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October 1997 Shore Report® n Sept. 2, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend concept ap- proval of an Eaglecrest Northwest proposal to build housing for seniors on the property on Highway 7 be- tween Eureka Road and Freeman Park. The Planning Commission rec- ommendation includes a number of conditions and questions that need to be addressed as part of the next stage of review before final approval. The City Council began its review at its September 22 meeting. The Council is scheduled to take action on the Planning Commission recom- mendation at its October 13 meeting. The proposal consists of 20 four -unit buildings with a base sale price of $120,000 for individuals 62 years of age and older. Y 3 „< T he City Council will hold its annual Truth In Taxation Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 4, 1997 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Coun- cil Chambers at City Hall. Those in attendance will be given an opportu- nity to comment or ask questions about the proposed 1998 City budget and proposed tax levy for next year. If necessary, the hearing will be continued on Thursday, December 11, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. The City Council will discuss the proposed budget during October and November to prepare for the hearing. The proposal anticipates a total growth in the budget of 4.77%. However, due to expanded value (new building) and recent changes in formula by the State Legislature, percentage of change will differ from property to property. (Continued on page 7 - "Tax Hearing ") Highway 7 Informational Meeting on October 2 T he Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/Dot) is considering some changes on Highway 7 between Highway 41 and St. Bonifacius: They are seeking public imput on their plans now with any resulting construction beginning in the year 2000. MN/Dot is hosting a public information meeting on their plan for the entire eight -mile stretch Thursday, October 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Shorewood City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road. Shorewood residents are encouraged to attend this informal meeting to see the plans and express opinions. The City of Shorewood sponsored several public information meetings on MN/Dot's proposals within Shorewood in July. At that time no MN/Dot representatives were present. The October 2 information meeting will give all of us an opportunity to review the plans and ask questions of MN/Dot representatives. OCTOBER EVENT 10/2 4:00 S M .1.. ' %�i T F Park Comm. Mtg. cc Planning Comm. Mtg 10/27 7:30 City Council Meeting 10/28 7:30 Park Comm. Mtg. Underlining indicates cablecast of council Uj Shorewood Events Map .................. 8 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 0 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 T he City Council will hold its annual Truth In Taxation Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 4, 1997 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Coun- cil Chambers at City Hall. Those in attendance will be given an opportu- nity to comment or ask questions about the proposed 1998 City budget and proposed tax levy for next year. If necessary, the hearing will be continued on Thursday, December 11, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. The City Council will discuss the proposed budget during October and November to prepare for the hearing. The proposal anticipates a total growth in the budget of 4.77%. However, due to expanded value (new building) and recent changes in formula by the State Legislature, percentage of change will differ from property to property. (Continued on page 7 - "Tax Hearing ") Highway 7 Informational Meeting on October 2 T he Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/Dot) is considering some changes on Highway 7 between Highway 41 and St. Bonifacius: They are seeking public imput on their plans now with any resulting construction beginning in the year 2000. MN/Dot is hosting a public information meeting on their plan for the entire eight -mile stretch Thursday, October 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Shorewood City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road. Shorewood residents are encouraged to attend this informal meeting to see the plans and express opinions. The City of Shorewood sponsored several public information meetings on MN/Dot's proposals within Shorewood in July. At that time no MN/Dot representatives were present. The October 2 information meeting will give all of us an opportunity to review the plans and ask questions of MN/Dot representatives. OCTOBER EVENT 10/2 4:00 Highway 7 Meeting 10/7 7:00 Planning Comm. Mtg. 10/13 7:30 City Council Meeting 10/14 7:30 Park Comm. Mtg. 10/21 7:00 Planning Comm. Mtg 10/27 7:30 City Council Meeting 10/28 7:30 Park Comm. Mtg. Underlining indicates cablecast of council meetings - See schedule one page 2. INSIDE TM!S ISSUE Trail (and Park) Talk ........................ 2 Shoreline News ............................... 2 Center Grand Opening .................... 3 Water Conservation Insert ........... 4,5 Public Safety Information ................ 6 Fall Elections .... ............................... 6 Leaf /Brush Drop -off ......................... 7 Watermain Flushing Schedule ........ 7 Bridge Replacement ....................... 8 Shorewood Events Map .................. 8 Fall Clean on October The annual Yard Waste Drop -Off Day X for Shorewood has been established by City Council as Saturday, October 25. Yard waste can be brought to the Public Works parking area at 24200 Smithtown Road, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Grass, leaves and mixed brush will be accepted. All yard waste must be emptied from bags and the bags taken home. Brush and sticks must be bundled with branches smaller than 1 1/2" in diameter and less than 4' in length. For the residents on Shady and Enchanted Islands, a container will be provided near the corner of Shady Island Circle and Shady Island Road. P Aake-a-Thon Day T he Eleventh. Annual Tonka Rake - A -Thor will be on Saturday, Octo- ber 25. Teams of families, organiza- tions, student groups and individuals are coordinated to rake leaves for seniors and disabled residents. If you are in need of this service - or - would like to be one of the community volunteers, please call 470 -3488. Tax Hearing (Continued from page f) Under the old formula, a $150,000 home, the proposed city property tax levy would have been reduced by $13. With the Legislature's action that same home (with no increase in value) will see a $7 decrease in taxes. Factoring in an average growth in value for homes in our area, the amount will change to an increase of $16 per year. With the proposed levy, Shorewood's taxes, for city purposes, are likely to remain in the lowest one third of all Hennepin County municipalities. Grant Money Available for . ommunity Fix -Up Fund loan money is currently available to qualifying households to assist with septic system repair / replacement, or water or sewer hookup expenses. Call Hennepin County Office of Planning and Development at 541 -7080 for information. ® nce again the fire hydrants in Shorewood will be opened to flush out accumulated minerals in the watermains. It is helpful to know when to anticipate this work in your area so that the possible effects on your own water system are not a surprise. This is the tentative plan: Amesbury Area Sept. 29 -Oct. 1 Woodhaven October. 1 -Oct. 10 Southeast Area Sept. 29 -Oct. 10 Boulder Bridge / Shorewood Oaks / Badger Oct. 13 - Oct. 24 To avoid drawing discolored water into your home's system, the City requests that you refrain from major water usage activities during this time. (i.e. running dishwashers or washing machines.) After flushing is completed in your area, let the cold water taps (preferably outside faucets) run until the discoloration is cleared from your individual service lines. It is especially recommended that you check for water clarity prior to doing laundry. If you have questions before or during this process call Munitec, the City's water management company at 472 -2718. What about 1 zrtse green plastic bias Here is a little history .. . A t the start of the Neighborhood Recycling Program in Shorewood, each household was issued a plastic recycle bin. That bin is considered as a permanent part of that property and should be left there if the homeowner moves away. Newly constructed homes receive a bin when the buyer comes to City Hall to file for homestead credit. Some questions people have ... • 1 recently moved into Shorewood and want to recycle. Am 1 required to use the green box in order to partici- pate in the recycling program? Recyclables can be left out in another type of reusable container or just in their paper bags. The bin is intended as a convenience for storing and trans- porting the materials you collect. It also helps to identify recycling from garbage for the haulers. • Can I use more than one bin? Yes. • Where can I get another one? Additional bins are available at City Hall at a cost of $8.00 each. We do not "recycle" the recycle bins and therefore this is not a refundable de- posit, but a purchase. • Who replaces it if my bin is dam- aged, lost or stolen? The property owner or renter. • When 1 move out of my house, what should happen to the bin? (They make good moving boxes.) The plan is for one bin to stay with: each house. If you stay in Shorewood and just change houses, it is best to leave yours behind for the new owner. There should be one waiting for you at your new home. 7 • +lr " recent article in a publication of the National League of Cities describes a telephone otline similar to the Shoreline. The City of Jackson, Tennessee reports improved efficiency in operations and greater "customer satisfaction" for residents. People have appreciated the access through a central number that directs their concern to the proper area and then results in a quick response to the need. The city council and staff like being able to track problems and responses, making follow —up more prompt and accurate. The City of Shorewood has implemented the Shoreline in hopes of achieving an increase in contact with it's citizens and a better awareness of their concerns. Simi- lar to the hotline number for the City of Jackson, your comments to the Shoreline are logged and directed to the right department or person for response. All calls are considered important, whether it's to report a pothole or to voice an opinion on a major issue being considered by Council. N listening and here is what we heard.. , The following suggestions were left on the Shoreline during September. They have been sent on to the Council and Park Commission. ♦ Provide a trail on Enchanted Drive and possibly around the perimeter of Shady Island. ♦ Provide better lighting at trail crossings to ensure safety of pedestrians. Make the open field at Silvenvood Park more useful to visitors of the park. ♦ Provide a trail along Smithtown Road, expecially during the construction at the Marsh Pointe subdivision, for childen going to and from school. During the upcoming months the Park Commission will be reviewing the current trail plan. They appreciate any comments, questions or concerns you may have regarding this issue. If you have an issue, comment or question that you would like to leave for someone at City Hall, call the Shoreline 474 -3236, Ext. L This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Early Shorewood More Reflections by Gladys Peck Reprinted courtesy of the Excelsior -Lake Minnetonka Historical Society Many persons, young and old, would gather at the Club House in Minnewashta for various entertainment. Often there was dancing to the music of a local band. Later on the Townsend Club was orga- nized and the hopes of people's receiv- ing sixty dollars a month with pension plans led to many evening meet- ings there. The plan was later ;. given up, but it was thought to be the forerunnerof our present Social Security system. } ground equipment and hot lunches ... The P.T.A. put on the first "Fun Fair" in the area. Al Clague (local artist) drew silhouettes of children for 25 cents to raise money. There were Halloween parties with bon- fires, and prizes for the best costumes. So, following much dissension at the time it was proposed to build the school auditorium (residents of ...;.:..:;;,: the Svithoid Home had even ;:: been recruited for opposition votes), the auditorium proved its For about ten years a number of worth and was used for many a so- couples met at the Minnewashta School cial and athletic event. to play volleyball; they never played with outside teams. The cost of the Minnewashta School au- ditorium I remember was $10,000...A small group of parents met at the school and organized the first P.T.A. in Eureka. Money they raised was used to buy play- Radio had just become popular, and we would gather at the homes of those who were fortunate enough to own one and lis- ten to. Some crystal sets were made out of oatmeal boxes and wired. Once in a while there was a station you could get in Canada, and that was a treat! ity Council meetings can be watched on Cable Television (Channel 8) at the following times and dates: September 22 Meeting: Thursday, October 2 at 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. October 13 Meeting: Wednesday, October 15 at 5:30 p.m. Friday, October 17 at 10:00 a.m. October 27 Meeting: Monday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 29 at 5:30 p.m. Friday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m. The schedule of viewing times is also shown on Cable Channel 8 between r local programs. e Trail (and Parks Talk T he City Council has now approved a contract with Mark Koegler of Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. for park and trail planning services. Specifically Mark will help with: • Review and update of Shorewood's Trail Plan; • Planning for the final phase of park development; • Providing "as built" drawings of the parks; • Consideration of a "magic square" concept which is multi -use of as- phalt areas for recreation; and • Review of open space in parks. The Park Commission has set a goal of completing the review of the trail plan over the winter months. The regular meeting of the Shorewood Park Com- mission is the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. F4 'T h (�) ' (0 P (�) DI" rh �) "" 1 MV t I t (C�j T te h (S] I T he Southshore Center's Grand Opening was a great success. The mayors from the five Southshore Cities along with Bob Gagne, the president of the Friends of the Southshore Senior / Community Center were on hand to "Cut the Rib- bon" allowing folks to enter the beauti- ful new building. Patricia Dunlap, State Co- chair, Partnership Minnesota, pre- sented certificates to the Cities and to the Friends for the wonderful coopera- tive effort that made the Southshore Center possible and then the keynote speaker began. David MaNally, a resi- dent of Shorewood and the author of "Even Eagles Need a Push, Learning to Soar in a Changing World," mesmerized the audience of over 200 with his won- derful challenging address. After his address a woman in her late 80's said, C ommenda tion E ach of the five participating cities and the Friends of the Center, a local non- profit corpora- tion were awarded a 1997 Governor's Commendation for inter- governmental cooperation as part of the Southshore Senior Community Center Grand Opening celebration. The award culminates four years of hard work by the cities and citizens of Deephaven, Excel- sior, Tonka Bay, Greenwood and Shorewood, to make the Southshore Center a reality. The partnership, in conjunction with the Friends of a the Southshore Center and the Senior Community Services, has succeeded in the goal of providing a commu- nity meeting facility to serve our community well into the future. "A week ago, I was ready to step away from the activities that I have partici- pated in for years. I felt tired. After hearing David McNally, I am energized — I will go on." What a gift he gave us Sunday afternoon, thank you David. Many thanks to everyone who made the day a great community event and thanks to everyone who made the Southshore Center a reality. The Traditional Cutting of The Ribbon! Pictured left to right: Deephaven Mayor Howard Bennis, Greenwood Councilmember Jeannie Bowers - Stead, Excelsior Mayor Steve Finch, Shorewood Mayor Tom Dahlberg and Tonka Bay Mayor Doug Keller. Now we hope you will join us at the Center for some of our interesting programs. To register for any of the classes or for more information, call 474 -7635. Wednesday, October 8 — We are having the first, in what could become a monthly program for people interested in forming a Bird Club. Birds Unlimited naturalist, Louise Balma will be at the Center at 9:30 a.m. to discuss and share with us her great knowledge of the birds of our State. She will address the eating and living habits of winter birds and will also discuss the products that are available that will help entice these wonderful creatures into our yards. Deadline for registration is Friday, October 3. Are you a new grandparent or a soon -to -be new grandparent? Why not explore this unique role and discuss the pleasures and challenges that come with it? Our group leader is a grandparent herself, a registered nurse and experienced educa- tor with Ridgeview Medical Center. The class will be Tuesday, October 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, October 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Registration required. Music — music — music. Why not join our music group and listen and learn about the music of the 30s the 40s, the big band era, jazz and much more? Roy Hansen, former big band musician and music educator will share his enthusi- asm and knowledge with you at a mere cost of $10 for 4 sessions. Tuesdays, October 7 through October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Interested in putting your memories down in writing? Your first reaction might be no I'm not interested, but we believe your children and grandchildren would be very interested. For them, why not join Anna Gardner, author and teacher, who will help you get started on writing the story of your life. You will learn how to select a tittle and make an outline, the right way and time to begin writing, plus tips to sharpen your writing skills. The joy of journalizing will also be discussed. Tuesday, October 14 through October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. x i yeeys,� 3 rre Minnetonka School District will be holding an election on November 4 for 1 school board members. Three people have filed for two vacant seats. If you have questions about the school election, call 906 -2531. Be sure to vote! There is not a municipal election this fall in Shorewood. The next openings for mu- nicipal offices will be on the November 1998 ballot. Information about those vacan- cies will be published as the election time draws near. ®_ _=`_ ere are some reminders for motorists IL d parents, and students regarding back -to- school safety. Motorists: No vehicles may pass, in either direction, when a stopped school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. The law requires motorists to stop 20 feet away from a bus whether they are approaching the bus from the front or the rear. How- ever, when a motorist is approaching the bus from the front on the opposite side of a road divided by a physical barrier such as a median of grass, fence, concrete, or by a railing, no stop is required. Flashing amber lights warn motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Slow down in school zone areas. When a school patrol flag is extended into an intersection, traffic must stop and wait until the flag is lifted. Parents: ♦ Dress children in bright clothing that's easily seen and doesn't obstruct the student's vision. Equip students with backpacks or book bags. ♦ Remind children to cross only at crosswalks where they exist and watch for turning cars. ♦ Children should be advised to walk against traffic, while bikers should ride with traffic, both as far off the roadway as possible. Reprinted by permission of the City of Minnetonka Fire Prevention Week October O n Thursday, October 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department will be hold- ing an Open House at their fire station located at 339 Third Street, Excelsior. The focus of the Open House is to educate adults and children about fire prevention and on ways to safely escape from a fire. South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety and Deephaven Police Departments, Northern States Power, Minnegasco, the National Weather Service, and the Minnesota State Patrol will be among some of the local and regional agencies featured at the Open House. One of the educational activities on display will be the Fire Safety Escape House. It is a creative, "hands -on" experience for people of all ages to help identify fire hazards and unsafe conditions in the home. Be sure to stop by .. and bring the whole family. Speaking When lip ri e Alert Should You Call 911.. E veryone knows that 911 is an emer -gency number, but did you realize it is also used for many other types of calls? According to the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department ( SLMPSD), any time a resident would like to report something, speak to an officer on the phone or have someone visit a site, they should be calling 911. If you have an administrative ques- tion, call SLMPSD at 474 -3261 to talk directly to a staff member. Knowing who to call should help reduce the number of calls made to an incorrect location. Service . . . A ccording to the State of Minnesota's 1996 statistics on crime, our South Lake Minnetonka Pub- lic Safety Department ( SLMPSD) "Clear- ance Rate" is among the highest in the state. This means that the average of all crimes resolved by SLMPSD during 1996 was 65% of those reported to the police. To put this in perspective, that figure com- pares with the average of all departments in Hennepin County at 21% and a state- wide average of 41 %. The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department is to be commended! In re- sponse to the news Police Chief Rick Young said, "I think it shows the quality of our investigators' work and the work of the initial officer on the scene. Work- ing together produces exceptional results. A job well done! ". We agree. T he South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department would like to alert residents to a series of daytime residential burglaries that have been occurring in Lake Minnetonka communities. Among these burglaries, three were committed in the South Lake communities of Shorewood and Tonka Bay and involved forced entry into the homes. Residents are being asked to take added precautions in securing their homes and to immedi- ately report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods by calling 911. Residents with questions about home secu- rity can contact the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department at 474 -3261. In addition to advice over the phone, residents can stop by the police station in Excelsior for crime prevention literature. The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department also participates in a statewide program called Operation Identification, which residents can join free of charge. 6 e Metropolitan Council is urging all municipalities to help promote conservation of a limited resource - water. All of the water that we consume, whether from a private or municipal well, is pumped from groundwater sources which have a limited supply. As urban development increases, the amount of lakes, wetlands and rivers which supply the groundwater decreases. Therefore, conservation of this limited resource is very important. x Yes, even in 1997, the year of the blizzards, tioods and lots of rain, it still matters. Whether you have a private well or use' city water ", ultimately the source is the same .. and it's vul- nerable. Only 1 % of the Earth's entire water supply is available to keep all the world's agricultural, manufacturing, community, personal household and sanitation needs operating. A lot of water is wasted because so many people give little thought to where water comes from and where it goes after they use it. Water conserva- tion not only will help save water, but can save you money. Remember, you pay for every drop, whether it's used wisely or wasted. w ater m -k How do you score on home water use? O 1 turn the water off while I brush my teeth and /or shave. (Saves 35 gallons per person each week, which represents one shower.) O l water my lawn during early morning or evening hours, making sure the sprinkler is not watering the house, street or driveway. (Much of the water evaporates. The grass does not benefit from a drink during the hot part of the day. it can, in fact be burned if watered while the sun is strongest.) n 1 never use the toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray and flush when not really necessary. C3 There are no drippy faucets, or leaking toilets in my house. (One dripping faucet can waste 100 gallons a day.) 0 I avoid running the dishwasher or washing machine until there is enough for a full load. (Your washing machine uses 30 to 50 gallons per load, whether it is cleaning 2 socks or is filled to capacity. Dishwashers use almost as much water each time they are turned on.) O I sweep the driveway rather than "spray" away the dirt with the garden h ose. (Also avoid using the hose when washing your car, until the final rinse. Using a bucket and sponge saves lots of water.) (� Showers at my house Last less than 5 minutes. (This is a tough one, especially if there are teens in your home. Studies show this saves approxi- mately 75 gallons of water per week per person.) Three "W of Improvement in Lower Water Usagi 1 HABITS A good water saving pro- gram is mostly a matter of becoming con- scious of water and how you use it along with just using common sense. Family involvement in the program is important since habits learned at a young age will make your children better environmental citizens for the future. Check out the "Water Marks" section for ideas. 2 REPAIRS What about that dripping faucet? A leaky toilet can waste even more water and be less obvious than the drips you see in the sink or tub. Check all plumbing (inside and out) at least twice a year. In most cases the repair is simple enough to do with a little advise from the hardware store. If it's a hot water tap, the savings is even greater because of the waste of gas or electricity. 3 UPGRADES Some of these ideas are simple and relatively low cost too. In- stalling aerators in faucets will save a lot of water and not impair flow for most uses. A good quality high efficiency showerhead saves a lot of water and may even increase the water pressure to your shower. Low -flush toilets (1.6 gallons) are now required for all new construction. It's a bigger expense, but well worth it! T he Minnetonka School District will be holding an election on November 4 for school board members. Three people have filed for two vacant seats. If you have questions about the school election, call 906 -2531. Be sure to vote! There is not a municipal election this fall in Shorewood. The next openings for mu- nicipal offices will be on the November 1998 ballot. Information about those vacan- cies will be published as the election time draws near. ® _ _, uere are some reminders for motorists I land parents, and students regarding back- to-school safety. Motorists: No vehicles may pass, in either direction, when a stopped school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. The law requires motorists to stop 20 feet away from a bus whether they are approaching the bus from the front or the rear. How- ever, when a motorist is approaching the bus from the front on the opposite side of a road divided by a physical barrier such as a median of grass, fence, concrete, or by a railing, no stop is required. Flashing amber lights wam motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Slow down in school zone areas. When a school patrol flag is extended into an intersection, traffic must stop and wait until the flag is lifted. Parents: ♦ Dress children in bright clothing that's easily seen and doesn't obstruct the student's vision. Equip students with backpacks or book bags. ♦ Remind children to cross only at crosswalks where they exist and watch for turning cars. ♦ Children should be advised to walk against traffic, while bikers should ride with traffic, both as far off the roadway as possible. Reprinted by permission of the City of Minnetonka ♦ .� O n Thursday, October 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department will be hold- ing an Open House at their fire station located at 339 Third Street, Excelsior. The focus of the Open House is to educate adults and children about fire prevention and on ways to safely escape from a fire. South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety and Deephaven Police Departments, Northern States Power, Minnegasco, the National Weather Service, and the Minnesota State Patrol will be among some of the local and regional agencies featured at the Open House. One of the educational activities on display will be the Fire Safety Escape House. It is a creative, "hands -on" experience for people of all ages to help identify fire hazards and unsafe conditions in the home. Be sure to stop by .. and bring the whole family. When SDeakina of" Po Crime Aler ... E veryone knows that 911 is an emer -gency number, but did you realize it is also used for many other types of calls? According to the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department ( SLMPSD), any time a resident would like to report something, speak to an officer on the phone or have someone visit a site, they should be calling 911. If you have an administrative ques- tion, call SLMPSD at 474 -3261 to talk directly to a staff member. Knowing who to call should help reduce the number of calls made to an incorrect location. Se rvice $ . . A ccording to the State of Minnesota's 1996 statistics on crime, our South Lake Minnetonka Pub- lic Safety Department ( SLMPSD) "Clear- ance Rate" is among the highest in the state. This means that the average of all crimes resolved by SLMPSD during 1996 was 65% of those reported to the police. To put this in perspective, that figure com- pares with the average of all departments in Hennepin County at 21% and a state- wide average of 41 %. The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department is to be commended! In re- sponse to the news Police Chief Rick Young said, "I think it shows the quality of our investigators' work and the work of the initial officer on the scene. Work- ing together produces exceptional results. A job well done! ". We agree. T he South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department would like to alert residents to a series of daytime residential burglaries that have been occurring in Lake Minnetonka communities. Among these burglaries, three were committed in the South Lake communities of Shorewood and Tonka Bay and involved forced entry into the homes. Residents are being asked to take added precautions in securing their homes and to immedi- ately report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods by calling 911. Residents with questions about home secu- rity can contact the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department at 474 - 3261. In addition to advice over the phone, residents can stop by the police station in Excelsior for crime prevention literature. The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department also participates in a statewide program called Operation Identification, which residents can join free of charge. Tfh 'SVIlt t1T1 I T he Southshore Center's Grand Opening was a great success. The mayors from the five Southshore Cities along with Bob Gagne, the president of the Friends of the Southshore Senior / Community Center were on hand to "Cut the Rib- bon" allowing folks to enter the beauti- ful new building. Patricia Dunlap, State Co- chair, Partnership Minnesota. pre- sented certificates to the Cities and to the Friends for the wonderful coopera- tive effort that made the Southshore Center possible and then the keynote speaker began. David MaNally, a resi- dent of Shorewood and the author of "Even Eagles Need a Push, Learning to Soar in a Changing World," mesmerized the audience of over 200 with his won- derful challenging address. After his address a woman in her late 80's said, E ach of the five participating cities and the Friends of the Center, a local non - profit corpora- tion were awarded a 1997 Governor's Commendation for inter- governmental cooperation as part of the Southshore Senior Community Center Grand Opening celebration. The award culminates four years, of hard work by the cities and citizens of Deephaven, Excel- sior, Tonka Bay, Greenwood and Shorewood, to make the Southshore Center a reality. The partnership, in conjunction with the Friends of a the Southshore Center and the Senior Community Services, has succeeded in the goal of providing a commu- nity meeting facility to serve our community well into the future. "A week ago, I was ready to step away from the activities that I have partici- pated in for years. I felt tired. After hearing David McNally, I am energized — I will go on." What a gift he gave us Sunday afternoon, thank you David. Many thanks to everyone who made the day a great community event and thanks to everyone who made the Southshore Center a reality. The Traditional Cutting of The Ribbon! Pictured left to right: Deephaven. Mayor Howard Bennis, Greenwood Councilmember Jeannie Bowers - Stead, Excelsior Mayor Steve Finch, Shorewood Mayor Tom Dahlberg and Tonka Bay Mayor Doug Keller. Now we hope you will join us at the Center for some of our interesting programs. To register for any of the classes or for more information, call 474 -7635. Wednesday, October 8 —We are having the first, in what could become a monthly program for people interested in forming a Bird Club. Birds Unlimited naturalist, Louise Bahasa will be at the Center at 9:30 a.m. to discuss and share with us her great knowledge of the birds of our State. She will address the eating and living habits of winter birds and will also discuss the products that are available that will help entice these wonderful creatures into our yards. Deadline for registration is Friday, October 3. Are you a new grandparent or a soon -to -be new grandparent? Why not explore this unique role and discuss the pleasures and challenges that come with it? Our group leader is a grandparent herself, a registered nurse and experienced educa- tor with Ridgeview Medical Center. The class will be Tuesday, October 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, October 1.0 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Registration required. Music — music — music. Why not join our music group and listen and learn about the music of the 30s the 40s, the big band era, jazz and much more? Roy Hansen, former big band musician and music educator will share his enthusi- asm and knowledge with you at a mere cost of $10 for 4 sessions. Tuesdays, October 7 through October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Interested in putting your memories down in writing? Your first reaction might be no I'm not interested, but we believe your children and grandchildren would be very interested. For them, why not join Anna Gardner, author and teacher, who will help you get started on writing the story of your life. You will learn how to select a tittle and make an outline, the right way and time to begin writing, plus tips to sharpen your writing skills. The joy of journalizing will also be discussed. Tuesday, October 14 through October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. r. 6 3 What n the City? ir .4 i \5� r —^g' ".) 7 sj1Yi473i9OiN9'i Ep S111i1W -0 f, 4 5 Map Descriptions The following items are on the October 7 Planning Commission Agenda: 1 A public hearing is scheduled for 7:45 P.M. to consider an amendment to the Sign Ordinance which would allow directional signs for existing businesses to be placed in the public right -of -way. 2 A public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. to consider an amendment to the Gideon Woods P.U.D. Development Agreement and Protective Covenants which would extend the deadline for the removal of an existing billboard located on their common property. 3 A public hearing is scheduled for 7:15 P.M. to consider an amendment to the Sign Ordinance which would allow institutional signs (churches, schools, etc.) to be internally lit (versus indirectly lit). 4 A public hearing is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. to review a preliminary plat application which would divide a 1.5 acre lot located at 5910 Minnetonka Drive into three single- family residential lots. 5A A public hearing is being continued from the 2 September meeting to con- sider an amendment to the Sign Ordinance which would allow institutions (church, schools, etc.) to apply for a conditional use permit granting permission to erect a wall sign. 5B At 8:00 P.M. a public hearing will be held to consider the Lutheran Church of Our Savior's application for a conditional use permit. They would like to place their name on the south wall of the school portion of their building. 'o CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (612)474,3236 N FAX 474,0128 Bridge Work The construction of a new Shady Island Bridge has begun! (See the "X" on the above map.) There will be some service vehicle restrictions for the duration of this project. Full-sized school busses and refuse- hauling vehicles are prohibited. The city has recommended the use of the van-type of school vehicle and pick -up sized refuse hauling trucks. Emergency vehicles will not be restricted. The temporarily narrowed bridge will accommodate an emergency vehicle width of nine feet. The anticipated completion of a substantial portion of / the project is October . L ANE 31, 1997. The final CLO ED ' ... layer of pavement is planned for a July 15; 1998 deadline. Questions about the vehicle restrictions or this project can be directed to City Hall at 474 -3236. BULK FATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, IVIN 55331 :E. :��£rj This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. D ELIVER TO: r-„ City of Shorewood Council Members Tom Dahlberg, Mayor Kristi Stover . .::. Jennifer McCarty 3... mx..- Jerry O'Neill John Garfunkel Administrator James C. Harm Bridge Work The construction of a new Shady Island Bridge has begun! (See the "X" on the above map.) There will be some service vehicle restrictions for the duration of this project. Full-sized school busses and refuse- hauling vehicles are prohibited. The city has recommended the use of the van-type of school vehicle and pick -up sized refuse hauling trucks. Emergency vehicles will not be restricted. The temporarily narrowed bridge will accommodate an emergency vehicle width of nine feet. The anticipated completion of a substantial portion of / the project is October . L ANE 31, 1997. The final CLO ED ' ... layer of pavement is planned for a July 15; 1998 deadline. Questions about the vehicle restrictions or this project can be directed to City Hall at 474 -3236. BULK FATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, IVIN 55331 :E. :��£rj This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.