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11 November ShoreReportto, Shore Rena Franchise Fees Possible in Shorewood Street improvement plans and how to pay for the work are often discussed at City Council annual retreats. There are a few sources of revenue available to the city to maintain streets: 1. Property tax levy. This is the primary source of city revenues and has traditionally been the city's sole source of revenue for street maintenance. 2. Franchise fees. Many cities have franchise agreements with electric and natural gas providers that allow those companies to utilize city rights -of- way and public grounds. The city can institute a fee for that franchise which is collected monthly by the utility from each property that has a meter and then remitted to the city. 3. Municipal State Aid (MSA). A state aid program where the State sends municipalities over 5,000 in population funds for street maintenance. Funds can only be used on MSAdesignated streets and the annual appropriation is not sufficient to cover work on those streets. 4. Assessing. This involves levying the cost of an improvement against the benefitted property. The city is required to assess at least 25 percent of the cost of the project when a bond is issued to fund street improvements. The city has never issued a bond to fund street repair or improvements. 5. Local sales tax. Many jurisdictions have a local option sales tax. This requires legislative and voter approval to implement. Franchise Fees ... continued on page two November School Board k .actions innetonka and Westonka School Districts have school board elections on November 7. Both school districts have three seats open for election of four -year terms. Westonka district will also have an election to fulfill an open seat for the next two years. Also on the ballot for Westonka in November will be a levy renewal question. Voting locations for school district elections are not always the same as for city elections. Go to wwwmnvotes.org to check your voting location, and to check the status of your voter registration. More information is available on the school district web sites. Links to the school district web sites are on the city web VOTE site under Living 'IQW in Shorewood: Schools. rood and Toy Drop Off at City Hall Each year, the City of Shorewood serves as a drop -off site for toys to be given to the Hopkins Minnetonka Family Resource Center and food for ICAfoodshelf. The Toy Chest Drive provides toys to low income children up to age 18 in the local area. Items for teens are especially needed each year. Volunteers for sorting, counting and assisting with distribution are also needed. For information on volunteering, call the Resource Center at 952.988.5350. For information on the food shelf, please contact ICA at 952.938.0729. Toys and non - perishable food items may be dropped off at City Hall during business hours through Tuesday, December 12. November 2017 www.ci.shorewood.mn.us Recycling Matters You may have the basics of curbside recycling down. You put bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper in your bin; you avoid wish cycling; and you generally know what to throw. But there is more you can do! Recycle even more by adding another room to your recycling routine or utilizing drop - off locations for items that can't be recycled curbside. This, Not That Don't be afraid to ask for help on what you can recycle. There are resources available that will help you find the best way to dispose of almost any item. Or start adding more items to your recyclable list like glossy paper, toiletry Recycling Weeks f�,, November 2017 All recycling must be curbside no later than 7 a.m. on recycling day. Mainland residents recycle November 1, 15 and 29; Island residents recycle November 2, 16 and 30. Report misses: 952.941.5174 boxes, laundry detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and cartons. Know what to throw by remembering these tips: • Recycle food and drink cartons. Don't recycle food and drink pouches. • Recycle paper. Don't recycle paper soiled with food like napkins. Compost it! • Recycle plastic egg cartons. Don't recycle Styrofoam egg cartons. • Recycle food and beverage bottles and jars. Don't recycle drinking glasses. a Winning Combinati- Get the most out of your recycling program and make sure to keep non - recyclable items out of your curbside bin. If your recycling cart is full by the time your pick -up day comes around, but your garbage can still has room in it, you should be proud of yourself. By ensuring that everything in your cart is recyclable and safe for facilities, you avoid the problems created by non - recyclables entering the recycling stream. Go to the city website under Recylcing on tips about getting rid of recyclable materials that you cannot put in your curbside container, or call the city, 952.960.7906. www.rethinkrecycling.com Franchise Fees (continued from page one) 6. Enterprise fund transfers. Cities that operate liquor stores or other enterprise funds can transfer profits to the general fund orto pay debt service. Property taxes are a stable source of revenue, but there are limitations when it comes to using them to fund roadways: taxes are based on valuation rather than a equal fee for all users - like a water and sewer bill; properties that do not pay taxes do not contribute for their access /maintenance of streets and roads; finally, the amount of taxes used for street maintenance are not sufficient to pay for the entire cost to maintain roads. The city council is considering .i ruth- In -Taxat The Shorewood City Council adopted a preliminary property tax levy for 2018 of $5,388,236 which is 4% higher than 2017. The proposed 2018 budget is available for inspection at City Hall during normal business franchise fees as an additional revenue