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Summer 1992 Shore ReportCITE OF SHOREWOOD CITIZEN INFORMER SUMMER 1992 OPEN, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS ENHANCED BY AN INFORMED POPULACE z CONGRAD ULA77ONS 1992 GRAD UATES COOPERATION AMONG SOUTH LAKE MINNETONKA AREA COMMUNITIES One of Shorewood City Council's continuing goals is to provide effective, efficient government services in a cooperative manner with neighboring government jurisdictions whenever possible. • Works cooperatively with the Minnetonka School District Community Services office to provide recreation and educational programs in city parks. Shorewood has a history of cooperating with its south shore neighbors. The following is a partial list of areas of cooperation currently in place. The City of Shorewood...... • And three other area municipalities have a combined police department, the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department. They jointly built the police station located next to McDonald's on Highway 7. • Contracts for fire and ambulance service with the cities of Excelsior and Mound. • Contracts with the city of Chanhassen for animal control services. • Jointly uses certain sanitary sewer lines with the city of Excelsior. • Shares public works equipment, services and jointly sponsors safety training sessions with Tonka Bay and Excelsior. • Cooperates with Hennepin County in a number of areas including Senior Center funding, housing rehabilitation and recycling. • Joined with 13 other Lake Minnetonka Communities as a part of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. • Has jointly hired a prosecuting attorney with Tonka Bay and Excelsior. • Is active in the 14 city Lake Minnetonka Cable Commission (to monitor cable T.V. franchise agreements and promote local programming on local cable access TV channel 21). • Is a part of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance trust to central costs of liability, property, workers compensation and other insurance. Jointly owns and maintains Crescent Beach with Tonka Bay. The City of Shorewood intends to take a leading roll in identifying ways south Lake Minnetonka area local governments can work together for the benefit of all. SHOREWOOD SUMMER CALENDAR June 13 Crescent Beach is open July 3 Holiday - City offices closed in observance of Independence Day Aug. 30 Crescent Beach closed Sept.7 Holiday - City offices closed in observance of Labor Day Recycling delayed one day this week because of the holiday. Sept15 Primary Election Recycling pick -ups are scheduled every Wednesday (Tuesday on the Island) CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (612) 474 -3236 • City Council meetings are the second and fourth Monday of each month. • Planning Commission meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month. • Park Commission meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. City meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the City Hall at 5755 Country Club Road. DELIVER TO: City of Shorewood Council Members Barb Brancel, Mayor Bob Gagne Kristi Stover, Rob Daugherty, Dan Lewis, PARENTS The City of Shorewood is trying to provide summer recreation for your children. We ask that in return you help us out by asking your children to respect and obey the rules and regulations in our parks and on the beach. Being a life guard is a grave responsibility and it is imperative that their instructions are followed, not challenged. Hopefully all will go well for all of us. We do want you to know that if we have problems with your children, we will contact you directly to explain the situation and hope that you will understand and help us to solve the problem. Thank you from us all. BULK RA TE U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 128 EXCELSIOR, MN 55331 James C. Hurm, City Administrator 41 qk $ This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED Another building season is approaching us, and there is a variety of construction activity taking place in Shorewood, including the building of new homes and making improvements to existing structures. Examples of building projects that require a permit include a structural change, bedroom windows, reroofing, plumbing, heating new additions, decks, yard sheds over 120 square foot roof area, finishing basements, remodeling, retaining walls over 4 feet and construction of a fence. If you are unsure if you need a building permit for a project, please contact City Hall before you start. The purpose of a building permit is to provide the Building and Planning Departments with an opportunity to inspect for safety and compliance with City Ordinances and Building Codes. This is for your protection and safety. Before you allow any contractor to start work, please be sure a permit has been obtained. Before you pay a contractor for a lob, be sure you have a receipt of the final inspection made by the building inspector and that any corrections are complete and have passed a reinspection. Building permit applications are available at City Hall between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Additional information required to be submitted depends on the nature of the project. Generally you need to show what the project is, how it is to be constructed and how it will impact the property. This usually requires two sets of plans and a survey or site plan. Please allow 7 to 10 days for a permit to be issued. To assist residents there are some guidelines for some common projects available at City Hall and more will be added as time permits. Some projects do not require a permit but are controlled by regulations. Examples include