Champlin, our wonderful host for the first North Metro Mayors Association Board meeting of 2018, is a hidden gem. According to Mayor Ryan Karasek, they’re polishing the gem to make it shine.

A new PSA that promotes Champlin pride is running on 14 movie screens before every movie at the Mann Theater in town. There is a lot to be proud of, with $129 million in investments currently happening in housing, transportation, recreation, and more.

Speaking of recreation

See the attached invite to a special event, Feb. 9, 6 to 8:30 p.m. (or so), Sticks and Stones Restaurant, inside Fogerty Arena, Blaine. We’re working with Comcast to offer a Winter Olympics opening ceremony viewing event and spotlight on sports in the north metro.  Please share the invite with your colleagues. The event is free! Keynote is Jordan Leopold, former MN Wild hockey player and U.S. Olympian. Southern BBQ is on the menu. Info on cool recreational facilities in the north metro will be shared (and bragged about).

A few highlights from member cities shared at the meeting

Ramsey is working with University of MN students on community building. Open house poster session Tuesday at city hall. Ride the Northstar train from Ramsey to Super Bowl events.

Maple Grove is hosting Wonders of Winter around the big game. State Fair style bussing to downtown Minneapolis available for $2.50.

Mounds View has a new city administrator, Nyle Zikmund. Welcome! Their public works building is done.

Coon Rapids has bids coming in next week for the Hanson bridge project. It’s the 50^th anniversary of Bunker Hills Golf Course.

Blaine had 15,000 building permits related to storm damage. Eight building inspectors are hustling.

Brooklyn Park received more funds for their highway 169 project; about $13-14 million to go.

Brooklyn Center is gearing up to interview developers for the large piece of land off of John Martin Dr. and Bass Lake Road.

New Hope broke ground Jan. 5 on their new police station and city hall.

Something new came up that is of interest to probably all members. Brooklyn Center is partnering with CEAP and Luther Auto to bring a program idea from Albuquerque, New Mexico to address the needs of people on street corners asking for money. Safety, work for the day and more are taken into account. The program rolls out in the spring.

See you Feb. 9 at the Olympic Training Site for Curling—Fogerty Arena.

As always, your thoughts are welcome. Call me any time, 612-889-2611. Thanks.

Jill Brown, Executive Director

“Serving today, shaping tomorrow” isn’t just a slogan at Maple Grove. At the Operating Committee meeting this week, held in Maple Grove, City Administrator Heidi Nelson shared a few ways the council is delivering on that idea. In 2017, the city added 606 units of housing (249 building permits). Several industrial/office/retail projects are in the works. The recently passed 2018 city budget includes more resources for police investigations and parks and rec.

A good dialogue was had between Heidi and her counterparts in the North Metro. One topic was Highway 610, both the need to finish the road connections and the potential for development in the different quadrants of 610 and 94. Since 610 connected to Highway 94 this year, congestion on both has gotten worse. “Hot mess express” is the new catch phrase. It’s no wonder transportation continues to be an NMMA top regional issue at the Capitol.

The meeting schedule for 2018 is below. Thanks to the hosts! And, thanks to Maple Grove for hosting the final Operating Committee meeting of 2017.

Happy holidays to our cities, legislative delegation, Community Partners, and friends. Special thanks to Pearl sponsors, Comcast and Financial One, for making our 30^th anniversary special. The celebration continues in 2018!

Jill Brown, Executive Director

Cell: 612-889-2611

Email: JillCBrown@msn.com

 

Board of Directors 2018 Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Champlin Ice Forum

Wednesday, March 7, time TBD, Day at the Capitol (March 21 removed from calendar)

Wednesday, May 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Maple Grove

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Coon Rapids

Wednesday, Nov. 14 (moved up one week due to Thanksgiving), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Park

 

Operating Committee 2018 Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coon Rapids

Wednesday, April 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Blaine

Wednesday, May 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ramsey

Wednesday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Andover

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., New Hope

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Circle Pines

Thank you to the City of New Hope for hosting the November North Metro Mayors Association Board meeting.

