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August 2007 Shore Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ;... ~ ~ ~ -0 .,.. U ~ ~ is ~ ~ ;... 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .0 ~ r:/J :::: ~ THE ~ IN THIS ISSUE Wildlife in Shorewood . .. 2 Music in the Park.. ..... 2 Recycling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Water Conservation. . . .. 3 Senior Corner. . . . . . . . . . . 3 Council Activities . . . . . .. 3 Stormwater Ponds. . .. .. 3 Planning Commission. . .. 4 Recycling Date Change. . . :l August 2007 City Improvements: Making Better Parks for You .ci............ " &.......... .....10. "' ,m ~<i Ja r../IIIJ' BADGER PARK IS GETTING a face-lift this summer, resulting in improved field conditions for football. During the month of August, a drain tile project to improve field drainage will be completed, and new lights will be installed around the football field. Fields are expected to be ready for the start of the fall sports season. Talk VVith the Mayor 2nd Saturday Coffee with the Mayor JOIN CHRIS LIZEE, SnOREwOOD'S MAYOR, for coffee and conversation every second Saturday of the month at the Shorewood Caribou Coffee (Hwy 7 and 41) from 8 to lOAM. Mayor Lizee would be delighted to visit with you about what's going on in the City of Shore wood. Bring all of your City questions a~d comments. She's looking forward to seeing you starting Saturday, August 11 tho ~ Using Your VVater Sense MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE WATERING restrictions in effect when we face summer months with low rainfall. The City of Shorewood has not had to restrict water use of residents, but that does not mean that the water supply is not affected by the drought conditions. Shorewood residents are encouraged to use wise water practices to conserve water. . A major water saving tactic is for homes with sprinkler systems. Watering should take place in the early morning or late evening hours. Watering during the heat of the day (after 10 a.m.) results in extreme water loss due to evaporation. Sprinkler systems should be set to only water 1-1 Y2 inches of water once or twice a week-not daily as many systems are set to water. Put a container or rain gauge in your lawn to find out how long you must water in order to reach the 1-1 Y2 inch mark. . Turn off garden hoses from the faucet when not in use. Many hoses have small leaks and the water loss can really add up. . Use a rain barrel to collect water for landscape use. Put "rain barrel" in your search engine for information on rain barrel use, or go to the City of Shore wood web site to view an archived article by the Minnehaha Watershed District. For additional water saving tips, both inside the house and outside, see page 3. Identity Theft: Don't Be a Victim Meetings and Events IDENTITY THEFf IS THE fastest growing crime both nationwide and right here in our own community. The SLMPD urges you to take some simple steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim: . Always lock your car, even in your own driveway, and do not leave valuables in plain sight in your vehiclentake them with you or leave them at home. If you must have valuable items in your vehicle, hide them in the trunk, or somewhere out of sight, BEFORE you reach your destination. Thieves will often watch Theft. . . continued on page 2 8/6 7:00 pm City Council Budget Workshop 8/7 7:00 PM Planning Comm. Meeting 8/7 National Night Out 8/13 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 8/14 7:30 PM Park Commission Meeting 8/21 7:00 PM Planning Comm. Meeting 8/27 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 9/3 HOLDIAY: City Hall Closed Up- to-date information and meeting agendas may be found on the City web site: wwwci.shorewood.mn.us. THE SHORE REPORT / AUGUST 2007 VVildlife in Shorewood Beavers in the City TilE CiTY HAS RECEIVED A few inquiries about controlling the beaver population in Shorewood, particularly on the Islands. When it comes to beavers, Minnesota allows a property owner to kill a beaver at any time (whether in trapping season or not) on his/her own property. Any removal done by a contractor hired by a property owner outside of the trapping season (between late October and mid-May) needs a DNR permit from the local conservation officer. The City's trapping and hunting ordinance does not allow property owners, or their contractors, to kill beavers without prior City authorization for managing the beaver population. If a firearm is to be used, additional authorization must be given by the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department. Feeding Wildlife RESIDENTS SHOULD REFRAIN from feeding wildlife in the City. Although bird feeders are fine, they should be set high enough to discourage coyote and other animals from getting into them. Squirrel-proof feeders are helpful. Food specifically placed out for other wildlife, and salt licks for deer, result in animals not foraging for food as they should, and keep large numbers of animals in residential areas. This poses increased risks to drivers and to wildlife. There are plenty of natural food resources for Shorewood wildlife. Wildlife fed by humans generally do not get the nutrition needed, resulting in unhealthy animals. For more information on living with wildlife, go to www.dnr.mn.us and search "living with wildlife". 