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Council Information Memorandum 01-30-2004
CITYCOUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO i�41 JANUARY 30, 2004 Planning Commission February 4 meeting agenda.......................................................................... Page 3 Human Rights Commission February 5 meeting agenda................................................................. Page 4 Park & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) February 5 meeting agenda ............................ Page 5 Official Meeting Calendars for January, February and March 2004 ................................................ Page 7 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings .................................................... Page 13 FOR INFORMATION.'.:' NEWSARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. Notice of League of Minnesota Cities Leadership Conference for Experienced Officials ............ Page 14 City news release announcing the establishment of a task force to study water—related issuesin the city............................................................................................................................. Page 15 Home Free year—end numbers for 2003......................................................................................... Page 19 TwinWest Chamber of Commerce 2004 Legislative Priorities Summary ...................................... Page 21 Information from the City of Minnetonka noting major construction projects scheduled for2004........................................................................................................................................... Page 22 Brookings Institution report on affordable housing strategies........................................................ Page 23 Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission February 2 meeting agenda ............................. Page 31 Robbinsdale Area School Government Advisory Council February 3 meeting agenda ................ Page 32 STA FFREPORTS Fire Department December 2003 Report ....................................................................................... Page 33 MINUTES Youth Advisory Council January 12 meeting................................................................................. Page 41 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO January 30, 2004 Page 2 Suburban Rate Authority Annual Meeting draft minutes............................................................... Page 44 CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY—CORRESPONDENCE Letter to Chuck and Maryann Dorsey regarding flood damage to their home; a copy of Mrs. Dorsey's original letter is also included................................................................. Page 48 Letter from Mark and Katie Pitman regarding flooding issues at their home; a copy of the letter has been forwarded to Public Works Director Dan Faulkner for a response .............. Page 50 Summary of 2004 correspondence tracking................................................................................... Page 51 CORRESPONDENCE Letter from State Auditor Patricia Anderson regarding the City's unreserved fund balance ......... Page 52 E—mail communique from Dennis Kamrath regarding the City's website.................................... Page 53 E—mail communique from Stephanie Bellegge regarding the City's Financial Extra ................... Page 54 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 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 January 21, 2004 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. City of Plymouth. 2004-2008 Capital Improvements Program. (2004001) B. City of Plymouth. Comprehensive plan amendments to the Water Plan, Parks Plan, and Public Facilities Plan. (2003138 & 2003139) 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Accept Planning Commission 2003 Annual Report. B. Election of Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair for 2004. C. Appointment of Planning Commissioner to serve as liaison to the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. 8. ADJOURNMENT AGENDA Plymouth Human Rights Commission February 5, 2004 Orientation at 5:30 p.m. Employee Lunch Room (lower level) Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room 1. Call to Order 2. Approve Minutes 3. Approve Agenda 4. Presentation A. Racial Profiling Study S. Committee Reports A. Student Workshop Committee B. Community Awareness Committee C. Community Education Committee D. Human Rights Incident Response Team 6. Old Business A. Election of Vice Chairperson B. Prioritize 2004 Work Plan 7. New Business A. Black History Committee Representative, February 19 B. LMHRC Meeting February 22 C. Board and Commission Event, February 23 8. Announcements and Articles (for your information) A. Ending racism, one person at a time, Star Tribune Article B. Russian —speaking Christian Congregation listings, Star Tribune Article (from Mort Ryweck) C. Golden Valley HRC Minutes D. New Hope HRC Minutes E. Tolerance.Org Articles on Brown V. Board 9. Adjourn Next Meeting: March 4, 2004 Call Sue Gulbrand at 763-509-5053 if you are unable to attend the meeting. i Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission February 5, 2004, 7 p.m. AGENDA * Election of Chair and Vice Chair 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Visitor Presentations a. Athletic Associations b. Staff — Diane Evans and Cindy Anderson c. Others 4. Report on Past Council Action a. Award bid on Plymouth Creek Center lower level b. C. 5. Unfinished Business a. Update on Plymouth Creek Center b. Update on Ice Center c. Approve Annual Report d. e. 6. New Business a. b. C. 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication 9. Adjourn Next regular meeting — March 11 n\parks\staff\eric\prac\agendas\Feb04.doc OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS February 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 700 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUM RIGHTS COMMISSION] Medicine Lake R 2:00 PM -7:00 PM FIRE &ICE FESTIVAL, Parkers Lake 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL 11:30AM TWIN WEST STATE OF THE CITY - Plymouth Creek Center Chambers MEETING, Council Chambers 6:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC): PUBLIC HEARING, Council Chambers 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 PRESIDENTS DAY - Cit Y 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 & COMMISSION RECOGNITION 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL 4 00 PM MEDICINE LAKE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, Bass EVENT -Plymouth MEETING, Council Lake Room Creek Center Chambers 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT)- McC,cine Lake Room Ash Wednesday (First Day of Lent) 29 Jan 2004 Mar 2004 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 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 1/29/2004 i OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS March 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 5:30 PM YOUTH TOWN FORUM, Plymouth Creek Center 2 Caucus Night 3 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 4 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room 5 6 7 8 9 5:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: UPDATE ON FLOOD ANALYSIS, Public Safety Training Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 10 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 11 7:00 PM PARK 8 REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 12 13 14 15 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 16 6:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: TRANSPORTATION STUDIES FOR VICKSBURG LN 8 MEDINA RD, Public Safety Training Room 17 7:00 PIA PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 18 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 19 20 21 22 23 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH-MTKA BUSINESS COUNCIL, BORN Conference Room, 301 Carlson Parkway, 4th Floor 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 24 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 25 26 27 28 29 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 30 31 Feb 2004 S M T W T F S Apr 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 modified on 1/29/2004 i OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS April 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday May 2004 S M T W T F S 1 1 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - 2 3 Mar 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Medicine Lake Room 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 4 S 6 7 8 9 10 DAYLIGHT Passover 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PARK & Good Friday SAVINGS COMMENCES - begins at sunset PLANNING COMMISSION, REC ADVISORY COMMISSION set clocks ahead 1 Council Chambers (PRAC), Council hour Chambers Palm Sunday 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Easter 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Public Safety Training Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room Chambers 7:00 PM BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, Council Chambers 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM EMBER BILDSOE TOWN CBILDSO TOWN FORUM, Plymouth creek Center 8:00 AM -1:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STUDENT WORKSHOP, Plymouth Ice Center 25 26 27 28 29 30 6:45 PM YOUTH 7:00 PM 7:00 PM ADVISORY COUNCIL, Public Safety Training Room REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON Chambers TRANSIT (PACT) - 7:00 PM BOARD OF Medicine Lake Room EQUALIZATION (RECONVENED), Council Chambers modified on 1/29/2004 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items February 10, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Recognize 20th anniversary of Plymouth Metrolink j • Hearing on application for on -sale 3.2 malt liquor 1; " Inc. d/b/a Plymouth Playhouse, 2705 Annapolis Lanz, • Approve Site Plan for Ice Center expansion project • Approve a site plan amendment for installation of two 6,000 gallon vee,._ storage tanks at 625 Xenium Lane North. Olympic Steel. (2003136) • Approve a site plan amendment and variances to allow a Schwan's Food Co. frozen foods warehouse at 2800 Niagara Lane North. Hammel, Green & Abrahamson. (2003140) • Approve lawful gambling exemption for Providence Academy for an event on May 1 • Approve amendments to the development contracts and city council resolutions for Nanterre and Courts at Nanterre. Moen Leuer Homes Inc. (94093 and 96023) • Approve Labor Agreement between the City and LELS (Sergeant's bargaining unit) for calendar years 2004-2005 • Set public hearing for March 9 on sale of property at Schmidt Lake Road and Northwest Blvd. February 23, Board & Commission Recognition Event, 6:00 p.m., Plymouth Creek Center February 24, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Consider adoption of 2004-2008 Capital Improvement Program • Adopt Comprehensive Plan Amendment to update Water Plan, Public Facilities Plan, and Parks Plan • Award Ice Center Bid Package 1 • Hearing on removal and destruction of diseased trees, Roll 1 • Hearing on weed eradication and destruction, Roll 2 March 9, Special, 5:00 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Consider flood improvement project funding • Consider remaining flood improvement study areas March 9, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Award Ice Center Bid Package 2 • Receive 2003 Unaudited Financial Statements and Approve Transfers March 23, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. �I League of Minnesota Cities 145 University Ave. West st. P-;. IAN 55103-2044 (651) 281-1200 Start your New Year with LMCs Leadership Conference for Experienced Officials Attend this conference designed to inspire, refresh, and skill - build. Hear from renowned expert in municipal governance, John Nalbandian. Re,14--tration fee is $175. Register online ADMTNTF:'rPVPOP OR CTT -F -PV at vvvvw.lmnc.org- �400 DLYN101771" 1:ZT-\7D DT YMOT TTTP MN 4 4 7 A 4 8 i 1i t 1! 