Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 03-11 City Council Manager Workshop PacketCITY COUNCIL /MANAGER WORKSHOP Monday, March 11, 2002 Council Chambers, City Hall 6:00 p.m. A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA D. NEW BUSINESS 1. Planning Commission Appointment Interview 2. Presentation from Roger Williams of the Metropolitan Council 3. Organized Garbage Collection Discussion E. FUTURE TOPICS 1. Exploring the Possibilities of a Sister City 2. White Bear Avenue Streetscapes 3. Housing and Business Redevelopment 4. Ordinance Regulating Buckthorn 5. Organized Collection 6. Ward System as Presented by Maplewood Resident Emil Sturzenegger 7. City Hall Courtyard 8. Open Space F. ADJOURNMENT Agenda # MEMORANDUM TO: City Manager FROM: Ken Roberts, Associate Planner SUBJECT: PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT DATE: March. 4, 2002 Act ion by OL�it Date Endorsed Modified e, � e p t e d.... INTRODUCTION The planning commission has a vacancy created by the resignation of Jack Frost. I have attached a map of where the current planning commission members live, a map of where the candidates live and the candidate's applications. (See pages 2 -13.) BACKGROUND The planning commission's rules of procedure state that the commission shall recommend candidates based on qualifications and a representative geographical distribution of members. On February 4, 2002, the planning commission conducted interviews with and ranked the five applicants. The results are: Diana Longrie -Kline -- 14 points Larry Hendrickson — 12 points Jackie Monahan -Junek — 11 points Julie Lin Beitler — 9 points Richard Currie — 2 points On February 25, 2002, the city council interviewed three of the above candidates. Larry Hendrickson was out of town on February 25 but will be available for an interview on March 11 during *the Council /Manager workshop. RECOMMENDATION Interview the applicant's for the planning commission vacancy and appoint a person to serve on the planning commission. This person would fill the unfinished term on the planning commission that would end on December 31, 2002. kr /p : m isc /pca p pt. 02 -2 . d o c Attachments: r 1. Planning Commission Membership Map 2. Planning Commission Applicant's Location Map 3. Five Applications Attachment 1 F CITY OF MAPLEWOOD Count of Ramse Minnesota #3 C14 11330 East Count Road B. Maplewood, Mn. 0 F K L (6S 1 770-45W S5109 VAOMMS NEW-4n #HVIX LEGEND 312014 WERSI'ATE TRUNK MK~l A U.S. NOWW.RM TRUNK HOMAY_ R L W-t� ke STATE HUMMM TRUNK HOMY_ COUNTY STATE Mo HKAIWAY it Cf CAL P r. I VAL� COUNTY RCLQ MON 2E8GN WUNK3M SWOOL MORM SAW PAUL 2 nRf STATION '�'�� . � a C , / arrr - HOSWAL 8 COLO" -2640H LIBRARY a 2540 7 a 39 a d Z 3 C 24WN -GANAOA 2400N VAk ; I GAJ%AOA L LIM.0 21 calm. d U-6 I r can ti A 0! 1700' 3400' slow Sam 4 216ON LU.-ft LA :E SCALE ! (VI AEI., t TM SAW PAM 192ON t-wo q. r. S' .r•. 4W . r. oft I z % a. 1920" i .Iw. .. Cf ! :�. ��\ b i ! Y ..w.. 1690N sAw r PAM 7 0 3: C3 ft Pq E -F 7 44Qf4 %, 9L —A 144(1N 1 AK4 5 1200N -- r"— ` 1200M A .0e 13 960H 96ON MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION to -720N 72C% C3 Lorraine B. Fischer, Chair Matt Ledvina 41 1812 Furness Street 1173 Lakewood Dr S Z Maplewood MN 55109 Maplewood IVIN 55119 C== 12 �� YYYaaa ).- ­j A4%. O � i - ; . W • ale Trippler William Rossbach I S 1201 Junction Avenue 1386 Count Road C 7 Maplewood MN 55109-3433 Maplewood, MN 55109 A —00 aul Mueller 14 Ga Pearson 2-WS — ". 240S 1820 Onacrest Court 1209 Antelope Wa L .0 =Z Maplewood MN 55117 Maplewood IVIN 55119 'o 4805 &ric 4 1 —4805 ary Dierich AhIness 2624 Promontor Place 2062 En Street 7205 ' ° Maplewood MN 55119 Maplewood MN 55109 17 r A 17 I cum% 'L 'L a j Wun I ef 9605 96()s L la 18 ~ a � C� 1200S — 12005 1440S r 19 440S 1 Pf\SDSKPROJ\CADMAPS\DWG\CITYWB.DWG 04/04/00 03t4207 PM CDT 20 .. ..... I Gem -- R"SEYj Coulay WASMNG COUNTY K L C4 0 2 — 16805 PW% MAO% % AV 'rW..0% ad. .0% '90 7 Attachment- 2 F ONTERSI'ATIE TRUW WD"AY U.S. NUMBERED TRUNK HIIG�WAV— STATE NUM6010 TRUW HOMY 1 .