Frequently Asked Questions

Setbacks are the required distance from a property line or structure. Setback requirements vary due to the zoning district of your property. Before you begin design work for a fence, pool, shed or other similar structure see the "what are the rules for" FAQ. Check with the planning department about setback requirements for your property. Email your request with your address, or call the city at 952-960-7900.

The city has some property surveys on file. The surveys were provided by builders or property owners. If the city has a copy of a survey for your property it can be emailed at no charge. Call the city at 952-960-7900 with the request.

Please apply and pay for all zoning permits using the iWorq portal. If you have questions or issues with the portal, please call City Hall at 952-960-7900.

Maybe. You do have to follow current code requirements and meet setbacks that might have changed since the original building. If you have already checked with planning, 952-960-7909, and know you meet the requirements, see the steps for demolition.

Instruct the voter to keep it with them and destroy it. Do not take custody of the ballot. If the voter tries to also submit that AB after they vote in the polls on Election Day, it won't be counted.

Judges should sanitize booths after each use by a voter. Review other cleaning guidelines found on the Training Materials page.

This is explained in detail in MN State Election Guide page 43 but basically the Duplicate Ballot would be used if at some point it was necessary to use the auxiliary bin of the ballot counter and later when processing these ballots into the ballot counter (which is done by two judges from different major political parties) if one is rejected because it is damaged or the voter used the wrong pen but the ballot is still valid, two judges of different major political parties will create a duplicate ballot that the ballot counter will accept that is identical to the ballot that was damaged. All other ballot issues during polling, when the ballot counter is functional, should be dealt with by the Spoiled ballot method.

Curbside voting is administered by two judges of different major political parties (DFL/REP). It is allowable for one judge to remain outside while another judge is inside and they are communicating via cell phone to gather voter's information for poll book check-in or registration but the one judge may not approve an EDR application AND provide a ballot to the same voter. When handling the ballot both judges must be present. Details on page 37 of 2020 State Election Judge Guide and Pages 123 to 124 (for step-by-step instructions on Curbside Voting) of Hennepin County EJ Guide.

Normally Hennepin County would process the AB Ballots during that 7-day period before Election Day but for this year ONLY they will be allowed a 14-day period to open and process those mail-in and in-person AB ballots.

Yes. This will be preferred this year. Allow them to show you their DL on the other side of the plexiglass barrier and you may type in the information from there. That way there is less interaction.

• Turf Restoration is ongoing and will take place after any general pavement and concrete repairs are completed. Final turf seeding and touch ups will take place in Spring 2024. 
• Remaining irrigation repair items will be adjusted and repaired In Spring 2024.
• Not all current Boulevard conditions are finalized yet. Boulevard cleanup and imported topsoil with seeding will continue in Spring 2024.
• Landscape restoration repair will take place in Spring 2024.

Residents will not be required to connect to the municipal water supply. Residents who do plan on connecting will be charged a one-time fee for the connection. Currently, this connection fee is $10,500 but can change annually. Also, the resident will be responsible for the cost to run a service line from the property line into their homes. To connect to city water, follow these steps. 

The speed limit on Birch Bluff Road will remain the same as it is today, 25 MPH.

The proposed speed limit for the curve at Grant Lorenz and Birch Bluff Road will be designed and posted with advisory signs to be 15 MPH, which will allow for appropriate Stopping Sight Distances around the curve.

No additional traffic calming measures are planned to be installed outside of the posted speed limit and advisory signs. A roadway design that allows for on street parking should produce lower speeds than a street without on street parking.

Parking is being proposed on the south side of Birch Bluff Road only. Currently, there is no plan to move mailboxes to the No Parking side of Birch Bluff Road but can be reviewed and coordinated with the local Postmaster.

All construction traffic will be required to utilize City of Shorewood streets such as Eureka Road, Grant Lorenz Road, and Smithtown Road.

Options have been scoped to satisfy the city's Master Trail plan to connect residents along Eureka Road, Birch Bluff Road, and surrounding neighborhoods to Crescent Beach and the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail. Options considered are an 8-foot wide bituminous trail and a 6-foot wide concrete sidewalk at the back of the curb. This would extend from the intersection of Eureka Road and Birch Bluff Road east to the Tonka Bay city limits where it will turn north and terminate at Crescent Beach. Engineering will not recommend the sidewalk/trail be included.

The only future pedestrian facilities planned for this area are to be installed with the Eureka Road Improvements project in 2027. If a sidewalk or trail is not constructed with the Birch Bluff Road project, it is unlikely that a sidewalk or trail would be included in the Eureka Road project.

Curb and gutter is proposed to be installed as part of the city's standard typical section for Birch Bluff Road. Water will generally flow as it currently does, and new stormwater treatment ponds will be constructed in the low areas to control the rate of flow and to treat the stormwater runoff that will meet the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District's standards.

The project can address individual drainage concerns for residents along the corridor. Please contact the city engineer t 952-960-7910 to discuss your individual drainage concerns.

The only work that is proposed to be done to the Fire Lanes is to replace or add drainage facilities to allow the stormwater to discharge to Lake Minnetonka.

In 2019 Birch Bluff Road was milled and overlaid because its pavement condition was in very poor condition with the understanding that it would be reconstructed in the next several years. The reconstruction of Birch Bluff Road also allows the City to address any drainage concerns and install water main to serve the residents and provide fire protection to homes along the corridor.

