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2008-05-23 Friday NewsMay 23, 2008 rd MSP TOWER TOUR This Monday the Airport Relations Commission held their May meeting at the MSP Control Tower where FAA Tower Supervisor Carl Rydeen and MAC Noise Manager Chad Leqve answered air noise questions and toured us through the Control Tower. Some of the questions the ARC asked were: 1. Are excursions out of the corridor a result of tower direction or pilot error? Answer: Neither, almost always these excursions are a result of Weather, either to go around it or the wind is pushing the aircraft out.. 2. When an aircraft calls for a departure, who selects the runway they use and why? Answer: The tower selects the runway, however the pilot always has the final say. The pilot may change runways for safety reasons. (When the tower started to use runway 17 for noise mitigation, their was some "push back" from pilots). 3. How well are the FEIS projected runway use numbers being met? Answer: The FEIS numbers were, "best guess" numbers at the time. The total projected Raircraft operations at MSP have reduced not increased, so even though "our runway" 12L's percentage of use is not as low as was projected, the number of operations are lower than projected. (Total FEIS runway operations were projected at 583K, and actual was T 453K for 2007). As time goes on and thereisa greater number of total flights Carl thinks 1 that the projected FEIS runway use percentages will come closer to being met. 4. RUS (runway use) Update?_ - D Answer: An Aircraft's final destination is a very important factor when controllers select which runway to send it off, however runway use is getting closer to FEIS projections. A Another tidbit I picked up during the tour was: 80% of the world's air usage is in the US, and there were close to 7000 aircraft in the US's air space when we were touring the tower. YComprehensive Land Use Plan Update On Tuesday night the City Council discussed the Cities Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which is currently in the process of being updated. On Tuesday, May 27, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Comp Plan update, where anyone from the community can provide input. Jake and I met with representatives from a group called ISAIAH, which champions a number of causes, including low income housing. They would like our comprehensive plan to �T encourage flexibility in zoning for projects which include workforce housing. They provided 1 some sample language, and plan to attend the public hearing on the 27th. EMary Jeanne's Lunch On Thursday of this week, Council Member Mary Jeanne Schneeman served her annual lunch- eon to City employees. She had lasagna (meat and vegetable), homemade bread with flax seed, W olive oil to dip it in, Caesar's salad, and a trifle with sherry in it (I'm not sure if we can consume alcohol while working?). Engineering, Public Works, Police Department, Administration, Code Enforcement were all there, along with Council Members Vitelli and Krebsbach. It was fantas- Stic! Many thanks to MJ!! Noise Oversight Committee Jake attended the MAC Noise Oversight Committee meeting on Tuesday at the Airport. ARC Commissioner Ken Reed was there as well. ARC Chair Liz Petschel was filling in for Council Member Ultan Duggan. The MAC Noise Office is very excited about a procedure called RNAV, where NWA Planes taking off from 12L, 12R and 17 runways will fly to a specific point, rather than being "Vectored." NOC supports this procedure, as it should have a positive impact on noise, but keeping flights off of the parallel runways within the desig- nated corridor. Hopefully this test procedure will be implemented in late September CITY HALL CLOSED MONDAY City Hall will be closed Monday, May 26th due to Memorial Day. We will reopen with regular business hours on Tuesday, May 27th. Enjoy your long weekend and hopefully the weather will cooperate. Dates to Remember in May Planning Commission Meeting 5/27/08 7:30 Dates to Remember in June City Council Meeting 6/3/08 7:30 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting 6/10/08 6:30 ARC Commission Meeting 6/11/08 7:00 MAC (Full Commission) 6/16/08 1:00 City Council Meeting 6/20/08 7:30 Planning Commission Meeting 6/24/08 7:30 Attachments Just the Facts, Pipeline, Planning Commission Meeting Agenda, Villager Article "Mendota Plaza plans de- layed as Council generates list of concerns," South West Review article "Cable -access expands as Town Talk TV debuts website," Sun Newspapers article "Mendota Heights hopes to ease traffic safety concerns," Twin- Cities.com article "Friday opinuendo on the cover, the pledge, platinum and more..." and Friday Fax. Paget FRIDAY NEWS : MAY 16, 2008 5/23/2008 -t- 5/23/2008 party with her and her girlfriend. Since the young men had awakened the entire household they were cited before being released. Threats 05-19-08 1044 hours A resident called concerned over two phone calls she had received from a party purporting to be an IRS Agent. The party was demanding money and seemed to know some personal information about the caller. In the second call the man threatened to kill the resident if they did not pay up. Officer Rosse met with the victim and determined that the phone number captured by her caller ID was fictitious. The would be thieves/extortionists can apparently spoof phone numbers when making calls so they can not be traced. After working back to several dead end leads the victims worked with the phone company to change their number and no further calls were received. Suspicious Activity 05-19-08 1423 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a suspicious truck driving around a neighborhood repeatedly as is he was looking for something to steal. The truck was located at a residence. The driver had just dropped off a new trash can. "Good job by the neighbor