HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 08-23-2002Dummy
AUGUST 23, 2002
1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 7: 00 PM
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 7: 00 PM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 7:00 PM
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: BUDGET STUDY
SESSION, Plymouth Creek Center
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers
SPECLAL COUNCIL MEETING: BUDGET STUDY
SESSION, Public Safety Training Room
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5,7 00 PM SPECLAL COUNCIL MEETING: BUDGET STUDY
SESSION (IF NEEDED), Public Safety Training Room
2. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
3. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 7: 00 PM
4. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 7.00 PM
S. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
6.
7.
8.
9.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEBER 4, 7:00 PM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
CITY CO UNCILIAM YORAL CANDIDATE FILING
PERIOD OPENS
HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT A UTHORITY (HRA),
Medicine Lake Room
PLYMOUTHAD VISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
(PACT), Bass Lake Room
LABOR DAY, City offices closed
PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers
Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset.
A List of future Regular Council Meeting agenda items is attached. (M-8)
August, September, and October calendars are attached. (M-9)
AGENDA FOR PACT MEETING
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: August 23, 2002
TO: Members of the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit
FROM: George Bentley, Transit Consultant
SUBJECT: August 28, 2002 MEETING
The Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on WEDNESDAY,
August 28, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bass Lake Room (lower level of Plymouth City Hall next to the lunch
room).
The agenda for the meeting is as follows: (Please note some materials will be distributed at the meeting.)
I. Approval of Agenda.
II. Approval of minutes of June 26, 2002 (attached).
III. Ridership Information and Review of Ridership Statistics for July, 2002. (Information will be distributed
at the meeting.)
IV. Identification of areas of concern and/or recommendations.
V. Discussion of 2003 Budget, Pat Qvale. (Information will be distributed at the meeting.)
VI. 2003 Service Plan. (Information will be distributed at the meeting.)
VII. Dial -A -Ride technology upgrade status report.
VIII. Transit Administrator's Report:
A. Complaint log
B. Downtown construction detours
C. Other
IX. Other comments and adjournment
cc: Paul Colton, Metropolitan Council; Paul Buherin and Jim Baldwin, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc., Steve
Mahowald, Jeff Wostrel and Joanne Smith, Metro Transit; Dan Faulkner, Pat Qvale, City of Plymouth
NOTE: Please call George Bentley at 763-509-5521 if you are unable to attend.
CADocuments and Seuings\khotrman%ocal SeltingATempomry Intemet ReAOLK6B\8_28_02 PACT Agenda.doc
M'�
Tentative Schedule for
City Council Agenda Items
September 9
• 2002 Delinquent Water, Sewer, Recycling, Surface Water Fee, and Street Lighting
Service Charges
• Adopt 2003 proposed budget, tax levies, and set Truth in Taxation hearing dates
• Recognition of National Night Out Coordinators
• Hearing for street lighting improvements in Cedar View Estates Addition
• Hearing on Vacation of utility and drainage easements within Lot 1, Block 1, Willow
Grove Office Park Second Addition (Res2002-372 & Res2002-373)
• Announcement of September 10 Primary Election
• Presentation by Tom Poul, Suburban Transit Association
• Hearing to approve Wine and on—sale 3.2 beer license for Joy of India Restaurant,
10100 Sixth Avenue N.
• Consider request of Minnehaha Creek Watershed for outlet for Mooney Lake
September 24
October 8
October 22
• Announcement of November 5 General Election
November 12
• Consider Eligibility for Relocation Benefits: Richard and Janice Pickering for 3030
Highway 101, and James and Evelyn Anderson for 17915 30'h Place
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
August 2002
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
Ju12002 Sep 2002
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
28 29 30 31 29 30
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7:30 PM
YOUTH
5:30 PM
NATIONAL NIGHT
4:00 PM ANNUAL
PARK TOUR,
ADVISORY
OUT
depart from City
COUNCIL,
Hall
Council
Chambers
7:00 PM
PLANNING
COMMISSION,
Council Chambers
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
7:00 PM
REGULAR
7:00 PM EQC,
Bass Lake Room
7:00 PM HRA -
Medicine Lake Room
COUNCIL
MEETING, Council
7:00 PM PUBLIC
SAFETYADVISORY
Chambers
BOARD, Police Dept
Library
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
7:30 PM
YOUTH
7:00 PM
PLANNING
ADVISORY
COMMISSION,
COUNCIL,
Council Chambers
Council
Chambers
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
7:30 AM LOCAL
BUSINESS COUNCIL,
7:00 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
7:00 PM
SPECIAL
COUNCIL
Radisson Hotel
MEETING:
7:00 PM REGULAR
BUDGETSTUDY
COUNCIL MEETING,
SESSION, Public
Council Chambers
Safety Training
Room
CITYCOUNCIL
CANDIDATE FILING
PERIOD OPENS
modified on 8/23/2002
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
September 2002
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
LABOR DAY - City
Offices Closed
7:00 PM
PLANNING
7:00 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Council Chambers
Rosh Hashanah
begins at sunset
7:00 PM
SPECIAL
COUNCIL
COMMISSION,
MEETING:
Council Chambers
BUDGET STUDY
7:00 PM SPECIAL
SESSION, Public
COUNCIL MEETING:
BUDGET STUDY
Safe Training
ry g
SESSION, Public Safety
Room
Training Room
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
7:00 PM
5:00 PM CITY
7:00 PM EQC,
7:00 PM PRAC,
10:00 AM -5:00
REGULAR
COUNCIL
Bass Lake Room
Council Chambers
PM AUTUMN
COUNCIL
CANDIDATE
ARTS FAIR,
MEETING, Council
FILINGS CLOSE
Parkers Lake
Chambers
Park
PRIMARY
ELECTION DAY -
Polls are open 7
AM -8 PM
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Yom Kippur begins
at sunset
7:30 PM
YOUTH
7:00 PM
PLANNING
7:0o PM HRA79:00
Medicine Lake Room
AM - 3:30
PM
ADVISORY
COMMISSION,
7;00 PM PUBLIC
PLYMOUTH
COUNCIL,
Council Chambers
SAFETY ADVISORY
BOARD, Police Dept
CLEAN-UP
Council
Library
DAY, Public
Chambers
Works
Maintenance
Facility
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
7:30 AM LOCAL
BUSINESS
700 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
COUNCIL, Radisson
Hotel
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETING,
Council Chambers
29
30
Aug 2002 Oct 2002
7:30 PM
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
YOUTH
ADVISORY
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
COUNCIL,
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Council
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Chambers
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31
modified on 8/23/2002
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
October 2002
Sunday Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
%
"'
3
4
5
Sep 2002
S M T W T F S
7:00 PM
PLANNING
7:00 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS
1:00 PM -5:00
PM
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
COMMISSION,
COMMISSION -
PLYMOUTH ON
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Council Chambers
Council Chambers
PARADE
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
7:00 PM
7:00 PM EQC,
7:00 PM PRAC,
REGULAR
Bass Lake Room
Council Chambers
COUNCIL
MEETING, Council
Chambers
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
7:30 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
7:00 PM
PLANNING
7:00PM HRA-
Medicine Lake Room
-
COUNCIL, Council
COMMISSION,
Chambers
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PUBLIC
SAFETYADVISORY
BOARD, Police Dept.
COLUMBUS DAY
Library
(OBSERVED), Public
Works Division closed
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
7:30 AM LOCAL
BUSINESS
7:00 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
COUNCIL, Radisson
Hotel
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETING,
Council Chambers
27
28
29
30
31
DAYLIGHT
7:30 PM
Nov 2002
S M T W T F S
SAVINGS ENDS-
YOUTH
1 2
set docks back 1
ADVISORY
hour
COUNCIL,
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Council
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Chambers
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
modified on 8/23/2002
City of Plymouth
News Release
For Immediate Release Contact:
August 21, 2002 Helen LaFave, 763 509-5090
City Seeks Entries for Plymouth Photo Contest
What is it about Plymouth that you take pride in? Our neighborhoods? People?
Community events? Lakes? Parks? Open Space? Here's your chance to let others know — and
win $100. Enter the Picture Plymouth Photo Contest. The goal is to promote civic pride in a way
that's entertaining, fun and educational. The City of Plymouth is sponsoring the contest. The
deadline for entries is Oct. 30.
The City will award $100 to the grand prize winner. The first place winners in each
category — nature, cityscapes, people and events -- will win $25. "So far the number of entries
has been light. I'm hoping we'll see a good number of photos come in within the next few weeks.
The contest is a great place to show off the work of both serious and casual photographers," said
Communications Manager Helen LaFave.
The winning photos will be printed in the city newsletter, Plymouth News. In addition,
photos that do not win may still be published in other city publications and on the city web site.
The City sponsored its first photo contest in 1996. Many of the photos entered in past contests
have been included in the City of Plymouth guidebook that was published last summer. "I think
people enjoy seeing their work published. We had several people come in for extra copies to
share with their friends and family," LaFave said.
Rules
9 You must live or work in Plymouth.
• Submit your photo(s) of nature, cityscapes, events or people.
• Submit color or black and white 5" x 7" prints (no slides).
e Enter up to four photos.
• Deadline is Wed., Oct. 30,430 p.m.
• All photos become the property of the City of Plymouth and will not be returned. The City
reserves the right to publish submitted photos in city publications and on the city web site
with proper credit to the photographer.
Awards
Grand Prize: $100, publication of photo in the Plymouth News.
First Place Awards: $25 prize will be awarded to the top photos in each category — nature,
cityscapes, events and people. The City reserves the right to not make a first place award in all
categories.
For an entry form, call Jean Lyons at 763-509-5081. Be sure to leave your name, mailing
address and the number of entry forms you need. You can also download entry forms from the
City web site, www.ci.plymouth.mn.us.
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
Attend the
Join the League of Minnesota Cities in your
location
own backyard for one information -packed day.
nearest you:
You'll get the kind of information that makes your job
Arlington
of running city government easier. And you'll add to
Sept. 1 1
the skills you need to meet the ever-changing needs of
your community. Don't miss this opportunity to:
Redwood Falls
Sept. 12
■ Learn about upcoming legislative challenges and
how to make your city's voice heard on issues
Fergus Falls
including local financing and transportation.
Sepr. 24
■ Visit with local legislative candidates, network
Halloek
with other city officials and share your successes
SeP t. 25
and accomplishments.
McIntosh
■ Discover how Mosquito Heights' illustrious
Sept. 26
mayor, Buzz Olson, deals with the issues
cultural diversity brings to his city.
Backus
Oct. 8
■ Give your feedback on the League's strategic
direction, existing services and more in a dialogue
Hibbing
with League President Michael McCauley and
Oct. 9
Board members.
Hinckley
■ Eat good food with new friends.
Oct. 10
Together we're connecting cities,
Worthington
creating futures!
Oct. 22
Owatonna See inside for all the details,
Oct. 23 and register today for the
Spring Grove session closest to your backyard!
Oct. 24
Watkins
Nov. 7 LMC
(Minnesota cu;..
Aer Enline Cites P—oung esaaffmm
MINNESOTA CITIES
Building
Quality
Communities
LMC REGIONAL MEETINGS
12:30 p.m. GovOffice Demonstration (optional session)
Get an update on this web site development tool created specifically for cities.
(Mary -Margaret Zindren, Assistant to the Executive Director)
1:30 p.m. Welcome (Kevin Frazell, Director of Member Services)
1:35 p.m. Human Resources
Top 10 Human Resources Myths (Laura Kushner, Director of Human Resources)
Fact or fiction: When an employee retires, my city's only obligation is to buy her a cake. True or
false: My city could keep health insurance premiums down if the City Council would change
providers every year. Unravel these and other key mysteries related to human resources management.
2:00 p.m. Legislative Update
Big Wheels Keep on Turning (Gmy Carlson, Director of Intergovernmental Relations)
Don't let your city be left sitting by the tracks during the 2003 legislative session. Join Gary for a
policy update and learn how to make a difference on issues such as finances, transportation, and
development.
2:30 p.m. Dialogue with the President and Board
The Inside Scoop (Michael McCauley, President of the Board of Directors)
Learn ho -,v the League will work on your behalf during coming months to achieve the
strategic plan, represent your city at the Legislature and continue delivering high-quality
services. This session also is a chance for you to comment and provide input.
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. Around the Table
Sharing City Successes, Challenges (Tom Thelen, Field Representative)
This session—always an annual favorite—is a chance to toot your horn by sharing the
successes and challenges your city has faced. In addition, you'll get to hear who's doing
what, where, and learn from the experiences of your neighbor cities.