� �® k - COURN STATE AM) HOMAY COUNTY R" SC:NOOL /i <e J , . �s o� �' FIRE STATWN NOSWAL LJBRWY IEEE Inv EMAWN in rZIN rmvmmm FIX Ila ;, PALIE A E I F ta 1' 440M 4 M 0 1440M dow 120014 12CON PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANTS to 1. Julie Lin Beitler 10 to 1915 Price Ave. 720k — 720N Maplewood, MN 55109 IF F 2. Richard Currie 1937 West Kenwood Drive 12 12 Maplewood, MN 55117 2Qf4 * �4-21 - 1 3. Larr Hendrickson ts A 'T m —00 1930 Price Ave. 00 — 1 A Maplewood, MN 55109 14 14 — 2'-WS 2405 Gr 4. Diana Lon'l 9 rie-Kline 15 1778 DeSoto Street —" u I 480S — Maplewood, MN 55117 4805 o 16 15 5. Jackie Monahan-Junek 2430 Larpenteur Avenue East 72M — Maplewood, MN 55109 17 ft lops .0w. V 17 I � O " %Wv CP --� CT g 960S 950S t ia jr 12005 — 12005 19 is 1440S — - 1440S 2 20 0 RAMSEY COUNTY F)m 1 6805 WASHINGTON COUNTY K L N W"I r- 04 rld NO Pt',SIISKPPGJ*-,CADMAPS'%DWGI,CITYWB.DWCj 04/04/00 01AU7 Pm CL. - 1 1 n A. n". rw.% —F-rW-f% n..". W-♦ M.A. 9% • A S. 401. . . ..AAA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPLICANT INFORMATION FORM NAME ADDRESS At tachment 3 fir... . --•• - - •• "`:"^i•M , T , k��44�1..�1�'�f. . J � "J / N10V 1 4 2001 rr �*"�+ ! :13 Ww MY iGtlY Y1:� •:iK'� vw aFe •...:. .W. JM' 1'+fu !1�:i TwY ZIP S 10q PHONE NO. Work: Home: `� DATE 1) How long have you lived in the City of Maplewood? _ � �,�gj ►mp{� >S 2) Will other commitments make regular attendance at meetings difficult? Yes No 3) On which Board or Commission are you interested in serving? (please check) Community Design Review Board Park & Recreation Commission Housing & Redevelopment Authority ✓ Planning Commission Human Relations Commission Police Civil Service Commission 4) Do you have any s ecific areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? .�V 5) List other or anizations or clubs in the Community in which you have been or are an active participant: Una- D. 6) by - would you Ii e tb serve n this Board or ommisSion. h. a-ut M" ou ADDITIONAL COMMEN bi a 0 "'d THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC. FORMS%8RD &COMM.AK 4 10196 JULIE BEITLER 1915 Price Ave Maplewood, SIN 55109 651-748-0233 OBJECTIVE: To apply my land use planning and GIS skills in a volunteer position. EDUCATION: 2000 - present Masters Of GIS (MGIS) expected graduation 2003 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 1994 -1998 B.S., Land Use Planning Minor: GIS /Cartography University of Wisconsin, River Falls 1990 -1994 Osceola High School - Osceola, WI. COMPUTER SKILLS: Arc /Info Arc /View MapInfo IDRISI Office 2000 Windows NT WORK EXPERIENCE: Smallworld Nov 99- present Reliant Energy Minnegasco, Minneapolis, MN Senior GIS Specialist. Data conversion, raster scanning/placement, extensive research/analysis of gas facilities, interview committee July 98- present The Olive Garden, Maplewood, MN Server. Utilize public relation skills by serving customers and cooperating with other servers June 98 -Nov 98 University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI Intern position. Conducted a Cost of Community Service Study, data collection, and data management May 95 -Oct 95 Douglas- Hanson Co.,Jnc., Hammond, WI Oct 96 -May 98 Factory laborer. Acquired skills of accuracy and time management May 97 -Sept 97 Lake Kounta Landsca Osceola, WI Maintain nursery stock and assist customers with landscape designs Sept 94 -May 95 DJ j s Mart, Hammond, WI Oct 95 -Oct 96 Cashier /Cook. Duties included: balancing cash register, assisting customers, stocking shelves, inventory, and opening/closing store r Jan 95 -May 95 University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI Greenhouse Work Study. Duties included: maintain/transplant strawberry hybrids, organize information, and field work 5 CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS A PPLICANT INFORMATION FORM NAM 1 s C- pia. Do - ADDRESS Q-sf � 7 - PHONE Nth. W rk. � � - 21 r01 � om : � / y 71 - Z � � DATE o � e � E How long have you lived in the City of Ma - � 9 Y Y Maplewood? p 2) Will other commitments make regular attendance at meetings difficult? Yes No Comments: 1 3� vn w hich Board or Commission are you interested in serving? (please check) Community Design Review Board Pa* & Recre=fion Commission _ Housing & Redevelopment Authority X Planning Commission Human Relat CorTimission Poli G II Se rvice Co Is Ion 4) Do you have any s2g! I gific. areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? A 1 List ! ��f� �'1!"r'1��17+�T1111"!f� AP clubs �t'� T!1!a rP%rw %nit! or% � ! ;r% t�2�'1!