Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
Council Information Memorandum 01-21-2000
JANUARY 21, 2000 1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE: NOTE: Ward I Councilmember Tim Bildsoe meets with residents and receives their comments in the Administration Library, beginning at 6:00 PM before each Regular Council meeting. TUESDAY, FEBRUARYI, 7:00 PM TUESDAY, FEBRVAR Y8, 7:00 PM Z. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 5: 30 PM 3. MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING—Various Topics, Public Safety Training Room CITY EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION HOLIDAY EVENT, The Reserve, 3155 Empire Lane YOUTHADVISORY COUNCIL, Medicine Lake Room 4. TUESDAY, JANUARY25, 4:00-7:00 PM OPEN HOUSEIINFORMATIONAL MEETING ON 1999 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, CITYPROJECT 9001, Council Chambers S. TUESDAY, JANUARY25, 6:00 PM SPECIAL DATE, TIME & LOCATION HRA, (RECEPTION IN HONOR OF FORMER HRA COMMISSIONERS CRAW, HELMKEN, & JOHNSON AT 6:00 PM, WITH MEETING TO FOLL0K9 Plymouth Towne Square Apts., 15500 37`' Avenue N. Agenda is attached. (M-5) 6. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 7: 00 PM PACT, Hadley Lake Room. Agenda is attached. (M-6) CITY CO UNCIL INFORMATION MEMO JANUARY 21, 2000 Page 2 7. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers Agenda is attached.(M-7 8. 9. A List of future Regular Council Meeting agenda items is attached. (M-8) January, February and March calendars are attached. (M-9) 1. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. a) City news release announcing tree trimming plans for the southwest area of Plymouth. (I -1a) b) Community Development Department Northwest Notes newsletter. (1--1 b) c) Robbinsdale area schools group Community Ahead Asset Connection newsletter. (I -I c) d) Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth group Ideas for Parents newsletter. (I -1d) e) Notice from Metropolitan Council Member Saundra Spigner of a January 31 informational meeting in Maple Grove on wastewater issues. (I -le) fj Information submitted by Councilmember Judy Johnson concerning under—age drinking, collected at the recent "Turning Off the Tap to Teens" symposium. Pioneer Press column on adult responsibility in stemming the flow of alcohol to young people (I -If 1) Report on underage alcohol use in Hennepin County (I-If.2) Information on "Minnesota's response to underage drinking." (I-If3) Minnesota Prevention Center resource information on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. (I -1f.4) g) Annual Congressional Report from Minnesota U—S Senator Rod Grams. (1-1g) 2. STAFF REPORTS a) 1999 Annual Report on the Employee Suggestion Program. (I -2a) b) Report on the City's Internet web site usage. (I -2b) 3. MINUTES a) I-494 Corridor Commission/JPO December 8 meeting. (I -3a) b) Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit November 10 meeting. (I -3b) CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO Page 3 { JANUARY21, 2000 4. CORRESPONDENCE a) Letter from Doolittles Air Cafe Chair and CEO Dan Olson regarding the City's policy on alcohol compliance checks. (I -4a) b) Letter from Paula Pursley regarding the City's policy on alcohol compliance checks. (I -4b) c) Letters from Park Director Eric Blank to recently—appointed members of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. (I -4c) S. COUNCIL ITEMS a) 2000 Council Coordinating Representatives roster. (I -5a) 6 LEGISLATIVE ITEMS a) Notice of Internet web broadcast of Governor Ventura's budget presentation. (I -6a) b) Reminder from the League of Minnesota Cities of the February 3 combined Legislative Conference and the "Celebrating Public Service" event at the Capitol. (I -6b) c) Association of Metropolitan Municipalities FAX News. (I -6c) Agenda ® PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2000 at 6:00 pm WHERE: Community/Dining Room Plymouth Towne Square Apartments 15500-37 th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55446 1. Reception in Honor of Former Commissioners Crain, Helmken, and Johnson — 6:00 p.m. 2. Call Business Portion of January Meeting to Order 3. Resolution Dedicating the Community/Dining Room at PTS in Honor of H. David Crain 4. Approval of Minutes 5. Plymouth Towne Square Monthly Reports 6. Status of Outlot D Bass Lake Heights Addition and Resolution Authorizing Submission of a Funding Application to the MHFA 7. Waiver of Equity Requirement for Rehabilitation Loan Program 8. Status of Comprehensive Plan Update - verbal report 9. HRA Strategic Plan - Priorities Worksheet and Continuation from December meeting 10. Other Business 11. Adjournment REMINDER: The MRA January meeting has been changed to Tuesday, January 25`x' and will begin at 6:00pm with a reception for former Commissioners at Plymouth Towne Square NOTE:. Item #9 includes a Strategic Plan Worksheet that Chair Brown has requested each Commissioner to complete and bring to the Jan. 25'x' meeting. ANNOUNCEMENT: On Saturday, February 12'x' from 9:00am to 4:00pm, you are invited to attend a joint meeting of the Plymouth City Council and Planning Commission at The Reserve, 3155 Empire Lane, Plymouth to review the complete draft of the updated City's Comprehensive Plan. At this meeting the Council and Planning Commission will give their final revisions to staff before the document is made available for public review at open houses on March 15'x' and 18'x'. a:kammmiry devel.pmmtWwsi.gVvaV gmdu�2000�012300.doc M-6 DATE: January 21, 2000 TO: Members of the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit FROM: John Sweeney, Transit Administrator SUBJECT: JANUARY 26 MEETING LI The Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hadley Lake Room (lower level of Plymouth City Hall in the Engineering Department). The agenda for the meeting is as follows: (Please note some materials will be distributed at the meeting.) I. Approval of minutes of November 10, 1999. II. Introduction and welcome of new members. III. Ridership Information and Review of Ridership Statistics for October and November, 1999 (information from George Bentley will be distributed at the meeting). IV. Discussion Re: Holidays and service schedule for calendar year 2000. V. Identification of areas of concern and/or recommendations. VI. Discussion of Reverse Commute Job Fair. VII. Status of procurement of new medium sized transit vehicles. (Pamphlet enclosed for Bluebird CS vehicles.) VIII. Other comments. cc: Paul Colton, Metropolitan Council Kevin Odegard and Jim Baldwin, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. Steve Mahowald, Sheri Gingerich and Joanne Smith, Metro Transit George Bentley, Consultant S.F. January 26, 2000 1:\pw\Engincaing\TRANSIT\AGENDAS\2000\ 126_OOPACT.doc PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ® WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2000 WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Plymouth City Center 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commissioner, citizen or petitioner so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PUBLIC FORUM 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5. CONSENT AGENDA* A. TSP One, Inc. Approve site plan amendment to move 20 proposed parking spaces to a new location on the west side of the Sunset Elementary School property located at 13005 Sunset Trail. (99131) 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Grandma's Inc. Zoning ordinance text amendment to allow off-site directional signs. (99111) (Continued from the December 8,1999 Planning Commission Meeting.) B. North American Properties, Inc. Land use guide plan amendment, a planned unit development (PUD) sketch plan, and a request for alternative wetland buffers for a development to be known as Plymouth Marketplace located on the northwest corner of Highway 55 and Vicksburg Lane North. (99123) (Second Meeting) C. Lundgren Bros. Const. Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow decorative entrance fencing at Plum Tree East located north of Old Rockford Road, east of Peony Lane, and west of Holly Lane. (99133) 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Approve Revised 2000 Meeting Schedule. 8. ADJOURNMENT M._2 Tentative Schedule for City Council Non -Consent Agenda Items February 1 Recognize Volunteers — Presentation Consider amendment to noise ordinance for golf courses Consider Noise Variance for Eagle Lake Golf Course Consider County Road 101 property acquisition Plymouth's Legislative issues Set 2000 Park Dedication fees Hearing on two alcohol compliance check violations February 15 Three public hearings on vacation of easements Hearing on vacation of Lawndale Lane in Cornerstone Commons Addition Plymouth Marketplace, Land Use Guide Plan Amendment and Sketch Plan Assessment hearing on Troy Lane improvements Report on pedestrian safety issues on Vicksburg Lane near Central Middle School Water Resource Management Plan February 29 Recognize Volunteers — Presentation Alcohol Compliance Violation Hearings r•0 L J M-9 O M w m w a OwEw fw� wzm r �Fm fC pz m ?c� m —Z - sw m to r.j �n O:LJ ON .�1 00 .- N N A LL .�- .. N 00 N =u T m �} 00 ~� Cm V WL 7, W ado Z�' WO Na ow /L) <z QzE U<m DO =Og z� Wo moa mm5 L H � o MLI) U�K a�C 0a C �Wo aK ADZ � aN OOY 8O� O�L Bon r�UJ M r�UH GarnU � m r oo N N O C N C {Q cq NO��N OO f0 OO ?U 'O QNj u W —on NN d ?U= ZZ f.. ZZ c dgo E a :5g'L3 y v oo ^NN w au) aLn a s au) a� aMs LQ a8 M� NN O'Y OOL O� OOt �J N nUU nUU ?^OOh N NOWN l 2 ZC M0« CIS V > 0� O M U DU .8d w O = v0 6,;a QI WD d a0an ="Q d aWE [� p� St R 'c g -t MmU p��Z g m Q> "E�n U 00 ,o^oma NN hNO. ^N r4 T UE Ug z1:7X t0 'C F -O o O o>.J SOY ��J �0c L� 1v MOc aI_•p o� E, m aLn'g op,i ami M .� N R C 7 �p M O M Z W W 2 V r� V FL LL O O O N co ii U- M-9 O N N c 0 w Lr0 2 �J Az W w �a 2Zi L a r S< $' o_ 7� (� f W U• iz SW rU N tnol O fOVV1ND` N N •L LL °^NN V) V'1 .N-. �. ry 00 tn .� N N N F C =U _ C C U >> V^ Fa eO c=m 00 LLa o u �` v ^ 00 N N 2 NO o mm� N N �(n0 O �q po �O aK� MOF- O NO"O aLo 4.0 m 2 Y Som S� S „ $oA :C ZU ZU zz ZZ a�� aav)� NE a2 E a2E ROM r OQJ N 1 Z cc v .0 N N CD 7 w CL. m K ~ --Za % ...� 00 IA N Q � J 0tp: ZO U R 'G =:DK FO o OU 0>. a O �O mU aN,o c Op d a m- CLO pp A t0 C 7 �O .Mi N N O N N c 0 w Lr0 2 V z W w 2 Q 0 N \V ml n '7 C 0 ZE aU Z, Zo >� M-68 O w 0 ayU ww -Z R', a¢ o060a .f nU2U7 N 1 i 'o u Um O�6 R 00 a N ~ 00 tnN 'C LL M .r- N �c c m orm �� =U O� C U W'^ R oZ O z� ��o etc 05 8m 7 OvUo� os - ~ cn a�� CL E d2 (L, ¢wad SOY St rU $000 UUS S� gw¢o rU� N O� .. N C C = C ZU C ami ZU ytyt zz d zz {�Z F"no L) acne d u (Lcn12 ao CLd� a �E od n�E r-� i�UU t N n� .� 00 .� N (n — cc ANN R N k n^ N N = d Ow CD r -ANN z0 CD (03 w a�..., v^O,°N !A eq 0, J J Z E fl =OW F -O m =Ow DOY OWJ O}�J o Oc d Cc, >0 N 0, 0� M fz-:2 S N 3 N Q N tO V F 00 C14 N vI N N N Ok to n '7 C 0 ZE aU Z, Zo >� M-68 O w 0 ayU ww -Z R', a¢ o060a .f nU2U7 N 1 i 'o u Um O�6 R 00 a N t - eq 0 N N C 0 a a� O 2 News Release For Immediate Release January 14, 2000 1, - 1a ;CITV)coF PLYMOUTFF Contact: Paul Buck, 612-509-5944 Tree Trimming Slated for Southwest Area of Plymouth If you live in the southwest area of Plymouth, you may see a City of Plymouth contractor trimming trees in the public right-of-way from late January through March. Trimming is slated for the area south of County Rd No 6 and west of Niagara Lane. The tree trimming program is part of the City of Plymouth' continuing commitment to maintain a healthy and vital urban forest, according to City Forester Paul Buck. A certified arborist will trim trees according to the National Arborist Association standards. Trimming will include: • Lifting lower branches for road clearance and safety; • Removal of parallel, crossing, dead and broken branches; • Thinning of branches to allow sunlight and air to flow through the crown. This will help prevent storm damage. For more information, call the Forestry Department at 612-509-5945 or 612-509-5944, Mon. — Fri., 7 a.m. — 3 p.m. PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Place To Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 - TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000 ®M�. www.ci.plymouth.mn.us For More Information: • Public meeting dates set •Call Community Development at 509-5450 • Public hearing set for March 29 • Check the City Web at www,ci, 1 Wb Sip ymouth.mn.us • E -Mail us at AHurlbur@ci.plymouth.mn.us ANewsletter for orth Residents and Nwes Landow Issue 19 January 19, 2000 ® Comprehensive Plan meetings set for CITY OF February and March PLYMOUTH- Complete document soon to be ready for public review The schedule for public meetings and hearings to finalize Plymouth's updated Comprehensive Plan has been set. The City has been working on the plan update for almost three years. The update includes plans and policies for land use and infrastructure (including parks, transportation, sewer, water and public facilities) from, now until the year 2020. The first meeting will be a joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting to be held on Saturday, February 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M. at The Reserve, 3155 Empire Lane. The Council and Commission will review the complete draft of the plan document, and give their final direction and changes to the staff and consultants. Following this meeting, the plan document will be finalized for public review. This meeting replaces a meeting which was previously scheduled for January 25, 2000. The January 25 meeting has been canceled. Open house meetings will be held on Wednesday, March 15 (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and Saturday, March 18 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Both meetings will be held at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Staff and consultants will be on hand to answer questions and take comments on the plan. The meetings will fie informal, with presentations repeated frequently so that residents can drop in when it is convenient for their schedules. A formal public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission at a special meeting on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, and will be televised on cable television channel 37. This meeting will offer an opportunity for the public to give comments on the plan, orally or in writing. After the hearing, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council on any changes to be made to the plan before_ it is formally submitted to the Metropolitan Council for review. City Council action has not yet been scheduled, but is anticipated to occur sometime in April. Following Metropolitan Council review of the plan, the City Council will make any final changes and formally adopt the plan, likely sometime this summer. Council extends intedm- r In December, the City Council extended to June 1, 2000 the interim ordinance prohibiting submission or approval of new subdivision, rezoning, land use guide plan changes, conditional use permits, interim use permits, variances, site plan or planned unit development applications within the 2020 urban expansion area. The ordinance effectively establishes a moratorium on new • development applications until completion of the City's updated Comprehensives Plan. The Council made an exception to allow sketch plans to be submitted in part of the area so that infrastructure planning can proceed. If you have questions about how the moratorium affects you or your property, please contact us. InformationFor More For more information please contact the Community Development Department at 509-5400. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 2 Northwest Notes January, 2000 Monday and Wednesday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. You may also send e-mail to ahurlbur@ci.plymouth.mn.us. Documents are also available on the City's web site. The current and previous issues of Northwest Notes are there, along with other reports. The Mark your calendar for these meetings: web address is: http://www.ci.plymouth.nm.us 0'.0,0 , �— 72 C Open House Open House Public Hearing Wednesday, March 15 Saturday, March 18 Wednesday, March 29 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. City Hall City Hall City Hall City of Plymouth Community Development Department 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, N N 55447 Northwest Notes/News on Planning for Northwest Plymouth To create a community which values its youth; and youth who value their community. —CommuniryAhead mission COMMUNITY ♦ AHEAD / lop We Care About Kids 2000 features events for all ages Just like last year, We Care About Kids aims to show young people how much their community values them. However, unlike last year's one -day event, We Care About Kids 2000 features five separate events for various age groups throughout the month of February, starting on Feb. 5* with We Care About Kids Day. At the center of We Care About Kids Day will be interactive demonstrations that highlight and describe the 40 developmental assets—identified by Search Institute as the qualities and experiences that all young people need to grow up to be healthy, caring adults—and how we can all play a role in building these assets. This free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., also features entertainment, free food, community resource information tables, and a food drive for the NEAR and PRISM food shelves. A special "In The Spirit Of Youth Role Model Awards" ceremony will take place during the event to honor community members who have made a difference in the lives of youth (See page 2). Shuttle vans will provide round-trip transportation for the event from various locations throughout the district. Call 504-4906 for shuttle stops and times. The other We Care About Kids 2000 events include High School Unity Night, a night at the YMCA for grades six ..................... through nine, a festival for We Ca grades five through eight, and a middle school :Northwest YMCA dance—all planned in large :Fri., Feb. 11, 7-10 part by youth in the :Price TBD community (See the sidebar :Northwest YMCA accompanying this article :For all 6th -9th gr and the Youth Column on page 2 for more details.). ;Opportunity Fest We Care About Kids :Tues., Feb. 15, 5: 2000 is planned by :FREE volunteers from the :Crystal COmmun communities of the :For all District 28 Robbinsdale Area School :graders District. Although the event takes place just one month out of the year, community For more Informat members work all year long to create a community that values its youth, and youth, who value their community, the mission of Community Ahead. For more information about We Care About Kids 2000 or Community Ahead, call 504-4900 or visit www.Cablel2.com. * February 5 is also the date of Plymouth's Fire & Ice Festival, which features a variety of family activities starting at 2 p.m. and culminating at 6 p.m. with fireworks. Call 509-5233 for more information on the Fire & Ice event. r ',* David Carlson, one of last year's Role Model Award recipients, entertained the hoop:atlast yea:::W:Care Abot:tKids .,Day. Car About Kids 2000 Youth & Teen Events Teen Night Middle School Dance p.m. Fri., Feb. 18, 7-10 P.M. $4 in advance, $6 at door Hosterman Middle School aders For all District 281 6th -8th . graders with Student ID 30-7 P.M. High School Unity Night Sat., March 4, 7:30-10:30 p.m. ity Center $3 in advance, $4 at door ($3 1 5th -8th with non-perishable food item) Crystal Community Center For all District 281 9th -12th graders Ion on any of these events, call 504-4900 or visit www.Cabiel2.com ---- --------------------- Everyday heroes are the real heroes True role models are not the hyped -up super heroes of sports' or entertainment. They are everyday people who positively influence the lives of youth. The "In the Spirit of Youth" role model campaign aims to recognize the "everyday heroes" in our community and underscore the great significance of role models in the lives of youth. The 20 "In the Spirit of Youth role models will be announced during a special ceremony at 2 p.m. at the We Care About Kids Day on February 5 at the Northwest YMCA in New Hope. (See page 1 for more details on this day.) Those nominated will also receive recognition. Young people learn by watching what others do. Research suggests that those who have positive role models in their lives are less likely to make unhealthy decisions. Let's celebrate those who contribute to healthy decisions. Local -adults are making an IMPACT The Neighborhood Team and the Student Assistance Team at Hosterman Middle School have worked hard throughout the last few months on IMPACT (Integrating Mentors, Parents And Children Together), a mentoring program piloted at Hosterman Middle School this year. At an open house in October, approximately 80 people turned out to find out more about mentoring. We are happy to report that we have adult volunteers trained and ready to be matched with Hosterman students! With all of the changes going on in the school district Community Ahead volunteers and Hosterman staff are more determined than ever to make our mentoring program a success. The team is still working to recruit individuals, couples and families who are interested in mentoring our Hosterman youth. For more information, please call Linda Kemper at 504-4902. Unity Night scheduled for March 4 "Cooper and Armstrong in the same building?" This is the usual reaction the Community Ahead Youth Team gets when they mention "Unity Night." The event, sponsored by the Youth Team, will take place on March 4. This is an opportunity for all 9th -12th grade students from District 281 to come together for music, fun, and food. There will also be local talent from students in the district. The Youth Team hopes that this event will help break some of the tension between Cooper and Armstrong high schools and build new friendships. This is also a great chance to show that the community cares not just for younger children, but for teens as well. The Youth Team currently consists of ten students from both Armstrong and Cooper and adults from local youth organizations. The Team also receives a lot of support from student organizations at each of the high schools. —Kari Pedersen. Robbinsdale Cooper High School senior and Youth Team co-chair Volunteer Opportunities: If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering for Community Ahead, please call 504-4900. If you have comments related to The Asset Connection or suggestions on topics for future issues, call Sara Barron at 593-5611. A place for teens to serve and be served Youth and adults in our community are working hard to open the Mosaic Youth Center, possibly as soon as January 2001. "The Mosaic" is for ages 14-19 in the northwest suburbs. However, it will mostly target students in the Robbinsdale Area Schools, as it may be located next to the Northwest YMCA in New Hope. The Mosaic will provide services that youth feel are not only needed, but truly desired by teens. It will build assets in youth by helping them to feel safe and valued by adults. Many of the teens working with the Mosaic are familiar with the 40 assets and know that teens need them to be successful in school, family and community. We are building our decision-making skills, increasing our community involvement through presentations, and reaching out to other teens. The Mosaic follows the "one- stop shopping" philosophy. Some of our partners are the Robbinsdale Area Redesign, the Northwest YMCA, the Annex Teen Clinic, Fairview Behavioral Services, and Family and Children's Service. With this combination of programs and services around mental and physical health, the health of adolescents within our area will improve greatly. The Mosaic will also provide recreation and be a place for teens to hang out. The board, comprised in great part by local youth, will develop the recreation program. Other parts of the Mosaic that we hope remain forever are the art studio, the stage, a library (books and computers), and spaces to study or to be with friends. The community -involvement options with the Mosaic are endless. It is easy to see how this youth center will build the developmental assets in the teen community. Hopefully, it will eventually make our whole community an even better place to live. - Angie Senger, Cooper High School Senior, Mosaic Youth Center board member and service occupation intern Collaboration: A hearts and head strategy Collaboration is the name of the game today. Because the needs of our children and families are so broad, we need solutions that are equally expansive. Whether called "partnering" or "alliance building," the intent is the same: to combine the talent and dollars of two or more organizations in order to better achieve common goals. In this spirit, Community Ahead and the Robbinsdale Area Redesign have entered into a long-term partnership which we believe will further both our missions. Over the past year, many of us working on Community Ahead's community teams have found ourselves working closely with counterparts from the Redesign. On such projects as IMPACT (the Hosterman Middle School mentoring initiative) and the Family Involvement community team's work with Redesign's early childhood brain development efforts, we have found much common ground. Desiring to strengthen those connections, Linda Kemper, Community Ahead's coordinator, is now a member of the Redesign's leadership group, the Local Collaborative Council. And, Melodie Hanson, the Redesign's coordinator, has joined our steering committee. Fund raising is another arena in which we are working more closely with Redesign. The purpose of our joint fund-raising committee is to devise strategies that mutually benefit our work together and minimize competing for increasingly limited dollars. Finally, we will undertake a joint planning process to sort out which organization is doing what and where we can expand our shared work or eliminate duplication. Any effective collaboration should meld the particular strengths of the partners into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. The combination of our two St—Clip & Share organizations' missions could be described as a "hearts and heads" strategy. Community Ahead focuses on relationship building—between youth and adults, youth and youth, and each with the community. Redesign strives to change systems so that they are more responsive to and reflective of the families and children they serve. By working together, Community Ahead and Redesign can better address the two forces that most shape the life of our community: relationships and systems. Trying to change relationships among community members while ignoring the systems in which they work, worship, and learn is futile. Likewise, systems change ultimately comes down to the quality of relationships between these people who make up that system. Someone once said, "All of us are smarter than any one of us." Our experience to date with the emerging Community Ahead/Redesign partnership has certainly confirmed that notion. -Brad Brown, co-chair, Contnuotity Ahead Boundaries & Expectations IT-, Search Institute's framework of 40 developmental assets is divided into eight categories: four external and four internal. Each issue of The Asset Connection will take a deeper look at one of these categories. Boundaries and Expectations For young people to grow up healthy and responsible, the assets of support and empowerment need to be balanced with clear and consistent attention to boundaries and high expectations. For example, we must: • Surround young people with caring adults and peers who model positive behaviors • Set and teach clear rules and regulations • State, clarify and enforce the consequences for breaking those rules Some tips to keep in mind Self-awareness is a good place to start. Are you self-disciplined? What are your expectations for yourself? Considering these questions will prepare you to talk with young people about them. Clear messages help. Boundaries, consequences and expectations need to be carefully explained in language suitable to your child's age and understanding. When adolescents challenge the rules, help them internalize boundaries and high expectations through negotiating new limits and consequences. The consequences should fit the misdeed. Consequences are most effective when they are consistency enforced and chosen with the particular child and situation in mind. (And there's always abetter solution than physical punishment.) Expectations need to be high, yet reasonable. Try to strike a balance between keeping standards high, yet recognizing each individual child's interests, abilities, temperament and goals. Young people raised and schoofedy authoritative parents are most likely to adopt the standards that are taught to them. Reprinted with permission from Assets: the lfagazine of /dens for Healthy Communities & Healthy Youth (Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, 1999). All rights reserved by Search Institute, 1-800-888-7828. Search Institute, 1998. ASSET CATEGORIES Support Empowerment ✓Boundaries & Expectations Constructive Use of Time Commitment to Learning Positive Values Social Competencies Positive IdentitY Meet Bob & Shirley Schon Each quarter we spotlight an individual or group who has taken action to positively impact a child's life. We call them "asset builders" and salute them on behalf of all who share the vision to make this community a better place for youth. This issue we applaud Bob & Shirley Schon. Bob. and Shirley Schon havelived in the same house in Crystal for 48 years, all of their married IW. The impact.. they have made on the community throughout these years,�especially since they ve retired, -is a shining example of the�importance, of community u vo rg�ment. Mondays finds bgth serving,lunch ata homeless shelter, Tuesday finds them tutoring af4�dow Lake Elementary Scfiool, and Thursday finds them helping out at North Memorial I 6spital Thea ays in between are not spent lounging around, l�pwever something they both vowed would not happen when -- they retired; , ' ob is'a part of Community Ahead, the IMPACT mentoring program, the Community Education Advisory Council, and the ' orthwest :Hetnnepin Human Services Council. ,He also gives 'motivational and career -related talks to siudents`at the local high schools, among`mahy other volunteer activities. While both enjoy the occasional service they provide Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and the PRISM Food Shelf, a ng manythec organizations, it's the activities that either involve or'.impactyouth that top the list: "Young=people are so important, said Bob. Its important to talk to them and to let them know that you care." It is becauseof this commitment to youth that Bob and Shirley have been named "Asset Builder of the Quarter." Thanks Bob and Shirleyfor all that you do! Do you know any asset builders in the community? Please share their names and their stories with Community Ahead. Call 504-4900 or send an email to: jodie_bird@rdale.kl2.mn.us Robbinsdale Area Schools 4148 Winnetka Avenue North New Hope MN 55427-1288 'I'I,Ill III IAIII1II111I1I111 Dwight Johnson City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd - Plymouth, MN 55447 Non -Profit U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 3027 i . HEALTHY YOUTHIdF6 for Practical Suggestions for Building Assayents ets in Your Child ASSET TYPE #5: Commitment to Learning The more your child is committed to tearning, the more likely he or she tail/ grota up healthy. of youth sur. ory (or Se ariat ense . three Of the V.8 eduCa' �mMit- What Are Assets? Assets are tf 0 key building blocks to help kids succeed. ' fiaord — search 1a.&WA s veyo W afm f 100,000 6th- to 12th -grade youth Nhrauyhaut the United states. The Importance of a Commitment to Laearnz NV=e=7,0'nn9I the corner. In 1983, Commission on Excellence in Education said that our nation's schools were in trouble. The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people: the committee reported. But in 1995, a follow-up study by the National Center for Education Statistics found promising changes, including. More students are taking high-level courses. More young people are taking advanced placement tests. Fewer high school students are dropping out Scores in math and science have improved steadily since the 1980s. A higher percentage of young people want to go to college after graduation. As a nation, we are making a firm commitment to education. Our job as parents is to encourage our children to value learning and make a personal commitment to it. How do we do that, especially when many kids say school is boring or no fun? Most important is to be a role model. Show your child your enthusiasm about learning new skills and information. Remember that learning doesnt happen only in school. Encourage and support children to find things that get them excited about learning—and provide oppor- tunities (in school and elsewhere) to help them develop those interests further. By doing so, youll get your child excited about learning and committed to education. F of d Commitment to Learning W a Search Institute researchers have identified five assets in the area Ofd commitment to learning that are crucial for helping young people grow up hel Check your child's areas of strength: O Achievement motivation—Your child is motivated to do well in school - 0 School engagement—Your child is actively engaged in learning. 0 Homework—Your child reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. 0 Bonding to school—Your child cares about her or his school. 0 Reading for pleasure—Your child reads for pleasure three or more hours per week. T .parn_ug 'Through the Years Age ways to Encourage a Commitment to Learning 0-1 • Sing and read to your baby daily. Expose your baby to new environments, such as parks and stores. Give new, interesting things to your baby to look at, such as toys in different colors, shapes, and 4-5 Encourage your child to learn more about her or his interests. Make up new songs, stories, and games to play with your child • Visit libraries, zoos, museums. • Encourage your cnna to coueCL tnir,g�) r,c V1 3110 61— about. Contribute to the collection. Help your child learn how to study with a friend Find creative ways to help your child link her or his interests lAtll cr1inni subiects. Nays Make You Cats aDifference Find at least one small way to become involved in your child's 2 school. In the process, you will: 1. Detect small problems before they become big. 2. Mahe a teacher's day. (The #2 teacher frustration— behind salary—is parental indifference.) 3. Show your child you care about her or him. More Stuff you Cali use Your C11ild Learn & 365 Ways to Help ear's worth of Achi.eve.Thisbooklists ae n educational i simple ways to enc01 (Available from commitment in your chld �A I CA 93031; p.O.Bo '9099, Oxnard, Nav Press, 1-800-366-7788.) — FiNaL WOAD "To your child, all of life is a `school: Every event is educational. Every encounter is instructive:'—Jan Dargatz, author of 52 Rays to Help Your Child Do Better in School This newsletter and other asset resources are produced by Search Institute, 700 South Third Street, Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55415; 1-800-888.7828. Copyright © 1997 by Search Institute. Major support for Search Institute's Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative is provided -by Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society that specializes in insurance, annuities, and investment products. "Come Home to the Park" Rally CLOWNs1 Brooklyn Park Armory 5400 85t" Avenue North ENTERTAINMENT! Saturday, January 22, 2000, from 12 - 5 p.m. Come and discover what is happening in Brooklyn Park! ............................................................................................. Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth of Maple Grove Attitude is Contagious January 20 at 7:15 - 8:30 a.m. Old Country Buffet Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth of Brooklyn Park Violence Prevention for Families February 8 at 2:30-3:30 p.m. Riverview United Methodist Church rd B kl P k 13603 Grove Dr., Maple Grove 210093 Avenue N., roo yn ar Contact: Debbie Coss, Coordinator - 494-6166 Contact: Beth Becker Coordinator - 560-6050 Metropolitan Council ///JJJ(((/// c' r Working for the Region, Planning for the Future January 18, 2000 Joy Tierney Mayor City Of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd Plymouth Mn 55447-1482 Dear Mayor Tierney: On behalf of the Metropolitan Council, I am pleased to host an informational meeting for local officials about the opportunity to develop a master plan to meet the future wastewater treatment needs of communities in northern Hennepin County. Wastewater flow patterns indicate that communities in this area are experiencing growth that will go beyond the design capacity of the Elm Creek interceptor. To ensure that public investments are used efficiently and to plan development using smart growth principles, the master plan process will include discussion about wastewater treatment, transportation, surface water runoff, housing and water supply. I hope you can join us. Please extend this invitation to others from your community who may be interested in this issue. An RSVP is appreciated by calling 651-602-1806. Monday, January 31, 2000 6:00 — 7:30 p.m. Maple Grove Community Center (Senior Community Room) 12951 Weaver Lake Road (6 blocks east of I-94, turn off Weaver Lake Road at stop light at Community Center Dr.) Sincerely, 1 Saundra Spigner Metropolitan Council Member District 1 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1626 (651) 602-1000 Fax 602-1550 TDD/TTY 291-0904 Metro Info Line 602-1888 An Equal Opportunity Employ- COMMUNITY COLUMNIST Adults must do more to stem flow of alcohol to kids Son No. 1 turned 21 Y last week The flood of emotions con- netted to this milestone ranges from pride in our joint achieve- EILEEN WEBER ment, to joint COMMUNITY wonderment COLUMNIST at our ages, to relief in the passage, complete with a prayer of thanks for good luck. When we talked just days prior to the big event, I could hear the slight tease in his voice when he alluded to the upcoming celebra- tion with campus cohorts. Having danced this maternal macarena with me for a score of years, he clearly knew the moves. "I have a big day coming up," be needlessly reminded me. "Isn't it wonderful!" I cheered. "But don't get too drunk," I also gently ordered, "and if you're go- ing to drink, make sure someone else can drive." He responded with the timeless adolescent mantra, "Don't worry, I'll be OK!" However, this time he illustrated a maturity marked by more than years by adding, "I made it this far; I'm not going to blow it now." "Making it" to the legal drinking age signifies success at countering a culture of consumption that treats adolescence as a sort of protracted hazing, a rite of passage through a minefield of traps baited with the allure of adulthood. Too many adults set those traps with alcohol, and too many teen-agers fall prey. Half of all adolescent deaths involv- ing drownings, fires, suicides and homicides are alcohol-related. The Minnesota Health Depart- ment reports that these youth are at a higher risk of dying from alcohol-related injury or violence than any other age group. In a society that broadly promotes drinking through venues like comic books, cute amphibians, sex and status, alcohol is still the drug most often illegally used by teens. Sadly, it is mostly provided by adults, be they older friends, naive parents, careless clerks and servers, or irresponsible strangers who agree to purchase for kids when ap- proached by them in liquor -store parking lots. Consequently, alcohol flows through our communities to our children like water through a sieve. Enforcement of laws that should stop this flood raises the hackles of a liquor industry that clearly tar- gets the adolescent mentality. The Center for Media Education and the Center for Science in the Public Interest are two organiza- tions that have thoroughly docu- mented how the alcohol industry targets youth, pointing out, for example, how a child's Internet search for frogs turns up the Budweiser amphibians. While restaurateurs have come to expect that safe food is ensured by the routine inspection of their kitchens, liquor licensees persistently balk at the concept of routine com- pliance checks to satisfy the equally important need for safe streets. Mandatory compliance checks with uniform penalties across the state would alleviate the political sensitivity local officials feel about enforcing existing laws, especially in communities where an establish- ment that sells alcohol may also sponsor community events and causes. Given their proven effec- tiveness in reducing illegal sales, such routine checks should be no more negotiable than routine restaurant inspections. Enactment of new laws to pro- ..� —_ �//-��f-� • �'`,c # ,�.- nor - •lea WHSE�, • ` : "�'��• �• �.,� � _� 1��y -��+,•; �.'� mote responsible behavior instead of destructive choices usually encounters legislative committees more friendly to unencumbered commerce than to protecting pub- lic safety. One legal improvement occurred last legislative session in response to the tragic death of 16 -year-old Kevin Brockway on New Year's Eve. He drove his car into a tree after leaving a party where alcohol was provided by an adult. Spear- headed by the Minnesota Join Together Coalition, the new law toughens the criminal penalty for providing free alcohol to minors from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. That success must now be paired with clear and convincing civil lia- bility for such criminal behavior. There is no recompense for the loss of a child, especially the pre- ventable loss caused by the irre- sponsible behavior of another adult. Such grief is immeasurable. Nevertheless, lawsuits against UAVIU 1L;A1HUw/1,UI'Lt7 NtwJ stnVIl C adults for harm resulting from alcohol they gave a minor will turn each civil action into a larger generalized threat that can go a long way toward prevention. The message such lawsuits will send is that those who provide will pay. Minnesotans overwhelmingly sup- port such measures, according to data from Mathematica Policy Research. Across the political spec- trum, 76 percent support mandato- ry undercover compliance checks and a full 83 percent support laws that make it easier to sue an adult provider when harm is caused by an underage drinker. Legislators should heed such strong sentiment to make the passage through adolescence safer for all. Weber (e-mail: weber058@tc.umn.edu). who lives in Cottage Grove, is one of seven Pioneer Press community colum- nists for 1999. She is an emergency nurse at the University of Minnesota Hosoitals and Clinic and a Ph.D. student at the U. Underage Alcohol Use �- L in Hennepin County Using local data, this report assesses the nature, extent and consequences of underage drinking in Hennepin County, details its costs, summarizes close to 100 potentially successful strategies for reducing underage drinking, and highlights four of the most promising strategies. Selected highlights from this report: • Many young people in Hennepin County are drinking: half of these young people (12th graders, 481%; young adults aged 18-20, 51%) are current alcohol users (having had at least one alcoholic drink in the past 30 days). • Most young drinkers are drinking to excess: more than half (56%) of county 12th graders who are current drinkers reported binge drinking (having 5 or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion) at least once in the past two weeks; close to three out of five (59%) county young adults aged 18-20 who are current drinkers reported binge drinking at least once in the past 30 days. • Alcohol is the drug of choice among county teens. The current alcohol use rate among county 12 graders (48%) far exceeds the rate for tobacco (39%), marijuana (24%) or crack cocaine use (2.3%). • Recent research has found that young people who start drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependency than are those who begin drinking at age 21. A majority (58%) of county 121h graders who have used alcohol, started drinking at or before age 15. • Most teens perceive casual drinking (having one or two alcoholic drinks every now and then) as "okay' or "socially accepted." Alcohol is readily available to county teens through both commercial and social sources, often from adult providers. • Many effective prevention and enforcement strategies have been developed that can be applied broadly and vigorously at the local level to reduce the health and social costs and harmful consequences of underage drinking. To receive the publications, please contact: Jim Mara, Supervisor Hennepin County Community Health Department, Minneapolis, Minnesota Phone: 612-348-6150 E-mail address: jim.mara@co.hennepin.mn.us Don't forget to visit our web site for immediate access to all the report publications and resources beginning in mid-February 2000. www.co.hennepin.mn.us/commhlth/ report/ alcohol.htm www.co.hennepin.mn.us/commhlth/ateam/ateam.htm Note: Participants attending the Shutting Off the Tap to Teens III conference will automatically receive a copy of the full report, report highlights, and an executive summary. 0 ver the last year, the Minnesota join Together Coalition has developed a series of fact sheets on Minnesota's response to underage drinking. The following report is a synopsis of those fact sheets. It includes background information on underage alcohol use, a description of the Coalition's policy priorities, and most impor- tantly, solutions that will decrease the problems associated with underage drinking. Rather than focusing on each young person's decision to drink or not to drink, we aim to change the community environment where all too often it's just too easy for young people to obtain and consume alcohol. The intent of this document is to provide useful information for communities to use for public discussions, program planning, policymaking, and community organizing. This report provides a snapshot of the progress made so far to reduce youth access to alcohol. By educating and mobilizing the public we can provide a safer and healthier environment for our youth. ©1999 Minnesota Join Together Coalition • 2829 Verndale Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303 • 612-427-5310 • www.miph.org/m1t Minnesota's Response to Underage Drinking > Over 250 organizations and individuals from across the state have joined together to reduce underage drinking. > Alcohol is the drug most frequently abused by youth. It's just too easy for young people to get alcohol in Minnesota. We must strengthen statewide policy to reduce youth access to alcohol. Alcohol is the drug most frequently abused by youth > According to the National Institute on Alco- hol Abuse and Alcoholism, the younger the age of drinking onset, the greater the chance that an individual at some point in life will develop a clinically -defined alcohol disorder. > In 1998, 14 percent of Minnesota's 9th graders and 31 percent of 12th graders reported that they had five or more drinks on a typical oc- casion. Teens who binge drink are most at -risk for having problems. > Car crashes are the number one killer of teens and one-third to one-half involve alcohol. In 1998, 32 percent of 12th graders reported drinking and driving. > The U.S. Department of Justice reports that alcohol is a factor in nearly 40 percent of violent crime and is more closely associated with crimes of violence than any other drug. > In 1995, 15 percent of Minnesota's 12th grade males and 9 percent of 12th grade females reported alcohol use had caused them problems with the law. Underage alcohol use is also associated with pregnancy, suicides, drownings, sexually trans- mitted diseases, and poor school performance. It's just too easy for young people to get alcohol . > Young people obtain alcohol from either commercial or social sources. Most youth con- sume alcohol that is either illegally sold or ille- gally provided to them. > According to the 1998 Minnesota Student Survey, both 9th and 12th grade users reported the most common sources of alcohol were from friends, family members, and at parties. Half of 9th grade users reported getting it at parties while half of 12th grade users reported they had some- one buy it for them. > Enforcement agencies throughout the state consistently report that underage youth can pur- chase alcohol 50 percent of the time. F The Minnesota join Together Coalition has selected reducing illegal commercial sales and adult provision of alcohol to youth as its top two policy priorities. 1. Reduce Illegal Commercial Sales of Alcohol to Youth Problem It's just too easy for young people in Minnesota to purchase alcohol from bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and convenience stores. Recent compliance checks conducted by law enforcement officers, licensing officials, and community groups reveal that about half of all licensed establishments sold alcohol to underage youth without asking for ID. Alcohol sales to youth are illegal and a violation of the retailer's liquor license. Compliance checks have proven to be an extremely effective way to reduce these illegal commercial sales (see chart below). Unfortunately, compliance checks are not conducted uniformly throughout the state. Solution Alcohol license holders should be expected to comply with the law. Uniform enforcement of existing laws that prohibit the sale of alcohol to anyone under age 21 can be ensured through: > Mandatory compliance checks of all liquor license holders; Graduated administrative/civil penalties for violators, including fines and suspensions on first and second -time offenders, and license revocation for chronic violators of the law; and > Increases in local licensing fees, if necessary, to pay for the cost of enforcement. Note: Compliance checks were conducted between December 1996 and August 1998. They were conducted with the support of community grants. Results were obtained from local police and county health departments. 0 2. Reduce Adult Provision of Alcohol to Youth Felony Loophole Problem Adults such as parents, older siblings, friends, and strangers are a major source of alcohol for young people under age 21. Selling or providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 is a gross misde- meanor in Minnesota (with an exception for par- ents providing alcohol to their own children in their home). Minnesota statutes also provide for more serious felony charges in cases where death or great bodily harm results. However, because of 14 recent court decisions and confusing language in the law, felony charges cannot be brought against adult providers unless they actually sell the alco- hol to the underage youth. solution Change existing statutes by inserting language to make "selling, bartering, furnishing, or giving" alcohol to young people under age 21 a felony if death or great bodily harm results. Civil Cause of Action Problem Minnesota law provides little recourse for indi- viduals and families who are injured by an under- age drinker. While a right to recover damages, or a civil "cause of action," clearly exists in statutes dealing with illegal commercial sales, it is not clear whether an injured party has the right to recover damages from adults who "socially" provide alco- hol to underage youth. solution In order to clarify this situation we need explicit language that clearly provides a civil "cause of action." This would give injured individuals the ability to hold an adult provider accountable for damages that result from giving alcohol to youth. --FOR MORE INFORMATION If you would like to JOIN TOGETHER with others across Minnesota to combat underage access to alcohol, call 612-427-5310 or visit www.miph.org/mit. 47 Information About Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs We are confronted almost daily with stories about problems caused by the abuse of alcohol and the use of tobacco and other drugs. Safe and wise choices about using or abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs will promote health and reduce the'risks of experiencing a wide range of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use problems. Reliable and honest information about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the risks associated with use is important for individuals to make personal decisions in their own best interest. This pamphlet is intended to provide some of the information individuals need to make those decisions. For more information about alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention, contact the Minnesota Prevention Contents 2-4 Health and Legal Risks Associated with Use/Abuse of Alcohol, Tobacco or Other Drugs 5-6 Controlled Substances: Crimes and Penalties 7-8 Selected Laws iated with Use/-- Health and Legal Risks Assoc Alcohol Marijuana Cocaine / Crack Tobacco Alcohol is a drug. Alcohol acts as It central nervous system depressant. is a colorless, flammable and intoxicating liquid absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and the small intestine. Alcohol is the psychoactive ingredient in wine, beer and distilled liquor. Several factors influence the effects of alcohol, including the amount of alcohol consumed, the rate at which it is consumed, the presence of food in the stomach during consumption, and the individual's sex, weight, mood, and previous experience with the drug. A*hQLM be very damaging when used in large amounts over a long period of time, or when drunk heavily in a short period of time (binge drinking). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may result from a woman using alcohol at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Marijuana is the common name for the hemp plant, Cannabis saliva. A marijuana cigarette (joint) is com- posed of dried particles from the hemp plant. The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The amount of THC in a joint is what affects the user. THC is used medically as an antinauseant for cancer patients receiving chemo- therapy. Today's marijuana Is more potent than the pot of the 1960s. Hashish and hashish oil are derivatives from the Cannabis saliva plant and produce similar effects as marijuana. 