4:45 p.m. Legislative Candidate Forum
You Heard It Here (Kevin Frazell, Moderator)
Find out how local legislative candidates propose grappling with issues that impact the
daily operation of your city and take the opportunity to pose questions.
5:45 p.m. Social Hour
So, it's not quite an hour. But "Social half-hour" sounds silly. It's another chance for you
to connect with colleagues, legislators, candidates, and League staff.
6:15 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Welcome from Host Mayor
7:10 p.m. Remarks by LMC President (Michael McCauley)
7:25 p.m. Remarks by LMC Executive Director pint Miller)
7:40 p.m. Buzz Comes to His Census
Buzz Olson, the illustrious mayor of Mosquito Heights, learns why it is important to address
the issues, impacts; and opportunities cultural diversity brings to his community.
8:00 p.m. Cultural Diversity Resources
Coming to Your Census (Mary -Margaret Zindren, Assistant to the Executive Director)
Now that Buzz has come to his senses, explore the tools and resources available to support
your efforts to meet changing needs in your city.
8:15 P.M. Adjourn
Register now to attend
Host City/
Host City
Additional Fee
any LMC 2002 Regional
Date
Contact Information
Location of Event
for Dinner
Meeting—it's as easy as
Arlington
Sept. 11
Vicki Pomp!un, (507) 9C--23-8
Circ Arlington
,.;:ngton Community Ctr.
$12
of
_ i= Shamrock Drive
1-2-3:
204 Shamrock Drive
A-:ington
Arlington. \IN 55307
1. Choose any Regional
Meeting that's convenient
Redwood Fa::_
Sue Wessels. 507) 637-:; �;
R:dwood Area
$15
Sept. 12
Ciry of Red%cood Falls
Community Ctr.
for you, by location or date.
PO Box 10
90' Cook Street
Redwood Falls, 56283
RtdNvood Falls
2. Register online anytime:
www.Imnc.org.
Fergus Falls
LuAnn Can, -pa, (218) "3--0123
Bz.%ood Event Ctr.
$20
No Internet aecess�
Sept. 24
Ciry of Fergus Falls
92'. Western Avenue
Telephone the Host City
PO Box 86S
Fergus Falls. MN 56536
F1-eus Falls
contact person (at right)
of the Regional Meeting
Hallock
Hank Noel. 218) 843-2-3-
H_llock Senior Center
$12
you plan to attend.
Sept. 25
Cin- of Hallock
2:0 2nd Street S%V
PO Box 336
H_llock
3. Send payment.
Hallock, MN 56728
Add together LMC's
Registration Fee of $20,
McIntosh
Teresa Syverson, (218) 5e3-3043
NLlmosh Community Ctr.
$14
Sept. 26
Ciry of McIntosh
1' S Broadway Avenue NW
plus the amount you will
Pd Box 97
%,":Intosh
owe the Host City for
McIntosh. MN 56556
dinner. Make one check
payable to the City of
Backus
Carol Vredenburg, (218) °-i--3221
Backus Senior Center
$12
(name of Host City), and
Oct. 8
Citc of Backus
131 Front Street
PO Box 44
Ba:kus
mail the total due to the
Backus, MN 56435
Host City at the city's
address listed at right.
Hibbing
Sandy Marincel, (218) 2ti2-3-180
Hibbing Park Hotel and Suites
$20
Note: Payment will be
Oct. 9
Circ of Hibbing
1-02 East Howard Street
accepted onsite, but we
401 East 21st Street
Hibbing, MN 55746
Hibbing
recommend you register
and mail pour payment
Hinckley
Gloria LaVicroire, (320) 3,;-4-7491
Grand Casino Hinckley
$24
before the meeting to let
Oct. 10
City of Hinckley
7-- Ladyluck Drive
the Host Cir) know��ou
PO Box 366
Hinckley
y
plan to come. You'll help
Hinckley, \1N 55037
make dinner and meeting
Worthin tor.
g
Janice Kor. t507) 372-860
TryzLodge
$25
materials preparation
Oct. 22
Cin- of Worthington
2015 N. Humiston Avenue
easier. Thanks!
PO Box 279
Worthington
Worthington. MN 5618 -
Owatonna
Barb Granowski, (507) 4=--000
Ramada Inn—Owatonna
$15
Oct. 23
City of Owatonna
1212 N. Interstate 35
540 Hills Circle W
O%caronna
Cancellations
Owatonna, MN 55060
Payment is required for every
registration. We reserve the
S
Spring Grove
Dianne Vesterse, (507) 49�-x'21
Fest Building
$15
right to bill for unpaid registra-
Oct. 24
City of SpringGrove
1
PO
I 1 I N. Division Avenue
Box 218
Spring Grove
tions. Further, no refunds will
Spring Grove, MN 55974
be made—eve recommend
you send a substitute if you
Watkins
Lynn Hokanson, (320) 76-4-6400
Family Inn Restaurant
$18
have registered and find you
Nov' 7
City of Watkins
711 MN Hwy 55
cannot attend.
PO Box 306
Watkins
Watkins, MN 55389
�Mj�(� Le,inue of Minnesota Cities
145 University Avenue West
St. Paul M\ 55103-2044
-Y.v. ..5:: .•i - - - r. -r .
LMC Regional Meetings:
Connecting cities,
creating futures.
Dr..Zils inside!
SANDY PAULSON
Clerk
3400 Plymouth Blvd
Pl.vmouth MN SS447-1448
i,1,1„I,I„I„I,Itoll I„I,„II,I„I III III „I,II,,Ili , Ili „I,V
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
Connecting cities, creating futures.
That's what the League of 1\4innesota Cities will help you do—right in
your own backyard—during the 2002 Regional Meetings being held this
September, October, and November at locations throughout the state.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other officials, legislative
candidates, and League staff. These one -day, information -packed sessions are
designed to provide insight, answers, and opportunities for feedback on the:
■ Top 10 myths of human resources management.
■ Legislative policy issues that impact the health of your city.
■ League's goals and direction of services to members.
■ Successes and challenges faced by you and your neighbor cities.
■ Challenges and opportunities cultural diversity brings.
Look inside to see when the League is coming to your
backyard and make plans today to attend!
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Center for Urban and
Regional Affairs
Twenty -Five Years of Planning for Low- and
Moderate -Income Housing in the Twin Cities:
The Legacy of the 1976 Land Use Planning Act
I',v Ec1 weird G. Goetz, Karen Chapple, and Barbara L. Lukennann
he Minnesota Land Use Planning
-pct (LUPA) of 1976 provides the
basis for mandatory land -use
planning policy in the seven -county
Minneapolis—St. Paul metropolitan
region. The statute requires that the
comprehensive plans adopted by
communities "include a housing element
containing standards, plans and
programs for providing adequate housing
opportunities to meet existing and
projected local and regional housing
needs, including but not limited to the
use of official controls and land use plan-
ning to promote the availability of land
for the development of low and moderate
income housing" (Minn. Statute
§ 473.89, Subdivision 2). The act desig-
nates the Metropolitan Council of the
Twin Cities as the agency responsible for
reviewing comprehensive plans for their
conformance with LUPA requirements.
Subdivision 4 of the same statute, which
addresses the implementation of the
comprehensive plans, requires a housing
program (including official controls) that
"will provide sufficient existing and new
housing to meet the local unit's share of the
metro area need for low and moderate
income housing" (emphasis added).
This statutory language establishes
LUPA as the basis for a "fair -share"
housing program in which local commu-
nities are obligated to meet the demand
for low-cost housing derived from a
regional analysis of needs. However, the
current lack of affordable housing in the
Twin Cities metro area suggests that LUPA
has not had the intended impact of
meeting regional low- and moderate -
income housing needs. In the summer of
2000, we examined the implementation
of LUPA's housing elements during the 25
years since the law was enacted to deter-
mine why. Our research team consisted of
3 faculty members from the University of
In This Issue:
N Twenty -Five Years of Planning for Low- and Moderate -Income Housing ir, the
Twin Cities: The Legacy of the 1976 Land Use Planning Act ..............1
J New Publications..................................................7
® Small Towns in Minnesota Are Growing Again .......................8
_:I Eugene Borgida Appointed to Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and
Regional Affairs..................................................12
® Sport as Prevention? Minneapolis' Experiment with Late -Night Basketball
...13
J Report on Minneapolis Public Housing Lawsuit Available from CURA ......18
J Project Awards.............................................19
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Minnesota, 12 graduate students taking
part in a course at the University of
Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public
Affairs, and several undergraduate
students enrolled in an urban studies
course at Macalester College. The study
was funded by the Family Housing Fund
with additional support from CUBA, the
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and
the Urban Studies Program at Macalester
College.
Our research took several approaches.
Team members conducted interviews
with current and former Metropolitan
Council staff members to determine how
the agency interpreted and implemented
LUPA. We also conducted a case study of
25 municipal governments in the seven -
county Twin Cities region to examine
both their commitments and their actual
practices with respect to affordable
housing development. First, we reviewed
their comprehensive plans to determine
the degree to which the plans embodied
LUPA requirements concerning affordable
housing. Next we examined the degree to
which the standards, plans, and programs
identified in the comprehensive plans
had actually been implemented by
conducting interviews with housing and
community development officials, plan-
ning officials, and housing developers in
each of the sample communities. Finally,
Nve examined the degree to which land
set aside for high-density housing actu-
ally resulted in the creation of affordable
housing. The results of our research are
presented below.
Metropolitan Council Administration
When LUPA was created, the Metropol-
itan Council Was given the task of over-
seeing implementation. At the time, it
was understood that because this was the
first round of comprehensive planning
for many communities in the metro area,
it would take several -ears for all of the
plans to be completed. The council did
not give communities a deadline. Among
the 25 communities we sampled, the first
round of planning produced council -
approved plans as early as 1979 and as
late as 1982. Initial guidelines for compli-
ance with the statute also did not indi-
cate how frequently the plans had to be
updated. Tile Minnesota legislature
addressed this issue in 1996 by requiring
a second round of comprehensive plans
to be completed by the end of 1998, with
another round of updates every 10 years
thereafter. Many communities did not
meet the legislature's 1998 deadline.
.although the Met Council encourages
tiMely SLIbIlliS5iOn5, council staff
members we interviewed indicated that
2 CURA RFI'OR7TF.R
Figure 1. LUPA Compliance Study Area, Twin Cities Seven -County Metropolitan Region
2. Apple Valley 11. Eagan
3. Blaine 12. Eden Prarie 19. Plymouth
4. Brooklyn Park 13. Inver Grove Heights 20. Prior Lake
S. Burnsville 14. Lakeville 21. Ramsey
6. Champlin 15. Lino Lakes 22. Rosemount
7. Chanhassen 16. Maple Grove 23. Savage
8. Chaska 17. Minnetonka 24. Shoreview
9. Coon Rapids 18. Oakdale 25. Woodbury
there was not much they could do to
force compliance with the deadline. By
the end of 1998, the Met Council had
received and assessed plans for only 6 of
the 25 communities we sampled; plans
for 8 communities were assessed in 1999
and 2000. Another it communities still
had plan assessments pending or had not
yet submitted plans as of November
2001.
At the time LUPA was enacted, the
Met Council was active in calculating the
regional housing shares of low- and
moderatz-income housing to be built in
communities across the metro area. The
council created an allocation plan that
provided specific numerical goals for all
communities within the Metropolitan
Urban Service Area (MUSA) based on the
number and projected growth of house-
holds and jobs, and the number of
nonsubsidized low- and moderate -income
housing units for each community. These
allocation figures were then routinely
incorporated into the community's
comprehensive plan. Most of the compre-
hensive plans adopted prior to 1983 that
we analvzed make direct reference to the
fair -share allocations for "low- and
moderate -income housing" made by the
Met Council. The council then juded the
adequacy of local housing plans based on
the amount of land set aside for high-
density residential development. :•: orking
under the assumption that high-density
development was the roost likel\- to
produce affordable units. In addition. the
Met Council adopted a set of zoning and
land -use guidelines aimed at producing
more affordable llousin2 opporrun:ties.
The guidelines include" suggestions
related to lot size, gara.es, square footage
of living area, and other items that have a
direct impact on housing prices. Finally,
the Met Council's power of review :,ave it
input into the grant-n-aking decisions of
the federal government and thus some
leverage over local housing efforts.
While this system was in place and
functioning, the region's affordable
housing profile changed significantly.
