2010-05-21 Friday NewsM
May 21, 2010
Dakota County Special Operations Team Presentation
The City Council meeting this week featured a presentation by Mike
Pott from the Dakota County Special Operations Team (SOT). The
SOT is made up of public safety personnel from departments within
Dakota County. This group goes through many hours of specialized
training to deal with difficult situation s that arise throughout the
county. Two of the incidents that the presentation featured included
a mercury contamination issue in Rosemount in a few years ago and
the rescue of an individual from a grain elevator in Farmington in
February. The presentation is worth watching online if you did not
see the meeting.
DCC Executive Director
FThe Executive Committee of the Dakota Communications Center (DCC) interviewed
six candidates for the soon to be vacant Executive Director position on Wednesday of
Rthis week. The Executive Committee is made up of the county administrator and the
11 city administrators in Dakota County. The candidates were interviewed by three
small groups and asked a series of different questions. After discussing the results of
Ithe interviews and the background checks that were completed before the interviews,
the Executive Committee made a recommendation to the DCC Board of Directors to
D perform additional background checks on three of the six candidates interviewed.
This process will start immediately with the desire to continue to hiring process as
soon as possible. The current Executive Director is scheduled to leave his position
Aon June 30, 2010.
yDakota County Hazard Mitigation Planning
Jake Sedlacek and Neil Garlock attended a meeting facilitated by Dakota County Emer-
gency Preparedness Staff on Monday afternoon. The County is starting the process of
updating the All Hazard Mitigation Plan and each community will be involved in the
process. Attendees reviewed the purposes of the plan, looked at some of our past con -
Ncerns for emergency preparedness and brainstormed on community facilities at risk for
natural and/or manmade disasters.
EPERA Increases Approved
The legislature approved changes to the contribution rates for employers and employ -
Wees as a part of their budget work last weekend. The new contribution rate is aimed at
ensuring long term stability of the pension plans. The new law includes a contribution
increase for employees in the Coordinated Plan (this includes most city employees) of
S0.25% from the employer and 0.25% from the employee effective January 1, 2011.
The contribution rate for those members in the Police and Fire Plan increase 0.3% for
the employer and 0.2% for the employee on January 1, 2011 as well. There were also
a number of plan changes including changes to the vesting requirement in both plans
approved as well. Please be aware of these changes as they go into effect next year.
You will be reminded of this issue with a reminder in your first paycheck with the new
rates in 2011.
May 21, 2010
Welcome Brian
Brian Eimerl started his employment as an intern working with the Engineering Department on
Monday. Brian is a student at the University of Minnesota working towards a degree in engi-
neering. He will be working on a number of projects this summer that will help him gain ex-
perience in the field. Brian lives in Apple Valley and is scheduled to graduate in December
2010. Welcome to Mendota Heights Brian and good luck with your internship this summer.
We all look forward to working with you.
Mendota Heights 5K Run/Walk
The annual Mendota Heights 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 9:00
a.m. This event starts and finishes at the Village of Mendota Heights. Please sign up for this
fantastic event. There are numerous door prizes and you can also make donations to the
Special Olympics as a part of this event. A number of city employees will be participating in
this event. Please feel free to come down and support the participants if you do not plan on
running or walking this year.
Dates To Remember
Planning Commission Meeting
NOC Meeting
Memorial Day (City Offices Closed)
City Council Meeting
Celebrate Mendota Heights Park Day
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
ARC Meeting
5-25-2010
7:00 p.m
5-26-2010
1:30 p.m.
5-31-2010
6-1-2010
7:00 p.m.
6-5-2010
6-8-2010
6:30 p.m.
6-9-2010
7:00 p.m.
Councilmember Jack Vitelli and State Repre-
sentative Rick Hanson at the Pilot Knob over-
look monument dedication this week.
Attachments
Just The Facts, The Pipeline, Planning Commission Meeting Agenda, Finance & Commerce Article
"Mendota Plaza begins $10 million makeover", Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Or-
ganization Open House Flyer and Friday Fax
May 21, 2010
The latest fwwf frmn tree �Kehq'ata ApAn*esrt
VA
5/21/2010
MJ
The
Spring is in the Air Friday 1532 hours
Mendota
Officers responded to the area of Friendly Hills Middle School
Heights
after receiving a call that a large group of kids were headed out to
Police
fight. Officer Patrick was in the location where the fight was
supposed to occur. No one was interested in fighting while the
Department
squad was in the area.
