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Council Information Memorandum 01-30-1998
JANUARY 30,1998 1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE. NOTE: Ward 1 Councilmember Tim Bildsoe meets with residents and receives their comments in the Administration Library, beginning at 6:00 PM before each Regular Council meeting. FEBRUARY 4, 7:00 PM FEBRUARY 18, 7:00 PM 2. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY4, 6:00 PM 3. THURSDAY, FEBRUARYS, 6:30 PM 4. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2-7 PM 5. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 7: 00 PM 6. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 7: 00 PM 7. WEDNESDAY, FEBR UARY 11, 4-6 PM 8. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 7: 00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers BUSINESS RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Medicine Lake Room HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, Medicine Lake Room FIRE AND ICE FESTIVAL, Parkers Lake Park PLANNING COMMISSION, Council Chambers ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE, Hadley Lake Room ARMSTRONG HIGH SCHOOL GYM FACILITY DEDICATION, 10635 36TH Avenue. PRAC, Council Chambers 9. MEETING CALENDARS February calendar is attached. (M-9) CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO January 30, 1998 FOR YOUR INFORMATION... 1. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. a) League of Minnesota Cities Friday Fax. (I -]q) b) AMM Fax News. (I -1b) c) Article from Lakeshore Weekly News regarding Orono residents' thoughts about widening Ferndale Road. (I -1c) d) 1997 Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council Highlights. (I -1d) 2. MEETING MINUTES a) Suburban Rate Authority Annual Meeting, January 21, 1998. (I -2a) 3. STAFF REPORTS a) Letter to Plymouth Business Owners inviting their review and comment on the proposed Sign Regulations. (I --3a) 4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY— CORRESPONDENCE a) Letter from Lieutenant John Ward to Bruce Goldstein responding to his concerns about a parking citation. (I -4a) b) Letter from Wanda Dale Rosa and response from Assistant City Manager Kathy Lueckert. Correspondence forwarded to Fred Moore and Craig Gerdes for additional response. (I -4b) A status report on the most recent correspondence is attached. (1-4) S. CORRESPONDENCE a) Correspondence received from the Minnesota Senior Federation Tax Committee regarding Property Tax Reform. (I -5a) b) E-mail message received from Mark Byington thanking the City Council and staff for the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Old Rockford Road and Dunkirk Lane. (1--5b) c) Correspondence from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regarding a private permit for construction and operation of a disposal system for Hans Hagen Homes & Robbins Partnership. (I -Sc) d) Letter from Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners thanking the City for the $23,175 donation in support of the Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners and the CONECT project. (1--5d) 6. COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA a) February 18 draft regular meeting agenda. (1-6) MI -5 Plymouth Human Rights Commission February 5, 1998 6:30 p.m. Medicine Lake Room—Plymouth City Hall *****PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN START TIME***** I. Call to Order II. Introduction of New Members III. Approve Agenda IV. Approve Minutes V. Old Business a.. Human Rights Award b.. Publicizing the Human Rights Commission C. Spring Student Workshop VI. New Business a. Human Rights Commission Retreat, March 5, 1998 VII. For Information a. New Roster VIII. Adjourn Thomas D. Bollin superintendent Kathy Lueckert 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Kathy, DISTRICT 281 w 0 ROD X31 k5 Del LE January 14, 1998 area schools On behalf of the entire school district, I would like to invite you to the Open House Dedication Ceremony on Wednesday, February 11 for the new gymnasium facility at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, 10635 36th Avenue North in Plymouth. The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., with a short program at 5 p.m. We are proud to dedicate this new facility that benefits not only children, but the community as well. The 12,000 -square -foot gymnasium was built at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in a cooperative effort between the City of Plymouth and Robbinsdale Area Schools. The city contributed $1.3 million toward the $1.49 million project. The district will pay about $190,000 for costs relating to health, safety and handicapped accessibility. Robbinsdale Area Schools will own and operate the gym and will be responsible for the annual operating costs of the facility. Both school and city will benefit from the new facility. The district now has additional space for physical education classes and athletic programs. The City of Plymouth will use the space on nights and weekends for recreational activities. This is another example of the wonderful cooperation that exists with Robbinsdale Area Schools and the cities it serves. I hope you will be able to join us and see for yourself this great benefit for our children and the people of Plymouth. Please call our community relations team, 504-8008, to indicate whether you will be able to attend. Sincerely, A _-Iw Thomas D. Bollin Superintendent Education Service Center 9 4148 Winnetka Avenue North • New Hope MN 55427-1288 • (612) 5048011 9 Fax: (612) 5048973 • thollin®eta.k12.mn.us H U a d 00(W) w w O m / Ham'==rvr. LLirva_rvr. H� C13 CIS N 1N Colo, I Cl I I I 10 I � I �z�•� "d ! o i�U� W Clja�.n A ¢olv�z Il i z II� � � s I= "I pdpz •n I tj I 8Lum U p• j iZ mz m o 8 00 I ! I � I I I SII "d zzZO F-� L4 21 z uu� a2 sVU E oC7zj c $ca Ouu $ouaF' 0 U u Cd Y�. N ,1 3Eg c 3 7� s � c �M o �u�izp E u m u N FIN 10 i�T Cl j H I I OD I --4 00 �. N m / Ham'==rvr. LLirva_rvr. JAN 30 '98 02:55PM LEAGUE OF MN CITIES P.1 LMC FRIDAYFAx Vol. 3, No. 3 ],•o9ao 0f Mims000ra Cluny C"N" mot ,,# aXM16CV A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities January 30, 1998 SEEKING MEMBER INPUT Hearings next week On Friday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m., the Senate Health and Family Secu- rity Committee will consider 2331, authored by Senator John Hottinger (DFL -Mankato). This bill would require the Department of Health to conduct a study on the statewide condition of manufac- tured home parks, in consultation with other state agencies, cities, park owner, and park residents. (See the League's Legislative Policy SD -12.) Committee members: Hottinger- Chair, Lourey-Vice Chair, Berglin, eetzold, Dille, Fischbach, Foley, Kiscaden, Morse, Piper, obertson, Sams, Samuelson, Solon, Stevens, Ten Eyck, Terwilliger. Two League -sponsored bills are scheduled for hearings next week. We encourage members to contact committee members and ask for their support. • On Monday. Feb. 2, at 2 p.m., the Senate Local and Metropolitan Government Committee will con- sider S.F. 2119, authored by Sena- tor Janet Johnson (DFL -North Branch). This bill would authorize municipalities to use the "design - build" procedure as an alternative to the standard bid procedure. (See the League's Legislative Policy SD -11.) Committee members: Vickerman- Chair, Higgins -Vice Chair, Day, Flynn, Hittinger. Johnson, D.J., Kelley, S.P., Langseth, Lessard, Lourey, Oliver, Olson, Pappas, Pariseau, Price, Robling, Scheevel, Wiger. Also next week, the House Labor - Management Relations Committee will hear legislation that would deem BILL PROPOSED Requiring unannounced liquor compliance checks Senator Ember Reichgott Junge (DFL -New Hope) has introduced a bill, S.F. 2147, that would require liquor licensing authorities to conduct unannounced compliance checks at least twice in each two -calendar -year period at every lo- cation where liquor is sold. An additional compliance check would be required within six months of a violation. The bill also imposes mandatory penalties for sales to minors, imposes a minimum $100 fine on minors, restricts home deliv- eries of liquor to licensed off -sale retail dealers and sets delivery ticket, identifi- cation, compliance check, and other requirements, and allows local govern- ments to ban sales of 50 milliliter bottles of liquor. The League has been contacted by cities who would prefer to launch educa- tional efforts as an alternative compliance mechanism. League staff will raise this issue with the bill authors, as well as the related concern of ensuring that the bill explicitly provides that license fees can be adjusted to cover the costs associated with enforcement. if you have concerns with this bill, please contact Senator Reichgott Junge at (612) 296-2889 or Representative Linda Wejcman I ....---i:t-1 o„+hm of tho comoanion bill, H.F. 2805, at (612) 296-7152. public safety dispatchers as essential employees under PELRA. Under this bill, public safety dispatchers include 911 system, police and fire depart- ment dispatchers. The League has reserved a spot on the agenda to ex- press LMC opposition to the bill. Please contact Remi Stone at (612) 281-1256 for further information. • The bill, S.F.1074 (Kelly)/H.F. 1693 (Pugh) will be heard Monday, Feb. 2 at 12:30 P.M. in Room 200 of the State Office Building. Attend the LMC Legislative Conference It's not too late to register for the LMC Legislative Conference scheduled for Feb. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Midway Hotel in St. Paul. On this year's agenda: • Are Cities a Special Interest? • Tax Increment Financing & Tax Reform: Are Problems on the Horizon? • The State Budget Surplus S the Property Tax Reform Account • is Electric Deregulation in Minnesota's Future? • Legislative Potpourri • City Day in the Hill Take advantage of the reduced registration fee when you register by Monday, Feb. 23. To receive a registration form, call the LMC Fax Library at (612) 215-4039 and request document #61020. To reserve a hotel room, please contact the St. Paul Sheraton Midway Hotel at (812) 642-1234. JAN Z9 '98 05MPM LEAGUE OF 111`4 IES LMC jga�+r. of Mk."ofa 06so CjH" yr,.,aN qj = .Amw P.1 �i/ate FRIDAYFAx Vol. 3, No. 2 A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities January 23, 1998 Levy Limits extended? As we mentioned in last week's FridayFax, the governor's proposed supplemental budget includes additional class rate compression that would reduce property taxes for commercial, industrial, public utility, apartments, and higher value homes. Lower value homes would be spared significant tax increase through increases in the education homestead credit. However, we have been informed that the governor's supplemental budget includes levy limits for cities over 2,500 population and counties for one additional year. The rationale? The governor wants to ensure that increases in school funding will in fact result in property tax relief. It Local units complimented At a hearing before the Senate tax committee, Revenue Commissioner Jim Girard summarized the 1998 proposed levy increases for cities, counties, townships, and school districts. The table below is based on the information he provided to the committee. Chair Doug Johnson expressed his satisfaction with the partnership between local units of government and the state to hold 1998 taxes down. Commissioner Girard agreed. This is a slightly different tone than .the letter sent by the commissioner to mayors in the fall of 1996. Unfortunately these modest levy increases may not be enough to avoid the extension of levy limits. t Change in Proposed 1998 Property Tax Levies 1997 actual to 1998 proposed Counties 4.9% Cities 5.0% Townships 7.8'x° School Districts -9.0%' Special Districts 8.5% Total -1.7% Includes the impact of the new education homestead credit. Community -Based Planning Expect to see technical changes made to the state's Community-based Planning Act of 1997. In a recent public hearing, Senator Steve Morse (D -Dakota) and Representative Dee Long (D -Minneapolis) recapped recent activities involving the state's concept of community planning. Based on recommendations received from the public during a series of 24 meetings across the state, legislators will propose: • Extending the life of the Commu- nity-based Planning Advisory council for 1 more year. • Add at least three more members to the 18 -member council to include representation from northern Minnesota and local governments. • Rewrite some of the original 11 goals for planning and add a property rights goal by referencing Minnesota's Constitution. • Increase the funding and number of pilot projects for those communities that are interested in trying the program. • Provide for notification to state agencies when local communities begin a community-based planning process. The items that will be addressed at greater length during the next year of the Advisory Council, and perhaps result in legislation in 1999, include: • A method to benchmark how well community-based planning involves the public. • Development fees or impact fees and other methods to fund infra- structure. • Financial incentives for communi- ties that perform well in meeting thf goals identified by the state's voluntary community based plan- ning process. t January 27, 1998 3:56 PM From: AMM Fax #: Page 2 of 2 AMM FAX NEWS January 26-30,1998 Association of Metropolitan Municipalities Governor proposes levy limit extensions he governor's tax proposal includes an extension of levy limits for local units through the year 2000. The extension is based on the same rationale used in 1997 -- property tax reform and insur- ance that local units won't leap at raising taxes which are other- wise reduced by state education funding. Despite revenue department reports that city/county pro- posed truth -in -taxation property tax rates came in lower than expected and that over a period of years without limits, rates were acceptable and that state and education expendi- tures are high, the governor and others still feel "comfort" in being able to say they are controlling property tax through levy limits. The governor has proposed an increase in