/�i, �� � ! �1A1! i t /� /vim Al�/1 Aw% AA4* t �lr���� /lM�• vJ ! a # 0 . + 4 her v! ! ai. s!v! 1 t �! , Li ! vv,,,,,,�, : ,, , , , ,L „ Ou „a ve wee„ v, a, a a„ act, a �,`ia„ LKAF It. S <:ie. ! tlr 6) Why would you like to serve on this Board or Commission? Y ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED 111 tHIS APPLICATION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED FORMSORD&COMM.AK 1196 6 NOV 1 .12001. ,z 3Y� '.�.� Y.9U nIL'. ±eee •rY. vii. •tii .lVi i...� M1:. a...t !4. . .r. iN. F CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BOARDS. AND COMMISSIONS APPLICANT INFORMATION FORM NAME _ ���V V,, ADDRESS VV30 E• ZIP 5S I 09 PHONE NO, Work: 6 - 13(o ( D 1 0 Q- Home: 66 DATE S EP'C • 1) How long have you lived in the City of Maplewood? 2) Will other commitments make regular attendance at meetings difficult? Yes No Comments: 0C,%C--*S � lri.�K �. 'T �A�VEL Fo � M J oa M Cp MPh1�Y v E� tsQ Mai p Ly G U L 'E'R�s�r � M�%� PcZoa� 3►a NMSIQ me, �P�y� a� 31� �o � 0 -a Pews yes w girt+ ��- i a c��s i n� 4. �O� EIJ�- Pt$C�EI'19JT ��SPotJ5t8��Ti� r 3) On which Board or Commission are you interested in serving? (please check) _ Community Design Review Board Park &Recreation Commission Housing &Redevelopment Authority X Planning Commission Human Relations Commission Police Civil Service Commission 4) Do you have any s ecific areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? , 1 K ��.n' �� N mss M tr VO kSZ3A �©E M �o�� S - r � a Nw s Uj ZLL V&G t t Ct 7y > � � �-c );1�4 tc,-y s � s cod V � 5) List other organizations or clubs in the Community in which you have been or are an active participant: 6) Why would you like to serve on this Board or Commission? & % ty ITC) IT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: �� fl ©R.P�L.. r� N`u V, ckC � �cce.. �� l Y �,� O � � � ` .1 ` , � � `'■� Cass._ ,.�,���01_� 7:1. la".y.7 zi� haj o N � ._,IL RIN E `_mac 0 THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC. , c . % 1� -�'t\ F CLv�i� 1 N b M Ul L'r \ ~ '�� l tJ (C Y'"� -�C1 l L t Y Wt, � .Ui 1Gt.� FQRMS\BRDBCOMM.APL 10196 7 _ ova S Y Lo k kk tsklS-rgy Fn ye N-f . CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPLICANT INFORMATION FORM NAME �V� n,C�!`(Q� n,i.I rLQi ADDRESS �Q,SO'FO PHONE NO. Work: (P06 Home: lo 14q 0 ZIP Sil DATE 1 V Zl O 1) How long have you lived in the City of Maplewood? ' � r5 --�/ 2) Will other commitments make regular attendance at meetings difficult? Yes No Comments: 3) On which Board or Commission are you interested in serving? (please check 9 ) �- Community Design Review Board • Y 9 Park &Recreation Commission Housing & Redevelopment Authority s Planning ' Y g Commission Human Relations Commission Police Civil Service Commission 4) Do you have any s ecific areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? use- � rtQ,d�e�ctip �rl�• -"f " a -, % Lot a& t �( a� -� ►��c�' � �l'�p,�ca 4�-� A•th c� � �.o a + �� � st,,.b t.ar-b. 5) List other organizations or clubs in the Community in which you have been or are an active participant: `P�oo�rd &`�i a r � .�"`'�, � � �� 6) Wh wou ou li e to � se on this Board or Commission? .i.,O\t�nu. .ire Cl�la.���tu�d owl t.' J AN." ADDITI AL COMMENTS: � T 16K.0..�'u�^'e� L THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC. FORMSIBRD &COMM.APL 9 10/96 CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPLICANT INFORMATION FORM NAME Jackie Monahan -Junek ADDRESS 2430 E . L. a.rpenteur Ave . , Maplewood, MN 55109 =' _ PHONE NO. Work: 651- 73 -2722 Home: 651- 777 -6384 DATE 11/14/01 1 How Ion have you lived in the City of Maplewood? 39 years 9 Y Y P 2) Will other commitments make regular attendance at meetings difficult? Yes No Comments:. 3) On which Board or Commission are you interested in serving? (please check) Community Design Review Board Park & Recreation Commission Housing & Redevelopment Authority = Planning Commission Human Relations Commission Police Civil Service Commission 4) Do you have any specc areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? See attached. 5) List other organizations or clubs in the Community in which you have been or are an active participant: See attached. 6) Why would you like to serve on this Board or Commission? See attached. ADDITIONAL. COMMENTS: See resume attached. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC. FORMS \BRDBCOMM.APL 10 10i96 4) Do you have any specific areas of interest within this Board's or Commission's scope of responsibilities? I am interested in land use, zoning, the city's goal in the preservation of wetlands and open space, and the interaction of the Watershed(s) with the City of Maplewood. 5) List other organizations or clubs in the Community in which you have been or are an active participant. I am currently the President of the Beaver Lake Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). In addition to focusing on parent involvement in their child's education, I am also pushing for the school to get more involved in community outreach activities (e.g., visiting senior residences during the Holidays; providing stuffed animals for non - profit organizations). I also volunteer in my son's classroom at Beaver Lake and help my son create art projects that he can bring to class for his classmates to participate in. I also assist with the Beaver Lake Tiger Cubs den activities. 6) Why would you like to serve on this Board or Commission? I believe -that my personal commitment and professional experience, along with my relationship management and decision- making skills, and my team player attitude will allow me to be an asset to this commission and to the City of Maplewood. JACQUELINE L. MONAHAN -JUNEK 2430 East Larpenteur Avenue Maplewood, MN 55109 651-730-2722 (work) 651- 777 -6384 (Home) Admintm(Aci.Oakdale.mn.us or Birdym�kaol.com (E -mail) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE F 0 5 2002 Sept. 2001 — Present CITY OF OAKDALE, MN — Administration Intern R E C �' � � E 0 • Member of the Administration staff. • Work on a variety of critical projects otherwise assigned to professional or administration staff: Economic Development Update (newsletter), Press Releases, Economic Development Projects utilizing ArcView, open space preservation project in collaboration with the DNR, grants opportunities. • Provide a quality of work equivalent to professional and administration staff. • Seminars attended: 2001 Springsted Symposium, League of Minnesota. Cities 2001 Policy Adoption Conference, The 6 Annual Minnesota. Development Conference, Sensible Land Use Coalition. • Attend: Meetings with developers, City Council Workshops, City Council Meetings, Economic Development Commission Meetings. 1996-2000 IMATION COR.POR.ATION, Oakdale, MN Product/Marketing Manager, Graphic Arts Film, Plates and Chemistry • Negotiated private label product supply agreements /contracts that resulted in improved pricing leverage and increased operating income to business unit. • Structured and deployed marketing plan to launch a private label product, including but not limited to business model definition/implementation, channel defYnition/implementation, creation of comprehensive marketing/communications materials, pricing strategy and price lists, training and post - launch review. • Established and maintained strategic OEM partner relationships within the graphic arts market place. • Ability to work effectively with management and staff at all levels of experience and disciplines. • Planned and conducted competitive product, pricing, market and comprehensive financial (P &L) analysis. • Responsible for forecasting and implementing segment and channel strategies. • Evaluated new business opportunities — competitive products, pricing, market and P&L analysis. • Established Internet marketing through website content creation resulting in increased product awareness. • Cross- functional team champion for Sales and Operations Plate process; instrumental in reducing product dead/excess inventory to targeted levels that resulted in business unit attaining corporate non - working inventory levels. • Supported international colleagues, field sales representatives, corporate account representatives and field service with product/promotion information, presentation materials, decision- making guidance regarding individual customer profitability, and on -site customer visits. • Primary product' representative interfacing with international colleagues, laboratory, management, finance, legal, sales and OEM partners, ensuring on time completion of projects. 