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Council Information Memorandum 01-02-2004
rte/ Dummy JANUARY 2, 2004 Planning Commission January 7 meeting agenda............................................................................ Page 3 Park & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) January 8 meeting agenda .............................. Page 4 Official Meeting Calendars for January, February and March 2004 ................................................ Page 5 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings ..................................................... Page 11 FOR INFORMATION...' NEWSARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. Notice to residents regarding the January 8 public information meeting on the Medicine Lake water quality ponds proposal................................................................................ Page 12 Star Tribune news story about a new report on the relationships between urban and suburbancommunities..................................................................................................................... Page 13 Star Tribune news story about the phase—out of homestead exemptions on property taxes .......... Page 15 TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Directions features on Plymouth ...... :..................................... Page 17 TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Directions President's "Message to the Membership" column with a paragraph about a Grow Minnesota! Program visit to Plymouth ........................... Page 19 Municipal Legislative Commission (MLC) Update...................................................................... Page 20 Robbinsdale Area Schools Government Advisory Council January 6 meeting agenda ................. Page 27 STAFF REPORTS Plymouth Fire Department November 2003 monthly report ......................................................... Page 28 Report on Police Department review of the City's alarm systems ordinance ................................ Page 36 Update on the Plymouth Creek Center Project.............................................................................. Page 43 Updateon Lake Camelot Park....................................................................................................... Page 46 CPIYCOUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO January 2, 1004 Page 2 Report on the Dog Park project...................................................................................................... Page 47 Under separate cover, Councilmembers will receive a copy of the Bassett Creek Water Management Commission (BCWMC) MINUTES Draft minutes of the December 11, 2003 Aquatic Vegetation Management subcommittee meeting........................................................................................................................................... Page 50 Draft minutes of the December 11, 2003 Park & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) meeting........................................................................................................................................... Page 53 CORRESPONDENCE Thank—you note from Representative Lynne Osterman to City Manager Laurie Ahrens for attending a December 3 House committee listening session......................................................................... Page 56 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2004 WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the consent agenda* are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commissioner, citizen or petitioner so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 5. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve the December 17, 2003 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. B. Insurance Advisors, Inc. Approve site plan amendment and variance for a loading area located at 15020 -27th Avenue North. (2003134) 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Banner Engineering Corp. Site plan amendment, preliminary plat, interim use permit, and conditional use permit for a two-story, 48,000 square foot research and development building for property located at 9714 -10th Avenue North. (2003118) B. BertsBest.Com. Conditional use permit to allow accessory enclosed retail sales events in the I-2 (General Industrial) Zoning District for property located at 800 Berkshire Lane North. (2003127) C. BargainJims.Com, Inc. Conditional use permit to allow an accessory enclosed retail area in the I-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District for property located at 3600 Holly Lane North, Suite 70. (200313 1) 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT 3 Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission January 8, 2004, 7 p.m. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Visitor Presentations a. Athletic Associations b. Staff —Diane Evans c. Others 4. Report on Past Council Action a. Approved 2004 park dedication fees b. C. 5. Unfinished Business a. Update on Ice Center b. Update on Plymouth Creek Center C. d. e. 6. New Business a. Presentation by Anne Hurlburt on city demographics b. Update on arts programs and special events — Karol Greupner c. Annual report — discuss 2004 work plan 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication Thank Don Anderson for 19 years of service to the City and Park Commission 9. Adjourn NOTE CHANGE: Next regular meeting — February 5, 2004, 5:30pm (Orientation for new year — light dinner will be served, with regular meeting to follow at 7pm) n\parks\staff\eric\prac\agendas\Jan04.doc J( OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS January 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Feb 2004 1 2 3 Dec 2003 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 City Offices closed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NEW YEAR'S 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DAY 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 29 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, 6:30 PM MEDICINE LAKE WATER QUALITY PONDS PUBLIC MEETING, Plymouth Council Chambers Creek Center 7:00 PM PARK & RED ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 7 30 AM MLC REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING, P"_utn Radisson, 3731 Carnp- Dr- 7.00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek center 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake 5.00 PM SPECIAL MEETING: Room COUNCIL SURFACE WATER FEE, Council Chambers 7'.00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Counul Chambers 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BIRTHDAY (Observed) - City Offices Closed 6 00 PM BASSETT CREEK WATERSHED COMMISSION'S 2ND GENERATION PLAN & UPDATE ON FLOOD ANALYSIS - Public Safety Training Room 5 30 PM SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH PLYMOUTH AREA LEGISLATORS; Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM JOINT MEETING w/ HRA - SALE OF CITY -OWNED PROPERTY (NW BLVD & SCHMIDT LAKE RD) TO HRA, Public Safety Training ROOM 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH-MTKA BUSINESS COUNCIL, BORN Conference Room, 301 Carlson Parkway, 4th Floor 4:00 PM MEDICINE LAKE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, Bass Lake Room 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH 10:00 AM COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES - Fireside Room, Plymouth Creek Center ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers modified on 1/2/2004 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS February 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7:00 PM 7:00 PM HUMAN 2:00 PM -7:00 PLANNING RIGHTS PM FIRE & ICE COMMISSION, Council Chambers COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room FESTIVAL, Parkers Lake 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6:45 PM YOUTH 7:00 PM 11:30 AM TWIN 7:00 PM PARK & ADVISORY REGULAR WEST STATE OF REC ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council COUNCIL THE CITY- COMMISSION Chambers MEETING, Council Plymouth Creek (PRAC), Council Chambers Center Chambers 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 PRESIDENTS DAY - City Offices Closed 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 6:00 PM BOARD 8 7:00 PM 4 00 PM MEDICINE LAKE COMMISSION REGULAR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT RECOGNITION EVENT -Plymouth COUNCIL MEETING, Council SUBCOMMITTEE, Bass Lake Room Creek Center Chambers 7.00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room Ash Wednesday (First Day of lent) 2" Mar 2004 Jan 2004 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 28 29 30 31 modified on 1/2/2004 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS March 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 S 6 5:00 PM YOUTH TOWN FORUM, Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room Caucus Night 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers Chambers 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH-MTKA BUSINESS COUNCIL, BORN Conference Room, 301 Carlson Parkway, 4th floor 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Councl Chambers Room 28 29 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 30 31 Feb 2004 S ]1i T W T F S Apr 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 Chambers 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 modified on 1/2/2004 u Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items January 13, Special, 5:00 p.m. Council Chambers • Review Pond Cleaning Issues, as related to the Surface Water Fee Regular, 7:00 p.m. • Approve 2004 Liquor Licenses • Consider Site Plan, Conditional Use Permit, and Variances for a mausoleum and memorial garden for property located at 15100 County Road 6. David Lee Funeral Home. (2003115) • Award bid for finishing lower level of Plymouth Creek Center • Accept donations for Millennium Garden • Approve annual updates to Zoning Ordinance • Appoint health officer • Designate official newspaper • Appoint Council Secretary • Approve official depositories • Approve annual surety bonds • Consider request to Hennepin County to conduct speed study on County Road 6 • Oath of Office to Police Officer Jeff Dorfsman • Consider Policy on responsible bidder criteria (tabled from December 16) • Consider options for conducting Citizen Survey (tabled from December 16) • Approve request for modification of two resolutions approving Conditional Use Permits to allow 70 percent office use in the I-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District for properties located at 14405 and 14505 21"Avenue North. Sentinel Property Management. (2003 111 and 2003112) • Approve lawful gambling exemption for Family Hope Services for a raffle on February 9 January 20, Special, 6:00 p.m. Public Safety Training Room • Bassett Creek Watershed Commission's Second Generation Plan • Update on consultant's flood analyses January 22, Special, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers • Joint Meeting with HRA to discuss sale of City owned property located at Northwest Boulevard and Schmidt Lake Road to the Plymouth HRA January 27, Regular Annual Report on Charitable Gambling Ordinance Adopt comments on Bassett Creek Water Management Commission 2nd Generation Plan Approve amendment to the City Code regarding Snowmobile regulations January 31, Special, 10:00 a.m. Public Safety Training Room • Establish Council Goals and Priorities Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. December 26, 2003 SUBJECT: PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING MEDICINE LAKE WATER QUALITY PONDS