HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 02-28-1997i
FEBRUARY 28,1997
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE.
NOTE: Beginning March 5, Ward 1 Councilmember Tim Bildsoe will begin holding sessions
in the Administration Library, beginning at 6:00 p.m. before each Council meeting to meet
with residents and receive their comments.
3.
MARCH 4 5:30 P.M. BOARD AND COMMISSION RECOGNITION
RECEPTION
Council Chambers
MARCH 5 6:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Discuss New Direction of I-494 Corridor
Commission
Medicine Lake Room
MARCH 5 7:00 P.M. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers
MARCH 19 6:00 P.M. INTERVIEWS OF BOARD AND
COMMISSION APPLICANTS
Medicine Lake Room
MARCH 19 7:00 P.M. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers
(Tentative) BUSINESS RELATIONS SUB -COMMITTEE, THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 6: 00
P.M., Medicine Lake Conference Room.
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 7:30 P.M., Medicine Lake
Room.
CITY CO UNCIL INFORMATION MEMO
February 28, 1997
Page 2
4. PLANNING COMMISSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 7:00 P.M., Council Chambers.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 7:00 P.M.,
Hadley Lake Room.
6. PRAC, THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 7:00 P.M., Council Chambers.
7. MEETING CALENDARS — February and March meeting calendars are attached. (M-7)
1. STAFF REPORTS
a. Report from Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt with the latest sketch
plan of the City Center site. (I -]q)
2. MINUTES
a. Suburban Transit Association Board of Directors meeting of January 14, 1997. (I -2a)
3. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC.
a. Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee 1997 Report to the Legislature. (I -3a)
b. Notice from Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele of a Town Meeting to be
held Monday, March 18, at the Plymouth City Hall, beginning at 7:00 P.M, in the
council chambers. (I -3b)
4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY- CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter to Andrew Goodman from Park Director Eric Blank addressing comments about
the East Medicine Lake Regional Trail. Attached is Goodman's original letter. (I -4a)
A status report on the most recent correspondence is attached.
5. CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter to the Mayor from Michael Johnson expressing support for reguiding of the
Seven Ponds commercial area from Commercial to Commercial Office. (I -5a)
6. FRIDAY FAX, the League of Minnesota City's weekly update on legislative activity. (I--6)
d
Plymouth Human Rights Commission
March 6, 1997
7:30 p.m.
Agenda
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes
IV. Old Business
a. Calendar of Events/Work Plan
b. Random Acts of Kindness
V. New Business
a. Student Involvement in Human Rights Commission
b. Community Education Plan/Newsletter
c. Draft Incident Report Form
VI. For Information
a. List of commission applicants interested in Human Rights
VII. Adjourn
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TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Anne Hurlburt, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Sketch Plan, City Center Site
DATE: February 27, 1997
Attached for your information is the latest sketch plan for the City Center site to be
developed by Mann Theaters and Carlson Real Estate. Based on a preliminary staff
review of the sketch, Mann and Carlson are proceeding with preparation of detailed site
plans, grading, utility, landscaping and building plans.
Much detailed design work remains, but some of the important features of this plan are:
• The plan provides a full access on Vicksburg Lane, at a sufficient distance (about 640
feet) north of Highway 55 so full access to the property on the west side of Vicksburg
can also be provided.
• The location of the entrance to the site from Vicksburg and the internal circulation
plan address our earlier concerns about traffic "cutting through" Cub Foods to access
the theater site.
• The plan would eliminate the current right -in right -out access to Cub Foods. We
understand that this plan has Cub's full support and legal documents to that effect are
being prepared. Cub's access would seem to be significantly improved by this plan.
• While much more detailed design work is needed, it appears that the number of
parking spaces is improved from the previous sketch, which may allow the number of
seats in the theater to be increased. This is achieved partly through more efficient site
utilization (by avoiding a curved driveway) and by agreements to share parking with
the Colony Liquor store.
• The plan assumes that 35 h Avenue west of 34`h Avenue would be vacated, and
absorbed as part of the project. We will be scheduling the required public hearing on
the roadway vacation as soon as possible.
In the next few weeks, we will be working closely with Mann and Cub on all the detailed
design work needed to get construction underway this spring. We anticipate that the full
site plan will be reviewed by the City Council at its April 16 meeting.