12 JACQUELINE L. MONAHAN -JUNEK (Page 2) Product Development Manager, Halftone Digital /Continuous Tone Proofing • Developed and maintained relationships with strategic OEM partners. • Created product forecasting spreadsheet tool and implemented Sales and x: Operations Plannning for product lines. • Defined sales representative training curriculum and delivered product training. • Compiled product summaries, development timelines, beta test plans, and product launch plans for review with strategic OEM partners. • Responsible for delivering to management product development timelines (life cycle planning process), business function, financial and P &L improvement plans. Marketing, Graphic Arts Film, Plates and Chemistry • Major contributor during comprehensive financial analysis that resulted in significant profitability improvement to product line. • Lead role in implementing pilot program for Sales and Operations Planning. • Transitioned product line from manufactured to vendor sourced while maintaining profitable revenues. • Developed and maintained strategic relationship with vendor source. • Developed, produced and implemented all sales tools, sales and channel communications tactics, sales /channel product training for an innovative print plate technology. • Primary product representative interfacing with international colleagues, laboratory, management, finance, plant locations, sales and OEM partners. 1989-1996 3M COMPANY, Maplewood, MN Marketing Communications, Printing and Publishing Systems Designed and implemented all aspects of Printing Division tradeshows, including but not limited to booth design, product content, graphics, display house activities, booth expectations, installation/dismantle, while adhering to budget guidelines. Demonstrated products to customers and channel partners at tradeshows. • Managed creation of and implemented product label requirements for the Printing Division (including interaction and coordination with package engineering, legal, regulatory, toxicology, plant locations and government agencies) . Managed adherence to corporate branding policies. • Organized all aspects of content, writing, layout, editing and production of projects that supported business' channel organization while maintaining adherence to planned budgets. • Co- editor of Printing Division newsletter — organized all aspects of content, writing, layout, editing and production of printed newsletter. EDUCATION Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN • Currently pursuing Master's Degree in Public Administration Concordia University, St. Paul, MN • BA, Organizational Management and Communications with a concentration in Finance (Graduated Magna Cum Laude) Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN • AAS, Legal Assistant VOLUNTEER PTO President, Beaver Lake Elementary, Maplewood, MN ACTIVITIES Classroom Volunteer, Beaver Lake Elementary, Maplewood, MN Coordinate Tiger Cub (Boy Scout) activities 13 AGF--aNDA ITEM N0 Action by Council Ramsey County is exploring the possibility of organized collection of solid waste. The county has been meeting with a variety of groups including residents, cities and townships, businesses and waste haulers to discuss this important topic. (A copy of a recent newsletter from Ramsey County is attached for your review- this gives good background on the issue). A meeting was held on this topic on February 28, 2002 at Vadnais Heights City Hall to discuss this issue. Council- members Juenemann and Wasiluk and I attended this meeting. Ramsey County is seeking input from cities as well. Staff is aware that this has been an issue of discussion in the past but was not pursued in Maplewood. There is a slight possibility that the County will eventually require cities to adopt organized collection practices. City staff is looking for direction from City Council as to whether or not you would like us to start our own public awareness /discussion campaign. It should be noted that there are currently 4 cities in the county that have organized collection. It is my understanding that the City of Roseville is currently conducting a public information/input campaign to decide whether or not to proceed with organized collection. It is my understanding that