From 1975 to 1983, the central cities'
share of the region's total of subsidized
units fell from 82 to 59%. This impact
made it one of the highest performing
regional programs in the entire nation.
However, the Met Council has changed
its orientation to LUPA significantly
during the 25 years the law has been
operational. Since the early 1980s, the
council no longer calculates fair -share
allocations, and no longer provides
communities with information about
their share of regional needs. For the 25
communities we studied, comprehensive
plans completed after the mid-1980s
typically make no reference to regional
low- and moderate -income housing
needs and make no attempt to docu-
ment the local share.
In recent years, the Met Council has
also encouraged communities to use
their Livable Communities Act (LCA)
housing goals to fulfill the LUPA require-
ment that they calculate their communi-
ties' low- and moderate -income housing
need. Created by the legislature in 1995,
the LCA involves affordable housing
goals that are negotiated by the Met
Council and individual communities.
The housing benchmarks for LCA are
not based on need, but rather on the
existing level of affordability in subsec-
tors of the region. Even these bench-
marks, however, are routinely ignored by
communities and by the Met Council in
cases where they call for an increase in
affordable housing. Consequently, LCA
goals are inadequate with respect to the
LUPA requirement for calculating need.
The Met Council also discontinued
until very recently the practice of
reviewing local housing performance
and has backed off from its practice of
providing development guidelines to
local communities. The guidelines were
never binding on communities and no
sanctions ever existed for deviating from
the guidelines. However, they did
provide guidance for local communities,
as well as a standard against which local
actions could be judged.
Finally. the Met Council has not
established any type of monitoring
system to determine whether the objec-
tives contained in comprehensive plans
were ever met, whether land set aside
for high-density development was ever
used for that purpose, or whether the
rate of low- and moderate -income
housing development approached the
need for such housing as stated in the
plans.
Quality of the Comprehensive Plans
We selected for analysis a sample of 25 of
the 144 municipal governments in the
seven -county Twin Cities region (see
Figure 1). The communities chosen for
analysis were the fastest growing suburbs
in the region between 1970 and 1990 and
were among the communities projected
for the greatest growth between 2000 and
2020.' For each community in the sample,
we reviewed both the first comprehensive
plan adopted after passage of LUPA in
1976 and the most recently approved
comprehensive plan. Teams of researchers
were assigned to each community and
asked to summarize the comprehensive
plans using a standardized protocol that
focused on four issues. First, did commu-
nities calculate the existing and projected
need for low- and moderate -income
housing and their share of the regional
need for such housing? Second, how does
the plan define income levels and land
allocated to different housing densities,
and does the plan explicitly or implicitly
link high-density housing to the objec-
tives related to low- and moderate -income
housing? Third, does the plan lad- out a
series of steps to be taken by the commu-
nity to achieve the low- and moderate -
income housing goals established? Finally,
does the plan explicitly state how many
acres of high-density, developable land
have been set aside, and can this amount
accommodate enough low- and
moderate -income housing to meet the
stated goals?
In our analysis, we distinguished
between three waves of plans: the first
between 1979 and 1982, the second
between 1983 and 1995, and the last
from 1995 to the present. Table 1 shows
the dates of the plans we reviewed for
each of the 25 communities in our
sample. We found that the typical first -
wave plan makes direct reference to the
fair -share allocation made by the filet
Council for low- and moderate -income
housing. Although it was standard prac-
tice for communities to adopt the low
end of the range provided to them by the
council, the plans nevertheless indicated
an acceptance of the fair -share method-
ology. The Apple Valley, Inver Grove
Heights, and Eagan plans even indicated
that community housing needs are best
established on a regional basis.
Our sample includes at least one comn:_nity
from each of the seven counties in the n:e:ropol-
itan area. To arrive at our sample, we sel :—.ed the
15 communities that added the most poo_lation
between 1970 and 1990. The final 10 con-.munities
were chosen based on both past growth .nd
projected future growth. in general, fiat -:'.ng
suburbs and the more outlying areas of region
are excluded from the sample.
Table 1. Dates of Comprehensive Plans
of Sample Communities
Community Dates of review
and approval by
Met Council
Andover 1991
Apple Valley 1979, 1999
Blaine 1980
Brooklyn Park 1981
Burnsville 1981, 1990, 1999
Champlin 1981, 1986
Chanhassen 1981, 1991, 1999
Chaska 1981, 1991
Coon Rapids 1982
Cottage Grove 1981, 1999
Eagan 1981
Eden Prairie 1980
Inver Grove Heights 1981, 1998
Lakeville 1981, 1988, 1998
Lino Lakes 1981, 1998
Maple Grove 1980, 1998
Minnetonka 1980, 1998
Oakdale 1983, 2000
Plymouth 1980, 2000
Prior Lake 1981, 2000
Ramsey 1982
Rosemount 1981, 2000
Savage 1981, 2000
Shoreview 1982, 2000
Woodbury 1979, 2000
Although we reviewed only fire plans
from the second wave (Andover.
Burnsville, Champlin, Chanhassen, and
Chaska), it is notable that all references to
fair share and regional needs for low- and
moderate -income housing are gone.
When the Met Council abandoned in the
early 1980s its practice of calculating fair -
share allocations, communities mored
away from the practice of viewing their
needs in the context of regional patterns.
In fact, there are virtually no references to
loge- and moderate -income housin t; at all
in these second -wave plans. and there are
no calculations of regional need or, of
local shares of regional need.
Third -ware plans typicallx place their
discussions of low- and moderate-ncome
housing in the context of the Livable
Communities .act. Although the L:yable
Communities Act does no: supersede
LUPA, the Met Council has substi7a:ed
LCA standards for those set in LL r.A. and
communities have follov. -d this lead.
With the exception of tivo comnranities
(Eden Prairie and Plymoun'.), th.ce is no
effort in the third wave of plannln to
estimate a community's share of rezional
needs. Almost none of the third -o. -ave
pians estimate local need for loy:- and
moderate -income housin. In fact. the
phrase low- ani moderate-in._orrle heu,11ig is
rarely, if ever, used. In its pace is LCA
�' MEf 2 i:12 3
phrase affordable housing. By extension,
LCA definitions for affordable are adopted
by communities in the most recent wave
of comprehensive plans. The inflated
affordability guidelines of LCA—which
include income standards of 80% of area
median income for a family of four for
homeownership, and 50%, of area median
income for a family of four for rental
housing—mean that when communities
use LCA figures they are, in effect, plan-
ning for higher income housing than was
targeted under the LUPA fair -share
allocation process.
The city of Apple Valley illustrates the
changed orientation of comprehensive
plans during the 25 -year period since
LUPA was implemented. The first -wave
(1979) plan for this community stated:
The need for low and moderate
income housing within Apple Valley
must be identified on a regional
basis because Apple Valley is a
suburb within the Minneapolis/
St. Paul Metropolitan Area and there
is nothing of particular significance
within the community that would
cause it to stand apart from regional
considerations. As such, the statistics
and "fair share goals" developed by
the Met Council are the best and
probably only source of determining
the future needs for low and
moderate income housing.
The same community's third -wave (1999)
plan, however, contains a significantly
different statement:
The City is in the best position to
determine the most responsible
option for meeting the future needs
of .apple Valley rather than the
Metropolitan Council, especially as
it relates to residential densities.
Given that the Metropolitan Council
judges the adequacy of affordable
housing plans in part by how much land
is set aside for high-density development,
this statement essentially denies the legit-
imacy of the council in helping to set
low- and moderate -income housing goals.
In addition to requiring that compre-
hensive plans make reference to regional
needs or local share of regional needs,
LUPA also calls for the plans to include an
implementation section that outlines the
programs and practices to be used to
promote low- and moderate -income
housing. The quality of the comprehen-
sive plans we analyzed, as measured
by the number and variety of specific
4 CLRA REPORTER
implementation steps for promoting low -
and moderate -income housing, also
diminished significantly over time. Plans
from the first wave typically list possible
subsidized housing programs from all
three levels of government—local, state,
and federal. During the third wave of
plans, most communities fail to mention
programs from more than a single level of
government.
An even greater decline in the quality
of plans can be seen when one examines
the local nonsubsidy initiatives offered by
communities as means of promoting low -
and moderate -income housing. Table 2
lists the number of times each of 11
different local regulatory steps was
mentioned in first- and third -wave plans.
The City of Burnsville listed seven of these
techniques in its 1978 plan, but only one
of them in the 1998 plan. Apple Valley
listed four in 1979 and one in 1999. Lino
Lakes listed five in 1981 but none in 1998.
Shoreview went from five to one and
Rosemount from six to one. Lakeville,
Savage, and Prior Lake actually increased
the number of specific local regulatory
actions listed in their plans. Overall,
however, specific regulatory actions to
promote low- and moderate -income
housing were twice as likely to appear in
first -wave plans than in third -wave plans.
In addition, the third -wave plans
rarely include strategies that address the
specific obstacles to low- and moderate -
income housing identified by local
housing and planning officials in those
same communities. Inver Grove Heights
provides an example of the changes over
time in this area. This community's first -
wave plan indicates the need to review
the zoning ordinance and to "consider a
reduction in the more rigid Zoning Ordi-
nance in order to promote the develop-
ment of [low- and moderate -income]
housing." The plan also calls for an
ongoing housing subcommittee to review
subsidized housing proposals and to
revise the city's housing plan when neces-
sary. The third -wave plan for Inver Grove
Heights does little more than suggest that
the City will try not to make the afford-
able housing situation worse than it
already is: "To the degree possible, the
City will work to ensure that local actions
do not unduly increase the cost of raw
land." Similarly, the third -wave plan for
Lino Lakes lists 3 different "residential
goals," 16 different "residential policies,"
and 3 different "residential strategies,"
but only 1 of these 22 policy statements
mentions affordability and not a single
one mentions low- and moderate -income
housing.
Because of the lack of documentation
of regional need and of the local share
of that need in all plans since the first
wave, and because of the lack of specific
Table 2. Potential Regulatory Relief Mentioned in Comprehensive Plans
------------ -------------------------
Local steps to facilitate First Third
low- and moderate- wave* Pct. wave? Pct.
income housing
Rezoning
Increased densities
PUD
Decreased square footage requirements
Streamlined permit approval
Reduction in fees
Reduced setbacks
Manufactured housing
Nondiscrimination
TIF
Other
Average
First -nave plans were reviewed for 24 communities.
Third -wave plans were reviewed for 16 communities.
4
16
3
18
14
58
3
19
18
75
9
56
14
58
2
12
2
8
0
0
4
16
1
6
6
25
1
6
7
29
1
6
4
16
1
6
2
8
4
25
10
42
3
18
3.54
1.75
implementation steps to promote low -
and moderate -income housing in most
plans, we conclude that there is not a
single second -wave or third -wave plan
submitted by the 25 communities we
reviewed that meets the housing stan-
dards implied by LUPA.
Plan Implementation
In addition to evaluating what their
comprehensive plans say, we also exam-
ined the degree to which individual
communities carried out the comprehen-
sive plans they submitted pursuant to
LUPA. We interviewed housing and
community development officials, plan-
ning officials, and residential builders in
each of the communities to solicit infor-
mation about the efforts the sample
communities have made to promote low -
and moderate -income housing, and to
provide a means of checking on the
implementation of standards, plans, and
programs identified in earlier comprehen-
sive plans.
Our analysis of the implementation
of comprehensive plans is necessarily
limited. Given the passage of time and
staff turnover, it was impossible to recon-
struct or provide a full accounting of all
of the steps taken or not taken during the
last 25 years by the 25 communities we
sampled. Instead, we focused on several
specific efforts made by these communi-
ties: Do they monitor the need for and
the existence of low- and moderate -
income housing in their community? Do
their comprehensive plans identify regu-
latory steps that could be taken to
promote low- and moderate -income
housing?
The Land Use Planning Act envisions
a system in which local governments
plan for low- and moderate -income
housing within a regional context. For
the system to be meaningful, however,
there must be a means of tracking the
efforts made by individual communities.
We have seen that the Met Council estab-
lished no such monitoring system. One
might expect that individual communi-
ties would have tracked their progress
toward meeting low- and moderate -
income housing needs. Indeed, this
seems like a minimum requirement for a
community to achieve its program goals.
