Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 3-05-10

 (Governor Pawlenty)

 City finance director Ron Eischens, outlines the need for LGA (Local Government Aid) in this week's city newsletter.  He and the Mayor will deliver the city's case to the Governor during Bemidji Day at the Capitol on Tuesday. According to Eischens, "Compared to all cities in Minnesota, Bemidji’s tax rate is below the average and also lower than similar sized cities. Bemidji’s spending per capita is also below similar sized cities."

He also outlines the major capital improvements that the city has made in the last ten years and explains (again) that 43 percent of Bemidji's property base is non taxable.

The newsletter also has a list of upcoming meetings, updates from department heads, and meeting agendas for the BREC advisory board, the Park and Trails Commission, and the Heritage Preservation Commission, which all meet this week. (The agenda for the Joint Planning Board, which meets on Wednesday at 6:00 pm is not included in the newsletter, but can be found here. I'll have a separate post on that tomorrow.)

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 01-08-10

Broomball anyone? Find out about the new broomball league that starts Monday, January 10th plus many other Parks department activities and events in this week's City newsletter.  The newsletter is chock-full of information including year-end reports from the building and police departments, an update on a meeting with a convention hotel developer and an announcement of a visioning/planning process the council will conduct at their work session on Monday.  (By the way, do you find it supremely presumptuous that the council believes they can conduct a visioning and goal setting session for the community when they have NEVER asked the community to provide input on the vision and goals of the community?)
Here is a list of upcoming meetings from the newsletter:

Council Meeting Reminders:
Monday, January 11 5:00 p.m. Work Session – Governance/Planning Session with
Skyehill Governance Consulting
Tuesday, January 19 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting
Monday, January 25 5:30 p.m. Work Session - TBD

Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board/Commission:
Wednesday, January 13 6:00 p.m. Board
Thursday, January 28 6:00 p.m. Commission

Other Meetings:
Monday, January 11 3:30 p.m. Heritage Preservation Commission (City Hall)
Tuesday, January 12 4:30 p.m. Parks & Trails Commission (Public Works)
Tuesday, January 12 6:00 p.m. Pioneer Fire Dept. Relief Association Mtg (Fire Hall)
Wednesday, January 13 4:15 p.m. Paul Bunyan Transit (City Hall)
Wednesday, January 20 7:00 p.m. Sustainability Committee (City Hall)
Thursday, January 21 6:00 p.m. KRL Board Meeting (Pine River)
Monday, January 25 8:30 a.m. BREC Advisory Board (City Hall)

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 11-20-09

In this week's newsletter, the city finance director explains how laying off one employee will impact next year's budget. He also gives an overview of the changes made since the budget was presented on August 10th and the levy was adopted on September 14th. A broader explanation of the city's budget will be presented at the Truth in Taxation hearing at 7:00pm on Monday, December 7th. The community will have an opportunity to comment on the budget at the hearing. For background, last year's TNT report and additional miscellaneous financial information is available on the city website.

The newsletter also has an update on preschool skating opportunities and an adult broom ball league starting in January.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 10-30-09

This week's newsletter has updates from the City Manager, Finance Director, Waste Water Treatment Facility, and Parks Director. Meetings this week include a Council meeting on Monday, a Park & Trail Commission meeting on Tuesday, and a Joint Planning Board Meeting on Wednesday. The Tuesday Parks meeting is an opportunity for citizens to share ideas for a new city park on 30th Street.

Ever wonder what would happen if they pulled the pylons out at the Nymore boat access? That entire area is "accreted" land that was built on pylons and then filled in. A 1909 Sanborn map shows the land being used for the Crookston Lumber Company sawmill. Subsequent maps show the sawmill until about 1939. The pylons pop up every year and the parks department cuts them off or adds fill around them. This week, they pulled up a couple. See a picture in the newsletter.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 10-23-09

Time to check out this week's edition of the City of Bemidji weekly newsletter. The most interesting bit is the Bemidji Library update. (I'm not kidding!) Internet public use at the Library has almost doubled in the last two years and they served 23,000 more customers by September this year than during the first nine months in 2007. Also making the newsletter this week is an update from the city engineer, the WWTF (that's the sewer plant) staff, and a reminder from the fire chief (change your smoke alarm batteries when you change your clocks on October 31st).

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 10-16-09

This week's newsletter includes an announcement for training for citizen planners. It's sponsored by the MN Chapter of the APA and just $25 for a half-day workshop on October 29th. There is also an update from Enbridge on the pipeline construction, a bit on the Census Complete Count Committee and an announcement for family friendly Halloween event at Diamond Point Park. Check it out here (PDF).

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 10-02-09

Every Friday, you can get updates on what is happening at the City of Bemidji when you read the online Weekly Newsletter. This week's newsletter has updates from the City Manager, City Engineer, Parks Director and yours truly.

The most interesting bits this week are pictures of the osprey nest at City Park that is being relocated to accommodate the park upgrade. Although they did not have to relocate the nest for the osprey's spring return, Marcia Larson, Parks Director and Ottertail Power Company worked with the DNR to move the nest(they needed a permit). Take a look.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 9-11-09

Get an update on the environmental clean-up at the event center, a list of the recently inspected rental units in Bemidji and the construction activity report for the month. It's all in this week's city manager's newsletter, available on the city of Bemidji's website.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 7-31-09

Learn about activities in the City parks, a request for development proposals for the South Shore and former MnDOT sites and upgrades underway at the Waste Water Treatment Facility in this week's newsletter.

The newsletter is a mix of news and information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 7-3-09

The City Council will consider a rental density ordinance on Monday; new park programs started this week--something for kids and adults in city parks; and a traveling Skate Park demo on July 4 will give locals a chance to try out ramps and rails. Read about these bits in this week's newsletter.

Weekly Bits From the City Newsletter 6-19-09

This week's newsletter has several bits about the south shore of Lake Bemidji and event center site. They include a second update on environmental cleanup; announcement of a substantial donation by Ottertail Power Company for the utility service: and information about the selection of an operations firm to manage the event center (VenuWorks and Global Spectrum).



Check it out at this link to this week's newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 5-29-09

This week's newsletter includes a letter from the Mayor to Governor Pawlenty enumerating the steps the City of Bemidji has taken to respond to Pawlenty's December 2008 unallotment and options to further respond to anticipated reductions in Local Government Aid payments. The list of additional options is pretty short -- 2 items.

You will also find updates on the event center, the library schedule, information about new playground equipment in a city Park and a new railroad crossing to be constructed at the entrance to the waste water treatment facility.

Check it out at this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 5-15-09

What's new? This week's newsletter has a bit about the reception for the 2009-10 sculpture walk pieces (Saturday at 5:00pm) and a recap of activity at the local waste water treatment facility. Did you know that the City does field application of bio-solids from the WWTF?

Check it out at this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 5-8-09

What's new? A great recap of what has been "unearthed" during the excavation of the event center site on the south shore of Lake Bemidji (would you believe a '67 Chevy?); info on an upcoming citizen planners training opportunity in Bemidji; an update on building permits and rental inspections in the city; and a flyer for the Bike Bemidji event on May 16.

Check it out at this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 5-1-09

For inquiring minds who want to know what's happening at the City of Bemidji, check out this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

This week the City Engineer gives an overview of his department's current projects. Also, there is an interesting list of items that were salvaged from the old MN DOT building by Habitat Restore. The building is being demolished in preparation for future redevelopment.

On the front page of the City's website you can link to the RFP for facilities management services for the event center and find information about the upcoming Police Auction that will be on Thursday, May 7th at 5:00pm.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 4/10

Tyler Estates Flooding
Staff will be meeting with Beryl Wernberg, Beltrami County Emergency Management Director, on Monday to discuss a variety of issues related to the flooding in Tyler Estates. We will be looking at response coordination but also want to find out more about what part FEMA may play. We are also coordinating a meeting with the county, township, SWCD, DNR, Steve Hill, and others for later this month to discuss what the next steps are for potentially resolving some of the problems that exist.

Facility Management RFP
Work continues on getting an RFP out for a facility management firm for the Event Center. We have agreed with Conventions Sports and Leisure (CSL) on a timeline for completing the process:

• Draft RFP to the City by April 17th
• Final RFP issued on April 24th
• Proposals due by May 15th
• Interview candidates by the first week of June
• Recommend firm to Council with anticipated starting date no later than July 6th

2009 Project Meeting
City Engineer Craig Gray will be meeting with Lori Paris and members of the downtown business community on Thursday, April 16 at 7:45 a.m. to provide an update on the many construction projects that will be occurring this summer. ( Utility work and reconstruct Irvine Ave from 3rd Street to 23rd Street; West Lake Bemidji Trail from Library Park to Diamond Point Park; Resurface Parking Lot #3—east of Harmony Foods) The meeting will be held at the Public Works Facility.

Irvine Avenue Reconstruction
With the reconstruction of Irvine Avenue this summer the City will once again have the opportunity to discuss and decide on the lane striping and parking options to accommodate pedestrians and bicycle riders. A traffic engineer has been hired to provide some possible striping options.

Lake Bemidji Sewer & Water
The City recently completed and submitted an application packet for Senator Klobuchar’s office for utilities around the lake. We requested funding for a feasibility report for the project which could cost $500,000. The application was for FY 2010 Appropriations and if the project is selected we could receive up to 55% ($275,000) towards the study.

Legacy Amendment
Bills are moving through the Legislature to decide the allocation and application process for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funding. John Winter, Beltrami County Parks and Trails, Council member Downs and Rita Albrecht have been following the legislative process. We want to do what we can to assure that greater Minnesota is treated fairly in the funding process. You can track progress of the House bill (HF 1493) at the House of Representatives Bill Search.

