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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 02-01-1996FEBRUARY 1, 1996 UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.... 1. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY: FEBRUARY 7 6:15 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Medicine Lake Conferince Room, Upper Level FEBRUARY 7 7:00 P.M. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING City Center Lunchroom, Lower Level 2. SPECIAL CITY REFERENDUM ELECTION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, Polls. open from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION ON ZONING ORDINANCE FOR DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8; 7:00 P.M., Bass Lake Meeting Room. 4. PRAC, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 7:00 P.M., Mooney Lake Conference Room, upper level. 5. METRO MEETINGS - The weekly calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Council and its advisory Commissions is attached. (M-5) 6. MEETING CALENDARS - The February and March meeting calendars are attached. (M-6) CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MEMO -- February 1, 1996 Page 2 1. PAYMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SALARIES a. Legal opinion from the City Attorney's office on applicable statutes on payment of salaries to council members. (I -la) 2. DEPARTMENT REPORTS a. Summary of 1996 Minnesota Real Estate Journal Survey from Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt. (I -2a) b. Service matrix by city for Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council from Assistant City Manager Kathy Lueckert. (I -2b) c. Testimonial letter to the State House Commerce Committee from Mayor Tierney, along with similar letters from the City of Minnetonka, and the City of Austin, Minnesota. (I - 2c) d. Summary report from Mayor Tierney, with exhibits from City staff and the State departments of Public Safety and Transportation, concerning the Joint Agency Task Force work on state speed limits and highway safety. (I -2d) 3. NEWS ARTICLES, RELEASES, PUBLICATIONS. ETC. a. Schedule of TwinWest February Coffee Breaks. (I -3a) b. Announcement and registration application for TwinWest Winter `Melt -Down" networking event, February 22, at the Golden Valley Country Club. (I -3b) c. Announcement and registration application for Minnesota Chamber of Commerce `Minnesota Business Day at the Capitol", February 27, at the St. Paul Radisson Hotel. (I - 3c) d. Notice and cover letter on Metropolitan Council public meetings about the methods, delivery and uniformity of sewer rate charges, February 6-7. (I -3d) e. Flyer from Arc of Hennepin County publicizing resale centers called Value Villages. (I - 3e) f. Northwest Community Television news release announcing special report featuring an interview with Minnesota Third District Congressman Jim Ramstad. (I -3f) g. Notice of School District 281 Bond Referendum Election to be conducted by mail. (I -3g) h. Association of Metropolitan Municipalities notice of Legislative Bills with Metro Impact. (1-3h) I. Notice from School District 279 of two program update meetings for school district residents. (I -3i) j. Star Tribune "Twin Cities Journal" articles focusing on suburban library services and use, with references to the Plymouth Community Library. (I -3j) CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION MIIVIO February 1, 1996 _ Page 3 4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY - CORRESPONDENCE a. Letter from Donna Timonen outlining concerns about neighborhood dogs and involvement of the Community Service Officers. Attached is acknowledgment from Assistant City Manager Kathy Lueckert. (I -4a) A status report on correspondence is attached. 5. CORRESPONDENCE a. Letter to Mayor Tierney from City of Afton Administrator Laurence Whittaker concerning independent authority to set speed limits in rural areas of metropolitan cities, including a copy of a resolution passed by the Afton City Council. (I -5a) b. Copy of a letter to the Wayzata City Council from Wayzata resident Lisa Bowdish supporting a proposed protective equipment requirement for recreation programs. (I -5b) c. Comment card from Joan Tobin supporting the City's sump pump inspection program. (I - 5c) d. Letter from Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt responding to correspondence from Denise and Gary Thompson, who support extending the MUSA through northwest Plymouth. Attached is the Thompson's original letter. (I -5d) e. Follow-up letters to Plymouth legislators from Mayor Tierney ager the January 30 Legislative Dinner. (I -5e) Dwight Johnson City Manager METRO MEETIN( A weekly calendar of meetings and agenda items for the Metropolitan Council, its advisory and standing, and three regional commissions: Metropolitan Airports Commissiaa, Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, and Metropolitan Sports Faulties Ca®mismm Meeting times and agendas are occasionally changed. Questions about meetings should be directed to the appropriate organization. Meeting information is also available on the Metro Information Line at 229-3780 and by computer modem, through the Twin Cities Computer Network at 337-5400. DATE: January 26,1996 WEEK OF. January 29 - February 1, 1996 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Regional Blueprint Blue Ribbon Task Force - Monday, Jan. 29, 2 pm., Room 1A. The task force will consider. Growth Management Guidelines section; proposed reorganization of the Handbook, revised schedule for completion and remaining unsolved issues; and other business. Livable Communities Advisory Committee - Tuesday, Jan. 30, 4 p.m., Room 1A. The committee will consider: draft guidelines and criteria for Livable Communities demonstration program; next steps --develop application and review process, using pilot projects; and other business. Conference: "New Urbanism: An Alternative for Building Livable Communities?" - Wednesday, Jan. 31, Registration - 7:30 am., Conference - 8 am. to noon, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis. The Metropolitan Council is a co-sponsor. Joint Meeting/Metropolitan Airports Commission and Metropolitan Council Members on Dual Track Airport Planning Process - Wednesday, Jan. 31, 9 am. - 5 p.m., Willow Conference Roam, Crown Sterling - Hotel, 790134th Ave, Bloomington. Finance Committee - Thursday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m., Room 2A The committee will consider: acceptance of . Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission budget amendment; change in vehiclelcar allowance authorization; approval of OHSA settlement with Transit Operations; amendment to contract with Txbase Systems, Inc. And Preferred Consulting Services for the Materials Management and Maintenance Systems Project; approval of fiequent rider contract, contract extension and amendments; request for approval to enter into a contract with Advanced Systems Integrators Associates to provide the MCTO with consulting and technical services to update policy and procedures and new materials management and maintenance system support and training materials; discussion of bond refundings. The next portion of the meeting may be closed to the public pursuant to MN statutes 471.705, subdivision la, to discuss labor negotiation issues. The meeting may be re -opened to the public following labor negotiation issues. The next portion of the meeting may be closed to the public pursuant MN statutes 471.705 Id for consideration of litigation and settlement issues. The meeting will be re -opened to the public following discussion of litigation and settlement issues for committee to receive information on 1995 year-end budget status projection and investment report. Metropolitan Radio Board - Friday, Feb. 2, 9 am., Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Office, 2099 University Ave., St. Paul. The board will consider: update on technical design; memorandum of ---- un4Mtanding on ownership and construction; memorandum of understanding on cost allocation; request proposals for financial consultant services; amendment to technical consultant contract; update on legislative activities; and other business. M NTATIVE MEETINGS THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH-FEBR.UARY2,1225— .01. Ji Community Development Committee - Monday, Feb. 5, Noon, Room IA. Nominating Committee - Monday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m., or immediately following the Community Development Committee, Carroll Conference Room. Transportation Committee - Monday, Feb. 5, 4 p.m., Chambers. Transportation Technical Advisory Committee to the Transportation Advisory Board - Wednesday, Feb. 7, 9 am., Chambers. Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee - Wednesday, Feb. 7,1 p.m., Room IA. Executive Committee - Thursday, Feb. 8, 8 am., Nicollet Island Inn, 95 Merriam St., Minneapolis. Land Transportation Committee - Thursday, Feb. 8,1:30 p.m., Room 2A. Providers Advisory Committee - Thursday, Feb. 8,10:30 a.m., Room IA. Legislative Coordinating Committee - Thursday, Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m., Room 1A. Metropolitan Council - Thursday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m., Chambers. Working Session on Yearly Priorities/Metropolitan Council and Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission - Thursday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m., or immediately following the Council meeting, Room IA. The Metropolitan Council is located at Mears Park Center, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul. Meeting times and agenda are subject to change. For more information or confirmation of meetings, call 291-6447, (TDD/291-0904). Call the Metro Information Line at 229-3780 for news of Council actions and coming meetings. METROPOLITAN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMNHSSION Special Commission Meeting - Tuesday, Jan. 30, 4 p.m., Chambers. The commission will consider adoption of public hearing draft of Regional Trails Policy Plan amendment, and other business. The Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission offices are located at Mears Park Centre, 230 E. Fifth St., St. Paul, MN 55 10 1. Meeting times and agendas occasionally may be changed To verify meeting information, please call 291-6363. I® N m-� I� I v IM F --i W FY.