111 1! 1 1! 1 11 11111 1 1: 1 1 11111 Feb. 20-21, 2004 Plymouth, MN Radisson Hotel & Conference Center 3131 Campus Drive (763) 559-6600 John, Aalbandian, Ph.D.— Chair. Drparrmrnt ofPublir Adynin, Y. rarjOYL 1 1771'vercit)- of turn .1--lation-parkrd d,7)a. League of'Alinnesota Cities presents Leadership Conference for Experienced Officials Yopir.1-0i'10: Contemporary Trends in Local Government www.lmnc.org I � City of Plymouth News Release For Immediate Release Contact: January 29, 2004 Dan Faulkner, 763.509.5520 Plymouth Establishes Task Force to Examine Funding for Pond Cleaning, Flooding and Drainage Issues The issue of cleaning out water treatment ponds in Plymouth has generated a high level of interest, but as yet no broad agreement on how to proceed, so the City Council is forming a citizen task force to study the matter. In addition, the task force will look at the related issues of drainage and flooding to help the City Council determine a course of action to comprehensively address all three issues. The City Council's decision to form a task force came after a Jan. 13 public information meeting. About 100 residents attended the meeting and voiced opinions on all sides of the pond cleaning issue. After hearing public comment, the City Council determined that the broader issue of maintaining Plymouth's entire drainage network — not just federally required ponds — should be addressed. Stay in the Loop Citizens interested in being notified of task force meetings should call Sheila Langer at 763-509-5056. Please be sure to leave your name, mailing address and phone number. Ponds as Filters The City Council is looking at pond cleaning because the federal government requires that cities protect water quality. This is commonly done by constructing water quality ponds along with new developments. In addition to the federal requirements, the State of Minnesota also mandates that the City meet certain surface water quality standards. Plymouth currently does not do any pond cleaning. The task force will look at a variety of funding mechanisms for any proposed program, including ad valorem taxes, the City's General Fund, surface water fee and grants. The monthly $3.25 surface water fee, which residents pay on their utility bills, currently is not used for pond cleaning. The amount of funding needed for storm water pond maintenance could be substantial depending on the scope of the program. If the City undertakes a broader program that includes natural wetlands (used as storm water treatment ponds) as well as the storm water ponds that are constructed with new developments, additional funding would be needed. Each of these elements plays an important role in protecting water quality in Plymouth's lakes, and the City does not have a comprehensive plan for systematically dredging and cleaning these water features. Plymouth has more than 700 water features which help filter pollutants and sediment from storm water runoff before it reaches Plymouth's eight lakes. Of these water features, 214 are required to protect water quality as mandated by the federal government. These ponds are the result of a federal law called the Clean Water Act. The resulting ponds are designed to standards that were developed following a federal study called the National Urban Runoff Program (NURP). Public Works Director Dan Faulkner expects that about 100 NURP ponds will be added over the next decade as new developments are built. These NURP ponds need to be cleaned every 5 to 20 years at a cost ranging from about $10,000 to $30,000 per pond. In addition, the remaining 520 water features are naturally occurring wetlands, drainage ways and sediment basins that also need to be cleaned periodically at varying costs. Cleaning is required to ensure that these water features can do their job of protecting the water quality of Plymouth's lakes. Cleaning typically consists of dredging accumulated sediment that has reduced the capacity � �r of the pond to hold water. Reduced capacity allows water containing sediment, phosphorus and other pollutants to prematurely flow into the larger lakes that are used for swimming, boating and fishing. Who is Responsible? Of the 734 existing water features, the City has agreements with homeowners' associations that require the associations to clean only the 214 NURP ponds. These ponds were constructed during the development phase by the developers and then, by agreement, turned over to a homeowners association (HOA) or other property owner at the completion of the construction project. Under these pond agreements agreements, developers were originally responsible for pond cleaning during construction. But, most, if not all, signed the responsibility over to homeowner associations after construction was complete. Some HOAs exist only on paper, others are unaware that they have this responsibility, still others feel they do not have the technical capability to undertake this kind of task and want the City to step in and take over that responsibility, according to Faulkner. In addition, most agreements include a clause that allows the property owners or homeowner association to request that the City take over pond maintenance once the City implements a pond cleaning program funded by the surface water fee. At this point, the City does not have a pond cleaning program for any ponds in Plymouth. Protecting the Investment Plymouth has invested substantial sums to improve the water quality of Medicine and Parkers Lakes in recent years, and improvements in those two lakes can be documented. The concern is that if the ponds, wetlands and drainage ways are not cleaned, they will lose their filtering functions and Plymouth's lakes will again receive pollutants and sediment -- undoing the progress that the community has made in improving lake water quality. Surface Water Fee The City adopted a surface water fee in 2001 to help fund projects that address water quality and drainage issues. The fee has been used to undertake water quality initiatives, address drainage issues, and educate the public on water quality issues and best management practices. From: Laura at Home Free Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 5:17 PM To: Elliott B. Knetsch; Craig Lindman; Laurie Ahrens; Craig Gerdes Subject: Plymouth Reports: I have put together year end numbers for 2003. 1 have also shown 2002 so you have something to compare. Am meeting with some of you on the 10 of February there are a couple of items I wanted to talk about if you have any questions we can go over them at the meeting. I wanted to thank the City of Plymouth, The Plymouth Police Dept. and the City Prosecutor for their continued support. We could not continue serving victims of domestic violence at the same level if not for your support. Sincerely Laura 0 O r (D 1- rV (D Cl) O S 00 Cl) IQ -O) I' r r O 00 CO r- M (D M00 0 r 00 N r f-- r CO r r r c) r- 00 r O) O f- O) CD M LO V' r (D N r Cl) LO >-N N CO O (D O CD M (D � ti M ti Cl) LO 00 0) Lf) N t- (fl N N V r O 00 r 00 IT N ( O r r 00 ( D N M O t- Q) CO Ln V V N r r M CO M Lf) % N r N M r O M N O O M r co r N (- (D C3, N N N (D N Lo f- _ cM N (D r N O) r V f- L() N (M V 0) I- O L(') r r r vC7N N V N O) qr O p N L1) LC) O) 00 Il r Lf) N O O N N r _ N N V LO V• - N Ln 00 N N N OO M 14CiN N M r r Lf) r r LO CO M r (D r M 00 M IT M N ti ti 0) Q' MO NM r N r C) r� V (fl r r O) N M CYN r- d' M r d Lf) r N I- N LO M M f- r M N LO (D co N V• LO O Q' 04 �- O r N I r M 0 0) r r rCY) M ~ cf r r (D C-) C'1 N O N O c) Ln IT M r N N MM r f- V M M Cl) N D 1- O r O lY M N Ln r 0 N M M LO (D N N (V C) LO Z p LnCD r r r N C Y N O r C)N r (D r r (D (D (D r I- I' 00 00 � r O O) MM (D N (C) r r Lo '' r M CO (D r r N M N Z F- o M r N N (D N N f-00 M N r V �- <- 00 LO V- (D M r r Lf) r r C) L.) r M ~ N O N C)r r N N ti N r C) 0) M r (n F- C) � CY Cf)r r 00 O I- ',;Tr N M r O il- O0') (M r r O M LO O CY) Q, N N (D r r (D LO r M () LO N Cl) N 07 V (n F- CO M r 0 C1N IL LU N } Cl) @- W LLI LU m 'a m W o— o QU4 CL'w QC) a °��° cI% ��a�i U My 0 N C O U C O tll Q.