Shorewood Citizen Advocates

Building positive change through communication, education and advocacy
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Revised July 24, 2025

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Optional Camera Registration To Fight Crime

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department offers the opportunity for residents to register inside and outside cameras for fighting crime. The registration does not authorize them to use your camera without permission, but lets them know that you have a camera, so if there is a crime in the neighborhood, they can quickly contact you to see if your camera picked up a recording that might assist them in solving a crime.

For more information or to register cameras, go to https://connecthennepincounty.org.

It’s a simple act to help keep our neighborhoods safe.

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Minnesota Insect Population Is On The Decline

Insect populations are indeed declining in Minnesota and globally, with various studies indicating significant decreases in insect biomass and diversity. This decline is a serious concern, as insects play a vital role in ecosystems as pollinators, food sources, and decomposers. Several factors contribute to this decline, including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and invasive species.

A local observer reported this:

“I’ve commented at length about the lack of insects, the dearth of butterflies and virtually no dragonflies or damsel flies this year. Plenty of chiggers, but even a light mosquito population. Our bird count is down substantially. We see a bee or two partly because the home behind us has hives. And we have naturalized most of our yard with pollinator flowering plants. It’s heartbreaking.” – Susan C. Davis

A comprehensive 2020 study published in the Journal of Science found considerable variability among 1,676 sites, but overall there was an average 9% per decade decline of terrestrial insects and an 11% increase in aquatic insects, including mosquitos.

What we can do:

  • Avoid/diminish pesticide use
  • Avoid plants treated with neonicotinoid pesticides
  • Limit use of outdoor lights
  • Grow native plants: Monarchs need milkweed for their larvae and the plants and flowers are used by dozens of insect species. Bergamot, anise hyssop, leadplant, blazing star and dozens of other native flowering plants and shrubs are readily available at native plant nurseries

Source for this article: Friends of the Mississippi River

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Public streets are not parking lots, private storage or sports arenas

Motor homes, unattached boat and utility trailers (among others) are left on the residential streets, in some cases, for months. Painting pickleball courts, hockey nets and basketball hoops all contribute to impeding the traffic flow and a set up for liability problems.  All cities have varying rules that govern this behavior.

  • Let’s start with unattached trailers which are governed by state law (Minn. Stat. Sec. 169.011, Subd. 86). No person may leave or park a trailer, including cargo or utility trailers, campers, and boat trailers…unless connected to a motor vehicle capable of pulling the trailer. The unattached trailers are illegal, dangerous, impede traffic, snow plows, and are a liability.
  • No motor home may remain on the street of the same block for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours. People “game” the system by moving their motor home every few weeks to the other side of the street, or around the corner. Again, they violate (Shorewood Ordinance 501.05, Sub. 9 which also includes abandoned vehicles, trailers ”for sale” and free “stuff.”

trailers

  • Items such as basketball hoops, hockey nets and pickleball courts obstruct traffic, affect snow plowing, street sweeping and may pose a liability and violate Ordinance 901.03.
  • Don’t wait for the city to take action without a report. Shorewood enforces most of its municipal ordinances on a complaint-only basis, especially regarding zoning and nuisance issues. No proactive monitoring is done by the city unless issues are flagged by residents or arise during routine inspections.

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