Ramsey County .Board will be accepting comments on this topic until the end of March and that organized collection will be discussed at a meeting on April 25, 2002. It is not certain what type of decision will be made at that time. ACTION REQUESTED Staff is looking for guidance as to whether or not to explore the possibility of implementing an organized collection program. In addition, please let us know if there are any comments /concerns that you would like us to forward to the Ramsey County Board. MEMORANDUM Date Endorsed Modified - - Rejected TO: City Manager FROM: Assistant City Manager y er g SUBJECT: Organization Collection of Solid Waste DATE: March 4, 2002 INFORMATION Ramsey County is exploring the possibility of organized collection of solid waste. The county has been meeting with a variety of groups including residents, cities and townships, businesses and waste haulers to discuss this important topic. (A copy of a recent newsletter from Ramsey County is attached for your review- this gives good background on the issue). A meeting was held on this topic on February 28, 2002 at Vadnais Heights City Hall to discuss this issue. Council- members Juenemann and Wasiluk and I attended this meeting. Ramsey County is seeking input from cities as well. Staff is aware that this has been an issue of discussion in the past but was not pursued in Maplewood. There is a slight possibility that the County will eventually require cities to adopt organized collection practices. City staff is looking for direction from City Council as to whether or not you would like us to start our own public awareness /discussion campaign. It should be noted that there are currently 4 cities in the county that have organized collection. It is my understanding that the City of Roseville is currently conducting a public information/input campaign to decide whether or not to proceed with organized collection. It is my understanding that Ramsey County .Board will be accepting comments on this topic until the end of March and that organized collection will be discussed at a meeting on April 25, 2002. It is not certain what type of decision will be made at that time. ACTION REQUESTED Staff is looking for guidance as to whether or not to explore the possibility of implementing an organized collection program. In addition, please let us know if there are any comments /concerns that you would like us to forward to the Ramsey County Board. Collection Connection A newsletter from Ramsey and Washington Counties February 2002 Since our last communication in November, Ramsey and Washington Counties have continued to engage in the exploration of a public collection method for solid waste. The Counties have met with a variety of groups including residents, cities and townships, Saint Paul district councils and neighborhood organizations, businesses, and waste haulers to share opinions and ideas. These meetings will continue through mid - March. For more detailed information, and additional information about this study, you can visit our Web site at www.co.ramsgy.mn.us/recovery/Public Collection.htm. The Web site is being updated in early February with a variety of new information. If you do not have Internet access, we are placing information about the study in public libraries and city /town halls. Tofind a location near you, call 651- 773 -4494. Wh is public collection being explored? Minnesota law requires counties to plan and implement methods to meet the state's policy for environmental management. As a result, and because environmental goals in Ramsey and Washington Counties are not being met, county commissioners have decided to thoroughly and objectively explore the option of implementing a public collection system for solid waste. However, it is important to remember that no decisions have been made about adopting this type of system. More information on the environmental issue can be found in two fact sheets: "Environmental Concerns" and "Why Should I Care About What Happens to My Trash ?" Both are available on our Web site, or from the Counties. An initial framework for public collection is presented Using feedback provided in the fall, the Counties recently created a preliminary framework for how a public collection system might look. This