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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 03-24-2006Dummy CITY OF PLYMOU rib COUNCIL INFO MEmv March 24, 2006 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Youth Advisory Council March 27, 2006 Meeting Agenda .................................................. Page 3 March, April, and May 2006 Official City Meeting Calendars ............................................ Page 5 Tentative list of agenda items for future City Council meetings ........................................ Page 11 INFORMATION... News Articles, Releases, Publications, etc ... City News Releases: Fire Chief Kline earns national Chief Fire Officer designation .............................. Page 13 Change in weekend and holiday construction activity hours permitted ................. Page 14 Application availability for Vicksburg Crossing senior rental units ....................... Page 15 National Night Out planning meetings................................................................... Page 17 Star Tribune news story about affordable housing in the western Metro area .................... Page 20 Star Tribune news story about the debate over city—provided high speed Internet service.................................................................................................................... Page 21 Notice of March 27 Town hall forum to discuss underage drinking issues ........................ Page 23 Public hearing schedule for HRA TIF District filing for Redevelopment ProjectArea No. 1............................................................................................................... Page 24 STAFF REPORTS 2005 Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Checks report ...................................................... Page 26 ................... CORRESPONDENCE Letter from Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Manager Carol Hallman thanking the City for police support during a recent bluegrass music festival atthe hotel........................................................................................................................... Page 28 Update on contract talks with Twin Cities—area hospital workers and the Twin CitiesHospital Group......................................................................................................... Page 29 Letter to residents regarding a request for Comprehensive Plan amendment and sketch review for CSM Equities LLC (2006011)........................................................ Page 31 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO March 3, 2006 Page 2 Letter to residents regarding a request for site plan amendment, conditional use permit amendment, and variances for Inspec, Inc. for Armstrong High School(2006002)................................................................................................................ Page 32 YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MARCH 27, 2006 7:00 PM City Hall Meeting Room A Time Allotment 1. Call to Order 7:00 PM 2. Presentations: (1) 3. Approvals: a) Agenda 7:00-7:05 PM b) February 27 meeting minutes 4. City Council Update 7:05-7:10 PM S. Special Items: a) Youth Leadership program recap 7:10-7:15 PM b) Youth Service Awards program plans 7:15-7:25 PM 6. Items for Future Discussion: a) 7. Adjournment 7:25 PM 8. Additional Materials: (1) April—June 2006 Official City Meeting Calendars Next. Meeting: April 10, 7:00 PM 5 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS Alfarch. 2006 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 Feb 2006 Apr 2006 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, 1 2 3 4 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Council Chambers 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ASH 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 WEDNESDAY 26 27 28 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6:00 PM YOUTH LEADERSHIP 7:00 PM Caucus NI h1 9 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE e:WX..B:-- ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FAIR, PrymwM Cr«k ENmemry BeheN CONFERENCE, (ECC), counod Plymouth Creek Y .`enter Chambers WX PM PARK 8 RECREATION AWISORY COMMISSNNi (PRAC). CwrJl ChNnWn TW PM JOINT COUNCIL- L NING COMMISSIO MEETING. LAND USE PUN FOR NORTHWEST PLYMOUTH, PN,^^uIh Cnrk O�MaI 12 13 14 15 16 .17 18 7:00 PM YOUTH ADVISORYCOUNCIL. 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL 7:00 PM PLANNING 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT Meeting Room A MTG:PRESENTATION B TRAINING ON COMMISSION, AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room EMERGENCY MGMT COUIICII Chambefs PLAN, Meeting Room AIB 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council Chambers 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 0:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: 7:GO PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY 6:00 PM BOARD & COMMISSION DISCUSS PARK COMMRTEE ON RECOGNITION EVENT FUNDING: Meeting TRANSR (PACT) , - Plymouth Creek Rooms A & B Meeting Room A Center 7:00 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: LAND USE PLAN FOR NORTHWEST PLYMOUTH, Counod Chambers 26 27 28 29 30 31 7:00 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, 11:45 AM PLYMOUTH BUSINESS COUNCIL, PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH FINE meeting Room A 12201 Ridgedale