Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 11-21-2003NOVEMBER 21, 2003 Dummy Youth Advisory Council November 24 meeting agenda .............................................. :................... Page 3 Official Meeting Calendars for November, December 2003, and January 2004 ............................. Page 5 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings ..................................................... Page 11 NEWSARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. City news release regarding the Mayor's Sleep -out Challenge..................................................... Page 12 Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission background information (submitted by Councilmember Hewitt) regarding suggestions to franchise more than one cable television service provider............................................................................................. Page 14 Wayzata School Board November 24 work session agenda.......................................................... Page 19 STAFF REPORTS Weekly update on funds donated for the Mayors Housing Challenge ........................................... Page 20 Fire Department October 2003 Monthly Report ............................................................................ Page 21 MINUTES Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission October 9 meeting ....................................... Page 29 Highway 55 Corridor Coalition October 24 meeting..................................................................... Page 32 Park & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) November 13 meeting draft minutes ............ Page 34 CORRESPONDENCE Letter submitted by Mayor Johnson to local media regarding the City's proposed 2004 budget .. Page 40 Letter from Gary Carlson, League of Minnesota Cities to Commissioner Dan Salomone ............ Page 41 CITYCOUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO November 21, 2003 Page 2 On November 13, Mayor Johnson and Laurie Ahrens attended the Hammer Open House, hosted by Senator Gen Olson. Hammer offered to provide a tour for the Council in the future ifthere is interest............................................................................................................................ Page 43 Thank—you letter from Helen Bassett for Mayor Johnson's congratulatory letter on Ms. Bassett's reelection to the Robbinsdale Area schools District Board ...................................... Page 44 Letter to residents regarding a request for variance for Steven Mohn (2003122) .......................... Page 45 Letter to residents regarding a request for conditional use permit for Russell Gallagher (2003123)....................................................................................................................................... Page 46 Letter to residents regarding a request for conditional use permit and variances for KKE Architects (2003115)........................................................ :.................................................... Page 47 COUNCIL ITEMS Information regarding the League of Minnesota Cities Leadership Conference for ExperiencedOfficials..................................................................................................................... Page 48 YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 24, 2003 6:45 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS Time Allotment 1. Approvals: 6:45-7:50 a) Agenda b) November 10 meeting minutes 2. Guest Speakers and Special Items: 6:50-7:30 a) Discuss with members of the Police Department guidelines for youth safety on Commissions b) Review January and February Meeting Calendar dates 3. COMMITTEE UPDATES: 7:30-7:45 a) Housing Challenge Committee b) Marketing Committee c) Intergenerational Committee d) Youth Service Awards Committee e) Youth Town Forum Committee 4. Future agenda items 7:45-7:50 a) S. Adjournment 7:50 6. Additional Materials: a) December, January, and February Official City Meeting Calendars b) NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 — 6:45 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 91 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS November 2003 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Dec 2003 1 Oct 2003 S M T W T F S S 11i T W T F S 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 27 28 29 30 31 28 29 30 31 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, 6:00 PM VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENT, Plymouth Creek Center Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Public Safety Training Room VETERANS DAY (OBSERVED), City Offices 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 100 PM COUNCIL MEETING To DISCUSS PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING EXPANSION, Public Safety Training Room - 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers Closed 7:01 PM PARK a REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room THE MAYOR'S HOUSING CHALLENGE SLEEP -OUT, 35th THE MAYOR'S HOUSING CHALLENGE SLEEP -OUT, 35th 5:00 PM -7:00 PM ZACHARY WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPEN 8 Plymouth BhJ. & Plymcu'i Blvd. i HOUSE, Zachary Lane & Rockford Road 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 6:45 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council 14TH- PLYMOUTH UNCIMTKA BUSINESS COUNCIL, BORN Conference Room, Cit Offices closed CI Offices closed Chambers Carlson Pak y, 41h floor THANKSGIVING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY HOLIDAY 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 30 modified on 11/21/2003 5 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS December 2003 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 S 6 7:00 PM TRUTH IN6:00 TAXATION PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: CITY MANAGER SEARCH: 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS HEARING, Council PlymaathCreekCente COMMISSION - Chambers 6'30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON Medicine Lake Room INTERVIEW BOARD & TRANSIT (PACT) - COMMISSION Medicine Lake Room CANDIDATES, Plymouth Creek Center 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 500 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, MMk:be Lake Roan 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE 7:00 PM CHARTER COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING, Public Safety 6:30 PM SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL 6 00 TRUTH IN TAXATION '. ING RECONVENED, HEARING MEETING: CITY MANAGER (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center Training Room `°'""'Chan°"' SEARCH; Plymouth Creek 7:00 PM PARK 8 REC 6:W PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: CITY MANAGER SEARCH; Pt 1. Creek 0-1.C Center ADVISORY COMMISSION (FRAC), Council Chambers 6:0.5 PM YOUTH ADNSORY COUNCIL, C II Chan _ - 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 5:30 PM SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING: CITY 7:00 PM PLANNING 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NRA), Channukah begins at sunset COMMISSION, Medicine Lake Room MANAGER SEARCH; Medicine Lake Room Council Chambers 7;00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers L1 L2 23 G4 LJ 26 2 % 6:45 PM YOUTH CHRISTMAS ADVISORY HOLIDAY COUNCIL, Council Chambers City Offices Closed 28 29 30 31 Nov 2003 Jan 2004 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 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 modified on 11/21/2003 1 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS January 2004 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Feb 2004 1 2 3 Dee 2003 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S City Offices 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 closed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NEW YEAR'S 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DAY 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 2627 28 28 29 30 31 29 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6:45 PM YOUTH 7:00 PM 7:00 PM HUMAN ADVISORY COUNCIL, Council Chambers PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7:30 AM MLC REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING, Plymouth Radisson, 3131 Campus Drive 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM HOUSING 8 REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 18 19 MARTIN 7:00 PM LUTHER KING PLANNING JR. BIRTHDAY COMMISSION, (Observed) - Council Chambers City Offices Closed 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 11:45AM PLYMOUTH-MTKA BUSINESS COUNCIL, BORN Conference Room, 301 Carlson Parkway, 4th floor 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) - Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers modified on 11/21/2003 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items December 1, Special, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Truth in Taxation hearing December 2, Special, 6:00 p.m., Plymouth Creek Center • City Manager Search December 2, Special, 6:30 p.m., Plymouth Creek Center • Board and Commission candidate interviews December 8, Special, 5:00 p.m., Medicine Lake Room. • City Manager Search December 8, Special, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Truth in Taxation hearing (reconvened) December 8, Special, 6:30 p.m., Plymouth Creek Center • City Manager Search December 9, Special, 6:30 p.m., Plymouth Creek Center • City Manager Search December 16, Special, 5:30 p.m., Medicine Lake Room • City Manager Search December 16 Regular, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers • Adopt 2004 Budget and Tax Levy • Consider HRA proposal to purchase City -owned property at Northwest Blvd. and Schmidt Lake Road • Adopt Policy on Responsible Bidder Criteria January 13 • Adopt comments on Bassett Creek Water Management Commission 2"d Generation Plan January 27 Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. It City of Plymouth News Advisory -and Photo Opportunity What: Mayor's Housing Challenge Sleep -Out When: Friday, Nov. 21 and Sat., Nov. 22, 8 — 8:30 p.m. Where: Land in City Center area (behind Cub Foods and off of Plymouth Blvd.) For More Information: Mayor Judy Johnson, 763-509-5007 or City Communications Manager Helen LaFave, 763-509-5090. Plymouth's Elected Officials Sleep Out to Raise Funds for Housing Plymouth Mayor Judy Johnson and five Plymouth City Councilmembers will sleep outdoors in tents the nights of Fri., Nov. 21 and Sat., Nov. 22. The Mayor and Council are sleeping out to raise funds for affordable housing programs sponsored by Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) and People Responding In Social Ministry (PRISM). By 8 p.m. each night, the Mayor and Council will be enjoying a bonfire and making s'mores. Members of the media are invited to stop by to take photos, shoot video and talk with Mayor Johnson and City Councilmembers Tim Bildsoe, Ginny Black, Sandy Hewitt, Kelli Slavik and Bob Stein either evening. Tents will be pitched on a vacant lot in the City Center area of Plymouth. The land abuts Plymouth Boulevard between 35 h and 36 h Avenues (directly behind Cub Foods) in Plymouth — near Life Time Fitness and the Plymouth Ice Center. Background Information Mayor Johnson came up with the idea of a Mayor's Housing Challenge to cast a wider net for donations to local service agencies that address affordable housing issues in Plymouth and surrounding communities. The mayor challenged her fellow elected officials on the Plymouth City Council as well as officials from neighboring communities to sleep out or look for other ways to raise funds for local nonprofit agencies. The Plymouth mayor and council are taking pledges from friends, colleagues and community members for IOCP and PRISM. People making pledges designate which organization should receive their pledge. (IOCP serves the area of Plymouth west of 1-494. PRISM serves the area of Plymouth east of I-494.) IT The Mayor's Housing Challenge dovetails with Wayzata shoe repairman Bob Fisher's annual sleep -out for ICOP and a new sleep -out effort by PRISM supporters. Both are being held during Housing Week, the week of Nov. 15. Pledge forms for the Mayor's Housing Challenge Sleep -Out are available at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. and on the City of Plymouth web site, www.ci.plymouth.mn.us. Donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to either ICOP or PRISM, and mailed to Mayor's Housing Challenge, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55447. 