1 MUSIC i PARK 1 THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION opted to focus on two Music in the Park events for the 2007 season, a June children's event and a July Blues event. Both events were extremely successful! An addition to the July event, featuring Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants, was the sale of Famous Dave's BBQ sandwiches. The sale of sandwiches was so successful, Famous Dave's crews could not keep up, having to call for additional deliveries two times. Apologies to those residents who had to wait for food. To share ideas for 2008 Music in the Park events, please email the City at cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us, or leave a message after hours on the Shoreline, 952/474-3236, ext. 1. Your ideas will help the Park Commission continue to develop the Shorewood Music in the Park program and make plans for 2008 events. Theft. . . Continued from page 1 potential victims as they park, and can see when items are being "stashed" in the trunk or under the seat (many criminals who have been arrested for stealing items from cars are found to have binoculars in their possession). Theft from auto incident very often results in identity theft. . Do not place outgoing mail, especially bill payments, in your home mailbox to be picked up by your mail carrier. Deposit all outgoing mail in blue U.S. Postal Service collection boxes. Identity thieves steal mail and with infom1ation from your check, they can almost immediately create forged checks, utilizing the bank account and routing number at bottom of your check. These are just a few suggestions. For more information on how to deter, detect, and defend against identity theft, visit wwwftc.govlidtheft . David Hohertz, SLMPD wwwci.shorewood.mn. us 2 ... Recycling Works! MINNEsoTA IS THE SECOND best recycling state in the nation, according to the latest BIOCycle annual survey. Minnesota has the second highest recycling rate in the nation (43.2%) behind only Oregon (45.2%). Minnesota has the third highest number of curbside recycling programs (730) behind New York (1,500) and Pennsylvania (974). Why does Minnesota rank near the top? There are several possible reasons: . Minnesota charges a Solid Waste Management Tax on garbage but not on recycling. That makes garbage more expensive and recycling more financially attractive. . Some of the revenue from the Solid Waste Management Tax (SWMT) goes to Minnesota's counties to support recycling, composting, and waste reduction opportunities. . About seventy-five percent of Minnesota residents have curbside recycling service. . Minnesota's recyclables also have value. Global demand for cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, and other materials has rarely been higher, with about one- third of the nation's paper and plastic going for export. The nation's number one export by volume is scrap paper. . Domestic manufacturers are clamoring for more material. Manufacturers that use recycled material as a feedstock employ about 9,000 people in the state in the paper, plastics, metal, and glass industries. The industry's total economic activity in the state totals just under $3 billion. . Recycling has given the state many environmental benefits. Since it takes less energy to make new products from recycled materials, the state conserved 5.75 million trees in one year. Recycling also reduced our need to produce enough energy to power 615,000 homes and to produce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 2.3 million cars. For more information on recycling visit the web site www.recycleminnesota.org. Healthy Summer Lawns AREA LAWNS AND OTHER LANDSCAPE plants are struggling through very warm, dry conditions. Here are some things to consider when wondering what, if any, lawn care one should be doing during our hot, dry summer conditions: . Maintaining a typical lawn in an actively green and growing state during the month of August generally requires about 1 to 1 'ii-inches of water per week, including any rain that falls. If some browning of the lawn can be tolerated, cut back to about 'ii to %-inch of water every week to 10 days. Where lawns are allowed to go completely brown, applying about an inch of water every two to three weeks will again help keep just enough water in the plant so that it can resume growth later this summer. During periods of very high temperatures and no significant rainfall, reduce watering level by 30 to 50 percent and water a bit more frequently to help moderate high plant and soil temperatures. Daily watering is not necessary! . Do not mow lawns too short. Longer blades result in longer roots, and they shade the soil, keeping soil temperatures cooler and blocking sunlight from sprouting weeds. Save VVater! The Top 5 . . . 1. Stop Those Leaks! Check your indoor water using appliances and devices for leaks. Many silent leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain. Studies have shown homes can waste more than 10% due leaking, which costs both you and the environment. 