However, few of the communities we
studied monitor the low- and moderate -
income housing situation within their
city limits. More than two-thirds of the
communities in our sample do not have
an inventory or database of the amount
of low- and moderate -income housing
that exists in the community. Of those
Table 3. Reported Use of Regulatory Mechanisms to Promote Low- and Moderate -
Income Housing among Sample Communities
Techniques to promote low- and
moderate -income housing
Planned:unit development (PUD) ordinance
allowingsmaller lots, density bonuses, etc.
Zoning variances
Density bonuses
0.
„.'
aEw
Expedited approval for low- and moderate -
income housing projects
Reduced`fees
Reduced lot sizes allowed
Allowance of accessory apartments
Set -asides for low- and moderate -
income housing
that do keep track, only one indicated
that its list went back as far as the mid-
1970s when LUPA was created.
Similarly, creation of regulatory proce-
dures to promote low- and moderate -
income housing also has been quite
limited. Our city interviewees were asked
a series of questions about what tech-
niques were in place in their communi-
ties for enhancing the production of such
housing. As Table 3 illustrates, the most
common form of regulatory mechanism
identified was some form of a planned
unit development (PUD) ordinance
allowing smaller lots and higher densities
to be negotiated between developers and
city staff. The only other technique used
by even half of the communities was an
allowance for accessory apartments.
Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, and Oakdale
each reported using five of these eight
techniques, the most among the 25
communities studied. Rosemount,
Chaska, and Apple Valley reported using
four. On the other end of the spectrum,
Andover and Brooklyn Park reported
using none of these techr_iques, while
Inver Grove Heights and Ramsey reported
using only one. The mean across all
communities ive studied was slightly less
than 2.5.
We found there were often discre-
pancies between what the current
comprehensive plans say regarding regu-
latory initiatives to promote lower cost
Number of Pct. of
communities communities
17 71
5 21
3 12
0 0
5 21
10 42
12 50
W
housing and what our inten-iew inform-
ants told us was being done in the sample
communities. In one city, for example,
the planner we inteniewed was surprised
to learn that his community's compre-
hensive plan called for an affordable
housing set-aside in all new residential
developments. With respect to allowing
decreased square footage and the relax-
ation of other requirements to cut costs.
we found discrepancies between inter-
xiew responses and comprehensive plans
in 8 cases out of 14 (i.e., for 14 cities,
either the comprehensive plan or the
planner -informant indicated that such
techniques were in use, but in S of those
cases there was not agreement between
what the plan said and what the planner
indicated). For the rezoning of land to
accommodate low- and moderate-incom-_
housing, there were discrepancies in 6 oil:
of 16 cases. Even for the use of PLDs,
there were differences in 6 out of 15
cases. Although it is difficult to determine
the exact reason for the discrepancies
found between what the plans indicate
on one hand and iviiat city officials say
on the other, it is clear that there is some
significant disconnect betiveen the
comprehensive plans and the practices oa
communities.
Overall, the 25 study communities
had a mixed record of implementing steps
for affordable housin, that were described
in their early plans. We found several
SU.M[EP. 2002 5
examples of specific steps listed in com-
prehensive plans that had been carried
out in subsequent years. At the same time,
there were numerous examples of prom-
ised implementation steps that had never
been undertaken. The items that were
carried out least often were those related
to specific zoning changes intended to
facilitate lower cost housing and reduce
the per-unit cost of land.
Three conclusions from this analysis
are noteworthy. First, it is clear that a
housing plan adopted in one year is not
necessarily embraced by the city council in
subsequent years, particularly if there is
turnover among council members.
Second, follow-through on comprehensive
plans is not always a simple yes/no propo-
sition. Compliance on some items requires
a continued effort throughout the period
of the plan rather than just a single action.
Finally, in some cases it became clear that
communities were operating under plans
that contained language with which offi-
cials were not familiar.
The Affordable Housing Legacy of the
1976 Land Use Planning Act. By
Edward G. Goetz, Karen Chapple; and
Barbara Lukermann. Minneapolis:
Center for Urban and Regional
Affairs, 2002. CURA 02-1. 118 pp.
Free.
This full report, upon which the
summary article in this issue of the
Reporter is based, examines the imple-
mentation of the 1976 Land Use
Planning Act during the 25 -year
Period from 1976 to 2001. The full
report includes an executive
summary, an in-depth discussion of
how the Metropolitan Council has
interpreted and administered LUPA, a
detailed analysis of the LUPA-related
elements in the comprehensive plans
of each of the 25 communities
profiled, more detailed discussions of
how these communities' plans have
been translated into action as well as
how successful they have been at
producing low- and moderate -income
housing, and an appendix that
contains the standardized protocol
the research team used to analyze
communities' comprehensive plans.
To order this publication, call CURA
at 612-625-1551 or send e-mail to
cura@tc.umn.edu.
6 CURA REPORTER
A
Reclassification of land was common during the 25 -year study period. Although it
was initially set aside for high-density residential development, this parcel was
rezoned commercial and was developed as a daycare center.
We asked both city officials and devel-
opers about what land -use regulations
constitute barriers to low- and moderate -
income housing production. Both groups
of interviewees agreed that restrictions on
high-density development and the avail-
ability of developable high-density land
were the most important obstacles.
Developers also frequently mentioned as
an important barrier the resistance of
neighbors to affordable housing.
Finally, we examined the attitudes of
city officials toward the housing elements
of LUPA. Our interviews uncovered a
strong sense among them that LUPA was
not particularly relevant to affordable
housing issues in suburban areas of the
region. A number of reasons were cited
for this perception, including the current
emphasis of the Met Council on the
Livable Communities Act, the belief that
meeting LCA goals is equivalent to
meeting LUPA requirements, and the
feeling that the planning requirements of
LUPA have little to do with the actual
development of low-cost housing.
Impact of Planning
In order to examine the relationship (if
any) between the planning done
pursuant to LUPA and the development
of low- and moderate -income housing in
the region, we conducted two analyses of
the correspondence between the compre-
hensive plans we examined and the
existence and location of low- and
moderate -income housing. First we
followed the fate of more than 7,400
parcels of land set aside for high-density
residential development in the first wave
of plans from 1979 to 1982. This analysis
determined the extent to which (a) these
parcels remained high-density residential
during a 20 -year period, (b) housing was
built on these parcels, and (c) the housing
was affordable. In addition, we created a
database of existing low- and moderate -
income housing in the 25 communities
in our sample. For these developments,
we looked back to see what those parcels
had been designated for during the first
wave of plans. Together, these analyses
can help determine the extent to which
the plans submitted by the communities
during the first wave were predictive of
future low- and moderate -income
housing development practices.
The Met Council has evaluated rile
adequacy of housing plans, in part. by
determining whether communities set
aside enough high-density residential
land to accommodate lox-- and moderate -
income housing goals. The assumption
behind this is that high-density- land is
more likely than other land to attract
low- and moderate -income housing. Our
analysis suggests that this is a defensible
assumption; roughly 1% of the total land
in the 25 sample communities is
currently zoned or designated for high-
densitv residential use, yet this land
contains almost half of the lo% - and
moderate-incom= housing we could iden-
tify in these communities.
To analyze the practical impact of the
housing requirements of LUPA. %ve
tracked all of the parcels of land tha-, the
25 study communities had set aside for
high-density residential development in
their first -wave plans. �Ve sought to deter-
mine how much of that land originally
planned for high-density housing
actually contained low- and moderate -
income housing.
Reclassification of land was common
during the 25 -year study period. Of the
estimated 7,463 parcels of land set aside
for high-density residential development
in first -wave plans, only 19% were zoned
for high-density development 20 years
later. Instead, much of the land was redes-
ignated, rezoned, or down -zoned to lower
densities. In fact, the study communities
moved land out of high-density residen-
tial categories at a rate of more than one
acre each working day from 1980 to
2000. At the same time, some land that
was not originally designated for high-
density development was moved into
that category. Overall, however, there was
a 31% reduction in acreage devoted to
high-density residential development
during the study period.
In addition, we found that PUDs
rarely resulted in high-density low- and
moderate -income housing production.
Only 12% of the acreage in PUD zones
was high density and only 19% of those
acres held affordable low- and moderate -
income housing.
By examining a sample of parcels, we
found that 88% of parcels that are
currently zoned for high-density housing
have housing on them, although only
58% of those acres had high-density
housing. Most of that high-density
housing (62% of the parcels) had already
been built at the time of the first -wave
plans. Of the parcels that contained high-
density housing, only 35% contained
housing affordable to low- and moderate -
income households. As a result, during
the 20 -year study period, only 6% of the
acres set aside for high-density residential
use produced new high-density low- and
moderate -income housing. This is an
extremely low conversion rate, and
suggests that the Met Council's practice of
looking at high-density set -asides is an
insufficient means of evaluating the
commitment of local communities to
promoting low- and moderate -income
housing. Either this standard should be
abandoned altogether, or the Met Council
should insist on a set-aside that would
accommodate many times the number of
low- and moderate -income units identi-
fied by the community as its goal.'
Conclusion
Our analysis of the implementation of the
LUPA housing requirements in 25 high-
growth suburban communities of the
TVAn Cities since 1976 suggests that there
are serious deficiencies in the law itself
and in the way it is being carried out by
both suburban communities and the
Metropolitan Council. The lack of moni-
toring, the retreat from regional allocation
of need by the Met Council, and the
council's own suggestion that LCA
housing plans be used to comply with
LUPA requirements all point to the
declining relevance of LUPA in planning
for low-cost housing. Both the Met
Council and individual suburban commu-
nities have retreated from the idea of
' In this case, given the 6% conversion rate, the
cities in our sample would have had to designate
almost 16 times the number of acres as high-
density in their initial land -use plans to actually
develop a given number of acres as high density.
New Publications
Community Participation and Geographic Information
Systenns. Edited by William J. Craig, Trevor M. Harris, and
Daniel Weiner. London and New York: Taylor and Francis,
2002. 383 pp. $95.00 hardcover. ISBN 0415-23752-1.
Co -edited by U'? k's associate director William J. Craig, this
volume of essays on geographic information systems (GIS)
grew out of the Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public
Participation Geographic Information Systems initiative and a
workshop sponsoret'ov the National Center for Geographic
Information and Ana'ysis. The essays in this collection focus
on the conceptual an'd practical issues arising from the intersec-
tion of GIS with par-'cipant communities and present case
studies and models at can be replicated by other communi-
ties. The book can be ordered at local bookstores.
Conununity and Quality of Life: Data Needs for Informed
Decision -faking. By the Committee on Identifying Data
regional planning for low-cost housing.
On the books, the region is one of the few
national models for the local provision of
regional housing needs; in practice,
however, those requirements are readily
ignored. This is all despite the fact that
years ago the fair -share housing element
of LUPA was widely accepted in the region
and that it initially led to the creation of
comprehensive plans that fulfilled both
the letter and the spirit of LUPA.
Edward G. Goetz is a research fellow at
CURA and associate professor and director
of the Urban and Regional Planning
Program at the University of Minnesota's
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Karen Chapple is assistant professor of
urban and regional planning at the
University of California at Berkeley.
Barbara L. Lukermann is a research asso-
ciate at CURA, a senior fellow at the
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and a
fellow of the American Institute of
Certified Planners (AICP).
This study was funded by the Family
Housing Fund with additional support
from CURA, the Humphrey Institute of
Public Affairs at the University of
Minnesota, and the Urban Studies
Program at Macalester College. The
following people assisted in the data
collection and analysis: Kathy Ember, And,.
Johnson, Michelle Lewis, Li Luan, Sarah
Lynch, Jill Mazullo, Julie Morrison, Nicole
Palasz, Gia Pionek, Antonio Rosell, Gary
Schiff, Christy Stark, Leigh Tomlinson, Joe,.
Vossen, and Josh Williams.
Needs for Place -Based Decision Making and the Committee
on Geography, National Research Council. Washington, D.C.
National Academy Press, 2002. 184 pp. $44.95 hardcover.
ISBN 0-309-08260-9.
This volume, which includes a chapter coauthored bc-
CURA associate director William J. Craig, considers the ranee
of data needed by communities to plan and participate in
decisions that affect the quality of life in those communities.
The boot: discusses the concept of livability and livability
indicators, the importance of place and connectedness,
appropriate measurement and analysis of livability, decision -
support processes, and data and analysis tools for decision
support. Included is an appendix on federal data sources. The
book is available online at http://books.nap.edu/books
/0309082609/html/index.html, and can also be ordered
online at http://wisw.nap.edu.