CITY PROJECT NO. 2037 Dear Madam/Sir: For the past year, the City of Plymouth has been working on a project to improve the quality of runoff discharging into Medicine Lake from two large storm systems. One discharges through the City's East Medicine Lake Park. The other flows under East Medicine Lake Boulevard at Nathan Lane. Both storm sewers drain large areas on the east side of Medicine Lake that do not have treatment prior to discharge. Two public information meetings were held early in 2003 to inform the area residents of these two projects. Based on the comments received and engineering considerations, configurations for the two ponds have been prepared. The City of Plymouth has now scheduled a third public information meeting to share with residents the improvement options for these two projects. The public information meeting will be held at: 6:30 p.m., January 8, 2004 Plymouth Creek Center 14800-34 1h Avenue North We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on this project. If you have any questions regarding the meeting, please contact Shane Missaghi at 763-509-5527 or me at 763-509-5525. Sincerely, Ronald S. Quanbeck, P.E. City Engineer cc: Daniel L. Faulkner, P.E., Director of Public Works Shane Missaghi, Water Resources Engineer O: ` Engmeering1.P ROJ ECTS%2000 .:00` \-'037 Ius,.M Ukc Notice i-' :403 doe startr_i.bune_.com Close window Steve Berg: Pitting cities vs. suburbs harms all Steve Berg Star Tribune Published 12/28/2003 It's hard to separate the rise of conservative politics from the rise of suburbia. They are, in many ways, the same ascendant force, and together they steer the direction of America and of Minnesota. One reason this combination is so attractive is its narrower definition of community. If suburbs are, as some conservatives see them, an expression of individual liberty (my lot, my SUV, my woodpile, etc.), as well as an opportunity to surround oneself with friendly and kindred souls, then suburbs are also a potential refuge from responsibility for the troubles of others. Urban problems with crime, poor schools and the like become faraway issues for urbanites to solve alone. As the Heritage Foundation's Ronald Utt explained in a 1998 essay, "Cities must save themselves." Thus, it seems beneficial in the short term to consider oneself a citizen of Elk River or Lakeville and not of the metropolitan region. Suburbs also can become refuges from wider regional aspirations. If central cities want transit systems, cultural attractions, stadiums and other regional amenities, then let them pay the full cost, or so goes the argument. Utt's colleague Randal O'Toole has even suggested that urban downtowns are irrelevant. "For many city officials, the most upsetting thing about the suburbs is not that they seem to be parasites on the cities," he writes, "but that the suburbs do not even need the cities." This line of thinking is wrongheaded and ultimately destructive to an entire region. "Cities and their suburbs tend to succeed or fail together," says a new report called "The Changing Dynamics of Urban America" by CEOs for Cities, a group of leading business and nonprofit executives. Central cities, the report says, "are more important than ever in the changing economy." Why? Because knowledge -related industries still offer the best opportunity for increased prosperity, and ideas are best converted to economic value through face-to-face contacts, dense business networks and shared resources, the kind of atmosphere cities offer, the report says. Racial, ethnic and age diversity is now more of an asset than a liability to business. Urbanity and vitality are important. If you doubt it, ask the hottest, most creative college grads where they want to live and work. The question isn't whether cities or suburbs are better. It's how they can work together for the benefit of the whole. Economies are regional. It's a message the Twin Cities needs to hear just now because petty rivalries between Minneapolis and St. Paul and among various suburbs have intensified lately. As it's often observed but seldom practiced, the competition isn't ourselves but Denver, Seattle and Austin. As the national economy revives, this region should be poised to compete with actual rivals. Central cities are becoming more like markets, some with niche potential, the report suggests. No magic formula exists for competing because cities vary so much, but some findings and advice are offered: IS • Bigger is often better, but not always. Los Angeles' population grew in the 1990s while the city got poorer. It's better to aim for prosperity. • Success breeds success. Once a rising tide lifted all boats. Now American cities are headed in opposite directions, one group getting richer, the other poorer. • Attracting and retaining college graduates is the single biggest driver of economic growth. (Among major cities, Minneapolis ranks sixth.) Universities and knowledge networks are especially valuable assets for cities. • Business diversification rather than overspecialization offers a less risky path to economic success. • Racial and ethnic diversity can be beneficial, but segregation and income inequality hurt. (This is a concern for Minneapolis and St. Paul, where income differences between whites and minorities tend to be large.) • Suburban sprawl harms economic growth when it reaches an excessive level. Regions don't need to sprawl in order to prosper. The report is at www.ceosforcities._org . Its message is clear. The nation needs vital, successful cities as hubs for vital, successful regions. Individual preferences for where to live and work are important, but so is pulling together. Steve Berg is at sber tartribune.com. © Copyright 2003 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. startribunexom Close window Bringing homes to full taxable value proving problematic Anthony Lonetree Star Tribune Published 12/29/2003 A state law designed to shield Minnesota homeowners from huge property -tax increases is leaving about $35 billion, or 11 percent, of state taxable market value unavailable to tax collectors in 2004, according to the Minnesota House Research Department. That's up from $31 billion in 2003, when residential property owners saw a resulting tax savings of about $45 million, according to state revenue officials. The numbers are "huge," said Gary Carlson, legislative director for the League of Minnesota Cities. The law has helped homeowners because it limits how high market values of individual properties can rise for tax purposes. The state, however, is in the middle of a six-year phase-out of the law, exposing homeowners to potentially sharp tax jumps in 2005 and increasing the likelihood of calls for the 2004 Legislature to revive the limits. "This is sort of the Godzilla lurking on the political horizon," House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL -St. Paul, said last week. DFLers will push for restoration of the market -value limits during the legislative session that opens in February, he said. The issue is important to St. Paul, where Ramsey County assessors report a 25 percent difference between the taxable value of the city's median -valued home and its full market value. In suburban North Oaks, the difference is only 7 percent. In Eden Prairie, Mound and Orono, market -value increases for median -valued homes this year soared above 12 percent, generally the limit for 2004 property -tax calculations. Ray Krause, the Revenue Department's assistant commissioner for tax policy, said Friday that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has supported the phase-out because the law has "artificially distorted who pays what" in property taxes each year. Krause said the limits have not reduced how much revenue local governments collected but have shifted a larger share of the tax burden to commercial -industrial properties. According to the Department of Revenue, while homeowners statewide enjoyed a tax break of about $45 million, or 2 percent of what they would have been liable to pay, in 2003, commercial -industrial properties were paying about $85 million, or 5.2 percent, more in property taxes than what they would have had to pay if the law had not been in effect. Krause would not predict the outcome of any 2004 debate on the limits. "It's going to be a fairly high -visibility issue," he said. "It's going to be a hot potato." House Tax Chairman Ron Abrams, R -Minnetonka, was out of town and unavailable for comment. During the 2003 session, three bills seeking to repeal or delay the "limited market value" phase-out were sent to his committee for consideration, but no action was taken. Tax mechanics Factors influencing how much an owner pays in property taxes include: increases in local government spending, growth of the community's tax base and the market -value increase for the property. Because individual property values do not, in general, grow uniformly, homeowners whose home values grow more quickly than others' are vulnerable to higher tax increases. The 1993 Legislature, concerned about sharp property -tax increases caused by booming home prices, put limits on how much market values could grow from one year to the next for tax purposes. Homeowners would be protected from tax spikes caused by market - value increases above those limits. In 2002, a phase-out of the limits began. State law now calls for all property to be at full market value for tax purposes by 2007. Homeowners will find themselves increasingly vulnerable to higher tax bills from now until then. Entenza said he foresees taxes increasing by "unimaginable rates. People are going to be forced to sell their homes." 15 Carlson, of the League of the Minnesota Cities, said his group is concerned about the shifts in tax burden resulting from market -value limits and has "cautiously supported the phase-out." But he said that it acknowledges that the potential crunch for homeowners makes it "bitter tax -policy medicine." Anthony Lonetree is at >alonetree�a@startribune. con. © Copyright 2003 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. 6 Make it Plymouth ra City of Plymouth Phone (763) 509-5000 Fax (763) 509-5060 Address 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Plymouth boasts a population of ! nearly 66,000 residents with an extremely diverse economic base. Located about 12 miles j west of downtown Minneapolis, Plymouth is a third -ring suburb with several key highways running through the city. Plymouth has seen rapid ! growth over the last few I decades due to its strategic I location, which makes the i 1 suburb ideal for the development of homes and businesses. With over 51,000 i jobs available in the city, major industries include: insurance, high-tech research, light ! manufacturing, printing and publishing, telecommunications and computer-related industries. Plymouth's parks, trails and i amenities add to the city's high quality of life. With more than 40 city parks, 8o miles I i AlIake it Plymouth ! of trails and several lakes, Plymouth residents can find diverse options to meet their recreational needs. Additionally, Plymouth has many community playing fields, neighborhood parks, I Plymouth offers hundreds of recreation programs throughout the year for children and adults. Make it Plymouth City of Plymouth Web site www.d.plymouth.mn.us Job Line (763) 509-5072 TDD (763) 509-5o65 CONTINUED FROM PAGED large multi-purpose City Parks, and a skate park. Although 58 percent of the 36 square miles that comprise Plymouth contain single-family residences, townhouses and condominiums are also plentiful. Plymouth serves the educational needs of resident families with four highly regarded school 66 Plymouth has seen rapid growth over the last few decades due to its strategic location, which makes the suburb ideal for the development of homes and businesses. W w districts — Wayzata, Robbinsdale, Osseo and Hopkins. In addition, the City of Plymouth offers hundreds of recreation programs throughout the year for children and adults. . 