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January 1998 Shore ReportCITY OF SHOREWOOD CITIZEN INFORMER January 1998 Council appoints new commissioners he City Council was very pleased with the number and quality of candidates who applied to be considered for appointment to City commissions in December. Twelve citizens applied for three Planning Commission seats and eight for three Park Commission seats. Paula Callies, Jeffery Bailey and Patrick Collins will begin three year terms on the Planning Commission January 1. Deborah Borkon will remain on the Planning Commission, completing the term of Jeff Foust (through 1998) who has resigned from the Commission due to business commitments. Mark Themig and Chuck Cochran will begin their three year terms on the Park Commission that same day. Dan Puzak will serve a second three year term on the Park Commission. Commission appointments - eontW on page 2 An adult -sized jacket has been found at City Hall. If you think you left yours at City Hall. please call 474 -3236. I Recommendations for Highway 7 changes are made to Mn/DOT T he City has been considering proposals on certain Highway 7 intersection improvements as suggested by Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), which are intended to address safety concerns. Of the 1,200 surveys concerning this issue sent to residents on the west side of the City, some three hundred (25 %) were returned. Generally the comments supported closing various accesses. The City Council analyzed the surveys, studied traffic counts before and during the temporary intersection closures and visited with area residents on December 15 at a second open forum held on the subject. The Council then indicated to Mn/DOT their interest in the following projects: Realign the access south of the Shorewood Shopping Center to create dedicated left turn lanes and separate through lanes in both the north and south legs of the intersection; and create a free right turn for traffic exiting the Shorewood Shopping Center / Lake Linden area onto Highway 7. Close the access on Lake Linden Drive at Highway 7. Vehicles would then use the improved Highway 7 / 41 intersection. Construct a cul -de -sac at the south end of Wood Drive, closing off its intersection with Highway 7. Close off the access to Highway 7 at the south end of Pleasant Avenue. Close off south end of Seamans Drive along its intersection with Highway 7. Add a free right turn lane for southbound traffic on Eureka Road to head west on Highway 7. These items are being submitted to Mn /DOT consideration. Several of these projects may be done i 1998. The remainder of the changes would likely occur the following year. To see survey and traffic count results, stop at City Hal or visit our web page, www.state.net/shorewood fc summary. JAiN.UARY EVENTS 2 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31_ Underlining indicates cablecast of Council meetings - see schedule on page 2. 1/6 M t W 1. 7:30 City Council Meeting. 1/13 1 4 5 6 7 8 2 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31_ Underlining indicates cablecast of Council meetings - see schedule on page 2. 1/6 7:00 Planning Comm. Mtg. 1/12 7:30 City Council Meeting. 1/13 7:30 Park Comm. Mtg. 1/19 Martin Luther King Day Observed City Offices Closed 1/20 7:00 Planning Work Session 1/21 7:30 Council Work Session 1/26 7:30 City Council Meeting 1/27 7:30 Council Work Session INSIDE THIS ISSUE Trail Talk ........... ............................... 2 Rink Delay ........ ............................... 2 Council on Cable ............................. 2 Winter Driving Tips .......................... 3 Recycling Dates .............................. 3 Early Shorewood ............................. 3 Senior Center ... ............................... 3 Snowmobile Class .......................... 3 Shorewood Events Map .................. 4 Building a Bridge ............................. 4 �6&munications Corned Feedback Forms H ave you ever dealt with an organization or business and really felt appreciated, listened to? Have you offered comments to an organization or business and known that your opinions were heard? We want to make sure that is your experience when visiting City Hall or interacting with City staff or representatives of the City. That is why the Feedback form was developed and we encourage you to pick one up at City Hall, request that one be mailed to you or down load it from our website, www.state.net/shorewood. The Feedback form allows you to comment on the contact you have had and to offer suggestions, criticism or praise regarding the service received. All comments are forwarded to the appropriate department and to the City Council. Take the time to make your opinions or suggestions heard ... fill out a Feedback form the next time you stop in City Hall. City Council meetings can be seen on Cable Channel 8 at the following times: December 15 Meeting: Tuesday, January 6 at 5:30 pm January 12 Meeting: Wednesday, January 14 at 5:30 pm Friday, January 16 at 10:00 am Tuesday, January 20 at 5:30 pm January 26 Meeting: Wednesday, January 28 at 5:30 pm Saturday, January 31 at 9:00 am A BIG THANK YOU... to all whw brought in gifts for the Toys —For —Pots collection at City Hall. The large box was overflowing and we are looking forward to an even greater participation for next year as people become aware that City Hall is a convenient drop -off location. Let's fill an empty refrigerator carton .. or even a truck from the City Public Works department! Sk rinks dela B ecause of the mild weather, the opening of ice rinks and warming houses has been delayed this season. Building ice requires a combination of cold weather and time. Once temperatures stay under 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it still takes ten days to layer enough water to have a good skating surface. When winter finally arrives (and it surely will), we ask your patience to allow flooding and freezing time to make ice before skating. In the meantime, skating ponds at Manor and Silverwood parks are ready to use because of the "nature- made" ice. The Manor warming house is operating. Commission appointments - continued from page I Those completing terms as commissioners should be recognized and commended for their service to the City: Jim Pisula, Laura Turgeon and Jeff Foust on the Planning Commission, and Jim Wilson and Ann Packard on the Park Commission. Ann will be asked to serve on the Park Commission should a vacancy become open during the year. Community spirit and a sense of responsibility to serve the community is alive and well in Shorewood. Thanks again to all who have served and to all those who have shown an interest in serving. Pl anning Commission award