SUMAIF-R 2062 7
C ty of Plyiiiouth
County Road 73 Corridor Shady Update
Origin of the Corridor Study
The City's Comprehensive Plan, adopted in August 2000,
identified the County Road 73 corridor and several other
areas that have a potential for change in land use. The
purpose of this study is to anticipate the likely changes to
the design of County Road 73 and identify what if any
land use changes should be considered to guide future
public and private development and redevelopment
decisions. In addition, the
study is looking at the
potential for an expanded ..
park and ride facility in the
northern portion of the
study area. ate►.,
In March of 2002, the City
of Plymouth with assistance
from SRF Consulting
Group, Inc. and Dahlgren,
Shardlow and Uban, Inc.,
began work on the study of
the corridor which runs
from Highway 55 on the
north to the border with the
City of Minnetonka on the
south.
Frequently Asked
Questions
About the Study
Why is the City
undertaking this study
now? The corridor study
area is identified in the ra
City's Comprehensive Plan. Pyymtty oLV.Minre,=
It is also identified as a
short-range project in the Implementation Chapter of
the plan. The Comprehensive Plan directed the
preparation of this study for at least a couple of reasons.
First, some improvement to the County Road 73 corridor
has been anticipated for some time. If nothing else, the
roadway is nearing the end of its useful life and will have
to be reconstructed in the near future. That is when
Hennepin County will consider the need for design
modifications. Second, past planning a nd redevelopment
August 2002
activities have revealed a great deal of public interest and
concern. As much as some may advocate leaving things.
as they are, County Road 73 has some design deficiencies
and it would be a mistake to assume that Hennepin
County will not seriously pursue safety and capacity
improvements when they reinvest in the next 10 to 15
years of service for that roadway. By preparing a plan for
this area prior to the County developing any detailed
plan for upgrading County
C@, of Minnetonka
County Road 73 Corridor Study Area
Road 73, Plymouth can
advocate for a design that is
both reasonable and
prudent and considers the
desires of the majority of
area residents.
Were residents in
Minnetonka notified
about this study?
Plymouth notified all
property owners within 750
feet of the study area
boundary, including
property owners in the City
of Minnetonka. If and when
the County initiates a
project to upgrade County
Road 73, they would contact
both cities and property
owners within both cities.
In 1999, the City was
proposing to change the
land use plan south of
" Sunset Trail to allow
WJE
Smedium and higher
density housing in the
corridor. What happened to those plans? Those
specific plans are no longer on the table—with the
exception of the Johnson Brothers property south to the
Minnetonka border, which is being considered for a
medium density residential land use classification.
Many corridor residents attended an open house three
summers ago regarding potential changes in land use in
the County Road 73 corridor. At that time, the City was
considering changing its land use plan to designate
medium and higher density residential use for this area
as development or redevelopment occurred in the future.
For medium density, this would have allowed
development of townhomes, typically with two to six units
per building. For higher density, it would have allowed
development of townhomes with up to 12 units per
building (similar in density to the townhome development
to the south in Minnetonka).
After receiving input from the neighborhood and
reviewing information about the area available at the time,
the City Council decided they did not have enough
information to make any changes in how the land in the
corridor may be used in the future. Subsequently, the
Council identified the corridor as an area for future study
in the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in August
of 2000.
As part of this study, the consultants have prepared some
schematic sketches for several areas along the corridor.
None of these ideas are being advocated at this time, but
rather are intended to inform the public about what may
be possible and feasible in light of current market trends.
Is the City working with any developers in the
corridor? No. There are no developers that the City is
aware of that are actively pursuing development in any
portion of the County Road 73 corridor study area. Since
the corridor study began, staff has had questions from
individual property owners in the corridor about the
development potential of their properties.
What controls does the City have to ensure good
development by the private sector? The City's Zoning
Ordinance includes among other things, general
development standards that all new development is
required to follow, standards for site lighting, wetland
protection regulations (including requirements for
wetland buffers), floodplain regulations and landscaping
requirements. The Subdivision Code also includes tree
preservation regulations. In addition, the City Code
requires water quality ponds with new development over
one-half acre in area to help clean storm water runoff
before it enters the City's many lakes and wetlands. Plus,
anyone who submits a development application must go
through a development review process that involves all
City departments.
Would the City consider acquiring the Johnson
Brothers property (east side of County Road 73) for
parkland? In 1995, the City passed a bond referendum
to acquire several high quality natural resource sites. The
Johnson Brothers property, which contains a tamarack
swamp, was on the list of potential acquisition sites. The
2
City was not able to negotiate an affordable price, so the
property was not acquired. However, because of the
State's wetland protection laws, the tamarack swamp is
not in danger of being developed. In addition, the City
concluded that if the high and dry land along the western
side of the Johnson Brothers property ever developed,
the developer might deed the wetland to the City as it
would be unusable to the developer. Conversely, the City
has not been interested in the non -wetland portion of
the property. This area presents considerable liability
given that the City knows that there are large chunks of
concrete buried there.
County Road 73 is a residential street. Why does it
need to be widened? County Road 73 has numerous
residential properties along its length through Plymouth,
but its function in the County system is to serve as a
minor arterial roadway. Arterial roadways generally do
not provide direct access to individual parcels and that is
one of the factors that complicates this study. The
function of a minor arterial is to connect cities to other
communities and to major highways, in this case,
Highway 55 and I-394. Minor arterial roadways are of
regional importance. They are expected to connect major
trip generators to keep shorter trips off the freeway
system. Consequently, minor arterials carry substantial
amounts of traffic, typically from 5,000 to 30,000 vehicles
per day. In contrast, a local residential street typically
carries less than 1,000 vehicles per day.
Future traffic increases are projected to challenge County
Road 73's design deficiencies. The City's Comprehensive
Plan shows projected 2020 traffic counts on County Road
73 at 14,000 vehicles per day south of Sunset Trail and
17,000 vehicles per day north of Sunset Trail. This is
roughly twice the existing levels of traffic. Because of
the projected traffic increase, safety needs and the life
cycle of the roadway, Hennepin County has identified a
need to expand the traffic -carrying capacity of County
Road 73. The City's Comprehensive Plan also reflects
this need.
The County has scheduled the upgrading of County Road
73 for planning and design in 2006 and construction in
2007 and 2008. However, a project that far out in a capital
improvements program is more subject to change than
cne scheduled within the next couple of years. The
County will continue to monitor this and other roadways
to determine which roadways will receive the higher
priorities for upgrading.
Are there plans to add lanes on Highways 169 and
55 or I-494? If not, why not? There are no plans on
the horizon to widen Highways 169 or 55. There are
plans to widen I-494, but not for several years and funding
at present is uncertain. Decisions regarding work on these
roadways are made by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation. Funding for expansion and improvement
of state highways comes from the state and federal
governments. Improvement and expansion needs on state
highways throughout the region and the state far outstrip
the amount of funds available or anticipated from these
sources in the upcoming years. There is tremendous
competition for limited funding. Failure of the
Legislature to pass a transportation funding package last
session will exacerbate the funding gap. Regardless of
the funding situation, expansion of these roadways would
not eliminate the need to consider expansion of County
Road 73.
Funding for reconstruction of County Road 73 comes
from sources that cannot be used on the state highway
and freeway systems. Consequently, any upgrading
project for County Road 73 would not be competing for
the same scarce funds as state highways.
What criteria will Hennepin County use to determine
when County Road 73 is upgraded and what kind of
improvements are needed? The County considers the
following criteria when considering an upgrading: 1)
pavement condition, 2) roadway capacity, 3) safety, both
for vehicles and pedestrians, 4) opportunity to coordinate
with major development projects or state or local roadway
improvement projects 5) funding availability, and 6) other
County project priorities. One or a combination of these
criteria can lead to the initiation of a project.
The type of improvements included in a project are based
on 1) traffic volume, 2) safety and 3) state aid standards
(design standards for lane and shoulder width, etc.).
What is the approval process needed before County
Road 73 could be upgraded? Hennepin County would
begin the process by developing a preliminary design for
the improvements. The City would review this design
to determine how it relates to City plans for land use,
pedestrian access, access to individual properties, etc. and
provide feedback to the County. The County would then
make any necessary revisions, prepare cost estimates and
submit the design to the City Council for their approval
and subsequently, for approval of a cost sharing and
maintenance agreement. State involvement and review
for consistency with state aid standards is also part of the
review process, Following City approval, the County
Board would act and the project would commence.
If County Road 73 is improved, will property owners
along the road be assessed for the improvements?
City staff would not expect any properties along County
Road 73 to be assessed for an upgrading.
Would Hennepin County need to acquire any
property to upgrade County Road 73? If Hennepin
County would move forward with improvements to
County Road 73, it is likely that they would need to
purchase some existing properties in order to realign the
roadway north of Sunset Trail for better safety. They
are required to purchase any additional right-of-way
either from willing sellers or through condemnation. In
the latter case, the County is required to pay fair market
value as determined by an outside appraiser.
What is the impact on property values if County Road
73 is upgraded? The answer to that question will depend
upon the specific conditions for each parcel. An
important purpose for this study is to propose design
features and mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate
potential adverse effects on individual property values.
It is also intended that by completing this study well in
advance of Hennepin County's process, uncertainty can
be reduced. Property owners can reinvest in their
property in anticipation of the planned improvements
and be able to make those investment decisions with
greater certainty.
Are there options for improving the roadway north
of Sunset Trail that would not take out existing
homes? Some area residents have asked if the City has
fully explored all of the benefits that might be gained
through less dramatic measures, such as intersection
modifications, the conversion of some stretches of
roadways to one way streets and similar measures. City
staff has asked the consultants to look at a range of
potential options. These will be available before the next
open house. Since County Road 73 is under Hennepin
County's jurisdiction, all modifications whether minor
changes or major reconstruction are the responsibility of
the County. The City will provide the results of this
review to the County when it is completed.
Could the upgrading of County Road 73 occur in
phases? It is possible that the County may consider
improving the roadway north of Sunset Trail first. This
area has greater traffic volumes and safety issues than
the area south of Sunset Trail.
How much additional traffic from South Shore Drive
will use County Road 73 if the intersection is aligned
in the future? Straightening out County Road 73 to
better align with South Shore Drive would not
appreciably affect the volume of traffic originating north
of Highway 55 and then traveling south on County Road
73. If someone departs from a location north of Highway
55 and is heading to a location south of 55 that is near
the County Road 73 corridor, they currently navigate
through the intersection at Highway 55 and continue
south along County Road 73. Improving the design and
safety of this intersection will not, by itself increase the
number of trips, it will simply allow them to occur more
safely.
How does the City control the speed limit on County
Road 73? Speed limits are set by the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). The County
can request that Mn/DOT undertake a study of one of
the County's roadways to determine whether the posted
speed is appropriate. If Mn/DOT agrees, they monitor
existing traffic speeds and then make a finding. This
finding can be for no change or an increase or decrease
in the posted speed. In cases where residents are
concerned about excessive speeds, the outcome of a state
speed study can be the opposite of what residents desire—
sometimes Mn/DOT finds that the posted speed should
be increased. Whatever the case, it is important to note
that the City is not in control of the outcome.
Review Process to Date
The City has held two open houses to share information
about the study. In mid-May, City staff hosted an open
house to provide background information on the study
area to property owners in and near the corridor.
Responses to a brief survey showed that increases in
traffic, the impact of a widened roadway on the quality
of life, traffic speed and pedestrian safety were of greatest
concern to those attending. City staff shared this
information with the Plymouth Planning Commission
in early June.
Staff and the consultants used the background
information and comments received from property
owners at the first open house to prepare preliminary
land use alternatives for consideration at a second open
house in late July. In preparing the alternatives, the
consultants explored roadway design alternatives that
could allow the majority of the residential uses to remain.
These alternatives were based on accepted traffic
engineering standards that could work for County Road
73 (see roadway cross section). With one exception, most
property owners who responded to a second brief survey
did not favor land use changes in the corridor. However,
many did favor redevelopment of the Plymouth Shopping
Center south of Highway 55.
Next Steps
At the second open house, several people voiced the opinion
that the study was proceeding too quickly and that there was
not sufficient time to get all questions answered. In response,
the City revised the schedule, slowing it down to provide
additional information to property owners and additional
opportunities for questions.
The following is the new tentative study schedule.
