HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 07-31-1992CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 319 1992
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS ....
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST:
AUGUST 3 5:30 P.M. STUDY SESSION
Council Conference Room
Topics: City Council Goals & Objectives
for 1993-93 and City Mission Statement; Review
of consultant proposals with respect to team
building.
AUGUST 3 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers
AUGUST 17.4:00 P.M. STUDY SESSION
Council Conference Room
Topics:: Interview executive search firms
with respect to filling the City Manager
position; discuss 1993 City/Civic League
activities with respect to Music in
Plymouth.
AUGUST 17 6:30 P.M. PLYMOUTH FORUM
Council Chambers
AUGUST 17 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 2
AUGUST 18 2:00 P.M. BUDGET STUDY SESSION I
Council Conference Room
AUGUST 24 5:30 P.M. BUDGET STUDY SESSION H
Council Conference Room
AUGUST 31 7:00 P.M. TENTATIVE SPECIAL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING
Because there is a four week period
between the August 17 and September 14
regularly scheduled Council meetings, the
Council may wish to consider scheduling a
special meeting for August 31.
2. DEPARTMENT BUDGETARY MEETINGS -- The schedule for City
Manager review of individual department budgetary requests is as follows:
Friday, July 31
Monday, August 3
Tuesday, August 4
8:30 - 11 a.m.
2:00 - 3:00 p.m
3:00-4:OOp.m
Park & Recreation
(John Edson, Carole Helliwell)
Administration
Finance
(John Edson, Joy Tierney)
8:00 - 11 a.m. Public Safety
1:00 - 3 p.m. Community Development
(Kim Bergman, Maria Vasiliou)
Wed:, August 5 8:00 - 11 a.m. Public Works
(Joy Tierney, Carole Helliwell)
All meetings will be held in the Council conference room. Councilmember
assignments from the July 13 Council Study meeting are shown above.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL ME 40RANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 3
3. WATER QUALITY COM MTEE --Tuesday, August 4, 7:00 p.m. The Water
- Quality Committee meeting will be held in the Council conference room. Attached
is a letter from Water Quality Committee Chair Jeffrey Shopek inviting the Council
to attend the August 4 meeting. Len Kramer of Barr Engineering, the Bassett
Creek Watershed engineering firm, will be present to discuss water quality issues
and management plans for the Bassett Creek Watershed. Attached is the meeting
agenda and July 7, 1992 committee minutes. (M-3)
4. BOARD OF ZONING -- Tuesday, August 4, 7:00 p.m. The Board of Zoning
Adjustments and Appeals will meet in the City Council Chambers. Agenda
attached. (M-4)
5. BOW HUNTING INFORMATION MEETINGS -- Information meetings for
Plymouth landowners of 10+ acre parcels and interested hunters are scheduled as
follows:
Thursday, August 6. 6 - 10 p.m. Information meeting for landowners.
Thursday, August 13 6 - 10 p.m. Information meeting for hunters.
Attached are copies of the letters from the Pulbic Safety Director inviting the
landowners and interested hunters to the meetings. (M-5)
6. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - CONGRESS OF CITIES -- Advance
conference program and registration information for the Congress of Cities to be
held November 28 - December 2 is attached. for the Council's information. (M-6)
7. MEETING CALENDARS - City Center and City Council calendars for AUGUST
and SEPT EMBER are attached. (M-7)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 4
FOR YOUR INFORMATION....
L. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT COMPLIANCE -- On Thursday,
July 30, Jeanette Sobania, Mary Bisek, Helen LaFave, Mark Peterson, Jack
Tabery, Eric Blank, and myself met with Julie Quarve-Peterson to talk about the
steps that Plymouth must take in order to come into compliance with the Americans
with Disability Act. The act will impact the City in at least five areas:
1. Employment,
2. Transportation,
3. Access to buildings, parks, and facilities,
4. Access to programming and service,
5. Communication.
Ms. Quarve-Peterson is in the business of assisting municipalities with coming into
compliance with the act. She has worked for numerous cities, including Burnsville,
Maple Grove, New Hope, and Crystal. Her services for Burnsville amounted to
$12,200. I have asked her for a proposal for Plymouth which I expect to be in the
same range. I am hopeful that the study can be completed this year. Deficiencies
identified need not be immediately corrected. Instead, corrections are to take place
as scheduled and as part of the normal maintenance cycle.
2. DRAFT AGENDA - BUDGET STUDY SESSION I -- The City Council has
scheduled August 18 at 2:00 p.m. for Budget Study Session I. I am attaching for
Council review, a draft agenda. Please review the agenda and let me know at the
August 3 Council meeting whether or not it is responsive to the study session topics
the Council has previously indicated an interest to discuss. (I-2)
3. ROLE OF FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN 1993 BUDGET --
Councilmember Edson would like to take a few moments at the August 3 meeting
for the Council to discuss the role of the Financial Advisory Committee in the 1993
budget process.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEAIORANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 5
4. 1992 TWINWPST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALL CITY WORK SESSION --
On Thursday, July 30, Councilmember Edson and I attended the 1992 TwinWest
Chamber of Commerce all -city work session. The purpose of the session was to
provide input to the Chamber Board of Directors for development of their 1992-
1993 program of action (goals and objectives). The focus of the meeting was upon
what businesses and local governments might do better for each other to enhance
the future of TwinWest area communities. Some of the more interested
recommendations included:
1. Revise city requirements so that business persons who are not necessarily
residents, may serve on city advisory commissions.
2. Improve the opportunity for businesses to become familiar with zoning
ordinance changes, etc.
3. Develop a means for including business persons in the development of plans for
schools, curriculums, and buildings.
4. Communities should create communication pieces which are more specifically
directed to business interests, rather than the typical newsletter designed for the
single-family homeowner.
With respect to this latter recommendation, Helen LaFave will be developing a pilot
project for 1993 to determine what information and format would be most
beneficial to business interests.
Mary Anderson, Chair of the Metropolitan Council, also attended the meeting,
providing information about Metro 2015. Attached are publications entitled,
"Metro 2015," "Two Scenarios of the Twin City Area in 2015," "Metro 2015
Vision and Goals," and a summary of the presentation graphics. The final
attachment solicits the city's input with respect to the Metropolitan Council's long-
range goals. as contained in these documents. (I-4)
5. CHARTER COMMISSION ARTICLE - AUGUST 1992 PLYMOUTH NEWS --
Councilmembers were provided with a draft copy of the August 1992 Plymouth
News article regarding the Charter. Councilmember Vasiliou has suggested that a
revision be made to the prologue as follows: "The Charter Commission is a legal
entity separate from the City Council. The fifteen member commission 'was
appointed by the Hennepin County District Court. By law, the City Council as an
official body, may not issue an opinion - pro or con - on the charter. The proposed
charter is an issue that goes directly to the voters in November." I have checked
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL AM40RANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 6
both with the City Attorney's office and the Charter Commission Attorney. Neither
is sure, without additional research, whether or not the Council is legally prohibited
from taking a position on this issue. Consequently we have included the prologue,
but changed the sentence which begins, "By law ... " to, "The City Council, as an
official body, will not take a position pro or con on the proposed charter."
6. FALL DEER HUNT -- The Public Safety Director is finalizing the guidelines and
communications for the fall bow hunting season. Two questions have arisen. The
first is, "should hunters be charged $10 for'. each property they request to hunt on?"
Our interpretation to date has been that hunters would be charged only once, though
they would have to submit applications for; each property which would confirm that
the property owner consents.
7.
The second question is whether or not a, parcel of land owned by the City and
located immediately south of County Road 47 and east of Elm Creek, known as
Eagan Park, should be available for hunting purposes. In the absence of Council
direction, this property will be made available for hunting purposes and the owner
representative will be Eric Blank.
CSO DELIVERY OF CITY COUNCI. AND COMMISISON PACKETS --
Attached is a memorandum from City Clerk Laurie Rauenhorst with respect to City
Council and commission packet delivery. 1 She has checked with the funis of Road
Runner, Express Messenger, and Courier Dispatch/Dependable Courier. The
prices for each firm are shown. The major disadvantage in each case is that we
must call in advance of each day of delivery, advise them of the weight of the
packages, number of packages, and other delivery information. This would occur
52 times each year. I have spoken to Public Safety Director Gerdes about the CSO
concerns. He indicates that, from his perspective, the problem is twofold:
1. The shear number of packets.
2. The timeliness of delivery.
With respect to the latter issue, CSO's are sometimes asked to deliver the packets
during their peak activity work hours, i.e , 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursdays and
Fridays.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 7
Public Safety Director Gerdes is comfortable with the CSO's continuing to provide
delivery of the packets. A number of suggestions have been offered to reduce the
pressure on the Community Service Officers:
1. Whenever possible, we will mail packets where sufficient lead time is provided
and when the packets are small enough to be handled by the postal service.
2. Public Safety Director Gerdes willsuggest that deliveries may occur up to
10:00 p.m. on Thursday or Friday evening. Hopefully, by providing these
additional hours, the CSO's will not be running into their peak service hours
while trying to deliver the packets.
3. If no one is home, the CSO will deliver the packet between the doors or at
another location on the property if the Councilmember of commission member
so requests.
4. To reduce unnecessary deliveries, Council or commission members may want to
try to remember to pickup their packets if they happen to be at the City Center
on Thursdays or Fridays.
The Council should indicate whether they believe that this is a reasonable
approach.. (I-7)
8. CITY PARTICIPATION IN THE LEAGUE OF N MNESOTA CITIES.
ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MUNICIPATLTTIJES, METROPOLITAN
LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION. AND SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY -- As
part of the 1993 budget process, the City Council has asked to review the renewal
dates of the City's membership in the League of Minnesota Cities, Association of
Metropolitan Municipalities, Municipal Legislative Commission, and Suburban
Rate Authority. The City Council has previously taken action to authorize the
City's participation in the Suburban Rate Authority for calendar year 1993. The
Council should determine either at the August 3 meeting, or as part of the budget
review process, whether or not they desire to continue participation in the League
of Cities, Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, or Municipal Legislative
Commission. I have provided estimates regarding 1993 dues for each. Because of
the volume of materials, I have not included policies from each organization.
Instead, I will bring them with me to the August 3 meeting. I also hope to have the
actual dues which will be due for 1993. (I-8)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL mlmoRANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 8
9. WAYZATA SCHOOL DISTRICT 284 REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
OPINION - At the July 20 City Council meeting, the Council reported that
Wayzata School District 284 had asked for an Attorney General's opinion with
respect to user fees. Staff was directed to obtain this information from the school
district in order to determine what impact this proposal would have on Plymouth.
Attached is a copy of the letter from Supt. David Landswerk requesting an Attorney
General's opinion, through the Minnesota Department of Education. The question
concerns "the legal option of a school district to impose a school facilities fee on
building permits issued within that district. " Also attached is a copy of a report
from HDR Current Developments that was included with the request. The report
outlines a court case in California where an appellate court upheld the right of the
school district to impose a fee on building permits.
The Wayzata School District has not yet developed a specific proposal using the fee
concept, but obviously will do so if the concept is found to be allowable in
Minnesota. It appears that the impact on the City of Plymouth could be significant.
(I-9)
10. VOTING DISTRICT MAPS - Attached are two copies of the revised Voting
District Map depicting Congressional, State, County, and City voting districts, as
well as precinct polling locations. The map reflects the precinct line amendment
(Rockford Road to Old Rockford Road) adopted by the Council on July 20, that
affected Precincts 13, 14, and 15. (I-10)
11. DEFINITION: CAVE PEOPLE -- Means "Citizens Against Virtually Everything."
Anthropologically related to "NIlVIBY. "
12. PUBLICITY EFFORTS REGARDING NEW PRECINCTS AND POLLING
PLACES -- Councilmember Vasiliou has inquired about the steps we will take to
advise city residents of the change in precincts and polling places. Shown below
are the steps we contemplate taking to date:
1. June 5, 1992 - an 11" x 17" color map was included as an insert in the June
Plymouth News. On one side, the map showed new city precincts, polling
places, and state, federal, county, and local districts. A brief notice was
included in that newsletter, directing reader attention to the map.
2. July 20, 1992 - at the City Council meeting, the Council outlined the recent
changes in the precincts.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEP40RANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 9
3. July 29, 1992 - The Secretary of State's office mailed post cards to all
registered voters containing information about the new precincts. 28,591
postcards were mailed on July 29. 6,786 postcards were mailed on July 30.
This equals the current total number of registered voters: 35,377.
4. August 3, 1992 - letters and corrected maps are to be sent to homeowner
association presidents with a request that they share them with their
membership.
5. August 15, 1992 (approximate) - August issue of Plymouth News will contain a
brief article encouraging residents to call the City Clerk to learn more about the
change in polling places and precincts, or to obtain a copy of the map.
6. September 7, 1992 (approximate) the Plymouth News will contain a smaller
map regarding polling places and precinct changes. This issue will discuss
times for balloting and procedures and timelines for absentee voting.
7. October 10, 1992 -(approximate) the 11" x 17" charter insert will contain a map
of the polling places, precincts, absentee ballot instructions, balloting times, and
other relevant information. A brief article in the newsletter will direct attention
to the insert.
8. November 1992 - publications will be mailed after the elections, therefore, no
information would be included in the November Plymouth News.