-6 (D O �co V V •� C (d C D •a O D (� m U)� E U d •D MO ��'L 'p O E O O •� O O U {.Z M CD m fn V U) > O > L O c O C U)= a) a) a) c QU Q C_ a C N -p -p Q a m O cB O n O Z O O N a C (n p= VJ r N rn V (D 'U U O d C E (•7 LLI L L_ V% C O0 Q } J W a) j C Q Q Ln c () � •0 co) - 0 o�~ (!J c C Q c C a) O 1- O �- 0 ,�-, Q m @ aci aci L_co �_ Q -t c Q U 0 F � � U` of N a �`' Q� ii b 3 3 J O� O o O OUO a a) y v7Q li —� Q c � a L� 5aU � �d� E u- - v7 U o c Q 0 � � 0 0 0 M = m = co co c� L o U cn " l— ca li .c d _l o�0000�.2 :# = �# *k *k t D cA U TWIIVWI=S—r— CHAMBER CHAMBER O F COMMERCE 2004 TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Legislative Priorities & Position Statements EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Legislative Priorities Tax Poliev ■ General Principles - Opposed to the creation of new taxes - Taxes should not be hidden - Accountable tax system - Support sales -only corp. apportionment ■ Property Tax - Maintain 2001 reforms ■ Sales & Use Tax - Oppose sales tax on business services - Convert capital equipment refund to exemption ■ Local Option Sales Tax - Oppose local sales taxes Government Spending ■ New programs only allo,,ved with offsetting cuts ■ Bonding projects — statewide importance ■ Mandates should be controlled Local Government Reform ■ Taxes based on services and growth — rather than levy limits ■ Visible & understandable revenue streams ■ Fees related to the cost of services ■ Oppose franchise fees on utilities ■ Sales tax exemption for local government ■ Reform LGA Transportation Funding ■ Create a statewide business vision ■ Oppose funding reductions ■ Rely on user fees: - Gas tax, -,1VST dedication, license tab fees, g.o. bonds for highways, FAST .lanes Health Care ■ Expand product flexibility ■ Incentives for new purchasing options ■ Allow market forces to work ■ Employee participation • Oppose mandates that stifle competition and increase costs Education Policy ■ Funding for K-12 education should not be cut • Alternative compensation system ■ Binding arbitration ■ Simplify and add accountability to funding formula ■ Measurable and accepted high standards Legislative Position Statements ❑ Legal Reform - Job Reference Protection for employers ❑ Workforce Housing - Efforts to assist with housing for employees ❑ Fiscal Disparities Reform ❑ PELRA Reform ❑ Prevailing Wage ■ Improve air cargo capacity 44 �1 10550 WAYZATA BOULEVARD ♦ MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA 55305 ♦ Ph: (952) 540-0234 ♦ Fax: (952) 540-0237 ♦ www.tMnwesLc0m Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka, New Hope, Plymouth, St. Louis Park Minnetonka/Plymouth Business Council City of Minnetonka Update January 26, 2003 • Year-end 2003 reports show: - Total new construction of $113.5 million, compared to $107.2 million in 2002 - 42 new homes were built at an average cost of $517,000 (NOT including the cost of the lot) - Residential additions/remodels totaled $27.6 million, an average of $19,300 per permit issued (the highest ever) • The 2004 Property Assessment shows a total market value for Minnetonka of $6.9 billion. Average adjustments include: Residential +8.50,o Commercial -2.5% Apartments +1.51-, • Businesses and residents continue to be reminded of major road,,vay projects staring in the near future: Proiect Construction Starts Est. Comoletion 1-494 Summer 2004 Late 2006 (includes eastbound 1-394 bottleneck) County Road 101 Late 2004 Late 2000- (Hwy 006(Hwy 7 to Minnetonka Blvd) Baker Road/Excelsior Blvd Late 2004 Mid 2005 (Bren Rd to Excelsior Blvd) Shady Oak Road Early 2006 2007 • The Minnetonka Police Department will continue to provide police liaison services at Hopkins High School, North Junior High, and West Junior High in 2004, as federal grant funds temporarily replace the local shares cut from the Golden Valley and Hopkins city budgets. CE. - TE -J -P I.ati 1_JFR .LAd ! i -IND 1 awl a Sr I HL E b R 00,_TKINGS I ST TU S T I ,z T-1 Ai"T D L _ E URBAN INSIFITUTE Lessons from 70 Years of Policy and Practice EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Efforts to provide affordable housing are occurring at a time of great change. The responsibil- ities for implementing affordable housing are increasingly shifting to state.and local actors. The market and demographic changes in the country are complicating the picture, as sprawl- ing jobs -housing patterns and downtown revivals in some places are creating demand for affordable housing for working families and immigrants inboth cities and suburbs. To help state and local leaders design fresh solutions to today's affordable housing challenges, The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and the Urban Institute joined forces to examine the lessons of seven decades of major policy approaches and what these lessons mean for local reforms. This executive summary of the full report, funded by the John S. and Ja-mes L. Knight Foundation, finds that past and current efforts to expand rental housing assistance, promote homeownership, and increase affordable housing through land use regulations have been uneven in their effectiveness in promoting, stable families and healthy communities. The findings suggest guiding Principles for local action, with important cautions to avoid pitfalls. Arcross the nation, state and local government leaders and their partners—in the corpo- ate, civic, real estate, and nonprofit communities—are struggling to identify effective ways to provide affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for families and ndividuals at the bottom of the economic ladder. The federal government's role in housing policy is shrinking, shifting more responsibility onto the shoulders of state and local actors. And despite the economic boom and significant innovations in community development that occurred during the 1990s, the affordable housing crisis intensified in most parts of the country. The challenges facing state and local policymakers are further complicated by the sub - urbanization of jobs, changes in household composition and housing needs, and the growing diversity of our nation's population. And although every community faces serious housing affordability problems, variations across the country in the existing housing stock, population growth and demographic trends, and economic vitality create stark differences in housing con- ditions and trends, calling for unique, locally crafted responses. DECEMUEH 2003 • Tt1E QROOKINCS INS ,n*u*nON • TI1E UHRAN INSTITUTE • RESEARCH BRIEF 9 Purpose and Approach raving on lessons from seven decades of housing policy and practice, this report aims to help state and local leaders take on the realities of today's affordable housing chal- lenge. It examines three broad approaches to affordable housing—rental assistance, homeownership assistance, and regulatory policies—and assesses the effectiveness of each in addressing seven goals for affordable housing: 1. Preserve and expand the supply of good -quality housing units. 2. Make existing housing more affordable and more readily available. 3. Promote racial and economic diversity in residential neighborhoods. 4. Help households build wealth. 5. Strengthen families. 6. Link housing with essential supportive services. 7. Promote balanced metropolitan growth. Often, the success of affordable housing programs is determined by the extent to which it achieves a narrow set of objectives, such as the number of new units created or the number of households with affordable housinn cost burdens. Although important, these narrow criteria do not reflect the array of demands currently being placed on affordable housing programs. Today, affordable housing policies must help promote healthy families and communities. These seven goals thus provide a more comprehensive framework by which state and local leaders should evaluate the effectiveness of past and future affordable housing programs. Although not all housing programs can meet all seven housing objectives simultaneously, this list enables state and local leaders to better align the community outcomes they want to achieve with the housing policy approaches they adopt. Summary of Findings and Implications for Local Housing Strategies lthough there are serious gaps in the housing research literature, evidence on the expe- ence of the past has a lot to offer today's policymakers and practitioners. The A."ederal ccompanying i accompanying provides an overview of our key Findings on the effectiveness of housing programs in meeting the seven policy goals. The Following synthesizes the most relevant implications of these findings for local leaders. 1. Rental assistance programs require deep subsidies if they are to reach the needi- est households; moreover, to be successful, rental assistance programs should avoid clustering affordable housirzo in lots -income neighborhoods arccl include efforts to raise the incotrtes of lotiv-income households. Rental assistance programs—including both subsidized housing production and demand-side assistance (such as vouchers)—clearly play a central role in any housing strategy. However, the effectiveness of rental housing programs is not guaranteed; if poorly targeted or ineffectively implemented, they can actually work against the goals of an effective housing policy. Decisions at the federal level largely determine the resources available for rental housing assistance and set the broad parameters within which state and local actors operate. Some state and local gov- ernments allocate their own funds to rental housing assistance, but federal programs constitute by far the lion's share of resources available and in communities all across the country, these resources fall short of meeting needs. Affordability is the central challenge for rental -assistance policy. This means that building more rental units is not necessarily the solution to the housing problems facing low-income renters. Subsidizing the rents for existing units is much less costly than building new units, and can help stabilize a faltering housing market, enable low-income households to compete in a tight market, provide struggling landlords with sufficient rent revenues to maintain their prop- ® DEGEAIBER 2003 • THE BROOKINGS INSrrnfrlON • TI1E URBAN INS"rrwm • REsEANGH BRIEF 0l it Cr DECEMBER 10-3 • THE BKOOKINCS INST1'IU'1'I0N • TTIE UNUAN INSTITUTE • RESEARCH BNIEM ,1 to � a ^ ` O = a Q O C n^ U .O - C u EC_ G u J L `O i 2 'O Z .Z .0 ►. ....� •.�i a r C3 ci O G .. O C C E 7 J O^ ^ .u. G �. p00 !. F 7 LIC 7 L'` _C -JO C I 'C -O .o n C C 7 E c n G a C_ J '7,_ J _ u N •a C � J CO ;r E O G C.? E G_ 7- .�0 ,. �' C .z •u .:.' j O c7 ' J 70 O H :J C y ._ - C G ._ � �.r u7 i•� r� i- . .. _ N J G p' G r yo In c •L� I .". �j o' I o a I �� y G e yJ- j Htj» G w y Is �. _ Gio O u) ? 2GO C U V C J J^ y C �D 7 coy = u O G 'r - C 'JGO u > 'iJ• -� - moi°^ 7 '� X00 ei C G u u a Vf 7 u .. cy. C ^ es Q C K°.v O O C-0 y __ ..° u 0 GJ C7 c an -° z r Z Q .