The overhead utilities could be relocated underground as part of the project. However, the city views these improvements as a cost that should be assessed to the benefitting properties. Typically, this cost is about $10,000 per parcel and the city would require all residents to agree to those assessments ahead of time. To eliminate all utility poles at the street, residents would also need to have their current service lines to their homes buried. This adds additional expense to each property owner and a ground-mounted transformer would be required in nearly every front yard.

Fire hydrants will be placed no more than 400 feet from one another to allow for fire protection. In general fire hydrants will be placed near property lines.

No additional traffic calming measures are planned to be installed outside of the posted speed limit and advisory signs. A roadway design that allows for on-street parking should produce lower speeds than a street without on-street parking.

After the curb and gutter for the street is placed, the contractor will prepare the base for driveway restoration. Most driveways are constructed out of 6 inches of aggregate base material and 3 inches of pavement. If something thicker or different existed prior to the project, it will be replaced in kind. If damage was done to the driveway beyond the construction limits, it will be repaired by the contractor at the time of the rest of your driveway. Please contact the project inspector, Tom Vidmar, to assess the damage and necessary repairs.

The contractor was directed to salvage existing mailboxes. Often they are then kept by the property owner during construction. When the time comes for reinstalling the mailboxes, construction staff will coordinate with residents and the postmaster on the locations and groupings as all mailboxes will be placed on the west side of the roadway due to the new sidewalk.

The city's consulting engineer, Andrew Budde, from Bolton and Menk, is responsible for plan preparation and execution. Additional staff involved include; inspector from Bolton and Menk; Andrew Eslinger, Shorewood Street Inspector; Larry Brown, Director of Public Works, and City Administrator Greg Lerud.

The city will be issuing bonds that are payable from stormwater utility charges and franchise fees. The city has estimated costs estimates for all its capital improvement projects. Included in those estimates is a contingency (typically 5% of the total project costs) that is available if there are unforeseen costs or changes. The city puts a great deal of effort into plan development on the front end so we can minimize changes as the project begins.

The soil borings taken on the Smithtown Pond site identified groundwater at 4 feet to 9 feet below the ground surface immediately after the boring rod was removed. The borings were taken in August of 2020 and represent one data point. Typically, groundwater elevations will fluctuate based on season, precipitation, and characteristics of the soils. The normal water levels of the ponds are generally within one foot of the existing groundwater elevations and will have little to no impact on the surrounding groundwater elevations.

The stormwater ponds will capture sediment and pollutants from the surrounding stormwater runoff. Many pollutants are attracted to and adhere to the sediment particles, which sink and collect at the bottom of the pond over time. Contaminants that float, such as oils and trash, stay at the surface and are deposited at the edges of the pond. Sediments are typically cleaned from the ponds 20 to 40 years after their construction. All the soils in the pond area are classified as hydrologic soil C/D, which are not conducive to infiltration. These types of soils are typically used to line ponds in areas of sandier soils and will therefore restrict any potential migration of stormwater from the pond. The surrounding residential wells have static water levels approximately 90 feet deep. Due to the poor infiltration properties of the onsite soils and the depth to the existing wells, the wells will not be contaminated by the stormwater pond.

A number of trees on the city property will be removed as a part of this project - there is simply no way to avoid it. The city is going to maintain every tree that is a good quality tree that it can. Ash trees, and perhaps other trees that have been deemed to be in poor condition by the city arborist, will be removed even if they are near the limits of the project area. This will prevent the city from having to come back in the future and, at a higher cost, remove trees that are known to not be healthy or subject to the Emerald Ash Borer.

The city plans on implementing a significant replanting effort at the conclusion of the excavation work. The city has prepared renderings of what this area will look like, but they are for illustrative purposes only. The City Council is on record as stating that they want as minimal tree removals as possible, and robust replanting of trees and other plantings at the conclusion of the project. That specific plan will be reviewed and approved as this construction phase of this project nears completion.

Good planning, use of best practices, an invitation for public involvement in the planning process, as well as ongoing communication between the city and the residents throughout the project. Also, following the requirements of oversight/participation by outside entities, such as the Minnehaha Creek Watershed, and Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority, where appropriate.

The city is attempting to address a number of stormwater issues in this part of the city. Specific project areas to be impacted by these ponds include; Strawberry Lane, Strawberry Court, Peach Circle, Shorewood Oaks, Freeman Park, and Grant Lorenz. In addition to trying to address rain events, runoff, and erosion, the ponds will provide treatment of stormwater that currently does not happen.

Specifically, there will be a reduction in phosphorus going into Lake Minnetonka, and more generally, success will be determined through observation of streets and private property following rain events. Are instances of standing water reduced? Is seasonal, or by event, flooding reduced? Those types of "non-scientific" observations, as well as calculations of phosphorus and other contaminants being prevented from going to Lake Minnetonka, will be the measure of success.

There will not be vehicle access to this property, except for authorized city vehicles. There will be an accessible walking trail that connects the Minnetonka LRT to the sidewalk on Smithtown Pond. This area will be park-like when the work is completed. The city will be working with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed for educational displays to show how stormwater ponds function and their value to the environment. There are no plans to fence in the ponds, as is the case with stormwater ponds throughout Shorewood and the metro area. The ponds are designed, however, with a minimal slope and a "bench" on the slope that would help prevent someone from rolling into the water.

By moving surface water from these areas into the pond, we believe that it will reduce the amount of stagnant water that presently sits in many places - back yards, ditches, etc., which are primary breeding grounds and where there is no current treatment for mosquitos. The Metro Mosquito Control District has responsibility metro-wide for the control of mosquitos, and these ponds would be treated by that organization.