Support
Scooters Friday 1846 hours
Staff
Officer Chad Willson received the first of four calls of the
Kim Henning
weekend about scooters. He went to a residence at the parents'
Sandie Ristine
Susan Donovan
request explained the rules about motorized scooters. Officer
Cathy Ransom
Patrick received three complaints about a motorized scooter
Becky Pentel
buzzing a neighborhood. "State Law and City Ordinance govern
Police Officers
what can be driven on a road (trail, path or public property) and
Jerry Murphy Scott
Patrick
b whom. The easiest rule is if it bike, scooter, moped, ATV,
Y ( p
John Larrive
golf cart) has a motor, you and the vehicle must be licensed or it
Bobby Lambert
is illegal (the driver and parents could be cited).
Tanner Spicer
Theft Saturday 0330 hours
Todd Rosse
Cab driver reported driving a man to the bar. The fare exited the
Chad Willson
Jeff VonFeldt
cab after telling the cab driver that his money was in his car. The
Denise Urmann
thief got in his car and drove away. The description was
Michael Shepard
broadcast but the suspect got away.
Peyton Fleming
Loud Party Saturday 2207 hours
Jenny Fordham
School Resource
Mr. Anonymous called to report a loud juvenile party next door.
Officer
Officer Denise Urmann made contact with the parents of the
Steven Meyer
party house. It was a group of 9th graders, no alcohol and
Investigations
parents were scheduled to pick kids up at 11:00 p.m.
Mario Reyes
Tanner Spicer
Loud Party Saturday 2342 hours
Sergeants
Mr. Anonymous called to report another party next door. He
Neil Garlock
really gets around as this party was at least Y2 mile away from the
Brian ComTery
first. Unfortunately for this group of kids, there were no parents
Eric Petersen
supervising. Three citations for underage consumption of alcohol
Chief
Mike
were issued. Late Sunda evening Officers fielded an inquiry
Y 9 q rY
Aschenbrener
from the homeowner about the weekend visit to the home.
Reserves
Civil Saturday 0023 hours
Randy Pentel
Officer Jeffrey VonFeldt responded to the call of a cab driver
Gino Messina
refusing to let the fare out of the backseat. Do you think it was
Jesse Mettner
Andrew Quinlan
the same cab driver from the morning before? Once Officer
Romel Brown
-1-
5/21/2010
VonFeldt was on scene, the party was allowed to exit the cab and retrieve enough
cash to pay the bill. Clear without incident.
Suspicious Sunday 2120 hours
Neighbor called reporting the new neighbors were smoking a funny pipe on the deck.
The caller was certain it was for drugs. Officer Jenny Fordham made contact with
the suspects who were quick to point out the pipe was a Hookah and they were only
smoking regular tobacco. Nothing illegal occurring.
AOA Monday 1602 hours
Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a request from the Ramsey County Sheriff's
Office to check a home in Copperfield for a 27 YOA male involved in a robbery. The
man was armed at the time of the robbery. After the scene was secured, contact
was made with a party at the home. They provided information on a dorm room or
place of work where the suspect could be found. Information quickly relayed to
RCSO.
Disturbance Monday 2024 hours
Caller reported that the air conditioning unit on the roof of the building next door was
rattling. The unit is loud and runs all night long. Officer Todd Rosse left a message
with the building manager advising them about the loud air conditioning unit.
AOA / Check the Welfare Monday 2210 hours
Eagan Police called and requested that we check an address for a young woman to
verify that she was okay. Officer Peyton Fleming made contact at the residence and
notified EPD. When they were notified that the woman was okay, EPD requested
that she be brought to Eagan with keys for a residence. The woman was dropped in
Eagan with her keys to assist the EPD swat team in making an entry.
Suspicious Tuesday 0702 hours
Caller reported that around 0600 a car stopped in the street, parked legally, told the
homeowner they were having car trouble and left. The homeowner felt this was
suspicious and wanted it checked out. The vehicle is clear in the computer. The
homeowner then demanded the car be moved from his property. They were advised
the car was legally parked in the street and the car can sit for 24 hours. Homeowner
not happy and let Officer VonFeldt know it.
Bingo! Tuesday 2224 hours
Officer Jeff VonFeldt received a call to respond to a Mendota bar about an out of
control bingo game. Management advised the bingo game was now over and the
noise would return to normal. No further calls.
Road Rage Thursday 2013 hours
Officer Chad Willson responded to a cellular 911 call that originated at Charleton and
Hwy 110 with suspect heading into Mendota Heights. The caller reported that the
suspect was driving erratically, cut her off, stopped, jumped out of his car and
pounded on her window. The suspect was located, ID'ed and the case was turned
over to WSPPD and MSP for final disposition.
Suspicious Thursday 2349 hours
Caller reported hearing a loud "pop" just north of his apartment building. He was not
certain as to what caused the noise. Moments later the caller recalled the DCC and
reported that two cars had just left the parking lot one might have been a Caddy the
other was a red SUV low rider. Officer Peyton Fleming checked the area and found
nothing suspicious. Tiara a P W t d/Xf
-2-
Publica-
Works
Ali t%%l'
Engineering
.