13 NORTHWF,ST SUBURBS CABLE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 6900 Winnetka Avenue North Brooklyn Park, N4N 55428 (763)536-8355 TO: Dan Donahue, Chair, and Members of the Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission FROM: Greg Moore, Adrian Herbst, and Chris Hood DATE: November 18, 2003 RE: Item 2 on the NWSCCC Agenda Staff asks the NWSCCC the following with respect to a policy which may allow cities of commissions flexibility to grant franchises to a portion of a city or a cable service territory. 1. Does the NWSCCC support such a policy? 2. Does the NWSCCC want to be neutral? 3. Does the NWSCCC oppose such a policy? 4. Does the NWSCCC want to negotiate a compromise which specifically protects the policy of the NWSCCC that requires that the entire service territory be served, but allow other cities or cable commissions the ability to grant franchises to serve a part of a service territory? Further, at the discretion of the grantor, require that any new cable service provider at its own expense will design, build, connect and operate PEG channels and local origination channels as specified in the incumbent franchise, and on the channels specified in the incumbent franchise and not to provide any PEG or local origination channels not specified in the franchise. 5. Other. The NWSCCC directs staff to: 1. Actively lobby on behalf of such a policy. 2. Monitor any possible legislation and keep NWSCCC informed. 3. Actively oppose such a policy. 4. Other. Brooklyn Center 9 Brooklyn Park • Crystal • Golden Valley • Maple Grove • New Hope • Osseo 9 Plymouth a Robbinsdale The Baller Herbst Law Group A Professional Corporation COMMENTS REGARDING PROPOSED LEVEL PLAYING FIELD LEGISLATION The Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA) together with the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) are working together with the Minnesota Telephone Association (NITA) to develop a draft proposal for consideration during the 2004 legislative session. The proposal is to change the Minnesota Cable Act, Section 238.08, to eliminate the "arta served" requirement. The NWSCCC will recall that the "area served" requirement (often referred to as a "level playing field standard") was raised on numerous occasions over the past several years by the incumbent cable provider, AT&T, and now Comcast, who both strenuously objected to the granting of a franchise that did not include a service area similar to theirs. By way of background, the franchising process in Minnesota resulted from a number of public concerns which led to a legal process that established "cable service territories" to include more than one separate community as a cable franchise area. It was based on concerns that there would otherwise be a hodge-podge of differing types of franchise commitments and obligations and the desire for uniformity and fairness for all and to ensure that the have-not communities or the less developed communities and neighborhoods would have the same opportunity for cable services as the more fully developed or more profitable communities. As a result, in the metro area of the Twin Cities most franchises were granted to serve areas larger than a single community. Joint power commissions were formed to make recommendations and also given authority to serve as the franchising authority and/or the franchise administrator for the service territory. Applicants for franchises were required to provide service throughout the entire cable service territory and not limited to a single community or part of a community within the service territory. As a result, cable operators provided uniform services throughout an entire service territory for the benefit of all residents within that service territory. Following the service territory approach, communities also developed, in conformance with the goals and intent of Minnesota lav, community service benefits including public, educational, and governmental access channels and programs and local originated proeramining. These community services were designed to meet community needs and significant public expenditures were made to develop and support these cable services. The proposed legislative change will potentially alter the franchise process in Minnesota by no longer ensuring franchises will require service to an entire service territory. The NWSCCC has faced the issue of whether or not an area less than the entire nine -City communities should be granted a franchise. The NWSCCC has recognized issues and concerns regarding a new entrant versus an incumbent operator, including the cost to build a new system and the market power of the incumbent. The NWSCCC has sought to have competitive operators, but the NWSCCC has also determined competition must be meaningful and the NWSCCC has understood the rights of the incumbent, including a right to have its franchise modified if additional franchise is not similar to the incumbents. Through the development of a Master Cable Service Ordinance, the NWSCCC has created flexibility so that a new entrant would be given a chance to develop its services over a period of time throughout the entire nine -City service territory. The NWSCCC must address several issues and questions concerning the proposed legislation that will include at least the following: Does the NWSCCC wish to continue a service territory concept or permit franchises to be granted by either it or its individual Member Cities for limited areas? Does the NWSCCC support a change in Minnesota law to eliminate the service area — "level playing field" requirements? If individual franchising authorities, including the NWSCCC, has the authority to determine its own service area requirement, does this make such a law change acceptable? Is it essential that public, educational, and governmental access programming be available on all separate cable systems throughout the entire nine -Member City communities? The foregoing is intended to outline some of the questions or policy considerations for the NWSCCC. We will assist the NWSCCC with answers to questions that enable it to formulate the policy and direction necessary for it to advise the League of Minnesota Cities and MACTA of the NWSCCC's position relative to the proposed new legislation. 15 Flaherty & Hood Professional Association PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD STATUTE MACTA and the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) are considering amending M.S., Section 238.0.8, the level playing field/area served statute. The proposal is intended to expressly provide cities flexibility in determining the areas that will be served under a competitive cable franchise. MACTA and LMC have had some preliminary discussions with the Minnesota Telephone Association (MTA) on this subject, and the MTA has been receptive to the concept. MTA has been a proponent of limited area franchising and is interested in this issue given WH Link's recent losing effort in its lawsuit against the City of Otsego regarding Open Video System (OVS) service. It is our understanding that MACTA and LMC desire to pursue such legislation to make it clear that cities have the flexibility and express authority to allow limited area franchises should a city so choose. They desire to make this change in order to avoid future lawsuits on this issue. It is also our understanding that MACTA and MTA have, as of yet, not approached the cable industry about its response to such a proposal. A fundamental question for NWSCCC is whether this proposal is good public policy, and whether NWSCCC should support, remain neutral, or oppose the proposal. NWSCCC currently has a position against allowing limited area franchises. Supporting this proposal would be a change in this policy. Some of the questions raised by this proposal for NWSCCC to address include: 1. Would this change in the lav be sound public policy, be protective of the public interest, and result in meaningful competition and the provision of services for everyone, not just the more affluent areas of a city? 2. Should city councils have the local control to determine the area served, and does this become a political hot potato for city councils? 3. What will the reaction of the cable industry be to this proposal? MACTA and LMC have not approached the cable industry yet. It is likely that the cable industry will oppose the proposed change to the level playing field statute. 4. How will such a change be viewed by the legislature? Does this proposal open up Pandora's Box to industry arguments against franchising, franchise fees ,and PEG access, and will legislators be receptive to those arguments? 5. Is the proposal trading one lawsuit for another? LMC wants to avoid future - Otsego like lawsuits. Section 238.08 talks about prohibiting franchises on terms and conditions "more favorable or less burdensome" than those in an - existing franchise. If you remove the "area served" language from the law, this level playing field language would still remain. 6. Will the proposed change in the law undermine the commission's authority, city bargaining strength, and seryice objectives? Prepared by Flaherty & Hood, P.A. for the Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission (NWSCCC), November 2003 NORTHWEST SUBURBS CABLE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 6900 Winnetka Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 (763) 536-8355 TO: JEFF LEUDERS, PRESIDENT, AND THE MACTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM: GREG MOORE DATE: November 13, 2003 RE: SERVICE TERRITORIES AND ACCESS CHANNELS During our recent discussions with W H Link it became apparent that once a provider serves part of one cable service territory and part of another cable service territory that new provider may be required to carry all of the public access channels from both the areas served. If for instance; Qwest began to serve our area and the City of Minneapolis and St. Paul plus other suburban areas this could amount to literally dozens of access channels. This would have the affect of the truly local community channels being lost among all the other access channels. It would also be used by the industry as another example of an obstacle to competition, because the number of access channels would be too burdensome and would amount to more access channels than the incumbent has to provide. Of course, the solution is to have OVS systems built to conform to municipal boundaries. Can we require this to happen? If we can't we are in trouble. If we can, again the telephone industry that has fought municipal control for 100 years is almost certainly boing to resist this and again argue this would. too burdensome and require t5-;:: l to conform to cable television type requirements which telephone companies are not bound by. I'm concerned that by destroying the concept of the service territory we are also destroying the underpinnings of community television which conforms to a certain, now well established geographic territory. How far do we want to go to get portions of cities a