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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Information Memorandum 05-28-20042 Dummy CITY OF PLYMOUTH COUNCIL INFO MEMO May 28, 2004 UPCOMING MEETINGS -AND EVENTS Planning Commission June 2 meeting agenda...................................................................... Page 3 Human Rights Commission June 3 meeting agenda............................................................. Page 4 June, July, and August Official City Meeting Calendars...................................................... Page 5 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings ........................................ Page 11 FOR INFORMATION ... Staff Reports Update on the proposed Great River Energy 115 kV Transmission Line ........................... Page 13 Fire Department Monthly Report for April, 2004............................................................... Page 15 Minutes Youth Advisory Council April 12 meeting........................................................................ Page 23 Correspondence E—mail communiqu6 from Glen Beltt regarding the Schmidt Lake Road redesign ........... Page 24 Letter from Wayzata Schools Finance Director Alan Hopeman, Jr. regarding the proposed wind turbine at Wayzata Senior High School ..................................................... Page 25 Letter from City Manager Laurie Ahrens to Sewer & Water Supervisor Brian Young regarding his preliminary design report for the water treatment plants project ...... Page 26 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 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 PUBLIC FORUM APPROVAL OF AGENDA 5. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve the May 19, 2004 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Cavanaugh & Associates. Preliminary plat to divide one lot into two single-family lots to be known as "Joe Cavanaugh Addition" for property located at 815 Cottonwood Lane North. (2004042) B. Carson, Clelland and Schreder. Land use guide plan amendment to reguide the townhome portion of the Mission Ponds development from LA -1 (Living Area 1) to LA -2 (Living Area 2) to allow the construction of one single family home on 37`'' Avenue North. (2004026) C. City of Plymouth. Consider comprehensive plan amendment to the Transportation Plan chapter that would remove the proposed segment of Medina Road between Vicksburg and Dunkirk Lanes from the plan. (2003114) D. CSM Corporation. Comprehensive plan amendment to reguide property from IP (Planned Industrial) to C (Commercial) and LA -4 (Living Area 4) and a PUD (Planned Unit Development) Sketch Review to allow redevelopment of the Dana Spicer site located at the southwest corner of State Highway 55 and Vicksburg Lane. The sketch indicates roughly 225,000 square feet of retail commercial uses, and 48 townhome units or a daycare center on the 28.7 -acre site. (2004024) 7. ADJOURNMENT l AGENDA Plymouth Human Rights Commission June 3, 2004 Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Medicine Lake Room 1. Call to Order 2. Approve Minutes 3. Approve Agenda 4. Presentation A. District Integration Coordinator, Diversity Training S. Committee Reports A. Committee on Student Human Rights Activities B. Community Awareness Committee C. Community Education Committee D. Human Rights Incident Response Team 1) Police Department Review E. The League of Minnesota Human Rights, Gloria Alexander 6. Old Business A. Human Rights Award B. Follow-up on Hate and Bigotry Forum 1) Evaluation results, Vincent Ij ioma 7. New Business A. Determine the next step with YWCA Community Dialogue meeting B. Consider 2004 work plan priorities 8. Announcements and Articles (for your information) A. Golden Valley HRC Agenda and Minutes 9. Adjourn Next Meeting: September 2, 2004 Call Sue Gulbrand at 763-509-5053 if you are unable to attend the meeting. OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS June 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 7:00 PM 7:00 PM HUMAN PLANNING RIGHTS COMMISSION, COMMISSION - Council Chambers Medicine Lake Room 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers5:00 490PMSPECIALCOUNCIL MEETING -INTERVIEW YOUTHAPPLGANTS:P Er s—y TmMrw Rown PM SPECIAL CITU COUNCIL MEETING: RECEIVE RESULTS, 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC),Counoil chambers 7:00 PM PARK 8 REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers CITIZEN SURVEY PUMk SMNy TraiMrq R- oan700 PM REGULAR COUNCIL 7 1 MEETING, Co 1CIM- 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Fla Da Flag y 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, [Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING 8 REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Plymouth Towne Square (this meeting only) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCILMEETING: REVIEWAUDIT REPORT, Public Safety Training Room 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - REGULAR Medicine Lake 7:00 PM COUNCILMEETING, Cou d CtnmGers Room 27 20 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT; DANA SPICER SITE PROPOSAL, Council Chambers 29 30 5:15 PM MUSIC IN PLYMOUTH, Hllde Performance Center May 2004 S M T W T F S Jul 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 30 31 