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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 03-25-2005r;bCITY OF PLYMOUI Dummy COUNCIL INFO MEmv March 25, 2005 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Meeting call from Mayor Johnson for a special March 28 Council meeting ....................... Page 3 Youth Advisory Council March 28 meeting agenda............................................................. Page 4 March, April, and May Official City Meeting Calendars..................................................... Page 5 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings ........................................ Page 11 FOR INFORMATION ... News Articles, Releases, Publications, etc. Star Tribune Plymouth—related articles from the Wednesday "West Edition": Profiles of three proposals for a Maple Grove hospital .......................................... Page 12 Ben Steverman's column with a mention of the search for youth members on Plymouth advisory boards and commissions..................................................... Page 13 Information on plans for public meetings to select a site for Veritas, a private high school in Minnetonka or Plymouth................................................................. Page 15 Corporate Information sheet on the CenterPoint Energy ..................................................... Page 17 Staff Reports Report on enforcement procedures for signs posted in the right—of--way ...........................Page 18 Minutes Park & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) draft minutes of the March10 meeting............................................................................................................... Page 20 Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens (AMLAC) draft minutes of the March16 meeting................................................................................................................... Page Correspondence Thank—you letter from State Senator Bill Belanger for Mayor Johnson's appearance before the Senate tax committee...................................................................... Page 27 Notice that the Senate has voted to keep the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) under the Department of Housing and & Urban Development(HUD)........................................................................................................... Page 30 Letter to Instrument Control Systems, Inc. regarding payment for damage toPlymouth Well No. 6....................................................................................................... Page 31 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONMEMO March 25, 2005 Page 2 Letter to Savannah Homeowners Association President Sandy Eldred regarding a potential building addition at the Aero Systems Engineering site located on Schmidt Lake Road; a copy of Ms. Eldred's original correspondence isincluded........................................................................................................................... Page 32 Letter to residents regarding a request for a planned unit development general plan for the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (2005014) ........................ Page 36 Letter to residents regarding a request for a site plan amendment and conditional use permit for CB Richard Ellis and CIP, Inc. (200515) .................................................... Page 37 Letter to residents for variance and interim home occupation license for Thomas Stout (2005018)..................................................................................................... Page 38 Letter to residents regarding a notice of extended hours of operation for the Plymouth Gun Club; additional correspondence from Gun Club's Jim Sable ................... Page 39 Letter from Plymouth Foundation President Steve Beachler regarding the proposed archway entrance to the Hilde Performance Center ............................................ Page 43 Legislative Items League of Minnesota Cities Friday Fax for March 18 ....................................................... Page 44 League of Minnesota Cities Friday Fax for March 25 ....................................................... Page 49 City of Plymouth Meeting Call and Notice of Special City Council Meeting I am calling a special City Council meeting for Monday, March 28, 2005, at 6:15 p.m., at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. The purpose of this meeting is to meet with Congressman Jim Ramstad. J d A. Jt+on(j Mayor March 23, 2005 PLYMOUTH .ldifinq(�uulity to Li/e 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 www. a ply mouth. mn.us YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MARCH 28, 2005 6:45 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS Time Allotment 1. Approvals: 6:45-6:50 a) Agenda b) February 28, March 10 meeting minutes 2. Special Items and Guest Speakers: a) Youth Leadership Conference wrap—up and follow—up 6:50-7:00 3. COMMITTEE UPDATES: 7:00-7:15 a) Youth Service Awards Committee b) Youth Leadership/Youth Town Forum Committee c) Ad hoc Web planning Committee 4. Future agenda items 7:15-7:20 a) b) 5. Adjournment 7:20 6. Additional Materials: a) Event To Do list b) April, May, and June 2005 Official City Meeting Calendars OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS March 2005 Sunday I Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 6:00 PM POLICE DEPART6 ENT RECOGNITION 2 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 3 7:00 PM CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, Lunch Room 4 5 Feb 2005 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Zl 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 EVENT, Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5:00 PM SPECIAL7:00 COUNCIL MEETING: DOWNTOWN & OTHER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES: Lunchroom PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Council Chambers 2:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 7:00 PM PARK & 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers REC CADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 5:30 PM -7:30 PM YOUTH LEADERSHIP 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room CONFERENCE, Council Chambers Plymouth Creek Center 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PALM SUNDAY 7:00 PM Good Friday 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH PLYMOUTH BUSINESS COUNCIL, Sheraton Minneapolis West 12201 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka 27 EASTER SUNDAY 28 6:75 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN JIMMRAMSTAD, AMST Medicine Lake Room 29 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council 30 6:00 PM BOARD & COMMISSION RECOGNITION EVENT- Plymouth 31 7:00 PM SPECIAL HRA MEETING, Medicine Lake Room Apr 2005 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Chambers Creek Center 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 modified on 3/25/2005 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS April 2005 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 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 7:00 PM BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, Council chamba.a 7:00 PM PLANNING 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMENCES - COMMISSION, COMMISSION - set clocks ahead 1 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL Council Chambers Medicine Lake hour MEETING (Immediately following Ed. e! Room EGuaI-b—): CRY MANAGER QUARTERLY UPDATE, Council Chambers 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY 6:00 PM SPECIAL HRA MEETING, Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council (EQC),Council COMMISSION Chambers Chambers (FRAC), Council 7:00 PM REGULAR Chambers COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 17 .18 19 20 21 22 23 9:00 AM -1'00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STUDENT WORKSHOP, PDEMT O Cemer 7:00 PM PLANNING 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), 9:00 AM CITY AUCTION, City Maintenance Garage, g COMMISSION, Medicine Lake Room 1490023rd Avenue 7:00 PM BOARD OF EOUAUZATION (RECONVEN EDI, Ceuncll Council Chambers PASSOVER Ch.— BEGINS AT (FOLLOWING Be OF EOLALIZAION) SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: CONSIDER UNITED PROPERTIES PROPOSAL, Council Chambers SUNSET 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY 6:00 PM YOUTH SERVICEAWARDS, 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH COUNCIL, Council Council Chambers ADVISORY Chambers COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers modified on 3/25/2005 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS May 2005 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 5 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room 6 7 8 9 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL,Council Chambers 10 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 11 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL OUALIN COMMITTEE (EOC),Council Chambers 12 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 13 14 15 16 17 18 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 19 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 20 21 9:00 AM -3:30 PM PLYMOUTH CLEAN-UP DAY, Public Works Maintenance Facility 22 23 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 24 45 AM PLYMOUTH BUSINESS COUNCIL, 111r. - Mm^.aRanaW..Iuml RitlgetlalaOmro.Minnalanb 5:00 PME:F)PMSPECIAL COUNCILMEETING :YOUTH TOWN FORUM, Ply -1, C,..k C.-, T:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council CMmb.n 25 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT(PACT)- Medicine Lake Room 26 27 28 29 30 MEMORIAL DAY (Observed) - City Offices Closed 31 Jun 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 Apr 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 modified on 3/25/2005 i� Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items April 5, Board of Equalization, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers (Quarterly Update with City Manager immediately following meeting) April 12, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Approve rezoning of property from FRD (Future Restricted Development) to RMF -1 (Multiple Family 1), and for a preliminary plat, site plan and conditional use permit to allow a residential development containing 43 townhome units on 11.25 acres located at 3735 & 3855 County Road 101. Perl Development. (2005001) • Accept Proposal for Curly Leaf Treatment in Medicine Lake • Announce Human Rights Commission Essay Contest Winners April 19, Board of Equalization Reconvened, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers (Discussion of United Properties proposal immediately following meeting) April 26, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. startribune.com Last update: March 22, 2005 at 2:14 PM Three plans for a Maple Grove hospital Published March 23, 2005 Close window Obstetrics will be a centerpiece of any of the hospitals proposed for Maple Grove. All three plans under consideration call for more obstetrics and pediatric care for the fast-growing city where there are many young families.Now that the state health department says Maple Grove needs a new hospital, it's up to the Legislature to decide whether to build it, and who should get that chance. Four committees in the House and Senate will try to reach a conclusion, and nothing mandates a decision this year. City officials aren't playing favorites; they're just hoping to get a hospital. Here are the options: Now the closest facility is in Robbinsdale. Here are the contenders: Who: Fairview Health Services operates seven hospitals, including Fairview -University Medical Center in Minneapolis. Proposed site: On 27 acres near the proposed Hwy. 610 extension and Fernbrook Av. Cost: $47 million for an ambulatory care center, $65 million to $90 million for a 72 to 100 bed hospital, with the goal of expanding that to 284 beds by 2020. Services: Would include mental health, cardiology, women's center, cancer center, obstetrics. The sales pitch: Fairview says it is farther along in its planning than the other providers and ready to start construction within 12 months. For more: www.fairview.org/Maple Grove Who: Tri -Care is a joint proposal by Park Nicollet Health System, Children's Hospitals and Clinics and Allina Hospitals and Clinics. Proposed site: On 84 acres at Dunkirk Lane and 97th Av. N. Cost: The first phase of the project -- 60 to 100 beds built by 2008 -- would cost $72 million. The hospital would be expanded gradually, to 250 beds by 2020. Services: Would include obstetrics, physical therapy, dialysis, speech therapy, outpatient surgery. No immediate plans for inpatient behavioral health. The sales pitch: A full hospital would be built by 2008, unlike other proposals that phase it in over time; access also would be available to large networks of hospitals. For more: xwww.maplegrovetricare.com Who: North Memorial operates the hospital closest to Maple Grove, in Robbinsdale. Proposed site: On 30 acres at I-94 and the proposed Hwy. 610 extension. Cost: $117 million. $59 million for a medical office building and ambulatory care center already set to open in 2006. Another $58 million to build an 80 -bed hospital in 2008. Services: Would include cardiology, obstetrics, oncology, pediatrics and psychiatry. The sales pitch: North Memorial already serves many Maple Grove residents from its campus in Robbinsdale. For more: whc.northmemorial.com/special/maplegrove Ben Steverman C.1 Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. startribune.com