.. .
Public Works
May 20, 2010
The Parks Crew sprayed the fence lines for weeds and put down total weed kill. The trailer
and chairs were brought to Pilot Knob for the dedication ceremony. The soccer fields at
Mendakota Park were fertilized as were the soccer and ball fields at Mendakota Park. The
sprayer was taken off unit #511.
Rich is doing an ongoing sanitary sewer inspection of the Mendota Plaza work. He
sprayed 'spot areas" for weeds at Mendakota Park, City Hall, Public Works, the boulevard
along Summit Lane and at the Par 3 golf course. The end of the culvert was unplugged at
589 Pond View. It was blocked with grass, leaves and sticks. He jet cleaned the culvert
on Arbor Court.
The Street Crew spent the week on sign repair, straightening the sign posts, replacing
sign posts and installing new signs, along Mendota Heights Road from Lake Drive to Pilot
Knob Road. By Brown College the crosswalk signs were posted. On Lake Drive the stop
ahead and no parking signs were replaced. On Victoria Curve posts were replaced and no
parking signs replaced. On Marie Avenue the 40 MPH was posted by Trail Road. The Ivy
Hill Drive stop sign was replaced.
Engineering
Delaware Avenue Reconstruction - City staff met with representitives from Dakota County
on the 2011 planned project. Mendota Heights is responsible for the storm sewer design
and is requesting the county obtain drainage easements from two properties near the
Marie Avenue and Delaware Avenue intersection.
2010 Street Reconstruction - GMH Asphalt milled and removed the pavement on the
streets to be reconstructed. Widmer construction will begin installing storm sewer on
Spring Street next week followed by replacing the sanitary sewer on John Street.
Lower Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) - A large portion of
Mendota Heights is within the WMO boundary. The LMRWMO is currently updating their
management plan. The plan will be updated through a Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) and a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The LMRWMO is seeking citizen
volunteers to serve on the CAC. If interested please contact Mendota Heights
Engineering.
Storm Culvert - Staff contacted MnDOT about a sink hole on Highway 110. A storm
culvert is in need of repair. MnDOT will be doing an emergency repair on the culvert.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
May 25, 2010 - 7:00 P.M.
1) Call to Order
2) Roll Call
3) Approval of the Agenda
4) Approval of the April 27, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes
5) Hearings
a) Case No. 10-12: Troy Troje, 574 Hiawatha Avenue — Application Withdrawn
b) Case No. 10-14: Clear Wireless, LLC — 1850 Eagle Ridge Drive — Conditional Use
Permit to Install Wireless Equipment on an Existing Rooftop. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
c) Case No. 10-15: Marls Johnson, 1646 Mayfield Heights Road — Critical Area Permit for
a Shed. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
d) Case No. 10-16: Dorothy Haffely, 1857 Dodd Road — Conditional Use Permit and a
Variance to the front yard setback to replace two structures (garage and utility building)
with one three car garage. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
e) Case No. 10-17: Crystal and Tracy Crocker, 665 Hidden Creek — Wetlands Permit to
Plant Two Weeping Willow Trees. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
f) Case No. 10-18: Elizabeth Tetzlaff, 995 Diego Lane — Conditional Use Permit for a 20 x
20 Shed. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
g) Case No. 10-19: William Stein, 2465 Westview Terrace — Wetlands Permit to install a
ground source heat pump. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
6) Verbal Review
7) Adjourn
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.
Finance and Commerce - Mendota Plaza begins $10 million makeover Page 1 of 2
FINANCE COMMERCE
Construction
May 13, 2010
Mendota Plaza begins $10 million makeover
by Brian Johnson Staff Writer
Updated.
Bucking the trend in a slow retail construction environment, the Mendota Plaza shopping
center in Mendota Heights is getting a major makeover.
Developer Paster Enterprises recently broke ground on a $10 million project that includes exterior renovation of the 48,000 -square -foot
Mendota Plaza at Highway 110 and Dodd Road, along with demolition of a retail bay, interior demolition and landscape and parking
improvements.
Also under way is site preparation for a 14,820 -square -foot Walgreens store that will open in 2011.
Most of the renovation work is set for completion in August. It's the first phase of a larger, multi-year plan that could eventually bring
new retail and office spaces, child care and senior housing to the 21.2 -acre plaza property.
Mendota Plaza is among the few retail projects of this size and scope that's graduating from concept to reality these days. The project
has been in the works for a number of years, according to Mendota Heights city administrator David McKnight.
McKnight said the city is "happy as heck" to see the project move forward. He described the project as a "high-quality improvement"
that's consistent with the city's vision for the property.
