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
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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
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
Thursday, December 15, 2011
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
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
Monday, December 12, 2011
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
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
Friday, December 9, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
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
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
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)