Close window Last update: March 21, 2005 at 3:41 PM Mound police to check on seniors' safety Published March 23, 2005 When bad weather or emergencies strike, it's a good idea to check on the elderly or those who live alone to make sure they're doing OK. That's the idea behind a list that the Mound Police Department is putting together. With help from the Gillespie Center, the local senior activity center, the department is compiling a list of senior citizens police should check on during emergencies such as bad weather, power outages or other utility problems. The police promise to use the list only for official business. Good candidates for the list are people who live alone or who don't have much contact with their families. To get someone's name on the list, e-mail moundcrimepreventionna,ci.mound.mn.us or call the department at 952-474-0621. Provide the senior's name, address, phone number and contact information for family members who should be informed in the event of an emergency. Plymouth student advisers Plymouth is looking for students who want a voice in the way their city is run. The City Council appoints students under age 21 to seats on four advisory groups -- the Youth Advisory Council, the Human Rights Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Environmental Quality Committee. Lorpplications, go to www.ci.plymouth.mn.us or call 763-509-5080. The deadline is March 30. Kline seeks student art U.S. Rep. John Kline, who represents Carver County as well as much of the south suburbs, is asking for students in his district to submit art to his office. It's part of the Artistic Discovery Program, a contest in which a winner from each congressional district gets to see their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. The deadline is May 6. Submit your entries to Kline's Burnsville office, 101 W. Burnsville Pkwy., Suite 201; Burnsville, MN 55337. Call Nancy Bischoff at 952-808-1213 for more information. Reserve campsite online Yet another local government is offering services through its website that once were available only by phone or in person. Starting this year, you can make your camping reservations with Carver County Parks on its site at www.co.carver.mn.us/parks. The county has 50 campsites at Baylor Regional Park north of Norwood Young America. The site will accept payment with a credit card. To reserve campsites the old-fashioned way, call 952-466-5250 or go to the county public works office, 11360 Hwy. 212 W., Cologne. 2 join foundation board It's hard to think of two people more involved in their local community than Jim Brimeyer and Jim Rhodes. So it makes some sense that both Jims are becoming board members of the St. Louis Park Community Foundation. The foundation was started in 2002 and is trying to build up a permanent endowment to fund St. Louis Park's future needs and improve the city's quality of life over the long haul. Brimeyer was St. Louis Park's city manager in the 1980s, a city council member from 1996 to 2003, a former president of the St. Louis Park Rotary Club and even the president of his local townhouse association. Now he'll be president of the foundation board. Rhodes, who represented St. Louis Park in the Minnesota House until this year, will also join the board.. It's hard to figure how he'll find the time: Rhodes is the co-chair of the St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts; he runs the community band; and he's active with the Rotary Club, the Park Nicollet Foundation, the Minnesota Music Educators Foundation and several other groups. Carver scientist on board Gov. Tim Pawlenty has appointed a Carver County employee to a state board that oversees the professions of architects, engineers, surveyors, geoscientists and interior designers. Mary West, a soil scientist with Carver County Environmental Services, was appointed to a four-year term on the Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design. Contact the writer at 612-673-7168 or bsteverman(iotartribune.com. C) Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. startribune.com Last update: March 22, 2005 at 1:42 PM Good old-fashioned education Shruti L. Mathur Star Tribune Published March 23, 2005 Close window Parents of students at the Hill School were frustrated because they couldn't find a high school in the northwest metro area to continue the classical education their children were receiving at the K-8 private school in Wayzata. So they decided to create their own. Veritas Academy, a charter high school set to open this fall in Minnetonka or Plymouth, will focus on the core academic subjects, including math, science, history, geography, literature, arts and music, studied in historical order, with classes coordinated from one subject to another. The academy will focus on "a more traditional, rigorous, old-fashioned liberal arts" curriculum, said Sherokee Ilse, who handles recruitment and marketing for the school. The academy, for instance, will emphasize a traditional approach to math, in contrast to the integrated math that other area public schools offer. It blends math studies from several areas with problem solving while linking it to other subjects. The more traditional approach in math was appealing to Joanne Watts and her eighth -grade son. Watts said her son struggled with integrated math, and so did she when she was helping him. "I don't normally have to struggle with math. I remember enjoying it in school," she said. "When I worked with him, I haven't always understood the logic from one unit to the next." She said traditional math -- which focuses on subjects such as Algebra and Geometry individually -- offers more continuity in math studies. Watts also liked the idea of a smaller school and said there weren't many non -private school options in the area. "I know we have a number of private schools in the area, but for us that would not be an option because of the cost," Watts said. "The fact that it is a tuition -free school catches your attention." Charter schools are funded through state money that is allotted per pupil, and they operate free of most school district regulations. They must find organizations such as school districts or charter school start-ups to sponsor them before they can open. Minnesota has been a pioneer in the charter school movement, with the first one in the nation opening in St. Paul in 1991. Veritas Academy is sponsored by the Friends of Ascension, a nonprofit group that sponsors a dozen other charter schools focusing on classical education. Watts said she thinks Wayzata High School, which her son would have attended, is a good school, but she doesn't believe that a traditional public high school is the best fit for everybody. Ilse said that she thinks that no school can be a perfect fit for every student, but that the students who would probably succeed at Veritas are those who like to work hard and be challenged and who like to learn "meaningful understandings of how things fit together." This is accomplished through a coordinated curriculum that ties various subject areas together by using time periods. For example, when students are studying World War I in history, they will read literature by Hemingway and Steinbeck and also write about the causes of the war. School organizers are shooting for 150 students and hope to have at least 100 when the school opens next fall. The school is accepting applications. Organizers have not settled yet on a location but hope that the school will be located near the Interstate Hwy. 394-494 corridor. The school will have a dress code, but Ilse said the students will have a say in the final policy. Students also will determine the school colors and what type of school activities and electives will be offered. • INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS All meetings are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka. Thursday, April 7, Wayzata City Hall Community Room, 600 E. Rice St., Wayzata. /5" Monday, April 11, Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka. Tuesday, April 12, Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Av. N., Plymouth. Wednesday, April 20, Wayzata City Hall Community Room, 600 E. Rice St., Wayzata. Thursday, April 28, Minnetonka Center for Arts, 2240 North Shore Dr., Orono. Contact the writer at 612-673-4395 or smathur(astartrihune.com. C Copvright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. = CenterPoint, Energy Serving The Natural Gas Needs of Plymouth since 1960 Established Service 800 LaSalle Avenue PO Box 59038 Minneapolis, MN 55459-0038 CenterPoint Energy serves over 25,505 residential and business customers in the City of Plymouth -- with the capacity to serve more. Over the last 45 years, we've invested $20,894,882 in your community to establish, improve and expand our natural gas distribution system. This infrastructure comprises 1,858,621 feet of natural gas main, plus 20,799 service lines and meters connecting individual customers. We have paid property and real estate taxes to Plymouth since we began serving your community in 1960. In 2004, we paid $359,692 in total taxes on our gas distribution system. Active Corporate Citizenship For more than 135 years, CenterPoint Energy has played an active role in making Minnesota communities better places to live and work. We support communities in a variety of ways, including chamber of commerce memberships and by helping sponsor events important to communities. We support non-profit organizations such as United Way, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity, organize employee volunteer programs, and offer financial support to charitable organizations. Our technical training staff provides free safety training to local fire departments and emergency personnel. In 2003, we launched the Community Partnership Grant Program, which provides grants to communities for public safety projects. In its first two years, the program delivered over 100 grants to cormnunities in our service area. Proven Service Advantages Price: While wholesale natural gas prices have risen over the past several years, natural gas is still more economical for heating homes and businesses than other sources such as fuel oil, propane or electricity. CenterPoint Energy's natural gas prices are consistently among the lowest in the nation as well as in the region because we use a diversified natural gas portfolio, including underground storage, liquid natural gas, and fixed-rate, short and long-term contracts from many different suppliers. Emergency Response: We have over 400 service technicians trained to respond to system related emergency situtations in the communities we serve. We are committed to rapid and efficient emergency response and working closely with local public safety officials. Reliability & Commitment: Our company name reminds us of our commitment to putting the needs of our customers and communities at the "center" of everything we do. Our extensive service and distribution system in your community enables us to provide safe, reliable gas service; and we maintain that infrastructure with regular inspection and maintenance activities that meet or exceed mandated standards. Last year, we performed gas leak surveys on 938.87 miles of gas mains and services in Plymouth using the latest infrared equipment. Products & Services: The company offers products and services through its Home Service PlusOR business including heating, cooling and appliance repair and maintenance plans; sales of heating and air conditioning equipment; and other home comfort products. CenterPoint Energy also offers energy conservation programs including energy audits, rebate programs, and system design assistance for businesses. Please visit our Web site at CenterPointEnergy.com for more information. DATE: March 17, 2005 TO: Department Directors FROM: Anne Hurlburt, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Enforcement Procedures, Signs in Public Rights -of -Way Plymouth's Zoning Ordinance (Section 21155.02 Subd. 9) prohibits all signs in public rights-of- way with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are: • Public announcement signs for city-wide and free community events by civic groups • Directional real estate signs for community -wide annual events such as the "Parade of Homes" • Street, warning, directional and other official non-commercial signs erected by a governmental agency. The exceptions do NOT include garage sale signs or "regular" real estate or open house signs. If there is any question whether or not an exception applies, please consult Planning Division staff for an interpretation of the ordinance. Enforcement will generally be on a complaint basis; however, staff will initiate enforcement in the following circumstances: 1. Free-standing signs blocking the view of an intersection or otherwise creating a hazard to public safety. 2. Signs attached to street signs, traffic control devices or utility poles, If the sign is considered to be of substantial value (such as a professionally painted metal sign) it will be removed and laid flat where it will no longer cause a hazard. All other signs will be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Staff from any department may remove such signs; however, any installation that would require tools, ladders or other equipment will be removed by Public Works Maintenance Division staff. Citizen complaints about signs in the rights-of-way will be referred to the Police Department. If the sign meets the criteria above (creating a safety hazard or attached to signs or poles) staff will immediately initiate enforcement action. If it does not meet the criteria for immediate enforcement, staff will have discretion to take the following actions as appropriate: I . If the sign is clearly a short-term installation (such as a garage sales sign) that would be expected to be removed within 24 hours, the sign may be left in place. 