Wednesday, September 18: Open house at 5:30 PIvi to
continue to answering resident questions followed by 7:00
PM Planning Commission meeting where staff will
present results of the second open house and ask the
Commission to set a public hearing date on the study
Wednesday, October 16, 7:00 PM: Tentative date of
Planning Commission public hearing
Friday, October 25: Mail summary of Planning
Commission's recommendation to the City Council to
property owners in the study area and within 750 feet of
the study area
Tuesday, November 12, 7:00 PM: Tentative date for
City Council consideration of study recommendations
If you have questions about any of the material in this
mailing or the study schedule, please contact Barbara
Senness, Planning Manager, by phone at 763-509-5452
or by e-mail at bsenness@ci.pllymouth.mn.us.
28' from Right of Way Lina 15' I la Trail 110' Blvd II 12' Thm 114' Left Turn I 12' Thm I V I10' Blvd ISWAI 5' I 3Z from Right of Way Line
53' Setback from Roadway 54' Roadway i 53' Setback from Right of Way
100' Right of Way
Potential Future Roadway CR 73 South of Sunset Trail
COUNTY ROAD 77 CORRIDOR STUDY
4 City of Rym.M
August 23, 2002
ary of
PLYMOUTR
SUBJECT: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ZERWAS ENTERPRISE, INC.
(2002106)
Dear Property Owner:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this is to inform you of a
request by Zerwas Enterprises, Inc., under File 2002106, for a conditional use permit to
allow an automobile touch-up paint business in the C-5 District (Commercial Industrial
District) for property located at 9625 -36th Avenue North. A variance is also requested to
allow a zero -foot setback from parking to the lot line where 20 feet is required.
Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 feet of the site of this
proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to
be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September
4, 2002, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth
Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this
application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-
5450 for more information.
INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community
Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except
holidays.
Sincerely,
fx�/ '�Vl YLPY7
Barbara G. Senness, AICP
Planning Manager
2002106propnotice
ev^e^S^�---v^eeve^v6r �`�'v �^•`v't..:.^.:s
PLYMOUTH ABeautifulPlace?o Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
a�
CITY OF
PLYMOUTF+
August 23, 2002
SUBJECT: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE BAINEY GROUP (2002100)
Dear Property Owner:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this is to inform you of a
request by The Bainey Group, under File 2002100, for a conditional use permit to
increase the percentage of office area from 54% to 65% for property located at 14700
28th Avenue N.
Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 feet of the site of this
proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to
be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September
4, 2002, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth
Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this
application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-
5450 for more information.
INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community
Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except
holidays. - r r;e: rr:r r.ae III
Sincerely,
Barbara G. Senness, AICP
Planning Manager
2002100propnotice
FAMP11
PLYMOUTH ABeautifutPlace?o Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
August 23, 2002
CITY OF
PLYMOUTF+
SUBJECT: SITE PLAN AMENDMENT, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, INTERIM
USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE FOR SMSQ ARCHITECTS (2002099)
Dear Property Owner:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this is to inform you of a
request by SMSQ Architects, under File 2002099, for a site plan amendment and
conditional use permit amendment for an addition to include new worship space,
restrooms and offices for Peace Lutheran Church located at 3695 County Road 101.
The application also includes an interim use permit for reduction of 13 parking spaces,
a fire lane variance and a conditional use permit to allow a 54 -foot bell tower with
cross.
Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 feet of the site of this
proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to
be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September
4, 2002, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth
Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this
application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-
5450 for more information.
INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community
Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except
holidays.
Sincerely,
bk� sGn�Atfx
Barbara G. Senness, AICP
Planning Manager
2002099propnotice
PLYMOUTH A Beautifu(Place To Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
2a
DATE: August 21, 2002
TO: Dwight Johnson, City Manager
Ccc- Plymouth HRA
�&----
FROM: rim es Housing Program Manager, through �AnHurlburt,
Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Information on HRA Program Waiting Lists
Council member Harstad requested staff to compile a list of the HRA's current program
waiting lists and what amount of funding would be required. Below is a table and
corresponding footnotes for the various programs currently being operated by the HRA.
Program
# On Waiting
Potential Funds
Potential Funds
List
Required
Required
(one time only)
(annually)
First Time Homebuyer
15
$300,000
?
Program'
Rehab Program
21
$420,000
?
Section 8 Program'
219
$0
$1,547,892
Plymouth Towne
89
$12 million
$270,000
Square4
(52 1 -bedroom)
(27 2 -bedroom)
' Because of the limited funding available for this activity the HRA has done very little marketing of this
?rogram.
Because of the limited funding available for this activity the HRA has done very little marketing of this
Urogram.
The waiting list for the Section 8 program has been closed since February of 2001 and staff does not
anticipate opening it up for new applications for I-'/2 years.
° The waiting list for 1 -bedroom units has been closed since shortly after the building opened in 1994. The
2 -bedroom waiting list was just recently re -opened for the first time.
PLEMOUVrx
FIRE -RESCUE
PLYMOUTH FIRE
DEPARTMENT
3400 Plymouth Boulev
Plymouth, Minnesota 55t,
763-509-5120
FIRE -RESCUE INCIDENT OF INTEREST
DATE: 08/21/02 TIME: Listed below . ADDRESS: Listed below
01:29
4255 Larch Place
01:53
2810 Black Oaks Lane
03:34
3145 Olive Lane
03:41
4425 Norwood Lane
06:18
4279 Evergreen Lane
Cr
L
DETAILS: During the early morning hours of August 21St a series of electrical storms
passed through Plymouth. During these storms, the Department was dispatched to 19 fire
events, of which six were "working" house fires caused by lightning strikes. All of the
house fires required a minimum of two engines, a ladder and command staff
(approximately 14 members) to control. All of the fires involved the attic and roof areas
of the dwellings. Our success in limiting property damage and assuring civilian safety
are due to two primary reasons:
1. A timely response. No response time was greater than five minutes.
2. We arrived with an adequate number of staff to conduct concurrent
operations, an effective response force.
Forty Plymouth fire personnel responded to these incidents (on -scene and stand-by).
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
RESPONSE TIME: Not greater than five minutes to any incident.
FIRE ORIGIN/CAUSE: Lightning strikes.
ESTIMATED FIRE LOSS: $15,000 to $90,000 (range)
P.F.D. RESPONDING UNITS:
ASSISTING AGENCIES:
Engine Companies: E-11, E-31, E-21
EMS: Yes
Ladder Companies: L-31, A-21, TW -11
Red Cross: No
Support Unit: U-31, Tanker 31
Salvation Army: No
Rescue Companies: R-11, R-31, R-21
Public Works: No
Chief Officers: C-1, C-11, C-31
State FM: No
Mutual Aid: Wayzata, Minnetonka, West Metro and Maple Grove.
SECTOR OFFICERS: Chief Kline/District Chiefs Elliott & Blake (Command)
APPROVED
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
MINUTES — MEETING NO. 118
Wednesday, June 12, 2002, 7:00 p.m.
Members Present Bruce Larson, Megan LeDell, Terri Goodfellow -Heyer, Chris Graham,
Terry Jaffoni, Kathy Osborne, Karen Chesebrough and Andy Walstead
Others/Staff Present Councilmember Ginny Black
Brian Vlach, Three Rivers Park District
Shane Missaghi, Water Resources Engineer
Margie Vigoren, Environmental Education Coordinator
Patty Hillstrom, Secretary
Call to Order Ms. Osborne brought the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Review of Agenda The agenda for the June 12, 2002 meeting was approved with four
changes.
Approval of Minutes It was moved by Andy Walstead, seconded by Bruce Larson and
unanimously approved by the committee that the minutes for Meeting
No. 117, May 8, 2002, be approved as written.
Proposed Ordinance The EQC reviewed the proposed ordinance regulating the sale of
Regulating Sale of phosphorus fertilizer and suggested that the wording "than that for
Phosphorus fertilizer containing phosphorus" should be added to (c) and the display
Fertilizer referred to in (d) shall be determined by City staff.
There was also discussion about the possibility of a citizen or store
survey to determine types of fertilizers that residents in Plymouth are
using on their lawns.
A motion was made by Terri Goodfellow -Heyer, seconded by Bruce
Larson to accept the proposed ordinance amending Section 1170 of the
Plymouth City Code concerning the sale of lawn fertilizer with changes
to (c) and (d). The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Black suggested notifying residents of the ordinance
change on the City website.
When the proposed ordinance has been approved by the City Council,
Ms. Vigoren will send a letter, a copy of the new ordinance and a
display sign to retailers notifying them of the ordinance change. She
Page 1 of 3
N.- MFERENCICommissionslEnviromnental Quality_CommitteelminuteslCurrent Year1061202.doc
will have a copy of the letter and a sample of the sign that was sent to
the retailers for review at the EQC meeting in August.
New Curbside Ms. Vigoren reported that the City Council accepted the EQC's
Collection Vehicle recommendation enabling residents to commingle miscellaneous papers
for Recyclables and newspapers with the new vehicles that are now in use by Waste
Management. The miscellaneous papers and newspapers must still be
placed in paper bags to eliminate litter. The sort change for papers will
be reported to the Plymouth residents in the July/August issue of the
Plymouth News.
Ms. Vigoren will look into options regarding recycle bin size and report
her findings to the EQC at the August meeting.
Mr. Larson suggested broadcasting the sort change on cable television.
Amendment to the Ms. Vigoren reported that a modified version of the recommended yard
City's Yard Waste waste management ordinance was adopted by the Council at the June
Management 11, 2002, City Council meeting. The ordinance states that blowing,
Ordinance mowing, raking or pushing leaves into property or adjoining public or
private street, gutter, sidewalk, trail or storm water conveyance is a
violation.
Ms. Chesebrough emphasized that streams should also be protected
against the same harmful activities.
Special Collection Ms. Vigoren referred to the memo from Kris Hageman pertaining to the
on June 1, 2002 results of the Special Collection on June 1, 2002 and reported that the
event was a success. She said that 1,300 vehicles came through the
collection site.
Ms. Vigoren stated that the next event will be held on September 21,
2002.
NEMO (National Ms. Vigoren provided a brief presentation on NEMO (National
Education for Education for Municipal Education) and asked for the EQC's input on
Municipal the usefulness of this program for the City of Plymouth.
Education
Ms. Vigoren stated that Jay Michels, NEMO, would meet with the EQC
or City staff to tailor an education program for the City Council and
Planning Commission. She said the program is targeted to elected and
appointed officials that are making land use decisions. There is no
charge for this program.
Councilmember Black suggested including the Speakers Bureau and the
business council as possible groups that could benefit from NEMO.
Page 2 of 3
N.-MFERENCICommissionslEnvironmental Quality_CommitteelminutesICurrent_Year1061202.doc
Mr. Missaghi stated that the program would be a good benchmark and a
support of things that the EQC has already done.
A motion was made by Terry Jaffoni, seconded by Bruce Larson
recommending that the City utilize the services available from NEMO.
The motion passed unanimously.
Music in Plymouth Mr. Missaghi asked for four volunteers (two volunteers from 5:00-6:30
p.m. and two volunteers from 6:30-8:00 p.m.) for the EQC booth at
Music in Plymouth on July 2, 2002 with the following results:
Ginny Black
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Megan LeDell
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Kathy Osborne
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Chris Graham
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Terry Jaffoni
6:30-8:00 p.m. (tentative)
Other A brief update was made by Kathy Osborne on the June 1, 2002,
planting of the Plymouth Creek Park, 38th Avenue Native Wildflower
Garden. She reported that there were a lot of resident volunteers with
City staff assisting and that the event went very well.
Councilmember Black would like to educate contractors on erosion
control mechanisms. She will talk to Dwight Johnson, City Manager,
about educating them during the winter when they are not so busy.
Ms. Osborne thanked Mr. Larson for his years of service on the EQC
committee. She said the committee will miss him and that the City has
benefited from his contribution.
Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:00
p.m. in the Bass Lake Room.
Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Hillstrom
Page 3 of 3
N. MFERENCICommissionsTnvironmental Quality_CommitteelminutesICurrent Year1061202.doc
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
AUGUST 5, 2002
Council Members
Present
Absent
Peter Beste
%0
Ifna Ejebe
Kee -Ju Hong
Paul Jungels
Akash Kumar
%0
Mark Lenhardt
%0
Michael Letich
Janet Li
VO
Jean Yin
V
City Manager Dwight Johnson, Councilmember Judy Johnson, Recreation Program Coordinator
Regina Michaud, Deputy City Clerk Kurt Hoffman, and Public Safety Advisory Board Liaison
Gary Landis were also present.
Judy Johnson directed Ifna to call the meeting to order at 8:20 PM. She further asked Ifna to
conduct the business of selecting the Council's organization of a chair leadership or of co—chairs.
Ifna made a motion seconded by Mark, to use the co—chair style of leadership.
