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December 2007 Shore Report ~ ~ o ~ r:/) THE IN THIS ISSUE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ;... ~ ~ ~ .-0 U ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ;... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .0 ~ ::: ~ ~ Community Events. . . . . . . . . 2 Arctic Fever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Senior Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Reduce Heating Bills. . . . . . . . 2 Council Activities. . . . . . . . . . . 3 Skating Rinks .............. 3 Green Holidays. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Budget .................... 4 Snowplow Safety. . . . . . . . . . . 5 Winter Driving ............. 5 Fire Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Planning Commission.... ...6 Coffee With Mayor. . . . . . . . . . 6 Recycling Changes.. .. . .. . . . 6 December 2007 Board and Commission Openings POSITIONS FOR THREE YEAR POSITIONS ON THE Park and Planning Commissions, and one to three year positions on the boards of Minnetonka Community Education, Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, and Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission, are open for application to interested Shorewood residents. Both Commissions act as advisory board to the City Council. The Planning Commission meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 PM. The Park Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. Occasionally additional meetings may be needed. Questions about the role of a Commissioner may be answered by calling City Hall at 952/474-3236. If you are interested in serving on either Commission, please submit a letter of interest and/or a resume by January 18, 2008. For any of the board positions, submit your letter/resume by January 7, 2008 to: Craig W. Dawson, City Administrator City of Shorewood 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 Fax: 952-474-0128; Email: cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us Interviews will be scheduled during late January and February, 2008. Food and Toy Collections Continue TilE CITY OF SHOREWOOD IS A drop-off site for toys to be given to the Hopkins-Minnetonka Family Resource Center. The Toy Chest Drive provides toys to low-income children up to age 18. Items for teens are especially needed each year. Volunteers for sorting, counting and assisting with distribution are also needed. For information on volunteering, call the Resource Center at 952/988-5350. Toys may be dropped off at City Hall during business hours through Friday, December 7. The City will also serve as a drop-off site for the ICA Food Shelf. Non-perishable food items may be dropped off at City Hall through Friday, December 7, and will be delivered to the ICA Food Shelf. If you would prefer to make a cash donation, contact the ICA at 952/938-0729. Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing By TilE STATE LAW COMMONLY known as truth-in-taxation, the City Council must hold a public hearing on its proposed tax levy for 2008. The truth-in-taxation hearing will be held at 7 PM Monday, December 3, 2007, at City Hall. This hearing will be the only item of business for the City Council that night. If a continuation of the hearing is necessary, that is scheduled for Monday, December 10. The Council may not take action on the proposed tax levy until December 10. The proposed tax levy is the maximum amount that the City Council set to collect in 2008. The Council may reduce the levy to be placed on the property tax rolls. The City's proposed levy is $410,687, or 9.3 percent higher than 2007. In its budget discussions this fall, the Council has discussed reducing the levy increase to $215,687, or 4.9 percent higher than 2007. Residents are encouraged to attend the December 3 hearing and to comment on the proposed budget and tax levy. The proposed 2008 budget is available for inspection at City Hall during normal business hours, or on the City web site, www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. If you have any questions, please contact Finance Director Bonnie Burton or City Administrator Craig Dawson at 952/474.3236. Meetings and Events 12/3 7:00 PM Truth-in-Taxation Hearing 12/4 7:00 pm Planning Comm. Meeting 12/8 8-10 AM Coffee wlMayor (see pg 1) 12/11 7:00 PM Park Comm. Meeting 12/18 7:00 PM Planning Comm. Meeting 12/24-25 HOLIDAY-City Offices Closed 111108 HOLIDAY-City Offices Closed For meeting agendas and approved meeting minutes, go to the City web site: www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. THE SHORE REPORT / DECEMBER 2007 COMMUNITY EVENTS Music Association of Minnetonka Holiday Concerts THE MUSIC ASSOCIATION of Minnetonka invites everyone to attend a concert this holiday season! For specific dates when the Symphony Orchestra, Youth Choirs, Choral Reflections of Minnetonka and Symphony Chorus will perform in December, visit their website at www. musicassociation.org or call 952/401- 5954 to receive a postcard for upcoming events. All concerts are free except where indicated. Mtka Community Theater Scrooge: A Musical December 14-21 (various) ADELlGHTFUL MUSICAL adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol" which tells the story of Scrooge and his spirits on Christmas Eve, starring Jim Cada as