Residents are not required to connect their property to city water. They can connect at any time after the installation and water testing is complete if they wish. If they do not connect and decide at a later date they would like to connect, the assessment fee will be at the level listed in the current City Master Fee Schedule (PDF).

There is no charge for water connection on Strawberry Lane, Strawberry Court, or Peach Circle until the property owner decides to connect to the city water main. To start the process call the city at 952-960-7900.

The trail plan and CIP have included plans for a trail or sidewalk along Strawberry Lane for the last 10 years. This plan was made due to concerns for pedestrian safety. This road is adjacent to the largest elementary school in the district and has an Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) of 1500 vehicles per day. Pedestrian safety is a big concern in the metro area and a sidewalk separated from the roadway addresses these concerns.

The proposed drivable surface is relatively close to the existing width. Currently, the asphalt varies in measurement between 22' and 24'. One major goal of the city is to improve the drainage in this area. Adding curb and gutter helps minimize overall impacts to surrounding properties. Without curb and gutter, better-defined ditches or swales would be required along the edge of the roadway for drainage. These ditches would be significantly wider than the curb and gutter option and would impact more trees in the city right-of-way and on private property.

The city will work with property owners to replace trees removed from private property. The city will not replace trees removed from the public right-of-way.

The traffic would flow northbound. Cathcart could then be one-way southbound or remain two-way.

Due to the numbers created by average growth in the community. This includes new homes, additional student enrollment at Minnewashta, etc.

The sidewalk will look like the one on Smithtown Road. The difference will be that a curb will be on both sides of the road, not only on the sidewalk side like Smithtown Road.

The city public works department would be responsible for clearing the snow from the sidewalk along Strawberry Lane.

The Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail is operated by the Three Rivers Park District. They have established guidance on traffic control measures to utilize at roadway/trail crossings under their jurisdiction. In this situation, a stop sign on Strawberry Lane is not recommended. It is recommended to significantly improve the sightlines by removing trees and implementing other items that will make the crossing more noticeable by roadway users. The city will coordinate with the Three Rivers Park District to provide the safest crossing possible for all users.

It is the cities goal to minimize impacts and remove of trees as part of this project. Currently, there are 280 trees identified as "impacted" by Alternates Number 1 and Number 2. Trees are considered "impacted" when any construction work is proposed within the dripline of the tree. The city arborist will complete a tree inventory in November/December 2021 and staff will better know the size, species, and health of the tree to make a better-informed decision on avoidance, protection, or removal. In general, all ash trees and trees of poor health and within thy city right-of-way will be removed.

As part of the overall goal of the project which includes drainage improvements and the addition of a water main, the existing roadway surface will be obliterated and need to be reconstructed. The city then plans to locate the roadway in a location that is best for the city. This is typically centered in the available right-of-way to minimize impacts to adjacent property owners throughout the project.

No, burying the overhead power lines is not part of this project. The city policy for burying overhead power lines is that it is an assessable portion of the project and would require 100% of residents to agree. An estimated assessment amount for this project would be $10,000 per property to bury the overhead power.

Yes, the roadway could be made wider in the future. Future reconstruction/widening of Strawberry Lane would likely not occur for another 40 to 50 years.

After the curb and gutter for the street is placed, the contractor will prepare the base for driveway restoration. Most driveways are constructed out of 6 inches of aggregate base material and 3 inches of pavement. If something thicker or different existed prior to the project, it will be replaced in kind. If damage was done to the driveway beyond the construction limits, it will be repaired by the contractor at the time of the rest of your driveway. Please contact the project inspector, Tom Vidmar, to assess the damage and necessary repairs.

The contractor was directed to salvage existing mailboxes. Often they are then kept by the property owner during construction. When the time comes for reinstalling the mailboxes, construction staff will coordinate with residents and the postmaster on the locations and groupings as all mailboxes will be placed on the west side of the roadway due to the new sidewalk.

Arsenic is a part of the earth's crust and occurs naturally in some soil and rock. Arsenic from soil and rock can leach into groundwater. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for much of Minnesota. Almost all arsenic in drinking water is from these underground deposits of naturally occurring arsenic. Human activities can contribute to arsenic levels in drinking water, as well as in soil and air. Mining and manufacturing can displace arsenic from its original location; however, these sources are not considered a concern in Minnesota.

The health effects of arsenic depend on its chemical form, how much is in the water, how much water people drink, and for how long. In nature, pure arsenic is rare. It is usually combined with other elements to form "compounds." Arsenic combined with compounds containing carbon is called "organic arsenic." When arsenic combines with other elements, such as oxygen, chlorine, or sulfur, it is called "inorganic arsenic." Arsenic in soil, rock, and water is often inorganic. Usually, organic forms of arsenic are less harmful than inorganic forms.

Yes. Arsenic over the recommended safe level has been detected in groundwater in some private wells in Shorewood. Arsenic in water has no taste or odor, so the only way to know if drinking water contains arsenic is to have it tested. While private well owners are not required to test for arsenic, the MD recommends that every well should be tested for arsenic at least once or twice. If arsenic is detected at levels in excess of 10 µG/AL in water from a well used for drinking and cooking, and if repeat sampling confirms the results, the MD recommends that you use an alternate source of drinking water or install a treatment system to reduce arsenic levels in the water.

Private well owners must arrange and pay for testing their well water for arsenic, which typically costs about $35. Contact Minnesota Department of Health for a list of MD certified Environmental Contract Laboratories.