�.00iN � v U� ' 00 N N FNQ.VrNw� m-� I� I v IM ca m r r FY.�.00iN ' 00 N N FNQ.VrNw� C4 f� N g a� M a O � yMo�N � C9� C7iVd wF '°err V zoo � zp o aYe ate" a~ $UU E J L V Thomas J. Car Roger N. Knui Thornas M. Sc Gary G. Fuchs James R. Walsi Elliott B. Knet CAMPBELL, KNUTSON, SCOTT & FUCHS, P.A. JAN 3 a Attorneys at Law (612)452.5000 Fax (612) 452-5550 January 29, 1996 0"—wlvuvu1 t°t UUNSIDER CHANGES TO CITY CODE § 200.232 ATTENDANCE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS Mr. Dale Hahn, Finance Director Ms. Laurie Ahrens, City Clerk Ms. Joy Tierney, Mayor Mr. Chuck Lymangood, Councilmember Mr. Nick Grannath, Councilmember Mr. Christian Preus, Councilmember I:- la Andrea Poehler Marthew K. Brisk) John F. Kelly Marguerite M. McCarron George T. Srerhensan RE: PAYMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SALARIES Ladies and Gentlemen: Dwight Johnson asked me to review for you -the applicable statutes .on payment of salaries to council members. I • SALARY CAP. The salary can't exceed ninety-five percent (95 %) of the Governor's salary (I believe you have a long way to go!). Minn. Stat. § 43A.17, Subd. 9. 2. NO CHANGE IN SALARY SHALL TAKE EFFECT UN'T'IL AFTER THE NEXT SUCCEEDING MUNICIPAL, ELECTION. Minn. Stat. § 415. 11, Subd. 2. If you change what a council member has to do to earn a salary, this could be construed as a change in salary. This interpretation is very conservative, but it removes any question on the issue. 3. CITY COUNCIL, SALARIES MAY NOT BE REDUCED BECAUSE A COUNCLL MEMBER IS ABSENT BECAUSE OF VACATION OR SICKNESS. Minn. Stat. § 43A.17, Subd. 10.7his provision was enacted in 1992. Any ordinance provision stating that a council member will not be paid their salary under certain circumstances should have a provision that it does not apply if a council member is absent because of vacation or sickness. Suite 317 0 E<<I;anclale office CC:1Te1' 1 '80 C,)Iv rate Center Curvc • Eagan, MN 55121 If you need any additional information, please call. Very truly yours, AMPBELV SON, SCOTT & )FUCHS, .A. 1.3 RNK: srn6—"-ROger N. Knutson cc: Dwight Johnson, City Manager CA f . OL-& DATE: January 24, 1996 TO: Dwight Johnson, City Manager FROM: Anne H�uri, Community Development Director SUBJECT: 1996 Minnesota Real Estate Journal Survey Every year, the Minnesota Real Estate Journal conducts a survey of their subscribers to solicit opinion on the state of the region's real estate climate. The results of the latest survey appeared in their January 22 issue. An excerpt is attached for your information. Of greatest interest to cities is the single question that is asked every year regarding which cities encourage or discourage development. This year, as in past years, many respondents have rated Plymouth higher than all other cities on the list as "discouraging" to development. A summary of recent ratings follows: Encourage Discourage Year Development (%) Neutral (%) Development (%) 1994 5 7 16 1995 13 8 18 1996 9 10 16 Respondents, who are largely developers and managers of commercial properties, are asked to rate each community based on their personal experience during the last two years. In June of 1994, we conducted our own survey of individuals who had submitted planning and zoning applications in the previous three years. Our survey, while not conclusive because of a low response rate, seemed to indicate that some improvements were needed in the City's development approval process. We are using the results of the study as input to our ongoing management of the department as well as in the zoning ordinance revisions that are currently underway. cd1,p1an\memos\5059\mrej . doc �I 1-20a g3'rNM lANtt cu M O y 1�y�• EvrI m - 0000M R. 10 v� 05W Y3 0 Ou tv 4! 47 'O u GJ ar��0 a �° Lri r CM N Rf p 7a h0 3�0 5 +. 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J N p v � e a a o4 � o � a T •r G > 0 cs N � o vto t o U ' a G C sJOSOg x x x x x X x x x olapsuiggo-d x x x X X x x x x x g3nowdld oosso x x x x x x x x x odOH tAOH x x X k x X X X X X anoJo aldvW x x x N X X X x x x UUMH x x x x x X x x x JanoUEH X X X X X X X X X ,Callan uaplorJ k X x x x x x x x x UOICa(I X x x x X x x x X 114stio x x x x x x X X X x USJOOJOD ugdwago *MCI uxnooJg X x x x x x X x x X JalUQD UAIN001g X X X X X X X X X X `> ? J y O O Aca v1 N Ui ° o �° y U d80 0 O O °cn o U O = ° j U ti U T = a 0 Q � 3 EL H w w a z CITY OF PLYMOUTFF January 25, 1996 Commerce Committee Minnesota House of Representatives Dear Representatives: 1- 7, I have been informed that a legislative proposal is being considered which would preempt Minnesota Cities from adopting or maintaining local ordinances that are more restrictive than state law on the access of tobacco products to minors. A number of Minnesota cities have taken innovative and thoughtful approaches to this problem. The Plymouth Public Safety Department is currently studying and developing an ordinance for Plymouth which will be presented for action within the next several months. The Plymouth City Council sought and received approval for a grant to assist us in that effort. Please do not take any legislative action that will curtail our ability to pass our own additional measures above and beyond any state legislation. Sincerely, Joy Tierney Mayor PLYMOUTH A ,Be:zut1j111 tare I.� Line 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD - PLY'.1OUTH. MINNESOTA 554 -148? • TELEPHONE (612) 5n9-5nnn 01-25-1996 03:35PM FROM Smoke-F•-ee Coalition January 22, 1996 TO 5095060 P.02 a%0;7 9C4► r-; 40evw 14800 M/rrnetvnlcar 6vU1,9vard Minr»'ebnka, Mfnrresota 55346 Telephone (612) 939.8389. jr-,- (8729 935.8139 Mayor's Of f`ice 94rtsn J Amkrim An Open tetter to Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives: I was recently Informed that the Minnesota legislature will renew debate In the 1896 Session on ways to control teen smoking. Apparently, tobacco companies hope to use this opportunity to ban cities from enacting tough local tobacco control measures. As an elected official, I urge you to oppose any limits on the power of citles to pass tobacco ordinances. Children should not smoke. On that point, even tobacco companies seem to agree. Yet, teen smoking rates are climbing sharply in Minnesota, with 25 percent of high school seniors now smoking regularly. One-third of these teens will $ee their lives shortened by tobacco. In fact, tobacco now kills more Americans than homicides, AiDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, suicides, fires and alcohol combined. State, efforts to address this problem are welcome; however, any State solution must eilow local communities to enact and Strengthen their own city ordinances. From White Bear lake's enactment of the nation's first ban on cigarette vending machines to Chaska's adoption of the first requirement that tobacco products are Placed behind the counter, Minnesota cities have a tradition of leadership in the fight to control tobacco use among young people. In fact, Minnetonka has passed ordinances banning cigarette vending machines and restricting over the counter sales Of tobacco. Given this history, it is not surprising that the tobacco industry .would work hard to tie the hands of local d@CisiOn makers. Please preserve the ability of each community to decide for Itself whether to enact local tobacco control ordinances. Feel tree to contact me if questions, you have additional Sincerely, 11 a4jx--t�� Karen J. Anderson Mayor Tn7MI O h•7 the Mayor /b Smoke -Free Coalition TO 5095060 P.03 .SOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES .,mmerce, Tourism, & Consumer Affairs i63 State office Building ► Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 Dear Representatives: 500 Fourth Avenue N.E. Austin, Minnesota 55912-3773 Phone: 5074,37.7671 Fax' 507-4.37-7101 The 1996 Session of the Minnesota Legislature will bring renewed debate on ways to control teen smoking. Children/teens should not smoke. On that point. even tobacco companies agree. And yet, teen smoking rates arc climbing sharply in Minnesota, with twenty-five percent (25%) of High school seniors now smoking regularly. One- third of these teens'will see their lives shortened by tobacco. In fact, tobacco now kills more Americans than do homocides, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, suicides, fins and alcohol combined. Given these facts, the Legislature's efforts to address this problem are welcome. Representative Jennings is authoring a proposal which would require local licensure of tobacco retailers. This Bill has already passed the Senate. This proposal, the companion bill to Senate Bill # 558, would set a floor of protection for all Minnesota children, while still preserving cities' ability to take additional steps if they choose. This is a fair and balanced approach. It is expected, however, that Representative Jennings will also recommend an amendment to pre-empt the power of local governments. Minnesota cities have a tradition of leadership in this area, beginning with White Bear Lake's enactment of the nation's first ban on cigarette machines and Chaska's adoption of the first requirement that tobacco products be Placed behind the counter. In December, 1992 Austin added an amendment to the City's Tobacco Ordinance including store owners in responsibility for any violation of tobacco sales to minors with consequences of suspension of their tobacco license: first offense - 3 days; 2nd offense - 30 days; 3rd offenst - 1 year within a 2 year period- The eriodThe State's efforts to address this problem are welcome, but any State solution must allow local communities to enact and strengthen their own city ordinances. Please preserve the ability of each community to decide for itself whether to go even further in protecting its children Very Truly Yours, John O'Rourke, Mayor CITY OF AUSTIN, MN AUSTIN + MINNE50TA DATE: January 31, 1996 TO: Plymouth City Councilmembers FROM: Mayor Tierney SUBJECT: Joint Agency Task Force on Speed Limits and Highway Saftey information for C.I.M. Plymouth has had opportunity to have direct input into the decision making process on several issues being addressed at the legislature this year. One of them is the possible legislative changes in speed limits and other highway safety measures. I was appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities to represent them on this task force and prior to the first meeting requested Plymouth staff provide me their opinion on potential issues to be discussed. I appreciate the staff's ready and thoughtful response. For your information I am including in this weeks C.I.M. our staff's report, a couple of pages on crash facts from the MN Departments of Transportation and Public Safety along with the recommendations as published in the Task Force Recommendation Report of January 15, 1996. T-2d� DATE: December 6, 1995 TO: Mayor Joy Tierney FROM: Daniel L. Faulkner, City Engineer SUBJECT: SPEED LIMIT TASK FORCE As a recently appointed member of the MnDOT appointed Speed Limit Task Force, you requested the professional input from the Engineering Division and the Public Safety Department on actions Minnesota might take in response to the lifting of the Federal speed limit regulations. In addition, the Task Force will also consider possible changes to State law related to speed enforcement penalties and related highway safety issues. I have subsequently discussed these issues with engineers from the City's traffic consultant, SRF Consulting Group, Inc., as well as Public Safety Director Craig Gerdes and Public Works Director Fred Moore. I will attempt to paraphrase and summarize the main points generally shared by these parties in an attempt to provide you with some useful information. For many years traffic engineers have subscribed to the theory that in general 85 % of the people drive at a safe and reasonable speed and therefore speed limits should in large part be set within this 85th percentile range. The "pace" is also considered and that is the range of speed for which 50% of the traffic is traveling. When the Minnesota Department of -_ Transportation conducts_ speed zoning studies, these two speed measures are the major factors considered in their determining what the proper limit should be on a roadway. While there was some concern in my discussions that the 85th percentile should more realistically be reduced to the 80th percentile, there was general agreement that this is still a valid concept to consider in setting speed limits. With these points in mind, the following comments are offered for your consideration: • Public Safety Director Gerdes felt strongly that whatever decision is made regarding speed limits, the seat belt usage law should be revised to make it a primary violation which in effect means an officer could pull over a motorist and issue a ticket simply for not wearing a seat belt. SUBJECT: SPEED LIMIT TASK FORCE - Page 2 — E-Zj • With the establishment of the national speed limit law in 1974, there was high compliance nationally with this new law as people saw the need to conserve energy. Now that there no longer is an energy crisis, drivers have tended to largely ignore the speed limit laws and enforcement has also been more relaxed. This has tended to create hazardous situations when drivers obeying the speed limit are mixed with drivers blatantly exceeding the limit. • No matter what revisions are made to the speed limit laws in Minnesota, uniform across the board enforcement is a very important element in providing a more safe driving environment, i.e., the benchmark for issuing a speeding ticket should probably be within a 5 m.p.h. range. • Having a blanket speed limit on all roadways in the same service level category is not necessary or appropriate. For example, I-394 could have a lower limit as you approach the downtown area and the change could be made at a point such as Highway 100 where the roadway characteristics change and drivers tend to slow down anyway due to the changing conditions. • The type of roadway design should be taken into consideration when setting the speed limit. Roadways with limited access and multiple lanes can be driven safely at a higher speed than roadways with no controlled access. • Motorists should be encouraged to use the safer more efficient roadways in a progressive manner from local residential to collectors to arterials to freeways and speed limits should be set accordingly. • The question, "will people simply drive that much faster if the speed limit is set at a higher level," was discussed resulting in the following consensus. If the speed limit is set at a realistic level based on current speeds, i.e., the 80th to 85th percentile, and the speed limit is consistently enforced within a five m.p.h. range, there should be a minimal or no change in current speeds. • Local residential speed limits should be more appropriately set at 25 m.p.h. and with consistent enforcement the real speeds in residential areas should decrease. • While there was some concern expressed with local governments having speed limit setting authority, it was felt that some additional local control would be appropriate in order to maintain consistency on a local level. • As an added safety measure where speed limits change or congestion typically occurs, electronic warning signs should be used. more frequently. SPDLTASK.DOC /1000 SUBJECT. SPEED 11 IIT TASK FORCE Page 3 • In terms of what the speed limits should be -set at on interstates and freeways, it was generally felt that rural limits should be set at 65 m.p.h. realizing that the real speed would be within the 65 - 70 m.p.h. range and the speed limits should be lowered accordingly, i.e., urban interstates 60 m.p.h. with a 55 m.p.h. limit as you approach the central business district. Speed limits on other highway and arterial streets should be reduced accordingly to encourage traffic to use the safer facility. In conclusion, consistency is quite important in setting speed limits as well as enforcing those limits. There will always be that small element of drivers who blatantly ignore speed limit laws but with more consistent enforcement, people will more strictly obey the speed limits. Safety features are also important, including a more strict seatbelt usage law promoting the installation of air bags and using electronic messaging along heavily used roadways. I am attaching a copy of a recent editorial comment from the Star Tribune regarding speed limits which generally reflects our consensus opinion. As you continue with your work on this task force and if you need additional information or need any clarification, please let me know. cc: Fred G. Moore Dwight Johnson Craig Gerdes SPDLTASK.DOC ri JOW, rTas,tA1'CO_—Spe, DLLTfIyymffia/ff,uS,Wp f Recommendation Report k-romnedM OBS d 9. RECOMMENDATIONS If HE TASK FORCE is making the following recommendations to the Commissioners of limits from the statutory values based upon engineering studies determine which speeds that Public Safety and Transportation based on the are reasonable and safe. investigation and information provided by the task force's staff, presentations made to the task force by Failure to use seat belts should be changed to a staff personnel from the two departments, presenta- primary offense. Legislation on this change should tions made by the judiciary and the insurance industry, include a component on education having an - _ public testimony taken by the task force, and emphasis on safety. The legislation should also individual and independent study done by the task specifically include :the use of child restraints for force members. It is the opinion of the task force primary enforcement. The current funding mecha- members that the recommendations made herein are nism which directs revenues from seat belt fines the result of an effort as thorough and exhaustive as toward seat belt education programs should be possible given the short time available to them and the retained. task force staff. • The House and Senate Transportation Committees • The maximum speed limit on rural Interstate should initiate research regarding the use of freeways should be increased to 70 mph. headlights during the daytime. _ • The maximum speed limit on urban Interstate • If any of the speed limit changes recommended freeways and other urban freeways should be herein are implemented, the Departments of increased to 65 mph. Transportation and Public Safety should file a joint report, annually, with the chairs of the legislature's • The maximum speed limit on multi -lane, divided transportation committees identifying the impacts highways should be increased to 65 mph. of those changes, beginning in 1997. • The maximums speed limit on rural two-lane, - p e, two • The Departments of Transportation and Public way highways should remain at 55 mph. Safety should be encouraged to work with safety groups and organizations to enhance and promote • The Dimler Amendment should be repealed and traffic safety education. arlu any attempts to introduce similar -type legislation 14 should be opposed. The Department of Public Safety should research and study the issue of graduated drivers licensing • The Commissioner of Transportation should con- and, if appropriate, develop a proposal to imple- tinue to have the authority to raise or lower speed ment such a program. Ll Page 23 �I 5-21 W N n z N O W o r A c~ o - � v 0, c ry CSD H C A C — x C O N O' W -O+, C CD C\ N O. �� G Co G �' �• G C, cob O �' U .� n0` O r. G r Ln A 00 LA - C J W C% 5-21 n z N O W O A A v � v 0, W — O N N N O' W -O+, C CD C c n0` O r Ln A 00 LA :I.C J W C% N C\ J lA A U «Oil O- ncvz o .W. W W W � C _ 'V .o 00V' �, _ < �,CV 0 `� M.LA ,C1 a y O•. � d �'V A Oo LA lJ Cn W Ot^ 00 00 O p G1 A N LA 0Op (71 A Lpt 00 O Oi CJ v v A C1 A (D N�7 W W O\ J N � O C U O J A yr 0` p W •O1 t1i O N N O W 110N N W W x to � WN C\ G�1 Cl co ON O W C\ V3 -� 5-21 C) W — O N N N W -O+, C CD c ncvz o .W. W W _ N _ 'V .o 00V' �, _ < �,CV 0 `� M.LA ,C1 y � d G1 W W O\ J N O C U O J A yr J oc "Ll, O � � = O O W 110N N WN '.1 W PO LA A W N N G1 -00 p A 00 �% N oo = c O _ A 1 W W N J O :7 N 1 C W 00 ? t.A N .._. oo � N W A =� C c W W C\ A R �• ct G. H 1 ^ a C O N C lJ� 0 tlC J 00 w oWo O O _O o •'' O 00 LA oc O LA w O N C N M c '� •" Ln N W 7S 00 J A C i� yNi Maple G Maple wc Marshall Medina Melrose .............. Minnetrista Montevideo Monticello Mooifiead Mora::: Moms..._ Mound Mounds View Mountain Iron New Bnghtoi New Hope >Newport New Prague New Ulm Northfield TABLE 1.26 CONTINUED 1994 CRASHES IN CITIES OF 2,500 OR MORE POPULATION Personal Property 92 0 48 Fatal Injury Damage Total 80 Crashes CrashesC rashes Crashes Kille 032S 128 774 1:099 200 Ortolm I 153 37 20 1 Osseo.