competitive provider? Perhaps, if competitors can't afford to serve an entire area we - should just require that they serve the less affluent part of any community and let the marketplace take care of the rest? Anyway, I believe we have to begin thinking through this because with the proposed MACTA legislation we are opening the door even further to not one competitor but to multiple competitors all serving a portion of the original service territory. We need to start thinking about how we are going to manage community television in that environment. Brooklyn Center 9 Brooklyn Park • Crystal • Golden Valley • Maple Grove • New Hope'* Osseo •Plymouth • Robbinsdale Finally, I believe it is a big mistake to abandon the service territory and large commissions. Service territories and large commissions with resources and leverage to fight and negotiate with the industry, whoever they are, have resulted in many benefits to our communities. Initially, it required that everyone got cable service, no one was left out. Latter, the large subscriber base generated franchise fee and PEG revenue which has allo,,ved us to build and operate the best community television centers in the country. More recently, the cable systems were upgraded, we all required the entire service territory to be upgraded and again, no one was left out. Even though we don't regulate internet and telephone we required or received assurance that everyone would be served by these new services and the cable industry began competing with the telephone company and providing a far better product. The telephone companies have not updated their plants in 100 years. They offer DSL to only limited areas. This I believe is the model you will be pursuing when you take apart service territories and commissions. Why are we making a deal with an industry that wants to provide less service than we require the cable company to provide? Our goal over the past twenty years has been to get everyone services and we have been extremely successful at achieving that goal. Our goal should now be choices for everyone, not just the few or, "Every consumer should have a choice." Whether you agree with this or not I believe we have to begin to discuss the management of public access in an environment where providers are serving two or more service territories. Thank you I r� WAYZATA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Independent School District 284 Wayzata, Minnesota Work Session — November 24, 2003 4:00 — 6:00 p.m. District Administration Building — Board Room 210 County Road 101 North, Plymouth 1. Call to Order— Board Chair Baufield 2. Administrative a. Plymouth Creek Site Plan — Jane Sigford, Judy Hill b. Policy GCQAB Tutoring For Pay — Jane Sigford C. Student Dress Code Report — Jane Sigford d. Middle College Report — Steve Mumma 3. Financial a. Preliminary Audit Report —Alan Hopeman 4. School Board a. Tentative Agenda for December 8, 2003, Regular Board Meeting — Board Members, Paul Beilfus CUE/1 POSTED: 11/20/03 N CITY OF PLYMOUTR Date: November 21, 2003 To: Mayor Judy Johnson and Plymouth City Council Re: Mayors Housing Challenge Weekly Update Donations continue to come in for the Mayors Housing Challenge. To date, checks totaling $5,020.00 have been received and forwarded ($2,990.00 for Interfaith Outreach and $2,030.00 for Prism). Housing Week is finally here and the sleep out begins tonight!! Best of luck to all involved. 0 PLYMOUTH A Beautifu(P(ace to Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 © _ _- www.d.plymouth.mmus PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT OCTOBER 2003 r PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT OCTOBER 2003 Monthly Synopsis Year-to-date (YTD), the Department answered 1109 calls for service. This compares to 1215 calls for service in 2002 (YTD). The highest call volume in October occurred between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Thursday was the busiest day of the week. Sixty-nine percent of calls occurring in October were "Duty Crew" calls. Responses were divided between the fire stations as follows: Station I (13205 Co. Rd. 6) 32 Station 11 (12000 Old Rockford Rd.) 41 Station IlI (3300 Dunkirk Ln.) 33 October 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. 1St Truck 1St Truck 2nd Truck 2nd Truck Duty Crew In -Service On -Scene In -Service On -Scene # Calls 1:07 5:40 1:56 7:38 35 Non -Duty CreNv 6:45 12:23 7:13 12:50 - 6 --` -- Station -1- N/A' N/A N/A -N/A 0 Station 11 6:28 12:49 5:45 12:23 4 Station 111 7:20 11:32 8:41 13:16 2 Sij-,nifrcant or Unusual Events In October, the following responses are notable: October 6 Vehicle accident with entrapment (5:14 p.m.) October 14 Vehicle accident with entrapment (5:56 p.m.) October 22 House fire (2:27 a.m.) October. 30 House fire (2:46 a.m.) During the month of October, twelve calls were paged general alarm. The average attendance for these calls was twenty-one members of the Department. Traininz During the month of October, five topics were offered during sixteen regularly scheduled in- house training sessions. These topics included Foam, Fire Streams, Company Operations, EMS Skills, and Live Fire. Additional training opportunities were offered during Rookie Training and Duty Crew, and for members of the Hazardous Materials Team. Sixty-four members participated in training activities during the month. The total number of hours spent on in-house and outside training activities was 591 — an average of just over nine hours per participating member. Recruitment During the month of October, sixty-eight paid -on-call firefighters served the City of Plymouth. No members left the department. Dutv Crew The Duty Crew Program was in operation on all 23 weekdays during the month. Forty-four members participated in the program. r In October, 88% 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.), only 87% 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 0% 0% 0% 0% 4% 4 Firefighters 91% 78% 83% 87% 96% 3 Firefighters 9% 22% 17% 13% 0% 2 Firefighter 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% No Staff 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% I?LLM.CtTjt Plymouth Fire Department Monthly Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education Report Reporting Period: October 2003 FIRE -RESCUE Type of Program Number Time Spent Total Monthly of Programs Per Program Program Hours Station Tour 2 22 Hours 2 Hours Birthday 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Party/Station Tour Pre-school Visits 6 1 Hour 6 Hours Adopt a Hydrant Program Bike Helmet Sales 1 -.5 .5 Hours K-6 Education 25 1 Hour 25 Hours Safety 43 car seat .75 Hour 32 Hours Fairs/Community check-ups Events @18 car seat .5 Hour 9 Hours CPS Certification sales Neighborhood Watch Program Safe Escape House Career Talk Fire Department 1 4 Hours 4 Hours Open House Smokebusters 1 1 Hour 1 Hour Fire Extinguisher 4 1 Hour 4 Hours Training/EDITH Misc. Community Presentation Misc. Outreach 1 Food Drop off 1 Hours 1 Hour at Prism 2 Change Battery Assists 1 1 Hours 2 Hours Summary • 62 Monthly Programs • 51% of 173 • 87.5 Hours of Hour month, 40 Programming Hour work 1.41 Hours Averaged week was Per Program Committed to Public Education 2� PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Station Comparison 50 41 40 32 33 30 ❑ Oct -03 20�z� �= 10 r rr 0 1 2 3 14:24 12:00 9:36 7:12 4:48 2:24 0:00 Response Time for Emergency Calls 5:40 Duty Crew Not Duty Crew Fire Loss Summary Year -to -Date $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 1/1/02-10/31/02 1/1/03-10/31/03 Total Calls Year -to -Date 1400 1200 .000 800 600 400 200 0 1/1/02-10/31/02 11/18/2003 1/1/03-10/31/03 30 20 10 0 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Calls by Time of Day 600-0900 0900-1200 1200-1500 1500-1800 1800-2100 2100-0000 0000-0300 0300-0600 Calls by Day of Week Events By Category Fires 18% Other 55%(jAlarms 27% 11/18/2003 n Oct -02 ®Oct -03 Oct -02 Oct -03 DUTY CREW STAFFING October 2003 12 %o1% CALLS FOR SERVICE October 2003 310/(0 as aaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa �aa 69% ® 5 Firefighters ❑ 4 Firefighters El Firefighters ❑ Duty Crew E0 Ikon -Duty Crew SHINGLE CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION 3235 Fernbrook Lane • Plymouth, MN 55447 TEL (763)553-1144 9 FAX (763)553-9326 MINUTES October 9, 2003 A meeting of the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission was called to order by Chairman Tom Mathisen on Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 12:45 p.m. at Lancer at Edinburgh, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing, Brooklyn Park, MN. Present were: Graydon Boeck, Brooklyn Center; Tina Carstens, Brooklyn Park; Mathisen, Crystal; Karen Jaeger, Maple Grove; Mark Hanson, New Hope; Mike Liles, Robbinsdale; Charlie LeFevere, Kennedy & Graven; Ed Matthiesen, Wenck Associates, Inc.; and Judie Anderson, Recording Secretary. Also present: John Harlow, Brooklyn Center; Alison Fong, Minneapolis; and Wayne Sicora and Richard McCoy, Robbinsdale. I. Minutes. Motion by Mathisen, second by Boeck to approve the minutes of the September meeting of the Commission. Motion carried. II. Treasurer's Report. Motion by Boeck, second by Carstens to approve the Treasurer's Report. Motion carried. The Commission received a memo dated October 7, 2003, from Deputy Treasurer Doug Sell re the financial condition of the Commission. III. Approval of Claims. Motion by Boeck, second by Hanson to approve the claims as presented by the Deputy Treasurer. Claims were approved by roll call vote: ayes - Boeck, Carstens, Mathisen, Jaeger, Hanson, and Liles; nays - none.; absent -Minneapolis, Osseo and Plymouth. IV. Correspondence. The Commissioners received copies of the following: A. Communications Log. No action required. B. Anderson redistributed a sign-up sheet on which Commissioners noted their preferences for a meeting tinre c1?^^75!, RPc„itS of the tali,! fin^ gill bp. available Pt the N( vP•-i!­-n»efim', C. Memo from Curt Boganey, City of Brooklyn Center, re proposed amendments to the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). In addition, LeFevere provided amendment language for incorporation into the JPA and gave an overview of the proposed changes. Motion by Boeck, second by Hanson to transmit the proposed amendment to the cities for their managers and attorneys' review, recommending approval based on the ad hoc committee's action. Motion carried. Cover memo would include a histo; y of the committee action. Anderson will discuss with Boganey, committee Chair, whether the document will go out over his signature or that of the Commission. [It was Boganey's desire that the proposed amendment be first sent to the ad hoc committee for review and comment prior to transmittal to the cities.] The "cap" to be used in the Agreement will be the 2004 total assessment. D. Matthiesen gave an overview of the Wenck memo dated October 6, 2003, re Commission Consolidation - Possible Revised Assessment Formula. Motion by Boeck, second by Jaeger to table action on proposed options. Motion carried. E. Notice of the 67th annual MASWCD Convention and 13th annual Trade Show, November 30 - December 2, 2003, at the Radisson Hotel South in Bloomington. V. Water Quality. A. Schmidt Lake Association. Motion by Mathisen, second by Carstens to approve a grant agreement between the Commission and the Association. It calls for reimbursement of expenses up to an amount of $1,000 for BROOKLYN CENTER • BROOKLYN PARK • CRYSTAL • MAPLE'GROVE • MINNEAPOLIS • NEW HOPE • OSSEO • PLYMOUTH • ROBBINSDALE 2l Minutes October 9, 2003 page 2 SHINGLE CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION creation of a quarterly newsletter and an annual watershed celebration. Motion carried. B. Water Quality Plan Update will be available at November meeting; C. MnDOT