modified on 5/28/2004 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS July 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday I Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Jun 2004 Aug 2004 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE 7:00 PM 7:00 PM PARK 8 DAY DAY PLANNING REC ADVISORY (OBSERVED), City COMMISSION, COMMISSION Offices Closed Council Chambers (PRAC), Council Chambers 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT BUSINESS SUBSIDY AUTHORITY (HRA), POLICY, Public Safety Medicine Lake Room Training Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6:45 PM YOUTH 7:00 PM ADVISORY PLANNING COUNCIL, Council COMMISSION, Chambers Council Chambers 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 HSSAMPLYMOUTN 9USINE55 COUNCIL, SMraton 7:00 PM NN—WM W.>t Inor PLYMOUTH ADVISORY S:w PMSPECIALMUNca MEETING WATER COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT(PACT)- CONSERVATION OPTIONS, PWYc SaM1IY Tni0 Roam T'.00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. C_. Chambers Medicine Lake Room modified on 5/28/2004 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS August 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6:45 PM YOUTH 5:30 PM 7:00 PM ADVISORY NATIONAL NIGHT PLANNING COUNCIL, Council OUT COMMISSION, Chambers Council Chambers 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5:30 PM SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING: JOINT MEETING WITH CHARTER COMMISSION; Public Safety Training Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. Caurictl Chambers 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Council Chambers 7:00 PM PARK R REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 645 PAA YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7;00 PM REGULAR 7:00 PM 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL cC-ACnamb- PLYMOUTH MEETING: Budget ADVISORY Study Session, COMMITTEE ON Public Safety TRANSIT (PACT) - Training Room Medicine Lake Room 29 ✓ 0 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 31 Sep 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 Ju 12004 S M T W T F S 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: Budget 1 2 3 Chambers Studay Session, Public Safety Training Room 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30 modified on 5/28/2004 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items June 8, Special, 4:30 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Interview youth for City boards and commissions June 8, Special, 5:30 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Receive Citizen Survey Results June 8, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Oath of Office to Police Officers Darren McGann and Erik Fadden • Presentation of plaque from Department of Defense, Police Chief Goldstein • Conduct public hearing on the application for an off—sale liquor license for Super Valu, Inc. d/b/a Cub Foods, 4445 Nathan Lane • Hearing on bonds for public safety building expansion • Approve final plat for The Woods at Medicine Lake, a 26 -unit townhouse development located at 10730 South Shore Drive. Quest Development, Inc. (2003089F) • Approve variance to allow construction of a 12 -foot by 20 -foot room addition for property located at 1195 Weston Lane North Skyline Design, Inc. (200403 1) • Approve variance to allow an existing shed to remain in the front yard for property located at 210 Vicksburg Lane North. Richard and Carole Korby. (2004040) • Approve conditional use permit to allow 70% office use in the I-2 (General Industrial) zoning district for property located at 9850-51" Avenue North. Sentinel Property Management Corp. (2004036) • Bond refunding for At The Lake Apartments • Variances to allow construction of an enclosed pool for property located at 2720 Quaker Lane North. Beth Dryden. (2004025) • Approve final plat for "The Fields of Nanterre, Fourth Addition" located north of Schmidt Lake Road on Yuma Lane North. Ryland Homes. (2001148F) June 22, Special, 5:30 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Receive audit report June 22, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Approve plans and authorize bids for public safety building expansion • Conduct public hearing on the application for an off—sale liquor license for DF Midwest Services, Inc. d/b/a Paradise Liquors, 10 Nathan Lane June 28, Special, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • CSM applications for the redevelopment of the Dana Spicer site • Consider Comprehensive Plan amendment relating to Medina Road Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. July 13, Special, 5:30 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Consider state requirement of Business Subsidy Policy/ AGA Medical July 13, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers July 27, Special, 5:30 p.m., Public Safety Training Room • Discuss Water Conservation Options July 27, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Award bid for public safety building expansion August 10, Special, 5:30 p.m. Public Safety Training Room • Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission August 23, Budget Study Session, 7:00 p.m., Public Safety Training Room August 24, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers August 31, Budget Study Session, 7:00 p.m., Public Safety Training Room September 7, Budget Study Session, 7:00 p.m., Public Safety Training Room September 13, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers /7i DATE: May 21, 2004 TO: Anne Hurlburt FROM: Kip Berglund, Associate Planner SUBJECT: Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Meeting on the Proposed Great River Energy 115 KV Transmission Line I attended the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) meeting on the proposed Great River Energy (GRE) 115 kV Transmission line. The public meeting was from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on May 20, 2004 and conducted at The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency building in St. Paul. A copy of the agenda for the meeting is included in the 3 - ringed binder at the Community Development Department front counter. From 9:20 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the EQB listened to an overview of the project by George Johnson, the EQB Project Manager, and Alan Mitchell, George Johnson's manager. Kevin Lennon from GRE also was included in the overview. George Johnson gave a brief overview of the staff report and explained that the staff is recommending approval of the proposed line location by GRE. He explained that there were 3 segments of the proposed line that received opposition from residents. These being an area of an existing 69 kV line along 73rd Avenue in Maple Grove, and Fernbrook Lane in Plymouth, and a proposed new location on the east side of Int. 494 abutting the Rockford Estates Townhomes property. He stated that the Administrative Law Judge, Kathleen Sheehy, has ruled against the 3 alternative segments suggested by the residents based on technical and economic issues. Some of the main concerns by the Commissioners had to do with the specific potential vegetation lost along the proposed Rockford Estates segment and the proximity of the lines to the homes potentially emitting dangerous levels of energetic magnetic fields (EMF's). They did not feel that the conditions for replacement of lost vegetation were strong enough in the report. Another Commissioner suggested that if Local Governing Units and Cities planned better in their Comprehensive Plans for larger road corridors and larger major utility corridors the residential impact could be avoided in the future and this would not be an issue 1� May 21, 2004 Page 2 because of the needed upgrade. He stated that the LGU's have to be more sensitive on the approval building permits in certain areas. I felt he used the LGU's/Cities as a scapegoat being that he also stated that the State should not get directly involved. Kevin Lennon from GRE explained that the proposed line location meet the required setbacks and that the new technology in the power line construction emit less EMF's. He also stated the GRE was willing to work with the residents for vegetation replacement and a fence installation for screening from Int. 494. From 10:00 to 10:15, Eric Cantfield, a representative of the 73rd Avenue neighborhood gave testimony against the upgraded line in his neighborhood stating that the board had an opportunity to suggest burying the line in that location for the Cedar Island Lake watershed protection. He stated that he did not think the EQB staff study included enough information on the potential impact on the watershed. George Johnson responded to the testimony by stating that they are aware of the issues and that both staff and the judge felt that the existing ROW/Easements corridor overwhelmed the potential issues. From 10:15 to 10:45, there was a break to allow time for the EQB lawyers and GRE lawyers to reach a compromise in creating some stronger conditions in the resolution to replace lost or damaged vegetation in the project. They reached a compromise by including a statement that stated by July 1, 2004 the Permittee (GRE) shall submit to the board a plan addressing the vegetation loss and replacement. They did mention that GRE also work with the City Forester. At 10:45, Deidre Haldgrin, also from the 73rd Avenue neighborhood, gave testimony against the proposed location and invited the entire board for a site visit. At 11:00, after some further discussion by the board, they had a motion to accept the amended resolution and voted to approve the location of the proposed Great River Energy 115 kV Transmission line. • I have placed the additional information that I picked up at the meetings in the 3 ringed binder at the front counter including the route permit draft report. PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT APRIL 2004 1s' PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT APRIL 2004 Monthly Synopsis Year-to-date (YTD), the Department answered 423 calls for service. This compares to 383 calls for service in 2003 (YTD). The highest call volumes in April occurred between the hours of 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. Friday was the busiest day of the week. Sixty percent of calls occurring in April were "Duty Crew" calls. Responses were divided between the fire stations as follows: Station I (13205 Co. Rd. 6) 36 Station II (12000 Old Rockford Rd.) 36 Station I11 (3300 Dunkirk Ln.) 41 April 2004 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. 