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November 2008 Shore Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ..0 C ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [/) =: ~ THE ~ IN THIS ISSUE Election 2008 .......... 2 Council Activities. . . . . . . 3 Winterize Rain Barrels.. 3 Water Tower. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Deer Management. . . . . . 3 City Hall Construction. . . 3 Recycling ... . . . . . . . . . . .4 Help Wanted. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Snowmobile Training. ..4 Community Events.. . ..5 Stormwater Pollution. . . 5 Sand/Salt Barrels. . . . . . . 6 Planning Dept. . . . . . . . . . 6 November 2008 Vote on November 4 ELECTION DAY is Tuesday, November 4. You may vote between 7 AM and 8 PM at your polling site. Following are the polling sites in the City of Shorewood. If you do not know your polling site, you may call the city or search on the Secretary of State's website at http://pollfinder.sos.state. mn.us. Your precinct is also listed on this newsletter mailing label. Precinct I - Residence at 4445 Enchanted Point Precinct 2 - Minnewashta Church, 26710 West 62nd Street Precinct 3 - Southshore Community Center, 5735 Country Club Road *New in 2008 Precinct 4 - Excelsior United Methodist Church, 881 Third Ave. Precinct 5 - Excelsior Covenant Church, 19955 Excelsior Blvd. Holiday Food and Toy Collection EACH YEAR, THE CITY OF SHOREWood serves as a drop-off site for toys to be given to the Hopkins Minnetonka Family Resource Center. 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. Toys may be dropped off at City Hall during business hours through Friday, December 5. The city also serves as a drop-off site for the ICA Food Shelf. Non-perishable food items may be dropped off at City Hall through Friday, December 5, and will be delivered to the ICA Food Shelf. If you would prefer, envelopes for cash donations are also available. For more information contact the ICA at 952/938-0729 or go to their website at: www.icafoodshelforg. R-U-Ready For An Emergency/Disaster? National-State-Local Emergency Preparedness Seminar JOIN THE SOUTH TONKA LEAGUE of Women Voters and the Shorewood public safety team on Saturday, November 15, 10 AM- noon, as they help residents learn skills to keep their homes and families safe in case of an emergency or disaster. Participants will learn the role of citizens, fire and police departments in case of an area-wide disaster. Attendance at this event will give you a plan and peace of mind. The event takes place at the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Facility, 24150 Smithtown road in Shorewood. Guest Spekaers include Fire Chief Scott Gerber and Police Chief Bryan Litsey. Seating is limited, so please RSVP by November 12 to ruready@mchsi.com, or call David Hohertz, SLMPD Community Service Officers Supervisor, at 952/960-1619. Free parking on the upper level of the Public Safety Building. Truth-I n- Taxation Hearing THE SHOREWOOD CITY Council will hold a Truth-In-Taxation public hearing on Monday, December I, at 7 PM, at Southshore Center, 5735 Country Club Road, Shorewood. If necessary, a continuation hearing will be held on Monday, December 8. Residents are encouraged to attend the December I meeting and to comment on the proposed budget and tax levy. The proposed 2009 budget is available for inspection at City Hall during normal business hours, or on our web site, www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. If you have any questions, please contact Finance Director Bonnie Burton at 952/474-3236. City Calendar 11/1 10 AM-3 PM Absentee Voting 11/2 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS 11/3 5 PM City Hall Open Late for Absentee Voting 11/4 General Election: SEE PG 2 11/10 7 PM City Council Meeting 11/11 HOLIDAY-City Hall Closed 11/15 lOAM R-U-Ready Workshop 11/18 7 PM Park Comm. Meeting 11/18 7 PM Planning Comm. Meeting 11/24 7 PM City Council Meeting 11/27-28 HOLIDAY-City Hall closed 12/1 7 PM Truth-In-Taxation Hearing 12/2 7 PM Planning Comm. Meeting During construction, all meetings take place at the South shore Community Center, 5735 Country Club Road. THE SHORE REPORT / NOVEMBER 2008 City of Shorewood Offices on the Ballot THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES have filed for municipal office and will appear on the November 4 General Election ballot. All offices are elected city-wide. Mayor (two-year term) Chris Lizee Council Member, Full Term (four-year term) Vote for up to two Bob Edmundson, Dick Woodruff, Scott Zerby Council Member, Two-Year Term Vote for up to two Jeff Bailey, Scott Keen, Debbie Siakel, Laura Turgeon Sample ballots are posted at City Hall and are available on the city's website at www.ci.shorewood.mn.usin Elections. Register to Vote Election Day Registration - Proof of residence IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE to pre-register to vote, you