HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 10-26-2001i
i
f
Dummy
�,�e�a i •> ,r'�`^°'.E`t'��:^?'•`"`�. ; '�"" ni'w"y">1^.w,�t�•""t°'2'f ��'''`'"�'�`."�r'�'�s •�;:t di .Z;,, ^� �::, d2"`nS'A',ev��+'�:�;i,'•t,�T.^ t �=Te;a�+s
., ��,., `... �',: s�$L�v'�yt ��'ti -•�i �.r. .� �r'.`y. *i3,5�'�' S+,7,0 •,.:1!.��AS»�-3:...� �`�±''•,• nc...,;q; �,���� --• :: vz<,•r
j�^srY:.:t+ :?"„ �>X M:� ^'d+�+;j'. , fi .k.5"�y. t; ,r; .,ca:t Sig, a,�:,.i°®`.0 ,u�'0k•"h,." e,a :,. V- �{}',. "1;� rn•,r Poi, r.'• r.�" �."^,< v 'sf
= �::��.��--0�,���:. ���c ��.�co �^ NGIIIF�.o � ��I.o:��o :�,i.�:.•'�."�w � ����. •�
�. _ .>�. r• x .n 7 r , 4 ,t• `•'-M:n %ti rcy�;a .rr; rc �y�pa� rw...: .�•'4,' J` `+�:;;:..'}.. -tom• s-;
-s d :�'� t,t C' ..if n.. �?"�sa.i �;', �' x^ ✓: w:.?. ^i,. e- e. ^`+ea1 �,w .��
' .. �;:�;:��A.?. �;� •ac;;,' .,,a s;l:#: v'r � • ',ice-'...�f:•'�- , ,c ° '� �'?�*'' r s �i�i#'�•s§•��",r'•�({p � <W u art Via' `'k?" s i.r�,. '� "
'd'eaav�.vs`5o;:�arirnrxi.s•sw.n£•:. �±rs�+.c,Lioe"x_h`G".s°x'r:'�.vtt'si�-Fa''St-�rx �i,Yr#.�a.ti4.3A.%S't1:i-il:i+�rkv:..�;�t$.•*�s�ra`.`..ib'?n»:�xxf!,ctsa.aL'2t�X.,�,9.fifau£Nl.e»ssiae,.wie'�7a'K•cawrvvtv+d^awet,
OCTOBER 26, 2001
1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 5:3 0 PM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 7: 00 PM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 7: 00 PM
Z SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28
3.
4.
S.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8:00
AM -Noon
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 7: 00 PM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 7. 00 PM
MONDAY, NOVEMBER S, 7: 00 PM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 7.00 PM
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: TRAIN WHISTLE
ORDINANCE, Public Safety Training Room
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINC3 Council Chambers
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM, 2001-2006,
Plymouth Creek Center
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS END, Clocks go back one hour.
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENT, Plymouth
Creek Center
PLYMOUTH BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL
PARTNERSHIP STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
WORKSHOP, Plymouth Creek Center
THE CHOCOLATE SAMPLER, Plymouth Creek
Center
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, Medicine Lake
Room
YOUTHADVISORY COUNCIL,
Public Safety Training Room
PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers
A List of future Regular Council Meeting agenda items is attached (M-9)
October, November, and December calendars are attached (M-10)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO Page 2
October 26, 2001
1. NEWSARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC.
a) News releases:
1) City news release to announce homestead -filing deadline. (1--1 a.1)
2) City news release to announce openings on advisory boards and
commissions. (1-1b.2)
b) Items submitted by Mayor Tierney:
1) Duluth News -Tribune stories about that city's efforts to develop a skate
park. (I -1b.1)
2) Governing Magazine feature on Ford Foundation awards for innovations
in government (I -1b.2)
3) Sun Sailor news article on testimony by Minnesota governnment officials
during Hearings on preparation for terrorist attacks. (I-1 b.3)
4) Government Computer News editorial about electronic voting options.
(I-1 b. 4)
5) U -S Mayor feature on building community to promote healing in the wake
of national tragedies. (I-1 b.5)
6) U -S Mayor feature by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino on affordable
housing in his city. (1-1 b. 6)
7) Governing Magazine commentary on government fiscal trends. (I -1b. 7)
c) Notice of a January 17 "Turning Off the Tap to Teens" conference in Mounds
View. (I -1c)
d) Notice of a November 29 forum on human services in the northwest suburbs.
(1--1 d)
2. STAFFREPORTS
a) Report on Suburban Rate Authority quarterly meetings. (I -2a)
a) Youth Advisory Council October 8 meeting. (I -3a)
4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY—CORRESPONDENCE
A summary report on the 2001 correspondence is attached. (1-4)
S. CORRESPONDENCE
a) Letter from Gleason Lake Improvement Association President Lee Keeley praising
the work of Recycling Coordinator Marjorie Vigoren. (1-5a)
b) Letter from Park Director Eric Blank to Donna Tymec, responding to questions
about placing a basketball pad and backstop in a neighborhood park. (I -Sb)
c) Letter from Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt to Anne Dorweiler
responding to comments made by Ms. Dorweiler during the October 23 Plymouth
Forum. (I -Sc)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONMEMO Page 3
October 26, 2001
6. LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
a) Association of Metropolitan Municipalities AMM FAX News. (I --6a)
b) Registration form for the November 16 League of Minnesota Cities Policy
Adoption Conference. (I -6b)
M-1
Tentative Schedule for
City Council Agenda Items
Nov. 13
• Proclaim Housing Week, Nov. 17-24
• Approve Storm Water Incentive Program
• Deny Cavanaugh lot split and variances
• Public Improvement Hearing for improvements to Nathan Lane/Lancaster Lane from
Rockford Road to 45th Avenue
• Set hearing to create TIF District for Stone Creek Village
• Accept National Transportation Grant for Youth Safety Issues
• Consider all -way stop at 47th and Harbor Lane
• Approve On -Sale 3.2 Liquor License for Sam Vadlamudi, d/b/a Coquito's Mexican
Grill, 1115 Vicksburg Lane
Nov. 27
• Appoint individuals to Boards and Commissions
• Assessment hearing for Old Rockford Road/Highway 55 area Sanitary Sewer and
Watermain improvements
• Report on disposition of city -owned homes along County Road 101
Dec. 18
• Adopt 2002 Budgets and Tax Levies
• Public Hearing for amending Tax Increment Financing District No. 7-4 and 7-5A
• Public Hearing for amending Tax Increment Financing District No. 7-6
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
October 2001 A" I D
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
S
6
6:30 PM OPEN
HOUSE N.W.
GREENWAY,
Plymouth Creek
7:00 PM
PLANNING
COMMISSION,
Council Chambers
11:00 AM -1 PM,
EMPLOYEE
ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPO, PI Guth
enter
1:00 PM -5:00
PM
PLYMOUTH ON
Creek (
PARADE
Center
7:00 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS
COMMISSION -
Medicine Lake Room
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
COUNCIL, PUbIIC
5:30 PM SPECIAL
COUNCILMEETING:
CITY MANAGER
EVALUATION, Medicine
7:00 PM EQC,
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PRAC,
Council Chambers
12:00 PM FIRE
DEPARTMENT
OPEN HOUSE,
SafetyyoT�ralning
Lake Room
Fire Station III,
3300 Dunkirk
COLUMBUS DAY
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCILMEETING,
Council Chambers
'
Lane
(OBSERVED),
Public Works
Division closed
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
7:00 PM
PLANNING
7:00 PM HRA -
Medicine Lake
COMMISSION,
Room
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PUBLIC
SAFETY
ADVISORY
BOARD, Police
Dept. Library
21
22
23'
24
13
26
27
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
7:30 AM LOCAL
BUSINESS COUNCIL,
Radisson Hotel
7:00 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
5:00 PM - 7:00
PM - PUBLIC
COUNCIL, Public
INFORMATION
Safety Training
MEETING ON
Room
5:30 PM RIBBON
CUTTING 6 TOUR OF
NEW PLYMOUTH
NATHAN LANE
MPROVEMENTS
TRANSIT FEATURES
Lunch Room
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCILMEETING.
Council Chambers
28
29
30
31
Sep 2001 Nov 2001
DAYLIGHT
7:00 PM JOINT
6:30 PM
8:00 AM -NOON
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
SAVINGS ENDS-
COUNCIL
VOLUNTEER
PBEP
set clocks back 1
hour
MEETING:
RECOGNITION
BUSINESS
1 1 2 3
PLYMOUTH
EVENT,
Plymouth Creek
STORM WATER
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
AND MAPLE
GROVE,
Center
MANAGEMENT
WORKSHOP,
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Plymouth Creek
I
Plymouth Creek
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 19 20 ,21 22 23 24
Center
Center
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 � 28 29 30
i
30
modified on 10/26/2001
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
November 2001
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
Oct2001 Dec 2001
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S7:00
PM
CHOCOLATE
1 2 3 4 5 6 1
SAMPLER, Plymouth
Creek Center
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
7:00 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS
28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
COMMISSION -
30 31
Medicine Lake Room
4
S
6
7
8
9
10
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
7:00 PM
PLANNING
COUNCIL, Public
COMMISSION,
SafetyTrainingCouncil
Chambers
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
VETERANS
DAY
5:30 PM SPECIAL
COUNCIL MEETING:
TRAIN WHISTLE
7:00 PM EQC,
CDUnCilChambefS
7.00 PM CHARTER
COMMISSIONANNUAL
MEETING, Pb" safety
(OBSERVED),
ORDINANCE,
TnNIna Room
City Offices
Employee Lunch Room
Closed
7m HRA• Median.
Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETING,
7:00 PM PRAC, Counal
Chamben
Council Chambers
7 PM PUBLIC SAFETY
ADVV ISORY BOARD, Ponce
Dept Lb ,y
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
7:DOPMSPECIAL CITY
COUNCLCLMEAETING:
THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY -City
THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY - City
COUNCIL, Public
IMPROVEMENTS
Center Offices
Center Offices
Safely Training
PROGRAM, Plymouth
Closed
Closed
00171
Creek Center
25
26
.27
28
29
30
7:00 PM
SPECIAL
COUNCIL
7:30 AM LOCAL
BUSINESS
COUNCIL, Radisson
Hotel
6:00 PM MET
COUNCIL -
PUBLIC MEETING
MEETING:
ON ELM CREEK
INTERCEPTOR,
Interview Board
& Commission
7:00 PM REGULAR
Council Chambers
Candidates,COUNCIL
ME
ETINGPlymouth
Creek
Chambersunctl
Center
7:00 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
modified on 10/26/2001
OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS
December 2001
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday
Nov 2001 Jan 2002
1
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
25 26 27 28 29 30 27 28 29 30 31
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
COUNCIL, Public
Safety Training
Room
7:00 PM
PLANNING
COMMISSION,
Council Chambers
7:00 PM HUMAN
RIGHTS
COMMISSION -
Medicine Lake
Room
i
9
10
11
12
13
14
IS
Chanukkah
begins at sunset
7:00 PM EQC,
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PRAC,
Council Chambers
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
7:00 PM YOUTH
ADVISORY
COUNCIL, Public
Safety Training
Room
7:00 PM REGULAR
COUNCIL
MEETING, Council
Chambers
7:00 PM
PLANNING
COMMISSION,
Council Chambers
7:00 PM HRA -
Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM PUBLIC
SAFETY ADVISORY
BOARD, Police Dept.