the education home- AM%t AT ifOmFperyodiraiiyta AlhYlt atymangai midlIlkifirimr. me Aformat/an/rihfflJ' 4Werbare1wltbmay oA rowalmdrtallin arScto ft olliaah Areaft of importa0tmetra dy iffor © (opywrite iggeall 74S1111irm7ityA mleMart It. Ad,, MnSJ701-2 44 Idepbane ZWIM19 & 2& -riff Email AY&WSOB stead credit of about $80 million for FY 2000 (45 percent of state education levy to a maximum of $270) and $47 million in FY 2001 (52 percent of state education levy to a maximum of $290). Also, included is $49.5 and $55 million for aid to reduce general education property tax levy in FY 2000 and in FY 2001 respectively. The governor implements the 1997 class rate reduction targets by the year 2000 of 3.5 for C/l, 2.5 for apartments, and 1.25 for first- tier single family non -homestead residential. In addition, he sets new tar- gets based on future revenue projections of 3.0 for C/I, 2.0 for apartments and 1.0 for first-tier single family non -homestead residential plus 1.5 for second-tier homestead. Finally, the property tax rebate program is extended another year at a cost of $500 million for 20 percent of property taxes paid in 1998. A major problem not ad- dressed is the impact of class rate reductions on TIF collections and bond payments. For ex- ample, the C/I class reduction at 4 percent has created problems in certain areas. A further reduc- tion to 3.5 percent and then 3 percent needs to be analyzed. At this time, there is no general TIF bill proposed to remedy the current problem caused by more C/I class rate reductions. Several groups, including the AMM, are meeting to develop possible remedies to the issue. We urge you to contact your legislators with strong objections to levy limit extensions and discuss the impact on TIF of general class rate reductions. Sign-up deadline for Legislative Contacts Reception is Friday All AMM legislative contacts are cordially invited to attend a Legislative Contacts Reception on Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 4-6 p.m. at the AMM. We will address a number of critical issues which will surface this session and we will provide you with helpful lobbying tips. For those of you who are veteran contacts, updated information will be available to insert in your sourcebooks. If you are a new contact, a complete sourcebook will be provided. Please RSVP by Friday, Jan. 30 by calling Laurie at 215-4000. January 28, 1998 4:04 PM From: AMM AMM FAX NEWS Alf Am Aw ifAme, oe,#, fiai/ to a//AMM dtymangmad ANIMAzoa the xformewifiimfe4todeAmed withmay oA COwd awfAAf%/10/de'to teq offaa/I adted OfigI ttaltlWo d#,%flU�S © Alfwte7ffAMM 74fl/nimiyAwyel%rt It. oaul, ago�Za4 ly,Vh0/!P. Zlf 40m fax ads -7299 Email- AIMS -07 Fax #: Page 2 of 2 �C 1 Ariociation of Metropolitan Municipalities January 26-30,1998 (no. 2) Rep. Orfield introduces metro governance bills Rep. Myron Orfield has intro- duced two bills regarding metropolitan governance. One bill (HF 2766) would provide for an elected Metro- politan Council, while the other (HF 2588) would authorize county commissioners to serve as Metropolitan Council members. Both bills have been referred to the House Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Com- mittee. HF 2588 is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, Feb. 5. HF 2588 would: ♦ Authorize a 25 -member Metropolitan Council of elected county commissioners and permit the legislature to increase the membership by up to eight members in order to increase the number of county commissioners who are selected from Metro- politan Council districts. ♦ Require the legislature to redraw the boundaries of the Metropolitan Council districts after each decennial census. ♦ Direct the Metropolitan Council staff to study the possi- bility of transferring functions or services from metro counties to the Metropolitan Council. The study must, however, include an analysis of the feasi- bility and benefits of transferring county correctional facilities and highways to the council. The report must be sent to the legislature by Dec. 31, 2000. ♦ Have the Metropolitan Council district, if it lies wholly within the county, also serve as the county commissioner district. ♦ Have the council chair be elected from among the council members. The chair's term is one year. ♦ Implement the new Metro- politan Council structure in 2002. AMM does not have a policy regarding an elected Metropoli- tan Council, but this legislation will be presented to the Board at its Feb. 12 meeting. We would like to hear from you! If you have any comments or concerns, please contact Gene Ranieri at 215-4001. January 15, 1998 La�eshor�e ��'eek�y���ew Orono hears residents' thoughts bout widening a g Ferndale Road definite figure. Jabbour pressed him for a "worst case scenario," and Kellogg said "25 to 30 feet." Another Orono resident claimed that a neighborhood sur- vey favored the narrower road, in agreement with the Orono City Council recommendation. The plan also called for a speed limit reduction from the existing 40 to 30. Jabbour believed that a public hearing would be called in the next few weeks to present the Council's final recommendation. The City Council meeting itself was brief and featured comments by Orono Park Commission rep- resentative Peter Welles, Orono Planning Assistant Brad Bressler, City Administrator Ron Moorse, and a motion to pass proposed burning regulations. The Council passed a motion for proposed changes to the city's open burning regulations. The changes would allow for recre- ational fires with an annual per- mit. Small brush disposal fire, would be allowed with a 2-acrf minimum lot size, and larg( brush disposal fires would bE allowed with a 5 -acre minimun lot size. By Mike Taylor he City of Orono hosted a public hearing Monday night at Orono City Hall regarding the reconstruction of Ferndale Road North from Trunk Highway 12 to County Road 6 along the Plymouth -Orono city line. City engineers from Plymouth and Orono attended, as well as residents of Orono and Wayzata. The project, tentatively sched- uled for completion in July of 1998, calls for the resurfacing and widening of Ferndale Road North. Bonestroo Engineers, the city of Orono's engineering firm, prepared a draft feasibility report for the cities and proposed a 36 feet wide road with concrete curb and gutter, a center turn lane, and an asphalt .walking and bik- ing path on the east side of the road. The report also included three alternative plans: a 36 -foot road with two travel lanes, a 32 -foot road with two travel and a bicy- cle lane, and a 28 -foot road with two travel lanes. At the hearing, after one Orono resident proposed simply filling in existing potholes, Orono Mayor Gabriel Jabbour stated that the status quo of the road was "unacceptable;' and that a complete overhaul is necessary. Both Plymouth and Orono must approve plans before reconstruction begins, and, as yet, the Plymouth City Council has not discussed the feasibility report. Jabbour made it clear that Orono is cautiously deliberating over the issue and that Orono must borrow approximately seven years of its Minnesota State Aid budget, or roughly $1.4 million, to complete the project. IHe also related that the council favors the 28 -foot plan, which would entail less environmental impact and reduced construction costs. Many Orono and Wayzata res- idents expressed their opinions on the proposal. The concerns ranged from pedestrian safety, the number of trees destroyed and the resulting look of the new road, the existing need for a bike trail and better drainage, to con- struction impact on individual property. One Orono resident asked Orono City Engineer Tom Kellogg for an estimate of how far construction would extend into property along the east side in addition to the bike path. Kellogg, at first, could not give a �C2 1997 Northwest HennepinX man Services Council HighUghts C-ommunitl A—warenes : We continued to have coverage in local newspapers; cable coverage related to some pertinent issues and related to sponsored events. We also continued to distribute reports, data, brochures, resource directories, municipal profile information, demographic information, and our resource materials for both specific and general community awareness. We provided presentations to local universities, leadership programs, to civic groups, to churches on the need for services and demographic changes as well as helped orchestrate presentations by others to increase community awareness on specific topics. Agency -Research. ► Survey of all Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) in Minnesota ► Worked with the CO-OP Northwest Housing and Family Services Work Group, researching alternative marketing strategies to secure contracts with apartment communities to provide services on-site for residents and management. ► Researched and developed an Introduction to Human Services seminar for apartment managers to learn about local resources and demographic shifts in their community. ► Survey of families who received assistance from the Family Advocates, hired by the Anoka -Hennepin School District by the Family Services Collaborative, to determine effectiveness of resource referral and family support. ► Conducted two focus groups on the past 25 years of Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council to acquire lessons learned; successes and struggles of the past; and perspective of the community regarding the agency over time. ► Survey of Grades "R" Ussm Tutoring Club participants to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and overall effectiveness of the program. ► Continued distribution of our Housing Studies ► Survey of Armstrong High School and Park Center High School participants in diversity related student groups to assess cultural inclusiveness, parent involvement in student's education, and perception of cultural sensitivity in the curriculum. ► Surveyed residents from Brookdale Estates, an apartment complex in Brooklyn Park, regarding which programs and activities they would like the Apartments Plus© Program to coordinate. Residents expressed concern about welfare reform, job training, and affordable child care. 2 Conducted research on emergency services dollars by numbers of people in poverty and working poor as well as looking at the impact of housing costs in different parts of Hennepin County. Initiated a feasibility study on community resource centers in mobile home parks for the Dayton Manufactured Home Park. Staff made a site visit to Landfall and interviewed the director of the community center there. Other research on this effort has included contacting the director of a community program in Cimarron, a manufactured home park in Lake Elmo, and the gathering of information on construction and/or rehab costs for building a new community center (with or without inclusion of a storm shelter facility), utilizing a new or used mobile home or renting space in an existing building. Questions about siting and zoning remain. Facilitated a focus group with residents from Burgundy Apartments in New Hope through the Apartments PlusQ Program. Residents and management brainstormed on how they could improve their community together through social events, a book club, and a bulletin board to advertise local events. Conducted an intensive door-to-door survey at Summerchase Apartments in Brooklyn Center through the Apartments Plus© Program. Residents reported a need for after- school programs for kids, community policing, job training, and family activities. Surveys of Summerchase Apartment residents in both Brooklyn Center and Brookdale Estates Apartments in Brooklyn Park to determine the appropriate services and programs to bring on-site. ► Designed and summarized registration forms and outcome surveys for several Thorson Family Resource Center programs funded through a Redesign grant. ► Completed information gathering on transportation needs and issues in northwest Hennepin County and assisted in summarization of results. ► Developed and implemented two focus groups for Hennepin County's Brookdale Library to assist in the planning of a new job/career information service. In addition, a survey was created, distributed, and summarized for those people who had input but could not attend any of the focus groups. ► Held focus group at Brooklyn Park Community Resource Center for people on welfare to discuss their questions and concerns regarding new welfare reform legislation. The focus group summary was distributed to several organizations and institutions, including Hennepin County and the McKnight Foundation ► Coordinated the first Consolidation of Transportation policy maker forum. The forum was held at Crystal City Hall. Nine alternative service scenarios were presented to policy makers representing many of northwest Hennepin County's 15 cities. Policy makers -7i / ce 01 provided essential guidance on the path the effort has and needs to take as well as on the feasibility of the service scenarios. Moreover, policy makers were motivated to talk to both their area transportation providers and their constituents about the transportation effort. Coordinated the second Consolidation of Transportation public forum. The forum was held at Brooklyn Center City Hall's Constitutional Hall. Participants provided invaluable feedback on both the process thus far as well as the service scenarios being considered for implementation planning. Collected opinion sheets from close to 100 seniors at the 1997 Senior Spring Forum sponsored by the Senior Leadership Committee. The opinion sheets inquired about health care coverage and its affordability as well as the needs and priorities of seniors in the northwest Hennepin area. Results were summarized and have been disseminated throughout the region. b. Updated municipal profiles and recreated municipal profile binders. 