2005-06-24 Friday NewsTORCH RUN
On this Thursday morning it was very, very hot and steamy, but 40-50 runners started out together
in Valley Park in Apple Valley to do the 16.4 mile torch run to Mendakota Part. Governor Tim
Pawlenty was there to give a speech and help the Special Olympics athlete light the torch. He also
ran the first 6 miles of the race. Stacy Kaiser ran with him for a while as did Bill Bernard. The
Governor made a great impression with both of them. WCCO radio and TV were at the race, the
Star Tribune and Town Square Television were there too. Good job Officer Jenny Hurst, who
coordinated the event.
BREAST CANCER WALK
This Friday thru Sunday is the Susan G. Komen national Breast Cancer Foundation Walk. The
event begins today in Apple Valley where around 2000 walkers begin a 60 mile walk through the
paths and parks of the Twin Cities. Tonight the group will end at Henry Sibley High School where
they will spend the night. The Police have been made aware of this event and will keep an eye on
their Safety — especially as they cross Dodd Road and TH 110. The group will have food, tents and
entertainment set up for them at the school.
HOUSING STATISTICS
Attached is a report prepared by Christine Berger, Twin Cities Association that provides the latest
housing statistics. You will notice that Mendota Heights sales prices are very high when compared
with most other communities.
NURT TRAIL
I was notified by Dakota County this week that MnDOT is having second thoughts about allowing
the County to construct the NURT Trail between TH 110 and the frontage road. A meeting has
been set for next Wednesday with Dakota County and MnDOT to determine if they will change
their minds back and let the trail stay where it was designed. If the trail is not constructed by this
fall, the federal dollars allocated to the project will be lost. A decision needs to be made soon, and
with a potential state shutdown looming at the end of the month, this could be our last chance to
work with the MnDOT staff on it.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Danielson
City Administrator
Attachments: Pipeline, Planning Commission Agenda, email from Patrick Hollister,
Twincities.com Article "Supreme Court rules cities may seize homes", Villager Article "Supreme
Court decision still out on future of Mendota Hts. Par 3", Thank you letter from Mary Charmoli,
Sun Current Article "Giving of themselves for the greater good", Minnesota Cities Article "New
Utility Marking Rule", Article from Rosemount town Pages "County police department team up for
traffic enforcement" and Friday Fax.
NEWS
LETTER ,,Pmipelmane
Public Works
Engineering
Code Enforcement June 23, 2005
Public Works
Utilities
Rich Burrows monitored operation of all lift sanitary sewer lift stations.
Cleaned sanitary sewers on Medora Court, Medora Lane and Emerson Avenue and
inspected new sewer service in Water Drive Business Park (Klingelhutz). The sanitary
sewers in the Mayfield Heights easement, Victoria Curve, Wagon Wheel Trail (35E bridge
to Lexington), Williams Court and Lexington (Cullen to Wagon Wheel Trail) were cleaned
and tree root killer was applied. Power outages occurred at the Veronica Lane, Culligan
Lane and Lilydale (under maintenance contract) sanitary lift stations due to the June 21St
storm.
Street Department
Straightened storm sewer "trash -guard" on Swan Drive. Met with resident, tree service,
and Patrol Officer Patrick at Trail Road and Marie Avenue, to resolve traffic sight -line -
distance issue at this intersection. Removal of lower six feet of pine tree branches was
the solution arrived at. Cleaned up downed trees and branches due to Monday June 21St
afternoon storm. Most trees that were down were due to the storm and were on private
property. They also assisted Utility Department with traffic control on Lexington during
application of tree root and sewer cleaning operation. Re-lamped left turn signal arrow
head on traffic light at HWY 55 and Mendota Heights Road.
Parks
Maintained the turf in all parks and daily empty trash barrels. Installed temporary
pitching mounds at Mendakota for weekend tournament and then removed them after the
tournaments were over. Repairs were made on irrigation lines in fields #2 and # 3 in
Mendakota Park. They also removed downed limbs and trees in all the parks after the
Monday's storm. Trees were trimmed along ped -ways in Friendly Hills and Valley Park for
planned 3 -Day Breast Cancer walk. Valley park parking lot will be used on Friday as one
of the water stops. Dirt was leveled and seed spread at the area around the Fire Hall.
Service and repairs were done to all turf power equipment. A flowering crab tree that was
donated by the Mendota Heights Garden Club was planted at City Hall. Turf has been
repaired from a tree in Friendly Hills Park that had blown over. The soccer goals at
Kensington Park were also repaired.
Engineering
Curb and gutter has been completed on the entire Somerset Area project.
The bid opening date for the 2005 street project has been moved to July 26, 2005.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
1 „ Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of May 24, 2005 Planning Commission Minutes,.
4. Hearings
a. Case No. 05-23: Debra Davison, 1301 Delaware Avenue —
CUP for Detached Garage. Public Hearing 7:30 p.m.
b. Case No. 05-24: Andrea Crosby, 2276 Apache Street — CUP for
Fence. Public Hearing 7:50 p.m.
C. Case No. 05-25: Cori Johnson, 1732 Vicki Lane — CUP for
Fence. Public Hearing 8:10 p.m.
d. Case No. 05-26: Todd Polifka/Jason Hinchliff, 1155 Dodd Road
— Variance to Front Yard Setback for Porch„ Public Hearing 8:30
p.m.
e,. Case No. 05-27: Patrick Hickey, 2303 Swan Drive — Variance
for Side Yard Setback,. Public Hearing 8:50 p.m.
f. Case No. 05-28: St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 700
Wesley Lane — Variance for Sign Size in R-1 District. Public
Hearing 9:10.
5. Verbal Review
& Adjourn
Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available uponrequestat
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 452-1850 with requests.
Page 1 of 1
Patrick Hollister
From: Christine Berger [cberger@stcar.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 12.17 PM
Subject: May 2005 Housing Statistics from the Southern Twin Cities Association of REALTORS
Attachments: 2005-05 Sales summary.pdf; 2005-05 Sales 5 -year summary,xls; 2005-05 Sales graph.pdf;
2005-05 MUN.xIs; 2005-05 New List Pend 5 -year summary As
Dear City & County Administrators, Managers and Clerks,
Please find attached the latest housing statistics for May 2005
The data covers existing single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses. The variables released by county
include number of closed sales, the median and average closed sales prices, dollar volume of closed sales, the
number of pending sales and the number of new listings all by month. There is a 13 -county summary and the
individual counties follow on the next set of tabs in the files.
The variables released by city include. number of closed sales, the median and average closed sales prices and
total dollar volume of sales for the month,
Also attached are two data displays (in the PDF files and also found within the Excel files):
A graph of April median sales prices by county, and
A formatted spreadsheet with selected county data.
Please feel free to share this information with your staff, council members or whoever would deem the information
valuable.