source. Combined with property taxes, this fee would be used to fund the repair and maintenance of streets. The city does not currently have franchise agreements, but is working with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy on new agreements. Work continues on a final CIP through 2024, and while the schedule will determine the final amount of expenses, the council is considering establishing a $4 per month franchise fee for both electric and natural gas beginning next year. A $4 gas and electric franchise fee would generate approximately $2,000,000 through 2024. ;ion Hearing hours, or on our web site, www. ci.shorewood.mn.us. A Truth -In- Taxation public hearing is set for Monday, December 4, at 7 p.m., at Shorewood City Hall. Staff will present information regarding the budget, property tax levy, Franchise fees have a few advantages over other revenue options: 1.) a lower regularly paid amount versus property taxes that are paid in large amounts, twice per year; 2.) all properties, not just taxable properties, pay something toward the cost to maintain and improve city streets; and, 3.) because access to roads is not based on the value of the property, but is equally valuable to similar properties, each residenence pays the same amount based upon the service(s) to the property. If you have questions, please contact City Administrator, Greg Lerud, 952.960.7900, or email g1erud@ci.shorewood.mn.us. and the property tax impact on a variety of property types and values. Residents are encouraged to contact City Administrator Greg Lerud, 952.960.7900, with questions or comments on the proposed budget and tax levy. Daylight Savings Time Ends Daylight savings time will end Sunday, November 5. Please remember to set clocks back one hour. This is also a great time to change batteries in smoke detectors! Let the Holiday Fun Begin: Christkindlsmarkt NOVEMBER 24 - 26 Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.mA p.m. Biergarten Open Until 10 p.m. Come enjoy Christmas in Excelsior at Christkindlsmarkt, a three -day festival held annually in Excelsior. It is a celebration of the holiday season filled with activities for the whole family. Come for the Grande Parade, open -air market 41 featuring German Christmas traditions, delicious treats, shop for traditional gifts and unique treasures and visit with friends at the Biergarten. The KinderWorld is all for the kids - a Sugar Plum Fairy - themed center for Enchanted Frozen Sisters, storytelling, and activities. Complete daily schedules available at: www. excelsiorchristkindlsmarkt. Winter Pruning is Beneficial for Trees There are several reasons why proper tree pruning would benefit your lawn and tree care maintenance strategy. Tree pruning helps your tree maintain healthy foliage by eliminating unhealthy, dead, or dying branches. Structural tree pruning allows your tree to flourish by correcting structural issues, such as co- dominant leading branches that deter your tree from growing properly. Tree care is often thought of as a service that is needed in the spring, summer, and fall, but maintaining and improving the health of your trees and lawn is something that can be accomplished year round. Experts such as ISA Certified Arborists recommend why winter is a great time for tree pruning. 1.13iological — Winter pruning is ideal because your trees go dormant in the winter. Pruning them in the winter causes less stress and allows them to produce health growth in the spring and summer. 2.Health — The cuts from tree pruning leave your trees with exposed wounds that can be negatively impacted by insects, fungus, diseases, and bacteria. Winter pruning Sand and Salt Barrels Available o help keep your driveway and walkway safe, residents of Shorewood can purchase a 50- gallon barrel filled with a sand and salt mixture. The cost is $40 for the initial barrel and $30 for refills. A downloadable form is available on the city website under Online Forms. Please mail or drop off the completed form and a check payable to City of Shorewood, to: City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club has the advantage of allowing your tree to recover in a much friendlier environmentwith less chance of harm occurring. 3.Practical — Perhaps the most obvious reason why winter pruning is ideal is the fact that there are no leaves on the tree to worry about. The overall branch structure of the tree has openings, making it easier to spot defects among the branches and make corrective cuts to improve the structure. It's always a good idea to rely on a professional with a difficult task like tree pruning. Consult an ISA Certified Arborist to learn more about the importance of wintertree maintenance pruning. Gail Nozal, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Road, Shorewood, MN 55331. There is an after hours drop off box in front of city hall for your convenience. The Public Works Department will contact you to schedule a delivery time. City of Shorewood 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 City of Shorewood 11, , Planning Commission PRESORTED STANDARD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT #30681 Due to election activities, the November 7 Planning Commission meeting will start at 8 p.m. and the agenda will include the following public hearings: 1. 7 p.m., Shorewood Landing Senior Living (Oppidan Investments) at 6000 Chaska Road is requesting an amendment to their Planned Unit Development in order to increase the allowable signage on the site, for two additional wall signs on the building. 2. 7:10 p.m., An application to re -plat properties at 27964 and 27968 Smithtown Road to rearrange the lot lines for improved access to the properties. No new lots are being created 3. 7:20 p.m., The property owners at 25830 Birch Bluff Road are applying for a side yard setback variance to locate the air conditioning condenser at the side of the house. 