771. t � ��" �` f • '„`t� � -,.. �+ . y.' a.'s �tir �. '. b.. mess aage to the membership TwinWest Begins Calendar Year In Strong Position Barbara Obershow, President, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce « Setting the Standard. Leading the Way." has been the mantra for TwinWest for some time, but our tagline was particularly appropriate in the fourth quarter of 2003. Since its a sad dog who doesn't wag his own tail, I am taking the hbem- in this month's issue of Dinections i4hare several good news items. Grow Minnesota! visits to CEOs commenced in November. GrowMin- nesota! is the statewide private sector initiative to help retain A4innesota businesses and to encourage them to expand here. TuinWest concentrated initial efforts in Pltmouth with four CEO visits per month. These visits have proved extremely positive as we build relationships with CEOs and gather ideas on :Minnesota's business climate. All visits conducted have given the City of Plymouth high marks as a great community in which to conduct business. Following a visit to Tyco Healthcare, David Helsel, plant man- ager stated, "We look forward to becoming more involved in the coni- munity and to being supportive of Tvin\\ est initiatives that promote business growdh within the State." 'ovember also brought a nett pro- g7ain offering: Business Roundtables. Dennis Zahrbock, Business & Lstatc :advisors. Inc.. and 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year, presented "Building Yom Practice to Ylaximizc Customer Service." Our first Roundtable was attended by 38 business owners, sev- eral of whom were first time attendees at a Tw•inWest event. The neat Round- table will occur Februan' 3rd, with time built in for networking, per the request of the November attendees. Your Chamber's 2004 Business Agenda, which provides our lobbting blueprint for the 2004 legislative session was created b3- Twin\ test's Gov- ernment Affairs Committee and approved by the Board of Directors in December. Brand new this year is a position statement on local government finance and spending authored by three city managers, a city finance director and four business people. Phnlouth Directon'arrives note the "thump factor" of this year's thicker directory due to a larger membership and a greater number of ads sold. Seventy-five new members joined your TwinWest Chamber, which made for strong membership sales in fourth quarter! TwinY'lrest Ambassadors, the New Alember Involvement Commit- tee (whose new committee members have doubled its roster) and Chamber staff helped implement sections of the new retention plan. Three critical large companies recommitted to Twin - \Y est due to enhanced follow-up on retention calls. Strong sales and retention numbers, and sound fiscal management, have helped your Chamber achieve financial stability: Last, but certainly not least, the 2004 Gala Steering Committee over- flowed the TwinWest conference room at its monthly meetings during Octo- ber, November and December. This 1 believe the collaboration between TwinWest and local city governments has never been stronger. FA IV — Judylohnson, Moyorof Plymouth MnyorJud3• Johnson stated "I believe the collaboration between T vin\\ est and local Citi- governments has never been stronger. Working together, as we did oat this new position statement. ensures a stronger and brighter ftmtre for all of us." (see page 10.) T\611\\ est completed the final proof of the 2004 Membership diredory in Ucc•Cmabcr, with printim„ and binding to bc• completed in Januar\•, and deliver\• Scheduled fin• Carly Februan. Several new lavout and dcsiLm elements willl cnhanc•c an already profcssi„nal dircctoa\. \\'hen \•our energized t*roup of members is deter- mined to gross 5100,000 at this year's Februan• 27 event, topping all other previous T1rinWest Gala's fundraising efforts for the Chamber and the Tvin- \'fest Foundation. See the Gala ad in this month's issue for party details. Thcse and main- marc reasons have tri cn us reason to w ag our tail this moth as w -c continue setting the stan- dard and leading the w•a3•! Thank you to each and even- one of \-ou for your con- tanucd support :and participation in \'ulll' 'I\vim\Vest ChanabcrofCol uncrc•c. ML���oUpDATE UPDATE 2003 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2003 WOODBURY, EDEN PRAIRIE & PLYMOUTH NAMED NATION'S BEST CITIES UNDER 100,000 BY MONEY MAGAZINE Money Magazine recently released its list of "America's hottest towns" and three MLC cities rounded out the top 10 cities to live in the central United States. Woodbury placed first getting high marks for having home prices and property taxes below the national average as well as a low crime rate, entertainment, and extensive parks and recreational trails. Eden Prairie ranked 6th followed by Plymouth ranked 9,h This list focused on cities within 60 miles of a major city with above-average growth rates and, according to the magazine, "demographics that closely mirrored that of the typical Moneyreader: college educated, working professional, well -above average median income." The MLC Update it prepared by Nilani Jayatilaka and Thomas J. Poul Messerli & Kramer P.A., 145 University Avenue West, Suite 450, St. Paul, MN 55103 Telephone: 651.228.9757 Fax: 651.228.9787 E-mail: njayatilaka0mandklaw com and tpoulamandklaw.com 71b MLC TO HOST REGIONAL BREAKFAST MEETINGS The Municipal Legislative Commission will once again host three Regional Legislative Breakfast Meetings in order to foster communication and cooperation between city officials and the suburban legislative delegation. The dates and locations of the breakfasts are listed below: REGION 1: BLOOMINGTON, EDEN PRAIRIE, EDINA, MINNETONKA & PLYMOUTH Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 7:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. Location: Radisson Hotel and Conference Center 3131 Campus Drive Plymouth, Minnesota REGION 2: MAPLEWOOD, SHOREVIEW, & WOODBURY Date & Time: Thursday, January 15, 2004, 7:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. Location: Shoreview Community Center 4600 Victoria Street North Shoreview, Minnesota REGION 3: APPLE VALLEY, BLOOMINGTON, BURNSVILLE & EAGAN Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2004, 7:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. Location: Mall of American Grand Hotel — Bloomington 7901 24'h Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota In addition to each city's mayor, council and city manager/administrator, the MLC invites the legislative delegation and Metropolitan Council representatives from each region. The breakfast will focus on the MLC's 2004 legislative agenda with a specific discussion about the state's relationship with local units of government. Invitations were mailed out to all individuals in mid-December with RSVP's due January Th (for the January 13th and 15,h breakfasts) and January 13th (for the January 215, breakfast). If you have any questions about the Regional Breakfast Meetings, please contact Nilani Jayatilaka at (651) 556-9205 or njayatilaka(@mandklaw.com 2004 LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES The top three initiatives of the Municipal Legislative Commission for the 2004 legislative session are: • Support for local control and accountability • Mandate relief • Transportation funding I. PRIMARY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES A) SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH REINFORCING REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY MLC cities support policies that promote local control and accountability. As such, the MLC opposes the imposition of levy limits, reverse referendum, and other state imposed limitations on local decision making. LEVY LIMITS The MW supports the scheduled sun -setting oflevy limits in 2004. With the elimination of all or a significant portion of state aid, cities were supposed to be more directly responsible to their local voters. Imposing levy limits while limiting the sources of revenue available to cities removes the autonomy needed for city officials to make decisions in the best interests of their constituents. The MLC strongly supports allowing levy limits to sunset for the following reasons: • Levy limits were set for two years beginning in 2001 to preserve the property tax relief provided by the 2001 Legislature. Stringent levy limits were re -imposed in 2003 for one year. Since the transition period of the tax reform provisions is now over, levy limits should be allowed to sunset as scheduled in 2004. • Local spending decisions are best made by locally elected officials who have a clear understanding of the needs and desires of their constituents. • Accountability for local spending decisions is already in place because of the statutorily defined uniform local government budgeting process. For example, the Truth in Taxation process provides taxpayers with household specific effects of budget decisions as well as public hearings at which they have an opportunity to express their concerns. -3- REVERSE REFERENDUM The MLC opposes reverse referendum as inconsistent with local accountability, as well as its potential to seriously disrupt the local budgeting process. A proposal has been introduced in the last several legislative sessions to impose a reverse referendum process on local units of government. Under this process, a petition signed by a small percentage of the number of voters in the last election would trigger a referendum vote on the budget adopted by the city council (a referendum could be called even if the levy increase was less than inflation). If voters rejected the budget adopted by the city council, the city would be required to start over with its budgeting process. The timing of the budget process is such that the referendum would occur just as the budget as passed by the city council was taking effect. Thus, the reverse referendum initiative could seriously disrupt the local budgeting process. City and county officials are elected by voters to make responsible budget decisions. Reverse referendums are inconsistent with local accountability as well as time consuming, costly, and disruptive. TAX PAYER BILL OF RIGHTS The MLC opposes overly rigid limitations on local decision making such as Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation. S.F. 1073 (Sen. Bachmann), Minnesota's Proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) is a proposed constitutional amendment to place spending and revenue caps on state, county, and city governments and school districts. The question would be submitted to the voters at the 2004 elections. Spending and Revenue Caps State Cap — Maximum annual increase limited to the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index of Minnesota, All Urban Consumers, and the percentage change in population. City and County Cap — Maximum annual increase limited to the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index of Minnesota, All Urban Consumers, and the percentage change in the actual property value of real property resulting from new construction net of destructions or deletions of existing property value. School District Cap — Maximum annual increase limited to the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index