Senator Ann Rest described “tense times since the end of May” and expressed hope that the Legislature and Governor Dayton will soon come to agreement on funding. Representative Randy Jessup advocated for collaboration on public policy making. Senator John Hoffman provided an update on a number of things, including energy legislation.

Jim Dickinson, Andover, presented, and the Board approved, the Operating Committee’s recommendations on dues, budget and contracts for 2018.

Kirk McDonald, New Hope, presented, and the Board approved, the North American Joint Purchasing Program Committee’s recommendation on a new contract with Innovative Office Solutions for the North American Joint Purchasing Program.

Scott Ravenscroft and Maria Redman, with IOS, provided a quick overview of the contract components. Categories included are office supplies, toner program, full service audio/visual, printing and promotional services, facilities service and supply, and furniture.

IOS is opening a new furniture showroom at 510 Marquette in downtown Minneapolis. The furniture prices in the NAJPP contract mirror national contracts that were competitively bid for Teknion and HON lines. Plus, our contract includes a 1% dividend, minus admin costs.

Everything else purchased through IOS receives a 5% dividend, minus admin costs.

Scott stressed that facilities is an area where IOS offers some of the best bang for the buck. Paper products, soaps, chemicals, safety, janitorial, hard goods, industrial floor scrubbers and cleaners, and more—just ask them.

Who’s eligible to buy on the contract? Any NMMA member, plus any governmental entities and nonprofits may open an NAJPP account. It’s worth checking out. Our collective buying power could make us equal a $2 million customer, according to Scott.

Scott can be reached at SRavenscroft@innovativeos.com or 952-826-3745.

Maria can be reached at MRedman@innovativeos.com or 952-746-8612.

Kurt Ulrich, Ramsey, announced the City of Anoka is receiving $20 million for Highway 10 improvements. See related story here.

At the Dec. 20 Operating Committee meeting in Maple Grove, feedback on the draft 2018 Legislative Work Plan will be discussed. We’ll also fine tune the 2018 calendar. We may want to move the November Board meeting away from the night before Thanksgiving. We’ll nail down a day at the capitol, too, either Feb. 28 or March 7.

Happy holidays!

Jill Brown, Executive Director, Cell: 612-889-2611

Thank you, Dan Buchholtz and the City of Spring Lake Park, for hosting the Operating Committee meeting this week. We learned about new things happening in the City, like “Legends of Spring Lake Park” senior housing under construction at the former mini golf site, a new Hy-Vee going through final planning stages, and renovations to the Spring Lake Park high school and district offices.  A brewpub will be added on University Ave. The City will close its municipal liquor store, located in the Hy-Vee construction zone. The City will not relocate the store.

We also learned Top Golf in Brooklyn Center will likely be open in the fall of 2018.

Maple Grove is experiencing labor issues for new businesses. One is pushing back opening until January due to lack of employees. Potential labor shortages are a concern for the region.

New Brighton will have a groundbreaking for a German company, being added to the New Brighton Exchange. A fully accessible park is a new feature coming to the region.

Matt Stemwedel, Coon Rapids, and Curt Boganey, Brooklyn Center, have been appointed to important positions in related groups. Matt offers his assistance at Metro Cities and Curt is a conduit with the League of Minnesota Cities. Congratulations and thank you, gentlemen.

The Operating Committee, chaired by Jim Dickinson, Andover, reviewed and approved several key pieces of business that move forward to the Nov. 15 Board meeting, including 2018 dues, budget and contracts, and a 2018 legislative work plan draft. A new office supplies/janitorial/furniture contract through the North American Joint Purchasing Program was presented by NAJPP Committee Chair Kirk McDonald, New Hope. It also moves forward to the November agenda.

Next Meetings

The Board meets Wednesday, Nov. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., New Hope Golf Course. The next Operating Committee meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Maple Grove Government Center.

The North Metro Mayors Association celebrated its 30th anniversary in Blaine, and North Metro TV was there to cover the event.

 

Read the coverage here: http://northmetrotv.com/news-headlines/north-metro-mayors-association-celebrates-30-years/