Ongoing efforts include:
1. Stuffing the precinct/polling place map into new resident packets.
2. Giving the maps away at the front counter or by telephone request.
3. Cable TV generator.
4. Map posted in the City Center building.
5. Telephone inquiries.
The Council should indicate whether additional steps are necessary.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 10
13. ESTABLISHING CONTENT OF THE MONTHLY PLYMOUTH NEWS --
Councilmember Vasiliou has asked how staff selects articles for inclusion in the
Plymouth News. Communications Coordinator Helen I-aFave maintains a list of
potential topics for the upcoming newsletters. These are based on Council agenda
items (past and upcoming), Council requests/directives, departmental requests and
citizen requests. Some articles may be seasonal, public information -type articles
such as water restrictions or snowplowing procedures, while others, such as Council
actions, are more immediate. Still, others may address an issue that a particular
department is receiving a lot of calls about (acceptable materials at the yard waste
site, for example.)
Suggestions from Councilmembers for articles are always welcome. However, if
you would like it the "next " issue, it would help us to receive your idea as early as
possible in the month. To facilitate this, we propose including a reminder to
Councilmembers each month in the Information Memorandum. We recommend
including the reminder on the first Friday of each month. Ideas would then be due
the following Monday. If an idea occurs to you after that deadline, still feel free
to submit it by calling Helen (550-5016). We will do our best to include it in the
next issue if sufficient time remains or in the following issue if the newsletter has
already been laid out and goes to press.
A reminder: we are already planning the September issue. If you have an idea,
please let Helen know by Monday, August 3, if possible.
14. STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH LELS LOCAL 18. PLYMOUTH POLICE
OFFICERS -- The unit's negotiating team took our final offer to the membership
after the negotiating session of July 8, 1992. The membership rejected our final
offer. The unit has petitioned for mediation as required by statute.
Since the bargaining representative we have been dealing with, Thomas Barnett,
has resigned from LELS, we will be negotiating with a new representative.
Therefore, we feel it best to proceed to mediation without further meetings with
the unit. Jeanette Sobania did sit down with Tim Oie in a non -formal meeting to
better understand which issues were of greatest concern to the unit. It appears that
the most important issues were never raised by the Union while we were
negotiating.
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 319 1992
PAGE 11
15. DEVELOPMENT SIGNAGE: -- On Friday, July 31, five development signs were
placed at the following locations:
1. East of the Intersection of Harbor Lane and Empire .Lane just south of the
Holiday Inn. (92052) Flagship Outdoor Advertising is requesting approval of a
Conditional Use Permit for an outdoor advertising sign to be located along
Interstate 494.
2. Northwest corner of Highway 55 and Vicksburg Lane. (92056) Eugene
Forbragd and Martin Harstad are requesting approval of a Mixed Planned Unit
Development Concept Plan/Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat and Conditional
Use Permit for 87 single family detached lots; 62 townhome units; a 25.7 acre
office tract; and the rezoning on the site from the FRD District to R-2 and B-1.
3. Northeast corner of County Road 6 and Fernbrook Lane. (92059) PDQ Food
Stores is requesting approval of a Preliminary Plat to divide an outlot into 2 lots
and a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for retail service use in the Industrial
District.
4. Northwest of the intersection of Vicksburg Lane and 46th Avenue North.
(92060) Lundgren Bros. Construction is requesting approval of a Preliminary
Plat and Variances for a 50 lot and 1 outlot single family development on a 44.1
acre site and,the rezoning of the site from the FRD and R -1B Districts to the R -
1A Zoning District.
5.' West side of Empire Lane south of Harbor Lane and north of the Perkins
Restaurant (92061) H.I. Enterprises is requesting approval of a Final Plat to
create 3 lots from an existing 2 lot plat, and a Site Plan/Variance/Conditional
Use Permit for a Goodyear Service Store.
These requests .will be heard by the Planning Commission at their Wednesday,
August 12, 1992 meeting.
16. MINUTES;
a. Suburban Rate Authority, July 15, 1992 quarterly meeting. (I-16)
17. REPORTS:
a. Community Development Department Report for June. (I- 17a)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 12
b. Summary Reports for Request Tracking System Inquiries - 4/20/92 - 7/25/92 (I -
17b)
c. County Road 24/Medina Road Improvements - Memos from Fred Moore and
Dan Faulkner on the July 28 meeting with property owners and providing a
project status report. (1-17c)
18. 'NOTES OF THE MEETING' -- 'Notes of the Meeting' from the July 20 Council
meeting is attached. (I-18)
19. CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE -- Correspondence on calls received on the City's
Customer Service Line are attached. (I-19)
20. CITY LOGO POLO SHIRTS -- City employees have indicated an interest in
reordering the City logo polo style shirts purchased last year. Daryl Sulander will
be coordinating orders for employees. If Council members are interested in a
placing an order, please contact Daryl at Ext. 5119. Additional information on
shirt styles and types is included in the attached memo from Daryl. (I-20)
21. CITY ATTORNEY CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Memo from City Attorney's office regarding order to show cause by Teachers'
retirement. (1-21a)
b. Letter to Steve Tallen, Carruthers & Tallen, regarding State of Minnesota, City
of Plymouth v. Vincent Ella. (I -21b)
c. Letter to Laurie Rauenhorst, in response to inquiry regarding delinquent property
taxes and liquor control and licensing. (1-21c)
22. PLYMOUTH EMPLOYEES:
a. Glenn McLearen has been promoted to the position of Building Inspector. He is
replacing Alan Mitchell, who resigned effective August 14. Glenn has been the
Plans Examiner for about 2-1/2 years. Prior to that he worked on a temporary
basis as a Plan Checker for the City.
b. The Acting City Manager's Ride -Along schedule with the Police Department is
attached. (1-22b)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL rIEMORANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 13
23. CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter from Kirk Brown, Twin Cities Tree Trust, inviting Mayor Bergman to
the Summer Youth Employment Program awards picnic on August 21 at
Zachary Playfield. (I -23a)
b. Memorandum from City Assessor regarding Plymouth commercial/industrial
market value decline. (I -23b)
c. Letter from Terry Donovan, 1735 Evergreen Lane, to Mayor and City Council
regarding the resignation of the City Manager. (I -23c)
d. Letters dated July 13, 1992 and July 30 from Tony Chen, 5605 Lawndale Lane.
A response and report to the July 13 letter by Craig Gerdes is also attached. (I -
23d)
e. Correspondence to Richard Kunz, 12005 3rd Avenue North, from Fred Moore,
regarding corrective work necessary in Sunset Valley Homes Addition. (1-23e)
f. Letter to Rick Sathre, Sathre-Bergquist, from Chuck Dillerud, concerning
Metropolitan Council action regarding the amendment to the Transportation
Element of the Comprehensive Plan - Fernbrook Lane from County Road 6 to
Gleason Lake Drive. (1-23f)
g. Letter to Dennis Hansen, Traffic Engineer, Hennepin County Public Works,
from Fred Moore, requesting the intersection of County Road 15 and Vicksburg
Lane be established as an "Alt- Way" stop. (I -23g)
h. Letter to Barbara Willis, President, Plymouth Civic League, from Mayor,
regarding the August 17 joint meeting with the City Council to discuss Music in
Plymouth. (I -23h)
i. Letter from Pastor John Skeie, Medicine Lake Lutheran Church, to Chuck
Dillerud, withdrawing petition for Rezoning, Site Plan, Conditional Use
Permits, and Deferred Parking Variance to construct a place of Worship and
Day School at the southwest corner of Zachary Lane and Old Rockford Road.
(I -23i)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
JULY 31, 1992
PAGE 14
j. Memorandum from Eric Blank on: 1) Volunteer participation by Shiloh
residents laying sod on the baseball portion of the Shiloh Neighborhood Park.;
2) Meeting with Hennepin Conservation District regarding Eurasian water
milfoil funding. (1-23j)
k. Letter to Deb Vosler, Hennepin Parks Volunteer Coordinator, from Eric Blank,
on her attendance at the August 13 Park Commission meeting to discuss
Hennepin Parks volunteer program. (I -23k)
1. Memorandum to Virgil Schneider, Charter Commission Chair, from Helen
LaFave, with respect to Charter Commission publicity. :(1-231)
m. Letter responding to Brent Hagemeister, 1321 Kingsview Lane, from Eric
Blank, regarding geese control. (1-23m)
n. Letter to Joe Domagala, Plymouth Hills Land Owners Committee, from Chuck
Dillerud, responding to July 9 letter with respect to the availability of various
funding for the planning purposes for the Downtown Plymouth area. (I -23N)
o. Letter to Hans Hagen, Hans Hagen Homes, from Chuck Dillerud, regarding
Grading of Outlot A, Amhurst 3rd Addition. (1-23o)
p. Letter sent to licensed garbage haulers, from City Clerk, regarding starting
times of morning garbage collection in residential neighborhoods. (1-23p)
q. Letter from Daniel Furry, 13115 55th Avenue North, to Mayor Bergman,
advising of a grading problem and silt mound on his property. (I -23q)
r. Letter to Brian and Susan McMorris, 3255 Garland Lane, from Dan Faulkner,
in response to drainage and erosion concems. (1-23r)
s. Letter to Tom Gallagher, MG Astleford Company, from Chuck Dillerud,
regarding Bass Lake Plaza Addition - release of development bond. (1-23s)
Frank Boyles
Acting City Manager
July 29, 1992
Mayor Kim Bergman and
Councilmembers
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
CIN OF
PLYMOUTFF
SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING ON AUGUST 4, 1992
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:
M -3
The Plymouth's Water Quality Committee invites you to attend their
August 4, 1992 meeting at 7:00 p.m. We have the opportunity of having
Barr Engineering, the Bassett Creek Watershed engineering firm,
presenting water quality issues and management plans for the Bassett
Creek Watershed.
The Bassett Creek Watershed incorporates Medicine Lake, Parkers Lake,
Turtle Lake and numerous other bodies of water and wetlands. Plymouth
is also the headwaters for the Bassett Creek Watershed, therefore
Plymouth's long term water quality management plan will affect the water
quality in downstream communities. The benefit of being the headwaters
of the watershed is the City of Plymouth has control over the water
quality which can result in direct benefits from a water quality
management program.
If your schedule permits, we would welcome the opportunity for you to
join us at our next meeting.
Sincerely,
Mieffruey�! Shopek
Water Quality Chairman
QM JUL 31'92
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
AGENDA
FOR
AUGUST 44 1992
7:00 P.M.
I. Bassett Creek Watershed Commission - Len Kramer, Barr
Engineering
II. Continued Discussion on Fertilizer Ordinance
CM A 31'2
Y
�-3
July 30, 1992 CITY C
PLYMOUTR
FirstName MidName LastName
Address
SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
MEETING NO. 6
Dear FirstName:
Please find enclosed the meeting minutes of our sixth meeting held on July
7, 1992, as well as the Agenda for Meeting No. 7 scheduled for August 4,
1992 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. As you may recall,
there was no meeting held during the month of June due to the rescheduling
of our meeting dates from the third to the first Tuesday of the month.
At their July 20, 1992 meeting, the City Council considered the Water
Quality Committee's requests and appointed Joy Tierney as the Council
Liaison to the Water Quality Committee. In addition, they authorized the
Mayor to sign a letter on behalf of the City Council concerning Parkers
Lake water quality issues to all the industries and business in the Parkers
Lake Watershed. In this letter the industries and businesses are also
invited to our August 4 meeting to hear Len Kramer's presentation on the
Bassett Creek Watershed Commission. A copy of this letter is enclosed for
your information.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 550-5071.
Sincerely,
Daniel L. Faulkner
City Engineer
DLF:do
enclosures
cc: Frank Boyles, Acting City Manager
Fred G. Moore, Director of Public Works
0 JUL 31'92
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
1/FirstName/MidName/LastName/Address
////The attached letter was sent July -30, 1992
to the following list of people
I/Craig//Twinem/
15015 44th Ave.
Plymouth, MN 55446
I/Bonnie//Hackner/
1635 Black Oaks P1.
Plymouth, MN 55447
I/Mary/Christine/McKee/
1345 Juneau Lane
Plymouth, MN 55442
I�Valentin//Scheglowski/
6 Saratoga Lane
Plymouth, MN 55441
I/Jeffrey/A./Shopek/
4425 Goldenrod Lane
Plymouth, MN 55442
1/LuAnn//Yattaw/
5915 Kirkwood Lane
Plymouth, MN 55442
I/Eric//Blank/
Director of Park & Recreation
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
M, 3
cfM JUL 31 '92
M 3
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE— MEETING NO. 6
TUESDAY, July 7, 1992
7:00 P.M.
Members in Attendance: Craig Twinem, Mary McKee, Jeff Shopek, LuAnn Yattaw,
Val Scheglowski, Dan Faulkner (Staff), Eric Blank (Staff/Ex-officio).
Members Absent: Chairman Jeff Shopek and Bonnie Hackner
This was the committee's first meeting since the change in date from the third
Tuesday of the month to the first Tuesday of the month to accommodate one of
the committee members.
The first item on the agenda was the concerns of the East Parkers Lake
Improvement Association represented by Marsha Videen. Their association's
primary concern is with the 96 inch public storm sewer culvert that empties
into Parkers Lake from the industrial area to the north of Parkers Lake
between Niagara and Fernbrook Lanes. She expressed concerns about the
nutrients that come from the industrial area as well as the solids such as
styrofoam and plastics as well as the petroleum products that come off the
adjacent roadway systems into the storm sewers and empty into Parkers Lake
without any pre-treatment. Another concern is the abrupt variation in the
lake level from significant rainfalls which can cause as much as a two foot
rise in the lake level and the subsequent long period to drain to the normal
elevation. She asked that the City consider some of the following potential
solutions to the water quality problem for Parkers Lake:
1. Acquire some of the Baptist Church property in the area where
the 96 inch pipe runs underground. A holding pond could then
be excavated and the pipe would be removed in this area to
settle the storm water and improve water quality prior to storm
drainage empyting into Parkers.Lake.