Library
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
-
CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY - City
Offices closed
7:00 PM PACT -
Bass Lake Room
30
31
modified on 10/26/2001
News Release
PLYMOUTH-
For Immediate Release Contact:
October 23, 2001 Nancy Bye, 763-509-5351
Homestead Filing Deadline is Dec. 17
If you are a new homeowner or qualifying relative of a homeowner, make sure you don't miss
an opportunity to save money on your property taxes. Be sure to file for homestead classification by
Dec. 17.
You must occupy the home by Dec. 1, 2001 to be eligible for the homestead tax credit for taxes
payable in 2002. The homestead status on your home will stay in effect as long as you own/occupy the
home. To qualify for a homestead tax credit, you must meet all of the following requirements.
• You must be one of the owners of the property, or be a qualifying relative of at least one of
the owners. To be a qualifying relative, you must be the owner's child, daughter/son-in-law,
stepchild, parent, parent -in-law, stepparent, grandchild, grandparent, grandparent -in-law,
sibling, sister/brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew.
• You or your qualifying relative must occupy the home as a primary residence; and
• You must be a Minnesota resident. (If the property is the primary residence of a qualifying
relative of the owner, the owner does not need to live in Minnesota.)
Only new owners/occupants must file for homestead. Homeowners who have filed for
homestead previously and have not moved, sold or rented their residents remain on record as
homesteaded.
To file for homestead, bring a copy of your warranty deed or contract for deed and the social
security numbers of all owners to the Assessing Division at City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Hours are
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.
For more information, call 763-509-5350.
-30-
PLYMOUTH A Beautifu[Place % Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
®pwW-*W� www.d.plymouth.mn.us
News Release
For Immediate Release
October 26, 2001
PCITVF
PLYMOUTF+
Contact:
Sandy Paulson, 763.509.5080
City of Plymouth seeking applicants for a variety of commission seats
If you want to address issues that are important to you and make a valuable contribution to your
community, apply to serve on a citizen advisory board, commission or committee. Several groups advise the
City Council on a variety of issues. Applications will be accepted until Tues., Nov. 20. The City Council will
make appointments later this year for terms beginning in early 2002.
The following lists boards, which will have openings, as well as the times they typically meet.
Environmental Quality Committee (EQC): Second Wednesday of month, 7p.m. The EQC makes
recommendations to the City Council on a variety of environmental issues.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA): Third Thursday of month, 7p.m. The HRA works
with the City's housing and community development programs, administers federal, state, and local grants for
housing programs and manages a residential apartment building for seniors.
Human Rights Commission (HRC): First Thursday, 7p.m. The HRC advises the City Council on
human rights issues, provides education on human rights and offers mediation services for human rights
problems.
Park and Recreation Advisory Commission (FRAC): Second Thursday, 7p.m. PRAC oversees plans
and proposals for the City's park system and recreation programs.
Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT): Fourth Wednesday, 7p.m. PACT advises the
City Council on issues concerning public transit services operated by the City of Plymouth. These services
include Plymouth Metrolink (a commuter/reverse commuter service between Plymouth and downtown
Minneapolis), Dial -A -Ride (a shared, curb -to -curb service), and the Plymouth Flyer (a shared curb -to -curb
service for seniors and people with disabilities).
Planning Commission: First and Third Wednesday, 7p.m. The Planning Commission reviews land
development applications to ensure they conform to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
Public Safety Advisory Board: Third Thursday, 7p.m. The board works on issues related to
community education, crime and fire prevention, chemical health and other public safety topics.
The City Council also will appoint a citizen to serve on the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council's
(NHHSC) Advisory Commission. NHHSC works on human services planning for northwest Hennepin County.
For an application, call Sandy Paulson at 763-509-5080 or download an application from the City web
site at www.ci.plymouth.mn.us.
PLYMOUTH A Beaurifu(Pface To Linc
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEFHONE (763) 509-5000
www.d.plymouth.mn.us
what the future might hold.
We getup, go to work dr
school, worship or not wor-
ship, watch TV, attend movies
and concerts, go out to dinner.
Because we are so far from
ground zero, most of us are
getting on with our lives
pretty much the way we did
before the terrorist attacks.
I was 2 years old when Pearl
Harbor was attacked. Of
course I don't remember any-
thing about it Yet thafs an-
other date marking a dividing
line between everything that
went before it and everything
that came after. Everything
changed, every adult undoubt-
edly knew it had, and there
was considerabld uncertainty
about the future.
Three weeks later, though,
they held Christmas for about
the 1,941st time, give or take a
few years and a couple of ways
offrguring calendars.
This column today is by
way of stating that not a single
2 -year-old understands the sig-
nificance of the events of Sept
11, or even knows it happened.
They are busy getting ready
for the "terrible twos." The
same holds true, of course, for
everyone younger than 2, and
on up the years through age 5
or 6 — ages when kids are not
particularly concerned with
the world situation but with a
fat guy in a red suit named
Santa Claus.
I was 5 when they dropped
the atomic bombs on Hiro-
shima and Nagasaki. I remem-
ber it, just as I'm sure today's
kindergarten -age children will
have some memory of the ter-
rorist attacks of Sept 11. Big
explosions get your attention
at 5, but not in any way that
would interfere with your
Christmas hopes. That was
August 1945, and a few months
later came one of the merriest
Christmases in a long time.
World War II had ended.
So they marked the holidays
for the 1,945th time, some
happy to have loved ones back
home safe, others sad about
those who didn't return, yet
secure in the knowledge that
nothing as bad as World War
II would ever happen again.
Never.
Yet bad things did happen
again, and it didn't take long
Korea five years later, Viet-
nam starting a decade after
Korea ended. Never on home
soil, though. That makes this
one different
Still, if you livelong enough,
you do experience a lot of his-
tory, mostly bad stuff viewed
from afar, and you accumulate
a lot of Christmases (indulge
me, those friends who do not
observe Christmas). You come
to realize that somehow, how-
ever
owever threatened it seems at
times, our way of life goes on
here.
I'm confident that will re-
main true now, troubled
though our times are. We can't
cancel Christmas, not that
anybody except that Grinch to
end all Gri-nches, Osama bin
Laden, would try.
We owe all those 2 -year-olds,
who haven't a clue what's
going on, the magic that the
holidays can bring into their
lives — and their older broth-
ers and sisters as well.
So I'll take this opportunity
to be the first to wish you a
merry Christmas No. 2,001 or
thereabouts. Oh yeah, and
peace on Earth, good will to
men Almost forgot that
Ta-sk force tours skate park sites
Parrs in nine
neighborhoods
considered
BY CHUCK FREDERICK
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
orgive the Duluthians
in this story for their
emotions.
They just found out
their neighborhood
parks are on a short list of
possible places for a new
public skateboarding fa-
cility. Initial reactions last
week ranged from horror to
surprise to enthusiasm
Young people and city of-
ficials
f-
f cials have been working
nearly 1% years and meet-
ing every month since July
to make a public skate park
a reality. On Monday, the
members of the Parks and
Recreation Skateboard
Task Force and 'others will
load into vans to begin
touring nine potential park
sites in nine neighbor-
hoods. . .
The tour is expected to
wrap up later in the month
and also include a visit to
Snowflake Nordic near the
edge of Rice Lake Town-
ship. Owner George Hov-
land has said he wants to
build a private facility
there for skateboarders, in-
line skaters, bicyclists and
other extreme sports enthu-
siasts.
In addition, a Christian
youth group called Youth
For Christ is working to
create a private skate park.
The nonprofit made a
525,000 down payment last
month on Duluth's Shrine
Auditorium. The final pay-
ment on the $350,000 pur-
chase is due June 1, 2002.
Potential sites being
looked at for a public park
are in Duluth's Park Point,
Lincoln Park/West End,
downtown, Endion, Central
Hillside, Morgan Park,
West Duluth, Piedmont
Heights and Duluth Heights
neighborhoods.
Task force members will
rank and grade each site
during • their tour so they
can narrow the list Crite-
ria include desire for a cen-
tral location, access to bus
lines and availability of tel-
ephones and bathrooms.
They hope' to recommend
a site to city administrators
next month. After that
they71 tackle' other issues
and make other recommen.
dations on things such as
what equipment the new
park should have, what its
hours should be, how its
construction will be paid
for and more.
We already know we're
going to run into NIMBY -
ism with some of these
sites,' said Parks and Rec-
reation Director Carl See-
hus, referring to opposition
that rallies around a cry of
Not In My Back Yard."
"We know a couple of the
sites would be ideal. But we
also know well have strong
opposition from neighbors;"
Seehus said. "Still, narrow-
ing our list and evaluating
all the l4enlial sitrti is an
JUSTIN HAYWORTH I NEWS TRIBUNE
Josh Skrove, 19, of Duluth, works on a flip move at the top of a ramp in the Cloquet
skate park Thursday afternoon. Skrove said he sometimes travels to Cloquet for skat-
ing variety. Skate parks help keep teens off the street and out of trouble, he said.
Skate parks popular in Northland
BY SCOTT THISTLE
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
CLOQUET — For Ryan
Kobes, 13, the old tennis court
that the city has converted
into a skate park makes life a
little easier and a lot more
fun.
After all, Kobes and the
dozen or so other teens who
have congregated on a sunny
fall day to practice their flip -
kicks, 5M and other skate-
board tricks are off the street
They're not riding up and
off the side of somebody's
park bench or trying to do a
rail -slide down a stairway
banister. They are also not
competing with oncoming
traffic — all good things, say
skate park advocates.
"It's better than the streets
because of the ramps," said
Kobes.
The Cloquet park, recently
improved with some new
ramps, is a popular spot with
the city's teens.
On a good day, 40 or more
will gather after school and
stay until dark, said Eric
Baublitz,16.
"It's better because we
have a place to go and the
cops don't write you up for
See PARKS, Page 2B
Proposed
DULUTH HEIGHTS
CENTRALHILLSIDE EHDIOHRECREATIONCENTER
SKATE PARK
COMMUNITY
CENTER
COMMUNITY CENTER 1602ESecond St.
12 E. Fourth SL
SITES
33 W. Mulberry SL
' and First Street
—T-
PARK POINT
DMONTHEIGHTS
IMUNITY CENTER
t *'•.!' •^ y SKATEPARK
!� w•''
2 W. 23rd St
NEAR DEPOT
520 W. Superior St. J
ENECREEKPARK
63rdAvenue
West and
MID•IOWNEPARK
20th Avenue West
Bristol Street
' and First Street
PARK POINT
GOODFELLOWSHIP RECREATION CENTER
COHMUNITYCEHTER 5000MnnesotaAve.
,.� 1242 QOIh Avo. W.
DEREK NEAS 11'E
Summit School in De
used to be a care faci
emotionally troubled
Former residents Ros
Sundin and Mickie T
are making a documc
film about the buildil
Pair mak
film abou
troubled
teen gir
BY CHRIS HAVENS
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
There's an old man
ting at the top of Eigl
nue East in Duluth.
It has a brick facade
on the porch and a bi
foundation. Walk or
porch, and it smells lik
school. Three crosses a
to the cornets and pea
facade, reminders of
when the building was
Catholic nuns.
Today the building
mit School. But more
years ago, it was a bri
in the shadowy lives of
Sundin and Mickie '.
was Carmel Heights,
for emotionally troubl
age girls.
Sundin and Turk
Duluth this weekend.
and filming the build:
served as their safe
from a childhood of :
from abuse they f
home. They both lived
1966.
