Your Money In the City's Bank Account

12/28/11

The Insider has been musing about the amount of your cash the City has in its "bank" reserve accounts. The amount on hand is considerable (around $14 million) and rumored to be coveted by our state legislators in their flailing attempts to get the state budget deficit under control.

So, you are invited to consider the following which is extracted from the 11/28 council work session materials.
All amounts are in $ thousands unless otherwise noted.

Reserve Account         Start 2012        End 2021        Needed (6 months' expenses)
Water Utility                 3732                4999               350    City water users paying too much
Sanitary Sewer Utility   3527                -275                500    Paying too much, but subsidizing Storm Water
Storm Water Utility       339                  118                 300    Fees too low, but subsidized by Sanitary Sewer
Parks Improvement      137                  -673                ?        Source is $40,000 yearly from tax levy
Community Investment 1667                -118                ?        No new $ coming in. 100% spending on trails

So, what to take away from this?

Staff is suggesting the overage and the shortfall in Sanitary and Storm Sewer, respectively, be balanced against each other over the next 10 years. Seems a good approach if one assumes Storm Water projects are really necessary.

Watch for Mayor Lizee and her team to find a way to spend the excess Water Utility money. The discussion of this is planned for a February council work session. Will there be any serious discussion of finding a way to send some of this excess back to water users who have paid too much? Likely not.

The Insider has written about trails. Above you can see that the Trail Plan, which has quadrupled in cost since Council received it from the Trail Committee, sucks the Infrastructure fund dry, plus some. Spending $1.8 million for trails!

Finally, the Parks Fund is orphaned. The Parks Commission has had lots of discussion about improvements over the next 10 years, but Mayor Lizee and her team just don't have a Parks strategy. The Insider believes parks are one of Shorewood's key features and deserve thoughtful funding for improvements. The last information on usage from the City was that some 3000 individuals were registered sports users of the parks each year plus countless casual users walking, ice skating, etc. Does it make sense to ignore these users in favor of some undefined use associated with new trails?

It's your money. What do you think?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Organics Recycling - Update

12/22/11

The Insider has been sorting through various unfinished Shorewood Council business and the topic of organics recycling turned up.

Readers may recall that the Council authorized staff to apply for a County grant to support a pilot program. Further, this grant was awarded during the summer. Things were very quite until at the last Council Meeting Administrator Heck reported that staff is working with two potential contractors. He also reported that the program would be voluntary.

The Insider's wonders when the Council will be given any details and options to consider. Perhaps, the whole program will spring forth, fully formed, without any formal Council discussion as to how it will operate, etc. This wouldn't surprise the Insider since Mayor Lizee's track record is to work on such programs behind the scenes and then put a final decision on an agenda bypassing any intermediate discussion. Recall that she did this with the now dead attempt to create a new JPA for management of AIS.

Again, where is the "transparency" that Lizee, Hotvet and Siakel promised in their election campaign?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Water Extension Petition - Whoops!

12/15/11

Two meetings ago, Shorewood's Council directed staff to assist a resident to send out a petition they had developed asking the City to extend water to their area so as to resolve a local well issue with arsenic. Further, staff was to include an invitation to a public meeting during which the petitioner and staff could present facts about such extension. So, what actually happened?

Staff prepared a mailing list and labels for properties that might be passed by a water mail extension. So far, good. Then, staff used City resources to provide copies of the petition and accompanying literature (propaganda from the NRDC, a lobbying group) including, the mailing envelopes. Then, staff used the City postage meter to meter and mail the petitions. Last two not good.

Also not good was that the invitation to the public awareness meeting was never developed or sent out.

From what the Insider hears from various sources, some residents who've received the mailings are very unhappy about misuse of City resources and the information supplied.

It appears the City is now in damage control mode.

The real question and problem seems to surround the fuzzy direction given to staff by Mayor Lizee in the motion that approved City involvement. It's the Mayor's job to make certain that motions are clear and understood. She did not do this and it's not the first time.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

MCWD - 12/8 Meeting and AIS

12/12/11

As previously reported here, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board held a meeting on 12/8 during which AIS was discussed. The Insider has the following from people who attended. Minutes from the meeting were not on the MCWD's web site as of the time of this posting.

Zebra mussel presence was monitored during the year and they're in the lower and upper lakes and also, below the dam. The high densities are in the lower lake with some sites at over 90,000 mussels per meter squared.

The Christmas Lk weevil experiment was mentioned and spun as something of a learning experience with plans to hire some sort of consultant to try again in 2012. As previously reported here, the Insider knows the 2011 work was a failure.

Lots of discussion about a "comprehensive AIS plan." It was clear that all the Board members aren't enthusiastic about the MCWD taking over AIS in the watershed. There was talk of a never ending project and unsupportable costs. There was even an exchange focusing on how the non-lake residents would benefit with some hand waving that implied that there were, of course, such benefits.

Support from the watershed cities is mixed. Interestingly, Minneapolis and  Edina have not weighed in. Plymouth has said they will not take a position, Mound has voted against and some others are on the fence.

The Board finally agreed to have staff prepare a plan and a draft budget for activities in 2012. This is to be discussed on 12/29. Also, the Board approved working with Carver County on an inspection program that Carver has said it'd like to develop, but which it hasn't funded ($30,000 appears to be the cost). Seems MCWD is willing to spend something like $15,000 to support Carver in their project. It's really a poor bargaining strategy for MCWD to go on record that it'll subsidize someone else's project. How hard would you work to find funding if you were Carver County if you knew you had a patsy who has the itch to spend?

Watch this blog for more after the 12/29 meeting.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Council Personnel Committee - What?

12/9/11

Mulling over what's happened since the "new" Council was seated in January, the Insider recalls the creation of the Personnel Committee.

Mayor Lizee proposed this new committee in January, nominated herfelf and Debbie Siakel as the committee members from Council, and the Mayor's "new" Council promptly approved. Looking back, the Insider cannot come up with anything that defines the duties of this new committee nor what it's done in the past 11 months.

The Insider knows, from multiple sources within City staff, that this committee has met numerous times. Yet, there's nary a whisper of a public report to Council and the Shorewood public about what it's done or doing.

Obviously, the Mayor does not think her "transparency" pledge applies or that she owes any right of oversight to the Council.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shouth Shore Center - Budget Slight Of Hand?

12/7/11

After some checking around and following the 2012 budget work session of 11/28 (see: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/112811shorewood.wmv
at the 2 hour 57 minute point for beginning), the Insider is concluding there's budgeting magic at work in the Shoth Shore Center budget for 2012.

Staff presented a Center budget that showed over $93,000 of revenue, more than $16,000 above that which was budgeted for 2011. Staff could not offer any explanation for the increase, over $14,000 of which is supposed to be increased rental fees.

On the expense side, staff showed contracted services increasing by $25,000. Those keeping close track should recall that these services are the cost of Community Rec Resources (Kristi Anderson) managing the center for the City.

So, does Kristi have a grand plan for driving more revenue in 2012? Seems nobody on City Staff knows or is telling. The Insider wonders how a $25,000 increase in expenses for Kristi is justified by a $14,000 rental income increase. Seems not to make any business sense no matter how it's viewed.

Further complicating the picture is the fact that the budget, that's sure to be adopted for the City, eliminates use of Community Rec Resources as the parks scheduling resource and Park Commission interface. Seems this is viewed as a big savings for the City as the work is being taken in-house to be done by existing staff. However, is the slight of hand that CRR is still being paid the same dollars in 2012 as in 2011 and what it has lost on park-related work is showing up in Center expense increases? Even Congress couldn't come up with a scheme better than this to keep CRR whole at taxpayer expense.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

AIS - Latest Info

12/1/11

One of the readers of this blog has commented that the City installed a post in the Christmas Lake launch ramp lot that prevents vehicles with trailers from turning around. Then, this same reader has commented that the City has decided the post was a mistake and will remove it. The post and its removal is typical of the planning and oversight for the ramp control work. There seems to be very little of either. Mostly, there is silence. Especially from the Mayor who so enthusiastically supported this project earlier this year. Where's her leadership and good ideas now? Also, where is the Christmas Lake Association?

Meanwhile, the MCWD is holding a meeting of its Board at 6:30 PM on 12/8 at the MCWD offices in Deephaven to discuss the role it will play in AIS management. The MCWD has sent out an email inviting public attendance. If you attend, the Insider would like to hear your reactions.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Budgets - Latest Council Actions - More On Trails Too

12/01/11

Shorewood Council discussed the 2012 and beyond budgets at its 11/28/11 work session. See:
http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/112811shorewood.wmv
and the 2 hour 57 minute point for the beginning of the recording of this discussion.

The 2012 general fund budget spending was slightly reduced by staff and the 2012 tax levy was recommended to be left at the 2011 level. The Insider views both of these as good news. The Council will present the budget to the public at the Truth-In-Taxation meeting at City Hall on Monday, December 5, 7:00 PM, at which time the public will have a chance to comment. Following this, Council must send a final budget to the county by 12/15. So, a vote on the final budget would happen during the Council's 12/12 meeting.