2. The owner may be given a verbal warning that they must remove the sign within 24 hours. Staff may also lift the sign from the ground and lay it flat, if conditions permit. 3. If after a warning the sign is not removed, staff may remove it and dispose of the sign in an appropriate manner. 4. If the owner can be identified, they may be cited for violation of City Code Section 21155.02 Subd. 9. Evidence sufficient to prosecute the violation will be documented and preserved. Police Department staff will coordinate prosecutions of violations with the Community Development Department. Please share this memo with your staff. Let me know if there are any questions. Thank you! MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING March 10, 2005 Page 1 PRESENT: Commissioners Fiemann, Davis, Griwac, Krahulec, Rezabek, Planning Commissioner Weir, staff Blank, Evans, Lauer, and Pederson ABSENT: Commissioners Aamoth, Pederson, Singer CALL TO ORDER Chair Fiemann called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Davis made a motion to approve the minutes of the February meeting. Krahulec seconded. Motion carried, all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present. b. Staff. Evans handed out some warming house statistics that had been prepared by Dan Lauer. Rezabek asked if there is a specific order on when the rinks get maintained? Blank said there's a north flooding crew and a south flooding crew. Lacompte, Plymouth Creek, Ridgemount, and Oakwood are all in the Wayzata School District. Plymouth Middle School and Zachary are in the Robbinsdale District. Streets, parking lots, and trails, are first on the priority list for being maintained, rinks are last. Trails have a higher priority than rinks because more people use the trails than use the rinks, and we get far more calls about the trails. Fiemann said the WHA uses the rinks at Ridgemount and Plymouth Creek. Rezabek would like the rinks at Plymouth Creek and Ridgemount to be the first ones maintained during the skating season. Fiemann says he heard that Wayzata uses a tanker truck with a rag to flood Klaprich. Wayzata uses white boards, Plymouth doesn't. Maybe we need to take a look at how other communities are maintaining their ice. Blank said he would talk to Sonny from Wayzata. They're only maintaining one rink, we're maintaining 19. Blank said he is less than enthusiastic about the maintenance of our rinks, but he doesn't have a solution at this time. Blank said painted boards do not make much difference. The sun heats them both up almost equally. Blank said he thinks other communities have more time to do hand flooding than we do. Every rink is broomed, shoveled, and flooded every day unless there's a snow storm. Blank will have discussions with maintenance this summer about flooding rinks. Our base business is recreational skating. Wherever we have two rinks, only one is reserved for the hockey association. The other one is left open for non -hockey association players or the neighborhood kids to use. We have one shaving machine that goes on the hockey rinks, and they sometimes forget the pleasure rink. Rezabek said he has been receiving complaints about the cleanliness of the Ice Center, and he's seen it firsthand. There is a month's worth of gum, trash, etc., in the stands of the C ice rink. Better cleaning needs to be done. Garbage cans are overflowing. Blank said he would look into it. Evans said we are very PRAC Minutes/March 2005 Page 2 busy trying to get the summer catalog out. Some things to watch for that are new this summer include a professional theatre tour company doing a week long camp and then putting on a performance of Robin Hood at the Hilde, we are partnering with our forestry department to do some planting and landscaping, and a reminder that besides this being the 50th anniversary of the city and the 25th anniversary of Parks and Recreation, the Plymouth Creek Center is celebrating it's 5th anniversary. We've mailed off our Gold Medal application. We are starting to work on the video for that. Some upcoming special events include the Yard and Garden Expo April 9, the Primavera Fine Art Show, also in April, and the Chocolate Sampler in May. The History Fest has been cancelled due to dwindling elementary school enrollment and escalating costs. Staff is trying to come up with something different to do during that weekend in 2006. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Council approved Annual Report. Council approved the 2004 annual report and thanked the Commission for a great job. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business to report. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Frank White - youth sports issues. Director Blank introduced Frank White who was present to discuss violence in youth sports. White grew up in St. Paul, was close personal friends with Dave Winfield, and has worked many high school and college basketball tournaments. White wants Minnesota to be a leader in how it deals with youth sports, especially in relationship to parents and spectators. There are rules in place for coaches, but there are no rules for parents and spectators in terms of how they conduct themselves at youth sporting events. He showed a tape from the ABC program 20/20 dealing with violence on the field, etc., against coaches, umpires, referees, etc., by players and parents. Spectators and parents in the stands are the big problem now. He shared ideas on how to improve things. Rage is happening everywhere, from the highways to the express lanes at the grocery store. There's been a dramatic shift in youth sports away from a sense of enjoyment and sportsmanship to intense competition, winning at all costs and being number one. What values are we teaching? Children should be focusing on developing a positive self image, learning to work as part of a team, learning to manage success and disappointment, and respect for others. David Walsh said "when winning is the dominant value, moral and ethical values inevitably suffer." What is sports violence? "Any word or action by an athlete, coach, game official, parent or spectator that inflicts harm on those involved in a sport activity." Types of sports violence: philosophical violence, a win at all costs attitude, a "no pain -no gain" attitude, physical violence, emotional violence, and sexual violence. Factors that could contribute to violence in sports: players, coaches, spectators, officials, professional sports, college and high school sports, rivalries, bias/prejudice. There are not enough officials in high school sports today in Minnesota. More folks need to be trained to be officials. Can violence in sports be eliminated? An immediate solution would be to formally adopt codes of conduct, agree to have �i PRAC Minutes/March 2005 Page 3 them enforced by officials and staff and then discipline those who violate them. The long term solution is to educate players and coaches, parents, etc. Ways to prevent violence in youth sports include developing a code of conduct for players, coaches, parents, officials. White stated that the Northfield Youth Baseball Association hands out a card to disruptive people attending their events which reads, "We the NYBA appreciate your attendance at our youth events. Our participants need your positive support, and encouragement. Abusive behavior of players, coaches, umps or fans will not be tolerated. If your behavior continues we will stop the game until you leave the premises." We can make a difference: treat all players with respect, keep the reason for the game in perspective, use appropriate discipline, take injuries seriously, replace putdowns with instructions, motivate with praise not name calling, do not accept abusive behavior. For parents: prepare your child to be athletes, help your child find the coach and team that works for him or her, encourage instead of yell, remember the purpose of the game, don't coach from the sidelines, be a positive role model, examine your expectations. White's goal is to get us to take a look at what's going on in youth sports. Handing out "the card" is effective in dealing with difficult situations. Blank asked for an explanation of "the card." White said that upfront people are told what the expectations are by reading the reminder. Next step is for a coach to make a comment to calm down the offensive person. Third step is having the card handed out by an official. In AAU basketball, coaches are told that they are responsible for the parents of their players. Blank asked White to address the issue of having cities start the ball rolling by saying that athletic associations may not be able to use city facilities if they don't start disciplining their parents, spectators, etc. White wasn't aware of any cities doing that at this time, but commented that in order for it to work, you'd need the support of your city council. b. 2005 trail improvement project. Blank explained that the CIP has set aside $80,000 to do trails in 2005. We sent more in 2004 than anticipated and took in a bit less revenue. The trail on 36t is the most urgent need. Blank reviewed some possible trail projects for 2005. We need to complete the trail from the New Hope bridge over to the walking entrance to French Park. The price to do that is $31,000, leaving about $50,000 in the budget. The County is looking at upgrading 101 from Co. Rd. 6 to Co. Rd. 24. They also have to improve County Road 24 as part of that project. REZABEK MADE A MOTION TO DO THE TRAIL ON 36TH AVENUE AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. RODRIGUEZ SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED, ALL AYES. Fiemann wants the trail on Medina Road finished to the Greenwood athletic complex at some point. He understands the reasons for not doing it now. Blank said he doesn't anticipate seeing much extra money coming in this year in the way of park dedication, but if things change, he'll look at an additional trail. Blank then talked about the land we're getting around Lake Pomerleau. We paid $210,000 for five acres. Blank said the Council is moving ahead with planning northwest Plymouth. The first task is land use guide planning. Once the guide plan is established we'll know more about density, etc. Blank is very close to drawing up the purchase option on the Begin property. Fiemann is interested in a future bike path between the Rainbow Foods, Panera Bread, Hollywood Video shopping area and the new 1-1A PRAC Minutes/March 2005 Page 4 Lowe's, etc. He wants the trail closer to 55. Blank said we know we need an east/west connection there. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Fiemann thinks Frank White brought up some interesting topics including the city's role in encouraging youth athletic associations to have policies in place to deal with fans, parents, etc. Staff will talk about some ideas. Fiemann thinks groups should be encouraged to have a code of conduct in place that is supported by the city, but not to the extent that the city would start enforcing it. He believes we need to be a positive role model. Davis wants to make sure a park tour gets scheduled this year. Staff will try to schedule it in June, rather than waiting until August. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION None. 9. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. AMLAC Board Meeting March 16, 2005 Present: Jon Elkin, Mike Hogan, Nancy Mack, Gary Holter, Bruce Larson, Bridget Jodell, Terrie Christian, Karla Anderson, Joe Himmelberg, Bill Wixon Absent: Tom Gallagher, Fred Kickertz Treasurer's Report $3,526.14 several people sent in an extra $50.00 Current Membership is 213. A discussion was held on how we count members; whether we count households, or individuals. The consensus was that we have traditionally counted the number of households, and this has been steadily increasing over the years. The last membership letter sent out was very successful and we got approximately 50 new members from this. This was a mailing to 500 homes in the area which was the same mailing list that our last newsletter went out to. Annual Meeting Board members were very complimentary to the speaker at our Annual Meeting, Rich Brasch from the company that built the new wet detention ponds on the east side of the lake. At the annual meeting when AMLAC accomplishments were being described to the membership, many of them were only accomplished with cooperation with the City of Plymouth. It was decided that credit was not given to the city for their part, and that we need to correct this oversight. Thanks will be given to the city in our next newsletter. No Wake Issue The board had a lengthy discussion about the political nature of the two cities cooperating with each other and the compromise at this time to establish a Plant Protection Area. The No Wake Ordinance will not be voted on by either city because of the opposition during the public hearings. Instead, the Aquatic Vegetation Management Group (AVM) will work on a Plant Protection Plan that will require voluntary cooperation by citizens. Also discussed was the science that has been done nationally and what has been done specifically in Medicine Lake. Terre reported that what made the most sense to the scientists who were advising the AVM was that we try to save what is still there. There are areas of the lake that were so