Thank you to Dean Lotter and the City of New Brighton for hosting the June Operating Committee meeting for the North Metro Mayors Association. The renovated training room in the public safety center is great meeting space. The Police Chiefs Association is located in the building and uses the space to train folks from the region.

 

Speaking of the region, kudos to Northeast Bank, one of our esteemed Community Partners, for earning a Top Workplace award from the Star Tribune. I looked at a map of winner locations and was thrilled to see so many of our member cities are hosts to these rock stars.    https://topworkplaces.com/publication/startribune/

 

The meeting agenda included reviewing the amended joint powers agreement and bylaws. Those will come forward in the September board packet. All edits are housekeeping items. Preliminary dues and a 2020 budget were discussed. We’re holding the line on dues again for next year.

 

We heard from an Innovative Office Solutions’ representative, Scott Ravenscroft. If you aren’t using our North American Joint Purchasing Program to buy items for your office, facilities maintenance, breakroom, or marketing efforts, we should talk. Scott reports we’re on our way to growing the program 8-10% this year. We have the buying power of a company spending more than $1.5 million every year.

 

I like the IOS mission–response, relief, reduction.

 

Troy and Allie are getting started on the 2020 legislative work plan. The session begins Feb. 11. Troy and I would like to meet with each city this summer. We’ll reach out to set up something, or feel free to give me a call.

 

As usual, our city updates sparked discussions on emerging topics. Water and labor relations were two highlights of the conversations. More to come, I’m sure.

 

Enjoy our beautiful Minnesota summer. Meetings resume September 18 with the board in New Hope at their brand new city hall (move in is next week!).

 

As always, reach out any time with ideas. Thanks. Jill

 

Jill Brown, Executive Director

612-889-2611

Thank you, Coon Rapids Mayor Jerry Koch and City Manager Matt Stemwedel, for hosting the May North Metro Mayors Association Board meeting. Here are a few quick highlights:

Welcome Fridley! Mayor Scott Lund says his city is experiencing a growth spurt. The city hall campus (a $51 million endeavor) has housing on its perimeter that is selling like hotcakes.

The old BAE site on East River Road south of 694 is now called Northern Stacks. The old buildings had as many square feet as the IDS tower. The 4,000 employees who worked there at one point rode bicycles down the halls to get from end to the other. The new spaces are a mix of uses, including a brewery that’s in the works. Here’s something for you history buffs: Two smoke stacks still stand from World War II days and one has special stars on it only seen on battleships. The Navy gave the site the recognition for building battleship cannons for the war effort. Mayor Lund says that site is the only dry land honoree. The Navy is paying to manage contaminated soils. Mayor Lund says the current practice is to contain in place, not remove it. Paved parking lots make great caps.

We’re very pleased and honored to have Fridley at the table with us. A formal vote to add them will occur at the next board meeting. Also at that meeting, we’ll consider two updated organizational documents–bylaws and a joint powers agreement. Community Partner Tiffany Schmidt, of Abrams and Schmidt Attorneys at Law, did a fabulous job reviewing the documents for us. Thank you, Tiffany!

We heard a legislative update from Troy Olsen. There are no financial targets, yet. Leadership is in discussion. Troy is anticipated a short special session.

Jay Stroebel, city manager, Brooklyn Park, reported on the changes at Edinburgh Tiffany concurs the new caterer, D’Amico, is excellent. This month the city decided to move forward with city hall renovations.

Community Partner Mike Kaeding, Norhart, shared the Pioneer Press interviewed him for having one of the most technically advanced apartment buildings in the state Oh, what smart phones can do.

Start shopping for housewarming gifts. New Hope will move into their new city hall in a matter of weeks.

Community Partner John Connelly, Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, shared materials on MnPass construction happening now on 35W. Thanks, John, for working with area businesses to help them navigate the project.

Mounds View City Administrator Nyle Zikmund says city hall is trying something new for the summer. Staff are able to work four 10-hour days and take Friday off. City hall will be closed to the public Fridays. A new employee retention benefit? Nyle hopes so.

It was a pleasure to have City Councilman Ryan Sabas represent Champlin. Lots of housing options coming online.

Coon Rapids City Manager Matt Stemwedel updated us on the city’s plans to turn East River Road into a full interchange on Hwy 610. Timing is good to tag onto the county’s work on Foley Blvd.

Thank you! Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

Any thoughts or questions, call me any time.

Jill Brown, Executive Director
612-889-2611

Thank you to Brooklyn Park for hosting the November board meeting.

Crest View Senior Communities CEO Shirley Barnes (standing in the attached photo) provided insights on trends. For the second time in her career, she’s seeing a saturation of the market for senior housing and a workforce shortage on the horizon. Providers like Crest View are responding, partly by partnering with others in the community.

Rep. Erin Koegel reported on a Highway 47 safety audit released this week. She’s interested in more stakeholders coming to the table in a program called Toward Zero Deaths.

Troy Olsen reported we have seven changes in our legislative delegation for 2019. All will be invited to the January Board meeting.

Brooklyn Park City Councilwoman Lisa Jacobson provided an overview of what’s happening in town. It’s impressive. Jobs are growing faster than the state average. There’s interest in building a performing arts center at North Hennepin (on the proposed Blue Line). Maybe a bonding request in the future? D’Amico is taking over food service at the Edinburgh Golf Course Clubhouse in January.