1 S` Truck 1 St Truck 2"d Truck 2nd Truck Duty Crew In -Service On -Scene In -Service On -Scene # Calls 0:59 5:03 3:03 6:39 19 Non -Duty Crew 6:30 10:23 9:07 12:48 8 Station 1 5:45 6:44 6:15 8:22 1 Station 11 6:08 10:59 10:33 14:35 4 Station I1I 7:16 10:47 6:16 • 10:08 3 Significant or Unusual Events In April the following responses are notable: April 2 Apartment fire (00:32 a.m.) April 3 Commercial fire (1:35 p.m.) April 5 Vechicle accident with entrapment (8:38 p.m.) April 7 Vehicle accident with entrapment (4:56 p.m.) April 13 Vehicle accident with entrapment (12:23 p.m.) April 14 Garage (00:22 a.m.) April 14 Commercial fire (11:12 p.m.) During the month of April, 14 calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-two members of the Department. Training During the month of April, six topics were offered during sixteen regularly scheduled in-house training sessions. These topics included RIT, Tactics, Driving & Pumping, Ladders, Brooklyn Park Tower Trng., and Live Fire. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team and RAD team. J6 Sixty-five members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 802 — an average of over twelve hours per participating member. Recruitment During the month of April, sixty-four paid -on-call firefighters served the City of Plymouth. No members left the department. We completed reference checks and conducted the physical ability test for six probationary firefighter candidates. Duty Crew The Duty Crew Program was in operation on all 22 weekdays during the month. Forty-one members participated in the program. In April, 98% of all shifts were fully staffed with at least four firefighters. During our busiest time period (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) 96% of the shifts were fully staffed with at least four firefighters. A staffing summary for the month, by shift, is included below. Staffing: 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 5 Firefighters 68% 73% 73% 73% 86% 4 Firefighters 32% 23% 27% 27% 10% 3 Firefighter 0% 4% 0% 0% 4% No Staff 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% t'+ pyYMOVT]R Plymouth Fire Department MINNESOTA Monthly Fire Prevention & Life Safety Z'� A Education Report FIRE -RESCUE Reporting Period: April 2004 Type of Program Number Time Spent Total Monthly of Programs Per Program Program Hours Station Tour 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Birthday 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Party/Station Tour Pre-school Visits 6 1 Hour 6 Hours Adopt a Hydrant 2 2 Hours/Visit 4 Hours Program Bike Helmet Sales 1 2 Hours 2 Hours K-6 Education 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Safety 1 Boy Scout 2 Hours 2 Hours Fairs/Community General Events Meeting .75 Hours 16.5 Hours CPS Certification 22 Car Seats Safe Escape House Career Talk 4 Kid's 1 Hour 4 Hours Colleges Fire Department Open House Smokebusters 1 Smokebusters .5 Hour .5 Hours Smokebusters for for Seniors Seniors Fire Extinguisher 2 1 Hour 2 Hours Training/EDITH Misc. Community Presentation Misc. Outreach 1 NNO 2 Hours 2 Hours Meeting/Lakevi Ile 13 Summary • 43 Monthly Programs 24% of 173 hour • 42 Hours of month, 52 hour Programming work week was • 1 Hour Averaged Per committed to Program Public Education 0 50 40 30 20 10 0 14:24 12:00 9:36 7:12 4:48 2:24 0:00 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Station Comparison 36 36 41 - v = , , ❑ Apr -04 ,-',V, Zvi all", ry 1 2 3 Response Time for Emergency Calls $850,000 $650,000 $450,000 $250,000 $50,000 600 400 200 0 Duty Crew Non -Duty Crew Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date 1/1/03-4/30/03 1/1/04-4/30/04 Total Calls Year -to -Date 1/1/03-4/30/03 1/1/04-4/30/04 5/25/2004 10:23 5:03 � �� ❑Apr -04 $850,000 $650,000 $450,000 $250,000 $50,000 600 400 200 0 Duty Crew Non -Duty Crew Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date 1/1/03-4/30/03 1/1/04-4/30/04 Total Calls Year -to -Date 1/1/03-4/30/03 1/1/04-4/30/04 5/25/2004 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT 5/25/2004 UI Calls by Time of Day 0 30- 20- 20 10 10 ®Apr -04 1 flo-, 0- 0600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 2100-0000 0000-0300 0300-0600 Calls by Day of Week 25-,-- 5 --20 20 15 ` 0 Apr -03 10 M Apr -04 5 0 ej Events By Category Other 0% Fires 15% Severe Weather Overpressure/ 1 % Explosions 1% False Alarms Rescue/EMS 29% 12% Hazardous Conditions 14% Good Intent Calls Service Calls 6% 23% 5/25/2004 UI DUTY CREW STAFFING 24% April 2004 r) 0% 74% 0 5 Firefighters ❑ 4 Firefighters ❑ 3 Firefighters CALLS FOR SERVICE April 2004 40% ..... ..... ❑ Duty Crew .... .... 