reporting a suspicious truck before there were problems - a basic Neighborhood Watch principal. Domestic 05-19-08 2124 hours Officer Denise Urmann and Sergeant Brian Convery responded to a local residence on a father son domestic. The domestic did not end up being an arrestable offense but the officers did recover some city traffic barricades that the young man had taken. After a lengthy counseling session the situation was resolved the barricades returned by 0040 hrs. Theft / Damage to Auto 05-20-08 1850 hours Party reported that she parked her car at Mendakota Park around 1730 hours to watch a softball game. When she returned she found a window smashed out and her purse along with all of its contents missing. The victim was in process of cancelling credit cards and notifying the bank. No video and no one reported seeing anything suspicious. DAS / No Insurance 05-20-08 2123 hours Officer Denise Urmann ran an in squad license check that showed the registered owner of the vehicle to be suspended. The car was stopped and as Officer Urmann approached the driver announced "You are stopping me because my license is suspended." The driver then produced an instructional permit from 2006 and told a nice story about how the suspension was a mistake as her car was stolen and the thief got some tickets that in turn suspended her license. Part two of the story Officer Urmann then asked for proof of insurance the driver didn't miss a beat advising the Officer the proof was in her other car that was in storage. Her car was impounded she was cited for DAS and No Proof of Insurance. All were released to the driver's mom. Disorderly Conduct 05-21-08 0157 hours Officer Chad Willson pulled into the lot at a local bar and observed a man being held back by his friend's as he tried to get at the bouncers. After a quick assessment of the situation the man was advised he was under arrest and ordered to put his hands behind his back. The man refused and started after Officer Willson. He was placed against a nearby car by Officer Willson who then pulled his taser and ordered compliance. The man immediately complied and was hand cuffed. While walking to the squad car the man told Officer Willson he was all about respect and then proceeded to yell to the bouncers they had better watch their backs because he would be back. After yelling at the bouncers the man thought it best to explain that he would be back because he really liked the bar. Sergeant Convery arrived at this time and interviewed staff and photographed injuries. The suspect was cited for Disorderly Conduct and released to his friends. Theft 05-22-08 1220 hours Caller reported to Officer Todd Rosse that a 26 in high Virgin Mary statute was removed from her parent's grave site some time in the past two weeks. The statute was bolted and glued down. No suspects the theft was reported to cemetery officials. ffa1Y, apWt di11UA -2- N E W S LETTERMEMOMAL The Pipeline Public Works Engineering 9 9. May 23, 2008 Code Enforcement Public Works The Parks crew cleaned out the playground equipment at Rogers Lake and piled up the pea gravel. They removed tree stumps at Rogers Lake and Friendly Hills Parks, hauled in black dirt and grass seed. Flowers were planted at Mendakota Park. The hill by the maintenance building was leveled off at Par 3 and debris hauled out. Rich's summer helper, Andy Quinlan, started on Monday. Rich pulled credit cards and ID cards out of a catch basin on Kirchner Avenue for the Police. He sprayed for weeds at the Par 3, Public Works, and the tot lots at Curly and Friendly Hills Parks. The man holes in the Bachelor Avenue area were checked and some need new concrete rings. All fire hydrants in the Bachelor Avenue and Callahan Place were painted. Lloyds BBQ called and said their grease trap (separator) was broken. They put four days worth of grease (1,000 gallons) down in our sewer system. The grease was cleaned up and vacuumed out. Lloyds will be billed for this work. The Street Crew put up no parking signs in the seal coat areas. A tree was cut down at 17 Dorset Road. No parking signs for Mendakota School were picked up. A pedestrian crossing sign and post was picked up and installed on Mendota Heights Road. Black dirt and grass seed was put down on Hilltop Road and Dodd Road. A new stop sign was installed on Mendakota Drive. The hot box vvas installed on truck 3%J Sod damage ..as repa9reul in Augusta Shores and Medallion Drive. Engineering MnDOT's contractor installed a new catch basin on Mendota Heights Road and piping down to 35E. Xcel's subcontractor installed the last four street lights on Main Street next to the ABC building. The preconstruction meeting for Pilot Knob Road was held on Tuesday. The schedule calls for mill and overlay work the week of June 23rd. The contractor is Niles-Wilse Construction Company out of Medford, Minnesota. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA May 27, 2008 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of April 22, 2008, Planning Commission Minutes 4. Hearings a. Case No. 08-12: Alltech Engineering, 2515 Pilot Knob Road — Variance for side -yard setback for an addition. Public Hearing 7:30 P.M. b. Case No. 000-13: Brian Krisko, 1205 Culligan Lane --- Critical Area Permit for a Privacy Fence. Public Hearing 7:30 P.M. c. Case No. 08-14: Russel Rider, 790 Wentworth Avenue — Variance for Front Stoop Canopy. Public Hearing 7:30 P.M. d. Case No. 08-15: Telecom Transport Management, 2425 Lexington Avenue (Water Tower Site) Conditional Use Permit. Public Hearing. 