2 = T Af;_,mFn Prereruion Resource Center Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Cocaine is a white powder that can be inhaled, injected or smoked (free based). Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, increasing alertness and . , activity. In order to extend a seller's supply and profits, cocaine sold on the . streets is often mixed with other substances such as sugar, salt, cornstarch, or possibiy other drugs. Its unknown purity content increases the dangers of using cocaine. Cocaine is'an addictive drug. Initially, users of cocaine experience a high. But when the high wears off a devastating low follows.TO avoid this low, users are often compelled to use more. Crack is a smokeable form of cocaine. Crack is extremely addictive. Smoking crack provides intensified cocaine , effects because higher doses of the drug reach the brain with more immediacy. Tobacco is used in a variety of ways. It is smoked through pipes, cigars and cigarettes. Tobacco is also chewed and inhaled in the form of snuff. Nicotine is the active ingredient in all forms of tobacco. Nicotine stimulates the heart and central nervous system. Nicotine is just as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Smoking costs $65 billion per in.health care costs and lost productivity. In Minnesota, it is a petty misdemeanor for persons under the age of 18 to, possess, use or purchasetobacco products.`Local ordinances may increase these offenses to misdemeanors, with fines up to $700 and jail . time up to 90 days. Furnishing tobacco to a minoris also a misdemeanor. Ii is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine, to sell tobacco products to peopleunder the age of 18. Legislation adopted in 1997 requires all Minnesota counties, and permits cities, to adopt licensing ordinances regulating tobacco sellers. Under these ordinances, the vendor, the sales clerk and the purchaser may each face consequences for illegal sales to minors, independent of state criminal laws. Vendors who sell to minors also face possible sanctions under rules of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Abuse. of_Aicohol, Caffeine Caffeine is found in many sources, including coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, aspirin, nonprescription cough and cold remedies, diet pills, nonprescription stimulants that aid in alertness, and some street drugs. Caffeine may be the world's most popular legal drug. It is a white, bitter, crystal -like substance. Physical dependence may result from chronic consumption of moderately high daily doses of caffeine. Regular users of caffeine may find that an abrupt stop in use can cause withdrawal symptoms, including a severe headache. irritability, nervousness and restlessness. Increasedlnetabolism, alertness head decreased appetite; increased body,ter blood•pressure, irritability; sleepiessm ness1. frequent urination; boredom, trei impaired coordination; and anxiety f and Tobacco or'Uther Drugs Steroids Steroids may contribute to increases in body weight and muscular strength. The acceleration of physical development is what makes steroids appealing to athletes and young adults. Anabolic -Androgenic steroids are chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone. Anabolic means to build up the muscles and other tissues of the body. Androgenic refers to the development of male sex characteristics. Steroids are injected directly into the muscle or taken orally. In Minnesota, unlawtul possession or safe of any amount of anabolic steroids is a felony. Many people classify solvents - inhalants as drugs. However, the solvents -inhalants most abused are TOXIC CHEMICALS found in common household and industrial products. Inhalants are sniffed or huffed (inhaling fumes through the mouth) in order to produce mood -altering effects. Solvents are the chemicals abused as inhalants. Solvents - inhalants act as depressants and slow down the body's functions. The most frequently abused solvents - inhalants are toluene, acetone, methyl and ethyl ketones, benzene, xylene, hexane, trichloromethane, trichloroethylene, the freons, nitrous oxide andthe volatile nitrates. Sudden increase in muscle and weight; increase in violence; hallucinations; Lightheadedness feelings of euphoria;. blossility;!sneezmgost pcough aggression and combativeness; depression; jaundice; purple or red spots on body, We1g nig; headache; ; nausea and vomiting; bad breath; red eyes; inside mouth, or nose; swelling of feet or lower legs (edema), tremors; and bad breath. For women: breast facial hair, baldness, and sores on noses and mouth idust' ung tlI i , ess; decreased blood pressure; reduction, enlarged clitoris, deepened voice. For men: enlarged nipples and breasts, and violence. testicle reduction, enlarged prostate, and baldness. 0 Minnesota Prevention Resource Center., I i Health Risks by Drug Category- - Depressants Hallucinogens Narcotics Depressants include alcohol, barbiturates (downers), and . benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium® and Rohypnol R ), to name a few. Depressants slow down the central nervous system by relaxing muscles, calming nerves and producing sleep. Depressants are composed of sedative-hypnotic and tranquilizer drugs. Depressants are addictive. Users of depressants develop a tolerance to the drugs, meaning larger doses must be taken each time to produce the same effect. Flunitrazepam (commonly known by its trade name, Rohypnol®) is a benzodiazepine ten times stronger han Valium® that is long acting and ro-uces marked memory loss. Relaxation and drowsiness; lack of concentration; disorientation; loss of inhibitions; lack of coordination; dilated pupils; slurred speech; weak and rapid pulse; distorted vision; low blood pressure; shallow breathing; staggering; clammy skin; fever; sweating; stomach cramps; - hallnrinations: tremors: and delirium. Perhaps the best known hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phencyclidine (PCP), and psilocybin (mushrooms), though there are many others. Hallucinogens are psychedelic, mind -altering drugs that affect a person's perception, feelings, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions. A "bad trip' may result in the user experienc- ing panic, confusion, paranoia, anxiety, unpleasant sensory images, feelings of helplessness, and loss of control. A flashback is a recurrence of the original drug experience without taking the drug again. Dilated pupils; increased.body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sweating; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; dry mouth; tremors; hallucinations; disorientation; confusion; paranoia; violence; euphoria; anxiety; panic; and distorted perception of time, space and reality. Narcotics include codeine, heroin, and morphine, among others. Narcotics are composed of opiates and synthetic drugs. Opiates are derived from the seed of the pod of the Asian poppy. Synthetic drugs called opioids are chemically developed to produce the effects of opiates. Initially, narcotics stimulate the higher centers of the brain, but then slow down the activity of the central nervous system. Narcotics relieve pain and induce sleep. Some narcotics, such as heroin, are often diluted with other substances (e.g., water, sugar) and injected. Other narcotics are taken orally or inhaled. Narcotics are extremely addictive. Users of narcotics develop a tolerance to the drugs, meaning larger doses must be taken each time to produce the same effect. Euphoria; restlessness and lack of motivation; drowsiness; lethargy; decreased pulse rate; constricted pupils; flushing (skin appears to be reddish); constipation; nausea and vomiting; needle marks on extremities; skin abscesses at injection sites; shallow breathing; watery eyes; and itching.. Stimulants Stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, and methamphetamine, to name just a few. Stimulants activate the central nervous system, increasing alertness and activity. Users of stimulants develop a tolerance, meaning larger doses must be taken to get the same effect. Stimulants are psychologically addictive. Increased alertness; excessive activity; agitation; euphoria; excitability/ increased pulse rate, blood pressure, and body temperature; insomnia; loss of appetite; sweating; dry mouth and lips; bad breath; disorientation; apathy; hallucinations; irritability; and nervousness. 49 0 Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Controlled Substances: Crimes & Penalties .. Under 1999 Minnesota Law I- I {�,� THE CHART BELOW shows the degrees of selected drug crimes in Minnesota and the sentencing limits for each degree as set by the Minnesota legislature. The guidelines listed for each degree refer to the lengths of time that a person convicted of an offense at that degree would serve in prison. These guidelines are set by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Conuvission. The actual length of sentence is determined by the defendant's criminal his- tory. For instance, a person convicted of a second degree drug offense who has no prior convictions will get a shorter sentence than another person also convicted of a second degree drug offense who happens to have a prior record. In addition, pursuant to legisla- tion, a judge may increase a sentence if the defendant is considered a dangerous career offender. If the guidelines call for probation, the defendant can be sentenced to serve up to 12 months in the local jail or workhouse. Under Minnesota law, the definition of co- caine includes powdered cocaine and crack. Effective January 1, 1999, in order to address the increasing problem of clandestine methamphetamine labs in Minnesota, the manufacture of any amount of methamphet- amine is a first degree controlled substance crime. Also, methamphetamine is treated with the same weights as cocaine and heroin for first and second degree crimes. Possession of 42.5 grams or less of mari- juana, without remuneration, is apetty misde- meanor punishable by a fine of up to $200 and required attendance at an approved drug edu- cation program. Failure to comply with those sanctions or a second conviction within two years constitutes a misdemeanor. Possession of more than 1.4 grams of marijuana in an automobile continues to be a misdemeanor under Minnesota law. In addition to charging offenders with possession and sale crimes, Minnesota pros- ecutors can charge drug offenders with, de- pending on the circumstances: (1) failure to purchase drug tax stamps from the State Com- missioner of Revenue; (2) money laundering, if the person conducted a financial transaction with money that he knew was the proceeds of a felony drug crime; (3) racketeering, under which a dealer can be fined up to three times his gross profits; and (4) importation. 6 Sale Possession Penalty Guidelines 10+ grams cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine; 25+ grams cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine; 500+ 0-30yrsand/or up to $1 millionfine. Imprisonment for 86- 50+ grams of other narcotic drugs; 50+ grams or 200+ dosage units amphetamine, phencyclidine, grams of other narcotic drugs; 500+ grams or 500+ dosage units amphetamine, phencyclidine, or halluci- 158 months; mini - 4-40 yrs and/or up up to $1 million mum $300,000 fine. or hallucinogens; 50+ kilos marijuana; 25+ kilos nogens-,100+ kilos marijuana. fine for 2nd or subsequent con - marijuana in a school zone, park zone, public trolled substance offense. housing zone, or drug treatment facility; the manu- facture of any amount of methamphetamine. 3+ grams cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine; 6+ grams cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine; 50+ 0-25 yrsand/or up to $500,OOOfine. Imprisonment for 48- 10+ grams of other narcotic drugs; 10+ grams or 50+ dosage units amphetamine, phencyclidine, grams of other narcotic drugs; 50+ grams or 100+ dosage units amphetamine, phencyclidine, or halluci- 108 months; mini - 3-40 yrs and/or up to $500,000 mum $150,000 fine. or hallucinogens; 25+ kilos marijuana;anyamount nogens; 50+ kilos marijuana. fine for 2nd or subsequent con - of cocaine, heroin, or any other Schedule I or II trolled substance offense. narcotic drug, LSD, amphetamine, or metham- phetamine, or 5+ kilos of marijuana, in a school zone, park zone, public housing zone, or drug treatment facility; any Schedule I or II narcotic drug to a person under 18 or employment of a person under 18 to sell the same. Any amount of cocaine, heroin, or other narcotic 3+ grams cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine; 10+ 0-20yrsand/or up to $250,000 fine. Probation or impris- drug;l0+dosageunits phencyclidine grams or 50+ dosage units of other narcotic drugs; l0+ onment for 39 57 nrug.10+kflosmarijuana;saleofanySchedule kilos marijuana; any amount of cocaine, heroin, or other 2-30 yrs and/or up to $250,000 months; minimum I, ll, or III drug (except a Schedule I or II narcotic Schedule I or II narcotic drug, methamphetamine, or fine for 2nd or subsequent con- $75,000 fine. drug) to a person under 18 or employment of a amphetamine, or 5+ doses of LSD, in a school zone, trolled substance offense. person under 18 to sell the same. park zone, public housing zone, or drug treatment facility. nt of cocaine, heroin, methamphet- 10+ dosage units of phencyclidine or hallucinogen,or 0-15yrsand/or upto$100,OOOfine. Probation or impris- other Schedule I, II, or III drug (except any Schedule I, II, or III drug (except marijuana) with onment for 24-30 ); any amount of marijuana in a school intent to sell. 1-30yrsand/orupto$100,OOOfine months; minimum k zone, public housing zone, or drugfor r 2nd or subsequent controlled $30,000 fine. facility; oranySchedule IVorVdrug tosubstance offense. nder 18 or conspiracy with oremploy person under 18 to sell the same. y amount of marijuana (except 42.5 grams or Any Schedule I, 11, III, or IV drug (except 42.5 grams or 0-5 yrs and/or up to $10,000 fine. Probation or impris- ss for no remuneration) or any Schedule IV [drug. less of marijuana); any prescription drug obtained 6 months to 10 yrs and/or up to onmentfor2l months; y minimum $3,OOOfine. through false pretenses or forgery. $20,000 fine for 2nd or subsequent controlled substance offense. ® 5 Controlled Substances: Crimes & Penalties Under Federal Law IN ADDITION to the penalties listed below for selected controlled substances crimes, Federal'law provides for: (1) forfeiture of personal and real property used to possess or to facilitate possession of a controlled sub- stance if that offense is punishable by more than one year imprisonment; (2) forfeiture of vehicles, boats, aircraft or any other convey- ance used to transport orconceal a controlled substance; (3) a civil fine of up to $10,000 (pending adoption of final regulations); (4) denial of Federal benefits, such as student loans, grants, contracts, and professional and commercial licenses, up to 1 year for first Possession Penalty 50 grams or more methamphetamine or 500 grams or more methamphetamine mixture, 1 kilogram or more heroin mixture, 5 kilograms or more cocaine mixture, 50 grammar m9re cocaine base (crack) mixture, 100 grams or more PCP or 1 kilogram or more PCP mixture, 10 grams or more LSD mixture, 400 grams or more fentanyl mixture, 100 grams or more fentanyl analogue mixture, 1000 kilograms or more marijuana mixture, 1000 or more marijuana plants. 5-49 grams methamphetamine or 50-199 grams methamphetamine mixture, 100-999 grams heroin mixture, 500-4999 grams cocaine mixture, 5-49 grams cocaine base (crack) mixture, 10-99 grams PCP or 100-999 grams PCP mixture, 1-9 grams LSD mixture, 40-399 grams fentanyl mixture, 10-99 grams fentanyl analogue mixture, 100-999 kilograms marijuana mixture, 100-999 marijuana plants. Any amount of other Schedule I or Schedule 11 Controlled Substances, 50-99 kilograms marijuana mixture, 50-99 marijuana plants, or 1 gram or more flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). Any amount of Schedule III Controlled Substances, less than 50 kilograms marijuana mixture, 10 kilograms hashish or more, 1 kilogram hashish oil or more, or 30-999 milligrams flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). Any amount of Schedule IV Controlled Substances. Any amount of Schedule V Controlled Substances. 6 E 0 Minnesota Prevention Resource Center offense, up to 5 years for second and subse- quent offenses; (5) ineligibility to receive or purchase a firearm; and (6) revocation of certain Federal licenses and benefits, (e.g., pilot licenses, public housing tenancy, etc.), as determined by individual Federal agencies. First Offense: 10 years to life, 10 year mandatory minimum; if death or serious injury, 20 year minimum; up to $4 million fine individual, $10 million other than individual. Second Offense. 20 years to life, 20 year mandatory minimum; if death or serious injury, not less than life; up to $8 million fine individual, $20 million other than individual. First Offense: 5 years to 40 years, 5 year mandatory minimum; if death or serious injury, 20 year minimum; up to $2 million fine individual, $5 million other than individual. Second Offense: 10 years to life, 10 year mandatory minimum; if death or serious injury, not less than life; up to $4 million fine individual, $10 million other than individual. First Offense: 0 to 20 years; if death or serious injury, 20 year mandatory minimum, not more than life; up to $1 million fine individual, $5 million other than individual. Second Offense: 0 to 30 years; if death or serious injury, not less than life; up to $2 million fine individual, $10 million other than individual. First Offense: 0 to 5 years; up to $250,000 fine individual, $1 million other than individual. Second Offense: 0 to 10 years; up to $500,000 fine individual, $2 million other than individual. First Offense: 0 to 3 years; up to $250,000 fine individual, $1 million other than individual. Second Offense. 