can register on Election Day. To do so, you must provide election judges at your polling location with certain acceptable forms of identification to prove your eligibility such as: . A Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, identification card, or a tribal identification card with your current address (or the receipt for renewal or change of the license or I.D.) . A "Notice of Late Registration" received from your city clerk if your voter registration application was received after the last day to pre-register. . One of the following documents that contains your name and photo: Minnesota driver's license, MN identification card, or a MN tribal identification card with a previous address, US passport, US military identification card or student identification card from a Minnesota college AND a bill for electric, water, gas, telephone (includes cell and VOIP), cable TV, sewer or solid waste services with a due date within 30 days of the election that contains your name and current address. . Another registered voter living in your precinct who will come to the polling location with you to vouch for your residency. AutoMARKTM Equipment Assists Voters VOTERS WHO ARE blind, have visual impairment, dexterity issues, or any condition that makes marking ballots difficult now have an option. The AutoMARKTM is available at election sites. Voters who think they might want to use the AutoMARKTM are encouraged to contact City Hall, 952/474-3236, to schedule a demonstration prior to Election Day. AutoMARKTM is also available at City Hall to absentee vote. Up-to-date election information is available on our web site, www.ci.shorewood.mn.us. click on Elections. www.ci.shorewood.m n . us 2 Absentee Voting Extended absentee voting hours for the November 4 General Election will be Saturday, November l,from lOAM-3 PM and Monday, November 3, until 5 PM. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE to vote on Election Day, you may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are available at City Hall during regular business hours until the day before Election Day. Absentee voters must first complete and submit an Absentee Ballot Application, available at City Hall and on the city's website. For more information on absentee voting, call the city at 952/474-3236. Sources for Candidate Information ASHOREWOOD MAYOR and City Council candidate forum sponsored by the South Tonka League of Women Voters took place on October 8. The forum will be broadcast on Cable Channel2l on November 1 at 8 PM. The LMCC web site also has an election page with video links, www.lmcc-tv.org. Voters can find information about candidates in local newspapers, on the Secretary of State's website at www.sos. state.mn.us; and the Minnesota League of Women Voters (LWV) website at www.lwvmn.org. The LWV sponsors other candidate forums and debates; for more information, contact the League of Women Voters at 651/224-5445 or check their website. Candidate information can also be found at Minnesota e-Democracy, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, www.e-democracy.org. Each political party has a website with candidate information. The web sites for the "major status" parties in Minnesota are: Democratic- F armer- Labor www.dfl.org Independence Party www.mnip.org Republican Party www.mngop.com Prepare Your Rain Barrel for Winter MANY RESIDENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE of the Shorewood or Hennepin County rain barrel purchase programs this year. Now that our growing season has come to an end, it is time to prepare the rain barrels for a long winter slumber. Preparation is simple, but should be done soon so that the freeze/thaw cycle does not damage the integrity. of the plastic. To Winterize Barrel 1. Completely empty the rain barrel of all water. 2. Remove hoses and attachments and make sure they are empty of water. 3. Remove debris screen and store with hoses and attachments. 4. Turn rain barrel upside down to keep clean through the winter. 5. Buy a new organic gardening and landscaping book and enjoy a good read while you wait for spring rains to fill your barrel to the brim! If you have any questions regarding your rain barrel, please contact James Landini at City Hall, 952/474-3236, or Jlandini@ci.shorewood.mn.us. Water Tower 'Face Lift Continues ~. \ ~ WORK ON EAST SIDE water tower continues. The project includes a complete overhaul and painting, both inside and out, of the water tower. This is a huge undertaking! Public Works staff is working hard to make sure residents are not inconvenienced by the project. Ifhomeowners notice a reduction in water pressure, or lose water without prior notice, please contact City Hall immediately, at 952/474-3236. Deer Management Continues METRO BOWIIUNTERS RESOURCE BOARD (MBRB) continues the 2008 deer management program. The final dates of the program are November 15-16. It is important to note that