0. Collected data on the number of northwest Hennepin children receiving Head Start services. ► Surveyed local small businesses about the Working Toward Success family friendly initiative and their work/family issues. ► Provided technical assistance and data to numerous groups for their own planning processes or grant applications such as the area Girl Scouts organization, the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP), and Elder Express for grant applications and the Marantatha Care Center, North Hennepin Community College, Crystal, Robbinsdale, and Hennepin County, Minnesota Planning for strategic planning, Hennepin County Home Based Services, Champlin Visioning efforts and others. Aided other organizations in conducting their own research. Specifically, assisted Hennepin County in refining two health surveys (a community health survey and a survey for the Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Project), Metropolitan Transit in developing a bus riders' survey, and the Northwest Hennepin Domestic Violence Prevention Network in refining a survey to better understand and eventually coordinate the primary organizations involved in assisting survivors of domestic violence. Completed surveys in manufactured home parks in Corcoran and Dayton to determine areas of need in those communities. The survey in Dayton also included questions about the need and desire for a local community center. Surveyed Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program applicants to evaluate recruitment marketing strategies. 4 ► Reviewed and assisted with transit survey in Robbinsdale related to ridership and the possible development of a transit hub. Participated in various Design Center, City Council, EDA, and other meetings related to downtown Robbinsdale development and transit hub development. ► Helped to plan leadership retreat for community leadership program involving Dr. Robert Terry. ► Participated in Cities Strategic Investment Program which was a variation on URAP/CRP funding which had previously focused on Saint P4tul, Minneapolis and Duluth. The effort was to consider expanding the funding available to serve cities meeting certain criteria. ► Participated in a number of parenting workshops, volunteer fairs (Armstrong), intem fairs (Humphrey), community events (SCOPE weekend at Brookdale Mall), and Open Houses (TCF, Families and Children) and other efforts to market for future staff and interns, to distribute information on programs and services, to show support for area agencies, and to find out about funding options. Participated in McKnight Foundation Focus Groups gathering feedback on grant processes and foundation priorities for the community. Participated in multi-city/police department effort to identify gaps in services for runaway youth and develop a program that will better meet the needs of youth in the Northwest area communities. OAherJ?-ubliutions_: Created and copyrighted three contract options for the Apartments Plus© Program. ► Published the article, "How Welfare Reform Will Impact the Apartment Industry" in the July edition of the Minnesota Multi Housing Advocate magazine. ► Developed brochure on brain development and intellectual stimulation in young children. Projected publication date is April, 1998. ► Contacted 120 churches, 30 child care centers and preschools regarding availability of Success By 6 Northwest self-esteem drawing books and violence prevention tip cards. Distributed free materials to those requesting information. ► Agency newsletter ► Revised and updated the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program brochure, created in 1996 to attract new candidates, provide a succinct overview of the program, 1=/C/ s effectively publicize the program to the wider community, and ensure that police officers from participating departments understand and support the program. "Moments to Remember" commemorative summary. Citizenlnpat: The Northwest Mental Health Committee sponsored workshops to educate themselves and the community on mental health issues. This year's workshops included "Life Stories" featuring a panel of people living with serious and persistent mental illness, "Depression: Newest treatments" by Dr. Alan Radke, state medical specialist and "Helping people with mental illness make it in the community: The state of the art" featuring Dr. Tom Witheridge and Dr. Rick Immeler. The Mental Health Committee also began a membership drive beginning with the development of an informational flyer. Advisory Commission met all year and studied and discussed a multitude of human service issues including welfare reform, affordable housing, diversity, mental health, and services to seniors. The Commission also updated its bylaws and continued with its own strategic planning, updating its mission and goals as well. The Senior Leadership Committee met throughout the year to educate themselves on the needs of seniors in northwest Hennepin County. Presentations included information on long-term care insurance, crime prevention, energy safety and savings, managed care, and the history of health care. Committee members disseminated said information to other local senior groups as well as through the annual senior forum. The Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative Osseo -Maple Grove Advisory Council held a community orientation in October. The purpose of the event was to inform community members about the Family Services Collaborative and seek community input. One result of the event was that the Advisory Council voted to change its name to the Brooklyn Park -Osseo -Maple Grove Advisory Council to be more inclusive of the communities it represents. Coordinated monthly cadet meetings for participants in the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program, to provide an opportunity to share experiences and provide support to one another. Developed 1998 Success By 6 Northwest Legislative Agenda and Summary which reflects the needs and concerns of young children in the northwest Hennepin area. Continued to provide technical assistance, publicity and citizen recommendations to the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery regarding their expansion to Golden Valley. Coordinated sub -committee specifically to help with developing services for their anticipated opening in the fall of 1998. -r /c/ 0 The Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program's Community Review Panel met twice throughout the year to screen applications, conduct interviews, and select new participants for the program. The panel was composed of police department training officers/cadet supervisors, city human resource managers, past cadets/alumni who are now police officers, and the community college's Director of Cultural Diversity Programs/Cadet Mentor. Coordinated Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program cadets, alumni, and police chiefs' testifying before the Minnesota Legislature on the need for diversity in the field of law enforcement, and continued program funding. Presented information about CO-OP Northwest and the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation to the Economic Development Authority members in the cities of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale. This presentation was also done for a meeting of Lutheran clergy. Organization Events_: ► Presented on welfare reform to the Brooklyn Park and Crystal/New Hope/Robbinsdale Apartment Manager Coalitions. ► Participated in the Minnesota Multi Housing Association Annual Trade Show to present on the Apartments Plus© Program and welfare reform to apartment managers and owners state-wide. ► Coordinated 1997 Remodeler's Fair at the Crystal Community Center with six of the member cities. ► Moderated Panel and Presented at University of Minnesota on Forum on the First Ring. The panel presentation was on Human Development and Civic Capacity. ► Held 25th Anniversary Celebration with old photos and displays, a video tape, a "Moments to Remember" piece, and other celebratory components. ► Met with Rex Holzemer of Hennepin County and other stakeholders to determine the most effective methods of reporting on citizen input and the work of the human services councils to Hennepin County. ► Facilitated a group consultation with Plymouth apartment managers and city staff to discuss the possibilities of community building in Plymouth apartments through the Apartments Plus© Program. ► Participated in an Open House to celebrate the Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center and Police Sub Station. 7 ► Organized Success By 6 Northwest volunteer appreciation picnic. Presented on the Apartments Plus© Program at the 1997 Annual Landlord Forum. ► Hosted the fourth annual "Children's Advocacy Network" legislative training session for 30 parents and community members. The training gave specific ideas on communicating with legislators about children's issues. ► Coordinated bi-annual tour of the Town Hall Early Childhood Development Center in concert with representatives from Parents in Community Action. Discussed current program services. ► Sponsored the 1997 Senior Spring forum entitled "Choices in Health Care: Are you in the Know?" Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Medical Association and the Office of Ombudsman were the speakers. The Forum was held at the Crystal Community center and was attended by nearly 200 people. ► Sponsored "Depression: Newest treatments" featuring state medical specialist, Dr. Alan Radke. Dr. Radke discussed the newest treatments for depression including what they are and when their use is indicated. The workshop was held at the Northwest Community Support Program. Approximately 20 people were in attendance. Another ten people called for tapes of the workshop. ► Assisted Northwest Commiinity Support Program in planning a presentation to Hennepin County Commissioners in order to secure funding to pay the increased for the program's site. ► Co-sponsored the Life Stories Forum with the Northwest Community Support Program. Three people with mental illnesses and two family member discussed their experiences with mental illness with an audience of approximately 25 people. The forum was both touching and educational. Participated in the 1997 Law Enforcement Opportunities (LEO) Career Fair by staffing a recruitment/information booth with the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program cadets. ► Co-sponsored, planned and attended the 2nd Annual Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program's Summer Event for past and present cadets and their families. ► Sponsored 6th annual "Invest Northwest" awards ceremony. This year's recipients were Senator Ember Reichgott Junge, Faye Rautio, Mary Sam, and Patricia Schon. ► Participated in the 2nd Annual Don Davis Law Enforcement Scholarship Award Ceremony, along with current cadets, as recipients of a similar tuition scholarship 8 program from North Hennepin Community College. ► Participated in Metropolitan Council's focus groups on alternative transportation options in response to welfare reform. ► Assisted the University of Minnesota's Design Center in planning a series of presentations to the state legislature on transportation needs in and recommendations for the metro area. ► Met with legislators and testified before the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate, along with past and present cadets, regarding continued funding for the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program. ► Assisted Robbinsdale in garnering support for implementation of their Livable Communities grant. ► Co-sponsored Remodelers Fair with six of the member cities. ► Co-sponsored a forum for owners and managers of rental properties in six member cities. ► Participated in the Livable Communities Housing Task Force, which presented the results of an analysis of the Livable Communities Act to the Metropolitan Council and the State Legislature. ► Assisted Thorson Family Resource center in implementing its Redesign grant to increase collaboration between and expand existing services as well as to create additional services. Co -created final report. ► Participated in a planning meeting for the University of Minnesota's Institute of Race and Poverty's 1998 conference on welfare reform. ► Attended 1997 legislative summary sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Non -Profits and the Children's Defense Fund. ► Participated in and provided demographic information for Champlin's efforts to "Create a Vision" for their city. ► Participated in meetings to improve transportation in both south and west Hennepin County in an effort to increase interaction between the County's regional transportation efforts. ► Participated in the Affordable Housing Summit, which attracted 400 people from the metropolitan area. ► Displayed Success By 60 Northwest community tent at three local events and distributed .r- / d early childhood development materials and resources. Participated in the planning for a two-year study of affordable housing initiated by the Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues of Women Voters. Coordinated and sponsored the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program's Annual Update Meeting, involving participating police department and city representatives. The meeting served as a forum for discussion, update on collaborative progress, and planning/oversight for 1997's program goals and special projects. NYetSYorks: Coordinated activities, scheduled speakers, and provided staff support for the Senior Services Network and the Emergency Services Network. Provided information to members of the NW Hennepin Child & Family & Child Abuse Network on the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Suburban Hennepin Domestic Violence Prevention Network and the Zaneway Corridor Homevisiting project. Maintained ongoing communication with Network members. Progr.ams/Proje-eW Launched and implemented new Apartments Plus© Program. Initiated marketing plan by distributing program brochure, consulting with apartment managers and owners, and presenting at apartment manager coalitions. Developed Apartments Plus© contract options and secured contact with Summerchase Apartments in Brooklyn Center. Granted start up costs to secure more contracts through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Administered the Grades "R" UssM and Discovery Days for Kids at the Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center. Administered