HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 12-11-1998P
DECEMBER 11.) 1998
1,1417 A,
1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE.-
NOTE:
CHEDULE.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.
DECEMBER 16, 7: 00 PM
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, Council
Chambers
2. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 6:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, BOARD AND
COMMISSION INTERVIEWS, Employee Lunch
Room - lower level
3. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 7: 00 PM
4. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 7:00 PM
PUBLIC SAFETYAD VISORY BOARD, Public
Safety Training Room. Agenda is attached. (M-3)
YOUTHADVISORY COUNCIL, Medicine Lake
Room
S. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 City offices close at 2:30 PM for the Christmas
holiday.
6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 City offices closed for the Christmas holiday
7. FRIDAY, JANUARY], 1999 City offices closed for the New Year holiday
8. December and January calendars are attached. City Council and Planning Commission
meeting dates for January are tentative, pending Council approval. (M-8)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO Page 2
December 11, 1998
a
1. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC.
a) Star Tribune news story concerning metro area proposed property taxes. (I -]a)
b) Star Tribune news story examining the debate over placement of Hennepin
County parks. (I -1b)
c) Post card notice to residents of the Plymouth Metrolink Route 91 C, which
commences Monday, December 14. (1-1c)
d) Invitation to a December 15, 2:30 PM holiday open house at Clare Bridge
Alternative Living Services, 15855 22"d Avenue N. (1 -Id)
e) December 1998 Plymouth Builder, newsletter from the Plymouth Inspection
Division. (7-1e)
Notice of TwinWest Government Affairs session on Unfunded Mandates,
December 16 and 17, at the Hilton Garden Inn, I -35E an Cliff Road, Eagan. (1-1)9
g) Report from Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District regarding the proposed
development of Eagle Lake Regional Park. Note that a copy of the Eagle Lake
Regional Park Golfing Complex Feasibility Evaluation will be on file in the
Administration Department for your review. (1--1g)
2. MINUTES
a) Plymouth Human Rights Commission December 3 meeting. (I --2a)
3. COMMISSIONRESIGNATION
a) Letter of resignation by Kim Koehnen, from the Planning Commission. (I -3a)
4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY—CORRESPONDENCE
A status report on the most recent correspondence is attached. (1--4)
S. CORRESPONDENCE
a) Notice of plans by Minnesota Masonic Home in Bloomington to purchase North
Ridge Care Center, 5430 Boone Avenue, in New Hope. (7--5a)
b) Thank–you letter from the League of Women Voters for Plymouth's cooperation
in releasing November 3 election returns. (I -Sb)
c) Congratulatory letter from Mayor Tierney to Jackie Fraedrich on receiving the
League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions Human Rights Award. (7-5c)
d) Internet correspondence from Carl and Pat Cooper requesting Council help in
opposing the Osseo School District 279 proposed school boundary changes. (1--5d)
e) Thank–you card from the family of Clyde Moravetz. (1-5e)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO
December 11, 1998
Page 3
fj Copy of a letter from Caliber Development Corporation President to the Plymouth
Historical Society presenting a check for $960 in support of the Historical
Society. (1--5fi
6. STAFF REPORTS
a) Anne Hurlburt reported that the Hennepin County Adult Correctional Facility's
average daily population for our Plymouth location in October was 508 including
juvenile girls housed in the ACF Women's Section, less than the occupancy limit
of 601 set by the Conditional Use Permit
(M-3)
AGENDA
City of Plymouth
Public Safety
Advisory Board
Thursday, December 17, 1998
7:00 p.m.
Public Safety Training Room
I. Call to order
II. Approval of Minutes from September 17, 1998 meeting
III. Fire Department concerns from citizen Donald Vessey, 4425 Jonquil Lane
IV. Upcoming January Agenda Items
a. Snowmobile Information
b. False Alarm Information
C. Update on Minnetonka City Court
d. Election of Chair for 1999
V. Around the table, any other issues
VI. Adjournment
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Published Sunday, December 6, 1998
�,�
Proposed bills fall in highly taxed cities
Jeffrey W. Peters / Star Tribune
startribune,com
metro
For public officials and residents in the Twin Cities metro -area cities where homeowners pay the
highest overall property taxes, the current budget season is about as good as it gets.
Related Items
Tight purse strings and increased state aid to school districts have sharply limited tax increases for
1998 metro property tax
most homeowners in the 10 metro -area cities that topped the 1998 property -tax ranking compiled
ranking s
by the Citizens League and the Minnesota Taxpayers Association.
p 1998 tax rankings for
nonmetro communities,
AA -M
Mollified by proposed 1999 tax bills that show few significant where metro homeowners paid
6 1998 tax rankings for
increases and even some hefty declines, property owners have enjoyed the highest 'ga property taxes
nonmetro communities,
their good fortune in silence, sparing public officials the howls of p"d,aea
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6 More tax information
outrage that often accompany a high ranking in the annual survey. °ePa `�" °,M,.r
ca
_ Little
Property tax database
Canada
"Even if I wanted to get something done about spending, it would be 9
ca
pretty hard to get a lot of people involved when taxes are goingHern ati
cart Oa ha�een .ca
down," said Eugene Simpkins, whose Truth in Taxation statement Co. � F' ,
showed an 18 percent decrease in taxes on his Prior Lake home, nd«� i .�
uderdale
which increased in value by about $3,000. Prior O e; r
nncapalk
colteoa Mew Dakdaea
Sa
Despite the good tax news, Simpkins, a former member of the local Marwood Prague
P g P Young Souce Minmada
school board and planning commission, thinks Prior Lake could Amerka tacp4asAsaoddi.n
economize on some of its public building projects. In 1998, Prior Ste Tribune map
Lake ranked eighth on the metro list, with a total tax bill of $2,080 on a $115,000 home, the
average home value in the metro area.
Even in New Prague, the booming community on the border of Scott and Le Sueur counties that has
topped the tax ranking list for three years running, the total tax bill on a $115,000 home that didn't
change in value will drop from $2,231 in 1998 to a maximum of $2,108 in 1999.
Total tax bills on such a home -- including the charges imposed by cities, counties, schools and
special taxing districts such as mosquito control -- will fall in all 10 cities. However, four
communities — Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Chanhassen and New Prague -- initially indicated they
would raise their city taxes. In addition, two of the seven metro -area counties ranked -- Ramsey and
Hennepin -- adopted maximum tax levies that would increase their share of local taxes slightly. But
those proposed increases would be overshadowed by steep declines in the tax collected by local
school districts.
County and city officials also are trying to trim spending. Ramsey County Board members have
already dropped the county tax levy increase from almost.4 percent to just 0.4 percent. Those
deliberations will continue at budget meetings and Truth in Taxation hearings during the next two
weeks.
Confusion, frustration
Few events frustrate municipal officials more than the annual tax survey.
Like anxious parents whose children didn't fare well on an exam, they complain that the study
ignores the particular challenges faced by each city and doesn't accurately assess blame for high tax
rates.
The Ramsey County community of Lauderdale, population 2,716, for instance, claimed second
place on the dreaded top 10 list in 1997 and 1998. But City Administrator Rick Getschow notes that
city taxes on a $115,000 home actually ranked 36th among 108 cities in the seven -county
metropolitan area. Nearby Little Canada ranked seventh on the total tax list but 65th on the list of
city tax bills.
Their common burden, Getschow noted, is being located in an expensive county and school district:
Ramsey County ranked third among metro counties and the Roseville School District imposed the
second-highest taxes of 54 school districts.
"If you put Lauderdale in Dakota County and a different school district, we could be number 50,"
Getschow said. Although neither Lauderdale nor Little Canada increased its property -tax levy for
1999, expensive improvements to streets, sewers and water lines figured in each city's tax bill:
Lauderdale is accumulating funds to pay for long-awaited repair projects while Little Canada is
almost finished repaying public works bonds issued several years ago.
Similarly, 10th -ranked Victoria places 37th for city taxes, but its residents must pay taxes to Carver
County, whose property -tax bills ranked highest in the metro area. Osseo, in Hennepin County,
ranked fourth in 1998 survey, primarily because it includes a separate storm sewer tax in the city
levy.
"I wish they wouldn't do this to us," said Joanne Kopet, the city administrator in Victoria. "People
just see the city of Victoria and think it's all our fault."
Dan Salomone, executive director of the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, concedes that some
cities are unfairly put on the hot seat.
"We try to call ahead of time and give them a heads -up," Salomone said. "In an ideal world,
taxpayers should be able to buy the level of service they want. We try to let people know where
they stand and let them decide if they are comfortable."
And many seem to be, even in the cities with the highest tax burdens.
"I haven't seen a lot of tax revolt coming from the cities at the top of the list each year," said Eric
Willette, a legislative policy analyst with the League of Minnesota Cities. Only two people attended
the Truth in Taxation hearing in Lauderdale last week; four residents went to the Osseo meeting.