driveways, yard sheds under 120 square foot roof area and on grade patios. Please contact us if you plan this type of improvement so we can help you understand the requirements. If you have any questions you can contact Patti Helgesen for zoning regulations and Joe Pazandak for building codes at 474 -3236, we will be happy to assist you. STATE MANDATED WATER SURCHARGE TO BE ADDED TO CITY WATER BILLS The Minnesota Department of Health is responsible for enforcing requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and regulations developed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for providing safe drinking water. The federal government has increased its monitoring parameters nearly fourfold, from 23 to 83 parameters. The State Legislature, during its 1992 session, authorized the Minnesota Department of Health to assess a surcharge on all water service connections to cover the costs of this program. The surcharge is $5.21 per year and will be collected from all city water customers with the quarterly water charges. This surcharge will appear on the water billings beginning with the 2nd quarter, 1992 bill signified by the abbreviation "SS ", and will continue to be on each quarterly billing thereafter. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Over the years as private sprinkler systems have been installed some systems may have encroached into the public right of way. The Shorewood City Code now allows for such encroachment providing a permit is obtained from the City and recorded with the Hennepin County Recorder or Registrar of Titles. Everyone who has a sprinkler system which encroaches into the public right -of -way is responsible to complete an application and submit it with a permit fee of $20.00 to the Shorewood Building Official. This process is necessary to obtain proper approval of your sprinkler system. Contact City Hall for further details. FROM THE ENGINEER'S DESK Several projects around the City are nearing completion. All of the work on Highway 7 has been completed, and the Old Market Road intersection is now open. The Pine bend watermain and road reconstruction project was completed June 5, and the Shady Hills drainage project will also be completed soon. Projects scheduled to be completed yet this summer include the Church Road street and watermain project, and the modifications to sewer Lift Stations 17 and 111. Both of these projects will be started in July. RECYCLING YARD WASTE The tons and tons of leaves and grass we throw away every year can be recycled right at home. It's easier than bagging them, too. Send your leaves to a much better place. Use leaves and chipped brush and twigs as mulch around the bottoms of trees and plants. Mulch holds moisture s0 you won't have to water plants as often. It also controls weeds and protects plants from freezing when temperatures drop. Create compost - Free fertilizer. Just place leaves and grass clippings in a simple box or wire enclosure - or even a pile in a corner of your yard. Certain foods, vegetables scraps and coffee grounds can be added. This organic material creates its own heat, which helps it to decompose. To speed the process, keep the pile moist (not wet) and turn it occasionally. Before you know it, you'll have crumbly, rich soil that enriches your garden and helps grow better vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs. Don't try to compost meat, fish, bones, or dairy products. They can attract unwanted "guests" such as raccoons. W 0 r..... DON'T WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY. The beauty, economics and recreation provided by our natural resources contribute much to our way of life. But, unless alternatives to our current methods of garbage disposal are developed now, the next generation will be inheriting a legacy of waste. The easiest way to address the problem is to reduce the amount of garbage we produce. The aluminum in our pop cans, the wood fiber in our grocery bags, the petroleum in our plastic products are all natural resources that can be conserved through recycling or reuse. By using these products over and over again, we can reduce the amount of garbage being buried inland fills and eliminate the unnecessary use of virgin materials. Other simple practices, such as composting, can also become a waste reduction and resource preservation activity. The "organic recycling" of our lawn clippings and other organic wastes can turn what now constitutes nine percent of our household waste into a rich, earthy soil conditioner. Waste reduction, reuse and recycling are easy, convenient environmental activities. By being aware of the materials we discard, and understanding the sources of products we use, we can all help in the preservation of our quality of life. Let's leave our children a legacy of change ... not waste. This program is funded by the City of Shorewood and 80% funded by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. Reduce,Reuse,Recycie. ...make it second nature! Some things are forever SOUTHSHORE SENIOR CENTER AND YOU The Senior Center has been Movies - every Monday in your community 8 years before lunch. this September. It is located at Mount Calvary Speakers - on topics you Lutheran Church and is a should be aware place where many things go of. on. A noon meal is served - Cost is a donation - nobody cares what you donate. In fact, if you can't afford to donate that is your business. But if you can afford to donate the full cost of the meal, that's great. It's nobody's business. The center tries to have a variety of programs. If you don't like one, you'll enjoy another. CRAFTS - EXERCISE HEALTH SCREENINGS DISCUSSION GROUPS The center