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March 2008 Shore Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ;... ~ ~ ~ .,0 u ~ ~ t: ~ ~ ;... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ::: ~ ~ IN THIS ISSUE Bag Recycling.. . . . . . . . . 2 Compost Bin Offer. . . . . . 2 Council Activities. . . . . . . 3 Talk w/Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . 3 Landscape Workshops. . 3 Street Reconstruction... 3 Pothole Season......... 3 Poison Prevention. . . . . . 3 Car Idling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MN Crosswalk Laws. . . ..4 Public Safety. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Meals on Wheels. . . . . . . .4 Tax Assistance. . . . . . . . . . 5 Arctic Fever. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Community Events. . . . . 5 Road Restrictions....... 6 o ~ r:/) THE March 2008 2008 City Elections FOR TIlE 2008 ELECTION, City offices on the November 4 General Election ballot will include Councilmember for Wards 2 and 4, both for four-year terms; Councilmember for Ward J (to fill the term through 2010 vacated by Paula Callies); and Mayor, at-large, for a two-year term. Qualified residents interested in filing for one of these offices may do so between August 26 and September 9. Filing information is available at City Hall, and on the City's website. For your convenience, a map of the ward districts is on the last page of this newsletter, as well as on the City's website (click on City Government, then Elections), or stop by City Hall to view a printed copy of the map. If you are not registered to vote in Shorewood, you may do so by filling out a voter registration application, available at City Hall and on the City's website. For more information on City of Shorewood elections, visit www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. or contact the City at 952/474-3236. Thanks to Paula Callies TilE CITY OF SHOREWOOD offers its sincere thanks to Paula Callies for her three years of service on the Shorewood City Council. We wish her luck in her future endeavors! The City Council will be interviewing candidates who applied for the vacant position on March 3 and hopes to make an appointment at the March 10 City Council meeting. Check the City web site for updates to the process. The selected candidate will fill the position until voters elect a Ward 3 Councilmember in the November City elections. Planning Commissioner Sought The City of Shorewood is seeking a resident to serve on its Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is an advisory body which makes city planning recommendations to the Shorewood City Council. Planning Commission meetings take place on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 pm at City Hall. Occasional other meetings are required. If you are interested in serving on the Planning Commission, please send a resume or letter of interest as soon as possible to: Jean Panchyshyn, Deputy City Clerk 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 FAX: 952/474-0128; email: cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us 2008 Open Book Meeting THE OPEN BOOK MEETING, scheduled for April 21, 5-7 PM at City Hall, is an opportunity for taxpayers to discuss value concerns and sales information with an appraiser from the Assessor's Office. Individuals with questions about their assessment are encouraged to call the Hennepin County Assessor's Office, 612/348-8968, upon receiving their valuation notice. Generally the Assessor's Office is able to answer questions over the phone. If questions are unable to be resolved through a phone call to the Assessor's Office, individuals should schedule an appointment for the Open Book meeting. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact the Hennepin County Assessor's Office, 612/348-8968. Meetings and Events 3/4 7:00 PM Caucuses (Green Party) 3/9 Daylight Savings Time Ends 3/10 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 3/11 7:00 PM Park Comm. M.eeting 3/18 7:00 PM Planning Comm. Meeting 3/21 HOLIDAY-City Offices Close at Noon 3/24 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 4/1 7:00 pm Planning Comm. Meeting For meeting agendas and approved meeting minutes, go to the City web site: www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. THE SHORE REPORT I MARCH 2008 It's in the Bag Plastic Bag Recycling Plastic bag recycling drop-off collection is available at all Twin Cities Cub Foods, Lunds, Lakewinds Natural Foods, Byerly's, and Kowalski's Markets. How it works: Look for the specially marked "It:S in the Bag" sign and collection bins found at the retail sites listed above. Place your clean, dry, empty plastic bags in the marked bin. Many of the collection bins will be at the entrances of the store. Please read carefully what bags are accepted and those that are not accepted. Accepted Bags All material must be clean and dry. Plastic grocery bags Plastic retail bags