completely taken over by curly leaf pond weed that there were no native plants growing at all. One of these areas was in the bay just to the south of the north arm. It was hoped that the two areas designated for protection where a healthy diversity of native vegetation still exists would spread out to repopulate that dead zone. It is possible for science to gather evidence from what has happened in other lakes and predict similar outcomes in lakes that have like circumstances. Whv wait for the negative outcome before taking steps based on the science of lakes (limnology) to protect what we have? Boat traffic that suspends the sediments and scours the bottom has been proven to impede re -population of native plants once invasive plants are gone. There are many national studies that have come to this conclusion. The Board discussed how citizens will be educated about the plants, and how they will know where the plant protection areas are. It is still planned to put up bouys so that citizens will know where the protected plants are; where to place signage and brochures to educate boaters so the plan will be most effective. The AVM will be working out the details of this. Joe Hardy has said that he would be willing to post a sign on his place of business to help with the education. It was also suggested to have a sign at French Park, and also come up with a brochure to place in the building at the park. Since the park will not have a person in the booth this year to collect parking fees, that will not be an option for handing out literature. Some other way needs to be thought of to distribute literature. Mike Hogan will contact the park to see if we can put brochures in the park building. Terrie will follow up with the Aquatic Vegetation Management group on education. Political Boundaries for Board Members There are some issues that are political where the board is divided and our membership is divided. The board agreed that we can state for interviews that we are divided on an issue, but that we should not speak for the organization any more than that. If we make clear to an interviewer that we have a personal opinion that could be quoted if it is made clear that the speaker is not endorsing a position for the organization as a whole that is acceptable and appropriate. We must be clear with the news people what can be stated on behalf of the organization, and what is our own opinion. The board agreed that this same boundary can be applied to support of political candidates. We do not as an organization ever endorse a party or a particular candidate, but as an individual citizen we can endorse a party or candidate. Board Officer Position Elections: The following people were re-elected to their positions: Jon Eklin, President, Terrie Christian, Vice President, and Bruce Larson, Treasurer. The position of Recorder will be rotated by the following board members: Nancy Mack, April, Joe Himmelberg, May, Gary Holter, June, Bridget Jodell, July, then the same schedule will repeat through the rest of the year. Terrie Christian will serve as advisor for scientific details. By Laws The organization has had the same By Laws since the 1970's. The board agreed to work on updating them over this next year so that they reflect current information and practice. A committee will be formed to work on this. Joe Himmelberg volunteered. Bruce Larson already had to leave this meeting, but it is hoped that he will lend his expertise to the process. Other board members may also join the committee. The By Laws review has been initiated partially by concern about board member roles, expectations, responsibilities and sustainability of the work of the board by member education and participation. Workbook for Benchmarking Your Organization's Sustainability This document was provided by Karla and the board unanimously adopted it as a tool to work on our Vision, Goals and Action Plan. This document directly addresses the concerns raised during the By Laws discussion on Board Member roles, etc. There is a section in the beginning for each member to evaluate themselves on their contribution to the organization. We agreed that each member would fill out the entire workbook parts that pertain to us and bring it to the next meeting. There are parts of the document on fundraising that do not apply to us. Terrie expressed that understanding the science of lakes and then being present at political meetings where decisions are being made are a very important part of what we should be doing. Educating ourselves and new board members for leadership in this area should be a focus. Calendar Board members liked the idea of having a Calendar that could include our Board meeting dates, EQC meetings, City Council meetings, yard and garden expo, our lake clean up and other events. It could also show the rotation of Recorder responsibilities. Any other list of projects as they are decided upon could be added. We could put this on the website so that members and others could access our plans. To help in our planning it was decided that the Annual Picnic is always the weekend after Labor Day and the Annual Clean-up is always the weekend after Memorial Day. Nancy will lead a planting project this year. Karla will send her the information that is already set Up. Newsletter We will do a spring newsletter, and agreed that it will be shorter than our last two. Eight pages maximum. Target date to send out is the last week in May, so board members writing articles need to have their copy in by the 2nd week in May. Miscellaneous Jon brought a sympathy card for all of us to sign to send to Irene Durant. Joe (Roy) Durant passed away suddenly a week ago. He was a very devoted volunteer for our activities. Nancy has a neighbor who is a member of a pyrotechnics professional group. They set off a fireworks display on the lake on New Years 2005. They had a permit, and completely cleaned up all debris. They would be interested in sponsorship to help them with liability insurance which is about $1,000. There was discussion, but no decision on this. Minutes Recorded by Terrie Christian (2 WILLIAM V. BELANGER, JR. Committee on Taxes Rankine Member Senator 40"' District 10716 Beard Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55431 Phone: ( 952)881-4119 113 State Office Building 100 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, MN 55155 Office Phone: (651)296-5975 Fax: (651)296-9441 E-mail: sen.biILbelanger@senate. mn March 18, 2005 Mayor Judy Johnson City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mayor Johnson, Senate State of Minnesota Thank you for your presentation to our tax committee. Both Senator Pogemiller and I would like to work with you. Government only works when we all work together. The attached was in my mail the day following your presentation. It is this kind of thing that puts members at cross purposes. There has to be only one voice speaking for all cities, and you are it. Best Wishes, Bill Bel er State Senator CC: Senator Larry Pogemiller 14A 2 1 2UU5 Y' SERVING: Blcmmington • Burnsville • Savage. C0N1N11T'1'EES: RUIeS & Administration • Taxes • Commerce & Utilities Legislative Coordinating Commission Paid I'or h\ the 13cl1112Cr Senate Volunteer Committer • Not printed or Mailcd at Taxp;iyer 1-:x1)ense A Proposal To: ✓ Relieve metro traffic congestion ✓ Restore LGA cuts ✓ Increase school funding without creating funding disparities among school districts Repeal $140 M in state transit property tax relief created in 2001 surplus and use it to aid cities and schools without creating further funding disparities Impose Y2 -cent metro sales tax to replace lost property tax relief and increase funding for metro congestion relief Prepared for By Flaherty and Hood For the Coalition of Greater MN Cities based on MN House Research FY 2007 Dedication of Motor Vehicle Sales Tax 2/22/2005 7/3 CN tn c No 1-10 tn O kn O Ln O tn to tn "IT et en 20 t 0. cc w w 0 M U (4 cc t u - C) cllil O co En O V O (u P 0 4; XO 0 W M c is M c No 1-10 tn O kn O Ln O tn to tn "IT et en 20 t 0. cc w w 0 M U (4 cc t u - C) cllil O co En O V O (u P 0 4; Mar 10 2005 15:23:17 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Mayor Johnson Page 002 Of 002 CQ1V P,THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MA'Y'ORS 1620 EYE STREET, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 TELEPHONE (202) 293-7330 FAX (202) 293-2352 URL www.ut;mayors.org DONALD l- PLUSQUF.LLIC Jn the House, report language was adopted which increased the level of Mayor of Fresno o KAY BAR'IS Mayor of Akron M� or of Kansas Cr , MO J. CHRISTIAN HOLLWAGE Ma af>li=,>x� as the Community Development Block Grant. The resolution makes no Vire Prealdenu BEVERLY OWEILL Mayor of Longe ch TO: The Mayor Pur rrca,dcna: Mayyor ofAlhuq,.ar ue Cr DAv16 N. CICIIIIN� Mayor Development Block Grant Program from the Department of Housing and Urban JERRY ABRAMSON Mayyo�,�orinL avilk Meuo Development to the Department of Commerce." We would like to thank House OSCAaaYR�aaIIaAdO- "vfAN KICHARD M. DALLY JAM ; or. of�-rh FROM: Tom Cochran 'Ptxoan`s M M)YNIN�O played key roles in the development of the Douse Report language. Executive Director Mayor of &nrtoo ]OSEIrF1 P. RJL.EY. JR EVF11JrLORDrok On behalf of our President, Don Plusquellic who has been the champion Mayor of cl.,Idro4, SC ' for our efforts we thank all Mayors who responded to the Senate vote. It is a win Mayor of Chulour LAURA MILLER Ma or of Dallis Trwtsc.: MANUELA.DIAZ Subject: Senate Adopts CDBG Amendment Ma ofM;unFl E1.J2A�HTH G. WIttS House Adopts )Report Language in Support of CDBG Ma c of [,-do PATRJCK IfENRY HAYS Mayor of North Lode, Rork 5HARPR JAMES Mayor of- 01ark NJ O WILLIAM � JOHNSON, ]R Mayor NY DATE: March 18 2005 a of chcarcr. SCOTT L. KINC. a Hdsha We are pleased to report that the Senate adopted Senator Norm Coleman's OORF (MIS amendment to fully fund the CDBG Program and to leave it at HUD. The Beach 1EK amendment to the FY2006 Budget Resolution passed by a vote o — 31. Senator Paul Sarbanes' (MD) amendment which also supported the CDBG G' Program lost on a 49 — 51 vote. The Conference of. Mayors would like to thank o a;r both Senators Coleman and Sarbanes for their amendments. AL&IV Kutch CA Jn the House, report language was adopted which increased the level of Mayor of Fresno o KAY BAR'IS ra function 450 by " $ l .1 billion to accommodate high r appropriations or pi ams M� or of Kansas Cr , MO J. CHRISTIAN HOLLWAGE Ma af>li=,>x� as the Community Development Block Grant. The resolution makes no Ma a of Grmel. IN AMPBLLL such assumption regarding implementation of the president's proposed Strengthening )ANE Ma r of CJNeland MAAI?INJ.CHAVEG America's Communities Block Grant or transferring the Colnmlznity Mayyor ofAlhuq,.ar ue Cr DAv16 N. CICIIIIN� Mayor Development Block Grant Program from the Department of Housing and Urban of -, PETER A. 0-'M LrL s14IFiYY 01,MI,N R Development to the Department of Commerce." We would like to thank House OSCAaaYR�aaIIaAdO- "vfAN Budget Chairman, Representative Jim Nussle (IA), for the House Report HARVEY JOHNSON lane. Representatives Mike Turner (OH) and Nancy Johnson (CT) also gua P $ M or of ,ckson, MS y.1.17AS01B. KAIrl-/. Mayor of H—uVille played key roles in the development of the Douse Report language. KWAME M. IQLPATKICK EVF11JrLORDrok On behalf of our President, Don Plusquellic who has been the champion RAYMARTINEZZ"°°° Mayoc of Fort Coll,,..c PATRIC:9fChAORY ' for our efforts we thank all Mayors who responded to the Senate vote. It is a win Mayor of Chulour LAURA MILLER Ma or of Dallis for all of us. We will keep you posted as we move towards the appropriations I>ft.NICKELS Mayor of s�ule MAR71N O'MALLEY process. n a Land u«, GA 1<..dro March 21, 2005 Instrument Control Systems, Inc. Attention: Dale Cormier 13005-16 1h Avenue North Suite 100 Plymouth, MN 55441 RE: Damage to Plymouth Well No. 6 Dear Mr. Cormier: Attached is a report we received from our consulting engineer, SEH, concerning the damage to Well No. 6 in Plymouth. The conclusion of the report is that your kicking the main motor starter contactor caused the damage to the well. The City is soliciting bids to repair the damage. The current estimate of the cost is $108,374. The City expects Instrument Control Systems, Inc. to reimburse the City.. You or your insurance company should contact Dale Hahn, Finance Director (763 509- 5301) as soon as possible to discuss this matter. Sincerely, Laurie Ahrens City Manager cc: Dale Hahn, Finance Director Roger Knutson, City Attorney Brian Young, Sewer & Water Supervisor Enc. J 117359 FLYMOUTH :q Beautiful Tluce to lave 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 March 24, 2005 Ms. Sandy Eldred President Savannah Homeowners Association PO Box 46321 Plymouth, MN 55446 SUBJECT: Potential Building Addition at Aero Systems Engineering located at 13825 Schmidt Lake Road. Dear Ms. Eldred: We have received the letter you sent to the City Council members regarding potential development near Savannah. After speaking with planning division staff, I was able to confirm that Aero Systems Engineering has contacted the City regarding a potential 5,000 square foot machine shop addition to be attached to the south side of their existing building. As currently proposed, the addition would not impact the wetland. It appears that the largest share of the wetland that straddles the boundary between Savannah and Aero Systems is located on the Aero Systems property. The City of Plymouth does not own the wetland. It is owned by Aero Systems and the adjoining Savannah properties that the wetland touches. At the present time, the City's