Shorewood is not opening a deer season or authorizing hunting within city limits. Hunting in Shorewood without city authorization remains illegal. Residents with questions or concerns may contact City Hail at 952/474-3236, during regular business hours, or the SLMPD at 9-1-1 outside of regular business hours. City Hall Construction Update CITY HALL CONSTRUCTION recently included some demolition. As you drive by the building, you will notice the council chambers, formerly on the west end of the structure, is no longer there. Construction of the new Council Chambers has begun! City staff is aware that the construction equipment, piles of dirt, temporary entrance and unpredictable parking situation makes entering City Hall somewhat inconvenient at times, but construction crews are trying to keep a careful watch for anyone attempting to gain access to the building. Parking is currently in the area north of the tennis courts. Despite the construction, City Hall is open for business as usual. If you have any questions regarding City Hall improvements, please contact City Hall, 952/474-3236. 3 THE SHORE REPORT / NOVEMBER 2008 Council .Activities Since the last newsletter the City Council: . Held a work session to begin review of the enterprise budgets and to discuss the employee compensation plan philosophy. . Heard a report from Representative Patrick Hodapp on current activities of the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission (LMCC). Received the 2009 budget presentation from LMCC Executive Director Sally Koenecke. . Awarded the contract for the SE area water tower rehabilitation project; work has begun on this project. . Approved the Minnewashta Elementary School conditional use permit request. . Approved a special deer removal permit for the Minnetonka Country Club. . Appointed the audit firm Abdo, Eick and Meyers, LLP to perform audit services for 2008-10. . Reviewed city hall telephone system needs and directed staff to prepare a request for proposal for telephone service and equipment. . Reviewed a first draft of the Illicit Discharge Ordinance; this ordinance prohibits the disposal of hazardous waste (such as paint or oil) into the storm water or sanitary sewer system. This item will continue to be discussed at a future meeting. Utility Billing: Auto Pay D ESIDENTS NOW HAVE the option of .I\....having Shorewood utility bills paid by auto-pay. Download an application from the city web site. Once you are on the auto-pay system, you will still receive your utility bill, but it will be marked that it has been paid. If you have any questions regarding the auto-pay system, please contact the Finance Department, 952/474-3236. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us THE SHORE REPORT / NOVEMBER 2008 SH()REW()()D RECYCLES Paper Recycling: Where Does It Go? ON ANY GIVEN MORNING, people throughout the Twin Cities metro area bring their recyclable paper out to the curb. Newspapers, cereal boxes, school paper and more sit ready and waiting for the recycling truck. But where does the truck go? And what happens to the paper? Here's how the paper recycling process works: 1. You place your recyclable paper at the curb for recycling. 2. A recycling hauler picks it up and takes it to a Materials Recovery Facility, or a MRF (pronounced "murf'). 3. The MRF separates the paper into types, wraps it into large bales and ships it to a paper mill. 4. The paper mill then mixes the paper with hot water and turns it into pulp. The pulp is screened for contaminants, such as staples and plastic, then cleaned, often de-inked and bleached and made into new paper products. Recycled paper is used in many of the paper products you use every day. More than 80% of all U.S. paper manufacturers use some recovered fiber to make their products. Here are just a few of the everyday paper products made with recycled paper: . Egg cartons: Egg cartons are made from recycled newspaper and inserts. . Newspaper: A newspaper is recycled and back in circulation in less than 4 weeks. . Cereal boxes: Recycled office paper, newspapers and cardboard boxes are used to make cereal and other types of boxes. Rethink recycling. You can recycle more kinds of paper than YOll think. To learn more, visit www.GreenGuardian.com. the metro area's resource for recycling and waste disposal. Shorewood Facts During the first nine months of the year, 63% of households in Shorewood set Ollt recycling for collection. On average, participating households divert over 74 tons of material each month from landfills. Thanks to Our Gardeners THE GARDENS BY SHOREWOOD park signs and by the City Hall and Southshore Center signs are always a beautiful asset to Shorewood. The gardens are designed, planted and cared for by some wonderful volunteers! Our thanks to each of them: Silverwood Park. . . . . . . . . . Sandy Ahlstrom Freeman Park (entrance) .. Diane Agnew and Southshore Gardeners Southshore Center. . . . . . . . Karan and Dale Newberg; Mary Donahue Manor Park...... .. . .... Cindy Marso Cathcart Park. . . . . . . . . . . . Lucinda Kircher & Lance Detrude Freeman Plaza. . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Wagner and Girl Scout Troop 12274 Rink Attendents VVanted THE CITY OF SI~~REWOOD is accepting applications for part-time Rink Attendants. Attendant pOSItIOns are open to people 16 years of age and older and offers flexible hours in the afternoons, on weekends, and during winter break. The season generally runs mid-December through mid-February. For an application, call or stop by City Hall. Application deadline is December 3. Festival Volunteers Needed THE CITIES OF SHOREWOOD, Excelsior, and Tonka Bay are in need of volunteers for Arctic Fever on Saturday, January 17. Events now include a pond hockey tournament in Excelsior, dog sled and horse drawn carriage rides, plus many more activities. Go to www.arcticfever.net for up-to-date information. To volunteer, please email tgrout@ci.shorewood.mn.us. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us 4 Snowmobile Safety Training December 6- 7 YOUTH AGES 11 -15 are eligible to complete this training course. Students must pre-register at South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Facility, 24150 Smithtown Road, Shorewood. A parent or legal guardian signature is required on the registration card. Snowmobiles will be provided for the practical exam. For more information please contact South Tonka Snowmobile Club, 952/474-5043, or Ddgeorge87@ msn.com. Snowmobile Laws for Youth According to the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association, there is some confusion about the laws governing youth snowmobilers. They offer some clear thoughts on the matter. . If you are under the age of 14 you can operate a snowmobile on public lands and waters and on private land if you are supervised by a parent or guardian or their designee who is 18 or over from the same or an accompanying machine. You may not cross a roadway. . If you are 12 or 13 and have taken safety training you may operate a snowmobile on public lands and waters, but, may not cross a roadway. . If you are 14 and have taken safety training you may operate a snowmobile and cross a roadway. . If you were born after 12-31-76, are a resident of Minnesota and do not fall into one the above age categories, you have to have taken safety training in order to operate a snowmobile anywhere in Minnesota. . There are helmet laws for youth. See the guide book listed below for specifics. Conservation Officers want to remind parents to never allow young operators to drive snowmobiles without their knowledge and snowmobiles should never be regarded as toys for young drivers to use without adequate supervision and training. A copy of the 2008-09 snowmobile laws and regulations is available at http:// files. dnr.state. mn. us/rlp/regulations/ snowmobile/snowmobileregs09.pdf CCCIDIIiIDl1i1ilDll11D.fittsr IEW~~ MHS Theater Christkindlsmarkt South Pacific Downtown Excelsior Nov. 7-8,14-15,21-22; 7:30 pm November 28,29, and 30 Nov. 1 6; 1 pm FALL IN LOVE on the beaches of Bali Ha'i at this Rodgers and Hammersteins production by Minnetonka High School students. Tickets: Adults $15; Seniors $12 and Students $10; 952/401-5898 to reserve tickets. ~. ENJOY SHOPPING in this wonderful ,German-style, open-air market. Market is in Lyman Park in downtown · ... Excelsior. Hours are Friday and Saturday, , I. 10 AM- 7PM; Sunday II AM-4 PM ~~ Kids Free Movie: Kung Fu Panda (PG) Sat., December 6; 9:30 am Dock Theater, Excelsior Giving Tree Project Saturday, December 6 TREEs ARE LOCATED throughout downtown Excelsior waiting for your decorative flair. Beginning December 6, feel free to add decorations to any tree. Non-breakable decorations are highly recommended. Fully decorated trees are then placed in homes that could not otherwise afford them. EXCELsIOR FIRE DISTRICT invites you to celebrate the 37th Annual Kid's Free Movie sponsored by Excelsior Real Estate. Kids will receive surprises after the movie and Santa and Sparky will arrive to greet the kids at 11: 15 AM in a North Pole Edition Fire Truck. Admission is a non-perishable food, health and/or beauty item; cash donations to ICA will also be accepted. Doors open at 8:45 AM. Winter Pollution Prevention Efforts 0\ f I /~ (- '/ J ~\(-- \.