0 to 6 years; up to $500,000 fine individual, $2 million other than individual. First Offense: 0 to 1 year; up to $100,000 fine individual, $250,000 other than individual. Second Offense: 0 to 2 years; up to $200,000 fine individual, $500,000 other than individual. Selected Laws Alcohol Crimes and Penalties Under Minnesota Law MINNESOTA has many statutes which regulate and control the use and abuse of alcohol. In addition to Driving While under the Influence (DWI) laws, Minnesota has laws regulating the sale, purchase, possession, and consumption of alcohol. 1. DWI LAWS There are four DWI and Implied Consent packages that aim at preventing the operation of motor vehicles, boats, snowmobiles/all terrain vehicles, and aircraft by inebriated persons. A. Elements of DWI Offense. Minnesota has one of the most comprehensive DWI statutes in the nation. The elements of the offense may be outlined as follows: It is a crime for any person to drive, operate, or be in physical control of a motor vehicle, within this state or upon the ice of any boundary water of this state, while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled or hazardous substance, or a combination of the two, or the person has an "alcohol concentration" of 0.10 or more. 1. Driving, Operating, and Physical Control. The statute does not prohibit only "driving" while under the influence, but extends to "operating" and "physical control" of the motor vehicle. While "driving" normally includes steering a self-propelled vehicle, "operating" includes a broader range of conduct, which includes starting motors, steering towed vehicles, etc. "Physical control" is broader yet, and applies to any person who places himself or herself in a position to either restrain a vehicle from being moved or to direct its motion, including persons found alone, asleep, in a parked vehicle. 2. Motor Vehicle. The law applies to any kind of motor vehicle including farm tractors, bulldozers, front end loaders, mopeds, garden tractors and riding lawn mowers. The law also applies to snowmobiles, boats and all -terrain vehicles. Under the Influence. 'Under the influence" is defined in terms of impaired ability to drive safely. It is not synony- mous with an "alcohol concentration" of 0.10 or more. On the contrary, an alcohol concentration of '0.04 or more" is relevant evidence of whether or not the person is under the influence of alcohol. In reality, most human beings are visibly impaired at alcohol concentrations well below 0.10. Accordingly, it cannot be assumed that it is "legal' to drive so long as one remains below the 0.10 line. "Under the Influence" also means the presence of any amount of certain controlled substances. Criminal Penalties. Generally, a first offense is a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a fine of $700. If the person has a prior "impaired driving conviction or license revocation" within the previous five years, or two or more prior "impaired driving convictions or license revocations" within the previous ten years, the crime is a gross misdemeanor, raising the maximum sentence to a year in jail and a fine of $3000. "Impaired driving convictions" include adult convictions and juvenile adjudications. The crime is also considered a gross misdemeanor if a child under the age of 16 is present in the motor vehicle with the driver, if the driver violates a RR crossing law, or if the driver's alcohol concentration is .20 or more. Additionally, mandatory minimum sentences apply to some multiple offenders. A gross misde- meanor offense within ten years of two prior impaired driving convictions or license revocations carries a minimum of 90 days incarceration, at least 30 days of which must be served consecutively in a local jail. A gross misdemeanor offense within ten years of three prior impaired driving convictions or license revocations carries a minimum of 180 days incarceration, at least 30 days of which must be served consecutively in a local jail. A gross misdemeanor offense within fifteen years of four prior impaired driving convictions or license revocations, or anytime after five prior impaired driving convictions or license revocations, carries a minimum of one year incarceration, at least 60 days of which must be served consecu- tively in a local jail. The remainder of these sentences may be served in home detention or in an intensive probation program. It is a separate misdemeanor crime to refuse to submit to an alcohol concentration test. There are increased penalties for repeat DWI offenders. Judges are required to order those convicted of DWI and related crimes to serve their sentences back to back (consecutively) instead of merging all sentences into one (concurrently). Those who drink and drive in different types of vehicles—including cars, snowmobiles, boats, and all -terrain vehicles will find those violations "stacking" up against each other. C. Driver License Revocations. Drunk drivers also lose their driver licenses: a) First offense, test of 0.10: not less than 30 days; b) First offense, test refused: not less than 90 days; c) Second offense in less than five years, test over 0.10: not less than 180 days and until the court has certified that treatment or rehabilitation has been successfully completed where prescribed; and d) Second offense in less than five years, test refused: not less than one year and until the court has certified that treatment or rehabilitation has been successfully completed where prescribed. Revocation periods are doubled for those drivers whose alcohol concentration level is .20 or more. More than two offenses call for longer periods of revocations; and under certain circumstances the registration plates and registration certificates of all motor vehicles registered in the name of any person whose license is revoked may be impounded. Vehicles used in DWI offenses may be forfeited if the driver has two or three prior offenses, or upon a second offense where the driver's alcohol concentration is .20 or more, or where a child under the age of 16 is present in the vehicle. Prior juvenile adjudica- tions as a DWI violator count as prior "convictions" for purposes of revocations. D. Implied Consent. The Implied Consent statute provides that by driving a motor vehicle in this state, a person implicitly consents to submit to testf'ng for intoxication. If testing is refused, your right to drive will be revoked for a minimum period of one year. If a test is taken and the results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more, your right to drive will be revoked for a minimum period of 90 days. Revocation periods are doubled for those drivers whose alcohol concentration is .20 or more. However, whether you take or refuse the test, you may still be subject to criminal prosecution for an alcohol or controlled substance -related driving offense which has its own license revocation provision. Continued on page 8 __ _,a _ @ Minnesorn Prerenlion Resoncce Center_..® � A MATTER OF FACTS 1- �( `� Selected Laws continued 11. LIQUOR CONTROL VIOLATIONS, PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS. A. Consumption. It is a misdemeanor for any liquor licensee (such as a bar or restaurant) to permit any person under the age of 21 to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises. It is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to consume any alcoholic beverages unless that person is in his parents'/guardians' home and with their permission. A minimum fine of $100 must be assessed against a person under the age of 21 years who consumes alcohol. B. Purchasing. 41� Itis a gross misdemeanor for any person to sell, barter, furnish, or give alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age; except for the rights of parents/ D. guardians as outlined under consumption. 2) It is a felony for a person other than a licensed retailer of alcoholic beverages, a bottle club permit holder, a municipal liquor store, or an employee or agent of any of these who is acting within the scope of employment, to sell, barter, furnish, or give alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age if that person becomes intoxicated and causes or suffers death or great bodily harm as a result of the intoxication. 3) It is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to purchase or attempt to purchase any alcoholic beverage. it t Ne. i' aj " ,W G'+4,&:y ....: - Diviston The PRChagiriediofncludethe most h etpfu� n cation in a format that is easyto.readThispu�licationisnotezhaus- .` five, nor is it meantto serve as legal advice. The Minnesota Prevention Resource Center acknowledges the assistance of the State of Minnesota Office of Attorney General and The -Drug Enforcement Administration. © Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Is Printed on recycled paper containing at W least 10% post -consumer paper fibers. 4) It is a gross misdemeanor for any person to induce a person under the age of 21 years to purchase or procure any alcoholic beverage, or to lend or permit the use of a driver's license, permit, Minnesota identifi- cation card, or other form of identification, to a person under the age of 21 for the purpose of purchasing or attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage. Possession. It is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to possess any alcoholic beverage with the intent to con- sume it at any place other than the household of person's parent or guardian. Mere posses- sion at any place other than the home of the person's parent or guardian is prima facie evidence of an intent to consume at a place other than the household. Entering Licensed Premises. It is a mis- demeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to enter any licensed premises for the purpose of purchasing, being served or deliv- ered any alcoholic beverage. E. Misrepresenting Age. It is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to III claim to be 21 years old or older for the pur- pose of purchasing alcoholic beverages. F. Proof of Age. Proof of age must be estab- lished by a valid driver's license or identifica- tion card issued by Minnesota, another state, or a province of Canada, military identification card or, in the case of a foreign national other than a Canadian, by a valid passport. 05rp WC Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Anoka, MN 55303-1593 612-427-5310.800-247-1303 (MN) www.miph.org/mprc G. Driver License Suspensions for Illegal Purchase or Consumption of Alcohol. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall impose a 90 -day suspension of driving privileges of any person (a) who is under the age of 21 years and is convicted of purchas- ing or attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage if the person used a driver's li- cense, permit, or Minnesota identification card in making the purchase or attempted purchase or (b) who lends a driver's license to someone under 21 to use to purchase alcoholic beverages. The Commissioner of Public Safety also imposes a suspension of driving privileges of any person who is under the age of 21 years and is convicted of consuming any amount of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle. The suspension period is for 30 days for a first offense and 180 days for a sec- ond or subsequent offense. A minimum fine of $100 must be assessed against a person under the age of 21 years who con- sumes alcohol. SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY Anyone over 21 who knowingly serves alcohol to someone under 21 may be held civilly liable for any damages subsequently caused by the person under 21. aE Revised 8/99 ROD GRAMS MINNESOTA COMMITTEES: BANKING, HOUSING, ANO UREAN AFFAIRS ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOREIGN RELATIONS JCIN7 ECONOMIC January 4, 2000 United $tatez *mate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 The Honorable Joycelyn H. Tierney Mayor City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Dear Mayor Tierney: WASHINGTON OFFICE: PH. 202-224-3244 FAX 202-226-0956 INTERNET: N.AIL_GRA.4S@GRAMS.SENATE. GOV MINNESOTA OFFICE: 2C13 SECOND AVENUE NORTH ANOKA. VIN 55303 FH. 612-427-5921 FAX 612-427-ee72 With the 1st session of the 106th Congress behind us, I want to take this opportunity to update you on some of the key issues we tackled this past year. Breakdown in Federal Budget Process Places Taxpayers at Risk and Minnesota Dairy Farmers at Competitive Disadvantage The $154.3 billion Omnibus Spending bill passed by the Congress the last day of session in November contained five of the unsigned appropriations measures which fund the government for fiscal year 2000. However, since so much of the bill is "mandatory" spending - spending over which the government has already made commitments - the total increases to $385 billion! As you might imagine, there were as many reasons to oppose such a taxpayer -funded spending spree as there were budget gimmicks, pork projects and misguided policy initiatives. For the second year in a row, I opposed the year-end spending bill. I have become increasingly concerned over the apparent break -down in the federal budget process. The manner in which Congress has approached funding the federal government these past two years has not only weakened the nation's fiscal discipline, but also undermined the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution. Earlier this year, I introduced legislation aimed at reforming the troubled budget process, entitled "The Comprehensive Budget Process Reform Act". Under the provisions of my plan, the Congress and the President would agree upon budget ceilings early in the year and the ceilings would be legally binding. Bringing him into the process early on would help avoid the chance of Congress being forced to accept proposals and spending it opposes while trying to avert a government shut -down. In addition to the flurry of new spending, this year's spending bill is riddled with budgetary "smoke and mirrors" which place our Social Security surplus at risk. After all the bi-partisan PREPARED, PUBLISHED, AND MAILED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. PRINTED ON RFCYCIFD PAPFR Q_ calls to "save Social Security first" -- appropriators and the Administration were virtually tripping over themselves to manipulate the numbers, creating rosey surplus forecasts in order to spend more. Should those projections come in lower than expected, federal spending will begin to dip into the Social Security Trust Fund. In fact, the estimate is that we have spent $17 billion of the Social Security surplus. I'm hoping the January re -estimate will show we are not spending any of the Social Security surplus, but the information I had in November was one of the main reasons I voted against this spending bill. In an effort to preserve Washington's promise and ensure retirement'security for current and future generations, I introduced legislation. "The Social Security Surplus Protection Act (S. 1693)" would institute an across-the-board spending cut should the actual numbers show Congress spent any of the Social Security Surplus. I was pleased when my colleagues adopted the concept as a Sense of the Senate" amendment to the Labor/Health and Human Services spending bill, but this was non-binding. Instead, the House and Senate Conferees included a .38 percent across-the-board cut in the discretionary accounts of all 13 appropriations measures. And already, there is growing concern that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will soon show that spending cut is not enough to protect the Social Security Surplus, which I hope is not the case. I am working with the Leaders Task Force on Social Security to enact legislation like S. 1693 that would provide the needed cut automatically. Obviously, with spending jeopardizing efforts to preserve the Social Security surplus, there was little room for tax cuts. Following President Clinton's veto of the $800 billion tax cut package in September, and with the exception of some tax credit extenders, the working men and women of America were left without any relief for the second year in a row. I guess the one up -side is that the Majority in Congress held off President Clinton's attempts to actually increase taxes. One of my biggest disappointments of this budget was the inclusion of unfair dairy policies which place Minnesota's dairy farmers at a competitive disadvantage. It is the last minute additions of policy initiatives such as this which undermine the process and ultimately resulted in my filibustering the bill until we reached an agreement to review those provisions at the beginning of the new year. If my colleagues from New England and the Leadership had followed regular Senate rules and rejected regional favoritism, we could have avoided this scenario playing out. I'll keep you updated as negotiations begin next year. Combatting Clinton's Efforts to Legislate Through Executive Order and Regulation One of the most prevalent themes I have heard in my travels around Minnesota is the growing concern over this Administration's efforts to enact policy through regulation and c") executive order. Any "feel good" initiative President Clinton isn't able to get through the legislative process, he merely uses the stroke of a pen to further erode the "balance of power" created by our Founding Fathers. But Congress is partly to blame. By failing to exercise its oversight responsibilities, Congress has unwittingly abdicated powers to the unchecked federal agencies which are attempting to legislate through regulation. This is the reason'I have been a strong proponent of legislation to "sunset" the laws Congress creates -- to force us back to the table to change what needs fixing, eliminate the things which aren't working, and promote the programs which are. I will be working with Minnesotans to ensure the regulations which are written to interpret the laws we pass actually reflect congressional intent. We cannot leave this merely to the bureaucrats in Washington who don't have to live under them! Exposing the Clinton/Kennedy Agenda When I was first elected to the Congress in 1993, Bill Clinton came into the White House believing he had a "mandate" from the