Drive, ARTS COUNCIL Minnetonka SHOW Plymouth Creek 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Caunol dhimwn Center modified on 3/24/2006 01 OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS Anril 2006 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Mar 2006 May 2006 1 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S l 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH FINE ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center 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 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS COMMENCES - set clocks ahead 1 =Plymouth PRIMAVERA PLYMOUTH ARTS COUNCIL SHOW, Plymouth Creek Center 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - Medicine Lake hour Room 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 PALM SUNDAY 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE (EQC), council Chambers 5:30 PM BOARD OF E uncal Chambers Council Chambers 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, PASSOVER BEGINS AT SUNSET 7:00 PM PARK& REC ADVISORY COMMISSION (PRAC), Council Chambers GOOD FRIDAY 7:00 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Meeting Room A Council Chamb.. 16 17 .18 19 20 21 22 EASTER SUNDAY 7:00 PM YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS, Council Chambers 6:00 PM SPECL4L COUNCIL MEETING: POLICE STAFFING STUDY: FIRE STAFFING STUDY, Meeting Room AS 7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers 7:00 PM HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY(HRA), Medicine Lake Room 9:00 AM -3:00 PM YARD & GARDEN EXPO, Plymouth Creek Center and Fieldhouse 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 7:00 PM YOUTHe:oo ADVISORY COUNCIL, Meeting Room A AM NULUN R�cNTs CGMMIssIGN STUDENT vroRKSNw. PNnwM C.«h c.,w« 5:J0 PM 60AR007 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT (PACT) , Meeting Room A EGUALIZATION tRECONVENE�. CwcB Cl,rnbrs T.00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. CouncM CNmMrs 30 modified on 3/24/2006 q OFFICIAL CITY MEETINGS Mav 2006 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 3:00 PM -5:00 PM NORTHWEST PLYMOUTH 0:00 PM -8:00 PM NORTHWEST PLYMOUTH 7:00 PM P LANNING 7:00 PM HUMAN RIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION, COMMISSION - MEETING, Council MEETING, Council Council Chambers Medicine Lake Chambers Chambers Room 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 7:00 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, Meeting Room A 5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: DISCUSS 7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE 7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMPENSATION & BENEFIT (EOC), Council Chambers COMMISSION (PRAC), Council PRACTICES. Chambers Meeting Room AB 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, c.u.A Cbmb.. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 WINMG k 7:00 PM HOUSING 8 REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HRA), Medicine Lake Room 9:00 AM -3:30 PM PLYMOUTH CLEAN-UP DAY, Public Works Maintenance Facility 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 7:00 PM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, 11:45AM PLYMourH BUSINESS COUNCIL. 13201 RM".'. MInANaOIR 7:00 PM PLYMOUTH ADVISORY Meeting Room A COMMITTEE ON BOO PM SPECIAL OOUNCIL MEETING: MEETINGMRTH TRANSR (PACT) , Meeting Room A %CEL ENERGY — REUASILITY ISSUES, Mie Re A88 7:00 PM REWUR COUNCIL MEETING,Ca IIC� 28 29 30 31 Apr 2006 Jun 2006 MEMORIAL DAY S M T W T F S S M T W T F S (Observed) - City 1 1 2 3 Offices Closed 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 30 modified on 3/24/2006 7 Tentative Schedule for City Council Agenda Items April 11, Board of Equalization, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers April 11, Regular, 7:00 p.m. (or immediately following Board of Equalization, whichever is later), Council Chambers • Presentation\Update from Senior Council • Accept donation from LifeTime Fitness April 18, Special, 6:00 p.m. Meeting Room A & B • Police Staffing Study • Fire Staffing Study April 25, Board of Equalization Reconvened, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers April 25, Regular, 7:00 p.m. (or immediately following Board of Equalization, whichever is later) Council Chambers May 9, Special, 5:30 p.m. Meeting Room A & B • Discuss compensation and benefit practices May 9, Regular, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers • Review of proposed Tax Increment Financing Bonds for the Common Bond Project May 23, Special, 6:00 p.m. Meeting Room A & B • Meeting with Excel Energy on reliability issues May 23, Regular, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers • Receive report on golf courses June 6, Special, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers • Comprehensive Plan Update June 13, Special, 5:30 p.m. Meeting Room A & B • Discuss Audit Report June 13, Regular, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers Note: Special Meeting topics have been set by Council; all other topics are tentative. Public hearing on the issuance of Tax Increment Financing Bonds for the Common Bond Project June 27, Special, 6:00 p.m. Meeting Room A & B • Discuss Greenhouse Gas Project June 27, Regular, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers City of Plymouth News Release For Immediate Release Contact: March 22, 2006 Barbara Senness 