\/' WINTER IS COMING, and as Minnesotans, we are ready! Sledding, ice skating, and skiing are on the top of most lists of fun outdoor activities. A bit lower on the list is shoveling sidewalks and driveways. But, it's a necessary winter activity. An unfortunate side effect of our desire to find easier snow clearing methods, is the attempt to ease the job of clearing snow with the use of various chemical products. These products often have hidden side effects to our environment. When the ice and snow melt, the chemicals dissolve and flow into storm drains that lead directly into local lakes, damaging the ecosystem and polluting the lakes. Depending on the product used, vegetation along driveways and sidewalks can also be damaged. The best way to deal with ice and snow is to clear it often, not letting snow get compacted or too deep. This eases removal, and eliminates the compacted snow turning to ice needing ice-melting chemicals. If deicers are necessary, follow directions exactly, and use only where absolutely necessary. It is also a good idea to double check the source of the ice. Often simply removing or redirecting a drain spout for the winter can eliminate water flow that forms ice on walkways during late fall and early winter. Every home can help make our lakes cleaner. Challenge your family to see if they can think of ways to eliminate pollution from heading down the street! 5 THE SHORE REPORT I NOVEMBER 2008 Drivers Needed MEALs ON WHEELS-South Shore is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver hot meals over the lunch hour, approximately 11: 15 AM-noon, to area clients. The commitment is flexible and drivers generally deliver meals about once a month. If you would like to help out or need more information, call 952/474-5227. Dial-A-Ride TRANSPORTATION SERVICES are available to Shorewood Residents via Dial- A-Ride, a service funded under contract with the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Hours are 7:30 AM-3:30 PM, Monday- Friday; 8 AM-12 PM, Saturday and Sunday. Cost for the service is $1.50 each way for the general public. To request a ride, please call 952/474- 7441 Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM. Recycling Changes BECAUSE OF THE Thanksgiving holiday, Island residents will recycle on Friday, November 28 rather than on November 27. There is no change for Mainland residents. Keep Leaves Out of Street RESIDENTS ARE reminded that during fall clean-up of yards and gardens, you cannot blow or rake leaves into the roadways. It is also illegal to dispose of yard and garden waste in the garbage; all materials must be composted, either by your garbage hauler through a separate pick-up, by home composting, or by taking your yard waste to a commercial compost location. For information on how to compost your own yard waste, go to www.greenguardian.com. and type "backyard compost" in the search engme. www.ci.shorewood.mn.us CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (952)474.3236 FAX (952)474.0128 Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM PRESORTED STANDARD U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #30681 MINNEAPOLIS, MN III ::s ... C III ... E :I )( -a c Q/ 0 E If5 0 -a M ~ N 0 M Q/ ~ , ... 'o:t 0 ,... .J: Q/ 'o:t II! ... '0 0 N J: ~ .~ LI\ ~ v ~ ~ ~ -;; Ii ... .... IV J: 'iji J: ..t >- .g .... !:! Q/ '0 ~ Q/ ... 'iij C ::s E Qi 0 ... .... , 0 'iji LIJ J: :> LI\ Council Members Christine Lizee, Mayor; Richard Woodruff, Ward 1; Laura Turgeon, Ward 2; Jeff Bailey, Ward 3; Martin Wellens, Ward 4 Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore SAVE PAPER AND MAILING COSTS! City of Shorewood Precinct Map X Polling Place Public Safety ... Building Sand & Salt Barrels To HELP KEEP YOUR driveway and walkway safe, residents of Shore wood 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. Send a check payable to City of Shorewood, along with your request (including your name, address and phone number) to: City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club Road, Shorewood, MN 55331. The Public Works Department will contact you to schedule a delivery time. Polling Locations: Precinct '.-4445 Enchanted Point Precinct 2..Minnewashta Church. 26710 West 62nd Street Precicnt 3..Southshore Center, 5735 Country Club Rd Precinct 4..Excelsior United Methodist Church, 881 Third Ave. Precinct SuExcelsior Covenant Church. 19955 Excelsior Boulevard Planning Map The Planning Commission will hold the following public hearings at their meeting on November 1 8, 2008: A.7:00 P.M. Telecom Transport Management, Inc., on behalf of AT & T Wireless, requests approval of a Conditional Use Permit to add antenna equipment to the water tower space located at 26352 Smith town Road. B. 7: 10 P.M. The property owner of approximately 6 acres of vacant land is requesting approval of a preliminary plat for a two-lot subdivision with potential future development. The property is located on Strawberry Lane adjacent to the north side of the trail crossing and extends west to Cathcart Drive. C. 7:20 P.M. The city will consider an amendment to Chapter 104 (General Penalty and Enforcement) establishing a system of administrative citations and civil penalties for violations of the City Code. The purpose of the amendment is to provide a more efficient, cost-effective and timely method of processing violations of city regulations that may not be appropriate for criminal prosecution through the court system. THE S, )lit REPOR, /NOVlMBER 2008 -