There are several options if your well tests over the recommended limit for arsenic. You can install a reverse osmosis filtration system, dig a new well; connect to City water where available; or use bottled water. For more information on these options, go to the Minnesota Department of Health website and type well water in the search engine.

If you have any questions about wells or well water quality, email the Well Management Section Central Office or by telephone at 651-201-4600.

First and foremost, Xcel Energy's goal is to provide the most accurate information available while quickly and efficiently restoring power in a manner that upholds safe practices for both customers and utility workers.

Xcel Energy's restoration process gives top priority to situations that threaten public safety, such as live, downed wires. The remaining work is prioritized based on what will restore power to the largest number of customers most quickly. For example, by repairing a single high-voltage transmission line, often power can be restored to tens of thousands of customers at once, or by restoring service at the feeder level, it may be possible to restore service to several hundred or a few thousand customers at once. After major lines have been re-energized, causes of outages can be more effectively tracked down along the lower-voltage distribution lines. If service restoration was started at the individual customer level first, it wouldn't be clear if the problem was fully solved until "upstream" power was restored (at the transmission level). This could be unsafe for customers and Xcel Energy crews.

During severe snow, ice, and wind storms, electric service can be disrupted to hundreds or thousands of customers all at once. When storms disrupt power to more than 100,000 customers, it may take several days to fully restore power, depending on the extent of damage and how easily Xcel Energy crews can access the damaged areas.

To report an electric outage call 800-895-1999. You can also get outage information on Xcel Energy's Outage Map.

There are advantages and challenges with both overhead and underground lines. Underground lines can still become damaged by an outside entity, or by weather-related or environmental issues. They can also experience cable faults and fail when certain pieces of equipment are affected. And because they are buried, it can take much longer to locate and repair cables and equipment.

Emergency standby generators can supply electricity to your home or business in the event of a power outage. Operating a standby generator can be useful during a power outage, but only if it is properly installed and maintained. Standby generators are powerful appliances and require extreme caution in installation and use. Understand the hazards and familiarize yourself with these important safety precautions before you buy or begin to use one.

It's essential to understand that improper installation and use of standby generators may violate state or local electrical codes and can severely endanger those working to restore your power. During power outages, Xcel Energy crews work from maps to locate disconnects on our system. Improperly connected generators may re-energize lines that otherwise would be dead, creating "back feed." Back feed occurs when electric power is introduced to the utility's power lines from generators with faulty connections. Lines expected to be de-energized are in fact live, and could potentially electrocute crew members attempting to make repairs.

Learn more about outage safety.

See the Recycling Tips page for information on what can be recycled, as well as how to dispose of hard-to-recycle materials. Shorewood contracts with Republic Services for residential recycling.

Recycling helps conserve natural resources and protects our environment by creating a circle called the recycling loop. It begins with collecting materials that can be recycled and turning them into new products. In Minnesota, at least 85% of the material sent to a recycling center will be sorted, baled, and sent to a recycling market. Watch a video to see what happens to the materials that you place in your recycling container.

Recycling is every other Wednesday on the mainland, Thursday on the Islands. Carts are to be curbside by 7 am. Check our Recycling Calendar (PDF) for a quick reference guide on dates and acceptable items. You may sign up for recycling tips and date reminders online, so you never miss a pick-up, or text blue to 292929.

If your cart was curbside by 7 am and is not collected by 6 pm, please report to the city (phone: 952-960-7900) or to Republic Services (phone: 952-941-5174) by noon the following day to have it collected. Reports after noon may not be able to be collected until the next recycling day.

Yes. There is no charge for an additional or larger cart. The largest cart size is 90 gallons. If this is not large enough, you should request a second cart. You may request by emailing City Hall (include your address with the request), or call the city at 952-960-7900.

If you have the largest cart (90 gallon) and would like to request a smaller size, or if you have more than one cart and do not need the extra, please call City Hall at 952-960-7900, and an adjustment will be made on the next recycling day.

The city contracts for the recycling for the entire year. The charge is equally divided among households, so there is not a way to adjust accounts by month. The $14 per quarter charge is also charged to households who make the choice not to recycle for this same reason.

Fall (through winter) is the best time to remove buckthorn from your yard. During this timeframe, buckthorn leaves will be green while native plant leaves will have turned color or dropped to the ground, making it easier to distinguish between the two. Female buckthorn plants will keep their black berries well into early winter. If you must choose, remove the female buckthorn first so you will have fewer plants seeding in the spring.

Buckthorn can be removed mechanically or chemically. With either option, the stump must be killed, or the plant will re-sprout and continue to grow. It is important to monitor and continue treating the area if needed since buckthorn seeds can remain viable for up to five years in the soil. When small they are easy to pull out by hand.

Buckthorn can be pulled out by hand or with a weed wrench. The city loans out weed wrenches for FREE (a $20 refundable deposit is required). Reserve the wrench by calling city hall at 952-960-7900.

Because recycling truck drivers are discouraged from getting out of trucks due to safety concerns, piling the boxes next to the cart is not generally an option. If you can lay them flat under the lid of the cart that works. If there are too many the easiest thing to do is take them to the free drop off in Minnetonka. It is open 24/7 so it is really easy! It is at Minnetonka Public Works, 11522 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55305. You can't miss the big blue dumpsters. Another option for cardboard and hazardous waste items is Carver County Environmental Center. It is a quick drive down Highway 41 on the Chanhassen/Chaska border.

View the recycling calendar. A new calendar will be coming out in December and you should receive it by mail. It is also on the city website under "Recycling". Report a missed collection before noon the following day at 952-960-7900 (city hall).