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SUBURBANTRANSITASSOCIATION
League of Minnesota Cities Building
145 University Avenue West, Suite 450
St. Paul, Minnesota 55103
Phone: (612) 228-9757
Fax: (612) 228-9787
SUBURBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
JANUARY 14, 1997
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES BUILDING
12:00 Noon - 2:00 P.M.
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by STA Interim Chair Mayor Joy Tierney.
Voting members present: Mayor Gary Humphrey, Apple Valley; Councilmember Sandy
Masin, Eagan; Mayor Joy Tierney, Plymouth; Councilmember Tom Kedrowski, Prior Lake;
and Michael Leek, Shakopee.
Also present: Beverley Miller, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority; John Sweeney,
Plymouth Metrolink; Colleen Dockendorf, Southwest Metro Transit; Margaret Shreiner,
Dakota County; Sid Inman, Ehlers and Associates; Bob Renner, Marty Muenzmaier and
Jennifer Peterson, Messerli & Kramer P.A.
It was moved by Beverley Miller and seconded by Colleen Dockendorf that the Minutes
from the November 20, 1996 Board of Directors meeting be approved as presented. The
motion was adopted.
The Board discussed election of officers for 1997. Nancy Tyra -Lukens and Mayor Joy
Tierney were nominated to serve as co-chairs. It was moved by Beverley Miller and
seconded by Colleen Dockendorf that the co-chairs be approved as nominated. The motion
was adopted. It was then moved by Michael Leek and seconded by Beverley Miller that
the City of Shakopee continue to serve as Treasurer for the STA for 1997. The motion
was approved.
The Board discussed the 1997 Legislative Committee. Membership composition in 1996
was: three members from Minnesota Valley Transit Authority; two members from
Southwest Metro Transit; one member from Plymouth Metrolink; and one member from
Shakopee Area Transit. It was moved by Beverley Miller and seconded by Michael Leek
that the membership composition for the 1997 Legislative Committee remain the same as
in 1996 and that each transit authority would appoint their own members. The motion
was adopted.
Members: Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Plymouth Area Transit,
Shakopee Area Transit, Southwest Metro Transit Commission
Bob Renner reviewed the recommendations of the Legislative Committee for the 1997
Legislative Delegation meeting scheduled for January 24. He explained that a letter of
invitation, signed by Mayor Joy Tierney, had been sent to all 25 STA legislators and that
a number of legislators had already responded that they plan on attending.
Bob Renner explained that the Legislative Committee felt it would be a good idea to invite
at least one legislator to speak at the meeting. The Board made a number of suggestions
for possible legislators, including Representatives Becky Kelso and Tom Workman, .and
Senator Dave Knutson. There was some Board discussion about whether or not to invite
members of the Metropolitan Council. It was decided that the Metropolitan Council
Transportation Committee would be invited.
Tom Kedrowski suggested that the STA might want to schedule a separate meeting with
Metropolitan Council representatives to discuss respective 1997 legislative issues and
initiatives.
Bob Renner then briefly reviewed the transit issues included in the Metropolitan Council's
1997 Legislative Agenda.
Beverley Miller and Sid Inman from Ehlers and Associates explained to the Board that
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority was exploring the use of tax increment financing
(TIF) to develop a new transit hub. Bob Renner explained that trying to expand the use
of TIF would be difficult for the STA to accomplish given current legislative sentiments
against TIF.
The Board discussed the possibility of adding the expansion of TIF to the 1997 STA
Legislative Agenda. It was moved by Sandy Masin and seconded by Mayor Gary
Humphrey that a bill be drafted that would create a demonstration project to use TIF as
an incentive to develop a transit hub with adjoining business establishments. The motion
was adopted.
Bob Renner said that he would speak with legislators about this use of TIF prior to a
February Board meeting. At the February meeting, the Board will determine if this issue
should be added to the 1997 STA Legislative Agenda.
Bob Renner reviewed the 1997 STA Legislative Agenda. He explained that in the
Department of Revenue Omnibus Technical Bill there would be language requiring cities
that choose to levy their own transit tax to make this decision by June 30 of each year.