John Johannson, senior vice president of retail leasing for Welsh Cos., says a $10 million retail project is a big deal in the current
environment, although he hastened to add that more existing space needs to be absorbed before there's real recovery in shopping
center construction.
The Mendota Plaza project makes sense because it's in a "captive area" that doesn't have a lot of retail options, he added. He said the
drug store is an appropriate use there, and he likes the fact that someone is updating the center.
"It's a logical place for it to start," he said. "It's a great community out there."
Michael Sims, principal with Mid-America Real Estate -Minnesota in Wayzata, described the mall as a well-positioned property that
serves the area well.
"Paster is a hands-on owner and they don't sell; they build them and hold them for the long haul," Sims said. "To me, it's a sign of their
commitment to the market. I view that as all good."
Commenting on the overall retail sector in the Twin Cities, Sims said he has seen more interest of late from national and regional
retailers that haven't been in the market in the past 24 to 30 months.
"I am encouraged that they are at least coming back and saying, 'We're here; we are going to move cautiously, but we are looking.' It's
a good sign. I've seen more activity in the last quarter than I have seen in the last three years.
"I don't want to suggest that it's 95 and sunny, but the storm clouds are starting to part and there are glimmers of light and it's
encouraging."
Benson -Orth Associates is the general contractor for the Mendota Plaza project and Minneapolis-based KKE is providing design
services.
According to the Mendota Plaza website, the first phase of construction includes construction of a 7,600 -square -foot restaurant, a
12,000 -square -foot retail building, the new Walgreens, and remodeling of the existing building, along with site and utility work and
parking improvements.
Longer-term plans — as market conditions permit — call for an additional 10,800 -square -foot office/retail building, a 10,130 -square -foot
childcare building, a 36,000 -square -foot office building and a senior housing building with underground parking.
Mendota Plaza was built in 1970. Current tenants include several restaurants, a cleaner, a chiropractic clinic and a dental office,
among others.
Ell. 1
Planning for the project actually dates back to about three years ago, when market conditions were much different, according to
http://www.finance-commerce.com/print.cfni?recID=16336 5/21/2010
Finance and Commerce - Mendota Plaza begins $10 million makeover Page 2 of 2
Howard Paster of Paster Enterprises.
But Paster added it was time to put some money back into the property, keep it current with the times, and position it for the next 10 or
20 years.
"We are thrilled," he said. "We are really excited about it. We feel real fortunate and we are really thankful that our partners are Wells
Fargo and the city. We all kind of worked together to get this going. Everyone wants to see things happening."
Copyright 2010 Finance and Commerce All Rights Reserved
U.S. Trust Building Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 333-4244
http://www.finance-commerce.com/print.cfm?reclD=l 633 6 5/21/2010
Lower Mississippi River
Watershed Management ,
Organization
Public Open House
Wednesday May 26, 2010
6:00 — 9:00 p.m.
Dakota Lodge, Thompson County Park
1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul
Learn and share your concerns about water quality, flooding, wetlands,
stormwater, and other water -related issues in your community.
The LMRWMO is developing a new Watershed
Management Plan that will address how to
improve water quality, educate citizens, and
meet regulations. All or parts of seven cities lie
within the LMRWMO including West St. Paul,
South St. Paul, St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights,
Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, and Lilydale.
As part of the planning process, the WMO is
seeking participation from residents to create the
Watershed Management Plan, discuss possible
water resource management policies, and
provide information on water resource issues and
concerns. Feel free to can come and go from the
event anytime between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. In
addition, the WMO is looking for interested
citizens to join the Citizen Advisory Committee
(CAC) being assembled to provide citizen input
throughout the planning process.
Informational Presentations at
6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 p.m.
••• Offer your thoughts on
water issues near you
❖ Meet the Watershed
Planning Team
••• Consider volunteering
on a Citizen Advisory
Committee
For more information contact Todd Hubmer, WSB
Associates at thubmer@wsbeng.com.
Or visit www.dakotaswcd.org/watersheds/lowermisswmo/
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Learn and share your concerns about water quality, flooding, wetlands,
stormwater, and other water -related issues in your community.
The LMRWMO is developing a new Watershed
Management Plan that will address how to
improve water quality, educate citizens, and
meet regulations. All or parts of seven cities lie
within the LMRWMO including West St. Paul,
South St. Paul, St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights,
Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, and Lilydale.
As part of the planning process, the WMO is
seeking participation from residents to create the
Watershed Management Plan, discuss possible
water resource management policies, and
provide information on water resource issues and
concerns. Feel free to can come and go from the
event anytime between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. In
addition, the WMO is looking for interested
citizens to join the Citizen Advisory Committee
(CAC) being assembled to provide citizen input
throughout the planning process.
Informational Presentations at
6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 p.m.