2. Relocate the 96 inch storm sewer to run southerly along
Fernbrook Lane and empty into the existing holding basin west
of I-494, south of County Road 6 and east of Fernbrook Lane.
This would totally divert the 96 inch storm drainage from
Parkers Lake directly to the downstream area where the outflow
from Parkers Lake currently goes.
3. Put a skimmer system at the 96 inch culvert outlet into Parkers
Lake to remove the floatables that enter the lake at this
point.
4. Require the industrial sites north of Parkers Lake to contain
and treat as necessary their site storm drainage prior to
release to the public storm sewer system.
5. Educate the citizenry on alternative types of landscaping other
than' the "green carpet" type of system which needs a
considerable amount of fertilizer.
Ok JUL 31 '92
,M..-3 .
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE - MEETING NO. 6
July 7, 1992
Page Two
6. Consider a change in City ordinance to allow natural type
grasses to grow rather then requiring grass to be cut per City
ordinance when it exceeds the eight inch maximum.
There was additional committee discussion and comments made on this issue with
a general consensus that Parkers Lake continues to be polluted and some
positive action needs to be taken soon. It was noted that the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency will soon be implementing a storm water permit
program which they hope to implement late this year for both large
municipalities and industries where storm water is discharged from their site
to a public system.
Marsha Videen also mentioned that the Hennepin Parks Management would be
willing to assist in conducting seminars to educate the public on alternative
types of landscaping. The committee also discussed the possibility of
requesting the City Council to authorize a feasibility study of methods for
improving Parkers Lake water quality. It was indicated that the update of the
City's 1980 Storm Drainage Plan will include an analysis of water quality
concerns.
It was suggested that the committee prepare a letter for City Council approval
which would be sent to the industries north of Parkers Lake requesting their
cooperation in improving water quality, specifically the storm drainage from
their sites going to Parkers Lake. Mary McKee volunteered to draft a letter
which she will circulate to Water Quality Committee members for their review
prior to submitting to the City Council at their July 20th meeting. The
committee's request would then be that the City Council send this letter on
City letterhead.
Eric Blank indicated that Barr Engineering, as the.engineer for Bassett Creek
Watershed, has prepared a draft outline for a Parkers Lake Management Plan.
He indicated that if the City was willing to pay for a portion of this,
management plan development that the watershed would perhaps fund this effort
in their 1993 budget. In this way the concerns of the East Parkers Lake
Improvement Association could be addressed through the proposed management
plan. Eric further indicated that Len Kramer, with Barr Engineering, had
indicated he would be willing to come to the committee's August 4th meeting to
make a presentation on Bassett Creek Watershed activities and discuss the
Parkers Lake Management Plan in greater detail. Eric indicated he will
confirm with Len Kramer their attendance at the August 4th meeting and it was
further suggested that the City Council should be invited to attend this
meeting to hear this important information firsthand. If the Council agrees
to some funding, the request for the Parkers Lake Management Plan could then
go to the October meeting of the Watershed Commission and subsequently be
approved in their 1993 budget.
The second item on the agenda was the surface water regulations for Pike
Lake - Maple Grove/Plymouth. The committee had previously received a copy of
the Maple Grove Water Use Regulations and Eric indicated he would take this
same list of regulations to the Plymouth City Council for approval with the
Water Quality Committee's approval. He indicated there are four homes within
Plymouth that front on to Pike Lake which would be affected by these
CIM JUL 31 '92
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE - MEETING NO. 6
July 7, 1992
Page Three
regulations. The committee unanimously approved the surface water use
regulations as presented by Eric.
The last item on the agenda was further discussion on a potential fertilizer
ordinance within Plymouth. The committee chose not to pursue this issue
further at this meeting.
Committee Member Mary McKee requested the committee consider asking the City
Council to appoint a liaison member to our Water Quality Committee. After
some discussion the committee voted unanimously to request the City Council to
appoint one of their members as a liaison to the Water Quality Committee.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.
CIM JUL 31'92
PCITV
;I
July 29, 1992
F
PUMOUTR
Property Owners/Managers/Tennants
Properties within Parkers Lake Watershed
Dear Property Owner/Manager/Tennant:
Parkers Lake, located south of County Road 6 at Niagara Lane, is a major
public recreational facility, for the City of Plymouth with its public beach,
play area, and trail system. It is the desire of the City Council to continue
to improve this overall facility and, toward that end, a major play field is
currently under construction. The focus of the Parkers Lake facilities is the
100 acre lake which not only attracts attention to its natural beauty, but
also offers recreational water opportunities.
As the area within the Parkers Lake Watershed continues to develop, so does
the amount of water runoff from hard surfaces that enters the lake. It has
been brought to our attention that the public storm sewer system that drains
not only the industrial area, but other areas as well, has been contributing
pollutants to Parkers Lake. The City would - like to encourage a joint effort
with all property owners whose land drains into Parkers Lake to improve the
quality of this storm drainage. This would include the removal of not only
solids, but oils and chemicals as well. Toward this end, the City has begun
an educational process to make people aware of the potential adverse affects
of particles entering the storm sewer system. We encourage you to examine
your on-site storm drainage systems to see if water quality improvements could
be made. We would like to work with you on implementing any housekeeping
measures that would minimize pollution potential and improve the quality of
Parkers Lake.
For your information the City has established a Water Quality Committee which
has been meeting monthly since the first of the year. Their next meeting is
scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday August 4 at the City Center. At this
meeting there will be a presentation by Barr Engineering on the Bassett Creek
Watershed Management Commission activities and responsibilities with an
emphasis on water quality issues. If you are at all interested, your
attendance at this meeting would be welcomed as well as your thoughts and
ideas on water quality improvements.
A map of the Parkers Lake drainage area is enclosed for your information. If
you would like additional information -on water quality issues or the upcoming
Water Quality Committee meeting, please contact Jeff Shopek, Chairman of the
Water Quality Committee at 559-1900.
Sincerely,'
Kim M. Bergman
Mayor GSM JUL 31'92
enclosure
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
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c►M JUL 31'92
J
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS
PLYMOUTH CITY CENTER•COUNCIL CHAMBERS
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD
PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1992 _
7:00 P.M.
AGENDA
1.
CALL TO ORDER
7:00
P.M.
2.
ROLL CALL
3.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES June
9, 1992 and
July
14, 1992
4.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Steve and
Cheryl Michel. Variance to increase the lot
coverage from the
Ordinance
Standard of 20% to 24% to construct a room addition onto the
rear of the home.
5.
ADJOURNMENT
c►M JUL 31'92
J
July 27, . 1992
SUBJECT: 1992 PLYMOUTH BOW HUNTING DEER HARVEST
Dear :
The 1992 Plymouth bow hunting deer harvest has been approved by
the Plymouth City Council.
A recent aerial survey revealed that 235 deer are living in the
northwest quadrant of Plymouth. In order to reduce property
damaged caused by deer, as well as the deer/motor vehicle
accidents, the Plymouth City Council has adopted an ordinance
that allows a limited bow and arrow hunting season for the
northwest quadrant of Plymouth. This hunting season will run
concurrent with the regular State bow and arrow season.
The City is currently contacting landowners of 10+ acre parcels
of land to determine if they will allow hunting. When this
information is available, it will be provided to interested
hunters. •The City will assist in matching landowners and hunters
only at the request of the landowner.
The following are regulations that have been developed with the
assistance of the Department of Natural Resources. These
regulations are designed to ensure a safe, organized hunt that
will decrease the Plymouth deer herd while providing statistical
feedback to judge the success of the hunt. The success -of this
1992 hunt will directly effect the possibility of future hunts.
1. Hunters must obtain written proof of permission from the
owner of the land, where permission has been granted to hunt
on that property. Only landowners who own 10+ acres and have_
been granted a permit from the City may allow hunting on
their land. No City permit will be issued to any hunter
without this written landowner authorization. The City
permit fee is $10.
2. Hunters may hunt on only the property that they have written
permission for. It is the responsibility of the hunter to
know where they are at all times.
am ,10131'92
2n-5
Page 2
3. Hunters must have written permission from the owner of the
land they are hunting on their person while hunting.
4. Hunters may not hunt or discharge their bow within 500 feet
of any dwelling, place of business, school, place of worship,
public roadway, trail or any structure likely to be occupied
by people.
5. Hunters must obtain permission to pursue a wounded deer onto
property for which they do not have permission to hunt.
Under no circumstances may a hunter take his/her bow beyond
the boundaries of the property he/she has permission to hunt.
6. All bow hunters must purchase a Metro Archery Anterless Bonus
Deer License to be eligible to harvest any deer in the City
of Plymouth. This Bonus License is in addition to the
regular State Bow Hunting' License that must be purchased as
well. The two licenses must be presented when applying for a
City permit to hunt. No permits will be -issued without
satisfying this requirement.
7. Hunters must display a vehicle identification placard on the
dash of their vehicle while hunting. The placard must be
visible from the outside of the vehicle. The placard will be
issued by the landowner.
8. Hunters must report to the landowner all successful hunts.
These statistics will be forwarded to the City by the
landowner. Failure by the hunter to follow this regulation
may result in the refusal of future permit requests.
9. A hunting advisory board will be developed that will consist
of several bow hunting enthusiasts, who will assist City
staff in numerous related activities - to ensure hunter
etiquette, safety and proper conduct 'by all hunters is
maintained. -
1. The City of Plymouth may suspend the bow hunting harvest
based on an active wetland fire or an extreme fire danger.
2. The City of Plymouth may suspend or terminate the bow hunting
harvest at any time if it is found that the hunt is causing
safety or trespass problems for the residents of the area.
3. A hunter's permitto hunt in the City of Plymouth may be
revoked at any time for violation of any City or State
regulation governing this hunt.
cim j& 31'92
2n -S
Page 3
Hunters participating in this land hunt will have a large impact
on its success or failure. To further discuss the City's goals
and expectations, an informational meeting for all hunters will
be held Tuesday, August 13, 1992 in the Plymouth City Center
Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there.
Sinc rely,/�
Chief raig C. Gerdes
Publi .Safety Director
Plymouth Police Department
CCG/sb
GIM J& -�-, "I
DATE
NAME:
ADDRESS:
Plymouth, MN
yn-5
ate of
PLYMOUTF+
SUBJECT: ISSUANCE OF PERMITS TO HUNT DEER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
LOCATED IN NORTHWEST PLYMOUTH
Dear :
Each year the City of Plymouth records well over 100 deer/motor
vehicle collisions on our roadways. These accidents, along with
the property damage caused by these deer, have become major
public safety concerns.
Recently an aerial survey revealed 235 deer living in the
northwest quadrant of Plymouth. Not coincidently, many of our
deer/motor vehicle collisions also occur in the northwest
quadrant of Plymouth on such major thoroughfares as Highway 55,
Rockford Road and County Road 47.
In order to reduce some of the property damage caused by deer, as
well as the deer/motor vehicle accidents, the Plymouth City
Council had adopted an ordinance that allows a limited bow and
arrow hunting season for the northwest quadrant of Plymouth.
This -season would run concurrent with the regular State -bow and
arrow hunting season.
Before the City can move forward in this limited legalized
hunting season, we must know how many parcels of land would be
available for bow and arrow hunting. Thus, the reason for this
letter.
Your name and address was obtained from the assessment files. We
are limiting our contact to those landowners who have a minimum
of 10 acres. Permits would be issued to property owners who
would desire to have their land hunted. These land use permits
will be provided without cost. Any permits that will be issued
will only be valid for -the 1992 season, and only when accompanied
by a current State of Minnesota bow and arrow deer license.
The landowner would have to provide written permission to all
persons engaged in hunting on his or her property. The hunters
would have to carry this written permission on their person at
JUS 31'92
CIM
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD. PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
M-5,
Page 2
all times while hunting the property. Hunters will also need
this written permission to purchase the required City individual
hunter permits. The landowners who wish to allow hunting would
have the right to limit who would be able to hunt, when they
would be able to hunt, and where on their land they would be
allowed to hunt.
The City will develop a list of hunters to assist a
hunter/landowner match, if necessary.
The essential step that must be addressed at this time is whether
landowners, such as yourself, would participate in this special
hunt. In that regard, I have enclosed a brief survey for you to
check the appropriate space and return it to me in the self-
addressed, stamped envelope. If you chose to allow hunting on
your land, the City will mail you a landowners hunting packet,
which will provide additional information and necessary permit
application forms that will'need to be completed. In addition to
this packet, an informational meeting for all landowners will be
held on August 6, 1992 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plymouth City Center.
All landowners are invited to come and share information and
concerns.
If you chose not to allow hunting on your land, please check the
appropriate box on the survey, and return this to us. This will
enable us to better plot the areas where hunting will not be
allowed. Please be sure to return this survey by August 6, 1992.
Sincerely,
Chief Craig C. Gerdes
Director of Public Safety
Plymouth Police Department
r
CG/s
Enclosures
CIM AUL 31'92
Please check the appropriate box below.
survey in the enclosed, stamped envelope.
Sincerely,
Chief raig C. Gerdes
Direc or of Public Safety
Plymouth Police Department
Sign and return the
Thank you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mr..' 7. / �1�1' •. 1 • '••'• 01•� WIF
SIGNATURE
M XYDE
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
cim JUS 31'92
League of Minnesota Cities
July 23, 1992
183 University Ave. East
St. Paul, MN 55101.2526
(612) 227.5600 (FAX: 221.0986)
TO: Managers, Administrators, Clerks, Cities over 5000 population
FROM: Donald A. Slater, Executive Director
RE: NLC Congress of Cities, November 28 - December 2, New Ora;jl
Complete Registration Immediately
Enclosed please find a brochure outlining the conference program and
registration information for the 1992 annual conference of the
National League of Cities. Please check NOW with all city officials
to determine those who wish to attend and promptly complete hotel and
conference registration procedures. The earlier the city returns
registration forms and requests for hotel accommodations, the better
the chances your priorities for hotel locations will be available.
available.