If you have questions about the data, need the files in a different format or have questions about the Southern
Twin Cities Association of REALTORS®, please feel free to contact me at (651) 452-6611. Let me know if I can
be of any help to you,
Thank you,
Christine Berger
Director of Governmental Affairs
Southern Twin Cities Association of REALTORS®
4490 Erin Drive
Eagan,,MN 55122
651..452..6611
c,b,erger@stcar.com
www.,stcar.com
6/23/2005
May Housing Statistics by County: 2005 vs. 2004
Existing Residential
May
May
2005
2004
% Change
13 County
Number of Closed Sales
5,553
5,524
0.52%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,489,070,874
$1,359,759,554
951%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$268,156
$246,155
8..94%
Median Sales Price
$227,501
$211,000
7.82%
Anoka
Number of Closed Sales
578
614
-5.86%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$148,411,384
$141,032,931
5..23%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$256,767
$229,695
11.79%
Median Sales Price
$225,425
$210,000
7.35%
Dakota
Number of Closed Sales
710
701
1.28%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$184,618,038
$168,904,430
9,.30%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$260,025
$240,948
7.92%
Median Sales Price
$229,000
$221,000
3.62%
Goodhue
Number of Closed Sales
48
41
17..07%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$9,187,581
$6,905,740
33.04%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$191,408
$168,433
13.64%
Median Sales Price
$164,750
$156,890
5.01%
Hennepin
Number of Closed Sales
1,928
1,871
3.05%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$552,152,933
$496,212,607
11.27%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$286,386
$265,213
7.98%
Median Sales Price
$231,000
$217,000
6..45%
Ramsey
Number of Closed Sales
736
688
6.98%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$178,404,563
$149,213,284
19.56%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$242,398
$216,880
11..77%
Median Sales Price
$214,900
$193,250
11.20%
Rice
Number of Closed Sales
54
77
-29.87%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$13,203,531
$15,967,846
-17.31%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$244,510
$207,375
17,91%
Median Sales Price
$217,150
$192,000
13.10%
Scott
Number of Closed Sales
256
225
13,78%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$73,479,359
$57,391,385
28.03%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$287,029
$255,073
12.53%
Median Sales Price
$252,500
$219,800
14.88%
Washington
Number of Closed Sales
413
425
-2.82%
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$122,737,647
$119,489,193
2.72%
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$297,186
$281,151
5.70%
Median Sales Price
$257,000
$232,000
10.78%
Prepared by the Southern Twin Cities Association of
REALTORS. Based on existing single-family, condo and
townhome data from the RMLS and is subject to change. June 10, 2005
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.::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::..;;:.;:.:.::.:::.::.::.::.;:.;::::.;;:.;:.;:.:.;:.;:.;:.::.:::.:..........
_ :::. _ ::::::.::::..
Residential
County
13 County
Year 2005
2004
% Change
2003
2002
2001
2000
January
Number of Closed Sales
2,885
2,504
15.22%
3,110
3,148
3,257
4,038
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$750,874,967
$600,317 852
25 08 %
$706,924,568
$647,346,937
$620,512,860
$686,646,680
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$260,269
$239,744
8.56%
$227,307
$205,638
$190,517
$170,046
Median Sales Price
$219,584
$200000
979%
$189,900
$174,900
$159,900
February
Number of Closed Sales
2,712
2,731
-070%
2,776
2,607
2,222
2,180
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$686,520,031
$646,678 006
616%
$629,079,523
$533,111,186
$412,909116
$363,961,532
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$253,142
$236,792
6.90%
$226,614
$204,492
$185,828
$166,955
Median Sales Price
$217,450
$201 824
7.74%
$189,000
$173,900
$159,400
March
Number of Closed Sales
3,869
4,028
-3.95%
3,633
3,637
3,330
3,551
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$992,710,828
$962,358,049
315%
$800,146,225
$755,960,924
$633,681,991
$560,558,177
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$256,581
$238,917
7.39%
$220,244
$207,853
$190,295
$157,859
Median Sales Price
$219,000
$203.000
788%
$189,500
$175,291
$162,000
April
Number of Closed Sales
4,645
4,528
2 58 %
4,228
3,883
3,762
3,462
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,215,707,173
$1,132,164,409
738%
$970,621,722
$809,926,858
$737,976,593
$604,167,067
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$261,724
$250,036
4.67%
$229,570
$208,583
$196,166
$174,514
Median Sales Price
$224,000
$209,850
674%
$193,850
$178,940
$165,000
May
Number of Closed Sales
5,553
5,524
052%
4,942
4,562
4,529
4,521
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,489,070,874
$1,359,759,554
951%
$1,141,110,611
$987,157,039
$882,140,992
$790,220,458
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$268,156
$246,155
8.94%
$230,901
$216,387
$194,776
$174,789
Median Sales Price
$227,501
$211,000
782%
$194,900
$180,100
$168,500
June
Number of Closed Sales
7,047
-10000%
5,905
4,915
5,142
4,505
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,832,074,692
-10000%
$1,434,333,910
$1,103,407,854
$1,046,291,452
$835,417,041
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$259,979
-100.00%
$242,902
$224,498
$203,479
$185,442
Median Sales Price
$220,000
-10000%
$201,500
$188,900
$172,000
July
Number of Closed Sales
6,244
-10000%
6,264
5,657
5,443
4,542
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,630,282,423
-10000%
$1,510,341,889
$1,303,262,591
$1,145,454,882
$866,267,251
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$261,096 -100.00%
$241,115
$230,381
$210,446
$190,724
Median Sales Price
$219,395
-100.00%
$201,950
$190,000
$174,900
August
Number of Closed Sales
6,440
-10000%
6,272
5,034
5,502
5,300
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,687,670,673
-10000%
$1,551,668,204
$1,177,692,720
$1,156,412,698
$1,007,225,302
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$262,061
-100.00%
$247,396
$233,948
$210,180
$190,043
Median Sales Price
$222,000
-100.00%
$207,500
$190,000
$175,000
September
Number of Closed Sales
5,256
-100.00%
5,908
4,833
4,482
3,996
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,357,165,714
-10000%
$1,416,615,125
$1,073,626,280
$944,519,873
$732,717,184
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$258,213
-100.00%
$239779
$222,145
$210,736
$183,363
Median Sales Price
$220,000
-10000%
$200,598
$188,900
$175,900
October
Number of Closed Sales
4,855
-10000%
5,410
4,764
5,072
4,893
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,308,316,424
10000%
$1,315,511,541
$1,083,966,800
$1,075,956,566
$919,143,996
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$269,478
-100.00%
$243163
$227,533