Chloride TMDL. An October 2, 2003 letter to Dennis Larson at MnDOT outlined the Commission's concerns re the use of flow weighted samples in data analysis, the number of unrelated parameters being monitored, and the development of a land use -loading model calibrated to annual loads. Motion by Hanson, second by Carstens authorizing the chair's signature. Motion carried. The letter will be copied to the members of the TAC as well. D. Matthiesen recapped Wenck's October 2, 2003 memo re the Twin Lake Shoreland Habitat Planting Project. Additional aquatic plantings will be completed in the spring. E. River Watch. Motion by Carstens, second by Mathisen to execute the 2003 contract between the Commission and Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services. Motion carried. VI. Project Review. SC2003-08 Crystal Shopping Center, Crystal. Redevelopment of a 10.6 acre shopping center located in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Bass Lake Road and West Broadway. Following completion, approximately 87% of the site will be impervious surface. (The site before redevelopment is 93% impervious.) A complete project review was received on September 25, 2003. The project review fee has been received. Runoff from the impervious areas will be routed to a proposed stormwater pond with a permanent pool volume of 1.49 acre-feet, meeting the Commission's dead pool storage requirement. The pond has been designed to meet NURP standards for water quality treatment. It discharges to an infiltration basin, then to the City's storm sewer system, and finally to Upper Twin Lake. The site meets Commission standards for rate control. According to National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) there are no wetlands associated with this site. The City is the WCA LGU for this project. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Protected Waters Inventory (PWI), no protected waters are located on-site. Building lowest floor elevations satisfy the Commission's one -foot freeboard requirements. There is no floodplain on-site. A detailed erosion control plan satisfying Commission requirements has been received. Commission infiltration requirements are met for the site. Natural watercourses do not exist on the property. The City confirmed that adjacent property owners have been notified of the proposed project and that the City will maintain the proposed stormwater pond. Motion by Hanson, second by Boeck directing Staff to notify the City of Crystal that project SC2003-08 is hereby granted pending receipt of two items: 1. Provision for a drainage easement around the stormwater pond and infiltration basin to allow for maintenance. 2. A written maintenance agreement between the developer and the City for the stormwater pond. Motion carred. VII. Wetland Conservation Act. No business. VIII. Second Generation Plan. No business. IX. Education and Public Outreach Program. A. The Education and Public Outreach Committee (EPOC) met on September 30, 2003. Their report was included in the updated packet materials. B. Water Quality Education Grant. Four grants have been awarded in 2003; the target is five. EPOC will work to identify teachers who have participated in other programs and who may interested in pursuing grants. BROOKLYN CENTER • BROOKLYN PARK • CRYSTAL • MAPLE GROVE • MINNEAPOLIS • NEW HOPE • OSSEO • PLYMOUTH • ROBBINSDALE Minutes SHINGLE CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION October 9, 2003 page 3 C. Phosphorus Management. Notice of the availability of free soil testing was not published in some local papers. The Committee provided Plymouth with fifteen soil testing kits to be distributed at a meeting of the Schmidt Lake Association. D. Compost Bins. A bin giveaway will be used as an incentive to attend an upcoming meeting of Twin Lake residents. E. Great Shingle Creek Watershed Cleanup. A draft manual for cities to use in organizing their cleanups was reviewed. Cleanup date is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2004. F. No nominations for the Watershed Stewardship Awards have been received so far. G. A draft of the Commission's electronic newsletter will be reviewed at the November meeting. Target distribution date is November 15. H. Commissioners received copies of the "Lakescaping with Native Shoreland Buffers" brochure. X. Grant Opportunities. The Commission is awaiting notification of their success on the two grant applications Applicants will be notified of the results approximately November 1. XL Other Business. A. Deputy Treasurer. The Commissioners received a letter of interest from Anderson re providing the services of her company to serve as Deputy Treasurer. Motion by Boeck, second by Liles to appoint Anderson as Deputy Treasurer in 2004. Motion carried. Anderson will seek the appropriate bonding. B. Adjournment. There being no further business before the Commission, motion by Jaeger, second by Carstens to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Judie 1�.. Anderson Recording Secretary JAA:tim J:\CLIENTS\S\SHINGLEC\03MI'GS\octoberminutes.wpd BROOKLYN CENTER e BROOKLYN PARK e CRYSTAL a MAPLE GROVE a MINNEAPOLIS a NEW HOPE a OSSEO e PLYMOUTH a ROBBINSDALE ^� I !001, 10000 HIGHWAY 55 CORRIDOR COALITION Protecting the SS Corridor from I--494 to Annandale, Minnesota Highway 55 Corridor Coalition Meeting Minutes Full Membership Meeting Friday, October 24, 2003 9:30 a.m. — Noon Hennepin County Public Works Facility, Medina MN 1. Call to Order — Chair Penny Steele called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. There was not a quorum present. 2. Introductions — Gary Erickson, Hennepin County; Noel Labine, Wright County EDP; Dick Mattson, Wright County; Jack Russek, Wright County; Curt Kreklau, S. E. H.; Karla Heeter, Wright -County; Senator Mark Ourada; Brent Morningstar, Wright Hennepin Electric; Dale Grove, Bonestroo; John Griffith, MNDOT Metro; Margaret Donahoe, Transportation Alliance; Penny Steele, Hennepin County; Wayne Fingalson, Wright County; Karen McDougall, Rockford Township; Chad Hausmann, MNDOT Dist. 3. 3. Minutes — The minutes could not be approved because there was no quorum. 4. Membership Report — The success of the golf tournament booth was discussed. McDougall reported that we received $250. for chances, and four memberships from the event. McDougall will set up a Membership Committee Meeting in November, and she will be preparing invoices for the joint powers members to go out soon. The Financial Report was distributed to attendees for review. There was no Technical Advisory Committee Report. 5. Official Mapping Status — Fingalson reported that Wright County has made progress, and that some changes were suggested from their Surveyor, and he is working with MNDOT on them. Fingalson will report to the Wright County Commissioners at the County Transportation Committee Meeting; there will also be a meeting on November 13 for all Wright County cities and townships to explain the official mapping process. Griffith reported that in Hennepin County, generally, the corridor preference would be on the north side because of physical limitations, like the railroad line and the lakes — properties are not considered. The official mapping process uses MNDOT as a technical advisor, and they predict where it will be, to protect the majority of the area. This will not be the true final alignment. There is a need to educate the public and local units of government on the mapping and realize that exact right-of-way will be determined later. There may be adjustment for environmental factors and other physical obstacles. Erickson stated that we are in the first stages and in general, they do not do retail purchasing and the actual protecting until later. He also thought the two counties should keep notes of problems that come up to provide feedback to MNDOT to inform them of any changes that may be necessary in the future. Access management is the main goal at this time. Senator Ourada want to propose some protective legislation that would help preserve areas on the list, even though project dollars are not there... when the mapping is done the property would be on the list. This legislation would enable (authorize) local governments to limit development. 6. MNDOT Update - Erickson asked if some of the project dollars might be used for traffic studies and to analyze traffic potential for a better long-range plan. Griffith thought they could and agreed that analysis would be helpful to make it fit with the other road systems. Fingalson asked about the progress of the Cultural Resource and Contaminated Property Studies; Hausmann replied the information has been sent to the consultants, and that MNDOT would cover those costs at this time. _ �2 !.0!001HIGHWAY 55 CORRIDOR COALITION Protecting the SS Corridor from I-494 to Annandale, Minnesota Highway 55 Corridor Coalition Meeting Minutes - Friday, October 24, 2003 — Page 2 Federal Update — Donahoe furnished a detailed handout on the status of the FY2004 Transportation Appropriations Bill, which lists earmarks for Minnesota. She also updated us on the status of the reauthorization of TEA 21. Chair Steele suggested we talk to Congressman Kennedy to request more money for highways in Minnesota. 8. Next Meeting Date - The next full membership meeting date will be Friday, November 21, 2003, at the Hennepin County Public Works Facility in Medina at 9:30 a.m. 9. Other Business — Fingalson informed the group that our corridor is getting national attention, and have been sited as a model by a county in California. He also asked Senator Ourada about a Ralph fund for greater Minnesota, the Senator responded that he is starting to plan for needs to be included in the next session, and he would consider it. The Senator was also asked about what information he felt would be needed in the report to the legislature due in January 2004. He recommended a process/progress report and what has been learned, the next steps, and action. He also suggested asking for solutions for problem properties, such as the need for the revolving loan program to purchase those properties. Chair Steele had talked to Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau and she is willing to meet with our coalition, and a suggestion as to when. Griffith thought that when the official maps are done and adopted would be a good time to come, then we could tell her what we have done and she will tell us her message. Hennepin County would be finished by spring with the official mapping process, so Griffith thought that would be a better time. Senator Ourada thought it would be good to meet with her and tell her our needs. 