Airline schedule/rate discount information
LMC will contact UNIGLOBE travel agency representatives to work with
commercial air carriers to arrange for rate discounts and convenient
ticketing arrangements for those planning to attend. We will send
that information to you under separate cover in the next several
weeks. It is important NOW to send in the conference registration
form in order to obtain housing.
Mayor Fraser to become NLC President
Minneapolis Mayor Donald Fraser will -be elected President of the
National League of Cities during this year's annual conference. This.
is also a special opportunity to recognize the contributions of many
Minnesota city officials to National League of Cities' programs,
policy development and federal relations.
The League will host a reception for Mayor Fraser during the
conference, date to be announced later. City officials registered
for the conference will receive personal invitations to be part of
this important event, which will also be open to conference delegates
from cities across the nation.
elm j& 31'92
-over-
OW'a
Conference Program Highlights
Be sure to note the pre -conference training seminars listed in the
brochure. These provide worthwhile opportunities for city officials
to get additional training and leadership skills.
The conference program begins on Saturday, November 28, providing a
more convenient way for elected officials to attend. The conference
has also been shortened by one day, giving more officials an
opportunity to remain for the full conference.
NLC policy committees also meet on Saturday, November 28. Minnesota
city officials who serve on NLC committees should plan to be
available to attend these important meetings where policy
recommendations will be considered prior to adoption at the NLC
annual business meeting on Tuesday,* December 1.
Hotel room deposit/credit card guarantee requirements
Please note information on deposit and guarantee requirements for the
hotels listed in the conference housing section. The
Inter -Continental and Le Meridien do not accept the Discover Card;
all other hotels accept all major national credit cards for room
deposits and/or guarantees.
Enclosure
am 3& 31'92
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m•-7
CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 3 - 16
. August 1992
August 3
.. mo
DAY
August 10
2:00pm City Mgr. Budget Mtg (Admin & Finance)
5:30pm **STUDY SESSION
7:00pm.COUNCIL MEETING
August 4
.*.-.TU
DAY:. -.,I
August 11
1:00pm City Mgr. Budget Mtg (P. Safety & Comm.
7:30pm **PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY
Dev)
SESSION
7:00pm WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
7:00pm *BOARD OF ZONING
August 5
IWEDNESDAYI
August 12
8:00am City Mgr Budget Mtg. (Public Works)
7:30am FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE-
OMMITTEE7:00pm
7:00pmPLANNING COMMISSION
August 6
THURSDAY.
_
August 13
6:00pm **Bow Hunting Info Meeting
6:00pm **Bow Hunting Info Mtg
7:00pm PRAC
August 7
FRIDAY'.,,*'
August 14
August 8
SATURDAY
I
August 15
August 9
SUNDAY
:
August 16
augustSeptember
M T W T F S S M T W T F S S
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
17 18 19 20 21 '22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
31 28 29 30
*REVISED MEETING **NEW MEETING 7/31/1992
CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 17 - 30
August 1992
August 1
1 'MONDAY
August 24
4:00pm **STUDY SESSION
5:30pm **BUDGET STUDY SESSION II
6:30pm PLYMOUTH FORUM
7:00pm COUNCIL MEETING
August 18
TUESDAY
_
August 25
2:00pm **BUDGET STUDY SESSION I
6:30pm HRA
8:30pm **CHARTER COMMISSION
August 19
WEDN
DAYI
August 26
6:45pm PLAN FORUM
7:00pm PLAN COMM.
August 20
[THURSDAY1
August 27
August 21
FRIDAY
• j
August 28
August 22
RDAYJ
August 29
August 23
SUNDAY:::
August 30
M T W T F S S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
5eptemoer
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
*REVISED MEETING **NEW MEETING 7/31/1992
0
M -i
CITY COUNCIL - AUG. 31 - SEPT. 13
August -September 1992
August 31
M0
DAY ,..
September 7
LABOR DAY - City Offices Closed
September 1
.::TUESDAY.
September S
7:00pm WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
7:00pm BOARD OF ZONING
September 2
WEDNESDAY
September 9
7:30am FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
7:00pm PLANNING COMMISSION
September 3
THURSDAY
September 10
7:00pm PRAC
September 4
- -FRIDAY
September 11
September 5
SATURDAY
September 12
September 6
SUNDAY':...
September 13
M T W T F S S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 �
31
*REVISED MEETING **NEW MEETING
September
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 '15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
7/31/1992
September
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 '15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
7/31/1992
ilvt•
CITY COUNCIL - SEPT. 14 - 27
September 1992
September 14
7:00pm COUNCIL MEETING
7:00pm CHARTER COMMISSION
MONDAY
6:30pm PLYMOUTH FORUM
September 21
7:00pm' COUNCIL. MEETING
9
10
11
September 15
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION
..TUESDAY
14
September 22
September 16
IWEDNESDLYJ
6:45pm PLAN FORUM
7:00pm PLAN COMM.
September 23
'
September 17
1 THURSDAY:-
I
September 24
September 18
FRIDAY
September 25
September 19
SATURDAY
29
September 26
September 20
SUNDAY
September 27
September
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
*REVISED MEETING **NEW MEETING
Uctoaer
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
7/31/1992
BUDGET STUDY SESSION I
August 18, 1992
2:00 p.m.
City Council Conference Room
I. Presentation: Springsted - Public Finance
-- Macro Trends
-- Impact upon Plymouth
H. Cost Effectiveness of City Benefits
- Health, Dental, Life, Long -Term Disability
- Split Dollar Life Insurance
III. Employee Wage/Benefit Questions
- Advertised Salary vs. Starting Salary
- Plymouth Salaries vs. Other Communities
- Impact of Comparable Worth
- Comparison of Selected Benefits
- Comparable Worth Reports and Timelines
IV. 1993 General City Employee Compensation System
6:00 P.M. Light Dinner
6:30 P.M. Adjourn
CIM JUL 31 '92
Metro 2015
Vision and Goals
Metropolitan Council
Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
612 291-6359 TDD 291-0904
Publication No. 640-92-076B CiM JUL 31'92
June 26, 1992
Printed on Recycled Paper
Introduction
This document -is part of an effort by the Metropolitan Council to develop a "vision" or picture of
what the Twin Cities Region should be in the year 2015.
Why a Vision?
• In its first 25 years, the Council has looked ahead to plan solutions for important problems
facing the region. Now it is looking ahead to the next 25 years. What does this region want
to be, to look like and to offer its citizens in 2015? The Council is responsible for making
long-range plans today to help ensure the region's health and vitality in the 21st century.
Setting goals for the region is a first step.
•' As the Council begins to update its keystone regional plan, the Metropolitan Development and
Investment Framework, it needs to examine the problems and opportunities the region will
face over the next two decades. The policies in the framework will help guide our growth and
development, but we need to know where we want to be in 2015 --we need a vision.
• The Council is specifically charged by statute to prepare goals and plans for the orderly and
economic development of the region. In addition, the Council is being challenged and
encouraged to provide leadership in long-range planning for the region. Creating a vision can
help in that effort.
Cornerstone Ideas
At the beginning of this effort, the Council set a basic assumption in establishing a vision:
To achieve the highest quality living in a community setting with the flexibility to accommodate the
changing population and compete in a world economy. To pursue the region's future with a
sensitivity and respect for our environment in our development and redevelopment practices.
The Council _decided, after hearing from several nationally recognized strategic thinkers, that
there are really a handful of forces or factors driving the decisions needed to make this region
successful in the 21st century. Six major factors or categories emerged:
• Economics
• Governance
• Transportation
• Telecommunications
• Education
• Quality of life
Goals as a Starting Point "
The goals developed in the six categories describe where we want to be, rather than ways to get
there. At a ,later stage, it will be necessary to identify strategies to accomplish the goals and the
appropriate actors to implement them. Before that, however, the Council wants to share this
vision with the regional community to see if the goals are on target --whether these are the right
aM JUL 31'92
A Vision
It's now the year 2015. The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area has achieved the goals proposed by
the Metro Council a quarter century ago. What kind of a region do we live in?
Key Themes
We've become more adaptive and proactive in shaping change. We have found that in the school
of change, the lesson is never over. We have developed our economy, our educational system
and our governmental functions to meet changing demands and expectations.'
We've sought technological advances that are crucial to the region's economy and quality of life.
We used technology as a tool to achieve our goals --for example, in transportation,
telecommunications, education and business.
We've opened the doors wider to opportunities and resources. All residents have better access to
jobs, governmental decision-making, education, recreational opportunities, health care, housing
and information resources.
We've gained spin-off benefits from the decisions we've made. For example, our
telecommunication system has bolstered the economy while giving telecommuters an alternative to
traffic congestion and enriching learning opportunities. Our education system has equipped
students with basic academic, social and personal skills to earn a living and function well as
citizens, workers and parents. And it has helped young people shape their hopes and potential.
We have successfully resolved important but competing priorities. For example, we have grown
economically, but we have preserved and improved our natural environment. We have a larger
population that is more diverse, but we have strengthened our sense of community. Government
has finally learned to do more with less.
A Closer Look
Looking more closely, we see a region that is a strong, well-established player in the global
marketplace. We realized many years ago that metropolitan areas, not nations, would be the key
economic competitors in the international playing field.
We realized we had to be more organized in the way we bolstered the region's economy. Our
young people are achieving their full potential in school; our regional quality of life has attracted
talented people and dollar investments; and we've adequately invested in our essential
infrastructure to support economic activity and the basic needs of our urban society. The result
has been an improved regional standard of living, supported by substantial job growth and a
diverse economy. Greater Minnesota has prospered from spin-off companies and jobs located in
the region.
Communities in the region have willingly cooperated in seeking business, jobs and revenues based
on regional interests rather than the interests of individual communities. This cooperation
enables the region to compete as one economic unit in national and international markets.
c1M J& 31'92
3
Goals
The Regional Economy
S� 1
For many years the region has been a good place to live, work and establish businesses. Its
economy has experienced steady employment growth of 2.7 percent annually and relatively low
unemployment rates (4.5 percent in 1991) --well below Minnesota and U.S. rates of 5.1 percent
and 6.7 percent, respectively. Manufacturing industries gained some jobs, while service industries
gained the most. The region is home to 15 firms on the Fortune 500 list of industrial firms. Its
poverty rate (8.1 percent) is well below the national average (13.1 percent). In per capita
personal income, the region ranked sixth among the 25 largest metro areas in 1989 (8 percent
higher than the average of the 25 metro areas and 15 percent higher than the U.S. average).
This success has largely been credited to the region's skilled labor force and to our diverse
economy. But in recent years a number of clouds have appeared on the economic horizon.
There are questions about how well we are educating our labor force; the computer industry in
the region is in decline; some major businesses are no longer under family or local control; the
Minnesota business climate has been soundly criticized by the private sector; global competition is
increasing and world markets are changing. In addition, there are concerns about the problem of
low income burdening a significant number of people, inadequate productivity growth, our ability
-to maintain competitive advantages in computers and medical equipment, and the demand for
government services versus the willingness to pay for those services.
Looking to the year 2015 raises a major question: Is the region prepared to compete and thrive in
this changing environment? For example, no longer is the region's business competition the other
cities in the U.S.; it is other cities around the world. Can we afford to sit back and let "the
market" respond to these and other changes, or are there some roles government can or should
play to keep this region competitive in the emerging world markets? What roles should the
business community play? Are there opportunities for public/private cooperation? Before these
questions can be answered, it is important to have a vision of what we want the regional economy
to look like. Below are goals that can help shape that vision for the 2015 economy.
Goals
1. The region is recognized as a major player in the global economy, based on the following:
The region has a highly educated workforce with skills important to the regional economy,
and with the ability to learn new skills as the economy changes in response to the national
and international economies. These would include a wide range of skills --for example, in
design and manufacturing as well as in management and finance.
The region has a quality of life that attracts and keeps both businesses and a highly skilled
and adaptable workforce.
Infrastructure developed by regional and local governments and by the private sector supports
regional economic activity and encourages job growth that meets the needs of the population.
Infrastructure financing --using cooperative arrangements, where possible --reflects the full costs
of facilities through their life cycle --including costs of capital, operation, maintenance and
replacement.
c�M JUS 31'92
5
Governance
Government in the early 1990s has fallen on hard times. Regional and local government has
experienced declining federal support; political leadership has been criticized or challenged; and
many citizens feel a strong disaffection from government, becoming active mainly when their self-
interest is threatened.
The challenge to government is to bring new people into the process both as participants and in
leadership positions, particularly minorities and women whose participation in the past had been
limited; to develop a renewed sense of confidence in government's ability to solve problems by
allowing decision-making at the neighborhood or community levels where innovation and
flexibility can be encouraged; to act decisively and in the broader regional interest at the regional
level for those problems that need a central focus. A renewed emphasis on governance --acting
collectively to solve problems --is essential.
People and governmental units need to think of themselves as being part of one region. The
region cannot be a collection of cities all competing against one another. The, region now
competes with the world.
In governance, there is often a need to balance competing priorities --for example, the desire for
government to be "close to the people," on one hand, and, on the other, expectations for
government services to be efficient and economical, often requiring centralization. The Metro
Council also has a vision for. its own role in F_ rnance� It includes strong leadership on regional
issues, bolstered by additional authority to decide how state funds are spent in the Metropolitan
Area for public infrastructure and to determine where and when public subsidies will be used for
facilities of region -wide importance.
