The URL can be used to link to this page

Winter 1996 Shore ReportCITY OF SHOREWOOD CITIZEN INFORMER Winter 1996 1 . OPEN, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS ENHANCED BY AN INFORMED POPULACE Truth In Taxation Hearing To Be Held December 4 The City Council will hold its annual Truth in Taxation Hearing on Wednesday, December 4, 1996, at 7:45 p.m. at the City Hall. Residents attending the hearing will have the opportunity to review and comment on the City's proposed budget for 1997 and proposed tax levy for 1996 payable in 1997. A continuation hearing will be held, if necessary, on Thursday, December 12, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at the City Hall. The final 1997 Budget and Property Tax Levy will be adopted by the City Council at it's regular meeting on December 16. The City Council adopted the proposed 1997 budget and preliminary tax levy at its meeting held on September 9. The proposed budget represents a 5.97% increase from 1996. The preliminary tax levy adopted by the Council represents an increase from 1996 of 8.34 %. However, because the City's property tax base has grown in the last year as a result of new construction and increased property values, the City's tax rate will remain the same as in 1996. Shorewood has one of the lowest tax rates in Hennepin County. Continued on Page 2 Winter Activities in Shorewood... and Beyond There will be something new this winter in Shore- wood. No, the snow is not new, but the ... Continued on page 6 Carbon Monoxide Detector Information What do you do when your CO Detector alarm sounds? This relatively new home safety device has been a source of relief as well as con- fusion. Helpful instructions are described on page 3. Election Results Nearly 85% of registered Shore- wood voters cast their ballots this election day with many of those voting absentee. There were over 40 residents working that day as Election Judges. They worked with staff late into the night until the final results were tallied. Thanks to all involved! In case some have not heard those elected for Mayor and Council are: Mayor (2 yr) Tom Dahlberg Council (4 yr) Kristi Stover (4 yr) John Garfunkel ( 2yr) Jerry O'Neill They will join Jennifer McCarty who has 2 years remaining of her 4 year term, as the Shorewood City Council in January. Water Tower On Line ....................... 2 Winter Safety Tips ............................ 3 Snowplow Information .................... 4 Senior Activities ............................... 5 Recycling Tips ... ............................... 5 Income Opportunity ......................... 6 Mosquitos ?i? .... ............................... 7 1997 Dog License Application ......... 7 Sand/Salt Barrels .............................. 7 Winter Calendar ............................... 8 Recycling Schedule Changes ........... 8 3 *ct Untp®T4mm4 umatTq Continued from Page 1 Shorewood City taxes represent about 13% of your total property tax bill. The remaining 87% goes for the operations of the school district, Hennepin County, and other special districts such as the Metropoli- tan Council. With its part of the tax bill, Shorewood provides police and fire protection, street mainte- nance and snow plowing, park and trail maintenance, animal control, building and other inspections, and other essential City services. The City Council is committed to provide quality services at the lowest reasonable cost to Shorewood taxpayers. So where do your tax dollars go? The following illustrates how your property taxes are distributed: Example: Total Property Tax on a $150,000 home in Shorewood is $3,158 (100 %) City Services Provided for $397: • Police and Fire Protection • Street Maintenance and Plowing • Parks and Trails • Building and Other Inspections • Other City Services 'A�� School District 276 $1,781 (56 %) Hennepin County $805 (25 %) Special Districts $175(6%) City of Shorewood $397(13%) *Westonka School District 277 is at $ 1,172 and therefore the total tax bill will be less and percentages will be somewhat different. Minnewashta Water Tower Completed Final preparations for the Minnewashta Water Tower located on the Minnewashta Elementary School property on Smithtown Road, are now completed. The water tower was scheduled to be in service November 1. However, delays in the installation of Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) in approxi- mately 240 homes within the City have delayed putting the tower into service. The new water tower will not only increase the amount of water available for periods of high de- mand, but it will also increase the pressure through- out the Boulder Bridge and Badger Field water sys- tems. The amount of increase in pressure for your home depends upon the elevation of your home in