April 1998 Shore ReportCITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITIZEN INFORMER April 1998
bout 90% of the land
in Shorewood is
now developed. The
City is initiating a w
process to promote conservation
of as much of the remaining open
space as possible. A special ad hoc
committee is being established by the
City Council to investigate the various
options (or tools) which are available for
the city and citizens to use in this effort.
Several of these tools would allow
residents to set aside their property from
future development and help neighbor-
hoods preserve open space without
trampling on anyone's property rights. One
such tool being looked into is
"conservation easements." In this case,
permanent limits are placed on a property's
use and development in exchange for a
number of tax benefits.
If you are interested in learning more about
conservation easements or in assisting the
City by participating in some capacity call
City Hall at 474 -3236. Although help of
any kind would be appreciated, the City
Council is looking for individuals
knowledgable in real estate tax laws or
environmental characteristics of land to
assist the committee.
Watch for more information on this
exciting topic in future newsletters and
communications.
hanges that are being proposed regarding the municipal water ordinances and
related policies will be presented at a public hearing at the City Council meeting,
Monday, April 13, 1998 at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road. The
significant changes being proposed are as follows:
♦ Except for watermain installation projects initiated by a 4/5's vote of
the City Council, projects will. only be approved if:
> the persons requesting water are willing to pay for the entire cost
of the improvement, and
> those who are affected by the project but are not requesting it,
acknowledge that they may be eventually required by others (such
as a financial institution) to hook up to the water system.
♦ Hookup to the municipal water system will be required for commercial
buildings and for multifamily buildings of 4 or more units.
♦ Future amendments to the ordinance can only be made following a
public hearing preceded by public notice.
All residents are encouraged to attend to learn details on the proposed changes and
to offer input to the City Council. A copy of the entire text of the ordinance is
available at City Hall and on the City's web site at www.state.net/shorewood.
T he City of Shorewood will officially plant a tree each year to help ensure the
observe Arbor Day with the future of our natural resources in the
planting of a tree at Manor Park community.
on Saturday, April 25, 1998 at Selecting, planting and caring
9:00 a.m. The City annually for a new tree require thought
sets aside one day to and planning. The National
recognize the importance of Arbor Day Foundation has
trees as a vital part of the character, published an informative bulletin
health and beauty of our City. called "How to Select and Plant a
Along with this formal observance, Tree." For a free copy, stop by City
the City Council urges residents to Hall or call 474 -3236.
Trail Talk ........... ............................... 2
City Council Position Opens ........... 2
Communications Corner ................. 2
Adopt a Street or Park .................... 3
Early Shorewood ............................. 3
Senior Center ... ............................... 3
Recycling Tip .... ............................... 3
Shorewood Events Map .................. 4
Strawberry Lane Discussion ........... 4
Watermain Flushing Dates .............. 4
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4/1
7:00
Board of Review
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4/6
7:00
Council Work Session
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4/13
7:00
City Council Meeting
Q °
4/14
7:00
Council \PlanningWork
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Session
4/14
7:30
Park Comm. Mtg.
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4/20
7:00
Council Work Session
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4/21
7:00
Planning Comm. Mtg.
4/27
7:00
City Council Meeting
Underlining
indicates cablecast
of Council
meetings - see schedule
on page 3.
Trail Talk ........... ............................... 2
City Council Position Opens ........... 2
Communications Corner ................. 2
Adopt a Street or Park .................... 3
Early Shorewood ............................. 3
Senior Center ... ............................... 3
Recycling Tip .... ............................... 3
Shorewood Events Map .................. 4
Strawberry Lane Discussion ........... 4
Watermain Flushing Dates .............. 4
A recen'. call from a Shorewood resident has prompted the City to survey
surrounding cities with regard to their ordinance requiring pet owners to
clean up after their pets on both public and private property. We found that
most lake area cities incorporate this requirement in their animal ordinance.
The City Council will be considering this issue in April.
We want to hear what you think of this... Should the current animal ordinance
be expanded to require pet owners to clean up animal feces? On public land? On
private land? Call the Shoreline today and leave your comments 474 -3236, Ext.1. M
ast spring /summer the City of
Shorewood partnered with
Minnetonka Community Education and
Services to provide for a concession
trailer in the softbalUsoccer area of
Freeman Park. The trailer was opened
Monday through Thursday evenings.
This year the partnership is looking for
an individual to manage the concession
operations including daily trailer setups/
take down, volunteer coordination,
product purchase and complete financial
management and reporting. Com-
pensation, including an incentive plan,
is negotiable.