The more enlightening discussion surrounded the capital budget. The Insider notes that, again, staff did not present any detail justifying the items listed in the capital budget and nobody on the council except Woodruff even questioned this. In response to Woodruff's continued comments about this, Mayor Lizee resorted to her old mantra of wanting to avoid "micro managing" staff. The Insider puts it to you, the reader and taxpayer: Don't you want your council members to know why and approve the City plans to spend tens and hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars?  Apparently the majority of Council sees no problem with this.

Staff showed the recently adopted Trail Plan being fully funded in the capital plan. Two things jump out at the Insider. First, the funding is from the infrastructure fund (yes, this includes the "liquor store" money) and over ten years consumes all of the $1.7 million in this fund. Second, the cost of trails has gone through the roof.

The approved Trail Plan has cost estimates for the trail segments calculated at something like $15 per foot. Now, the capital plan is showing something like $60 per foot. The Insider recalls that the short segment from the Cty19 LRT trail to the sidewalk in front of the Hazelwood shopping center (something like 500 feet) was being discussed more than one year ago (pre-Trail Plan) as a $6000 item. Now, it's ballooned to $72,000! Mayor Lizee seems un-phased by this astounding cost. This short segment is planned for 2012 and staff has applied for a grant to cover a large part of the cost. So, maybe the segment will get built. But, would you spend $72,000 for 500 feet of trail if it was your own money (which it really turns out to be). The Insider sarcastically wonders if the City could instead offer taxi service to everyone wanting to travel this 500 feet and spend less money than building the trail. There are an infinite number of ways to spend money, but a very small number of smart ways. You decide if this is one of the many or the few.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

AIS, LMCD, MCWD, DNR, LMA, CLA - Need More Acronyms?

11/22/11

The acronym alphabet soup that's involved in the Aquatic Invasive Species action (inaction?) continues to be stirred.

Last week the LMCD's Board approved a resolution supporting the Watershed's assumption of the lead in managing AIS. From what's reached the Insider's eyes, the LMCD will continue to be involved in AIS management on Lk Mtka and will support the MCWD in its efforts. In all, this is probably good in that the LMCD really does not have the resources or financial capability that the MCWD can muster.

Meanwhile, the MCWD's Board continues to discuss what it should be doing. Apparently, it has authorized hiring a specialist in AIS. However, at last report, the MCWD's 509 Plan (10 yr plan that states what it'll be doing) still needs a "Major Amendment" to add AIS management. So, it would appear the MCWD can position itself, but cannot really do anything right now. Plan amendments require approval of the cities in the watershed which can be a drawn out process and is no sure thing.

It's good that mother nature and her ice is about to end the AIS threat for awhile. Will the MCWD have an action plan in place and authority to act in-hand by spring? Don't bet the farm!

Happy Reading!
The Insider

2012 Property Tax - Estimates Arriving In Mailboxes

11/17/11

Check your mail. Hennepin County has started mailing out property tax estimates for 2012.

New this year is the elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit and its replacement with a valuation exclusion program. This slight of hand was done by our state legislators in another goofy attempt to balance the state budget. The result is that any homeowners that previously received the MVHC credit on their tax bills will not in 2012. The state saves money from not reimbursing the cities for the loss of the tax revenue. Of course, for the past couple of years, the state had not been reimbursing the cities at 100% or in some cases, at all. So the "savings" are somewhat of a sham at the state level.

The exclusion reduces the taxable market value of properties valued at up to just over $400,000, but on a scale with more reductions for lower valued properties. The effect of this ill-conceived exclusion is that there is even more chance that property taxes will be shifted from lower value properties to higher value ones in a city. Hey! It's a new social equity program in the guise of a state tax savings!

As in prior years, your tax bill may go up or down even though the City, County, School District, etc. have made no or small changes in the taxes they levy. In the past, this was usually due to the relation of the change in value of your property in comparison to others in the city. Now, the new exclusion also has an effect.

Shorewood for the past three years and now, again in 2012, is not raising its tax levy. So, don't jump on the City Council if your tax bill goes up and don't praise them if it goes down.

For more information on the new exclusion and the MVHC debacle, see MN Public radio's website and the video they made to explain. It's very good.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/25/video-property-taxes-increase/

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Border Signs - The Latest Info

11/16/11

The City is scrambling to recover from the installation of the eyesore Shorewood border signs. As reported previously, the signs are huge and dominate the landscape where they're installed. The Insider has learned that more than a few Shorewood residents have expressed amazement and dismay.

It seems that nobody on City staff really checked on the new sign size in the vendor quote when the order was submitted resulting in the huge signs and a bill for $1800 for what appears to be scrap metal.

Staff is working with the sign company and the Council to modify the size and it looks like new signs will be ordered at City expense. Also, according to a report at Monday night's Council Meeting, MNDOT has denied approval to install the new signs on Hwy 7 citing the slogan "A Shouthlake Community" as being advertising and being against MNDOT rules. Again, where was staff in checking the rules before ordering the signs. Appears that Zerby's zeal to get the new signs might have trumped proper due diligence.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Zebra Mussel Gate - Christmas Lake

7/15/11

The previously mentioned (in this blog) gate on the boat ramp at Christmas Lake has been installed by Shorewood and appears to be in operation. This gate closes the ramp from 1000pm to 600am. So, we're sure that no Zebra Mussels will sneak into the lake in the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, the original plan to have inspections of watercraft to allow access to the ramp during the day remains in limbo. Carver County has just approved inspections at Lake Minnewashta, but there are no implementation plans, the DNR has not agreed to allow inspections and no money has been allocated for this by Carver. The Christmas Lake plan included inspections at Minnewashta, but it remains to be seen if this can happen under what Carver just approved.

Also part of the original plan was the Christmas Lake Association being actively involved in managing the gated access and more importantly, paying for the gate. So far, no agreement with the Association is documented and Shorewood has paid for the gate without any authorization from City Council. This is just another example of Mayor Lizee's operating style, taking action and spending City money without Council discussion or approval. So much for "transparency."

Keep reading as this develops further.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

AIS Joint Powers Agreement - DNR Declines To Play

11/15/11

The Insider has learned that the DNR notified the City that it will not participate in the JPA regarding AIS as proposed by Shorewood (see prior blog post on this JPA).

So, the DNR won't play with Mayor Lizee's attempt to create a new bureaucracy and to take "a leadership role" in control of Aquatic Invasive Species. The Insider believes this is a sensible response by the DNR. After all, the DNR ceding its powers to a new agency that is organized so as to be able to dictate to the DNR or veto anything the DNR might want to do is nonsensical.

It appears Shorewood's next step is to discuss with the Watershed District (the third of the proposed members of the ill-advised JPA) how to proceed. The Insider notes that there has been no action on the JPA by the Watershed Board either.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

OMG! - New Shorewood Border Signs Are HUGE

11/10/11

If you haven't seen one of the new signs at Shorewood's borders, you haven't been out of the house or are blind. They're Huge! The Insider has traveled worldwide and has never seen a sign announcing that one is entering a city that is the size of the new signs.

Readers should recall that the signs are Council Member Zerby's latest pet project. It may be that the only thing in Shorewood larger than these signs is Zerby's ego.

What an eyesore!

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood's Trail Plan - Cost Explosion?

11/9/11

The Insider has learned that City staff has told Council that it will not apply for a grant for a trail segment on Smithtown Rd. from the Victoria border to Minnewashta School. The reason given was the the City's part of the cost was going to be more than $400,000.

Let's review.

The whole Trail Plan, recently adopted by Council, was estimated to cost just over $700,000. The Smithtown Rd. segment is arguably less than 20% of the trails in the whole plan. Yet, including getting a grant, the City would have to pay out more than $400,000 for just this one segment.

So, the Insider asks: What is the real estimated cost of the entire Trail Plan?

For perspective, the City's annual expense budget is about $5 million. Adjusting the Trail Plan estimated cost based on just the $400,000 for 20%, the entire Plan cost would be more than $2 million or approaching 50% of what the City spends in one entire year. With this sort of price tag, how important should trails be in Shorewood?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Greenwood Decides Not To Pursue Police Options!

11/3/11

According to reliable sources, Greenwood's Council, at its meeting this week, decided 3 to 2 not to further pursue options for police services. Several weeks ago, the Insider reported that the Council had decided to look outside of the South Lake PD for policing options citing a desire for lower cost. The Insider believes this earlier decision was unanimous.

So, why did Greenwood's council change its mind and why was it only 3 of the 5 members who did so? The Insider speculates that Chief Litsey brought pressure and engaged his "friends" on the Police Board to do the same. Also likely is some concession that 3 Greenwood Council Members think Greenwood will get from the SLMPD for dropping Greenwood's pursuit of options. Since the stated reason for looking at options was only financial, the concessions must be financial. Interestingly, the JPA specifies how much Greenwood pays. So, the Insider further speculates there will be a discussion about modifying the JPA funding formula.

