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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 FebruaryQ • Golf, anyone? The summer of 1991 should bring the sounds of putts dropping, the swish of perfect drives, and — after walking for 18 holes — the agony of "da feet." On Jan. 31, The Cottage Grove City Council and the city's Economic Develop- ment Authority (EDA) concluded the agreements, lease arrangements, land transfers, and bond sale for the $2.6 million dollar River Oaks Municipal Golf Course. The facility will be located on the south side of T.H. 61, east of 3M Chemolite and just across the highway from Berryland. The River Oaks Municipal Golf Course (named after the residential project that donated 106.22 acres to the EDA) took more than six months of intense negotiations between the residential developer, Correll Realty; 3M Company (which will lease approximately 60 acres to the city), the City Council, and the Economic Development Authority. The EDA sold the bonds and will construct the golf course, clubhouse, and maintenance building. After the facility is completed in the spring of 1991, the project will be turned over to the city to be operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. Golf course architect Don Herfort, who has designed more than 20 courses in the Upper Midwest, is under contract with the EDA to design, bid and oversee construction of the course. "The topography and masses of pine trees on the property will provide an ideal location for a high quality municipal golf course," Herfort said. Herfort has completed the master plan for the par 71 course, which will be 5,250 -yards for regulation play and 5,595 yards for tournament play. A unique 300 -yard driving range will allow golfers to practice at one end of the range while lessons are being taught at the other. Fifty -one lots for "upper bracket" single - family homes will surround the course. Lots that overlook the Mississippi River and most lots along the only street in the project, Kingsborough Trail, contain large stands of oak trees. Extensive transplanting of pine trees will enhance the remaining lots and the golf course itself. Currell Realty will dedicate a scenic overlook, open to the public, that will provide spectacular views of the Mississippi River valley. All operations and maintenance expenses for the course, along with repayment of the $2.6 million bond issue, will be covered by green fees. In fact, it is expected that after a few years of operation, River Oaks will begin to generate profits that can be used for other city programs. » a Open 8 -4:30, of -F Police & Fire Emerger Police Non-Emergency Building Inspections Parks Public Works 458 -2800 cy 911 459 -2911 459 -2804 458 -2808 4.5,9 -2808 Mayor Richard Pederson City Council Bill Buth, Jack Denzer, Lyle Puppe, .fill Seacrist City Administrator Kevin I-'razell Arena Manager Tim Johnson Building Official Everett Anderson Community Devefopmt. Gary Berg Finance Diane Archer Fire Chief Denis Erickson Parks, Recreation John Fredrickson Police Chief Dennis Cusick Public Works Les Burshten Editor Margo Doren by Kevin Frazell City Administrator The 1990 General Fund budget for the City of Cottage Grove will be $6.2 million, about $390,000 or 6.5 percent above the 1989 budget. The good news for taxpayers is that the "bottom line," after accounting for shifts in aids from the state (discussed below) should be little change, or even a decrease in the portion of the property tax bill that is used for city spending. Most of the increase in the city budget is caused by inflation (i.e., wage adjustments, cost of goods purchased etc.) Specific items of new cost are a Personnel Director, a Street Maintenance Worker, an Auto Maintenance Worker, upgrad- ing of the city's heavy trucks for snowplowing, two additional issues of the Cottage Grove Reports annually, and a contribution to the Senior Citizens' Center. The budget also includes an additional Sewer/Water Mainte- nance Worker and an Engineering Coordinator. However, these positions are not included in the General Fund, and they are not supported by tax revenue. Due to action by the State In this issue . , . Bill Buth joins council ............2 D.A.R.E. program .................3 Changes in zoning laws ...... ..5 Accacia Lodge ......................6 Tree pruning .........................7 New River Oaks golf course .8 Legislature in the fall special session, the source of funds is changing somewhat this year. In 1989, about 25 percent of city revenues came from state aids, 50 percent from property taxes, and the remaining 25 percent from various fees, permits, etc. For 1990, state aids will decrease to about 15 percent while taxes will increase to about 60 percent. This is because the state has decided to give more aid to school districts and less to cities. Specifically, this means the City of Cottage Grove will receive $509,240 less in state aid, but School District 833 will receive that much more money on behalf of taxpayers in Cottage Grove A similar shift will take place in Woodbury, St. Paul Park, and Newport. The net effect on the bottom line of your property tax bill should be an equaling out of dollars you pay. Cottage Grove is also the beneficiary of a new state program caned "equalization aid." The city has adopted a gross tax levy of $4,391,165 (which includes General Fund, debt service, etc.) Before the County Auditor levies that amount on all of the property located in Cottage Grove, however, $217,825 of "equalization aid" will be subtracted. Here's the good news for taxpayers. The city's gross levy for 1990 is up $729,912, but after subtracting the "aid shift" of $509,420 discussed above, along with the $217,825 of equalization aid, the net increase in the city tax levy is less than $3,000! Because we've added 4.5 percent more households in Cottage Grove over the past year, there are more of us to shoulder the tax burden, meaning each individual taxpayer should be paying a little less for city services in 1990. » • • RUMM Want to run in the Olympic Festival? One of the major events leading up to the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Festival will be the Olympic Torch Run sponsored by McDonalds. The Festival will draw more than 4,000 athletes and officials to the Twin Cities July 6- 15 for competition in 38 events. The torch is tentatively sched- uled to come through town on Tuesday, July 3. Persons interested in carrying the torch may register at the Cottage Grove McDonalds prior to March 30. Runners will be selected by lottery, and will be notified in April. City to open • •. Course 2239 •. A trip to New Orleans may be on the program for the highly - regarded Concert Choir of Park Senior High School. The group has been asked to sing in the historic St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, but needs to raise at least $15,000, or $349 per student, to make the trip. A parent booster club has been formed to help with funding. Donations are invited; for more information contact Joan Almanza, 459 -2718. The Park Concert Choir has sung at several colleges, and has travelled to Chicago, Winnipeg, Boys Town, and Kansas City to sing. Their director is Jan Gilbertson. MUNINTERET2=1 The mayor, the priest, the guy down the block, and the whole city council ... in JAIL? Its happening February 14 and 15 when the Cottage Grove Cham- ber of Commerce and the American Cancer Society join forces for a "Jail and Bail" fundraiser. Anyone who is "jailed" goes before a judge, who will set bail. Bail will be raised during the time "behind bars," and when the prisoner has raised the bail he or she can get out of jail. All money raised will be used for education and research programs of the American Cancer Society. For more information, call Jenne Theme Temporaries, 227- 9566. 61 Five amendments to the Cottage Grove Zoning Ordinance were passed at the Jan. 17 meeting of the City Council. Three of the amendments clarified or upgraded the standards required of builders and develop- ers in the City of Cottage Grove, one relates to appearance of city yards, and one brings the city in lane with state statutes regarding zoning violations. A summary of the revisions follows. Builders will be required to submit a Certificate of Survey signed by a registered Iand surveyor, prior to receiving a building permit for a new principal structure on a lot. This would include all new residential, commercial, and industrial building, with exceptions being made for parcels of 1 -1%2 acres or larger having a metes and bounds description. 2 New standards were adopted governing the placement and construction of trash enclosure structures for all new developments. Such structures are no longer required to have a roof, but must meet specific standards regarding size, building materials, and exterior finish. This amendment will allow the city to have greater control over such structures, and developers will be encouraged to 'integrate them into the landscape plan on the site. 3 The Ordinance was clarified to require that all developed uses in residential and commercial districts provide a landscaped yard along all streets. The yard is required to he a minimum of 20 feet in depth, measured from the street right -of -way line. This area must he kept clear of all structures, storage, and off -street parking areas. This amendment ensures that all new commercial developments will have landscaping along all street frontages to improve the aesthetics of the site. The City Council also approved an emendment aimed at improving the appearance of the city which restricts the exterior storage of materials and equipment in residential districts in the city. As you know, such storage can have a detrimental effect on the individual property, the neighborhood, and eventually the entire city. All materials and equipment, including inoperable vehicles (those not in running condition) 4 and vehicles without the current year's license, are required to either be stored within a building or screened with a solid fence so as not to be visible from adjoining properties or from the street; covering such vehicles with only a tarp is in violation of the Zoning Ordinance. 5 In order to be consistent with Minnesota State Statutes, the City Council also passed an amendment to increase the fine for violation of any provision of the Zoning Ordinance. Such violation is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of $700 or imprisonment of 90 days, or both. The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to promote orderly development of the residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and public areas of the city by regulating the location of various land uses and establishing standards for development. Because planning and development is an ongoing process, the Zoning Ordinance needs to be revised regularly. Amending the existing Ordinance allows the city to keep the bulk of the Zoning Ordinance intact while changing those areas in need of revision. Contact the Community Development De- partment, 458 -2825, for more information on any aspects of the Zoning Ordinance. Above, Clerk- Receptionist Unnea Sundgaard started working Dec. 11 in City Hall. She helps the Community De- velopment and Parks and Recreation Departments. Two new employees started at the Cottage Grove Public Works Depart- ment on Dec. 18. They are John DeBaere, above, who joined the streets department, and Michael Schutt, right, water department.