Mark said liked the plan of co—chairs taking turns at leading the meetings.
Jean said that as a returning member, Ifna should serve as chair or co-chairs.
Ifna explained the roles of the co-chairs and how each meeting one would lead and guide the
meeting.
The motion to adopt the co—chair option was passed in a unanimous voice vote.
Paul suggested waiting until the next meeting when the full group can hear statements from those
interested in serving as co—chairs.
Ifna made a motion, seconded by Mark, to approve the agenda. The agenda was approved in a
unanimous voice vote.
Ifna made a motion, seconded by Mark, to approve the minutes of the June 17 meeting. The
minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.
Dwight explained that the Communities in Collaboration Council (CICC) would like a
representative from the Youth Advisory Council to serve as a liaison with that group. Judy
Youth Advisory Council
August 5, 2002 Meeting
Page 2
explained the CICC involvement in the community. She said it has been a resource for budget
funding for the Youth Advisory Council as well. Council members agreed to wait until the next
meeting to select a liaison.
Dwight suggested the Council review the established subcommittees and discuss possible work
projects for the coming year.
Jean believed it's important to bring back the intergenerational committee.
Judy asked if it might be feasible to take a youth forum into the schools. Ifna stated the RARE
group at Wayzata High School conducts some forum meetings following a great deal of
planning. She suggested that Robbinsdale schools be focused on.
Judy suggested including home schools and non-public schools, and noted the Parks and
Recreation Department has addresses of some home schools in Plymouth. She said forum
meetings are important to help build trust among the young people towards the schools. It's
important to get city people talking with young people and going to the schools would be a good
outreach activity.
Paul said the Youth Service Awards committee was a good work experience and was a lot of fun
to work on. Council members agreed to continue the program.
Regina said the youth activities committee had been successful as a sounding board for
developing new activities in for youth in the Parks and Recreation Department. She said in the
future, ideas could be brought to the entire Youth Advisory Council for comment.
Judy noted the coffeehouse committee has seen development of plans for the lower level of the
PCC, but did not need to continue as a formal subcommittee. Dwight said updates on the
development could be brought to the full Youth Advisory Council.
Adjournment
With no opposition Ifna declared the meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Z- 3 C
170
PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
June 26, 2002
PRESENT Ryan May, Bill Magratten, Mary Paprocki, Hein Van Laarhoven,
Shirley Hendricks and Mike Cagley
OTHERS PRESENT Councilmember Scott Harstad
Jim Baldwin, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc.
Jeff Wostrel, Metro Transit
Jim Lasher, LSA Design, Inc.
Pat Qvale, Public Services Manager
George Bentley, Transit Consultant
Patty Hillstrom, Committee Secretary
Pat Qvale, the new Public Services Manager for the City of Plymouth was introduced
to PACT.
I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda for the June 26, 2002, meeting was approved with one change.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 22, 2002
The minutes for the May 22, 2002, meeting were approved as written.
III. PRESENTATION BY JIM LASHER, LSA DESIGN, INC. OF DESIGN
PLANS FOR THE RESERVE TRANSIT STATION
Jim Lasher of LSA Design, Inc., introduced himself to PACT and updated them on the
new transit station at The Reserve that is currently under construction.
Lasher stated that he worked closely with Rottlund Homes and the City to develop a
service plan for The Reserve Transit Station. He presented a model and floor plan
drawing indicating a large waiting area, two restrooms, a vending machine area and a
room for heating and cooling systems within the 800 square foot facility. The
foundation was just finished and concrete is being poured this week, with a completion
date anticipated in about four to five months.
MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
June 26, 2002
Page 2
Lasher made the following comments to PACT regarding other transit projects:
• Progress is moving ahead with the Public Facilities Study update that was last
done in 1997. This study looks at the system in terms of park and ride use, five
year capital improvement planning and future demand. He said he will present
a draft of the study to PACT sometime in September.
• Lighting will be installed in the newly constructed bus stop shelters before
winter.
• Contingency planning has been done in the event the current park and ride lot at
Four Season's Mall is required to move.
IV. RIDERSHIP INFORMATION AND REVIEW OF RIDERSHIP STATISTICS
FOR MAY, 2002
Bentley reported the following ridership statistics to PACT:
• System ridership is 6.3 % ahead of last year.
• Dial -A -Ride ridership is 7.8 % ahead of last year.
• Metrolink ridership is up by 6.4% over last year.
• Passengers per day for the system is up by 5.5 %.
• Passengers per day for Dial -A -Ride is up by 7.4%.
• Passengers per day for Metrolink is up by 5.6%.
IV -A. IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS OF CONCERN AND/OR
RECOMMENDATIONS
Shirley Hendricks' Comments
• Hendricks' proclaimed the bus riders high regard for Hassan, one of the Dial -A -
Ride drivers.
• Hendricks' inquired about the bus driver name signs that are going to be installed in
the Dial -A -Ride buses. Baldwin replied that they are on order.
• Hendricks' reported that she informed Baldwin of the dates she would be on
vacation and would not need Dial -A -Ride service to work. On her first Monday
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MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
June 26, 2002
Page 3
back at work the bus did not come. She called Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. and
they did not have her on the schedule until Wednesday.
• Hendricks' voiced her and other bus riders frustration with drivers who do not
speak English.
Mary Paprocki's Comments
• Paprocki reported that the morning shuttle bus runs early. Baldwin stated that he
has already talked with the driver about this problem.
• Paprocki reported for another rider that the #790 which leaves downtown at 5:45
p.m. is consistently 5-10 minutes late. Bentley will look into this problem.
Hein Van Laarhoven's Comments
• Van Laarhoven thought that there was still confusion regarding bus stop postings in
downtown Minneapolis. Wostrel stated that it was supposed to have been taken care
of and will check into it.
• Van Laarhoven reported that on June 26, 2002, the bus did not stop at 12th and
Harmon.
Wostrel stated that it was a driver error and will be corrected.
• Van Laarhoven commented on the poor condition of the bus benches installed by
U.S. Bench. Bentley stated that U.S. Bench is required to maintain the benches and
he will contact them.
V. UPDATE ON CONSTRUCTION RE-ROUTES
Bentley stated that there are three construction re-route areas which include County
Road 101 between Highway 55 and County Road 24, Hemlock Lane north of Bass
Lake Road/County Road 61 and several downtown locations due to the LRT
construction. He briefly reviewed the re-routes with PACT.
VI. FARE BOX UPGRADE AND SMART CARDS
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MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
June 26, 2002
Page 4
Bentley explained that the Smart Card technology works like a plastic credit card with
an electronic chip that has storage capabilities. He said the fare box on the bus has a
read-out screen with a flat place where the card is tapped and read. The fare is then
deducted from the card. Bentley said the Smart Card readers will begin to be installed
as early as the Fall of 2002.
VII. SERVICE PLANNING FOR TRANSIT SERVICE FOR THE RESERVE
Bentley discussed a three stage service plan for service to The Reserve when it opens.
The first stage is an extension of Route 777 into The Reserve. The second stage is to
have Route 772 take over the western portion of Route 777. The third stage (when
Cheshire Lane opens to the north to County Road 47) would have a new route start in
The Reserve and go east to Four Season's Mall, while Route 777 would run straight
downtown.
VIII. JULY MEETING DATE CHANGE DUE TO SCHEDULE CONFLICT
A motion was made by Mary Paprocki, seconded by Hein Van Laarhoven to cancel the
July 24, 2002, PACT meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
IX. TRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Bentley provided the following updates for PACT:
• The complaint log was reviewed by PACT.
• A draft of the "How to Ride Guide" was distributed for PACT to review.
Metro Transit's year to date ridership is down 7.64% which is 2.3 million rides.
Possible reasons for the decrease in ridership include 9/11, route renumbering that
confused people, segments removed from routes, the economy and the fare increase
in 2001.
X. OTHER COMMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Harstad suggested that Metrolink run shuttles to the State Fair from
Wayzata Senior High School.
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MINUTES - PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT
June 26, 2002
Page 5
Bentley provided the information for signage on the buses for Music in Plymouth but
the Civic League never put signs on the buses.
Magratten asked whether anything had been found with the non-acceptance of dollar
coins by the bus. Wostrel stated that the GFI fareboxes should be set to accept the
dollar coins.
The next PACT meeting will be held on August 28, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bass Lake
Room on the lower level of the Plymouth City Hall.
Respectfully,
Patty Hillstrom, Committee Secretary
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Hennepin County Department of Transit & Community Works
417 North Fifth Street, Suite 320 612-348-9260, Phone
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1362 612-348-9710, Fax
www.co.hennepin.mn.us
August 19, 2002
Mr. Dwight Johnson
City Manager
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Mr. Johnson:
Hennepin County
Housing, Community Works &Transit
Housing Development
Carol A.Kelleher
Administrative Manager
Department of Transit & Community Works
417 North Fifth Street, Suite 335
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1362
612-348-2270, Fax:612-348-2920
carol.kelleher@co.hennepin.mn.us
I am happy to announce that Carol Kelleher has joined Hennepin County's Housing,
Community Works and Transit Department as the Administrative Manager of the Housing
Division.
Carol brings over 20 years of experience in housing development and policy, including
serving as the consultant to Hennepin County's Affordable Housing Incentive Fund Program
(AHIF). She and the Housing staff will work closely with communities and other
stakeholders to implement the county's strategic framework for housing opportunities.
Carol can be reached at 612-348-2270 and by e-mail at Carol.Kelleher(a�,co.henngpin.mn.us.
Please feel free to contact Carol, the rest of our Housing staff, or me with any questions or
comments might have about our programs and activities. We look forward to
t
hat
continuing in the months and years ahead.
S
Enclosure:
Business Card
cc: Carol Kelleher
( mrOVO-f Recycled Pa/wr
t-4 6
August 21, 2002
CITY OF
PLYMOUTH+
Senator Mark Dayton
SR -346, Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Dayton:
On behalf of the Plymouth City Council, thank you for the invitation to meet with Jim Gelbmann
of your staff on July 31 to discuss issues important to the region's development. Although we
were unable to attend this meeting, we want to request your support of increased federal funding
directed toward transportation and affordable housing.
Current funding for roads and transit systems across all government levels in the metro area is
not adequate. Our citizens and businesses would greatly benefit from a sound, integrated, and
adequately funded transportation system. Interstate 494 runs through Plymouth and is
considered the "main street" of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is one of the region's most
congested freeway corridors. State Highways 169 and 55 in Plymouth experience similar
congestion. The City has made consistent efforts to plan, build, and maintain a significant local
roadway system and to operate an effective transit system. We need help through increased
federal funding to address worsening transportation conditions.
We also request your support of increased federal funding for affordable housing. The average
sales price for a home in Plymouth is $284,000, despite a varied housing stock with strong rental
and life cycle housing options. Affordable housing has been a City Council priority for several
years, and we administer and fund a variety of housing assistance programs through the
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
The City of Plymouth has tried to do its part with respect to transportation and affordable
housing. These issues are large and need something far greater than local attention. We
appreciate your consideration of our comments and your work on these issues.
Sincerely,
y�
Joycelyn H. Tierney
Mayor
PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Place To Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
®°"'°""'°"`"°' www ri nlvmrn ith mn i is
Dear Friend:
I want to invite you to a meeting Jim Gelbmann, my Minnesota State Director will hold in Hennepin County on
Wednesday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the Minneapolis City Hall, to discuss the issues that are important to your
region's development. The meeting is one of many we are holding throughout the state.
At the meeting, Jim would like to hear from you about any ongoing community development efforts, as well as
any concerns you have about those efforts. He will also update you on my work in Washington, D.C.
We would like to hear some "of the issues Hennepin County is facing.with roads, water and sewer projects,
schools, health care, business retention, and business expansion. However, please feel free to bring up any issue
you'd like to discuss.
I hope you will able to meet with Jim on July 31 to discuss these important topics. Please call my office at 612-
727-5220 or toll free at 1-888-224-9043 if you have any questions
Senator Mark Dayton's Offices:
At your Service!
Washington Office
346 Russell Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202)224-3244
fax(202)228-2186
tdd (202) 224-9921
Mark Dayton
T T. t—A r.___ .