with string ties and rigid plastic handles removed Plastic newspaper bags Plastic dry cleaning bags Plastic produce bags with ALL food residue removed Plastic bread bags with ALL food residue removed Plastic cereal bags with ALL food residue removed Plastic frozen food bags with ALL food residue removed Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towel, etc.) Plastic salt bags-rigid plastic handles removed Plastic stretch/shrink wrap Plastic zipper-type bags WITHOUT rigid plastic closing mechanism Recycling Fact: Recycling a ton of plastics saves the equivalent of 3.85 barrels of oil-a nonrenewable natural resource. Bags Not Accepted: Plastic bags with strings or rigid plastic handles not removed Plastic bags with food residue Plastic soil or mulch bags Plastic zipper-type bags without zipper mechanism removed Plastic bubble wrap Plastic food containers Plastic bottles Choose to Know: You can make choices that reduce waste when shopping, like reusing shopping bags or not taking them at all. By using fewer bags, you conserve resources, and you might save money! . Reject: First things first - do you even need a bag? Tell the clerk that you'll carry out your handful of items. . Reduce: A sturdy cloth bag is a nice investment. You can throw it over your shoulder for hands-free carrying, and it won't rip if you catch it on the doorknob or the car door. Cram it full of your treasured purchases! . Reuse: If you have to use paper or plastic, pick one that you'll use again. Many grocery stores offer a 5- or 10-cent rebate when you "bring back the sack" _ it's good for the environment and your pocketbook! . Recycle: For bags that are worn out but still clean, recycling is a great last stop. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us 2 Get a Compost Bin Dirt Cheap for Earth Day 2008 HENNEPIN COUNTY HAS partnered with Bachman's, Lakewinds Natural Foods and The Reuse Center to sell compost bins. Backyard composting is an easy way for residents to turn much of the waste from their yards and kitchens into a rich material that can be used to improve the soil. Using finished compost on lawns and gardens provides an organic fertilizer, suppresses weeds, and holds moisture in the soil. The bins are being sold for only $35. The compost bin features a 13-cubic-foot capacity; a sturdy, easy-to-open lid; two harvesting doors; and is made of black recycled plastic. There is a limit of one bin per household. Bins are available while supplies last. Residents must pre-order by April 1 online at www.hennepin.us/ compostbinsale. Payment will be made at the time of pick-up during regular store hours. Bins will be available for pick-up on April 19 through Earth Day, April 22. Residents can choose from the following locations: . Bachman's, 6010 Lyndale Ave S., Minneapolis . Lakewinds Natural Foods, 1.7501 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka . The Reuse Center, 2801 21st Ave S., Minneapolis For general questions about the compost bin sale, see www.hennepin.us. keyword search "compost bin", or call Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612/348-9266. You can also build your own compost bin if you do not want to buy one. For instructions, go to www.hennepin.us/ compostbinsale, and click on "How to Build a Compost Bin" in the right-hand frame. Lawn and Landscape Workshops THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD IS OFFERING two free workshops to help homeowners and landscape/lawn care businesses work toward developing a low impact lawn and landscape. The first workshop is Thursday, April 24, 6 pm at the South Shore Center, and will focus on developing a low impact, Minnesota-friendly landscape. Discussion will include native plants, rain gardens and the use of rain barrels. Rain barrels will be available for $40 to workshop participants. Limit one per workshop while supplies last. Watch the April Shore Report for complete information. The second workshop, taking place on Thursday, May 22, at 6 p.m., will focus on developing an organic lawn, safe for pets and children! This workshop will help you rebuild your lawn from the ground up, and will include suggestions on how to handle 'problem areas in your lawn. To reserve a rain barrel, please RSVP your workshop attendance to the City of Shorewood, 952/474-3236. The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens, a do-it-yourself raingarden installation book, is available at City Hall for $11.25 each. It covers design, plant selection, maintenance and step by step installation. Both workshops are possible through a Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund grant. City Improvement Projects THE CiTY OF SHOREWOOD has published the Capital Improvement Program (C.I.P.) document through 2011. The C.I.P. is a planning document to budget for upcoming improvement projects. The list of projects changes as conditions warrant. The CIP is located on the City's website at