Three New Things This Week
September 21, 2025
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Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
Archived Articles
Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
Long time Shorewood resident Rick Stromberg raised concerns about the proposed Shorewood fee increases in an email to the Shorewood City Council. He asked SCA to publish it here.
The opinions expressed here are solely his own.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of September 8, 2025.
Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of August 25, 2025.
Shorewood’s disappearing roads, intersections and traffic signs continue. This year, there are some repeaters and some newbies.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of August 11, 2025.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of July 28, 2025.
Here are four short articles you may find informative.
Here are three short articles you may find informative.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of June 14, 2025.
One of the biggest educational garden tours in Minnesota will be in the southwest metro this Saturday, July 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., rain or shine.
MnDOT has developed a comprehensive website to keep the public informed and engaged as it progresses with the Hwy 7 Corridor Study.
It includes public feedback gathered via an online study of design alternatives, pop-up events, an online public meeting and online survey.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of September 22, 2025.
Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
Long time Shorewood resident Rick Stromberg raised concerns about the proposed Shorewood fee increases in an email to the Shorewood City Council. He asked SCA to publish it here.
The opinions expressed here are solely his own.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of September 8, 2025.
Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of August 25, 2025.
Shorewood’s disappearing roads, intersections and traffic signs continue. This year, there are some repeaters and some newbies.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of August 11, 2025.
To increase transparency and resident education, below is a quick summary of the Shorewood City Council meeting of July 28, 2025.
There is one thing we should be able to count on in a local election: respect and civility among the candidates.
After all, those running for elected office in our city are our neighbors, friends, and possibly relatives.
The filing period for election to the Shorewood City Council ended on Tuesday, August 13th.
Six residents filed for election to the council.
Compare a few neighboring cities budgets and demographic information and you will learn that Shorewood taxpayers are paying more and perhaps getting less.
For those who like charts and graphs keep reading.
Shorewood’s intersection at Hwy 7 and Eureka Road is well known for the wrong reason: It is fatally dangerous.
An immediate danger exists: poor to no visibility for cars entering onto eastbound Hwy 7 from Eureka.
Have you taken the Shorewood Citizen Advocates survey?
If not, please take a couple of minutes to do it now. It’s short. It’s anonymous. View how your neighbors think things are going.
Looking to give back to the community? Consider Running for Shorewood City Council!
The filing period for Shorewood City Council closes on Tuesday, August 13th at 5:00.
Unlike Shorewood, Excelsior has proven that some simple additions to an ordinance to improve it’s understanding is not impossible to do.
Once again, what should have been a routine, informative email from the City of Shorewood, was delivered to residents under the heading “Message from the Mayor – July 2024”. This included a banner that had all the appearance of an election campaign sign, replete with Jennifer Labadie’s smiling headshot.
The Shorewood City Council will begin working on the 2025 budget in late August. The department heads are now putting together numbers for their next year’s activities.
Residents can have an influence.
Hoping to feel some relief from the high speed bicycles on trails, sidewalks and streets?
Read this update and draw your own conclusion.
Shorewood Citizen Advocates (SCA) started as a concept four years ago. After three years of incubation, SCA went live in summer 2023. The goals were to provide service to residents focusing on accountability, transparency, environmental stewardship, and education. Flash forward to the SCA one-year anniversary.
How have things gone?
It’s Time to Focus on Our Natural Areas!
A walk through Freeman Park’s woodland is heartbreaking. Decades of buckthorn have ravaged the hardwoods and other native plants. Massive stands of ash and elm trees are in rapid decline.
Due to increasing public pressure, Shorewood has scheduled an open house for residents to ask questions and provide comments on the 2025 budget.
This is the first time the City has offered this opportunity!
At some point, you may have found yourself in a conversation that you had no idea what the other person was talking about because of acronyms and spurious code words. This could likely be said about technology companies, the stock market, manufacturing, the list goes on.
City finances and budgets are no exception.
There is one thing we should be able to count on in a local election: respect and civility among the candidates.
After all, those running for elected office in our city are our neighbors, friends, and possibly relatives.
The filing period for election to the Shorewood City Council ended on Tuesday, August 13th.
Six residents filed for election to the council.
Compare a few neighboring cities budgets and demographic information and you will learn that Shorewood taxpayers are paying more and perhaps getting less.
For those who like charts and graphs keep reading.
Shorewood’s intersection at Hwy 7 and Eureka Road is well known for the wrong reason: It is fatally dangerous.
An immediate danger exists: poor to no visibility for cars entering onto eastbound Hwy 7 from Eureka.
Have you taken the Shorewood Citizen Advocates survey?
If not, please take a couple of minutes to do it now. It’s short. It’s anonymous. View how your neighbors think things are going.
Looking to give back to the community? Consider Running for Shorewood City Council!
The filing period for Shorewood City Council closes on Tuesday, August 13th at 5:00.
Unlike Shorewood, Excelsior has proven that some simple additions to an ordinance to improve it’s understanding is not impossible to do.
Once again, what should have been a routine, informative email from the City of Shorewood, was delivered to residents under the heading “Message from the Mayor – July 2024”. This included a banner that had all the appearance of an election campaign sign, replete with Jennifer Labadie’s smiling headshot.