people. He interpreted that to mean the taxpayers were willing to hand over their freedoms - and their wallets - and allow the federal government to run their lives. It is no wonder he enacted the largest tax hike in history, or attempted to nationalize health care. But the voting public rejected this type of "big brother" approach in 1994. This hasn't changed their message, just softened the wording. One of the most notable examples I would point to is the recent debate surrounding efforts to reform the health maintenance organization industry (HMOs). Earlier this year, Senator Ted Kennedy introduced legislation known as the "Patient Bill of Rights". Ultimately, the Kennedy bill would have done more harm than good; unnecessarily increasing litigation including exposure to employers who choose to offer health care. In meeting after meeting, I heard from Minnesota employers who told me they wouldn't even wait for the -first lawsuit to occur -- that they would drop their health care coverage and give the money to their employees to find insurance on their own. Clearly, with all of these individuals finding themselves "newly uninsured", a national cry would have arisen for the federal government to step in. Standing there at the ready, we would have seen President Clinton, Senator Kennedy, and other advocates for National Health Care, ready to ensure coverage for all. And don't think it wouldn't come without a hefty price tag. Instead, I worked with my Senate colleagues to adopt legislation which would provide protections for those who are not protected by state insurance laws and increase access to coverage. The "Patients Bill of Rights Plus" (PBR+) increases patient protections as well as increases access. Contained in the bill were provisions from my "Health Care Access and Equity Act of 1999" to expand the extremely successful medical savings accounts program, and full health insurance deductibility for individuals and the self-employed. I believe the PBR+ represents the better alternative to the Kennedy plan and the House -passed version. Furthermore, I believe the PBR+ plan doesn't create an environment which plays into the Clinton/Kennedy agenda for more big government. As House and Senate conferees begin to work out the differences between the two chambers bills, I will be working to ensure patients are protected, not placed at greater risk. Looking to the Year Ahead The end of the congressional session provides us with the time to take stock of our actions and prepare for the year ahead. This is why your comments are so important to me, particularly at this time. As a member of the Leaders Task Force on Tax Relief, I will be developing proposals aimed at enactment next year. Unfortunately, meaningful relief and real tax reform will have to wait until we have a new Administation -- but we must begin to lay the foundation now. Working with seniors, farmers, employers and employees -- I'll be promoting initiatives which ensure our national retirement system is secure for our seniors and future generations. And because the health of our economy impacts each of us, I will continue to expand trade opportunities and advance legislation which will re -invigorate our rural economy ("Rural Revitalization Act of 1999"). But this is a "team sport" -- we each need to know what the other is doing to develop a "win-win" strategy for all Minnesotans. So I look forward to hearing from you in the coming weeks. If you would like to receive regular updates on my activities, including press releases, via email - please contact me via the internet (mail_grams@grams.senate.gov) and give me your email address. Sincerely, Rod Grams United States Senator MEMO CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 DATE: January 10, 2000 TO: Dwight Johnson, City Manager FROM: Sandy Paulson, Randy Lehtola, Mike Engler WW' (Employee Suggestion Committee) SUBJECT: 1999 Annual Report of the Employee Suggestion Program The Employee Suggestion Program guidelines provide that an annual report is to be provided to the City Council regarding the total number of suggestions received, number of suggestions implemented, savings realized, and estimated program administration and award costs. The following suggestions were submitted and considered in 1999 through the Employee Suggestion Program: Install revised pull-down rods for the customer counter windows, rather than install electric operators which could cost thousands of dollars. Due to a number of safety concerns with customers and employees, this suggestion was rejected. Purchase and install a zip drive and super -disk drive in one computer in the City. It was difficult to determine the savings realized; however, there was an immediate need for the equipment, and this equipment could be utilized for census data and data for the Comprehensive Plan. The suggestion was approved, and the employee was awarded $50. Purchase a paper shredder for personnel records in lieu of contracting this service at the cost of $882 per year. This suggestion was rejected. It was noted that this cost was not only for personnel records but police records as well. The determination was made that it would cost the City far more than $882 per year if an employee were responsible for shredding the documents, especially with the very large volumes of paper from the Police Department. Page 2 G �2 • Provide a basis driver training refresher course for all City employees. This course would be conducted by a police officer. The suggestion was approved, and the employee was awarded $25. • E -mailing to all City staff City meeting calendars. This suggestion was rejected at this time but with the provision that $25 would be awarded if the suggestion were implemented in two years. The "Calendar Creator" program would need to be loaded on individual computers, and only those employees with the program could read the calendar if it were e-mailed. Currently, everyone has access to Outlook, and this program will continue to be utilized until the City decides to take the step to City-wide scheduling where everyone could view everyone else's calendar. Modify the design of City business cards for employees. The format was changed to include e-mail addresses for employees, and the general format was changed to make the cards easier to read. The suggestion was approved, and the employee was awarded $25. • Printing and distributing a City calendar on a yearly basis for Plymouth residents. This suggestion was rejected for many reasons as well as the substantial cost (approximately $35,400). In addition, the City currently publishes, every two years, a guidebook which is a reference material for citizens. This guidebook costs $6,000 annually. Even though some of the suggestions were rejected, the names of all employees submitting worthwhile suggestions during the year will be placed in a drawing at the upcoming Employee Recognition Event. Microsoft Site Server Analysis This report shows top level information to give you an at -a -glance look at the activity on your web sit For detailed information on a particular section of this report, refer to the corresponding detail report. This report requires "IP resolution", "Title lookups", and "Whois queries" to be completed before analysis. Analysis date: 1/6/00 3:11:23 PM Internet sites analyzed: City Web Site First date analyzed: 12/1/99 Last date analyzed: 1/5/00 Analysis content: 1. Content exposure 2. User organizations and geography 3. Definitions Content exposure Shows the number of visits for each day in the analysis period. Weekdays are shown as blue bars a weekends as red ones. 300 250 ►�81 150 100 50 0 ay a7 a� m rn a� a,, a� a7 a� a� cy ay a7 rn a� 0 0 MLn11- M N N N N N Z% Z Date 12/1/99 12/2/99 12/3/99 12/4/99 1,508 1,816 1,478 907 435 479 402 436 193 180 172 99 132 135 115 76 2.25 2.66 2.34 4.40 12/5/99 ...._...... 12/6/99 12/7/99 1,122 1,911 2,175 533 740 808 116 195 219 86 137 141 4.59 3.79 3.69 12/8/99 2,199 923 253 149 3.65 12/9/99 2,733 967 198 141 4.88 12/10/99 2,031 791 191 129 4.14 12/11/99 1,344 762 144 99 5.29 12/12/99 1,023 505 108 86 4.68 12/13/99 1,926 743 176 112 4.22 12/14/99 1,786 709 180 128 3.94 12/15/99 1,767 678 183 133 3.70 12/16/99 2,420 949 201 146 4.72 12/17/99 2,272 758 178 123 4.26 12/18/99 1,606 1,049 142 98 7.39 12/19/99 858 447 114 94 3.92 12/20/99 1,922 724 198 136 3.66 12/21/99 1,660 632 .173 120 3.65 12/22/99 1,865 695 198 128 3.51 12/23/99 12/24/99 1,624 807 768 417 209 86 120 74 3.67 4.85 12/25/99 12/26/99 12/27/99 564 651 2,519 373 381 748 76 98 172 57 69 132 4.91 3.89 4.35 12/28/99 2,113 692 186 132 3.72 12/29/99 2,671 827 201 155 4.11 12/30/99 12/31/99 2,673 1,481 1,317 633 178 166 156 123 7.40 3.81 1/1/00 981 549 110 72 4.99 1/2/00 1/3/00 1,092 2,966 542 956 109 276 88 199 4.97 3.46 1/4/00 3,549 1,087 292 215 3.72 1/5/00 Total 2,685 64,705 912 25,367 245 6,215 189 3.72 4.08 2 Aleff 600 N N d v- 400 a� 200 0 150 ca ca ca w to m m =3 o ayi a"i li Weekday ❑c _71 E w w o CLCLCLMCL C N 'd' w coO C N� w co O .a � r .E Hour N ■ Avg#of requests Avg#of visits ■ Avg#of requests Avg # of visits the 20 files that received the most requests. 1. City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA W� es 2,707 /o .0 ,00 ,004 s 10.67% 2. City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA 1,552 6.12% 3. City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA - Job Listing 884 3.48% 4. City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA 418 1.65% 5. 6. 7. Plymouth news City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA City Plymouth, Minnesota USA 343 327 321 1.35% 1.29% 1.27% 8. I.of Error 404 239 0.94% 9. 10. Public Transit Plymouth events 235 230 0.93% 0.91% 11. Other Government Sites 224 0.88% 12. Error 404 203 0.80% 13. City of Plymouth, Plymouth, Minnesota USA 192 0.76% 14. City Council 178 0.70% 15. City of Plymouth, Minnesota USA- Lester Contest 1 177 0.70% 16. City Services and Departments 175 0.69% 17. 18. Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Web City of Plymouth, MN, USA- City Code.html 159 155 0.63% 0.61% 19. Other Government Sites 151 0.60% 20. 2000 Calendar -Official City Meetings 150 0.59% Total 9,0201 35.56% User organizations and geography Shows the 20 organizations that visited your site most frequently. Determine if your target customers are visiting as frequently as expected or learn about new organizations to target. y CA 4,000 a� 2,000 Cr 0 0 0 a� PrA Cn o co 0 C.? 0 U 0 U p W W W Z Z 0 c = Q W W =W Z LLI W C 0 O V .E LLJ C±i = lig Z W- = Z (� D C Y J Q F Q H OrganizatioTrr name Z 5 719 Shows the top 20 countries from which users came to visit your site. This information can be valuable to determine if mirror sites are needed in other countries. 20.000 15.000 H 10.000 a> 5.000 0 � 0 E Z N 2 -M - C ice'" v c c !01 -ya v aci c d v c 7l'C C-� A R l0 m l0 l0 K RMin M 75` N d N H 3 ¢ COLj C30 LL Country Shows the percentage of visits from each organizationtype. This information can be used as another monitor for reaching target audience or identifying new organization types to target. 36.4 20.6/0 ■ Academb Commercbl .: UWa Mle Oegae=Wb A" 12.1% ■ (elreetS*M"PrO MT ■ UaMSOUeGlPa=MZS 0. Ilse se Woe 8.1 Flo ■ r, o remeet ■ Noe-ptoM ■ UIIMMW 7 Nit Request - Any connection Y hIt that to an Irate conte met site, includ' Visit has three nd user beha I. retrievesmg inline graphics graphics file lor. For content. Unh 'mages an file s, the mple, if a use ke hits d errors A eW e er, only One re ML page b setvermight r.requests request are relate to data in °f cOnecur �9uest is co andMight add so a log entry page hat User tOYour odes relerr a requests d bYAnal some Imes f3 for the threeat Irate er data fom a user Ysis. for overlie der does nomint site. RegarrI hen new visits to an Inte ad. Anrequests is co a request aft of whether begin with a et site. Ifyour data who nsidered era s or not ferrin lOg file O visits to be a c pecified t. You have r g links exte a, users will be ,Your site at lea °r npleted v • "Ile 1`10 cook' eferrer data, Ifa 1 cOpkie Ide Isit. d, theprev info data, a re by the. nce' Ifyour us rmatio 1p series n's availabled use, nn cookie If log file data ° organization hos na organizations Users' me is ass i Your to a c ntains 'nes, are identified d to user g files d c°pkre their Intern SO user use In O not n A c flet hos counts Ina gate►vays by their Int�r' ifno registr tarn °miner Mame Y be co , which meth ation connects c'al, acade s. On f mask there ostnanes. Microsoftuser or those a. Intefie Request dor s to the nrennet profit uer t "'Sit dor ation Site , ide gove S identified y ati database a OrganizatiServerAnalysis ratified by or jnilit b on ary entity The base, one Inte as °ne organ an, UPS together n entity s Inte that Ad The The tune between rnet domain • nation. 1 fa all domai met Q+omai time n two Is use domai ns re ns• include betweend t n is registered consecutive req, ° �denti unavailable • ed to the Ad An oppo ow 1 °ng users r. and last re ests in tile °ne Organization. In the click re muni view a quest same n. quest is tY tO deliv d the last Of a v.. visit. inter a meas er an adv request Islt. This ti Ad click rate act with the ore °f the 'ac • er Ising ele °f a visit Inc does not Ge rate Clicking / e opportunity for before a neve technolo Ment to a web The peg on an ad ver jSe,, site visitorvertisen rat ova ll equires he useIsItrr An ad The continetage ofad elneut, asre to 6e transfe appear to organization stlnte countly reg on uests that res edbY the seiv tO a location by Each Isis database met domain retate, city, and an ad click. dOmai ntefiet dOma a Included . gjs4ation, pnl'p code are b n used in mol , is associate region, state,Y Internet sed on an Iple locatio a With onlcity, and2. awls found ns con sideea o bip e ado IP all U users fir n the One location om a I� �® • • J• POO 8 I-494 Corridor Commision/JPO Meeting Minutes of Wednesday, December 8,1999 _f;M'approved) I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m. by Chair Ross Thorfinnson at Southwest Metro Transit Commission's transit hub. Those in attendance were: Ross Thorfinnson, Eden Prairie Barb Senness, City of Plymouth Jim Hovland, City of Edina Mike Opatz, City of Maple Grove Larry Lee, City of Bloomington Kate Garwood, Southwest Metro Transit Lisa Raduenz, LJR, Inc. Scott Sannes, MnDOT Metro Division Bob Burlingame, City of Maple Grove Russ Susag, City of Richfield Dick Allendorf, City of Minnetonka Alisa Omat, City of Bloomington Tom Foley, City of Richfield II. Review of Minutes. Review of minutes from November 10, 1999 meeting. Motion made to approve minutes by Hovland. Foley seconded the motion. Motion passed. 494 Corridor Presentation. Sannes from MnDOT provided the Commission with an overview presentation of the 494 corridor which he presented to the Commissioner and his staff last month. As part of the presentation, Sannes handed out a one-page 494 overview sheet which showed current segment traffic volumes, financial estimates for segment reconstruction along 494, and other updated information. A color map was also provided that :illustrated the segment construction periods expected by MnDOT for 494. Sannes reported that MnDOT is currently requesting proposals from consultant firms to provide modeling for all areas along 494 to determine construction impacts on local roadways along 494, including relievers. Lee asked Sannes if the work was to include the staging of modeling (i.e., modeling Section 3 and 4 impacts at the same time)? Sannes replied that this was indeed part of the scope of the project. There will be four lanes in each direction along 494 in the 35W area, according to Sannes, with another 26 feet in the middle section as future right-of-way. This right-of-way would be adequate for another two lanes, according to Sannes. Lee asked Sannes about the right-of-way necessary for redevelopment. Sannes replied that MnDOT staff have been looking at right-of- way needs, and that an official right-of-way map will be prepared as part of the EIS project, set to begin in January 2000. Foley suggested that there should be committees set up at different spots along the corridor to assist MnDOT in determining specific right-of-way impacts and issues, as they are all different. Hovland asked Sannes what the internal MnDOT direction was for funding big projects such as 494 reconstruction? Sannes replied that there is no direction internally for funding ALL of the 494 reconstruction at this time. Hovland asked if it mattered whether the dollars were from the state or federal government? Sannes replied that "all money is green", and that it did not matter where the funding would come from, only that it would indeed come to 494. Foley asked if there was an additional movement afoot to target dollars for the 4949/694 beltway? Sannes replied that the Commissioner of Transportation and his staff are currently preparing a plan called the "ABC" plan, which would provide direction for targeted 1 spending on interregional corridors, beltways and bottlenecks. Tierney asked Sannes about the increasing levels of congestion on the north/south piece of 494, near I-94? Sannes responded that he was not diminishing the north/south segment of 494, and that it is easier to build in the short term than the east/west portion, but if one looked at the age of the infrastructure, the east/west portion was by far worse than that of the north/south. Burlingame commented that there will be some relief in the northern portions of 494 and 694 when the bridges go in at 101 for the Highway 610 expansion. This will help divert traffic to Co. Rd. 81 and Fernbrook, rather than onto the local freeway system. The bridge is expected to be finished by 2001, according to Burlingame. Hovland asked if the North Star Corridor was expected to provide any relief from the northern movement of traffic to the 494 corridor? Sannes responded that the projections of commuter rail riders did not in any way compare with the current traffic levels measured by MnDOT for the roadway. Sannes said that commuter rail is "another tool in the toolbox, but not a solution" to the congestion problem. Allendorf