the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program (since 1992), aimed at diversifying northwest Hennepin area police departments, and assisting participants in getting the training and education needed to become police officers. Negotiated contracts, recruited new participants, coordinated efforts with schools and police departments, provided case management services, and coordinated monthly participant meetings. Served seventeen cadets throughout the year, and provided additional employment assistance to eight other past participants. In 1997 alone, four participants were hired as full-time police officers and one was hired as a sheriffs deputy, illustrating the placement/diversification success of this program. Continued to serve our Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program "add-on" cities of Maple Grove, Plymouth and Golden Valley, along with our original five CO-OP Northwest cities of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Brooklyn Center and .E"- / o/ 10 Robbinsdale. Worked with ISD #286 (Brooklyn Center) to transition the administration of the Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center to the District, hire a permanent Resource Center Coordinator, and finalize plans for the change. Administered the Hennepin County Emergency Services Program for both Northwest Hennepin and West Hennepin regions providing over $160,000 in loans and emergency assistance to help prevent homelessness and stabilize families. Also coordinated over $55,000 in FHPAP (Family Homeless Prevention.And Assistance Program) state monies to Emergency providers. Administered POINT Northwest for Runaway Youth providing services to more than 150 families in the community. During 1997 the program expanded to include a staffed 24 hour response component; a diversion group in conjunction with Champlin; and new sources of revenue. Work during 1997 included transitioning the program to the NW YMCA following a review of various direct services agency options and consideration of the value of existing within an organization with other youth serving programs and recreational options. POINT Northwest provided numerous presentations throughout the year to service organizations, churches, community groups and funders. Worked with the Osseo -Maple Grove FSC on allocating grant funds to several youth and family -related programs, including after-school buses for youth, a youth performance group at a Junior High School, an African-American mentoring program for adolescents and a diversity videotape developed and edited by high school students depicting what it's like to be a child of color in the community and school. Provided technical assistance and information on successful law enforcement diversification efforts to the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota POST Board, the State Patrol, and the police departments of : Shakopee, Columbia Heights, Minnetonka, Fridley, and Blaine. Held Barrier Busting Council meetings in January, April, June, and October. The Barrier Busting Council, composed of representatives from each Advisory Council and other agencies and initiatives, is the governance structure for the Family Services Collaborative. Its role is to hear barriers the Collaborative is facing and develop solutions for system change. Through the Anoka -Hennepin Family Services Collaborative, two Family Advocates continue to work with families, individuals and youth who are referred to them for assistance. Over 160 families received assistance from the Family Advocates this year. The three Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative Advisory Councils began participating in a revenue enhancement initiative, the Local Collaborative Time Study .Z-- / � 11 (LCTS). LCTS funds are generated by a random moment time study within a school district or other entity, such as public health, to track staff time as it relates to providing services to families and children. From the time study a formula is developed to determine the amount of money that would be generated. The expenditure of funds is determined by the existing Family Services Collaborative(s), the Children's Mental Health Collaborative, and the Alliance for Families and Children in Hennepin County. To date, the Brooklyn Park -Osseo -Maple Grove Advisory Council has received $1,058,457, the Brooklyn Center Advisory Council has received $105,955, and the Anoka -Hennepin Advisory Council has not yet received any funds. The Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative formally endorsed the Alliance for Families and Children in Hennepin County (Alliance) Agreement. The role of the Alliance is to share information among the Family Services Collaboratives and the Children's Mental Health Collaborative and to work together in addressing county -wide and system barriers to improve the healthy development of families and school success of children. To participate in the LCTS, Family Services Collaboratives and the Children's Mental Health Collaborative were required to become members of the Alliance. Organized several meetings of the Consolidation of Transportation Work Group. The Work Group helped expand on potential alternative service scenarios, evaluate these scenarios, and select scenarios based on their evaluation for implementation planning. Through the Brooklyn Park -Osseo -Maple Grove Family Services Collaborative, funds were allocated to create and distribute a diversity videotape, titled, "Daring to be Different ... A Vision of Diversity", by students from the Armstrong High School Multicultural Leadership Program. Mary Sam, chemical awareness specialist at Armstrong, coordinated the making of the videotape, which depicts what it is like to be a child of color, whatever that color might be. The video has been distributed to the Human Rights Commissioners, police departments, schools, President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and other agencies as a diversity teaching tool for adults. Mary Sam was granted the 1997 Human Rights award and the 1997 Invest Northwest Award for the making of "Daring to be Different ... A Vision of Diversity." Staff provided technical support and distribution efforts for the video. The Brooklyn Park -Osseo -Maple Grove Family Services Collaborative allocated funds to hire an outreach worker though the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP). The role of the outreach worker is to link community members to the many programs and services in the community and recruit participants to the advisory council. The CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation (CHDO) revised its Affirmative Marketing Plan, which is required by any housing organization that receives federal HOME funds. The plan was updated and provisions added to ensure that publication of the availability of properties developed by the CHDO is done in a timely fashion. The CHDO also contracted with Residential Real Estate Associates to provide marketing and sales assistance. 12 ► Coordinated a legislative phone tree for approximately 12 community members. The phone tree alerted parents about legislative bills and was managed by an agency intern. Community members were encouraged to participate in the legislative process and advocate for children's issues. ► The CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation began the process of strategic planning, which will be completed in 1998. ► Maintained partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Dental Health in order to offer free dental education screening clinics to northwest Hennepin children. Educated over 230 children and their parents about healthy dental practices. ► Distributed information on proposed funding cuts by Hennepin County related to Mental Health and Youth and Family services to policy makers and area agencies. ► Participated in connecting Ernesto Sirolli of the Sirolli Institute with other institutions and communities who might benefit from his work including having him give a presentation to the Executive Board of Directors at NWHHSC and having him work with a group of community members in the Zaneway Corridor around the issue of CO-OP Babysitting. Participated in key informant interviews related to strategic planning for the Minnesota Community Policing Institute. Conducted an orientation session for all members of the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation, city planners and others involved in the work of this nonprofit. C_ommunity_O_rg anizing; ► Planned a workshop for community residents on how to establish CO-OP Babysitting with Ernesto Sirolli who assists with entrepreneurial guidance. They developed a plan to have interested parents take the lead on determining how realistic a co-op is and to return to Ernesto with information. ► Hosted a Holiday Open House at Summerchase Apartments in Brooklyn Center through the Apartments Plus© Program in which over 70 residents participated. ► Hosted resident meetings at Burgundy Apartments in New Hope, Brookdale Estates in Brooklyn Park, and Carriage House in Brooklyn Park. ► Assisted Brooklyn Center Police Association in organizing its first annual Senior Fair Senior Fair highlights included a cribbage tournament and approximately 15 resource 13 table. Assisted the residents of the manufactured home park in Dayton to secure funds for a summer youth project and research on the feasibility of citing a community center in or near the park. Provided free resource information and family -friendly business policy information to 20 small to mid-sized companies as part of Success By 60 Northwest's Working Toward Success project. Community -Support: ► Apartment Manager Coalitions in the cities of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, and Robbinsdale ► Brooklyn Park Community Resource Center ► Brooklyn Center Police Substation ► Northwest Hennepin Children's Mental Health Collaborative ► The Alliance for Families and Children ► Representative on the Search Institute's Healthy Youth/Healthy Community initiatives in the cities of Robbinsdale, Anoka, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and NW Hennepin (Champlin, Dayton, Brooklyn Park) to promote the 40 assets for healthy youth ► Involved with District #279 Interagency Planning Team and participated in the "Listen to Our Children's Voices" workshop ► Handy Works Advisory Commission ► McKnight Foundation summer youth project ► Zaneway Corridor Homevisiting Advisory Council ► United Way Management Committee ► Law Enforcement Opportunities (LEO) Organization ► Minnesota Association of Women Police (MAWP) ► Served on the Advisory Board for the Minnesota Community Policing Institute ► Thorson Family Resource Center Community Advisory Committee ► Thorson Family Resource Center Re -Design Grant Committee ► North Hennepin Leadership Academy Cabinet ► Community Prevention Coalition ► United Way's LEAD Committee (Leadership Management and Training) ► Minnesota Association of Runaway Youth Services ► District 281 Safe and Drug Free Schools Committee ► District 279 School Community Advisory Team (SCAT) ► Family Homelessness Prevention Meetings ► Suburban Hennepin Domestic Violence Prevention Network ► McKnight Family Loan Program ► United Way Vision Council ► Livable Communities Task Force ► CommonBond Resident Services Board of Directors ► Workforce Information Resource Center Advisory 1=/C/ 14 League of Women Voters Housing Study Committee United Way Cross Cultural Dialogue Committee AdditionalLActivities * Provided numerous presentations to groups on demographics of northwest Hennepin area. Provided public and private agencies with technical assistance, consultation, and statistics to assist with program development, funding sources, program implementation, and program evaluation. For example information was collected and provided on: child care availability to Becklund Home Health Care, New Hope demographics to the Osseo - Maple Grove press, bilingual vocational programs for the University of Minnesota, and community needs and priorities for several area churches. • Met with the director of the Family Housing Fund to determine the availability of financial resources for the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation and to develop for accessing funds. ► Participated in HUD Grant Review Process ► Participated in the Twin Cities Research Group and had one staff member elected to board. ► Researched and advocated for an Assessment Center for Northwest Hennepin area including meeting with Senator Jane Ranum. ► Participated in focus group for NorWest related to their community reinvestment plan. I. Participated in many meetings related to the redistribution of emergency services dollars. ► Participated in planning for the Inter -Agency Conference for 1997, which highlighted Misty Snow. ► Participated in Hennepin County grant review process related to intervention funds. ► Prepared bi-monthly mailings, maintained roster, and created press releases for the Widowed Persons Service. ► Produced 25 year historical reflections video tape with the assistance of Northwest Community Television. ► Participated in the Design Center for American Urban Landscape Course on Housing Issues for cities including Robbinsdale as an on -hand consultant. Z /Cl/ 15 ► Participated in Hamline Dialogues, Minnesota Association of Women Police, Information for Change Conference, Upper Midwest Conference for Policy Makers. ► Implemented an Introduction to Human Services seminar for six apartment managers of Miller Management Co. ► Consulted with over 20 apartment managers and owners regarding the Apartments Plus© and the possibilities of bringing services and programs on-site to their apartment communities. ► Attended monthly Apartment Ntanager Coalition meetings to promote the Apartments Plus© Program. ► Participated in the Brookdale SCOPE program for a weekend promoting the Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center. The Resource Center received $333.33 from participating in the event. ► Facilitated the coordination, writing and completion of the Brooklyn Center After-school Enrichment Grant ($112,308) as well as securing $12,022.50 of these dollars