Comprehensive Plan identifies the Aero Systems site for industrial use. Prior to constructing any addition, Aero Systems must receive City Council approval of a rezoning to an industrial district and a site plan amendment. When any property owner applies for a rezoning, they typically apply to rezone the entire property, including any natural features on the property. I would expect that to be the case with the Aero Systems site. However, regardless of the zoning of a particular property, a wetland is protected under the provisions of the State's Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). The City of Plymouth has wetlands in all zoning classifications and in all parts of the City. According to the WCA, wetlands can be filled or developed, but the requirements to do so make all but very minor impacts economically unviable. If a property owner wishes to fill all or a portion of a wetland, they must first prove to the City that 1) they cannot avoid the impact, 2) they have minimized the impact to the extent possible and 3) they can replace the wetland acres on a two -to -one basis elsewhere on the site or in an approved off-site location. It is the City's goal to leave the wetlands intact where possible, as they play a vital role in the drainage system. U PLYMOUTH A 5cauti fief Pace to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 Ms. Eldred Page 2 At present, Aero Systems Engineering has not submitted any application to the City. If they submit an application, all property owners within 750 feet would be notified twice. The first letter would be sent out when the City receives a complete application and another letter ten days prior to the public hearing at the Planning Commission. A legal notice of the public hearing would be published in the Plymouth Sun Sailor and a development sign would be posted on the property. From the time an application of this type is complete, City review can take up to 120 days, but more typically is completed within 90 days. I hope I have answered all your questions. Please call me at 763-509-5401 or Marie Darling, Senior Planner, at 763-509-5457 if you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Anne W. Hurlburt, AICP Community Development Director cc: Mayor and City Council Marie Darling Savannah Homeowners Association March 16, 2005 Mayor Judy Johnson City Council Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Dear Mayor Johnson, P.O. Box 46321 Plymouth, MN 55446 f 1 ` ECEI 7 r-0 MAOI c I am writing on behalf of the residents of the Savannah neighborhood (located at the south-east corner of the Fernbrook Lane and Schmidt Lake Road intersection). The residents of the Savannah neighborhood became very concerned by recent survey work being done in and around the wetland area that lies behind Cheshire Lane and 48th Street. This wetland is important to the Savannah neighborhood residents or many reasons, especially its environmental beauty and the habitat it provides many plants and animals. We also feel that this wetland improves the overall quality of life for Plymouth residents and helps maintain our property values. Upon further investigation, Savannah neighborhood residents came to understand that ASE / Fluidyne (a company that has buildings bordering the wetland) is considering an expansion, and that the survey work was being done as part of a required rezoning of the wetland prior to expansion. Savannah neighborhood residents met this week to discuss their concerns about potential development of the wetland. We are very concerned about current or future threats of destruction to any portion of the wetland. We want to ensure the wetland continues to be protected permanently. Please help us ensure that any rezoning of the wetland will protect it from any future development. Can you help us gain answers to the following questions, critical to our efforts to protect this wetland? • How can we ensure that a rezoning of the wetland will protect it from future residential or industrial development? What are the rules and regulations of the current zoning of the wetland? • Could there potentially be development of this wetland by ASE or any other entity? • What is the current proposed zoning plan? What is the process to rezone the land in terms of requirements, timeline, meetings, and filings? • What are the long-term plans for the wetland by ASE and/or the City of Plymouth? Who owns the portion of the wetland that is not directly owned by individual Savannah residents? We appreciate your efforts to help us protect the naturally beautiful and family -friendly Plymouth environment. Please respond with any information you can supply to us by contacting our neighborhood representative, Lisa Lynch at 763-383-1067. Sincerer, �7 Sandy Eldred President, Savannah Homeowners Association 6321 Savannah Homeowners PI mouth,}MN 55446 Association March 16, 2005 Planning Division City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 I am writing on behalf of the residents of the Savannah neighborhood (located at the south-east corner of the Fernbrook Lane and Schmidt Lake Road intersection). The residents of the Savannah neighborhood became very concerned by recent survey work being done in and around the wetland area that lies behind Cheshire Lane and 48th Street. This wetland is important to the Savannah neighborhood residents or many reasons, especially its environmental beauty and the habitat it provides many plants and animals. We also feel that this wetland improves the overall quality of life for Plymouth residents and helps maintain our property values. Upon further investigation, Savannah neighborhood residents came to understand that ASE / Fluidyne (a company that has buildings bordering the wetland) is considering an expansion, and that the survey work was being done as part of a required rezoning of the wetland prior to expansion. Savannah neighborhood residents met this week to discuss their concerns about potential development of the wetland. We are very concerned about current or future threats of destruction to any portion of the wetland. We want to ensure the wetland continues to be protected permanently. Please help us ensure that any rezoning of the wetland will protect it from any future development. Can you help us gain answers to the following questions, critical to our efforts to protect this wetland? • How can we ensure that a rezoning of the wetland will protect it from future residential or industrial development? What are the rules and regulations of the current zoning of the wetland? • Could there potentially be development of this wetland by ASE or any other entity? • What is the current proposed zoning plan? What is the process to rezone the land in terms of requirements, timeline, meetings, and filings? • What are the long-term plans for the wetland by ASE and/or the City of Plymouth? Who owns the portion of the wetland that is not directly owned by individual Savannah residents? We appreciate your efforts to help us protect the naturally beautiful and family -friendly Plymouth environment. Please respond with any information you can supply to us by contacting our neighborhood representative, Lisa Lynch at 763-383-1067. Sincerely, i i Sandy Eldred ' President, Sa�a nah Homeowners Association March 25, 2005 SUBJECT: PUD (PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT) GENERAL PLAN FOR THE PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (2005014) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), under File No. 2005014, requesting approval of a PUD (Planned Unit Development) General Plan for a 96 -unit senior housing building on the 4.8 -acre parcel located northwest of the intersection of Vicksburg Lane and Medina Road. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 750 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-5450 for more information. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Sincerely, Ulmypyi �'Wy� Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2005014propnotice �� )6T..w PLYMOUTH A Beautifu(PCace to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (7531 50G-5000 March 25, 2005 SUBJECT: SITE PLAN AMENDMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR CB RICHARD ELLIS AND CIP, INC. (2005015) Dear Owner/Occupant: This letter is written to inform you of a request by CB Richard Ellis and CIP, Inc., under File 2005015, for a site plan amendment to expand the parking lot and a conditional use permit to allow a trade school (Prosource) in the C-2 Zoning District for the Four Seasons Shopping Center located at 4236 Lancaster Lane North. While a formal Public Hearing is not required, it is the City's policy to inform adjacent property owners/occupants of such applications. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 200 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of and cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, 2005, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter, at Plymouth City Hall on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. If you have any questions about the specifics of this proposal, please contact the Community Development Department at (763) 509-5400. Sincerely, tA-ti)l1271t) 6WPP-1 Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2005015propnotice 0 z W a U) PLYMOUTH A Beauti (Place to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 Dear Owner/Occupant: This letter is written to inform you that Thomas Stout, under file 2005018, submitted a planning application requesting approval of a variance to allow 44.4% impervious surface coverage where 25% is the maximum allowed for a two-story addition for property located at 11917-23`d Avenue North. The request also includes an interim home occupation license to allow a massage therapy business. While a formal Public Hearing is not required, it is the City's policy to inform adjacent property owners/occupants of such applications. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 200 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of and cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, 2005, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter, at Plymouth City Hall on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. If you have any questions about the specifics of this proposal, please contact the Community Development Department at (763) 509-5400. Sincerely, 144) [/� 5- cnN6 Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2005018propnotice S 0 PLYMOUTH :4 BeautifurPlace to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 CITYOr March 25.2 05 PLYMOUTR Dear Resident: Due to your close proximity to the Plymouth Gun Club, we are notifying you that they have informed the City that they would be extending their hours of operation for nine weeks beginning Tuesday, April 5 through June 14. The Wayzata and Hopkins School Districts have finalized their plans for varsity trap and skeet teams. Each school will have three teams composed of five students per team. In order for these teams to compete, the Gun Club will set aside an exclusive time period just for the students. The extended hours will be from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, from April 5 through June 14. More than likely, the students will not be shooting until after school, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The first two weeks of the season would be instructional, so shooting may not start until April 19. The Plymouth Gun Club annually receives a Target and Trap Shooting License from the City according to Section 930.03 of the City Code. At the time of renewal, the club indicates their hours of operation, and they would be extending their hours with this temporary activity. The City license does not limit the hours of operation. The gun club has been asked to add these extra hours to the signs posted on their property to inform the public about the change. If you have any concerns, please contact Jim Sable, with the Plymouth Gun Club, at (763) 559-4940. Sincerely, /4*4"t- Sandy Paulson, CMC/MMCA City Clerk cc Mayor and City Council Police Chief Mike Goldstein Jim Sable, Plymouth Gun Club r PLYMOUTH A,T)diiB Quality to Life 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 ® PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER www.d.plymouth.mn.us Page 1 of 1 Sandy Paulson From: sjsable [sjsable@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 11:26 AM To: Sandy Paulson Cc: Kotarski, Tom Subject: High School Varsity Trap and Skeet Teams Dear Sandy, Wayzata and Hopkins High Schools have finalized their plans for varsity trap and skeet teams for this spring. Each school plans on having three teams made up of five students per team. Their season will be nine weeks in length. Each team will shoot one practice round and two rounds for score. The school would like the season to run from Tuesday, April 5 through June 14, 2005. This schedule is eleven weeks in length and allows for a couple of rainouts. The hours we will make the Gun Club available to them will be from noon to 6 p.m. Most likely they will shoot from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. During spring break they may choose to come in early and we would like them to have that option. These Tuesday's will be for the exclusive use of the high school varsity teams. Another thought just occurred to me. Just like Lake City, MN is known as the birthplace of water skiing, Plymouth , MN might well be known as the birthplace of varsity skeet and trap shooting in high schools. In talking with school representatives yesterday, they mentioned that school principles and administrators are very competitive. Once