$212137
$187,849
Median Sales Price
$220,000
-10000%
$204,950
$190,000
$175,000
November
Number of Closed Sales
4,672
-10000%
4,032
4,080
3,865
3,846
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,252,299,879
-10000%
$1,003,902,774
$930,030,245
$776,052,150
$743,813,743
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$268,044
-100.00%
$248,984
$227,949
$200,790
$193,399
Median Sales Price
$222,000
-100.00%
$204,000
$190,000
$171,500
$159,000
December
Number of Closed Sales
4,327
-10000%
4,048
4,092
3,692
3,374
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$1,131,225,641
-100.00%
$998,641,727
$926,453,956
$785,438,377
$644,671,013
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$261,434
-100.00%
$246,700
$226,406
$212,741
$191,070
Median Sales Price
$219,990
-100.00%
$205,000
$190,000
$176,000
$159,900
Annual
Number of Closed Sales
58,233
-10000%
56,528
51,212
50,298
48,208
Dollar Volume of Closed Sales
$14,922,306,738
-100 00%
$13,478,897,819
$11,331,943,390
$10,217,347,550
$8,754,809,444
Average Sales Price of Closed Sales
$256,252
-100.00%
$238,446
$221,275
$203,136
$181,605
Median Sales Price
13 County
$215,900
-10000%
$199,900
$185,000
$170,000
$152,000
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District
Name
Total
Sales
Average
Price
Median
Price
Sales
Volume
May
May
May
May
Afton
2
$912,500
$912,500
1825000
Albertville
19
$252,244
$237,600
4792644
Andover
55
$305,745
$294,700
16815964
Annandale
16
$217,531
$178,750
3480500
Anoka
25
$199,321
$190,900
4983022
Apple Valley
112
$247,581
$207,000
27481492
Arden Hills
14
$235,553
$222,000
3297735
Baldwin
23
$173,798
$178,900
3997364
Battle Creek
1
$220,000
$220,000
220000
Bayport
6
$254,650
$218,000
1527900
Becker
16
$255,994
$213,000
4095900
Belle Plaine
24
$219,092
$223,250
5258200
Big Lake
49
$223,174
$195,775
10935541
Birchwood
2
$470,000
$470,000
940000
Blaine
98
$268,477
$229,945
26310715
Bloomington
72
$254,926
$229,450
18354667
Bloomington East
8
$212,850
$219,950
1702800
Bloomington West
17
$330,118
$264,900
5612000
Braham
1
$153,000
$153,000
153000
Brooklyn Center
52
$184,585
$190,250
9598416
Brooklyn Park
160
$229,939
$221,350
36790214
Buffalo
35
$203,811
$187,900
7133373
Burns Twp
2
$447,500
$447,500
895000
Burnstown Twp
1
$266,400
$266,400
266400
Burnsville
90
$241,557
$224,500
21740112
Cannon Falls
6
$207,233
$158,500
1243400
Carver
4
$194,325
$201,250
777300
Cedar Lake Twp
1
$715,000
$715,000
715000
Center City
4
$247,063
$223,225
988250
Centerville
3
$381,600
$384,900
1144800
Champlin
39
$256,064
$230,000
9986500
Chanhassen
43
$347,487
$300,000
14941920
Chaska
40
$289,965
$240,250
11598613
Chisago City
13
$294,160
$254,000
3824074
Chisago Lake Twp
3
$354,333
$380,000
1063000
Chisago Lakes Township
1
$165,000
$165,000
165000
Circle Pines
11
$216,500
$175,900
2381500
Clear Lake
4
$270,801
$274,500
1083204
Clearwater
5
$175,460
$179,000
877300
Cokato
7
$198,771
$162,000
1391400
Cologne
6
$189,188
$202,600
1135125
Columbia Heights
40
$195,867
$196,750
7834667
Coon Rapids
127
$223,942
$210,500
28440696
Corcoran
6
$418,025
$373,075
2508150
Cottage Grove
58
$242,948
$233,400
14090959
Crocus Hill
1
$194,900
$194,900
194900
District
Name
Total
Sales
Average
Price
Median
Price
Sales
Volume
May
May
May
May
Crystal
37
$209,133
$201,500
7737930
Dayton
2
$503,741
$503,741
1007482
Deephaven
2
$383,000
$383,000
766000
Deer Park
1
$262,500
$262,500
262500
Delano
12
$327,871
$302,961
3934452
Denmark Twp
1
$643,500
$643,500
643500
Dennison
1
$120,500
$120,500
120500
Dundas
1
$375,000
$375,000
375000
Eagan
122
$260,662
$234,450
31800777
East Bethel
18
$284,430
$281,950
5119743
Eden Prairie
122
$358,132
$302,000
43692065
Edina
81
$364,622
$300,000
29534422
Elk River
45
$273,992
$250,100
12329651
Elko
8
$371,018
$349,500
2968140
Excelsior
5
$366,000
$341,000
1830000
Falcon Heights
1
$269,900
$269,900
269900
Faribault
30
$203,852
$174,700
6115559
Farmington
69
$236,880
$220,000
16344732
Fish Lake Twp
1
$190,000
$190,000
190000
Forest Lake
42
$307,450
$261,362
12912891
Franconia Twp
1
$254,900
$254,900
254900
Fridley
38
$219,775
$207,500
8351464
Glenwood City
1
$62,000
$62,000
62000
Golden Valley
34
$287,020
$243,250
9758680
'Goodhue
3
$144,527
$147,400
433580
Grant
1
$920,494
$920,494
920494
Greenfield
2
$349,900
$349,900
699800
Greenwood
3
$519,500
$304,000
1558500
Ham Lake
25
$398,323
$371,000
9958076
Hammond
8
$206,738
$187,750
1653900
Hammond Twp
2
$272,450
$272,450
544900
Hampton
5
$263,580
$243,000
1317900
Hanover
3
$327,375
$229,000
982124
Harris
2
$282,950
$282,950
565900
Hassan
1
$799,000
$799,000
799000
Hastings
51
$234,114
$209,895
11939807
Highland
1
$239,900
$239,900
239900
Hopkins
14
$172,582
$175,450
2416149
Howard Lake
1
$236,000
$236,000
236000
Hudson
44
$268,258
$265,950
11803364
Hudson Twp
1
$453,130
$453,130
453130
Hugo
24
$302,226
$260,700
7253433
Independence
2
$635,000
$635,000
1270000
Inver Grove Heights
37
$246,621
$214,900
9124976
Jordan
11
$321,723
$277,900
3538950
Kenyon
4
$202,288
$202,000
809150
Kinnic Twp
1
$320,000
$320,000
320000
Lake City
2
$227,863
$227,863
455726
District
Name
Total
Sales
Average
Price
Median
Price
Sales
Volume
May
May
May
May
Lake Elmo
6
$357,217
$377,700
2143300
Lake St Croix Beach
1
$381,000
$381,000
381000
Lakeland
1
$280,000
$280,000
280000
Laketown Twp
1
$605,000
$605,000
605000
Lakeville
102
$337,622
$288,450
34437417
Lauderdale
4
$192,400
$200,500
769600
Lexington
1
$199,900
$199,900
199900
Lindstrom
17
$279,666
$228,000
4754325
Lino Lakes
35
$313,243
$306,500
10963515
Linwood
1
$299,900
$299,900
299900
Linwood Twp
4
$251,950
$256,900
1007800
Little Canada
17
$308,786
$235,000
5249362
Livonia Twp
1
$292,000
$292,000
292000
Long Lake
2
$352,000
$352,000
704000
Lonsdale
6
$279,690
$275,346
1678141
Loretto
1
$360,000
$360,000
360000
Mahtomedi
15
$412,790
$348,000
6191846
Maple Grove
156
$284,289
$234,450
44349150
Maple Lake
7
$199,886
$179,900
1399200
Maple Plain
2
$216,788
$216,788
433575
Maplewood
51
$256,735
$225,750
12836774
Mayer
7
$243,054
$245,766
1701376
Medina
6
$754,133
$777,450
4524800
Mendota Heights
13
$382,882
$330,000
4977460
Miesville
1
$175,000
$175,000
175000
Minneapolis
642
$262,738
$219,913
168678090
Minnetonka
62
$343,951
$301,400
20981021
Minnetonka Beach
1
$397,500
$397,500
397500
Minnetrista
11
$635,632
$500,000
6991950
Monticello
39
$203,602
$190,500
7940490
Montrose
8
$247,659
$230,188
1981275
Mound
10
$287,930
$232,500
2879300
Mounds View
9
$233,656
$214,900
2102900
New Brighton
31
$253,729
$236,000
7865593
New Germany
1
$194,900
$194,900
194900
New Hope
26
$214,850
$219,950
5586099
New Market
7
$313,687
$305,000
2195807
New Prague
9
$213,069
$213,000
1917617
New Richmond
22
$182,067
$173,700
4005472
New Scandia Twp
1
$387,000
$387,000
387000
Newport
2
$204,500
$204,500
409000
North Branch
33
$224,461
$207,900
7407205
North Hudson
2
$184,400
$184,400
368800
North Minneapolis
1
$139,900
$139,900
139900
North Oaks
2
$621,233
$621,233
1242465
North St. Paul
19
$197,361
$196,250
3749850