for the Grades "R" Ussm program at the Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center. ► Conducted two year evaluation for the Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative. ► Attended meetings of the Alliance for Children and Families in Hennepin County, which consists of representatives from all Hennepin County partner collaboratives, including the Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative Advisory Councils. Participated in Independent School District #279 Strategic Planning Process. ► Participated in the Annual Multicultural Leadership Pot Luck Feast sponsored by the Armstrong High School Multicultural Leadership Councils. ► Participated in the University of Minnesota's Career Fair, sponsored by the School of Social Work and the School of Public Health. ► Provided supervision for intern working on Success By 6 Northwest®, CO-OP Northwest, and community planning endeavors. ► Spoke to local community groups such as the professional business women's organization about healthy, early childhood development. ► Secured new disability and life insurance policy plans for staff 16 ► Secured deferred compensation plan for staff and organized presentation on program. ► Worked on development of new policies and procedures related to personnel and operations. ► Completed market study for organization ► Completed audits, tax returns for agency and CHDO, and other quarterly reports ► Secure new equipment, records management and other interns; new staff as needed. Awards; Partnership Minnesota Governors Commendation for POINT Northwest for Runaway Youth Partnership Minnesota Governors Commendation for CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation, a Community Housing Development Organization Fun din g_Ley-er_ages -fox-C-QmmunitylnitiaxiYes,_-mj.cct"ndJ?xograms More than a million dollars in funding has been secured in 1997 for operations in 1997 and 1998. Many of these dollars are funneled directly into the community to support initiatives at area human service agencies, to fund city cadets and community housing projects, resource centers, transportation efforts, and other community work. $420,000 from McKnight Foundation for Welfare to Work Initiative for Northwest Hennepin area for 1998/99 ($210,000 for 1997) $182,449 State of Minnesota/Family Services Collaborative $333.33 Brookdale Mall (SCOPE) contribution to Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center $500 from Brooklyn Center Lions Club contribution to Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center $50 from the Brooklyn Center Silver Slipper Dancers donated to Brooklyn Center Family Resource Center $500 from Lutheran Brotherhood for the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation $1,500 from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors® for a development project of the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation $240,000 from the Minnesota Legislature for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 to administer the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Program, supporting eight cadets year-round. $3,500 from the City of Plymouth for administration of the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Project, and an additional approximate $16,000 for individual cadet wages, stipends, books, uniforms and tuition. $3,500 from the City of Maple Grove for administration of the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Project, and an additional approximate $16,000 for individual cadet wages, stipends, books, uniforms and tuition. S 1,750 from the City of Golden Valley for administration of the Northwest Community Law 17 Enforcement Project, and an additional $7,000 for individual cadet wages, stipends, books, uniforms and tuition. $157,200 in federal HOME funds for development of projects through the CO-OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation $237,500 in Community Activity Set -Aside funds tough the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to supply low interest first mortgages $9,819 from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for capacity building activities of the CO- OP Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation $4,000 from the McKnight Foundation to fund a summer youth arts project in the Dayton Mobile Home Park $5,000 from North Hennepin Community College's ScholarshipProgram. Foundation for tuition for cadets in the Northwest Community Law Enforcement gz $2,000 from Hennepin County for summer youth projects s in the d foroa Mobile o center in the $5,000 from Hennepin County for planning and to ass Dayton Mobile Home Park $14,000 from the Minnesota Housing Finance ug ties toecy ostart three year tenant servicer start-up costs for the ens Plus© Program in 2-4 apartment comm coordination demonstration projects. $1200 from the Parish Community of St. Joseph 5250 from Hanover Lions $50 from Robbinsdale Lions $100 from an individual donation $2,500 from Target $300 from Knights of Columbus $250 from the American Legion $250 from Corcoran Lions $5,250 from Dayton Hudson Corporation $38,900 from the Bush Foundation $4,000 from the Minneapolis Foundation $2,500 from Community Development Block Grant funding from Champlin $250 from Brooklyn Center Lions Club $1,630 Edina Realty $3,000 Cowles Media $78.53 Hennepin County Government Center Many in-kind contribution, such as: Four computers from Maple Grove Planning facilitation - facilitators from General Mills ► Space for meetings, programs from member cities ► Human resource assistance from member cities �r- / C-/ slaso'd IX k x x X 111>1 x x alepsuiggog I x x X x X x x X X x k x k x x ynowAld x k x X x x X k x k X x x x oassp x x X X x x x X x x adOH m3N anap alduW X x x X x x X k X x x uessEH x X X x x Y, x x X, JanouEH x X x x X X x x X A3IIrn uaPIOD X X X Y. 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CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Jim Keinath. 2. ROLL CALL: Bloomington Burnsville Circle Pines Columbia Heights Edina Fridley Hastings Hopkins Maple Grove Minnetrista Mound Robbinsdale St. Louis Park West St. Paul Jim Gates Steven O'Malley Jim Keinath Kevin Hansen John Wallin John Haukaas Dave Osberg Jim Gessele Jerry Butcher Todd Bennett Mark Hanus Maria D'Andrea Mac McBride Dianne Krogh Also present were the guest of the SRA, Tom Grundhoefer, General Counsel to League of Minnesota Cities and Jim Strommen of Kennedy & Graven, counsel for the SRA. A quorum of the members was present to conduct business. 3. GRUNDHOEFER COMMENTS: Mr. Strommen introduced Mr. Grundhoefer. He spoke about the work that he has been involved with in the telecommunications right-of-way ("ROW") legislation, the ROW Task Force, and the model ordinance. Mr. Grundhoefer explained that the legislation passed in 1997 regarding city ROW management gave cities strong authority to control their ROW and recover costs. Interpretation of the legislation, however, has created some differences with industry in the area of whether the model ordinance is mandatory or advisory, whether cities are required to cross -indemnify utilities, how abandoned facilities are removed and city authority to establish high-density corridors. He feels that a good deal of progress has been made through meetings with the industry but much remains to be interpreted. The 1998 legislative session may have certain amendments to the current legislation. The PUC will be undertaking the rulemaking procedure throughout 1998. The March 1, 1998, deadline for PUC rules will be extended (cities will seek to maintain their right to enact ordinances on March 1, however). Cities will need to pass ROW ordinances prior to the RJL137184 SU160-3 upcoming construction season, notwithstanding the fact that many of the model ordinance provisions will be unsettled. There were a number of questions regarding the above issues and a helpful discussion ensued regarding the issues to watch during the upcoming year. 4. REPORTS OF OFFICERS: Mr. Wallin reported on the financial status of the SRA as of December 31, 1997. (Report attached). Ms. McBride moved to accept the officer's report. Mr. Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mr. Wallin also reported that George M. Hansen Company submitted a bid to audit the SRA financial statements for $925.00. Ms. McBride moved to accept that offer and Mr. Gates seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Strommen reported that Mr. Bennett regretfully resigned his position with the Executive Committee because he was going to be moving from Minnetrista. The Board thanked Mr. Bennett for his fine service as an SRA delegate and a member of the Executive Committee. There were no nominations from the floor regarding new Executive Committee members. Mr: Bennett moved to accept the following slate of Executive Committee members: Mr. Hannus seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 6. ROW TASK FORCE -PUC RULEMAKING: Mr. Strommen reported on the continuing process of defining municipal ROW management rights in the ROW after the 1997- telecommunications 997telecommunications legislation. Following the Task Force Report, the PUC will adopt priorities on which the local government units and industry obtain consensus and decide in rulemaking which position to adopt or favor in promulgating its own rules. The PUC will seek an extension of the time to promulgate rules until December 31, 1998. The key issue is what happens on March 1, 1998. Mr. Strommen recommended that cities proceed to enact a comprehensive ROW ordinance for the 1998 construction season. There will inevitably be disputed provisions of the Model Ordinance, yet it is substantially in the form that is supported by the 1997 legislation. Further, as the law now reads, cities have the right to enact their own ordinances on March 1, 1998. Mr. Strommen also recommended that the SRA not participate as an intervenor in the rulemaking process. Normally, it would be appropriate to do so. The budget limitations and other ongoing cases that will otherwise have no suburban representation require the SRA to select its case. The League of Cities is providing excellent representation and cities are already paying an assessment for that. 7. U.S. WEST COST PROCEEDING: Mr. Strommen reported on the current status of the US West cost proceeding. This is a proceeding where the cost of service on a wholesale basis for US West is established. A temporary PUC order establishing the price at approximately $13 per month has been in place for over a year. US West argues that the actual cost per customer is approximately $30 per month on average. RJL137184 SU160-3 2 Because of budget constraints, the SRA has not participated actively in this proceeding. The hearing schedule provides for a decision on wholesale rates to be decided later this year. The most significant issue for the SRA arising out of this proceeding, other than base rates, is geographic deaveraging. It is apparent from the different models offered in this proceeding that density of population will affect rates. The number of different rate zones could be as few as one or two for the suburban areas (US West model) to five or six (AT&T model), depending on the type of rate design adopted by the PUC. The SRA will continue to monitor the case. 8. EAS INVESTIGATION: Mr. Strommen referred the Board to the memorandum submitted with the meeting agenda. The PUC is moving cautiously to review Extended Area Service agreements between providers like Frontier (serving south -metro area) and US West. No action has been taken in that proceeding. 9. AREA CODE PROCEEDING: Mr. Strommen reported on the significant policy victory achieved by the SRA in the 612 area code proceeding. After the initial November 13, 1997, PUC order requiring US West to draw area code boundaries along municipal lines, US West sought a reconsideration from the PUC. US West argued that it was too expensive to draw area code boundaries along municipal lines because their wire center network was not developed to do so. US West also argued that it would be difficult to achieve the change within the time constraints required. The SRA opposed US West's motion for reconsideration and asked the PUC to reaffirm its original order. US West had offered alternative proposals for boundaries that affected several SRA cities including, Shoreview, New Brighton and Burnsville. In addition, the Phase II of the 612 area code proceeding (a third area code) would likely affect SRA cities such as Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Edina and Bloomington. The PUC was resolute in its decision to follow municipal boundaries for this and all future area code splits. The recently issued January 26, 1998, PUC Order reaffirming its earlier decision provides in relevant part: The SRA argued that the US West and MTA (Minnesota Telephone Association) requests for wire center alignment are based on their convenience, not on the public interest. According to the SRA, municipal boundary alignment of area code boundaries will enhance the sense of neighborhood and community and lessen customer confusion. Among the area code relief proposals considered by the Commission, a geographic split along municipal boundaries is the most consistent with the public interest and the least confusing and inconvenient for customers. A municipal boundary alignment lessens the possibility of disjuncture between neighbor and neighbor and between seats of municipal government and their constituents. Municipal boundary alignment will for the most part allow customers to use their RJL137184 SU160-3 3 telephone directories to determine area code boundaries. It is a common-sense method that reflects the way we think and call one another. (PUC Order, pp. 5-6). This Order fixes a very favorable policy to cities, that is the first of its type in the United States. As technology develops, it is likely that all area code splits will follow municipal boundaries to avoid the disruption to municipal governments and to neighborhoods. In addition, the PUC decided to keep Burnsville, Apple Valley and Lakeville in the 612 area code, as it had been requested by Burnsville and advocated by the SRA. 10. NSP GAS FELING: Mr. Strommen reported that NSP Gas has filed for a rate increase of $18.5 million or 5.51 % annually. The proposed rate increase for residential is 6.9% which includes an increase in the fixed customer charge from $6 to $7. NSP Gas serves several SRA cities in the St. Paul area. A discussion was held regarding the cost benefit of intervening in a rate case given the current budget constraints and telephone rate cases. Mr. Strommen pointed out that the rate issues such as the residential increase is one that will inevitably be addressed by the Department of Public Service in the Office of the Attorney General. The cost of participating in these cases is quite high ($25,000-$40,000). The Executive Committee recommendation and the Board consensus was that the SRA not intervene in this rate case. Those representatives of cities served by NSP gas were not in opposition given the issues in the case and the budget constraints. 