Readers may recall that there was a huge fight the last time the JPA funding formula was up for review. A fight that ultimately ended up in legal action and in a judge setting the current funding formula.

Watch this blog for more on this as it's surely coming soon.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

City Staffing Changes

10/27/11

After two years on the job, the City Administrator, Brian Heck, is actually taking some action to clean house at City Hall.

The 10/24 Council Meeting was preceded by a closed Executive session of Council at which it seems changes in staffing and sharing services with neighboring cities was discussed. What is known for sure is that Council approved combining two part-time positions, eliminating the Web Coordinator job effective 11/1/11. Also, the contract with Community Rec Resources to manage parks scheduling and to be the staff liaison to the Parks Commission will end 1/1/12 with the work being assumed by existing City staff. These two actions would appear to save just under $100,000 per year.

The Insider thinks more changes will come in the next month or two. It's about time!

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Organics Recycling Update

10/27/11

Someone at City Hall must be reading this blog. The organics recycling subject came up on the 10/24 Council agenda. Council formally accepted the County grant supporting a pilot program and staff is to put the program together.

This program is fulfillment of a campaign promise of Hotvet and company. watch for it to get rammed through Council regardless of how ugly the program might be for residents.

Happy reading!
The Insider

Musings and Newsings

10/16/11

Here are some thoughts from the Insider and some news items from the past two weeks.

Christmas Lake Launch Gate - The gates should be installed by the end of October. These will close the boat launch from 1000 PM to 600 AM as is allowed under the Shorewood agreement with the DNR. Of interest are comments on one fishing advocacy website that maybe someone ought to dump water from Lk Mtka into Christmas Lk to plant Zebra Mussels there. The Insider wonders how many times per month the gate will be torn off. After all, who is going to see "vandals" doing this in the middle of the night?

Organics Recycling - What's happened to the much touted (by Lizee and Hotvet) organics recycling pilot program? The City has had a grant to pay for it (from Hennepin County) for three months. Could it be that staff can't get the pilot off the ground?

Resident Survey - It's on the way to randomly selected residences in Shorewood by US mail. Looking at the draft that was discussed by Council, the survey seems pretty good. It remains to be seen if Council will know what to do with the results or, will like them. If you receive one, the Insider recommends you complete it and send it back.

Trails - Council approved adding the recently created Trail Plan to the Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, at the 10/10 Council Meeting, Council approved asking for grants for a trail segment connecting the LRT trail crossing County 19 to the sidewalk in front of the strip mall in Tonka Bay and one from Victoria to Minnewashta School along Smithtown Rd. The City is committing to pay 25% of the cost. This'll be the first test of what it'll actually cost to build and maintain new trails. BTW, the City has not addressed the maintenance issue including, cost of keeping these open in the winter.

Fiber Optics - City staff has been discussing connection of City buildings to the Carver County fiber optic network. Council has been told that the cost will be more than $80,000. Of course, no mention of what benefits come with this $80,000 of spending. Zerby has been directly involved in the discussions. It'll be interesting to hear him advocate for this when just two months ago, he managed to kill the LMCC's efforts to bring fiber optics to all of Shorewood including, City buildings.

Christmas Lake Milfoil-Eating Weavil Test - Reports are that it's a dismal failure. No wonder there have been no articles from Dick Osgood in the local papers.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Mound Disapproves AIS Resolution

10/5/11

Mound's Council has disapproved a resolution that started in Shorewood. This resolution would have supported the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District as the agency responsible for AIS programs. See http://www.waconiapatriot.com/articles/2011/10/05/the_laker/news/news01.txt for the article in the Laker.

Long Lake and unconfirmed, Excelsior have approved the Shorewood resolution. Deephaven has deferred action on it.

The Insider shares the concerns of Mayor Hanus of Mound and the Mound Council about the MCWD's heavy handed operating methods as well as the limited geographic scope of authority the MCWD actually has.

The Insider observed the MCWD's handling of comments on new rules it proposed in 2010. If inadequate review time, and largely ignoring the strenuous objections of cities in the district is to be the operating mode for AIS management, the MCWD is not the agency to be responsible.

Readers should know that the MCWD levies its own property taxes. The MCWD Board is appointed by the Carver and Hennepin County Boards, but it really reports to nobody. Even the State has no operational control over what it does or the amount of taxes it levies. The Executive Director was overheard bragging that the tax base against which it levies property tax is huge and the MCWD could decide to make big tax increases to increase spending. As it is, the MCWD has staff in excess of 20 and even has its own public relations person on full-time staff. They just agreed to do a project in Hopkins which calls for purchasing about $15 million of property along Minnehaha Creek. These are our tax dollars and we have no say in how they're being spent (of course the MCWD would say they have public meetings on expenditures, but they can't be held to account for listening and their decisions).

So, Mound might be correct.

Happy reading!
The Insider

AIS Joint Powers Agreement Marches Forward

10/2/11

As previously reported in this blog, the JPA dealing with Aquatic Invasive Species management/control was on the Shorewood Council agenda on 9/26. Readers may watch the discussion at http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/092611shorewood.wmv and the 1 hour 40 minute point in the video.

This time, the City Attorney had an actual draft of the JPA up for council review. There were a few introductory remarks by the Mayor and Administrator Heck, and extensive comments by Woodruff. Siakel was not at the meeting, Hotvet didn't have anything to say. Zerby only pointed out that in one section  it was unclear if the Mayor was a mandatory member of the Board. The Attorney said the Mayor was to be a member along with one other council member and the JPA would be revised to make sure this was clear.

The Insider wonders that for such an important document, creating an entirely new legal entity, why nobody except Woodruff had any comments or concerns. After all, the original idea of controlling access to Christmas Lake and having inspections of watercraft is almost lost in this JPA. The Christmas Lake Association is not even a party to the JPA, but they were supposed to be very active in operating and funding the access control and inspection program. Do you suppose there was pre-discussion and no need for comments at the meeting?

The Watershed board had not met to consider the JPA draft although one can see its Executive Director speak during the discussion. The DNR had not yet responded to the copy it was sent.

The Insider has to agree with Council Member Woodruff that this JPA is unnecessary and seems to be an attempt to create a new bureauacracy when only a simple contract would serve the purpose. Further, if the MCWD wants to be in charge of AIS why doesn't it take the lead and write a contract with Shorewood, the Lake Association and the DNR in which it is the operating entity instead of doing this JPA. Is the MCWD going to add every other city in the watershed to this JPA as it extends its AIS efforts to other lakes and streams? Maybe it plans on multiple JPA's, one with every city? This seems nonsensical to the Insider.

Of course this JPA could be Mayor Lizee's latest attempt to make herself the leader of the AIS efforts in the Lake Minnetonka area. Past attempts by her to organize the cities surrounding Lake Minnetonka have met with resounding indifference. Now she seems to have found an ally in the MCWD.

The Insider anxiously awaits the DNR's response to this JPA creation effort.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Greenwood to leave police JPA?

9/25/11

The insider has learned that an email from Deb Kind, Mayor of Greenwood, to the Chief of the Southlake PD announces Greenwood's plan to look at alternatives to the SLMPD for police services. The email states that the reason for this is to see if there are alternatives that offer significant cost savings, not because there is dissatisfaction with the police service. The email acknowledges that Greenwood would have to keep paying its share of the bond debt for the public safety building through about 2023.

Interestingly, at a recent Shorewood council meeting, the Mayor announced that the SLMPD Coordinating Committee had decided to look for another city to join the SLMPD JPA. This was before the email from Mayor Kind was written.

Greenwood's obvious alternatives would be the Hennepin County Sheriff and the Deephaven PD. Deephaven already provides service for Woodland and the Sheriff covers lots of smaller communities. Minnetonka is also a possibility.

Adding a new city to the JPA seems problematic. Deephaven has always said it wants to stay with its own police and not be in a JPA with SLMPD. Victoria is in another county and uses the Carver County Sheriff as does Chanhassen. Minnetrista and Mound already are working on a plan to join forces and Minnstrista's only border shared with the SLMPD cities is on Enchanted Island. Navarre (next to Tonka Bay) is really a neighborhood of Orono which has its own PD. Minnetonka seems unlikely to want to join SLMPD as it has a large PD of its own. Spring Park and Minnetonka Beach seem happy using Orono PD as their police provider.

It's entirely possible that in 2014, the year that Greenwood could be gone, Shorewood, Excelsior and Tonka Bay could be stuck sharing the entire cost of the SLMPD. This, in 2012 budget dollars, would add more than $85,000 to Shorewood's annual budget for police or up to a 3% increase in the tax levy.

Stay tuned for more. It'll be interesting to watch the mayors of Shorewood, Tonka Bay and Excelsior work with Deb Kind (all four comprise the SLMPD Coordinating Committee) to try to keep Greenwood in the SLMPD fold. Will they put the financial squeeze on Chief Litsey? Their track record has been just the opposite. Of course, all this is happening in an an election year (2012 has all the mayors up for re-election) so no telling what kinds of games will get played.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

House Purchase - Why?