••• Offer your thoughts on
water issues near you
❖ Meet the Watershed
Planning Team
••• Consider volunteering
on a Citizen Advisory
Committee
For more information contact Todd Hubmer, WSB
Associates at thubmer@wsbeng.com.
Or visit www.dakotaswcd.org/watersheds/lowermisswmo/
May 14 Z010 17:49:84 Via Fax —> 6514SZO948 Administrator
0 0
LEAGUE or,
MINNESOTA
CITIES
-F rich F ax -
A week y legisladve uXi&oe fr'orn the League of'.Alfinnesota (:'hies
Session ending agir-eement elusive
f."arlier this week, die Flouse and Senate sent
,,;iov„ w1eg1y two bills to address the remaining
$535 million state deficit and also address the
budget uncertainty created by the Supreme Court
decision on u.nal.lotrnent. Both of those bills, a
second supplemental budget bill
(,l„_lf,?' ),,WChapter 340) mid a Health Care and
H.uman Services bill. (111`2614/Chapter ;360),
were immediately vetoed, leaving the Legislature
with a $3 billion budget imbalance to address in
the next three clays.
Under the state Constitution, the Legislature must
adjourn by May 17, but the Constitution also
requires that dills cannot be. passed on the day
prescribed for adjournment. As a result, the
Legislature has until midnight Sunday to resolve
the budget deficit.
Budget negotiations have continued, despite the
fact that the governor is in northern Miniresot<M
for- the Saturday state fishing opener. Last
evening, the House and Senate Tax Chairs,
it� e � 1]r� Let3czeW5ki DFL -Blooming) and
senlo�m Batik (DFL -Cook), participated in a late
evening; conference call with other legislative
leadership, administration staff and Governor
Pawlenty to continue negotlatiorrs.
On Thursday, Governor Pawl.ent:y indicated that.
1]e wants the final budget solution to ir]clude not
only a ratification of the rniallotment reductions
contained in his $2.7 billion session -ending
actions last year, but he also wants the package to
include a permanent extension of some of the
cuts in order to repay the shift in school ;:rid. and
credit payments. Under last ,year's $2.7 billion
package of cuts, the governor mialloted local
govea.-r]n.]ent ai.d (LGA,) and market value
homestead credit (MV11C) payments to cities by
$192 million, but he also shifted (delayed)
roughly $1.8 billion in school payments into the
Page 001 of 005
May 14, 2010
Page I
next. biennium, However, these reductions were
only enacted for the remainder of the 20.10-2011.
Menrium, which ends on June 30, 2011,
The governor's new position would extend sonic
or all of the unallotment reductions,,.- -possibly
including the city cuts ...... into the 2012.2013
bier]r]iurn and presun]ably use the budgetary
savings from the permarient extension to "repay"
the $1,8 billioi) school shift. However, given the
magnitude of the 2012-2013 pro jected
$5,8 billion] deficit, it does not appear that the
state would even be able to begin repaying school
districts in the near fitture.
Of more immediate concern, the Legislature is
wrestling; with the current remaining $535 million
de.flei.t for the balance of the 2010-201.1.
biennium]. The vetoed Healtl] Care and I-imnan
Services bill would have generated roughly
$114 million in immediate budget savings and the
pending Congressional action on the $408 million
extension of federal funding for Medicaid would
have addressed most of the balance of the
problem. The goverr]or wid legislative leaders are
negotiating a package to address that remaining
budget shortfall and unfortunately, it is possible
that city LCA and MV14C" payments for 2010
could be cut for a third time,
The League and other city organizations are
working with legislators to try to prevent a third
round of 2010 city cuts. Please stray tuned this
weekend.
Questions? C'onlact Gap -y Carlson al 651-281-
1255 or g„„,(I wlNWIisr>lrr�cYLm.
Pension bill veto?
On Wednesday, the .blouse and Senate
overwhelmingly approved the omnibus pension
conference committee report (SF ?91$/C"hapten
For morn. intbrination oil city 1%;gislative issue.. , comac:t any member of Utc Lcagtle of Milmoota Cities intergovernmental Relations tom.
651.281,1200 or 800,925.1122 and www,lnlc.org
May 14 2010 17:49:56 Via Fax —> 6514528940 Administrator Page 002 Of 005
LEAGUG of
MINNESOTA
CITIES
-Frida F ax
rt weekly le islad ve erf7Ci oe fi om the. League gI'Alfin esola Cities
359) and sent the bill to the governor. The Senate
vote was .52-14 while the 1l.ouse vote was 11.6-1.0.
Despite these strong, bipartisan votes, the
govert).or's staff expressed concerns about the
contents of the bill, including concerns about
whether the bill contains sufficient pension
reforilis and whether the bill should be enacted
prior to the passage of a legislative solution to the
broader state budget deficit, Those concerns latter
translated into a threatened veto of the bi ll.