Yes! Absolutely! If you would like to tour the facility, please email: rentals@shorewoodmn.gov or call (952) 960-7902 to ensure staff is available when you arrive. 

Yes. you must reserve and pay for the setup and cleanup time for you reservation. The Community & Event Center is not open 24/7, so staff is required to open and monitor the facility when renters are present. Generally, you will not be able to access the building outside of your reserved times. Room access will only be permitted once your scheduled reservation time starts. To be courteous to our building staff, please ensure you plan for adequate clean up time so they can stick to their scheduled hours. 

No. Reservations must be made by the responsible party for the event. All correspondence regarding the permit, payment, time, questions and in event of any issues will be made from city staff to the permit holder only. The agreement is not transferrable to a separate party, and the permit holder is responsible for any damages. 

The general expectation is that you return the room to the state it was found in. All trash should be put in the supplied trash bins, decorations removed without damage, and general cleanup of the tables, floors etc.. Our custodial team will do a more thorough sweep, mop and scrub down after you have left. Please help our staff by make sure you clean up after yourself!

No. The custodial fee is a required charge for all rentals. This fee helps us cover our cost of setting up rooms, general cleaning, restocking of supplies, etc. We are more than happy to have the room setup the way you would like prior to your rental. Just be sure to submit a floor plan at least two weeks prior to your reservation.

No. Tables and chairs are included with your rental at no cost! If you submit your desired floor plan to staff at least 2 weeks prior to your event, we will have the room setup and ready before you arrive. Tables linens are available for an extra cost of $12 per linen. We have both 5ft round tables and 6 ft rectangular tables available for use.

• Payment for your reservation is due in FULL 2 weeks after your reservation is approved.
• Reservations with unpaid balances 2 weeks after their reservation was approved may be cancled.
• Staff will always contact the primary account holder prior to canceling a reservation dur to outstanding balance.
• Reservations must be made at least 2 weeks in advance of the desired rental date.

Yes. Food is allowed! Rental of the banquet room includes access to our kitchen for food prep. The kitchen is also available for rent if the banquet room is not in use. The City  does not have a list of preferred caterers or food vendors, but there are plenty of great options in the area. 

Yes. In order to have a food truck on site, there needs to be a 30-60 day notice to allow for the approval from the City Council and an inspection to be scheduled with the fire department. 

Yes.

• Alcoholic beverages may be served at the Shorewood Community & Event Center (SCEC) with consent from the SCEC office staff prior to event
• Alcoholic beverages may be served, but the activity must include the serving of food. The organization, group or persons hosting the activity or event must provide all beverages.
  • A certificate of liability in the amount of $300,000 or greater naming the City of Shorewood and the Shorewood Community & Event Center as additional insured is required for this one time event. 
  • A security officer, obtained by city staff and hired at the renter's expense, paid directly on the event day, is required if alcohol is served in excess of 3 hours.
• Alcoholic beverages may only be served until 10:30pm on weeknights and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
• All parties serving and consuming alcoholic beverages in the center must conform to all City and State liquor laws.
• It is recommended that alcoholic beverages be consumed in designated areas only. Occupant will assume all responsibility for clean-up of glasses and bottles outside the building. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of damage deposit funds equal to that of additional custodial fess associated with the event.
• Alcohol Policy Violation: If alcohol is served without prior authorization, or if alcohol service exceeds the agreed- upon three-hour limit, the renter will forfeit their security deposit and be required to vacate the premises immediately. Law enforcement may be contacted to enforce removal if necessary. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you are serving alcoholic beverages at your event, be aware that as host of the event you may be responsible for any accident that may occur if it is due to alcohol use on the part of the person causing the accident. 

Yes!

• All decorating must be done during permitted rental time. Please account for setup and cleanup time when making a reservation.
• Reservations are made for the ROOMS Only. Decorations and signs are not permitted outside or in common areas of the facility. 
  • Upon request, lobby furniture may be moved to accommodate rental needs.
  • Easels, signs, etc. may be permitted in lobby area directly outside of room with advance notice and permission from staff.
  • The Community & Event Center is a public space. Outside users may utilize common spaces within the facility (lobby, restrooms, etc.) during the time of your reservation. 
  • No decorations are permitted to be hung from the ceiling or walls. All decorations need to be free standing. 
  • No nails, tacks or items that may damage the walls and/or paint are permitted. If needed, painters tape may be used to hang items on walls, provided by the renter.
    • Easels are available upon request, free of charge.
  • Glitter, slime or other hard to clean substances are not permitted. 
  • Candles and/or open flames are also not permitted. Sternos for heating food is acceptable. 

• If the reservation is canceled 30 days or more in advance, a full refund will be issued less a $10 processing fee
• If the reservation is canceled 14-29 days in advance, a 50% refund will be issued
• If the reservation is canceled 13 days or less in advance, no refund will be issued. 

The refundable deposit is in case of damage to the property or breach of signed contracts. 

• Renter is liable for any damage done to premises. If repairs or replacement costs exceed the damage deposit, Renter will be responsible for the excess amount, and charges will be made. Additional causes that would result in withholding return of damage deposit include, but are not limited to:
  • Items that are broken, lost or stolen
  • Cleaning costs exceeding the allowable amount
  • Fire alarm system is activated unnecessarily
• A Breach of Contract occurs if hours are exceeded:
  • The damage/breach of contract fee will be charge if the Renter takes possession prior to designated time and/or if the building and property are not vacated by 12:00am or scheduled time. The renter, guests and all their service providers (i.e. caterer, DJ, etc.) must be out by 12:00 midnight. For your protection, your guests and service providers must be notified of these hours. 
• Submitting a desired floor plan or modifying a submitted floor plan within two weeks of your rental may result in additional fees. 