Ebenezer Scrooge. A holiday classic for the whole family! Go to www. minnetonkatheater.com for show times, or call 952/401-5898. Arctic Fever: A Winter Celebration Saturday, January 19, 2008 THE CITIES OF EXCELSIOR, SHOREWOOD, AND TONKA BAY join forces to celebrate winter! The first Arctic Fever celebration took place in January, 2007, and this year's event will be bigger and better, with more fun activities for the entire family! Planning is well underway, and events include horse drawn sleigh rides, Nordic hiking, husky dog demos, and search and rescue dogs at Freeman Park, human bowling, Native American games, a rapt or show and a community bonfire at Manitou Park, and ice skating, snow sculpting, a library story-hour, and a goofy hat parade in Excelsior-plus much mo:e! A complete schedule of events will be in the January Shore Report! The City of Shorewood is also seeking event volunteers and activity sponsors. This is a great job for families, neighborhood and community organizations, and students needing service hours! For more information on volunteer or sponsor opportunities, contact the City at 952/474-3236. We hope everyone will join the Arctic Adventure January 19! Senior Notes Wrapped in Love Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. (Starting December 8) HAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS gift wrapped by volunteers at Excelsior Mill. All proceeds benefit the Center. Volunteers can sign up by calling the Center at 474- 7635. Santa Party and Craft Sale Sat., December 8; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. AN INTERGENERATIONAL EVENT. Bring your grandkids to wrap free presents for their parents. Hot dog lunch served for $2.50. Rumors have it that Santa will appear, as well as some entertainment. Buy some great gifts for the holidays, including our famous embroidered retro- style tea towels. Holiday Dinner Wed., December 12, 11 :45 a.m. MENU TO BE determined, but it will be yummy and special. Enjoy the festive atmosphere and barbershop quartet entertainment. The Southshore Center is located at 5735 Country Club Road, in Shorewood. The office is open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call the center at 952/474-7635 for more information about events or a complete list of activities. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LOWER your heating bill is to use less fuel. Following are the top ten recommendations from the Department of Commerce, Energy Information Center on how to reduce heating costs throughout the winter: 1. Turn down your thermostat 5 to 10 degress while you are away or asleep. Every degree above 680 adds about 3 percent to your heating bill. 2. Turn your water heater to 1200-1250. 3. Place window film on the interior of leaky or drafty windows. 4. Have your furnace and water heater Reduce Heating Bills This Winter 8. Make use of solar heat by keeping curtains open when the sun is shining. 9. Add more attic insulation, but only after sealing all attic bypasses. Bypasses leak warm, moist air into your attic, reducing the value of insulation. An insulation value ofR- 38 is recommended for attics. 10. Call your utility company about having a home energy audit, which will pinpoint ways to weatherize your home to make it more energy efficient. Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce, www.state.mn.us www.ci.shorewood.mn.us professionally cleaned and inspected to make sure they work efficiently and safely. Change furnace filters monthly. 5. Replace your old furnace with a new, efficient model. Look for the Energy Star label on all new home appliances. 6. Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows. 7. Vacuum heat registers and return air vents regularly. If you have hot water heat, vacuum radiators or baseboard heaters. Make sure furniture and draperies do not block the heat flow. 2 Let's Skate! IT'S TIME TO SHARPEN those skate blades and get ready to get out on the rinks and bum that bottled up winter energy! The Shorewood Public Works Department is ready for a few days of below-freezing temperatures so they can begin the task of preparing the Shorewood ice rinks for skaters. Once the ice is ready, warming houses will open at Cathcart, Badger and Manor Parks. Warming House Schedule: (Approximately mid-December to mid-February) Monday-Friday 3:30 PM - 9 PM Sunday Noon - 9 PM Saturday 11 AM - 9 PM Holidays lOAM - 9 PM Closing times may vary slightly if rink is not in use or an attendant is not available. Warming houses will be posted when closed. Note to Parents: Please make sure that arrangements are made for picking your skater up before closing times, as telephones are not available at the warming houses. Hennepin County has a 10 PM curfew regulation for juveniles 14 and younger. If you have any questions or comments regarding rink operations or maintenance, please call City Hall at 952/474-3236. Greening Your Celebrations Tips on reducing waste and making every holiday and party celebration more earth-friendly. ON AN AVERAGE DAY, a typical Minnesotan creates roughly seven pounds of waste. But from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, household waste increases by more than 25%! Additional food waste, packaging, wrapping paper and decorations adds up to one million tons per week to the nation's garbage piles. It's time to think about changing the way we celebrate during the holidays and throughout the year, so that we can celebrate a cleaner environment. 