Goals
1. All segments of the public have opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives
and the future of their communities. Citizen decision-making takes place at the neighborhood
and community level, whenever possible. Citizen decision-making is also fostered in our larger
governmental units.
2. People have confidence in their -elected and appointed government officials. The region has a
high level of political participation (such as voting and the number of persons running for `
office). Participants and leaders are more representative of the diversity of the region.
3. Government roles and responsibilities are appropriately and clearly defined, including roles
involving education, so that regional and local policymaking and service delivery occur at the
most effective and efficient level, and gaps in services are closed.
4. ; Governmental units achieve the results people want by redesigning the service delivery system
and .using other innovative approaches, public or private, to deliver public services.
5. The Metropolitan Council is the region's leader for policy planning, which provides direction,
integration and coordination of regional services. The Council decides how federal and state
funds allocated to the Metropolitan Area for public infrastructure will be spent. It decides on
major direct and indirect public investments that support facilities of region -wide importance
located within the Metropolitan Area. 01 IST
Transportation
The transportation problems the region faces today and in the future stem from our need and
desire for personal mobility. Our life style involves pursuing many activities in many locations.
And to meet those needs, the automobile --specifically the automobile with a sole occupant --has
been the mode of choice for the vast majority of people.
However, using our cars as vehicles to carry just one person has been a major factor in causing
our transportation problems. For example, it is primarily responsible for the growing problem of
congestion during peak travel periods. Between 1972 and 1984, the number of severely congested
freeway miles rose from 24 to 72 miles. That total could increase to 200 miles by the year 2010,
according to estimates of the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Department of
Transportation.
With many cars having only a solo driver, our extensive highway system has not been used
efficiently. For example, during peak periods, average auto occupancy dropped nine percent
between 1980 and 1990. At the same time, people have been traveling more. On an average
weekday, the number of trips taken per person rose by a third between 1970 and 1990.
Heavy use of the single -occupant auto is also a major factor in causing the negative environmental
effects caused by the building and operation of our transportation system. It is an expensive way
to move people. And it has promoted a spread -out land use pattern that makes it difficult to
serve many parts of our region with economical transit service.
Ridesharing and transit use, on the other hand, can increase the efficiency of the transportation
system. But bus ridership declined 24 percent from 1980 to 1990. The challenge facing the
region is to make these modes more attractive while making use of single -occupant vehicles less
attractive and convenient.
Airport capacity is another major issue. The region risks forgoing substantial economic gains if
adequate airport capacity is not available as needed in a timely fashion over the next 25 years.
Goals
1. The transportation system moves people and goods within the region and to the state, nation
and world efficiently and cost-effectively. The transportation system is developed in ways that
preserve the integrity of the environment, allow for economic growth and development, and
support other regional goals. The system also reflects the region's leadership in the use of
advanced transportation technology (for example, "intelligent" vehicle and highway systems,
high-speed rail, hover craft) that maximizes the system's capacity and efficiency.
2. The regional transportation system balances demand and capacity so that resources are used
most efficiently and the environment is least affected. This is achieved by managing how
existing facilities are used --for example by reducing use of single -occupant vehicles, changing
the time that people make trips, reducing the frequency of trips and changing trip
destinations. The system also balances local, state and national mobility needs.
3. Transit is the preferred choice over the single -occupant automobile for many more people.
An adequately funded and improved transit system makes regular -route transit, paratransit
,and ridesharing more attractive for all users. With improved safety, comfort and convenience
9 CSM A 3I'
I YV
Telecommunications
Telecommunications --and access to it --will become increasingly vital to the fundamental economic
health of the Twin Cities Region in the years ahead. That's a lesson history can teach us.
This region grew to national economic prominence because the railroads, then the highways, then
today's jet airplanes gave the region's businesses good connections to the national market. These
facilities gave the region a way to overcome its remote inland location to sell and ship its ideas
and products to the nation, and more recently, to the world. Now, telecommunications is
increasingly being viewed as the next key infrastructure, as important to the region as the
railroads and highways were in the region's economic history. The region's businesses need the
same access --or better --to advanced telecommunications as businesses in other regions enjoy in
order to compete in a world marketplace.
In addition, the region needs modern, high-capacity telecommunications services because people
need access to information and because telecommunications offers seemingly boundless
opportunities for people to learn, earn a living and enjoy a higher quality of life. Unequal
opportunities, experts argue, will lead to a society of "information rich" and "information poor."
Telecommunications could help solve other problems. It could aid in solving central city problems,
where, for example, the presence of advanced telecommunications facilities could help offset the
disadvantage of high redevelopment costs. Telecommuting could also reduce peak -period travel
or travel in congested corridors.
However, private providers of advanced telecommunications capabilities have not upgraded their
equipment here as rapidly as they have in other regions. High-capacity fiber optic transmission
lines are not available throughout the region. If the transmission of voice, data and video
experiences a boom as some predict, the existing infrastructure may not be adequate to do the
job.
By and large, governmental units in the region have their own networks to move data or
communicate with their police and fire departments. Telecommunications --and facility -sharing --
may give them a way to provide more effective services more efficiently. But there is no
coordinated approach, or public sector planning, in telecommunications. Each unit of government
has made its own arrangements with telecommunications vendors to get its needs met.
Goals
1. The region has "leading-edge" telecommunications services readily available to all businesses
and homes.
High-capacity telecommunication transmission facilities and networks move information within
the region and state, and to national and worldwide destinations.
The region's telecommunications infrastructure gives businesses a competitive advantage in
producing and selling products and services to the nation and the world.
11 CIM A 31'92
Education
Observers of the K -through -12 education system --from education, business and government --have
said that our schools are a little better than the rest of the nation's --but not good enough for our
future. They offer some criticisms:
• Schools aren't focused on helping students learn; they are organized and run for adults, not
students.
• Expectations are low and there are not many incentives for students or teachers to do well.
• Athletic achievement and "having things" are valued, but academic achievement is not.
• The region's high school graduation rate is high (at 91 percent), it may be because the
standards are low. For example, Minnesota is one of only eight states that require less than
175 instructional days per year; 90 percent of Minnesota high school students are allowed to
spend as little as five hours in class; and only 13 percent attend districts that have established
formal homework policies.
• The education system has a dismal record of meeting the educational needs of our growing
racial and ethnic minority populations. For example, 30 percent of the 6,000 -plus students in
the seven -county region who dropped out of school in 1991 were from racial or ethnic
minority groups. By contrast, minorities make.up only 16 percent of the total student
population in the region.
• School boards have been criticized for focusing on financial and administrative matters at the
expense of students. School boards have also been called monopoly systems with exclusive
franchises that are reluctant to allow others to create schools.
In addition, businesses find an increasing number of high school graduates ill-equipped to perform
work that requires even basic language and math skills. But, at most, one-third of Minnesota's
high school districts have established minimum standards for graduates' reading and mathematics
skills. Approximately 555,000 Minnesotans between the ages of 18 and 64 are unable to read,
write, compute, problem -solve or cope with changing conditions sufficiently well to meet the
requirements of adult life in our society. If this region is to compete with the world, high school
students must be better trained.
On average, Minnesota spends more for education than most states (17 percent more per capita),
and has increased its financial commitment steadily over the past 20 years. In 1992-93 Minnesota
will spend 30 percent of its $15.4 billion budget on elementary and secondary school education.
But recognized measures show that performance has in fact declined. While Minnesota still ranks
high in American College Test scores, the results have been dropping more than the national
average. Scholastic Aptitude Test and Advance Placement scores have continued to steadily
decline. The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores have actually dipped below the national
average. The question arises: What kind of education are our young people getting for the
money we spend?
ota g C5
13
8. Higher education in the region is available to all students based on ability to learn and choice,
rather than on ability to pay.
The region's higher education institutions foster research and development as part of their
mission to educate students and generate discoveries of new knowledge.
9. People assume that they will continue to learn throughout their lives. The community.,
provides affordable educational opportunities that are flexible enough to meet the people's
needs for job training, citizenship and other learning in a rapidly changing world.
10. The region's educational system produces a highly -skilled and motivated work force that fuels
our businesses' efforts to grow and compete in the global economy.
Examples of Possible Measures
School readiness --an indicator that the student has the health, nutrition, developmental skills and
-family support necessary for success in school, compared over time
Average state score on school achievement tests as a ratio to the national average, or, as an
alternative, the proposed competency -based graduation requirement of the Minnesota State
Board of Education (1992)
Schools with drop-out rates over 10 percent ("drop-out" is defined as a student absent from school
for a 12 month period, a definition used nationally)
Percentage of high-school graduates who are pursuing advanced education or training one year
after high-school, compared over time
Percentage of recent high-school graduates rated average or better in work skills by their
employers, compared over time
c+ NV 314
15 .
As these and other issues are addressed, the region needs to foster a sense in its people that they
have a personal stake in their local communities and in other communities in the region. The
weaknesses of some communities can affect the future of others. People who have the means
should be willing to give of their time and money to make the region a better place to live --
viable, progressive and constantly striving for improvement. This spirit of contributing and caring
has been strong here and is an essential ingredient for building a better area in the future.
Goals
1. The region has a comprehensive,'cost-effective system to deliver high-quality health care and
related services with choices in treatment alternatives for physical and mental illnesses. All
the region's residents have access to health care services. The region has a highly rated
emergency response system.
The region's health care system emphasizes preventing health problems and promoting health
and wellness. The region has improved the health status of its residents based on a wide
- range of indicators --for example, reduced deaths and injuries of children from family abuse
and neglect, a reduced death rate from cardiovascular disease, increased levels of physical
activity of the population, and increased immunization for infections diseases.
2. All residents of the region feel safe and secure in their homes, neighborhoods streets,
sidewalks, schools and parks. They have confidence that public safety personnel will respond
quickly and appropriately, regardless of where they live or their minority or economic status.
The region's ranking compared to the rates of violent and property crimes in other
metropolitan areas, both in the central cities and suburbs, are lower than the region's rank in
population size. Sales and use of illegal drugs have substantially decreased.
3. All types of family structures are supported so parents can carry out their responsibilities and
their children can develop into adults who take responsibility for themselves and their
community. Elderly and disabled people have every opportunity to live independently as
much and as long as possible. Extended families have more support to care for their members
and do not need to rely on institutions.
4. The basic needs of all of the area's population for shelter, food, water, clothing and energy
are met. The percentage of the region's population living in poverty has decreased.
Everyone has equal opportunities for education, employment, housing, leisure or social
activities regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age,
status with regard to public assistance or sexual orientation.
Cultural values and religious beliefs are recognized and celebrated.
5. Residents of the region have a sense of pride in and belonging to their community, and a
concern for its long-range future. The region continues to be an example to other
metropolitan areas for its recognition of and participation in volunteerism, corporate
leadership and contributions. to nonprofit charitable and cultural organizations.
17
qM 0 J�%I
-Ir -'V
2. Employment opportunities are maintained and increased in areas with existing, affordable
housing. More affordable housing opportunities are available in areas with growing
employment.
Residents have a wide range of employment opportunities within a 30 -minute commute by
public transit within the urban area.
3. Everyone has opportunities for retraining and reemployment.
Each student graduating from high school, technical or vocational colleges has the knowledge
and skills necessary to obtain an entry level job, and over the long run, to compete and
survive in the employment market.
4. Large businesses in the region have on-site child care available. Smaller employers have
cooperative child care arrangements.
Examples of Possible Measures (comparison over time)
Per capita income for women and racial and ethnic minorities
Ratio of workers in manufacturing to service and retail sectors
Number of persons unemployed more than 26 weeks
Percent real growth in average wages per worker
Ratio of the region's average wages per worker to the national average
Number of businesses with child care available to employees
C. PI•iYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
The physical environment encompasses both the natural resources of the area --water, air, soils,
minerals, vegetation and animal life --and the developed landscape that consists of the facilities
and services required by a large urban population. If the Metropolitan Area of 2015 is to be a
better place to live in than it is today, there will have to be a closer relationship between the
natural and the human -built environment. Past abuses of the natural environment will need to be
corrected, and urban development will be fully integrated into the environment. New
development will put greater emphasis on good urban design and functional efficiency. The end
result will be a metropolitan area that is an attractive, well-functioning and exciting place to live
for all of its residents.
The region faces major challenges in pursuing these goals:
• We need to continue improving water quality through better wastewater treatment as our
population increases, effluent standards become more strict, and costs go up.
• The amount of pollution from nonpoint sources (for example, from farms and paved parking
lots) must substantially decrease. It will require changes in the personal, household and
business practices of people in the region, as well as those upstream of the region.
• We need to maintain the region's competitive advantage in water resources by managing them
wisely.
• We need to reduce the amount of waste we generate and find productive reuses for it rather
than burying it in landfills.
• We need to make better choices in the way we develop our land, to minimize the impacts on
the environment and consider the full range of physical, economic and social consequences.
19 VM JUL 31V
S- �,
The two downtowns continue to be viable commercial centers, with increased emphasis on
large-scale, unique facilities and events. Major retail and office concentrations, such as those
around regional shopping centers, are secondary focal points and hubs of activity. These areas
are more densely developed than in 1992, offer a wider variety of goods and services, contain
a mix of commercial and residential uses, and are highly accessible via the transportation
system. • Community and neighborhood centers continue to provide essential goods and
services for nearby residents. -
The freestanding growth centers are maintained as distinct and separate concentrations of
development.
5. Aging areas have been rehabilitated so they can continue to be viable neighborhoods. Priority
is given to maintaining the existing housing stock and making it useful for the future, instead
of demolishing and replacing it. Supporting infrastructure has been updated or renewed as
needed. Maintenance and rehabilitation have focused equally on residential as well as
commercial and industrial components so these areas can continue to provide both housing
. and jobs.