framework is intended to be for discussion purposes. It includes information on how public collection could be implemented to meet solid waste management plan goals and specific problems with the current system. The framework includes descriptions of how the Counties would address issues such as customer choice, competition, service quality and other issues; and takes a closer look at the range of collection services the Counties could potentially offer, including garbage, recyclables, compostables (such as yard and food waste) and household hazardous waste. The framework includes profiles for each city and township, as well as each Saint Paul Planning District, to demonstrate what collection could look like. The framework was created to provide a basis for the continued discussion of public collection. You can view the framework on the Counties' Web site, and copies of it are available in libraries and city halls in Ramsey and Washington Counties. What we've heard so far In our meetings and discussions with people over the past several months, we have heard many different opinions. Among the issues that are important to people (in no priority order) are: • Maintain competition. • Ensure that local haulers stay in business. • Assure choice of hauler. • Offer quality service at a reasonable cost. • Protect public health and the environment; conserve resources. • Address the issue of the effects caused by the number of trucks on streets and in alleys, and with illegal dumping. • Use public resources wisely. The input that we have been receiving is being recorded and analyzed as part of the effort. Public input still wanted! Now that a preliminary framework has been produced, the Counties are still seeking input from anyone with something to say about this issue. It is important that people become informed and then continue to share their informed thoughts about this issue. You can find the various ways to share your opinion on the last page of this newsletter. Research In addition to gathering public input, the Counties have gathered information from a number of communities in Minnesota and around the country that use a. public collection method of waste control. Brief reports of how public collection is working in these individual communities have been created and are available for viewing on the Counties' Web site. What will be done with all of this information ? After all of the data has been collected and analyzed, Ramsey and Washington County staff will prepare a report that includes the research that has been conducted and a summary of the input collected. Thus far, more than 1,400 people have contacted the Counties through voicemail, e-mail, fax or U.S. mail with their opinions on public collection. Many others have provided comments in various meetings. The information is logged and included in the study. Your opinions matter! These materials will be presented to the County Boards in a joint workshop on April 25 for their review and discussion. To find out more For more information on public collection or to provide your input on this issue, please visit the Ramsey and Washington Counties' Web site at www.co.ramsey.mn.us/recovery/Public Collection.htm or leave a voicemail message with your name and how we can contact you by calling 651-773-4476. How can you offer your comments? Time is growing short to express your opinions on public collection. We are gathering input from County residents through the middle of March. Please help by expressing your ideas, concerns and opinions about public collection so we can help the County Boards determine if public collection will benefit our Counties. You can contact us in several ways, B U.S. mail: Public Collection c/o Ramsey /Washington County 1670 Beam Avenue, Suite A Maplewood, MN 55109 Leave a voicemail message: 651 -773 -4476 Send us a fax: 651-773-4496 E -mail us: public. collection@co. ramsey. mn. us You can always visit our Web site at WWW.CO.ramsey..mn.us/recovery/Public-Collect*lon.htm We look forward to communicating with you in our next issue of Collection Connection. If you wish to be removed from the Collection Connection mailing list, please contact us at Public. Coll ection@co.ramsey.mn.us or by calling and leaving a message at 651- 773 -4476.