www.ci.shorewood.mn.us/pages/finance/finance.html under the link Five Year Capital Improvement Program, or a print copy is available at City Hall for your viewing. The CIP lists projects the City plans on undertaking in the next five years. Residents may view the document to see which year the City plans to reconstruct certain roads and other projects over the next few years. Pothole Season Is Here WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES come potholes, an early spring hazard for cars and bikes! Roads are being serviced throughout the season, but if you notice a serious pothole, it can be reported to the responsible government body: On a State Highway, send an email tokeith.jacobson@dot.state.mn.us with the address of the pothole to its Dispatch Center, or you can call 651/582-1550. On a Hennepin County road, Monday through Friday between the hours of6:30 am and 3 pm, fill out and submit the Pothole Reporting Form, found at www.hennepin.us. enter keyword "pothole". After normal work hours or if the pothole is hazardous, please call 612/596-0299. For City of Shorewood roads, contact the City at 952/474-3236. Roads in other counties or cities 'ould be reported to the individual county or city in which it is located. Is Your Family Prepared? MARCH 16-22 IS Poison Prevention Week. Each year, this week is used to encourage parents and caregivers to take a look at their homes and make sure poisons are not within reach of children. Every home where children live or visit should have a bottle of Ipecac syrup, used to make a person vomit. Ipecac syrup should only be used on the advice of a physician or Poison Control Center, as some poisons will cause further injury if the victim vomits. Syrup of Ipecac is available inexpensively at most pharmacies. If you suspect a poisoning, call the Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Information Specialists are available at the Poison Center seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Additional information is available online at www.mnpoison.org. POISON He .. p," 1-800-222-1222 3 THE SHORE REPORT /MARCH 2008 Council Activities Since the last newsletter the City Council: · Accepted the resignation of Ward 3 Councilmember Paula Callies and approved the appointment process to fill the position. . Appointed Tad Shaw as the Minnetonka Communication Education Board representative; Patrick Hodapp as the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission Board representative; and Richard Siakel as the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District Board representative. . Appointed Travis DMers, Jeremy Norman and Steve Quinlan to the Shorewood Park Commission . Approved the cablecasting of City Council work sessions. . Approved an amendment to the City Code regarding sump pump connections. . Approved an increase to the Park dedication fee from $2000 to $5000. This fee is typically paid at the time land is subdivided for development. . Approved an agreement with Hennepin County for assessment servIces. . Approved a policy for public purpose expenditures. . Accepted final improvements for the Chanhassen /Woodhaven Well Interconnect and authorized final payment for this project. . Held a work session to review updates to the Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan, the upcoming year's Goals and Priorities and a request from the Boulder Bridge subdivision for street sealcoating. Talk VVith Mayor JOIN MAYOR CHRIS LIZEE for coffee and conversation, Saturday, March 8, at the Shorewood Caribou Coffee (Hwy 7 and 41) from 8 to lOAM. Bring all of your City questions, concerns and compliments! www.ci.shorewood.mn.us THE SHORE REPORT / MARCH 2008 Turn Off Your Car VEHICLE EXHAUST IS HAZARDOUS to human health, especially children's. Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies. Children breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults, and their lungs are still developing. Other reasons to turn off your car if you will be waiting more than 30 seconds include: . Idling wastes resources and damages the environment. Burning fuel needlessly costs money and contributes to air pollution problems that harm plants and animals. . Idling vehicles can be easily stolen or can cause damage if accidentally engaged. . Today's cars and buses do not need to be warmed up, except in extremely cold conditions (below 00 F). Even at cold temperatures, newer cars only need to warm up 30 seconds to get the oil passing through the engine. For modem diesel engines, idling can actually be harder on the engine than driving down the road. If you are parked outside of an office building, home, school, grocery store, restaurant, or any other location you might be tempted to idle your car until you are ready to leave, think again! You may be harming your health, the health of all those exposed to your exhaust, and the health of the environment. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, wwwpca.state.mn.us The Minnesota Crosswalk Law AFEW WARM DAYS BRING out pedestrians who have been trapped inside for what seems like an eternity! Drivers must be cautious of pedestrians, especially in areas such as Shorewood where roads are shared with cars, bikes, people and pets. A reminder of the crosswalk laws in the State of Minnesota: . Where traffic control signals are not in place or in operation, a driver must stop for a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. A vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk can proceed once the pedestrian has completely crossed the lane in front of the stopped vehicle. . A pedestrian must not enter a crosswalk if a vehicle is approaching. There is no defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by before entering the crosswalk, but common sense should prevail. The law states: "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield." . When a vehicle is stopped at an intersection to allow pedestrians to cross the roadway, drivers of other vehicles approaching from the rear must not pass the other vehicle. . It's unlawful for the driver of a motor vehicle to proceed through a group of school children crossing a street or highway, or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing guard who is directing children across the roadway and who is holding an official signal in the stop position. Failure to obey the law is a misdemeanor. A second violation within one year is a gross misdemeanor. To view Minnesota Statutes 1999, Chapter 169.21, go to the Minnesota Safety Council web site at, www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org, and enter search "crosswalk". Minnesota Safety Council, www.minnesotasafetycoucnil.org www.ci.shorewood.mn.us 4 Lock Your Car, Lock Your Garage! r!;~e~;~:~t;e~~: . vehicles in driveways '';'''''' and in garages. In most cases, the vehicle and/or garage entered was UNLOCKED. The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department strongly urges you to always lock your house and garage, as well as your vehicle, even in your own driveway. Never leave valuables in plain sight in your car, truck, or van. In addition, several reports have been made of vehicle windows being smashed out, often with no associated theft. Several similar incidents have also taken place recently in Chanhassen and Minnetonka, in neighborhoods bordering the South Lake area. As always, please do not hesitate to notify police of any activity which you feel is suspicious, or just "does not look right" in your neighborhood, by calling 911 immediately. DO NOT WAIT TO CALL. Many crimes are averted by alert citizens who call police quickly. For non-urgent questions or concerns regarding these incidents, contact Community Service/Crime Prevention Officer David Hohertz or Investigator Justin Ballsrud of the SLMPD at (952) 474-3261. For up-ta-date information, crime alerts, and more public safety information, see the South Lake Minnetonka web site, www.southlakepd.com. Meals On Wheels IF YOU OR SOMEONE you know cannot make nutritious meals on a regular basis, Meals On Wheels - South Shore has volunteer drivers who deliver hot meals five days a week (M-F) over the lunch hour in the Excelsior, Shorewood and Tonka Bay area. Please call 952/474-5227 for more information. Arctic Fever 2008 DE S PIT E ~ FRIGID 6~~ temperatures, ~. ~ many people were '1'/' ~. on hand to show their ,.~~~,~~ Minnesota spirit while ~ celebrating Arctic Fever, January 19! The bonfires were popular, but so were the sled dogs, Schutzhund dogs, human bowling on ice, horse drawn wagon rides and much more! Watch a film of the event created by LMCC. Go to www.arcticfever. net for the film link. Organizers of the event are already planning the 2009 celebration for Saturday, January 13. They hope to add a variety of new events and open the weekend with a Friday night celebration! The event is currently sponsored by the cities of Shorewood, Excelsior, and Tonka Bay, and is designed to give area residents a reason to get outside and celebrate the beautiful South Lake Minnetonka area in the heart of a Minnesota winter! If you are interested in helping with the 2009 Arctic Fever celebration, or have ideas for the event, please contact the City of Shorewood, 952/474-3236, or email: cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us. Thank you to our sponsors: Many area businesses helped make the 2008 event a success! American Legion Post #259 Cub Foods Caribou Coffee McDonald's Friends of the Library Minnetonka Lacrosse Association Artworks Art and Frame Sound Sisters LMCC Skjervold Law Office Cities of Shorewood, Excelsior and Tonka Bay Shorewood Parks Foundation THE SHORE REPORT /MARCH 2008 CCCIDlJilll1IDjlNlIIDfifrsF ffiw~IID~ Excelsior Library Author William Swanson Monday, March 3, 7 p.rn. SWANSON will discuss his research for "Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson." Door