� n .: y ¢ G CA _� 7 O p •N O .. '� c0 .. U ° v u y O A •;• y .. q C � :� DECEMBER 10-3 • THE BKOOKINCS INST1'IU'1'I0N • TTIE UNUAN INSTITUTE • RESEARCH BNIEM ,1 erties, and prevent rental units from deteriorating and dropping out of the housing stock. In some circumstances, subsidizing the production of new rental housing units makes sense. But without deep, long-term subsidies, new rental units will not necessarily be affordable for the households whose needs are most severe. Location also plays a critical role in the effectiveness of rental -assistance programs. A grow- ing body of research now indicates that living in a high -poverty neighborhood can undermine the well-being of families and children, and that affordable housing alone cannot revitalize a distressed neighborhood. Both supply-side and demand-side programs can potentially play a role in a local rental -assistance strategv that takes location seriously. Using production pro- grams to expand the availability of affordable rental housing in'healthy neighborhoods (where it is scarcest) promotes economic and racial diversity and broadens opportunities for low-income households to live in neighborhoods that offer safety, good schools, quality services, and access to employment opportunities. At the same time, vouchers and other demand-side programs can be used to supplement what poor households can afford to pay for market -rate housing in neighborhoods of their choice. 3. Honcetnvnership among underserved populations has increased, ncostly thrortglt ineproved access to mortgage credit; efforts to fur -titer expand hoareolvreership should proceetl cautiously. , The promotion of homeownership has been a major Focus of American housing policy, and although these programs have the potential to yield considerable benefit, they also have serious shortcomings. Homeownership should be promoted with caution among underserved house- holds despite the numerous potential benefits it offers them, because not every homeowner will see all the benefits of homeownership and some may even suffer as a result of making poor housing decisions. Federal programs that expand the availability of mortgage credit and help families overcome barriers to home buying have done much more to advance homeownership among low- and moderate -income households than programs that expand the supply of affordable housing. In this regard, the literature suggests that the most successful initiatives promoting homeowner- ship have been federal—rather than local—and mostly in the form of the pressure government has placed on lenders and secondary market institutions to meet the financing needs of histori- cally underserved groups. Just as in the context of rental housing programs, location plays a critical role in the effec- tiveness of homeownership programs. A home's location will determine whether or not a family sees its value appreciate, and whether children realize social benefits. And although homeown- ership promotion may play a role in a larger strategy for revitalizing distressed neighborhoods, it cannot be the only tool used. The promotion of homeownership in poor and distressed neigh- borhoods may not have the hoped-for revitalization and stabilization effects and may even prove costly to the families who purchase there. Not all households will necessarily benefit from homeownership. Potential first-time home buyers need to be informed about the risks as well as the benefits associated with homeowner- ship so that they can make better -informed housing choices. Clearly, there are those for whom homeownership is riot a viable option, and for them, other housing choices should be available in the community, along with assistance in building their income and wealth to prepare for homeownership. And for those who are ready to buy a home, assistance should go beyond the home purchase itself, to ensure that new homeowners are able to keep up with their mortgages and remain in their homes. 3. Lund use and other regulatory policies car: have profound effects on the location and supply of of forclable housing. Regulatory policies are often neglected as potential tools for affordable housing policy, because they do not directly subsidize either housing units or households. But state and local regula- tions have a powerful role in shaping the housing market. Traditional, exclusionary land use and zoning policies—such as banning multifamily housing and zoning for large lots—and growth UDLCLMBER 2003 - THE BROOKINCS INSfITU11ON • THE URBAN INSrI'mrx • RESEARCII RR1EF �. iJ' controls, which impose strict limits on housing supply without accommodating projected growth, can be big deterrents to building affordable housing, frequently excluding lower income and minority households.. On the flipside, inclusionary zoning programs and well-designed growth management policies, when enforced, can successfully expand the supply of affordable housing while keeping administrative costs low. Regulatory tools can be of particular importance to localities because, unlike the other pro- grammatic tools discussed in this report, the federal government plays only a limited role in the regulation of local housing markets. Thus, local policymakers enjoy a relative freedom from fed- eral resource constraints and federal program rules and definitions (although they may have to abide by state laws or guidelines). The biggest constraint on the effective use of regulatory tools may actually be the fragmentation of authority among individual cities and counties. This frag- mentation makes it difficult to craft regionwide strategies for expanding the availability of affordable housing, promoting racial and economic diversity, or promoting balanced growth. Historically, local land use and development regulations have undermined the goals of afford- able housing policy, whether intentionally or not. Getting rid of these exclusionary regulations works. Even in the absence of a comprehensive regional approach, eliminating (or moderating) regulatory barriers to affordable housing development can be effective. This does not mean that all regulations of land use and residential construction should be eliminated. Many regulations that raise the cost of housing development have legitimate goals, such as protecting health and safety or preserving farmland. Local governments need not abandon these goals, but they can and should reassess their regulatory policies to ensure that they allow for the development of more affordable rental and homeowner housing. Although simply eliminating exclusionary regulations on a jurisdiction -by -jurisdiction basis can be effective, the most optimal efforts are those that are regional in nature. Nell -designed regional growth management or land use strategies are those that use a mix of regulatory tools to increase the supply of affordable, multifamily housing and make way for higher densities, while also advancing other important metropolitan -wide goals, such as open space protection, transportation choice and central -city revitalization. Principles for Local Action tate and local policymakers, as well as housing advocates, community-based organiza- tions, and funders, can draw upon the evidence summarized in the matrix as they plan, implement, and evaluate their own solutions to the affordable housing challenges in their communities. But the lessons of the past also offer a set of principles to guide local housing policy in the decades that lie ahead. Some of these principles may seem obvious, but nonetheless are frequently ignored. Others run counter to conventional wisdom, but follow- ing them could avoid some of the more dismal failures for which conventional thinking is responsible. 1. Housing strategies shoailcl be tailored to local market conditions. Housing needs and policy priorities differ from place to place, due to differences in housing market conditions, history, and political realities. Although this report focuses on a comprehen- sive set of affordable housing goals and the tools that can be used to achieve them, it does not make sense to implement the same strategy everywhere. In hot markets, where population is growing rapidly and housing is in short supply, producing new affordable units may be a top pri- ority. But in markets where the overall demand for housing is weak and vacancy rates are high, new units may not be needed; instead, poor households may need assistance in paying for the housing that is already available. And just as cities and metropolitan areas differ, neighborhoods within a jurisdiction often have very different housing circumstances and needs. 'Thus, the best strategies are those that match local conditions (and political realities) and respond to commu- nity input and expectations. DECEMBER 1003 - TIIE BROOKINGS INSTIrtmoN - TiiE URBAN INsn'ruie - RESEARCH BRIEF Im n ft B "Inclaisionary zoning proararvis and — well-designed growth management policies, when eylforc4 can exparid the sicppli of afford- able housiri; It-hile lzeepirto administrative costs lots:" 2. Housing markets are regional, so hottsirtg policies should be. While housing strategies must be tailored to local conditions, thev should also be crafted with today's metropolitan realities in mind. The decentralization of both jobs and residents has been taking place over the past half century, but accelerated in the 1990s, solidifying the dominance of suburbs and reinforcing the link between city and suburban health in shaping growth and development patterns in a metropolitan area. Concerns over the fiscal, environmental, and socioeconomic consequences of sprawl and uneven growth patterns have sparked growing inter- est in metropolitan solutions. But for the most part, housing policy discussions remain strikingly local. In an era of population and employment decentralization, the metropolitan area—not the individual political jurisdiction—represents the appropriate level at which to think about and act on access to affordable housing. Enabling low-income families to live closer to employment centers (and stronger schools) in the regional economy not only will benefit those families and their children, but will also help reduce commute times, meet employer needs for workers, and ameliorate other negative consequences associated with.current metro- politan growth patterns. 3. Itxco?tte policy IS housing polio►. Most affordable housing strategies at the national and local levels are designed to expand the supply of affordable housing, with programs aimed to stimulate the construction, rehabilitation, and renovation of housing that is affordable to low- and moderate -income families. Production is a necessary component of a responsible affordable housing policy, but the lack of income remains the principal barrier to obtaining affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) annual analysis of worst case housing needs generally finds that 80 percent of the problem is not housing inadequacy or overcrowding, blit affordability. Thus, policies that help people increase their incomes %vill help address housing hardship as well. State and local leaders are increasingly realizing that they can raise the incomes of working families by enhancing access to such federal investments as the earned income tar credit (FITC), nutrition assistance, health care, and child care. Some state and local groups have maximized the potential of the EITC by conducting outreach programs, providing support for free tae preparation services, and helping families use the credit as a gateway to financial services and savings. It is estimated that working families apply one third of their credits to housing needs. Other initiatives that help low-income families find and keep jobs, build stalls, and advance eco- nomically should also be incorporated into strategies for making housing more affordable. 