needs volunteers to help as Receptionists for the dining program and to be on the Advisory Board. The center can give you answers to any question you have or can direct you to the proper source. The center is like a Supermarket. You should be able to find the programs and opportunities you are interested in at the center. If you haven't been able to, let us know. For daily program information - read your local Sun /Sailor Newspaper. We want your participation call 474 -7635. SENIOR CENTER VOLUNTEERS ..... help with the production of this quarterly City Newsletter. Thank you for your time and talents! A CHILD'S WISH Craig Shergold is a 7 year old boy with a brain tumor and a very short time to live. His wish is to become an entry in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS as the individual who has received the largest number of "Get Well Wishes" ever. Please take a moment to send Craig a Get Well Wish. The cards should be sent to: Craig Shergold c/o The Childrens Wish Foundation Atlanta, GA 30342 Thank you for your help. RECREATION SHOREWOOD PARKS Minnetonka Community Services is holding several summer programs in our parks this year including: • "Playground" for Tots (ages 4 -5) and Child (ages 6 -10) Staff will teach your child games, songs, informal sports, crafts designed for children along with storytelling and special events each week, they meet once or twice a week. • "T- ball" - ages 4 -5 and ages 6 -7 • "Tennis" CRESCENT BEACH • Children's swimming lessons For information on above, contact Minnetonka Community Services at 470- 3450, or look at the "MCES Summer 1992 booklet that you should have received in the mail. For swimming or tennis lessons your registration had to be in by May 8 to guarantee a position, however, you can still check to see if there are any openings. BARBECUE PRECAUTIONS It's that time of year again that barbecue grills are in full use. Please remember never barbecue on wooden decks or near new structures. The heat and flame from your grill. may start a fire. Remember always keep starter fluid and charcoal out of reach of children. Respect the speed limit - -- HOW YOU DRIVE AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Every year the City receives an increasing number of complaints about motor vehicles speeding through residential areas. Residents often request reduced speed limits, speed bumps, stop signs or increased enforcement to slow down traffic. Most of the time these types of solutions are not very effective and can some- times result greater problems. The only effective, long -term solution to speeding in residential areas is to create a neighborhood expectation that traveling the speed limit is essential to the quality of life and safety of the neighborhood. A frequent request is to reduce the speed limit on a particular street. Many residents do not realize that the City does not have authority over speed limits. Speed limits are established by the State of Minnesota. Local units of government cannot post speed limits other than 30 miles per hour on City streets and 55 miles per hour on rural routes. Any speed limits that vary from these two posting are set at the direction of the Minnesota Department of Transportation after a speed study has been conducted to determine speed at which most vehicles are traveling. That speed is then used to determine the new speed limit. Often times, these studies result in an increase in the speed limit rather than a decrease. signs to slow down traffic generally has not been effective. Studies show that stop signs that are installed to reduce vehicle speeds actually result in increased speed as motorists attempt to make up time lost at the previous stop sign. Constructing streets with speed bumps creates roadway hazards, causes hazard to both motorists and bicyclist. While targeting neighborhoods for enhanced police patrol can be an effective short -term solution to speeding, a much better, long -term solution is to create an expectation in the neighborhood that residents will adhere to speed limits. When we target particular neighborhoods, police generally report that a large number of the vehicles stopped are from that neighborhood. How you drive affects the quality of life in your neighborhood and the community. Please be considerate of your friends and neighbors by respecting the speed limits in your City. Taken from an article by Dave Sonnenberg, Minnetonka City Engineer CANDIDATE FILING DATES To the legal voters of the City of Shorewood, Hennepin County, Minnesota: Tuesday, September 8, 1992 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Proper forms can be picked up and the affidavit of candidacy will be accepted at the Shorewood City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road, Shorewood, Minnesota with a filing fee of $2.00. The City officers to be voted on are: Mayor - term of two (2) years Two Councilmembers - each for a term of four (4) years. 4 L Y ELECTION JUDGES NEEDED FOR THE FALL OF 1992 There will be two elections coming up soon. On September 15, a Primary Election, and on November 3, 1992 the General Election. Although we have a number of judges who have constantly been able to help us over the years, we need to maintain a file of persons who would be willing to serve. To be an election judge you must be: 1. a citizen of the United States of America 2. a registered voter 3. resident of Shorewood We also receive a number The City of Shorewood will If you want more of requests for stop signs accept fillings for information on being a and speed bumps on candidacy on Tuesday, judge... contact Sue Niccum streets. Installing stop August 25, 1992 through at 474 -3236.