8/25/12
Shorewood's Council will approve a new Social Host law on a 4 to 1 vote at the 8/27 council meeting. How can the Insider be so sure? First, council voted two weeks 4 to 1 to vote on advancing to final approval Monday night. Second, the only objector, Woodruff, voted against two weeks ago and also voted against in 2009.
The law was considered by the council in 2009 and the decision not to advance it was made. Now, as opposed to 2009, Mayor Lizee controls the Council and she's determined to give the police chief the law he's wanted since 2009.
Is the law needed? It's not clear. Even the law's supporters say that its enforcement is not as important as it might be as a deterrent. Woodruff is quoted as questioning the enforceability and the Chief was unable to provide information on enforcement success (Minnetonka has had the law for three years).
Basically, the law would criminalize the act of an adult of providing a venue where a minor consumes alcohol even though the adult does not provide the alcohol and even if the adult is unaware of the actual minor consumption. Blog readers may read the law at: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/160761/Electronic.aspx
Look for agenda item 11A in the 8/27 council meeting agenda.
The Insider wonders why, again, Lizee is determined to have Shorewood take a "leadership" role in passing this law. Tonka Bay, Excelsior and Greenwood have not passed it for three years. In fact, Greenwood decided not to act on the law three years ago.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Unfinished Business
8/21/12
Lizee and cronies swept into office almost two years ago with promises to "take back the City." Here's a short list of big ideas and projects that they started and which remain unfinished. Will a council under mayor-anointed Zerby finish anything?
- City wide-water has a murky future. Originally, the idea was to see how to encourage those who could connect now to do so. This has been lost in the discussion that's centered on expanding the water system to all homes.
- A strategic plan for Shorewood is strategically not moving forward. Seems the gang of four can't figure out how to advance this.
- A City-wide resident survey to be used to direct future projects and policies was completed in early 2011, but has been put on the shelf. Seems the activity of doing a survey was to magically morph into action plans.
- A trail plan was developed in early 2011, but no trails have been created even though the cronies set aside $1.8 million to fund them.
Seeing a pattern? The Insider is.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Lizee and cronies swept into office almost two years ago with promises to "take back the City." Here's a short list of big ideas and projects that they started and which remain unfinished. Will a council under mayor-anointed Zerby finish anything?
- City wide-water has a murky future. Originally, the idea was to see how to encourage those who could connect now to do so. This has been lost in the discussion that's centered on expanding the water system to all homes.
- A strategic plan for Shorewood is strategically not moving forward. Seems the gang of four can't figure out how to advance this.
- A City-wide resident survey to be used to direct future projects and policies was completed in early 2011, but has been put on the shelf. Seems the activity of doing a survey was to magically morph into action plans.
- A trail plan was developed in early 2011, but no trails have been created even though the cronies set aside $1.8 million to fund them.
Seeing a pattern? The Insider is.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Tax Levy To Stay Flat
8/16/12
Council gave direction to staff to bring a resolution calling for a zero percent tax levy increase to the 8/23 meeting. Good news for residents and 2013 will be the fourth budget in a row with no levy increase.
The Insider remains fascinated by the lack of budget understanding by some council members, especially Hotvet. When discussing how to allocate excess general fund reserves, Hotvet once again called for putting some money to trails. Once again Woodruff pointed out that council already had allocated and made available $1.8 million of the Infrastructure Fund for the trail plan. Why Hotvet wanted to increase this by something like $70,000 defies explanation.
Go to: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=641 and the last item on the list for the budget work session video.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Council gave direction to staff to bring a resolution calling for a zero percent tax levy increase to the 8/23 meeting. Good news for residents and 2013 will be the fourth budget in a row with no levy increase.
The Insider remains fascinated by the lack of budget understanding by some council members, especially Hotvet. When discussing how to allocate excess general fund reserves, Hotvet once again called for putting some money to trails. Once again Woodruff pointed out that council already had allocated and made available $1.8 million of the Infrastructure Fund for the trail plan. Why Hotvet wanted to increase this by something like $70,000 defies explanation.
Go to: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=641 and the last item on the list for the budget work session video.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Shorewood's Candidates
8/15/12
The final list of filings for Shorewood's council election is out.
Mayor - Scott Zerby, unopposed
Two council seats - Mark Sylvester, Dick Woodruff (incumbent) and Kristine Sundberg
Keep reading this blog for information about the candidates.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The final list of filings for Shorewood's council election is out.