9/14/11

Blog reader Anonymous has asked for background on the recent purchase of the house on Smithtown Rd.

Development of the "Smithtown Crossing" corner (the intersection of Smithtown, Country Club Rd and County 19) has been a discussion topic in the Planning Commission for a number of years. It's an item in the City's Comprehensive Plan and was the topic of a joint Council Planning Commission meeting this year.

A key to getting an overall development done rather than each lot getting developed separately is to have reasonable assurance that a potential developer could acquire the individual properties. There was a Planning Commission meeting last year in which some of the lot owners indicated willingness to cooperate with a developer.

The actual boundary of the development could extend as far as Christopher Rd along Smithtown. However, there are several private residences at this far end. One of these, near the end of the row, had been on the market for about two years, with the offering price being reduced several times. The Planning Commission indicated to Council that they supported an attempt to purchase this property to nail down the west end of the potential development area.

Details of the Council's discussions leading to the purchase are not available. These discussions were held in executive sessions and minutes, except for the attendees and what the meeting subject was, are not published.

What is known is that the City purchased a house and lot for $131,000, plus closing costs and intends to tear the house down. The lot will be left empty pending some future use. From what the Insider knows of the house, tearing it down is the only reasonable action due to its poor condition. So, the City bought a lot for something less than $150,000, all-in. Will this help future development? Nobody knows, but it won't hurt. Could the City afford it? Yes, the money was in the Infrastructure Fund ($1.8 million in this fund based on the recent budget meeting info). Was it a good deal? Probably, for such a large lot in Shorewood.

Is there any one place to find more? No. There have been numerous meetings over several years finally resulting in the City's decision to purchase.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

AIS, Christmas Lake, New JPA?

9/14/11

During Monday's council meeting (see: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/091211shorewood.wmv at the 19:45 point) the Mayor introduced the "need" for a new Joint Powers Agreement covering AIS and Christmas Lake. Such an agreement had never been discussed by the council yet, the City Attorney had prepared a draft of its contents and it was clear that the Mayor had the votes to ram it through council.

The Insider notes that no council members other than Woodruff had any questions about the draft or its purpose. See: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/155573/Page1.aspx and page 45 for the first page of the draft.

Woodruff asked about the purpose, questioned if a simple contract between the Watershed, DNR and Shorewood would suffice, asked for explanations as to meaning of some of the contents and questioned if the MCWD could actually enter into such an agreement since they do not have AIS management in their 509 Plan and need to do a plan amendment to get it added.

Readers of this blog really need to watch the responses from the City Attorney who, by the way, has a history of crafting JPA's for the City that, years later, come back to bite the City in the posterior.

It's also fascinating to listen to Zerby respond to questions about the meaning of the draft, defending ambiguous language and the Attorney's work, the fuzzy logic and mentioning that the "emergency legislation" gives the MCWD authority over AIS. The Insider has checked and there is no legislation or 509 plan amendment for the MCWD. Maybe Zerby meant the State legislation which was passed this spring that gave the DNR additional tools to manage AIS? If so, this legislation does nothing for the MCWD. Seems this is another of Zerby's obfuscations.

The conclusion was to have the Attorney complete drafting the agreement and to send it to the MCWD and DNR for their review (and approval?) by the end of this week. No direction to send it to council members, no direction to bring the completed draft back for a council review before sending it to the other groups. The Insider assumes that the Mayor feels council approval of the agreement is not necessary prior to sending it to the other groups. She probably already knows she has the votes to get it approved so is not bothering with the formality of actually having a vote.

Oh, by the way, the Christmas Lake Association which was supposed to be a party to the boat ramp gate system and its ongoing management isn't even a party to the agreement. Wonder why?

Happy reading!
The Insider

Not Doing The Job - Part 2

9/10/11

The story behind the MPCA audit of Shorewood's storm water plan compliance continues.

The Insider learned that the City Administrator sent an email to council members this week alerting them that the audit had happened in the spring and that the City had responded to the MPCA's findings in August. According to the email, the response satisfied the MPCA's major concerns.

So, the Insider wonders why in August the City could provide the documentation showing the City had been compliant for the past years when a few months before, during the audit, it could not. Also, why wasn't Council notified of the audit, its results and the response by the City until just this week?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Not doing the job?

9/3/11

The Insider just learned that Shorewood was audited by the MPCA for compliance to its storm water permit and plan. The audit took place several months ago, but the MPCA just released the report.

Among the findings were that the City had no evidence of any system to track compliance with the permit and plan and nothing that showed inspections and maintenance as required in them had been done for the past years. The requirement is that all ponds, etc. be inspected at once in a five-year period (20% per year is acceptable) and that any maintenance warranted by the inspection findings be done by the City.

The report does not sanction the City, but does state requirements and recommendations which the City must respond to.

It'll be really interesting to monitor how Larry Brown, Public Works Director and James Landini, City Engineer try to distance themselves from the findings as they are the ones supposed to be making sure the work was done and properly documented. Of course, Brian Heck, City Administrator and the manager responsible for overall City operations is ultimately responsible.

It's especially troubling that the report from the outside consultant that accompanied the storm water plan some five years ago stated that it appeared the City did not have adequate resources to carry out the plan requirements. Subsequently, in several annual budget discussions, Larry Brown was asked if he was getting the work done and if he needed more resources and his responses were the 20% per year was basically getting done and he didn't need more help. It appears this was not the case.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood Bitten By Faulty Ordinance Wording - Again!

8/23/11

The Indider has learned that a resident of Shorewood has prevailed in a zoning violation case due to faulty wording in the ordinance.

The ordinance contained the word "or" when it should have used "and." This seemingly small difference made the meaning ambiguous and was enough that the resident won the case.

Two years ago, the City lost an enforcement action involving a yacht club that claimed it had the right to have power boats, not just sailboats. The permit used the word "boat" while the City had intended it to say "sailboat." The court held for the yacht club.

How many more of these wording flubs are in City ordinances? Should the City go on a flub hunt? Where was the City Attorney when these ordinances and permits were written? What about the City Council and Planning Commission? Don't they have a duty to carefully review these things before enacting them? Maybe this is another case of what the Mayor described once as an attitude of staff knows best.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood Buys Another House

8/23/11

Shorewood has purchased a second house. It's located on Smithtown Rd just a few doors west of the Legion and has been for sale for many months.

The Insider has learned that the sales price of $131,000 was Shorewood's second offer and below the owner's asking price. According to sources who should know, the house is to be torn down by the City. The land will be held in anticipation of the City making it available to a developer who might, in the future, develop the whole "Smithtown Crossing"" strip which extends to the corner where the old Bayt gas station is located.

Is this a good use of City funds? Maybe. The Planning Commission has been considering development options for this strip of land. They recommended the purchase as a step in making sure that a developer could acquire all the property needed to have a successful project. The City is using money from its infrastructure fund ($1.8 million) which is not earning much interest anyway.

Only time will tell if this is a good deal or another albatross. The City currently owns an albatross house next door to city hall. It was acquired by the Love/Lizee administration at nearly the peak of the housing market and is now worth considerably less. At least this new purchase will not have a house that the City has to try to rent and is at a price consistent with today's distressed real estate market.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Aquatic Invasive Species - Shorewood Support MCWD As Responsible?

8/20/11

Shorewood has a resolution on the 8/22 council meeting agenda which calls for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to be made responsible for AIS activities regionally (including Lake Minnetonka and Christmas Lake). Is this a good deal for Shorewood? Maybe!

Earlier this year, the MCWD suddenly woke up to AIS as a threat and in a heavy handed manner decided they would take control and launch steps to deal with AIS and its threats across the watershed. This was after years of ignoring AIS as a threat or a MCWD responsibility, even to the point of not providing any financial support to control programs which other agencies (especially the LMCD) were providing.

The MCWD does/can have staff and technical expertise to define and manage programs for AIS management and prevention. They also have independent taxing authority (property tax) allowing them to raise significant amounts to dedicate to AIS. In contrast, the LMCD has very limited staff and very little ability to raise funds as its "membership" fees from its 15 member cities are set by law and based on households in the member cities.

The Insider is concerned that the MCWD seems to be in knee-jerk mode and listening to some special interest groups. Among these is the Lake Minnetonka Association and its Executive Director, Dick Osgood. Mr. Osgood makes his living consulting on AIS. So, any increase in activity trickles down into his pocket as increased consulting business. Aiding and providing support is Shorewood's Mayor who seems joined at the hip with Mr. Osgood and Eric Evenson, the MCWD Executive Director.

Readers of this blog should know that Shorewood and other cities have no control or vote at the MCWD. The MCWD, in fact, does not report to anyone other than its board and that is appointed by Hennepin and Carver County boards. Yes, there is a Shorewood resident on the MCWD board, but he is not there due to any action of Shorewood's Council and the Council cannot give him any direction or remove him.

Those of you who are interested in AIS and what the MCWD is thinking about doing should attend their 8/25 meeting at Minnetonka City Hall, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., starting at 6:45pm. It's only your voices that might make sure that any decisions and actions are rational and in the best interests of Shorewood.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood 2012 Budget - No Tax Increase?