6. Regional and local governments make substantial use of a variety of urban design concepts in
developing and redeveloping the urban area. Open spaces and natural features, as well as the
"built" features like transportation facilities and public buildings are used to enhance the
environment. A "sense of place" has been created within the urban fabric through the use of
aesthetics and good design. Historic areas and structures are preserved when new
development and redevelopment occurs. All urban design recognizes that the region is a
"winter city" that functions and is attractive in all four seasons. A healthy "urban forest" is
being maintained and expanded.
Examples of Possible Measures (comparison over time)
Land area in natural resource -related public ownership at all levels
Water quality reports of the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission
Number of violations of pollution discharge permits
River miles that do not meet standards of being "fishable and swimmable"
Amount of wetland acres filled
Quantity of water used
Percentage of water supply systems meeting state drinking water standards _
Quantity of solid waste not recycled
Quantity of hazardous wastes generated
Toxic chemicals release or transferred (millions of pounds per year)
Number of days per year that air quality standards are violated
Tons of soil lost (per acre of cropland)
Number of "Super Fund" sites identified and the number cleaned up
Number of petroleum release sites and the number cleaned up
Amount of prime agricultural land lost to development
Acres of land enrolled in Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves Program
Acres of land added to the metropolitan urban service area, defined by the Metropolitan Council
Number of jobs by location, downtowns and suburban activity concentrations
Retail sales and sales tax data
Annual issuance of building permits
Demolition permits
21 WM JUL 31 ��
Opportunities are available for game fishing in lakes and rivers within the region. Habitat is
maintained so that there is access to hunting opportunities within a day's trip from the region.
4. All major leisure and entertainment facilities in the urban area are accessible by public transit.
Examples of Possible Measures (comparison over time)
Attendance at arts performances
Number of amateur sports participants
Number of participants attending professional sporting events
Percent of homes with telephone service
Percent of homes with access to cable television
Miles of public recreational trails
Library circulation data
Acres of remaining regional parks to be acquired
Number of public access facilities on lakes and rivers
Park user counts
Attainment of National Recreation and Park Association standards
23 CIM JUL 31 '92
Metro 2015
Two Scenarios of the
Twin Cities Area in 2015
U I
Metropolitan Council
Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
612 291-6359 TDD 291-0904
Publication No. 640-92-077
July 7, 1992
Printed on Recycled Paper
c1M JUL 31'92
Introduction
These scenarios are pictures of what the
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area could be like
in the year 2015. They were sketched by
two members of the Metropolitan Council's
planning staff, Michael Munson and Hal
Freshley, as part of the Council's "Metro
2015" project.
The Council embarked on Metro 2015 to
shape a consensus in the metropolitan
community on 25 -year goals in six areas
considered crucial to the region's future
success --the economy, governance,
transportation, telecommunications,
education and quality of life. Later this year,
the Council will begin working on strategies
to carry out the goals.
r
The scenarios grow out of the planners'
personal views and informed speculation
about the future. They do not necessarily
reflect the Council's vision of the region in
the years ahead; that is described in the
Council's discussion paper Metro 2015: Vision
and Goals. The scenarios are nonetheless
useful; they can offer insights that are
sometimes the most compelling because they
zZ/
come from a personal perspective. Munson's
scenario draws on the categories the Council
has identified as being major factors in
shaping the region's future. Freshley uses
somewhat more general categories: the
regional economy, work life, community life
and personal life. Munson writes his
scenario as if looking ahead from the present
(for example, "...most of the already
developed region will not look a whole lot
different"). Freshley writes his as if the year
2015 has already arrived (for example, "Of
the region's historically strong businesses,
food processing and biomedical technology
have continued into this century.").
ry. .
Scenarios can be useful in talking about the
future, not because planners can predict it,
but because such pictures can help a
community decide what kind of a future'it
wants. Spinning a scenario suggests to
people that the future just doesn't happen,
that people have power to shape it. The
Metro Council hopes the scenarios will help
stimulating thinking about the region's
future.
s�
Big Changes, Small Changes
by Michael Munson
If I were deciding where to go for a vacation,
I might want a fairly detailed and graphic
description of the alternatives. Or I might
prefer to be surprised. If I really hate the
place, I can always leave and go someplace
else.
If. we thought about the future in the same
way, we would probably want to reduce the
element of surprise --given all the bad things
that can happen to people or the societies they
form. Although we can't predict the future
very well, we can at least set forth goals about
what we would like to see happen and work
toward achieving them. One way to do this in
a more tangible or compelling way is with
scenarios --creating a more graphic vision of
the possible future.
My scenario is not intended to be either
positive or negative --but thought-provoking, or
perhaps just plain provoking. It does not try
to give a comprehensive picture, but just a few
specific glimpses of one person's speculation
about the future in each of the Council's sir
goal areas. To make them more tangible and
compelling, they are written with more "wills"
than "coulds"--as if the author had little doubt
about them coming to pass. But considering
I've been making" demographic forecasts for
nearly three decades, there is only one thing I
am certain of about the future --that is we
cannot predict it.
The purpose of providing a scenario is to help
people devise plans that will enable them to
reach the goals embedded in their vision of
the future. The question facing the people of
the Twin Cities Area is: Can we agree on what
we want the future to be, and then figure out
how to make it occur? It's a question worth
considering, because, unlike a vacation
destination, we cannot pack up and leave a
future we don't like.
2
The Look of the Region
The most basic element of a vision for the
region is what it will look like in the future.
Assuming we can't afford to abandon or.
replace most of what's already been built,
most of the already developed region will not
look a whole lot different. There may be
some very visible and important exceptions,
but if placed on a map, these would occupy a
very small share of the region's area.
Where the look of the region will change
most is in areas converted from vacant or
low -intensity uses to urban (mostly
residential) uses. These new areas will,
however, look a lot like the adjacent
developed areas --varying mostly with regional
prosperity. If the region becomes poorer,
brick facades will be replaced by aluminum
siding on smaller and fewer new homes that
are built. The proportion of new housing
that is apartment buildings will also increase.
If the region prospers, new homes will be
bigger and there will be more of them (and
they'll still have brick facades).
The most important fact is that, unless we
become another Dallas or Phoenix or
Atlanta --the earth tilts on its axis and we
become part of the Sun Belt, there is going
to be less development change in the next 25
years than there was in the previous 25.
That is because the large "baby -boom"
generation has already entered the housing
market, and now the housing market must
depend on the much smaller baby -bust
generation for its growth.
In addition, we have presently overbuilt
retail and commercial development to such
an extent that some of the next 25 years will
be spent just using what's on the ground.
This will initially limit the ability of the
0.1M 3& 31'92
region's ,few new freeways to attract major
new commercial developments within this
time frame.
Although numbers do not create a very
tangible vision in most people's minds, they
are often the quickest and most
unambiguous way to describe a situation.
This is the case with respect to regional
growth. In 1965, the region had just under
500,000 housing units (homes and apartment
units). The next 25 years saw an enormous
increase, about 425,000 new units added.
From 1990 until 2015, the Council's recent
and fairly optimistic forecasts anticipate
about 290,000 new housing units being
constructed. That number is a sizeable gain
but substantially less than in the previous 25
years. Furthermore, this growth is being
added to a region that is almost twice as
large as it was in 1965. This lesser growth
amount will thus be mostly distributed in a
much larger ring surrounding the current
developed area.
These new homes and the related
commercial and industrial development will
fit comfortably within the existing developing
suburbs --established suburbs such as
Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Eagan, and
Woodbury, and emerging suburbs such as
Andover, Chanhassen and Lakeville.
The Regional Economy
The fate of the region's economy is critical
to virtually every aspect of a future scenario,
and it is one of the most difficult to forecast.
Nevertheless, the Twin Cities economy has
remained relatively stable in its relationship
to the U.S. economy for decades. If there
are no major economic shifts nationally,
there is no good reason to expect the
region's economic health to change much.
Our geographic isolation is diminishing as
telecommunications supplants transportation
as the critical access factor in the emerging
Information Age. Despite long-standing
concerns about the business climate, the
Twin Cities' diverse economy should help us
maintain our economic strength. But the
Twin Cities Area will need to maintain both
a real and perceived high quality of life in
order to offset our climatic liabilities.
Equally important will be the region's ability
to function effectively in a global economy.
I believe the region will be able to achieve
these goals. Building strong economic ties
with Japan will be one of the ways we will
enhance our global competitiveness.
Significant changes economically, either up
or down, would so alter the course of events
that the Metro Council would need to start
over in its "visioning" process. Prosperity
might cause us to just sit back and enjoy the
"surprises" brought by the future, or it could
give us the ability to solve problems we've
only been able to give futile lip -service to in
the past. The prospects of economic
collapse raise such horrifying visions of social
turmoil and rampant demagoguery that I
don't want to think about it.
The lackluster economic trends of the past
two decades will continue through 2015 with
the usual ups and downs, but the middle
class (still the majority of the population)
will have adjusted to it. In fact, many will
stop fretting over their failure to
continuously increase their very comfortable
standard of living, and work to find ways of
equitably sharing the economic wealth of the
nation with an underclass everyone agrees
has grown much too large.
The result will be a stronger economy,
improvements in everybody's economic status
and a significant diminution of the current
social problems --crime, drugs, family
disintegration, etc. The Twin Cities Area
and the state will lead the nation, by
example, in bringing this change about.
Another future economic outcome to look
for is the impact of the continuing changes
in the production and marketing of consumer
goods --that is, retailing. What will people
want, who'll be making it and how will it be
am Nt 31'92
sold? Advances in telecommunications,
narrower marketing, just -in -time inventorying
and increasing desires for convenience will
result in a return to a smaller scale of
retailing at a neighborhood scale. Clothing
can be ordered through an electronic catalog
that contains a customer's three-dimensional
image. The computer will select styles that
will fit and flatter the customer --although
you can, at your peril, override the
computer. These changes will seriously
challenge the major regional centers, which
will have to find more ways than just
shopping to attract customers. Their success
will depend on tapping people's needs to
come together.
Governance
Governance is an area that will not see much
change in terms of the jurisdictional map of
the Twin Cities Area. Because of our
relatively high tolerance of government, its
relatively high level of performance and lack
of genuine crises, there is not sufficient
impetus to erase the crazy quilt of 19th
century political boundaries.
However, by 2015 the number of cooperative
efforts among jurisdictions and among
different levels of government will have
become so numerous and effective that the
need for restructuring government in a
formal way is- not viewed as necessary --and
that's when it will start to occur.
Transportation
The real impetus for transportation
improvements in the Twin Cities Area won't
come from trumped up fears of gridlock --
most of us have heard newcomers and
visitors laugh at our complaints about
congestion. Transportation improvements
will stem from our coming to grips with the
fact that the Twin Cities Area is climatically
challenged.
We will continue to shift from a mentality
that responds only reactively to crisis (real or
C
4
contrived) toward approaches that analyze
things with the simple intent of making them
better. This will result in the
implementation of a range of transportation
design and management improvements --some
of which are already being used and others
are yet to be conceived.
The most dramatic changes will occur with
transit. The region's first light rail transit
line will directly link a number of major
regional activity centers. This will include
downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, the
University of Minnesota, the airport (with
contingency plans to extend it to a new
airport), the Megamall, and a regional park
or two.
It will also extend into several suburbs that
were selected because they had the best
proposal for high-density, mixed-use
development and redevelopment with indoor
connections to the new transit line.
Redevelopment is strongly supported along
the entire line. It focuses on the need to
provide fully climate -protected linkages from
high-density housing through retail -service
arcades to the transit stops.
Although the vast majority of people still live
in the suburbs and depend on the auto, the
new climate -proof transit system generates
new growth and redevelopment at a rapid
rate. It is especially popular with aging baby
boomers, and also with the newcomers to the
region from places with much higher
development densities (and less rigorous
climates). More lines are planned based on
demonstrable evidence that transit, done
right, can -shape development and, in doing
so, increase its share of ridership.
Telecommunications
The Council (and probably similar bodies in
every other major metro area) has come to
realize that telecommunications will
increasingly be as critical as transportation
systems were in the past in determining a
metro area's place in the hierarchy of U.S.
GIM JUL 31'92
and world metro areas. Telecommunications
will also play an increasing role in shaping
future urban development.
The most important telecommunications
advance will be the proliferation of the
portable, flat -screened, multipurpose
communication and computing device. By
2015 it will have begun to radically change
the workplace, educational institutions and
homes. This device will serve as a computer,
videophone, television, library, book, FAX,
optical scanner and probably a few functions
that don't yet exist. This will be possible
because of the continued advances in
miniaturization and the development of a
superb -quality video display.
Conventional means of communications will
begin to change. Voice commands will
largely replace key strokes. Books, reports,
letters, etc., will be composed of
combinations of conventional written text,
spoken words or music and video. Key -word
search capabilities will give people quick and
effective access to incredible amounts of
information. Books will become treasured
collector's items; the paperless society will be
well under way. The impact on the
workplace and schools are not hard to
visualize, but there is potential for
fundamental change in social interaction and
interpersonal communication.
Education
By 2015, the routinized and regimented
structures imposed on people's lives as a
result of the Industrial Revolution will have
been significantly eroded. One major area of
change will be in the educational system. -
The highly structured system of grade levels
and daily class schedules will be replaced
with ones more suited to the brightest and
most creative creature on the planet.
We should also see significant inroads of this
softening of structures in the workplace, as
huge numbers of independent, middle-aged
baby boomers demand greater autonomy.