He also suggested that it would be a good idea for the STA to add an amendment to this
bill requiring counties to put the transit tax levy on a separate line each year on tax
statements. This separate notification was required for taxes payable in 1997.
Bob Renner discussed Metropolitan Council proposed legislation to revise the formula
which determines the level of service transit operations provide. The Metropolitan
Council's bill would add paratransit trips as part of the service level calculation. This
would reduce the amount of tax feathering reimbursement for several STA cities. There
was Board discussion about whether this issue should be added to the 1997 STA
Legislative Agenda now or after a review of financial impact had been completed. It was
moved by Michael Leek and seconded by Colleen Dockendorf that opposition to this tax
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feathering change be added to the 1997 Legislative Agenda at this time. The motion was
adopted.
Bob Renner briefly reviewed bill introductions relating to transit. He explained that a
few bills had been introduced to increase the gas tax, one of which would also amend the
Minnesota Constitution to permit the use of a portion of motor vehicle excise taxes (sales
taxes on automobiles) to fund transit. Bob also reviewed legislation that would require
stronger penalties for assaulting bus drivers. The Board expressed concern that the
language in this legislation would not cover volunteer drivers of van pools or Metro
Mobility drivers. Bob Renner stated that he would check with legislative staff to help
ensure full coverage for opt out providers.
The Board set February 19 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. as the date and time for the next
Board meeting. The meeting will be held at the Plymouth City Hall.
It was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned The motion was approved and
the meeting adjourned.
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3
February 25, 1997
Dear City Administrator;
MINNESOTA SHADE TREE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Room 226
90 West Plato Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107-2094
10
Each year the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (7n `fAC) submits a report to our
state legislature on the state of our urban and community forests. I am pleased to provide you
and your community with a copy of that same report. It is communities like yours that are the
grass root beneficiaries of good solid community forestry programs.
As you browse through the report keep in mind that any or all of the issues listed can and
probably do affect your community at this very moment or in the future. You may be surprised
to find that your neighbors are battling tree problems such as Oak Wilt, Gypsy Moth, storm
damage and woodland tree preservation. Without funding for these problems urban and
community forests will no longer be benefiting the lives of Minnesota residents.
The intent of this report is to inform and enlighten our state legislators and you, as a community
leader, to the importance of trees in local government programs. Unlike state and federal forests,
urban and community forests are touched by over 80% of Minnesota residents every day. Their
care and management are now essential parts of Minnesota community infrastructures.
I hope this report informs and enlightens you to the concerns and needs of urban and community
forests such as yours. I also hope that this report raises some questions for you and your
colleagues in respect to trees in your town.
Please call upon any of the parties affiliated with MnSTAC or myself if questions do arise. We
want you to be informed.
Sincerely,
T I a,4t ,�-k/(ex?t,�-lAuC/"
Mark C. Schnobrich
Interim Chair
Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee
"Coordinating Minnesota's efforts to preserve and renew its urban forests. "
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA
\ISIMnSTACx
10
Report to the 1997 Legislature"
Dateline: Minnesota, USA- January 1997
The Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory
Committee (MnSTAC) has just released -its
``Revort to the 1997 Legislature". In this
Report, MnSTAC reminds us that trees have
in the past and continue to play now and in
the future an integral part of our human exis-
tence. The mission of the Minnesota Shade
Tree Advisory Committee is "to advance
'frees ,ks Community Infrastructure
"You can't see the forest for the trees."
Maintain Consistent Funding for Tree Programs
"Trees and people need each other."
Minnesotan's commitment to the health,
care and future of all community forests."
Each year, MnSTAC prepares a Report to
the State Legislature detailing the current
threats and issues to our urban forests, recent
accomplishments,_ and opportunities for
Legislative action. In 1997,.MnSTAC focus
on these four areas:
Woodland Preservation' and Tree Protection
"Trees don't get any respect!"
Tree "Smarts" -The Need for Education
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
- UE: TREES AS COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE
`R AT: City -owned trees are seldom seen as an integral element of a community's
infrastructure. Consequently, they fail to receive the proper care and attention they need.
--Nationwide,
community forests
contribute a value of
$30 billion to city
infrastructures.
--On average, for
every four trees
removed due to
insects, diseases,
storms, and/or
construction, only
one tree is replaced.