Despite receiving the bill from the LegWature on
Wednesday evening, the governor has not yet
vetoed it. It appears that the governor may be
holding the bill until he Secures an agreemennt on
the broader state budget deficit.. lie has until
Saturday to sign the bill, veto the bill or let it
become law without his signature.
The conference comnnnittee report includes the
pension sustainability provisions not only for the
Public Employees Retirement Association
(PERA) General Plan and the PERA Police and
Fire Plan, but also for the "1 eachers Retiren)ent
ssc)civtit�t). (TRA) and the Minnesotfa. State
Petirennent System (MSRS). The sustainability
provisions for all three plans are teased on
recommendations from their respective 1:3oards of
Directors,
The conference committee report atteD)I)t.s to
ensure stability of benefits t'Or retirees, as well as
active ernployees, through a series of shared
sacrifices that will inl)pact employers, employees
and retirees. The PERA sustainability provisions
include a contribution increase for employees in
the General Plan of 0.25 }percent from the
employer and 0.25 percentfx°om the employee
ef'fective on January 1, 2011 and a. reductio)) in
the annual pension benefit adjusttnrent to Gelreral
blain retirees to one percent fronn the current
2.5 percent.
May 14, 2010
Pale 2
For the PERA Police and Fire plan, the
conference committee report• includes a
contribution increase 003 Per{ elft fi-Onl the
employer and 0.2 percent firom the employee
effective on ,January 1, 2011 wl)i.le the annual
pension benefit acljustnnent is limited to one
percent for two years and then, is adjusted
according to the consurner price index, with a
limit of no more than 1.5 percent pet, year,
The conf6ret).ce committee report also incMascs
the pension vesting requirement in the PERA
general plan to five years from three years while
the vesting requirement in the police and fire plan
would be increased to 10 years from three years
in it phased -in schedule. Other changes in the
PERA recommendations would decrease interest:
paid to certain) employees who leave public
service and either- withdraw contributions or
leave funds In thepension system.
The conference committee report includes a set of
changes to consolidate the administration of the
Minneapolis I:snnployees Retirement. Fund
(MERE) with the PERA General Plan. The
administrative consolidation wi.11 not impact the
funding of the PERA General Plan) and the
financial obligations of the MI -RF plan would be
covered largely through increased contributions
from Minneapolis, other employers with MERE
participants and the state. The report includes an
annual state contribution) increase of
513.75 m.illiotn for FYI -012 and FY 201.3, which
would increase to $15 million beginning in
FY2014,
The state contribution to MERF would be fixed
and any additional needed future contribution
increase would be borne by the employers. The
ML;RF system, which has been closed to new
employees since July 1., 1978, actually includes
employees of the city of Minneapolis, the
1Vlinnneapolis School District, Hennepin County,
the Metropolitan Council, the Metropolitan
For more inlioCmatioti oil city legislative issuvs, coma4 any it3s;r bei Pr dw [xitem oNvI m nota Ciiie,s itttergovenu ne ntEal Re atiolta tcam.
05 1.281,1200 or 800,925.1122 and WWW,innc.org
May 14 2010 17:50:50 Via Fax —> 6514520940 Administrator
01
j_,LAGUL of
MINNESOTA
CIT'IES
-Frida0 F ax -
A weekly legivlative updatef •orn the. League g1'.Uhmesola C:'iticys
Airports Commission, and the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities system.,
Questions? Clontac:t Clear^y C.'arbs,r.-)rt al 651-281-
1255
5.1-9$,11255 or >caC/.Xq ( Ntne weft g.
Tax conference committee continues
As of Friday noon, the Tata Cota.ference
Cotaltaaitt:ee on f /S1 3327 was gearing ftp
to meet the rest of the clay and likely into the
night. The group started around10 A.M. with a
number of cities represented in the room by
mayors and city staff. These cities have either
local option sales tax provisions or local
economic development heeds in the bill and had
been summoned earlier its t.be week, by Senate
Tax:11aII;�l�h{?I'na.a.�3qkk (i7F1,-Ct)olC} to once
again snake their cease. -rhe conference panel
began their work oil Tuesday night and wil I likely
go into tomorrow.
Expect to see a ft►Il write tip on the conference
coca mittee actiotls to neXt week's Cities Bulle;tim
Questions? ("Oniact.lennU' r O'Rourke at 6551-
281-1261 nr liars.» .�; ltmcr((t7.lnta.it r or (;aq Carttrtn
at 651-281-1255 or ��cir%,i'c7tt lrrrc ty.