The pat is workir.
documentary that the
will expose the public
realities of how the
justice system works If
It's called "Wayward
after the girls who fir
selves running away,:
the streets and runnin
chances. Sundin and 1
delving into their owi,
document their expert•
get today's perspecti�
are talking with some
wayward girls.
"We're trying to br.
gap between what th
workers know and µ
general public knows,"
said.
Sundin and Turk, be
the Twin Cities, say gf
nut away are often tri
criminals. when in it.
sl;maw, the girls are '-
I
I
0
0
N
V'
i.
O
a
AI H�°� z og
rc� —4
CA . g �
.n g��
,- �
g ° .
U
,•may 'rs �5 � A A CPS
w� yxg
SC,
azo g'°' '�txo gA� �
�01 10 0 o
�440
o P,-0 Z>�o
a3 1� M-.�Wu)
s� o a G4 ,o « S pq : sa
y. as x '=s m k iM
fscol
y, E- cd ° O
9a o� ���
y §
CL) cis E 5 w (1)
aoai ago 0 ., .n
16
to to 4
wW � 1'��'Ui
8 Lou 3 � ''CS F�• A 0 0 C1 O
co W U cn Oo � a>'c� w A
u
Z l'i ;g A Q,,
yv ani voi a�'i , s W w'�U . ;C's
14 al:r�l
20
d
�V
HA � � w lo g441S �
ya
1v A f�N�'�'+'-1. ° °o+ is
x°�
• _ ` a) 'O '~'
Pi
=I''C ti .fl R/9
.00
41 o
oxo `�`"404 0•
gz CD WR
k;b ID 0 r944
2
2�� N .O 2 MOn O�Op
foo'c�U0. �°'�xpw'ozsco .41 O�iA�
:>_.' � d •"' d
0, 0, y ° eA � c3 '04c� aa.� o U .c
voice ani y()1 �� o cd a� �+� 0 ° o
oa)0o. `"pqo �s,'ts
M Q34
C.,cn '� + W U o
� °-2$ a
mow' ao°ani � n co 05
Q o 6 a�
.�
ct<,tj °�°p o per• $ ya
�4 Off
�
In �z MIA
a��.� ��40. ��y� ��� o
'LS
O �� N C'OJ C6 Fr '°i ° a) O O
toNx�'''$aioy,��=.cF�'tr�'.0ocl
3 z
0
z� too- gbn oPn 7g
ds~
z
® ® CODwW to 83
o0010
a-i�� o `v ai aa' v 1 v o
V1 f-, • GQ N "'" .� 'O pp cz U
�•,cct ,Fy • .O a)
60 CC�,� O �'., N c0 .O S� 'O oA C..) 0
CC +3 Cn 'CSO Cl){ Orr O O V! ' N 40 �" fNi 4i c� A C) O m
COD Aa)o0 yOROv�aiON 0.+.r7aC)J� 0��3
l=S► I .�'i r3 v Zf --s A ' c'�i 0 xJ GD"� 0
ulr
d'ered
s for
s and
.a5
ear.
offer
i_e to
hso-
was
each
iewly
will
-)f the
;uard
filling
said
tokes-
help-
i. vet-
rrity
cen-
t.
been
3 Air
make
take
can't
It
IN
2ities
iatur-
rcrica
inked
paper
L doc-
:vesti-
s or
mall
e pos.
ijack
eged
sney
Sears
speci-
also
d.
V en-
Icials
PARKS
Teens, police
happy with
slating areas
Flom Page 1B
being in the street" Baublitz
said.
Since it was built. the park
has been the source of rela-
tively few problems, said Bob
\orrgard, the city's clerk of
the Park Board. "For as much
as they use it you are bound
to have a few minor com-
plaints." he said. -
"Garbage and broken bot-
ties
otties are the biggest headaches,
but there are no lights, so
when it gets dark they are out
of there."
Several other Northland cit-
ies
ities have also built skate parks
or are contemplating building
thein. Here's a look at how
those parks have been re-
ceived and what's planted for
the future:
TWO HARBORS
For two weeks last summer,
Two Harbors police otFcers
"shagged riders out of the
downtown" and directed them
to a temporary skate park
built inside one of the city's
two ice rinks behind the
county arena, said City Coun-
cilor Jon Jacoby.
The city set up the park to
judge interest and to see if it
would help keep riders out of
downtown parking lots where
conflicts with traffic and busi-
ness are inevitable, Jacoby
said.
Well's Fargo Bank, Lake
B:ut1: and Two Harbors Fed-
eral Credit Union contributed
5500 each to the temporary
park project
"Tire idea was to get them
off the streets and parking
lots so we can control it a
little better," Jacoby said.
The temporary park
worked so well that the City
Council agreed to budget
S18,000 for a permanent park
� �� � _ .. -" „l it •�
JUSTIN HAYWORTH 1 NEWS TRr6UNE
Joe Witz,15, of Cloquet, practices his moves on a ramp in the city's skate park near Wentworth Park as Ryan Kobes,
13, also of Cloquet, watches in the background. On nice days, as many as 40 youth will show up after school to skate
until dark at the park, Witz said.
that will be built in the
spring, Jacoby said.
Because the ice rinks have
lighting, the park will be able
to stay open after dark in the
spring and the fall, he said.
HERMANTOWN
Hermantown's skateboard
park has been open for nearly
two years, said Brad Tats, a
city councilor and Park Board
member. The park was cre•
ated near the city hall and
baseball fields on park land
on the corner of Maple Grove
and Ugstad roads.
Five or six young people got
the park going when they
went before the City Council
and asked for a park, Tafs
said. "So far things have
worked out great, and it gets a
lot of use," Tafs said.
Mostly away from residen-
tial areas, the park has seen
few problems, said the Her-
mantown Police Department's
Lt Rick Kay.
"It's just so rural out here
we weren't seeing those kinds
of complaints," Kay said.
"And the park hasn't created
any real problems for a police
standpoint"
SUPERIOR
The Superior Skate Park in
Heritage Park has received
mixed reviews from neigh-
bors. Some say the new park
has created more noise and
trash than they are used to,
but others said the park gives
young people a place to go
and help keeps them off the
street and out of trouble.
The park was created by
Superior, A Community for
Youth, an organization that
5
works to improve the quality
of life for young people in the
city. The organization was re-
cently honored with a $.5,000
Touchstone Award ikom the
Duluth -Superior Community
Foundation because of its
ability to build connections
between people and grow the
city's social capital. Because
the park is on the regular po-
lice patrol route, officers have
regular contact with the rid-
ers there, Police Chief J.
Mark Diamond said.
CARLTON AND PROCTOR
The city councils in both
Proctor and Carlton have
been approached by youth to
build skate parks.
Carlton was asked if the
city had any land available
for a park and referred the
teens to the local school dis-
trict, said City Clerk-Trea-
surer Lynn Habhegger.
More than 100 signatures
were collected on a petition,
she said.
There's been no formal
complaints about skaters on
the streets, "but you do hear
some rumblings;' Habhegger
said.
While the city doesn't have
any land immediately avail-
able for a park, she said the
council is receptive.
In Proctor, teens there are
on the City Council's agenda
for Monday, where they will
present their idea for a skate
park in that city.
I
SCOTT THISTLE covers community
growth in the Northland He
can be reached weekdays by
calling (218) 723.5312 or by e-
mail at sthistle@duluthnew-
s.com.
Im. nnol is }n net the fJM11-
*w
41
1 ,
est 7 � J A SPECIAL SPONSORED, SECTION O,F/ THE FORD FOUIVDAT�IOlIV +`
�`rr"Car r p z �._, t
r' f rBhsY a
,y,�� t4 •j,� 1 �r.,f *
Mint �+' � �'.'�•.i� Ix,r e" 7., r ti-`i,e t t+,,+ 't it.r ��' � -r- y y
a �n�t /' t.�znc . r •. r� ,,
�#i ��'`.%'���L�m
r ,� � t MYt �C4 i '� .r,s , Gn5 2.f }tl ,n'z"� ..3ti l s �, �f or t f L, Ar{f.S d L � •• Y
ec tif".}+r1T� {� r ���,, "•v �, J Y, 4. Y yt�• �h .r •' t '� .Y ?i v t
' tz 1 4 w j ' Zq ; -•t a �.. -`,» L' t t ? t : t �,
�.A iv�*�f
r
, 3
� h
,
t
� r
c
�• a kik s+�y _.
, _ r. �� t � - , - • a ''"�` `' . Ll�le� Y :rte
• f
'i
.' rr
',�a
{ ,
t
•
try>rf^V,� ��.5'e- ;r +..� rt 4f} ,, i t :i •t - �`:,N.
��'{�+r +."�'k ., '"'�. t}, •..'�'�"�TC'yiY'S-r rr•,� , - yr __ r. ,•f r - � •
t;r r��rc AJLtTIONS TO PUBLIC CONCERNS`' TJ
�� tl^:.i� 1 .y�F,::�•Srr--> t �-t rSa•> ��{,�` ':.:. Y• ^ e'r.Y E < -
4
,
,r
e jj •f �'
• ff
1 />• e� r. � � r � �, 1; t , i. tit#;� a.rrti,�c�°=rti (11'r ->�i�,
.fir �'�' •17,-' ,, E: �h rJs i.S f 1 . \at +f`T `a}
•� j3,�,n'r , „n:� iliJ' ,'�'�. y rv`�v a� b��,2'�j r., Va
� �v, s � •t r � f
I-N=AN
encan
�J y .
v t z tit {
��l Ht ttic''` t� y �+� v, {f`t ! r = fi ,' ` +�'frvi� E � ';�'C;�,�••� Z.r" r:�ji � �.i � Y, •N'� r,yr#
�.., v rr t 1.w' z .rc �..:�" � • ��4t[.1f 4!f 1 1 1 1 1
r 4 .,T �`< Fes', 1 ��, �� �?Y�� 11,�? lJ��l��r".:•� � � =+ti _u�- � ��'i•'h .
( tt 3 r Y,+ t�,! '3� oz� it 1 -:f �•'���,U.�Frt�•F+�.SS"e.Sf �'�' .X
a1
;'i tKwf� zir aY
a , ,- f 3 i t ' r# :• i {- .s•- •C. � t E rr3 �. a ;�� t r •+j'- ,j�"4' � E
_•S; r:�ti3.+>•'w z;l i��;'t a:F S•;'�{, .Y ii-� .' i Hr't�,'"` _ { F•Y^ _
'.1,:i4'; 4:k KT4•dF-: .r �,...; _F, � �. x.',�i'Y i : �: : �• t c� .. �•ri _ Scw��fl. �j :1'Y �,Yt�t'y�*k yty �nt`�•� rA��jt� `r � c
•Putting Back.io u li
c Housing
Changing the Culture from Stagnation to Inspiration
HOPE VI MIXED -FINANCE PUBLIC HOUSING
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
' URBAN DEVELOPMENT
n order to broaden housing policy's overall
m impact on the economic health of urban neigh-
borhoods and their residents, the U.S. Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development has
taken a new tack when it comes to inner-city
investing. Through its HOPE VI program, the depart-
ment
epartment is using public housing money to leverage pri-
vate investment in New Urbanist -style, lower -density
development that includes market -rate housing and
even commercial projects.