they hear one school is offering something they aren't, they offer it. The consensus was that this will be a state wide sport in two years. That is newsworthy. Maybe for this inaugural season we should consider having you, the mayor and city manager along with school administrators out for the opening of the season and contact the major media about the event. The Star Tribune has done a very favorable front page article about our youth program. I'll bet Randy Shaver, as big as he is on youth sports, would cover the teams. Why don't you think about that and I'll touch base with you to get your thoughts. The first two weeks of the season are just going to be instructional. The starting date will be April 19. Thanks again for your help. Please call me with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Jim Sable (763) 559-4940 =I—`J 3/22/2005 Page 1 of 1 Sandy Paulson From: Marie Darling Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 9:14 AM To: Sandy Paulson Subject: FW: Varsity Trapshooting Jim couldn't get this message to you. -----Original Message ----- From: sjsable [mailto:sjsable@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 8:54 PM To: Marie Darling Cc: Kotarski, Tom Subject: Varsity Trapshooting Dear Marie, Thanks for your help. I will contact Sandy Paulson tomorrow. I'd like your opinion of my original reaction. I think we should be working toward amending our license for the 2006 season. To accommodate the schools for this year I'd like to ask our members to agree to an abbreviated season so the schools could use the facility on Thursdays from mid-March to mid-May. The schools wanted to use the facility from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Since our license allows use from 4 p.m. until dark the schools could start a little later and finish a little later but they would have the program up and running as they wish for this spring. This would get the varsity program up and running with a little give and take from the club and the schools and give us a much more reasonable amount of time to see if an amended license will be approved for 2006. I'll talk with Sandy tomorrow but would appreciate the benefits of your thoughts on this approach. Thanks again for your help. Jim Sable p.s. This is the message that went into cyberspace when Sandy's server rejected it. It's a little different than the version I did over and sent to you. 3/22/2005 February 27, 2005 Marie Darling Senior Planner City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Marie, The National Shooting Sports Foundation has produced a DVD Video about their Scholastic Clay Target Program. I would like to deliver it to you so you can see it. It was reproduced from a program that aired on the Outdoor Life Network featuring high school varsity trap shooters from Tennessee. When instructors from Hopkins and Wayzata high schools learned that Tennessee had varsity trapshooting teams that competed for National Shooting Sports Foundation scholarships they were interested in having trapshooting become a varsity sport in their schools. Mark Czech teaches in Hopkins and is a member of the Plymouth Gun Club. He put together a proposal for his principal and the Minnesota High School league. If approved, Mark asked if the teams could practice and compete at the Plymouth Gun Club. His proposal was approved and he has presented it to Wayzata high school. Since 15 Wayzata students are junior members of the Plymouth Gun Club I'm assuming Wayzata will approve trapshooting as a varsity sport. There is one stipulation the schools have and that is the club would need to set aside a specified time for teams to practice and compete that is exclusive to the schools. The season would be eight or nine weeks in length from mid March through mid May. They would need exclusive use of the club from 3:30 pm. until 6:30 p.m. We earnestly want to accommodate them but these hours fall right on top of our summer leagues. Presently the club is open on Wednesdays from noon until dark, Thursdays from 4 p.m. until dark and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Would it be possible for them to use the club on nine Tuesdays in the time period they've requested? We have more than enough volunteers willing to work with the schools. When I deliver the DVD I will bring along a complete outline of the program and how it will be structured. I will phone you later today to see if we can arrange a time to meet. Sincerely, Jim Sable Plymouth Gun Club PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION For Now and the Future March 25, 2005 Honorable Mayor Judy Johnson and The City Council City of Plymouth Plymouth, MN Dear Mayor Johnson and Council: Our Board has discussed the March 8t' Council meeting and suggestions made surrounding the Hilde Gateway Project. We would respectfully like to withdraw the project from consideration by the Council at this time. The City's 50th anniversary this year, while important, is not critical for the completion of this project or Music in Plymouth. Our Board would like to come back to you for consideration of the project at a later time. Respectfully, Steve Beachler Chairman P.O. Box 47093, Plymouth, MN 55447 Mar 10 2005 17:14:21 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Administrator • y -Frl a F ax - A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities Senate transportation package unveiled Senate Transportation Committee Chair Steve Murphy (DFL -Red Wing) distributed a draft of his transportation funding package at a Thursday hearing. The draft, which will presumably be introduced in bill form in the coming days, will serve as a starting point for development of the Senate's omnibus transportation bill. It provides almost $9.5 billion in revenues for state and local roads and $1.9 billion for transit over ten years. Key provisions of the bill will be outlined in next week's Cities Bulletin. Notably absent in the bill is a provision that would allow cities to impose street utility fees. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, March 22, at 3:00 p.m. in room 15 of the State Capitol. Sen. Murphy has indicated that the committee will discuss, amend and possibly pass the bill at the Tuesday hearing. The House has not yet begun work on its omnibus transportation bill. Questions? ContactAnne Finn at 651.281.1263 or a mn!i2�ac.2M Pension Commission begins work On Thursday morning, the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement met for the first time this session in an organizational meeting. The commission is a joint House and Senate committee comprised of five members from each body that meets to consider pension issues. Recommendations from the Pension Commission are forwarded to the House and Senate for consideration. Page 001 Of 005 March 18, 2005 Page 1 This year's Senate members include Larry Pogemiller (DFL -Minneapolis), Don Betzold (DFL -Fridley), Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), Geoff Michel (R -Edina) and (Cal Larson (R - Fergus Falls). The House members include Steve Smith (R -Mound), Dennis Ozment (R. - Rosemount), Lynn Wardlow (R -Eagan), Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown) and Paul Thissen (DFL -Minneapolis). The Pension Commission will consider a number of important bills during the coming weeks, including a bill prepared by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Board of Directors that will address the funding deficiency in the PERA Coordinated Plan. In that bill, SF 286, the PERA Board is proposing a phased -in schedule of increases in employee and employer contribution rates that would begin on January 1, 2006 as well as a change in benefits to employees. The Board's proposal attempts to share the burden of the funding solution between the employer and employee. Date of Increase Employee Employer Current 5.10% 5.53% 1/1/06 5.50% 6.00% 1/1/07 5.75% 6.25% 1/1/08 6.00% 6.50% 1/1/09 6.00% 6.75% 1/1/10 6.00% 7.00% The Board is also proposing to put in place an automatic adjustment provision whereby the PERA Board could adjust contribution rates in the future as the actuary determines the plan's funding needs, rather than requiring legislative action on every adjustment. Employee groups are lining up in opposition and will likely push to have the employers pick up most if not all of the needed contribution increase. The current LMC policy supports a solution that would share the solution between For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 Mar 10 2005 17:15:02 Via Fax —> 763 509 5060 Administrator Page 002 Of 005 LC -Freda Fax„�..,�a,, y A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities March 18, 2005 Page 2 the employee and employer, roughly consistent to work with the League in this regard in order to with the PERA Board proposal. This issue will keep the bill moving forward. quickly evolve over the next few weeks. Questions? Contact Gary Carlson at 651.281.1255 or at7rlson�rx~-.hnnc.or 7 League Board adopts compromise position on cable legislation On Thursday, the LMC Board of Directors took time to listen to concerns from the Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA), which represents cable franchise administrators and commissions, about SF -688 . (Kelley, DFL -Hopkins)/ -IF 1319 (Beard, R -Shakopee). These bills, which have been discussed in previous Bulletins and the focus of a recent 15 -Minute Advocate, would enhance cable television competition by giving cities authority to make it less difficult for new cable entrants to offer services by offering competitive franchise terms that are different from what are currently unposed on incumbent cable system operators. After hearing the concerns, the Board urged MACTA to work with League staff to develop amendments to make provisions at issue more acceptable to MACTA members and to present the proposed changes to the Minnesota Telecommunications Alliance, with whom the League and MACTA initially negotiated the original terms of SF 688/HF 1319. MACTA's concerns dealt primarily with the obligations of competitive cable service providers to offer and support public, educational and government access channels and local origination programming. The League hopes to improve the bill by clarifying requirements for both incumbent cable system operators and new entrants. It is the Board's understanding that MACTA has agreed Questions? ContactAnn Higgins at 651.281.1257 or at ahiL?,gins!iz imnr..or AMBO certification bill up in House committee On Thursday, the Association of Minnesota Building Officials (AMBO) introduced their bill, HF 1929, to require certification of building inspectors. Rep. Karen Klinzing (R -Woodbury) is the chief sponsor of the proposal. The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced. Under this proposal, all construction code inspectors who start employment after July 1, 2007 would be required to meet certain competency criteria established by the commissioner of administration within a year of hire. The commissioner is required to adopt rules specifying these new requirements, which must include certifications developed or administered by nationally recognized agencies that are relevant to the building, mechanical, and plumbing codes adopted in Minnesota. HF 1929 would also allow the commissioner to adopt rules providing continuing education programs for construction code inspectors. AMBO is proposing HF 1929 as an alternative to several legislative proposals, including bills that would impose onerous reporting requirements, require excessive and costly continuing education requirements for building inspectors, increase municipal liability, and privatize inspections for certain residential buildings. One of these proposals, the Homeowners' Protection Act, was debated in numerous committees in the 2004 session and has been re- introduced this year., The bill, FIF_:.7I3 (Klinzing, R -Woodbury), would expand municipal building For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 41 Mar 10 2005 17:15:55 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Administrator -Frl a F ax - Y A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities code enforcement reporting requirements; require a written explanation for surplus building permit fees; specify a certain number of required continuing education credits for building inspectors; and allow cities to pay for continuing education credits with building permit fee revenue. A possible amendment to HF 733 would add a provision creating municipal and inspector liability for losses caused by negligence or other failure of building inspectors to enforce the building code. Another proposal that would privatize building inspection functions for certain residential buildings could be introduced this year. Legislators have raised concerns about the availability of inspection services on holidays and during construction code training seminars, as well as unreasonable delays in scheduling inspections. This proposal would allow a builder to hire a certified private inspector for the inspection of certain residential buildings, and provides that 60 percent of the amount paid by the builder for private inspection services would be credited to future building permit fees incurred in that municipality. AMBO's construction inspector certification bill may help alleviate the pressure to increase reporting requirements, hold municipalities and municipal employees liable for construction defects, and privatize inspection services. The bill will be heard on Monday, March 21 st in the House Governmental Operations & Veterans Affairs Committee. The League is monitoring all of these proposals