"I disregard that ranking because I know the city is just a small portion of the bill. I don't think the
taxes are that bad when you understand that most of it is going to schools and when you look at our
services," said Allan Hartkopf, a retired Osseo resident whose home increased $6,000 in value but
who received a proposed tax bill showing a 1.5 percent decrease from 1998.
"In any study, somebody is going to be No. I," Salomone said.
Keeping up
And therein lies the rub for city officials pointing proudly to constant levies and shrinking tax bills.
With school districts across the state enjoying similar state largess and with budget trimming the
political order of the day, many of the same cities are likely to find themselves atop the tax ranking
list again in 1999.
In 1998, for instance, total tax bills on a $115,000 home dropped an average of 10.7 percent in the
metro area, and two cities -- Brooklyn Park and Osseo -- moved into the top 10 despite tax
decreases of more than 7 percent. The three cities that dropped out of the top 10 in 1998 -- St. Paul,
Waconia and Columbia Heights -- all recorded total tax reductions of more than 15 percent.
The margin for achieving or avoiding tax ignominy also remains razor thin. Only about $140, or
$12 per month, separated Victoria, in 10th place, from Minnetonka, quietly ensconced at No. 25.
The owner of a $115,000 home in Victoria paid about $270 per year more than a similar property
owner in Edina, ranked 50th.
Belated Items
And not all is good news for homeowners. Property values continue to grow in most communities,
1998 metro property tax
ranking
sometimes overwhelming cuts in the total tax rate. In Washington County, for instance, property
p 1998 tax rankings for
values for 1999 taxes increased by an average of more than 7 percent.
nonmetro communities.
AA -M
p 1998 tax rankings for
Verle Rhoades lives in a Lauderdale house just two blocks from where she was born 70 years ago.
nonmetro communities.
When her Truth in Taxation statement arrived last month, she said, it showed her home's value had
N -Z
increased from $108,000 to $115,000, turnip what would have been a modest tax cut into a $20
g
p More tax information
increase.
Property tax database
"That's the game they play, isn't it?" said Rhoades, a retired teacher who says she doesn't begrudge
the schools their steep share of her annual tax bill. "We just sort of rearranged the deck chairs on the
starirbune.com
Titanic, didn't we?"
mr
Metro ® Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
(�IEtBO.�. EGIO(I
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startribune.can
Metro
Related item
Nonmetro tax rankings
Published Friday, October 9, 1998
1998 metro property tax rankings
Here are the 1998 tax rankings for the 107 communities in the seven -county metropolitan area with
populations of 2,500 or above, plus Excelsior, which has a population of 2,361. "$115,000 home"
refers to a hypothetical home with an assessor's market value of $115,000. "LSP" is a home's likely
selling price, computed by dividing the assessor's market value by the median sales ratio for each
city as a way of adjusting for differences in assessment practices.
Burnsville 1
1 $121,3L7��
370
lEagan
®
$128,M
armmgton
F3217
10331
astmgs __J
Inver Grove Heights
(199)
$1,757
®0
63
73
10 1,96NFIs"
$114,455
ev1
�(-70
en ota e1g _
osemount
—$1224,M�(
60
ISouth St. Paul
$$4,1M
est St.Paul (197)
$1,63®E�J
—�`S'T,7�'LM37
�- OUNTY
oommgton(=[F�qm®� 1®701
n Center tuso) 11 5,2,54 111 11 11 1 s 11 5, / /, iwp 5,1
ti
.Corcoran (877) $1,760' 61 51 $142,4181! $2,415
L
-4.1%
Crystal 1
IL �l�t][ 4- as �s,o641
1, t ��IL
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;Dayton (I I)
- -- 1$ 23
�T753,i G�
64--` 50 ;_
2 r-49 --- 1L 53 $262.225;�5,�I
eep aven 7jf
Eden Prairie(27
_-;
1,9$7� I7 26 J 17
-6 -=-$17Y,1'9f16�
5
I $,441L�.3s/o
----'
1=dina 7
- --
- _--
22.1/-o,
Uo en a ey 7 1'
$1 -3� -- 34--��$72�,�
�1 1E:
� d/o
assan wp. 7 $j -j;$1,623
Hopkins(270)$�T
-87.J! -- -71=!
21ir 22 jSI
02,M
IW'F
$�, ,,,
-6.B%
-7.9%1
n epen ence 27$T-]
77
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77 ��1�2Ti�9Ii5
4141
°7'
ape Grove 7
1,
F2 Jj0
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9���24,$fO�l•7
0
I e ma
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,Minneapolis (3��
2, 7
�I�-$�
inneton a 276)
F
mnetnsta 71_
$1,760
$2
$�d 442]
- .7 /o
Iyloun 7� - i
$1,7761
57
F
ew ope gty--$f
1,905
j 3
E::-3-1 =�
X1 168';
1,5 7F
-1--10/0
ono 7
1,596
�l
�$27 ,44131
,11
�To
sseo7
LF, 13
F-4-,
�8 �
1, 1 ,�
-1.3%,
y1'f moutth2 4
�$1,1
2��_��
1527;
rte-
2,711,j
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$�3
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36
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0611-7
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t. Anthony 282)
t. Loinsarc8�2i�3
f j� 53 I�$1�5,605ir1
$�,5�2�53°70
orewoo
F
ayzata
54,3 ���6-��-�
3�2,0�6
T5,417 .7
jAr en Hills
I
1$Td25�/�152�3T61 %,,
a con Heights
au er a e 23y--]�2J1���
$81,�3333�rj
1�56i�8°7
I itte Canada
0
7
5
-047�S�fd9
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r$l blF-49--IF-4
13.2 !
oun s View
1 -6.3%.
ew rig ton
I
$121,3691[
J1'
-5.3%s'
j ortacs (6
$311,37�l
,North t. Paul (622)
J[W3
osevl e 3
^$03
17
1, 1
t. Paul��5-��
i loreview =F$1,83
$82, ,I
�FVJ
MI
I aV dnais Heights
;White Bear a
lWhite Bear Twf
1��0
$�)�=�j'
$120,834,
2,01 s
1
�0
lBelle Plaine
'Credit River
(719jwp.
�
99a
82�
1,
$153,757
$2,33611
of
-10.5,11, 0
or an
[New Market wp.
(194)
$1,711
��
73
58
$166,520
$2,901 aF
o
6.4/0
ew Prague
F473j��O
I nor Lake
�
avage =�
i is copee
Srin(719)g a wp
$1,596
F -r9 -]F
91
--n
84
$153,248
$2,428
-5 7°�I
WASHINGTON
Afton 1, �i5 �
$3,037
!Bayport 7 =E=E==251
Related item
Nonmetro tax rankings
cottage lirove (2SSS) 311,0551 10 1!
1:)
31 V4,L /b'
11,444: -4.31/0
f orest Lake 83TY S -1,66- E78
X10135'
$1, $4; 4%
e wp.
lit orst Lake Twp.
1(831) $1,441;1 106ij
96
$133,648;!$11
,813;x 2.7%;
Zirant ji—$1�, 5211
104
��-
$�Sj.7/
ugo(624)
—$l T,2-IfF
6.4%
'1✓aTce- mo 8JF
------- - $
F— 4.4%
Ma tome 1
0$IFST,
11 /o
ay Twp. jF$
,��b';^10$�
1 4
j $17
!New) can 1a wp.
831
�I
$1,654
79
64
$144,0821
$2,310]
9.2%
Newport(��r$1��I����1
$94,0-71,
!Oak Park e1g is
x(834)
$1,761
58
55
0�I
$107,078
$1,575
13.2/0,
Oakdale (622)
1,
$1,308�4
7aToi
t. Paul Parc
1,5
F -0—]j
101 11$8b,2�0'1®
-8.9%
t1 water (834Y-----]
F"-�F-1971
$11��
1®�3
ti I I wate rwp. ( 4 �
1, 19
C8g J
—
66�$1993�
3,2 11°70
'West a an wp.
�1( 8344
$1,435[;7][-
107
i�^I��'I
$208,722
$3,25611
2.9%
!,Woodbury
$1 0qE
85
j
M,5
SOURCES: Minnesota Department of Revenue Abstracts of Assessments and Tax Lists;
startribune.com Calculations by Minnesota Taxpayers Association.
Metro ® Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
(I-1 b)
T YOUR
1!6-1!T:111,
HOLIDAYS
M E TH91. 16100 Published Sunday, December 6, 1998
Inner -ring cities complain of neglect from Hennepin Parks
Mark Brunswick / Star Tribune
startnbu e.corn
Metro Peter Erick enjoys snowshoeing and other activities at Hennepin Parks' French Regional Park. But
the 5 -mile drive from his home in New Hope to the park in Plymouth requires him to cross Hwy.
169, a sort of Berlin Wall separating the park -blessed haves on the west from the have-nots to the
Related item east.
Where the regional
parks are Like a number of officials of Hennepin County's inner -ring suburbs, Enck, the mayor of New Hope,
often has felt slighted by the suburban parks system and its focus on the county's outermost cities.