7:30, P.M. 5. Verbal Review 6. AUjk-)Ui I I Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids, however, this may not be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 651-452-1850, with requests. DNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008 VILLA e first phase of construction at the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center would include a w Walgreens near Dodd Road and new restaurant and retail space near Highway 110. t' 0 BY KEVIN DRISCOLL fter meeting with the Mendota Heights City Council on May 6, epresentatives of Paster Enterprises lave been left with still more questions to mswer about the company's two-phase, $40 nillion plan to upgrade the Mendota Plaza ;hopping Center at Highway 110 and Dodd toad. "They gave us a long list of questions and issues about the project that they didnt 'eel had been addressed, said Howard 'aster, president of the St. Paul -based com- )any, which owns and manages 11 Twin :ities shopping centers. The company is not asking for any public financing, but is seeking zoning changes and >arking variances for the makeover. Last Au- ust, the company presented the City Council vith a conceptual plan for the redevelopment, out was told it needed to go back to the draw- ing board. Council members Ultan Duggan and Jack Vitelli agreed to work with Paster on the redesign.. "We satdown with them at two meetings last October," Vitelli said, "and now, after the May 6 meeting, I kind of feel' like those were wasted afternoons because they didn't address a lot of the things we brought up' Still, Vitelli said he feels confident that they can come to an agreement Toward that end, .city administrator Jun Danielson has. -sent Paster a list of 25 issues of concern generated by.council members at the meeting. "One essential item missing from (Paster's) presentation is a developer's agreement with the city of Mendota Heights;' Vitelli said. . "That's what we have with Village at Mendota Heights developer Ross Fefercorn and RMF Entities. A developer's agreement ties the builder down to what's promised for future development:' Vitelli,said a second major issue is the lack of formal endorsements from the McDonald's restaurant and BP gas station on the site, as well as the Dodge Nature Center whose land , abuts the property to the east.; Council members also wantmore informa- tion about plans to build a 14,000 square=foot building for a new Walgreens as part of the first phase of the development. About a quar- ter of the mall where Snydees is located will be demolished to make way for the building. Snyder's is planning to move across Highway 110 to the Village at Mendota Heights. Council members want to be sure that Wal- greens approves of the materials Paster pians to use in construction. They also want to know Walgreens' intended hours of operation and plans for signage facing Dodd Road. Four other businesses on the west end of the 55,278 -square -foot strip mall, which dates from 1971, will need to relocate during the first phase of construction. Phase 1 is expect- ed to cost $12 million and would also include two new buildings on the northeast corner of the 21.7 -acre lot. One building would house a restaurant and the other several small retail- ers. The mall's exterior would get a face-lift, new parking spaces and a pond would be added, and a new entrance would be built off Highway 110. Paster said Walgreens is the only busi- ness committed to move into any of the new structures as part of phase 1, which he hopes to have completed by spring 2009. Phase 2 could be up to three years down the road. As currently designed, it calls for a possible four- story senior housing building, a child-care building, a two- or three-story office building and two more office/retail buildings. Another major issue for council members is the overall appearance of the new complex. "The new design still has, three different ap- pearances instead of one consistentlook;' Vitelli said. "The buildings on the eastern and southern parts of the site would still be con- crete block and even painted they would ,look like that." Council members also want more details regarding landscaping, the relocation of sani- tary sewers and water features. Vitellisaid Dakota County's Environmental Manage- ment Department will have to weigh in on the creek that runs through the property. `Both county staff and the City Council want to see it made into an amenity of some sort as part of the pond they propose for the new restau- rant, he said. Vitelli said Dakota County's Community Development Agency also wants a say, since the proposal would have to fit into its com- prehensive plan as it relates to senior' hous- ing. Yet another concern centers on traffic is- sues. Vitelli said Paster will have to obtain ap- proval from the state on new access,, setback and visibility issues from Highway 110, as well as general traffic flow along Dodd Road. Council 'members want an independent traffic study conducted and a say in who is chosen to do it. "There's no doubt we have some work to do;' Paster said. "They asked us to take our answers back to the Planning Commission (in June) and then to the City Council (in July). Wemayneed to move that back a month. Were still' working with the city on this, but I know we can get something done' Cable -access expands as Town Talk TV debuts website Alex Davy/Review Carmen Hauk records as host Stephanie LeGros interviews Teresa Gangelhoff for "Community Parks Connection," one of the many shows on Town Talk TV's government access channel. A lot has changed in the 22 years since Therese Cosgrove helped launch - along with 21 other people - the cable access franchise in Inver Grove Heights. The cameras are bigger. The editing software is digital. And Town Square Television has grown from a scrappy little production facility run out of a retrofitted office building and a tiny high school studio into a cable access giant. "I used to be able to lift the cameras. Now I just leave that to the young ones," Cosgrove laughs, gesturing to camerawoman Carmen Hauk while they set up for a shoot in Mendokota Park. Town Square TV now has a fully -rigged, professional studio, a cornucopia of cameras and