to make sure that if any legislation advances, it is not a financial or administrative burden on our member cities. Questions? Contact Laura Offerdahl at 651.281.1260 or ic�ilrcaal!c2;imnr...or Page 003 Of 005 March 18, 2005 Page 3 Bill would prohibit use of administrative fines for traffic Senator Leo Foley (DFL -Coon Rapids) this week introduced a bill to explicitly prohibit cities from using administrative fines for traffic enforcement. SF 17.13 adds a provision to Minnesota Statutes (M.S.) 169.022 the uniform traffic code that says, notwithstanding any contrary charter provision, no statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town may impose administrative penalties to enforce provisions of this chapter." The bill comes on the heels of renewed criticism by State Auditor Patricia Anderson toward cities that have used administrative fines for low-level moving violations. The auditor issued a letter to Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion last month reiterating her position that the practice is not permissible. The letter called for efforts "...to resolve this growing legal non- compliance issue," and provided policy options the state could implement to discourage cities from using administrative fines for traffic violations. SF 1713 stands in direct opposition to previously introduced legislation. HF 592 (Samuelson, R - New Brighton) would give cities explicit authority to use administrative fines for some speeding violations. Neither bill has been scheduled for a hearing. The League will continue to monitor this issue and will alert members of legislative efforts to clarify the existing law. Questions? ContactAnne Finn at 651.281.1263 or crrtrt d%lrnnc.rirKl For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 Mar 18 2005 17:16:37 Via Fax -> 763 589 5868 Administrator -Frida Fax - Y A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities Pre-empting cities on meth ordinances An amendment to pre-empt any local government's meth ordinance went on HF 572 (Jeff Johnson, R -Plymouth), the omnibus meth bill, yesterday in the Public Safety Committee. As written, the amendment would actually void out all ordinances that previously dealt with the regulation of over-the-counter drugs of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Proponents advocate that this sets a statewide standard that all retail, especially the chain stores, can follow and understand_ Opponents are worried that if the restriction language does not stay strong, pre-emption of any local work on precursor regulation will make the bill even weaker. The Senate's precursor drug language is traveling in a separate bill, SF 51 (Berglin, DFL - Minneapolis); that does not contain any preemption language and passed the floor 67-0. Right now the League's understanding is that the only cities having passed similar ordinances are Austin, Baxter, and some cities in Anoka County. Some counties have addressed this issue as well. If your city has passed an ordinance and is not among those just listed, contact Jenn O'Rourke. League staff would like to have a better idea of what cities may be doing at the local level on precursor drug regulation. Questions? ContactJenn O'Rourke at 651.281.1261 or at iorou7*e%%imnc.or Municipal liquor store bill update Last Monday, the Senate Liquor subcommittee had on their agenda two of the three municipal liquor bills that have been introduced this year, including a bill offered by Rep. Ourada (R - Buffalo) that would prohibit all new municipal liquor stores. The three bills are: Page 984 Of 895 March 18, 2005 Page 4 SF 1131 Ourada (R-Buffalo)—prohibition on any new liquor stores. The companion bill is HF 1538, (Blaine, R -Little Falls). SF 1435 Kleis (R -St. Cloud any city with municipal liquor must also issue off -sale licenses to any qualified store. The companion bill is ljj�', 1.' Sykora (R -Excelsior) FIF 1158 Buesgens (F-Jordan)—requiring cities with municipal operations to divest of all inventory by 1/1/06. No companion has been introduced to date. Before the hearing began, Ourada's bill was pulled from the agenda. During the discussion of the Kleis bill, the chair recommended that the bill be converted into a study of municipal liquor regulation as part of a larger study the Commerce Committee will request the Legislative Auditor to conduct. City officials were on hand to testify against these bills, but the committee ran short of time and had announced they would not likely be meeting again for the rest of the session. Because these bills could crop up in either full Senate Commerce committee, the House committees, or in amendment on the floor—it would be good to voice your support for your municipal liquor store with your legislators when the opportunity strikes. Question? ContactJenn O'Rourke at 651.281.1261 or atrirciacrlee'c lrnnc,oi~:y Committee meetings MONDAY, March 21, 2005 12:30 PM Meeting Time Note: The Committee will recess and reconvene at 4:30pm in Rm 300 South to continue work on the agenda. Committee: Local Government For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 L� -T Mar 10 2005 17:17:19 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Administrator Page 985 Of 885 -Freda F ax- I�MC y �.aYl�llla' .+I1i111Ua'ANN (_ Ii11S G;h* ,,,..,,,u,u„.Q.,,�„1(,, 1 A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities March 18, 2005 Page 5 Room: 10 State Office Building Make your city's voice heard at the Chair: Rep. Mark Olson Capitol—State of the Cities Agenda: HF1365 (Thissen) Municipal solid waste service business inverse condemnation authorized Legislative Conference set for when a governmental entity occupies the market. HF1525 (Kahn) Political subdivision pay equity reporting requirements modified. HF0815 (Kahn) City councils required to vote on charter commission recommendations for charter amendments by ordinance. MONDAY, March 21, 2005 House Local Government 10 State Office Building 12:30 PM Agenda: HF1365 (Thissen) Municipal solid waste service business inverse condemnation authorized when a governmental entity occupies the market. Other bills to be discussed. *The Committee will recess and reconvene at 4:30pm in Rm 300 South to continue work on the agenda. TUESDAY, March 22, 2005 Environment and Natural Resources Basement State Office Building 12:30 PM Agenda: HFXXXX (Hackbarth) Shooting range protection legislation. *If necessary, the committee will reconvene in the basement hearing room at 6:00p.m TUESDAY, March 22, 2005 3 pm, Room 15 Capitol Senate Transportation Committee Chair: Sen. Steve Murphy Agenda: SF XXX -Murphy: Transportation finance bill. March 31 The State of the Cities Legislative Conference is set for March 31, 2005 and will be held at the Four Points Sheraton, St. Paul. This conference is followed by the City Day at the Capitol—the perfect chance to meet with your legislators and tell your city's story. At this conference, you'll: • Learn about key legislative initiatives and issues facing cities this session, including transportation, land use and water quality *. • Hear about the 2005 State of the Cities Report • Learn how Minnesota cities are coping with fiscal pressures and how our cities compare to other states. • Find out about the Financing Local Government Task Force recommendations. • Hear from legislative leaders. • Network with other city officials and learn how to foster closer state -local partnerships. • Stay on for the networking social hour from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kelly Inn, Sweetwater Bar and Grill. Registration Fee: $75 person Questions? Contact Cathy Dovidio at (651) 281- 1250 or (800) 925-1122, or e-mail: cdovzdio!ci!lrnn(,. or9 Register online anytime at: Onl:inc. Registration *Also learn more about impaired waters at legislative update sessions on April 1 or 8. For more information visit Impaired WatersMeetin.. s For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 Mar 24 2005 10:03:54 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Plymouth Page 001 Of 006 L`C '-Freday F ax - "y -:diA weekly legislative uPdatefrom the League ofMinnesota Cities March 24, 2005 Page 1 City Day at the Capitol is March 31 At this conference, you'll: With less that two months remaining in the 2005 regular session, next Thursday promises to be a busy day at the Capitol and a critical time for city officials to visit with their representatives and senators. The League's annual City Day will provide you with an opportunity to be briefed on important legislation and hear from key lawmakers. Thursday will also be filled with opportunities to make a real difference at the Capitol. One important hearing will occur at 3 p.m. when the Senate Transportation Committee will hear two competing bills that attempt to clarify the authority of cities to impose administrative fines for minor traffic violations. Don't think your voice matters? Votes against city -friendly bills were reversed twice last week after legislators heard from local officials urging support for the street utility authority and opposing an inverse condemnation bill. In both cases, legislators publicly acknowledged their vote changed after hearing from local officials "back home." Register today to support city -friendly legislation and the city-state partnership by attending City Day at the Capitol as part of the League of Minnesota Cities 2005 State of the Cities Legislative Conference on March 31. The State of the Cities Legislative Conference will be held at the Four Points Sheraton, St. Paul. This conference is followed by the City Day at the Capitol—the perfect chance to meet with your legislators and tell your city's story. • Learn about key legislative initiatives and issues facing cities this session, including transportation, land use and water quality *. • Hear about the 2005 State of the Cities Report. • Learn how Minnesota cities are coping with fiscal pressures and how our cities compare to other states. • Find out about the Financing Local Government Task Force recommendations. • Hear from legislative leaders. • Network with other city officials and learn how to foster closer state -local partnerships. • Stay on for the networking social hour from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kelly Inn, Sweetwater Grill. Registration Fee: S75 person Questions? Contact Cathy Dovidio at (65 1) 281-1250 or (800) 925-1122, or e-mail: cdovi di(.)&.linnc:..org. Register online anytime at: Online .r"lenis�. *Also learn more about impaired waters at legislative update sessions on April 1 or 8. For more information visit Im aired Watters MeetinTTs. Full Senate approves budget - balancing bills During the Wednesday floor session, the full Senate approved two bills, SF 1209, a tax bill, and SF 18:79, an appropriations bill, that together are being called the Senate DFL's structural budget balancing package because they attempt to address the state's projected For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 A_� Mar 24 2005 10:04:33 Via Fax -> 763 509 5066 Plymouth LC -Friday F ax - A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities $466 million budget deficit for the upcoming 2006-2007 biennium. Senate DFL majority leadership has stressed that the package is only the first step in formulating the state's 2006-2007 biennial budget and that a second package of appropriation measures, that will include additional revenues for priority budget areas, will be the focus of the Senate for the balance of the legislative session. Senate Republicans and the governor have criticized the plan as a piecemeal approach to the state's budget given that the bills do nothing to increase funding for K-12 education and other priority state programs. In comparison, the governor's budget proposal includes deeper cuts in many state appropriations as well as $200 million in one- time casino licensing money to both balance the projected state budget deficit and increase spending for priority programs including K-12 education. During the floor debate on the tax bill, an amendment was successfully offered by Sen. Julianne Ortman (R -Chanhassen) that replaced the permanent MVHC reimbursement reductions contained in the bill with the governor's proposed two-year cut. That amendment was approved on a 57-7 vote. After the tax bill was approved by the Senate on a 36-29 vote, Sen. Pogemiller (DFL - Minneapolis) moved to lay the bill on the table because under the Minnesota Constitution, bills that raise revenue must originate in the House. The Senate will have to wait for a House tax bill that can be amended with the language in SF 1209 in order to send the bill back to the House. The appropriations bill, SF 1879, was Paye 002 Of 606 March 24, 2005 Page 2 approved on a 35-30 vote and will now be sent to the House where it is unlikely the House will take action on the package. The House will likely opt to address the biennial budget with a more traditional package of budget bills. Questions? Contact Gary Carlson at 651.281.1255 or ator City officials rescue street utility initiative As a result of a flurry of advocacy work by city officials, the League's street utility initiative will be included as a provision in the Senate's omnibus transportation bill after all. It did not appear in an initial draft of the bill released last week. However, on Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Transportation Committee adopted an amendment to put the measure into the soon-to- be introduced bill. The committee chair, Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL -Red Wing), said early in the 2005 session that if his committee approved the measure as a stand-alone bill, he would be inclined to include it as a provision in the Senate's transportation funding package. Unfortunately, when the street utility bill, .