5
I //
Many people, especially those in positions of
power, will resist these forces, feeling that
society will collapse without the structures of
the past. But future generations will come
to realize that focusing on important
outcomes --knowledge, wisdom, self-support,
social responsibility and joy --do not require
such rigid structuring.
The distinctions between learning, work and
play will become increasingly blurred. With
portable flat -screen technology, education
can and will take place more at home and on
the job. Education and work will become
more integrated, beginning at an earlier age,
with more of it occurring in the home.
These education, workplace and
telecommunications changes will tend to
separate people. Strong countermeasures
will be enacted, by an overwhelming
consensus, to ensure that people do not
become isolated and detached from society.
Quality of Life
Quality of life can be defined to cover
practically any aspect of human life. One
current concern is the decline of married -
couple families. An immediate outcome of
this trend is the negative impact on the
economic status of growing numbers of
children. The long-term effects are also
coming to be viewed with increasing alarm_,
as the disadvantages of being raised in
poverty, with only one parent, are seen as
reducing a person's chances for future
economic and social success.
However, as with many trends that have
been going on for some time, we finally
realize what's happening and start to act
when the trends have peaked and either
level off or reverse. We seldom anticipate
these reversals coming, but only project their
continuation to disastrous outcomes. I would
not dare to predict that we are at such a
point now or in any way want to encourage
complacency. But I would not be surprised
if this turns out to be the case well before
CIM JUL 31'92
2015, and well before society unravels
completely.
How quality of life relates to income, and
more specifically income disparities, is fairly
obvious. Another, less direct relationship is
between quality of life and cultural diversity.
Income disparities also affect this
relationship. The conflict between those
that want to be exposed to cultural diversity
and those that don't has become an issue of
growing concern. The issue might be cast in
terms of socioeconomic status, age or race.
It is hardly a new phenomenon. In fact, it is
an issue primarily because growing numbers
of people reject separation. And many of
those who make decisions that keep them
separate (primarily through residential
location) do so without being very open and
direct about the motives behind their
choices.
There is also considerable focus today on the
growing gap between the haves and the
have-nots. The issues of cultural diversity
and economic disparity come together
because certain cultural groups in the U.S.,
particularly racial and ethnic minorities, have
not shared equally in the wealth of our
society.
This will be important in the Twin Cities
Area's future because the region is going to
be much more -culturally diverse in the
future, particularly in terms of race. The
minority populations in the region are much
younger and have higher fertility rates. This
is especially true of Southeast Asians, whose
numbers are likely to continue to grow very
rapidly due to natural increase (births over
deaths). We should not be surprised if the
region is home to 200,000 or more Asian -
Americans by 2015.
Natural increase will also be high in the
African-American population. More
significant, however, is the potential for
massive inmigration. There are currently
about 90,000 African-Americans in the
region. There are about one and a half
li
million in Chicago and about that same
number in Milwaukee, Detroit and St. Louis
combined. iThere has been significant
inmigration in the past decade, about a
23,000 net gain. This is half the White net
migration gain. This is a remarkably high
proportion, considering that African-
Americans make up less than five percent of
the population.
Most of these people have come here for
social and economic opportunity. If they are
able to realize these opportunities, it is likely
that the connections they have in the areas
they came from, where conditions are worse,
will result in increasing migration to the
Twin Cities Area. We should not be
surprised if the region is home to 350,000- to
400,000 African-Americans in 2015. Perhaps
some of these migrants will be refugees from
Third World countries, as the Twin Cities
African-American community opens its arms
to people in need, not unlike the region's
acceptance of Southeast Asian refugees in
the 1970s and 1980s.
One issue this increased minority growth
raises is: Will there be large enough numbers
of Whites who want to live in racially mixed
city neighborhoods to maintain racial balance
in the central cities? The equally important
flip side of this issue is how many African-
Americans and Asians themselves want to
live in racially mixed areas? Are they as
interested in satisfying regional cultural
diversity goals as in reaching economic
parity?
Another issue related to minority growth is
the impact on regional perceptions of quality
of life. The continued infusion of new
people, who on the average have significantly
lower incomes, will bring down the region's
average income. This could "hurt" us in
national rankings, one of our favorite
obsessions. But if many people who come
here for opportunity find it, while the rest of
the region's residents are just as well off or
better off than before, how important is this
overall regional average?
am JUL 31'92
After the "Deep Recession"
by Hal Freshley
The Regional Economy
The Twin Cities regional economy has
emerged relatively strong --at least compared
to the rest of the U.S.--from the difficult
economic restructuring that followed the
Deep Recession of 1998. Elsewhere in the
U.S., local economies are heavily dependent
on multinational, foreign-owned companies.
However, in the Twin Cities Area most
employers are, in fact, local businesses.
Locally owned businesses and industries have
been relatively successful in finding unique
"economic niches" in the global marketplace.
The Twin Cities Area has emerged as a
"business incubator" for a great number of
new small businesses in three expanding
areas of international trade: recycling
technologies (plastics, chemicals, radioactive
materials, hospital and industrial wastes);
small machinery that meets stringent new
international air and noise pollution control
standards; and cold weather technologies.
Of the region's historically strong businesses,
food processing and biomedical technology
have continued into this century. In
addition, recent reports show that Twin
Cities -based businesses now lead the world in
developing and refining cold -climate
applications, specifically for agriculture,
construction engineering, energy and
transportation. The primary markets for
these new "cryo -technologies" are in the
slowly developing United Republics (former
the USSR) and in western Canada.
The local economy includes all the support
industries for these growth areas:
postsecondary education, technical research
and development firms, international
marketing and advertising experts, and the
new Center for International Law at the
University of Minnesota. Other major
growth industries include repair and
r-�
maintenance services (vehicles, houses,
furniture, appliances and business machines),
and the human equivalent of
repair/maintenance (cosmetology, medicine,
physical activity/recreation and long-term
care).
Compared to the years of the Deep
Recession (1998-2005), we now have low
unemployment --and a surge in the volume of
inmigration to the region. The Twin Cities
Area is drawing new residents primarily from
the Great Plains states, from the older Rust
Belt cities of the eastern U.S., and
increasingly from California --since the series
of earthquakes in 2002-3.
Work Life
If one were only looking at demographics,
one might have predicted that this would be
an era of retirement. By the end of this
decade (2010-2020) the number of people in
the Twin Cities who reach age 60 will have
increased by 150,000 persons: the "baby -
boom" generation will be reaching retirement
age. But a combination of events --the Deep
Recession, which wiped out many private
pensions, the lack of personal savings,
decrease in housing values (loss of equity)
and smaller numbers of "replacement"
younger people in the work force --all have
created a climate for continued employment
of older persons.
The region's industrial/service mix has also
provided relatively higher -paying jobs than is
true in the rest of the country. Coupled with
the lowest unemployment rate in nearly two
decades (4.1 percent now, compared to a
high of 13.7 percent during the worst of the
Deep Recession), Twin Citians generally
have the feeling that they know what the
future will bring for themselves and their
children. Job discrimination is increasingly
tied to genetic tests: legal suits abound over
7 c1M JUL 31'92
this practice. Risk of developing certain
chronic diseases, as well as behavior
characteristics such as "attention deficit," are
now tied to specific human genes.
Many middle-aged people are thankful that
they have jobs at all, despite the
disappointment of losing out on the
retirement years that their parents had.
Private pensions are increasingly tied to
medical problems and disability. Able
bodied, healthy people are not eligible for
benefits. Consequently, more and more
people continue to seek and hold on to at
least part-time employment well into their
60s and 70s. Almost everyone of working
age has -had several jobs --and many
experienced some period of unemployment
in the past. For the majority of Twin Citians
(78 percent) time-limited jobs have become
the norm. Few employers have so-called
"permanent" employees beyond the top
administration, comptrollers and legal staff.
Other employees are hired on an "as needed"
basis, as orders come in or contracts are won.
But with a healthy economy, jobs are
plentiful.
The vast majority of Twin Citians feel very
positive about the improving economy.
However, there were some who were able to
insulate themselves from the worst of the
Recession. Many of the region's wealthiest
persons (about eight percent of the
population) had either no change or
increases in their adjusted annual incomes
during the Deep Recession. Some hardly
knew it happened.
Community Life
For 30 years local communities have tried to
solve their social problems through
regulation, restrictions and redevelopment --
pushing "undesirable" people on to the next
community. During the Deep Recession --
with high unemployment, intergroup violence
and property destruction --this approach
accelerated.
As a result of these policies and mutual "self -
sorting," the Metropolitan Area has become
a hodge-podge of small urban
neighborhoods, more and more
homogeneous along cultural, educational and
income lines. Each neighborhood has
developed its own distinct "personality,"
which is reflected in the composition of its
neighborhood -community council. In almost
every neighborhood, there are a few very
active citizens who attend most of the
meetings and most vocal and influential in
local decisions. In some communities the
language on the street is not English but
Dakotah, Spanish or Hmong.
Public services are organized to include
combinations of these smaller
neighborhood/community units. For
example, elementary schools are located in
each neighborhood, but high schools serve
combinations of eight to 10 neighborhoods;
local police protection is provided in each
neighborhood, but investigation and
incarceration services are provided for 20 to
25 neighborhoods.
These small communities are linked by a
network of public transit vehicles (some on
fixed guideways, -some via highways), and
each community has at least one transit -
transfer hub --for traveling on to other
communities. Because the places where
people live and the jobs that people have are
almost completely unrelated to each other,
the average amount of time each person
spends commuting (including transfers) is
1.33 hours daily. • The private automobile is
still the preferred way of getting around;
however, nearly half of the work force uses
public or private transit regularly.
The Supreme Court has recently ruled that
individuals do not have in an inalienable
right to operate cars that fail to meet air
pollution standards. Alternative -fuel cars
(solar and electric) are beyond the means of
the majority of Twin Citians--so transit and
carpooling options have expanded. For
those people who operate their own cars,
elm JUL 31'92
transportation represents 32 percent of the
family budget.
In the lower-income neighborhoods, people
have adapted to the economic times by
developing a kind of barter economy.
Money doesn't change hands as much as .
goods and services are traded. Child care,
household carpentry and plumbing, car repair
and gardening are among the skills that are
in high demand among family members and
neighbors. Mutual identification and mutual
support have provided a great deal of social
cohesion among these groups. Bypassing the
medium of "money" greatly reduced sales tax
revenues in these communities. Region -wide
there is a debate over whether or how the
state can tax these in-kind transactions.
Upper-income neighborhoods are identifiable
by the necessary security precautions, guards
and electronic surveillance. Most of our
region's wealthiest residents live in the Twin
Cities Area at least part of every year, in
"secure communities" (i.e., privately guarded)
in the western and northeastern suburbs.
One of the most controversial issues now
facing federal and state lawmakers is sorting
out which jurisdiction gets tax revenues from
multistate and multinational enterprises.
Telecommunications and commercial
transport systems have made it increasingly
difficult to determine where money is made
and where the economic transactions actually
take place. Declaring primary residence in
one state or another has become quite
complicated.
Lower- and middle-income neighborhoods
have become increasingly "stable" --with less
yearly residency turnover. The decline in the
regional housing market greatly reduced
housing costs --especially in the older
neighborhoods --and increasing numbers of
lower-income people have been able to buy
the cheaper housing.
In contrast, wealthier neighborhoods are
characterized by significant seasonal
E
z-�
turnover; incentives for multiple residency,
coupled with more and more business and
pleasure destinations combine to increase the
use of time-share condominium arrangements
And lavish rental units in wealthy
neighborhoods.
About 63 percent of the total voting -age
population voted in the last election, but the
political process is dominated by the older
middle -age population. Political decisions
increasingly favor older people. A large
share of public expenditures go to police and
fire protection. Toll highways link the
region's manufacturers to the national
roadway system. Manufacturing and industry
are largely protected by private security
forces that control access to the plants and
maintain order on the premises.
Personal life
Everywhere the influence of "age
identification" is apparent. In work life, a
major issue for management is seniority.
Younger workers (the majority of whom do
not identify with a White -European value
system) are increasingly in conflict with the
increasingly staid middle-aged population
(most of whom are White). Despite the
weakness of the union movement in the past
few years, there has been a recent
resurgence of union activity, frequently with
two rival unions within the same industry --
one representing the views of younger
workers, and one representing older workers.
The median household income (in constant
1990 dollars) fell from $36,678 in 1990 to
$27,750 today. Two (or more) adult incomes
are necessary for households to maintain a
comfortable standard of living. As a result,
there has been a big increase in "co -
housing" --where several families live in one
building and share some common space --
especially among people who are nearing
retirement age and very young families.
Nonetheless, the life-style of the average
Twin Citian bears very little resemblance to
CIM AL 31'92
the perceived ideal of the last century. The
average work -week is 38 hours (little
changed over the years), but more of
everyone's time is spent on "family matters."
With the maturing, of the work force, the age
of most workers' parents is in the 80s and
90s. The relatively high cost of chronic care
(due to the shortage of younger workers) has
forced many middle-aged baby boomers to
bring their older parents in to live with them.
For older people who maintain separate
homes, the bulk of caring and personal
support is provided by family and neighbors.
It is beginning to be popular among younger
people to be married; but the majority of
middle-aged households with children are not
wife/husband parents, but single persons and
multigeneration households in cohabiting and
cohousing arrangements.
The school year parallels the work year --12
months long, but with two-week vacations,
approximately midsummer (around July 4th
is popular), and midwinter (Christmas/New
Year's). The public school has become a
kind of one-stop shopping for child
development. In order to help working
parents, the public schools offer everything
from infant day care to vocational training
and retraining.