763-509-5452 Noise Ordinance: Plymouth Changes Hours for Construction Activity on Weekends, Holidays Do-it-yourselfers as well as building contractors will be affected by a change in the City of Plymouth's noise ordinance. The City Council recently approved changes to the ordinance that affect the hours during which construction activity involving motorized equipment may occur. Effective March 31, 2006, the city noise ordinance will permit motorized construction activity from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Previously, city ordinance allowed construction activity from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. The hours for Monday through Friday motorized construction activity remain the same, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restricted work hours apply to construction and remodeling activities that require electric, diesel or gas -powered vehicles and/or equipment. If you have questions about the ordinance, call 763-509-5430. To report a violation of the noise ordinance, call 911. 13 News Release City of Plymouth For Immediate Release Contact: Rick Kline March 21, 2006 763-509-5121 Plymouth Fire Chief Earns Chief Fire Officer Designation Plymouth Fire Chief Richard Kline recently earned the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, Inc. Kline is one of only five CFO's in the State of Minnesota. The commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) met on March 1 to officially confer the designation upon Kline. The CFOD program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in seven areas, including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competencies. CFO's have demonstrated through their education, leadership, and management skills that they possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the fire and emergency services profession, according to CFOD Program Manager Debbie Sobotka. A board of review consisting of members of the fire and emergency services profession, academia, and municipal agencies review each application and recommend successful candidates for the designation to the commission. Chief Kline has been the Fire Chief for the City of Plymouth for 13 years. City of Plymouth News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Jim Barnes March 21,2006 (763) 509-5412 Plymouth HRA to Accept Applications for Affordable Senior Rental Units at Vicksburg Crossing The Plymouth Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) will accept requests for applications to lease affordable 1 -bedroom apartments at Vicksburg Crossing, a new senior building being built in Plymouth at the southwest corner of Vicksburg Lane and Highway 55. Application requests will be accepted during a two-day period in April. The HRA will accept application requests for 34 affordable units on April 10, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m. (noon), and April 11, 12:30 — 3 p.m., at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave. N. The HRA will mail out applications to all people who request them no later than May 1, 2006. The names of all eligible applicants will be put in a lottery. Three hundred names will be randomly drawn. The HRA will offer units to the first 34 eligible applicants. The remaining names will be added to the Vicksburg Crossing waiting list. Vicksburg Crossing Overview Vicksburg Crossing will include a mix of one -bedroom, one -bedroom plus den and two- bedroom units. The horseshoe -shaped building will give residents a variety of views. The new senior apartment complex also will be conveniently located near grocery stores, restaurants, a multi -screen movie theater, auto service businesses, health and dental offices, banks, a fitness center, and many other businesses. The project will include both market rate units and affordable units. Thirty-four of Vicksburg Crossing's units will have rents set at an amount that is affordable to households that earn 50% of the area's median income. All affordable units will be one -bedrooms. Eligibility Requirements To apply, all member(s) of the household must be at least 55 years of age. To qualify, an applicant's total family/household income cannot be more than the following amounts: iS HOUSEHOLD SIZE GROSS ANNUAL INCOME 1 -Person $27,500 2 -Persons $31,400 Plymouth HRA staff is preparing for a high turnout of people requesting applications for Vicksburg Crossing due to the scarcity of affordable senior rental housing and limited rent assistance programs, according to Housing Programs Manager Jim Barnes. If you have questions, call the HRA at (763) 509-5410. All Plymouth HRA programs are equal housing opportunities open to income eligible persons. 