8/15/11

At the 8/8 Shorewood council work session, the discussion resulted in direction to staff to balance the budget for 2012 with no increase in the tax levy. If this sticks to the wall, it'll be the fourth year in a row the City has been able to maintain or enhance service levels while not taking more property tax money from residents.

See: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/080811shorewood.wmv starting at about the 55 minute point for the beginning of the budget work session.

Balancing the budget will be done by taking $21,000 from the $1.8 million infrastructure fund to use in the long-term road plan implementation; moving about $30,000 of cell antenna revenues from the Water Fund to the General Fund (the water fund has more than $3 million of reserves!); and using part of the more than $400,000 in excess General Fund reserves the City has on hand (note that this will still leave the City's reserves above the City's own policy level, above what the City's auditors recommend and above the recommendation of the State Auditor).

As usual, the Mayor had little useful to add to the discussion. She did express frustration with Council Member Woodruff who seemed determined to get some useful results from the meeting after two previous sessions where the Mayor allowed the discussion to wander around discussing philosophy of budgeting.

The budget must be sent to the County by 9/15. The Insider hopes that it stays as-is and gets Council approval at the 8/22 meeting.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Fiber Optic Project - Is it being killed?

8/11/11

Is the LMCC's tonkaconnect fiber-optic network project being killed? Seems some of the local city councils want it that way and the LMCC is getting cold feet.

As reported here earlier, Shorewood's council voted 4 to 1 against spending any more of the LMCC's money on tonkaconnect. Now, Victoria, Greenwood and Orono councils have done the same. Each has cited that government should not be in a business. Also cited is the fear that taxpayers would somehow be stuck with the cost of building and operating the network.

Of note is that the recent LMCC survey of residents showed that more than 60% approved of the LMCC getting into the fiber-optic network business. The www.tonkaconnect.com website says that if any taxpayer involvement might be required that can't be known until a business plan for the network is done. The plan is supposed to cost about $55,000, money the LMCC, up until recently, said it had in its budget in 2011 or could be budgeted for in 2012. In fact, the LMCC sent DVD's to all city council members three weeks ago in which all this was explained so the councils could prep their LMCC representatives before the 8/16 LMCC full commission meeting.

Now, it seems the LMCC has gotten cold feet and the whole project may die. The LMCC has circulated a draft 2012 budget that excludes any funds for tonkaconnect. So, on 8/16 the full commission is being asked not to provide funds.

KSTP TV was interested enough to do a piece on the network and the need for it this week. See: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2232942.shtml?cat=1 . The Insider recalls that lack of access to broadband and cable TV were two key reasons for considering tonkaconnect. These reason still exist and the LMCC appears to be ready to tell the residents who have these issues: "too bad, we're not going to do anything."

Also of note is that Shorewood's Mayor believes this project is so important to kill that she plans to attend the LMCC's 8/16 meeting (she made this known at the end of the 8/8 council meeting).

Happy Reading
The Insider

Freedom Foundation of MN On Fiber-Optic Project Vote

8/2/11

The Insider just found this in the FFM's website.

http://freedomfoundationofminnesota.com/tonka-disconnect-shorewood-pulls-plug-on-joining-costly-taxpayer-funded-telecom-network

Seems outsiders question the Shorewood Council's decision too.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood's 2012 Budget - More Discussion

7/28/11

Shorewood's Council met to discuss the 2012 budget for a second time on Monday, 7/25. This time, the Mayor graced the meeting with her presence (she was absent the last time the budget was discussed).

The budget staff presented was not balanced. Expenses exceeded revenues by more than $100,000. Council discussed how to close the gap and what to do with new projects that would add more expenses and make the gap even larger.

The discussion is on-line at: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/072511shorewood.wmv Start watching at 40 minutes and 30 seconds.

Watch for the discussion on using the excess reserves to close the budget gap and to fund new programs. This excess is tax money from previous years that the City took from taxpayers, but did not spend. There is over $400,000 available to spend while still staying within the reserve policy of the City. A policy which also meets the Auditor's recommendations. However, except for Woodruff, the council members seem to want to spend this money on new items and balance the budget by raising taxes.

The most incredible statement is from Mayor Lizee starting at 56 minutes and 44 seconds where she says that spending more money for new projects and not using reserves would not be seen as a tax increase since she believes these expenditures would be for council priorities like trails. How can an increase not be an increase just because some council members decide the spending is their priority? If the City takes more money from you to pay for new trails, are you going to say, it's really not more money because it's for trails?

The South Shore Center budget discussion starts at about 57 Minutes and 20 seconds. It's fascinating to listen to Zerby and Lizee advocate for merging this separate budget into the Parks budget. Woodruff and staff point out that if this is done, there will be no way to tell if the Center is making or losing money or how much. The comments of Zerby and Lizee show they don't want anyone to know how much this costs (At 1 hour and 7 minutes, Zerby says using the word subsidy makes his hair stand on end. Is this because he can't defend subsidizing the Center?). Lizee contradicts herself in saying the financial results should be in Parks because it'll be easier to ask the other cities that own pieces of the Center for money donations to run it. This makes no sense at all. How can burying the costs make it easier to convince, for example, Greenwood to give Shorewood money to operate the Center.

Please recall, that in January Lizee, Zerby, Hotvet and Siakel voted to eliminate the Council's two-person  South Shore Center advisory committee. Now these same people want to hide the financial results in the Parks department. Who is it that ran for election on open and transparent government? Oh yes, it was Lizee, Hotvet and Siakel.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Resident Weighs In On Gate At Christmas Lake Launch

7/26/11

The Insider just received the following. Obviously, Mr. Wellens, an ex-Shorewood Council Member, disagree's with Mayor Lizee's campaign to get a gate installed no matter what the DNR says.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

From: m.wellens@mchsi.com

Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 6:29 PM

To: info.dnr@state.mn.us

Subject: Commissioner Tom Landwehr

 

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr:                                                July 25, 2011   

I respectfully request that your agency deny the request of local cities (Shorewood) and agencies (Minnehaha Creek Watershed District) as they seek to deny the public access to public lakes (Christmas Lake).

DNR employee Rachel Hintzman, P&T Area Supervisor, is already on record criticizing their scheme and writing: “Gates would render the accesses closed to the public and you can’t force anyone to have their boat inspected.” Shorewood City Attorney Tim Keane told the Council bluntly “The city does not have the authority to act unilaterally. The authority rests with the DNR.”  

Yet both agencies have voted to allocate funds and proceed without getting DNR approval in advance. That defiance of DNR authority deserves a strong response.  I have already been published twice condemning their lawless actions and supporting DNR authority and a lawful process.

http://www.weeklynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=16&SubSectionID=53&ArticleID=9061&TM=68778.64

http://www.mnsun.com/shorewood/opinion/

I request the DNR issue a letter or go to court for an injunction stopping these lawless entities and protecting DNR authority. I would appreciate being copied on those actions.

Sincerely,

Martin R. Wellens

4755 Lakeway Terrace

Shorewood, MN 55331-9367

952/250-1658

2012 Shorewood Budget

7/26/11

Shorewood's Council started 2012 budget discussions in a 7/11 work session and continued last night (7/25) in another work session. The Insider is gathering details, but can report the following.

City staff presented a budget draft that shows a deficit of over $100,000. However, to their credit, they showed no increase in the property tax levy. So, Council is challenged with finding a way to fund the deficit (from reserves or other sources), cutting expenses from the draft budget or a combination of the two. Or, Council could decide to raise taxes.

The Insider has reviewed the 2010 audit report that was on the 7/25 council agenda for approval. (See: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/154369/Page1.aspx#). On page 4 of the Management Letter, the auditors note that $155,000 was budgeted to be spent from reserves in 2010, but was not. The result was that reserves actually went up in 2010 (by $126 thousand) and now stand at more than $400,000 above the 55% of expenses that the City's policy mandates as a minimum reserve. The auditors recommend at least a 50% reserve.

So, the City has plenty of reserves to use to balance the 2012 budget without even getting close to the minimum reserve level. The Insider asks Shorewood residents: Do you want to spend down reserves to the policy level, avoiding a tax increase (as has been the case for the last 3 years); cut the budget and leave reserves high; or maybe use the reserves for new projects and have to cut the budget and/or raise taxes?

In any event, it's your money!

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Farm Animals Next Door?

7/20/11

Worried about your neighbor having a herd of goats? What about chickens and pigs running around the neighborhood? Couldn't happen in Shorewood? Read on.

Shorewood's Council did a review of animal ordinances a few weeks ago. Council members were informed that nothing in City code prohibits cows, sheep, goats, chickens, etc. In fact, no license is needed to have pigs on your property and no limit to their numbers exists. The only control in City code now is for dogs and horses.

Council directed the Planning Commission to look at the animal ordinances and make recommendations back to council. Watch upcoming Planning Commission agendas for these discussions.

Note that many cities allow chickens, but usually no roosters.