11. US WEST RATE FILING: Mr. Strommen reported on the most recent rate filing of US West under a statute creating an alternative form of regulation ("AFOR"). This filing is not a contested case proceeding, such as NSP Gas or other gas and electric petitions. This is a notice and comment proceeding where parties informally review the filing and give opinions. Under the AFOR, US West would freeze rates of "basic" services for three years and be allowed to increase or decrease the "non-essential" services such as call -waiting, caller ID, 3 -way calling, etc. The Executive Committee authorized the SRA's intervention prior to the annual meeting and the SRA is focusing on an issue important to local governments. US West requested in the plan the authority to create a line item on the customer's bill for "other special charges," in addition to any franchise fee or tax imposed by a local government unit. The problem with this language is that it would appear to give US West the authority to place on a customer's bill cost recovery charges that a city may require for extensive ROW excavation or other permit fees. The effect of such a link, if pursued, would be to cause the city council to appear that it was taxing its residents when it was simply recovering the cost of allowing US West to use the ROW. Mr. Strommen recommended vigorously opposing this issue, and possibly others that may arise. RJL137184 SU160-3 4 Mr. Osberg moved to ratify the intervention of the SRA in the US West case and pursue the appropriate issues. Mr. O'Malley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 12. ELECTRIC - TELEPHONE UNDERGROUNDING: Mr. Strommen reported on a push by NSP to challenge the cities undergrounding rights and permitting authority in electric utilities. The PUC rules provide that if cities request undergrounding, cities must pay the incremental cost of undergrounding over and above an overhead installation. Mr. Strommen reported that NSP appears less willing to underground even if paid for the additional cost. Cities should be aware of potential challenges to undergrounding requirements that previously were not a source of contention between cities and NSP. 13. NEEDS OF SRA IN 1998: Mr. Strommen reported that the active SRA participation in the area code proceeding and the ROW task force has depleted SRA funds for 1998. Mr. Strommen and the Board agreed, however, that the issue for budgeting and assessment decisions are appropriately pursued at the April meeting when the 1999 budget is discussed. 14. TELEPHONE RESELLERS AND FACILITIES -BASED PROVIDERS: Mr. Strommen reported that he had received a number of inquiries from cities regarding the filing of new telephone resellers and "facilities -based" local service providers with the PUC. Mr. Strommen reported that the particular resellers and facility -based providers that were applying would not be using the ROW. These were simply niche competitors to local service that are authorized under the Telecommunications Act to gain PUC authority to serve local markets. Their equipment and facilities, if any, are very minimal and on private land. The cities retain rights over telephone providers only in the ROW and not regarding rates and service. 15. LOCATION AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING: A discussion was held regarding the earlier time for quarterly meetings for the SRA. It was agreed that the 4:00 p.m. start time was easier to meet, with due consideration given to difficulties that may be faced by elected officials. The Board agreed to meet in Maple Grove for the April 15, 1998 quarterly meeting, at the municipal facilities in Maple Grove. 16. CLAIMS: Kennedy & Graven submitted a claim for $8,000 for costs and services rendered. The total costs and fees accrued through December 31, 1997 was $25,499.44. This amount will be deferred until the first half assessment of 1998. Mr. Osberg moved to accept the claims and Mr. Gessele seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 14. ADJOURNMENT: At 9:00 p.m. the meeting was adjourned. Attest: Chairman Secretary Attachments: Analysis of the change in Cash Balance RJL137184 SU160-3 5 SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN CASH BALANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 Balance at January 1 Additions: Interest income Insurance Rebate LMC Assessment Special Assessments -See attached schedule Total Additions Deductions: Kennedy & Graven - services Kennedy & Graven - costs Chesapeake Regulatory - services Chesapeake Regulatory - costs LMCIT -insurance League of Minnesota Cities Audit Dinner - guests Total Deductions 1997 1996 9,638.24 $ 28,203.76 $ 21.32 $ 49.70 270.00 247.00 0.00 3,300.00 68,800.00 65,000.00 $ 69,091.32 $ 68,596.70 $ $ $ 78,729.56 96,800.46 $ 53,144.00 $ 54,661.41 5,594.40 The breakdown of legal and expert fees and 7,958.58 7,260.00 21,000.00 32.51 26,418.69 710.79 942.00 U S West 944.00 0.00 800.00 900.00 875.00 101.72 42,911.47 212.44 $ 67,974.63 $ 87,162.22 Balance at December 31 $ 10,754.93 $ 9,638.24 Note A: The breakdown of legal and expert fees and costs: General $ 26,418.69 $ 17,258.98 U S West 22,796.37 6,104.98 Minnegasco 1,357.44 42,911.47 Legislative ROW 8,583.40 526.50 Model Franchise Amendments 0.00 4,969.75 1995 Telecommunications 0.00 54.00 Local Calling Area 0.00 547.50 Electric Utilty Investigation 283.50 1,150.08 Gas Electric Customer Task Force 0.00 2,466.83 612 Area Code Docket 5,569.35 0.00 EAS Agreements 833.16 0.00 Personal Communications Leases 189.00 8,340.69 Total Legal and Expert $ $ 84,330.78 66,030.91 SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY STATUS OF ASSESSMENTS RECEIVABLE As of December 31, 1997 BALANCE VOTES ASSESSMENT PAID DUE Birchwood 1 $ 200.00 $ 200.00 $ 0.00 .Bloomington 18 7,200.00 7,200.00 0.00 Brooklyn Park 12 4,800.00 4,800.00 0.00 Burnsville 11 4,400.00 4,400.00 0.00 Circle Pines 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Columbia Heights 4 1,600.00 1,600.00 0.00 Deephaven 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Eden Prairie 8 3,200.00 3,200.00 0.00 Edina 10 4,000.00 4,000.00 0.00 Fridley 6 2,400.00 2,400.00 0.00 Golden Valley 4 800.00 800.00 0.00 Greenwood 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Hastings 4 1,600.00 1,600.00 0.00 Hopkins 4 1,600.00 1,600.00 0.00 Lakeland 2 400.00 400.00 0.00 Lauderdale 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Long Lake 1 200.00 200.00 0.00 Maple Grove 9 1,800.00 1,800.00 0.00 Maple Plain 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Maplewood 7 2,800.00 2,800.00 0.00 Medina 1 200.00 200.00 0.00 Minnetonka 10 4,000.00 4,000.00 0.00 Minnetrista 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Mound 1 200.00 200.00 0.00 New Brighton 5 2,000.00 2,000.00 0.00 North St. Paul 3 1,200.00 1,200.00 0.00 Orono 2 800.00 800.00 0.00 Osseo 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Plymouth 11 4,400.00 4,400.00 0.00 Robbinsdale 3 1,200.00 1,200.00 0.00 Roseville 7 2,800.00 2,800.00 0.00 Savage 2 800.00 800.00 0.00 Shakopee 3 1,200.00 1,200.00 0.00 Shoreview 5 2,000.00 2,000.00 0.00 Spring Park 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 Spring Lake Park 1 200.00 200.00 0.00 St. Louis Park 9 3,600.00 3,600.00 0.00 Wayzata 1 400.00 400.00 0.00 West St. Paul 4 1,600.00 1,600.00 0.00 Woodbury 5 2,000.00 2,000.00 0.00 182 $ 68,800.00 $ 68,800.00 $ - January 28, 1998 To: Business Owners PLYMOUTR The City of Plymouth is in the process of updating and revising the Sign Regulations contained in the Zoning Ordinance. These provisions regulate all types of signage from temporary to permanent, and apply to all Zoning Districts, from residential to industrial. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to attend one of two informational meetings to be held in the City Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall located at 3400 Plymouth Blvd. on Monday, February 9, 1998. These meetings will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staff will identify the most significant code changes, and will discuss the process by which the City intends to adopt these new regulations. Your input is welcomed. The tentative schedule for adoption of the new sign regulations is as follows: • February 9, 1998 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meet with members of the business community to receive input, share information and discuss proposed code changes. • February 24, 1998 Planning Commission Public Hearing meeting. 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall • April 1, 1998 City Council adoption (tentative). 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Plymouth City Hall Copies of the draft ordinance may be obtained from the Community Development Department located in Plymouth City Hall. If you have any questions or if I may be of any further assistance, please contact me at 509-5431. Sincerely, Joe Ryan Building Official cc: File ibc/jr/signmtgs PLYMOUTH ABeau tiy'ufPface?o Live 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 . TELEPHONE (G12) 509-5000 ®••1>1,•.-1- www.ci.plymouth.mn.us January 20, 1998 CITY OF PUMOUTR Mr. Bruce E. Goldstein 1900 North Second Street Mimieapolis, MN 55411 Dear Mr. Goldstein: This letter is to confirm our earlier telephone conversation regarding Hennepin County Citation No. 398 0391662 for the alleged violation of MN Statute 169.32. This citation was issued on 1/15/98 at 2040 hours at a location of 3600 Plymouth Blvd. In the City of Plymouth. This citation has been dismissed by request of the City Prosecutor, Matt Brokl. I will forward the required impound documentation to the city Finance Director for reimbursement of the impound fees. I hope that any future contact that you may have with the Plymouth Police Department will be in a more positive vein. Sincerely, Johi Ward, Lieutenant Pr essional Standards Division PLYMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT PLY�IOUTH fiv ;S'7U 1 P1 Y'Y)', 1H F"OU11-VARD f'L.Y?;?OU T i {, MII 1i•1F.SOTA 55447-1,1152 / - V�6 FAX TO CITY OF PLYMOUTH KATHY LUECKERT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER 509-5060 FAX FROM WANDA DALE ROSA 509=w.jowFAX JANUARY 29, 1998 THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THE LARGE PRINTS IN PLYMOUTH NEWSLETTERS. IF IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL THE INFORMATION IN LARGE PRINTS NEWSLETTER TO HAVE ALL THE. FAX NUMBERS SO I CAN FAX THEM WHENEVER I NEED TO KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AT 296-37818 1 NEED THE FAX NUMBERS, FOR CITY'S ANIMAL CONTROL, I WANT TO ATTEND A MEETING ON FEBRUARY 19TH AT 7 PM. WILL I HAVE A TACTILE INTERPRETER AT THAT MEETING? HOW DO 1 GET THE TRANSPORTATION TO MEETING? METRO MOBILITY WILL NOT TAKE ME ANY WHERE AFTER 630 PM. FAMILY STORY TIME IN FEBRUARY AT PLYMOUTH LIBRARY --WHERE IS THE PLYMOUTH LIBRARY? I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MY SON THERE BUT NO TRANSPORTATION AGAIN. I DO HAVE DRIVER VOLUNTEER BUT HE CAN'T PROMISE ME ALL THE TIME. I CAN USE METRO MOBILITY TRANSPORTATION BUT THE PROBLEM IS TIME. THEY SHOULD NOT CUT OFF THE TIME LAST FEW YEAR AGO. THEY SHOULD LEAVE THEM ALONE AS THE SERVICE REMAIN UNTIL 11 PM. I NEED TO FAX PLYMOUTH MAYOR REGARDING TO THE POLICE DEPT. THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME THE TACTILE INTERPRETER WHEN I CALL FOR EMERGENCY OR HELP. THEY RECEIVED THE GOVERNMENT MONEY, THEREFORE THEY MUST PROVIDE A TACTILE INTERPRETER AS ALWAYS. IF I COULD NOT REACH MAYOR THEN I WILL REACH PERHAPS SENATOR OR OTHER WHO CAN HELP ME. THE PROBLEM REMAINS SINCE I MOVED HERE ON FEBRUARY 1996. ALSO I NEED TO FAX SOMEONE REGARDING TO THE METRO MOBILITY TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM. DO NOT GIVE ME THE FAX NUMBERS OF MR. SWEENEY OR MR. FRENSCH, THEY IGNORED MY FAX MANY TIMES, THEY IGNORED MY SSB COUNSELOR ALSO. IT GET ME NOWHERE. I ONLY GET TWO RIDES FROM METRO MOBILITY SINCE JULY BECAUSE I USE THE FAX MACHINE AS MY COMMUNICATION ACCESSING, THEY CUT ME OFF, YES, IT IRRITATED ME VERY MUCH AFTER IT HAD BEEN REITERATED. 1 NEED METRO MOBILITY SERVICE REAL BAD FOR MY SOCIALIZATION. THEY ARE VERY IGNORANT OVER DEAFBLIND ISSUE. AGAIN I WILL BRING IT UP TO SENATOR OR OTHERS WHO CAN HELP ME. I HAD BEEN CARRIED IT SINCE JULY, NOTHING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. -z:-- zli THANKS WANDA DALE ROSA 509-0008 FAX Vd TO : WANDA DALE ROSA FAX: 509-0008 FROM: KATHY LUECKERT CITY OF PLYMOUTH JANUARY 30, 1998 HELLO WANDA, WE WILL TRY TO INCLUDE FAX NUMBERS IN INFORMATION W E SEND YOU. WE MAY FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT WE WILL TRY TO REMEMBER. THE FAX NUMBER FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IS 297-7430 . THE ADDRESS OF THE PLYMOUTH LIBRARY IS 15700 36TH AVENUE NORTH, PLYMOUTH. I HAVE REFERRED YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING A TACTILE INTERPRETER FOR THE ANIMAL CONTROL HEARING TO THE POLICE CHIEF. I HAVE REFERRED YOUR OTHER S46 CONCERNS ABOUT METRO MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATIO N TO OTHER CITY STAFF. KATHY s-� 00 00 00 00 r y. O\ ON V7 A N 00 00 0000 00 00 41 N ~ N N , , n 0000 00 00 00 00 O*, a,%ON O\ ON O*1 O O N N M $y. 00 00 00 00 00 00 8i D� Qv O1 O1 OV 91 (31 l� � M -� V= 0 O N N N CJ � o � C { C o cl E ' O C U O Q > w a� C O C bA ami w to gin, xHax a� C 0 .