2. Replace your old Toilet, the largest water user inside your home. If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet for an imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture. 3. Replace your Clothes Washer, the second largest water user in your home. Energy Star™ rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. For an updated list of appliances search the Consortium for Energy Efficiency site, Yl'ww.ceel.org. 4. Plant the Right Plants. Whether you are putting in a new landscape or slowly changing the current landscaping at your home, select native plants. For a list of native plants, go to www.dnr.mn.us. and put "native plants" in the search box. 5. Water Only What Your Plants Need Much water is wasted in your garden by watering when plants do not need the water. Be attentive when manually watering by setting a timer or some other reminder and moving the water promptly. If using a sprinkler system, make sure your irrigation controller has a rain shutoff device and that it's appropriately scheduled. Keep Stormwater Ponds in Shape STORMWATER DETENTION PONDS are one of the most effective stormwater treatment practices. They remove pollutants by slowing the water, allowing gravity to settle sediments, nutrients and other pollutants to the bottom. The ponds also detain stormwater to reduce flooding. Plants will grow in and around stormwater ponds. These plants help stabilize the soil surrounding the pond and can assist with water treatment. Wetland type plants should be planted within the outer banks of the pond. Banks of the pond should be vegetated with plants that tolerate occasional submergence. Stormwater ponds covered in invasive plants and algae indicate a pond that needs assistance. You can assist these ponds by using slow-release, phosphorus-free fertilizers and fertilizing no more than twice a year; detain stormwater on your property by using rain barrels; and wash vehicles in the lawn rather than on the driveway, so the soapy water will infiltrate into the ground. Some ponds have native plants such as lily pads on the perimeter. They may not look attractive to some people, but they are a sign of a well functioning pond. Questions regarding stormwater ponds may be directed to James Landini, City Engineer, 952/474-3236. 3 THE SHORE REPORT / AUGUST 2007 Council Activities Since the last newsletter the City Council: . Held a work session to review the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) scheduling and financing roadway and drainage projects. . Authorized expenditure of funds for a water truck tanker. . Authorized a monthly surcharge to Xcel Energy ratepayers in Shorewood for the placement of underground utilities for the County Road 19/5mithtown Road! Country Club Road intersection project. The residential surcharge rate is $1.25 per month, for a term of 23 months. Tour de Tanka ON SATURDAV,AUGUST4, bicycle riders will be on County Road 19, Birch Bluff Road, Edgewood Road, Howards Point Road, and Smithtown Road in Shorewood for the Tour de Tonka Bike Ride. Drivers should drive in these areas with extreme care. For more information on this community event, go to www. minnetonkacommunityed. org. Senior Corner For more information, or to reserve a spot for the following events, contact the Southshore Center at 952/474-7635. August 3, 9:30 am, Dish Towel Party August 3, 1-5 pm, AAA Driving Review August 6, lOam-noon, Smart Board Demo, Minnetonka Schools staff and students will be visiting to demonstrate how technology helps children learn reading, math, science, art, music, etc. August 7, Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruise, Join us for a 3-Hour Luncheon Cruise with Paradise Cruises--rain or shine with enclosed floor to ceiling windows. Cost: $35 with no transportation. Call the center to make a reservation. For a list of any more event see www. southshore-center.org. wwwci.shorewood.mn. us VI ~ c VI ...: E :J X -d c Q) o ~ ~ o "'0 C'l ~ 0 M Q) 0 I o ~ <:t J: Q) "" V'! ... <:t '0 ~ c:; ~ V'! ~ ~ '0 ....... ~Vl 2~..c 'iij ~ ..t .g1i~ ~ Q) ... .tij .f; :J E C;; 0,,,, .... W 0 'iij J: :> Ul 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 T'" 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 n. Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore SAVE PAPER AND MAILING COSTS! SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHORE REPORT BY E-MAIL: CITYHALL@C1.SHOREWOOD.MN.US City of Shorewood Ward Map W1 P1 : Ward 1, Precinct 1 W1 P2: Ward 1 , Precinct 2 W2P1: Ward 2, Precinct 1 W3P1: Ward 3, Precinct 1 W4P1: Ward 4, Precinct 1 X Polling Place Public Safety ... Building *~~~:~re Center Planning Map The following public hearings are scheduled for the August 7 Planning Commission meeting: o 7 PM, The owners of 4715 Lakeway Terrace are requesting approval of a rear yard setback variance for a patio addition. f) 7: 10 PM, The owners of5985 Afton Road are requesting approval ofa Conditional Use Permit to temporarily allow two houses on one lot in order to construct a new single-family dwelling. ~ 7 :20 PM, The owners of 5080 Shady Island Trail are applying for variances to allow a driveway and shed within the setback area of their lot. o 7:30 PM, A Conditional Use Permit amendment will be considered for the Upper Minnetonka Yacht Club located at 4580 Enchanted Point. Planning Commission meetings are held in the City Council Chambers in Shore wood City Hall. THE SHORE REPORT / AUGUST 2007 Recycling Reminder DUE TO THE LABOR DAY Holiday, Monday, September 3, recycling pick-up will be delayed by one day that week. Mainland recycling should be curbside no later than 7 AM on Thursday, September 6; Island recycling should be curbside no later than 7 AM on Friday, September 7. Questions about recycling may be directed to Veolia, the City of Shore wood recycling provider, at 651/459-3029. Thank you for recycling!