`;: `41 79 120:.:: 966 2 U 48 57 .. ........::. 204 .. . ........ 261 105 0 2 31 91 124 48 3 0 11., ::::.:, ._. __ 42 53 57*.; 0 2 36 77 0 37 92 0 48 121 0 3 1 1 2 1 39 61 14 101 b5 5 104 S9 115 129 169 62 101 110 174 35 50 307. 4.69 142 80 144 21:1 ---....36 30 25 209 315 128 188 Vaxaale 1 78 175 254 Oak Park Heights 0 21 59 80 Olivia 0 13 25 38 Orono: 1 59 140 200 Ortolm 0 5 20 1 Osseo.`;: 0 `41 79 120:.:: Otsego 2 25 48 75 Owatonna 2 105 321 428 Park Rapids 0 15 48 63 Pine City 0 21. 36 57*.; Pipestone 0 20 42 62 :; Plainview 0 1 l 20 31` Plymouth 0 278 633 911 Princeton 0 33 55 88 Prior Lake 1 86 76 163 Proctor 0 7 19 26 Ramsey 4 67 150 221 Red Wing 0 115 343 458 Redwood Falls 0 24 69 93 Richfield 2 388 805 1,195 Robbinsdale 1 94 178 273 Rochester 1 522 1,293 1,816 30 74 63 13 4 59- 0 55 0 68 0 9 0 .. 0 46 3 89 2 21 .::::. 724 :::»::;::> 1 8 2 143 ' 1 - 84 0 391 0 47 1 119 0 9 0 .. 0 32 3 526 1 143 1 724 !% "4 ��' 2A _.SUM A % '�Plymoud%NsyzatsjOrono/tong take Sun•Sallorlftdnesday, Jen. 31, 1996 ' Our wie oint Loos.enbus controls :� E S'u6vrGa} T✓u„r A bus introduce legislation to coalition'ofauburben agencies.will secure more. autonomy from the Metropolitan Council. ` The Suburban Transit Association consists of the Minnesota Val- ley Transit`Authority'Southwest Metro Commission, Plymouth Metro Link and Shakopee Area. These agencies have opted to not receive full service from Met Council Transit Operations but seek control of the transit portion of property taxes. As it is, those funds are funneled through the Met Council, which distributes the money ' per the agencies' budgets. - _ ..- 7 `f The Met Council is bound by law to distribute the money as bud- geted ;'so the legislation can beseenas mere bookkeeping strategy. But it goes deeper. Suburban agencies are troubled by the Met Coun- '.cil's subtle power to control their budgets, swaying their policies over - such things as rate increases or service levels. <> The Met Council says it needs the centralized authority to keep metro-area:busing standards, uniform. It's a specious defense. It { makes more sense for suburbaa'agencies to. determine what level of `service ,their'ar'eas.need and at,what ook- . Of tv rq bills being put fortb; STA s ,Version makes more sense. It i seeks merely to disperse'local tax levymoney through its respective agencyThe other' bill; put forth`by'Southwest Metro Transit Com- mission (SMTC), proposes absorbing Metro Mobility (a bus service for r those with disabilities) and increasing from 10 to 12 percent thepor- ing Pe _ Ip- �� . tion of transportation levies the Met Council receives. ” . ;: `: r tion SMTC, with'its ownfieet of buses, argues it can provide services j{ handled.by, the Met Council more efficiently and is putting its money ' where its �noµth ie,witb the'2' percent kickback. That might be fine for SMTC;:the oldist-!"d most.established opt -out agency, but other :j members.of STA are eady.`to go that far. .SMTC seems to forget its reason for becoming an STA member. On that same token, legislators should not forget the other agencies is and lec. SMTC's efforts jeopardize the chance for everyone to gain 'some independence in this legislative session. C:h&allen e our officials l' : '>.:Thewellof ideas seems to have been drained dry. Either that or transportatioa�Mcials;andiegislators are double-parked.,, r at 7a.40me circles; -toll made" has become the latest mantra. Y,;Wwane.improved highways and byways, we must pay each time we drive on them — or so the private companies proposing +. these tollways say..Communities with stakes in the toll road debate inFlude<Bloomington,;Brooklyn�Park, Eden Prairie; Edma ;Maple N, Glove +Map16Wood andiSouth•Sk Paul t ib t Y - Xea,;relying of federal Sunda:is ao'longer feasible Yea the Mm nmtarpepp{tment ofiTranaportation (MnDOT)`is in•s financial lteative ways of funding roads. But are toll bind: Yes,eSaeed era a roads the ,only answer,,'or.simply the most convenient one? <Although MnDOT and some legislators have yet to take a position .. • ,on this issue, they seem comfortable in selling the tollway concept as . the only.reality.`They. backed themselves into a corner and are giving 1' ` i taxpayers an ultimatum: Build toll roads or get no roads. .: " :Officials and legislators -had enough time to stave off MnDOTs financial crunch .They saw this time coming. _, , .'.;Surely they weren't foolish'enough to think federal Binds would ' ±'last forever. Strangely= they'were foolish enough to wait. '.' Legislators and the governor could have raised the general gas tax :. in advance,• providing a cushion on which they could have reated:•a. few road projects, instead of their anti -tax laurels. �. What's done is done, but these same people are grasping at Band - c. tAid.solutioas for today's pothole-Aized problems. Have they. truly. ' run out'of ideas? The time to challenge our lawmakers and 'trans- portatioa officials to get creative is now. Rather than brag about Minnesota's progressiveness policies, of - j! ficials must prove it with innovative solutions. Passing the buck to the private sector is hardly trailblazing strategy... j -= Voters have a responsibility in this debate, too. They must keep' 1 an eye on their legislators as the toll road band wagon rolls into their - hometown. Watch who jumps on it i; ?-'"'Common sense would dictate that lawmakers who oppose raising she general'gas tax are likely to favor toll road. But politics being politica, that could not be the case. If so, voters should question their elected officials' spinning wheels. r!; 1 Toll roads are a feasible — but not the sole — alternative. T 2d SUBURBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING Tuesday, November 21, 1995 Minnesota Valley Transit Commission Transit Hub MINUTES The Meeting was called to order by Lynn Nichols and introductions were made. Members present: Apple Valley Mayor Will Branning, Executive Director Beverley Miller, Eagan Councilmember Sandy Masin, Councilmember Tom Kedrowski, Margaret Schreiner and, D.J. Leary, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority; Plymouth Mayor Joy Tierney and_ Administrator John Sweeney, Plymouth Transit; Mike Beard and Nicole Bennett, --- Shakopee Area Transit; Chaska Mayor Bob Roepke and Administrator Diane Harberts, Southwest Metro Transit. Also present: Lynn Nichols, Bob Renner, Jr. and Jennifer Peterson, Messerli & Kramer. Mayor Will Branning called the meeting to order and introductions were made. The first order of business was to determine the style of legislative representation desired by members of the STA. Diane Harberts stated that in the past it has been difficult for opt -out communities to set and pursue policies due in part to inconsistent messages. There were many issues raised regarding STA policy and legislative representation style including the following: 1. Mayor Will Branning discussed the historical relationship between opt -out services and the Metropolitan Council. He explained that an important issue should be for each community to no longer work under contract with the Metropolitan Council. Mayor Branning also explained to the group that setting a legislative agenda is important, bur, that it is equally important to have the agreement of the Metropolitan Council to help alleviate some past disputes. He also suggested that another important legislative issues could be the collection and certification of transit taxes by opt -out communities with payment of 10% to the Metropolitan Council rather than receiving reimbursement from the Metropolitan Council. Beverley Miller explained to the group that revenue protection should be an important issue. John Sweeney stated that another important issue for the STA should be micro -management by the Metropolitan Council. - Tom Kedrowski stated that the STA should work to legislatively solve opt -out disputes with the Metropolitan Council. He explained that much opt -out policy is set by the Metropolitan Council, which often develops these policies without legislative guidance and frequently charges them to fit new legal opinions or Council needs. By setting more opt -out policy into law, frequent changes in policy would be avoided. He also fel; it would be important to spread the positive message that opt -out communities do contribute 10% of their transit tax to the core transit system. Tom Kedrowski stated that an i id aggressive legislative program would be appropriate for the STA this legislative session. Bob Renner and Lynn Nichols explained that it would be very important to educate legislators and the public that opt -out transit services serve an important community role and to refute the image of opt -out communities as rich communities out only for themselves rather than supportive of a healthy region. Mayor Joy Tierney stated that she felt metro mobility should also be a legislative agenda item and that it should be discussed in terms of regional policy rather than community policy. She explained that it is important for the legislature to clarify both the definitions of Metro Mobility and paratransit, and the funding for these programs. The Board then discussed the draft 1996 Legislative Agenda. Each of the following topics were discussed briefly: • Gas Tax: It was determined that taking the lead on a gas tax increase would not be an appropriate role for the STA. • Metro Sales Tax: The Board was opposed to supporting a metropolitan sales tax to be used for transit funding. • Road Pricing: The Board decided to postpone discussion of this issue until the next Board meeting as MNDOT would soon be making an announcement regarding toll roads. • Department of Transportation as New Transit Agency: The Board determined that this issue should be monitored only. • 1995 Transit Redesign Study: This issue would be postponed for discussion following the release of the study on December 7. • Clarification of Statutes Regarding Amount and Collection of Property Tax Transit Levies: This issue includes local collection and certification of property tax levies for transit and would set a definitive percentage of these funds to be used by the opt -out transit services. The Board supported this concept for inclusion in the 1996 Legislative Agenda. • Open the Opt -Out Transit System to Additional Communities: The Board supported this concept for