� c Cd � d `� t ai c2o Cl °= c Cdcd Cd v i ami -v cd .c uceV') L z � �i,q L C C O O Ri CC O L -- N M Minnesota Senior Federation Tax Committee X7,j" Marlowe Hamerston, Chairman • 1885 University Ave. W. • Suite 190 • St. Paul, MN 55104 • 612-645-0261 Home: 771 Larson Lane • Shoreview, MN 55126.612-484-4615 • e-mail: hamcrOl2Ctc.umn.edu Dear Mayor and City Council Members: Members of the Minnesota Senior Federation residing in your community, as well as the 30,000 members throughout our state, need your help to gain passage of legislation to instill fairness in Minnesota's property tax system.You may have heard citizens from your community express displeasure with the property tax system. And I am sure you told them that your city government uses property taxes for the legitimate operations of your city but that city government has little to say about the structure of Minnesota's property tax. The state legislature continues to pass on to city government, mandates to be implemented but no funding to carry them out. When city governments levy property taxes for these programs, it is the city that gets the blame for the increased taxes while the state legislature takes credit for not raising taxes. It is the ever-increasing property tax rate that is literally driving older Minnesotans from their homes. The loss of this segment of our society from any community has a detrimental effect on the mix of its population. Forcing seniors from the familiar surroundings of their community cannot be justified by any means. The seniors of your community are the pillars upon which your churches and service organizations are built. The cost of housing seniors in nursing homes or subsidizing their rents far exceeds the cost of implementing a property tax circuit breaker system that will allow many seniors to remain in their homes. Our proposal is not restricted to senior citizens; our proposal would apply to all Minnesota taxpayers who are faced with the same problem - renters and homeowners, young and old. It would also help protect younger families who may face temporary unemployment allowing them to stay on their feet and in their home. This is easily accomplished by placing a reasonable limit to the amount of a household's income which can be collected in property taxes. Our proposal would not effect state funding to cities. The proposal is to expand the present circuit breaker program by placing a percentage limit on the amount that can be collected from a taxpayer. The state would be responsible for the amount of tax refund and the city's funding from the state would not change. I have enclosed some literature explaining the need for limiting the property tax. • The reverse side of this letter lists ten of the many reasons for reforming the present property tax system. This legislation will not cure all the problems of the property tax system but will be a giant step toward making it fair. • The next page is a summary of four studies conducted by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and one study made by the office of State Auditor and a study by the Minnesota Senior Federation. These studies support the need for making the change put forth in the accompanying resolution. -The final sheet is a resolution, which I hope you and your council will pass. It supports the enactment of legislation to establish a limit as the percentage of a person's income can be collected in property taxes. City government is government at the grass roots level. Too often the legislature listens to the paid lobbyists whose agenda is not the same as your community's citizens. The taxpayers of your city need their city government to speak up for them through the passage of this resolution. The passage of this resolution by you and other city governments throughout the state of Minnesota should get the attention of our legislature. This resolution is the vehicle for you to make a statement to the 1998 legislature on behalf of the citizens of your community. They must hear the message: Do something about the unlimited nature of the property tax! If you have any questions or would like to discuss the resolution further, feel free to call or write to me at the address given above. I would appreciate your letting me know of the disposition of the resolution by your city government so that your actions can be properly recognized at the legislature and by the media. Sincerely, The Top Ten Reasons for Property Tax Reform 10. The Property Tax is the only unlimited form of taxation in existence. There is no limit as to the percentage of a person's income that can be assessed in property taxes. The sales tax is limited to 6.5% of the amount of a sale and the top income tax rate is limited to 8.5% of a person's income. The present property tax system has been documented to be taking from 10%c to even 50% of many Minnesotan's income. 9. There is no relationship between the market value of a taxpayer's property and their ability to pay the taxes levied. Numerous studies have been made by the State Auditor and Department of Revenue and no connection between the market value of a property and the homeowner's ability to pay the associated taxes has been shown. Using the market value of a home to determine the property tax is proven in -valid. 8. The property tax is universally recognized as a regressive tax which affects our most vulnerable citizens to the greatest degree. It is the elderly and the widowed, who have lived in their homes many years and have seen their market values grow far beyond their incomes, who are being driven from their homes by this tax. 7. Most taxes tax your assets. The present property tax system also taxes your debt. If you purchased a $75,000 home today and put down $5,000, tomorrow, the present property tax system would begin taxing not only your equity, but would also require you to pay property taxes on your $70,000 debt. 6. A community with a "rich" property tax base does not mean an individual taxpayer in that community is rich. The practice of "blanket" reassessment is outrageously unfair. It gives no consideration to the individual properties nor to the harm caused to the neighborhood by raising taxes without consideration as to the condition of any individual property. 5. Allowing property taxes to force seniors from their homes creates a great a loss to churches, schools, and the community as a whole. At a time when the president is calling for more volunteerism, we should not be forcing the greatest reservoir of volunteers that society has, our retired population, to leave their communities. 4. The property tax taxes on the basis of future earnings. Earnings you may collect upon the sale of the property if such a sale ever takes place. You are being taxed on the basis of a sale that has not taken place to a buyer who does not exist. There is no basis for the use of a taxation system based upon projected earnings. You can not pay present day taxes with future earnings. You can not pay the taxes due now, with future earnings. 3. The present property tax system is anti -family and a slum producing machine. Our property tax system penalizes homeowners who try to maintain and improve their property. The reward for providing a clean, safe environment for their family is higher taxes. A landlord has little incentive to keep rental properties in an acceptable condition when he knows his improvements will result in higher property taxes. 2. The property tax is a relic of the 1800's and it is long over -due to be reformed, not just tinkered with, but reformed to conform to the realities of the 21st century. While property ownership created and was a measure of wealth in the rural society of the 1800s, the urban residential property of today creates no wealth with which to pay property taxes. 1. The property tax refund system must be modified to protect Minnesotans from being driven from their homes by our present archaic and unfair system. Minnesota has become a state where citizens do not own property, but rent it from the state with property taxes. Finally, the constitutionality of the property tax is questionable. If it is not unconstitutional, it is surely unconscionable. Which is worse? There must be a limitation to the amount of one's income which can be levied on a taxpayer's property. The passage of Senate File 1835 or House File 1258/Senate File 1147 will provide the protection needed and deserved by the citizens of the State of Minnesota. Join in the efforts to make the passage of this legislation happen during the 1998 legislative session. Summary of a Study Conducted by the Office of Minnesota State Auditor and Three Studies Made by the Minnesota Department of Revenue "Securing Minnesota's Financial Future: Property Tax Reform in the 1990s" Minnesota Office of the State Auditor Research and Information Division August 1994 Disparities in Property Taxes • Homeowners pay dramatically different property taxes depending on where in Minnesota they live. • Homeowners with approximately the same incomes had markedly different property tax liabilities. • Geographic location is a major determinant of tax burden. In a few areas, homeowners paid less in average property taxes than for cable television. • Property taxes in Minnesota are regressive. • Property taxes differ for homes of similar value. • Counties with similar needs for public services had very different average taxes. Disparities in the Distribution of Minnesota's Property Tax Base • Minnesota's effective property tax rate for a typical commercial firm ranked second in the nation and a typical industrial firm ranked sixth but a high tech factory with a large proportion of personal property ranked 32nd. • Property classification is an inefficient method of tax relief. • Market values of homes are unreliable indicators of homeowners' ability to pay property taxes. Distribution of State Aid • The average metro property taxed are nearly twice the second highest average property tax. • Disparities are found withing economic regions. • The ability of homeowners to pay property taxes is more dependent on those individuals' incomes than on their property values. • The classification "system provides a property tax break to all homeowners regardless of their incomes. • Lower income homeowners pay a higher percentage of their incomes on property taxes than higher income homeowners. The regressivity of the property tax illustrates the inequities created by the system particularly for low income homeowners living in the metro area. "Property Tax Regressivity In Minnesota" Minnesota Department of Revenue Tax Research Division January 1993 • This report documents a regressive relationship between income and market value that is only moderately reduced by existing tax relief programs. • The classification system treats all market value the same regardless of ability -to -pay. • While the expectation of the Property Tax Refund (PTR) program would be to reduce the overall regressivity of the property tax system, analysis shows that the impact is very slight. • If the goal is to alleviate the regressivity of the property tax, then greater emphasis should be placed on the property tax refind program which directly links property tax relief to tax burden measured relative to household income. • A state paid property tax refund can then be provided to those households which have high taxes relative to their income and less relief or no refund to higher income households . "1993 Property Tax Relief For Minnesotans, Analysis of Trends 1975-1993" Minnesota Department of Revenue Tax Research Division • The average net tax of homeowners is $1,412 and the average net tax of renters is $667 yet the limit on the property tax refund for homeowners is $400 (now $470) while renters can receive a property tax refund of up to $1,000 (now $1090). • After the property tax refund, the percentage of income spent on property taxes by homeowners is 5.4% while the renter's percentage is 2.6%. "1997 Minnesota Tax Incidence Study" Minnesota Department of Revenue Tax Research Division Table 1. Shows that at all levels except for the first decile, residential property taxes take a greater percentage of a household's income than business property takes from a business' income. The same relationship exists for the income tax as well. Effective tax rates increased for the individual income tax and homeowner property taxes; effective tax rates fell for business property taxes and especially for rental housing. Between 1994 and 1996, homestead property values rose more than twice as rapidly as business property values, which failed to keep up with inflation. (page viii) Table 2.2. Shows the amounts and percentage distribution of state and local tax collections by type of tax and taxpayer category in millions of dollars. In 1994, the taxes paid on a $120,000 home were 2.8 times those on a $60,000 home; the taxes on a $360,000 home were over 10.8 times those on a $60,000 home because of the class rate structure. Table 6.3. This table shows that the the average percent of income spent on property taxes by households is 2.1 percent. Minnesota Senior Federation Survey of Its Membership 1996 • While the average Minnesotan pays 2.1 percent of their income on property taxes (see Table 6.3 above), the respondents to the Federation survey paid an average of 4 percent of their income. • A total of 25 percent paid over 6 percent of their income on property taxes. This is almost three times what the average Minnesotan paid. • A total of 1.4 percent of the respondents paid over 20 percent of their income on property taxes. Some respondents were paying from 30 to 50 percent of their income on property taxes. • This is while the wealthiest Minnesotan pays only 8.5 percent of their income on income taxes. • All taxes: Sales, income, and property taxes are paid from one's income. Homesteaded property produces no income with which to pay property taxes. Property Tax Resolution: Limiting the Property Tax to a Percentage of Income WHEREAS, The present property tax system is a regressive tax, adversely affecting those