The idea, according to HUD officials, is to "break
A the monoculture" of traditional public housirig, which
mostly involved warehousing poor families living on
public assistance. By opening
the housing field to 'mixed-
use
ixed-use development and mixed -
income housing, HUD offi-
cials believe that public
housing will become an
inspirational and transi-
tional avenue for those who
want to move to self-suf$-
k. ciency. And by encouraging
private development to
enter the mix, HUD argues
1 that federal money can act
as a much more powerful
' magnet for inner-city
investing. Since the pro-
gram's launch in 1993,
HUD reports that $4 bil-
lion in federal money
already has attracted
$6.7 billion in private
Y investment, money that has gone into everything from
refurbishing local factories to building multi -million -
dollar magnet schools.
The impact on residents of public housing has
been profound, HUD officials report. In the seven-year
life of the program, nearly 3,500 public housing resi-
dents have left welfare and more than 6,500 have
found jobs. After a HOPE VI revitalization of Hillside
Terrace in Milwaukee, for example, the percentage of
families with earnings from work increased from 30
percent to 70 percent.
While it is clear that welfare reform in general has
affected those numbers, it also is clear that a new day
has arrived when it comes to public housing. Rather
than isolating the poorest urban residents in stand-
alone high-rise enclaves, the new approach to public
housing is opening the door to more -enriched lives.
"When they finally knocked Valley Green down, I
could actually see the sky," says Jacqueline Massey of
Washington, D.C.; whose distressed public housing
development project was demolished in 1997. "I
couldn't believe we had trapped ourselves in this
block of pain." In 1997 Ms. Massey received a HOPE
VI grant that allowed her to purchase her own home
on the same site, in an urban village -style develop-
ment that rose from the rubble of Valley Green.
® For more information: Elinor R. Bacon, deputy
assistant secretary, Oce of Public Housing
Investments, U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 7th St. S.W., Room 4130,
Washington, D.C. 20410; phone: 202-401-8812;
e-mail: Eliiior—R.—Bacon@hud.gov
SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION OF THE FORD FOUNDATION G O V E R N I N G A17
Partnerships ReViVe City Parks -
New York City Enlists Citizens, Neighborhoods and the Private Sector
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PARKS
CITY OF NEW YORK
aced with steadily dwindling maintenance bud-
gets as well as the impressive success of citizen -
led efforts to revive some of New York City's
parks, the New York City Department of Parks
and Recreation five years ago embarked on a
drive to increase citizen, community and private -sec-
tor support for neighborhood parks. Using a mix of
public and private resources including small grants,
technical assistance and community organizing, the
partnerships have engaged thousands of groups in
their park improvement efforts, helping to create
grassroot support and neighborhood advocates for
specific parks.
"The idea is to create a constituency for parks,"
says Timothy Tompkins, director of Partnership for
Parks, in the city's Department of Parks and Recre-
ation. "we're using parks as a focal point to build
political will and social capital."
The partnerships now boast a database of nearly
50,000 park supporters citywide, along with a list of
more. than 3,200 organizations with an interest in
parks. At the same time, the department has been
Al2 GOVERNING
funding hundreds of indiN
ual parks projects, holdinl
workshops on how to cre.-
"friends of the parks" orgy
nizations and offering con.
tinuing technical assistanc
to private groups and citi-
zens interested in working
on park projects. Last year
alone, the.project orga-
nized four major citywide
volunteer events that drew
more than 20,000 partici-
pants to more than 200
sites for parks -enrichment
work.
Among the rediscov-
ered jewels in the effort
has been the Bronx River
Park, which officials
describe as an "untapped ana unmown resource
that runs 8 miles through the heart of the Bronx." In
1998 the partnerships won a $182,000 federal grant
that has been used to build a constituency to support
its revitalization. This has led to 25 volunteer restora-
tion projects, canoe tours, a four-color map of the
park and a river festival.
® For more information: Timothy Tompkins, director,
Partnerships for Parks, City of New York Department of
Parks and Recreation, 830 Fifth Ave., Room 310,
New York, New York 10021; phone: 212-360-1310;
e-mail: sailfish@parklan.cn.ci.nyc.ny.us
SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION OF THE FORD FOUNDATION
M
4,
Smart Growth Stalls Sprawl
Maryland Refuses to Fund Infrastructure Outside Growth Centers
SMART GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION
STATE OF MARYLAND
prawl was emptying out our cities, paving over
farmlands and forests, and weakening our com-
munities," says Maryland Lieutenant Governor
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
In order to battle sprawl, Maryland has
implemented the nation's first statewide program
using the state budget as an incentive tool to influence
where new growth will occur. Governor Parris Glen-
dening's goal is to change the bottom line for develop-
ment decisions by making it less costly to build in
designated growth areas and more expensive to build
outside those areas. In fact, the state has cut off finan-
cial assistance for all building and infrastructure out-
�;de designated growth cen-
rs, called "priority funding
-eas," in an effort to protect
trm and forest land from
eing devoured by sprawl
Ievelopment.
In the wake of the new
?olicy, five proposed high-
way bypass projects that
would have cost $360 mil-
lion were pulled from the
state transportation bud-
get. Instead, $1.5 million
in planning funds for the
five projects was set aside
to help the affected com-
munities come up with
alternative plans for deal-
ing with traffic without
encouraging sprawl.
Meanwhile, 84 percent
of state school construction funds is now going to ren-
ovation, expansion or replacement of school buildings
in older communities, up from 43 percent five years
ago. As a result of the Smart Growth initiative, state
officials argue, Maryland's 23 counties have developed
specific plans for how and where they intend to use
SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION OF THE FORD FOUNDATION
future state funds—in essence moving toward the cre-
ation of•a locally designed statewide land -use plan.
Maryland isn't relying solely on subsidy incentives
(and disincentives) to promote in -fill development and
preserve open space, however. Using a more tradi-
tional open -space preservation tactic, the state is
working with local governments to identify the best
large tracts of undeveloped land in the state and mov-
ing aggressively to purchase development rights on
this valuable open space through the new Rural
Legacy Program. Already, this program has designated
47,000 acres for permanent protection, putting Mary-
land almost a quarter of the way toward its goal of set-
ting aside 200,000 acres of the state's most valuable
natural resources by the year 2011.
® For more information: John W Frece, special assis-
tant for Smart Growth, Office of the Governor, Depart-
ment of Natural Resources, Tawes State Office Building,
580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, Maryland 21401; phone:
410-260-8112; e-mail:ffrece@dnrstate.md.us
GOVERNING A9
9
Wooing Riders to Alternative iraosit
wnq County Persuades Drivers, empiov«, to arae Along
METRO COMMUTE PARTNERSHIPS
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
faced with a burgeoning rush hour and growing
concerns over air quality in the Seattle area, King
County MetroTransit has for the last decade
been working with local businesses on aggressive
incentive -based programs aimed at getting Seat-
tle commuters out of their cars and into alternative
forms of transportation. Local and state laws to reduce
-the number of commuter trips each day supported
these efforts.
In 1996 the county began funding "commute part-
nerships" aimed at stimulating—rather than regulat-
ing—a new approach to commuting. Using public
transit money, the county is leveraging private invest-
ment in alternative commuting strategies by joining
with employers and other
organizations. The state of
Washington assists by offer-
. =I ing tax credits to Yo emP ters
that subsidize alternative •
transit, including carpooling
and vanpooling. The
county's attractive transit
d` pricing programs are avail-
able to participating busi-
nesses'
usinesses' employees.
r; "We shifted our whole
approach from `transporta-
tion' agency to `mobility'
agency," says Bill Roach,
. who markets the partner-
ships for the King County
Department of Trans-
portation.
3' One of the more cre-
ative and effective efforts
has been Metro's F1exPass, whereby employers pay
Metro for a year's worth of trips for current bus -riding
employees, in return for which Metro offers free,
unlimited access to bus travel for all the company's
employees. Metro Transit's bet pays off as new, ulti-
mately, fare -paying riders are lured into the system.
Transit use among participating companies grew 90
percent in the first year of FlexPass. And to assuage
the fears of those who might worry about getting
home quickly when a child gets sick or an employee
has to work late, Metro has established a "home free
guarantee," which provides a cab ride home for alter-
native transit commuters in such situations.
To date, more than 425 King County employers
have signed on to the program. Participants' collective
transit, vanpool and carpool ridership has increased
from around 4.8 million in 1997 to more than 6.7
million last year. Of particular interest, the program
has made significant inroads into such car -oriented
communities as nearby Bellevue, where use at down-
town companies rose from 13 percent in 1993 to 18
percent last year, while lone commuters fell from 81
percent in 1990 to 57 percent. Success with employ-
ers has enabled Metro to begin partnering with social
service agencies for welfare -to -work transportation
and, more recently, with a private company to intro-
duce car sharing to the Seattle market.
® For more information: William T. Roach, market
development supervisor, Department of Transportation,
Transit Division, 400 Yesler Way, YES -TR -0600, Seattle,
Washington 98104; phone: 206-684-1620; e-mail:
bill.roach@metrokc.gov
SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION OF THE FORD FOUNDATION
GOVERNING A15
L;
e
7
N
C
E
L
YW
J
T a b C +O•+ N TOr FOi C3 . ""' i0i �Oi C: O O "C7 CS O 1 w 1 1 .Ly O :r -ice
V1 ++ O m by d ctf 1
�qy a�b•Coo�ai o Ncdcd� 0.gaDvoio yi��b ^��qpr~•�
d q o .o Sy W o d ai.�, a� U O o Z7
aa.�.... o o�3
J E o q x v N o O N �; q m CF- •l•+ .. o cu >
{tonw O m C7 .,. y m • , cd +; cl, b0 bD ' o cd ,— 0 rn q
\ocd rIo ocawcaca.—. m ^'qac Ods �a�r~o0�ON'bnrn
bD q cd
%�_ a•�y °'
Cd
+•�' �/ +ss:.� - +-04yfO�)ti ' ••.CQq•0U.L•,�„+�caqcad�).1 ��ca-�ONc,d, a^Abr"n' 1�+ywac�.�d��.,,.xoWc-.'�1 ��`-qiqr,Q�.' ••NG'-0yc�•a+•1,+oaaxOa>i�'+Ny��'
+a+�a'+ +� i 'wo'.T.�3uovdiiil' �q'."afes' •'CSO Pwan°a•�1S qam�oo0i 4�v.aa'�)w^0g ' O��
cai 'm Cl
'wz+�o y Oy O - O o cl 0,--. 80 OCtS 4
co
O a) (a 0 4' > +' O OccdC 3' mm m O bq
WCp¢'U v o P'b.M cCIS q
.42o od o w CO CD 'o ai o y cd N o =U' . O 0
m a>a>y�bop01.io
yocq0o o
` CO Cd
qv - d q Uo o,m op,*'
v cd � CO'0o
cd 0' C', >' �.0> 4UUij pbq
41A O v 0od0 q �0 � q
q°o�>aoA+�"—.(D -0 '0
l
ca CD -
°o+oo ��s w QE >�+[ o
.o"(q1)twmrION
:�•
..
a�
•'yam
cd
as
93, 134
4�
`:
U.
•1?. Cd' O W, W.O cs
cz
Cr
RS td :d
O + Q NO v.'aS � ,t
y tr I .� cd;
• 1 1. 1
.y c
I Cd O �'
W b
Oc1l;O
us:.• W
.�Est � vl
i.C'`o, SUOi
�-- �'a C . •
Oic15'.O
a�
•'yam
cd
`:
RS td :d
O + Q NO v.'aS � ,t
y tr I .� cd;
• 1 1. 1
.y c
I Cd O �'
W b
Oc1l;O
us:.• W
.�Est � vl
i.C'`o, SUOi
u':Jl�r/n
Therealv, hazards in remote Net voting
BY DAVID JEFFERSON I SPECIAL TO GCN
Even before last fall's presidential election put the spotlight on the
technical deficiencies of current paper-based voting machines, var-
ious groups were proposing and studying a possible new generation
of voting technology—remote Internet voting systems.