If you have an opinion about having animals in Shorewood yards, the Insider suggests you send an email to the Planning Director, Brad Nielsen, at bnielsen@ci.shorewood.mn.us. You opinion counts! You can also send your thoughts to blog.shorewoodinsider.gmail.com and the Insider will post them in this blog.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Breaking News - tonkaconnect fiber optic project on YouTube!

7/14/11

Check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01E2cAqSOgQ

The LMCC/tonkaconnect folks have just posted this link to information about their upcoming vote to authorize doing a business plan and financial model for the fiber optic network.

According to the tonkaconnect website at www.tonkaconnect.com, on the "What's Happening?" tab, the LMCC has sent DVD copies of this video to all council members and LMCC Commissioners in the 17 LMCC member cities.


As reported below, Shorewood's Council has already voted 4 to 1 against approving the project. The Insider has heard from residents of Shorewood and other cities around the area that this vote was "narrow-minded" while some described it in ways the Insider won't repeat here.


Readers may recall that Lizee and Zerby were enthusiastic about spending $15 million on 4 miles of trail along County Rd 19. Now they've voted against doing some professional planning, using about $50,000 of LMCC's own non-tax dollars, for an infrastructure project that would benefit every resident, business, public safety group, school, library and other entity for decades to come.


Doesn't make any sense to the Insider. Does it to you?


Happy Reading!
The Insider

Closing access to Christmas Lake

7/13/11

During the 6/25 Council Meeting, Shorewood's Council voted 5 to 0 to authorize spending $1000 for signs, some road striping and electrical connection so a gate restricting access at the Christmas Lake boat landing could be installed.

The gate is supposed to keep boaters from launching any boat until it's inspected for aquatic invasive species. Funding for the gate is to come from the Christmas Lake homeowners association while inspection funding is to come from DNR and Minnehaha Creek Watershed Grants to the association.

Basically, one would need to take one's boat to Lake Minnewashta and have it inspected, obtaining a code to open the gate at Christmas Lake. Inspection hours seem fuzzy and most details of how the whole operation would be conducted are to-be-determined.

The DNR has long opposed restricting public launch site access and has not approved this new plan. In fact, an email was presented in which a DNR rep indicated the agency's opposition.

The City's Attorney stated that the agreement between the DNR and Shorewood under which Shorewood operates the boat launch does not allow for restricting access. This was re-iterated by the Attorney at the 7/11 Council Meeting.

Keep and eye on this pending fiasco. The Insider opines that the DNR (when they get back to work) will not approve (an approval would open the flood gates for state-wide requests to do the same). Meanwile, Shorewood's taxpayers will have spent money (the 7/11 Council meeting approved another $2000).

Mayor Lizee indicated that it's time the City forged ahead, regardless of the DNR's approval being absent. Gee, is this how government acts in a transparent, civil manner? The Insider sees this as placing the City squarely in line of a DNR lawsuit.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

More about Fireworks Funding

7/7/11

The Insider received an email with the following about the Excelsior Chamber's fireworks and 4th of July celebration funding by Shorewood.

Also, the Insider wishes to remind Shorewood residents and the Council that it is illegal to "Donate" public funds for any reason. It appears to the Insider that the transfer of money to the Excelsior Chamber was not properly documented in the Council motion and vote such that it was clear that the transfer was a legal one and for delivery of services for benefit of Shorewood. As usual Lizee and Zerby ignore the "messiness" of doing things legally and by the rules.

Happy reading!
The Insider

Anonymous said...

Lomah and Anonymous have it right. Shorewood property owners are subsidizing 30% of the fireworks so cruise operators can sell fireworks packages, and other local businesses can capitalize off this? Seriously?

And, it appears CM Zerby, as President of the Chamber, voted to feather the nest of his pet project at the expense of his constituents. Another red flag.

Mayor Lizee - Open Meeting Law Violation?

6/28/11

The Insider's discovered a possible violation of Minnesota's open meeting law as documented in the Shorewood Council Minutes of its 6/13 discussion about the LMCC's fiber optic project.

Mayor Lizee mentions that she "...has spoken with some Shorewood Councilmembers..." on the fiber optic project topic. (See page 28, paragraph 3 of the minutes at: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/153850/Page1.aspx).

The Insider recalls that the Mayor ran on a platform that included ethics and transparency. Having discussions about an item of City business with a single council member is OK, but doing so with two or more is a violation of State law. Certainly it's not ethical or transparent.

Happy reading!
The Insider

Community Gardens - Success?

6/19/11

In 2009, Shorewood's Council agreed to establish a "demonstration garden" on the east side of the city at the skate park location. Some volunteer gardeners were to plant the area while teaching locals how to garden and donate the produce to food shelves. The garden was planted and food donated, with education during the season delivered.

At the same time, Mayor Lizee was beating the drum with the Parks Commission and the Council to establish community garden plots in every city park. The Parks Commission recommended a go slow approach.

In 2010, the volunteer gardeners reduced their ambitions and their space was shared into individual plots available to Shorewood residents. All 10 of the plots were rented. The City had been providing water for the garden plots by filling rain barrels on site. The volunteer group pressed for a real water source and in 2010, Council agreed to have a water fountain and garden hose connection installed in the park at a cost of nearly $2,000. The Council also agreed to increase to 15 the number of plots for 2011 as there had been some gardeners who could not get plots.

Now, the Insider has learned that just 13 of the 15 plots have been rented for the 2011 season. Obviously, there is no waiting list. Further, the water installation is underway.

The Insider estimates that hard dollar and staff costs since 2009 have eaten up nearly $10,000 of City funds.

Think about this when you hear Mayor Lizee and her gardening friends want to spend even more and expand to more parks. At a subsidy of $250 or more per plot wouldn't it be better to hand prospective gardeners a coupon for the grocery store?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood votes to blow-up $7500 for the 4th of July

6/15/11

During the 6/13 Shorewood council Meeting the subject of the annual donation to support the fire works in Excelsior was discussed. Shorewood had donated between $2000 and $2500 in previous years. $2500 was budgeted for this in 2011.

Mayor Lizee opened the discussion stating the she thought the City should increase its donation to $7500. The video of this discussion is at: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/061311shorewood.wmv at the 1 hour 9 minute point.

The celebration is organized by the Southlake/Excelsior Chamber of Commerce, whose Director, Linda Murrell, made her annual plea for funding at the meeting. It's improtant to note that Council Member Scott Zerby is the President of the Chamber.

Both Lizee and Zerby attempted to justify the huge increase in donation by saying that it's only a few dollars per household (Lizee said it was about $3). The Insider thinks that the Chamber, with only about one week to get to the $22,500 they need and only about $13,000 donated or pledged to-date, decided to hit Shorewood up for the deficit and Lizee and Zerby, as usual, couldn't pass up an opportunity to spend your tax dollars.

Since when is it Shorewood's role to cover for the rest of the cities and the shortfall in private donations? Maybe it's because Zerby is President of the Chamber and Lizee and Murrell seem to be best buddies.

So, on a 4 to 1 vote (Woodruff dissenting) Shorewood is donating $7500 to go up in smoke on July 4th.

It's worth noting that Zerby voted on this matter. Isn't voting to donate money from the City to an organization of which you're President a conflict of interest? It would be if this were a road project and you're the president of the road construction firm.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Shorewood votes to kill fiber optic network

6/15/11

On 6/13 Shorewood's Council voted 4 to 1 to kill the fiber optic network project being considered by the Lake Minnetonka Communications Communication. The dissenting vote was cast by Dick Woodruff who's been the LMCC's chair of the project for several years.

At the 5/23 council meeting, Debbie Siakel asked to have a work session about the project so Council could hear more about it. Instead of this, Mayor Lizee put the matter on the regular agenda at the end of the meeting and apparently solely to allow for the vote to kill the project.

Readers can watch the meeting at: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/061311shorewood.wmv and skip to the 2 hour and 12 minute point.

Scott Zerby, who has been the Council's representative to the LMCC since January and who, as reported earlier here, has missed the only two LMCC Commission meetings he was supposed to attend made the motion. Debbie Siakel seconded. Both commented that they didn't think that government should be doing such a project although the recent LMCC survey showed that more than 60% of residents approved of this.

The Insider is astounded that the four Council Members, with no involvement in the process or apparent interest in obtaining any in-depth knowledge of it's merits, would vote to kill it.

Is this how you want your Council to operate?

Fortunately for the residents of Shorewood, the Council vote is not binding on the LMCC. Sixteen other cities are LMCC members and they all have votes. The Insider hopes and believes the councils of these cities are able to act rationally despite the bizarre behavior of four members of Shorewood's Council.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

South Shore Center - Hear a financial sucking sound?

6/7/11

The June 2nd "Sun Sailor" had a front page article about the Center, the 2010 financial results of Shorewood operating it and about the desire of some to install a very expensive electronic sign.

The council package for the 5/23 council meeting contained a report on Center operations for 2010. Page 3 of this report states that there were $62,370 in revenues for 2010 and hard costs of $77,481. The result: an operating loss of $15,111. Mentioned in the article, but not quantified, are Shorewood "in-kind" costs of operation. The council packet lists these as $16,874.