--Spraying to control the spread of
gypsy moth was completed on
over 200 acres in the City of Apple
Valley and Lent Township (1996
moth trapping indicated its poten-
tial establishment in Minnesota).
--Celebrated the one millionth foot
of control•line plowed to combat
the spread of oak wilt disease
(some 4,000 infection centers have
been treated in the seven -county
Metropolitan Area since 1991).
--Provide State funding for both the
Gypsy Moth Control Program and the
Oak Wilt Suppression Program at the
MDA due to declining Federal funds
to coordinate control efforts with other
State and Federal Agencies.
--Provide State funding for an urban
and community forestry grant
program to provide the necessary
financial assistance to cities in need
of improving the management of
their community forest resource.
ISSUE: MAINTAIN CONSISTENT FUNDING FOR TREE PROGRAMS
THREAT: The proper care and maintenance needed for healthy community trees is th
ened due to declining budgets at all levels of government (federal, state and local).
AS:
--Community forest
products include:
(1) increased
property values;
(2) safer, healthier
communities with
enhanced neighbor-
hood livability;
(3) cleaner air and
purer water; and,
(4) a more balanced
and sustainable
urban ecosystem.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
--Continued the DNR's "Minnesota
ReLeaf" program (LCMR funded)
providing $375,000 in energy
conservation tree planting grants to
Le Roy and Walker (and some 60
other cities) and non-profit groups.
--Planted over 21,000 trees in 32
communities from Coleraine to
Caledonia in cooperation with city
volunteer organizations through
MNDOT's Community Roadside
Landscaping Partnership Program.
OPPORTUNITIES:
--Provide State funding -for the
current Federally funded urban
forestry positions, within the DNR,
MDA, MES and MnDOT to secure
the stability for the on-going grant
and technical assistance programs.
--Provide continuing State funding
for the Minnesota ReLeaf Program
and the Community Roadside
Landscaping Partnership Program
to assist communities in enhancing
and properly managing their trees.
JSSUE: WOODLAND PRESERVATION AND TREE PROTECTION
7,:
--An .average urban
tree supplies annual
values consisting of
air conditioning, $73;
$75 for soil erosion/
stormwater control;
wildlife shelter, $75;
and, air pollution
control, $50; total
annual value $273.
Over 50 years the
compounded benefits
equal nearly $57,000.
••In cooperation with the Minnesota
OEA, DNR, EQB, MES, PCA, DOT,
the Metropolitan Council and the
USDA Forest SeR ice the "1996
Minnesota Conference on'Sustainable
Development' was held and attended
by nearly 800 federal, state, county,
city staff and private individuals.
**In cooperation with the DNR,
developed a "travelling" tabletop
display on Woodland Preservation
and Tree Protection.
OPPO T NJI S:
--Provide State funding for
continuing education efforts directed
at community officials, builders,
developers, and property owners
about tree preservation and other
efforts for -appropriate community
sustainable development.
-Provide State funding for the
development, printing and distribution
. of a publication on the "Best
Management Practices for
Development in Wooded Areas".
PACTS:
• Tree "topping"
(removing all of a
tree's upper limbs) for
maintenance is the
primary improper
technique damaging
our city's trees.
"The majority of an
urban tree's root
system is located
within the top 12
inches of the surface.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
••The Tree Trust, DNR and MES
continued the `TREES for Teens"
education program with various
projects undertaken in 39 schools.
• The MnDOT produced a CD-ROM
`Trees and Shrubs for Minnesota
Landscapes and Roadsides" to assist
communities in proper plant selection.
••The Tree Emergency Response
Task Force distributed 650 folders
of disaster mitigation information.
--Provide additional State funding
for the 'TREES for Teens" program
to expand the number of schools
and community -service projects.
"Provide State funding to develop
a CD-ROM regarding proper tree
planting and tree maintenance.
--Provide State funding for the
expansion of efforts related to
storm damage mitigation and
disaster response for tree needs.
MnSTAC Member Affiliations
The Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (MnSTAC) is recognized throughout Minnesota
for its expertise, advice,. coordination, and support related to urban and community forestry. It is an
advocate for -public and private community forestry interests statewide and serves as a forum for the
exchange and dissemination of ideas and information.