`F 366 (Rep. Marko, DFL -Cottage Grove), came before the committee, some key supporting senators had already left the hearing to attend other committee meetings. Subsequently, cities lost a couple of swing votes on the committee to the bill's opponents. SF 366 was passed without recommendation to the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee. A prior motion to table the bill was defeated on a vote of five to five. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 J Mar 24 2005 18:85:15 Via Fax —> 763 599 5668 Plymouth Page 003 Of 006 L -Freda FaxC y��r" °ri;�;;: A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities March 24, 2005 Page 3 Without the clear support of his committee, Municipal liquor store bill to be heard Sen. Murphy declined to include the bill as a in the House provision in the Senate's transportation funding package. The League alerted member cities that inclusion of the street utility in the Senate omnibus transportation bill had become critical because the companion to SF 366, I-II° 3:13 (Hornstein, DFL -Minneapolis), is stalled in the House. The omnibus bill is likely to end up in a conference committee where supporters can advocate to keep the provision as a measure in the final package. In response, dozens of city officials contacted legislators to express concern about the omission of the street utility provision. At the request of the League, Sen. Sharon Marko, author of SF 366, agreed to bring the bill before the Transportation Committee for a second time in the form of an amendment to the omnibus bill. At a Tuesday hearing, the Transportation Committee took up the draft funding package and, after little discussion, passed the Marko amendment on a decisive vote. Key members of the committee who had previously opposed the bill said they were contacted by their city officials and felt comfortable supporting the street utility measure. The draft omnibus bill with the street utility provision was passed and will be introduced next week. Upon introduction, it will be assigned a number and will be available to the public on-line. Questions? ContactAnne Finn at 651.281.1263 or at League staff has been alerted that a bill to prohibit municipal liquor stores will be heard next Friday, April 1, in the House Local Government Committee. I -IF 1158 (Rep. Buesgens, R -Jordan) states that no city may own or operate a liquor store. It goes on to require cities to divest of all their liquor stock and stores by January 1, 2006. If it passes out of committee, it will likely be referred to Regulated Industries. While there is no Senate companion at this time, the fact the bill will receive a hearing makes it possible fodder for amendments to other legislation. Calls, emails and visits with your legislators are important on this one to let them know the role your municipal store plays in your city_ For information on committee members, visit House Local Government Committee. Questions? Contact Jenn O'Rourke at 651.281.1261 or at 'c�rraur-k,'z%lrrarac,or. Pressure is mounting to take-up eminent domain bill Proponents of a bill that would make sweeping changes to Minnesota's eminent domain law are pushing for a legislative hearing on the measure this session. The bill, IIF 16187 would make two significant changes to state law. First, this bill would allow the court to award payment of property owners' attorney fees in takings for transportation purposes if the final award exceeded the city's last offer by 20 percent. In addition, this legislation would require cities to prove by a preponderance of evidence that a For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 J Mar 24 2805 10:05:56 Via Fax -> 763 589 5868 Plymouth IMC -Frida F ax - y A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities taking that is later transferred to a private entity is reasonably necessary, is authorized by law, and is for a public, not private, purpose. Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL -Minneapolis) is the chief sponsor of this proposal in the House. The Senate companion bill, SF 1694, is being carried by Sen. Sheila Kiscaden (I -Rochester). While these changes sound very modest, the impacts are dramatic. If enacted, this legislation would create uncertainty in the law that could generate expensive litigation, increase the cost of public projects, and impair critical economic development and redevelopment projects. This effort to limit the use of eminent domain is part of a national debate on whether taking property for economic development and redevelopment serves a public purpose. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing a Connecticut case (Kelo v. City of New London) involving the use of eminent domain to take property for economic development. The court heard oral arguments in this case last month and is expected to issue an opinion at the end of this term. The League of Minnesota Cities believes that legislative action in the 2005 session on the public purpose question would be premature given the U.S. Supreme Court's review of the Kelo case. Representatives from the League will be meeting with the House author and the proponents of this legislation next Monday afternoon to discuss our concerns with the bill and the timing of any legislative action on this issue. Page 004 Of 006 March 24, 2005 Page 4 Administrative fines to be debated The Senate Transportation Committee plans to take up two administrative penalty bills next Thursday --one bill would explicitly prohibit cities from using administrative penalties for traffic enforcement, while the other would explicitly permit the practice. Senator Leo Foley (DFL -Coon Rapids) will present SF 1713, which adds a provision to Minnesota Statutes (M.S.) 169.022, the uniform traffic code, that states, "... [N]otwithstanding any contrary charter provision, no statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town may impose administrative penalties to enforce provisions of this chapter." The second bill, SF 1042 (Rep. Koering, R -Fort Ripley), contains the following enabling language: "A municipality, by ordinance, may enforce minor traffic offenses through an administrative system separate and distinct from the court system. Administrative penalties may not exceed the maximum penalty established by law for a petty misdemeanor offense. An administrative penalty may not be imposed unless the offender is given the opportunity for a hearing held before a hearing officer appointed by the municipality and independent of the law enforcement agency." Loth bills attempt to resolve an ongoing dispute between city- and state -level officials that has resulted from conflicting interpretations of the existing law. The hearing will be Thursday, March 31, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in room 15 of the Questions? Contact Laura Offerdahl at Capitol. 651.281.1260 or aticy{frczcshi!i ltrzrzr.:.i.�r ss. Comments? Questions? ContactAnne Finn at 651.281.1263 or a innl"'ddrnnc:.orn. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 Mar 24 2005 10:06:37 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Plymouth Page 005 Of 006 y -Freda F ax- mc :�f;�,ii.;:;x; A weekly legislative updatefrom the League ofMinnesota Cities March 24, 2005 Page 5 Pay equity reporting bill passes House Action Alert — restore MHFA housing committee grants A proposal to reverse the pay equity reporting changes adopted in the 2003 session passed the House Local Government Committee this week. The bill, I -IF' 1525 (Rep. Kahn, DFL - Minneapolis), reinstates a three-year cycle for filing pay equity reports with the state department of employee relations (DOER). In general, the League of Minnesota Cities supports eliminating or streamlining state mandates on local units of government. In 2003, the League supported modifying pay equity reporting requirements as a way to ease the burden of this reporting mandate at a time when cities were struggling to provide important city services with fewer resources. We also supported further streamlining these reporting requirements by allowing electronic reporting of pay equity data. DOER joined members of the Pay Equity Coalition in supporting the three-year reporting cycle. The agency argued that a shorter reporting timeline is necessary to ensure that local government employers are complying with the law. During testimony, representatives from DOER said that the agency is also in the process of implementing an electronic reporting system that will be on- line this summer. The Senate companion bill, SF 1084 (Sen. Ranum, DFL -Minneapolis), is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee on Wednesday, March 30th at 12:00 noon in room 318 of the State Capitol. Questions? Contact Laura Offerdahl at 551.281.1250 or at lc:ray =.r•c:taJal;,cz%lrrz�zc.<��s . The League strongly urges city officials to contact local legislators during the Easter recess (which ends next Tuesday) to support measures to restore $13 million in funding for the state Challenge & Economic Development Housing Grant Program. House and Senate committees responsible for developing the next two-year budget for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency face a serious fiscal challenge as a result of the fact that Governor Pawlenty failed to provide more funding for this program in his proposed supplemental budget announced last week. The Challenge Grant Program has been extraordinarily well used, particularly in areas where local job expansion is occurring and in local redevelopment efforts in urban areas. Funding for the program, which was cut by more than $4 million during the previous biennium, is slated to be cut again, this time by 60 percent, unless the Legislature acts to reverse the loss of resources needed to support affordable housing for workers who are being hired in JobZ areas as well as in areas where redevelopment is needed to support the existing tax base. Local HRA officials in cities throughout the state have already provided testimony and letters to members of the House Jobs & Economic Opportunity Policy & Finance Committee and in the Senate Environment, Agriculture & Economic Development Budget Division, giving first-hand examples of the significant leveraging of private investment made possible by the Challenge Grant Program. Over the last four years, 40 percent of Challenge Grants have provided funding for For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 ��3 Mar 24 2005 10:07:26 Via Fax -> 763 509 5060 Plymouth -Frida F ax - y A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities new housing construction or rehabilitation of both single-family and multi -housing units in cities in Greater Minnesota. The League encourages city officials to send letters or emails to members of these two committees. Communications must to be sent early next week - or messages may be left at the offices of either of the two committees next Thursday, March 31, while city officials are in St. Paul to attend the LMC Legislative Conference. The names of committee members and the office addresses for the two committees can be found at )vww.lea.mn. Go to links for the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate and click on links to committee information. Questions? ContactAnn Higgins at 651.281.1257 or at ahin� i?xtzrzc. or. Tax bills: Senate -2 House -0 The tax scene has been confusing this year. The House has yet to begin crafting their omnibus tax bill while the Senate passed a bill called "Tax 1" yesterday and will be considering a second bill, "Tax 2", next week. Although the Senate is in the tax bill lead, under the Minnesota Constitution, tax legislation must originate in the House. In order to get everyone on the same page... _.. "Tax 1" is SF 1205, which the Senate approved during Thursday's floor session as part of their structural balancing package. As mentioned in previous editions of the Cities Bulletin, that bill includes the two-year cut in MVHC reimbursement for 103 cities and many of the governor's proposed revenue enhancements. The Senate's second major tax bill, SF 1683, is being referred to as "Tax 2". The Tax 2 bill contains many of the policy provisions from Page 066 Of 086 March 24, 2005 Page 6 last year's tax bill that did not become law—as well as a number of individual member's bills that have come before the Senate Tax Committee in 2005. Tax 2 is likely to come up for debate on the Senate floor next week. Among the provisions, Tax 2 contains a number of local option sales tax requests, including an authorization for the city of Willmar. Willmar was inadvertently left out of the 3/25/05 Bulletin article listing those cities given new authority or expanded authority in SF 1683 -Tax 2. The full list includes: Albert Lea, Baxter, Beaver Bay, Bemidji, Clearwater, Cloquet, Hermantown, Mankato, Medford, Park Rapids, Proctor, Rochester, St. Cloud area, Waseca, Willmar, Winona and Waite Park. To further complicate matters, Senate Tax Chair Pogemiller (DFL -Minneapolis) has indicated that he intends to process a possible "Tax 3" bill in the near future, possibly containing some of the more controversial tax concepts being discussed at the Capitol. The March 23 edition of the Cities Bulletin describes both Senate tax bills in separate stories and the full text of both bills can be found online at www.senate.leg.mn.us. Question? Contact Jenn O'Rourke at 651.218.1261 or at 'orou.rkp.tz>.hnnnor . For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 r"