The idea is simple: A voter could study the candidates and issues
online from home, at leisure. Then, when ready to vote, the voter
would connect to a server run by the election agency, type a pass-
word or offer some other authentication, call up the blank ballot,
mark choices and hit the `vote" button to record the ballot.
Voting could be accomplished in two minutes, from home, with
no need to visit a polling place. Those who work away from home,
or happen to be traveling, institutionalized, away at school or in
the military could vote over the Internet from anywhere in the
world.
It is a compelling vision—one that w
the franchise to groups of people w
traditionally faced geographic barrie
voting, and would make voting in
convenient for everyone.
Like Swiss cheese
The idea -sounds attractive and
technically -plausible. Unfortunate-
ly, when it is examined carefully,
several profound security prob-
lems become clear. The security
holes are so severe that an attacker
could easily launch an automated
attack that could prevent thousands
of voters from voting, or could spy on
their votes, or even change their vote
and swing -the results: of -the electi
without ever being detected. Such at
could be launched from anywhere
world, possibly by a foreign governor
a lone individual.
Here is a partial list of the types of attacks that are easily pos-
sible:
Puns attacks: In this scenario the attacker circulates a virus—
infecting PCs by any of a dozen easy means—which does nothing at
all until the voter starts to vote. The virus changes his or her vote,
and erases itself so it cannot be detected later.
Spoofing attacks: Here the voter is tricked, by any number of
means, into `voting" at a fake voting site that looks and acts exact-
ly like the real one. The votes might be just thrown away by the
attacker; but a more sophisticated attack may allow the spoofer to
capture enough authentication information from the voter so that
the attacker can subsequently vote over the Internet in place of
legitimate voters.
Denial -of -service attacks: In these situations the attacker jams
the vote server with so much fake traffic that it becomes overloaded
and cannot receive or process real votes. For the duration of the
attack no votes come through. If the attack takes place during the
last few hours of the election, then any number of voters can be dis-
enfranchised.
System administrator attacks: In. wort -place, college, military
and other institutional situations it is common for system adminis-
trators to install remote control software on all of the computers
they manage. This same legitimate software, however, can also
allow the administrator to electronically spy on votes or even
change them remotely.
Automated vote selling systems: The vote buyer puts up a Web
site—perhaps outside the country—that vote sellers visit. The two
then cooperate, in an automated protocol, so that the buyer helps
the seller vote in the agreed-upon way, and the seller helps the
buyer transfer payment.
These security threats either do not apply at all, or are at least
much more manageable, in pollsite Internet voting,
systems that require voters to go in
o polls controlled by elections officials
,t their Internet ballots.
ut for remote Internet voting—done
•om home or office sites not configured
by election officials—these threats are
quite profound. There is no easy de-
fense against any of them. They do
not represent bugs in any software
that might be fixed by an appropri-
ate patch.
Resistance is futile
Stronger encryption, or voter
authentication or firewalls would
make no difference at all. "Secure"
Annections between the PC and the
to server would not help.
.n virus protection software is of limit -
e, since it can only protect against a
is, and then only da. fix has been con-
st ucrea ana me voter downloads it before voting.
Considering the ease with which virus attacks succeed—
remember the "II.oveYou" virus that penetrated an estimated 10
million computers—chances are good that a large number of votes
can be compromised by a virus attack even under the best of
assumptions.
These problems are not going to be resolved any time soon. How-
ever, with additional research on secure election protocols, and
with the gradual replacement of the current generation of PCs and
Internet infrastructure with hardware designed with better securi-
ty in mind, these problems may be eased or eliminated.
In the meantime, because free and fair elections are a matter of
vital national security in any democracy, we simply have to give up
on remote Internet voting. ■
David Jefferson is a senior mem ber of the resea 7 -ch staff at Compaq
Systems Research r enter in Palo Alto, Calif. He has been research-
ing Interpret rotcng therefor seven years.
Arts Can Help in Healing
By Tom McClimon
October 8, 2001
r.
In one of his first statements as President Bush's nominee for Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Michael Hammond,
Dean of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, said, "The arts can help heal this community."
As mayors move to celebrate October as National Arts and Humanities Month, arts organizations in communities across the
country will be reaching out to bring people together and to help heal the wounds of our recent national tragedies. Americans for
the Arts, the nation's leading arts advocacy organization and a partner of the Conference on arts initiatives, has develop ten
ways for cultural groups to reach -out to their community during National Arts and Humanities Month.
Ten Ways to Promote Healing, Civic Dialogue and Community Building
1. Immediately preceding or following performances at cultural events, performers could lead audience members to join
them in singing a song of unity. Community-based cultural groups will know their audience to determine whether a
patriotic or spiritual song or something else will be the most effective.
2. The arts and humanities can be used as a vehicle to engage the public in meaningful civic dialogue about values we
cherish as a democracy, fears we have individuals, and hopes we have for the future. For specific ideas of how to create
cultural forums for civic dialogue, visit our website at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/Animating Democracy
3. Cultural forums could be created to have animated readings with follow-up audience discussion of important historical
documents and speeches, including the Constitution, and speeches articulating the importance of freedom, tolerance
and unity.
4. Cultural groups and artists could develop projects using drawing, music, dance, drama, writing and photography to
help children express their thoughts and feelings. Those activities can take place during school and afterschool, and at
home. Artists could work directly with children, or in cooperation with PTAs, train teachers and parents how to develop
projects of their own.
5. Cultural groups could assist schools in organizing trips to local historical war monuments and memorials in order to
better educate children about our past and reassure them of our future.
6. Cultural groups could do further outreach to local military bases, veteran groups, elected officials, police and fire
workers and their families to specifically include them in local arts and healing activities.
7. Cultural groups could produce cultural events with specific messages of tolerance and understanding of different
religious and ethnic groups. Art forums could be created involving community members from a variety of backgrounds,
and specifically Muslim -Americans, to discuss cultural traditions, rituals and religious beliefs.
8. Cultural groups could help raise funds and supplies for charities assisting in disaster relief by donating a percentage
of their proceeds from cultural events, providing donated advertising space in Playbills, benefit auctions, and requesting
donations from audience members. Americans for the Arts has created a national fund on its website
wwwAmericansForTheArts.org for disaster relief of New York -based cultural organizations specifically impacted by the
tragedies of September 11, 2001.
9. Cultural groups could invite members of the community to take photographs around themes of love, compassion, fear,
or freedom for public exhibitions. Cultural groups could also engage professional storytellers to work with various groups
within the community to use this wonderful art form to help people talk about their thoughts and emotions.
10. Cultural groups could engage artists and the community in the development of public art ideas around issues of
healing, remembrance, freedom and other topics. Projects such as temporary installations or murals could also include
community participation.
.c Return to Previous Page.
U.S. MAYOR
NEWSPAPER
Every Unit of Affordable Housing Matters
Hope V1 Grant Continues City's Housing Resurgence
By Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino
October 8, 2001
Once again, hope arrived in East Boston's Maverick Square. This time, it was in the form of a $35 million HOPE VI grant from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Here in Boston, we know how to build housing that improves the lives of working families, brings new hope and energy to our
neighborhoods, and makes our city stronger. This grant will allow Boston to revitalize Maverick Gardens and build a total of 446
units of housing that working people, the elderly and the disabled can afford.
Now, more than ever, we need strong partnerships with the federal government and the state in order to build the housing we
need and preserve the housing we have.
We all know that Boston's success has sent the cost of housing through the roof. that's why I spent last Saturday, September 29
attending a number of ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings for a total of 144 units of housing.
I started the day at the Cathedral Development in the South End. We cut the ribbon on 83 units of renovated BHA housing and
celebrated the successes of Boston's new three-year housing strategy. Last October, I announced the new strategy at the
Cathedral development and highlighted our goals to produce 7,500 units, preserve another 10,000 and renovate and fill all of our
vacant BHA housing.
To date, we have renovated more than 500 BHA units including 66 units at the Mary Ellen McCormack development in South
Boston, 40 units at the Bromley -Heath development in Jamaica Plain, and 24 units at Orient Heights in East Boston.
After my stop at Cathedral, I went to Roxbury and Dorchester to help add 48 units of housing.
At the Bird Street Estates, we took a vacant city lot and turned it into seven units of home ownership and one rental unit. And that
project is a success because we worked with our partners in the neighborhood, the developers at Dorchester Bay, New Vision
Community Development Corporation, and our other public/private partners.
We broke ground on the new Sister Clara Muhammed Development. The Fenwick School Building has been vacant since 1990,
and I am proud that it will be transformed into 25 units of housing. And the Fenwick Gardens project will create 15 units of new
construction and will eliminate most of the vacant lots in that part of Magnolia and Alexander streets.
I am proud that the city of Boston was able to help with these projects. Every unit of affordable housing matters. It is hard to
make ends meet when you are trying to give your children what they need, keep a roof over your head, and put food on the
table.
Our last stop was at the old Baker Chocolate factory to present a $500,000 check from the BRA and city of Bostorls housing
funds to support the new artists' lofts at the Walter Baker Administration Building. Most of the buildings have been rehabbed and
brought new energy to the area and it's great news that this vacant building will soon be brought back to life. We have to put our
vacant lots and buildings to use. The rehab will include 13 artists live and workspaces, and art gallery, and two community
meeting spaces. Boston has a thriving arts community in need of affordable housing and workspace. The Baker Building will also
help the Lower Mills neighborhood grow even stronger. When we invest in housing, it has an effect on the rest of the area, and
can spark other investments in local businesses and other vacant buildings.
Boston is always coming up with creative and important steps to deal with the housing issue, and we are making real progress.
We've had over 2,700 housing starts, and more than 1,100 are affordable. We saved more than 2,500 apartments from being
converted to market rate. We have committed $30 million from the sale of the citys surplus property for housing production. We
have an ambitious housing agenda and last week we saw it at work for Boston. It started with the renewed hope in maverick
Square and it's spread to our other neighborhoods. We are bringing new life and new hope to every part of the city. If we keep
working together, I know that we can keep Boston a diverse city that is open and affordable to everyone.
t Return to Previous Page.
U.S. MAYOR
NEWSPAPER
161
JOHN E. PETERSEN
Shelter from the Fiscal Storm
surpluses are disappearing. Tax receipts are fading. Bud-
gets are under pressure. But unlike the ill-fated dot-
coms and debt -laden telecom sector, state and local
governments are not laying off workers and will not be
r closing up shop. Public -sector spending continues to
crank along. State and local governments are momentum
spenders with big payrolls and transfers. They move to fiscal year
rhythms and take time to adjust.
It has been out of fashion to view states and localities in the
aggregate and examine their impact on the overall economy. But
their size and continuity play a significant role in stabilizing
demand in the economy: The state and local sector, along with
consumer spending, posted the only positive growth performance
in the national GDP in the second quarter of this year. In fact,
without the state/local sector's 7 percent growth in spending, the
U.S. economy would have riot grown at all. Overall, total spend-
ing by the 50 states and the thousands of local governments make
up about 12 percent of GDP. About one out of every 10 jobs is
in state and local government, which all together employ about
six times as many persons as the federal government. The $220
billion in annual gross investment spending by this sector is equal
to about 20 percent of all non-residential fixed investment.