Now a proposed golf course in Plymouth has drawn the most recent ire of Erick and others in New
Hope, who see it as the latest example of how Hennepin Parks has favored cities such as Plymouth
and Maple Grove.
Although establishing a park in the inner ring has been a priority for several years, Hennepin Parks
officials say they have been unable to acquire inner -ring land in cities already fully developed.
Inner -ring city officials say they have heard that argument before.
"Take a look at a map," Erick suggested. "Everything with Hennepin Parks is west of [Hwy.] 169.
We are east of 169."
Eagle Lake Regional Park, at Zachary Lane and Bass Lake Road in Plymouth, is scheduled to open
in July 2001. Besides a picnic area and recreational trails, the park would include a driving range, a
shorter golf course known as a pitch and putt course and an executive nine -hole course.
First Tee, a new national program aimed at involving low-income children in the game, also is
expected to be involved.
Even though the prospect of at -risk youth hitting the links would be likely to help kids from the
inner -ring suburbs more than those from wealthier cities, officials in New Hope and other inner -ring
suburbs are not soothed. Adding to the dismay in New Hope is concern that the golf complex would
be direct competition for its own municipal golf course, New Hope Village, also on Bass Lake
Road.
Hennepin Parks officials have acknowledged, in fact, that the new course will absorb perhaps as
much as 22 percent of the golfers within a 3 -mile radius, which could include the New Hope course.
And when a new course opened in nearby Brooklyn Center several years ago, New Hope officials
said that average rounds per year dropped from 41,000 to 37,000 and that their market share has not
been recovered.
"It appears that Hennepin Parks provides a greater level of service to the outer -ring cities of the
county, to the detriment of the inner -ring cities," Erick wrote last month in a letter to the park
system's seven -member elected board of commissioners. "The inner -ring 'developed' cities gain
little from the Hennepin Parks system directly. Hennepin Parks seems to be supporting the image
that developing the third -ring cities is a higher priority than the first -and second -ring cities of
Hennepin County."
Happy trails
The 25,000 -acre Suburban Hennepin Regional Parks District, known as Hennepin Parks, operates in
suburban Hennepin County and in parts of Carver, Scott and Anoka counties. Three million visitors
a year use the parks for such activities as camping, horseback riding, golf, bicycling, swimming and
skiing.
Some taxpayers in those counties pay a portion of their property taxes to maintain and develop the
system. (Minneapolis property taxpayers do not pay for the Hennepin system.) And for most of the
parks, users also pay a daily or annual fee.
The system is designed for regional -- not neighborhood or city -- use, and Hennepin Parks
marketing studies show participation from residents of many communities, not just those living near
the parks.
But for many inner -ring suburbs that are wrestling with aging infrastructure, aging housing and
aging populations, amenities such as nearby regional parks are regarded as a way to keep a
community vital and attractive.
Boosting home values is important for inner -ring suburbs that otherwise may not have a commercial
or industrial tax base to contribute to basic services such as police and public works. Robbinsdale's
major employer, for instance, is North Memorial Medical Center, and much of its property is not
taxable.
Inner -ring officials acknowledge that the idea of developing land into parks is alluring, but they say
that other factors need to be taken into account.
"If you run for parks commissioner, you want to see plans for where you can do big new proj ects
with wide-open spaces," said Robbinsdale City Manager Dennis Kraft. "It's just like for developers.
It's a lot easier to develop property than it is to redevelop property. But the inner -ring suburbs may
need the amenities even more. People have to think about that."
Other officials think that the inner -ring suburbs have not received the attention they deserve,
especially given their contribution to the parks system. The eight inner -ring suburbs contributed
more than $2.83 million of the park system's $9.93 million tax levy in 1998.
Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, whose district includes the inner -ring suburbs
Brooklyn Center, Crystal and Robbinsdale, said Hennepin Parks might have been better off
considering improvements in the inner ring before purchasing land in Carver or Scott counties,
where Hennepin Parks operates several sites. "I don't think they've given the inner -ring suburbs
their due."
No land for sale
Officials from Hennepin Parks say that no slight has been intended in developing the system but
that the availability of land -- not a disrespect for the inner ring -- has dictated their actions.
Hennepin Parks was established in 1957 to establish parks near rivers, lakes, streams and other
nature areas.
Major acquisition of park properties occurred between 1957 and 1962, with a secondary wave from
1963 to 1978. The Metropolitan Regional Park System was not created until 1974, and by then,
many inner -ring suburbs were fully developed, making land acquisition difficult.
Recent efforts to buy land along Sweeney Lake in Golden Valley were unsuccessful. The land went
to a private developer.
By law, the park system must purchase at least 200 acres to create a regional park or 1,000 acres for
a park reserve.
"We have to site by resource, not by geography," said Margie Ostlund, director of special services
for Hennepin Parks.
Collaboration
Doug Bryant, Hennepin Parks superintendent, acknowledged cities' concerns but said the cities
must offer solutions. Improving regional trails to give bikers and pedestrians better access to
existing parks might be one answer, but cities must be willing to offer such things as long-term
leases to the parks system, Bryant said.
The parks system already is working with Golden Valley to continue the North Hennepin Regional
Trail from French Regional Park and the state Luce Line Trail to Theodore Wirth Park in
Minneapolis. The system also is extending the Southwest Regional LRT Trail from Hopkins
through St. Louis Park to the developing Midtown Greenway trail in Minneapolis.
As for new features such as the golf complex in Plymouth, parks officials say they will try to
collaborate with cities to reduce competition, offering services that the municipal courses may not
offer and providing enticements such as reduced -rate cards at municipal courses for participants in
the system's youth programs.
Belated item Bryant, the parks superintendent, will convene a summit of inner -ring mayors and city managers
Where the regional early in 1999 to talk about what options might be available. He said a regional park for inner -ring
parks are Hennepin County has been a problematic priority for more than 10 years.
AMI startnbune.com "It's not a very easy problem to solve," he said. "Where do you do this?"
MW
`o Metro ® Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
MAP, E6100 Published Sunday, December 6, 1998
Where the regional parks are
Star Tribune
startribune.com
Metro Hennepin Parks, a 25,000 -acre regional parks system, operates in suburban Hennepin County and in
parts of Carver, Scott and Anoka counties. The parks draw 3 million visitors a year for camping,
horseback riding, bicycling, golfing, swimming and skiing. Officials in some of Minneapolis' inner -
ring suburbs say they feel neglected in park development plans despite paying nearly 30 percent of
the system's tax levy. Parks officials say that it has been difficult to find land for expansion in those
fully developed cities and that they're working toward a compromise.
® Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved
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® Copyright 1998 Star Tribune. All rights reserved
City of Plymouth 1 '' .'T )--5.(I1C)
.3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447-1482
c
We're bringingtransit
to your neigh
� eorhood.�
New Service Begins Monday December 14
Route 91C, service to and from downtown Minneapolis,
will be extending its service area to within walking distance
of your door. Review the route map on the other side of
this card. DetailescWules will oon be available on
MetiWZA-6s6.R]all 37 3 r additional information.
CLARE BRIDGE
(c° Alternative Living Set -vices
15855 22nd Avenue Nort.1i
IDI),11tou th, MN 55417
Clare bridge
Welcome's
You
Home _rilc)f
i
The Hol; clkiyc:
Clare brid&i
a Holiday Opc" 1JO 'Ll"
with all of the Lf"111"
plea,se be Our Wccml
Tue8day, Dccember I'
2:30 to 6:00 P-111.
BWiD/,-,E
73,
CLARE
Alternativg_LPinlra Service.
22nd N-venuc North
1855
7)
p, Y111outh, TIN 55447
Plymouthu'lider
A newsletter from the Plymouth Inspection Division, December 1998
New fee schedule takes effect in 1999
he Plymouth City Council re-
cently adopted the Building
Permit Fee Schedule published
in the 1997 edition of the Uniform
Building Code (UBC). Permits issued
after the close of business on Decem-
ber 31, 1998 will be subject to the
new fee schedule.
1999 Building Permit Fee Schedule
The Building Permit Fee Schedule is based on the total value of all
construction work including plumbing, electrical and mechanical
systems, finish work and labor.
Total Valuation New Fee
$1 to $500 $23.50
$501 to $2,000 $23.50 for the first $500
plus $3.05 for each additional $100
or fraction thereof,
to and including $2,000.
$2,001 to $25,000 $69.25 for the first $2,000
plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof,
to and including $25,000.
$25,001 to $50,000 $391.25 for the first $25,000
plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof,
to and including $50,000.
$50,001 to $100,000 $643.75 for the first $50,000
plus $7 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof,
to and including $100,000.
$100,001 to $500,000 $993.75 for the first $100,000
plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof,
to and including $500,000.
$500,001 to $1,000,000 $3,233.75 for the first $500,000
plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof,
to and including $1,000,000.
$1,000,001 and up $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000
plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000
or fraction thereof.
1
Met Council to raise
SAC charge in 1999
The Metropolitan Council Environ-
mental Services (MCES) division has
approved the Sewer Availability
Charge (SAC) rates for 1999. The base
SAC unit will increase from $1,000
to $1,050 beginning Jan. 1, 1999.