So, in reality it cost Shorewood taxpayers $31,985 to have the Center open in 2010.

The report shows a projected hard cost loss of $8,000 for 2011. Assuming similar "in-kind" costs in 2011, Shorewood taxpayers will be out $24,874 at the end of 2011. Yes, it's better than 2010, but is it good enough? It's not if the objective is to break-even financially as is supposed to be the case.

Keep in mind that the other "owners" of the Center: Deephaven, Greenwood, Excelsior and Tonka Bay; are not paying a single dollar towards supporting the operating costs. If this fair or sustainable?

Mayor Lizee brought forward an agenda item calling for Shorewood to buy an electronic sign to direct users to the Center. The cost was listed as $21,700. The justification was it's needed because users and potential renters have trouble finding the Center.

See http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/052311shorewood.wmv for the recording of the sign discussion at the 58 minute point.

Greenwood, Deephaven, Excelsior, the South Shore Senior Partners and others have donated $9,700 toward the sign. Tonka Bay apparently said they needed to think about it. Lizee and Zerby appear to think little about the additional $12,000 Shorewood would have to pay out in 2012 to install the sign.

Staff recommended this expense be part of the 2012 budget discussion since the money is not in the 2011 budget. This didn't seem to affect Lizee's and Zerby's thinking one bit. To the Insider, this seems just one more example of fiscal recklessness exhibited by Lizee and Zerby who seem not to have met a dollar they didn't want to spend. BTW: these are YOUR dollars.

The sign is supposed to come up again at the 6/13 council meeting where staff is supposed to explain where the $12,000 will come from. Want to bet that the $8,000 2011 deficit will be $20,000 (adding the $12,000 sign) after the 6/13 meeting?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Strategic Planning - Important?

6/7/11

Shorewood's Council held the third in a series of work sessions on strategic planning on Wednesday 6/1. Unfortunately for the Insider and all of you who were not there (it was open to the public), this session was not video recorded and thus, not available for us to watch.

Never fear. The Insider has contacts with facts.

The session was to be from 300pm to 500pm. The date and time were chosen once all council members had indicated they could attend, two weeks in advance. Then, why was Scott Zerby absent?

The Insider has learned that Mayor Lizee excused herself at 430pm saying she had another appointment. Apparently, Lizee turned the meeting over to Debbie Siakel to complete. Zerby is the alternate Mayor, but of course, Lizee could not turn the meeting over to him as he wasn't there. Question: If Lizee knew the meeting times and agreed to them, why did she have to leave early?

Council Member Woodruff seems to have left shortly after Lizee. Little wonder given the apparent lack of commitment shown by Lizee and Zerby.

It'll be interesting to watch this process going forward. Useful results coming? It doesn't look promising.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Siakel and the LMCC

6/3/11

The Insider suggests watching the 5/23 Shorewood Council Meeting (http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/052311shorewood.wmv) at the end of the recording to catch Debbie Siakel's review of her substituting for Scott Zerby at the prior week's LMCC meeting.

She got her facts wrong on several points. So much so, that the Insider has learned that the LMCC issued a letter of correction to the City. It's really interesting that she implies some impropriety at the LMCC regarding the fiber optic project. Is there some secret agenda at the LMCC regarding fiber optic? Council Member Woodruff seems to think there is not. Maybe Siakel should go watch some of the LMCC meetings on the web. The fiber optic project is reported on at every meeting.

Siakel's suggestion to appoint an official alternate to Zerby for the LMCC is curious. Why an alternate? The indider thinks Zerby should be replaced. After all, he's missed the only two meetings he was required to attend.

Shorewood should have the work session on the fiber project that Siakel suggests. Maybe this'll uncover the sinister plot. At least, it should get the council members some real facts.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

What happened to the Insider?

6/3/11

Where did the Insider go?

Well, nowhere really.

Now that Memorial Day weekend is over more news will be forthcoming.

Keep checking.

Happy Reading!

The Insider

Zerby - Missing Again

5/19/11

The Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission held its quarterly full commission meeting on the 17th. Shorewood Council Member, Scott Zerby who is the officially appointed Council representative to the LMCC was absent.

Since Zerby has been the Council representative, there have been two full commission meetings and he has missed both of them. The meetings are scheduled one year in advance, notices are sent well before the meetings and these quarterly meetings are the only ones that Zerby is expected to attend. So why can't he do so? Is four times per year too much for his busy schedule? If yes, why did he accept the appointment by Shorewood's Council in January?

Among other things, there was an election of officers of the LMCC on the 17th. Shorewood could not vote as both Zerby and the citizen representative, Ken Hendrickson, were absent. The Insider believes Hendrickson has been at virtually all the meetings and attends Executive Committee meetings, held two times per quarter, as a member of the Executive Committee (BTW, he was re-elected on the 17th).

Interestingly, Council Member Debbie Siakel was at the meeting and attempted to represent Shorewood in Zerby's place. However, since Shorewood's Council did not appoint her as a representative and issue a letter so stating to the LMCC, she had no official standing and could not vote. She did weigh in on the discussion of the tonkaconnect fiber network project. Since Shorewood's Council has not given any direction regarding its position on this project, her comments had to be her own.

Is this the kind of representation Shorewood deserves?

See http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCC/051711lmcc.wmv at the 1 hour 1 minute point for the Siakel part of the 17th LMCC meeting.

Happy reading!
The Insider

Reader's views on Gideon Glen

5/14/11

The Insider received the following in an email from "Made Intheshade." The Insider's observation is that Shorewood Mayor Lizee thinks Gideon Glen is a very successful project, but that she can't decide what it really is. Is it a park, a trail, a storm water facility, or? Curious since she was material in getting it created and she planted the dedication tree there.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

---- From "Made Intheshade" ----

You all might recall the great "green" project called "Gideon Glen" along Co. Rd. 19 that turned a nice little marsh into a "Bomb Crater" after it was bull-dozed. The project was supposed to help clean the stormwater according to then Mayor Love and the Minnehaha Water Creek District.

 

But did you read MWCD President Jim Calkins' recent editorial in the Sailor on 13 April? Here is an extract:

 

Stormwater ponds also have their share of detractors. When not properly designed or maintained, they can become eyesores, foster mosquitoes or pose public safety risks. They can also be expensive to maintain as accumulated sediment must be dredged periodically and may be contaminated requiring special disposal. And, at the end of the day, the "pipe-and-pond" approach does not eliminate flooding or pollution and threatens our aquifers by preventing water from soaking naturally into the ground.

More recently, stormwater ponds are increasingly being replaced with other approaches to stormwater

-----

So the whole project was a useless waste of taxpayer money.

Where was the headline in the Sailor proclaiming "Gideon Glen a Fiasco". Where was the Shore Report headline announcing "Another Waste of Tax Payer Money". And these editors wonder why no one takes them seriously.

Good Luck.

Shorewood City Water - One More Time?

5/12/11

During the Council Meeting on 5/9 (see http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/050911shorewood.wmv at 57 minutes and 18 seconds) there was a discussion of the hook-up fee for city water. This broadened into a discussion of water policy and ended with staff being directed to hold a work session where water policy and charges could be discussed.

The Insider has been waiting for the city water topic to come up since Mayor Lizee's slate of two new Council Members took office in January. Those of you who've followed the Mayor's policy desires for the last many years should be very aware that she wants city water extended throughout Shorewood. Council Member Zerby has also advocated this. In the above-referenced portion of the 5/9 meeting, Council Member Siakel can be heard coming out in support.

The big question surrounding extending city water service is: who pays for the pipes to be installed? Currently, policy (simplified) is that property owners are assessed for the cost of the pipe going past their property at the time the pipe is laid. The assessment happens whether or not the property wants water or ever hooks up. As one can hear in the 5/9 meeting, the pipe assessment is typically in the $8,000 to $9,000 range. So, property owners, under current policy, are faced with paying a big bill, in cash or on time payments with interest, for something they may not want or ever use.

Do you, the Shorewood Property owner, want to be forced to pay for a pipe if you don't want it or plan to connect to it? If Lizee, under current policy, has her way, everyone in Shorewood that does not already have a water pipe running past their house will be getting one and paying for it too.

There are lots of alternatives too. What ones might you want to see implemented?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

5/3 - Joint Meeting on Sustainability, Strategic Planning and Smithtown Corssing Development

5/5/11

The Insider's sorted through Tuesday evening's meeting between Council, Planning and Parks Commissions. Salient points are:

Sustainability
The Planning Commission recommended adopting Minnesota Green Step Cities program. This is a no-cost program that provides structure and recognition to cities for achievement. Brad Nielsen, Planning Director, volunteered to lead the effort. There was comment from Nielsen and some Commissioners that the City is already doing some of the 28 steps and that all of them may not be appropriate. Mayor Lizee offered little to the conversation other than the effort was great. Where is her leadership? After all, she's the one who's been saying "sustainable" and "green" over and over.

