 2004 Finance Calc Nutrition Calc Weather Contact Us How to Advertise Jobs At Sun Click Here Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005 PLYMOUTH Local News Cities lobby to keep Mission Detox open By Sue Webber Sun Newspapers (Created 2/3/2005 9:47:42 AM) For more than 20 years, Mission Care Detox, 3409 E. Medicine Lake Blvd., Plymouth, has provided suburban police agencies with a place to take inebriated persons for safe housing and medical attention. But the facility's future now is uncertain. R Special Sections A proposal was presented to the Hennepin County Board in Bride's Guide mid-December 2004 to establish a 60 -bed sobering center in Forms downtown Minneapolis. Art & Education The board was slated to consider taking action on the proposal In Memory Of Dec. 14, 2004. If approved, it would have resulted in discontinuing Let It Be Known the contract with Mission Detox for 2005. Private Party Ad Form But the issue was referred back to staff pending further information, Sport Shots according to Pat Murphy, executive director of Mission Detox for the Stork Report last 20 years. Search The Web "I hate the phrase 'collateral damage,' but that's an appropriate Powered by: description of what this is about," Murphy said, "There are two concerns: what would happen to suburban detox, and what would J� When You Advel tise it in the Sun! 66111uater- = IM happen to the homeless people now living a the site being proposed for the sobering The proposed site is on Curry Avenue in across from the Salvation Army, near the Murphy said. Part of the funding for the new facility wo Plymouth detox center. Murphy argues that for almost a quarter Mission Detox has offered quality service effective than any detox downtown." The proposed downtown Minneapolis sobering center would have 60 beds, but inebriated clients would be housed there for a shorter period of time and would not receive medical care. "There are good reasons for closing," Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat said. "We can do things downtown with more chronic users." The Hennepin County Board delayed discussing the issue so that commissioners could gain additional information and visit the site, Opat said. "Some suburban police departments have some concerns that we will try to answer," Opat said. "That doesn't mean we'll keep it open." The current two-year, $1 million between Hennepin County and Mission Detox expires Dec. 31, 2005, according to a county spokesperson. Even if the Mission Detox closes, Opat said, suburban communities will not be left without a place to take inebriated residents. The New Hope Police Department uses Mission Detox on a regular basis, according to Gary Link, New Hope's director of police. Link said New Hope police officers take "at least three dozen people a year" to Mission Detox. Between 2004 and 2004, Link said, between 17 and 30 clients per year were taken to Mission Detox. Some later were transferred to another detox center or to the hospital, Link said. "Closing the Mission Detox facility would cause an undue burden on suburban police agencies," said a memo from Link to the New Hope City Council from Link. "The main detox facility located in Minneapolis is very often filled to capacity, requiring housing of subjects at Hennepin County Medical Center. The Mission Detox facility provides suburban agencies a more easily accessible resource for safely housing inebriated individuals who are a danger to themselves." As the county board studies the issue, area suburbs and police departments are lobbying to keep the 21 -bed Plymouth facility open. The New Hope City Council on Jan. 24 approved without discussion on its consent agenda a resolution supporting that effort. "Our hopefulness is based on the strength of support from the municipalities," Murphy said. "This squeaked to a stop Dec. 14 for that reason, and it's the reason why we're getting visits now from Hennepin County commissioners." Mission Detox receives clients from "almost every single police department in suburban Hennepin County," Murphy said. 1� The facility, the only one of its kind in the county outside of Minneapolis, has 17 "very committed" employees, Murphy said. "Twelve or 15 cities use us in more significant numbers," she said. Those cities include New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Golden Valley, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Orono and Wayzata. But clients also come from Edina, Eden Prairie and Bloomington, Murphy said, as well as police departments in Wright and Dakota counties. Bringing their clients to Mission Detox is much more convenient than having to transport them to downtown Minneapolis, Murphy said. "For an officer to take off for two hours to drive downtown cripples the city," she said. This site and its contents 02000 - 2003. Sun Newspapers - Main Office: 952-829-0797 webinfo(a)mnsun.com - Created and maintained by Quantum Digital Interactive icorbo(aguantumsite.com We are pleased to announce that the MINNESOTA POPULATION CENTER at the Uniyersin- of* Minnesota has a new home. Please visit us at 50 Willey Hall 225 —19th Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 612.624.5818 • N%,ww.pop.umn.edu Steve Ruggles, Director MPC Senior Advisory Board: Dennis Ahlburg, Industrial Relations Center, Carlson School of Management • Ragui Assaad, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs •Lynn Blewett, Health Services Research