relationship to the elevation of the water tower. Homes at higher elevations will notice less of a pressure increase than homes at lower elevations. In the lower areas of the City, the increase in pres- sure can be as high as 55 to 60 pounds per square inch (psi). For these areas, it is necessary to reduce the pressure coming into your home to prevent damage to internal plumbing. This is accomplished by installing a valve called a Pressure Reducing Valve, or PRV immediately prior to the water meter in your home. This valve protects the home from high pressure and "pressure spikes" much like the surge protectors that we commonly use on comput- ers and electronic items. An additional feature of this valve is that the water pressure entering your home can be easily adjusted to meet the demands of your household. The City has notified those residents who need a PRV and is in the final stages of installation for those homes. Once the City is sure that homes which need a PRV have been installed, the tower will be put into service to help meet the demands of the sys- tem. Page 2 Citizen Informer What to do When Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes Off Fire Departments in the area have seen a great increase in carbon monoxide (CO) alarm responses. Below is what you should know when your carbon monoxide detector goes off. First and foremost stay calm. Most situations resulting in activation of a carbon monoxide detector are not life threatening and do not require calling 911. To determine the need to call 911, ask the following questions of everyone in the household: "Does anyone feel ill? Is anyone experiencing `flu -like' symptoms of headache, nausea, or dizziness ?" If the answer to the above by anyone in the household is "yes ", evacuate the household to a safe location and have someone call 911. Failure to evacuate immediately may result in prolonged exposure and worsening effects from possible carbon monoxide gas. The best initial treatment for carbon monoxide gas exposure is fresh air. If the answer to the above by everyone in the household is "no ", the likelihood of a serious exposure is greatly diminished and one probably does not need to call 911. Instead, turn off the gas burning appliances and equipment, ventilate the area, and attempt to reset the alarm. If the alarm will not reset or resounds, can a qualified heating and ventilating service contractor to inspect your system for possible problems. If at any time during this process someone begins to feel ill with symptoms described above evacuate the household to a safe location and have someone call 911. To recap, if your CO detector goes off, first determine if you have an emergency or non - emergency situation. Emergency - If any one has the signs or symptoms of CO poisoning, evacuate the house immediately and call 911 from a safe location. Remain out of the house until help arrives. Non- Emerg_encv - If no one has any of the signs or symptoms of CO poisoning, turn off the gas burning appliances and equipment, ventilate the area, and attempt to reset the alarm. If the alarm will not reset or resounds, call a qualified heating and ventilating service contractor or Minnegasco (372 -5050) to inspect your system for possible problems. Safety First Minnesotans take great joy in being outdoors and taking advantage of the winter events that are available to us. Nothing beats being out- side on a nice winter day with your young kids and building a good old fashion snow fort! As fun as this event is, this sends a cold winter chill up the spine of every staff member of the Department of Public Works. So often we see young kids build- ing snow forts in the plow ridges along the side of roadways. Kids and parents need to realize that this spells danger for all those involved. The force of snow being pushed from a City plow onto the side of the road is tremendous, and could result in a disastrous situation for an unsuspecting child inside a snow fort. Please remind your kids to stay safe, and not to build forts along the roadway. Citizen Informer Page 3 Preparing for Winter Snow Removal In preparation for the upcoming snow season, please note the following: Check Your Mailbox For proper placement of the mailbox and stand, the U.S. Postal Service requires in- stallation at a height of 42" above the street level from the bottom of the mail- box. Unstable boxes are apt to be struck down when the force of the snow is thrown against them. If a plow accidently damages your mailbox, please contact City Hall immediately to report the inci- dent. Parking on City Streets Please refrain from parking on the streets during or soon after a snowfall. Even if your street has been cleared, a second and possibly third pass is made during the day to