10. Adjourn — The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. Respectfully, Karen McDougall Secretary/Treasurer 33 MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING November 13, 2003 Page 45 PRESENT: Anderson, Aamoth, Fiemann, Krahulec, Meyer, Rezabek, Ritchie, Rodriguez, Singer; Councilmember Slavik; Planning Commissioner Weir; staff Blank, Evans, and Pederson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Singer moved and Krahulec seconded a motion to approve the October minutes. Motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association representatives were present at the meeting. b. Staff. Evans talked about the Little Costume Ball on October 17, which had 170 participants. This is a fun family event, which is growing in popularity. Another poetry slam was held at the end,of October. This event is open to members of the community. Participants read original poetry that they write. There were 15 teens participating and four adults. There were 100 people in the audience. The audience interacts with the performers. One of the oldest participants is 74. The volunteer recognition dinner was held Thursday, November 6. There were over 300 volunteers attending, and 76 prizes were given out. The most expensive prize was a $300 grill donated by Home Depot. The tobacco free policy was passed by the City Council, with some amendments. Rentals at the Plymouth Creek Center that were made prior to the policy being passed won't be affected, but any new rentals will have to adhere to the new tobacco regulations. The other amendment states that people will be permitted to smoke in their cars while on park property. Although the policy was approved by the City Council, it was decided that it would be voluntary compliance. The next step is how to implement, promote and get the word out to the community. Meyer said it was the front- page story in both local newspapers. Staff has heard lots of positive comments from many people, including a resident of North Dakota. Evans announced that we did not win the National Gold Medal award. Denton, TX, was the winner this year in our population category. Evans feels we will have to submit a couple of additional times before we win. J PRAC Minutes/November 2003 Page 46 Blank said we would put the award on a future Council agenda and show them the video, which they still have not seen. Singer thanked everyone who worked so hard on the tobacco policy. Singer suggested getting the ideas of the medical profession on how best to educate the community. Evans mentioned the upcoming events, including the Old Fashioned Christmas on December 7, New Year's Around the World on December 31St, and Fire and Ice on February 7. Rezabek asked about concessions this year at Fire and Ice and what might be done to make it better. It's difficult, Evans said, because so many vendors don't do business in the winter. The next brochure will be out soon. It will look entirely different this time, because it's going to have a 4 -color cover. Rezabek said that a resident asked him why the soccer kids don't get trophies, and the baseball kids do. Staff explained that the baseball trophies are being given out by Wayzata Youth Baseball, not Plymouth Parks and Recreation. Evans said we have 21,000 people participating in our programs, including attendance at our summer concert series. c. Others. There were no others. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Council passed the tobacco free policy at their last meeting. We will be installing the signs whenever it's feasible. Singer asked if anything is being done now to prevent. it at the outside entrance to the Ice Center. Blank said we are announcing it now at the games. Meyer asked about the policy at the Plymouth Creek Center. Blank said that groups renting that facility will still be allowed to smoke on the balcony, if the reservation was made prior to the policy being passed. Any new reservations will be informed of the new policy. Meyer thinks there will be some resistance to this from people who rent the Plymouth Creek Center, because many of those rentals involve food and alcohol. The Council also passed the recommendation to close some of the pleasure skating rinks. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Update on Ice Center. Blank said that the Council approved the schematic drawings, a $4.6 million dollar budget, and contracts with Providence and Wayzata hockey. Blank shared the drawings with PRAC, which showed the upper and lower level expansion, elevations, and the changes to the parking lot. Soil tests have been done, and they showed good soil exists in the area proposed for the expansion. Council asked that the lobby be enlarged, so the architect is now redoing the plans to allow for that change. Blank pointed out where the balcony is. He explained the facilities that will be on both the upper and lower levels. A nice feature will be windows on the north -facing wall located in various places, which will give the building a more residential feel. No large �S PRAC Minutes/November 2003 Page 47 graphics will be poured into the concrete. Blank is very pleased with the architect's renderings. There will be a public hearing on the site plan prior to going before the Planning Commission. A bid package will go out in January or February. The plan is to break ground in April and have the expansion finished by next November. Fiemann asked about the size of the vestibule. He asked if it would be big enough. Blank said he'd take a look at it. b. Update on Plymouth Creek Center. The architects are working on this project. Staff has met with interior designers looking at walls, floors, ceiling, lights, sound people, etc., to talk about wiring, cable, computers, and a surround sound system. c. Update on Reserve neighborhood park. Bids have been awarded for grading and the playground. Work is also being done on a landscaping package. We hope to get a fair amount of grading done yet this fall. d. Update on Vietnam scout doa handler request. Evans and her staff inquired of other communities, and we posted a question on the NRPA website regarding war memorials in parks. The answers varied from community to community. Blank has not come to any conclusion one way or another. He would be comfortable holding it over for another month or two. Anderson agreed. Meyer said she did not look closely at Heritage Park in Wayzata, but she is certain it contains war memorials. It's a very nice park, she said. Fiemann likes the idea that if we do elect to go down that road that we not spread them throughout the city, but keep them in one location. Other commissioners agreed. Singer wondered if c certain park should be designated for this. Blank said we have a peace plaque at Parkers that recognizes people who have sacrificed in the name of peace. The family wants it in West Medicine Lake Park, because that's where the bench is located. Rezabek asked about partnering with Wayzata and putting it there. Blank said this family would only want the memorial if it could be in West Medicine Lake Park. Blank said we will put this back on the December agenda. Meyer said she would look further into the Wayzata park and try to talk to someone who knows more about that. Blank said we would talk to Sonny, the maintenance person at Wayzata City Hall, because he likely would have first-hand knowledge about the park in Wayzata. e. 2004-2008 CIP. Blank discussed the draft of the 2004-2008 CIP. We have between $8 and $9 million in projects coming up. The Council has chosen to use park dedication for most of these projects. We don't have the luxury of adding new things because of that. We had to take a couple of items out of 2004. Blank pointed out the projects that were PRAC Minutes/November 2003 Page 48 completed in 2003. Blank said we can easily double the size of the parking lot at the dog park. It's the hottest thing going right now. The skate park is out of the plan for now, because we can't find a site for it. The new city lighting ordinance is putting a wrinkle in the Imperial Hills lighting project. In the plan for 2004 are replacing tennis courts at Ridgemount, a new irrigation system, the warming house at Ridgemount, playground replacement, new trails, land acquisition for the 10th playfield, and the third sheet of ice. Parking at Greenwood needs more evaluation. Rodriguez asked how long an irrigation system lasts. Blank said 20-25 years. The $100,000 shown in 2004 for the irrigation system is the first installment of 10. In 2005, we are showing new tennis courts, trails, park replacement, new plaza and walls at Zachary Playfield, and irrigation system. The parking expansion at Plymouth Creek Center might preclude the tennis courts in 2005. The spray playground has been removed from the 2005 plan. Trails last typically 20 years. In 2006, trails, park replacement, irrigation, parking lot repair, and the new park at Seven Greens are proposed projects. Seven Greens is at the corner of Vicksburg and Schmidt Lake Road. The 10th playfield land acquisition, Plymouth Creek Center lower level, and ice rink expansion are taking our major resources in 2004, Blank said. Singer is disappointed that we are losing the skate park. We need to keep it on the radar. She would prefer this to the spray playground. If we find a site, we might be able to put it in the 2005 budget, Blank said. The years 2007 and 2008 show new trails, parking lot and trail repair, park replacement fund transfer and the irrigation system. Fiemann asked about the land acquisition of the 10th playfield. Blank said we gave the documents to Mrs. Begin's attorney. The Ice Center plan will be on the city's website within the next couple of days. Singer said we need to put some sl! -lade i- our park,:, due to the rising skin cancer rate. Blank said that with the last five or six playgrounds that we have installed, we have put a shelter right in the middle very close to the playground to provide shade for parents and tots. For our staff, we do a lot of training on skin cancer, especially our lifeguards and staff who must work outdoors. A final draft of the CIP will be on the December agenda, and it will require action at that time. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Review 2004 rental fees and policies. Evans stated that no changes are proposed to canoe racks, the Parkers Lake Picnic Shelter, the Bass Lake Playfield or the Showmobile. We are recommending changes to the Parkers Lake Pavilion in the per hour charge for the school district. That increase basically covers the building attendants salary. We are proposing a change to the Parkers Lake stage per hour non-profit fee from $25 to $30. We are also showing a 10% increase in the fees for baseball, softball fields etc. The fees for the Hilde Performance Center PRAC Minutes/November 2003 Page 49 will remain the same. Singer asked about the no-show fee. Evans explained what it is. Fiemann asked if it's enough money. Evans thought so, because it doesn't happen that often. Blank said this money goes back in the general fund to help offset the cost of taxes. It doesn't go directly to Park and Recreation. For all the policies, we will be adding the tobacco free wording. For the Millennium Garden, we are increasing Plymouth resident and non-profit fees from $250 to $300, non-resident fees would go from $350 to $400, and we are adding a new Plymouth company fee of $350. For 2004, we already have 15 rentals of the Millennium Garden. All of the events at the garden have gone well. Singer asked when the fee increases would begin or go into effect. Evans said January 1. Evans explained that the Plymouth Creek Center could be booked out 18 months in advance, so we need to get fees for 2005 and 2006 established for the Millennium Garden and Plymouth Creek Center well in advance, because of that 18 -month booking policy. The rest of the 2004 proposed fees could be approved this evening if PRAC is comfortable with them, Evans said. There are no proposed changes for the Plymouth Creek Center fees in 2004. Meyer asked how many people really expect to get a concrete price for a rental way out in 2005 or 2006. Blank said we guarantee our prices. When we looked at about eight other communities, we have the second largest fee. ANDERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2004 FEES AND POLICIES AS PRESENTED BY STAFF. The tobacco free wording will be added. Singer questioned the no-show fee and thinks it should be raised. Krahulec does not agree that someone should pay a no-show fee in addition to the rental fee. Blank explained that if someone backs out of a rental, we would refund their rental fee, but charge them a no-show fee. SINGER MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCREASE THE NO-SHOW FEE TO $25. REZABEK SECONDED THE AMENDED MOTION. Fiemann stated that he thinks the no-show fee should be the same as the rental hourly rate. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Blank said our biggest fee is from the Wayzata soccer tournament, but we still bring in only about $8,000-$10,000 per year in rentals. Singer asked if we have a rotation schedule for the fields. Blank said we semi rotate. We evaluate and take fields out of commission for a season. We generally have one or two fields that are being repaired every year that are taken out of the rotation. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION The next meeting is December 11. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION None. 3� PRAC Minutes/November 2003 Page 50 9. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. CITY OF PLYMOUT- November 17, 2003 EDITOR: Please consider this for publication as a letter to the editor. Dear Editor: Over the last several months, much has been written by many groups and organizations about taxes and government budgets. Some of the information about local city budgets has been accurate, but some has been incomplete. As the new budget year for the City approaches, the Plymouth City Council invites you to learn first-hand about the proposed 2004 city budget. We will hold a public hearing on Mon., Dec. 1, 7 p.m., at City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., and I encourage you to attend. The City will televise the meeting live in Plymouth on cable television channel 16. The proposed budget seeks to maintain 2003 city services levels by focusing on the basics — public safety, street/park maintenance and drainage/flood control. You should also know about several important factors beyond the City's control that affect our municipal budget. These include trends in residential and commercial - industrial property values, changing tax classification rates, and the State's budget shortfall. Please join us for this meeting or tune into channel 16 on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. as we delve into the city budget. We hope to share some important information with you, hear your concerns, and learn from your ideas. Working together, we will keep continue to build a quality community that is second to none. Judy A. Johnson Mayor City of Plymouth PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Place k& --five 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 - TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 �..., www.ci.plymcuth.mn.us LMC Lanyua o%1'dinnesolo Cruor Cilias pmmvl;ny vs¢m&reu October 20, 2003 Commissioner Dan Salomone St. Paul, Iv1N Dear Commissioner Salomone, League of Minnesota Cities 145 University Avenue West, St Paul, MN 55103-2044 (651) 281-1200 - (800) 925-1122 Fax: (651) 281-1299 - TDD: (651) 281-1290 www.lmmorg Last week, the League of Minnesota Cities learned that reimbursement checks to cities that submitted claims to cover the health insurance costs of police and fire employees injured or killed in the line of duty will cover about 30-50% of the city's claim amount. While cities were aware the reimbursements would be distributed on a pro rata basis_ determined by the number of claims, the actual reimbursements are significantly lower than cities could have anticipated. The notice of the reimbursement cut comes very late in the municipal budgeting process and due to the interaction of the reimbursement with truth -in -taxation and levy limits, some communities may struggle to identify sufficient resources to cover the state reimbursement cut. State statute MS 299A.465 requires cities to continue health insurance and to pay the city's share of the health insurance premium for a police and fire employee who is disabled in the Iine of duty or for dependents if the employee is killed in the line of duty. The statute goes on to specify that the state will reimburse affected local units of government for the costs. The city does not have a role in determining eligibility for this disability benefit. Up untii tic state's 2002 fiscal year, state paid 100% of every claim submitted. In FY2002. the appropriation fell short and in the 2003 legislative session, the Department of Public Safety= (DPS) successfully changed the lav to allow the department to prorate the reimbursement amounts paid to cities that submitted claims. At the close of the 2003 session, the legislature appropriated sufficient funds to fully reimburse affected municipalities for their 2002 costs. However, the appropriation available for 2003 was not sufficient to cover all of the claims and now, very late in the city budgeting process, many communities must scramble to cope with this additional loss of state reimbursement. An average claim is about $5,000 to $6,000 for a full year of the city's share of the disabled employee's health insurance premium. DPS is paying out $178.61/unit (a unit = one month) so that a frill twelve-month claim results in a payment. of S2,143.32. Some claims Nvere submitted for much larger or much smaller amounts so, on a percentage basis, those cities will receive larger or smaller reimbursements. The notification to affected cities comes very late in the budgeting process and after the preliminary property tax levy for 2004 has been certified to the county. As you know, state truth - in -taxation statutes allow cities to increase their preliminary levy for certain, very limited events L�I AN EQUA'.OPPORTUNITI/AFFIRMA-IVEACTION ER1PI OVER *Name* Page 2 October 21, 2003 such as judgments, natural disasters or voter -approved levies. For cities covered by levy limits, the partial reimbursement exacerbates the impact of this years very strict levy limits and sleep state aid cuts. We would respectfully request that you consider whether there is any latitude in state lav that •'would allow the commissioner to provide for a variance from TNT process or levy limits that would allow affected cities to adjust their property tax levy before the final levies are certified. We would also request that the department consider including in a department policy bill a modification to the TNT process (and potentially levy limits, should they be extended beyond 2004) that would allow= cities to exceed the preliminary September 15 levy or to claim a special Levy under MS 275.70. Sincerely, Gary Carlson League of Minnesota Cities cc: Rich Stanek, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety Representative Ron Abrams, House Tax Chair Senator Larry Pogemiller; Senate 'Tax Chair �2 ey �,Z��,� �.�� L��✓'�'l ,cam. �ti� /� C� ;�, ,/' - 44-t SUBJECT: VARIANCE FOR STEVEN MOHN (2003122) Dear Owner/Occupant: This letter is written to inform you that Steven Mohn, under file 2003122, submitted a planning application requesting approval of a variance for a 10 -foot by 12 -foot storage shed to be located in a front yard for property located at 10525-45`h Avenue North. While a formal Public Hearing is not required, it is the City's policy to inform adjacent property owners/occupants of such applications. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 200 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of and cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 3, 2003, in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter, at Plymouth City Hall on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. If you. have any questions about the specifics of this proposal, please contact the Commimity Development Department at (76')1 509-5400. Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP- Planning Manager 2003122propnotice Rockford Rd. PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Place to Live -= 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55—'47-1,' 82 • TELEPHONE (7631 509-5000 0%AAAAA1 ni nlvmni Ith Mn I to SUBJECT: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR RUSSELL GALLAGHER (2003123) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this is to inform you of a request by Russell Gallagher, under File 2003123, for a conditional use permit to exceed 1,000 square feet of total attached garage area. The conditional use permit would allow the installation of an overhead garage door to the existing lower level room addition to convert the addition to garage space for property located at 16115-24`h Avenue North. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-5450 for more information. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays.` Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2003123propnotice �6 PLYMOUTH A Beautifu[Pface to Live 3400 FLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 •TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 -.ter.. a....,,r., ......... ..: ...1..........a L SUBJECT: SITE PLAN, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND VARIANCES FOR " KKE ARCHITECTS (2003115) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this is to inform you of a request by KKE Architects, under File 2003115, for a site plan, conditional use permit, and variances for a mausoleum and memorial garden for property located at 15100 County Road 6. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 500 feet of the site of this proposal. You are hereby notified of, and cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing to be held by the Plymouth Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December-'), 2003 in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard. The public will be invited to offer questions and comments concerning this application at that time, or feel free to call the City Planning Department at (763) 509-5450 for more information. INFORMATION relating to this request may be examined at the Community Development Information Counter (lower level), on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays.. Sincerely, r, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2003115propnotice PLYMOUTH A BeautifufPface to Live 3400 PLYMOUTf; BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763)509-5000 Feb. 20-21, 2004 MN _ LeadershipPlymouth, Radisson Hotel Aft owerence fir- Conference Center f®r 3131 Campus Drive : (763) 559-6600 www.radisson.com/ ru-mcedm minneapolismn_plymouth : f'o'als Contemporary Trends in Local Government Running today's local governmenr smoothly requires building a strong team with a partners':ip of elected officials, city staff-, and residents. At this conference, you will: IN Learn how to balance the four, kev democratic values— representation, efficiency, social equiry, and individual rights. : ® Explore how building a high-perrormance team means appreciating the differences she ciry council and staff brim to policy-making. Who should attend? ® Discover how to balance demands for "building communis:- ­Renew. Refresh. Replenish : and "modernizing the cin. your leadership skills. : Whether you're a mayor or ® Tune in to how the League can help you «-ith your everyday councilmember, from metro concerns and challenges. or greater Minnesota, from Start the new year refreshed and inspired by this terrific conference, a small or large city—this: Sharpen your leadership sk=ills, learn ne,v ones, and revive your conference is for you! ; commitment to public service. The League of Minnesota Ci: --'es is a membe-ship organi ztion that repre;ews "lore than 800 Minnesota cit=es. it'e serve .'•'innesora cities through efrecr _ e advocacy, expert analysis, tr:e.:_ gzz-¢r.;e....a' co%!ect:t•e .zction. Gold -Level Sponsor: E H LE RS Register online anytime: vwww.lmnc.org • 5 S = C I. r t 5 I „= See inside for complete agenda and registration information FRIDAY 3:00-5:15 p.m. The High -Performance' -City Council Roll up ,your sleeves to work together to: • Learn how high -performing city Councils have h danced rhe four, key dcmocrar:l: values—represcnrtrion, efficiency, soCial equip. and individual rights. • Find Out how to balance these values to build and maintain a sense of communis•,'. 5:30-6:30 Social Hour This is a chance to relax and network with your peers from neighboring cities. 