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
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
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
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
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
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
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
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
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
Friday, June 3, 2011
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
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
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
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