60% .. ® Non -Duty Crew YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 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 ✓ Community Liaison Gary Landis, Recreation Supervisor Regina Michaud, and Deputy City Clerk Kurt Hoffman were also present. Janet called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Paul made a motion seconded by Akash, to approve the agenda. The motion passed in a unanimous voice vote. Janet made a motion seconded by Heather, to approve the minutes of the February 9 meeting. The motion passed in a unanimous voice vote. Committee Updates Youth Service Awards Paul reported that $400 dollars has been donated for award money from various community groups. He said he is preparing to send out letters to several other groups as well. He said judging is scheduled for 6:00 PM on April 26 in the Medicine Lake Room. Intergenerational Committee Regina reported that approximately 11 youth and 13 senior citizens have signed up to attend Saturday's roundtable discussion at the Plymouth Creek Center. Marketing Committee Members had nothing to report. Ad Hoc Committee Kurt reported that he and City Manager Laurie Ahrens had reported to Communications Manager Helen LaFave that the Youth Advisory Council was interested in contributing information on the City's website. Adjournment Janet made a motion, seconded by Paul, to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 PM. The motion passed without opposition. From: gbeltt Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 3:39:46 PM To: Web Contact Engineering Subject: Schmidt Lake Road Redesign — Auto forwarded by a Rule Good Afternoon! As a previously vocal skeptic, I'm obligated to let you know how successful I now believe the re-engineering of Schmidt Lake Road to have been. When we bought a home nearby about eight years ago, Schmidt Lake Road was a four -lane undivided road. A number of years ago, it was resurfaced at which time it was restriped to a two-lane road with wider shoulders separated by a center turn lane. I've never been a big fan of shared center turn lanes, or "suicide lanes" as I'm inclined to call them. However, with the low volume of turning traffic on Schmidt Lake Road, it's rare to encounter opposing traffic in that lane. In addition, the narrowing of Schmidt Lake Road to single lanes seems to have had a traffic calming effect. While vehicles still often travel too fast, they seem to honor the road design, and I've never seen someone try to use the center lane as a passing lane, except to coast around someone turning right in front of them. Further, this design is quite bicycle friendly. The wider shoulder accommodates bikes much better than the two-lane undivided road did because it prevents motorists from having to switch lanes (close to opposing traffic) to get around bikes. For cyclists, Schmidt Lake Road is a nice alternative to Rockford and Bass Lake Roads, neither of which are particularly bike -friendly even considering the sidepaths. I frequently see bicyclists travelling at respectable commuting speeds of 15-25 mph on Schmidt Lake Road, a pace which is impossible to maintain on sidepaths. So I'd like to extend a belated apology to the engineer whose judgement I questioned over the phone some years ago. Whoever it was, you knew what you were doing after all! I do hope that consideration is being given to making Vicksburg between Schmidt Lake Road and the Maple Grove border more bicycle -friendly in the near future. (Even a decent paved shoulder would suffice.) That's currently a big missing link between Plymouth and the extensive system of bike trails up there around Rice Lake and further north to Elm Creek Park Reserve and the North Hennepin Corridor Trail. Thanks for all your efforts! Glen M. Beltt 5185 Trenton Lane N. Plymouth Independent School District 284 4 e4x arj//� �"/s May 25, 2004 Laurie Ahrens City Manager City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd Plymouth, Mn 55447-1482 Dear Laurie: District Administrative Offices 210 County Road 101 North P.O. Box 660 Wayzata, MN 55391-0660 763.745.5000 Fax: 763.745.5091 Thank you very much for meeting with me to discuss the feasibility of City ownership of a wind turbine at Wayzata High School. I appreciated your willingness to spend time on this matter, as well as your willingness to explore options for ownership. Fortunately, the Legislature has simplified the situation by enacting Senate File 1753. which authorizes school districts to own, operate, and sell power from wind turbines. The bill has been signed by the Governor and is now law. This solves the ownership problem that was posed as a result of the Attorney General opinion that was issued in March. As a result, the ownership assistance that the city would have provided is no longer needed. Thanks again for your help. Sincerely, Alan R. Hopeman, Jr. Executive Director Finance and Business ARH:bds cc: Council member Sandy Hewitt Paul R. Beilfuss, Ed.D ZS www. wayzata.k12.mn. us ti �"VVV CITY OF PLYMOUTH+ May 27, 2004 Brian Young Sewer & Water Supervisor Dear Brian, On May 25, the Council accepted the 90% preliminary design report for the water treatment plants project and passed on a big "Thank You!" for your recent cost saving suggestion. Your suggestion that a liquid form of sodium permanganate be used in the plants, rather than the powder form, will result in an estimated cost savings of $400,000 in construction costs. You have done an excellent job of keeping the treatment plants project moving to date and staying within the budget parameters. At the same time, you are making progress on the lift station upgrade, water storage reservoir, and the many ongoing maintenance issues on your plate. Nice Job and Keep Up the Great Work! 67 Laurie Ahrens City Manager 2:, PLYMOUTH _q Beautifuf 1"face to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 0 - www.d.plymouth.mn.us