asked Sannes about the reconstruction of Highway 62 at the 35W commons section. Sannes responded that the bottleneck in that area will be looked at in the very near future by MnDOT. Hovland remarked that this same issue came up at an Edina City Council meeting recently, and that there were questions about whether highway noise abatement policies have been or are under development by MnDOT? Sannes remarked that noise walls cost $1 million per mile for one side of the road, and that the annual MnDOT budget is only $2 million per year, which severely limits the number of noise walls that can be installed. A lengthy discussion ensued about "Jake brakes" and the noise that comes from them, particularly in residential areas, and as an irritant to residents in Plymouth and other cities. Following the discussion, members of the Commission gave Sannes some critique to the presentation and suggested that the Corridor Commission receive a copy of the presentation, and tailor some "solutions" pages to the end of it. Raduenz asked the elected officials within the group for their willingness to assist Raduenz and Thorfinnson in presenting the information to local chambers of commerce and other groups, as requests are beginning to grow exponentially for speaking engagements on the 494 topic. Allendorf suggested that if revisions were made to the presentation that included 494 Commission information at the end, the presentation could be given to each city for presentations on an as -needed basis. Raduenz agreed to tailor the presentation for use by Commission members in the next several weeks. IV. I -35W/494 Interchange Funding. Foley updated the Commission about the status of the I - 35W/494 interchange. Plans have been turned over to MnDOT for finalization, and, with some additional design strategies for transit improvements, the plan should be complete in the very near future. Since the project is completely unfunded, the next step is to get the project on a funding list. After conversations with the Corridor Commission and the I -35W Solutions Alliance group, Foley is hopeful that this goal is "achievable". Raduenz added that she and Thorfinnson feel that the project could be the "flagship" project that Congressman Ramstad is interested in pursuing on behalf o f the Commission's cities, and that plans are being made to go to Washington, D.C. in early spring to broach the subject to him and others within the Minnesota Congressional delegation, including Congressmen Sabo and Oberstar. Once the project costs 2 �- O have been narrowed down, and the final design agreed upon between the cities and MnDOT, the 494 Corridor Commission will begin its work to secure funding on the Congressional level. Sannes estimates the cost of the project to be approximately $125 million, of which some funding has already been obtained for local bridge projects through regional appropriations. V. Other Business. Thorfinnson reported on the lunch he and Raduenz held with members of the Wacouta Bridge Coalition on November 12th. At this luncheon the group brainstormed a new coalition entitled the "Bottleneck Coalition", which would be a grassroots effort to involve the Twin Cities business community and voters into pressuring legislators to increase transportation funding, specifically for "bottlenecks" within the system. Raduenz and Thorfinnson followed up the meeting with another meeting at the offices of Colle McVoy advertising, and its CEO, Jim Bergeson. At this meeting Raduenz and Thorfinnson received the assurance of Bergeson that Colle McVoy would provide technical help in getting the coalition off the ground and in marketing the concepts. Thorfinnson reported on the Legislative Hearing he attended on the evening of December 6' at the Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie. He testified in front of a joint House Committee about transportation funding concerns, along with other parties including MnDOT and the Met Council. Plans of the group call for a new one-time expenditure of about $400 million this year for increased transportation system funding. Thorfinnson reminded the legislative group that not only should the dollars be used for infrastructure needs, they should also be used to increase the potential for transit and other forms of ridesharing on a regional level as part of his testimony. Raduenz reported on plans to sponsor a January Legislative Breakfast for 494 legislators. The event is tentatively scheduled for the first week of January and an invite letter will go out under the signature of Senator Roy Terwilliger and a bipartisan group of legislators from the seven cities. Met Councilmember Phil Riveness will also be a part of the discussion, and has been instrumental in getting other legislators to the table for this discussion of 494 funding issues and needs. As soon as a date and place are chosen, Raduenz will work on the 494 portion of the presentation with both MnDOT and Met Council staff. Thorfinnson discussed the ribbon -cutting event at Supervalu Corporation, held in the company's cafeteria on November 30, 1999. He said that most of the Supervalu employees were in attendance, and CEO Mike Wright gave a good speech about the need for TDM and transit to improve regional mobility. Garwood reported that since the ribbon -cutting and TDM Open House, five new vanpools have been started at Supervalu based on employee interest on that day. Raduenz indicated that five new vanpools in the region is a very significant event, as most years there is a net decrease in the number of regional vanpools going all over the Twin Cities, and that Garwood and Metro Commuter Services should be commended for their efforts in setting up the vanpools. Raduenz reported that she has prepared a five-page article on 494 Corridor Commission concerns and issues for the "Talking Business" article of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce newsletter for January and February 2000. 3 of Commerce at its "Eye Ted Mondale will be appearing before the Edina Because he will be speaking pabout Breakfast Series on January 11, 2000, according to Raduenz. I-494 transportation issues, Raduenz has requested the Edina Chamber to give time to Chair Thorfinnson to also speak on these issues, and the Chamber Executive, Pat Tucker, has agreed to do so. Raduenz reported that the Golden Triangle TDM Demonstration Project group has been regularly meeting to work on the project scheduled in the Eden Prairie area. The group has identified market research procedures, a grid for project responsibility, and goals and objectives for the project. Next steps include setting up the Transportation Management Association (TMA) in the area, and to begin to identify incentives and the necessary strategies to offer to employees in the area. At the meeting, Raduenz passed out annual dues statements to each city's staff person for the 2000 local match required for the 494 Corridor Commission Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant. For those staff persons not in attendance, Raduenz mailed the statements directly to their offices. The dues should be paid as soon as possible, and at a minimum, within 60 days, according to Raduenz. Dues are based on the estimated 2000 population of each of the seven cities, and each city pays 10 cents per capita (resident) for the .494 Corridor Commission dues. All remittances should be sent directly to the City of Minnetonka as indicated on the bottom of the billing statement, according to Raduenz. Raduenz passed out extra copies of the 494 Corridor Commission's Transit Provider's Service Plan. She has also sent a copy of the document to each city's designated 494 staff member. VI. Treasurer's Report. There was availableno treasurer's report dvanc of $5 000 for the494meeting (not sent by Minnetonka). Raduenz requested an a expense account, as the funds , previously expended have been exhausted. Motion made by Burlingame to approve the expenditure, with a second from Senness. Motion approved. VII. Next Meeting/Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m. The next regularly - scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, January 19, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Southwest Metro Transit Commission. 4 �\\ 39 MINUTES PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT November 10, 1999 PRESENT Mike Cagley and Joe Edwards Representing Metro Transit — Sheri Gingerich Representing Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. — Jim Baldwin Representing the City of Plymouth — John Sweeney Consultant for Plymouth Metrolink — George Bentley Committee Secretary — Patty Hillstrom I. MEETING MINUTES The minutes for the September 22, 1999 meeting were approved as written. II. RIDERSHIP INFORMATION AND REVIEW OF RIDERSHIP STATISTICS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1999 George Bentley's Comments Bentley distributed ridership graphs and made the following comments: • Ridership on the Flyer is not increasing as anticipated and some sort of marketing approach will need to taken. • The ridership graphs for the system show increases on most of the routes. There are 100 passengers per day more this year than last year. • The Route 91 has shown increased ridership and ridership on the Route 92 is about the same as last year. • After not doing much of anything for about four years, the ridership on the Route 93 suddenly has taken off. This is consistent with regional statistical information. Possible reasons for increased ridership are later service hours for Plymouth Metrolink and increased congestion. Gingerich stated that the two 7:05 a.m. buses leaving Four Seasons Park and Ride are both leaving with full seated loads and probably three times a week the forty foot bus has standing riders. Gingerich checked with the person who does the analytical work on the articulated buses and she believes that things could be shifted around and another articulated bus could probably be put on that route. MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT November 10. 1999 Page 2 III. REPORT ON MEETING OF PLYMOUTH AREA TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS ON OCTOBER 21, 1999 REGARDING THE PLYMOUTH FLYER (BALDWIN) A meeting of the Plymouth Area Transportation Providers was held on October 21, 1999. Baldwin stated that ideas were discussed on how to increase ridership on the Plymouth Flyer. A determination was made that a lot of rides were being made out of the area (Methodist Hospital, North Memorial, Courage Center, etc.) cutting back on the actual operating time available within Plymouth. Bentley stated that the new senior center in Plymouth will probably generate many new trips for the Plymouth Flyer. It was estimated that there would be approximately six to 12 riders daily going to the senior center for lunch. Sweeney will be attending an open house at a new senior housing complex called Bassett Creek Commons and is expecting to coordinate some regular trips for shopping with them. IV. IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS OF CONCERN AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS Sheri Gingerich's Comments • Gingerich asked if she should move forward with obtaining an articulated bus. Sweeney instructed Gingerich to start as soon as possible. Gingerich will add the articulated bus to the Plymouth Metrolink fleet but will not have it striped in the event that it is not always needed. Gingerich asked if Metrolink was running full service on the day after Thanksgiving. Bentley stated that there would be full service on that day. Gingerich suggested meeting in January to discuss holiday schedules for the year 2000. Joe Edwards' Comments • Edwards stated that some of the Route 93C passengers have inquired about the possibility of dropping the pickup in Golden Valley on the Route 55. The passengers wonder why they pay two dollars to ride an earlier bus when the next bus arrives at the same destination at the same time and the other passengers have only paid $1.50. N:\pw\Engineering\TRANSIIRPACIIMD=ES\ 1999\PACT_ I 1 10.doc MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT November 10, 1999 Page 3 Passengers are waiting ten to fifteen minutes at Four Seasons Park and Ride before the Route 93C comes from Golden Valley to pick them up. Bentley stated that he will look into the timing of the buses. Mike Cagley's Comments • Cagley has noticed that many buses now have three digit numbering. Gingerich stated that this was a regional change meant to lessen confusion and that soon every route will have three digit numbers. V. REVIEW OF TELEVISION COMMERCIALS FOR DIAL -A -RIDE The group viewed the television commercials that will be run all times of the day on Channel 12. There will also be some print ads using scenes from the commercials run in the local newspapers. VI. DISCUSSION OF PLYMOUTH BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION FORUM AND REVERSE COMMUTE JOB FAIR The Plymouth Business Transportation Forum will be held on November 17, 1999 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. and invitations will go out to all businesses in Plymouth. Art Lehey will speak at the forum. The job fair steering committee meeting will be held after the Plymouth Business Transportation Forum to work on plans for the next job fair that will occur around mid- March of 2000. VII. STATUS OF PROCUREMENT OF NEW MEDIUM AND SMALL TRANSIT VEHICLES Bentley stated that the current fleet of medium and small size vehicles (10 Thomas Vistas and 5 Thomas Minotours) is in the process of replaced. Grant applications have been submitted to the region and it is hoped they will do well in terms of scoring because they are extensive. Plymouth Metrolink will participate in the cost of the new vehicles. The new fleet will include sixteen 32 foot Bluebird CS vehicles with blunt noses and rear engines. The five small vehicles will be replaced with seven Champions. The new buses will be white with the blue logo. N:\pw\Enginttring\TP.ANSPMAC V,UNUTES\1999\PACT_l1_IO.doc MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT November 10, 1999 Page 4 1 tCl�� 3 J V111. OTHER COMMENTS Edwards informed the group that he has accepted a position with Metro Transit and feels that there is potential for the perception of conflict of interest being an employee of Metro Transit as well as a member of PACT. With that potential of conflict Edwards has decided that this would be his last meeting with PACT. Edwards stated that he has enjoyed working on the committee for nearly nine years and feels the committee has done a fantastic job. Sweeney thanked Edwards for his contribution to the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit. Sweeney stated that Councilmember Harstad presented a recommendation to the City Council that the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit become more formalized than it has been. The City Council voted 7 to 0 to formalize the group. The next PACT meeting will be held on January 26, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Engineering Conference Room (Hadley Lake Room) on the lower level of the Plymouth City Hall. Respectfully, Patty Hillstrom Committee Secretary N:\pw\Engineering\TRANSITNPACT\MINUTES\1999TACf_I 110Aoc A1R CASE ,`Rig. f Daniel P. Olson V., VP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 5, dan@doofittfesac.com January 20, 2000 The Honorable Joy Tierney, Mayor City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Your Honor; I am writing this letter to seek your assistance on a matter that I quite frankly cannot solve on my own. As you know, we opened our restaurant in Plymouth in October of this year. Prior to our opening, I was before you and the Council regarding our liquor license and during that meeting in chambers, I listened to several of our competitors who appeared before the Council due to liquor service violations. If you recall, at the end of the session I spoke with you and the Council and assured you that we would do our best to meet your standards for alcohol service. In fact, we have a reputation amongst our guests, employees and competitors as being a leader in responsible alcohol service. In our 10 plus years of service we have failed in our standards 2 times, the last being this last December in our Plymouth store. I am disappointed by this. During the Council meeting that I mentioned above, I heard every restaurant operator stand before the Council and say that they would be carding all patrons to meet the City's standards. To my knowledge, we are the only restaurant in town actually living up to this promise. I would urge you not to take my word for this but instead to listen to the guests that visit restaurants in the area. It has come to my attention from guests and employees that we are mocked by competitors and frequently chewed out by guests because of our carding policy. In addition, our carding policy has significantly impacted sales of liquor in our restaurant as the ratio of liquor to food is running at 15% versus 25% at our other locations and we have been told by several patrons that they have visited us for the last time due to this policy. My expectations for the performance of the Plymouth store have been significantly diminished as a result of these facts and of our 5 locations Plymouth is the weakest performer by far. This is a surprise to me. When guests are surveyed, itis the liquor policy that is mentioned as the driving reason behind choosing a competitor over Doolittles. I think it is needless to say that we are putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to meeting our liquor service responsibilities. This leads me to my next point. 