inclusion in the 1996 Legislative Agenda. • Annexation of Adjacent Communities: The Board supported this concept for inclusion in the 1996 Legislative Agenda. The 1996 STA Legislative Committee was elected. Members to be on the committee are Will Branning, Tom Kedrowski, Bob Roepke, Mike Beard and John Sweeney/Joy Tierney, with Beverley Miller, Diane Harberts and Margaret Schreiner to attend as non-voting members. Following the election of the 1996 Legislative Committee, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Will Bra nning. Signed on behalf of the Date SUBURBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION LMNjjp 6640.1.Wb1s Coffee Breaks - Febr a` ST. LOUIS PARK --- Wednesday, Fe ry 7 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, 6819 Wayzata Blvd., (Lo at Z � Louisiana & 394; south side service road) EXERCISE EQUIPMENT Twin Cities largest exercise equipment stores with 7 stores to serve 9u - residential, commercial and institutional. S GOLDEN VALLEY --- Tuesday, February 13 Simek's Meats & Seafood, 7904 Highway 55, (Located in the Golden S II M ^ IV -195 Valley Shopping Center off Hwy. 55 and Winnetka Avenue) 11 QusliryFoodsrorBusy People Simek's is quality foods for busy people. Specializing in premium quality meats, convenient entrees, great desserts and party trays. MINNETONKA --- Wednesday, February 21 Sylvan Learning Center, 11812 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 200, (From olwz TwinWest continue on north frontage road approximately 1 mile to SYLVAN Marsh Run II, take right on Merrivale Drive and immediate left - on LEARNING second floor) CENTER' Sylvan helps students improve theirgrades. Sylvan provides testing to determine skill gaps and then: writes a program to meet each student's need. Come and see how Sylvan helps students succeed. HOPKINS --- Thursday, February 22 Hopkins Elks Lodge, 30 - 8th Avenue South, (Downtown Hopkins, mid block, Mainstreet & 8th Avenue South) r ELKDOM - American Values at Work! WAYZATA --- Friday, February 23 Meridian Manor, 163 West Wayzata Blvd., (Located next to Redeemer MERIDIAN T OR Lutheran Church on the corner of Ferndale and Wavzata Blvd) AX' -z. D:reition in Srnu"- Living "... we've opened the doors on a new concept for senior supportive living. " Coffee Breaks run from 7:30-9:00 a.m. with no reservations! CRYSTALINEW HOPE. --- Wednesday, February 14 Olson Company, 5010 Hillsboro Avenue North (From the Texaco station at the 169/49th Ave. exit, proceed north one block, then east one block, then ISONnorth 1/2 block ---look for 200' cellular phone tower which sits on our property) Planners °e"9^°'s' B°"°•" "Use this opportunity to enjoy a good cup of coffee, say hello and get your building/ remodeling questions answered - - - Current costs? Lead time required? How do 1 get started? Financial assistance available, etc. " a,rN' PLYMOUTH ---Tuesday, February 20 C(qtbkies by Design Cookies By Design, 10100 6th Avenue North, Suite 121, (Off Hwy. 55 in Subway) •x.....-,�. the Waterford Shopping Plaza by Bachman's and next to "The Sweetest Bouquet in Town" MINNETONKA --- Wednesday, February 21 Sylvan Learning Center, 11812 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 200, (From olwz TwinWest continue on north frontage road approximately 1 mile to SYLVAN Marsh Run II, take right on Merrivale Drive and immediate left - on LEARNING second floor) CENTER' Sylvan helps students improve theirgrades. Sylvan provides testing to determine skill gaps and then: writes a program to meet each student's need. Come and see how Sylvan helps students succeed. HOPKINS --- Thursday, February 22 Hopkins Elks Lodge, 30 - 8th Avenue South, (Downtown Hopkins, mid block, Mainstreet & 8th Avenue South) r ELKDOM - American Values at Work! WAYZATA --- Friday, February 23 Meridian Manor, 163 West Wayzata Blvd., (Located next to Redeemer MERIDIAN T OR Lutheran Church on the corner of Ferndale and Wavzata Blvd) AX' -z. D:reition in Srnu"- Living "... we've opened the doors on a new concept for senior supportive living. " Coffee Breaks run from 7:30-9:00 a.m. with no reservations! Join TwinWest for another networking opportunity at the Golden Valley Country Club, 7001 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley. This Overtime will allow us to "watch winter melt-down"and prepare for spring! Overtime is an after work - networking event from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m fttk your calendars NOW! COUNTRY CLUB -3b The Golden Valley Country Club has a beautiful dining area with a great view, perfect for this net working event and will add to the festive atmosphere. The Club will provide hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. The admission fee for this Overtime is simply a business card. Directions: Highweq 55 East to Winnetka Avenue. Go north (left) on Winnetka Avenue to Golden Valley Road (stoplight). Take right and follow for approximately one mile. Entrance on your right. -t, ar)le Registration Payment Information: TwinWest Members Only $75 per table Each display space will be a 6 to 8 foot table. Name Company ❑ Check enclosed for $75 ❑ Please bill $75 to my ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard Card # Exp. 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N C CO Q CO J Q E O M E 1 O c O ch ( M O O of of Z Metropolitan Council Working for the Region, Planning for the Future Environmental Services January 9, 1996 The Honorable Curtis Johnson, Chair Members of the Council Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Dear Chair Johnson and Members: After more than a year of deliberations, the Sewer Rate/Cost Allocation Task Force concluded its deliberations and recommendations on January 2, 1996.AA preeialinarg c7raii report, including all approved recommendations, is transmitted to you with this letter. I bepave we are proposing a thoughtful, high quality set of recommendations for a very important function. The Task Force recommends fast -tracking the Sewer Service Rate/Cost Allocation System recommendation, proposing the needed, technical state law amendments in the 1996 legislative session, and proceeding to meet with community groups. We believe these recommendations will be'widely accepted and that implementation should begin as soon as possible. Both the Task Force and the Zbchnical Advisory Committee operated on a consensus basis, so the recommendations have the support of elected officials and staff from throughout the metropolitan area. Two notable factors during the process were the high level of participation on both the Task Force and the Advisory Committee, and the mutual respect which developed between both groups and MCES staff. Members of both groups will be pleased to discuss our recommendations further with you and with communities and other groups during the coming weeks. Sincerely, Russell H. Susag, P.E. 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1633 (612) 222-8423 Fax 229-2183 TDD/TTY 229-3760 An EgLud Opport—fty Employer _ Metropolitan Counnil Working for the Region, Planning for the Future INVITATION TO A PUBLIC MEET ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SEWER RATE/COST ALLOCATION TASK FORCE In 1994, the chair of the Metropolitan Council appointed a task force to analyze and discuss the method, delivery and uniformity of sewer rate charges for municipal sanitary sewer use, Servi-ce Availability Charge ISACY fees, and partnerships between communities and the Metropolitan Council on sewer - related matters. The committee has completed its task, and in late February will go before the Metropolitan Council with its recommendations. We invite you to a public meeting to hear these recommendations and to provide input prior the Metropolitan Council presentation. Enclosed with this notice you will find a copy of the recommendations for your review. There are three identical meetings scheduled. If you are interested in attending any of these meetings, RSVP to Sarah Kline, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Office of Communications, at 229-2129. Feel free to call with any questions you might have. Upon request, the Metropolitan Council will provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities. FEBRUARY 6, 1996 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. BLOOMINGTON CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2215 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington FEBRUARY 7, 1996 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. BROOKLYN PARK CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5200 - 85 Avenue North, Brooklyn Park FEBRUARY 7, 1996 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS Mears Park Centre 230 East Fifth Street, St. Paul 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul. Minnesota 55101-1633 (612) 222-8423 Fax 229-2183 TDD/TTY 229-3760 An Eau`' Opporr_-:tu E.—.Moyer 3 0 0 Arc of Hennepin County Diamond Hill Center, Suite 140 4301 Highway 7 Minneapolis, MN 55416-5810 l VVIO 0/� `1 W Z� 00 N � o z 5� M cV v p 2 V W N� c`to 'N '3AV VHJ.3NNIM OAC �bJ �Q� C v r Y Z W x 7N co 0 a it 3 eo 'S '3AVI NN3d c y cz � ° G ¢ d N I C w ^C b �, is c = oq tn =- t. = = c o v v c ooO �.. p� N u N = cC 1►� E S = M 00 i�-11o ` cs ° s o cz i v1. V DO c C v r 3 72ol ir' o o c 3 E c 3 C-1 cn V Ln i V V •T r° 0 cz3 c c= N��° a L c -C Ow .nD U n _ L —RS O! f cG _' J T L J 3 D t� 01- SO .n"� ca 3 Q ^T^ V p GJ Ll. Vui a0.0 V Ln V) (n �l V: r� tCVC J f GJ ` L �^ U "f. C.i =L ;.L -- _G i. Q cc3' .> , 0. U ti—LO G s I u— p ;n r lA v > y .. 