Permits issued after the close of busi-
ness on Dec. 31, 1998 will be sub-
ject to the increased rate. While the
City of Plymouth collects the charge
for MCES, it is not a City charge.
Wetland buffers:
What builders need
to know in Plymouth
In 1995, the City Council adopted an
ordinance to better protect wetlands
within the City. Through the ordi-
nance, the Council recognized the
importance of wetlands to the com-
munity, particularly in maintaining
water quality.
The wetland protection ordinance re-
quires developers of all newly plat-
ted lots with wetlands to create a
"buffer" around those wetlands. The
buffer is a natural area planted with
materials specified in the ordinance.
The ordinance also requires devel-
opers to install wetland buffer signs
to mark the edge of the natural area.
These signs are permanent and may
not be removed for any reason.
Once construction begins on a lot
having a wetland buffer, the builder
is prohibited to do any grading in the
buffer area. In addition, the builder
needs to inform purchasers about the
Buffers - Continued on page 2.
BILL OF RIGHTS Buffers - Continued from page 1.
wetland buffer and why it is there.
Customer Service Policy The builder should also inform pur-
Applicants for Permits and Licenses chasers that the City will take legal
action ifh
In order to assure fair and equal treat-
ment under the law of applicants for
all types of permits and licenses is-
sued by the City of Plymouth, the fol-
lowing standards for our actions have
been adopted by the City:
1. You have the right to be treated
courteously and respectfully at all
times during the course of your
business transactions with the City.
2. You have the right to request an
informal meeting with staff, prior
to submission of your application,
to discuss any questions or con-
cerns you may have with the ap-
plication, plan review, investiga-
tion or inspection process.
3. You have the right to request a
copy of any specific citation of a
law, ordinance, code, or city reso-
lution that is the basis for our re-
quirements.
4. You have the right to appeal any
decision of any enforcing official
without fear of reprisal to an
employee's supervisor, department
head, and, if necessary, to the city
manager.
5. You have the right to timely deci-
sions based upon written depart-
mental standards established from
time to time.
6. You have the right to have City
personnel make a good faith ef-
fort to explain all relevant codes
and requirements at the time your
license or permit application is
approved.
7. You have the right to have all rul-
ings and interpretations following
the original review of plans which
have a significant impact on the
cost or timely completion of a
project reviewed by a supervisory
person in advance of their issu-
ance and to have a specific cita-
tion of the regulation that is the
basis for the ruling.
8. You have the right to prompt ac-
tion on your application or request
for inspection of your work, even
if the regularly assigned staff per-
son is not available.
a omeowner removes wet-
land buffer signs.
For additional information on wet-
land buffers, contact Barbara
Senness, Planning Supervisor at 612-
509-5452.
How area doing?
Let us know. N Ime you are in
to see us, tak minute to let us
know how w Tare doing. Fill out a
customer serv' _ card. Cards are lo-
cated at our fro t service counter.
Who's Who
Community Development Department
Protective Inspection Division
City Manager
Dwight Johnson
612-509-5051 Community Development
Anne Hurlburt, Director
612-509-5401
Assistant Building Official
Larry Farris
612-509-5436
I Building Inspector I
Arnie Rasmusson
612-509-5437
I Building Inspector I
Bill Tor
612-509-5441
I Building Inspector I
Karleen Liu ,
612-509-5435
I Building Inspector
Glenn McLearen
612-509-5434
I Building Inspector I
Chris Land
612-509-5439
I Building Inspector I
Bob Rood
612-509-5442
2
Clerical Supervisor
Denise Hutt
Building Official
612-509-5408
Joe Ryan
612-509-5431
Senior Clerk Typist
Housing Inspector
Ranelle Gifford
612-509-5430
Warren Kulesa
612-509-5445
Senior Clerk Typist
Fire Inspector
Janice Bergstrom
Stan Scofield
612-509-5430
612-509-5443
Senior Clerk Typist
Michelle Gurewitz
Fire Inspector
612-509-5430
Bob Fiske
612-509-5444
City strives to meet standards for
he Building Inspection Divi-
sion strives to meet the follow
ing standards for checking
plans, issuing permits and conduct-
ing inspections. Checklists and infor-
mation sheets are available to help
customers know what constitutes a
complete permit application and
complete work for an inspection.
New Work and Remodeling for
Single -Family and Two -Family Build-
ings
Five business days upon receipt of
completed application and materials.
Up to three additional working days
may be needed to evaluate revised
. plans and information.
Single -Family and Two -Family
Plumbing, Sewer and Water,
Mechanical
Seasons Gree
Maximum of one business day upon
receipt of completed application
forms.
Commercial/Industrial/Multiple
Family Dwelling (New Construction
and Additions)
Maximum of ten business days upon
receipt of completed application and
materials. Building staff will provide
a letter detailing any plan deficien-
cies noted to all applicants. Also, and
very importantly, all related special
conditions of approval, detailed in the
City Council action or administrative
action authorizing the permits, must
be satisfied before permits are issued.
Up to ten extra business days may
be needed when revised plans and
information are submitted.
Finishing Tenant Areas in
Commercial/Industrial Building
Maximum of five work-
ing days upon receipt of
completed application
tZngs and materials.
.1
Plumbing, Sewer/Water,
Mechanical Work and
Fire Suppression Systems
in Commercial/Indus-
trial/Multi-Family Build-
ings
Maximum of three busi-
ness days upon receipt of
completed application,
plans and materials. This
applies when applica-
tions are made separately
from the building permit
for these classes of work.
Sign and Moving Permits
Maximum of three busi-
ness days upon receipt of
completed applica-
tion, plans, and mate-
rials.
3
issuing permits
Grading Permits
Will be reviewed and routed to the
City Forester and City Engineering Di-
vision for required approval within
two business days of receipt. The City
Forester and City Engineer will return
application materials and plans, in-
dicating approval, special conditions
or disapproval no more than five busi-
ness days after receipt of the materi-
als. The permit will be issued within
one business day after receiving the
approval from the City Forester and
City Engineer and after any required
performance agreements and finan-
cial guarantees have been satisfied.
Inspection Requests
Inspection requests for specific times
will be honored whenever possible.
If the requested time is not available,
the customer will be advised so that
an alternate time or the next business
day can be selected.
T W I"\✓V E S -T-
CHAMBER
CHAMBER O F COMMERCE
December 8, 1998
THE FISCAL RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA
IS VERY CONFUSING TO THE TAXPAYER
AND LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY!
As a member of the TwinWest Government Affairs Committee, or as a participant in the
TwinWest Local Government Work Session on Unfunded Mandates, you are already
aware of this! To make government accountable, we need to link the vote to provide a
service with the responsibility to pay for that service.
The business community and local units of government have a mutual interest in
reforming state mandates on local governments. Representatives of these two groups
have been meeting for the past 6 months and have been discussing objectives and goals for
reforming state mandates and drafting possible legislation.
ALTERNATIVES TO UNFUNDED MANDATES
Wednesday, December 16 & Thursday, December 17
8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
Interstate 35E & Cliff Road
Eagan, Minnesota
The business community needs to be represented at this conference Thursday,
December 17* is the day you should attend This session is for those business and policy
leaders who want to see how mandate reform can lead to lower state and local taxes. How
can this confusing mandate issue be resolved? What are other parts of the country doing
about this?
FILL OUT THE ENCLOSED REGISTRATION FORM
AND SEND IT IN TODAY!
President
TwinWest Chamber of Commerce
10550 WAYZATA BOULEVARD ♦ MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA 55305 ♦ (612)540-0234
Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka, New Hope, Plymouth, St. Louis Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE .DATE: December 7,1998
CONTACT: Jennifer Byers
(651) 292-4673
Business groups, local governments sponsor mandate reform conference
Minnesota,businesses and local governments have joined together to sponsor a two
day seminar on state mandates, titled "The Road to Mandate Reforms: Techniques and
Solutions." The event will be held on Wednesday, December 16 and Thursday, December
17 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 35B and Cliff Road in Eagan. Cost for the conference is $45
for one day, $80 for both days. To register, or for more information, contact the
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce at (651) 292-4676.
The business community, state and local governments have a mutual interest in
reforming state mandates on local governments. Businesses pay a disproportionate share
of the cost of any unfunded mandate due to the structure of Minnesota's property tax
system. Local governments' effort to minimize tax increases and provide services in the
most cost-effective manner are frequently frustrated by state demands for a specific service
and/or administrative procedure. The state seldom provides sufficient funds to finance
mandates.
The first day of the conference will focus on techniques used by other states and
federal agencies to quickly and accurately collect valid cost estimates for use in state
budget deliberations. The second day will explore a full range of options for realigning
state and local resources and responsibilities through the reduction of unfunded mandates.