The sector's numbers have been significant for the national
economy for years, even though they've been mostly ignored.
That was not always the case. In the late 1960s and early'70s,
federal officials worried that the state and local propensity to raise
taxes and cut spending during recessions went against federal
efforts to revive the economy. In part, that was why the federal
government set up counter -cyclical spending programs. But
these stimulus programs, which were rolled out in the early
1970s, were often too slow-moving to have the intended impact:
By the time the money from Washington got spent, the recession
was over. Instead of reviving the economy, the new dollars added
to demand and fueled inflation.
For the past three decades or so, the state and local sector's
trends, primarily because of the sticky nature of the property
tax: Assessed values tend to change slowly and with a consider-
able lag.
But they are not immune to the vagaries of the economy. In
the early 1980s and again in the '90s, states balanced their bud-
gets by significantly reducing aid to localities and, faced with
declining property values, the latter raised tax rates and chopped
programs. The relatively brief recession of the early 1990s proved
particularly harsh for local governments because of the extended
slump in property values, which
haunted many well into mid -
decade.
If the rainy days continue
and recession takes hold, how
will the sector fare this time?
There'll be no help in the form
of federal aid. New intergov-
emmental assistance, much less
any predicated on fighting
recession, is no longer on any-
body's agenda.
The more pertinent concern
is how long the stash of rainy
day funds—some of which
have already been taker. down
this past fiscal year—and assorted other fund balances can shel-
ter spending. In view of the greater elasticity in the revenue sys-
tems, it is unlikely that the funds on hand w ll put much of a dent
in budget shortfalls if there is a serious slump lasting more than
a couple of quarters. In the double -dip recessions of 1980 and
1981, states in the aggregate did run slight deficits, and they
almost did again in the brief swoon of 19910.-91.
But there is a:.remaining question that is seldom addressed.
That is, should states and localities do their own counter -cyclical
spending in the face of declining revenues? Is this a time to keep
spending up and, a need be, borrow to
This may be a time for states and localities finance it? That case can be made—not out
of patriotic valor or self-indulgent profligacy
but in terms of simple self-interest. States and
localities, in short, are in a superior position
to take advantage of soft markets and flag-
ging demand.
The best target for homegrown counter -cyclical spending is
public works. The construction industry, which is peculiarly sub-.
ject to cycles, has been buoyed by housing demand that won't
last forever. Nobody caiL borrow more ch`aply than state and
local governments and interest rates are attractive. Unlike con-
sumers and industry, most governments enjoy low debt burdens
and credit ratings that are the highest ever. Contracts let and
bonds sold in the belly of a recession can mean doing well is not
inconsistent with doing good. p
to keep spending up and, if need be,
to borrow money to finance new projects.
finances have continued to more or less track the rest of the
economy. In recent years, however, the sensitivity of state and
local revenues to economic conditions has increased. That's
because the states have narrowed their tax bases and become
reliant on elastic revenues such as the personal -income tax.
Localities, on the other hand, react more slowly to national
John E. Petersen can be reached at Government Finance Group/ARD
in Arlington, Virginia; &@compuserve.com
62 GOVERNING October2001 Governing.com
2829 vemdale Avenue
MN 5530
Anoka3rk',
oar , ....... .
60ior
` !�
V".• iI
CITY MANAGER DWIGHT JOHN50�`T--� • �"�
PLYMOUTH CITY OFFICES
3400 PLYMOUTH BLVD
PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
1
. ( (♦
COM®
C O A L I T I O N
Action on Alcohol
and Teens
ui
rk��r
........ ..lowOV
Shue pto
teens
010 am,*
A sunidtb.
u9ithdigesh0PorWn tec
es
wodpo-ng a; 'ge-
e
ge
etcychn;�...;.
i
throng
WHERE•'sVieW enter
Mound munItY nve
con EdgeWpO MN
II:
Mounds V►ef 'stion7 5310
For more i hl T63.�2 110
or9•
Tanya ad Pahl@chU a and
or art' fronu, to follow!
G°n tion to
registry
15 Cities
. 27 Community Dialogues
IF 252 Participants '
5 Top Regional human Services Needs Ident�fied
They spoke. We listened.
How'can you influence the future?
4 r `
1
4 •
WHEN: • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2001.
.7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
WHERE: MAPLE GROVE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND PUBLIC
SAFETY FACILITY
12800 ARBOR LAKES: PARKWAY. MAPLE GROVE
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER CONFERENCE
ROOM
PLEASE SEE ENCLOSED DIRECTIONS
PLEASE RSVP BY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID
POSTCARD. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR CITY,
PLEASE SEND AN ALTERNATE IN YbUR PLACE.
REGARDING THE TOP PRIORITIES, BE PREPARED TO SHARE
• INITIATIVES YOU ARE AWARE OF
• INITIATIVES YOU /..,RE PLANNING '
i
9
Dfrect%ovts to the MAul.e !=rove etoyervt,tWtnt Cewter Avt,d PttbU.e
SA U PAc%I.ttU
un,ergewcld operat%oKs Cewter CowfereK.Oe ROOM
12800 Arbor LalvE ParizWa
(�63) 494-6000
i`rovu 940±
Ux%t ow t-tewt10012 Lawe/Co. Rd 61 awd go worth ow Hendocl2.
TYaveL ow Htwt.Locl2 for 1/+ wile to ELK& Creelz B Wool.
At IELm Creelz SLvd, tures Left.
FoLLoW Mnt ereel2 Uvd.,1/z ntUz to Mair,, street.
CIO right Ow Maim St. dor 4 bl.ocl2s to Arbor Lal2es
Parlewad (-4 wad stop)
At stop stgtn., the ltoverwvat,ewt Cewter is ow the Le f c.
Talee a Left owto Arbor LaIzes Parl2wad awd go i/+ w-Ue to
wt.a%tn. OWVewald.
From 94 West
Wt ow Weaver L.alze Road avid go east towards dowwtoww_
MapLe-etrove.
once tdou pass the Com ucwitj Cewter, go south ow Ma%w
Street
T'he CtoverK4wKt Cewter is ow the corwer of Ma%w Street
av►,d Arbor L.alzes Parlewad. '
Yes! I'll be there.
No, I am unable to
attend
will come m my place.
Please help us plan by
ranking the following
identified needs from highest
priority (1) to lowest priority (5)
E3
Affordable Housing
o
Transportation
Youth Services
Immigrant Services
0
Senior Services
Name: Phone Number.
Street address:
City:
State: Zip/Postal Code:
-L � Ld
October 22, 2001 CITY OF
PUMOUTR
Mayor and City Council
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
SUBJECT: SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY (SRA)
JULY 18 AND OCTOBER 17, 2001 QUARTERLY MEETINGS
Dear Honorable Mayor Tierney and Councilmembers:
As the appointed representative by the City Council to the Suburban Rate Authority (SRA)
I have attended the last two quarterly meetings of the board. The only action of the SRA
from the July 18 meeting requiring specific City attention was the adoption of the 2002
budget and the amount which is to be paid by each City. For the City of Plymouth this
amount is $5,700 and I had previously given this to Laurie Ahrens, Assistant City Manager
and should be included in your proposed 2002 budget.
For City Council information, I am attaching three documents from the meetings which
may be of interest to the Council or City staff. These documents are as follows:
• 2002 Budget as adopted by the SRA on July 18 along with the assessment amount
to each member City
• A memorandum dated July 6, 2001, from the attorney for the SRA concerning a
federal court decision limiting City rights in adopting moratoriums. This federal
decision was specifically regarding the consideration of the installation of a cellular
tower but would probably have application to other moratoriums on zoning matters.
• October 5, 2001, memorandum from the attorney for the SRA on a decision by the
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regarding who pays the cost when a City
directs the undergrounding of an existing overhead electric distribution line. On
past projects in Plymouth, the City has paid the additional cost to have overhead
power lines placed underground with the project construction. The PUC has now
established the procedure which Xcel Energy must follow if they are requiring the
City to pay the additional cost.
The next quarterly meeting of the SRA is scheduled for January 16, 2002. The City
Council will probably make new appoints before that meeting. It has been a pleasure
serving as Plymouth's representative to the SRA for the past 23 years. The cost to the City
of Plymouth is now less than $6,000 for membership and through this organization the
1
PLYMOUTH ABeautifulPlace7oLive
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
®dm•maaa. www.d.plymouth.mmus
SUBJECT: SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY (SRA)
JULY 18 AND OCTOBER 17, 2001 QUARTERLY MEETINGS
Page 2
businesses and residents of Plymouth have saved millions of dollars on utility rates
because of challenges by the SRA. Plymouth along with Bloomington, Brooklyn Park,
Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Woodbury are major
players in the decisions and operation of the organization.
If I can be of any assistance to your appointed representative in 2002, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Fred G. Moore
SRA Representative
City of Plymouth
enclosures
cc: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
Anne Hurlburt, Community Development Director
Daniel L. Faulkner, Director of Public Works
N:\pw\Engineering\GENERAL\LTRS\FRED\2001\Mayor CC SRA.dce
Assets:
2002 SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY PROPOSED BUDGET
2001
Cash and Investments (12/31/00) $29,579
Membership Assessments) 76,800
TOTAL 1 37
Anticipated 2001 Expenses:
Utility Undergrounding Tariff Proceeding 15,000
Telephone Rate Geographic Deaveraging/Universal Service Fund
5,000
Qwest Area Code Municipal Boundary Cost Recovery
5,000
Review of Underground Customer Surcharge
5,000
Gas/Electric/Telecom Legislation
5,000
Cell Tower Siting/Lease
7,000
General (incl. costs and disbursements)
18,000
TOTAL
$60 000
Reserve at December 31, 2001:
4 7
2002
Assets:
Carryover from 2001
$46,379
Membership Assessments
76,800
123
TOTAL
Anticipated 2002 Expenses
Gas/Electric/Telecom Legislation $ 5,000
Telephone Rate Geographic Deaveraging/Universal Service Fund 10,000
Cell Tower/Right-of-Way Use Wireless Issues 5,000
Utility Undergrounding Cost/Surcharge Issues 15,000
Qwest Area Code Municipal Boundary Cost Recovery 10,000
General Matters (incl. costs and disbursements) 20,000
TOTAL ($65,000)
Estimated Reserve at December 31, 2002:
'This is calculated at $400 per vote established in 1995 (for every 5,000 in population or fraction thereof). This
calculation is based on full year assessments from the 36 SRA members using the 2000 U.S. Census Data.