Should the event extend beyond the scheduled time, the hourly rate, along with any applicable additional fees, may be deducted from your refundable deposit. If the event continues past 12:15 AM, you will be required to return the following day to complete packing, with a minimum hourly fee of three hours.

Yes. The banquet room has a hand held microphone and blue tooth speaker capabilities. We recommend bringing a separate device other than your phone as the sound system sits behind a fire door and Bluetooth capabilities are effected by this. 

Yes! We provide at no extra charge a screen/projector as well as a large rolling tv with video conferencing capabilities. Let the staff know you would like to use these when you make your reservation!

Please give the Community Center Rentals line a call and someone can assist you. (952) 960-7902

Yes. Internet service providers have obtained the necessary permits to build out their networks. Just like other utility companies, these companies have the right to access the city’s right-of-way, which extends across streets from sidewalk to sidewalk, and easement areas, typically located along the street, the sidewalk, the rear lot line, or between two lots. Right-of-way Figure (PDF) Utility companies use the ROW and easements to construct and maintain overhead and underground lines. Contracting crews have legal access to these areas to install their fiber cables, in addition to equipment such as boxes buried at ground level, typically placing them in a central location utilized by multiple utility providers. If your ROW and/or easement is within a fenced area of your property, crews will need access to this area as well. 

Crews do their best to minimize the impact to property; however, technicians do need to either hang fiberoptic cables on utility poles or run them underground in order to extend service to subscribing residents. To report any damage occurring during construction of fiber optic networks, reach out the companies directly at: 

• MidCo: 888-425-1475
• Metronet: 877-386-3876
• Mediacom: 800-790-8187

Please do not remove the flags. Companies are legally required to have utilities locate their underground transmission line, such as gas, water, and electric lines prior to construction. The flags show where the existing utilities are, helping crews avoid these areas. Once these colorful flags or temporary landscape-safe spray paint appear in your yard, or along the street, construction should begin within a couple of weeks. Once construction is complete, the flags will be removed. Weather permitting, crews will rake, seed, and straw your lawn in the areas where digging occurred.

It is important to notify companies of these items. You may report these items to the companies directly at: 

• MidCo: 888-425-1475
• Metronet: 877-386-3876
• Mediacom: 800-790-8187

Metronet, MidCo and other providers are creating a fiber network throughout Shorewood, so people who want to sign up for service may do so. The goal is to make it as widely accessible as possible. There is no requirement for any home sign up for service.

Workers may be in your yard from 30 minutes up to one day. If other utilities are overhead, crews will install the fiber optic cables on existing poles. If utilities are underground, they will bury the network in those same areas. Before doing underground work, internet service provider companies (Metronet, MidCo) will have other utility companies locate their transmission lines and will temporarily move any obstacles within the utility easement. 

Utility easements are located on most properties in addition to the city's right-of-way (ROW) and are designated by city ordinance to be accessible to utilities, such as gas, water, electric, and cable providers. Fiber-optic networks will be located in these utility easements and/or city ROW. Right-of-way (PDF)

Each internet service providers has varying lengths of time in which residents may connect after fiber-optic networks are installed. To find out more information on connection availability and wait time, contact them directly at:

• MidCo: 888-425-1475
• Metronet: 877-386-3876 
• Mediacom: 800-790-8187

A park system is the public parks, open spaces, trails, natural areas, and recreational facilities within a community. It may also include the recreation opportunities that are tied to these spaces, along with the maintenance and operations to keep the spaces in good condition. 

The City of Shorewood is proud to provide a parks and recreation system that provides active and passive recreation opportunities for all ages. Shorewood boasts over 100 acres of a comprehensive park system that includes 7 parks, a variety of open spaces, trails, and a community & event center. Our park system provides ample opportunities for our community to play, relax, and enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways. 

The Park System Master Plan is a roadmap for planning and completing park improvements, helping the City decide what parks to focus on first and ensure that changes and investments to a City park fit into the bigger picture of serving the needs of the community. The Park System Master Plan will use a summary of the community input received to create a 10+ vision for Shorewood’s parks, trails, facilities and programs. This plan will guide City decisions for individual park improvement project and new programming in the future.    

It is important to keep in mind that many ideas will be shared throughout the process, and not all will be able to be incorporated. Resident input is essential in developing the plan, but trends within parks and recreation, long-term feasibility, budgets, and city-wide needs will be considered when formulating recommendations. Recommendations from the plan can be exciting, especially if an amenity that you desire or suggest is included! However, the plan does not fund the projects. The plan provides a long-term vision and priorities for the park system as a whole, and successfully implementing the plan will take time, proper funding, approvals, and resources.

This Parks Master Plan is focused on the parks themselves, not necessarily the connected trail system. While there may be some inclusion of trails nearby parks, this plan is not intended to provide a future City-wide trail plan or recommendations.

A master plan is essential for ensuring City parks and amenities are meeting and continue to meet the needs of Shorewood residents. Our existing park plans are outdated and don’t reflect the current needs or trends within the community, leaving it difficult for the Park Commission to allocate funds for future capital park projects. A master plan allows the Commission to make strategic, data driven decisions that reflect the needs of our community. The plan will help the City take care of what we currently have, plan for what is next, and make sure the Shorewood park system is enjoyed by the entire community.  

