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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2012Water meter reader installation nears completion And, when it comes to water by Arlene Mitchell safety... n July the City started the process of The incentive program seems to have I by Arlene Mitchell installing new water meter reading ore than likely, when you turn on M technology. In most cases this conweeks, approximately 2,000 residential - your faucet, you assume the water sisted only of replacing the old register readers were replaced, leaving about 450 that comes from it is safe to drink. You are head on the water meter with a new one. to be done, and about half of the indus - In a few cases, both the water meter and trial readers were installed. By the end correct. the register head needed to be replaced.of September, only a few residential and The water that comes from your faucets is commercial upgrades were yet to be done. purchased from Roseville, which purchases As an incentive to residents to schedule If you have not yet had your water meter it from the St. Paul Regional Water Ser reader upgraded, please contact City Hall - vices (SPRWS). Roseville is a middle man three weeks a drawing was held. The winat 651-792-7800 right away. - because it lies between Arden Hills and St. ners receive three months of free water Paul. The SPRWS complies with drinking this winter. The winners are Dean McAlInformation from the new system was - water standards set by the U.S. Environ lister, John Lawyer, and Thomas Cathey.used for the latest (third quarter) water and - mental Protection Agency and the Min sewer billing. - nesota Department of Health. The water is tested and treated to guarantee its safety. Arden Hills also does its own testing, New City Website contracting with a laboratory to take and a computer or mobile device near you! Coming to test samples of City water monthly. The results are reported to both the City and the Minnesota Department of Health. December 7, 2012 The SPRWS gets water from a chain of lakes in northern Ramsey County, the Mis - sissippi River, and wells in the Prairie du Chien-Jordan Aquifer. More detail about the results of water test - ing can be found on the Citys website. Better navigation More graphics and photo s Less scrolling Smarter search (Site goes live at 5 p.m., December 7) Around the Town: Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Why we live in Arden Hills by Nancy OMalley, Parks, Trails, Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 and Recreation Committee y husband and I have lived in Arden Hills since 1989 and raised M 8:00 a.m.4:30 p.m. children here. We appreciate the wildlife trotting through our b  651-792-7800 the beauty all around us. While I know why we enjoy Arden Hills, why other residents like living here. So I started asking neighb cityhall@ci.arden-hills.mn.us responses were overwhelmingly positive. Common themes emerged. Sheriff and Fire Emergency Location was frequently mentioned: close proximity to both downt 911 freeways, closeness to shopping and businesses. You often hear p Sheriff (non-emergency) So close to the cities, but still has that out-of-the-cities fe " 651-767-0640 Its just a handy place to live. " Fire (non-emergency) Far enough out, but close enough in. " 651-633-0640 We have all the amenities. " Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) The natural beauty of Arden Hills is very important to many resi 651-767-0640 varied terrain, abundant woods, lakes, wetlands, and wildlife ar neighbor commented that she loves seeing lakes and ponds everywh - David Grant 651-538-0747 Mayor: den Hills. The water has a calming effect. It is a beautiful pl Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 Arden Hills trails and parks were often cited. Many enjoy using Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 being able to easily connect to paved paths in surrounding commu Nick Tamble 612-819-7995 our paths are well-used by so many people, such as walkers, bike Ed Werner 651-636-2547 parents with strollers, joggers, and kids. Our trails and parks See City website for e-mail addresses. Our neighborhoods are a great source of pride. People described - City Administrator: Patrick Klaers 651-792-7810 They like the sense of community and cooperation that comes with your neighbors. Annual neighborhood picnics and get-togethers we Communications Committee : recurring events that add to our sense of community. Residents a Arlene Mitchell, editor; Susan Cathey; much they value our intergenerational population  original owne Kristine Goodrich; Brenda Holden families with infants. Its nice to have the mix of ages and exp Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl and riding their bikes one minute and then talking and interacti Council Liaison: Nick Tamble I like the youthful energy of the high school. Although Arden - Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek hoods are in some ways separate and distinct, they all seem to s qualities. Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised from the informal survey sum it all up: We like it here very, v live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of everything about Arden Hills. the Planning Commission are televised Playbacks of City meetings begin the morning after the meeting and continue Our trails and every day until the next City meeting. parks are the Playbacks are at 3 a.m., 11 a.m., and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 best! a.m., 2 p.m., and 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For web casts, visit www.ctv15.org. Arden Hills Notes - letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 Benchmarks: a review of recent City Council action Accepted the quote from Electric October 8, 2012 September 10, 2012 " Pump Company for the installation of an Omni Site monitoring system at lift Approved Resolution 2012-033, ap Adopted Resolution 2012-031, setting " " - stations 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 14 in the pointing Amy Dietl as Deputy Clerk the preliminary levy increase for taxes total amount of $22,050 (5-0) (5-0) payable in 2013 in the amount of $94,236 (3%) (5-0) Approved partial pay request Approved Resolution 2012-034, " " number 3 to Magney Construction, designating Kelly & Lemmons, P.A. Adopted Resolution 2012-033, adopt " - Inc., in the amount of $65,037 for as the criminal and civil legal services ing Truth-in-Taxation hearing date lift station number 1 and number 12 consultant (5-0) for proposed taxes payable in 2012 as improvements (5-0) December 10, at 5 p.m. (5-0) Approved Resolution 2012-035, ap " - Adopted the updated version of the pointing Miriam Ward as City liaison " September 24, 2012 City commissions, committees, and to the Northwest Youth & Family task forces recruitment, appointment, Services Board (5-0) Approved planning case 12-014, " and term limit policy (5-0) adopting Ordinance 12-007 (zoning Approved Resolution 2012-036, " regarding multi-family dwellings) Approved a one percent wage increase appointing Ramsey County Sheriff " (3-2 Tamble, Werner) for non-union employees effective Department as the animal control of Department as the animal control ofDepartment as the animal control of- July 1, 2012 (5-0) Adopted the sanitary sewer mainte " - nance policy (5-0) Have car: will travelslowly! by Nick Tamble Northbound Snelling is planned to oad construction. That term de R R " R - the project. R R This project is scheduled to begin in to continue onto Hamline as well as " R We have all experienced road R the spring of 2013. westbound I-694. construction in full-force in Arden Hills, Northbound I-35W ramp to I-694 east and there is more to come! Heres the " For more detailed information visit the is planned to re-open in low-down on Ramsey County website and search High late November two major - way 10/96 Grade Separation. projects: one (www.co.ramsey.mn.us/NR/rdonlyres/ The Hamline currently " D99B6407-2345-41B4-8443-4051AD and County underway - BBBFE8/30527/CSAH96TH10Interch Road F inter- and the other - angeConstructionWebUpdate11412.pdf) section is is about to planned to re-open begin. Keep November 1 and will in mind the be an all-way stop until a hundreds of signal is installed. individuals who work in For more detailed infor dangerous Vacant house in the neighbor - - mation, visit MnDOTs web site and click circumstances to allow our ease of travel hood? Let the City know on the I-694 Central Corridor Projects in and around the north metro. It is quite video. (www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/ C old weather can be especially dif old weather can be especially difold weather can be especially dif- projects/694expand/) of way while roads and bridges are being - reconstructed age from frozen pipes and storm damage can go unnoticed. The elevation of Highway 96 will drop Lexington Bridge widening project If you know of a vacant house in your " " nearly 22 feet allowing Highway 10 to has been completed. The pedestrian neighborhood, please contact City Hall. bridge has become ADA compliant, It is the policy to shut off water to homes pass over. Highway 96 is scheduled to be closed and dual turn lanes in both directions that are vacant and/or where the heat " have been added. may have been shut off. 3 Your City needs you. There are lots of ways to serve by Susan Cathey he 2012 elections are over, and act positively with the business community T we citizens have done our part in and advise the City Council on economic How to get involved choosing our leaders and lawmakdevelopment, redevelopment, and related - ers. In this democratic system of ours, there community development issues. All of the City ommittees and commis are other opportunities to participate and - sions currently have vacancies. Terms of serve. Volunteers are needed for member The Parks, Trails, and Recreation Com - - service are on a volunteer basis and last ship on the Arden Hills advisory commit mittees purpose is to review and evaluate - three years. tees and commissions. These bodies are these City facilities and programs. The established by the City Council to aid in Committee makes recommendations to the If you are interested in applying for a City Council on cost-effective approaches commission/committee you can download of City affairs, and