The conference is sponsored by the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities;
Association of Minnesota Counties; League of Cities; Metropolitan Inter -County
Association; Minnesota Association of County Administrators; Minnesota Business
Partnership; Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; Minnesota Department of Finance; and
the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
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Mandate Reform Conference
c/o 30 East 7th St., Suite 1700
St. Paul, MN 55101
New Approadies to
Mandate RefOm
InWe'-
REGISTRATION
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HENNEPIN
PARKS
Dear Park Neighbor:
(1-19)
SUBURBAN HENNEPIN REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
12615 County Road 9 Plymouth, Minnesota 55441-1299
Telephone (612)559-9000 TDD (612) 559-6719 FAX 559-3287
An Equal Opportunity Employer
December 1998
The Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District (Hennepin Parks) is considering Phase I
Development of Eagle Lake Regional Park and has scheduled Public Information Open Houses
on January 11 and January 23 to answer questions and accept comments about the proposed
development plans.
Enclosed for your review is a Background Information Sheet and a copy of the Development
Concept Plan for the entire park; however, please keep in mind when viewing the concept plan
that it includes proposed facilities for both Phase I Development as well as future development.
As the Background Information Sheet indicates, most of the Phase I Development is proposed to
occur within the designated special recreation use area located in the southern portion of the
regional park.
Hennepin Parks acquired much of the 230 -acre Eagle Lake Park property in the late 1970s, with
the intent of developing it for active recreation as part of the Metropolitan Regional Park System.
To date, the only development that has occurred has been an eight -foot wide trail between Eagle
and Pike Lakes. The close proximity of Eagle Lake Regional Park to other regional park facilities
enables the Park District to approach development in a comprehensive way aimed at addressing
the needs of our regional constituents. Hennepin Parks operates several enterprise facilities that
provide outdoor recreation activities, not only as a means of meeting demand for certain types of
services and programs, but also to generate, non -tax revenue. Enterprise facilities are considered
in light of their ability to pay operating costs, provide future revenue to the Park District, and
fund their own capital improvement costs. Many of the proposed improvements for the southern
portion of Eagle Lake Regional Park meet these objectives and will provide operational funding
for more typical regional park amenities.
A public meeting notice with comment form is enclosed. Any written communications about the
project received through February 5 will be submitted to the Hennepin Parks Board of
Commissioners in February or March, 1999, for consideration.
Sincerely,
Douglas F. Bryant
Superintendent and
Secretary to the Board
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Development Plan
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November 1998
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EAGLE LAKE REGIONAL PARK
SPECIAL RECREATION AREA
Development Plan
Hennepin Parks
November 1998
NORTH
600
KEY TO FACILITIES
A.
Clubhouse
B.
Maintenance Shop
C.
Nine -Hole Golf Course
D.
Pilch and Putt Course
E.
Putting Green
F.
Teaching/Chipping Area
G.
Croquet Courts
H.
Driving Range
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J.
Picnic Area & Shelter
K.
Boat Launch
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M.
Existing Paved Trail
N. Proposed Paved Trail
D. Proposed Unpaved Trail
P. Parking
Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District
Background Information Sheet
December 1998
Proposed Development of Ea
e Lake Regional Park
The Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District, also known as Hennepin Parks, is considering Phase I Development of Eagle
Lake Regional Park. Hennepin Parks acquired most of the 230 -acre park property in the 1970s, with the intent of developing it
for active recreation as part of the Metropolitan Regional Park System. The park is located in the cities of Maple Grove and
Plymouth. The following questions and answers were prepared to address public inquiries about the park and its proposed
facilities.
Q. What does Phase I Development include and where within the park will it occur?
With the exception of trails, development will be within the 100 -acre designated special recreation use area in the
southern portion of the regional park. The special recreation use area is identified in the parks' Master Plan as an area
designated to serve regional recreation needs. Phase I Development is proposed to feature:
• 2.3 miles of paved bike/hike trail linked to existing trails in Maple Grove and Plymouth
• Golf Practice Center consisting of : a nine -hole executive course, nine -hole pitch and putt course (holes less than
100 yards), driving range with approximately 50 stations, and practice area for chipping, pitching, sand play and
putting
• Sheltered reservation picnic areas
• Lawn games area featuring croquet courts
• Clubhouse and maintenance buildings
• Roads and parking areas
As part of Phase I Development, year-round use is proposed, including a lighted sliding hill and beginner cross-
country ski trails. The park's Master Plan also identifies plans for future Phase II Development, including facilities for
boating, fishing access and picnicking. This development is not proposed to occur in the near future.
Q. What are the goals of the Phase I Development project?
• To provide expanded outdoor recreation and public golf opportunities
• To provide a future non -tax source of revenue for regional park services that are not self-supporting
• To develop the proposed facilities in a manner that is respectful of, and enhanced by, the natural park
environment. Hennepin Parks is a natural resources based Park District created by the State Legislature in 1957,
whose mission includes environmental stewardship and provision of outdoor recreation services.
Q. Why is the proposed golf facility unique within the metro area?
While Eagle Lake Golf Center will be attractive to all levels of players — from the beginner to the experienced golfer
— its primary purpose is to serve as a learning facility for adults, juniors and golfers with disabilities. An important
focus of this proposed facility is to create more accessible and affordable golf opportunities for youth and beginner
golfers. It is envisioned that this facility will serve as an introductory area, encouraging golf as a life-long activity and
providing participants the skills and confidence to move on to more challenging private and public golf courses.
Hennepin Parks is under consideration by the World Golf Foundation as a possible site for a "First Tee" program,
which would provide extraordinary assistance from World Golf Foundation members ( PGA, LPGA, USGA, etc.) in
an effort to increase golf opportunities for youth and, in particular, youth from socio-economic backgrounds currently
underrepresented as golfers.
Q. Is it appropriate, for a unit of government to operate a golf course?
Yes. Local units of government operate'approximatcly 50 percent of the public golf courses in the metropolitan area.
Public and privately—owned golf facilities have positively co -existed throughout the history of the game. Both types
of golf courses are necessary to meet demands for a variety of play experiences and affordability of play, particularly
within the youth market. There are several benefits to government-owned and operated golf courses:
• Specific control over land planning and environmental issues
• Facilities are typically integrated into existing parkland, eliminating the need for additional land acquisition
costs and resulting in affordable development
• Facilities are operated with a public interest perspective rather than a solely profit orientation
• Public access and affordable public fees are primary considerations
• Facilities generate revenue that can offset costs of other recreation programs/services
The Park District currently operates Baker National Golf Course, Glen Lake Golf & Practice Center and Cleary
Lake Golf Course.
Q. How has Hennepin Parks Environmental Stewardship Mission been considered?
Both the Master Plan and Phase I Development Plan for Eagle Lake Regional Park reflect Hennepin Parks' desire to
maintain the significant natural features of the site. Much of the site under consideration for Phase I Development
was formerly old farm fields. The Park District uses environmentally sensitive maintenance practices in its golf
course management. These practices include:
• Consideration of natural features in the siting and routing of golf holes and other amenities
• Management of conservation areas to promote wildlife habitat and development of natural buffers around
amenities
• Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) guidelines, which require close evaluation of
pest problems to minimize use of chemicals
• Use of soil testing and cultural practices to maintain healthy turf and efficiently use fertilizers Computerized
irrigation system to use water resource efficiently and effectively
Q. What is the time frame for the proposed Phase I Development of Eagle Lake Regional Park?
The project is currently in the preliminary proposal stage. Hennepin Parks will solicit comments from citizens and
public officials for review by the Park District's Board of Commissioners. Upon conclusion of the public
information process, it is proposed that Hennepin Parks will work with consultants to prepare design/development
plans and cost estimates for Phase I Development. It is estimated that design/development plans and cost estimates
may be presented to the Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners in the spring/summer of 1999 for consideration of
project approval and authorization to proceed with construction.
Q. If the project moves ahead, how will it be funded?
No tax dollars are proposed to be allocated for the development of the golf enterprise facilities and supporting
buildings. Revenue bond financing will be proposed and the area operated as an enterprise facility, with proceeds
paying all operating and debt service costs. It also is proposed that segments of the planned trails and other
recreation amenities within the special recreation use area will be rolled into the revenue bond and be paid for by the
enterprise facility.
Q. Will there be an opportunity for public input regarding the proposed development?
Yes. Public Information Open Houses are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on January 11 and January 28, 1999, in the Board
Room of the Park District's Headquarters building in French Regional Park at 12615 County Road 9, Plymouth.
Written public comments will be accepted through February 5, 1999. All written public comments will be submitted
to the Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners in February or March 1999.
For additional information about the project, the public may write or call:
Margie Ostlund, Director of Special Services
Hennepin Parks, 12615 County Road 9, Plymouth, MN 55411-1248
559-9000 or 559-6719 (TDD)
Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District
Notice of Public Information Open House
On
Eagle Lake Regional Park
Special Recreation Use Area
Development Proposal
Dates: Monday, January 11
Thursday, January 28
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Location: Hennepin Parks Headquarters Office
French Regional Park
12615 Co. Rd. 9
Plymouth, MN
Phone: 559-9000
Purpose: The Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District, also known as
Hennepin Parks, will provide informational exhibits and material
describing the proposed trail, recreation and golf enterprise features
for the development of the special recreation use area within Eagle
Lake Regional Park. Staff will be available to answer questions and
solicit citizen comments for submittal to the Park District's Board of
Commissioners.