The Parks Master Plan is a collaborative effort between City Staff, the Park Commission, and the selected consultant, Bolton & Menk. Parks & Recreation Director, Mitchell Czech, is the staff lead for the project. 

There are many ways to contribute your ideas and make sure your voice is heard! The best way to contribute your ideas and feedback is by completing the community survey or by attending our resident engagement sessions at our Concert in the Park (Thursday, July 17, 6pm – 8:30pm, Freeman Park) or Oktoberfest (Saturday, September 27, 1pm – 3pm, Badger Park) events. 

The Park Commission also meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Each meeting has a “Matters from the Floor” section on the agenda for residents to share their thoughts and ideas. 

You can also contact our Parks & Recreation Director, Mitchell Czech, at mczech@shorewoodmn.gov or 952-960-7925. 

Survey results and feedback received from the resident engagement sessions will be compiled and utilized to prepare recommendations from Bolton & Menk. Results will be shared with City Staff and the Park Commission, and a summary of results will be included in the final master plan. Any comments, concerns, or ideas shared outside of the official survey or engagement sessions will be shared with the Park Commission and consultant to be considered in any recommendations. 

A draft plan is tentatively scheduled to be brought to the Park Commission during the November 25 Park Commission meeting. A final plan is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council for final adoption at the December 8 City Council meeting. 

Join our mailing list to ensure you receive up to date information. Also be sure to follow our Shorewood MN Parks & Recreation Facebook page, visit our website, or attend Parks Commission meetings to stay informed and involved in the process. 

$40,000 was budgeted in the Parks Capital Improvement Plan in 2025 to complete this project.  

The City has a Parks Captial Improvement Plan (CIP) to prioritize and pay for parks projects exceeding $5,000. The CIP is reviewed on an annual basis by the Park Commission, and funds are allocated accordingly for each project. Projects may shift from year to year depending on need, condition of amenities, and feedback from residents. After the Park Commission provides recommendations for the CIP, the CIP is approved by City Council each year. The CIP is funded through City Council authorized transfers from the General Fund. 

There are a variety of reasons, including environmental factors, resident interest in municipal water, and financial sustainability of the water fund. The water fund is an enterprise fund, meaning that those who benefit from the system pay for the system. It is not supported by taxes. Ensuring that investment in the current system is maximized promotes financial stability of the water fund, increases fairness among those benefiting from the system, and informs future decision making about the system.  

3,070 properties are billed for a variety of city utilities, including water, sewer, stormwater and recycling.  Of these, 1608 properties are billed for city water. 

Approximately 400 properties are not connected to city water but could connect.  

At its June 9th meeting the City Council considered nearly twenty different options to promote water connections.  It decided to focus attention on strategies in the following areas: 

Policy 

• Subdivision and New Construction – The City Council recently updated its ordinances to only permit the subdivision of property where city water is or can be made available to the new parcels.  City ordinance also requires connection to city water for all newly constructed homes.   
• Information and Communication – The City will provide more information about city water and available resources through its website, newsletter, and other outlets. 

Facilitate Connections

• Point of Sale and New Construction – In areas where water is available, require homes that are sold or newly constructed to connect to city water.   
• Connection Program – A streamlined process to complete and finance water connections.  The City obtains volume pricing for a contractor to connect multiple properties voluntarily to city water.  Property owners can finance the costs through an assessment.  

These concepts are currently being researched. The City Council will discuss and consider such programs at future meetings. 

Fees 

• Rate Structure - Modify the rate structure to include a base fee for system operations, add a conservation rate, and adjust usage fees.  
• Water Availability Fee – Charge the base fee to properties that have water available but are not connected to the system.  
• Infrastructure Fee – Charge an infrastructure fee to all other properties for water used to support city services and operations, supply public parks and buildings, and provide fire protection.  

The Council considered these fees as part of its 2026 budget process and set the fees in the Master Fee Schedule at its meeting on September 22, 2025. 

Base Fee 

This is a flat fee ($32.51) charged to pay for the fixed costs of maintenance and operation of the water system.  Currently only properties connected to city water pay this charge. Properties not connected to city water, but with water available to them, are proposed to be charged this Base Fee. The rationale is that there is a benefit to the property to have water available, including an alternative to a well and fire protection, and should therefore help to pay for the maintenance and operation of the system.  User fees would not be charged as there is no consumption of water. The Base Fee would not be charged to properties that do not have water available. 

User Fee

 User fees are charges based on the amount of water consumed. They are variable and structured in tiers so that customers using higher amounts of water pay a higher rate, which promotes conservation. The new fee structure breaks out the base fee and creates the tier of 0 – 5000 gallons. It also splits the tier of 5001 to 50,000 gallons into two tiers: 5001 to 25,000 gallons and 25,001 to 50,000 gallons.   

Water Availability Charge  

This one-time charge funds the initial investment to install the water system. The charge may be paid by developers or by a homeowner connecting to the water system and may be paid upfront or assessed to property taxes for payment over time.   The charge is currently $10,000 and has not been increased since 1995 but may be considered in the future. 

Infrastructure Fee 

A fee of $10/quarter would be charged to properties that do not have water available. The rationale for the fee is that municipal water supports all residents with public safety and fire protection, reduction in homeowner’s insurance, and access to water at public facilities for use, operations and maintenance work. This fee is scheduled to be implemented in 2027. 