0 0 C. NORTHWEST COMMUNITY 6900 Winnetka Avenue N �,� Brooklyn Park, MN 554 tK\ k�� TELEVISION (612) 533-8196 ot• N E W S R E L E c' l� S IV For Immediate Release 1/29/96 For More ormation Contact Kristin Everett at 533-8196 CONGRESSMAN RAMSTAD APPEARS ON CABLE 12-T:V. SPECIAL REPORT' Tune in to Cable 12 for a Legislative Special Report with Minnesota's 3rd District Congressman Jim Ramstad (R). Cable 12's Kristin Everett interviews Rep. Ramstad on many of the ---topics current in today's headlines --the government shutdown, -.the balanced budget debate, the Contract with America, the future of Social Security and Medicare, Bosnia, and the 196.Presidential election. Don't miss this opportunity to hear a national perspective direct from a local voice inside Washington. Cable 12's Legislative Special Report with Jim Ramstad airs Friday, February 2, at 8:30pm, and Saturday, February 3, at 10:30am, on channel 12. Cable 12 --the one to turn to for local legislative coverage. - 30 - Cable 12 is a service of Northwest Community Television, an independent, nonprofit organization which manages public access and local origination operations in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis. The service area includes 57,000 homes in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Corcoran, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hanover, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, and Rogers. Brooklyn Center • Brooklyn Park • Corcoran • Crystal • Golden Valley • Ha -over • Maple grove • ^"edicine Lake • New Hope • Osseo • Plymouth • Robbinsdale • Rogers INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 281 Ro66insdale Area Schools Learning for a lifetime of growing _ January 25, 1996 Dwight Johnson, City Manager 3' City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 1 - Dear Mr. Johnson: Independent School District 281 has set February 28, 1996 as the date for the Bond Referendum Election which will be conducted by mail. Any phone calls concerning voter registration can be forwarded to Marge Christensen, Hennepin County Elections at 348-5103. Any questions or input pertaining to election procedures should be directed to Karylanne Marchand or myself at 536-3141. Thank you for your cooperation. c: Laurie Ahrens km Sincerely, 9-" � 0�� James Dahle Senior Associate for Business Services Thomas A Bollin Superintendent 4148 Wiri�etkaAvenue North New Hone. Minnesota 55.127 (612) 533-2761 0 FAX, 612) 535-0156 AFFIRYA.'.-•T ACTION = t(P10"R - 'JAN 30 '96 02:52AM Post -It' brand fax transmittal memo 767IFo of vgn AM 0. Phone y Association of FexM FexM Metropolitan BULLETIN Municipalities DATE: January 29,1995 TO: Legislative Contacts - FROM: AMM Staff RE; Legislative Bills with Metro Impact A number of bills impacting metro cities Will be'considered by the Senate Metropolitan and Local Government Subcommittee on Metropolitan Affairs on Tuesday. Jan. 30. It will meet at 6 p.m. in Room 118 of the Capitol. If you want to testify on any of these bills, call Sen• Morrdale's office at 297-8065 or contact Vern Peterson at the AMM (2154000) for further details. Below is a partial listing of bills to be considered at the meeting: 1. SF 2156 (Mondale) ming orditi�nccs with a • Allows cities in the metropolitan area to amend or adopt simple majority vote. The AMM has no official position on this issue but it was favored by an AMM Task Force that worked on the 1995 Metropolitan Land Pima fairs on Tan 25. • This bill passed the House Local Government and Metropolitan 7.. SF 1.266 (Mondale) to local governments to would provide $5 million for a grant and loan program implement the 1995 Metropolitan Land Planning Act amendments. • The AMM supports this bill. 3. SF 7.365 (Mondale) • Has many provisions but one would mandate a new compmhensive plan element " requiring cities to develop a growth management strategy. • The AMM has no official position on this bill but staff is concerned since �t establishes a new mandate and siphons some money from the Livable Communities Act' 4. SF 7.194 (Flynn) • metropolitan waste water treatment system to a pay - Changes the billing system for the as -you -go system. • The AMM has no position on this bill but the recommer�ons contained in y Richfield were developed by a special Task Force of mostly city officials and chaired by Couricamember Russ Susag and a Technical Advisory Council chaired by St. Louis park City Manager Charlie Meyer. 14 lfnirasihl Armut licst Wa hid. Mlantsot7 MU44 (611) IIS -4= hi, tbt-A4q District 0 OSSEO AREA SCHOOLS January 26, 1996 T-31 r DR. JUDITH M. EATON LAMP Dear Community Members and Business Leaders: Because of the confusion on my previous note to you, I am scheduling two meetings for MGSH Business and Community Leaders. Thursday, February 8, 1996 from 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. and Friday, February 9, 1996 from 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. Both meetings will be held at the Maple Grove Fire Station #2, 13450 Maple Knoll Way, Maple Grove. Hopefully you can attend one. Sincerely, C audit . Eaton Lamp, Ed.D. Principal, Maple Grove Senior High School INDEPENDENT SC.: -100- DISTRICT 279 Educational Service Centex, 11200 93rd Avenue North Maple Grove, MN 5;369--,,'05 District P��'77 Q-) OSSEO AREA SCHOOLS January 16, 1996 1,31 DR. JUDITH M. EATON LAMP i i r iipal, Maple Grove Senior High School "..,/'Telephone: (612) 391-7000 Dear Students, Parents, Community Members and Busi rS The Maple Grove Senior High School staff would like to invite you to attend the MGSHS community meeting being held in the cafeteria at Fernbrook Elementary from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 1996. Many students, parents and faculty have been working since our last meeting to develop programs, concepts, etc. Therefore, our meeting will include updates on the following: registration, house concept, course proposals/offerings, progress on the facilities, jacket colors, etc. We will also address concerns/questions that may have been addressed since our last meeting and provide the answers to your questions we could not answer at our last meeting. And of course, we will sing our school song. A reminder that our future meetings are scheduled for: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 Wednesday, May 22, 1996 If you would like a specific topic addressed contact Dorothy Bongaarts at 391-7112. We look forward to your participation. Sincerely, Judith NJ. Eaton Lamp, Ed.D. Pri , Maple Grove Senior High School INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 279 Educational Service Center, 11200 93rd Avenue North Maple Grove, MN 55369-6605 As always, you are encouraged to attend our Community Meeting. In addition to this meeting, there will oe a special meeting held to gain input ana to address the specific questions, concern_. etc. of the MGSH Business and Community Leaders from 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Maple Grove Fire Sta'ion 13450 Maple Knoll Way, Maple Grove, (Please Fork in the upper lot.) Laura Anderson 10 le and Kelly Ives Star Trbune Photos by Mute zerby. ft, ly ,11, went�stralght to the horse's mouth — the unabridged dictionaries — when they needed to spell a word for a school project they were working on at the Plymouth library. The girls had to stand on their toes to reach the huge books. Readers flock to suburban libraries Allen Spencer, 72, of Plym- outh, Is new to computers. He used the one at the Plymouth fi- brary to enter an online Super Bowl sweep- stakes. He said he was amazed and pleased to be surfing the Internet. Hennepin libraries raise fine, and computers help rake it in By Chuck Haga Star Tribune Staff Writer Time was when a reader could slip into a branch of the Hennepin County Library, pull a few books off the shelves, stop at the checkout desk and slip out into the night without anybody bringing up'the subject of those nasty old fines you owed for' books you still hadn't returned. Not anymore. The computers have icon here, too. And for the county library system, which on Feb. 1 will increase the daily fine for late materials checked out by adults from 25 cents to 30 cents, all that loose change adds up: an estimated 51.38 million this year, or 5 percent of Twin Cities Journal the library's total operating budget. Twenty years ago, getting an adult book back a day late cost you 10 cents at one of the county libraries. The fine rose by a nickel in about fire -year stages, reaching two bits in 1990. "Since we started to automate our circulation in 1979, our fines revenue has become a much more important part of the library budget," said Linda Engberg, deputy director of the Henne- pin County Librax}. Turn to FEES on B3 In Plymouth, Belle Plaine and many Twin Cities -area communities, residents love their libraries, and use them at higher rates than just about anyplace else. By Mike Kaszuba Star Tribune Staff j`Writer It was a remarkable sight for a nation that supposedly doesn't read: A thousand people gathered for the opening of a public library in Plymouth. Author Studs Terkel, the guest of honor, said he'd never sold so many of his books at a single sitting. In the library's first 2.'/2.months, an estimated 1,700 new library cards were issued. When the signup for win- ter story time `I don't want to say sessions began libraries are — some two weeks ago, I dozens jammed people sa d n y dying. the lobby to think they're still alive wait for the and well." doors to open. "It's exceeded — Andrew Cook, Farmington all of our ex- reference librarian pectations," said a happy Cathy Fischer, Plym- outh's senior librarian. In Belle Plaine the story is the same — a new libran• opens and book circulation jumps 26 percent. In Farmington, a new library opens in a former grocery store the day after Thanksgiving and residents flock to it. In Circle Pines, people check out material from a small library at the rate of 67 items an hour. All across the Twin Cities suburbs, library use continues at a high rate, defying national trends and suggesting that not everyone is home watch- ing seven hours of TV a day (the national aver- age). Turn to LIBRARIES on B3 SUNDAY, JANUARY 28. 