The curriculum for grades 1 through 12
focuses on ranguage skills (English and at
least one other language), computation and
science, and physical education/health. The
outcomes that are required for graduation
from each grade also include age -graded
standards for self-discipline and social skills
(self-motivation, study habits, taking
responsibility, etc.) We are still trying to
figure out how to instill tolerance for
"cultural pluralism" in the next generation.
Secondary education provides three optional
10
concentrations: 1) vocational and business
skills, 2) science and math, and 3) arts and
humanities. Upper -division students in all
three areas are required to have a working
knowledge of English, Spanish and one other
language.
Crime statistics show that the major increases
are occurring in white-collar crime:
billing/computer fraud, electronic transfer
hackers, and blackmail extortion via illegal
access to private (personal) files. Since
people often shop and pay bills by FAX,
computer vandalism (e.g., "jamming wires") is
a threat to reliable commercial activity.
There's fun here, too. Videovision (VV) is
the diversion of choice, and "media junkies"
have video games as well as "Leave It to
Beaver" reruns at their fingertips. Spectator
sports are especially popular --people have a
fascination with the struggle between the
good guys vs. the bad guys. Outdoor and
indoor recreation attracts middle-aged
people striving to keep fit. Most middle-
class households have their own version of
the "total-body exerciser." These machines
are programmable for any age or fitness
level.
Video -photography is a rapidly growing art
form. Arts events reflect the new ethno-
identity craze that has been sweeping the
country. Hispanic fiestas, German polkafests
and Swedish chorales now vie with
Cambodian dancers, African-American
gospel choirs and American Indian
drum/singers for attention. The new wave of
arts is nontraditional, a hodge-podge of
cultural references --unlike high -brow arts of
old, which appealed only to a small corps of
intelligentsia. Spiritual and religious
affiliation is also increasing gradually, with
growing interest in meditation and self-
improvement sects.
CIM AIA 31'92
Presentation Graphics
Mary E. Anderson
Chair, Metropolitan Council
Presentation to the
Twin West Chamber of Commerce
July 30, 1992
Metropolitan Council
Mears Park Centre
- 230 E Fifth St.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
612 291-6359
4
CSM JUL 31'92
KEEP THE REGION'S
ECONOMY HEALTHY
• be a player and earn more of
: our living in a more demanding
: world economy
• act as one community on world
stage
• • a lower tax burden than today
The Competition
Amsterdam • Athens • Atlanta -
Baltimore -Bangkok • Beijing • Berl,,; -
Boston • Brussels • Budapest • Buenos
Aires • Cairo • Calcutta • Chicago -
Cincinnati • Cleveland • Copenhagen -
Dallas • Denver • Detroit • Frankfurt -
• Geneva • Hamburg • Helsinki • Hong
Kong • Houston • Jakarta • Kansas City
• London • Los Angeles • Melbourne -
• Mexico City • Miami • Milan • Milwaukee
• Montreal • Moscow • Munich • New
• Delhi • New York • Paris • Pittsburgh -
: Phoenix • Philadelphia • Quebec • Rio
• de Janeiro • Rome • St. Louis • San
Diego • San Francisco • Seattle -
Singapore • Stockholm • Taipei • Tampa
CIM JUL 31 '92
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The Competition
Amsterdam • Athens • Atlanta -
Baltimore -Bangkok • Beijing • Berl,,; -
Boston • Brussels • Budapest • Buenos
Aires • Cairo • Calcutta • Chicago -
Cincinnati • Cleveland • Copenhagen -
Dallas • Denver • Detroit • Frankfurt -
• Geneva • Hamburg • Helsinki • Hong
Kong • Houston • Jakarta • Kansas City
• London • Los Angeles • Melbourne -
• Mexico City • Miami • Milan • Milwaukee
• Montreal • Moscow • Munich • New
• Delhi • New York • Paris • Pittsburgh -
: Phoenix • Philadelphia • Quebec • Rio
• de Janeiro • Rome • St. Louis • San
Diego • San Francisco • Seattle -
Singapore • Stockholm • Taipei • Tampa
CIM JUL 31 '92
PRESSURE GOVERNMENT
TO LEAD AND WORK
• get results
efficient, effective services
• • people confident of
: government, participate
• Metropolitan Council leads
"Governments must spend
less, save more and become more
entrepreneurial. i ney need io sneu
their inflexible, top-down
managerial style, which has become
a dinosaur in today's computerized,
information rich world."
• Ted Gaebler, author,
Reinventing Government
PUT TRANSIT
BACK INTO TRAVEL
• move people efficiently and
cost effectively
many more people choose
transit
: • airport that meets demand
for air connections
CIM JUL 31 '92
. Tomorrow's transportation
system will rely on technology
to stretch the capacity of
today's facilities. The days of
building new roa s to meet
demand are over.
BUILD"COMPETITIVE-EDGE"
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
• "leading-edge" services to
all businesses and homes
• • businesses here have a
competitive advantage
through telecommunications
seen as basic infrastructure,
like roads
CIM JUL 31'92
Most drive to work alone
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. Tomorrow's transportation
system will rely on technology
to stretch the capacity of
today's facilities. The days of
building new roa s to meet
demand are over.
BUILD"COMPETITIVE-EDGE"
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
• "leading-edge" services to
all businesses and homes
• • businesses here have a
competitive advantage
through telecommunications
seen as basic infrastructure,
like roads
CIM JUL 31'92
Many residential telephones
in France have a CRT and T,
keyboard to access the
"white pages" and data bases
such as airline reservations,
restaurant guides, etc.
• Being able to use a computer
tomorrow will be as important
as reading is today.
PUT EDUCATION IN
THE CENTER RING
• a top priority for resources
• high expectations set by
community
• flexible school structures
• trains highly skilled work force
41
CIM JUL 31'92
7�
Education is a castle%where
the occupantsc mo a out only
when they need provisions.
: Ted Kolderie
While Minnesota's ninth graders did
comparatively well on the 1990
mathematics assessment, only 20
percent could perform simple
: operations with fractions, decimals,
and percents, calculate averages, or
solve simple geometry problems.
"The education system fails
to provide adequate numbers
of skilled workers and fails to
educate whole groups within
our society."
• Lawrence Perlman
CONTINUE TO KEEP
THE REGION "LIVABLE"
• individual well being*
• • employment
• environment
• leisure and entertainment
According to a 1990 survey,
98 percent of the people
who live here think this
region is a better place to
live than other metropolitan
areas.
According to the Census,
: 64,798 Twin Cities Area
children and 33,039 families
were living in poverty.
CIM JUL 3 V92
According to a national
study, a child whose father
: is in the lowest 5 percent of
earners has a two in five
chance of remaining poor.
CSM JUL 31'92
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL _
What do you want the Twin Cities Area to be in 25 years?
The Metropolitan Council is interested in your reactions to the long-range goals the Council
has drafted for the seven -county area. These goals will help set the direction for maldng the
region a better place. We'd appreciate your response to the following questions.
1. What kind of a region do you want the Twin Cities Area to be by the year 2015? For example,
do we want to stay basically the same as we are, with some improvements? Do we want to
become a larger metropolitan area? More of a player in the international economy? More
protective of the environment? A region with more -of a sense of community? Adapt better to a
changing population?
z. The Metro Council has chosen six areas considered to be key to the region's future success --
the regional economy, governance, transportation, telecommunications, education and quality of
life. After you l•iave read the goals in each area, please answer the following questions for any
or all of the six areas. i
a. Are the goals in the six areas the right ones? If not, what would you add, subtract or
change?
b. Which goats are most important to you? Least important?
cOVeO
CIM JUL 31'92
What other ideas do you have for what the region should try to achieve in the next 25 years?
lou'd like to mail in your response, send it to the Metro Council address shown below.
itioiial Information:
me
;anization/Occupation
on want the nal version of Vision and Goals document mailed to you, please print your address below:
final
tress
+, State, Zip
Metro 2015 Project
Metropolitan Council
230 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
612 291-6359 TDD 291-0904 CIM JUL 31'92
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CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: July 29, 1992
TO: Department Heads
FROM: Frank Boyles, Acting City Manager 1
SUBJECT: CITY COUNCIL & COMMISSION PACKET DELIVERY
Attached is a memorandum from Laurie Rauenhorst with respect to ultimate ways of
delivering Council, Board and Commission packets. Please review the memorandum
so that we can discuss it on Friday at our noon meeting:
attachment
GIM JUL 31'92
-Z-' I
MEMO
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447
DATE: July 27, 1992
TO: Frank Boyles, Acting City Manager
FROM: Laurie Rauenhors'y Clerk
SUBJECT: COUNCIL AND COMMISSION PACKET DELIVERY
The City Council has requested information with respect to delivery of agenda packets
to City Council and board and commission members. The attached calendars for July
and August reflect the total number of packets scheduled for delivery each Thursday
and/or Friday. The following lists the delivery for each type of packet; however, the
calendar is a more accurate representation. For example, Councilmember Edson could
receive three packets on one day (i.e. Information Memo, HRA, PRAC), but this
delivery is accomplished in one trip by the CSO.
City Council Agenda Packets - 6 delivered
Kim M. Bergman, Mayor
John Edson, Councilmember
Carole Helliwell, Councilmember
Joy Tierney, Councilmember
Maria Vasiliou, Councilmember
Robert Meller, Attorney
City Council Information Memorandum - 10 delivered
Kim M. Bergman, Mayor
John Edson, Councilmember
Carole Helliwell, Councilmember
Joy Tierney, Councilmember
Maria Vasiliou, Councilmember
Robert Meller, Attorney
Michael Stulberg, Planning Comm. Chair
Chuck Ulmer, BOZA Chair
Donald Anderson, PRAC Chair
David Crain, HRA Chair
Qm JUS 31'x2
Memo - Packet Delivery
July 29, 1992
Page 2
Planning Commission - 8 delivered
Michael Stulberg
Dennis Zylla
Michael Wigley
Roger Scherer
Scott Syverson
Barb Stimson
Ed Albro
Maria Vasiliou, CCR
Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals (BOZA) - 8 delivered
James A. Edwards
Paul Dolan
Chuck Ulmer
Fred Lips
Vacant
Ellie Singer
Dennis Zylla
Kion M. Bergman, CCR
Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) - 5 delivered
David Crain
John Edson
Philip Blott
Pauline Milner
Lloyd Ricker
Park and Recreation Advisory Commission (FRAC) - 9 delivered
Donald Anderson
Marlene Waage
Mary Kay Watson
Thomas Johnson
Mark Wahl
Wyatt Gutzke
Steven Burk
John Edson, CCR
Barb Stimson, Planning Commission
The packets for the Charter Commission, Financial Advisory Committee, Water
Quality Committee and other committees are typically mailed unless there is a very
large packet. For example, the first Financial Task Force packet containing City
budgets, financial reports, etc., was delivered by the CSO's.
S 7
,: GM )I 3 VG2
Memo - Packet Delivery
July 29, 1992
Page 3
I contacted several companies regarding possible delivery service including
Roadrunner, Dependable Courier/Courier Dispatch, and Express Messenger. All
businesses indicated that the rate would vary by the distance delivered, the weight of
the packages, and type of service required (i.e. one hour, two hour, three hour).
Roadrunner - The City currently uses Roadrunner for occasional package deliveries.
The Roadrunner representative would not quote an estimated price for service. Each
name and address would have to be called in to the dispatcher on the day of delivery.
The rate would be determined by the weight of each package and the delivery distance.
For three-hour guaranteed service, the pickup time for all packages could be no later
than 3:00 p.m.
Express Messenger - Again all names and addresses would have to be provided to the
business earlier in the week. The rate was estimated at about $6.50 per package.'
Courier Dispatch/Dependable Courier - All names and addresses would have to be
provided to the business earlier in the week. Pickup could be as late as 4:00 p.m. with
a three-hour delivery attempted. The rate was estimated at about $4.50 per package.
Assuming the cost of $4.50 per package, the cost for delivery of packets would have
ranged from $27 to $126 for each delivery in July and August. The lotal cost would
have been about $821 for delivery during July and August.
There would be costs in addition to the $821 using the delivery service method:
1. Someone will need to check with each City department early in the week and
develop a list of names and addresses for delivery.
2. The information will have to be faxed, telephoned, or mailed to the courier.
3. The packets will have to be ready at a specific time, at least a couple of hours
earlier than they currently are. We frequently hold the Information
Memorandum or a staff report waiting for a fax from a petitioner, the City
Attorney, Councihnember, or the public. We would no longer be able to do so,
as the packets must be ready by the time specified in mid afternoon.
4. Someone will need to repackage some of the packets so that we only get
charged for one delivery to each address.
If the Council considers the current number of packets delivered by the CSO's
excessive, there are options other than a courier service that could be considered:
OM J1 V92
Memo - Packet Delivery
July 29, 1992
Page 4
_'
1. Councilmembers and/or Commissioners could be provided with mailboxes at the
City Center and could pick up their packets and mail after a specified time each
week.
2. Some of the packets could be mailed rather than delivered. This may be an
option particularly for the Planning Commission and PRAC where the packets
could be mailed on Friday for Wednesday and Thursday meetings the following
week (would eliminate 50 packets in two months). We could also mail the
Commissioner Chairpersons' copies of the Information Memorandum rather
than delivery (this would eliminate 36 packet deliveries in two months).
3. Staff could prepare packets several days earlier to allow sufficient time for
mailing in the case of HRA and BOZA packets. These meetings are on
Tuesdays, but could be mailed the previous Wednesday or Thursday, rather than
delivered on Friday.
4. If all of the suggestions made in Items 2 and 3 were implemented, the result
would be deliveries only to Councilmembers and the City Attorney. In a two
month period, about 115 deliveries would be eliminated and only a total of 56
deliveries would be required.
om J& 31'92
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