Northfield
23
$276,547
$255,141
6360592
Norwood Young America
3
$176,400
$186,800
529200
District
Name
Total
Sales
Average
Price
Median
Price
Sales
Volume
May
May
May
May
Norwood -Young America
5
$206,039
$188,195
1030195
Oak Grove
12
$312,287
$297,450
3747441
Oak Park Heights
5
$198,272
$200,000
991362
Oakdale
47
$225,606
$199,900
10603480
Orono
19
$850,191
$889,000
16153638
Orrock
2
$262,450
$262,450
524900
Osseo
1
$214,900
$214,900
214900
Otsego
40
$210,903
$209,750
8436101
Pine Island
1
$210,900
$210,900
210900
Plymouth
103
$331,407
$269,000
34134945
Princeton
17
$253,611
$208,900
4311382
Princeton Twp
1
$196,000
$196,000
196000
Prior Lake
49
$354,163
$269,900
17353991
Ramsey
55
$239,438
$220,000
13169071
Randolph
1
$234,900
$234,900
234900
Ravenna Twp
1
$250,000
$250,000
250000
Red Wing
24
$186,843
$161,600
4484225
Richfield
61
$220,392
$221,550
13443900
River Falls
4
$161,429
$162,500
645715
Robbinsdale
18
$187,818
$185,450
3380722
Roberts
6
$233,533
$236,750
1401200
Rockford
5
$274,320
$252,000
1371600
Rogers
27
$278,335
$265,900
7515041
Rosemount
50
$263,780
$240,000
13189020
Roseville
52
$240,144
$225,050
12487512
Rush City
1
$219,900
$219,900
219900
Savage
50
$271,749
$263,500
13587450
Scandia
1
$291,500
$291,500
291500
Scandia Twp
1
$330,200
$330,200
330200
Shafer
5
$180,960
$171,900
904800
Shakopee
95
$260,490
$235,000
24746504
Shoreview
51
$255,024
$235,000
13006200
Shorewood
10
$600,436
$618,700
6004360
Somerset
17
$212,681
$209,100
3615585
Somerset Twp
1
$239,000
$239,000
239000
South Haven
3
$184,000
$199,000
552000
South St, Paul
32
$216,166
$188,000
6917320
Spring Lake Park
6
$188,983
$190,450
1133900
St Marys Point
2
$189,900
$189,900
379800
St.. Anthony
11
$262,936
$238,000
2892300
St., Bonifacius
2
$245,175
$245,175
490350
St.. Cloud
6
$188,167
$159,900
1129000
St. Francis
19
$211,462
$210,500
4017780
St.. Joseph Twp
1
$220,000
$220,000
220000
St.. Louis Park
92
$247,065
$231,750
22730023
St, Michael
20
$231,631
$223,733
4632611
St. Micheal
13
$262,387
$265,000
3411029
St. Paul
391
$233,101
$201,000
90676163
District
Name
Total
Sales
Average
Price
Median
Price
Sales
Volume
May
May
May
May
St, Paul Park
10
$229,899
$233,700
2298990
Stacy
13
$248,215
$252,000
3226800
Star Prairie
1
$205,000
$205,000
205000
Star Prairie Twp
2
$222,809
$222,809
445618
Stillwater
34
$346,195
$292,350
11770635
Sunfish Lake
1
$650,000
$650,000
650000
Taylors Falls
4
$187,225
$186,250
748900
Tonka Bay
3
$744,167
$825,000
2232500
Troy Twp
2
$274,500
$274,500
549000
Vadnais Heights
22
$257,166
$219,900
5657650
Veseli
1
$155,900
$155,900
155900
Victoria
17
$434,024
$435,000
7378400
Waconia
26
$271,644
$276,000
7062742
Warren Twp
1
$236,000
$236,000
236000
Watertown
14
$211,517
$193,200
2961240
Waverly
10
$183,160
$186,950
1831600
Wayzata
4
$593,738
$612,475
2374950
Webster
1
$425,000
$425,000
425000
Welch
3
$275,933
$229,900
827800
West Lakeland
2
$592,500
$592,500
1185000
West St Paul
21
$207,695
$192,500
4361600
White Bear Lake
51
$254,686
$230,000
12988972
White Bear Twp
14
$275,406
$247,450
3855687
Willernie
1
$153,000
$153,000
153000
Wilson
1
$135,000
$135,000
135000
Woodbury
146
$301,568
$278,573
44028871
Woodville
5
$175,100
$175,000
875500
Wyoming
11
$295,845
$273,000
3254300
Wyoming Twp
4
$897,225
$487,325
3588900
Zimmerman
26
$234,457
$223,900
6095872
Zumbrota
4
$150,575
$136,450
602300
Regional MLS of Minnesota, Inc.
New Listings
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
13 County
January
6,516
6,845
6,629
5,237
5,524
4,726
Residential Only
February
6,905
6,700
5,947
5,110
4,837
4,356
March
8,767
8,981
7,335
5,718
6,247
5,862
April
10,429
10,214
8,268
7,007
6,472
5,388
May
9,794
9,790
8,784
7,406
7,389
6,038
June
10,267
8,684
6,787
6,958
6,035
July
9,690
8,724
6,964
6,652
5,103
August
9,651
7,718
7,298
7,162
5,697
September
9,042
8,079
7,243
6,624
5,464
October
7,511
7,756
7,057
6,906
5,144
November
5,412
4,787
4,853
4,502
3,686
December,
3,634
3,667
3,260
2,588
2,119
13 County Total
97,737
86,378
73,940
71,861
59,618
Pending Sales
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
13 County
January
3,404
3,534
3,838
3,661
3,782
3,152
Residential Only
February
4,558
4,277
4,183
4,007
4,226
3,682
March
5,887
6,542
5,380
4,733
5,067
5,012
April
6,850
6,841
6,133
5,414
5,365
4,726
May
6,726
6,594
5,963
5,357
5,805
5,042
June
6,510
6,441
5,067
5,208
4,908
July
6,074
6,653
5,201
5,015
4,285
August
6,167
5,715
5,036
5,291
4,901
September,
5,090
4,741
4,643
3,886
4,086
October,
4,902
4,760
4,726
4,855
4,132
November
4,258
3,559
3,797
3,904
3,385
December
3,536
3,092
3,360
2,977
2,477
13 County Total
64,325
60,458
55,002
55,381
49,788
Regional MLS of MN Confidential 6/23/2005 Page 15
Supreme Court rules cities may seize homes
Posted on Thu, Jun.. 23, 2005
Supreme Court rules cities may seize homes
fzT. sur -PP
Page 1 of 2
WASHINGTON - A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and
businesses against their, will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic
growth often is at war with individual property rights.
The 5-4 ruling - assailed by dissenting Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as handing "disproportionate influence and power"
to the well-heeled in America - was a defeat for- Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make
room for an office complex. They had argued that cities have no right to take their- land except for projects with a clear
public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.
As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes
in order- to generate tax revenue.
The case was one of six resolved by justices on Thursday. Among those still pending for the court, which next meets on
Monday, is one testing the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commands on government property.
Writing for the court's majority in Thursday's ruling, Justice John Paul Stevens said local officials, not federal judges,
know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community. States are within their, rights to pass
additional laws restricting condemnations if residents are overly burdened, he said.
"The city has carefully formulated an economic development plan that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the
community, including - but by no means limited to - new jobs and increased tax revenue," Stevens wrote.
Stevens was joined in his opinion by other members of the court's liberal wing - David H. Souter-, Ruth Bader, Ginsburg
and Stephen G. Breyer'. The bloc typically has favored greater deference to cities, which historically have used the
takings power, for urban renewal projects that benefit the lower and middle class.
They were joined by Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy in rejecting the conservative principle of individual
property rights. Critics had feared that would allow a small group of homeowners to stymie rebuilding efforts that benefit
the city through added jobs and more tax revenue for social programs..