4. 7:30 p.m., The owners of 5915 Galpin Lake Road request a front yard setback variance to allow an addition above the existing attached garage. Scott Zerby, Mayor; Patrick Johnson, Jennifer Labadie; Debbie Siakel; Kristine Sundberg City Administrator: Greg Lerud; Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore Southshore Center 5735 Country Club Road • 952.474.7635 • www.southshore- center.org TED Talks Thurs, November 16 at 11:00 a.m. THE SECRET TO LIVING LONGER? YOUR SOCIAL LIFE A Video replay of a TED lecture by psychologist Susan Pinker who studied the centurions of Sardinia, which has 100 year olds at a rate 10 times that of North America, to find out what are the top predictors of a long life. And it's not the food. Everyone is welcome to join us in watching and discussing this - interesting talk at our monthly TED Talks presentation at the Southshore IDEAS_',':) "1fiSP Community Center. Driver Improvement Program Refresher Course Tuesday, November 7, 1 -5 p.m. Thursday, November 30, 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Drivers 55+ can earn insurance discounts with driver improvement classes! This months class is a 4 -hour refresher courses for those who previously completed the 8 -hour class. Register at 1.888.234.1294. Health and Wellness Monday, November 27, 1 p.m. Enjoy this educational program by Dr. Kyra of Health Source Chiropractic on alternative medicine. Question /answer session follows the presentation. This program is free, call the center at 952.474.7635 to sign up Happy Feet Foot Care Mon., November 20 by appt.; $36 Call for an appointment: 1.763.560.5136. Dementia Caregivers Support Group Friday, November 3 and 17, 9 -10 a.m. Each first and third Friday of the month. Share your concern and support other caregivers of dementia patients. Learn from one another. Mahjong Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Enjoy a fun game of Mahjong and socialize with the group. For information, call the center. Woodcarvers Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. Join this social group as they carve their creations! Knitting & Crocheting Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. All abilities and levels welcome. No sign up needed. FREE Bridge Thursdays, 1 p.m. READING Enjoy a game of bridge at the center weekly. RSVP to the center. Beading Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Enjoy fun, share ideas, and create! Quilting Mon. & Wed., 9 a.m. -noon Learn from one another. Share your talent with others! For more information about what to bring, contact the center. Bingo Fridays, 12:30 p.m. Who doesn't love BINGO? Grab a few friends, or come alone, and enjoy an afternoon of luck! Game Day Mondays, 12 p.m. Bring a board or card came, or join others with their game. This is a great time to play! No RSVP necessary, just come ready to have fun! Fitness Dance Fitness Classes Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30 a.m.; $5 per session Exercise classes for the active older population. Improve aerobic power, body endurance, strength, flexibility and balance. Call the center to reserve a spot. Zumba Wednesdays, 6:30 -7:30 p.m. $56 session If you love dancing and having fun, you will love ZumbaO. Our Certified ZumbaO Instructor will show you the dances step by step and offer low or high impact modifications to make your workout your own! Southshore Center is Closed November so for Veterans Day and November 23 -24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Programs for the Kids at Southshore Center 5735 Country Club Road 952. 474.7635 Register online: www.southshore- center.org k Holiday Ornament Making Party Saturday, Dec. 2,10:30-11:30 a.m., ages 18 months -6 years; $15 Join us for an ornament making party! There will be 4 stations, each with a different ornament k project. These ornaments will make great keepsakes or gifts. Children must be accompanied ` by caregiver. Make all four ornaments! Paint on Canvas Reindeer Games Saturday, Dec. 2,11-4 p.m., ages 5 -12; $30 Who's the most famous reindeer of all time? Rudolph of course! During this popular class, your child will learn how to paint Rudolph the Red -Nosed Reindeer step -by -step as they create on a real canvas board. Please pack a nut free snack and drink for your child. Join the Partners Southshore Senior Partners are dedicated to encouraging area residents age 55+ to keep a healthy and active lifestyle. Programs provide time to socialize and participate in a variety of recreational and learning opportunities for free or low cost. Membership is only $25 per year and supports the planning, activities and building operations. Please contact Southshore Center at 952.474.7635 to learn more or to get a membership. ReimagineAging WN Senior Community Services Half Price Bakery Each Monday and Tuesday Cub Foods 1/2 price bakery goods are available at Southshore Center. Cash or check only. Stop by and pick up a snack for your favorite person! Attention older adults, age 60 +1 Do you need help around the house? We offer an array of affordable services designed to help you stay in your home. Our handypersons can help with that dripping faucet that's just getting worse or with those other repairs that you just haven't taken care of. Our homemakers can help with routine cleaning tasks and also run errands for you. This time of year, yard work might be on your mind as well. We provide mowing services and tackle small yard projects as well. We are a trusted non - profit that has been working with older adults since 1950. We partner with cities in Hennepin County to offer affordable help so you can stay in the home of your choice. Call today at 952 - 746 -4046 to get more info or visit us on the web at seniorcommunity.org We look forward to hearing from you soon!