members are appointed to maintenance, expansion, and improve - an application from the Citys website. from those who apply. Perhaps one of these ments. Geographical balance of the eight Click on the Council & Committees groups is just the right place for you.committee members is a goal. tab across the top of the home page of the Citys website and choose Application facili The Communications Committee The Communications Committee - for a Committee Appointment from the tates positive interaction with the commu - dropdown list. functions as nity, informs the community of City news The Planning Commission the Citys Planning Agency and its Board events, and advises the City Council on Its a great opportunity to become involved of Adjustments and Appeals. Duties communications issues, including recom - in, and learn more about, your City. Your include preparing and reviewing the Citys mendations on administration of the Citys participation is appreciated! Comprehensive Municipal Plan and rewebsite. The main responsibility of the - viewing proposed acquisitions and disposal of real property and proposed improvenewsletter newsletter  Arden Hills Notes. If you like - ments to real property to see if they are in to write, this may be your spot. compliance with the Municipal Plan. Mem - bership consists of seven commissioners The Financial Planning and Analysis and one alternate.Committee - The Economic Development Commission expertise make up this group. the business climate and economic devel - opment direction of Arden Hills. The nine members of the Commission seek to inter - he Citys Public Works Depart T - ment plows snow after two or will get as close as possible to the mail - more inches of accumulation, boxes, but the cleaning of the mailboxes is lesser amounts are only salted/sanded as the responsibility of individual residents. It needed. Plows will not go out until after is also the responsibility of adjacent home - the snow has stopped, unless the snow becomes too heavy; in which case, roads One of these will be on your street soon! will be opened, then cleaned up after The City plows the walks and trails to snow has stopped. the best of its ability. Some trails are not plowed if icing occurs due to them being The City does not have a bare street too steep to plow. policy, as this requires tons of salt, around Snow plowing parking restrictions: No vehicle can be parked on the street after the accumulation of two or more inches of snow and continuing until after snow Go to www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us. Click on Find Information on.. plowing has been completed. and then on Snow Plowing 4 County Sheriff talks about new communication tools by Matt Bostrom, Ramsey County Sheriff A s we wind our way into fall and you as someone living in a community we our leaves are changing outside, serve. Therefore, I wanted to share with you some the Sheriffs Fortunately, the CodeRED system gives of those things that are changing at the businesses and individuals the ability to -partnered with add their own phone numbers directly ing to change is our community outreach CodeRED to into the systems secure database. Ramsey through technology. Tremendous improve-provide county-County residents with Internet access can ments have been made to the Sheriffs Of-wide community enter and verify their information via the Sheriffs website: www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ used to send geographically targeted com-sheriff/alerts. Those without internet access future to be sure, but I want to draw your munications during critical incidents, with attention to two new initiatives: the Com-messages transmitted via voice (telephone), 651-266-9333, Monday through Friday munity Concerns Form and CodeRED.text and email.8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to supply their informa- tion over the phone. Required information The Community Concerns Form is for you to share your concerns, ideas, or observa-abducted, or missing children or vulnerable (physical address, no P.O. Boxes), city, adults; increases in crimes in a particular state, zip code, and primary phone number; form via our website: www.co.ramsey.-additional phone numbers (i.e. cell) can be mn.us/sheriff. You are able to provide cations; hazardous material or chemical entered as well. either anonymous information to us, or if you want to be contacted after discussing a The CodeRED system uses addresses to The capability to quickly reach out in the concern on the form, you have that option allow geographically targeted messaging.course of a critical incident, with timely too. I hope we hear from you!and directed information, will be one more An important caution is that these types of As much as we want to hear directly from systems are only as good as the telephone public safety services to all our communi- you, we want you to be able to hear direct-directory supporting them. Unfortunately, ties. ly from us as well on things that may affect if your phone number is not in the direc- by Kristine Goodrich Ramsey County Sheriffs Department handles animal control issues T iff Patrol Station before paying a boarding - now is