"It is not for, the courts to oversee the choice of the boundary line nor, to sit in review on the size of a particular project
area," Stevens wrote.
O'Connor, argued that cities should not have unlimited authority to uproot families, even if they are provided
compensation, simply to accommodate wealthy developers.
"Any property may now be taken for- the benefit of another, private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be
random," she wrote. "The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the
political process, including large corporations and development firms."
Connecticut residents involved in the lawsuit expressed dismay and pledged to keep fighting..
"It's a little shocking to believe you can lose your home in this country," said resident Bill Von Winkle, who said he would
refuse to leave his home, even if bulldozers showed up, "I won't be going anywhere. Not my house. This is definitely not
the last word•"
Scott Bullock, an attorney for the Institute for Justice representing the families, added: "A narrow majority of the court
simply got the law wrong today and our Constitution and country will suffer as a result."
At issue was the scope of the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property through eminent
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/I 1966710.htm?template=contentModules/piintst... 6/23/2005
Supreme Court rules cities may seize homes
domain if the land is for "public use."
Page 2 of 2
Susette Kelo and several other homeowners in a working-class neighborhood in New London, Conn., filed suit after city
officials announced plans to raze their homes for a riverfront hotel, health club and offices.
New London officials countered that the private development plans served a public purpose of boosting economic growth
that outweighed the homeowners' property rights, even if the area wasn't blighted.
Connecticut state Rep. Ernest Hewett, D -New London, a former mayor and city council member, who voted in favor of
eminent domain, said the decision "means a lot for New London's future•"
The lower courts had been divided on the issue, with many allowing a taking only if it eliminates blight.
Nationwide, more than 10,000 properties were threatened or, condemned in recent years, according to the Institute for
Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners.,
New London, a town of less than 26,000, once was a center, of the whaling industry and later became a manufacturing
hub. More recently the city has suffered the kind of economic woes afflicting urban areas across the country, with losses
of residents and jobs.
City officials envision a commercial development that would attract tourists to the Thames riverfront, complementing an
adjoining Pfizer Corp. research center and a proposed Coast Guard museum.
New London was backed in its appeal by the National League of Cities, which argued that a city's eminent domain power'
was critical to spurring urban renewal with development projects such Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Kansas City's Kansas
Speedway.
Under, the ruling, residents still will be entitled to "just compensation" for their homes as provided under, the Fifth
Amendment. However, Kelo and the other homeowners had refused to move at any price, calling it an unjustified taking
of their, property.
The case is Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.
ON THE NET
The ruling in Kelo v. New London is available at:
ht:tp://wid.ap.org/documents/Scotus/05062:3kelo.pdf
t 2005, AP Wiie and titEl,� vv icc sources All RE bts
IMP: +� w ww to I.ncl.11 es coo
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/1 196671 O.htm?template=contentModules/printst... 6/23/2005
WEDNESDAY, `JUN E 22, 2005 VILLAGER
Supreme Court d
ecision still out
s.Par 3-
Cashill bought the course holds that a city's
comprehensive plan supercedes its zoning
code. The Mendota Heights City Council re-
fused to consider an amendment to its com-
prehensive plan, and Spaulding and Cashill
sued the city in November 2003.
"The fact that the city has not brought the
zoning into compliance with the comprehen-
sive plan and that they wouldn't amend the
comprehensive plan is what drove us to sue;'
Spaulding said."The neighbors want it to stay
a golf course and the City Council is reacting
to that desire, but what they say as their justi-
fication is that they have to follow the compre-
hensive plan:"
Mendota Heights Mayor John Huber said
he could not comment on the case since it is
still in litigation.
Spaulding and Cashill won the first legal
round when a Dakota County District Court
judge ordered the city to amend its compre-
hensive plan to allow residential develop-
ment. The state Court of Appeals upheld that .`
ruling. The city then took the issue to the
Minnesota Supreme Court. Arguments were
presented by both sides early last month.
"We're expecting ectin a decision in late July or
earlyAugust," Spaulding said.
Meanwhile, his biggest concern is that some
golfers seem to think the golf course is already
closed. "We've been open all along and plan to
stay open at least throughthis season"
Spaulding said. "After that, I can't say
Obviously, the court's decision will determine
the future'
by Kevin Driscoll
Alan Spaulding and Mike Cashill are still
waiting to hear from the Minnesota Supreme
Court about what they can and cannot do
with their 17 acres at 1695 Dodd Road. The
two owners of the Mendota Heights Par 3
Golf Course bought the property in 1995 and
have been embroiled in a legal battle with the
city of Mendota Heights for the past year and
a half.
The two men decided to sell the golf course
in 2002 and began looking for buyers. "We
didn't initially plan to develop the land"
Spaulding said,"but when Thompson Oaks
Golf Course opened in West St. Paul, we lost
20 percent of our revenue."
In early 2003, Cashill and Spaulding ac-
cepted an offer from Lyman Development
LLC of Chanhassen. A purchase agreement
was drawn up with the proviso that Lyman
could back out if its planned housing project
failed to secure the approval of the Mendota
Heights City Council. Lymaes engineers
drew up preliminary drawings to present to
the council. Their plan called for building 45-
50 single-family homes on the site.
"We thought it was a sure thing because the
property has been zoned residential since well
before we bought it" Spaulding said,"but they
(the council members) didri t see it that way."
The council rejected Lyman's plan, saying
that the city's comprehensive plan designates
the property as a golf course. A state law
passed two months after Spaulding and
SARATOGA WEDDINGS, INC.
June 7, 2005
Mendota Heights Public Works Department
2431 Lexington Avenue
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Dear Tom:
On behalf of all of us who were involved in the planning of the Emily
Smith birthday benefit, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to
you and your staff for everything you did to make this day possible.
Delivering the trash barrels to Visitation School and Convent on
Friday, June 3 was such a big help, as we were able to contain and
keep up with the trash for nearly 500 guests despite the rainy
weather.
I trust you were able to recover your barrels from under the tent on
Monday where we had stored them to keep them dry.
Again, many thanks for all of your help.
Sincerely,
Mary Charmoli
9664 County Road D • Webster, WI 54893 • 651 .699 4146 • 715 349 8383 • 715 349 8384 fax • www saratogaweddings,com
MNSUN - News Archive
Page 1 of 2
Local Forecast Friday, Jun. 24, 2(
IngLygt N MI'M
newspapers�. e � Click Here 1 2:.49 5Qp
Select a Town
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H.ow_to- Sun Newspapers
Advertise (Created 6/16/200.5 10:27:11 AM)
Ad Rates
Jobs At Sun They're doing what they can to protect one of the city's assets..
During June and July members of the Mendota Heights
Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP) team are busy
testing the community's wetlands to ensure they are in good
Special Sections shape.
Bride's Guide "This type of work has been going on since 1996 in Mendota
Forms Heights," said Katie Galloway of The Friends of the Mississippi
Art &..Education River. She helps coordinate the program. "We have some great
In Memory of volunteers who monitor our wetlands to make sure they are
Let It Be Known kept in good condition."
Private Party_AdForm
The WHEP program has teams in many Twin Cities
Sport Shots communities, said Galloway.
Stork Report
Search The Web "We have about 15 members of the Mendota Heights team,"
Powered by: she said.. "Many of them are residents of the city, but some are
from surrounding areas."
The volunteers study local wetlands at least twice a week
Search during the summer to test for animal and plant life and potential
problems.
"We offer them training given by scientists from the Pollution
Control Agency," said Galloway. "They are shown the proper
way to take samples and write reports that are given to cities to
show the health of the wetlands in a given community. They
truly make a difference with their work."