6:30-8:30 Dinner and Recognition of Leaders SATURDAY 8:00-9:00 a.m. The Differing Strengths of Council and Staff Dive into council/staff relations to: • Explore how staff support can impact your success in the policy arena. • Learn how building a high-performance team means appreciating the very different perspectives the city council and staff bring to policy-making. 9:00 a.m.- Challenges of the 21s' Century City 12:00 p.m. Continue building upon what you learned in the first session: • Discover the challenges of meeting the sometimes conflicting demands for "building community" and "modernizing the city." • Learn about these trends and hose the), affect e':ected officials and staff. • Get tips on how to turn these challenges into opportunities for your city. The League of Minnesota Cities is your organization. There are many ways you can be Call the League or visit our web site involved—help develop policy, for more information: plan events, participate in training, wwwAmnc.org and advocate for your city's interests. League of Minnesota Cities 145 Universiry Avenue West Sc Paul, MN 55103-2044 LMC (651) 281-1200 or (800) 925-1122 t�y"�,`St1��ss�ea Citi— TDD: (651) 281-1290 • Fax: (651)281-1299 Oli- pnro.oHcy .rc¢n•nn- www.lmnc.org Y John Nalbandian, Ph.D. is widely recognized as one of the countrv's Premier experts on council/staff relations. This recognition is based on his extensive and successful back- ground teaching public administra- tion and sen ing as an elected official. Registration Fee: $ 175 How to Register: Register online anytime at «Nvw.lmnc.org (online registrations will be billed). No Internet access? Call us: • Jodie Toolev, (651) 281-1251 • Cathy Dovidio, (651) 281-1250 • Rebecca Erickson, (651) 281-1222 /1s a professor of public administra- tion , dic Ui:i%ersity of Kansas for 25 rears, he has trained hundreds ofcity mana�rcrs. He specializes in organization theory and behavior, personnel administration and professionalism in local government. Housing: To make reservations for overnight accommodations, call the hotel directly: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center 3131 Campus Drive Plymouth, MN (763) 559-6600 ww%v.radisson.com/ minneapolismn_plymouth Mark your calendar and tell others in your city about these League of Minnesota Cities training opportunities: Safety & Loss Control Workshops March 30 --Redwood Falls March 31—St. Cloud April 6 --Crookston April7—Fergus Falls .April 15 --Inner Grove Heights April 20 --Fairmont April 21—Roche ier April 27—Chisho!m April 29—Brooklyn Park Focuses on practical steps your city can take to avoid losses and reduce the cost of losses that may occur. LMC Regional Meetings June anal July 2004-- 12 locations throughout the nate Connects you with opportunities for local networking, dialogue, info_ oration -sharing, and. updates • on issues that impact your city. Clerks' orientation Conference August 2004—St. Paul Helps new clerks understand all aspects of their role from financial management to recores retention to elections. Equally important, he has ser. for nearly 10 ,years as mayor artuicilmember of Lawrence.nsas. His experience is invaluable examining how to help the ck,-: and staff work together to bei: :_ high-performance team. Cancellation Policy: All canceilation requests must be in writing, faxed or postmarked 7 days prior to the conference, and are subject to -1 S25 handling fee. All unpaid regis.:-:ions not cancelled 7 days prior wi 11 '�e billed at the full conference ra:_. no refunds will be made. LMC Annual Conference October 9-12—Duluth Makes your job of running cin• government easier by providing learning opportunities on critical :itv issues, statewide net ,orking, an-- ideas n-ideas to strengthen your commu-7.: LMCLca);ue of Minnesota Cities I•ti University Avenue West _ tit. Paul AIN SiIQ3 ?O44 ® Leadership Conference for Experienced Officials Renew. Refresh. Replenish your leadership skills. Details inside! 4ag -- •_='_„r�i.�'�.r'ii•1._...:.•+•4 ,' �rlr�nlrlrr�rrlr�rrllnr�url�r�rrllrr�rrrlr���rrr��rrr��rrr� @r!rzkei�t, for Conference Experienced Officials Register online anytime: www.lmnc.org Gold -Level Sponsor: EHLERS 1 4550CIAtE, INC Contemporary Trends in local Government Whether you've been in office for a few or manv vears— this conference is for you! Sharpen your leadership siulls, 1.ya new ones, and revive your commitment to public servic:. ■ Learn how high-performance councils balance key democratic values. ■ Focus on how city staff sees the world differently than you do. ■ Appreciate the tension between being responsive and being efficient. ® Tune in to how the League can help you with your everyday concerns and challenges. Look inside to learn more about this conference DATE: November 21, 2003 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Helen LaFave, Communications Manager SUBJECT: Copy for Financial Extra Attached are several pieces of text and rough graphics for the upcoming Financial Extra. The Financial Extra will be a supplement in the January/February Plymouth News. Please note not all of the copy is yet drafted. I will email the remainder to you early next week. I will need your comments back no later than Monday, December 1. This will allow me time to make needed revisions before moving into production. Remaining Items to Be Written Several items remain to be written. I will email them to you early next week, so please check your city email for them. The outstanding items are: • Story on City's tradition of good financial management • Looking ahead —A story on upcoming major building projects (lower level of Plymouth Creek Center, Public Safety Building, third sheet of ice at the Ice Center, water system enhancements) ■ Brief overview of the budget process • Sidebar on the forms of state aid/restrictions and how they affect Plymouth • Surface Water Fee — Brief description of what it is and the sort of projects it funds (surface water quality, flood control, drainage) • Short paragraph explaining when revenue comes into the city and why the city maintains a fund balance for cash flow. Graphics Please keep in mind that the pie charts and tables are rough. I will be having a graphic designer re -do these. I have attached them so you will have an idea of the information that we will be highlighting graphically. We may also be simplifying some of the categories on some of the pie charts to make them easier for the average citizen to understand. If you have questions/comments, you can reach me at 509.5090 or via email. Again, I need to hear back from you by Monday, December 1. (The earlier I receive your comments, the better.) Thank you in advance for your prompt review of these materials. Welcome to Plymouth's first ever Financial Extra. We have compiled this information to help you better understand City finances. In these days of tight public and personal budgets, it is essential that you know how your City government services are funded and which services your City tax dollar buys. As a Plymouth taxpayer, you have made many substantial investments in your community over the years. Your local city tax dollars have bought streets, parks, a safe drinking water system, trails, recreation facilities, clean and secure neighborhoods, open space — and much more. On an ongoing basis, your tax dollars and fees help protect those investments by paying for police protection, fire service, street maintenance, snowplowing, park maintenance, drinking water improvements, housing programs and recreation programs. These are important investments in our quality of life that have: ` Fostered pride in the community; • Created a climate of economic vitality; ■ Built a community that values children and families; and ■ Provided opportunities for all citizens. While accomplishing all of this, our community has built a track record of prudent financial management. City officials and citizens have worked to carefully balance quality of life issues with wise stewardship of tax dollars. Together, we have created a community that is looked to as a model by communities across the state and across the country. We hope that by sharing information about our City's finances, it helps you better understand discussions about property taxes and other tax issues that that occur at the local and state level -- and how those discussions relate to the quality of life we enjoy in Plymouth. Mayor Judy Johnson At Large Councilmember Tim Bildsoe At Large Councilmember Karl Neset Ward 1 Councilmember Sandy Hewitt Ward 2 Ward 1 Councilmember Kelli Slavik Ward 3 Councilmember Bob Stein Ward 4 Councilmember Ginny Black To accompany snipped up property tax dollar graphic Property taxes: City nets 20 cents of each dollar The City gets 20 cents of each dollar you pay in property taxes. The rest goes to the county, school district and small taxing districts such as Mosquito Control and the Metropolitan Council. Using the average home value of $294,500, the average City tax is $733.51. Your total property tax bill for the year also includes portions for the county, school districts and small taxing units. City of Plymouth Proposed 2004 Distribution of Tax Dollar Wayzata School District 284/3 J Tax on $294,500 Home TAX EXTE SI N RATE School District $1,02 Hennepin County City of Plymouth 709 Miscellaneous HRA /� 24 / \ TOTAL / � � $3,349 2 Page 1 Story — Main Summary Plymouth's 2004 budget focus on the basics The City of Plymouth will operate this year on a general fund budget of $21.4 million, an increase of 5.65 percent over the 2003 budget. For an average -value home in Plymouth ($294,500) the new budget will mean a property tax increase of $59.91. In these hold the line times, that increase will be dedicated to the basics — public safety, street and park maintenance and drainage/flood control. The year-to-year increase is a little less than the average budget growth (6 percent) over the past few years. This approximates the City's growth in population plus inflation. In adopting the 2004 budget, the Mayor and City Council noted these points: • The City is in excellent financial shape, with very little debt and one of the lowest tax rates in the state. The City's debt per capita is less than 10 percent of the national average. ■ Plymouth has a diverse tax base, a good mix of business and residential property, although certain state laws do not allow the City to use its full tax base (see story on fiscal disparities). Plymouth is among a small group of cities with an Aaa bond rating from Moody's Financial Service. • The new budget deals with the tight tax constraints imposed by the Legislature and Governor, including loss of state aid and limits on levying authority. Plymouth has long been less dependent on the state for revenue than other cities. • The budget pays attention to basic City services — public safety, street and park maintenance, drainage and flood control, and street reconstruction. • The City's full-time work force of 248 will increase by eight, including four police officers, one firefighter and three maintenance persons. A few trucks and other equipment will be added or replaced. Both personnel and equipment changes were few over the last two years. ■ This will, in effect, put more police officers on the street. Police calculate that 69 percent of their time is now committed to responding to calls and the paperwork that follows. No more than 50 percent committed time is considered the ideal, so officers can conduct proactive patrol activities and traffic enforcement. The state budget crisis last year rippled up and down through all levels of government. Some state fees paid by the City have increased. Hennepin County has boosted the cost of booking and caring for prisoners by 25 percent. The City will be affected by rising natural gas and electric rates and increasing health insurance premiums, just as