1. Give gifts that conserve natural resources. *Deposit into a savings account, college 529 Plan or Education IRA for a child. *State Park annual permit, Great Minnesota Ski Pass for cross-country skiers. *Music lessons or cooking classes. *Tickets for a sporting event, garden show, theater or concert. *Membership to a museum, zoo, gym, golf club. 2. Use reusable tableware. *Use reusable tableware, dishes, napkins, tablecloths, and glasses; if you don't have enough, ask to borrow from friends or family or simply rent them, which will eliminate the need to buy special holiday china. 3. Buy LED lights. *Invest in Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights--they will pay for themselves in one season in reduced energy bills. *Use timers to turn offlights during overnight and daylight hours to reduce energy consumption. 4. Recycle *Place clearly marked recycling containers so guests can recycle their pop cans and bottles. *Ifyou can't return an unwanted gift, give it to a local charity. *Don't be afraid to donate decorations that you don't use anymore. 5. Reuse gift wrap supplies *Gift wrap made from recycled paper. *Instead of buying new packing materials, use packing peanuts or bubble wrap from previous gifts. Clean, unwanted packing peanuts are also accepted by many packaging stores for reuse. *Crumpled ads from the newspaper make great packing material. *Reuse bows and gift tags from year to year. *Use small parts of the gift, like hair bows, ornaments, socks, cookie cutters or small toys to decorate the box top. 3 . THE SHORE REPORT / DECEMBER 2007 Council Activities Since the last newsletter the City Council: . Held a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss the Commission's activities. . Held a pubic forum to discuss the possible sale of the City's off-sale liquor operations. At a separate special meeting, Council reviewed offers and decided to enter into binding purchase agreements for each of the City's liquor stores. . Directed staff to dispose of Public Works equipment by advertising it for sale on public bid websites, rather than by an auction. A 1989 Ford Water Tanker Truck, a 1990 John Deere MT 5-wheeled park utility vehicle, and a 1997 Skidoo snowmobile will be placed on eBay for sale. . Approved a resolution clarifying Resolution No. 30-78 which granted the Upper Minnetonka Yacht Club's conditional use permit. The clarifying resolution limits the use of the facility to 30 sailboats and two powerboats for the use of the club. . Held a work session to review the 2008 enterprise fund budgets, to discuss the storm water pollution prevention program, and to discuss updates to the right-of-way ordinance. . After receiving public testimony, Council decided to terminate the Amlee Road, Manitou Lane, Glen Road street reconstruction project. . Heard a report from Tom Skramstad, Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) representative, regarding . LMCD activities. . Approved a proposal for additional Community Service Officer services to be provided by the SLMPD for 2008. . Amended the Liquor Ordinance and established fees for off-sale liquor by private pa.t:ty. . . Selected an architect firm for the City Hall building remodeling project. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us THE SHORE REPORT / DECEMBER 2007 Snowplow Safety As Minnesota prepares to face an oncoming winter, one thing is certain: somewhere in the state, there will be snow. Minnesota Department of Transportation snowplow operators are urging motorists now to help them clear roads safely by cooperating during winter driving conditions. Each year, Minnesota records an average of 93 crashes involving snowplows. The crashes result in an average of 16 injuries per year. Whenever possible, motorists should avoid driving during snowstorms. When this is not possible, take your time and drive slowly, and give snowplow drivers plenty oftime and space to get the roads cleared for safe travel. The following safety tips are important to remember: . Slow down and stay behind the snowplows. Drivers should allow at least five car lengths between their vehicles and snowplows. The road behind the plow will be the safest place to drive; . Be particularly aware of black ice conditions on surfaces such as bridge decks and entrance and exit ramps; . Turn on headlights and turn off cruise control settings. Motorists can obtain timely weather and road condition reports by calling 5-1-1 or logging onto www.511mn.org. *Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation. www.dot.state.mn.us Winter Car Preparation . Have your anti-freeze, battery, brakes, heater, exhaust system and lights tested. . Have at least a half tank of gas. . Equip your vehicle with: booster cables, road flares, a shovel, salt, extra warm clothes, sleeping bag/blankets, hat, mittens, boots, windshield scraper and towrope. . Carry a winter survival kit: flashlights, blankets, hand/foot warmer packets, first aid supplies, high energy candy or snacks, bright fabric to tie on the antenna for help if stranded, candles to melt snow for drinking water, pencil, paper and cell phone or change for phone calls. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us Stay Back! Stay Alive! EACH YEAR MOTORISTS are warned of the danger involved in following snowplows too closely. Unfortunately, while this warning is heeded by. most, many years in Minnesota there are close to 100 snowplow/vehicle accidents reported. Drivers new to Minnesota roads may not be aware of the dangers involved, and many drivers, experienced or not, do not understand the limited field of vision experienced in the large plows required to keep our roads clear for safe winter driving. Snow plows are not only large, the blinding snow that they blow creates limited visibility for plow drivers. This means motorists must not depend upon plow drivers to see them, they must be watching out for the plow! Drivers should remember to use the "eight second rule" when following a snowplow. This means that when the plow passes a fixed object on the side of the road, your vehicle should not pass that same object for at least eight seconds. If you are closer than eight seconds, slow down! You are driving too closely! Keep in mind, the average snowplow weighs 17 times more than your car. It is not a contest a car is likely to win. Fire Safety Preparing and Caring for Your Live Christmas Tree FIRST STEP TO HAVING A Christmas tree that is fire safe is choosing the right tree. Your tree must pass the freshness test. Give the tree a good shake. If a fair amount of needles that are discolored fall out of the tree this is the first sign that the tree has lost a significant amount of moisture. The needles of a tree should be flexible and dark green in color. If the needles are discolored and/or break easily the tree has been standing too long. To test the tree, grasp one of the tree's branches gently, moving your hand slowly across its length. If the needles pop off easily, the tree is dehydrated. Once a tree has become dehydrated is cannot recover with watering. Until you are ready to move your tree in to its place in your home, keep it outside, preferably sheltered from the wind and direct sun. If you have wrapped it up to transport it make sure you unwrap it as soon as you get home. When you are ready to move the tree indoors make an angled cut across the trunk about an inch from the original base, the fresh cut will help the tree absorb more water. Immediately place the tree in a container of water. It will be very thirsty, so you will want to be sure to keep the water level above the trunk cut. Check the water in your tree stand everyday. A heathly tree can drink a gallon or more of water per day. Just one day without water causes the exposed trunk to seal up with sap, you will have to make another cut to avoid drying out the tree and having it become a holiday fire hazard. Keep your tree away from areas that will dry it out (fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, heat vents direct sunlight). Make sure the lights are not worn, there are no breaks in the cords and they are UL tested. Try to purchase lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights. Never use lit candles as tree ornaments. Keep your tree a good distance away from candles. Excelsior Fire District 4 Hey kids ages 3-11 enter the Arctic Fever 2008 Coloring Contest! Color and drop offby Friday, Janumy 18 at 5:00 p.m. to the Excelsior Library, 343 Third Street, Excelsior. Come see all of the entries and hear the announcement ofwil1l1ers in three categories: ages 3-5, 6-8, ana 9-11 at 11 :00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19 at the Excelsior Library. Need not be present to win. You may take your picture home that day. "i,.' 1rt , ;!' ' I ~ 1/ ~ ....-""'- ~ t ~ { 1-~( r" I 1 ~. ." . '. '. . . . '.t," - . Name ~ ~ ~ tf1fl Age Phone (This will be cut off before hanging) THE SHORE REPORT / DECEMBER 2007 City of Shorewood Dog License Application IT IS TIME TO RENEW your dog's license for the upcoming year. The City of Shorewood requires all dogs kept in the City, and over the age of six months, to be licensed and registered, including those allowed by special permit. For your convenience, the application form is provided below, or come in and apply in person at City Hall on weekdays from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. If you have questions, call the City at (952) 474-3236. INSTRUCTIONS: For each dog, mail or bring in the Rabies Certificate, the completed Application Form and the Total Amount Due to the City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club Road, Shorewood, MN 55331. A license tag will not be issued without a printed copy of the current rabies vaccination from your veterinarian. An additional kennel license is required for owners with more than 2 dogs. This can be obtained at City Hall, or on the City's web site at www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. (Please Print orType) 1. Dog's Name: Age: Breed: Sex: M / F Date of Rabies Shot: Color: Date Due: Rabies Tag #: 2. Dog's Name: Age: Breed: Sex: M / F Date of Rabies Shot: Color: Date Due: Rabies Tag #: Veterinarian / Clinic: Phone #: Owner's Name: Home Phone: Address: Work Phone: Total Number of Dogs in Household:_ X S 1 0.00 = Total Number of Dogs in Household:_ X S .55 = Total Number of Dogs in Household:_ X S 5.00 = LostTag:_X S 1.00 = Total Amount Due = $ License Fee