If you're interested in this temporary
(possibly mid -April to mid - July), part-
time position send a letter of interest to Linda
Saveraid; MCES, 5621 County Rd 101,
Minnetonka, MN 55345, or you can contact
her at 906 -2550. M
Be a Fire
Extinguisher
T he Excelsior Fire Department, which
serves the City of Shorewood, is
seeking volunteer firefighters. If you have
a strong desire to help others and are a
dedicated and committed individual, they
want you to be a part of their team!
Volunteer Firefighters receive a per call
wage and free firefighter related education.
They meet every Thursday for training and
are involved in many community events.
Applications are available at the
Excelsior City Office. For more
information call 474 -5364.
BE A PART OF A PROUD AND
PROFESSIONAL TEAM,
BE AN EXCELSIOR VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER M
Trail (and Park) Talk
A pproximately 40 residents,
landowners and interested people
participated in the park and trail
visioning session sponsored by the Park
Commission on February 19. The
process involved individual, as well as
small and large group participation.
When asked what characteristics defined
Shorewood, participants identified its
natural features, the residential character
of the community, and the proximity and
access to regional recreation.
Their favorite places in Shorewood were
clearly parks and trails.
An important part of the "Vision"
identified for Shorewood is preservation
of open space and natural features. The
Light Rail Transit Corridor (regional
trail) is a resource the City can tie into.
When asked what do we want our
community to be, consensus items
seemed to be: increased recreational
opportunities for youth, network of
pedestrianstbike trails throughout the
community, preservation of high quality
of natural resources, and staying ahead
of regional trail planning.
The process to get public input on trail
issues and potential park improvements
continues with a professional telephone
survey in April and Citizen Review
Group meetings in May. If you are
randomly selected to participate in either
of these activities please consider giving
your time to the community. M
Council Position
Opening
McCarty Resigns
C ouncilmember Jennifer McCarty
submitted her resignation from her
City Council position effective April 30.
Jennifer first became actively involved
with the City in 1992 when she was
appointed as a member of the Park
Commission. She served on that
Commission for three years before
running for a council seat in the 1994
election. She has represented the City
in dealings with many organizations
including the Lake Minnetonka
Communications Commission, Park
Commission and Park Foundation.
Jennifer has dedicated countless hours
of her time to the City of Shorewood.
We wish her all the best!
• • Applicants Sought e • •
The City Council is accepting resumes
and letters of interest to fulfill the
remainder of Jennifer's term. If you
would like to apply, submit a letter of
interest to:
Shorewood City Hall
5755 Country Club Road
Shorewood, MN 55331
Deadline for submittals is April 9, 1998
at 12:00 noon. If you have any further
questions, call 474 -3236.
Interviews for the position will be held
April 20 starting at 7:00 p.m. at City
Hall, with an appointment made at the
April 27 regular meeting. The term for
this position is from May 1, 1998
through December 31, 1998. M
Farewell
to M r. Wehle
alph Wehle has worked for the City
of Shorewood in the Public Works
Department for the past thirteen plus
years. At the end of March he officially
resigned his position to take up a much
more relaxed pace with fishing pole in
hand. Ralph will be missed by the City
crew and all at City Hall, but he is wished
well in his new endeavors. M
2
Early Shorewood
Minnetonka Reminiscences
by George Day (1845 -1937)
Reprinted courtesy of the Excelsior -Lake
Minnetonka Historical Society
A Humble Educational Institution
T he school house was of humble
appearance, so unassuming that it
hid itself in the brush where Frank
Matthews' residence is now. The name
of the architect who furnished the plans
and specifications of this temple of
learning is lost to oblivion. Some slight
defects in its construction seem to linger
in my memory. The cracks between the
logs were imperfectly closed with mud
and the cold blasts of winter used to
whistle in and make it somewhat
uncomfortable. The interior was
furnished in the simplest manner. There
was a long desk on each side of the room,
one for the girls and one for the boys,
while a cast -iron heater in the middle
furnished what warmth it could.
Our studies were of the simplest, being
mostly confined to the three R's. Some
of the more advanced pupils studied
grammar and "parsed" sentences.
Sometimes the teacher was not certain
of a word, and to settle the matter, would
leave it to the class. This simple way of
settling a difficult question seemed to be
satisfactory to all concerned and all
friction was avoided. We did not delve
into the mysteries of physics, chemistry,
English literature and various other
things too numerous to mention - all now
considered a part of a modern education;
neither did we attempt to resuscitate the
dead languages.