1996 Metro/State LIBRARIES from B1 Suburban libraries are going against trend: Use is booming In Dakota County alone, li- brary use has climbed from 6.5 items checked out per capita in 1985 to 12 items per capita in 1995. My husband and I are both reading more," Nancy Olson said as she spent a weekday afternoon in front of a card catalog at Plym- outh's new $3.2 million library. "We're kind of disgusted about what's on TV. We look at it, and say there's nothing for us." Do these statistics mean more people are reading? Yes and no, say the experts. Library use rates in the Twin Cit- ies suburbs are in fact among the highest in the country, and much higher than both urban and na- tional figures. Some suburban of- ficials have become skeptical of surveys showing that most Amer- icans are reading less. A Gallup Poll, for instance, found that while 37 percent of adult Ameri- cans read fewer than five books in 1978, the figure jumped to 50 percent in 1989. "I have a hard time believing that's true," said Josie Ploetz, a teacher and former president of the Belle Plaine Friends of the Library. "I know it isn't true in my home." Belle Plaine's is the first stand-alone library built in Scott County in 26 years. But other library officials have tumbled to a new theory that says both trends may be occurring: Reading books could be dropping when measured nationwide, yet suburban libraries may continue seeing high use because they ca- ter to the most affluent and most educated populations. Those with high incomes and high education levels, officials say, are the likeli- est library users. The per capita circulation rates for the Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka and Washington county library systems - a meas- ure adjusted for population - now exceed the rates for Minne- apolis and St. Paul. Minneapolis and St. Paul, in turn, are above the national aver- age for library use in larger cities. While St. Paul had a per capita circulation rate of 9.3, Newark, N.J.. a city of similar size, had a rate of 1.7. From her office at the new Plymouth library, Fischer can see the luxury townhouses being built at Sugar Hills. The prices start at $184,900. "There's some $400,000 [homes] across the street," she said. "I looked at the demographics for Plymouth when I got this job," Fischer said, "and it is a high. percentage" of high -educa- tion and high-income house- holds. She said those factors help her library. "If you have an educated parent, it's going to be built into them ... the importance of hav- ing a child reading as early as they can," she said. Just the mere prospect of growing affluence can trigger a push for a new library. In St. Bonifacius, a small city in western Hennepin County, library officials are watching as developers push to build a new golf course - and generate talk that as many as 400 new homes could follow. Already there's speculation of how far the city's tiny library can go before a major expansion. "I'm happy to be overseeing what is the growth area in Hen- nepin County," said Carolyn Mu - chow, a county library official who supervises six libraries in the Lake Minnetonka area. "It's kind of an anomaly. It is not like the rest of the country." Others are also watching the popularity of libraries with a criti- cal eve. I've grown up thinking people don't read," said Kathy Petron, head librarian at Centen- nial Library in Circle Pines. She has worked in the Anoka County library system for 20 years. Her view now: "I think people read less than they used to read, which wasn't that much [to begin with]." Doing his history homework in the Centennial Library, 18 -year- old Derek Breen is also skeptical. Breen, who wants a careerjn law enforcement, said he reads about six books a year, a figure he said doesn't qualify him as a vora- cious reader. But he added: Where the (library Most Twin Cities suburban residert: rate than the national average, and i and St PauL Sane Crary officials'ai demographics -; lbrary users tend. .�; educated, and many of the most ';, affluent and educated rive in the. suburbs. :r -3j book) readers are use thea public Rxaries at a higher pore than library users in MinneapoAs tri>trte [tie pttencmenon to o be more affluent and more Lbraiy material National mean or cfculahon average for that per capita size library Here's how Twin 'Hennepin County `' 131 7.6 Odes suburban Ramsey County JL6!-='-_ &6 counties " Dakota County 3L7 6.3 compare with Anoka County` 3l0 ' ' 6.6 ,each other and Washington Courtly 9.5,;' : 6.6 against national Scott County 71 7.0 averages for Carver County 5.4 7.0 similarly shed librarles: Here's how the,.- St. Paul 9.3 , ' 6.3 St Paid and Kansas Cdy : - 8 8 .: 6.3 Minneapolis ",' Minneapolis 84 6.3 public iibrades `, Moble, Ala. :. 4.0 : 6.3 compare with ; . Newark, N -L' 1.7 ;",, 6.3 ppraries b other San Antonio 28 3.7 inaJor us. _ Chicago 2.Ci <3.7- titles Baltimore County, Md ..:`35.7: 7.6 Columbus, Ohio 15A 7.6 Orange Co, Fla (Orlando) 6.7 7.6 Milwaukee _ 4.7 ; 7.6 Louisville, Ky. 3.8 7.6 . Source:1995 Nt& Library Statistical Report American Library Association "That's a lot compared to my friends. They don't read enough. [They're] watching TV, basically being lazy." Some library officials said it's tempting to think more people are reading because those are the only people libraries see - those who don't read don't walk into libraries. Catherine Schmidt is the kind of person who does walk in. The 60 -year-old avid reader, from ru- ral Belle Plaine, comes to the li- brary every two to three weeks. "I have what I call a 'book room' at home," said Schmidt, who reads nearly a book a week. "Yeah, people do watch TV a lot, but I'm kind of old-fashioned." Meanwhile, even the tiniest suburban libraries are equipped with the latest technology. Belle Plaine's library has a computer with a CD-ROM. When school lets out at 3 o'clock, said librarian Georgine Gansen, a parade of boys arrives to play the Oregon Trail II computer game. Star Tribune Graphc by Jane Friedmann "I don't think libraries are as far behind as people think," said Andrew Cook, a reference librari- an at Farmington's new library. "It still tends to be a specific population -people who are us- ing libraries. I don't want to say libraries are - some people say dying - because of the electronic stuff. - he said. "I think they're still alive and well." On Monday, a kickoff meeting will be held to rally support for a new library in Savage. a south- western suburb that has become Scott County's fastest-growing city. Now the library is a store- front in a mall. Janet Williams. the county's li- brary director, said Savage's many young families - the fuel in suburban library growth - are clamoring for a new building. "More kids sign up for the summer reading program," she said, "than sign up for summer baseball.." FEES from 131 Hennepin library to raise fees to 300 a day for overdue items The 26 -library system's kitty from fines first topped $1 million a couple of years ago. It dipped below that last year — to about $892,000 — because a few of the branch libraries were closed for remodeling. The system's total operating budget for 1996 is $26.05 million. Increased fine revenue will help cover dramatically higher costs for books and other library mate- rials. The library isn't comfortable with charging fees," Engberg said. "People can still borrow ma- terials from us for free. They aren't automatically charged a fee. But if they come back over- due, there has to be a fine. "If we didn't have that revenue from fines, we'd have to increase property taxes or reduce expen- ditures." Fines more effective It isn't just bigger fines that have made fine revenue more im- portant to the county library sys- tem, Engberg said. Assessing and collecting the fines is much less labor-intensive than it used to be — and more effective. "It costs less and brings in more," she said. The automated system trips on titles that should have been re- turned and starts tabulating a charge, then spits out printed no- tices when the items are about two weeks late. "In the past, it took us some- times two months to tell you that you had something overdue," Engberg said. If you choose to ignore a fine for a while — and who hasn't? — the offense will pop up on a com- puter screen the next time you try to check out something. (Some systems are even more high-tech. In St. Paul, the computer now calls you at home to remind you of overdue materials — and even leaves a message on your answer- ing machine.) But library staff members would rather it didn't come to confrontations at the checkout desk. They're willing to believe that most people simply forget when a book is due, what they checked out or where they put it. "When you check out a book, you get a little receipt that tells you what you have and when it's due," Engberg said, "so you don't have to scratch your head and search under your bed wondering what it was you took out four weeks ago." Unless, of course, you lose the little slip. Remember to renew Another way to avoid steep fines is to renew your books, which the library has tried to make easier by introducing a Bo - it -yourself online renewal system. If you have a computer and mo- dem, you can renew through the library's online catalog at 540- 8200 (login "library"). There is no change in fines for overdue children's materials, which stay at 5 cents a day per item with a maximum fine of 51.50. "We learned our lesson in 1990," Engberg said. "We pro- posed an increase in our juvenile fines then, and there was a lot of opposition. The Library Board decided not to do it. It's still a nickel a day, which is what it's been for a long, long time." When children get library cards, they're told about fines and how to avoid them, Engberg said. Many parents also use book fines as an object lesson in re- sponsibility: Get "Treasure Is- land" back late, and it comes out T- 31 Daily fine charged for most overdue ltems,checked out by. adult patrons of the Hennepin County Lbfary.25C 300 IS 200Eno 1975 1981 leas 1m' The new maximum adult fine for overdue print and audiovisual materials will go from $7.50 per item to $12 on Feb. 1. (At the Minneapolis and St Paul public libraries, the standard daily fine for an overdue book is 25 cents, with a maximum fine per Item of $7 in Minne- apolis and $10 in St Paul. After that a replacement charge may kick in.) Source: Hennepin county Library, Mirmapois Public Library, St Paul Pubic Library Star Tribune Graphic How to avoid library fines: On Feb. 1, the Hennepin County Library system will raise its fine for overdue materials checked out by adults to 30 cents per day. Minne- apolis and St. Paul libraries still charge 25 cents per day. Here are some ways to get your books returned or renewed on time: > Renew online: In the Hennepin County system, there's a do-it- yourself online renewal system. If you have a computer and a modem, you can dial in to the catalog at 540-8200 (use the login "library"). In the Ramsey County Library system, call the catalog at 486-2222 (also login "library"). > Renew by phone: In the Hennepin County system, you can call these renewal lines directly: Brookdale, 569-3601; Ridgedale, 541-8605; Southdale 830-4923, or call your community library's general num- ber. In Minneapolis, to renew by touch-tone phone on or before the due date, call 