Governor expected to sign DWI
ignition interlock bill
The House and Sensate this week resolved
differences in the driving while intoxicated
(DWI) ignition interlock legislation, Cwlta >tel�66
(Rep, Darla .iii. �11�, arn, DFL -Cottage
Grove/Sentra, Stever Murphy, DFL -Red Wing), and
the taleasure is now awaiting final action by
(iov. Pawlent „ (it). The proposal is aimed at
Curbing impaired driving.
An ignition interlock device prevents a vehicle
from staI'ting until a sober drivel" bI'eathes into an
Page 003 Of 005
May 14, 2010
Page 3
a€t<ached breathalyser, if the breathalyzer registers
blood alcohol contetu.. above 0.02 percent, die
vehicle will not turn on and the faalure Is
reported, The device also requires random breath
samples atter the equipped vehicle begins
moving.
As introduced, the bill would have imposed the
interlock device requirement on first-time DWI
offenders; however, as the bi.11. moved through
cola-Itnittees., it was sIgnifi.cantly modified, Th.e
legislation approved by the conference committee
will generally =apply to repeat offenders_ First-
time offenders who register a blood alcohol
content (13AC) more than twice the legal limit
will be subject to the new law. The device will be
required on every vehicle the offender operates,
with the exception. of employer -owned vehicles
upon receipt of a waiver frons the .Dept. of Public
Safety.
The initiative was identified early in session a5 a
high priority lbr the DPS and Gov. Pawlenty.
Although the bill is a scaled-back version of the
governor's initial proposal, he is expected to sign
the legislation into law,
Questions? ("onlael Anne P"inn at 651-281-1263
or ,U' �C14tX [r)tPt_ _wx-
Cv'overnor hasn't acted on omnibus
transportation policy bill
The omnibus transportation policy bill, L'F 2540
(S-�r .,Steverl!/1ur h_y, DFL -Red Wing and
�tnj ornst.ee n, DFL -Minneapolis),
reached the governor's desk on Wednesday, but
lie has not yet taken action oil the measure.
Among the provisions in the package are a
number of highway and bridge designations (Le.,
renaming a highway or bridge), and Minnesota
Department of'J"ransportation (MnDOT) business
practice requirements and safety measures. A
For wore ti0otnratioa (w city Iegislative i,mlva , contact stay mominr orbic €.migtta orMi,m ootst 061es haergovellitiiow) Rokitiinis Niall_
651.281,1200 or 800,925.1122 and www,llnc,org
May 14 2010 17:51:41 Via Fax
C'J 01
LEAGUE of
MINNESOTA
CITIES
—> 6514520940 Administrator Page 004 Of 005
-Frida F ax -m
A wcek� y legislative update front the Lt.cgne of .Mirrrresota Citic�s
League -initiated mill aainied at helping local units
of government. improve safety at. railroad
crossings is included an the package. "]The
provision boosts t:he Minnesota Grade :Rail
Crossing Safety Account administered by
MnD01- from $600,000 to $1 million. 'I'lie finds
are from traffic fine and forfeiture revenues
collected by the State Patrol.
Also included is a "Cornplete Streets" provisiori
the .League was monitoring. It requires Mnl 0`J'
to develop a Complete Streets policy in the
agency's biennial budget subinission• According
to the language in the bill, Complete Streets is
defined ais follows:
"Complete Streets is the planning, scoping,
design, implementation, operation, and
maintenance of roads in order to reasonably
address the safety and accessibility needs of users
of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets
considers the needs of motorists, pedestrians,
transit users and vehicles, bicyclists, and
commercial and emergency vehicles moving
along rand across roads,, intersections, and
crossings in a manner that is sensitive to the local
context: and recognizes that the needs vary iit
urban, suburban and rural settings." The
Complete Streets provision makes it clear that
local units of government are encouraged, but not
recluired, to consider Complete Streets policies at
the local level.
The governor has three clays to act on legislation
approved by the Legislature. fle has not indicated
if he intends to veto S.1; 2540,
Questions? Contact Anne 1"inn at 651-281-1263
or afin)g(ij,Inrc_Ur��-
Metro groundwater monitoring and
Mapping
Legislation to have the.) irtrnent of Natural
Resources (DNR) develop an autornated and
May 14, 2010
Page 4
integrated groundwater snapping and nionitoring
system iia the I.J.-county metropolitan arca has
moved forward as Bart of an environmetit:al
funding package (Cha gerYj 1), but without
increasing water appropriation fees on permitted
groundwater users, as was initially proposed.
A total of $4 million from the clean water fund
was appropriated in F'Y2011. and $ I tnilIion more
its FY2012 to establish a networ-k of rnwiitoritig
wells and to start to consolidate all of the various
data collected and reported by both state and
local sources. The information gathered should
help cities understand the quantity and duality of
water in the region, ais well as the impacts that
various water uses arnd wetter management
techniques have on the level and recharge of
aqui fees.