Note: The ,school was in the west end of
Shorewood near the Minnewashta area. N
:
City Council meetings can be seen on
Cable Channel at the following times:
March 23 Meeting
Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 at 9:00 a.m.
Monday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m.
April 13 Meeting
Wednesday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m.
April 27 Meeting:
Wednesday, April 29 at 5:30 p.m.
At
M ake a difference by adopting a
Shorewood park or roadside area
to clean either on or before Saturday,
May 16 which is Shorewood's spring
clean-up day.
Bags of litter should be set curbside and
will be picked up by the refuse hauler
contracted for the day.
Individuals, families, neighborhoods,
organizations, anyone interested in
adopting a road or park to clean can call
City Hall at 474 -3236. We will
recognize those that adopted a road or
park in the Shorewood newsletter.
Let's join together and make this an
annual event to adopt a road or park on
spring clean -up day.
keecyciing
Recycling Tip
Want to have less 'junk
mail" to sort and
dispose of? Here is a
"preventative" step you
can take so there will be
less material for you to recycle.
T o remove your name from the
"Mother of all" marketing database
lists, send a request with your name and
address (in all the various ways it appears
on unsolicited mail you receive) to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735
212- 768 -7277
This will keep your name off of their
listing for five years.
For more information and addresses of
other companies who might be
bombarding you with unwanted mail, call
Waste Wise Hotline at 292 -4662.
t h for details
about the annual
spring clean-up day in The
May issue f the C iffizen
Informer. mer.. In the meantime,
mark your calendar for
Saturday, May 11 ,
o .o
West Walkers Program
T he WestWatkers Program is a collaboative between Minnetonka Middle
School West (MMW) and Minnetonka Community Education and Services
Because we lack an enclosed mall in this area, MMW has opened its doors to
senior citizen walkers. Between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on school days, come
walk the hallways. Its simple and FREE. For more information, please call
470 -3488. Rides are available through Dial -A -Ride by calling 474 -7441.
Senior Skills Bank
This service provides referrals of low cost workers to those senior residents who
need occaisional help in maintaining their homes. Chores such as yardwork,
housework, small electrical & plumbing repairs are taken care of by workers involved
in the program. Contact the Senior Skills bank at 470 -3488.
Up Front at the Center
Remember the Conversation with Al Quie seminar on Sunday, April 19. Call
the Southshore Center at 474 -7635 for reservations.
RJ
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Map Descriptions
The following items are on the April
21 Planning Commission Agenda:
The owner of the property
located at 5575 Sylvan .Lane is
seeking a setback variance in
order to add on to his existing
attached garage. A public
hearing will be held at 7:00
p.m. for this request.
2 A conditional use permit is
being requested for a cat
boarding business proposed at
26270 Smithtown Road. The
applicant proposes to build a
new 30' x 24' accessory
building next to the existing
home in which the business
would be conducted. A public
hearing will be held at 7:15 p.m.
rYtt °•ttioin�it
.o a
zr• '
T he City Council would like to meet with residents who live along or near
Strawberry Lane to discuss improvements considered for this street. A meeting
is scheduled for April 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. This will be an
informal meeting, where people can come and go as they wish.
Rather than reconstruct Strawberry Lane, the Council is considering a reclamation.
This is a 3 -step process that involves the grinding and mixing of the existing surface
with underlying aggregate material, and topping it with three inches of new
bituminous. The streetscape would remain largely unchanged ... no curb or gutter,
no watermain, no trail nor widening of the street.
Come and share your opinion! (The area being discussed is indicated by a "3" on the
above map.)
1)t:, L1 V FR 'rte:
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
C rews from Munitech, the City's
utility system service, will be
performing their yearly spring watermain
flushing during the following times:
April 13 - 24
Boulder Bridge,Shorewood Oaks & Badger
April 27 - May 8
Waterford S.E. Area
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERM€T t# 128.
EXCELSIOR, MN �s:1
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
5755 COUNTRY C L U B RO AD
'as H.F
SHOREN OOD, MN 55331
(612)474,3236 ED FAX 474.0128
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City of Shorewood
Jr-
Council M embers
Tom Dahlberg, Mayor
e,
Kristi Stover
Jenni McCarty
'
Jerry O'Neill
John Garfunkel
toc�
Administrator
James C. Harm
1)t:, L1 V FR 'rte:
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
C rews from Munitech, the City's
utility system service, will be
performing their yearly spring watermain
flushing during the following times:
April 13 - 24
Boulder Bridge,Shorewood Oaks & Badger
April 27 - May 8
Waterford S.E. Area
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERM€T t# 128.
EXCELSIOR, MN �s:1