equipment, an award-winning, staff -produced local news show and a news truck that rivals those of local commercial stations. Even the day's filming - a seasonal report on the activities and events taking place in parks around the area - represents the station's evolution. Begun as a studio show in the winter of 2005, the Community Parks Connection now travels from park to park with a mobile crew, conducting on-site interviews. And another evolution is on its way. In June, Town Square TV is launching a brand new website, incorporating live, streaming video and employing YouTube-like clickable short programming and previews. Town Square also plans to provide on -demand streaming access to government events like city council meetings - good news for anyone who's ever had to wait at City Hall for three hours before the issue they were interested in came up for discussion. "Our two highest priorities are keeping up with the quality of professional broadcast TV and making sure our local programming is accessible," says Jodie Miller, director of operations at Alex Davy/Review Town Square TV. "We want to adapt, but we want to stay truly focused on the local role we play." Therese Cosgrove fixes clubhouse manager Tom While other media sources are becoming more and more distant from the communities they Perkins' mic while Stephanie serve, Miller says, cable access television provides a crucial sense of community. "We're the LeGros brainstorins segment last remaining facility where locals in our seven -city area can walk in, create a TV show and put it out to local audiences. Most other media are growing larger and larger as they get swallowed ideas from the top of a up by bigger and bigger corporations." playground tower. Last year, Town Talk TV created more than 900 new local programs with a staff of just 15 people. "The vast majority of that programming is produced by groups in our community with a message they wanted to get out," Miller says. "None of those people can afford to buy commercial airtime." Cable Access television is adapting to an interconnected world in other ways, too. Town Square TV is part of a "fiber ring" network that links the region's access facilities. Dedicated fiber optic cables will eventually allow each franchise hub to seamlessly pluck content from neighboring communities. "If something happens elsewhere that's of interest to our communities - one of our softball teams plays a game at Tartan High School, for example - we're be able to just pull it and run it instead of waiting for them to send us a tape," Miller says. "It's still in the early stages, but we're using it more and more. The eventual goal is to have a linked, constant web feed that we can all access." Some outside content has already been earmarked for distribution: the Coon Rapids access station has secured the rights to produce St. Paul Saints games, and their coverage will be simulcast from all local stations. Even as the technology expands, some things haven't changed. "I still love doing this," Cosgrove says. "But now I'm getting paid for it!" And Cosgrove says she isn't going to stop any time soon. "I love everything about it. It got into my blood." Alex Davy can be reached at adavy@lillienews.com or at 651-748-7825. Related Links Content © 2008 Lillie Suburban Newspapers Software ©1998-20081up! Software, All Rights Reserved MNnIS CPrint Page4:4 z,5�AimnuWfy Mendota Heights hopes to ease traffic safety concerns BY MEGAN ANDERSON • SUN NEWSPAPERS CDT) Mendota Heights is navigating its way through potential traffic safety issues on local streets. The City Council addressed two areas of concern at its Tuesday, May 20, meeting. The city's Traffic Safety Committee considered both issues, which were raised by residents. One focus was speeding on Decorah Lane, I off Dodd Road in the Friendly Hills neighborhood. It's something that Public Works Director Sue McDermott said is alarming to neighbors. "We've been getting complaints here and there," she said. Friendly Hills residents presented a petition about the speeding to the council last June. A speed study suggested by the committee was conducted last fall, showing that drivers typically drove 35 mph on Decorah, which is 5 mph over the legal speed limit. When McDermott mentored a senior project at the University of Minnesota this spring, she had the students conduct their own traffic study and make recommendations. The students' results were similar to the speed study, McDermott said, with drivers traveling a little more than 30 mph. "Nothing super fast," she said. Decorah is a minor collector street that draws a lot of traffic off Dodd Road, she said. One-third of drivers in the traffic study lived in Friendly Hills, while the rest were either cutting through or from out of the area. The city received 113 responses to a resident survey, with 66 residents wanting calming measures such as stop signs or speed bumps. Posting more speed limit signs on Decorah was the students' proposal to lower the speed of drivers. "Cars that are coming off Dodd Road are going 40 mph," McDermott said. "Drivers need to be reminded that it's only 30 mph." The signs have already been posted, McDermott said, and the Police Department would continue to log enforcement so the city may review the data in a few months to see if additional traffic -calming is needed. Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman said it is an opportunity to see if the speed signs help slow drivers. "It would give us the summer to really get a good feel for it," Schneeman said. Safety concerns also exist on Wagon Wheel Trail, which has limited sight distance for drivers near a popular fishing spot on Rogers Lake. "That area is on a curve on Wagon Wheel Trail," McDermott said. Resident Sue Kirk said there is excessive speed along Wagon Wheel Trail and increased fishing bringing people from areas other than Mendota Heights. "We've seen quite an increase in an outside population coming in," she said. The fishing hot spot draws a crowd where children are sometimes unsupervised, she said. People are often in the road, said Kirk, who noted that she once interrupted a game of hacky sack while driving. The committee proposes placing a pedestrian crossing sign at the fishing area's west end to alert drivers to slow down, McDermott said. The city doesn't want to put a crosswalk in the road, she said. "We don't want to encourage people to cross," she said. "We just want to warn cars that there could be pedestrians." Nice weather draws more people to fish, Kirk said. "Weekends it gets very busy." Councilmember Ultan Duggan said it could become more of a problem with the warmer weather. "If it continues to get busy there, something will happen," Duggan said. As a resident along Wagon Wheel, Kirk said she is afraid she might hit one of the children. "It's just kind of a free for all," she said. "I just feel it's very unfair to put that in front of the residents who use that road constantly." Further traffic calming could come when the city improves Wagon Wheel Trail, which is planned in the next five years, McDermott said. For now, she said, they want to advise drivers to slow down when traveling on Wagon Wheel. In other council news: • The council had public hearings for liquor licenses at SuperAmerica, the Par 3 Golf Course and the Sage Market and Wine Bar. Licenses for 3.2 percent malt liquor were approved for SuperAmerica and the Par 3. The Sage Market was granted both wine and 3.2 percent malt liquor licenses. (You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www,mnsu€i.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.corn.) This site and its contents Copyright © 2007. Sun Newspapers - Main Office: 952-829-0797 suninfo@acnpapers.corn -R11 V'. - "V-^ Friday opinuendo On the cover, the pledge, platinum and more +i wk oil FridayOn platinumcover, the pledge, t1F Pioneer Press Article Last updated: 05115/2008 07:2&22 PM CDT A MODEL CITIZEN Mendota Heights has a new nationwide cover girl. Anna Specktor graces the current issue of "Live it Up," a publication that insurance giant Humana Inc. sends to its health -insurance clients. "It's read by 1 million people across the United States," said Specktor, who is an active and cheerful 79 -year-old. Specktor is a Minnesota native who, with her husband, Harold, raised four children and now enjoys their eight grandchildren. She came to Humana's attention, she thinks, by responding to a questionnaire about how she was dealing with high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma. "I have to stop using my favorite expression, which is, 'I'm still above ground,'" Specktor said. "Considering all of my life-threatening ailments, I'm doing quite well. That's why the story was printed." The article credits her for following her doctors' advice, taking her medication and watching her diet. Plus, she is an avid bridge player and works out at a fitness center regularly. Her early years were spent in lonely farmsteads before the family settled in North Minneapolis. She feels fortunate that her lifelong friends are all alive and in the area. Her bridge game — she considers herself a good player — keeps her mentally alert. Advertisement - TwinCities.com Page I of') She and Harold, who worked as a carpenter and contractor, live in a house he built 43 years ago. But this, she said, is her first magazine cover. "And my last time, too," she said with a chuckle. ATRIOT GAMES F oday's perspective on schoolroom patriotism, we st consult the Book of Jesse. Theiss arose at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High Sr I in northwestern Minnesota. According to the Farg Forum, three students were suspended for sitting, ra er than standing, during the reciting of the Pledge Allegiance one day last week. The next day, a fount student did the same thing and also was suspend , the newspaper reported. The Forum quoted th last nonstander, a 14 -year- old named Bishop Ede'as saying he doesn't like what he hears about the kar in Iraq and was upset about the earlier suspensio s. The American Civil Liberties Union complained, d the school has admitted that its policy of requir . g students to stand may need to be revisited. point the school is correct. After thq terrorist attacks of 2001, flag-waving legislate sought to require school districts to have students r ite the Pledge of Allegiance. Ventura vetoed the b' I. Even though he volunteered for military servic6,during the Vietnam era and served on a Navy SEAL earn in the Philippines, he had a visceral reaction to overnment forcing its citizens to be patriotic. y And here is today's readfing, coming from a radio interview in May 2002. \ "Patriotism comes from the hurt, not repetition in Tw"InCitiles*com (800) s7s-?73�.00MOR 13 -wk introductory offer of ` r, 33% discount for new subscribers http://www.twincities.com/ci_927')890?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincit... 5/20/2008 May 16 ZOHO 15:3027 Via Fax _> 651452B940 Administrator Page Hol of 005 'W' LEAGUEOF 'M1..N.NESO"FA CIIIES -Fri d.aYFCa-.%N7 A i4eukly legislatitv ul.744-tiefi-onz the League q1"Minnesota (.".Wies Budget negotiations continue After more than a weak of it-iterise negotiations, legislative leadershiPand Gov ' ernor '.Pq ' wl * enty have yet to resolve their dif' f' -'e" rence,; over how to address -the pr(>Jected $935 million state budget deficit road several related issues that wil.l tmpact cities includilag levy limits and loczd government aid (LGA) funding. The governor's detnand for levy limns is appare,july tied to the Legi sl ature's use of two revenue raising tax changes ----the foreign operating corporation tax. modtfication vin.d the modification to the foreign royalty subtraction. Combined, these two changes raise an estimated $1.09 million instate revenues.:l arlier this week, the governor was demanding levy litnits that would reduce the estimated 2009 property tax level of cities and counties by $100 million. -­ about illion.