MnSTAC is an organization of diverse individuals representing a wide spectrum of tree related
interests. It fosters and supports local community tree programs across the state so that healthy
community forests are fully integrated into community development, infrastructure, education and man-
agement.
Approximately 150 people are now members of MnSTAC which holds its monthly meetings
throughout the State. The following list recognizes communities, organizations, businesses, and agen-
cies represented on MnSTAC:
Accent Company; American Forests; Anoka County Conservation District; Anoka County Tree Board;
Bachman's Wholesale Center; Bailey Nurseries, Inc.; Bullock Tree; Canopy Tree Care; Chisago-Isanti
Woodland Council; Cities of: Andover, Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon
Rapids, Crystal, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Ham Lake, Hibbing, Hutchinson, Lino
Lakes, Mankato, Maple Grove, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, Plymouth, Ramsey, Robbinsdale,
Roseville, Savage, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Thief River Falls; City of Ramsey Tree Board;
Cook Company; Dakota County Parks Department; Dahlgren, Shardlow, and Uban, Inc.; Dain Bosworth,
Inc.; EnvironMentor Systems; Heartwood Forestry; Hennepin County, Department of Environment and
Energy; Hennepin Parks; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; Iron Range Resources and
Rehabilitation Board, Mineland Reclamation Division; Itasca Community College; Kunde Company Inc.;
Living Sculpture Tree Care; Merriam Park Environmental Committee; Minneapolis Committee on Urban
Environment; Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board; Minneapolis Star and Tribune; Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District; Minnesota Association of SWCD's; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Division of
Plant Protection; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry; Minnesota Department
of Public Service; Minnesota Department of Transportation; Minnesota House of Representatives;
Minnesota Office of Tourism; Minnesota Office of Waste Management; Minnesota Power;- Minnesota
Senate; Minnesota State Horticultural Society; Mycological Applications; National Urban Forest Council;
Northern States Power; Plant Health Associates, Inc.; Plant Disease Diagnostics; Rainbow Treecare;
Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department; River Front Corporation; Rochester Parks and
Recreation; Sherburne County Tree Board; Treescapes; Source Technology Biologicals, Inc.; St. John's
University; Top Notch Tree Care; Tree Trust; University of Minnesota, Departments of: Entomology, Forest
Products, Forest Resources, Plant Pathology, and Minnesota Extension Service; Minnesota Landscape
Arboretum; United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service -Northeastern Area and North Central
Forest Experiment Station; Vernix Forestry Consultants; V.A. Medical Center; Washington County Health
Department; Wilkinson Hardwoods. ,
MnSTAC is committed to .bring the gest information and resources
to the r)ublic,professiooals and decision -makers of Minnesota.
For more information contact:
Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee
90 West Plato Boulevard, Room 226
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-2094
Printed with soy based ink on recycled paper
(containing at least 10% post -consumer waste).
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i�NESO P
BOARD ov HENNEPIN COUN'T'Y COMMISSIONERS
NIINN1-:AN)1.iti, MI[ NE.SOTA 55487-0240
February 27, 1997
The Honorable Joy Tierney y -
Mayor �-
City of Plymouth a=i
3400 Plymouth Boulevard i L ? J ir:97
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Mayor Tierney:
As elected officials, we are all concerned ab-NOWalarA-r6form and how it will impact
recipients, taxpayers, and our communities. For this reason, I will be hosting three Town
Meetings to discuss the impacts of welfare reform with constituents and local officials. I
would like to invite you to attend one of these meetings to share your viewpoints on this
important issue.
Your opinions are valuable to me as I serve as the Chair of Hennepin County's Welfare
Reform Policy Committee. The Committee will be integral to implementing welfare to work
plans in Hennepin County. Your input is essential to ensure that cities like yours are heard
when the Policy Committee makes recommendations to the County Board and ultimately
the Legislature.
The Town Meetings will be held Monday, March 17, at the Champlin Library, 12154 Ensign
Avenue; Tuesday, March 18 (with fellow Commissioner Mark Stenglein) at the Plymouth
City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard; and Wednesday, March 19, at the Orono City Hall,
2750 Kelley Parkway. All meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Welfare reform will be a continuing process and I hope you will join me in listening to our
constituents and presenting your perspective as a policy maker for your city. I have
enclosed copies of the promotional flyer which you may copy and distribute to any of our
constituents, if you wish. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 348-7887.