Metro Minnesota Office
BHW Federal Building,
Suite 298
1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
(612)727-5220
(888)224-9043
fax(612)727-5223
Health Care Help Line:
(866)296-4319
Minnesota Regional Offices
Northwest -
Thief River Falls
2017 Highway 59 SE
Suite 24
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218)681-2166
fax (218) 681-2169
Northeast - Biwabik
222 Main Street
Suite 200
P.O. Box 937
Biwabik, MN 55708
(218)865-4480
fax (218)865-4667
Mobile Office
Post Office Box 608
Renville, Minnesota 56284
(320)905-3007
Web: dayton.senate.gov
Email: dayton.senate.gov/webform.html
pnitrbr $tatrs $ertat8
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2305
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
councilmember Ginny Black
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth MN 55447-1446
U.S.S.
PRSRT
s
Sincerely, wya
:.
Senator Mark Dayton's Offices:
At your Service!
Washington Office
346 Russell Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202)224-3244
fax(202)228-2186
tdd (202) 224-9921
Mark Dayton
T T. t—A r.___ .
Metro Minnesota Office
BHW Federal Building,
Suite 298
1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
(612)727-5220
(888)224-9043
fax(612)727-5223
Health Care Help Line:
(866)296-4319
Minnesota Regional Offices
Northwest -
Thief River Falls
2017 Highway 59 SE
Suite 24
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218)681-2166
fax (218) 681-2169
Northeast - Biwabik
222 Main Street
Suite 200
P.O. Box 937
Biwabik, MN 55708
(218)865-4480
fax (218)865-4667
Mobile Office
Post Office Box 608
Renville, Minnesota 56284
(320)905-3007
Web: dayton.senate.gov
Email: dayton.senate.gov/webform.html
pnitrbr $tatrs $ertat8
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2305
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
councilmember Ginny Black
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth MN 55447-1446
U.S.S.
PRSRT
LMC
145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55103-2044
League of Minnesota Cities Phone: (651) 281-1200 (800) 925-1122
Cities promoting excellence TDD (651) 281-1290
' LMC Fax: (651) 281-1299 LMCIT Fax: (651) 281-1298
Web Site: http://www.Imnc.org
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayors, City Managers, Administrators, and Clerk 'Cfi
From: Jim Miller, Executive Director { `0
a�
Re: 2003 City Budgets
Date: Friday, August 16, 2002
Volatility in the state's budget over the past year is now translating into uncertainty for local
budgets. Although the magnitude of the state budget deficit will not be officially revised until
late November or early December, the Commissioner of Finance has recently suggested that the
deficit could be as high as $2.7 billion for the 2004-2005 biennium. With the additional
pessimistic economic news that has been released over the past several weeks, this fall's budget
forecast could even exceed the Commissioner's gloomy figures.
In recent weeks, the League has received numerous inquiries from member cities seeking advice
on how to prepare for the uncertain state budget situation and the potential for state aid
reductions. The situation for larger cities is further complicated by levy limits, which will be
significantly more stringent due to a remarkably low inflation adjustment (0.76%) for 2003
levies. For many cities, levy limits will trim the list of policy alternatives available to address
possible 2003 state aid cuts.
To make matters more difficult, your city is undoubtedly facing other budget pressures such as
rising employee health insurance costs, potential volunteer relief association contribution
increases, lower investment earnings, and possible additional security costs in light of the
September terrorist attacks.
The purpose of this memo is to provide you with insights into this uncertainty based upon
conversations we have had with key state decision -makers and information available to us at this
time. The state budget situation is fluid and will undoubtedly change before the Legislature
convenes in January. Although the League will be working with legislators to reduce the size of
any proposed state aid or credit reimbursement reductions, it is important for your city to begin
preparing now for the possible effects of a cut in state aids.
State Deficit: How we got here
Last fall, the state announced a $2 billion budget deficit for the remainder of the 2002-2003
biennium. In February, the deficit estimate was increased to nearly $2.5 billion. The 2002
legislative actions to address this deficit arguably tapped most of the easy solutions, including the
use of state reserves and the elimination of automatic inflation assumptions for many state
programs. The budget solution also included the elimination of the TIF grant pool, delays in
school aid payments, and some cuts in state agency budgets.
Now, the state is facing an additional deficit for the 2004-2005 biennium. Given that many of the
easy solutions have been employed, the problem confronting the 2003 Legislature will almost
certainly be more difficult to address. State agencies are already being asked to prepare
preliminary budget proposals at a 90 percent funding level. This 10 percent planning reduction
reflects the approximate across-the-board cut necessary in state spending to address a deficit in
the $2.7 billion range.
If a 10 percent cut is extended to general city aid programs, cities would collectively lose
approximately $59 million of local government aid (LGA) and approximately $10 to $15 million
of market value homestead credit (MVHC) reimbursement. Remember, even if your city does not
receive LGA, the state effectively pays a portion of your property tax levy through the MVHC
reimbursement. The State could reduce this payment to the city, thereby reducing the amount of
property tax levy you expected when the levy was originally certified.
If the Legislature ultimately decides to make cuts in state aid and credit programs, it will have to
decide how to distribute the impact to cities and counties. If potential future cuts are computed in
a manner similar to past state aid reductions, every city would likely lose a similar percentage of
their revenue base (defined as the city's certified levy plus its certified LGA). A cut on this basis
could be between 4 percent and 5 percent of each city's revenue base. Again, that cut could
conceivably come from LGA, the MVHC, or both.
There are other state aid and revenue sharing programs that could potentially be cut, such as
police and fire aids, certain transportation aid programs including the Municipal State Aid
(MSA) program, and police training reimbursement aid. Likewise, further cuts in state agency
budgets could have a trickle-down impact on city budgets—either through higher agency fees
and assessments or through reduced services that must be picked up in local budgets.
Of course, there is no way to determine the size of the state deficit before the forecast is updated
in November, nor is there any way to predict how the Legislature might implement appropriation
reductions. Given that city aid programs were largely spared from the 2002-2003 budget cuts, we
suspect there may be political pressure to "share" the state's 2004-2005 budget woes with cities.
This uncertainty clearly makes financial planning for 2003 extremely difficult. We should know
more in late November or early December when the next state budget forecast is released.
However, you are already preparing your 2003 budget and you must set your preliminary
property tax levies long before the state budget forecast will be announced.
2
Other Factors
Cuts yet this year?
Although most of the current focus on the state budget is on the 2004-05 biennium, there is still
an outside chance that the 2002 December distributions of LGA and the MVHC reimbursement
could occur IF the November 2002 state budget forecast shows a state deficit by the end of the
current biennium that exceeds the current $300 million state rainy day fund and IF the governor
decides to address the deficit through unallotment.
Through "unallotment," the governor effectively has the power to reduce legislative
appropriations to address a state deficit that exceeds its reserves. Given that the state's biennium
ends on June 30, 2003, the December 2002 LGA and MVHC payments would be the last
distributions to cities this biennium.
LGA reform
Reform of the LGA system may be a topic of legislative focus during the upcoming session. The
current formula uses statistical data from the decennial U.S. Census that has now been compiled
and released. The Department of Revenue initially used one updated statistic from the 2000
Census to compute the 2003 LGA distribution. The use of that statistic produced large,
unexpected variations in the distribution of state aids and, upon review, the Census data appeared
to have unexplainable results. Essentially, the department will use the existing 1990 data for one
more year.
At a minimum, the Legislature will likely have to address this piece of the LGA formula during
the 2003 legislative session. We also know that some legislators have indicated an interest in a
total review of the formula and the funding level—especially given the State's current fiscal
predicament. This could lead to an extensive effort to reform the system. However, unlike
possible cuts to balance the state's budget, which could be implemented immediately, any reform
of the system would not likely be effective until 2004.
Other property tax pressures
Many school districts across the state are struggling to address their own financial needs. The
state takeover of the majority of school funding coupled with the state's financial troubles means
that schools will not likely find sufficient new state resources. Many school districts have already
announced they are "going to the voters" to approve new or expanded operating referendum
levies. This will place pressure on taxpayers and may result in less acceptance of city tax
increases.
Likewise, the state could tap its property tax as a potential way to address its budget problem.
Although the nearly $600 million state property tax levy is automatically indexed for inflation
each year, the state could decide to raise its levy even further to balance the budget. Again, this
could place pressure on commercial, industrial, and cabin taxpayers and make city tax increases
more difficult. Additionally, the state could expand the base of the state property tax to include
homesteads and other additional types of property.
3
Strategies for Cities
For city officials who remember previous state budget shortfalls and subsequent city aid cuts,
much of this situation and the strategies that follow may sound familiar. Below are several
considerations that may help you weigh the pros and cons of revenue enhancements, expenditure
reductions, and use of reserves as you consider setting a budget for 2003. Ultimately, you will
have to make decisions that best reflect the needs of your community.
L Consider increasing your property tax levy to cover or at least partially offset potential state
aid reductions. If aid reductions do not materialize, you can adjust your 2004 property tax levy
accordingly.
A.) For cities over 2,500 population, levy limits are in place for taxes payable in 2003. Due to
an extremely low inflation adjustment for this year's levy limits, cities affected by levy
limits might not have sufficient levy authority to cover even normal budgetary pressures.
Levy limits are due to expire, but they could certainly be extended by the 2003
legislature.
B.) Increasing your property tax levy could potentially result in a larger state aid reduction.
Last January, the Governor unveiled a new proposal that based a portion of each city's aid
reduction on the size of each city's increase in property tax levy plus state aids. In other
words, the larger the city's revenue, the greater the reduction in state aids. Although the
Governor's concept was not adopted by the Legislature, this proposal could always
resurface in the 2003 legislative session.
C.) Although property tax increases could be implemented to offset potential budget cuts, the
property tax increases of cities could be viewed as municipal preparation for state aid cuts
and legislators could rationalize cuts because cities are financially "prepared" for the
reduction.
D.) Increasing property taxes to cover a speculative state aid cut could be criticized or
misunderstood by your citizens and business owners. You may want to consider enhanced
discussions with your citizens, businesses, and legislators about the difficulties facing the
city and setting a 2003 budget.
E.) Consider the implications of tax reform on any tax increment financing (TIF) districts
within your city. Past tax reform efforts, including the major changes enacted in 2001,
may have severely impacted the revenue stream of TIF districts and the city may already
be committed to property tax increases to cover TIF obligations.
F.) Given the magnitude of the state budget deficit, other local units of government may also
be considering increases in their property tax. With the new state property tax, legislators
might be considering their own property tax increase to address the shortfall. You might
want to consider the combined impact of these potential increases for your taxpayers.
0
H. Consider other revenue enhancements where appropriate.
A.) Do you have fees that are set substantially lower than the cost of the service provided?
Now may be a good time to adjust fees to more closely relate to the cost of the service,
thereby reducing the current subsidy from other revenue sources. Also, there may be
certain property tax supported services for which fees could instead be charged.
B.) If your city makes significant capital or maintenance expenditures for storm water
control, you may wish to consider creating a storm water utility and removing these costs
from the general fund.
III. Consider developing a plan to reduce appropriations or delay future financial obligations
as a strategy to cover the potential loss of state aid payments. If aid reductions do not
materialize, you could make later adjustments in your budget.
A.) Any state aid or credit cuts might not be enacted into law until the session ends, which
will likely be in late May. The cuts would likely be applied to the July and December
2003 LGA distributions and to the October and December 2003 MVHC reimbursement
payments. Cities will already be nearly five full months into the fiscal year, which means
that spending reductions would have to be applied to the remaining seven months of
expenditures.
B.) You may want to consider budgeting for one-time expenditures that replace long-term
ongoing costs, such as technology investments that might replace a staff position or
consultant contract.
C.) Consider delaying any hiring decisions until the Legislature crafts its budget during the
2003 session.
D.) Consider delaying major purchases, as well as delaying new or expanded program
initiatives.
IV. Consider drawing down reserves to cover the loss of state aid
A.) Carefully consider the periodic cash flow needs of the city before deciding to draw down
reserves. City fund balances are generally measured on December 31 of each year. This is
a "high water mark" for city budgets given the structure of state aid payments and
property tax distributions. An analysis of necessary reserves on a daily or weekly basis
would provide a more accurate picture of the city's cash flow needs.
B.) State aid and credit cuts could be permanent and, ultimately, the city would have to
increase taxes or reduce spending to avoid a long-term city deficit.
C.) Drawing down reserves could potentially affect your city's credit rating and possibly
increase the cost of future borrowing for the city.
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For more information
The 2003 budget year promises to be a wild ride. Keep your eye on the Cities Bulletin and visit
the LMC web site (www.Imnc.org) for the latest information about developments with city aids
and the state budget. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Carlson, Eric Willette or
Jenn O'Rourke at (651) 281-1200.
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