of Minnesota, All Urban Consumers, and the percentage change in student enrollment. Annual collection of revenues in excess of these caps is refunded in the next fiscal year unless subjected to an exception or adjustment or increase is approved by referendum. TABOR requires voter approval, via a referendum, for any new tax or rate (including property tax) increase that results in net revenue gain. State imposed limitations on local government decision making such as Minnesota's proposed TABOR legislation are inconsistent with local accountability and are overly rigid formula mechanisms that counter representative democracy and prohibit local units of government to plan with financial confidence. -4- STUDY OF FISCAL DISPARITIES PROGRAM The MLCsupports a study to reexamine the fiscal disparities program. The metro area fiscal disparities program causes a number of concerns for MLC members. Many of the arguments used in support of the original fiscal disparities law in the early 1970's may no longer be valid. Therefore, the legislature should authorize a study to examine the fiscal disparities program. At a minimum, the study should include: • how the program has affected property tax disparities across the region, • if the program helps promote orderly growth and sound land use, • the effect on competition for commercial -industrial development among communities and, • any recommendations to improve the fiscal disparities program. OPPOSE REINSTATING TRANSIT PROPERTY TAX The MLC opposes efforts to reinstate the transit property tax. The legislature in 2001 removed transit operating funding from the property tax in the metro area as part of the major property tax reform and replaced it with 20.5% of the motor vehicle sales tax (MVET). Legislation introduced in the 2003 session would have reversed this shift and put transit operating assistance back on the property tax in the metro area. The MLC opposes reinstating the transit property tax because it would result in an average property tax increase of 7%, in the metro area, without providing any new funding for transit. B) MANDATE RELIEF The MLC supports eliminating unnecessary reporting requirements, unfunded mandates, and increasing compliance flexibility to local units ofgovernment. Providing mandate relief such as eliminating unnecessary reporting requirements, unfunded mandates, and increasing compliance flexibility would save the taxpayer considerable money at little or no cost to the state. Progress was made in the area of mandate relief during the 2003 legislative session when these common sense reforms were enacted: • Changing property tax appraisals from a 4 year to a 5 year cycle; • Requiring pay equity reporting for political subdivisions every 5 years instead of every 3 years; and • Repealing the requirement that local units of government submit legal cost data to the Office of the State Auditor. In the 2004 legislative session the MLC's top five priorities for mandate relief are as follows: • Eliminate reports that duplicate CAFR (Consolidated Annual Financial Reports) • Fully fund health insurance for first responders • Allow cities to use alternative publication media • Allow cities to use "reverse on-line auction" for city purchases of goods • Allow cities to use "design -build" construction as an alternative to traditional competitive bidding 1. ELIMINATE REPORTS THAT DUPLICATE CAFR INFORMATION Many reports to the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) duplicate information that is already in cities' consolidated annual financial reports (CAFR). Requiring every city to prepare additional reports is extremely costly. If the State Auditor instead relied on information in CAFR's, these redundant reports could be eliminated with no effect on local financial management. 2. FULLY FUND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS The state mandates health insurance coverage for disabled police and firefighters injured in the line of duty and for dependants of officers killed in the line of duty. The Department of Public Safety has a Public Officers Benefit Account designated for reimbursement to public employers who continue health benefits. However, this fund has not fully compensated cities to continue providing insurance for public safety officers. The State should fully fund the cities cost of providing these required health benefits. 3. ALLOW CITIES TO USE ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION MEDIA Cities should be allowed to use electronic, fax, library or city newsletter publication as an alternative to traditional newspaper only requirements. Existing law has no basis in reality — most citizens do not rely on legal notices in local weeklies to obtain information on city activities. Modern communication alternatives should be allowed at the cities' discretion. As an alternative, these could be coupled with a requirement for a smaller newspaper -published notice that informs readers how to access the full document. State statutes already allow cities to publish summary budget information in newsletters, and this flexibility should be expanded to required publications such as: summary budget, (TIF) information, annual financial report, TNT statements, ordinances, officer salaries, proposed contracts, intent to issue certificates of indebtedness, and intent to enter into certain contracts. 4. ALLOW CITIES TO USE "REVERSE ON-LINE AUCTION" FOR CITY PURCHASES OF GOODS This developing practice of purchasing goods works much like e -bay, allowing vendors to check in and continue to make lower bids. The competitive nature of this openly visible market technique results n lower bids and savings for the taxpayer. This practice is currently allowed and used by the sta.e. -6- 5. ALLOW CITIES TO USE "DESIGN -BUILD" CONSTRUCTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING The current plan/specification/competitive bid process makes public construction projects more expensive than necessary. The "design -build" technique is widely used throughout the private sector, and has been used by the State of Minnesota. Design -build should be available to all levels of government. Q TRANSPORTATION FUNDING The MLCsupports a comprehensive transportation funding package that considers and plans for local as well as state transportation and transit needs well into the future. This legislation should provide a fair and equitable revenue collection system, and would include: (1) an increase in highway funding; (2) a new gas tax distribution (CSAH) formula that would better reflect needs as a result of population density and growth; (3) a local option for transportation utility fees; and (4) adequate funding for efficient metropolitan transit systems. Minnesota needs a sound roadway system to remain economically competitive in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and general commerce. It needs efficient and affordable transit systems that can deliver people to and from employment locations. The MLC would support any of the following revenue sources for additional transportation funding: • Gas tax increase and/or indexing • Trunk highway bonding • Metro -wide referendum on additional sales tax to accelerate transportation and transit projects • Local option transportation utility fees • Adjustment to the license tab depreciation schedule • State bonding for arterial road systems i DKTCICI 481 We are a progressive and dynamic ROD D I USD/1 LE learning organization that develops area schools caring, creative and productive citizens. Government Advisory Council Tuesday, January 6, 2004 7:30 — 9:00 a.m. ESC Boardroom — 4148 Winnetka Agenda • Update on District/City Property Development • Update on Forest Elementary • Preliminary Discussion of Summer District/City Projects • Legislative Agenda Items • Once Around the Table If you would like to add agenda items, please call Judy at 763-504-8012. We look forward to seeing you on January 6. 'L � «. � 4 l,�� .� §<<»°Tr \ / . �`� ^ �\�� � � � ^ ^ � � /:2<<� ; 2 \�\a<» » \ � � � � � � § r ,� i . � � / \ ~~/\,mwz� . . , . . � © \: « « .� � � .>».ate ... .� � � � w�°� �� �� w� f /� ;:� w� :< _ �,� ®: m� w< * e�S� �� �fl.r e 2« c.. \ ::?a. � .. � \«\»r \� \� � � .< �� \� � /� � � � � .\w\, /\2 \\: . d. <,: � \ .. y m �© � :.«�-w::.w » ^.y\ . a A� � < .... \ y »^: � °? . «. \:.�� �. , � �� . . : . . /���� \>��� � � k� '' \3»\�\ . \< . � - d » � . / 2f PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT NOVEMBER 2003 Monthly Synopsis Year-to-date (YTD), the Department answered 1289 calls for service. This compares to 1317 calls for service in 2002 (YTD). The highest call volume in November occurred between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday were the busiest days of the week. Sixty-two percent of calls occurring in November were "Duty Crew" calls. Responses were divided between the fire stations as follows: Station I (13205 Co. Rd. 6) 28 Station II (12000 Old Rockford Rd.) 32 Station III (3300 Dunkirk Ln.) 26 November 2003 in-service and on -scene (total response) times for emergency events are as follows. Duty Crew and non -duty crew times, as well as station responses, are noted. Significant or Unusual Events In November, the following responses are notable: November 4 Vehicle accident with entrapment (9:16 a.m.) November 4 _ Vehicle accident with entrapment (8:28 p.m.) November 22 House fire (1:49 p.m.) During the month of November, seven calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-four members of the Department. Training During the month of November, four topics were offered during nine regularly scheduled in- house training sessions. These topics included Company Operations, Skill Stations, Live Fire II and Water Rescue. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team. Sixty-four members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 390 — an average of just over six hours per participating member. C41 1 sc Truck 1" Truck 2"d Truck 2"d Truck Duty Crew In -Service On -Scene In -Service On -Scene # Calls 1:07 5:48 5:35 9:45 11 Non -Duty Crew 8:29 11:48 9:00 11:53 8 Station I 8:05 10:09 9:00 11:53 4 Station II 8:38 12:39 N/A N/A 3 Station III 9:37 15:52 N/A N/A 1 Significant or Unusual Events In November, the following responses are notable: November 4 Vehicle accident with entrapment (9:16 a.m.) November 4 _ Vehicle accident with entrapment (8:28 p.m.) November 22 House fire (1:49 p.m.) During the month of November, seven calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-four members of the Department. Training During the month of November, four topics were offered during nine regularly scheduled in- house training sessions. These topics included Company Operations, Skill Stations, Live Fire II and Water Rescue. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team. Sixty-four members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 390 — an average of just over six hours per participating member. C41 Recruitment During the month of November, sixty-eight paid -on-call firefighters served the City of Plymouth. One member left the department. Duty Crew The Duty Crew Program was in operation on all 20 weekdays during the month including the Thanksgiving day holiday. Forty-one members participated in the program. In November, 88% of all shifts were fully staffed with at least four firefighters. During our busiest time period (12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), only 80% of the shifts were fully staffed. A staffing summary for the month, by shift, is included below. Staffing: 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 5 Firefighters 15% 15% 15% 15% 10% 4 Firefighters 65% 70% 65% 80% 90% 3 Firefighter 20% 15% 20% 5% 0% No Staff 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 36 pL!,M,�O%Tg Plymouth Fire Department Monthly Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education Report Reporting Period: Novembet 2003 FIRE -RESCUE Type of Program Number Time Spent Total Monthly of Programs Per Program Program Hours Station Tour 4 1 Hours 4 Hours Birthday 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Parry/Station Tour Pre-school Visits 6 1 Hour 6 Hours Adopt a Hydrant Program Bike Helmet Sales K-6 Education 5 1 Hour 5 Hours Safety 26 car seat .75 Hour 19.5 Hours Fairs/Community check-ups Events @20 car seat .5 Hour 10 Hours CPS Certification sales 1 Safety Fair 3.5 Hours 3.5 Hours Neighborhood Watch Program Safe Escape House Career Talk Fire Department Open House Smokebusters Smokebusters for 20 .5 Hour 10 Hours Seniors Fire Extinguisher 3 1 Hour 3 Hours Training/EDITH Misc. Community 1 Poster 5 Hours 5 Hours Presentation Contest Banquet 1 Poster Contest 1 Hour 1 Hour Award Misc. Outreach Summary • 88 Monthly Programs • 51% of 173 • 68 Hours of Hour month, 40 Programming Hour work • .77 Hours Averaged Per week was Program Committed to Public Education 4 S PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Station Comparison 50 40 28 32 26 30 n Nov -03 20- 10- 0 1 2 3 Response Time for Emergency Calls —} 14:24 11:48 12:00 1 9:36 7:12 5:48 ❑Nov -03 4:48 : i 2.24 0.00 Duty Crew Not Duty Crew Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date $1,200,000 $1,055,175 $1,009,145 $1,000,000 ` j u AIR f $800,000 1/1/02-11/30/02 1/1/03-11/30/03 Total Calls Year -to -Date 1600 - 119b 1400 1200„ 1000`' 800 r . u M� 600 400�s: 200 0 1/1/02-11/30/02 1 /1 /03-11130/03 12/23/2003 13 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Calls by Time of Day 25- 20- 15- 52015 ❑ Nov -02 10 ® Nov -03 5 0- 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 2100-0000 0000-0300 0300-0600 Calls by Day of Week 25 -- 20 15 ❑ Nov -02 10r ® Nov -03 5 Vi 0 Events By Category Fires 15% Other 43% Alarms 42% 12/23/2003 DUTY CREW STAFFING 12% November 2003 74% 14% 0 5 Firefighters ❑ 4 Firefighters ❑ 3 Firefighters CALLS FOR SERVICE November 2003 38% "O4� �.. ❑ Duty Crew ... 62% ® Non -Duty C rew 35 DATE: December 29, 2003 TO: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager THROUGH. Craig C. Gerdes, Police Chief � FROM: Captain Mike Goldstei f and Office Services SupervisAinmy Ward SUBJECT: Plymouth City Ordinance 1155 — Alarm Systems The police department has been requested to review the City's current Alarm Systems Ordinance. While the ordinance was re -written in 2000, a new concern has arisen. Recently, a local business owner had a discussion with City officials concerning the ordinance and requested that businesses with "higher -end" inventory i.e. pharmaceuticals, jewelry, and firearms, be exempt for the ordinance's fine schedule. As noted above, the ordinance was completely revised by the City Council in May of 2000, after the Public Safety Advisory Board studied this issue in 1999. The City's current ordinance is closely based on national recommended standards by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and the False Alann Reduction Association. When the ordinance was re -written, careful consideration was given to the fine schedule. While several adjustments were made, the remaining and important intent behind the schedule was to offer an incentive to home and business owners to properly maintain their alarm systems in an effort to reduce repeat calls to the same location. In 2002, the police department responded to 2,314 false alarms throughout the City. Many of those false alarms occurred at local businesses. The typical response by the police department is to send two officers to the alarm site to determine the cause of the alarm. If suspicious circumstances are present, officers will then summon additional support. In most cases, the officers will check the perimeter of the building and then one officer will wait for the business's keyholder to arrive. Due to the potential risks associated with businesses that house "higher -end" inventories, it is not uncommon for the police department to initially send additional resources to those businesses s�6 when an alarm has been dispatched. While few Plymouth businesses house jewelry or firearms, we have a number of pharmacies within the City. Of late, no businesses in this category have been subjected to any robberies or burglaries. Plymouth businesses that are typically victimized by criminal activity are: gas stations/convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and the various businesses that have computers on-site. Despite the higher amount of criminal activity encountered by these businesses, they are still subject to the Alarm Systems Ordinance's fee schedule. None of this takes into consideration the number of banks within the City. Their "high-end" inventory also requires a heightened police response and they too, must comply with the fee schedule. As of November 30, 2003, the police department responded to 1,747 alarms throughout the City. On those alarms, 1,517 were considered "chargeable" false alarms. 912 were commercial From January 1, 2003 through November 30, 2003, there were 1,747 alarms entered in LOGIS. Of these alarms, 1,517 were considered "chargeable" false alarms. The other 230 alarms were determined to be non -chargeable false alarms (i.e. weather related) or they were voided because the alarm system had been repaired. Of the 1,517 chargeable alarms, 912 were commercial/industrial and 605 were residential. The chart below is a break down of commercial alarms. (i.e. 188 companies have experienced only 1 false alarm, 103 companies experienced 2 false alarms etc.) The highest number of false alarms that have occurred at any one company so far in 2003 is 21. These occurred at a bank. 397 businesses had a total of 912 alarms. 2003 Commercial Chargeable Alarms (912) Alarm # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 1 15 21 Total # Of 188 103 37 31 12 8 4 4 5 1 1 1 1 1 397 businesses Total # 188 206 111 124 60 48 28 32 45 10 11 13 15 21 912 Alarms The chart below is a break down of residential alarms. The majority of residents (416) experienced only one "chargeable" false alarm. Fourteen (14) residents were invoiced for three or more false alarms. Four was the highest number of alarms occurring at any one residence. 502 residents had a total of 605 alarms. 2003 Residential Chargeable Alarms (605) Alarm # 1 1 2 3 4 Total # Of residences 416 72 11 3 502 _ Total Alarms 416 144 33 12 605 '31 2002, the most alarms invoiced to commercial/industrial were 20 (Turck) 2002, the most alarms invoiced to a residence were 4 alarms. 2001, the most alarms invoiced to commercial/industrial were 35 (Home Depot) 2001, the most alarms invoiced to a residence were 7. 2000, the most alarms invoiced to commercial/industrial were 23 (Armstrong High School) 2000, the most alarms invoiced to a residence were 7. When department staff reviewed the ordinance, there were a number of constructive discussions, yet there was no support to alter the current ordinance at this time. If I can offer any further information, please advise at your convenience. 7d CITY OF PLYMOUTH HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 2000 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER XI OF THE PLYMOUTH CITY CODE CONCERNING ALARM SYSTEMS THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Section 1155 of the Plymouth City Code concerning alarm systems is eliminated in its entirety and the following Section 1155 is adopted in its place. Section 1155 - Alarm Systems 1155.01. Statement of Policy. Subdivision 1. The City Council of the City of Plymouth deems it necessary to provide for the special and express regulations of Alann Systems which are designed to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which public safety personnel are expected to respond, in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Subd. 2. The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage Alarm Users to maintain the operational reliability and proper use of Alarm Systems and to reduce or eliminate False Alarms. Subd. 3. This ordinance governs systems intended to summon police and/or fire response, requires registration, establishes fees, provides for penalties for violations, and establishes a system of administration. 1155.03. Registration and Exemptions. Subdivision 1. Registration. Every Alarm User shall be required to register each Alarm System on the Alarm User's premises on a form provided by the City. The form shall contain all information the City deems necessary to administer this system. In commercial or multi -housing situations, it shall also include keyholder information. Subd. 2. Exemptions. The provisions of this Section are not applicable to audible alarms affixed to automobiles. 1155.05. New Alarm Systems/Users. When a new registration for a new system or new user is received by Public Safety, they will be granted a thirty (30) day new user period in which alanns will not be chargeable. In the event a system problem is found which will take more time to correct; this period may be extended with written notification of the problem and anticipated correction time by the monitoring company. 1155.07. Registrations Non -Transferable, Duration. Alarm User registrations are not transferable from one person to another or from one location to another. 1155.09. Prohibitions. Subdivision 1. Alarm Systems Utilizing Taped or Prerecorded Messages. No person may install, monitor, or use and possess an operative alarm which utilizes taped or prerecorded messages which deliver a telephone alarm message to the police or fire department. 1155.11. System Operation and Maintenance. Subd. 1. An Alarm User shall: (1) maintain the premises and the Alarm System in a manner that will minimize or eliminate False Alarm Dispatches, and (2) make every reasonable effort to respond or cause a representative to respond to the Alarm System's location within one hour when notified by the city to deactivate a malfunctioning Alarm System, to provide access to the premises, or to provide security for the premises, and (3) not manually activate an alarm for any reason other than an occurrence of an event that the Alarm System was intended to report. Subd. 2. An Alarm User shall adjust the mechanism or cause the mechanism to be adjusted so that an alarm signal audible on the exterior of an Alarm Site will sound for no longer than ten (10) minutes after being activated (or fifteen (15) minutes for systems operating under Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. standards 365 or 609). Subd. 3. Any business providing alarm monitoring services shall be responsible for: (1) reporting alarm signals. (2) attempting to verify every alarm signal, except a duress, hold-up, or fire alarm activation before requesting a police/fire response to an alarm signal. (3) communicating verified cancellations of Alarm Dispatch Requests to the city in a prompt fashion. (4) ensuring that all Alarm Users are given adequate training on the proper use of equipment. 