­-­ about equal to the two corporate tax changes. To achieve that an-tount of "savings," the levy limit applied. to cities over 2,500 population was estinnated to be lirnited to three percent of cerfified levy plus suite aid, Initially, th.e Leg ,islature only agreed to a. levy, limit that would allow cities and counties to increase levies to cover the cost of inflation its rneasured by the implicit price deflator and service dernand growth Cass measured by the locial growth in households and. orte-half ofthe percera increase in conirnercial arid industrial property growthi'or crew Construction, 17he negotiations have resulted in -H'l increase the governor's proposed limit to 3.9 percent anda decrease in the Legislature's target, first to 5.5 percent and then apparently late last night to 3.9 percent, which matches the governor's dernand. However, the two sides are still I'ar apart on the level of ..LGA fa nding f:or cities. The oninibus tax bill., which still has not been considered on the floors, contains $55 million in additional L(iA May 16, 2008 Page I beginning in 2009. At one point, the rumored funding level in the budget negotiations was down to $26 million. Last night, legislators apparently increased their detnat:id -for LGA. in exchange for the fighter levy limit, 'Elowever, the negotiations are far from finalized. 'Ibe L.cw_nte ofMinae is still encouraging cities to contact the governor and legislatIve leadership to express concerns about levy limits. On Thursday.. theI.eague sent a letter to the governor and leadership urging that levy limits be di-opped. f1royn the negotiations, Of course, cities and counties are fiar from finalizin,ig, their 2009 budgets and related property tax levies, so the "savings" that may result Erom levy Itmas is speculative at best. However, the conibination of tight levy limits and an, LGA increase could increase the exposure of cities to future state budget deficits. For example, if levy limits are imposed -For 2009, theLGA increase for a recipient city will effectively reduce the city's al,lowable levy limit. 'if LGA is subSeqUenfly Cut as a result of afuture deficit, the city could lose their LGA increase without the ability to immediately increase its property taxlevy, The magnitude of any future deficit and wheflier L(3A would be a part of a "solution" is only spectilation. If the.Leggislature and governor do not reach a. budget accord, by May l9, cities could. also be at significant risk. If the session ends without an agreement, the governor has two choices - ------ he can call it special session or use his unallotment autliority to baUtnce the budget. Before he can unallot, or reduce state expenditure Corn.rnItments, he must first draw down the state's budget reserve., which currently contains $653 million. With. a. deficit estimated at $935 million, the use of che reserve would. leave approximately $282 million of remaining unallotments to For more in.1brinalion on city logislative isRucs, contact any member of flic League of N-linnewta Cities Intergovernmental Relation'..; team, (,551.281_1200 or 800,925,1122 aild www3nic,org May 16 2000 15:31:21 Via Fax -> 6514528940 Administrator Paye 002 Of 005 VW, L .AGUE O IN N ESO"'M CITIES -Fr -a F a-X7-'�- A avccll.} ie° risi<:rtive rrrJcii:rte f vnz the League c�/Minnesota CM'es balance the budget. however, the 1,eg;islature has already approved, and. the governor has signed into law, new speandirlL, conunittl'lents for the br.i.d£re collapse survivors ($38 €uilhon) and between. $15 and $30 million in other miscellaneous expenditures. In other words, the governor would have to unaallot aa,, much as $350 million in existing expenditure com€-nitnlents to frilly balance the budget. With only a little more than. '1.3 €months remaining in the curretit b€ennttlni, ttt.e governor does not have €na.ny alter€a.atives for t.anallotna.e t. The only city and county aaid payments that remain for this blenniuni are the scheduled distribution of -the first one-half of :LGA in July, the first one-half of market- value homestead credit in October and the second one-half of both LGA. aa.nd .M'VHC'. i€t Deceniber. In other words, cities could experieilce aid and credit: cu-ts yet this year. Qzierstions7 (.Ontac:t (.-ary C.ar-lson at 65/, 28.1.1255 or gccfi-Ls.,r,rarg, Cities lose some, vein some in final data practices legislation Beginning August .1, cities, school districts, counties and certain urban townships will be subject to increased penalty provisions and new protections for Information on indivi.dual.s who apply for andare appointees to serve on local boa-rds, advisory cortinitttees and co€7 .miss€ons, C,Jl1 L.' 15, which was signed by d, overnor on "Thursday, May 15, and becaan-te efl.ect'ive on Friday, May 16, includes the following increasesfor the ratline of penalties that may be imposed for willful violations, of Chante€' l 3„ tlac iVi'in.D Sofa. <iovcrlinle €it Data Practices A-qj(.MG,l?:I'A): Under Minn -'Stat. 4 13.08, subd. 1, the range, o.f`penalties that can. be imposed sor a willfitl May 16, 2005 Page 2 of the MGDPA will increase from $100 $10,000 for each violation will increase to no less than 911,000 aa.nd no tnore than. $15,000. Legislators o11 the Conference cornillittee compromised on. the penalty increase to resolve repeated attempts over the past several sessions to impose steep increases in such penalties that can be imposed in addition to payments of attorney foes, d.ainas es and court cost's for violations that are subject to litigation in court. (An:tendmen.ts to the legislation this year proposed. biking the range of such penalties to no less than. `E;1.0,000 