prizes available. Books about the 1963 St. Paul murder will be available for purchase and signing. Sponsored by the Friends of the Excelsior LibralY. Landscape Arboretum Sugarbush Pancake Brunch & Maple Tours Sat., March 29; 9 AM - 1 PM ENJOY ARBORETUM-MADE pure maple syrup, all-you-can-eat pancakes garnished with butter and pecans, sausage links, orange or cranberry juice, mile and coffee. Adults: $8 members or $9 non-members. Children 4-7: $4.50 members; $5.50 non-members. Kids under 3 free. Tickets may be purchased in the Oswald Center until I p.m. Maple tours offered continuously from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mtka Chamber, Concert and Cappella Choirs Youth Choirs' Spring Benefit Saturday, March 1 5 Arts Center on 7, 1 8285 Hwy 7 6:30 pm - Reception, Raffle Prizes and Silent Auction 7:30 pm - Concert JOIN MAM IN THIS FUN fundraising gala! Dessert will be served at intermission. This summer the Chamber and Concert Choirs will participate in the Rhapsody 2008! Prague Children's Music Festival and Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival respectively. Mtka Concert Band Thursday, March 27; 7:30 pm Arts Center on 7, 1 8285 Hwy 7 UNDER THE DIRECTION of Dan Geldert, the Minnetonka Concert Band presents its "Spring Tune-Up" Concert with fun and upbeat band musIC. CAPSH Tax Assistance THIs TAX SEASON, LOW-INCOME individuals and families in suburban Hennepin County can put more money in their pockets! The Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Tax Assistance Program is offering free tax clinics for individuals who earned less than $30,000 and families who earned less than $40,000. At the clinics, CAPSH staff and trained volunteers prepare and e-file tax returns. Tax clinic times, dates and locations are: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 9 - Southdale Library 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 23 -Ridgedale Library 4:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 -Eden Prairie Library 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 8 - Southdale Library 4:30-8:30 p.m. March 19 - Ridgedale Library 4:30-8:30 p.rn. March 26 - Southdale Library 4:30-8:30 p.m. April 2 - CAPSH, Hopkins Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are recommended. Office appointments are also available. To schedule an appointment, call Randall, 952/933-9639, ext. 211. 5 www.ci.shorewood.mn.us iii ::J ... C iii ...: ~ =! >< c CII " E >D 0 0 .g M ~ N 0 1'1'\ CII 0 , ... ~ 'It 0 ,... .J: CII 'It II! ... 0 N 'ij .J: ~ iii III ~ 'ij ~ ~ !' 'iii Qi ;; ... .J: ... .J: I .;;; >- 'It .Q ... ~ CII 'ij CII ~ C ... III ::J E 4i 0 ... ... I 0 ';;; W .J: :> III CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (952)474.3236 FAX (952)474.0128 Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM PRESORTED STANDARD U.s.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #30681 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Council Members Christine Lizee, Mayor; Richard Woodruff, Ward 1; Laura Turgeon, Ward 2; Vacant, Ward 3; Martin Wellens, Ward 4 Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore SAVE PAPER AND MAILING COSTS! SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHORE REPORT BY E-MAIL: CITYHALL@CI.5HOREWOOD.MN.US City of Shorewood Ward Map Wl Pl: Ward 1, Precinct 1 Wl P2: Ward 1, Precinct 2 W2Pl: Ward 2, Precinct 1 W3Pl: Ward 3, Precinct 1 W4Pl: Ward 4, Precinct 1 Planning Map The Planning Commission will hold the following public hearings at their meeting on March 1 8: 1. 7:00 P.M. The owner of the Waterford Center at 19905 Highway 7 has applied for an amendment to the P.U.D.'s Development Agreement so that a potential restaurant locating to the Center could serve wine and beer beverages. 2. 7: 15 P.M. Minnewashta School at 26350 Smithtown Road requests a Conditional Use Permit Amendment for the purpose of adding classroom and gymnasium space to the building, as well as upgrade existing stormwater ponding on the site. 3. 7:30 P.M. The owner of 26785 Edgewood Road is requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow total accessory space over 1200 square feet in order to add a detached garage to the site. The Planning Commssion will meet on Tuesday, April 1 . For agenda information, see the City web site after March 15. THE SHORE REPORT I MARCH 2008 X Polling Place Public Safety J;,. Building *~~t~:~~re Center Road Restrictions March 1 to May 1 WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS are placed on local streets until March 1 to May 1 to preserve the condition of City streets from serious damage and destruction. Exceptions are made for necessary vehicles, such as school buses and garbage trucks. Exceptions are not made for vehicles such as moving trucks, delivery trucks and construction equipment. Please remind any delivery personnel or workers on your property of the restriction. All streets are posted with the allowable weight limits.