and Policy Division, School of Public Health • Rob Warren, Sociology, College of Liberal Arts • Ann Meier, Sociology, College of Liberal Arts • J. Michael Oakes, Epidemiology Division, School of Public Health The Minnesota Population Center, a University -wide unit housed in the College of Liberal Arts, is one of the world's leading centers for population research. Founded in 2000 with start-up funds from the University's Graduate School, the MPC now receives $6.5 million in federal and private grants. In 2004, the College of Liberal annually Arts provided funds to renovate 18.000 square feet of space in Willey Hall to house the rapidly gro++ing center. The MPC is the world's leading developer of historical and international census data, and disseminates population data to thousands of teachers, researchers, and policy makers. In addition to supporting academic and policy researchers in the state of Minnesota, the MPC fosters collaborative population research across the nation and around the world. CESICNED /-ND ExECUTED By CHF,RLES LE\,/IN �.RCHiTECTS AND UM CONSTRUCTION. ""+#:�.::. 1t-" ^:I� r, � �..."6."0'Y--µ31a:�r1N G�i')v� �.'c.;b�"� K�'r•,. _`,"�s`� ..:J' .iC�d�W f►�lfrl� ��I ii �fc�:Ctyllii rlr V:v �". � O W i. 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In -6816 ' C :.7 V] 0 • a'3 "� fn A � E C � c— L — C � G .0 Q > _ _U ro :.i G O L C U G `.Ln—CdUCro`J > ^ S'any 4361 iC: L) to cq cd � O DATE: February 3, 2005 TO: Judy Johnson, Mayor cc: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager FROM: Anne Hurlburt, Community Development Director - SUBJECT: Appointment of Planning Commission Chairperson and Vice Chairperson According to Section 305.03, Subd. 3. of the Plymouth City Code, the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Planning Commission are appointed by the Commission from among the members of the Commission, subject to approval by the Mayor, for a term of one year. At their February 2, 2005 meeting the Commission selected Peggy Larson as Chairperson and Frank Weir as Vice Chairperson. On behalf of the Planning Commission, I am requesting that you indicate your approval of the appointments. memos\ahurlbur\pcchair2005. doc 9 you f February 2, 2005 Mr. Choong Yul Lee 1600522 nd Ave. N. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mr. Lee, Thank you so much for your letter. It is unfortunate that this happened, but I applaud you taking the time to help us make a safer community. Your suggestions, ideas and information make a lot of sense. I appreciate the time and thought you put into this stop sign issue. I can certainly see your point that shortening the stop sign or adding a blinking red light could impact visibility and reduce the number of tickets or accidents in* the intersection. I have asked our Public Works and Police staff to review the intersection and determine whether some changes can be made. , I am so glad you wrote to me. If you ever need anything else, please contact me. At your service, Judy Johnson Mayor cc: Mike Goldstein, Police Chief cc: Eric Blank, Acting Public WorksDirector PLYMOUTH 'gddin9 Quality to i e 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 FA 1ennne1 ni nlumni ith mn i is January 25, 2005 City Council Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Re: Proposal for Traffic Signal Modification on 35th Ave. N. (marked as * on attached map) Dear City Council Member: On January 10, 1 stopped by the UPS Store near Cub Foods (Highway 55 and Vicksburg Lane), exited the parking lot, and turned left on 35th Ave. N. towards the post office at 3:50 PM. I received a ticket from a police officer, because I failed to stop for the stop sign. He said many people complained because a lot of people did not stop at that stop sign. I could not believe why I did not recognize the stop sign at that time. I drove less than 5 miles per hour. After that day, I drove the road several more times, trying to figure out why I failed to recognize the stop sign. One thing I realized was that when turning south out of the UPS parking lot, I had to repeatedly adjust my line of sight due to the short distance between the lot and the stop sign. I also remember putting my visor down, because the sun was very bright, which obscured my view of the sign. My proposals are as follows: 1. Lower the stop sign. It will be easier to recognize the stop sign within a . short distance. 2. Install a red blinking light. This may help more people to recognize the road sign. I understand why the police officer said many people missed that stop sign. Please let me know if you have any questions. Proposed by: Mr. Choong Yul Lee Address: 16005 22"1 Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55447 Phone: 763-475-0120 (H) Sincerely yours, Yahoo! Maps - Plyrnouth, MN 55447-1322 Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail LOCAL Sewg Usen Sign Up Yahoo! Maps Back to Map w7 3550 Vicksburg Ln N Plymouth, MN 55447-1322 \� I 5th Ave 133 \ HT1 �@\� moria Z. loo m Boa ft © 'tahoo! ©2004 NAVTE0 When using any driving directions or map, it's a good idea to do a reality check and make sure the road still exists, watch out for construction, and follow all traffic safety precautions. This is only to be used as an aid in planning. Page 1 of 1 I Mi Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Copyright Policy - Yahoo! Maps Terms of Use - Help - Ad Feedback httn://man¢ vahnn rnm/nmonc7nnrn 9- 4—,I--7 nT_-7_ .,...r