providing animal control fee and picking up their pet at Hillcrest move wildlife that are a nuisance but aren't services in Arden Hills. The City's Animal Hospital. Dog owners must obtain sick or threatening anyone. -and/or show proof of a city license within icka of Animal Control Services, retired three business days, and cat owners must do the same with a rabies vaccination. Un- Arden Hills and several neighboring claimed pets may be put up for adoption owner of a lost pet by checking its city communities. Mike Nelson, a community license tag, checking for an ID chip, or Hillcrest. checking if anyone has reported an animal matching that description missing. The pet Sheriff personnel may perform animal is returned home if possible. The owner control duties if Nelson is unavailable. may be issued a warning or citation for will come and document the incident. The having a loose animal. owner will be required to provide proof of rabies vaccination. If an animal bites a If the owner is unknown or unavailable, reports about:person, it must be quarantined for 10 days. the pet usually is taken to Hillcrest Animal " Lost and found pets Hospital in Maplewood. If the pet is " Animal bites will decide based on the incident and the seriously injured and Hillcrest is closed, " Animal abuse, neglect, or abandonmentdog's past history, whether a dog should " Barking dog complaintsbe declared dangerous or potentially Veterinary Clinic in St. Paul for care until " Pet feces complaintsdangerous. These designations, which can Hillcrest opens. " Sick or dangerous wildlifebe appealed, require owners to take certain precautions. To reclaim a lost pet, the owner must show To report any of the above, call the an ID and pay an impound fee at the Sher- 651-767-0640. Bites and lost and found animals are given top priority. 5 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit #1962 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 . I Water safety; water meters n New website goes live December 7 Postal Customer s Volunteer opportunities with the City i Sheriff has new communication tools d Sheriff assumes animal control duties e Notes from the City Council been meeting with the consultants regu O n Saturday, September 22, - larly throughout the planning process. The work was completed on the of the park next year and for years to consultants have met individually with 11,500-square-foot rain garden at come! Again, I want to thank Public Works most of the businesses in the District, and workers and citizens of Arden Hills, in by members of the com -- businesses have welcomed the opportunity munity with the guidance of the Public cluding the Valentine Hills neighborhood, to provide input. Works staff. Technically it is not a rain for all their assistance. Existing businesses are concerned about since it has drain tile under it. If there was no drain tile it would be a rain garden.is the business district - thetics of the District. Businesses recognize along County Road E between Highway the need to increase the Districts vital The components of the rain garden, in51/Snelling Avenue and Lexington Avenue. - - ity. Due to concerns regarding the overall cluding soils and drain tile, were designed The Districts name is related to its zoning economy, businesses would prefer to by the engineer for the park project. The designation of B-2 General Business. make incremental, lower-risk investments rain garden is sized so that all of the water towards the overarching District goals. In December 2008, the City adopted design into the park at this location. Therefore, in standards for the B-2 District which have - tober, the consultants will present their the future, the streets in this neighborhood been used to evaluate redevelopment pro - recommendations to the City Council. can be rebuilt with no need for additional posals for McDonalds, the former Holiday rain gardens. The City has an agreement Inn site, and Walgreens. In late 2011, the Let me know your thoughts on these or any with Rice Creek Watershed District to City Council selected a consultant, Bolton other issues facing the City of Arden Hills. allow credit in the future for the park rain & Menk, to work with the City on the garden.Implementation Plan. Sincerely, The layout of plant material for the entire The next step for the B-2 District is to garden was done by Scott Freyberger create an Implementation Plan to deter - of Public Works. There are about 1,750 mine enhancements along County Road E Ed Werner which may include utility upgrades, access City Councilmember Fire Red Switch Grass, Variegated Oat improvements, bicycle and pedestrian Grass, Arctic Sun Dogwood, Yellow Twig facilities, and streetscape amenities. Dogwood, Compact Cranberry, Johnson Blue Geranium, Black Eye Susan, Purple In early 2012, the City Council appointed Cone Flower, Pow Wow Wild Berry a Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) Cone Flower, Bodacious Returns Daylily, consisting of business representatives from Rocket City Daylily, Rosy Returns Daythe B-2 District, Councilmembers Holmes - lily, Swamp Milkweed, Royal Candles and Werner, and City staff. The CAC has Speedwell, and Blue Flag Iris.