A comment submittal form appears on the reverse side of this
announcement. Comments will be accepted through February 5.
Comments can be submitted as follows:
• At the Public Open House
• Mailed to the address as appears above
• Faxed to Hennepin Parks at 559-3287.
Project
Proposal: (See attached Background Information sheet and Concevtual Plan)
Questions: For additional information call, fax, or a -mail Hennepin Parks
(Phone) 559-9000 (Fax) 559-3287
Douglas F. Bryant, Superintendent
dbryani@hennepinpark"
Margie Ostlund, Director of Special Services
mostlund@hennepinparks
Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District
Proposed Eagle Lake Regional Park Special Recreation Use Area Plan
CITIZEN COMMENT FORM
Name:
Address:
Phone: (H) (W)
(Fax)
(E-mail)
I would like to present the following comments to the Hennepin Parks Board of
Commissioners:
Signature Date
(Please feel free to submit additional pages or attached prepared statement)
Bring this form to a Public Open House, mail to Hennepin Parks at 12615 Co. Rd. 9,
Plymouth, MN 55441 or fax to 559-3287
SUBMITTAL DEADLINE FEBRUARY 5, 1999
Memo
TO: Suburban Hennepin Parks and Recreation Directors
FROM: Margie Ostlund, Director of Special Services N-00
DATE: December 10, 1998
SUBJ: Informational Packet on Eagle Lake Regional Park
Attached for your information is the background packet Hennepin Parks is sending to citizens adjacent
to Eagle Lake Regional Park regarding the proposed Eagle Lake Special Recreation Use Area
Development. This information is also being sent to citizens who have called Hennepin Parks to
inquire about the project and to the local media.
Staff has reviewed this information with many of you, but as a regional facility, we wanted to be sure
that all parks and recreation directors within Hennepin Parks service area are aware of this proposal.
Please call me at 559-6746 if you have any questions.
Copies to: Busch, Rick City of Plymouth
Mark Saari, City of Maple Grove
Jay Lotthammer, City of Brooklyn Park
12615 County Road 9, Plymouth, MN 55441 Phone: 612-559-9000 Fax: 612-559-3287
(I -2a)
Plymouth Human Rights Commission
December 3, 1998
Minutes
Present: Ruth Ruffin, Gordon Order, Sara Frailich, Mitzi Heath, Perssis Meshkat,
Rebecca Malinsky, Raj it Chakravarty, Becky Wheeler, Resident Joan Jensen, City
Manager Dwight Johnson, Public Safety Director Craig Gerdes, Human Resources
Manager Jeanette Sobania, and City Clerk Laurie Ahrens
Excused: Laurie Levi, Jackie Fraedrich, Art Johnson, Manik Chhabra, Claudelle
Carruthers
Absent: Jeff Richards
Call to Order
Ruth Ruffin called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Minutes
Motion was made by Becky Wheeler, seconded by Mitzi Heath, to approve the minutes
of the November 5 meeting. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote.
Essay Contest
Joan Jensen reported on the status of the essay contest. The deadline for essay
submission is December 31 and the winning essay must be forwarded for the state
competition by mid January. Motion was made by Mitzi Heath, seconded by Ruth
Ruffin, to authorize a subcommittee consisting of Becky Wheeler, Mitzi Heath, Ruth
Ruffin, Perssis Meshkat, Sara Frailich, Joan Jensen (resident), and Marcia Qually (author
of middle school books) to judge and select the winners of the essay contest.
Order of the Day -- Presentation on Employee Training
Public Safety Director Gerdes presented information on an 8 -hour diversity training
session held for police personnel on September 29 and October 29. He said that 56
officers and 5 CSOs attended the training conducted by InterRace. Vivian Jenkins
Nelson conducted three pre -training focus groups prior to development of the training.
John Edwards, a BCA Special Agent, helped Vivian present the training. John Loucks
also participated in a portion of the training relating to the transition of the Russian
community to this country. The first portion of the training covered small group
discussion of scenarios relating to areas of possible discrimination. A diversity self-
awareness guide was also used. Director Gerdes thought the most valuable part of the
training was the discussion of white privilege, and he had a positive personal reaction to
the training.
Human Resources Manager Sobania described the Cross Cultural Communication
training held for non -police personnel conducted by Barbara Raye. She said that the
City's experience with a mandatory diversity training session held about four years ago
was not positive and, in fact, may have set the City back. Therefore, she was careful
Minutes
December 3, 1998
Page 2
when searching for a session that would be beneficial to this employee group. The
primary concern was internal relationships and how people coming into the workforce
would feel. She shared that less than 18% of the Plymouth employees live in the City
and many of those who live outside of the City are from areas of less diversity. The
premise of the training was that if we learn more about others, it will benefit us. The
training used a lot of personal assessment tools, and the employee response was generally
positive. The comments tended to be, "This session really made me think; I'd like more
about..." There were a couple of negative comments received about the session.
Human Resources Manager Sobania also presented information about the City's
recruitment efforts. In 1998, over $22,000 was spent for recruitment and 13 newspapers
and publications are used to reach a diverse audience. She explained that the general
labor shortage is also impacting recruitment efforts. Positions that generated 50 to 60
applicants a few years ago, only generate 10 applicants today. The City used to get 600
to 700 applicants for a police officer position, and the last hiring round had 222
applicants.
City Manager Johnson explained that the City had about 1,000 applicants in 1998. Of
that total, 3.7 percent of all applicants are hired and 5.7 percent of all minority applicants
are hired. He said a major problem is that the applicant pool is not very diverse.
Commissioners offered suggestions of interviewing minority applicants to determine why
they applied, internships, work study, and job placements.
Public Safety Director Gerdes said the POST Board has hired a minority recruiter and he
hopes that a larger, identifiable minority pool will be available in a year or so for police
officer selection. He said the City also participates in the cadet program.
Staff explained the time available each year for training, the competing mandatory
training, and the costs.
Sara Frailich suggested that a future diversity session for police officers include youth
issues. Her school has a video that includes youth interactions with police which she will
make available for viewing.
Human Resources Manager Sobania said she has never received a service complaint
relating to interaction of a non -police employee with a person of color or disabled person.
She asked Commissioners to pass on information if they hear of issues so investigation
and response can be done in a timely manner.
1999 Work Plan
Commissioners reviewed the draft 1999 work plan. Becky Wheeler will collect
objectives/action plans for each project this year and develop a schedule. Claudelle
Minutes
December 3, 1998
Page 3
Carruthers will serve as the primary communications contact for the Commission and
will work with City Communications Coordinator Helen LaFave.
City Clerk Ahrens distributed a proposed Project on Disability which was submitted by a
resident. The Commission thought this was an excellent project; however, the project
scale is too large for the HRC at this time. Becky Wheeler volunteered to contact the
resident to discuss specific projects or communications that could be incorporated into
the existing 1999 work plan to address disability issues.
Motion was made by Mitzi Heath, seconded by Ruth Ruffin, to approve the work plan for
the Human Rights Commission manual submitted by Becky Wheeler and City Clerk
Laurie Ahrens. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote.
Sara Frailich addressed the last item on the work plan. She suggested that coordination
of a project or some other activity may be more beneficial than a survey in the high
schools. Following discussion, the item was amended to read "Work with Plymouth high
schools to explore human rights needs."
Motion was made by Ruth Ruffin, seconded by Gordon Order, to approve the proposed
1999 work plan and forward it to the City Council for action. The motion was adopted
by unanimous vote.
Communications Theme
The Commission discussed the proposal from Claudelle Carruthers to adopt a theme for
1999. Motion was made by Mitzi Heath, seconded by Gordon Ortler, to approve the
theme of "Plymouth: A Neighborhood and Community for All" for 1999 and to
authorize Claudelle Carruthers to develop a series of articles relating to the topic. Minor
changes were made to the first proposed article. The motion was adopted by unanimous
vote.
Motion was made by Mitzi Heath, seconded by Ruth Ruffin, to adjourn the meeting at
8:55 p.m.
Next meeting: Thursday, January 7,1999 7:00 p.m.
(I -3a)
5545 Orleans Lane
Plymouth, MN 55442
December 4, 1998
Hnning Commission Chair Stulberg, Mayor Tierney, and Community Director
urlburfta
Please accept this letter of resignation from my position on the Planning
Commission. The effective date of the resignation can be timed for your convenience
to coincide with your normal timeline for the interview and appointment process.
I've carefully thought out my decision to resign and it is based on two main
reasons:
1. My need for more personal time. Over the last year, I've gotten even more
involved in my professional duties and organizations. There has not been much time
left over for family and friends. With the recent death of my grandfather, I've realized
how little personal time I have left each week and want to make some changes.