This summer the Mendota Heights team will keep track of two
wetlands, Copperfield, near Mendota Heights Road and
Delaware Avenue, and Lockwood Pond, near Dodd Road and
Mendota Heights Road.
"The wetlands in this community are in good shape overall,"
http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=story2&year=2005&storyID=159722 6/24/200.5
HOT TOPICS FOR CI TIES
EE E
New
Utility
The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety has adopted a new rule requiring cities
to locate and mark utility service stops for private companies„ The rule imposes
new city obligations depending on when the facilities were or are to be installed.
ll cities with water and sewer
facilities are directly affected
by new state pipeline safety
rules that went into effect
June 13. The rules promulgated
by the Minnesota Office of
Pipeline Safety (MnOPS)
impose a significant new duty
on cities to provide information about
the location ofprivate water and sewer
laterals located within public rights-of-
way. In particular, the rules impose new
obligations depending on when the
facilities were or are to be installed.
Installations: Pre -Jan. 1, 2006
For service laterals installed before Jan. 1,
2006, the rules require the city to
"either locate or provide information
as shown on maps, drawings, diagrams,
or other records, on the location of a
sewer and water lateral." The rules also
state that "[i]f no information is avail-
able on a sewer or water lateral installed
before Jan. 1, 2006, then notifying the
excavator that no information exists
fulfills the requirements of this section."
The obligation of the city to locate
or provide information noted in the rule
quoted above must be carried out when
responding to requests for locates that
the city receives from Gopher State One
Call (GSOC) beginning Jan. 1, 2006,
Installations: Post -Dec. 31, 2005
For service laterals installed after Dec. 31,
2005, the new rules impose a three-part
obligation. First, cities are required to
"maintain a map, a diagram, a drawing,
or geospatial information regarding the
location of its underground facilities
within a public right-of-way" Second,
cities must "install a locating wire or
By Tom Grundhoefer and Aram Hig_gms
have an equally effective means of
marking the location of each noncon-
ductive underground facility within a
public right-of-way installed after that
date." Third, cities must begin locating
"the portion of the service lateral
within the public right-of-way"
On April 1, the Office of Admin-
istrative Hearings found that these
rules are reasonable and that cities are
expected to fully comply with what the
League of Minnesota Cities views as
some of the most far-reaching changes
to pipeline safety regulation in at least
two decades,.
The new rules announced in the
June 6 issue of the State Register amend
Minn Rules chapter 7560. MnOPS
proposed the rule changes as part of a
"continuing effort to increase public
safety" In Minnesota, a rule is generally
found to be reasonable if it is related
rationally to the end sought to be
achieved by the governing statute (in
this case, the Minnesota One -Call
Excavation Notification System law,
chapter 216D) The rule directly affects
excavators, underground facility opera-
tors (including cities and utilities), and
the GSOC Center.
The rulemaking was controversial
and one which the League—along with
the Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association (MMUA), the Minnesota
Public Works Association, the City
Engineers Association of Minnesota,
the Minnesota Water Utility Council,
the Minnesota Wastewater Treatment
Operators Association, and the Suburban
Rate Authority—argued for modifica-
tions to address serious shortcomings
in the new requirements proposed by
MnOPS,. Cities urged the Office of
Administrative Hearings to consider
several issues, including who actually
owns the facilities, who is responsible
for the facilities, and whether MnOPS
went beyond its statutory authority in
attempting to regulate the locating/
marking of such facilities.
MnOPS argued that cities would
bear no costs under the new require-
ments because installation of service
laterals in a public right-of-way is han-
dled by and paid for by the installing
contractor or by the property owner,.
MnOPS also concluded that cities
should maintain information on the
location of service laterals installed after
2005 because most local governments
already regulate public rights-of-way
within their jurisdictions through con-
nection fees and a permit process.
During lengthy rules advisory com-
mittee deliberations and a hearing
before an administrative law judge, the
League, MMUA, and other organiza-
tions expressed concern that providing
locate information on service laterals
increases the risk of costly litigation
M I NNE SO 1 A C I I IF, S l U N E - l U I. Y 2 0 0 3
because some of the existing location
data on which cities rely may be faulty,
MnOPS reasoned that local governments
have sufficient indemnification under
current statutes.
Perhaps the most controversial
requirement of the new rules was the
proposal requiring operators to install
a locating wire (or have an equally
effective means of marking) to locate
nonconductive underground facilities
installed within a public right-of-way
The League and other municipal inter-
ests argued that the use of locating wire
is inherently unreliable,.
MnOPS reasoned that cities have
the right to require installers to inform
them about, and provide information
on, new service laterals installed and
connected to the city's water and sewer
facilities. MnOPS argued, therefore, that
it is logical and reasonable to assume
cities, as operators, can require installers
to provide the necessary information
for both cities and municipal utilities to
maintain sufficient information on such
laterals for future locate purposes.
MnOPS declined cities' and munici-
pal utilities' suggestion of initiating a
pilot project or study before imposing
the requirement to locate nonconductive
facilities. Cities said the requirement
to install tracer wire or other means of
locating sewer laterals was unreasonable
because current technology often does
not work,- is not accurate; and locating
wires are unreliable when used at the
depths which water and sewer laterals
are found in Minnesota Cities also asked
for a standard, statewide locating -wire
installation standard. These concerns
were dismissed.
MnOPS also rejected a recommen-
dation by private utility contractors that
the rule be expanded to include the
entire length of the service lateral, from
the water or sewer main to the build-
ing.The recommendation was rejected
because "the Department's jurisdictional
authority may be brought into question.
with respect to codes, such as the
Building Code."
MnOPS acknowledged no current
technology is 100 percent accurate, but
that locating wire, as a minimum stan-
dard, was reasonable,.
The Minnesota Rural Electric Associ-
ation (MR -EA) also opposed any service
lateral locating and marking by electric
utilities, because they do not own,
install or maintain the lines beyond the
meter. The response from MnOPS was
similar to the one it made to cities—
primary locating responsibility needed
to be placed on the entity in the best
position to maintain records and locate
underground facilities: the operators.
Recommendations
To meet the new obligations, cities must
develop a system to manage those
installing facilities in the right-of-way.
Some cities have already done this
through use of'a right-of-way manage-
ment ordinance. For other cities, this
will require adopting new local regu-
lations. At the very least, every city
with water and sewer facilities needs
to establish a right-of-way excavation
permit process that meets its needs.
At a minimum, such an ordinance
should require notice to the city, a city
approval process, and a requirement
mandating the installers provide the city
with required information on the loca-
tion of the facilities they have installed.
Ideally, cities would receive accurate as -
built maps or records of the type used
by the city.
The city must develop a system to
respond to excavators that will request
information about the location of
pre Jan,. 1, 2006, installations through
GSOC. The city is only required to
provide the best available information,.
Some cities, however, may want to
embark on a city-wide mapping effort
in order to meet this obligation. Other
cities may only need to make their
records, or copies of their records, more
easily accessible.
For installations occurring after
Dec. 31, 2005, the city must develop
methods to ensure sewer and water
laterals are locatable. The city could
choose to do this is in one of several
ways:
■ Imposing requirements on the
installer. For example, before the city
approves a sewer or water connection,
the city could rightfully require that
the installer provide the city precise
location coordinates, perhaps through
construction grade as -built drawings,
■ Ensuring the requirement to make
facilities locatable is an explicit term
of every development agreement, To
ensure this practice occurs, the city
will need to develop an inspection
program,.
J U N E- l U I Y 2 0 0 5 MINN E SO IN CT I I H S
■ Consider contracting with a private
locating firm and make sure that
every new installation is inspected,
mapped, and located by the firm.