1C rh News Release City of Plymouth For Immediate Release March 21, 2006 Contact: Sara Lynn Cwayna 763-509-5198 Plymouth Police Offers Neighborhoods Help Planning for National Night Out Plymouth residents who want some help planning for their neighborhood's gathering for National Night Out (NNO) on Tues., Aug. 1 should plan to attend National Night Out planning meetings. The Police Department will host two organizing meetings on April 24 and June 27, at 7 p.m. at Fire Station III, 3300 Dunkirk Ln. The meetings are the same, but offer two different dates for organizers to choose from. The meetings will provide neighbors with the chance to gather ideas and resources, ask questions, and learn about successful events that have been held in other neighborhoods. Attendees will also get information about upcoming summer programs, the File -of -Life medical alert program, the City's free gunlock program, and reduced cost anti -vehicle theft locks. At the close of each meeting firefighters will provide the opportunity for organizers to use a fire extinguisher, which has become a popular NNO activity. Attendance at these two planning meetings is optional. A final coordinator meeting will be held on July 26, 7-8 p.m., at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34`h Avenue North. One representative from each party is asked to attend the final meeting to pick up complimentary t -shirts, coupons for helium balloons and NNO updates. National Night Out is held the first Tuesday in August throughout the country. Neighbors enjoy local block parties to get to know one another and show their commitment to preventing crime in their neighborhood. "National Night Out is one of the best nights of the year. Strong neighborhoods add to the quality of life and make for a safe community. Last year, 138 neighborhoods participated in NNO. It was the City's largest celebration," said Police Chief Mike Goldstein. Neighborhoods are encouraged to register their event with the Police Department. NNO registration forms can be downloaded from the City's web site, www.ci.plymouth.mn.us. Police and (-3- fire units will be scheduled to visit gatherings based upon the dates that the registration forms are received. For information on other summer public safety programs, visit the City web site, w-ww.ci.plamouth.mn.us or call 763-509-5198. Ska- drEbILi'ne.com I MHOMAPOLIS - ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Last update: March 21, 2006 — 12:01 PM Affordable housing moves into west cities Habitat for Humanity plans to build homes this year in Plymouth and Wayzata, its first foray into either city. Sam Barnes, Star Tribune Habitat for Humanity, which has built hundreds of affordable homes around the Twin Cities over the past two decades but relatively few in the western suburbs, is planning two multi -home projects this year in Plymouth and Wayzata. The Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority has agreed to provide a lot for Habitat to build three or four homes at 10801 South Shore Drive, just south of the city's border with Medicine Lake. And in Wayzata, Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners is working with Habitat to build four homes -- two pairs of twin homes — at 170 Gleason Lake Road, near the Hwy. 12 intersection. Habitat will build all four homes; IOCP will own one pair and rent them out, and Habitat will sell the other two homes to buyers who meet its qualifications. While Habitat has built more than 600 homes in the seven -county metro area over the past 20 years, relatively few of those have been in the western suburbs. Susan Haigh, who heads Habitat's Twin Cities operation, said it had built seven homes in Maple Grove from 1996-2004, six in St. Louis Park in 1997-98, one in Eden Prairie in 1998, four in Minnetonka in 2000, two in Chaska in 2001, and two in Chanhassen in 2002. Haigh said the organization would like to do more, and hopes to build on the momentum of getting its first projects going in Plymouth and Wayzata. "It's always exciting to be invited into a new community," Haigh said. "We're very grateful to have the opportunity." Historically, the high cost of land in the west metro has made affordable housing projects difficult. But Habitat and local government agencies are looking for creative ways around that problem by cobbling together grants and other donations. In Plymouth, Habitat will build on a site that the Housing and Redevelopment Authority bought in 2004 for $125,000. The authority originally intended to jointly build some affordable homes on the site with the Builders Outreach Foundation, an arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, said the authority's housing manager, Jim Barnes. But the authority discovered soil problems on the one -acre site — earth too soft to support the weight of a structure. A civil engineer estimated it would cost between $90,000 and $120,000 to correct the problems, Barnes said. So the builders' group opted not to proceed with the project. Then the authority turned to Habitat. Last month, it agreed to sell the lot to Habitat for $1, and Habitat is seeking a $120,000 grant to cover the cost of stabilizing the soil, through Hennepin County's federally funded Home Investment Partnership Program, Haigh said. Options include removing soil and trucking in and compacting a higher -quality base, or installing pilings to support footings, Barnes said. Habitat expects to hear soon from Hennepin County on the grant request. In Wayzata, Habitat is getting help from the IOCP to build two homes and in turn is assuming an unusual role: serving as general contractor for TOCP on its two houses. IOCP expects the homes to be completed by the end of coming construction season. Kim Vohs, IOCP's housing director, said the organization has lined up funding from a variety of sources for the project: to buy the land, $250,000 from a Community Development Block Grant administered by the county; and to build the houses, $195,000 from the county's Affordable Housing Incentive Fund, $75,000 from the Lipkin Family Foundation, $50,000 from IOCP's annual sleepout fund-raisers, and $162,000 in 1k, donations of materials and labor from Habitat for Humanity. This project has been in the works for about four years, Vohs said, and the IOCP hopes it will be able to pursue others with Habitat. Affordable, but high quality Habitat builds affordable homes and sells them to low-income residents who chip in 300 to 500 hours of "sweat equity" and repay no -interest loans. Payments are based on the buyers' incomes. Buyers also are required to attend classes on everything from budgeting to lawn maintenance. The houses that Habitat builds are of the same quality and price range as others in the neighborhoods where they are located, Haigh said. They are affordable because of the donations of land, materials and labor that go into the homes, as well as the no -interest loans offered by Habitat. SAM BARNES • 612-673-7840 ©2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. IskmarTribune.com I MINNEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Last update: March 23, 2006 — 11:13 PM Paving the cyber sidewalks: Cities debate fiber optics Cities are trying to decide whether they should provide faster Web connections. It's expensive, but many fear that the U.S. is falling behind. Steve Alexander, Star Tribune Metro -area suburbs, worried that their economic development could be stunted by slow Internet connections from phones and cable TV, are debating whether to push for new fiber-optic networks for their communities that would be 10 times faster. "Should it be up to the incumbent [phone and cable] Internet providers or the citizens of the city to decide our technological future? We're trying to come up with some recommendations," said Tom Garrison, communications director for the city of Eagan. Pushing fiber -to -the -home networks could put cities in the position of competing with phone and cable companies, which rely on slower copper or coaxial cable connections. There's no hint of when the companies might speed up their own networks. The cities also face the twin risks of high cost and potential obsolescence of fiber-optic networks. But very much in the back of city planners' minds is the much -publicized fact that the United States is falling behind countries such as South Korea, where fiber networks have made it the world leader in broadband use as a percentage of the population. A study published last year put the United States 12th by the same measure, although the United States has the most broadband users. As a result, some city officials believe economic development will be tied to the availability of high-speed fiber-optic Internet connections for data and for capacity -hungry entertainment offerings such as high- definition TV. "When you look at broadband competitiveness, the U.S. clearly is slipping," Garrison said. Rather than have suburban businesses and consumers be at a disadvantage, city officials wonder whether they should push for fiber-optic networks "in the same way cities used to pay attention to roads, sewer and electricity," he said. "Technology has become another differentiator." New fiber-optic networks can deliver speeds of 100 million bits per second to home customers, compared with about 8 million bits per second for the fastest consumer cable modem connections in the Twin Cities. Consumer DSL speeds are even slower; Qwest offers consumers a maximum of 5 million bits per second. Minneapolis plans to have a citywide wireless Internet network by 2008, but suburban municipalities say they are unsure that they want to choose that future. While it appears that wireless can provide the equivalent of today's telephone DSL (digital subscriber line) and cable modem Internet speeds at lower prices and over a broader service area, only fiber-optic cable connections to the home can boost today's speeds tenfold. Today's telephone and cable Internet services connect to the home with slower copper and coaxial cable. The trade-off is cost. For a large city such as Minneapolis, there is a huge cost difference between a wireless network and a fiber-optic one. Minneapolis expects to build a $20 million to $25 million wireless network that would cover the city border to border. The city, which has narrowed the bidding to two contractors, rejected a proposal from another company that proposed a $425 million fiber-optic network covering the same area, said Bill Beck, the city's deputy chief information officer. However, a fiber network might be more feasible in a small suburban city because fewer miles of fiber-optic cable would have to be buried to serve the city, analysts say. "The general interest in fiber -to -the -home is only just starting," said Jim Erickson, president of FiberFirst, a trade organization that is pressing suburban governments to support fiber networks. FiberFirst is supported by fiber-optic companies such as New York -based Corning Inc., Minnetonka -based ADC Telecommunications and California-based Calix Networks Inc., which in February acquired Twin Cities fiber firm Optical Solutions. FiberFirst last week co-sponsored a seminar for metro government officials to promote what it says are the virtues of fiber: greater capacity and, under the right circumstances, lower operating costs. At an earlier FiberFirst seminar, Utah -based Utopia, a consortium that runs a fiber broadband network for several cities, told Twin Cities officials that it sells home broadband service that is four to