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and Three Rivers Park District have proposed a change to the trail crossing at as part of the Strawberry Lane road project in Shorewood. A bike “radius” has been designed on each side of the crossing to slow bicycle traffic to 15 mph. Once through the radius, riders will cross the road at a 90 degree angle.The proposal suggests “yield” signs at the crossing, rather than “stop,” as most riders do not stop. However, in the short term, a “stop” sign will remain in place. Minnesota’s new “Idaho Stop” law could make management of any type of rider etiquette at street crossings more difficult. See the map below and read
UPDATE as of 11.17.23. Final grading along new trails is nearly complete. See photos in comments below. The paved trails are being reconstructed in tandem with the creation of a trailhead by Three Rivers Park District. A proposal was first introduced to the Council in August, 2022 and approved on 5.09.23. The estimated cost of the project as of May 9 date was $743,000. The City’s share is approximately $478,000. The balance is being funded by Three Rivers. View the Council meeting wherein the project was approved for bids on 5.9.23. Read the Engineer’s memo here, starting at Page 44. All asphalt segments will be replaced except for Segment “B”. Currently, this segment goes through the
“Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.” – Buddha UPDATE 11.15.23: The next neighborhood meeting is scheduled for 11.30.23 at 5:30. City Hall 10.11.23: The Council discussed the 9.21 meeting, the feedback received from the Eureka Road website, and a more format for the next community meeting with the residents. See the full discussion here. The words chosen in the cloud above are not random. They were voiced, often repeated, by frustrated neighbors, wanting to be heard at the City Hall open house on September 21. The subject discussed was the planned 2025 revision of Eureka Road North. Emotions ran high. The format of the meeting took a quick turn from
Cathcart Park Playground Cathcart post-weeding Freeman Park Volleyball Court South Rim of the New Pond in Freeman Park Update 9.19.23: Progress has been made on the Cathcart Playground Freeman Park volleyball court. See photos above. 9.1.23: Invasive plant species and EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) are flourishing on City property. In December 2021 a resident alerted the Council that it had approved payments for harmful chemicals to control invasive plants in the Parks. This contradicted the Bee Safe Resolution* of 2014. Since learning that the policy was not being followed, the Council has had vigorous debates about IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and the wording of the Resolution. The result has been $6,000 in consultant expenditures to analyze
Update 9.19.23: Mowing has occurred along the edge of Grant Street Pond. See photos below 9.1.23: Two city projects: Smithtown Ponds and Grant Street Pond are complete. See the photos of Grant Street Pond, one year after completion. A ClickFix ticket was recently submitted for the weeds. Canada thistle and invasive burdock have gone to seed, two ash trees have fallen into the pond, and three of the replacement trees are severely stressed. Smithtown Ponds, completed in June 2023, does not have any identifiable plan for ongoing maintenance. It appears to be a haven for wildlife. After a few months, the south rim of the pond, within Freeman Park, has a healthy crop of thistles and other undesirable
Read full story. Special Election: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Primary for Special Election (assuming more than two candidate:Tuesday, April 30. Filing dates: Jan 30-Feb 13 (Feb 15 deadline for candidate to withdraw) This vacancy is the result of the resignation of Commissioner Chris LaTondresse who announced his intention to depart the County Board effective September 21, 2023.
Strawberry Lane construction is complete and speed concerns have been reported. Below is an excerpt from SeeClickFix.com regarding the results of a speed study done by the City.
Scott Zerby was sworn in on July 10 to fill a vacancy on the City Council. He previously served as mayor for eight years. Research indicates he ran unopposed for those terms. Read more in the July 13 SunSailor article covering his background, reason for applying and the interesting Council discussion in support or opposition to his appointment. Read about the process to select Zerby here: Candidate interviews, Appointment of ex-mayor to the City Council A review of the July Shorewood Planning Commission minutes showed that not everyone was impressed with the selection process. Commissioner Eggenberger had something to say.
Sec. 32-2. – Driving on sidewalks. (a) No person shall ride or operate any bicycle, motor scooter, skateboard, or in-line skates upon any sidewalk carelessly or heedlessly in disregard of the rights of others or in any manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any person. (b) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, or in-line skates, roller skates, motor scooter, or motorized bicycle on the sidewalks of Water Street from George Street to Lake Street. (c) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, or in-line skates, roller skates, motor scooter, or motorized bicycle on the sidewalks of Lake Street from Water Street on the northerly sidewalk to 603 Lake
Resident Nancy Westman spoke to the Council on 9.25.23. Watch it here starting at minute 9.11 Read below a SeeClickFix* submitted by resident Barry Brown: Quick summary: A resident submitted a SeeClickFix regarding needed trail maintenance at Freeman Park. A second resident posted the city code regarding trail “standards.” The original submitter was able to follow up when the job was not done correctly by asking for accountability in meeting community expectations. *Sign up for SeeClickFix and stay in touch with resident “tickets” and how the City responds. See the thread:
Roads, intersections, sidewalks and trails are slowly disappearing due to creeping vegetation and low hanging tree limbs. Some trimming was done in Fall and early winter 2023-24.
So why has it taken so long? It can’t be staffing.
Watch the council meeting video of the appointment discussion. Shorewood council member Patrick Johnson resigned in May. Because the remaining term was less than two years, the city council chose to appoint to fill the seat leading to an application and interview process completed on 6.26.23. Seven residents were interviewed for the opening. Former Mayor Scott Zerby was appointed to the open seat. Background on Zerby: He served as Mayor from 2012-2020. Two 2-year terms and one 4-year term, all unopposed. Source: MN Secretary of State. In 2014 he led the Council to change the Mayor’s term from two to four years, making his final term four years. City staff determined that some online applications were lost
Putting the Council and Land Use Zoning to the Test
Public comment was taken at the December 11 Truth in
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and Three Rivers Park District
UPDATE as of 11.17.23. Final grading along new trails is nearly
“Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the
Cathcart Park Playground Cathcart post-weeding Freeman Park Volleyball Court South
Update 9.19.23: Mowing has occurred along the edge of Grant Street
Read full story. Special Election: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Primary
Strawberry Lane construction is complete and speed concerns have been
Scott Zerby was sworn in on July 10 to fill