The city must provide the means to
develop a system for maintaining, stor-
ing, and retrieving information about
the location of the newly -installed
facilities (those installed after Dec. 31,
2005; e.g., tie card system, GIS infor-
mation, CAD maps, etc) .
The city itself must begin locating
and marking these newly -installed facil-
ities after Dec. 31, 2005, which may
require training of existing staffor con-
tracting with a private firm.
The city may want to consider
developing more stringent requirements
for firms and contractors undertaking
trenchless excavation in the right-of-
way. For instance, at a minimum the
city should:
■ Require an excavation permit just
Eke other street excavations.
■ Enforce the Minn„ Stat Sec. 216D
requirement that excavators "pot-
hole" when crossing marked sewer
and water laterals,
■ Report excavators that are not appro--
priately "pot -holing" to MnOPS.
The city should document and retain
records of these reports.
■ Consider requirements that prohibit
trenchless excavations more than four
feet below grade without specific
permission from the city.,
Conclusion
All cities must focus serious attention
to the new rules.While the rules con-
stitute a significant unfunded mandate,
cities should exercise their authority
to pass along many ofthe costs as part
of an excavation permit process. Cities
should also seriously consider increased
regulation of trenchless excavators, since
this type of installation would likely be
the cause of hits to municipal facilities. Ir
Tom Grundhoefer is legal counsel of the
League of Minnesota Cities„ Phoney (6.51)
281-1266 E-mail: tgrundho@bnnc org
Ann Higgins is intergovernmental relations
representative with the League of Minnesota
Cities Phone (6.51) 281-1257, E-mail:
ahig,cins@lmnc org.
Page 1 of 1
James Danielson
From: Emmy Foster
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 10:56 AM
To: Mike Aschenbrener; Neil Garlock; James Danielson
Subject: from the Rosemount Town Pages
County police departments team up for traffic enforcement
Thursday, June 16, 2005
By Nathan Hansen, editor
Police officers and sheriff's deputies throughout Dakota County are hoping a little cooperation will make the roads
safer for everyone. Over the weekend Dakota County law enforcement officers conducted their first test of the
new Dakota County Traffic Safety Group. The group, which grew from several other cooperative efforts in the
county, is designed to provide concentrated enforcement once weekend each month in
a part of the county identified as a trouble spot. So far, so good. __ � � � n 1 _.
According to Mendota Heights sergeant Neil Garlock, who organized
the weekend enforcement, 15 officers worked from 9 p..m. Friday until subs'rikenew and t
1 a..m. Saturday.. In those four hours they stopped 155 cars, issued 58 tv" file Twins t1ekets
citations and arrested 13 people. There were five arrests for driving„
Subscribe t the Town Pa P � x
while intoxicated, two for drug offenses and two for open bottlefor ti �tand you'll t�
violations, There were also 55 warnings for speeding and 14 h et for ars upcom 1tg � F,g
miscellaneous citationsTwins gant
Garlock could not make a direct comparison to typical weekend HERE!
activity, but he said Friday night's numbers were significantly higher CLICK
than normal. The reserved seaart int the, �;,. � y�, µ
"it was our first run, and I'm sure it's going to get better every time," he rdtok� i�ty�
said.. T ims Iii ataedat $48)
ount
The traffic safety which includes all 11 organized police Town TownTages
departments in the county along with the county sheriffs department,
is an expansion of a group, formed by deputy Bruce Johnson, that held#
wlwn of Mob cayr#sd
monthly meetings to discuss traffic safety issues. That group was open r ,*CO *t
to everyone from patrol officers to prosecutors, Johnson said. Underasa
the traffic safety group, each department will provide two officers for one weekend of concentrated enforcement
every month.. That enforcement will not always directly benefit Rosemount, but the idea behind the group is that
making roads throughout the county safer benefits everyone.. And, eventually, Rosemount will take its turn as the
focus of enforcement.. Rosemount police chief Gary Kalstabakken said the department is already working on a
plan for that weekend.
And, Kalstabakken said, there are other benefits to the program "I think it shows, once again, the cooperation of
law enforcement within Dakota County," Kalstabakken said. "It pays off in the visibility of an effort such as this, but
on the day-to-day efforts as well. We can build off of it by making officers more familiar with each other and other
departments.."
"The benefit is looking at the entire county as a community and making the entire community safer," Johnson
said. "If the whole place is safer, then it's worth it. It's kind of like education You're investing in the future."
The departments that participated in last weekend's test paid for the enforcement out of their own pockets. There
is one more test weekend planned, but after that organizers hope to pay for the program with grants.
Johnson said the program's benefits would justify continuing it even if would no grant money is available.
"If the grant money dries up we'll keep on going with it," he said.
"I think people will see the benefit of it."
6/20/2005
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LMC
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Lcu.re.a arAlii�u.sofo Citlrr
A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities
June 17, 2005
Page 1
Shut down plans take shape order was issued directing that core functions
On Tuesday, Governor Pawlenty released lads
alLIanL identifying core: state functions he intends
to operate in the face of a government shut
down.. That same day, petitions to order the
continuation of essential government services
were presented by the G aver. tior and.Atttc?z�'f' ey
Ge_ncial.. A court ruling would be needed to
provide executive authority to provide state
services in the event of a shut down.. A June 29
hearing in Ramsey County District Court has
been scheduled..
State agencies facing shut down include
Agriculture, Commerce, Education,
Employment and Economic Development
(DEED), Health, Human Services, Labor and
Industry, Natural Resources (DNR), Public
Safety (partially funded), Transportation
(MnDOT), Housing Finance (MHFA), Iron
Range Resources, Pollution Control (MPCA),
as well as 35 state commissions and boards..
Some state agencies have been funded and
would not be affected by a shut down..
An agency -by -agency list of positions the
Governor considers essential, and services that
he would continue if given the authority to do
so, can be viewed on the Governor's website,
or by clicking her e.,
The only other time Minnesota has faced a
similar situation was in 2001, when the House,
Senate, and then Governor Ventura could not
reach agreement on a state budget.. That year,
the Legislature completed its work just hours
before a state shutdown would have occurred..
In June of 2001, the uncertainty about the
passage of a state budget led state agencies to
undertake shut down preparations, and a Court
continue operations..
Questions? Contact Gary Carlson at
651.281.12SS or . carlsf.977,' dm.nc.org.
Local impacts of state government
shutdown
Below are examples of the local impacts of the
impending state government shut down.. A
more detailed list is being complied by IGR
staff and will be listed in next week's (..itzes
13tilleo,tin publication.
At least two agencies that are key to city
operations the Departments of Revenue and
Financewillbe funded through the 2006-
2007 biennium with the Governor's approval of
the omnibus state departments' bill at the end
of the Regular Session., The Department of
Revenue administers the LGA and market
value homestead credit programs as well as
most of the current local option sales taxes that
have been previously approved by the
legislature and the Department of Finance
issues the payments for the aid and credit
programs.
Questions? Contact Gary Carlson at
651.281.1255 or gx�ur"l a �:yll;<�,?lrrzlzc:. caa- x.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPGA) would not be issuing any permits or
completing any environmental review during a
state shutdown of non-essential services.. That
means that no wastewater facility permits (new
or expansion), air permits for power generation
facilities, or storm -water permits for larger new
development projects would be issued and that
final approval of environmental impacts on
major projects would not be completed., The
For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team..