nine times faster than local phone or cable TV companies for prices 15 to 27 percent less. But a local telecommunications consultant said it's unclear how soon suburban consumers and businesses will need all the capacity fiber-optic networks offer. "It could be five years in some places, and 25 years in others," said Jim Farstad, whose firm, rClient, is based in Minneapolis. So far, nearly all fiber-optic network installations in Minnesota have been made outside the Twin Cities, where the new networks have less competition from phone and cable companies, said David Russell, solutions marketing director for Calix. Telephone provider Qwest and cable companies Time Warner and Comcast oppose efforts by metro cities to create competitive fiber-optic networks. "Our position on municipal entry [into broadband] is that it is not the proper role of government to duplicate services that already exist," Qwest spokeswoman Joanna Hjelmeland said. Mike Martin, executive director of the Minnesota Cable Communications Association in St. Paul, said Time Warner and Comcast -- soon to be combined in the Twin Cities -- will offer the speed of fiber to the home at some undetermined point in the future because there is no demand for it now. That leaves cities puzzling over what to do. The Burnsville City Council will hear from FiberFirst, Qwest, Comcast and telephone company Frontier on Tuesday in an informational meeting. "At this point, it's too early to say what the outcome will be," said Jim Skelly, city communications coordinator. Dakota County is trying to decide whether it should offer the public services on its existing fiber-optic network, which links government centers in three cities and soon will include three school districts, said Jim Campbell, county information technology director. "We're trying to get a sense of what level of interest there is, and what direction we should go," Campbell said. Steve Alexander • 612-673-4553 ©2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. BiCli"ibul a -Com i mui-NEAPOLIS -.ST, PAUL, MINNESOTA Last update: March 23, 2006 — 8:22 PM Speed bumps Time required to download a two-hour, DVD -quality movie: 56k dial-up modem13 days DSL (5 megabits)3 hours, 22 minutes Cable modem (8 megabits)2 hours, 6 minutes Optical fiber (100 megabits)10.4 minutes Source: Utopia, a fiber -to -the -home Internet consortium 02006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. State-wide Initiative at the Local Level From the Wayzata School District Community TOWN HALL FORUM M UNDERage drinking A Community's Response to Implications and Solutions Target Audience: Parents, grandparents, adolescents, school staff, business community members, civic and religious leaders, law enforcement personnel, elected officials FISHBOWL DISCUSSION followed by REACTION to DISCUSSION followed by AUDIENCE QUESTIONS and COMMENTS When: Monday, March 27, 2006 (precedes Governor's Town Hall Forum by one day) Where: Wayzata Central Middle School Auditorium Time: 7:00 — 9:00 p.m. In collaboration with Partners In Prevention (PIP), Trojan Leadership Council (TLC), Entrepreneurship Class, TAP, Community Education, District 284 Administrators, and Student Support personnel Contact information: Jan Hofinann, Chemical Health Coordinator, Wayzata High School 763.745.6988 jan.hofinann@,wayzata.kl2.mn.us Z3 Plymouth HRA - City of Plymouth, Minnesota Establishment of Tax Increment Financing (Housing) District No. 1-2 within Redevelopment Project Area No.1 (Common Bond Project) Time Schedule — Public Hearing June 13, 2006 Thursday, March 16 Site Plan submitted to City for Review Tuesday, April 11 City Council calls for public hearing @ 7 pm (resolution provided by Dorsey & Whitney) On/Before April 11 County and School District receive initial request for information letter (sent by SPRINGSTED) Prior to receipt of impact letters & draft TIF plan Thursday, April 20 HRA reviews TIF documents On/Before Friday, April 28 County Commissioner receives notification letter (sent by SPRINGSTED) 30 days prior to publication of notice of public hearing Wednesday, May 3 City Planning Commission reviews TIF documents @ 7pm (TIF documents provided by SPRINGSTED) (resolution provided by Dorsey & Whitney) Tuesday, May 9 City Council reviews TIF Documents On/Before May 11 County and School District receive impact letters & draft TIF plan (sent by SPRINGSTED) 30 days prior to public hearing Thursday, May 18 HRA approves TIF Plan and Housing Program (TIF documents provided by SPRINGSTED) (resolution provided by Dorsey & Whitney) 3/20/2006 Thursday, May 25 Publication of notice of public hearing In Plymouth Sun Sailor Deadline: Thurs., May 18 (arrangements made by SPRINGSTED) 10.30 days prior to public hearing Tuesday, June 13 City Council holds public hearing, and adopts resolution @ 7 pm establishing TIF District (resolution provided by Dorsey & Whitney) City Council approves Housing Program After June 13 State filing and request for county certification (completed by SPRINGSTED) 3/20/2006 a S- Agenda Number: TO: Laurie Ahrens, City Manager / THROUGH: Michael S. GoIds tei)04BACCO , Chief of Police, FROM: Captain Joel Franz���""" SUBJECT: ALCOHOL AND COMPLIANCE CHECKS DATE: March 20, 2006 1. BACKGROUND: The Police Department conducts two rounds of compliance checks each year for licensed alcohol and tobacco establishments. 