In June 2025 the City accepted a Long-Term Financial Management Plan to guide funding decisions for the City’s operations, capital improvements and debt service.  The plan provides a model to determine the revenue needed to provide services and meet objectives in a strategic and fiscally responsible way.  The Plan used existing data, planned improvements, and policies in its development. The Plan can be found on the City’s budget webpage  or at the link below. The Summary and Introduction section includes discussion of Utility Rates on pages 5 – 6, and Figure 2 shows projected rate increases in both dollars and percentages. Rates are proposed to noticeably increase in 2026, and to a lesser extent in 2027, but the Plan anticipates increases leveling off in future years. 

Long-Term Financial Plan (PDF)

The City has had different policies at different times regarding the water connection charge, and different efforts to promote connection to city water.  

No. The City is not requiring homeowners to connect to City water. The concept of requiring connection to city water, if available, at the time a home is sold (point-of-sale) has been discussed but is currently not a requirement. A newly constructed home is required to connect to city water, if available. 

The City is studying a potential point-of-sale requirement to connect a home to city water, if it is available. Currently there is no requirement to connect, but homeowners and real estate professionals may want to check with the City if they are considering selling.  

The City has been discussing water connections and its 2026 budget much of the year. Communications of these topics have appeared in the ShoreReport newsletter, on the City’s webpage, in e-newsletters, on social media and email distributions. Ordinance amendments have included public hearings. There are webpages for the Municipal Water Strategy and the 2026 Budget. The Council has held work sessions throughout the summer of 2025 breaking down the different components of the City’s budget, including the Long-Term Financial Management Plan, the Fee Schedule, and the Enterprise Funds. Public comment at the work sessions, and one-on-one meetings with staff, have been offered.  

The Council is taking a graduated approach to water connections and focusing on tools and policies that make it easier for residents to connect. Other options and policies to increase water connections were discussed at the June 9, 2025, Council meeting and were not advanced, but could be considered in the future. 

The carts are manufactured by Cascade and made of plastic. The standard cart size is 96-gallons. Your new cart is assigned to your address. If you move, it is not to be taken with you. 

The new carts will be green with a yellow lid. 

The last collection day with Republic Services for island residents will be December 18, 2025. Island residents should anticipate to be without a cart for a few days. The last collection day with Republic services for mainland residents will be December 31, 2025. Mainland residents should wait to use their new WM cart until January 1, 2026.

The cart deliveries for all residents will begin the week of December 22-24, 2025. During this week, new green carts will be delivered by WM. Republic Services will retrieve old carts on your last service day. Island residents will have their carts retrieved on December 18, 2025. Following collection, all residents should leave their old cart at the curb until it is removed. Mainland residents will have their carts retrieved starting on December 31, 2025. 

Residents should NOT place items in their new green carts until their old carts have been retrieved by Republic Services. 

Yes. Ensure your Republic Services cart is placed curbside no later than 7 a.m. on your final collection day. Leave the cart curbside until it is removed. It is expected the removals may take up to 5 business days to complete. No items should be put in the cart after your cart has been emptied on the last service day.  The final collection day for island residents is December 18, 2025. The final collection day for mainland residents is December 31, 2025.

Whether you are home or not, a new cart will be delivered the week of December 22-24, 2025. Your old cart will be retrieved after final collection day with Republic Services. Please arrange with a neighbor or family member to assure your Republic recycling cart is at the curb on the final day, if you will not be home. If your old cart is not retrieved and it is after January 9th, you will need to reach out to Republic Services at 952-941-5174 to make arrangements to recover the old cart. 

The recycling fee is $19 per household per quarter. 

Residents receive biweekly collection services. 

No. Mainland residents will continue to have their carts serviced every other Wednesday. Island residents will continue to have their carts serviced every other Thursday. If your pickup lands on a holiday, recycling will be delayed one day. The complete 2026 schedule will be made available online at shorewoodmn.gov/recycling.

The following can be recycled in Hennepin County. Please note that just because an item says it’s “recyclable” does not always mean it is. You may have to take it to a special drop-off location or try to avoid purchasing/obtaining that material in the future.  

• All colors of glass
• Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers (ex. shampoo, milk, detergent, yogurt. Plastics #1, #2, and #5 are accepted.)
• Aluminum, tin, and steel beverage and food cans
• Newspapers, cardboard, paper, paper/paperboard cans, and magazines
• NO plastic bags, plastic film, or polystyrene foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam™)

For more information and educational materials, visit shorewoodmn.gov/recycling

All resident requests will be handled directly by WM. There are three ways to report requests/contact WM:

• Phone: A live representative from WM is available via phone M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Outside of these hours, residents my leave a contact number to receive a call back. The number is toll free at 888-960-0008.
• My WM mobile app: Residents may download WM’s app on a mobile device to submit requests and track service.
• WM.com: Requests can be directly through WM’s website. 

If residents are unable to reach WM through any of these methods, City staff are available M-F 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 952-960-7900 or cityhall@shorewoodmn.gov. 

If you had more than one cart prior to November 20, 2025, each cart will be replaced. If you requested a new cart after November 20, 2025, you will need to request an additional cart after January 1, 2026. If your residence does have two Republic Services carts, you should set BOTH carts out to be retrieved on your final service day. 

Residents are allowed up to two carts at no extra charge. Residents wishing to obtain a second cart should reach out to WM directly on/after January 1, 2026. A maximum of two carts will be serviced. 

All residents will receive a 96-gallon cart to replace your old cart. Residents may request a change in cart size after all new 96-gallon carts have been delivered and old carts have been removed. 

Contact WM directly to request an exchange after January 1, 2026.

For Republic Services carts, contact Republic Services at 952-941-5174. For WM carts, contact WM directly to report issues at 888-960-0008.