Mayor - Scott Zerby, unopposed
Two council seats - Mark Sylvester, Dick Woodruff (incumbent) and Kristine Sundberg
Keep reading this blog for information about the candidates.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Latest News On Filings For Shorewood Election
8/11/12
No new filings as of end of day Friday.
Scott Zerby is only candidate for mayor and Mark Sylvester is the only candidate for the two council seats.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
No new filings as of end of day Friday.
Scott Zerby is only candidate for mayor and Mark Sylvester is the only candidate for the two council seats.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Shorewood Election - Who's Running?
8/9/12
So far, Scott Zerby has filed to run for mayor and Mark Sylvester for council. Remember that the filing period doesn't end until the 14th and there can be more candidates holding off.
Zerby is well known to readers of this blog. Of intereest to the Insider is that he's been Lizee's lap dog for the past four years on council. His filing tells the Insider that Lizee is not running for mayor this year. Lizee's departure would mark the end of former mayor Woody Love's hand picked successor. But maybe not. Recent news is that Lizee is working as the receptionist for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, joining her good friend Craig Dawson, former Shorewood Administrator there.
Marl Sylvester current serves as the City's representative to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. He's been in that role since the first of this year. The Insider notes that Sylvester seems to be absorbed with the topic of aquatic invasive species. Recently he reported at a council meeting that he had voted against the LMCD's 2013 budget proposal citing disagreement with AIS funding. The report seemed a personal one because Sylvester never asked Council for direction on the budget before he voted. If one watched the meeting, it's obvious that Council Member Siakel supported Sylvester's position on the budget. Is Sylvester taking direction from Siakel?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
So far, Scott Zerby has filed to run for mayor and Mark Sylvester for council. Remember that the filing period doesn't end until the 14th and there can be more candidates holding off.
Zerby is well known to readers of this blog. Of intereest to the Insider is that he's been Lizee's lap dog for the past four years on council. His filing tells the Insider that Lizee is not running for mayor this year. Lizee's departure would mark the end of former mayor Woody Love's hand picked successor. But maybe not. Recent news is that Lizee is working as the receptionist for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, joining her good friend Craig Dawson, former Shorewood Administrator there.
Marl Sylvester current serves as the City's representative to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. He's been in that role since the first of this year. The Insider notes that Sylvester seems to be absorbed with the topic of aquatic invasive species. Recently he reported at a council meeting that he had voted against the LMCD's 2013 budget proposal citing disagreement with AIS funding. The report seemed a personal one because Sylvester never asked Council for direction on the budget before he voted. If one watched the meeting, it's obvious that Council Member Siakel supported Sylvester's position on the budget. Is Sylvester taking direction from Siakel?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Don't Be Afraid To Run For Office
8/4/12
A recent comment to this blog implied that Shorewood residents are not filing to run for mayor or council because of fear of criticism by the Insider.
Nonsense.
The Insider is encouraging residents who think for themselves, do their homework, care about everyone in Shorewood and want to commit to make a difference to run for election.
Will council members be criticized? Maybe. But, if they do an honest job, it's unlikely.
Get to City Hall and file to run. The Insider hears that only one person has filed for council (two seats open) and nobody for mayor. Remember, the last day to file is Tuesday, August 14.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
A recent comment to this blog implied that Shorewood residents are not filing to run for mayor or council because of fear of criticism by the Insider.
Nonsense.
The Insider is encouraging residents who think for themselves, do their homework, care about everyone in Shorewood and want to commit to make a difference to run for election.
Will council members be criticized? Maybe. But, if they do an honest job, it's unlikely.
Get to City Hall and file to run. The Insider hears that only one person has filed for council (two seats open) and nobody for mayor. Remember, the last day to file is Tuesday, August 14.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Time Is Running Out
8/1/12
It's now day two of the filing period to run for mayor and city council. If you haven't been to City Hall to file, get moving. Filing ends the 14th.
The last thing residents of Shorewood should want is Lizee, Woodruff and Zerby running unopposed.
You can make a difference. Get to City Hall with your $2 and file by the 14th.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
It's now day two of the filing period to run for mayor and city council. If you haven't been to City Hall to file, get moving. Filing ends the 14th.
The last thing residents of Shorewood should want is Lizee, Woodruff and Zerby running unopposed.
You can make a difference. Get to City Hall with your $2 and file by the 14th.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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