2. DISCUSSION: The Police Department has completed the second round of compliance checks for 2005 and just last week held the final hearing on an alcohol violation. The failure rate for licensed liquor establishments improved from last years results. Licensed tobacco establishments failure rate was slightly higher. For the year we had thirteen failures in the 124 checks we completed of licensed liquor establishments. That 10 % failure rate compares with a 13 % failure rate for last year. Our compliance checks for tobacco license holders were very similar to the previous years. We completed 90 checks and had nine failures. This 10 % failure rate compares to a 9 % failure rate for last year. Four alcohol license holders are no longer selling. Dutton's, Howie G's, and Italianni's have gone out of business with Italianni's reopening as Woody's, and El Azteca is no longer selling alcohol after their license was revoked because of their fourth compliance check failure. Not all of the administrative fines have come in as of yet but the total amount for both alcohol and tobacco should total $13,750. For 2006, two liquor and three tobacco license holders have qualified for a 5% discount on their license fee. These businesses signed up as Best Practices Businesses and have gone one year with no violations. Fourteen liquor and twelve tobacco license holders qualified as "Gold Star Best Practice Members" and received a 10% discount on their license fee for 2006. These businesses signed up as Best Practices Businesses and have gone three years with no violations. Attached to this report are on-going statistical summaries for all alcohol and tobacco license holders. DATE: November 16, 2005 TO: K. Hoffinan, OSR FROM: M. Bevins, Det. SUBJECT: Best Practice Businesses / License Renewal Discounts The following businesses qualify for the 10% license renewal discount for the 2006 license year: ALCOHOL— TOBACCO— Cellars OBACCO— Cellars Star Colony Kwik Trip Marcello's SA Nathan Ln & Peony Ln Ruby Tuesdays Rainbow - Plymouth Station SA Nathan Ln Vinewood Doolittles 10200 6"' Ave Green Mill Holiday Stations - 10900 Hwy 55 Jakes Cheshire Ln Sids Nathan & Co. 9 W. Medicine Lk Community Club Betty Crocker Dr Rainbow - Plymouth Station Arkady's Vinewood Walgreens Vinewood Holiday Stations — Fernbrook 10900 Hwy 55 The following businesses qualify for the 5% license renewal discount for the 2006 license year: ALCOHOL— TOBACCO — Chilis Buffalo Wild Wings cc J. Franz, Capt. Holiday Station Vinewood Lunds Plymouth Liquors Ms. Laurie Ahrens Plymouth City Manager 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Ms. Ahrens: We are now in the wrap-up phase of the annual "Bluegrass Festival" which took place at our hotel the beginning of the month. The response to the event was wonderful and I would like to let you know how much we appreciated your assistance. You and your staff of police officers were so helpful in coordinating the parking efforts for this large group of weekend guests. It is an annual event with 2800 people coming to Plymouth and your aid was greatly appreciated. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance to you in any way, and again, thank you. Sincerely, Carol Hallman Assistant General Manager Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Telephone (763)559-6274 Fax(763)559-7516 Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Minneapolis 3131 Campus Drive - Plymouth, MN 55441 Telephone: 763-559-6600 - Fax: 763-559-75 16 www.radisson.com/minneapolismn_plymouth � ad�seh MEMO MAS TO: Mayor Judy Johnson, FROM: David Cress, President and CEO, North MemorVHOalth Care Alan Goldbloom, M.D, President and CEO, Childre s ' nd Clinics of Minnesota Tim Hanson, President and CEO, HealthEast Care System David Page, President and CEO, Fairview Health Services David Wessner, President and CEO, Park Nicollet Health Services DATE: March 16, 2006 SUBJECT: Update on Talks with SEIU Local 113 We want to quickly bring you up-to-date on contract talks between eight Twin Cities -area hospitals — the Twin Cities Hospitals Group — and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 113. After three months of talks plus a one-week extension past the contract expiration date, on March 9 the hospitals made a last, best and final offer to SEN. The offer is strong and clearly recognizes the valuable services these employees provide every day; the union should allow our employees to have an opportunity to vote on it. Over a three-year period, the offer would increase base pay 11 percent, increase pension contributions 19 percent and lower health insurance premiums for family and dependent coverage. The hospitals' contributions for family and dependent coverage would rise to 75 percent; the hospitals already contribute 85 percent of the premium costs for single coverage. The offer also includes new opportunities for SEIU members to provide direct input on workplace and patient care issues. While we remain focused on the local needs and interests of our employees and the communities we serve, SEIU is focused instead on its national agenda: increasing the union's membership. The Twin Cities Hospitals Group did not agree to SEIU's nationally driven demand for unreasonable advantages to organize non-union employees. These advantages, which the union refers to as "neutrality," would require the hospitals to remain silent and not offer information that might differ with the union position. The