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
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
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" ----
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
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.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
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
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
Thursday, May 5, 2011
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
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
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