households and businesses are. To accommodate these increasing costs, Plymouth has shifted away from a pay-as-you-go system for street reconstruction, instead borrowing money through long-term bonds and paying it back over the life of the new streets. This is considered a prudent practice since streets are a long-term asset. The current low interest rates are good news on one hand since it's cheaper to issue bonds, but not good news for the investment of City funds throughout the year. When property taxes are paid in May and October this year, the City will get 20 cents of each dollar. The rest goes to the county, school district and miscellaneous taxing districts. In reality, the City's portion of the property tax dollar doesn't arrive in City offices until July, so a "working capital" fund is needed to pay the bills until then. Taxes on commercial -industrial property, on average, will be slightly lower in 2004. Average residential property has gone up 8 percent in value while an average business property has gone down 4 percent in value. These changes in valuations are determined by the real estate market — not by the City. Because property taxes are based on the value of a particular piece of property, this affects property taxes. Taken as a whole, the 2004 budget promises to maintain the key City services desired by citizens, avoid slippage in services by adding a few employees and make progress on goals adopted by the City Council. However, if the state continues to impose restrictive levy limits, with no provision for inflation and population growth, and if the state fails to restore certain aid cuts as promised (Market Value Credit Aid), the City will face hard choices between finding new revenues or cutting services that Plymouth residents expect and enjoy. Fiscal Disparities Law means Plymouth shares its tax base with other cities Back in 1971, amid concern over competition for big taxable property plums, the Minnesota Legislature adopted a Robin Hood approach in the seven -county metro area. Lawmakers saw there were wide variations in tax resources. Some cities had huge amounts of business and industrial property against which taxes could be levied. Other cities had mainly homes or open land. One city might land a `Dale shopping mall or a power plant, but those big tax base prizes were off-limits to others. The "have" cities could use a very low tax rate and reap large revenues, keeping taxes low on homes. The "have-nots" had to use a very high tax rate, and even then couldn't keep up. And, the high tax rate discouraged new business from moving in, making the disparity worse. In one example, Bloomington and Burnsville had a battle over annexation of Xcel Energy's (then NSP) Black Dog power plant, a rich tax prize. While cities competed for these prizes, they were not enthusiastic about non-taxable properties such as regional parks. Using a study by the Citizens League, lawmakers adopted what was called the Fiscal Disparities Law, a method for the "have" cities to contribute part of their tax base to a pool, which then could be taxed by the "have-not" cities. In other words, a have-not city had access to a business and industrial tax base that didn't really exist within its borders. The theory was that all cities have basic needs for police and fire protection and other services paid for by property taxes. But they have an unequal ability to pay for those services -- disparities. The Fiscal Disparities Law was meant to level the playing field, at least partially. The law requires that 40 percent of the commercial and industrial growth since 1971 be placed in this pool. This pool of valuation is then redistributed to local governments according to a complex formula based primarily on population and market value of real property. Plymouth has enjoyed substantial growth and has always been a "have" city that cannot tax its entire commercial and industrial tax base because of the 1971 law. Most recent figures show Plymouth contributes $11.7 million to the pool and gets back $4.7 million. Again, this is not dollars but taxable valuation. For 2004, that means the City cannot use 9.2 percent of its total tax capacity. Theoretically, if Plymouth could tax all the property value without contributing to the disparities pool, taxes on both homes and business would be significantly lower. City bus system celebrates 20th anniversary Plymouth Metrolink, the City's own bus service, marks its 20th anniversary this year and is expected to celebrate its five -millionth rider. While it is a City service, it is not a budget item in the usual sense of the word. Metrolink operates mainly on Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) funds generated by the State of Minnesota and channeled to the City by the Metropolitan Council. The Metrolink budget for 2004 is $4.3 million. Fare collections provide 20 to 25 percent of the operating funds. Bus service throughout the Twin Cities area is provided by Metro Transit, an operating arm of the Metropolitan Council. In 1984, Plymouth was the first city to use an "opt -out" provision adopted by the Legislature, allowing cities to drop out of the metro -wide transit system and set up their own service. Prior to becoming an opt -out city, Plymouth received very little bus service from the regional system. Eleven other cities have joined Plymouth in setting up separate transit systems. Plymouth Metrolink provides three kinds of bus service: Commuter Express buses from Plymouth neighborhoods to and from downtown job sites; Reverse Commuter Express runs bringing Minneapolis area workers to and from Plymouth job sites, and Dial -A -Ride service, using small buses to take individuals on shopping and medical trips and other errands. While used mainly by seniors and persons with disabilities, Dial -A -Ride is also used by students and the general public. The Metrolink fleet consists of 11 small buses, 20 medium-sized buses and 8 large 40 -foot vehicles. Under contract, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc., operates the small and medium-sized buses and Metro Transit operates the large buses. All vehicles and services fully comply with ADA requirements and are wheelchair lift -equipped. Plymouth Metrolink provides passengers the convenience of four park and ride lots (one in each quadrant of the city), 12 neighborhood stops and a transit station in The Reserve, a large mixed - design housing complex in northern Plymouth. This station is unique in a suburban setting in that it provides no parking. Instead, it is a walk-up station for the many residents in the complex. The Plymouth City Council is the primary decision-making body governing Plymouth Metrolink. A citizen advisory group, the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) advises the Council on transit matters. It plays a key role in ensuring that Plymouth Metrolink continues to meet the needs of the community. Ridership has grown continually, including a gain of about four percent in 2003. Metrolink provides more than 420,000 rides annually. Rider surveys show 90 to 95 percent satisfaction with Metrolink services. 0 0 bOJ) +J � U O 4 aS a� a� cd .o Q: 0 bq � a) aS 0 Q � �"ZI 03 b � O cn C, > 3 :~ � U U «3 a) "C7 ' o � O N Ln � O •O i C�3 O En —co b a> 0 +C� o "d cd CCS Cn Mct � O 'Cj U U � 'r ti ori �%) 4i ep y p 1,21 L, u gsz obirp eo Cn O o�~ V stO o O O sz p> O COD sz O O v i%) O WO O sv. sz q' Fsz tZ,SZ sz °� 'y � Q' cti � ° � •� p O V ti? bq �� �i o K'SZ o `ti o o o y �° o `ti v SZ SZ v ori o 0. ti Z3 tza u C16) o za p o b0 h O oQ °' '° a a h o sy h LL co� a03 U CS a) N U r0L. , tx x +•- y0, �" O q�j iw N O U CJ to r, '� A.ci as r os cz ci acl O 'Z: 4�-r En ci cl In rA .wi bA y41 ci bA bA a) bA C,. U it (, Cr U o LZ aai o o Q U9 ceV►..� Ua.c�UU � Q � a U w � K / � z) ° k { Zs § ° t32 b A �® \ 2 \ t3 � \ j o , k E 0 2 2 a 0 k) 2 §§ 60 A k \ rz _ \ \ I q Q /cn/ q } 2 § # / � v � �.® Ln o e �Q�%� City's debt load is light Like someone who uses credit cards wisely, the City of Plymouth has borrowed lightly in recent years and currently has outstanding debt of $18 million. This compares with the $123.9 million the City could legally borrow if it chose. The City of Plymouth's debt per capita is less than 10 percent of the national average. Here is a summary of Plymouth's outstanding debt: General obligation debt supported by taxes Open space $305,000 Activity Center/Fieldhouse 3,555,000 Street reconstruction 1,465,000 Open space refunding 1,365,000 6,690,000 General obligation debt supported by taxes and special assessments 2,895,000 General obligation debt supported by tax increments 2,875,000 General obligation debt supported by revenues Taxable housing improvement $845,000 HRA senior housing refunding 4,750,000 5,595,000 Total all outstanding bonds at end of 2003 $18,055,00 CI: �� 1 Fixed assets What we own The city has fixed assets valued at $264.2 million (original cost), and taking care of what we own involves a sizable amount of the budget. The city's assets include 280 miles of streets, 320 miles of water mains, 900 acres of parks, 90 miles of trails and 10 major buildings, to name a few. The 2004 budget provides three additional maintenance workers as an investment in the care of streets, parks and water bodies. Monthly City Costs Based on Average Value Home ($294,500) NOTE: This will be depicted in as items in a checkbook register graphic Police $17.14 Fire $ 4.05 Parks/Trails/Recreation $10.92 Street Maintenance/Reconstruction/Snowplowing $ 9.94 Inspections/Planning $ 4.29 Support Services/Legal $ 6.34 Community Service (Volunteer program & social service funding $ 1.12 Capital Improvements/Debt Service $ 3.03 Levy for State Shortfall $ 2.27 Housing & Redevelopment $ 2.02 Total $61.12 NOTE: The following will be depicted on a utility bill graphic Water $ 8.95 Sewer $16.68 Surface Water Fee $ 3.41 Recycling $ 2.00 Total $31.04 What City Tax Dollars Buy Street Reconstruction 28.0% 3% and 6.6% Redevelopment Redevelopment State Shortfall 3% 4% 7.95 Capital Improvements, Inspections, Planning Debt Service 7.0% 5% Police Community Service, 0 �} fi 28 /o Other 1.8% Capital Improvements, Debt Service 3.03 2% State Shortfall Support Services, Legal t 3.7% 10% 1.99 Inspections, Planning Fire 7% 7% Street Maintenance, Snow Plowing Parks, Trails, Recreation 13% 18% Police $17.14 28.0% Fire 4.05 6.6% Parks, Trails, Recreation 10.92 17.9% Street Maintenance, Snow Plowing 7.95 13.0% Inspections, Planning 4.29 7.0% Support Services, Legal 6.34 10.4% Community Service, Other 1.12 1.8% Capital Improvements, Debt Service 3.03 5.0% State Shortfall 2.27 3.7% Street Reconstruction 1.99 3.3% Housing and Redevelopment 2.02 3.3% $61.12 100.00% to CD 0 Y/ CD CD "i CL W Q to CD X CD C CD CD 0 w CD 0 O C• cn T C CD : Cn N m 3 o -" � (n �ID CO CL a 0 v a o -n o N � Ca C n CCD O C) �• �� N D c o o CD �. CDi ', CCD Se CD c N CS D Al CD R.� C j to CD 0 Y/ CD CD "i CL W Q to CD X CD C CD CD 0 w CD 0 O C• cn C CD C CD 4. CD CD� En , g N .rte ; o� O w C, OC) _ b N 00 O 0 'O 0o J 00 �,O O O W 00 110 00 O J `0 N w w w .p NIV o� o O `o .,C� y.0 I w o 00 00 N 00 N �• _ b 00 O 0 'O 0o 00 vi W o� o O `o .,C� y.0 I w o Note: This is a short, light-hearted, eclectic list of numbers related to the City. It is intended to be a quick read for the back page. Please pass on additional ideas. This is only the start. By the numbers ... 519700 Approximate number of jobs in Plymouth. 60Number of sworn police officers employed by the City of Plymouth. 50 Number of City workers who handle street, park, water and sewer and equipment maintenance. 70 Number of paid -on-call firefighters. 3 6 Number of square miles in Plymouth 981 Number of volunteers in who volunteered in the City of Plymouth Volunteer Program in 2002. $2069692Value of the work volunteers contributed to the City of Plymouth in 2002.