Mailing Fee Late Fee (after Jan. 31) (License, Mailing and Late Fees) THE DOG TAG SHALL BE SECURELY ATTACtiED AROUND THE DOG'S NECK AT ALL TIMES DURING THE LICENSE PERIOD. Expires December 31. For Office Use Onlv Date: 1. City Tag # 2. City Tag # www.ci.shorewood.mn.us THE SHORE REPORT / DECEMBER 2007 City of Shorewood 2008 City Budget CITY PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR SERVICE Police and fire protection remains our top priority. Demands for these ser- vices continue to increase. Over 35 percent of the tax levy is allocated to the public safety services provided by the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, Excelsior Fire District, and Mound Fire Department. Public works is another high priority. Nearly 20 percent of the tax levy pays for road maintenance, snow and ice removal, and rehabilitating City streets. The City plans to place more financial resources in its street sealing and over- lay projects in 2008 (which is included in the "Transferto Capital Funds" cat- egory). Parks and recreation account for about 5 percent of City property taxes. Most park programs are fee-supported. General government/other consist of administrative expenses, several contractual services, city planning and zoning administration, elections, building maintenance, and other day-to-day business items. Property taxes make up about 75 percent of the revenues to the General Fund. The City also provides several services as utilities: water, sanitary sewer, stormwater management, and recycling. These services are paid by user fees; no tax dollars are placed in these enterprises. Public Works 19% Shorewood 23% PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS AT WORK Less than one-fourth of your property tax dollar goes to the City of Shorewood. Gen Govtl Other 24% Other 9% Schools (#276 before referendum) 33% YOUR 2008 PROPERTY TAX NOTICE TilE CITY ACCOUNTS for less than one-fourth of your total tax bill. The proposed tax notice you receive does not distinguish between the components of an increase or decrease. Your actual taxes may be lower than the amounts on your proposed tax notice. These are the maximum taxes that can be levied. The proposed taxes shown for the school districts (Minnetonka or Budget Hearings CITY OF SHOREWOOD Monday, December 3, 7 PM City Council Chambers 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 (952) 474-3236 MINNETONKA SCHOOL DISTRICT #276 Tuesday, December 11, 7 PM Community Room, District Service Center 5621 Co. Rd. 101 S Minnetonka, MN 55345 (952) 401-5024 HENNEPIN COUNTY Thursday, December 6,5:30 PM Commissioners' Board Room A-2400 Government Center Minneapolis, MN 55438 (612) 348-5433 WESTONKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS No budget hearing required this year. For more information contact Westonka Public Schools at (952) 491-8021. 5 Westonka) do not include the amounts for the referenda approved by voters in November 2007; consequently, the school levies certified may be higher than what is shown on your proposed tax statement. Your actual tax statement will arrive in the spring. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET OR ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AT (952) 474-3236. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us I \/I =! .... C \/I .; E :l )( ~ C GI 0 E .:; 0 ~ M ~ I'l 0 M GI 0 ..r ~ 0 ~ ...... .r:; GI or II! ~ 'v 0 N .r:; ~ II! III ~ 'V ~ ~ ~ VI Qj 'i ~ .r:; ... .r:; , 'iij >.or .c ... I'l GI .u - ~ GI ~ 'j; C :l E Qi 0 ~ ... , 0 'iij w .r:; :> VI CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD 5HOREWOOD, 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; Paula Callies, Ward 3; Martin Wellens, Ward 4 City Administrator: Craig Dawson ... Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore SAVE PAPER AND MAILING COSTS! SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHORE REPORT BY E-MAIL: CITYHALL@C1.5HOREWOOD.MN.US City of Shorewood Ward Map W1Pl:Ward 1, Precinct 1 Wl P2: Ward 1, Precinct 2 W2P1: Ward 2, Precinct 1 W3P1: Ward 3, Precinct 1 W4P1: Ward 4, Precinct 1 The following public hea~g~~e~h~!~f~th~~m~r 4 Planning Commission Meeting: 1.7:00 PM. A request for approval of a lot-width variance and minor subdivision to adjust the existing lot line between properties located at 5865 and 5875 Division Street. 2, 7: 15 PM. The Boulder Bridge Homeowners Association is requesting approval of an amendment to their Planned Unit Development in order to reduce the setback required from a private trail within the development known as "Outlot C, Block 1, Boulder Bridge Addition". 3, An application for a minor subdivision of property located at 5770 Ridge Road. Holiday Recycling Schedule RECYCLING COLLECTION will be delayed by one day for Mainland and Island residents during Christmas and New Year's weeks. Recycling for Mainland will be on Thursday, December 27, and January 3; Island Residents will have recycling collection Friday, December 28, and January 4. THE SHORE REPORT / NOVEMBER 2007 X Polling Place Public Safety .. Building *~~t~:~~re Center Talk With Mayor 2nd Saturday Coffee JOIN MAYOR CHRIS LIZEE for coffee and conversation every second Saturday of the month at the Shorewood Caribou Coffee (Hwy 7 and 41) from 8 to 10 AM. She's looking forward to seeing you Saturday, December 8.