hospitals have filed a charge of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board regarding these demands, which have gotten in the way of the union's ability to bargain in good faith. Nationally, SEN leadership has paired these demands with so-called "corporate campaigns" that are meant to intimidate the organizations they target by damaging their reputations. In a corporate campaign the union approaches the media and community leaders with false, inaccurate or misleading information designed to undermine the reputation of the health care organizations and the integrity of their leadership. The goal is to embarrass the leaders, raise fear among the organizations' patients and community, and force the organizations to concede to its demands. We are standing against these nationally orchestrated tactics that are designed to hurt hospitals and help the union, not the employees. At this point, SEN has indicated it will not even bring this offer to its members for a vote. Since the contract expired on March 9 and SEIU did not respond to the offer, our employees continue to receive the same pay and benefits under the recently expired contract. It is the continued hope of the hospitals that SEIU will allow its local members to vote on this offer. Meanwhile, SEIU's national organization has indicated that its corporate campaign will commence — with or without a contract in place and with or without the consent of the local rank -and -file members. Our Twin Cities health care organizations have a national reputation for health care quality and innovation. It's unfortunate to have that reputation challenged by an SEIU campaign run by SEN national union leaders and strategists who don't live or work in our community. Over the coming weeks and months, our community will hear more on this front. Meanwhile, our hospitals are committed to meeting the needs of area residents for high-quality care. That's something the members of Local 113 help us do. We have recognized their contributions with a strong offer, one that balances employee compensation with our responsibility to be good stewards of the community's resources. We have a principal responsibility to provide affordable, high-quality care for our patients. If you would like to discuss this situation in greater detail, please feel free to contact any of the representatives listed below. Children's Hospitals and David Brumbaugh, Vice President, Human Resources Clinics of Minnesota Direct Phone: (612) 813-6044 E-mail: david.brumbaugh@childrensmn.org General Phone: (612) 813-6100 Fairview Health Services Kent Eklund, Vice President Direct Phone: (612) 672-7784 E-mail: keklundl@fairview.org General Phone: (612) 672-4000 HealthEast Care System Roger Green, Vice President, Strategy, Communications & Public Policy Direct Phone: (651) 232-2310 E-mail: rgreen@healtheast.org General Phone: (651) 232-2300 North Memorial Health Care James White, Vice President, Human Resources Direct Phone: (763) 520-5920 E-mail: james.white@northmemorial.com General phone: (763) 520-5200 ® PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ` CITY OF March 24, 2006 PLYMOUT4 SUBJECT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND SKETCH REVIEW FOR CSM EQUITIES LLC. (2006011) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinanc:, this letter is to inform you of a request by CSM Equities LLC., under File 2006011 for a comprehensive plan amendment to change the land use guide plan from industrial to commercial for property located at the northwest corner of State Highway 55 and Northwest Boulevard. The applicant is also requesting review of a sketch showing roughly 39,000 square feet of commercial use on the site. Hennepin County records indicate your property is within 750 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, April 5, 2006, in the 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, 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 Community Development Department at (763) 509-5400. Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2006011propnotice PLYMOUTi l 44t t \\\\\\ \\\\ 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (763) 509-5000 www.b.piymouth.mmus CITY OF March 24, 2006 PUMOUTR SUBJECT: SITE PLAN AMENDMENT, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT, AND VARIANCES FOR INSPEC, INC. FOR ARMSTRONG HIGH SCHOOL (2006002) Dear Property Owner: Pursuant to the provisions of the Plymouth Zoning Ordinance, this letter is to inform you of a request by Inspec, Inc., under File 2006002 for a site plan amendment to allow site improvements including: 1) a turf surface for the stadium field, 2) a new grass surface for the junior varsity field, 3) two new tennis courts, and 4) reconstruction of the western parking lot with a 24 -space parking expansion. The request also includes a conditional use permit amendment for one additional football game and 16 lacrosse games and variances for impervious surface area coverage and for a new scoreboard. 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, April 5, 2006, in the 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, 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 Community Development Department at (763) 509-5400. Sincerely, Barbara G. Senness, AICP Planning Manager 2006002propnotice PLYM 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYM PHINTFfI NN RFf.Yl:1 FN PRPPR rnnnnnr ni nh.mnirih mn rrn M