4..Regulation can be a powerful housing policy tool. Often overlooked, state and local regulatory policies offer cost-effective opportunities to make private housing more available and affordable. Regulations such as zoning policies, land use restrictions, development fees, subdivision and design requirements, building codes, rent con- trols, and other regulations help determine whether and where different types of housing can be developed, how much it costs, and how it is maintained. The traditional approach to land use and development regulation has resulted in policies that explicitly or implicitly limit or prevent the development of affordable housing in a jurisdiction, through restrictive policies like outright bans on multifamily housing or through requirements for large lot sizes, houses set back from the street, and wide sidewalks. While some of these reg- ulations are valuable in meeting other goals, others can be detrimental and, when eliminated, have proven to open doors to more affordable rental and owner -occupied housing. Moreover, regulatory strategies like inclusionary zoning and thoughtful growth management policies can create powerful incentives for private developers to produce more affordable housing where it is needed most. 5. Race matters. Historically, federal affordable housing policies—including Federal Housing Administration homeownership programs and public housing—have contributed to the residential segregation of our communities. More recently, these programs have made some progress in reversing the aDECE&iuER goo; • THE BROOKINGS INSTI'IU'I'ION • THE URBAN INSTrrUTE • RESEARCH BRIEF WN uIr NIM isolation of poor and minority residents from neighborhoods of opportunity, but the long-estab- lished patterns of segregation persist. Most communities in the United States remain profoundly racially segregated. The 2000 census confirms that nationwide, the residential seg- regation of blacks from whites remains extreme (declining only slightly over the past two decades); segregation levels for Hispanics and Asians, though louver, are on the rise in many metropolitan areas. Local policymakers may hope to design and implement "color-blind" housing policies, but if the realities of segregation and ethnic inequalities are ignored, these policies are unlikely to work as intended. For example, a homeownership assistance program may not lead to wealth accumulation for minority households if segregation and discrimination limit their housing options to minority neighborhoods where values are not appreciating. Vouchers fail to give low- income families real choices about where to live if they are excluded from neighborhoods beyond the central city. And the successful revitalization of an inner-city neighborhood may lead to displacement of minority households if no efforts are made to resolve conflicts between groups and to actively promote diversity. 6. Implementation matters. Even the best housing strategy will fail to accomplish its goals if it is not effectively imple- mented. The history of housing policy in the United States is replete with examples of well-intentioned programs that produced harmful outcomes because of poor administration. Before launching new programs, policymakers should critically assess the implementing organi- zations' operational capacity and ability to build effective partnerships: Do they have sufficient staff and resources? Do they have the skills and experience needed to fulfill their new responsi- bilities effectively? Is the program designed to provide incentives for effective administrative performance? Sometimes, strengthening organizational capacity can be the most effective intervention to improve policy outcomes. Also, partnerships between organizations with comple- mentary strengths can result in effective program implementation although successful, sustained partnerships also require time and resources. Implementation agencies must also be held accountable for performance. Clearly defined performance measures and systematic performance monitoring can strengthen implementation. Also, local policymakers can hold agencies accountable by requiring that performance data be collected and published on a regular basis, which creates strong incentives for effective per- formance. Communities can also enter into performance-based contracts with public agencies, private companies, and/or nonprofit organizations, through which payments, bonuses, and or contract duration are all explicitly tied to the achievement of measurable performance targets. Conclusion Aecade, ter decades of federal housing initiatives that were designed by Washington and dministered by HUD or its predecessors, a palpable shift toward state and local con- rol has dominated U.S. thinking about affordable housing policy. For more than a federal policymakers have essentially devolved responsibility for the design and implementation of affordable housing initiatives to the state and local level. Across the nation, state and local government leaders are struggling to use the limited resources available to them in communities that differ significantly in their market conditions, residential patterns, regula- tory regimes, and local goals. Despite the changes occurring in housing policy and programs, and the new challenges posed by today's economic and demographic trends, the experience of past housing programs has a lot to teach us. As the devolution of housing policies continues to unfold, there is great potential for state and local leaders to build upon the experience of the past while bringing fresh thinking to a new generation of approaches that respond to the diverse needs of our communities and further informs the evolving federal role in housing. DECE4IUEK x003 • THE RKOOKINCS INSTIN110N • TFIE URBAN INs-rTrviE • RESEAKCH BKIEF _ j �1 Acknowledgements Both the Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and the Urban' Institute are deeply grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its. support of this research project. In: particular, the authors wish to thank Liz;Sklaroff and John Bare at Knight for their thoughtful review and guidance throughout this effort. The authors also want to pay special thanks to the core research team who made this multi-year project possible: Karen Destorel Brown at Brookings and Mary Cunningham, Noah Sawyer, and !Margaret Brown at the Urban Institute. Their top notch research and constant attention to all parts of this project have ensured this project's quality and com- prehensiveness. Finally, Brookings would also like to thank the Fannie Mae FOUndation for its founding support of the urban center and its work. For More Information: Bruce Katz (202)797-6285 bkatz@brookings.edu Margery Austin Turner (202) 261-5543 maturner@ui.urban.org THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW • Washington D.C. 20036-2188 Tel: 202-797-6000 • Fax: 202-797-6004 www.brookings.edu CENTER ON URBAN AND METROPOLMN POLICY DIRECT: 202.797-6139 • FAXIDIRECr: 202-797'2965 www.brookings.edu/urban THE URBAN INSTITUTE 2100 M STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20037 • TEL: (202) 833-7200 www.urban.org/ 30 elm creek Watershed Management Commission ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 3235 Fernbrook Lane Plymouth, MN 55447 PH: 763.553.1144 FAX: 763.553.9326 E-mail: judie@jass.biz AGENDA February 2, 2004 1. Call to Order. 2. Approve Agenda. 3. Consent Agenda. a. Approve minutes of January meeting.* b. Approve Treasurer's report and claims.* 4. Action Items. ("w" indicates WCA) TECHNICAL OFFICE Hennepin County, DES 417 North 5" Street Minneapolis, MN 55401-1397 PH: 612.596.1171 FAX: 612.348.8532 E-mail: Ali.Durgunoglu@co.hennepin.mn.us a. Election of Officers. b. Resolution 2004-01 Appointing a n Executive Secretary and Technical Advisor and Delegating Certain Duties ......* C. Select depository and official newspaper. Currently US Bank and Crow River News. d. 2004 CAMP program. e. 98-076 Greg Ebert Wetland Replacement Banking Application, Corcoran. f. 99-046 Meadow Lake Estates/98-034 Russell Kangas, Hassan. g. 99-058w Lake Jubert Estates, Corcoran. h. 2003-046 Elm Creek Pedestrian Bridge, Cahmplin.* i. 2003-066 Hassan Sand and Gravel EAW, Hassan. 5. Old Business. a. Watershed Boundaries. b. Joint Powers Agreements - Signed agreements have been received from Champlin, Corcoran, Hassan., Maple Grove, Medina, and Plymouth. 6. New Business. a. Correspondence. 1) Letter to Corcoran re Ernie Mayers.* 2) Elm Creek Sewer Interceptor.* 3) 15th Annual MECA Conference.* b Basics Workshop for Newcomers - will be scheduled following approval of second generation Plan. 7. Project Reviews. a. 2003-053 b. 2003-067 8. Other Business. 9. Adjournment. Weber WCA Violation, Hassan.* Fox Creek 2nd Addition, Rogers. *in meeting packet. **available at the meeting. 1:%CLIENTS`E\ELMCREEK.Mectings\04 MTGS\FcbNary`Fcbmary agcnda.wpd CHAMPLIN - CORCORAN - DAYTON - HASSAN - MAPLE GROVE - MEDINA - PLYMOUTH - ROGERS I,r,raicr Erni .'i W W W ROD D I US Dil LE area schools Agenda We are a progressive and dynamic learning organization that develops caring, creative and productive citizens. Government Advisory Council Tuesday, February 3, 2004 7:30 — 9:00 a.m. ESC Boardroom — 4148 Winnetka, New Hope • District 281 Facilities Study Report • District 281 Proposed Reorganization Plan • Update on Forest Elementary • Read Across America Proclamation • 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 February 3. PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT DECEMBER 2003 33 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT DECEMBER 2003 Monthly Synopsis Year-to-date (YTD), the Department answered 1294 calls for service. This compares to 141.1 calls for service in 2002 (YTD). The highest call volume in December occurred between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday and Wednesday were the busiest days of the week. Sixty-three percent of calls occurring in December were "Duty Crew" calls. Responses were divided between the fire stations as follows: Station I (13205 Co. Rd. 6) 40 Station U (12000 Old Rockford Rd.) 29 Station 11I (3300 Dunkirk Ln.) 30 December 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 December, the following responses are notable: December 5 Apartment fire (2:44 a.m.) December 19 House Fire (6:26 a.m.) December 29 Vehicle accident with entrapment (3:00 p.m.) December 30 Vehicle accident with entrapment (10:13 p.m.) During the month of December, nine calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-one members of the Department. Training During the month of December, five topics were offered during ten regularly scheduled in-house training sessions. These topics included Water Rescue, Ropes/Knots, Command, Incident Command/EMS, and Foam. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team. Fifty-five members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 371— an average of over six hours per participating member. 1St Truck 1St Truck 2nd Truck 2nd Truck Duty Crew In -Service On -Scene In -Service On -Scene # Calls 1:23 7:10 4:14 10:17 27 Non -Duty Crew 5:21 9:06 8:46 13:24 8 Station I 4:49 8:18 8:46 13:24 6 Station H N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 Station 11I 6:55 11:29 N/A N/A 2 Significant or Unusual Events In December, the following responses are notable: December 5 Apartment fire (2:44 a.m.) December 19 House Fire (6:26 a.m.) December 29 Vehicle accident with entrapment (3:00 p.m.) December 30 Vehicle accident with entrapment (10:13 p.m.) During the month of December, nine calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-one members of the Department. Training During the month of December, five topics were offered during ten regularly scheduled in-house training sessions. These topics included Water Rescue, Ropes/Knots, Command, Incident Command/EMS, and Foam. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team. Fifty-five members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 371— an average of over six hours per participating member. Recruitment During the month of December, sixty-seven paid -on-call firefighters served the City of Plymouth. No members left the department. Duty Crew The Duty Crew Program was in operation on all 23 weekdays during the month including the Christmas day holiday. Forty-one members participated in the program. In December, 98% of all shifts were fully staffed with at least four firefighters. During our busiest time period (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), 100% 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 91% 74% 78% 91% 87% 4 Firefighters 9% 26% 17% 9% 9% 3 Firefighter 0% 0% 5% 0% 4% No Staff 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2 pLM %Tit Plymouth Fire Department Monthly Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education Report Reporting Period: December 2003 FIRE-RESCUE 4 Type of Program Number Time Spent Total Monthly of Programs Per Program Program Hours Station Tour 2 1 Hours 2 Hours Birthday 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Party/Station Tour Pre-school Visits Adopt a Hydrant Program Bike Helmet Sales K-6 Education 3 1 Hour 3 Hours Safety 10 car seat .75 Hour 7.5 Hours Fairs/Community check-ups Events @10 car seat .5 Hour 5 Hours CPS Certification sales 1 Ski Helmet 8 Hours 8 Hours Sale Neighborhood Watch Program Safe Escape House Career Talk Fire Department Open House Smokebusters 18 .5 Hour 9 Hours Smokebusters for Seniors Fire Extinguisher 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Training/EDITH Misc. Community 1 Poster Contest 1 Hour 1 Hour Presentation Award Misc. Outreach Summary • 47 Monthly Programs 16% of 173 Hour • 37.5 Hours of month, 40 Hour Programming work week was • .79 Hours Averaged Per Committed to Program Public Education 50 40 30 20 10 0 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Station Comparison 14:24 12:00 9:36 7:12 4:48 2:24 0:00 1 2 3 Response Time for Emergency Calls Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date $2,800,000 $2,351,676 $2,300,000 $1,800,000 $1,040,645 $1,300,000 $800,000 1800 1500 1200 900 600 300 0 1/1/02-12/31/02 1/1/03-12/31/03 Total Calls Year -to -Date 1/1/02-12/31/02 1/27/2004 1294 1/1/03-12/31/03 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Calls by Time of Day 2 20 15 10 5 0- 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 2100-0000 0000-0300 ❑ Dec -02 ® Dec -03 0300-0600 Calls by Day of Week 25 1 20 El Dec -02 15 10 ❑ Dec -03 5 5 Events By Category Fires 12% Other 48% Alarms 40% 1/27/2004 DUTY CREW STAFFING December 2003 14% 5 Firefighters ❑ 4 Firefighters El Firefighters CALLS FOR SERVICE December 2003 ❑ Duty Crew 63% f ❑ Non -Duty Crew YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 12, 2004 Council Members Present Absent Peter Beste ✓ Heather Gaudette ✓ Adam Hahn ✓ Paul Jungels ✓ Akash Kumar ✓ Mark Lenhardt ✓ Michael Letich ✓ Janet Li ✓ Aneesh Sohoni ✓ Ally Taylor ✓ Whitney Waters ✓ Mayor Judy Johnson, City Manager Laurie Ahrens, Captain Mike Goldstein, Recreation Supervisor Regina Michaud, and Deputy City Clerk Kurt Hoffman were also present. Janet called the meeting to order at 6:50 PM. Janet made a motion seconded by Akash, to approve the agenda. City Manager Ahrens requested the addition of an item to the agenda. She asked to speak to the Council about the selection of a new police chief. Regina requested the addition of an item to discuss Youth Advisory Council support of a proposed teen dance. Janet made a motion, seconded by Paul to amend the agenda, accepting the additions. The motion to amend passed in a unanimous voice vote. The motion to accept the agenda as amended passed in a unanimous voice vote. Akash made a motion seconded by Heather, to approve the minutes of the December 8 meeting. The motion passed in a unanimous voice vote. Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Checks by the Police Department Police Department Captain Mike Goldstein presented the latest information on the City's compliance checks of businesses that sell alcohol or tobacco products. He explained that the program was started by a group of Wayzata High School students. He said in 1995 the Plymouth Police Department adopted the idea of checking sales and expanded the program to cover tobacco checks as well. Youth Advisory Council January 12, 2004 Meeting Page 2 He explained the process of checking sales of alcohol and tobacco to underage students, and said the City Council has set a scale of fines charged to participants in the programs, with a higher scale of fines for non -participants. He reported that in the past five years, the rate of failure among businesses has dropped, with the incentive being a reduction in license fees following a pattern of successes. He added the City Council has been pleased with the results of the program. Janet asked whether the program had made a reduction in underage drinking. Captain Goldstein reported that underage drinking has not been reduced; that someone is still providing the alcohol to underage people. He said the types of parties have changed, but that has more to do with the changes in the demographics of the city and more development. Captain Goldstein noted that anyone interested in participating in the compliance checks should contact Detective Mark Bevins, at 509-5186. Judy encouraged anyone interested could testify to legislative committees in St. Paul when legislation regarding wine sales in supermarkets comes in to the session. Guidelines for youth safety on advisory committees The Council discussed the proposed policy. Mike made a motion, seconded by Heather, to approve the guidelines. The motion passed in a unanimous voice vote. City Manager Laurie Ahrens reported that the policy guidelines would be shared with other boards and commissions. Youth Advisory Council Meeting schedule Following discussion, the Council members agreed to leave the schedule as is except for cancellation of the February 23 regular meeting. The Youth Town Forum committee would meet at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 24, in the Medicine Lake Room. Police Chief Search Process City Manager Laurie Ahrens reported that Police Chief Craig Gerdes would be retiring from the City at the end of February. She asked if any Youth Advisory Council members are interested in serving on the search committee. She said interviews are tentatively scheduled for Monday afternoon, February 9. Mike, Aneesh, Heather, and Whitney all expressed an interest. The Council agreed to discuss selection of a representative at the January 26 Youth Advisory Council meeting. Teen Dance Regina reported that a Wayzata High School student representing the National Honor Society is organizing a teen dance as a fund-raiser for a charitable organization. She said he has requested use of the ballroom at the Plymouth Creek Center. If not co-sponsored Youth Advisory Council January 12, 2004 Meeting Page 3 by the City, the rental fees would be prohibitive for him. Regina said that Youth Advisory Council co—sponsorship of the event would remove the requirement for rental fees. She said the event would be planned to attract teens in grades 9-12. She added that Youth Advisory Council sponsorship would require opening the event to students citywide. She said the City would help advertise the event, while the planners would provide the talent and any beverages, as well as chaperones. She said the event is tentatively set for March 5 from 8:00 until 11:00 PM. Whitney volunteered to promote the event at the Armstrong High School honor society organization. Janet made a motion, seconded by Paul, to co—sponsor charity fund—raising teen dance at the Plymouth Creek Center on March 5, from 8:00 until 11:00 PM. The motion carried in a unanimous voice vote. Committee Updates Marketing Committee The marketing Committee had nothing to report. Intergenerational Committee Regina reminded Council members of the April 17 roundtable event. Council members agreed to have a committee meeting at City Hall at 5:30 PM on January 26. She said notification of any date or time changes would be made via e—mail. Youth Service Awards Paul reported that Gary Landis, Mayor Johnson, and he spoke to the Wayzata High School counseling staff in December to promote the Youth Services Awards program. He said that Gary provided information and application packets for the counselors to distribute to students. Paul, Janet, Mark, Aneesh and Whitney plan to meet at City Hall at 2:00 PM on January 19 to solicit door prizes and support from area businesses. Youth Town Forum Janet presented letters soliciting speakers for the forum, and inviting colleges to submit application materials. Laurie suggested contacting Dee Stewart with the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce to speak on education initiatives with area schools. Future Agenda Items Council members agreed to discuss attendance at the National League of Cities March Congress at the January 26 meeting. They also agreed to consider attendance at the October League of Minnesota Cities statewide conference in Duluth. Adjournment Janet made a motion, seconded by Paul, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 PM. The motion passed without opposition. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY January 21, 2004 Pursuant to due call and notice, the annual meeting of the Suburban Rate Authority was held at the Bloomington City Hall, 2215 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, Minnesota on January 21, 2004 commencing at 6:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Executive Committee Chair, Bruce Nawrocki, called the meeting to order following a tour of the new Bloomington City Hall and roll call was taken. 2. ROLL CALL: Bloomington Bob Cockriel Brooklyn Park Diane Deblon Columbia Heights Bruce Nawrocki Eden Prairie Ron Case Gene Dietz Edina John Wallin Golden Valley Jeannine Clancy Minnetonka Desyl Peterson Robbinsdale Richard McCoy Roseville Duane Schwartz Woodbury Tim Johnson It was determined that a quorum of votes was represented at the meeting. Also present were legal counsel for the SRA, Jim Strommen and Bob Vose of Kennedy and Graven. There were four representatives of the firm of Dahlen Berg of Minneapolis presenting on the municipalization issue: Bill Glahn, Jim Larson, Randy Porter and Laura Jahnke. 3. DAHLEN BERG REPORT ON "MUNI -LITE." Bill Glahn of Dahlen Berg gave a presentation based on the analysis done by his firm of a form of municipalizing electric service within a city only to public customers. The written report (available upon request) described the issues facing a non-utility municipality in converting to provide services of an electric distribution utility. The requirement in Minnesota is for a referendum to pass authorizing a municipality to serve customers gas or electricity. Upon referendum approval it is appropriate to form a power agency of one or more municipalities to facilitate cost effective purchase and distribution of power. The utility must be compensated for the loss of customers, typically a kwh rate present -valued over a ten year period. Mr. Glahn explained that the potential savings to a city with at least a 10 megawatt (MW) load was anywhere from near break even to $100,000 a year depending on the following variables: JMS-24306Ov2 SU 160-3 a. the price necessary to buy the utility customer from the incumbent, b) the price of power supply on the market, and c) the rate increases by the incumbent utility (Xcel). Mr. Glahn predicts substantial increases in rates sought by Xcel beginning in a 2006 rate case. He advocated the combining of two or more larger cities with at least 10 MW but ideally with a load of 25 MWs or greater (as an example, Minnetonka and Eden Priairie city loads combined would be about 10 MW). He emphasized that geographic separation would not be a problem for a joint power agency consisting of multiple cities. Technology allows distribution and measurement of the electricity from different locations. He noted that the combined load of city customer of the SRA cities would be in the 55-70 megawatt range and would be similar to the service load of the Anoka Municipal Electric Utility. Discussion ensued regarding various questions of process and economic feasibility. The SRA will not pursue further study of municipalization at this time, although individual SRA cities may choose to follow up. Dahlen Berg offered to meet with any city that was interested in a more city -specific study. 4. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES: Ms. Peterson moved to approve the minutes from the October quarterly meeting. Mr. Wallin seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 5. REPORTS OF OFFICERS: Mr. Wallin reported on the financial condition of the SRA as of December 31, 2003. The SRA continues to have a budget surplus but less than at the same time of the previous year because of additional costs, including payment for the study of municipalization. Mr. Cockriel moved to accept the report of the treasurer. Mr. Dietz seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mr. Wallin raised the issue of open meeting law violation coverage by the League Trust. He reported that the SRA is not covered under its current insurance policy for open meeting law violations. The premium would be $380 a year. After discussion, it was decided that the SRA did not need such coverage given the compliance with the open meeting law and lack of potential complainants throughout the history of the SRA. Mr. Wallin presented the issue to the Board of whether the SRA waives it statutory limits as part of the insurance coverage it is receiving from the League Trust. Ms. Peterson moved not to waive the statutory limits available to the SRA. Ms. Deblon seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Strommen reported that he had followed up pursuant to Board authority regarding the withdrawal of the Cities of West St. Paul and Savage. He reported receiving a response from the city of West St. Paul affirming that it would honor its assessment commitment for 2004 but reaffirming its withdrawal. 7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The following slate of officers and executive committee members was moved for approval: Bruce Nawrocki — Chair JMS-24306Ov2 SU 160-3 Bob Cockriel — Vice Chair John Wallin — Treasurer Diane Deblon Richard McCoy Gene Dietz Duane Schwartz The slate was moved for approval by Ms. Clancy. Ms. Peterson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. S. TRANSLINK AND XCEL METRO EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN: Mr. Strommen referred the Board to the memorandum submitted on each of these closed issues in which the SRA had participated successfully. 9. FRANCHISE FEE UPDATE: Mr. Strommen referred the Board to the memorandum describing recently -enacted ordinances requiring franchise fees by several Twin Cities suburban municipalities. 10. QWEST AFOR: Mr. Vose reported on the status of the petition by Qwest for a new Alternative Form of Regulation currently before the PUC. The SRA has been solicited by both Qwest and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) to take a position on CLEC requests to intervene in this proceeding and to seek wholesale agreements with Qwest (SRA constituents are retail customers). The consensus was that the SRA would remain neutral given that taking a position either way would not result in any benefit to the SRA on issues of better DSL availability, better rates generally and no cost pass-throughs to city ratepayers for right-of-way management requirements. The SRA will continue to take an active role in this proceeding and explore ways of gaining greater options for its residential and business customers served by Qwest. 11. JOINT TRENCHING AGREEMENT: Mr. Strommen reported on a project in the City of Golden Valley in which numerous utilities are being relocated in a tight, heavily traveled area, near KARE I I and General Mills Headquarters. The approach used by the City, successfully thus far, is to plan to install a concrete conduit for all telecoms and a concurrent concrete conduit for Xcel Energy. The cost of the conduit would be recovered from the utilities using it. It appears that the telecoms will be fully cooperative and will use this method. Xcel has raised issues that may create problems in the implementation of using concrete conduit as the best means of handling the current and future right-of-way management issues over a highly used stretch of Highway 55. There are significant cost recovery issues that are yet to be resolved with Xcel as well as the issue of avoiding delay in the commencement of the work over cost disputes. Cities have experienced increasing problems with Xcel's unwillingness to proceed with the work until cost issues are resolved, thereby holding public improvement projects "hostage" to gaining a cost recovery plan to Xcel's liking. No action is necessary by the SRA. 12. UTILITY LOCATES — GOPHER ONE CALL: Mr. Cockriel reported on a push by various trade groups and the Office of Pipeline Safety to require cities to mark utilities owned by other parties without a protection from liability for mislocation. Mr. Cockriel emphasized that it is JMS-24306Ov2 SU160-3 very difficult to give any accurate location of underground utilities and that the increasingly used method of directional boring is causing frequent damage that goes undetected until a later time. This is an issue driven by significant economics and the cities are not receiving the necessary support to withstand the push to involve them in a process that has negative liability implications. Ms. Peterson moved to authorize legal counsel to monitor the situation and assist the League of Cities in efforts to protect city interests in any upcoming legislation. Mr. Case seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 13. LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING: Ms. Clancy offered to make the Golden Valley City Hall available for the April 21, 2004 meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. 14. CLAIMS: Claims were submitted by the following: Kennedy & Graven for $17,809.80, MEMO Enterprises for $315 and Dahlen Berg for $5,050. Mr. Schwartz moved to accept the claims. Mr. Dietz seconded the motion which passed unanimously. In addition, Mr. Wallin sought authority to retain the firm of Cummings & Keegan for the annual SRA audit for the amount of $2,175. Ms. Clancy moved to approve the company's retention. Mr. Case seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 15. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dietz moved that the meeting be adjourned at approximately 8:35 p.m. Ms. Peterson seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned. Attest: Chairman Secretary WS -24306M SU 160-3 January 27, 2004 o1v OF PLYMOUTR Chuck and Maryann Dorsey 2615 Jewel Lane Plymouth, MN 55447 SUBJECT: FLOODING CONCERNS Dear Chuck and Maryann: I am responding to your January 19, 2004 letter, and to document the subsequent meetings and phone conversations. I would first like to apologize for our lack of follow-up on the concerns expressed in your letter and the expectations that we had given you. With Mr. Dorsey's attendance at the Special Council meeting of January 20, 2004, I hope that an understanding was obtained of the process the City has gone through with several designated flood study areas. I, in turn, realized that we have evidently missed adding your flooded area to those on our original study list created this past July. From what I understand you and one of your adjacent neighbors did have storm water enter your homes during the June 24/25 storni event that hit the City of Plymouth this past summer causing very high water levels throughout the city. With the City Council's directive at their January 20, 2004 study meeting, I have contacted our flood analysis engineer, Rocky Keehn with Short, Elliott, Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH), a civil engineering consulting firm, to begin the flood analysis process with you and your neighbor. This process will start with an initial interview meeting scheduled for January 28, 2004 at 3:30 pm at your residence. At this meeting we will explain the flood analysis process that will be undertaken. I look forward to meeting with you and your neighbor, Tom Ahmann, 2601 Jewel Lane, on Wednesday, January 28 at 3:30 pm. Thank you for your understanding in our delayed response to your request of last summer, and we will proceed as quickly as possible to determine any flood mitigation alternatives. Sincerely, Daniel L. Faulkner, P.E. Director of Public Works cc: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager Ronald S. Quanbeck, P.E., City Engineer PLYMOUTH A Beau tiju(pfii�EgitVrt�feNERALITRSDA.NF_004'Domey_Fbodingdoc 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 ©" °'° www.d.plymouth.mmus 2615 Jewel Lane Plymouth, MN 55447 January 19, 2004 City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 The Honorable Judy Johnson Madam Mayor: I am writing this letter to report to you that I have not received adequate information or services regarding the flooding issue reported on July 14, 2003. The historic rainfall of June 24, 2003 caused damage to our home. This damage was due to the city drainage system backing up into out back yard and subsequently our walkout. I spoke with Daryl Johnson on July 17th, after leaving a voicemail message on July 14th. At that time Mr. Johnson indicated that the city was studying the problem and had hired engineers to find possible solutions. I related to him that the same problem occurred in 1991. He and I had a similar conversation at that time. His response to me in 1991 was that the rainfall had been a "Hundred Year" storm and that it was not going to be a future problem. This time the city was taking a different approach and he assured me that the city was interested in finding a solution to this problem. On July 23rd, Shane Missaghi called and left a message that we should hear from the engineers in two weeks. I phoned Mr. Missaghi on July 24th to confirm and ask for clarification. On Monday, December 29th, I spoke with Mr. Missaghi to get an update, since no one from the city had contacted me. Mr. Missaghi told me that someone would call me the week of Jan. 5, 2004. It is now Jan. 19 and I have received no information regarding the city's plan to address this issue. I have no knowledge of any investigation by the consulting engineers. My request is simple: I need to know what the city is doing to correct the back up issue in my back yard. We have been residents of Plymouth since 1980 and deserve services. Your response is very important to me. Yours truly, Maryann Dorsey cc Kelli Slavik Karl Neset Tim Bildsoe m Mark & Katie Pitman 2730 Sycamore Lane North Plymouth, MN 55441 January 27, 2004 Members of the City Council City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 RE: 1/20/04 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY PROJECT NO. 3126; SITE 6 (28TH AV & SYCAMORE LN) Dear Council Members: Thank you for allowing us to participate during your January 20'h Council Meeting. Your willingness to hear our concerns about implementing the proposed recommendation to protect our home from the city storm drainage system is appreciated. As expected, we are very pleased with the meeting's outcome. We understand that the Council's direction is to permanently install the now temporary six inch pipe and provide the dirt to raise the grade of our side/back yard up to the approved budget amount of $7,800. If our understanding of the meeting's outcome is not correct, please let us know. We look forward to working together with City staff to complete the approved resolution in a timely fashion. Once complete, these actions will provide us with the assurance we need to complete our home repairs and reclaim a large living portion of our home. Thank you again. Sincerely, c Mark & Katie Pitman 763-553-0444 cc: Daniel L. Faulkner, P.E. Ronald S. Quanbeck, P.E., City Engineer � .§ a CJ � rJ _ � _ Qn § 0 U c t � n 0 c CA \ } /_ ] .m c k§\ %2S x�� f§% «�3 �k7 \�2 . ■ °-a k* \ k§ keƒ 2 PC �§ § 2e� / 2 A 20��44 «w � 2 &- 7 cc ca\ \ £ $ ) § 2 / / / \\ � Q ] / / } \ � k -a § 2 / k § a k k \ z } \ k k jdakkk- \ } I'AI RICIA AM )1:ItS( ). 1'I'AIT.' AI I I()R Januar, 21, 2004 Mayor Judy Johnson Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Blvd Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mayor Johnson: ST,V11: OF NIENNEISO TA OFFICE, OF THE S'i'Nm, Aunt-roiz til 111 %0 l'i PARK 51121•.1•.1 SAINT PAI I.. NIN li 10'1 1.,') ihil l 290-_'i5I A.OIce) I hit ) 29h -475i (lax) 11;1(C.wJihttor.t:uc.mn.us (E -Mail) I -8W-027.35'0 (Relay Sen ice) It is with a great deal of pleasure that I applaud you and your City Council for being good stewards of the public's trust by maintaining your unreserved fund balance within the appropriate range for Minnesota cities. As you know, it is my job as State Auditor to hold local governments accountable as a fiscal watchdog for the taxpayers of Minnesota. My job is not only to point out problems, but also to highlight positive examples of sound fiscal management in our cities. As part of our recent annual report on the revenues, expenditures and debt of Minnesota's cities, we examined the unreserved fund balance level of your community. As you know, cities need to maintain fund balances to cover expenditures incurred in the first part of the year before they receive revenue in the form of property taxes or state aid payments. Our office has set a standard that an unreserved fund balance should be between 35 and 50 percent of yearly general fund expenditures. Your community of Plymouth falls within that range. Your city's sound fiscal management ;n this area should be commended. Maintaining a fund balance within this range provides the resources for your community to meet potential fiscal needs while not unnecessarily amassing taxpayer dollars. Once again, I would like to commend you, your city council, and your city staff for your diligence in watching over taxpayer dollars. rely, G =_ Patricia Anderson State Auditor 4 Recycled paper Aith a minimum of 15" post -consumer waste An Equal Opportunity Employer Surfing the city web page Jean Lyons From: Web Contact (General) Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:53 AM To: Jean Lyons Subject: FW: Surfing the city web page From: Dennis KamratV.L- Sent: Tuesday, January 27, -004 8:51:03 AM To: Web Contact (General) Subject: Surfing the city web page Auto forwarded by a Rule Page 1 of 1 Your web page is by far the friendliest and easiest page I've searched for information on. It's the best of all the city web pages I've been on. You at least had all the information I was looking for! Dennis C. Kamrath Designs Associate II Ryan Companies US, Inc. 50 South Tenth Street, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55403-2012 612-492-4298 direct 612-492-3298 direct fax 612-492-4000 main 1/27/2004 Page 1 of 2 Helen LaFave From: Jean Lyons Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 9:07 AM To: Helen LaFave; Tim Bildsoe Subject: FW: Plymouth Financial Extra Helen and Tim - This e-mail arrived via the City web site. Jean -----Original Message ----- From: Web Contact (General) Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 8:58 AM To: Jean Lyons Subject: FW: Plymouth Financial Extra From: Stefanie Bellegge,.= Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 8:57:38 Ail To: Tim Bildsoe; Web Contact (General) Subject: FW: Plymouth Financial Extra Auto forwarded by a Rule Tim and Helen, Thank you for all of the work you put into compiling the Plymouth Financial Extra that was in the Jan/Feb 2004 edition of the Plymouth News. The Financial Extra was incredibly informative, and explained complex budget terms/concepts in an easy -to -understand fashion. I truly appreciate the effort you expended to help ensure the citizens understand the functions in which the city is engaged. Thank you for writing/creating a very informative piece regarding our budget; I really appreciate it!! Sincerely, Stefanie Bellegge -----Original Message ----- From: Judy Johnson[mailto:JJohnson@ci.plymouth.mn.us] Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 8:03 AM To: Stefanie Bellegge Subject: RE: Plymouth Financial Extra Thank you for your comments. We are always looking for ways to better communicate with our citizens 1/26/2004 Page 2 of 2 the important issues at the city level. I am glad you found it helpful. We have had only positive feedback and will be providing this information each year from now on. Council MemberTim Bildsoe really worked at moving this forward with full support from the council. Helen LaFave, communications manager, pulled all of it together with the help of city staff in all departments. We appreciate your feedback! At Your Service, Mayor Judy Johnson -----Original Message ----- From: Stefanie Bellegge [,- Sent: =Sent: Fri 1/23/2004 10:23 PM To: Web Contact Finance Cc: Judy Johnson; 3inny Black Subject: Plymoutl: Financial Extra I'm not sure who to send this email to, but I just want to say than'-, you to the individuals who compiled the Plymouth Financial Extra that was in the Jan/Feb 2004 edition of the Plymouth News. The Financial Extra was incredibly informative, and explained complex budget terms/concepts in an easy -to -understand fashion. i truly appreciate the effort the City of Plymouth employees put into helping ensure the citizens understand the functions in which the city is engaged. Thank you for writing/creating a very informative piece regarding our budget; I really appreciate it!! Sincerely, Stefanie Bellegge 1/26/2004 