Sincerely,
Penny Steele
County Commissioner - 7th District
PS:pr
Enclosures
4-� Lor- ,
PENNY STEELE
AND
MARK STENGLEIN
]H[IENNIE]P'IN COUNTY COMM I[SS][(0)NIERS
](N \ul[T E YOIU(
TO JOIN THEM AT A\ TOWIN MEETING
G
TO TAILIK ABOUT
WELFARE REFORM
DISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON WELFARE REFORM AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO ALL
OF SIS. THEY WANT YOUR OPINIONS NS AND IDEAS AS THE COUNTY AND STATE
WORK TOGETHER TO REFORM MINNESOTA'S WELFARE SYSTEM. JOIN THEM AT 7:oo
P.M. ON:
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1997 AT THE PLYMOUTH CITY HALL,
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN.
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SER VED
February 21, 1997
Andrew J. Goodman
10225 28th Avenue N
Plymouth, MN 55441
Dear Mr. Goodman:
CITY OF
PLYMOUTF+
I have received your letter dated February 17 with regard to the East Medicine Lake Regional
Trail. For your information, this week, both the City Council and the Hennepin Parks Board
have given final approval to the plan for the East Medicine Lake Regional Trail. The specific
section you're looking at between 36th Avenue and Medicine Ridge Road will have an off-
road trail designated. For the area adjacent to the Mission Farms and running down toward the
lake, the trail will be separated from the road by about an eight foot boulevard. The rest of the
way through that area along the lake, the trail will be separated from the road by a curb rising
up and elevating it away from the roadway surface.
This project is scheduled to be underway this year along with the actual upgrade of the road
itself. The Engineering Department will be monitoring this program and looking at ways we
can make that road safer. We have also been made aware of the speeding going on in this area,
and we will work with the Police Department to attempt to slow the speeding down.
Thank you for your time and interest in this matter. If I may of further assistance to you,
please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
,
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EB/np
cc: ity Council
Fred Moore
Craig Gerdes
Bob Wicklund, Hennepin Parks
Barry Warner, SRF
PLYMOUTH :I Beautiful Plate 110 Cine
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000
Plymouth City Council
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
Andrew J. Goodman
Esta G. Goodman
10225 28th Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55441
February 17, 1997
Re: Proposed East Medicine Lake Regional Trail
Dear Council:
I am writing this letter concerning the issue of the regional trail currently being proposed
on East Medicine Lake Boulevard between 36th Avenue and Medicine Ridge Road.
As an avid bike rider who lives in the area I would love to have a bike trail. However,
while my desire to have a bike trail is a preference, I would strongly urge the council to
consider what I believe is a necessity and that has to do with SAFETY.
Most of the area between 32nd Avenue North and Medicine Ridge Road does not even
have a shoulder to walk on and there is barely enough width in the street for two oncoming
vehicles to pass each other. I have witnessed several near tragedies while walking or biking
along this route involving other bike riders or pedestrians. In fact, one evening I had to jump
out of the way of a vehicle and ended up rolling down a hill towards the lake.
Unless something is. done concerning these safety issues, it is only a matter of time before
someone is seriously injured or killed.
While the aesthetics and recreational value of a bike trail would undoubtedly serve the
community well, if such a plan will take several years to complete, the council should consider
doing something immediately with respect to the safety issues.
Very truly yours,
Andrew J. Goodman
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February 23, 1997
Joy Tierney, Mayor
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Ms. Tierney:
I am writing this letter to express my support for the Planning
Commission's nearly unanimous recommendation to reguide the Seven
Ponds commercial area from Commercial to Commercial Office. I,
along with my neighbors, feel that this petition is. -more in line
with the City's comprehensive zoning ordinance and serves the
interests of our city and our community best. It does not take
away the developer's ability to gain economically from his
property and yet does protect the welfare and safety of our
neighborhood.