Strategic Planning
City Administrator read the results of the first meeting. When Council Member Siakel asked if the Commissions had input, the silence was deafening. Finally, Quinlan of Parks stated that Parks goals seem to align well. Hartman of Parks and Siakel raised doing a resident survey. The subject of surveying residents has been something Lizee has been talking about for three years, but doesn't seem to know how to get off the ground. It'll be interesting to see if something happens. Council Member Woodruff commented that using an Internet survey (as it was an alternative discussed) had serious shortcomings since a recent LMCC survey showed that up to 27% of households in the area do not use the Internet.

Smithtown Crossing
The Planning Commission has spent lots of time looking at what might be done with the property on the NW corner and along Smithtown Rd. going west from County Rd. 19. The idea of the City purchasing property for future development was raised. Mayor Lizee seems in strong support of this. So, is this another way to spend your tax money? It's not clear. Lizee mentioned using the $1.8 million allocated to "infrastructure" projects. The insider notes that the Road Plan is still underfunded and it seems this is a better place to spend the $1.8 million rather than raise taxes to fund the road plan.

Zerby seems to want to buy the land and turn it into "open space" or "temporary event" space. His uses might be a farmers market or an art fair venue. Is this what Shorewood really needs? Zerby's ideas would permanently take this tax-paying land off the tax roles, taxes that would have to be borne by you, the readers.

Council Member Hotvet seems to want new and innovative development but didn't put forward any ideas. She did say that the draft information presented "frightened" her as to commercial/service development on the site. She seemed truly confused as to what commercial/service is even though its explained in the draft documentation and the City's zoning code.

The Planning Commission is moving forward to have some neighborhood meetings to collect public reactions. Zerby asked that a green space alternative be included for these meetings. Again, there was discussion of doing a resident survey. Isn't this something the Mayor should be leading?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Sustainability, strategic planning - 5/3 work session

4/28/11

The Council is holding a joint work session with the Parks and Planning Commissions on May 3rd at 600pm at City Hall. The agenda is sustainability and strategic planning. Based on the discussion the during the Council's 4/25 work session during which council members attempted to articulate the purpose and agenda for this joint meeting, the Insider thinks Shorewood residents should attend or watch this 5/3 meeting as a first demonstration of what this Council and especially the new members and Mayor can actually get accomplished.

See: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/042511shorewood.wmv at the 1 hour 36 minute point for the 4/25 work session video.

The Insider has the following observations and comments:
- Earlier this year, Council directed that the Planning Commission review sustainability in context of Shorewood and bring recommendations as to what sustainability means to the City. Staff, at the 4/25 meeting, reminded Council that the Planning Commission had been working on this while council member Siakel and others seemed to have forgotten despite Siakel being the council liasion to the Planning Commission.

- Lizee demonstrated she could say "sustainable" and "green." The Insider invites readers to count how many times Lizee does this and then measure how much she actually contributes to the conversation about what they mean.

- Hotvet struggles to articulate anything that's coherent as to the objectives of a 5/3 meeting.

- Siakel makes several attempts at listing agenda topics and comes close to something usable.

- Lizee wanders off on a monologue about working with other cities on the County 19 trail. Hotvet joins in later mentioning trails. Both seem to have forgotten the Trail Committee council established and of which Hotvet is a member. If council and Parks are going to discuss trails, where is the Trail Committee in the discussion?

- Lizee mentions that the Planning Commission should have a 2011 work plan. Great idea! This was supposed to have been created by staff and the Commissioners months ago, but is not in place. Siakel should be riding herd on this, but apparently is not.

- Woodruff seems to listen during the whole session and then, at the end, comments that department heads should attend, but not other staff, going on to say that department heads can bring strategy back to their staff.

- Zerby?

- Finally, Heck says he has enough to develop the 5/3 agenda. Something like making a silk purse from a sow's ear?

Watch this blog next week for more about the 5/3 meeting, sustainability and green.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Mayor Lizee - Doing favors?

4/23/11

During the 4/11/11 Shorewood Council Meeting, a resolution to make April 16th Healthcare Decisions Day was approved. Per the meeting packet and the discussion at the meeting, the Mayor was approached by the Grathwol Law Firm of Excelsior with a request for Shorewood to adopt this resolution. That the City would consider this seems appropriate since, among many other reasons, the Governor had already proclaimed the same.

What bothers the Insider is that the action recommended once the resolution was made was to send it back to the law firm and nothing else. This smacks of doing a favor for a business rather than encouraging general public adoption of Healtcare Directives.

See http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/041111shorewood.wmv at the 59 minute mark for the discussion and Mayor Lizee's explanation. Does this pass your smell test?

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Using weevils to treat milfiol in Christmas Lake?

4/20/11

The Insider has learned that a project to use weevils to control milfoil seems underway for Christmas Lake. It seems the Minnehana Creek Watershed District will be providing funding and be working with a local environmentalist, Mark Washa, some Christmas Lake residents and local businessman and marina owner, Gabe Jabbor.

Weevils have been shown to be successful in limited situations in other states. Mr. Washa has been beating the drum to use them in Lake Minnetonka vs. the chemical treatments now being tested. The DNR has repeatedly stated they do not support weevils in Lake Minnetonka due to conditions that would make them ineffective.

Why weevils would be appropriate to Christmas Lake is unclear to the Insider, but the conditions there may be different from those in Lake Minnetonka. It's unclear if the DNR is participating in this project. One thing is clear, the DNR would have to be involved somewhere in the permitting process.

Stay tuned and the Insider will provide more information as it is available.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Voter Photo ID - a new unfunded mandate?

4/20/11

The insider has been tracking various proposed state legislation changes. Requiring a photo ID to vote has been under discussion for some time and now, appears to be moving forward. See: http://www.lmc.org/page/1/electionbill-hf210.jsp from the League of Minnesota Cities for details.

While requiring an ID, photo or not, may be a reasonable idea for voting, much of the rest of the contents of this proposed legislation appears to be new features and requirements for conducting elections at the local level, all of which lay additional burdens on the cities and which, at this point, will not be funded by the State. It's way too early to tell what monetary effect this legislation might have on Shorewood, but in the Insider's view, any cost should be borne by the State.

If after reading the details, you're as concerned as the Insider is, send an email to Connie Doepke and Gen Olson who represent Shorewood in the legislature. Their email addresses are:
rep.connie.doepke@house.mn
sen.gen.olson@senate.mn

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Fire Dept - 6% spending increase for 2012?

4/15/11

The Excelsior Fire District Board is considering a preliminary 2012 budget increase of 6%. All of the proposed increase seems to be to fund the firefighter pension account. The 2011 budget increase was virtually zero and the Fire Board used reserves to deal with the pension funding problem. Now, it seems reserves aren't being considered.

Shorewood provides about 50% of the Fire Districts budget dollars. So standby to see if the pension funding problem hits a wallet near you in 2012.

The pension funding shortfall issue is one being dealt with across Minnesota and the country due to the recent financial market problems and significantly reduced yields on pension funds invested. Unfortunately, the problem is made worse by pension funds making very optimistic assumptions about earnings on invested money and/or allowing growing pension benefits when income doesn't match the growing expense. The Excelsior Fire District's pension has these structural problems and just throwing more tax dollars at them is not the real answer. Of course the Board can take the politically easy out, but do you want more spending or pension reform? The Insider would like to hear from you.

Happy Reading!
The Insider

Milfoil Control - Funding Approved

4/15/11

At Shorewood's 4/11 Council Meeting, $6,000 was approved as Shorewood's part of chemical milfoil control for Phelps and Gideons bays in 2011. The money goes to the Lake Minnetonka Associtaion which is managing the control project and raising the funds needed to do the treatments. The vote was 5 for and 0 against the funding. You can watch the discussion and vote at: http://windowsmedia.alphameetings.com/LMCCShorewood/041111shorewood.wmv and go to the 1 hour and 5 minute point in the video.

As previously reported by the Insider, the 2011 budget for this project was $4,000. The LMA asked for $3,000 for each bay and the Mayor asked Council to approve this in that it is the same amount was was approved in 2010. Council Member Woodruff initially challenged the above budget spending citing the Mayor and Council Member Zerby as having voted to approve the 2011 budget in December after lots of hard work to control expenses for 2011. Woodruff then went on to say that the Phelps treatment in 2011 was going to cost much more than in 2011 due to needing to treat a much larger area and that only allocating $3,000 to Phelps was actually cutting support for the residents of Enchanted Island. Zerby justified the cut saying that the LMA had asked for $3,000 for each bay.

As a sidebar, the 2011 funding was discussed during a LMA presentation to Council at the 3/28 Council Meeting. Residents supporting the funding were in the audience. However, the Mayor did not ask Council for any funding decision. Instead she waited two weeks when no residents were in the audience to have the final discussion and vote. Seems a strange strategy to the Insider.

So, the LMA got what it asked for, but is it what the Enchanted Island residents really deserve? The insider want ter wants to hear from you.

Happy Reading!
The Insider