to as high as $50,000 for each violation). pxe€nplaayy penalties for willful violations have not been increased since 1974. Chapter 315 (SF' 32:3, }) also contains new provisions in Minn. Stat. § 1.:3.601, subd.. 3, pertatai€.ng to ttifortia.attot.t on. individuals who apply forappointment to city boards and corn€nission.s, making data on those :applicants private data, except for 'the narn.e; city of residence (except when the residency recluirelaaent necessitates that the entire address be made public); education and training; employment history; volunteer work; awards and honors; prior gover'n.ment. service and any data that is required to be provided. or that the applicant. voluaatee.rs in the ,application. Once an aapplicaant has been appointed, certain data on that individual is public, including residentiaa,l address a€rad either a:€. telephone number or email address wliere,. the appointee can be reached or both, at the request of the appointee, The new data practices reyu.ire rne;nts on appointments also makes, clear that any email address or phone number provided by a city for use by an appointee is public and that an atpp0.€ritee €Taaay e1Se all E'tWit address or 1)l7l()tte nu.€n.ber provided by the, city as ttae designated For more infbnnal'ion on City logislative imuciS, Contact mly 111C11111e1' Of 111C €X, kgw: {.lf l-Iilll)CSOM C•i Sies all Le%0VCI-I1111CI713i1 Relations team, 653.281.1.200 a'r 800,925,:1:122 and www.li.tic.org May 16 ZHHH 15:32:13 Via Fax _> 6514528948 Administrator Page ee3 Of HHS 'W' LEAGU EOF MINNESO".FA t`,1. "1:" . I A� '_� -Fri dayFca -X7 A iveekty legishnive uj.)&aefion-7 the League qI'Minpit.uota Ones email or phone number at which the appointee crus. be reached. Questions? ('7(wllacl Antvk.ft-, ns al i,"".51.2,.VI,1257or(i.hil,gi,pis( line-org. Pension confer-ence committee completes bill Thursday evening, the conference, com.mittee on the omnibus POIISJOD bill took. less than two hours to resolve several ma , jor difference,,; between the House and Senate versions ofthe bill. The conference report may be considered on the House and Senate floors as early as today. The bills, 1,1173082 authored by Rep. M�qj M-Laha (DFL-Herrnantown) authored by _Sen 72ijf`.Iigzolcl (DFL -Fridley), contained -five differences tbat the conference conini1ttee had to resolve, including two provisions that were significantly different and controversnal, including affouse provision that Would have allowed legislators and. elected slate officers in the state defined contribution program to trans'lWinto the state defined benefit plan, after ten years of employment and a second set of House provision,,, that would have increased teacher retirement benefits, reduced normal retirement age for members ofthe 1. 'eachers Retirement Association (TRA) from 66 to 65, and increased school employer and employee contributions to covet, the cost, During the conference committee discussions, (DR. -Minneapolis) offered an aniendaient, presumably on b(-Aialf ofEducation Minnesota, the state teacher's orgatiization that would have delayed the i nip] eri.ientation of the Dost fund flix for TRA and would, have required a study of betieflit irnprovetrients for teachers. Sen. 13etzold divided the aniendnient and. the conference committee defeated the,post 'Fund May 16, 2008 Pa ageage 3 delay for TRA but tilt] niately approved a study of teas.�her reurernent benefits. The conference committee decided to not include the I•Jouse teacher retiTernent benefit lang uag .0 ,,m,d the legislator/elected officer opt -in language_ 'rhe other major difference between the Rome and Senate bills was a Ilouse provision that would have increased the niernbership of the Pension Corrinilssion to 14 members, Senate conferees did. not SLIP.POrt tile nierabership expansion, Ilie conference committee report contains a. number of provisions that will impact local government employees and employers, including legislation involving the Public EigiLLI eLs Retirement; Association (PERA)as well as Minnesota State L=ire Relief Association, One of the most visible and. controversial sections of the bill is the proposal that was developed by the.Post Fund Committee of the Joint Retirernent Systems to addressan estimated $2.4 billion deficit in the Minnesota Post-Retiretnent Investraent Fund. Under current law, there is no mechanism to fund this deficit other than unpredictable investment returns, Although the .Post Fund deficit has been reduced over the past two years, Ifoward Bicker, the head of the .a Lat13.rciffiivestlneixt indicated to the conference coninil-ttee that the Post Fund status h,ts likely deteriorated in recent tnoriths and that the recotai.m.endations for the Post Fund axe a responsible and necessary step to respond to an ongoing .Dost Fund deficit. `Yhe plan would begin to address the deficit by reducing the annual benefit ad-ustments for retirees. In the event that these adju,tiiients are not sufficient to address the deficit in a reasonable aniount of titne, the proposal includes a failsafe nierger proposal that would dissolve the Post Fund if the funding level, is reduced to 80 For mon: inlaniwtiion oil city legislative igsucs, contad, ajiv member of 01C Lxag O. dinnesAa Ofies Intergovernmental Rohifloi is ICRIII 651 281,1200 or 800,925,11.22 and WWNV.1jI1C,Ory, May 16 2000 15:33:06 Via Fax -> 6514528940 Administrator Page 004 Of 005 '73' tEAGUE oF MINNESO'TA ci-rIES ax—i-rd.,.avF A i4,euk4y legislative zindi-l�efivn7 the League qfA4!t7??