I object strongly to the planning staff's study on this issue. I
believe they misrepresented or ignored the numerous concerns and
objections of the surrounding neighborhood in both their study
and their conclusions. More importantly they seemed to totally
disregard the hard numbers, facts and findings of the independent
traffic study which was commissioned. I believe the planning
commissioners, as well as anybody else who was in attendance at
the January 28th and February 11th public hearings, came to the
same conclusion.
The current delay in your action on this issue to look at
alternative designs for access to this site will not change my
position in any way. I applaud the decision to relook at a full
County Road 24 access and to eliminate the Garland Lane
intersection as an access to this site; it should have been done
a long time ago. It will go a long way in reducing many of the
obvious safety concerns associated with this site brought up by
the traffic study.
It will not, however, alleviate any of the other multitude of
problems, concerns and objections if this area was to remain
intense service commercial. This site never should have been
allowed to remain commercially guided. The dynamics of the
neighborhood that has been built, and even encouraged by this
same developer, simply make a commercial guiding of the area
unworkable, undesirable and inconsistent with the history of good
Plymouth city planning.
I know the developer has threatened legal action if he loses, and
though I am not a lawyer, the legal experts we have consulted
with and the Minnesota case studies we have researched all agree
that the City's right to reguide this area to Commercial Office
Z S
is strongly supported by the Minnesota courts.
I strongly urge you to support the general welfare and enjoyment
of our community and not the economic interests of one or two
developers and vote in favor of the planning commission's
recommendation to reclassify the Seven Ponds area from Commercial
to Commercial Office. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Sp
Michael P. Johnson
3345 Everest Court
Plymouth, 14N 55447
449-6838
FEB 28 '97 02:06PM LEAGUE OF MN CITIES
P. 1
LMC0 FRIDAYFAx +- Vol. 2, No. 8
a. P."V awrw r A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities February 28, 1997
Not all surplus news is rosy
On the day that state officials
announced they will collect $1.7
billion more than they need from
Minnesota taxpayers, the Gover-
nor hinted at restricting local levy
authority and a need to increase
local accountability.
This week, the Minnesota
Department of Finance an-
nounced that additional revenues
have boosted the projected state
budget surplus by an additional
$892 million for the upcoming
1998-99 biennium. This projected
increase over the November 1996
forecast surplus of $1.4 billion is
largely due to a combination of
increases in the projections for
major tax revenues and reductions
in human services related state
spending.
With this unprecedented
surplus, Governor Arne Carlson is
proposing $1.3 billion in tax cuts
for Minnesotans. Carlson is also
proposing funding for white pine
restoration, wheat scab research
and deformed frogs. Unfortu-
nately, it appears that cities are
somewhere below those items on
a priority list.
Despite the rosy financial
picture, Carlson said nothing
about restoring the LGA cut he
announced in his initial budget
proposal. In addition, he sug-
gested that local units of govern-
ment must hold down their prop-
erty tax levies. He indicated that
the property tax reform proposal
being developed by a group
chaired by Revenue Commis-
sioner Jim Girard (and personally
appointed by the Governor) may
include a provision requiring voter
approval of local property tax levy
increases. According to Carlson,
this requirement would improve
local accountability.
Dollars and cents
While media outlets are
reporting the surplus to be $2.3
billion, the actual amount under
current law is $1.7 billion. The
difference is due to the new law
that will repeal K-12 education
appropriation caps and cost the
state an estimated $614 million for
the upcoming 1998-99 biennium.
The Governor's $1.3 billion tax
relief package includes,
- $750 million income tax
rebate.
- $900 million in property tax
relief over the next three years
directed at commercial -industrial
and apartment property taxes
without shifting the burden onto
residential property.
- $150 million education tax
credit/deduction for all Minnesota
parents with a child in school.
- $98 million in business and
other tax reductions.
What's wrong with
this picture?
$1.7 billion
Estimated
state
surplus
Governor's
proposed
LGA cuts
$9 million
Info needed on statewide brownfields
A legislative initiative that would provide funding to mitigate and
redevelop brownfields is gaining momentum at the Capitol. We need to
obtain evidence of contaminated lands from outside the metropolitan
area. If there is a contaminated site in your community, please fax a
short paragraph describing the site and an estimated cost of mitigation
and redevelopment to Andrea Atherton at the League as soon as pos-
sible. The fax number is (612) 215-4116.