New things I learned from city updates:

• Expect a four-hour wait at Top Golf in Brooklyn Center during peak periods.
• #NoStove or #NoOven is trending in Maple Grove because there are plenty of restaurant choices for those who don’t want to cook.
• Mounds View is working on a memorial park idea that would include recognition of two residents who died in the 35W bridge collapse.
• Ramsey celebrated the largest solar garden of its kind at a grand opening with Connexus.
• Dayton is hosting an open house for the Dayton Parkway Interchange (formerly Brockton Interchange) at Faithbrook Church, 14100 Elm Creek Road, Dayton, on Nov. 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

I hope you have the January Board meeting on your calendar. We’ll elect two new leaders (Mayor Jerry Koch and Mayor Ryan Karasek are headed for the ballot). We’ll thank outgoing leaders Mayor Kathi Hemken and Mayor Dave Bartholomay. We’ll hear from a panel of Community Partners. And, we’ll share our legislative work plan with legislators who can make it.

We start (and finish) an hour earlier, 4:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, at the Ewald conference center, 1000 Westgate Dr., St. Paul.

Next month, the Operating Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 19, 11:30 a.m., in Circle Pines.

Happy Thanksgiving!

North Metro Mayors Minute for the October 2018 Operating Committee Meeting

Mayor Kathi Hemken will tell you the hardest part of operating construction equipment is getting in the cab while wearing shoes with heals. Knocking down a building to make room for a new city hall and police department in New Hope is a breeze.

Thank you, Mayor Hemken and City Manager Kirk McDonald, for hosting the Operating Committee last week. I enjoyed seeing the progress on your new campus, set to open in July.

Here are a few meeting agenda items you’ll hear about at the next North Metro Mayors Board of Directors meeting Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m., Brooklyn Park City Hall:

• Eight candidate forums are done. Questions from the audience were varied. Healthcare got the most questions.
• Troy Olsen will discuss the latest proposed 2019 legislative work plan. A few items were added since the last Board meeting.
• We’ll have new NMMA leadership in 2019. Mayor Hemken and Mayor Bartholomay have completed their two consecutive two-year terms allowed in the by-laws. We owe them a tremendous amount of thanks! I expect a vote at the January meeting, but names of volunteers will be presented Nov. 14.
• Meeting locations for 2019 were determined. Start times were adjusted on a couple to accommodate legislators’ schedules. Details are at the end of this update.

At our September board meeting, a few questions were raised, and observations were shared on the topic of senior housing. At the Nov.14 meeting, Crest View Senior Communities CEO Shirley Barnes will be on the top of the agenda to answers questions from you and offer her insights on what’s happening with senior housing in the north metro. Crest View has been a valued Community Partner for many years. I’m pleased to offer this connection to further the conversation.

See you at the polls Nov. 6 and in Brooklyn Park Nov. 14. As always, feel free to call or email with questions and suggestions. Thanks. J

Jill Brown, Executive Director

Cell: 612-889-2611

Email: JillCBrown@msn.com

2019 schedule:

Board:

Jan. 16, St. Paul (Ewald/capitol?), 4:30 – 6:30

March 20, Day at the Capitol, Board 3-5 p.m.

May 15, Coon Rapids, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sept. 18, New Hope, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Nov. 20, Maple Grove, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Operating Committee, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Feb. 20, Blaine

April 17, Andover

June 19, New Brighton

Oct. 16, Ramsey

Dec. 18, Mounds View

North Metro Mayors Minute—September Board Meeting

Thank you, Coon Rapids, for hosting the North Metro Mayors Board of Directors this week. Coon Rapids is hopping! Hanson Blvd., currently carrying about 14,000 cars daily across the railroad tracks, will have some closures in 2019 during construction of a new overpass. The temporary pain will be worth it!

Snippets of other city updates:

New Hope—City hall complex is under construction; planning a July 1 move in.

New Brighton—Green light coming soon for the new water plant to go online. It’s a $25 million project paid for by the army and Pentagon.

Mounds View—Happy anniversary, Nyle, both at Mounds View and with your bride.

Brooklyn Park—Four of seven council seats are on the ballot. City is waiting to see if they got a grant for additional firefighters.

Blaine—The Highway 65 study has started. The city and the county each put in $100,000 to get it launched. That helped move it up the list of priorities for MnDOT, Mayor Ryan says. A ribbon cutting was held on the remodeled 105^th Ave.

Andover—There’s an addition happening at the high school. The Facebook video of an eagle landing on the fire engine equipment on 9-11 has received 10 million views. Will Hollywood call?

Dayton—The Brockton project has a new name, Dayton Parkway Interchange. It looks like a 2020 start on the road project; diverging diamond design preferred.

Champlin—The massive Highway 169 project opened this week! The Champlin Theater had a grand reopening after a $5.2 million renovation that included a solar array. People love it.

Circle Pines—The county library is under construction. This fall, a water cleanup project begins on Golden Lake. It’s likely to become a model, using sand and iron filings to filter water. Mayor Bartholomay says 60% of lakes in MN are impaired.

Community Partner Tiffany, of Abrams & Schmidt, Attorneys at Law, reported the MN Supreme Court would review the Richfield employment case. The MN Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the city.

Chamber affiliate John Connelly, Twin Cities North, shared our partnership on candidate forums is going well. Plus, the chamber is hosting additional forums with candidates for MN Legislature and constitutional offices.

Other quick updates:

Cities have a worksheet for the 2019 legislative session. Please complete and return to Ewald staff.

The 2019 dues were approved at the same rate as last year. A 2019 budget was approved with a nearly 5% reduction from an earlier draft. Thanks, Operating Committee, for your work on these.

Join us next week at legislative candidate forums. Anoka City Hall, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m., and Circle Pines City Hall, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. Remaining events are Coon Rapids, Oct. 3, and New Hope Oct. 16. Eight nights total! 

Next NMMA meetings:

Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m., Operating Committee, New Hope City Hall

Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m., Board of Directors, Brooklyn Park City Hall