JMS-1913220
SU160-3
2002 SRA VOTES AND ASSESSMENTS
CITY
VOTE
ASSESSMENT
Birchwood Village
1
$
400.00
Bloomington
18
$
7,200.00
Brooklyn Park
14
$
5,600.00
Burnsville
13
$
5,200.00
Circle Pines
1
$
400.00
Columbia Heights
4
$
1600.00
Deephaven
1
$
.400.00
Eden Prairie
11
$
4,400.00
Edina
10
$
4,000.00
Fridley
6
$
2,400.00
Golden Valley
5
$
2,000.00
Greenwood
1
$
400.00
Hastings
4
$
1,600.00
Hopkins
4
$
1,600.00
Lakeland
1
$
400.00
Lauderdale
1
$
400.00
Long Lake
1
$
400.00
Maple Grove
11
$
4,400.00
Maple Plain
1
$
400.00
Maplewood
7
$
2,800.00
Minnetonka
11
$
4,400.00
Mound
2
$
800.00
New Brighton -
5
$
2,000.00
Orono
2
$
800.00
Osseo
1
$
400.00
Plymouth
14
$
5,600.00 +- .110. o
Robbinsdale
3
$
1,200.00 4 3,1,0 0 ):*, r Z °
JMS-199854v1
SU160-3
Roseville
7
$ 2,800.00
Savage
5
$ 2,000.00
Shakopee
5
$ 2,000.00
Shoreview
6
$ 2,400.00
Spring Lake Park
2
$ 800.00
Spring Park
1
$ 400.00
Wayzata
1
$ 400.00
West St. Paul
4
$ 1,600.00
Woodbury
10
$ 4,000.00
TOTALS:
193
$ 76,800.00
i
JMS-199854v1
SU160-3
MEMO #4
MEMORANDUM
TO: SRA City Managers/Administrators/Directors/Alternates
FROM: Jim Strommen
DATE: July 6, 2001
RE: Federal Court Decision Limits City Rights in Adopting Moratoriums
In a decision filed on June 22, 2001, Judge Tunheim of Minnesota Federal District Court
found in favor of APT and against Stillwater Township in a matter involving the denial of an APT
tower application by declaring a moratorium. In this case, the Township had already adopted a
tower ordinance after the Telecommunications Act of 1996. APT complied with the tower
ordinance in the 120 -day application process under Minnesota Statutes, Section 15.99. Towards the
latter part of the review period, a number of issues came to the attention of the Board including:
1. A National Park Service request for an environmental assessment.
2. Conflicting State Historical Society concerns or lack of concern for environmental
issues.
3. A request to finther study technical capabilities.
4. Organized residential opposition.
5. Regional commissions seeking comprehensive tower citing policy.
The Board denied the APT application on the grounds that it adopted a six-month
moratorium to study tower issues further and possibly amend its tower ordinance. APT sued and
alleged lack of substantial evidence to deny the application and prohibition of services. Judge
Tunheim granted those motions finding that the Township acted for purposes of delay without a
substantial basis for its decision.
The language of the opinion is troubling to cities in that it finds substantial preemption of
local government land use rights, discounts the multiple concerns raised resulting in the moratorium
and limits a moratorium as an option. This case may be appealed. The Township Board is
considering its options at the present time.
JMS-199854v1
SU160-3
JAMES M. STROMMEN
Attorney at Law
Direct Dia] (612) 337-9233
email: istrommen@kennedv-eraven.com
Memo #1
MEMORANDUM
TO: SRA City Managers/Administrators/Directors/Altemates
FROM: Jim Strommen
DATE: October 5, 2001
RE: New Xcel Tariff — Undergrounding Distribution Lines
On August 2, 2001, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) met and decided on the long -
pending Xcel tariff regarding the undergrounding of distribution lines when ordered by a city. I
appeared on behalf of the SRA as well as on behalf of the Cities of Richfield and Oakdale. The
PUC approved the tariff and issued its decision on September 21, 2001. The decision described
below establishes an appropriate framework for facilitating undergrounding projects, and for
objecting to surcharges back to'city ratepayers. The PUC adopted the SRA's appeal procedure.
The following are points that you can relate to your public works representatives that are
now a part of the service agreement between Xcel and the ratepayers within your city (assuming
Xcel serves your city). This tariff is not applicable to any areas not served by Xcel. Though I
would expect these other areas eventually to follow this tariff.
Highlights
1. This tariff deals entirely with how extra costs of undergrounding will be recovered.
It does not affect whether a city has the police power to order a utility facility to be moved or not.
2. This tariff deals only with the undergrounding of electric distribution lines. It does
not deal with the undergrounding of transmission lines or other utility facilities such as substations.
3.' When a city orders the undergrounding of a distribution line by Xcel in a county
state -aid or city right-of-way, the incremental cost of the undergrounding (over and above the cost
to move overhead lines) will be surcharged to city ratepayers, unless the city objects to the
surcharge. No other such police or zoning power actions will result in automatic surcharge.
JMS-203705vl
SU160-3
4. When the underground distribution line project is ordered, Xcel must estimate the
total excess expenditures required and the resulting surcharge and submit this to the city.
5. Xcel must also give notice of this information to the city clerk and of the city's right
to object within 60 days.
6. Within that 60 days, the city may give notice to Xcel of its intent to pay all, a portion
of or none of the excess cost. If the city does not agree to pay any of the cost. the cost will be
surcharged to the ratepayers automatically.
7. Within 60 days of receiving the notice the city must file an objection to the PUC if
the city is going to contest the proprietary of a surcharge. This is where a city would object to a
surcharge on the grounds that it is a safety related undergrounding or is in an area that should be a
general expense and not a surcharged expense, e.g., a downtown area. The PUC has not yet ruled
on types of undergrounding that may be exempt from surcharge.
8. If the city does not file an objection to the surcharge within 60 days, it will have
waived such an objection. The city may later contest the amount of the surcharge. but not the right
to surcharge. This would include arguing that other city ratepayers should share in the surcharge or
that the amount of the surcharge is not justified based on the cost of the undergrounding.
9. This tariff does not give an individual customer the right to block a project because
of the objection of the surcharge. The project will proceed unless good cause is shown.
10. Xcel must provide a copy of the bill message or insert during the month preceding.
the month the surcharge is commenced. The notice must be approved by the department. The city
will receive the proposed notice no less than 60 days'prior to the first day of the month in which the
customer attends to notify customers of the surcharge.
11. Over the SRA's objection the line item on the bill will read "city requested facilities
surcharge." We advocated a more neutral "utility facilities surcharge."
An additional note to the proceeding is that Xcel will be required to further define "standard
facility" and "special facility." This is a matter of concern because Xcel has not adequately defined
standard facility and it has a clear incentive to define it narrowly. The SRA will be actively
participating in the compliance filing by Xcel to appropriately define standard facility. This will be
occurring during the balance of this year and into next year.
It is important for cities to know their rights in the undergrounding process particularly the time
within which to object to any undergrounding surcharge. Note that the premise of this tariff is that
the city need not pay for undergrounding distribution projects that are ordered within its authority.
If you have any questions, please call.
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2001
Council Members
Present Absent
Archana Balasubramanyam
Katie Bonneville
Brianna Cohen
Katelyn Donnelly
Ifna Ejebe
v
Supriya Gandham
Jameson Johnson, Chair
VO
Eric Jungels
V,
Mark Lenhardt
v
Alison Rapacz
Dan Taylor
Also present: Tracy Lardy from the City of Fairmont, Councilmember Judy Johnson, City
Manager Dwight Johnson, and Deputy City Clerk Kurt Hoffman. i
Introductions
f
Council members and staff introduced themselves. Tracy Lardy said that her city is forming a
youth council and is interested in learning how Plymouth's Youth Advisory Council functions.
Minutes
The minutes of the September 10 meeting were approved.
Subcommittees
Council members signed up for subcommittees to work on the Council's goals and objectives.
They agreed to recruit non -Council members to help serve on the subcommittees. Members
signed up for the following subcommittee work:
Youth Activities Youth Services Youth Town Forum Youth Center
Awards Program
Archana Balasubramanyam Katie Bonneville
Brianna Cohen Brianna Cohen (maybe?)
Ifna Ejebe Ifna Ejebe
Supriya Gandham ' Jameson Johnson
Alison Rapacz Eric Jungels
Mark Lenhardt
Dan Taylor
Archana Balasubramanyam
Brianna Cohen
Ifna Ejebe
Supriya Gandham
Jameson Johnson
Mark Lenhardt
Brianna Cohen
Youth Advisory Council
October 8, 2001 Meeting
Page 2
Park & Recreation Department Youth Activities Update
Kurt reported that Regina Michaud has prepared a survey on youth activities. She would like to
have the surveys distributed by groups such as the Communities in Collaboration Council in the
Wayzata School District, but welcomed volunteer efforts by the Youth Advisory Council to
distribute the surveys to schools.
New Years Eve Event
Kurt reported that Regina is proceeding with plans for the New Year's Eve activity night, and is
approaching members of the community for financial and volunteer support.
Youth Services Award Program
No date has been set for the Youth Services Awards. An invitation will go to representatives of
the Lions Club to attend the next meeting to discuss plans for the program.
Selection of Officers
Following discussion, Council members agreed to submit self—nominating statements. A
ChairNice-Chair/Co-chairs will be selected at the next meeting.
Orientation
Dwight presented guidelines for the Youth Advisory Council to remember when planning and
conducting meetings. He said adequate and timely public notice must be given for meetings
where a majority of members may gather. Judy summarized the rules of order for conducting a
meeting. Kurt explained the adoption of meeting minutes to create a legal record of the meeting.
CICC Liaison
Eric Jungels agreed to serve again as a liaison with the Communities in Collaboration Council.
Council members agreed to look into the possibility of placing members on the community
advisory panels in the Robbinsdale and Hopkins school districts. The Council members agreed to
pursue a possible liaison with a similar group in the Robbinsdale Area School District,
Community Ahead.
Meeting Schedule Dates
The Council reviewed options for alternate meeting dates. Following discussion, members
agreed to continue with the current meeting schedule. They suggested that Youth Advisory
Council members who serve on school panels such as student councils seek to act as liaison
members with the possibility of alternately attending Youth Advisory Council and student
council when conflicts occur in the schedule.
Other Discussion
Judy Johnson explained that the Youth Advisory Council has an opportunity to attend
conferences during the course of the year. She asked that a discussion about attending the
December National League of Cities Conference in Atlanta be placed on the agenda of the next
meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.
O
N
O
•p
N
CO
•C C
is
`
y
c0
U
y
i
w
l�d
^� O
N ^�
o" a
.e `'"
S ami
c
'�
c a
c
O
y
C
C of
•p
f
o
� a
c
o>
o i
°
°
a C c.
C
-o
" :
-=
i.
C >
3
o
s �i
3 y
o xCo�y
m
Cd
3
.cd°
0C
2
`
0a
�y
O.C
•:cNv°a
wbU°E
Cw
oa
0
,
p.,+
°
F
U
•�?si,
1
y
OC W
U .°
P° o
o
>°
U
U
°
U
U
U
o
O
�y
°U
'
cl
s+
to
os:Uoy:t
k C
'fl
+r ao
X U -0 0.
U v7
b
U
'C
O C
b^
w
a
.a
c0
a
w
a¢ a
.� v
v ci
3 w
U >
r
a
3
y
U
O
U
O
U
O
¢
fA
I
I
NN
I
00
In
OOH
cq
0
00
0
z
N
M
N¢¢¢
M
n
C14NN
N
N
/-.
r
ti
ti
ti
¢
N
Cl?
U
U
0
U
0
I
N
O
N
.~I.
.-.
N
N
OOH
[�
..
00
N
�•
N
•--
C\
.-�
S
i
F
y
N
U
U
U
I
ck
O
N
00
N
'Cr
N
00
,.r
y
y
•p
�
.�.
�
�
C �i
O
�
V
•p
a"i
y
Li
•v y C
N
y
°
+U+ .2
y
R.
C
r•
to �
O
p
o
>?e
C y
>
o
�_
is i
v°i
cis
y o
?
v
C
O
..
co
w
°
N a
) .O
p
o
U'
.0
c
+=
C
°
~
C
aCi
x
e�
O
O
cUi
b
C w
a
•O
O
..•
=•
U
•fl
7
C
> Q
O Q bUA
C
C
U°
"a
o
U
,Z°
C/)
C/)
0Q
Uc-4
CL. -1 E
EL -
U U
C
Q
•r"
•C
Cd
U
M
U
°
U
fA
aI
IN, U
y
Q
^
r
as
U
�
U
I.y ►_�
w
U
a
0�;
q�
i
i
i
i
iiq
C*W
NC'sy
w
w
-FN,
GC1
;.4w
w
w
W
w
O�
O
.-.