S cience students from the 5th grade class at Minnewashta Elementary School presented the results of their recent study on wetlands at the December 16 Planning Commission meeting. Under the direction of Kathy Timberg, Scientist in Residence at Minnewashta, the students described how they measured phosphorous levels in several area wetland locations. The Planning Commission is hopeful that the students will continue their water quality monitoring and report back each year. Commission Chair Jim Pisula presented the students with an Environmental Awareness plaque for their efforts. ,; he Park Commission met jointly with the City Council Tuesday, December 9, 1997. They discussed a process to follow in determining the level of community support for a trail system in the City of Shorewood. This process will include holding a public forum focused on trails but including other recreational interests. The process will also include a survey of residents which would serve as a barometer of the community attitude toward trails and other park issues. Following this public forum, there will be a series of three citizen group meetings each emphasizing a different aspect of the decision process. The review group will define issues and problems, propose and examine alternatives to resolve the issues identified and formulate recom- mendations to the Park Commission and City Council. The Park Commission will be coordinating the process with Consul- ting Park Planner Mark Koegler. tM 2 a Winter w . is : tips, The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department would like all drivers to be familiar with the following winter driving tips: Check your tires. All- season tires, or snow tires, should now be on your car. Although the minimum legally required tread depth is 2/32 of an inch, the deeper the tread the better, particularly in the winterl Completely scrape frost and ice off your windshield before driving. Driving with a "peephole" is not only dangerous but illegal. Slick roads mean increased stopping distance. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance from traffic in front of you. z-* Check your antifreeze protection now. It should be protected to at least -20F. It's time to check your battery, too, as colder temperatures mean your battery has to work much harder. Bridges and overpasses freeze first. Use caution ... beware of black ice. ==> Slow down and avoid sudden changes in speed or direction. => Keep your speed steady and slow, but not too slow. In deeper snow, it's often necessary to use the car's momentum to keep moving. Use brakes cautiously. Abrupt braking can cause brake lock -up, which causes you to lose steering control. Antilock brakes are designed to overcome a loss of steering control. To make antilock brakes work correctly, or work at all, you should apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal. During an emergency stop, push the brake pedal all the way to the floor, if necessary, even in wet or dry conditions. Remember to watch for youngsters ... they find sliding irresistible. Lastly, be responsible ... don't drink and drive. Snowmobile Early Shorewood Recycling pick-up training More Reflections by Gladys Peck T he Islands recycling schedule for Thursday, January 1 will be changed to Friday, JalWary 2 because of the New Years holiday. Wednesday pick -up for thg. rest of Shorewood on December 31 will remain as usual. M A nyone needing to take the Snowmobile Safety class can contact the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department at 474 -3261. They have scheduled an additional class for January 13 and 15 with the practical training on January 18. M Reprinted courtesy of the Excelsior -Luke Minnetonka Historical Society T hough years have intervened And vibrant youth has passed, Those precious scenes of old For me shall ever last. As I turn back the clock To reminisce through time, Dear to my memory is That old home town of mine. Thank you for walking down memory lane with me. The foregoing "Memories of Eureka" were dated February 8, 1878. Corner T here are lots of opportunities to gather at Southshore Center to take a class, to see friends, to enjoy a special performance and lunch or to take advantage of services for seniors. Besides the many on -going activities, there are always additional events coming along. One of the January programs will be "A Conversation with Syl Jones" on Sunday, the 18th. Coming in February is a luncheon and presentation by Mixed Blood Theater of the musical, "Daughters of Africa ". For details on these and other activities at Southshore, or to make reservations, call the Center at 474 -7635. Note to readers: This concludes the series of excerpts borrowed from the book, More Keep in mind that transportation is available through Southshore Dial -A -Ride Reflections With the next issue of the by calling 474 -7441 at least one day before a ride is needed. The accessible Citizen Informer, we will draw from a new mini -bus runs to and from places in Shorewood, Deephaven, Excelsior, resource for stories of early Shorewood. Greenwood and Tonka Bay. M 3 . R i The following items are on the January 6 Planning Commission Agenda: 1 A proposal to renovate the Shorewood Nursery was tabled at the December 2nd meeting. This property is located at 23505 Smithtown Road and the proposed site plan is available for review at City Hall. The public hearing will be continued at the January 6, 1998 meeting. 2 The owner of 5755 Merry Lane is requesting a conditional use permit for a Special Home Occupation Permit which would allow him to add one outside employee to his home -based business. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:15 P.M. Shady Island Bridge Nears Completion U nderwater divers have nowcompleted the work on the bridge structure and the bridge has been opened to normal traffic. The contractor will continue to do minor work along the boulder retaining walls while the bridge remains open to the full width for all of vehicular traffic. The contractor will return in the spring to complete the remaining roadway work, paving, and cleanup of the project. (See # 3 on map for location.) The City of Shorewood would like to thank all of the Island residents who have waited patiently for the bridge to be re- opened. CITY OF OREW _ OD 755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD .SaHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (612)474.3236 U FAX 4740 DFLIVF.R TO: City of Shorewood Council Members Tom Dahlberg, Mayor Krlsti Stover Jennifer McCarty .ferry O'Neill John Garfunkel Administrator James C. Hurm BULK BATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, Ally 55331 ��� This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.