1155.13. Fees. Subdivision 1. The following is the fee schedule for false alarms: Each Calendar Year Residential Commercial/multi- housing # of false alarm Police Fire Police Fire Pt alarm 0 $100 0 $100 2 "d alarm 0 $200 $50 $200 4's 3" alarm $50 $200 $75 $300 4 th alarm $50 $200 $100 $400 5 th alarm $50 $200 $125 $500 6 th alarm $50 $200 $150 $500 7 th alarm $50 $200 $175 $500 Subsequent alarms $50 $200 $200 $500 Subd. 2. Determination of False Alarm. There shall be a designated individual that reviews all alarms to determine if chargeable. Acts of nature such as high winds, lightening, or power outages that cause alarms to malfunction shall not be considered chargeable. Fees on false alarms determined to be chargeable will be rescinded if the alarm holder provides certification that the system has been serviced/repaired or they have received education or training on the system to help eliminate future alarms. Verification of alarm system maintenance or service must be made in written format on official letterhead of the alarm company and provided within five days of alarm activation or notice thereof. Subd. 3. Outstanding Balances. If an alarm user has an outstanding balance due the City at the end of the year, they have until January 151h to pay such balance. If not paid by the 15th they will not reset to zero and will not be eligible for free alarms for that calendar year. The only exception to this would be if the outstanding alarm balance is being formally appealed as follows. 1155.17. Right to Notice and Appeal. Subdivision 1. Notice. Written notice shall be sent to all Alarm Users notifying them of all false alarm responses to the premises and their status as a chargeable fee. The Alarm User has the right to request an infonmal hearing before the Public Safety Director to appeal the decision; and, the right to appeal the Public Safety Director's decision to the City Council. Subd. 2. Anneal. Anyone aggrieved by a decision of the Public Safety Director to fee an Alarm User may appeal that decision to the City Council by filing a written request for an appeal with the City Clerk. The written request must be filed within ten days after the decision from which the appeal is taken. 1155.19. Penalties. Subdivision 1. Any Alarm User who fails to register an alarm system after being given notice and ample opportunity is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. Subd. 2. Any person who fails to pay any fees levied after given opportunity to appeal, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. 1155.21. Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems. All new and existing Fire Alarm Systems, except for those in single family dwellings as defined in Section 4, Subdivision B of the Zoning ordinance, that are monitored by a central station, remote station, auxiliary station or proprietary station as defined in the National Fire Protection Association Standards 71 and 72 shall be maintained in accordance with the Plymouth Fire Department policy as promulgated by the Public Safety Director on maintenance of fire alarm systems. The maintenance shall include a L�, semi-annual cleaning, inspection and testing of all Fire Alarm Systems initiating and signaling devices that are interconnected to the Fire Alarm System. Automatic fire sprinkler systems water flow initiating devices shall be tested and inspected bimonthly in accordance with the Plymouth Fire Department policy. 1155.23. Unpaid Fees. Any fee required under this Section which is not paid within the time required herein shall be certified as "past due" by the City Clerk who in turn shall include it as an assessment for a current service under Section 810, if allowed. SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its adoption. ADOPTED by the City Council this day of , 2000. ATTEST: Sandra Paulson, City Clerk Joycelyn Tierney, Mayor MA DATE: December 31, 2003 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director, Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Update on Plymouth Creek Center Project Attached for Council information is a memorandum from Del Erickson outlining the green building features that we have incorporated into the finishing of the lower level of the Plymouth Creek Center. When reviewing this information, please keep in mind that 80% of this building is already completed and operational. The walls, ceiling, floors, air conditioning, heating, and electrical systems are all in place and will only be extended into the unfinished area. We are still doing research on different types of carpet and our choices regarding recycled products, etc. We will also be looking, with Margie Vigoren, at what we can do for recycling of waste construction materials. We had a pre --construction meeting with bidders on Tuesday, December 30th. Approximately 38 people were in attendance. Thirty general contractors have taken out the bids and would appear to be eligible to bid on the project. Bids will be opened at 2pm on Tuesday, January 6t . If everything is in order, we anticipate the Council awarding a bid on Tuesday, January 13th, for this project. We have a full set of construction documents both at the Plymouth Creek Center and in my office. If you'd like to see them, please stop by at your convenience. EB/np 45 MEMORANDUM DATE: December 12. 2003 TO: Eric Blank, City of Plymouth FROM: Del Erickson RE: Plymouth Creek Center Commission No. 0313 DELANO ERICKSON ARCHITECTS .141 r / 10700 HIGHWAY 55, SUITE 308 l PLYMOUTH, MN 55,441 (763)544-8370 Per our discussion and meeting at PEEC, we have analyzed the Center relative to "green" building features that we have incorporated in original and will incorporate in lower level finishing. Using the PEEC checklist as a guide and adding other features, the following is a list of done or to do "green" items: 1. Reduction — Less Cost a. Design is very efficient in utilization of space — centralizing control point with maximum use of minimum corridor space. b. Shape of building — roughly square and two-story maximizes volume with minimum of exterior exposure; lower level is earth shelter on one side. C. No ceilings, unpainted decking and precast concrete in all storage and service areas. 2. Reused Materials — Less Cost a. We will reuse some of the hollow metal doors in lower level finishing. b. We could consider remanufactured or used furniture/AV systems/computers, etc. 3. Recycle Materials — Less Cost a. Fly ash in concrete work and precast. b. A percentage of all steel and aluminum products contain recycled material. C. Some carpets contain recycled nylon and we will look at using in lower level, however, color section is less. d. Roof system EPDM contains some recycled rubber. In any case, ballast is river rock; eliminating asphalt and adhesive to hold roof down. e. Acoustic board with cellulose (recycled). f. The acoustic spray on the deck under Plymouth Room that we have specified is 100% cellulose (recycled newspaper) as part of septum ceiling sound separation between lower level and upper level. =1. Low -Impact Materials — More Cost a. We used wood (renewable) windows on upper level -- appearance and energy efficiency. h. We have specified use of linoleum (linseed product) in lieu of VCT resilient flooring on the lower level: approximately $3,000-$4,000 additional cost. C. We have specified low emission paints and adhesives. d. elle have specified wood (renewable) cabincu-y, millwork. doors and shelving, in all areas not subiccl to hi,.;h cicanability or watcrproolhcss and abuse. A R C H I T E C T U R E / E N V I R O N M E N T A L Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E 4 Memorandum December 12. 2003 Page 2 Energy Efficiency -- More Cost/Payback a. Low emissivity glazing is used throughout the Center; also tinted green for solar gain control. b. Skylight in center stair area introduces daylight in center of building; you may want to consider daylight sensor in future upper level improvements; not worthwhile on lower level. C. We had designed for a future solar arbor shading on west of Plymouth, however, a solar screen material would be more effective against low late afternoon sun. d. We specified occupancy sensors in all rooms of lower level except large rooms (i.e., multi- use tiered, meeting and food lounge) which have dimmers or multi-level switching. e. We have specified "ALTO" Philips low mercury lighting (a green product) for all lower level lighting; $1,00042,000 extra cost; upper level has high efficiency lamps; you may want to switch out to "ALTO" lamps when relamping, if possible. f. The building has an energy management system to which we will add the lower level; it is programmable to allow changing temp in unoccupied zones to reduce heat and cool loads. g. We have specified a CO2 sensor/management system to reduce outside air needs based on air quality/occupancy; bid as an alternate, approximately $5,000 cost. h. All building motors and boilers are high efficiency and HVAC system is a variable air volume system which is most efficient and best air quality. A/C system and pumps use variable frequency drives to maximize efficiency. 6. Water Management a. All faucets and water closets are low flow and volume. b. Storm water is contained on site in NURP ponds. C. Irrigation system is set up to use pond water, Site a. Building entrance is oriented to southeast, sheltered from cold and NW winds. b. Prairie planting in area to west of parking lot. The foregoing represents a significant list toward a green building and probably makes it eligible for LEAD certificate. DE/tlt 4Y DATE: January 2, 2004 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director, Parks and Recreation Eg�� SUBJECT: Status Report — Lake Camelot Park As you know, Lake Camelot Park was substantially completed by June of last year; however, there are two items that are still being worked on. The southerly boardwalk going across the lake is about to begin. The Twin City Tree Trust has constructed all of the boardwalk sections in their operations plant and will be transferring them to the site next week. Work will begin on the 600 feet of boardwalk across the lake shortly and be completed hopefully within six to eight weeks. Because we were able to make such a cost savings on contracting with the Tree Trust to do the north and south boardwalks for us, we saved enough money to construct the second picnic shelter shown in the master plan. The concrete floor for the picnic shelter has been poured, and the shelter has been purchased. The shelter will be erected early this spring, completing the project in its entirety. EB/np k DATE: January 2, 2004 TO: Eric Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation FROM: Mark Peterson, Superintendent of Parks SUBJECT: Dog Park Summary thought I would summarize our Dog Park project for you in that it was quite a new endeavor for us. This project was different in that the construction of the park was fairly inexpensive due to the nature of the park. The land itself was basically an idle pasture that was cut for hay a few times a year. This allowed us to basically cut in the walking paths with a mower. We constructed a major wooden walkway from the parking area to the park over a wetland and a small one within the trail system. All of the work was performed by our I.C.W.C. crew and the Twin Cities Tree Trust. They constructed the walkways, put up signs and benches and did the initial mowing and brush removal. They also burned the grasses as a management tool this fall in order to turn the site into a prairie state. We contractually built the parking lot which we will double next spring. In many cases during the evening or weekends you may see 20-25 vehicles parked in the lot and along County Road 47. In all the park has been a huge success. The patrons meet one another at the park almost as if it were a club. The park is cleaner then most of our others parks in terms of feces. People police themselves. In fact we never have to stock the park with bags. The patrons leave extra bags in the mailboxes when they come. We basically mow the trails and empty the trash containers. We did put up a kiosk this fall and included some of the comments from the users. The park has been a huge success. c:\documents and setting s\eblank\local settings\temporary inte t files\olk3\memotoeb1-2-04.doc r9c0F PLYMOUTFF Dog Park Feedback Data Name Address City 5T Zip Comments Brian & Ingrid Moss 13964 52nd Ave. N. Plymouth MN 55446 Great Park! We come here 4-5 times a week! Karen McClure 15805A 24th Ave. N. Plymouth MN 55447 We love it here! Can we have lights? Jim Allen 3030 Holly Lane Plymouth MN 55447 Dave & Jessica Carr 16572 78th Place N Maple Grove MN 55311 Awesome! Craig & Beth Lindsay 5050 Trenton Lane N Plymouth MN 55442 Paved Entrance - Thanks Kelly Cassidy 275 Lythrum Medina MN 55340 We love it! ??? ??? Plymouth MN We like it a lot and our dog loves it! Bill & Sandy (Feding) ? 