2. It doesn't appear that there will be a large amount of turnover in the Planning
Commission since two of our members didn't win election to the city council. I realize
there may be some turnover with terms expiring, but this may be the most convenient
time of year for an appointment.
I truly appreciate the Mayor and City Council's confidence in appointing me to
the Plymouth Planning Commission. I've worked hard to fulfill my responsibilities and
have tried to always make decisions for the best interests of Plymouth. In return, I have
learned a lot also. Plymouth is a great city and it has been exciting to watch it grow
and develop over the years. I'm glad that I had a chance to play a small part in the
planning of Plymouth.
Best wishes and thanks for all your work for our city!
Sincerely,
Kim Koehnen
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Care Center
December 2, 1998
We are pleased to announce that today Minnesota Masonic Home in Bloomington
signed an agreement to purchase North Ridge Care Center. For many years the strategic
plans of both our organizations have spoken to the needs and desire to expand our
communities to off-site locations. The mutual respect, admiration and excellent reputations
of our two premier organizations provide an excellent foundation upon which to address our
needs today and long into the future.
We are committed to our residents, families, and staff and we assure a thoughtful and
deliberate process as decisions about the future are made. As the transition process
unfolds, we will keep you informed.
Please share this exciting news with others. Your enthusiasm and support mean a
great deal to us. We look forward to introducing the two facilities to each other and joining
together in our mission of enhancing the quality of life for the people we serve.
Sincerely,
Mindy Pattee, Administrator
cn\mc8
Charles T. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer
5430 Boone Avenue North,- Minneapolis, Minnesota 55428 c (612) 536-70W
An equal opportunity employer
(I -5b)
(�- I Yvt
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF MINNEAPOLIS
December 3, 1998 'e
Laurie Ahrens
3400 Plymouth Blvd. t
Plymouth, MN 55447 f w
9i
Dear Ms. Ahrens, 'S
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to say thank
You for being a such great help in our Election Returns
Project for the 1998 General Election.
Our volunteers received full cooperation from Election
Judges in obtaining a copy of the Opti -Scan tape on
election night, and we owe you much gratitude for that.
The success of our project is largely due to your time and
cooperation. Thank you so much for your help, and I
look forward to working with you again.
Sincerely,
A-'ez,)",
Pat Werner
Election Returns
Young Quinlan Building Suite 335 •81 S. Ninth Street • Minneapolis, MN 55102-3200
612/333-6319 • FAX 612/333-6310
December 4, 1998
Jackie Fraedrich
Robbinsdale School District
4148 Winnetka Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
Dear Jackie,
The Plymouth City Council joins me in congratulating you on receiving the
Human Rights Award from the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions. This
is quite an honor, and a rightful recognition of your efforts. We applaud you for your
dedication and commitment to furthering the rights of people of color throughout our
community. Your work to educate all students about the rich diversity of cultures and
viewpoints in their world will have a lasting impact. We are especially thankful for the
time and interest you have given to making the Plymouth Human Rights Commission a
success.
Again, congratulations on your award. We are proud of you!
CaN rel&
Sincerely,
Dyx�y
Joy Tierney
Mayor of Plymouth
PLYMOUTH A Beautifu(P(ace To Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000
®v-e.�Wp. www.d.plymouth.mmus
Internet Contact
From: Coopcarl@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 1998 9:23 PM
To: Contact@ ci.plymouth.mn.us; PENNY. STEELE@co.hennepin.mn.us;
rep. rich.stanek @ house.leg.state.mn.us
Cc: andystart@prodigy.com
Subject: meeting
To: Mayor Tierney, All City Council members
Mrs. Penny Steele
Mr. Stanek
CENSUS AREA 283
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Tuesday, DEC. 15, 1998
OAKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
6:30 - CAFETERIA
We are planning a meeting to discuss the census 283 issue on Tuesday night.
We would appreciate it if all of you that support our cause could attend. It
is important that our elected representation help us present our case. Your
influence is needed!!
We plan on discussing the results of the Boards Work session on Monday night
and plan our actions for the open session scheduled for Thursday night.
We hope for a large turnout.
See you there.
Carl Cooper
557-9363
5380 Union Ter. Ln. N.
Internet Contact
From: Coopcarl@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 1998 1:13 PM
To: contact@ ci.plymouth.mn.us
Subject: help
Mayor and city Coucil Members
WE NEED YOUR HELP
I wanted to take a moment to share with you both my wife and my strong
concern over the proposed school boundary changes and the effects that the
proposal will have on our children
currently being considered by the Osseo School Board. We would appreciate
your help in opposing the consultants recommended plan.
Both Pat and I are extremely concerned and strongly appose Dr. Worner's(the
consultant) recommendations for the following reasons:
In our opinion Dr. Worner's proposal does not meet the original parameters
set up by
the Board.
1. NEIGBORHOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Under this proposal 283 will be spit from all other Plymouth neighborhoods
and moved into an area that we have no community involvement including
sports activities, Boy and Girl Scouts, and community events.We will
also not be contiguous anymore with our neighbors and friends in 280 and
281.
2. CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE PREVIOUSLY MOVED
283 was shifted in the last boundary change and many of the students in
the area were moved when Sunny Hollow was closed.
3. MAINTENANCE OF PEER GROUPS
Under this proposal children entering DR and Senior High will be
split from their peers. For example: from our 283 neighborhood
there will be three students that will be removed from their peers
that will go to Maple Grove and instead they will go to Nothview.
4. BOUNDRY DRAWING
Highway 169 is a natural boundary separating our 283 neighborhood from
other neighborhoods on the east side that are non-contiguous to us and
to the city of Plymouth.
For the above reasons we strongly urge you to use all your personal contacts
to convince the School board that this is not the right approach.
Carl Cooper
5380 Union Ter. Ln. N
Plymouth
Internet Contact
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
M
Fw:School
radisMGng - som...
Thanks
Carl Cooper
Coopcarl@aol.com
Wednesday, December 09, 1998 9:32 PM
Contact @ ci.plymouth. mn. us
Fwd: FW: School re-districing - some questions
please deliver this to the Mayor. And thank her for her telephone call.
Internet Contact
From: Richardson, Chris [RichardsonC@osseo.kl2.mn.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 8:55 PM
To: 'Coopcarl@aol.com'
Subject: FW: School re-districing - some questions
>----------
> From: Richardson, Chris
> Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 8:51 PM
> To: 'ANDREW J START'
> Subject: RE: School re-districing - some questions
> Dear Mr. Start,
> I'll try to address each of these issues in the space after your question.
> You may also want to contact Board members to get their feeling on these
> issues.
> Respectfully,
> L. Chris Richardson, Ph.D.
> Superintendent
> From: ANDREW J START[SMTP:ANDYSTART@prodigy.net]
> Sent: Monday, December 07,1998 1:10 PM
> To: richardsonc@osseo.kl2.mn.us
> Cc: Rich Stanek
> Subject: School re-districing - some questions
> Dr Dr Richardson
> I attended my first school board presentation the other night - what an
> introduction!!
> I have sent you a copy of a letter by snail -mail that I sent to all school
> board members, to Senator Limmer and Congressman Stanick with my views and
> recommendations on the districting issue. I have some questions, though,
> that I believe you can answer for me in your role as Superintendent of
> Schools.
> Why did the Board not look at proposals to build new buildings and sell
> old ones?
> If the population shift projections are correct, we shall continue to move
> the "Maple Grove/Brooklyn Park" boundary westwards every three years until
> tranportation costs become intolerable. Existing buildings in Brooklyn
> Park can fetch good sale prices, especially wit the real-estate market in
> its current strong position.
> We have had to modify district boundaries every 3 to 5 years for the last
> 20 years. Currently enrollment is at its peak but projections would
> indicate that total enrollment will go down somewhat over the next few
> years. The Board has not ruled out the possibilities of building or
> adding on to buildings in the future. Any new construction from Bond
> referendum preparation to completion normally takes close to three years.
> The Board is concerned however about trying to get voter approval for new
> buildings when we have significant excess capacity at both the elementary
> and secondary level. Since a bond referendum voted on by all citizens of
> the district living in portions of 8 different communities, the belief is
> that until excess capacity is reduced a bond referendum would be difficult
> to win. Except for Garden City Elementary, most of our elementary
> buildings are located in older residential areas which would not yield
> great returns and again it would be a very difficult to pass a bond issue
> immediately after selling a school
> What is the process for altering school district boundaries?
> I am relatively new to Minnesota having lived in New York, New Jersey,
> Connecticut and Arizona. I believe that in each of those states,
> education districts align with the boundaries of city jurisdictions and
> share resources such as technology, psychology and administrative
> services. Here in NW Minneapolis, I live in a city of over 55,000 people
> with no school district of its own. Our children attend schools in
> Robbinsdale, Wayzata and Osseo districts. Each of these three towns is
> significantly smaller than Plymouth. Our children identify with their
> city for out-of-school activities. Their friends go to ice -rinks, parks,
> movie theaters and sports events in their own communities. If it made
> economic sense and complied with state and federal diversity guidelines,
> what would it take to alter the boundaries of the school districts? Is it
> a county issue?