adequately clear all snow. Vehicles parked on the streets can slow down the operation of the plows and make removal incomplete. Street Plowing Priority Five separate routes are identified for plowing. Beginning at 2:00 a.m. after a snowfall greater than 2 ", the major col- lector streets are plowed first. Residen- tial streets are plowed next, followed by clearing of cul -de -sacs, parking lots and, upon completion of the streets, the skat- ing rinks are cleared. Your patience in waiting for the plows to get through is greatly appreciated. Ice Control: Sand and Salt The City will use a sand/salt mixture to spread on ice build -up or hard packed snow to increase traction and promote melting. Problems or questions? Please contact the Public Works Depart- ment at City Hall if you have any ques- tions. You may also e -mail your comments to cityhall @ shorewood. state.net > �� `�J V L Z� �-7 �1 > 'Z_ Z_ V -w > \ J> �J 'Z_ �, J >v? l' r V' J l LlV >� 1 7►J�� I LJ L V�� J �L > L-� <� I L , 7 Z _ � >v L � � L�' . Page 4 Citizen Informer Recycle Your Holiday Waste To help reduce landfill waste and prevent the burn- ing of trees for disposal, Hennepin County has again contracted with a tree disposal company to provide free Christmas tree recycling after the holidays. Upon collection by your regular garbage hauler, the trees will be turned into mulch and compost. Watch your upcoming garbage bill for information and dates regarding setting out your tree for pick -up af- ter the holidays. Don't forget, the following can also be recycled: ♦ After opening gifts, have a recycling bag ready to collect recyclables such as corrugated cardboard (3 ft. x 3 ft. or smaller), or another bag for newsprint ♦ Remember to rinse out and recycle glass - including any beverage or food glass ♦ Don't forget - recycle your aluminum cans and other food cans rinsed and bagged sepa- rately from glass and paper By recycling your Christmas tree and other holiday waste, you will be contributing to the recycling effort and help reduce landfill garbage space. Recycling Hotline Hennepin County has a Recycling Hotline that can provide answers to questions about additional prod- ucts that can be recycled. Call 348 -6500 for more information Winter Fun Just for Seniors... Stay active this winter and join us at the Southshore Senior Center for a variety of learning, sharing and fun programs. While we wait to move into the new Community Center, we will continue to meet at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. For more information, appointments or to receive a bi- monthly newsletter on the upcoming activities call 474 -7635. Exercise Class Beginning January 6th, do something nice for your heart, your body, and your mind while increasing muscle tone, strength, and flexibility. Cost: $27.00, 9:00 a.m., MWF 500 Cards 1:00 p.m., Tuesdays Bridge 1:00 p.m., Thursdays, call for reserva- tions Reading and Discussion Groin Beginning January 13th, enjoy reading and learning about Minnesota with Lael Grathwol, former librarian with a Masters in History. 55 Alive Driving Course Take a four hour refresher class on February 11th. Pay by Feb. 3rd to reserve your place. Cost: $8.00 • t • a • • • • • t • • • • • • • • • • • • Upcoming Day Trips Wednesday, December 11 Roast beef dinner followed by The Nativity at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. Cost: $28, Register by Dec. 1st. Wednesday, December 18 Mankato's Twinkle of Lights Cost: $12, Register by Dec. 10th. Friday, December 27 Tour the JJ Hill and Alexander Ramsey Houses followed by dinner at Forepaughs. Cost: $32.00, Register by Dec. 10th. Citizen Informer Page 5 Winter Sports (Con tinued from page 1) ... No, the snow is not new, but the marked cross country ski trails at Freeman Park will be. In the past it was up to the skiers to blaze their own trails, but now a trail will be marked through- out the 55 acre community park for cross - country skiing and snowshoeing. The parking lot off of Eureka Road will be cleared and a portable toilet will be available. One of the favorite park activities last winter was the SLIDING HILL at Silverwood Park. It is a large, open hill away from traffic and trees that kids of all ages have enjoyed. Give it a try! And then there will be ICE. Hopefully it will stay mostly on the rinks this winter. The City plans to open the skating rinks by about December 15, weather permitting. Silverwood Park has a pond which is groomed for a free skating rink when the ice is determined to be safe. Three other parks have both free skating facilities and warming houses operated by rink attendants: Badger, Manor and Cathcart. Badger and Cathcart Parks also have hockey boards and nets. Income Opportunity �,A� t II�� 1eo ft. If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a rink attendant, please contact City Hall (474 - 3236). There are a few postions still open and the job does not even require that you can skate. Note to Parents * Keep in mind that closing times may vary slightly if rink is not being used. ** Hours during Winter Break will depend on staffing. Again we are asking for your help. Please make arrangements ahead of time to pick up your children. The telephones are for emergency use only. Also, the 10:00 p.m. curfew for juveniles 14 years and younger will be enforced. Rink Attendants are required to follow City regula- tions as well as see to it that others do the same. Every effort will be made to get the most skating time out of the season, however, weather and/or ice conditions or staffing constraints may require temporary closing of rinks. Also, we do welcome your comments regarding our rinks and attendants. Winter Activities at Hennepin Parks For information describing the variety of winter programs and opportunities offered in Henne- pin Parks, park visitors may obtain the free quarterly publi- cation, Seasons in Hennepin Parks by calling 559 -9000. Some of the opportunities you will discover are courses in cross - country skiing, snow - shoeing, winter survival, and winter camping to teach winter enthusiasts the skills needed to enjoy Minnesota winters safely and comfortably. You will also find information on the 70+ miles of groomed cross - country ski trails plus scheduling and rental equipment availability at some of the parks.... and lots more. v` Page 6 Citizen Informer Warming House Hours Mon -Thur 3:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday 3:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Saturday 9:00 am. - 10:30 p.m. Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 9 :30 p.m. Winter Break (12/23 - 1/3) 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. ** Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ** Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 Closed * Keep in mind that closing times may vary slightly if rink is not being used. ** Hours during Winter Break will depend on staffing. Again we are asking for your help. Please make arrangements ahead of time to pick up your children. The telephones are for emergency use only. Also, the 10:00 p.m. curfew for juveniles 14 years and younger will be enforced. Rink Attendants are required to follow City regula- tions as well as see to it that others do the same. Every effort will be made to get the most skating time out of the season, however, weather and/or ice conditions or staffing constraints may require temporary closing of rinks. Also, we do welcome your comments regarding our rinks and attendants. Winter Activities at Hennepin Parks For information describing the variety of winter programs and opportunities offered in Henne- pin Parks, park visitors may obtain the free quarterly publi- cation, Seasons in Hennepin Parks by calling 559 -9000. Some of the opportunities you will discover are courses in cross - country skiing, snow - shoeing, winter survival, and winter camping to teach winter enthusiasts the skills needed to enjoy Minnesota winters safely and comfortably. You will also find information on the 70+ miles of groomed cross - country ski trails plus scheduling and rental equipment availability at some of the parks.... and lots more. v` Page 6 Citizen Informer The following letter was recently sent to registered snowmobile owners in Shorewood and is being reprinte for general information for all residents. November, 1996 Dear Resident: The enclosed newsletter summarizing new rules and regulations concerning the operation of snowmobiles within the City of Shorewood is being sent to residents who are registered snowmobile owners in Shorewood. We will also provide copies to the local snowmobile clubs. The snowmobile ordinance has been modified somewhat for the '96-'97 season, but more importantly, a much stricter enforcement of the ordinance is being implemented. Please note these significant changes in the ordinance: • Youth under age 14 are not permitted to operate a snowmobile unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. • Youth between the ages of 14 and 18 may operate a snowmobile only if they have in their possession a valid safety certificate issued by the DNR. • Lower speed limits • Reduced hours of operation • Use on streets is limited to the street side of the plow ridge and only in the direction of traffic. • Snowmobiles are not allowed in Public Parks and Wetlands • Use on private property is only permitted with the express permission of the property owner The Shorewood officer of the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department will be dedicating more time to the specific issue of snowmobile ordinance enforcement along with a higher sensitivity to this issue by the entire department. A snowmobile has been provided to the department to facilitate this enforcement as well as to provide improved emergency response to all citizens. 7. PARKS AND WETLANDS: Snowmobiles are prohibited from all city parks and wetlands. 8. PERMITTED AREAS OF USE: A person may operate a snowmobile on the following: • The LRT Trail • Public Waters, except within 150 feet of the shoreline as stated above. • Private property with the express permission of the property owner. • On the road for the purpose of direct travel from the person's home to the closest destination where snowmobiling is permitted, by the shortest possible route. 9. MISC: When crossing streets or highways: snowmobiles must cross at a ninety (90) degree angle, the snowmobile must be brought to a complete stop before crossing, and the snowmobile must yield to all oncoming traffic and the crossing must be made with both front and rear lights illuminated. Snowmobilers will be held accountable for obeying all new rules and regulations. They will either use them right or lose them. The entire ordinance can be reviewed at City Hall or on the City web site at www.state.net/shorewood/ * *CROSS- COUNTRY SKIERS ** Cross - country skiers should be aware that Freeman Park will be available for skiing this winter, and that part of the parking lot off Eureka Road will be cleared so you will be able to drive your car right to the ski area. Other nearby cross - country ski areas are: 1. Carver Park 2. University of Minnesota- Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen 3. Lake Minnewashta Park. Winter 1996 -97 YOUTH SNOWMOBILE LAWS It is unlawful for any person under fourteen (14) years of age to operate on streets, highways, public lands or frozen water, or make a direct crossing of a street or highway unless accompanied by parent or guardian. A person fourteen (14) years of age or older, but less than eighteen (18) years of age, may operate a snowmobile on streets, highway, public lands or frozen waters, only if they have in their immediate possession a valid snowmobile safety certificate issued by the Commissioner of Natural Resources. SAFETY Safety is the key concern of this program. Snowmobilers must be very aware of the potential conflicts when encountering pedestrians or other vehicles. A city wide survey in 1996 identified a real concern for safety by Shorewood residents. Snowmobilers will continue to be allowed to enjoy the freedom of snowmobiling within Shorewood as long as they continue to act responsibly. This means caring for your personal safety, the safety and rights of others, and protecting the natural environment. Snowmobile Safety Training Classes There are two parts to becoming certified in snowmobile safety training. The first part is classroom training with a written examine. The second part is hands on training. The Hennipen County Sheriff Water Patrol will be offering the separate classes. The classroom training and the written exam is scheduled for December 7th and 8th from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.. You must register before the course and there is a $5.50 charge. The hands on training will be held sometime after the new year, but as of now has not been scheduled. The Water Patrol's phone number is: 471- 8528 or call City Hall at 474 -3236. The complete report by the Task Force is available for review at City Hall. If you have any questions regarding any of the above policies, please feel free to call or stop in City Hall — 474 -3236. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Have a safe and enjoyable snow season. November, 1996 Page 2 of 2 The majority of snowmobiles traveling through Shorewood do so with great respect for property rights and are sensitive to the environment. However, a small minority jeopardize this privilege for all. For many residents tolerance of continued abuse of the rules has worn out. Please help with the enforcement effort by strongly encouraging your friends and other snowmobilers to obey the rules and respect the rights of others as you travel down through Shorewood. Future use of snowmobiles in Shorewood depends on it. Please carefully review the newsletter attached which summarizes many of these rules and regulations. Pass it along to your fellow snowmobilers. If there are questions regarding any of the rules, please feel free to call City Hall at 474 -3236 or stop by City Hall Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Have a safe and enjoyable snowmobile season. Thank you. Sincerely, Robert Bean, Mayor NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SNOWMOBILES IN SHOREWOOD The City adopted new rules and regulations this year to provide more effective enforcement of snowmobile activities on City streets and trails. These new regulations were recommended by the Snowmobile Task Force which had been established by the City Council to examine the issue. The following information highlights what changes will be implemented in the upcoming 1996 -97 season. All residents should review these changes carefully. ENFORCEMENT The South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department (Police Department) will have an officer on a snowmobile patrolling the city. Officers will patrol the Light Rail Transit Trail and all other parts of the city. Officers will take action on every violation observed which may include impounding snowmobiles depending upon the violation observed. The police snowmobile will be equipped with emergency lights, radar, and a radio. If any questions or problems arise while you are out on the trail or somewhere else in the city, either flag the police officer down or call the Police Department at 474 -3261 during regular business hours. If problems arise after office hours call 911. PROPERTY OWNERS Snowmobiles are not allowed onto your property without your express permission. If a snowmobile has been going onto your property without permission, you should either call the Police Department or Shorewood City Hall. Your property will be inspected and we will work with you to help solve the problem. The phone number for the Police Department is 474 -3261, and Shorewood City Hall is 474 -3236. ORDINANCE CHANGES Many new items have been added to the snowmobile ordinance. The following lists new rules and regulations: 1. SPEED LIMIT: • City Streets and Highways: 10 MPH • Light Rail Transit Trail: 20 MPH, 10 MPH when within 30 feet of a pedestrian • Lakeshore Buffer Zone: 10 MPH when within 150 feet of shoreline 2. HOURS OF USE: • 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday • 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 3. LAKE BUFFER ZONE: There is a 150 foot buffer zone where snowmobiles are prohibited along the shores of Lake Minnetonka and lakes within Shorewood. This zone may be used only when entering or exiting the lake traveling perpendicular to the shoreline. 4. SEASON: The snowmobile season has been designated December 1 to March 31. Any person found riding outside these dates will be ticketed and their snowmobile will be impounded. 5. STREET USE: Snowmobiles must be driven on the street side of the plow ridge and avoid obstacles by going into the street, not onto the boulevard. While traveling on the street, snowmobiles shall drive in the direction of traffic. 6. LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT TRAIL (LRT): Snowmobiles are prohibited from driving on the shoulder or ditch of the LRT. Snowmobiles must also come to a complete stop before entering the LRT. Snowmobiles shall not pass one another when within 30 feet of a pedestrian on the LRT. OVER LAKE MINNETONKA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Vol. 5 No. 4 ■ WINTER 1996 -97 612. 474.5539 ■ FAX 612. 474.0430 1996 LMCC MAY CONSIDER COMMISSIONERS EARLY CABLE FRANCHISE Deephaven Dale Moe *Dennis Stanga, Secretary Excelsior *James R. Olds, At Large Greenwood Miles Canning Mark Elias Long Lake James D. Benson *Elizabeth Olson, At Large Medina *Ann C. Thies, Chair Kevin Wagman Minnetonka Beach Thomas Markle Bruce Palmer Minnetrista Gene Partyka Orono Gabriel Jabbour *Tim Pattrin, Vice Chair St. Bonifacius Andrew Weinzierl, Jr. Shorewood Jeffrey Foust Tad Shaw Spring Park Richard Dietz Roger Westman Tonka Bay *Bob Anderson, Treasurer Steven Johnson Victoria *Barb Brancel, At Large Tom Jones Woodland Jane Barry Maria Saulsbury * Executive Committee RENEWAL Triax Cablevision has recently ap- proached the LMCC, to begin an early renewal process of their current fran- chise agreement, that does not officially expire until May 1999. According to Triax Cablevision, they intend to "...re- build the cable system serving the LMCC communities in a manner which will provide both the capability and the opportunity to offer both traditional cable services and sophisticated non - cable services ". The cable company has unoffi- cially proposed a design scheme that would provide a state -of -the -art band- width capability (750 MHz, interactive television services, a technically ad- vanced addressibility function to handle the expected boost in pay- per -view channels, and continued support for local public /educational /government access programming. The LMCC is still accepting comments from residents, regarding what they see as their needs in "future" communications. Any interested resident should send their ideas to: Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission 540 Second Street, P.O. Box 473 Excelsior, MN 55331 -0473 Attn: James R. Olds, Committee Chair PROGRAM OF THE QUARTER: WESTONKA AREA CHAMBER EVENTS PRODUCER One of the benefits public access programming offers our community is a design 6 graphics for this newsletter by Graphs _ Janson ' 47444 DEEPHAVEN EXCELSIOR GREENWOOD LONG LAKE MEDINA MINNETONKA BEACH MINNETRISTA ORONO ST. BONIFACIUS SHOREWOOD SPRING PARK TONKA BAY VICTORIA WOODLAND forum for local organizations to publi- cize their activities on television. "Doc " Malcolm, an excelsior resident, has used his video training to successfully docu- ment numerous Westonka Chamber of Commerce functions over the past few months. His hard work covering these James "Doc" events regularly is appreciated by both Malcolm the Chamber and Channel 21. Thanks Westonka and congratulations, "Doc "! Producer PROGRAM OF THE QUARTER: WESTONKA AREA CHAMBER EVENTS PRODUCER One of the benefits public access programming offers our community is a design 6 graphics for this newsletter by Graphs _ Janson ' 47444 DEEPHAVEN EXCELSIOR GREENWOOD LONG LAKE MEDINA MINNETONKA BEACH MINNETRISTA ORONO ST. BONIFACIUS SHOREWOOD SPRING PARK TONKA BAY VICTORIA WOODLAND LAKE MINNETONKA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR'S DESK... Since we have recently gone through the election process, I think it impor- tant to recognize the League of Women Voters and their organized effort to provide a format for potential Mayor and City Council candidates to share their ideas /positions with resi- dents. I have received this message loud and clear from viewers living in our area that watched the programming on Channel 21. This is another perfect example of what your Lake Minnetonka Commu- nications Commission intended when creating dedicated public /educational/ government access channels on the Triax Cablevision system. Finally, the efforts of our locally trained producers like Bob Bolles, Harold Dircks and Jan Haugen get a huge round of applause for their volunteer involvement in helping make this happen and continuing to reinforce the success of the local channels. Jeff Foust Shorewood COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS... JEFF FOUST This last spring, President Clinton signed in to law major changes to the TeleCommunications Act. If things proceed as Triax plans, we will soon be seeing the benefits of the new legisla- tion. Triax is planning to rebuild its cable system to additional channels and to make the system a "two way" system, meaning that you and I can send information from our homes back "upstream " to the Triax headend. Although Triax has not made public their plans, this "two way' capability will enable companies like Triax to offer new services such as local telephone and high speed computer data services to area subscribers. Such telephone services will be directly competitive to local phone company services and subscribers should see price benefits from this new competition between the cable company and the phone company. The new telecommunications act also allows the phone company to get into the cable TV business. So at the same time as cable companies are gearing up to get into the phone business, phone companies will strive to differentiate their "product" be it phone service, data service or video service, and we, the customers, will be allowed to choose which service from which company best service our needs. This is the beauty of competition. I I Recent �1 HOURS sbaAAel Class MON 10:00 am - 10:00 pm TUE 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm WED 10 :00 am - 10:00 pm THUR 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm FRI 10:00 am - 6:00 pm SAT 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Im"C4 STAFF Administrator Jim Daniels Administrative Assistant Connie Bastyr Production Coordinator Greg O'Gorman Assistant Production Coordinator Corey Siewert PRODUCTION COORDINATOR GREG O'GORMAN HEADING FOR CALIFORNIA Greg O'Gorman has recently an- nounced his resignation, to pursue his creativity and production skills in southern California. Greg has worked nearly four years, to help in the success of both Channel 21 and channel 8, not to mention his dedication in assisting producers make award winning access programs. With his expertise and helpful attitude, local programming has done nothing but increase substantially in hours and quality. Good luck Greg, you will certainly be missed! C To Recent Workshop Class Graduates N Alison Hawkinson G Emily Hawkinson Matt Viscasilles R Elizabeth Suppala Sharon Suppala A Kathy Adams David Maxwell T Peter Petersen V WORKSHOP CLASSES L are one evening per week at 7:00 PM. 474.5539 for more A Call information. 97 WORKSHOPS WINTER / THURSDAYS: O JANUARY 9 ■ 16 - 23 • 30 N FEBRUARY 6 SPRING / TUESDAYS: MARCH 25 S APRIL ■8■ 15.22 LAKE MINNETONKA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 540 SECOND STREET ■ P.O. BOX 473 ■ EXCELSIOR, MN 55331 -0473 THIS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED BY THE LAKE MINNETONKA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. One of our goals is to promote community involvement in local programming. Attention HomeownerAssociations, Civic Groups, Neighbor- hood Associations, and other Organized Groups Mosquito Problems? There is help. As a service to provide a more en- joyable outdoor experience next summer, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is offering you the opportunity to find out just what they do for you. The process is easy. Call 645 -9149 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and ask for Kurt Pennuto to schedule an informational presentation or to answer questions. This service is provided free of charge and is available to fit your schedule. Sand/Salt Barrels For Private Roads Available From City Hall The Shorewood Public Works Department will sell and set up barrels of sand /salt to City residents on private roads. The cost is $40.00 paid in advance by the requesting party prior to initial set up. The barrel then becomes the property and responsi- bility of the requesting party who must store it off public property during the non - winter season. A property owner may use their own barrel if it meets the Public Works specifications. A sand/salt barrel may be refilled upon request at a cost of $20 per barrel. Time to Renew Rover's License Again Ai For your convenience, the application form is provided below, or you can apply in person at City Hall weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A license tag will not be issued without written evidence that the dog has been inoculated for the prevention of rabies within the past two years. For each dog mail in the Inoculation Certificate, license fee of $5.00 plus .50 for mailing and handling to the City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club Road, Shorewood, MN 55331. A late fee of $1.00 will be charged after January 31st. A kennel license is required for owners with more than 2 dogs. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1. CITY OF SHOREWOOD DOG LICENSE APPLICATION FOR 1997 All dogs must be licensed by January 31, 1997 PLEASE PRINT Dog's Name: Breed: Color: Age: 2. Dog's Name: Sex: M/F Date of Rabies Shot: Rabies Tag #: Breed: Age: Sex: M/F Date of Rabies Shot: Total Number of Dogs in Household: Color: Rabies Tag # Veterinarian: Phone #: THE DOG TAG SHALL BE SECURELY ATTACHED AROUND THE DOG'S NECK AT ALL TIMES DURING THE LICENSE PERIOD. EXPIRES JANUARY 1998 Received of (Owner): _ Home Phone: Work Phone: Address: Street City Zip All information collected by this agency is public pursuant to State Statute. Office I Ne Only 1. City Tag# 2. City Tag # Amt. Paid $ Issued. By Citizen Informer Page 7 SHOREWOOD WINTER CALENDAR December 1996 Holiday Recycling Schedule The following Wednesday holidays will delay recycling collection one day: $ Christmas Day, December 25 $ New Year's Day, January 1 For these holidays, mainland Shorewood residents will have their recycling picked up on Thursday, and for Island residents the pick -up day will be Friday. Visit our web site at: www.state.net/shorewood/ CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (612) 474 -3236 DELIVER TO: Rental Property Owners non- Shorewood Residents City of Shorewood Council Members Robert Bean, Mayor Kristi Stover Bruce Benson Jennifer McCarty Tad Shaw James C. Hurm, City Administrator BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, MN 55331 G This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. 3 Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 p.m. 4 City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. 16 City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. 17 Planning Commission Study Session 7:00 p.m. 24 Christmas Eve (City Offices Close at 12:00 Noon) 25 Christmas Day (City Offices Closed) January 1 New Years Day (City Offices Closed) 7 Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 p,m. 13 City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (City Offices Closed) 21 Planning Commission Study Session 7:00 p.m. 27 City Council Meeting 7:30 p,m. 28 Park Commission Meeting 7:30 p.m. February 4 Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 p.m. 10 City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. 17 Presidents' Day (City Offices Closed) 18 Planning Commission Study Session 7:00 p.m. 24 City Council meeting 7:30 p.m. 25 Park Commission Meeting 7:30 p.m. For announcements and general information, call Shorewood City Hall After -Hours Line at 474 -3236 ext. 2. Page 8 Citizen Informer