17820 County Rd 6 Plymouth MN 55447 Love the long grass! Lights would be great! Shannon Pilacinski 5625 Nevada Ave. N. Crystal MN 55428 Love it! Gene (Shenov) ? 14928 62nd Ave. N. Maple Grove MN 55311 Great Park! Dave Byan 18205 26th Ave. N. Plymouth MN 55447 Great! Dawn Gran 3965 Watertown Road Orono MN 55359 We love it and yes lights would be great! Gigi Rudd 5780 Rosewood Lane N Plymouth MN 55442 Awesome! Lights!!! Robert Hoffman 16709 49th Place N Plymouth MN 55446 Excellent! Gina & Paul Swanson 4735 Empire Lane Plymouth MN 55446 We love it and yes lights would be nice! Jean French 16425 39th Place N Plymouth MN 55446 Thanks a million, thanks for paving Siemering 10512 57th Ave. N. Plymouth MN 55442 The driveway broke my tierod Jill Jenson 1850 Black Oaks Lane Plymouth MN 55447 Diane Moyer 3819 Orchid Lane N Plymouth MN 55446 N: Maint\Parks\Maint\DogPark\Entered Info.xls 4A .:;.:..... r9c )IT voF PLYMOUTt+ Dog Park Feedback Data Name Address City STI Zip Comments Margy Herbert 17407 62nd Ave. N. Maple Grove MN 55311 Sheri Huttstutter 13805 52nd Ave. N. #806 Plymouth MN 55446 N:Maint\Parks\Maint\DogPark\Enteredlnfo.xls �-k-j Draft AVM Minutes December 11, 2003 Present: Steve McComas, Karen Chesebrough, Terrie Christian, Shane Missaghi, Bill Leonard, Dave McCormick, Don Maxwell, John Barten, Last month's minutes: For future Minutes we will use the word endothol rather than trade name Aquathol. Change Wendy's spelling of last name to Crowell Minutes approved Dave suggested a few minor grammar changes in permit language. Under the usual request to treat with chemicals that Three Rivers Parks applies for, it says 15 to 20 acres, which actually is for Eurasian Milfoil, but the language needs to change to reflect that we may need to do some mechanical harvesting at the time of treatment, and some later if the plant grows in either treated areas or other areas Wendy and Dave both had a comment about treatment if you have a time where the water temperature has gone to 60-62 for 4 days, then we are beyond where turions have produced, and it is no longer viable to treat with chemicals. Don asked about mechanical harvesting after that time .... Dave said that what is not treated chemically, can be harvested and this should go into the permit application. Discussion took place about mechanical harvest vs. chemical treatment. This discussion was tabled to hear Dave's comments. Dave Spell out measurable goals • Water quality: in July look for the phosphorus concentration to be equal to or less than the June average. Eliminate the July spike that we are currently seeing. Lower the phosphorus so take that measurement and the goal would be less than xx • Secchi disk number to be determined • Stem density of curly leaf drop dramatically, for example, 50%, 40% reduction, or some other density. Dave will let us know what that number should be. • Percent reduction to a non -nuisance occurrence of about 160 stems or less per acre. • Native plant response: increased species diversity and abundance. We also must look at Eurasian Milfoil to see what it does. John already has 3 years of density data collected with the number of species and distribution of species that we can use as a base line. If we don't reach the goals, then we may need to re -apply for permit for year 4-5 In the public notice we need to explain that turions are a vegetative propagule (like a bud) which will produce next years growth In mid summer when the plants die, collapse it causes a spike in phosphorus which causes increased growth of algae blooms. It needs to be explained that the [is treatment is a long term plan to improve water quality. Shane will do the rewording of the document and send to Dave Dave says over-all the DNR is positive toward the permit. Formalizing the goals in the permit language will be very helpful toward approval, and also will give AVM the structure to look at whether or not we achieve them Material Safety Data Sheet discussion: The committee has decided to primarily use the word endothol to refer to the chemical, but there is concern that the public may have confusion if they are used to hearing it as Aquathol K. For clarification, we want to have public understanding, it might be best to put Aquathol K first, because people have used that before, then clarify that endothol is the generic chemical name once on the green information card. Bill says we should have some statement that we have a history of smaller scale use for weed control in Medicine Lake so people know that it has been used for several years. Do we have consent of all the committee to primarily use the chemical treatment? Don does understand the reasons of the group to use this but he is in a different place, it is not a choice that he would choose himself, and therefore does not endorse it, but he will not take a position of active opposition. This is not in any way to disparage the place that the other committee members are. Next year at this time, we will see if it worked and where we are at. Don comes at a different place with risk vs. benefit. Terrie thinks that all the chemicals, both herbicides and pesticides that people use in their yards are likely causing more environmental damage that the proper application of this treatment for the lake. She would like the committee to explore use of yard chemicals in a future discussion. The committee agreed that this would be a good discussion to have. Bill Article in Medicine Laker (City of Medicine Lake Newspaper) They discussed the at city council not a lot of citizens attended Also Bill sent an outline of what he thought should be in the statement... the response he got was that people wanted to think about it. He thinks the education will be important. He was more optimistic than the response would indicate. He will be putting another notice for the next council meeting January 6`n. He wants to see if Shane could attend to answer questions and display materials to show what is being done. Or materials that bill could present. They will be putting a little document for people to sign in the Medicine Laker because some people are out of town. Bill expects to have to go door to door for half. He expects to get good response. Bill suggests using the back of the green card for people to check off their agreement Steve asked about how long the signature is good for .... Dave says they are agreeing for application for 3 years. New owners must sign up when property changes, or they can dissent. Karen thinks it is important to point out that the cities are working together. Shane asks about mailing it could be joint to the City of Medicine LLke. Bill says yes and also he wants 150 green cards made up with his name and address on it. Steve says color coding the two �r cities would be good. Bill thinks this is a good idea. Make the Medicine Lake Cards Blue and the City of Plymouth green. Public notification: Upland document to be sent to everyone around the lake. Bill suggests a picture of the infestation on the document. Also include all groups, like DNR TRPD (Three Rivers Parks District), AMLAC, etc. Discussion about whether we put it in the document. The lake has to be signed every 150 feet, and to tell people no swimming and no eating fish for 3 days. We will not put this in documents as it will be self evident. Riparian rights, only homeowners of shoreline will get the signing card. This is for purpose of the DNR. Don asks that in the non property owner who is a lake user, needs to be notified that property owners were sent permission cards. The group thought this is a good idea to keep everybody informed. Next meeting Thursday January 22"d. 8:30 a.m. Public information meeting February 4th, 7:00 p.m. Notice to be sent out by January 20tH Medicine Lake city hall 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 5th AMLAC Annual meeting Wednesday, February 18th, 7p.m., Medicine Lake City Hall Bill needs blue cards by next week. Next time Agenda: Draft of RFP (request for proposal) for next time Medicine Lake public meeting to help us prepare for Plymouth public meeting Update by Dave funding for grant application for shoreline habitat Bouys Budget approved for $300/acre so $90,000 per year x three years =$280,000 over-all. Budget also for mechanical harvesting Steve says that we might get economy of scale Terrie says we need to make sure we get applicators lined up in January Submitted by Terrie Christian 12/31/03 MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING December 11, 2003 Page 50 PRESENT: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Aamoth, Fiemann, Krahulec, Meyer, Rezabek, Rodriguez, and Singer; staff Blank, Evans, and Pederson ABSENT: Ritchie 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Singer moved and Krahulec seconded a motion to approve the November minutes. Motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association representatives were present at the meeting. b. Staff. Evans stated that staff is spending a lot of time closing things out for the year. We have begun work on the annual report. With this year's report, we will highlight more of what the department does in the area of adaptive recreation, arts, sports, etc., so it will look somewhat different than in past years. Old Fashioned Christmas at the Plymouth Creek Park was held Sunday, December 7th. It was co-sponsored by the Plymouth Historical Society. Attendance was down with 250 people attending. Evans thinks it was due to the warmer weather. Staff is now gearing up for the New Years Around the World event, which is Wednesday, December 31, from 6-9 pm, at LifeTime and the Ice Center. Evans talked about the new 4 -color Plymouth Leisure Times and how she has received favorable comments on it. Staff is already starting to plan next summer's programs. c. Others. There were no other presentations. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Blank stated that the City Council approved the park rental fees and policies as recommended by PRAC. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS S-3 PRAC Minutes/December 2003 Page 51 a. Update on Ice Center. Blank discussed the calendar of how things are unfolding. We are right on schedule. Site plan application was made last week to the Planning Department. A public hearing before the Planning Commission is scheduled in January. The Council asked for a larger lobby, so a new plan was drawn showing that. Blank said we have taken steps to cover the additional cost of the expanded lobby and concession area. We will soon be reviewing bid specs and then the construction manager will get involved. Blank said we hope to award a bid at the second Council meeting in February. Fiemann said the new plan looks like you could get to the back side of the concession stand when leaving the balcony area overlooking the new rink. Blank said no, that's not possible. b. Update on Plymouth Creek Center. Blank said we are out for bid on this project now with a bid opening scheduled for January 6. We expect to get the project going in February and hope to have it completed in May. c. 2004-2008 CIP. Blank said we have three major commitments next year - the ice center, the 10th playfield, and the lower level of the Plymouth Creek Center, all costing approximately $9,000,000. These are the projects we are focusing on for the year 2004. He stated staff doesn't have a good handle on how many building permits will be drawn in 2004 to reload the funds for 2005, so we're being somewhat cautious on that year as well. Blank said we would be picking from the park replacement fund to do some repairs. 2004 is our primary focus right now, and it includes new trails on Lancaster Lane, a section along 36th Ave connecting to New Hope, and a Nathan Lane trail request from several residents living south of Highway 55. Other projects proposed are replacing tennis courts at Ridgemount; beginning the replacement of the irrigation system, starting with Oakwood; playground replacement at Lions Park; a new warming house at Ridgemount; new picnic tables at almost every neighborhood park; and new park monument entrance signs at the playfields. Greenwood parking expansion is somewhat questionable and may be held off awhile. Projects in 2005 include trails, park replacement, trail and parking lot repair, new walls and plaza at Zachary, replacing irrigation, and more park monument entrance signs. Singer asked about funds for acquiring more open space. Blank said we will have $700,000 for open space acquisition, but we don't have any deals in the works right now. It doesn't show in our CIP, but funds are available. Fiemann asked if we had heard anything from the Begins. Blank said they responded that our offer wasn't high enough to purchase their land. Projects in 2006 are trails, ;park replacement, new larger neighborhood park in Seven Greens, trail and parking lot repair, SLV PRAC Minutes/December 2003 Page 52 irrigation replacement, and more park monument entrance signs. The years 2007 and 2008 are very general and show trails, parking lot and trail repair, park replacement, and irrigation, etc. FIEMANN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE CIP AS PRESENTED BY STAFF AND FORWARD IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. SINGER SECONDED. Aamoth asked about the funds available in the years 2007 and 2008 and wondered why the amounts are so much less than the previous years. Blank explained it has to do with the extension of sewer in northwest Plymouth and how much development may or may not take place in those years. This determines how much funding will be available in the park dedication account. Krahulec asked about the status of Hampton Hills Golf Course. Blank said we keep hearing rumors that it has been sold, but we haven't been able to confirm that. We do know however that the golf course is closed. Chair Anderson reminded commissioners that there was a motion on the table to approve the CIP. MOTION CARRIED, ALL AYES. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to discuss. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Singer asked about the status of the Vietnam scout dog handler memorial. Blank said we have no new information. He said he talked to Sonny Clark at the City of Wayzata. Sonny said they have no memorials in their parks. Fiemann said there are just a few plaques and flags. Meyer said the plaques don't honor individuals specifically, but groups in general. Some of the plaques tell of the history of the site, Fiemann said. Singer requested that the minutes should reflect that the new Leisure Times is an outstanding publication. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION None. 9. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Lynne Osterman ,Hit 17iottSe of ��epreettt�ttitTes Thank you so much for coming to the Listening Session with members of the House Jobs Finance and Commerce committees December 3 at Liberty Diversified Industries in New Hope. We really appreciate that you took the time + ' to attend - - it was extremely beneficial for its to hear directly from so many Gx members of the business community! Job creation and retention is my personal priority as I serve in the Minnesota House, and communication with business people about the decisions they face is important to me. I want the legislature - - and appropriate state departments - - to a be a complement to our state's economy, not a deterrent. I welcome your input and suggestions. To that end, I invite you to contact me at my office if ever I can be of assistance to you (651.296.4176), or email me at rep. lynn e.osterman(a),house.mn. And, if you're ever visiting St. Paul, please stop by my office at 431 State Office Building, or ask to have me step into the hallway if we're in session on the House* floor. I'd love to visit with you personally! Thank you again for your interest in and commitment to growing jobs in Minnesota! And best wishes for a happy holiday season! DATE: December 31, 2003 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Laurie Ahrens SUBJECT: Variety of Updates Happy New Year! Here are updates on a number of items, in no particular order: Proposed Underground Water Storage at Vicksburg and Schmidt Lake Road. A seven - member committee reviewed the engineering design proposals and conducted interviews two weeks ago. The Committee will be recommending Bonestroo Anderlik & Assoc. as the engineer for the project. Councilmember Black participated in the interviews. City Manager Selection. Harry Brull has provided the City with a credit of $4,700 to be used anytime within the next year on any project of the City's choosing. We plan to use the credit toward new police officer testing in the coming year. Anne/Helen have contacted Harry about his survey proposal, but this is through a course he teaches at Macalester College -- not PDI. This information will be presented as part of the citizen survey options. Two Medicine Lake Ponds. There is nothing new to report on the Ryerson negotiations since the Mayor last updated you on the meeting held with John Rich of Ryerson. The next agreed-upon step was that Ron Quanbeck would walk the property with John Rich to discuss options; however, Mr. Rich has been out of town for several weeks and will be returning Jan. 5. The latest drawings of the ponds show that the ponds will take out the south half of the City park parking lot, the volleyball courts, and the flat grassy area used for picnicing all the way to where the hill starts. The beach and north half of the parking lot will remain. According to Dan, even if we are successful in negotiating with Ryerson for some land, it will not make any difference in the'loss of usable parkland, but it would improve the steep grades of the pond and perhaps make some aesthetic difference. A public information meeting is scheduled for January 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Plymouth Creek Center, for people to review the pond plans. Two public information meetings were held a year ago on the concept, and this will be the meeting for plan review. The notice for these meetings has roughly been to all residents east of Medicine Lake to Highway 169 from 3rd Avenue to 26th Avenue, and then going further southerly and northerly around the lake. The plans will be cominglo the Council after the public information meeting. If you cannot make the public information meeting and would like to see the plans prior to considering them at a regular Council meeting, stop by the Engineering Dept. Police Chief Resignation. Chief Gerdes submitted his resignation today to be effective February 27. Interviews will be held in early February and the new chief will be in place by the time Craig leaves. I talked with Harry Brull about this, and he concurred that the proposed process is appropriate given the considerations that I discussed with him. I have also talked with Mike about this, and he is understanding of the reasons that I feel this process will benefit both the City and him. In addition to affirming the selection for the department and the public, and avoiding a difficult situation in the future when other department directors leave, it will allow me to include a citizen and business representative, the Fire Chief, and police representatives in the process. Capital Improvement Prop -ram. Mike Kohn is making good progress on the CIP. We will have a draft to you in a few weeks and are anticipating a public hearing at the Planning Commission on Feb. 7 and consideration by the Council in late Feb. Because many of the projects are already being planned or underway (public safety building expansion, various water improvements and park projects), I don't think there will be any major surprises. Alarm Ordinance. Several weeks ago, Mayor Johnson, Captain Goldstein, and I met with David Johnson, owner of Jewelry World, in order to resolve past due alarm bills. At the meeting, we agreed to review the City's alarm ordinance and to provide this information to the City Council in the event you want to consider changes to the ordinance. This report appears in your Friday CIM. Based on the facts in the report, we believe the current ordinance is working, and staff is not initiating any changes to the ordinance. Please let us know at a future Council meeting if you disagree. Business owners were included in theprocess when the alarm ordinance was enacted, and we would propose doing it again if changes are desired by the Council. New Meeting Dates to Mark on Your Calendar. Tuesday, January 13, 7:30 a.m. MLC Legislative Breakfast (call Kurt to RSVP) Wednesday, January 21, 5:30 p.m. Meeting with Area Legislators Wednesday, February 11, 11:30 a.m. TwinWest State of the City meeting Tuesday, April 13, 11:30 a.m. Annual Employee Recognition Event. DATE: December 31, 2003 TO: Mayor, City Council, Department Directors FROM: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager SUBJECT: City Attorney Evaluation The annual contract with the City Attorney provides for an annual performance review. Please complete the attached review form with respect to the performance of the City Attorney's office for 2003 and return to me by January 9. Thank you. NAME EVALUATION OF CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES DECEMBER 2003 (circle an answer and provide any comments) 1. Please rate the overall quality of advice and work provided by the City Attorney. Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 2. Please rate the timeliness of the advice or work. Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 3. Please rate how well the City Attorney's office helps prevent law suits against the City Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 4. Please rate the performance of the City Attorney during official Council meetings Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 5. Please rate your overall satisfaction with your communication with the City Attorney Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 6. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the cost for City Attorney services Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 7. Please rate your overall confidence in the integrity and ethics of the City Attorney Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: 8. Please rate your general satisfaction with the City's prosecution service Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement Poor Comments: Any additional comments: