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 December 13, 2007
 
 
 
 
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Dear Kathy,

Welcome to the December 13, 2007 issue of In Touch! This e-newsletter is designed to keep you informed about key issues and projects happening around our area and beyond.

Please use the "forward e-mail" option at the bottom of this e-mail to pass along anything that catches your eye. If you'd rather not receive In Touch, please click on Update Profile/Email Address at the bottom of this e-mail. (If you click on SafeUnsubscribe, you will permanently opt out of all e-mails from TwinWest, which we don't recommend.)

 
December 17: Special Event with U.S. Senator Norm Coleman

Senator Norm Coleman

As the U.S. Congress nears its holiday recess, legislation is hanging in the balance on major issues like health care reform, transportation, and immigration. Where will discussions be left over the recess? What's expected to happen when Congress reconvenes? What are the implications for the business community?
 
U.S. Senator Norm Coleman will address these topics during a breakfast with TwinWest Chamber members and guests on Monday morning.
 
Breakfast with U.S. Senator Norm Coleman
Monday, December 17, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration begins at 7:00 a.m.
 
Members Invited to Help Shape TwinWest's Transportation Policy

Traffic jam

Is congestion in the metro area affecting your business? Do you wish there were more options for transit service? Help shape TwinWest's transportation policy for the 2008 legislative session by participating in the TwinWest Government Affairs Committee meeting next Wednesday, December 19, from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at the TwinWest office.
 
Please join us to share your concerns and add your input to this important debate. To get involved, call Jason Flohrs, director of government affairs, at 763.450.2225 or e-mail jasonf@twinwest.com.
Lawmakers to face a $373 million budget deficit
State CapitolA caution sign went up on Minnesota's economic outlook with news that the state is facing a projected $373 million budget deficit for the 2008-09 biennium.
 
According to the November Forecast, released on November 30, state general fund revenues are predicted to fall $739 million from a $294 million projected surplus or 2.2 percent below end-of session estimates. Spending is projected to increase about 0.2 percent. The forecast shows by 2010-11 the state could be facing a $1 billion shortfall.
 
State economist Tom Stinson said the weakening U.S. economy is having a significant impact on the state, something he expects to continue into the 2010-11 biennium. The downturn in the housing sector, along with its effect on the state's lumber industry; tighter credit restrictions; higher energy prices; and the lack of state job growth are turning the state's economy south, Stinson acknowledged. For example, he said, the Northwest Airlines bankruptcy and the scaling back of production at the St. Paul Ford plant are also affecting employment numbers.
 
The forecast will impact how much money legislators can allocate during the 2008 session, where capital improvements are expected to be the focus. Staying within debt service guidelines, lawmakers would have had a little more than $1 billion available to bond for projects. Now, the cap is likely to be around $965 million.
 
DFL house leadership immediately called for a special session to "put Minnesotans back to work" by passing a bonding bill of projects that have bipartisan agreement, and to raise revenue by closing a corporate tax loophole on foreign operating corporations.
 
"It's time for the governor to call us back," said House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls). "There's no doubt that there's a deficit right now, but we need to focus on long-term economic stability. Job creation is our highest priority."
 
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) said now is the time to show restraint in spending at all levels of government, and that any bonding bill should focus solely on funding transportation needs, emphasizing roads and bridges. He predicted that his caucus would hold its ground and sustain any attempt to override the governor's vetoes on last year's spending bills.
 
Watch the forecast release and responses from the governor and DFL leaders.
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Allianz

Upcoming events:

 
Breakfast with U.S. Senator Norm Coleman
Monday, December 17
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
ROI: Hear about federal issues that affect your business
 
Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, December 19
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Help shape legislative policy that impacts your business and community
 
TwinWest Chamber Office Closed
Monday, December 24 -Tuesday, December 25
 
TwinWest Chamber Office Closed
Monday, December 31 - Tuesday, January 1
 
Legislative Breakfast
Friday, January 4, 2008
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
 
Quick links:
 
CITIES
 
Brooklyn Center
   Web site
 
Brooklyn Park 
 
Crystal 
 
Golden Valley
 
Hopkins
 
New Hope
Medicine Lake
 
Minnetonka
 
Plymouth
 
St. Louis Park


SCHOOL DISTRICTS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HENNEPIN COUNTY
 
 
 
STATE LEGISLATURE
 
 
 
TWINWEST LINKS
 
 
 
City and School District News
 
Crystal:
  • A Metropolitan Airports Commission committee last week voted 6-1 to keep open two of four runways at the Crystal airport. The decision, which had been delayed a month while MAC commissioners sought more information about the airport, signaled hope for airport tenants and an unsurprising defeat for the city of Crystal, which had hoped to redevelop the land airport site. Read more of the Sun Newspapers coverage.

Minnetonka:

  • The Minnetonka City Council on December 3 approved a $500,000 Minnesota Investment Fund loan to Nestle, which will soon make Minnetonka its North American headquarters for it's medical nutrition division following efforts by TwinWest to keep the business located in Minnesota. Switzerland-based Nestle earlier this year purchased St. Louis Park-based Novartis Medical Nutrition for $2.5 billion. The company will move that operation to Opus Business Park in Minnetonka after completing a $5-million renovation project. Read more of the Sun Newspapers coverage. 
  • Cost estimates to reconstruct a part of Shady Oak Road have increased to such an extent that Minnetonka officials might decide to delay the project. Debating an estimated price tag of more than $30 million to reconstruct the road between Bren Road and Excelsior Boulevard, the city council continued a final decision to its December 17 meeting. Read more of the Sun Newspapers coverage.

St. Louis Park:

  • The failure of ARINC, the City of St. Louis Park's WiFi contractor, to meet its November 30, 2007 deadline to turn over a substantial portion of the network for testing has prompted city leaders to consider litigation against the company. The project is several months behind schedule. In April, the city delayed the project for six weeks as it reviewed design criteria of the solar panels and pole locations after residents expressed concern. With this delay, Phase 1 of the service was scheduled to go live for service in June. ARINC has not completed Phase 1 or the other three phases of the project. In light of these recent developments, the city is no longer able to provide a current project or service availability schedule. The matter continues to be under review by the city attorney. Once a legal strategy is determined, the council will discuss the strategy's potential impact on the project. Get more information here.
  • After discovering underground chemical vapors in some St. Louis Park groundwater, state and national agencies have begun investigating the potential risk to residents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the city of St. Louis Park plan to begin studying whether vapors could have seeped into buildings in the city. Read more of the Sun Newspapers coverage.
Robbinsdale School District:
  • Robbinsdale Area Schools will hold a public budget-reduction forum at 7 p.m., Tuesday, December. 18, at Robbinsdale Area Learning Center, 3730 Toledo Ave. N., Robbinsdale. District 281 officials are working to reduce general-fund expenses by about $5 million for the 2008-09 school year. In Tuesday's meeting, district officials will present detailed information about proposed budget cuts and respond to questions. If you cannot attend, but would like to comment, send an e-mail to RobbinsdaleAreaSchools@rdale.k12.mn.us, or leave a message with the district at 763.504.8104.

The District 281 Board of Education will review information gathered in the forum and comments sent through the Web site. The district is expected to post more detailed budget information to their Web site on Friday, December 14.

Wayzata School District:

  • The Wayzata Board of Education interviewed two candidates on December 11 and 12 to replace Bob Ostlund as superintendent. After touring the school district with superintendent Bob Ostlund, the candidates, Thomas Westerhaus and Chace Anderson, met with administrators and staff. Parents and the general public met each of them at open meetings in the early evening, and the school board interviewed each candidate after dinner.

The board has scheduled a special meeting Monday, December 17, to finalize its decision. For more information, click here.