BREC Energy Efficiency
Our energy modeling consultant for the event center, Dave McFarlane, is doing some additional modeling for energy efficiency for insulation in the roof and walls and heat recovery in the BREC. According to the state’s B-3 Guidelines, we must meet a 30% target for improved efficiency and we are currently meeting 35% on the building. The City has had inquiries from the BSU Sustainability Coordinator, Erika Bailey-Johnson and Rep. John Persell about the potential for a solar energy system that could be used for heating water or air, or generating electricity. Dave will contact Jason Edens of Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) Pine River, MN, for information about their solar energy systems.

Downtown Development Authority
The DDA is planning their spring Downtown Project Pride Clean-up Night for Tuesday, May 5th from 4-7 pm. Block Captains will be contacting businesses for help with the project. For more information, call Linda Autrey at Kraus Anderson Realty: 759-3047. Other projects currently underway with the DDA include the Thursday night open late promotion, development of a new logo and website, review of the downtown plan, and kiosk poster inserts that will highlight the events planned for downtown this year.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Staff is researching the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project list for MN to see if there is any stimulus money to assist cities with retro-fitting City-owned buildings with energy efficient systems. Upgraded systems could benefit both our History Museum and the Carnegie Library building to reduce energy costs.

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter

DEED Grant Application
The City submitted an application to DEED for the Redevelopment Grant program at the end of January and they are currently being reviewed. the City provided additional information on our project this week. The City’s application seeks funding for streets and utilities to serve the commercial development portion of the South Shore redevelopment area. We have requested $936,500 in our application. The State expects to announce awards for this grant round in mid-March.

Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grant Application
The HRDC completed an application to the Economic Development Assistance Program on behalf of the City for Bemidji South Shore Infrastructure. Our consultant WSN was instrumental in providing project information for the application, as well as the City Engineer, Manager. We scrambled to complete information for the application March 6 in order to assure preliminary review and comment by March 16. If we receive a favorable review, HRDC will submit a full application. We have requested $1 million in our application.

Improving Our Residential Areas
Several City departments: Community Development, Building, Engineering, Legal and Police; and the Joint Planning staff met last week to discuss the perceived decline in the quality and appearance of some residential areas in our community. Everyone shared their answer to the questions, “What do we see in our community that is contributing to neighborhood decline or improvement?” and “What regulatory authority do we have to address decline and how can we reward improvement?” We plan to identify current problems, inventory existing ordinances and brainstorm strategies to improve the quality of our neighborhoods.

Parking in front yards.

RDG Plan Downtown Plan
Four DDA members and I have been “combing through” the final draft of the Central City Plan for errors and omissions. We expect to complete the review in the next two weeks and provide feedback to RDG before final printing and distribution of the document. From the document:

Minnesota Avenue looking north.

Minnesota Ave with bike lanes striped on each side and curb extensions for easier pedestrian crossing.

Carnegie Reuse Study
The Reuse Committee has received the final draft copy of the Carnegie Library Reuse Study following changes requested by the Minnesota Historical Society (MNS). The committee will make comments before the final document is printed and submitted to the City and MHS. Committee comments are due to our consultant, WSN, by March 19.

Rako Street Update
Demolition and cleanup of the City-owned former MN DOT yard on Rako Street that was started last fall will continue this spring. The fence is under contract to be removed and will be completed as soon as the ground thaws. One building that is to be demolished remains and the contractor has until June 1st to remove it. The City will reclaim the bituminous on the site and stockpile it for future use. Any miscellaneous structures left on the site will be removed by City staff this summer, with completion expected by July 1st.

The City has indicated they will sell the site to the Headwaters Housing Development Corporation for a low to moderate single family housing development. HHDC has received a letter from Minnesota Housing indicating that their request for acquisition funding has been awarded. They have not yet received any loan documents for execution by their board, but they do expect to receive that soon and will likely be prepared to discuss the purchase of the Rako Street property in the next 2 to 3 months. They anticipate development to begin next year if the project proceeds.

Heritage Preservation Commission
The HPC met on Monday, March 9 for their regular meeting. The Commission is exploring ways to be more effective and discussed the potential of working with the Joint Planning Board.

Census 2010
Kay Murphy, Brett Case and I met Wednesday (March 11) with Cynthia Madigan, US Census Bureau Partnership Specialist for our region. She shared information about the upcoming Census, the importance of having a complete count and how the City can assist in promoting awareness of the Census count. Funding for City projects can be dependent on our population, so having a complete count is essential. Another important reason for having a comprehensive count is to maintain Minnesota’s eight Congressional Districts. Locally, the Census Bureau will be hiring about 50 people for a Bemidji Census office.

Active Living
The Active Living steering committee met to review the draft Community Inventory and Assessment completed by HRDC staff members Matthew Dyrdahl and Millisa Smith. The assessment is part of an overall planning project that will lead to strategies for improving the active living opportunities in our community.

Calling all Non-Profits
A Non-Profit Survival Summit workshop is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 8:30-4:00 at the First Lutheran Church. The day-long workshop will investigate opportunities for partnerships among local non-profits. More information is available from United Way, 218-444-8929.



There are a lot of things happening in Bemidji.