A copy of the DNR report explaining the
monitoring plan and its rationale can be found at
the following site: DNR retort (I)df)
Please watch LMC publications for fitture
updates on environmental budget discussions.
Questienis? C ontuci (:riaig,lohnson ca 651-281-
1259
51-81-
1 59 or c'vhnsc�n rr>lrrtc.�ar�.
Battle against partial easement
discharge legislation continues
An amendment has repeatedly been proposed that:
changes the statutes allowing land owners to
petition to have easements on their property
discharged if they are not used for the purpose
stater] at condemnation. Currently, the entire
easement must be unused fir the earsernent to be
discharged. The proposed change would allow
portions of easements to trigger the satne possible
discharge. The language can be viewed in
,SY_ZCOZ (5U1 , D L-Oraanite
Falls/iZej). Lyle Koenen, DFL -Clara City), a bill
t'ci nwre ittrc+[itt,tjiuJt (4) cily ]ugiSiaiiVe i54UVs, conoid <ttty mejrtber t>riiwc Uapw Lit'MittEtc601a cities teaiil,
651.281,1200 or 800,925.1122 and www,iiiic.org
May 14 2010 17:52:32 Via Fax —> 6514520940 Administrator Paye 005 of 005
(00
LEAGUE of
MINNESOTA
CITIES
-FridaY F ax -
A ivecalcl)� Icghvladic� uj.'c'l oe f•orn the. League f#*Mhwc:vo1a C:Ytic'.
that was opposed by the League and that failed to
meet: policy deadlines in the legislature after
concerns were raised by the l;,eagzre, and the
House author withdrew the bill fron) its
scbeduled bearing. The same language, however,
has been offered repeatedly as an amendment in
the past week.
The League has worked closely with the
Minnesota Inter -County Alliance, the Association)
of Minnesota Counties, the DepajIment: of
'1" ransportation, and the Department of Natural
Resources to oppose this; language from being
adopted. Many thousands of l}ortions of existing
easements could theoretically face legal
challenges- under these new laws, which would be
extremely costly to contest and ever) more costly
to re-est.ablisb
The amendment was first inserted into the
oinnibtis transportation policy bill on the House
Boor, but was not adopted in the ficial conference
committee report. It was next attempted for•
insertion into the omnibus state lands bill on the
Rouse floor, but was ruled to not be germane to
the )rill., which prevented the latiguage from being
voted into the bill. As of Friday afternoon, the
langr.iage; is now expected to be proposed for
insertion into the conference committee report of
the omnibus state lands bill even though it is in
neither version of the bill currently.The League
and others coatinue to oppose the Change,
Qzu-!stion.s? Please contact Craig d6hnson at
651-28.1-125 or c'ohnson&�
.Legislature agrees on changes to
personnel data classification in skate
lave
At the close of the last week of the 2010 session,
both the Minnesota Flouse and State Senate
agreed to the conference committee report on
May 14, 2010
Paige 5
ria.F 803("Sk . Mary ))sot), D L-Bernidj i) the
onuiibus data practices legislation first introduced
during the 2003 legislative session, jr 3h5
has been sent to the governor for his signawre.
An almost unanimous vote in both bodies in
support of the final report by the conferees is a
strong indication that the governor is likely to
sign the bill,
Of inatnediat:e interest to cities and other local
units of government are changes to .M.inn, Stat.
§ 13.43, subd. 1, which is amended to define
personnel dicta as government data on individi_ aN
maintained (rather- than collected) because the
individual is or was previously an employee or an
applicant for employment (or who is a volunteer
who performs services for or acts as an
independent contractor with a government
entity). Chapter 365 also modifies subd, 2 of the
same: section of the Minnesota Government Data
practices Act (M01)PA) to specify than such data
also includes terms find conditions of the
employment relationship as well as work-related
continuing education.
With respect to final disposition of decisions
regarding disciplinary action, changes made in
Chapter 365 also provide that when arbitration
occurs if] compliance with a collective bargaining
at .reement final disposition takers plaice at either
the conclusion of arbitration or if the employee
fails to request arbitration within the time
provided in the labor agreement, But the: data
related to disciplinary action is not classified as
public data i.f'the arbitrator sustains a grievarncu
and reverses all matters related to any actions
taken with regard to employee discipline.
Questions? Contact Ann Higgins cit 6,51tl281-
1 25 7 or uhigr?in- s, Irrtc. rir t�.
i'ur nxrrc• ir)fofrj)atiuti t51) city lv islaLive i,Nucs, Lomat:). any n)en)ba of il)e Lemur; of MinnVwla C:itivs laturiovt innte)tta) Relations tciimi.
651.281,1200 or 800,925.1122 aurid www,liiie.org