(.?,S0t<7 CWIVS percent in any one, year or 85 percent for two consecutive years. If dissolution. were triggered,, the assets and liabilities of die Post Fund would be proportionally dividedzi-niong the three active funds ------ including.RFRA. Questions? Contact (.;[xiy Carlson at 651.281.1255 orcar&owi4bn.L.or&-. Conference committee strips seat belt provision from transportation policy bill A conference comni1ttoo report that was rejected by the House last week was modified Thursday and may be reconsidered as sooty as this afternoon. The House had returned the conl.'6rence cornmittee report on the 2008 Oninibus '17rLin,sportation Policy bill, IJ F 3800 (&VLE=j;. Hon-i.stein, DFL -Minneapolis and. Seri. Steve M'UrLahy, DFL -Red Wing) because a majority of niernbers ot1jected to a provision that would have allowed law entbrcement officers to stop a driver for failure of the driver or a passenger to wear a seatbelt. Existing liw requires drivers and passengers to wear a seatbelt, but considers failure to wear ;i. seatbelt as sl secondary offense. The conference committee reconvened oil Thu.rsd.,ky, removed the seat belt provision, and sent the report back to the 1,1ouse and Senate, Remaining in. the bill are a number of policy provisions, including language regulating the retrieval of contents from a vehicle that has been towed, and the :League's "Truth in Ticketing" initiative, which would require flie state surcharge, to be printed on. al I parts of' -the uni forni traffic ticket, It is expected to pass both bodies, and G '111n, Pawlt;nty (R) has not indicated any. concerns with the bill. M'ay 16, 2008 Page 4 This is the second omnibus transportation policy bill to face hurdles this session. The 2007 oinnibus trmsportation policy bill, HE1;351/Sl' 1971, sponsored. by Rep, Frank F(ornstein. (DFL- Minaeapolis) and 5_(n_i, fi rpliv (I)FL-Red Wing), was awaiting final passage when the 2007 Legislature adjourned. It was passed by the . [louse and Senate this session only be vetoed by Governor.pawlenty Ing over lariguage stkiti .Minnesota's refusal to comply with. the federal REAL LD. Act. 'The bill was finally signed into law on Fri.day of last week- It reached the governor's desk after Sen. MurphySLIC05SfUlly oflcred an atnendment that attaches most ofthe pi.ovIsions from the vetoed bill to 1-IF3486, also authored by.Rep. Hornstein and Seri, M urphy. FIF 3486 is a noncontroversial bil I that was awaiting action Oil General. Orders. ne re -passed 2007 oninibus bill does not contain theREAL LD. kzoiguage. Most provisions in the 2007 bill are, considered noncontroversi,,fl. It addresses trkiffic regulations, vehicle registration, L)qArtrnent of Tralls p gq, ation cuining -reports, towing, pl, antilority, Metropolitan Council pkinning, railway safety and truck size and truck weight restrictions, Queslfi.)n.s? 01' 41LILIf 1 Flouse passes local control bill expanding "dependent)' defin.ition. On 'rhur-.,&_y ,afternoon, the Howse passed a bill dealing with group benefits provided by local governments under Minn- Stat, § 471.61. 17he bill would essentUdly allow a local unit of govertiment to use their owii discretion when defining "dependerit" for purposes of providing benefits, For more in.1-brination on city ler's] ali VC i8mes" Contact any member of the Lcaguc of Minnesota C! tier, intargovenillicilul I Rclatiom tears], 651,281.1.200 or 800.925.1122 and wwwArtic,org May 16 2888 15:33:57 Via Pax —> 651452H940 Administrator Page HHS Hf HHS LEAG UEOF M.I.N.NESO"FA CrrIES -FridayFcajxc� A iveek4y &-!g7islative updatefi-oin the Lecignie olUnnesour Cwes The hill is permissive for local units of govern.r.rient, and was supported by the Letigue o Minnesota -Cities, flie Minnesota Association of Si -iia -11 Ciljt:s, as well as tl:).e gay/lesbian advocacy groups who are seeking, to expand domestic benefits coverage. 1.1he city groups argued in favor of th I % bill during the committee process, citing, the need to compete with the private sector on retaining and attract.1ing good employees with 1 good bene -fits. The private sector Is already able to provide such benefits, arid this issue was discussed during committee debate. The Ifouse b). I I., LL C(Paivm�Le,, DFL-Minileapolls) was identicial to the SF,- 960 (Ijig MS DFL - Minneapolis), which the Senate passed aa. few weeks ago. The bill, now goes to the governor for his consideration. Ouestions? (..octaddenn?.'fi'r O'Rourke w i),5.1.28.1.1. 26.1 Energy bill, likely to more today Tlie conference conimittee on the local government: energy bill, SF 3096 (Sen, Scout Dibble DFL -Minneapolis), that the J.,gaggg has been supporting this session has "nTipleted their work, but the conference committee report has not yet been signed and sent to the FIOUSe and Senate floors. The Legislature is keeping a few bills available to carry'ece pl s of the budget, If necessary, and this is one of those bills. 'rhe final decision oil the need.for that strategy will be made very soon. J.'he conforence. committee report will be presented to both they douse and Senate later today, Onestions? (.oniac-t (.raigr.16hnson at G'5'1.28.1,1239 or cJSa May 16, 2008 .Page 5 Governor vetoes sick. leave expansion bill .Eiarlier this week, the JLL iii a, along with the Minnesoto IL Snuit-y ' Association, and. Minnesota School Board AssociatiLQ11 sent a joint letter to the governor asking hitn to veto SF 1.1 bill that would significantly expand the use of sick tilm by including additional relatives in the statute that currently only covers cliddren of an einployee., OnTbursday, the governor vetoed that bill. In his veto message, he explained his concerli with thwartiniT local control and the increased cost this would have oil local governrrient5 and school districts. 1.astyear., the bill died because of an estinlated $:1.1. ini I lion cost to the state, The provision was brought forward by the gL�jLiQr) and theMi niedcan Roti red. ..... .. . ........ ... .. .... .L'qW.!.g (A AR gt"on 2kP). (.2ijestion-s? Conteic-t J6-intfLr ()'1' ourla, al 7551,28.1,1261 or.&it�Li (,�r - For more hilbrinalion on. city legWative issuers, contact any member of dic Leappc of % Minnes(-Aa Cities InLeteam,mcrnmental Relations tea, 651.281-1200 0'r 800.9'25•:l 122 A.11d wwwJMC,Oq