3/27/13
During the 3/25 council meeting the involvement of Shorewood with Excelsior's Music In The Park events was discussed. The Park Commission recommended support following their meeting with8 Excelsior's Parks Commission and an agreement that more coordination and support between events of both cities makes sense.
So, the first show of support was Shorewood's Council to writing a check for $1000. Interestingly, this unbudgeted expense will come out of the Parks budget. The Insider wonders how the Parks Commissioners feel about taking money from their pot. Bet they didn't expect that!
See the council meeting at:
http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=8e5f5d24-e7c7-1030-b4c5-84d7a9c8f15d
Look at agenda item 7B.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Council Retreat Report
3/27/13
The "Retreat" was held on Saturday, 3/25. Blog readers may read the agenda and presentation at:
http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/164185/Page1.aspx
A video was not made. So, actual discussion is not public. Yes, you needed to be there if you wanted to know what was really said.
From the materials, one could get the impression that the City was going to run out of money in the next 10 years.
Basically, for four years there have been no property tax increases and no meaningful changes in fees for things like sewer. Yet, costs have gone up and will continue to do so. Looking at the materials one can see that staff is recommending Council increase taxes between 1% and 2% per year along with reviewing/changing some fees and possibly using excess funds in some reserves to fill holes.
So, the City is not going broke unless Council does something incredibly stupid. In fact, there is about $14 million in the bank.
Watch for more on tax and fee changes as well as measures to manage expenses such as sharing services with other cities.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The "Retreat" was held on Saturday, 3/25. Blog readers may read the agenda and presentation at:
http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/164185/Page1.aspx
A video was not made. So, actual discussion is not public. Yes, you needed to be there if you wanted to know what was really said.
From the materials, one could get the impression that the City was going to run out of money in the next 10 years.
Basically, for four years there have been no property tax increases and no meaningful changes in fees for things like sewer. Yet, costs have gone up and will continue to do so. Looking at the materials one can see that staff is recommending Council increase taxes between 1% and 2% per year along with reviewing/changing some fees and possibly using excess funds in some reserves to fill holes.
So, the City is not going broke unless Council does something incredibly stupid. In fact, there is about $14 million in the bank.
Watch for more on tax and fee changes as well as measures to manage expenses such as sharing services with other cities.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Monday, March 18, 2013
Council "Retreat" - Location Change
3/18/13
Saturday's (the 23rd) "Retreat" has been moved to the Police/Fire Building basement conference room. Start time appears to be 8:00 AM.
You are going to attend, aren't you?
This'll be the first time in six years the Council will have a strategy discussion not lead by Chris Lizee.
No final decisions are supposed to be made.
Hapy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday's (the 23rd) "Retreat" has been moved to the Police/Fire Building basement conference room. Start time appears to be 8:00 AM.
You are going to attend, aren't you?
This'll be the first time in six years the Council will have a strategy discussion not lead by Chris Lizee.
No final decisions are supposed to be made.
Hapy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, March 14, 2013
AIS Back In The News
3/14/13
Council was back to talking about AIS. Monday night, it approved funds for the Lake Minnetonka Association to chemically treat for milfoil on Phelps and Gideons Bays. It also approved doing boat inspections at the Christmas Lake landing. Readers may view the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=7a935e95-dd8d-1030-b4c5-84d7a9c8f15d
Dick Osgood of the LMA spoke about the milfoil treatment program and ended by asking for $12,000, twice what the City has in the 2013 budget. It seems that the LMA's other sources of funds are less than in previous years and the expectation was the City should make up the shortfall. Council ended up authorizing $7,000, the same amount it authorized in 2012. If one listens carefully, several of the council members were leaning toward giving the whole $12,000. More of the let's spend even if the money is not there behavior at work.
This year the City is on its own to operate the Christmas Lake inspections, but does expect to get a grant from the watershed and appears to have a verbal agreement that the Lake Association will cover the balance of the expense. With this funding, the City's costs should be some staff time, the same as in 2012. This is good because the 2013 budget has no dollars for this inspection program.
How much should the City spend for AIS chemical treatment programs? One should keep in mind that directly benefiting on the two affected bays are about 40 properties in Shorewood.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Council was back to talking about AIS. Monday night, it approved funds for the Lake Minnetonka Association to chemically treat for milfoil on Phelps and Gideons Bays. It also approved doing boat inspections at the Christmas Lake landing. Readers may view the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=7a935e95-dd8d-1030-b4c5-84d7a9c8f15d
Dick Osgood of the LMA spoke about the milfoil treatment program and ended by asking for $12,000, twice what the City has in the 2013 budget. It seems that the LMA's other sources of funds are less than in previous years and the expectation was the City should make up the shortfall. Council ended up authorizing $7,000, the same amount it authorized in 2012. If one listens carefully, several of the council members were leaning toward giving the whole $12,000. More of the let's spend even if the money is not there behavior at work.
This year the City is on its own to operate the Christmas Lake inspections, but does expect to get a grant from the watershed and appears to have a verbal agreement that the Lake Association will cover the balance of the expense. With this funding, the City's costs should be some staff time, the same as in 2012. This is good because the 2013 budget has no dollars for this inspection program.
How much should the City spend for AIS chemical treatment programs? One should keep in mind that directly benefiting on the two affected bays are about 40 properties in Shorewood.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Monday, March 4, 2013
Council Retreat Scheduled
3/4/13
Shorewood's Council has scheduled a "retreat" for Saturday the 23rd at South Shore Center. The agenda appears to be pending, but one item that's sure to get some discussion is the center itself.
In 2011 and again in early 2012 the Council held some strategic planning and visioning sessions. These seemed to be marked by lack of agreement, and certainly lack of any meaningful results. So, will this meeting produce anything different?
What would readers of this blog have on the agenda if they were running the meeting?
Note that the meeting is open to the public and starts at 8:30 AM. The Insider suspects the Council would be surprised to have some of their constituents present. Might be fun!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Shorewood's Council has scheduled a "retreat" for Saturday the 23rd at South Shore Center. The agenda appears to be pending, but one item that's sure to get some discussion is the center itself.
In 2011 and again in early 2012 the Council held some strategic planning and visioning sessions. These seemed to be marked by lack of agreement, and certainly lack of any meaningful results. So, will this meeting produce anything different?
What would readers of this blog have on the agenda if they were running the meeting?
Note that the meeting is open to the public and starts at 8:30 AM. The Insider suspects the Council would be surprised to have some of their constituents present. Might be fun!
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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