> School district boundaries are determined by the state and currently
> have only been changed through consolidation of smaller districts in a
> larger district. School districts are a quasi municipal corporation and
> exist independent of both cities and counties. Anoka Hennipen district
> which has almost 40,000 students is just north of us encompasses a number
> of cities as we do and is located in part of 2 different counties. School
> district taxes are collected on an equal rate basis from all taxpayers
> located in the school district. The only way I believe that you will see
> changes in the configuration of metro districts will be if a federal judge
> finds in favor of the NAACP in the recent litigation against the state and
> a metro wide district is created to address alledged segregation issues.
> Why does the board not follow proper rules of order in their meetings?
> I appreciate that you are not the chairman and so do not have a
> decision-making or tie -breaking role. I have been a participant in many
> non-profit activities in the USA and in England (PTAs, sports clubs,
> residents associations and condominium associations) and, without any
> influence from me, they have always followed the standard practices we see
> every week in the televised city council meetings. The meeting on
> Thursday was a shambles and not something 1 would have been proud to be a
> part of. As the only permanent member of the Board, can you not bring
> some organizational expertise to the body? I'm sure you're an expert at
> it given the breadth of your professional responsibilitiesll
> As the CEO of the Board my role is to advise and support. I have no
> authority to vote or challenge Board members on parlimentary procedure.
> Please remember, however, that the Thrusday meeting was a Board work
> session, a working session of the Board held in public. Regular meeting
> held the first and third Tuesdays of the month hold to much stricter rules
> of procedure and bylaws.
> Why was the public exposed to the proposal before the School Board had had
> an opportunity to review it, adjust it and add their own options?
> The School Board is accountable for deciding the re -districting issue; it
> is the Board who is reponsible for sharing their proposals with the
> public. Dr. Warner was correct in one assertion - his role is an advisory
> one. Using a consultant to present a single proposal to the board for the
> first time in public was a major error. I am much in favor of a process
> that is open to public inspection and debate. When the Boards's process
> is so broken, they leave themselves looking uninvolved and as if they are
> shirking their responsibilities. I appreciate that the horse is out of
> the barn on this one now and to close further debate to the public will
> make the board look even less committed to effective process.
2
> By law any Board work session must be held in public. Board members have
> extremely limited ability to meet in closed session and reviewing a
> boundary option is not a valid exemption to the open meeting law.
> The boundary process being used is a new process which replaces one in
> which a citizens committee generated a number of proposals and then
> brought several of them to the Board for review and revision. This
> process was disparaged for the lack of objectivity and consistency.
> Almost every person I have talked with praises the Board for hiring a
> third party neutral to develop an unbiased initial plan. Dr, Worner's
> plan attempted to present the best effort of the consultant in developing
> a plan based on Board agreed upon parameters and guidelines. At this
> point it provides a place to test other options with the understanding
> that that option must fit all of the parameters identified by the Board
> and clearly describe who might be moved in or out of a particular
> attendance area. Dr. Worner went through literally hundreds of options in
> developing this initial plan and needs to be seen as what it is... an
> effort to produce and plan that in the consultants opinion best meets the
> parameters provided by the Board.
> Why did the Board not start the process with Dr. Warner until October
> given that the re-districing problem was first surfaced in September of
> 1997?
> With only six weeks left until you need their decision, the Board have
> left themselves and the public precious little time for debate.
> The Board has been working on the Boundary effort since last January with
> a great deal of discussion and work in developing the capacity standards
> for each building and determining the parameters for drawing boundaries.
> Because of significant disagreements among Board members of what the
> parameters and guidelines they did not reach consensus until September at
> which time Dr. Worner began working with us. Although we had reached
> agreement on a contract with him last spring, he would not have been able
> to develop any boundary plan until consensus was achieved in the program
> standards for each building, building capacities identified based on those
> standards, and parameters determined for boundary drawing.
> What proportion of Dr. Warner's fee will not be paid?
> I have been in the corporate world for 30 years and done consulting work
> myself (on technology management and integration) and I was appalled at
> the poor quality of his work.
> * His visual material was ineffective,
> * he clearly spent most of his assignment doing data gathering rather
> than analysis and preparation of the proposal,
> * he failed to live up to his charge to provide mutiple options,
> * he did not quanitfy how well he had met the boards parameters,
> * he did not identify clearly issues her felt needed more discussion
> or had not been effectively addressed,
> * he introduced the "non-contiguius" criterion as his own driver in
> the analysis process,
> * he feel asleep towards the end of the meeting.
> My proposal would be to postpone re-districting for a year. There is
> enough time to make the tactical changes necessary to hold us over until
> we've (the Board and the public) had a proper opportunity to review sound,
> well-reasoned proposals and to look more strategically at our needs. If
> we don't do this,
> * the Board will reach a poor, compromise decision as a result of
> insufficient review time,
> * we will face the same re-districing issue again in three years
> * we will make another tactical decision without the strategic
> framework that will guarantee we implement effective practices for
3
> district management,
> " our children will continue to be herded from one school to another,
> breaking their ties and friendships, dealing with new staff and breaking
> the continuity of their education.
> Dr. Womer's fee will be paid according to the agreement made between him
> and the Board. You have every right to share your opinions on the work,
> however, I don't see a question to answer here. I have already told the
> Board that an option is always to not complete a boundary process. If we
> postpone the process, we will continue to need to make administrative
> adjustments as we did last year when two of our buildings exceeded
> capacity by 100 to 200 students each. My sense is this is far less fair
> and much more inconsistent than trying to complete a plan that will take
> the entire district three to five years into the future.
> I'd appreciate any information you can give me in answer to these
> questions.
> Thank you.
> Andy Start
> 5355 Union Terrace Lane North
> Plymouth, MN 55442
> 612-559-1890
> I hope that this information has been of help.
> Respectfully,
> L. Chris Richardson, Ph.D
> Superintendent
4
Internet Contact
From: Coopcarl@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 9:42 PM
To: Contact @ci.plymouth.mn.us
Subject: Fwd: Some data for you that you can really use!
M
Some data for you that
you can... To the Mayor and all councilmembers"
Please note the impact on 283 vs all other census areas. We clearly are
being singled out.
Carl Cooper
New Page
Look at the summary page and you'll find only one census district affected by changes elementary, junior high and
.senior high schools. Only 2 other areas, one of which is undeveloped, are affected by more than one change - the other
is affected only b�thepairinp�roposal for Oak View and Cedar Island. -
- — —
IY uo '11 also find 9 of the proposed 54 changes are actually moving people westward which seems counter to the
objective.
..........
You can sort the detailed sheet in —any number of ways to find other conclusions to draw._
Do ou have email addresses for the board members? I'd Iove to send them the same data.
Page 1
Internet Contact
From: Coopcarl@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 9:55 PM
To: Contact@ ci.plymouth.mn.us
Cc: richardsonc@osseo.kl2.mn.us; PENNY. STEELE@co. hennepin.mn.us;
andystart@prodigy.com
Subject: (no subject)
To Mayor Joy Tierney:
Thank you very much for taking the time to respond by telephone to my e-
mails. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
During our neighborhood meeting tonight in the Ponds of Bass Creek,
mentioned your call. Everyone there was very encouraged to hear that you are
interested in our situation, and we fully understand that this is not
something that you can directly impact; However we would be grateful if in
your official role as our elected representative you could contact each member
of the school board to present the following:
Census area 283 is contigous with the other Plymouth census areas that
attend Osseo schools, and that we are not contiguous with Brooklyn Park census
areas. Our children play with other Plymouth children. Their after school
activities are centered in Plymouth and Maple Grove and not in Brooklyn Park.
We are a part of the Plymouth / Mapple Grove Family.
Lastly it was quite clear tonight in our meeting of the serious impact this
will have on the long term vitality of this neighborhood if this proposal is
adopted. Several families have already contacted relators about moving and
most have applied for open enrollment out of the Osseo district. This will
result in our children and families being split apart.
Once again thanks for your help and concern.
Carl Cooper
5380 Union Ter. Ln. N
6L
44-- k"leal
.fa. MaCA ea4ak
ChIm- " (1 S,i
..-ADevelopinent Corporation
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December 10, 1998
Mr. Harvey Schiebe ti & arm ,
txe,S'
44
Plymouth, MN 55441
Re: Plymouth ;listodcal Society
Dcar Mr. Sclxiebe:
Enclosed is a check in the amount of $960.00, winch represws 9.01 per foot of the
96,000 sq«zre feet of office/warchouse space, which my company built .in Plymouth in
1998.
This has been my policy since 1990. 1 try to "build the old, as well as the new!"
Si rely,
� M ,
t, = .Lava
P4esident
JL.db
CC: Ms. Joy Tierney
Mayor of Plymouth
Enc osure
1212/98:c:�CALJBERTlyHibiSm.dac
14505 21st Avenue Suite 205 Plymouth, MN 55447 Tel (612) 475-2335 Fax(612)473-6871