341-3848 or call the library's circulation depart- ment at 372-6630. In St. Paul, renew by touch-tone phone at 292- 6002. In Dakota County, renew by touch-tone phone at 688-1555. > Returns: As perhaps a last resort, you may return material to any public library in Minneapolis, St. Paul or the seven metro -area counties as part of a cooperative agreement under NIELSA, the Metropolitan library Service Agency. ...................................................................................................... of your allowance. "But we tell staff not to deal with children who have fines as if it's a major transgression," Eng - berg said. "For most kids, their libran• card is precious to them, and they don't want to do anything to jeopardize that card." There was virtually no opposi- tion to the Feb. 1 adult fine hikes at public hearings held last fall by the Library Board and the Henne- pin County Board. Engberg said. "We were kind of surprised by that," she said. -We had antici- pated some protest because the last time we increased fines it generated more comment than we were prepared for." If you build a fine of more than S5, the library will restrict your use until some part of the fine is paid. If your charges top $50, you can't check out anything until you've made a good -faith effort to settle up. "We're not trying to penalize people," she said. "We like to say [the fine schedule] is for abuse, not use." r;cOF PLYMOUTR January 31, 1996 Donna Timonen 11620 49th Avenue N. Plymouth, MN 55442 Dear Ms. Timonen, Thank you for your letter to City officials outlining your concerns with your neighbors' dog and with the Community Service Officer's actions. The City Manager has asked Public Safety Director Craig Gerdes to respond to your concerns. You can expect a response from him by February 14, 1996. Thanks again for your thoughtful letter. Please give me a call on 509-5052 if you have not received a response by February 14. Sincerely, Kathy Lueckert Assistant City Manager cc: Craig Gerdes, Public Safety Director C/R. file (96-07) PLYMOUTH ABcauti,+-.-_Cac: 3400 PL',".10UTH 6CJLEVARD • PLYMOUTH. MINNESC-A 55==7-1482 • T_ EPHCNE =' 2) 5' -?-5000 ' � J`� � . ter.. � t � %� C3 4a N\d-�&A 4a 'QA L � / G AL1 — `40 P i` C%O Cn -T J I v ✓� S l -� �-Q 11.IT'l� T- Q . %`Lk,6t� �l Yt iC 1 � _ (J r 9 • -�LQ � C�r'L� � �� � J rr1 cvr�P � ����.rv�.�. j �ti�,,�. �z ��,� �x ccs-,�• � � �.;� • �,.�;c� oCf L n�4- C��.�dZk. C` ,,1:`�,.� i � �.: ;-�s:� L e:l � �...� •t_: �� L...: ; �� G j �.. �--z r`� ' I'Y�. �'lv� L � -� �-k- <--{,---�1 , 1048 f ( I- ; 5�► -h� y c�A. -� r,� `f �� 91( r s Pyl 1% ,j--a4cJ- 0-+ �';.,� �� '�� �-►�. �� Sart" -� .} �C-e- � �-�-,�- �Sc l��n �� � L/C . cloci C• .w�Yi UZ Cl,c� tL �L [%�n �/� �,L, 1��2irl I L LIL q •' ► . Gut � - Sc—r\ AARLAYVS v 17 )UP- U�q QY\ Leo, Z -4a 41 X10 January :'�t , 1996 4i ^�" fir` •,:, ".t !J Joy Tierney, Mayor City of Plymouth t1 w. 3400 Plymouth Blvd Plymouth MN 55447--148"'..,�, SC ,J.ti '•.� Independent authority to et spr: d limits in ruralareas of Metropolitan cities Dear Ms. Tierney: The City Council of the City of Afton adopted the enclosed. Resolution at their regular meeting January 16, 1996. Through this Resolution, the Council hoped to initiate legislation that would enable cities lige Afton to regulate local si , ed l irriits -syn City streel-s in 'tu'i-al areas. -T•he current State polici("c, and laws d•:j not fit limitatiOris w must wr),i-k with in rural parts of `he Metropolitan area. With all" tk ! _ k>a.t. o�.�;-.7- :t)4., l i rr i.t-: in this Session, the City Council --urmi.:e_, Oat this rn_ght be a stood time to introduce legislation giving the cities more control in thr_,se unic2L, _:i r(_-,.i.riist,�;rrice,-... Please review this and. let. me knpr,l kl;-:L-j T (Jar. 'Fice.lp to move it forward for ition this year . Thank you very much for your consideration Very truly , ol_Lrs , Laurence E. Whittaker City Adrninistrator City of Afton - 3033 St. Croix Trail So. Box 386; Afton, MN. 55001 I- 5a RESOLUTION 1996 - 2 CITY OF AFTON WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CITY CONTROL OF SPEED LIMITS WHEREAS, State Statute 169.14 subd. 2 sets State �4ide speed limits on City streets at fry or 55 mph in rural areas (and 30 mph in urban districts), and these speed limits may not be raised or lowered by City ordinance; and WHEREAS, Developing rural residential areas in Afton do not fit the state definition of an "urban" district; and WHEREAS, These residential areas within Afton present wide spread safety concerns because of our large number of hills and curves, gravel roads, and the presence of many children. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Afton City Council that the City Administrator is hereby directed to work with our State Representatives and the League of Minnesota Cities lobbyist to prepare a proposal for a change to Minnesota Statutes which would define developing residential areas within the metropolitan area which are not in "urban" areas (a "devurban area") for the purpose of establishing separate speed restrictions. ALSO, BE IT RESOLVED that incorporated Cities be given the discretion to set the speed limits in these devurban areas on City streets between the speed bounds now set in state statute (30-55 mph) where the sheet is Zoned for residential housing and the City Council determines that lowering the speed limit will improve the safety of the road. Adopted by the City Council of r1e City of Afton this 20th day of January, 1996. Jerry ATTEST= Laurence E. Whittaker City Administrator January 24, 1996 Dear Wayzata City Cou I am writing this letter in support of a proposal made to your city council Tuesday, January 23rd requesting that there be a requirement that all hockey skaters wear protective equipment while playing at public ri n ks. I have two children who play hockey with the Wayzata Youth Hockey Program. The Program "requires" that all players wear protective equipment or they will not be allowed to participate. Most parents are very responsive to the need for this protective equipment. I believe your residents would comply with the requirement once the Childs safety issue is stressed. Most parents I know do try to require that their children wear protective equipment and would welcome the support of the city with this new requirement. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. Sincerely, XisaJ. vdish cc: Plymouth City Council S 67C., 1 CITY of PLYMOUTF+ January 25, 1996 Denise and Gary Thompson 15400 County Road 47 Plymouth, MN 55446 Dear Mr. & Mrs. Thompson: Thank you for your letter concerning planning for Northwest Plymouth. Your letter will be shared with the members of the Planning Commission and City Council. The City of Plymouth will be updating its Comprehensive Plan to address the issue of whether urban services should be expanded to all or part of the area that is currently outside of the MUSA line. Participation of all residents and landowners in the area will be welcomed. We expect to start the planning process with a public meeting to be held sometime in the spring, and will notify you by mail when a date is set. Thank you once again for your letter. Please feel free to call me at 509-5401 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Anne W. Hurlburt, AICP Director of Community Development cc: Mayor and City Council Members Dwight Johnson, City Manager PLYMOUTH ? 'Read: ; Iry ;-. i -w Mayor, City of Plymouth Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 CC: Council Members, Plymouth City Council City Planner, Anne Hurlbert Dear Mayor and Council members: E C E I V E JAN 2 5 CITY OF PLWC"TN :O!NMUNITY DrVfTP.',T' . 'nAPT January 20, 1995 Re: Northwest Plymouth We are property owners in excess of 50 acres at 15400 County Road 47, Plymouth, and are interested in developing our property in the future in a manner consistent with what Plymouth has done in the past. We think it is in the interest of ourselves and the city to continue the nice and orderly development Plymouth has already done We do not agree with the petition requesting revision of the current land -use guide plan for Northwest Plymouth. We are not of the mindset of some of our neighbors who wish to prevent others from enjoying living in this area of Plymouth. i.e. "I'm in the club, everybody else out". We feel this area is already so close to urban development that it is inevitable that it be developed soon. The planning should be continued with the present land use guide to prevent a real hodge podge of barns and machine sheds etc., making it more difficult in the future and creating urban sprawl. We are interested in sewer and water in order to prevent pollution of the numerous wetlands in this area of Plymouth with its heavy clay soil that is not conducive to individual septic systems. We have sewer and water already abutting us to the North and approximately one half a mile to the East. Thank you for your consideration. - Yours truly, w Denise and Gary Thompson CITY OF PLYmOUTIt January 31, 1996 -title afirst name ,last—name, -,local—address* Dear «title• «last name}: I dN SL The Plymouth City Council joins me in thanking you for meeting with us last evening. it was an informative meeting and we hope you understand our concerns on the issues raised. Please keep us informed as the session continues. Thank you again. We certainly appreciate the time you spent with us given your busy schedules. cc: City Council Attachments: City Council Roster City Staff Sincerely, Joy Tierney Mayor of Plymouth PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Place T. Linc 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000 Ciry OF PLYMOUTR January 31, 1996 «title «first name «last name* «local address Dear «title► «last name» : Ifto 5e..0 We certainly missed you last night at our annual Legislative Dinner, but we understand completely the demands on your time. I thought you might be interested in the handouts used in the meeting. Please contact Council or staff if you would like additional information. Thank you again for your interest in the City of Plymouth, and your work on our behalf. Attachments cc: City Council Sincerely, Joy Tierney Mayor of Plymouth P_YMOUTH ABeavtifulPlaceToLive 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • P_YMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000