homeowners who have lived a long time in their homes; and WHEREAS, The amount of residential property taxes assessed depends upon the market value of one's home; and WHEREAS, Studies made on the subject have shown that the value of a person's home has no relationship to the ability of the homeowner to pay the assessed property tax; and WHEREAS, Unlike the income tax system which limits the percentage of a taxpayer's income that can be collected, and unlike the sales tax which limits the amount of tax that can be collected from a purchase as a percentage of its cost, the present property tax system does not limit the amount of property tax that can be collected from a renter or homeowner; and WHEREAS, It has been documented that many Minnesotans are paying a percentage of their income on property taxes far beyond the 1.8 percent which the average Minnesotan pays; some homeowners are paying up to 40 percent of their income on property taxes; and WHEREAS, This method of unlimited taxation is driving many Minnesotans from their homes, especially the widowed and the elderly; and WHEREAS, The finances of the State of Minnesota are in such good order that the past excuse that the injustices perpetuated by the present property tax system could not be corrected because of a lack of funds is no longer valid; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Plymouth to support the enactment into law by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature of a limit to the amount of a person's income that can be assessed for property taxes, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funding for the limitation be achieved through an expanded state tax credit based on income, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this protection be extended to all citizens of the State of Minnesota regardless of age or place of residence. Dated: Mayor City of Plymouth Dwight Johnson From: MB6148 Sent: Sunday, January 25, 1998 12:05 AM To: djohnson@ci.plymouth.mn.us Cc: MB6148@aol.com Subject: Old Rockford Road and Dunkirk On behalf of the area citizens and the petition signers, thank you for your help in getting the stop signs placed at this intersection. Although it was a lengthy process the end result has been accomplished. If we can keep the speed study in progress, we can complete the total project. We all know that you get the job done and continue to advise us. (We will anticipate a lower speed for Old Rockford Road) Thanks again for your help, and please forward a copy of this E to: Mayor Tierney ; Councilmember Bildsoe Councilmember Johnson City Engineer Faulkner Public Safety Director Gerdes Public Works Director Moore Regards, Mark Byington Minnesota Pollution Control Agency v� January 23, 1.998 Ted Hagen Hans Hagen Homes & Robbins Partnership 941 NE Hillwind Road, Suite 300 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432 Dear Mr. Hagen: Enclosed is Permit Number 21622 for the construction and operation of a private sanitary sewer extension system to be located in Plymouth, Minnesota. Please carefully review the permit, including any Special Conditions, General Conditions (No. 1-20) and information relative to plans and the permit application. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding these documents. If you do have questions, you may contact me at the address listed below or call me at (612) 296-7762. If you like, you may also use our toll free number, which is 1-800-657-3864. Sincerely, Donald K. Perwien, P.E., Staff Engineer Compliance Unit 1 Point Source Compliance Section Water Quality Division DKP:jad Enclosures: Private Sewer Extension Permit General Conditions cc: The Honorable Joy Tierney, Mayor, City of Plymouth City Council c/o Dwight Johnson, City Manager Fred Moore, City Director of Public Works McCombs Frank Roos Associates, Inc. Metropolitan Council - Environmental Services c/o Don Bluhm Metropolitan Council - Environmental Services c/o Marcel Jouseau 520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (612) 296-6300 (Voice); (612) 282-5332 (TTY) SSE.doc 9/96 Regional Offices: Duluth • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Marshall • Rochester Equal Opportunity Employer • Printed on recycled paper containing at least 20". fibers from paper recycled by consumers. O X. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency PRIVATE PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A DISPOSAL SYSTEM HANS HAGEN HOMES & ROBBINS PARTNERSHIP PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA Hennepin County Pursuant to authorization by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and in accordance with the provisions of Minn. Stat. chs. 115 and 116, plans are approved and a permit is hereby granted to the above -referenced Permittee for the construction and operation of a private sanitary sewer extension in Plymouth, Minnesota. The facilities will consist of 2,281 linear feet of 8 -inch sanitary sewer pipe. The facilities are further described in MPCA approved standard specifications and plans designated as: "Plymouth Station, Oppidan & Hans Hagen Homes" received January 12, 1998, prepared by MFRA, Inc. for Hans Hagen Homes & Robbins Partnership. It is the Permittee's responsibility to assure compliance with any special conditions and the general conditions that are required by this permit. This includes taking all necessary measures needed to comply, including, but not limited to, the notification of contractors or others who may be carrying out this work. SPECIAL CONDITION Should the Permittee sell or otherwise convey or assign any of their right, title or interest in the project described in this permit, such sale or other conveyance shall not release the Permittee from any obligation imposed by this permit, unless the part to whom the right, title or interest has been transferred or assigned agrees in writing to fulfill the obligations of this permit and the MPCA approves transfer or assignment. PRIVATE PERMIT NUMBER: 21622 DATED: January 23, 1998 Douglas A. Hall, Supervisor Permits/Technical Review Unit Point Source Compliance Section Water Quality Division 520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (612) 296-6300 (Voice); (612) 282-5332 (TTY) SSE.doc 9/96 Regional Offices: Duluth •Brainerd •Detroit Lakes •Marshall •Rochester Equal Opportunity Employer • Printed on recycled paper containing at least 20% fibers from paper recycled by consumers. January 22, 1998 Dwight Johnson City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447-1482 Dear Mr. Johnson: s s� Z740100 � §\hN" i! -A Thank you so much for your check for $23,175.00 in support of Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners and the CONECT project. IOCP is indebted to the City of Plymouth for your generous support over the years. Your contributions have allowed us to make significant progress in areas we believe are critical to the success of the families we serve in this community. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to continued collaborations with you. Again, many thanks. Sincerely, 4���Z 1 17 Carol Bergenstal, Development Director Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners IOCP did not provide any goods or services in consideration of this gift. 110 Grand Avenue South, Wayzata, Minnesota 55391-1872 612/473-2436 Fax 612/473-4337 S� CITY OF PLYMOUTH AGENDA REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 18,1998 DRAFT 01/30/98 12:36 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:00 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL 3. PLYMOUTH FORUM - Individuals may address the Council about any item not contained on the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. If the full 15 minutes are not needed for the Forum, the City Council will continue with the agenda. The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the Forum, with the exception of referral to staff or Commission for future report. 4. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Presentation of "Find Lester" Award 5. APPROVE AGENDA - Councilmembers may add items to the agenda including items contained in the Council Information Memorandum for discussion purposes or staff direction only. The Council will not normally take official action on items added to the agenda. 6. CONSENT AGENDA - These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed elsewhere on the agenda. A. Approve proposed City Council Minutes * Items require 5 affirmative votes of the City Council for approval. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 18, 1998 Page 2 B. Approve Disbursements C. Approve Site Plan Amendment for installation of a propane system at Olympic Steel located at 13100 15`h Avenue North. Ferrell North America (97182) D. Accept Planning Commission 1997 Annual Report and 1998 Work Program E. Approve Final Plat for Love's Addition located east of Xenium Lane between 36`" Avenue and 37' Avenue. Richo Investments. (97159) 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Application of Grandma's Inc. d/b/a Grandma's Restaurant and Grill of Plymouth, for an on -sale intoxicating liquor license at 3000 Harbor Lane B. Assessment hearing on 1997 Weed Eradication and Destruction Roll 2 C. Assessment hearing on 1997 Removal and Destruction of Diseased Trees, Roll 2 D. Public Improvement Hearing on Zachary Lane Improvements from 36`h Avenue to County Road 10, Project 5030 8. GENERAL BUSINESS A. Report on Juneau Lane Traffic Issues as directed by City Council at September 3, 1997 meeting B. Consider Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Cornerstone Commons of Plymouth, a development consisting of 176 senior townhome units, 56 non -age restricted townhome units, 94 multi- family senior cooperative units, 50 multi -family assisted living units, and 205,000 square feet of office/light industrial space for property located at the southeast corner of Highway 55 * Items require 5 affirmative votes of the City Council for approval. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 18, 1998 Page 3 and County Road 101. Elim Care, Inc. (97008) 9. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS A. 10. ADJOURNMENT * Items require 5 affirmative votes of the City Council for approval. DATE: January 30, 1998 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager SUBJECT: Summary of Agenda Items for February 4, 1998 7A. Vacation of Easement. There are no known problems or complications with this. 711. Public Hearing on Cavanaugh Street Reconstruction. This action would order the improvement and start the bidding process. This action requires six affirmative votes. The final decision comes with the award of bids in a couple of months. A neighborhood meeting was held on January 13`x. Residents and Council members present expressed interest in reviewing the proposed assessments before the time of final award of the bids. Staff now believes that it is in the interests of both the City and the residents that the official assessment hearing be held before the project is awarded. Engineering staff and I met recently to further consider the assessments. We reviewed every proposal and argument put forth by the residents to date as well as a few hypothetical scenarios. We can identify several aspects of the storm sewer plan that could reasonably be City cost instead of assessed, but the total impact of these changes would change the drainage assessment by less than 15% and the overall level of assessments by less than 10%. We also checked the drainage costs in this project with a number of others throughout the City. The cost in this project for drainage is above average, but not unprecedented in other projects. The flatness of the neighborhood contributes to an above average cost. 8A. Homestead Village. This proposal is for an extended stay hotel on the southwest quadrant of Highways 55 and 169. As a part of their proposal, they wish to do wetland mitigation on the "little peninsula" on Medicine Lake and turn it over to the City. Staff considers the wetland mitigation and public ownership of the little peninsula a separate issue from the development application. Also, there are serious access issues to the little peninsula that would need to be addressed before we should consider public ownership of the little peninsula. The issue with the development itself is mainly wetlands. The intensity of the development and the size of the wetlands would allow no buffer on the wetland at all, contrary to our ordinance. A major variance on the buffer zone would be needed. The wetland is rated "high", but the applicant has offered evidence that it should be rated "medium" instead. There will be stormwater pond, but there is no room for any other water quality measures. While there is a major wetland issue, the project would provide economic benefits to the area, clean up a lot filled with debris, and provide an interesting gateway building into Plymouth to complement the Waterford Park area. These were some of the reasons the Planning Commission expressed support for the project. If the Council sees major problems with the project, we should not set the hearing for the vacation of a right-of-way as requested. The City has complete discretion on this item, and will have less discretion later in the project. 8B. Proposed County Communications Tower at Parkers Lake. The tower, to be located at the Adult Correctional Facility, would be 350 feet tall and is proposed to have daytime white strobe lights flashing 40 times per minute. An alternative is that the tower be painted red and white with no daytime strobe lights. Staff is getting late information that daytime strobe lights are a possible problem in some neighboring communities and will be investigating this further. The action now is whether or not an Environmental Impact Statement is needed. The evidence shows that it is not needed. The tower lights should be decided when the actual conditional use permit is before us. 9A. Business Relations Subcommittee. The Subcommittee plans to hold a business forum on March 12' with invited business people to discuss the business climate in the City and how the City can work with them. A facilitator would be used.