6500 Ciiy West Parkway Suiie 320 • Eden Prairie, MN 55344 -JUST PLANE GOOD' Ph:612-944-6070 Fax:612-944-6079 I will be happy to set out for you at your request the significant things that we do to set Doolittles apart when it comes to responsible liquor service. We have the latest training methods and policies, we train extensively, we enforce zero tolerance, we sponsor alcohol free New Years Eve parties, we were the only restaurant operator to appear before the Minnesota legislature in support of lowering the acceptable blood alcohol level. We do these things not because we have to. We could make much more money by relaxing these standards just a little bit. We are not motivated by money, we are motivated by a set of non-negotiable standards that drive our lives and make our decision making process easier. These standards are not a creation of man but instead come from a dedication to glorify Jesus Christ in everything we do. I am not going to ask for leniency in your approach to fines and/or suspensions and you will not hear me ask for such. I urge you to simply consider one thing in analyzing the approach the city takes in looking at this serious matter. Penalties should be used to shape behavior that does not comply with a set of rules. As for Doolittles, I have no idea what we could do to improve our performance other than to go dry. In this scenario, a penalty or suspension does not achieve the desired objective. We are truly at the point where all measures have been taken to adhere to a set of standards, the only other variable being human nature and the fact that humans are not perfect. In our case, Matt, an ideal employee carded the minor, misread the date, handed the license back and was arrested. Everything in our system worked except for Matts ability to add. He made a mistake and we simply cannot avoid these types of human inadequacies, penalty or not. Your Honor, I would love to spend some time with you and discuss this and see what we can do together to solve this problem. I do not intend to make this your problem. This is our problem and it needs some good, effective discussion. Please give me a call and let me know when we can get together and I would like to introduce my management team to you at that point. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Date: January 14, 2000 To: Mayor Tierney and City Council (emailed to those with email access) Fr: Paula Pursley Re: City Council Meeting Compliance Violation Discussion Dear Mayor Tierney and Council Members, Today, I watched a portion of the City Council meeting rebroadcast on MediaOne. Though I caught a small portion of Amy Klobuchar's presentation, it was very interesting and I was delighted that she was present and I will try to watch again to hear the rest of her talk. The item that captured me was the lengthy and sometimes painful discussion on the liquor compliance violations that occurred in Plymouth. As a resident, parent, grand parent and church school teacher, I too am concerned about the issue of liquor sales to minors (not to mention BY minors). I applaud the City of Plymouth and the Council for it's proactive lead in establishing compliance ordinances and presumptives — and for your diligence in continuing to improve the process as well as your follow through on penalties and corrective actions. I can't help but wonder just how many of our high school youth are in jobs where they could be put in the position of serving alcohol to adults or minors. Perhaps there would be value in working with the schools and youth groups, as we are with the businesses, to educate the youth on the state laws, the local ordinances, and in particular the penalties to them as individuals. Teens think of themselves as invulnerable, just as we did at that age. Yet, what a horror to think of a teen being arrested on the job, getting a misdemeanor on their record, and paying a huge fine — for breaking a law that perhaps they weren't properly trained on by their employer, or didn't take very seriously when trained. What proactive efforts can be taken to reach our local youth directly, which would in turn support the training provided by businesses? The more sources from whom we hear a message, the more seriously it's taken! I leave this thought in your capable hands, and thank each of you for serving my city! Sincerely, �CLI�'1 of f C'nv. Paula Pursley -_ 00 2790 Evergreen Ln. N. ' t j Plymouth, MN 55441 ' r 612/559-1868 ,, �L January 20, 2000 Ellie Singer 10115 29`h Avenue N Plymouth, MN 55441 Dear Ellie: 10 ;PCF PLYMOUTFF Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission. The next meeting of the Commission is Thursday, February 10th. Your PRAC packet will be delivered to you by a Plymouth Community Service Officer sometime the evening of February 7th. I am looking forward to working with you. I'll be in touch sometime next week, so that we can -arrange a time to get together for a brief orientation session here at City Hall. Again, congratulations on your appointment and welcome aboard! If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at 509-5201. Sincerely, /5/"� Eric J. Blank, Director Parks and Recreation EB/np / cc: City Council ✓ PRAC PLYMOUTH A Beau(ijof Place'Tv Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000 www.6plymouth.mn.us Y January 20, 2000CITY OF PLYMOUTH+ Mary Meyer 17125 5t° Avenue N Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mary: Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission. The next meeting of the Commission is Thursday, February 10'x. Your PRAC packet will be delivered to you by a Plymouth Community Service Officer sometime the evening of February 7th I am looking forward to working with you. I'll be in touch sometime next week, so that we can arrange a time to get together for a brief orientation session here at City Hall. Again, congratulations on your appointment and welcome aboard! If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at 509-5201. Sincerely, Eric J. Blank, Director Parks and Recreation EB/np / cc: City Council PRAC PLYMOUTH A Beaatif ul Place To Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000 www.d.plymouth.mn.us L.:. January 20, 2000 CATV O� PUMOUTR Marty Guritz 735 Windemere Drive Plymouth, MN 55441 Dear Marty: On behalf of the City of Plymouth I want to thank the Handicrafters for their donation of $1,000 and the Plymouth Senior Council for their donation of $500 toward the Millennium Garden project. I am very excited and passionate about the garden project, and I think it's going to be one of the most beautiful sites in Plymouth. Thanks for helping to make it happen. Sincerely, ?VX e, Eric J. Blank, Director Parks and Recreation EB/np cc: City Council ✓ PLYMOUTH A Beautif of Place Tv Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000 ®:.��...�. www.ci.plymouth.mn.us 1/20/2000 2000 CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS COUNCIL COORDINATING REPRESENTATIVES 1. Planning Commission Judy Johnson Annual 2. Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Kelli Slavik Annual 3. Environmental Quality Committee Ginny Black Annual 4. Human Rights Commission Brad Brown Annual 5. Public Safety Advisory Board Scott Harstad Annual 6. Youth Advisory Council Judy Johnson Annual 7. Independent School District No. 279 Ginny Black Annual 8. Independent School District No. 281 Brad Brown Annual 9. Independent School District 284 Kelli Slavik/Judy Johnson Annual 10. Independent School District 270 Joy Tierney Annual City Council Appointments Q� Page 2,�' AGENCIES AND BOARDS 1. Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council (2 year terms) Staff, Executive Committee 12/31/02 Norma Garfin, Advisory Commission (1/99) 01/31/02 Dana Cruzen, Advisory Commission (1/2000) 01/31/02 2. Municipal Legislative Commission (1 year terms) Joy Tierney 12/31/00 Dwight Johnson, Staff Representative 12/31/00 3. Northwest Suburban Cable Communication Commission Tim Bildsoe, Council Representative Ongoing Helen LaFave, Staff Representative Ongoing 4. Wayzata/Plymouth Area Chemical Health Commission Kristin Tupa (1/18/2000) 1/31/03 Craig Gerdes Ongoing 5. Suburban Rate Authority Fred Moore, Director 12/31/00 Tim Bildsoe, Alternate 12/31/00 6. Bassett Creek Water Management Commission (3 year terms) Ron Quanbeck, Director 01/31/02 Fred Moore, Alternate 01/31/02 7. Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission (3 year terms) Dan Faulkner, Director 01/31/02 Fred Moore, Alternate 01/31/02 8. Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission (3 year terms) Ron Quanbeck, Director 01/31/02 Fred Moore, Alternate 01/31/02 9. School District 284 Community Education Advisory Council Mary Bisek Ongoing 10. Communities in Collaboration Council Joy Tierney Ongoing Judy Johnson Ongoing City Council Appointments Page 3 11. Lake Region Mutual Aid Association Rick Kline Ongoing 12. North Suburban Mutual Aid Association Rick Kline Ongoing 13. Fire Training Center Joint Powers Agreement Rick Kline Ongoing 14. West Suburban Mediation Center Board Vacant 01/31/02 15. Northwest Suburbs Community Access Corporation (2 year term) Helen LaFave 01/31/00 16. I-494 Corridor Commission Joy Tierney Ongoing Barb Senness Ongoing Tim Bildsoe, Alternate Ongoing Anne Hurlburt, Staff Alternate Ongoing 17. Plymouth Civic League Kelli Slavik Ongoing 18. Suburban Transit Association Scott Harstad Ongoing John Sweeney, Alternate Ongoing 145 University Avenur West, St. Nul, MN 55103-2044+ LMC Phone: (651) 281-1200 , (800) 925-1122 t"gw,if nnoea(a 0640 Fax: (651.) 281-1299 • TDD (651) 281-1290 C;(ias pmmolino excalloned January 12, 2000 To: LMC Members From: Jim Miller, Executive Director Re: Web Broadcast of Governor Ventura's 2000 Budget Presentation The League of Minnesota Cities and its members have been invited to join Governor Jesse Ventura at the Capital 2000 Budget Presentation live on the Web Friday January 14, 9:00 am. The web address is: http://www.mainserver.state.mn.us/governor/bonding.htmi Tune in for all the information and reasoning behind the Governor's budget recommendations, including information from the Department of Finance on individual projects. The Governor's capital budget recommendations, and all relevant supporting documents, can be downloaded for distribution off the website. Please notify individuals and groups in your area so they can join this unique event. A live satellite downlink, broadcast from the World Trade Center, is also being made available at some local college campuses. Please contact your local campus for further information. Contact Lee Mehrkens (Department of Finance, 651-296-1700), if you want additional information. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION L'MPLOYa T'd SMID NW 30 3n9e371 w09T:0T 00. 21 Ndf Help us show the strong interest city officials have in what happens during the 2000 legislative session! Register now for the x 6 b LMC Legislative rhe Conference i Celebrating Public Service Day on the Hill Both events will be held February 3, 2000 (see the following page for more details) As you may know, we have rescheduled the LMC Legislative Conference to coincide with the Day on the Hill event. February 3,d will now be a full day to focus on the upcoming legislative session. You'll learn about the issues on the legislative agenda that are important to cities. You'll hear from and talk with key lawmakers involved in these issues. If you take part in the "Celebrating Public Service" events at the Capitol, you'll also hear from a keynote speaker, attend a joint hearing of the local government commitees, and join legislators at a reception in the Capitol rotunda. (If there are not enough tickets for the "Celebrating Public Service" events for all attendees, we will broadcast the keynote speaker's address at the LMC building.) Tickets are still available for the "Celebrating Public Service" Day on the Hill events! We need to reach our goal of 200 attendees, so send in the registration form on the attached page --HURRY, tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis! T ' d S3I l IO NW 30 3nOU31 WdOS :60 00. 02 Ndf GW2"'d 49. n, archo Legislative Conference elebrating . Thursday, February 3, 2000 Sheraton inn Midway and Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota i MC Laoislative Conference Agenda (all speakers invited) Day on the HM State Capitol Governor Jesse Ventura has also been invited to address the conference as his schedule permits Registration: Sheraton Inn - Midway welcome Susan Hoyt, President, League of Minnesota Cities Overview of the DaY Jim Miller, Executive Director, League of Minnesota Cities Fiscal issues: Property Tax Reform, Sales Tax, Levy) Limits Ron Abrams, Chair, House Tax Committee Doug Johnson, Chair, Senate Tax Committee Transportation Issues Elwyn Tinklenberg, Commissioner of Transportation Tom Workman, Chair, House Transportation Policy Committee Dean Johnson, Senate Transportation Budget Division Telecommunications Restructuring Steve Kelley, Vice Chair, Senate Jobs, Energy & Community Development Committee Ken Wolf, Chair, House Regulated Industries subcommittee Greetings from Senator Roger Moe and Speaker Steve Sviggum` "Celebrating Public Service" John Brandt, Dean, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs *Ticketed city officials will be seated in the House and Senate Chambers. Tickets will be issues on a first-come, first-served basis. Others Will watch via telecast from the LMC Building. 2000 LMC Legislative Conference Adjourns Pre -ticketed officials attend Joint Meeting of Senate and House Local Government Committees, followed by a reception in the Capitol Rotunda ■ Registration fee for the LMC Legislative Conference: $55 (see Registration Form below) ■ Accommodations: For overnight accommodations, call the Sheraton Inn - Midway at 1-94 and Hamline at (651) 642-1234 and receive the government rate of S79/single and S89/double. Thursday, January 27'"and are ■ Cancellation policy: All cancellation requests must be in writing, postmarked by y. rY subject to a $10 handling fee. ■ Questions? Call Jodie Tooley (651) 281-1251 or Cathy Dovidio (651) 281-1250; Fax: (651) 281-1296. Registration Form for February 3, 2000 Desi::e►todayt i LMC LMC Legislative Conference and "Celebrating Public Service" Day on the Hill t„,�,-4Mr_,".o * a— Sheraton Inn - Midway, 1-94 and Hamline Avenue and Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota I Registration fee for LMC Legislative Conference: $55 per person I i City Contact person i Telephone number - Registrant's name i Title I Address i City State Zip Make checks payable and mail to: League of Minnesota Cities, 145 University Avenue West, St, Paul, MN 55103-2044 i -------------------------- 2'd S3I lI O NW J0. 3i15d3] WUOS : 60 00, 02 Ndf -- -- From: AMM 10: Laurie AnrenS ""'-• "--'-- ""'-- ------- AMM ------AMM FAX 419: association of NEWS Metropolitan Municipalities Jan. 17-21, 2000 Governor announces bonding proposal Plan includes regional projects, but local capital projects are left out n announcing his $462.4 million capital budget, the governor did not include any of the $496.0 million in local government requests. The budget proposal does include funding for such regional projects such as greenways and trails ($1.5 million), transitways ($10.0 million) and regional parks ($5.0 million). The budget as proposed would be funded by the issuance of $400.0 million in state general obligation bonds, $30.9 million in user financed bonding (higher education), $1.3 million in general fund and $26.8 million in trunk highway funds. The budget also includes funding for housing and flood mitigation, and bridge replacement programs that have been used by cities. Local governments — cities, counties and school districts — submitted 62 capital projects. Among the metropoli- tan area projects were several public safety training centers, schools, museums and art centers. The metro- politan area local projects were located in such cities as Maple Grove, Minne- apolis, St. Paul, Mahtomedi and Lakeville. Metropolitan Council to revise regional parks policy plan The Metropolitan Council will begin an 18 -month process to revise the Regional Parks Policy Plan. The Council and Open Space Commission staff intends to initiate the process this month by identifying a list of policy issues. At the this week's Livable Communi- ties Committee meeting, Open Space Commission staff began the process by identifying issues raised from customer surveys and discussions with AMM Fax News is faxed periodically to all AMM city managers and administrators. The information is in- tended to be shared with mayors, councilmembers and staff in order to keep officials abreast of important metro city issues. OCopyright 1999 AMM 145 University Avenue IfYkst St. Paul, 111N 55103-2044 Phone: (651) 215-4000 Fax: (651) 281-1299 E-mail: ammCaamm145.org regional parks staff and legislators. Among the issues identified to date are: INVESTMENTS The investment issue includes not only the financing source for the regional parks but what type of im- provements should be included in the plan. For example should regional parks have athletic fields such as soccer and softball fields? TRAILS Can the regional trails be linked to the region's transportation improve- ment program? PRESERVING OPEN SPACE The policy plan will need to address linkages between the greenways and the park policy plan. REGIONAL PARKS & OTHER URBAN SERVICES The policy plan will attempt to identify if there are any links between the regional park plan and other regional systems, like transportation. The plan could also discuss if there should be such links. Once the issues are identified the Council will draft issue papers for public comment. It is anticipated that the public discussion regarding the plan will occur this winter. If you need additional information please contact Gene Ranieri at AMM (551) 215-4001. LMC hosts `Day on the Hill 'event Feb. 3 n an effort to establish better commu- nications between local government and the legislature the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), is sponsoring a local government day at the capitol. Scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, the event will include briefings on legisla- tive issues, meetings with legislative committees, a keynote address by John Brandl, dean of the Humphrey Institute, and a reception with legisla- tors in the Capitol Rotunda. If you wish to attend, please call the LMC by Jan. 21 (651) 281-1200. There are a limited number of tickets for some of the events.