651 281 1200 or 800 925 1122
Jun 17 2885 15:16:32 Via Fax -> 6514528948 Administrator
-Fri a F ax -
Y
A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities
agency would continue to monitor and maintain
polluted sites for which the state is responsible,
continue air quality monitoring and associated
health alerts, provide Emergency Response
Remediation for hazardous materials
containment and clean-up, and provide training
and licensing for environmental professionals,
including wastewater treatment facility
operators..
Questions? Contact Craig Johnson at
651.281.1259 or c;ie:Rlz�z+a�z'iiian.7x. cArk.
At a hearing earlier this week, the Department
of Transportation officials painted a gloomy
picture of what a shut -down would mean for
transportation. Without passage of a biennial
transportation budget, the following are some
activities that would likely be forced to halt::
• operation of highway rest areas (88 in all);
• funding to 69 Greater Minnesota transit
programs;
• flow of state aid to county and municipal
governments for state aid road projects
(note that maintenance aid payments will be
made in advance of June 30);
• processing of truck permits for over -weight
and over -width loads;
• operation of highway message boards and
other motorist information; and
• activities of the Freeway Incident Response
Safety Team (FIRST) on the metro freeway
system..
Questions? Contact Anne Finn at
651.281.1263 or czflrre;lrrarta~.ar�.
Fits and starts
Page 802 Of 884
June 17, 2005
Page 2
Activity at the Capitol this week was marked
by offers and counteroffers but not much
progress in the effort to bring an end to the
standoff on the state budget., Although the
House and Senate continue their negotiations,
the Governor turned his focus to the possibility
of a partial state government shutdown by
announcing his initial plans for maintaining
essential state government services..
On Tuesday, the House and Senate members of
the Tax Working Group exchanged proposals
in an effort to reach a compromise.. Despite
criticism by the Governor and the House
members, the Senate is holding to its position
on a new 9.9 percent fourth tier income tax
bracket for married earners with incomes over
$250,000 which would increase state revenues
by an estimated $786..3 million for the
biennium. The Senate plan also includes
approximately $300 million over the biennium
by adopting 55 cents of the Governor's
proposal 75 -cent cigarette tax increase and
$225 million in revenue enhancements that
have already been agreed to by the Working
Group.. In total, the Senate's offer would
increase net state revenues by approximately
$1..6 billion to $1..8 billion..
The House proposal was much smaller.. In total,
the House offer would raise between $560
million and $670 million in additional net state
revenues.. The House offer did not include the
Governor's cigarette tax proposal but instead
included the proposal to authorize the Racino at
Canterbury Park, which would generate an
estimated $210 million for the 2006-2007
biennium. As with the Senate plan, the House
offer includes $225 million in revenue
enhancements that have already been agreed to
For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team..
651.281 1200 or 800.925.1122
Jun 17 2005 15;17:13 Via Fax -> 6514525940 Administrator Page 003 Of 004
LMC
-Frida F ax -
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A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities
by the Working Group., The House offer also
taps $170 million in recent state revenue
collections that were in excess of the state
revenue projections..
Despite nearly four weeks of Special Session
activity, the House and Senate members are
clearly miles apart. As a result, a partial state
shutdown looks more likely.
Lights -on proposal
On Thursday, the Senate members of the Tax
Working Group unveiled a "lights -on" proposal
that would fund baseline operations for state
agencies that have not yet received
appropriations for the upcoming 2006-2007
biennium.. The package also includes a number
of tax increases, extensions and accelerations
that would be needed to cover the projected
$466 million state budget deficit.. The bill
would prevent a July 1 state agency shutdown
but would not address all of the state's 2006-
2007 budget needs and priorities.. Most notably,
the proposal would not increase funding for
several priority items including K-12 education
or transportation.
House reaction to the Senate lights -on proposal
was cool.. House members of the Tax Working
Group expressed concerns that passage of the
proposal could eliminate the pressure to
complete all of the work on the state's
budget—including the bipartisan push for
additional funding for schools and
transportation.. However, without a stopgap
funding mechanism of their own, the Governor
and the House could face criticism for failing to
avert a state government shutdown.. As a result,
we may see a House version of the lights -on
offer in the near future..
June 17, 2005
Page 3
House members also expressed concern about
the Senate's piecemeal approach to the state
budget. By adopting a lights -on approach, the
legislature would lose some ability to
reprioritize state resources within the overall
state budget.. As a result, the debate could
become more focused on how to raise revenues
to fund additional K-12 priorities..
Senate republicans weigh-in
Also, on Thursday, the Senate Republican
Caucus unveiled a much different plan to
finalize the state's budget and close down the
Special Session.. Among other features, the
proposal would increase school funding by nine
percent over the biennium through increases in
state aid, fund health and human services
slightly under the Senate DFL plan and
increase LGA by $86 million..
Much of the proposal is predicated on recent
increases in state revenue collections and the
belief that the economic projections used by the
Department of Finance have been too
pessimistic.. Over the past several months,
actual state collections have exceeded the
projections by approximately $170 million.
Although state economist Tom Stinson always
cautions about extrapolating from short-term
trends, the Senate Republican proposal would
call on the Department of Finance to prepare an
updated state budget forecast to recognize these
additional revenues and presumably increase
the revenue projections for the upcoming
budget cycle.. According to Senate Minority
Leader Dick Day (R -Owatonna), he believes an
updated forecast will reveal $450 million in
additional revenues over the 2006-2007
biennium.
For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team..
651281 1200 or 800.925.1122
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A weekly legislative update from the League ofMinnesota Cities
The other major revenue component of the
Senate Republican plan is a projected $264
million from the authorization of a Racino at
the Canterbury Park racetrack.. The Racino and
casino proposals that have been discussed this
year at the Capitol have been controversial and
have not received overwhelming support in
either the House or the Senate..
The House and Senate will hold floor sessions
on Monday and the Tax Working Group will
meet again on Monday afternoon.. At that point,
they will have only ten days to resolve their
disagreements..
Questions? Contact Gary Carlson at
651.281.1255 or -earl sc)W''Ttrn..rzc. ®.
CDBG survives another day, cuts still
expected
Funding for the Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG-) program survived another
important battle this week, and National
League of Cities (NLC) lobbyists credit League
members and pro -city advocates from across
the country for their support of the Save CDBG
campaign.
"This latest victory is due in large part to
prompt and effective responses to action alerts
and requests for targeted advocacy by city
officials," said Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis,
Director of Policy and Federal Relations for
NLC.. "We heard repeatedly in meetings with
the members, that they had heard from cities in
their districts.. That's what counts and that's
what has made this campaign such a success.."
June 17, 2005
Page 4
Despite a Presidential effort to drastically
change the program, CDBG was included this
week in a mark-up of the Transportation,
Treasury, Housing and Urban Development FY
2006 appropriations bill in a U.S.. House of
Representatives Appropriations subcommittee.
"The Committee did not agree to the proposal
to eliminate this program, consolidate its
functions and transfer the implementation to
the Department of Commerce," according to a
subcommittee news release issued June 15,
2005.
Not unexpectedly, the House subcommittee did
propose cuts to the CDBG program.. Overall
funding would be reduced from $4..7 billion to
$42 billion and, most importantly for cities, the
formula grants would be decreased by $250
million from $4.1 billion to $3.86 billion. Local
pro -city advocates and the NLC will continue
to work to increase the appropriations number
in the Senate appropriations process and in
conference committee.
Other important appropriations for cities
contained in this bill can be found online at
latt :!; r� x ro :kz-i.a°tio�as.la.ouse. Yoe%..
Additional information on the Save CDBG
campaign, and other city -friendly federal
legislation, can be found online at
Questions? Contact Brian Strub at
651.281.1256 or bsrrili �&,Iyrinc. r .
For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team..
651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122