M
N
F
N
N
N
00
N
rn
N
N
N
N
N
O
N
O
GLEASON
LAKE
IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION
October 9,2001
Marjorie Vigorin
Environmental Department
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Road
Plymouth; MN. 55447
Dear Marjorie,
You are a wonderful and accomplished person. You take pictures, do
layouts, write copy, pull ideas into succinct prose and get it all together on
time. The Gleason Lake Board of Directors thank you and I thank you.
The brochure looks wonderfid and we believe it will be well read and carry
the message to our sub -watershed. We hope for a strong response from the
questionnaire to our Gleason Lake membership and friends.
I really enjoyed working with you Marjorie. You commandeered this xvhole
project and did a superb job. We all appreciate your accomplishments very
much,
Sincerely,
Lee Keeley
c.c. Shane Mishagi
- .c.c. Kelly Slavik, District 2
October 24, 2001 .
Donna Tymec
2205 Shenandoah Lane #201
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Donna:
CITY OF
PLYMOUTI+
In response to your call a few weeks ago, I've had Mark Peterson and my staff calculate the price
of a basketball pad and backstop. The estimated cost for this facility is roughly $4,000. When
considering this issue, please keep in mind our position. This site is extremely small, and it will
be difficult to find a flat area large enough to safely construct such a facility. Secondly, as I
mentioned to you before, this would be a duplication of a service that is located within a
reasonable walking distance of the neighborhood. This would require' City Council approval to
be built.
If I can provide you with any other information, please feel free to give me a call at 509-5201:
Sincerely,
91111L 6ye-fl�
Eric Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EBlnp
cc: t •City Council
PRAC
Mark Peterson
PLYMOUTH ABeautifufPfaceToLive
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000
®'"° www.d.plymouth.mmus
October 25, 2001
Anne Dorweiler
17035 9t' Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Ms. Dorweiler:
Thank you for appearing at the Plymouth Forum at the October 23, 2001 City
Council meeting to express the concerns about the policies of the City's
Comprehensive Plan with regard to affordable housing.
You asked that the City Attorney provide an opinion about the City's ability to
implement the policy that states as follows: "To the extent it is lawful and
appropriate, the City may make approval of development applications contingent
upon a proposal's contribution toward meeting the housing goals."
Enclosed is a copy of a letter from the City Attorney addressing this issue.
Please call me at 763 509-5401 if you have any questions or need further
information about Plymouth's housing plans and programs.
Sincerely,
Anne W. Hurlburt, AICP
Community Development Director
cc: Mayor and City Council
PLYMOUTH ABeautifu[PCaceToLhx
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000
wwwxi.plymouth.mn.us
Oct.19 Z001 16:44:36 Via Fax
AMM FAX
NEWS
-> 763+589+5868 Dwight Johnson . Page BBZ of 89Z
partnerships in Proding
serV1ces aid Solutions
October 15-19,,2001
Policy Adoption Meeting Set for November 1
Several New Issues up for Member Discussion
AMM will hold its annual Policy Adop-
tion Meeting on Thursday, November 1
in the St. Croix Room of the League of
Minnesota Cities Building. A reception
will be held at 5:00 p.m. followed by the
business meeting at 5:45 p.m. Both staff
and elected officials from all member cit-
ies are encouraged to attend.
Copies of the draft policies to be voted
on have been mailed to all managers/
administrators, mayors and council -
members. They are also available online
atwww.amm145.org. WA
While members will be asked to reaffirm
many long-standing AMM policy posi-
tions, those participating in the Policy
Adoption Meeting will be asked to con-
sider several new policies as well.
Revenue and Taxation
The major policy issue facing AMM this
year in the area of revenue and taxation
is the future of Local Government Aid.
During the latter parts of the 2001 legis-
lative session there was some talk of an
overhaul of the LGA formula, and $14
million was set aside for this. purpose.
AMM Fax New is faxed to all "M city
managers and administrators, legislative con -
lads and hoard members. Please share this
fax with your mayors, councilmemhers and
staffro keep them abreast ofimportant metro
However, it remains unclearwhether such
an effort will be undertaken during the
2002 session. Therefore, members are
being asked to consider a new, but fairly
general, LGA policy which calls for a for-
mula that is simpler and easier to under-
stand and that distributes at least a por-
tion of the funds on a per capita basis.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation issues,
members will be asked to vote on a trans-
portation funding policy that includes new
language supporting a metropolitan area
referendum to increase the sales tax in
order to fund major highway and transit
needs in the seven -county area. Also up
for consideration is a policy seeking au-
thorization for cities to establish road
access fees for new development and
AMM's continued support of so-called
"photo -cop" legislation.
Members will be asked to weigh in on
two new transportation policies, as well.
The first calls for a state -funded local road
improvement program to assist cities with
populations under 5.000, who are ineli-
gible for MSA funds. The second ex-
presses AMM's support for modification
of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH)
distribution formula to more fairly distrib-
ute the funds between the metro area and
Greater Minnesota.
Housing & Economic Dev.
In the area of housing and economic de-
velopment, the issues of inclusionary
housing and funding for.developmenUre-
development are at the top of the list. The
draft policies to be voted on Nov. 1 seek
explicit authority for individual cities to
auupl inwr owl I it I%,1U,1Ut Edi y nouanlg or-
dinances while opposing passage of a
mandatory inclusionary housing law. Fol-
lowing the major blow dealt to tax incre-
mentfinancing (TIF) during the 2001 ses-
sion, AMM members are being asked to
consider a policy calling for several
changes to the special deficit authority
and grant program created to help cover
shortfalls. Among the changes sought
are an extension of the grant program to
cover inter -fund loans and some pay-as-
you-go notes.
Metropolitan Agencies
On a topic that has received some media
coverage in recent weeks, AMM mem-
bers will also be asked to vote on a policy
supporting a statutory ban on the sale of
lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus,
which would help with enforcement of the
ordinances numerous AMM cities have
adopted banning the application of these
products.
In addition to these legislative policies,
members will also be asked to vote on
several policies related to the Metropoli-
tan Council. The draft metropolitan agen-
cies policies include a new policy on
Natural Resource Protection, in response
to the Council's plans to complete a Natu-
ral Resources Inventory for the seven -
county area, as well as a revised growth
management policy to direct our input on
the new Regional Blueprint now under-
way.
Participation is Key
Again, all member cities are encouraged
to send both staff and elected officials to
participate in this important debate. To
RSVP, please call Laurie Jennings at
%V51) 215 - 4000.
�ssoliationof
145liver.TityAvenue West
St. Paul. MN $5103-2044
Metropolitan
phone: (631) 2134000
Municipalities
Fax: (651) 281.1299
E-mail: umm@amml4S.org
AMM Fax New is faxed to all "M city
managers and administrators, legislative con -
lads and hoard members. Please share this
fax with your mayors, councilmemhers and
staffro keep them abreast ofimportant metro
However, it remains unclearwhether such
an effort will be undertaken during the
2002 session. Therefore, members are
being asked to consider a new, but fairly
general, LGA policy which calls for a for-
mula that is simpler and easier to under-
stand and that distributes at least a por-
tion of the funds on a per capita basis.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation issues,
members will be asked to vote on a trans-
portation funding policy that includes new
language supporting a metropolitan area
referendum to increase the sales tax in
order to fund major highway and transit
needs in the seven -county area. Also up
for consideration is a policy seeking au-
thorization for cities to establish road
access fees for new development and
AMM's continued support of so-called
"photo -cop" legislation.
Members will be asked to weigh in on
two new transportation policies, as well.
The first calls for a state -funded local road
improvement program to assist cities with
populations under 5.000, who are ineli-
gible for MSA funds. The second ex-
presses AMM's support for modification
of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH)
distribution formula to more fairly distrib-
ute the funds between the metro area and
Greater Minnesota.
Housing & Economic Dev.
In the area of housing and economic de-
velopment, the issues of inclusionary
housing and funding for.developmenUre-
development are at the top of the list. The
draft policies to be voted on Nov. 1 seek
explicit authority for individual cities to
auupl inwr owl I it I%,1U,1Ut Edi y nouanlg or-
dinances while opposing passage of a
mandatory inclusionary housing law. Fol-
lowing the major blow dealt to tax incre-
mentfinancing (TIF) during the 2001 ses-
sion, AMM members are being asked to
consider a policy calling for several
changes to the special deficit authority
and grant program created to help cover
shortfalls. Among the changes sought
are an extension of the grant program to
cover inter -fund loans and some pay-as-
you-go notes.
Metropolitan Agencies
On a topic that has received some media
coverage in recent weeks, AMM mem-
bers will also be asked to vote on a policy
supporting a statutory ban on the sale of
lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus,
which would help with enforcement of the
ordinances numerous AMM cities have
adopted banning the application of these
products.
In addition to these legislative policies,
members will also be asked to vote on
several policies related to the Metropoli-
tan Council. The draft metropolitan agen-
cies policies include a new policy on
Natural Resource Protection, in response
to the Council's plans to complete a Natu-
ral Resources Inventory for the seven -
county area, as well as a revised growth
management policy to direct our input on
the new Regional Blueprint now under-
way.
Participation is Key
Again, all member cities are encouraged
to send both staff and elected officials to
participate in this important debate. To
RSVP, please call Laurie Jennings at
%V51) 215 - 4000.
League of Minnesota Cities
r�66
T
?
PolicyAdoption Conference
Nov.16 • Four Points Sheraton, St. Paul (formerly Sheraton Midway) • 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m.
■ Program agenda:
8:15 Registration
9:00 Tax & Consequences: A Conversation About the State of the Budget
and the 2001 Tax "Reform" Bill
Speaker. • Matt Smith, Commissioner of Revenue
Speaker. • Pam Wheelock, Commissioner of Finance (invited)
10:15 Break
10:30 Cultural Diversity & Racial Profiling in Minnesota: A Panel Discussion
"I Am An American" video
Moderator.• Les Heitke, LMC President 6 -Mayor of Willmar
11:45 Lunch
12:45 Don't P on the Lawn: The Importance of Phosphorus in the Environment
Speaker: Craig Dawson, Administrator, City of Shorewood
Speaker: john Barten, Water Quality Manager, Hennepin Parks
1:30 Life Beyond TIF
Speaker. • Rebecca Yanisch, Commissioner of Trade 6- Economic Development
2:00 Policy Adoption
3:00 Adjourn
■ Register today!
For fast registration, register online at www.Imnc.org,
or mail or fax the registration form below.
Registration fee: $60 per person.
Housing: Call the Four Points Sheraton at (651) 642-1234.
Cancellation Policy: All cancellation requests must be in MINNESOTA CITIES
writing, postmarked by Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 and are subject Building
to a $10 handling fee. Quality
Questions? Call Jodie Tooley (651) 281-1251 or Cathy Communities
Dovidio (651) 281-1250.
TT MRegistration Form
1-+� LMC Policy Adoption Conference • November 16, 2001
"'••^-'�-j-- St. Paul, MN • Sheraton Four Points (formerly Seraton Midway) • $60 per person
City
Contact person
Telephone number
Registrant's name
Title
Address
City State Zip
Make checks payable and mail to:
League of Minnesota Cities, 145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55103-2044
Fax to: (651) 281-1296