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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2015The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents November 2015 by Tina KulzerThe Arden Hills City Council and the Economic Development Com- mission hosted two “State of the City” meetings during the last week of September. Here is a summary of the top- ics discussed: Rice Creek Commons—Master Plan and Redevelopment Code: Mayor David Grant presented the milestones achieved and progress made over the last year refining the Master Plan and Rede- velopment Code for the Rice Creek Com- mons development project. Soil remediation work at the site is anticipated to be complete by year’s end. Work in 2016 and 2017 will focus on the construction of project infrastructure, including the County Road H interchange and the trunk and spine roads within the development. Private development in Rice Creek Commons is anticipated to begin in 2018. City Development Projects: Council- member Brenda Holden summarized some of the City’s significant development projects, including: • Red Fox Business Center – Two light industrial buildings are being developed on Red Fox Road for a combination of office, light industrial, manufacturing, and service retail uses. • Johanna Shores Brownstones – Forty independent senior units are planned during this phase of the Presbyterian Homes redevelopment. • Valentine Bluff – Seven single-family, custom homes are being built in a new residential development on County Road E2. • Goodwill – The retail store is cur- rently under construction on the northwest corner of County Road E and Lexington Avenue. • Tavern Grill – Construction of this upscale restaurant in Arden Plaza (County Road E and Lexington Avenue) is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2016. MnDOT—Transportation Improve- ments: Mark Lindeberg, North Area Engineer for MnDOT, outlined highway construction project maps for 2016 and 2017. Upcoming projects of greatest impact to Arden Hills residents include the I-694 “Corridors of Commerce” project, County Road E2 bridge work over I-35W, County Road H bridge work over I-35W, and repaving of I-35W between Highway 36 and I-694. Business Retention and Expansion Program: Councilmember Fran Holmes updated residents about the City’s Busi- ness Retention and Expansion Program. The City has been reaching out to area businesses and conducting site visits all year, gathering feedback from employers State of the City meeting features wide-ranging discussion A new program has debuted at Bethel University this fall, a two-year post-secondary program called Bethel University Inclusive Learning and Devel- opment (BUILD), designed for students with intellectual disabilities. The focus is on academic, vocational, residential, and social learning experiences. There are 12 students in the inaugural class and plans to enroll 12 more next year. Bethel has applied for funding for program enhancements through a U.S. Department of Education TPSID grant (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities). The impetus for Bethel University introduces BUILD program continued on page 4 by Susan Cathey and employees in an effort to identify what City busi- nesses need to continue to thrive in Arden Hills. The program also seeks to identify what the City can do to attract new businesses to the area. The Economic Development Commission and the City Council will begin the evalu- ation stage of the program in early 2016. Parks and Recreation Update: Council- member Dave McClung highlighted some of the new Parks and Recreation Depart- ment events and programming additions from the past year. Targeted Active Adult Activities and dedicated Pickleball courts are now being offered to meet the needs and interests of the City’s aging, “long- term” residents. Family-oriented events and programming such as “Bark and Rec Day” and Bubble Soccer have been cre- ated to respond to the expanding interests of resident families. continued on page 4 The Bethel library offers a mentorship for BUILD students. At work are Kerry Bloomfield, Lauren Thysell and Eli Miletich. Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org Sheriff and Fire 911 Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor: David Grant 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Dave McClung 651-332-0352 davemcclung@comcast.net Acting City Administrator: Sue Iverson 651-792-7816 siverson@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Editors/writers: Susan Cathey, Tina Kulzer Writer: Emma Theis Council Liaison: David Grant Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of the Planning Commission are televised as well. Visit www.cityofardenhills.org for information about taped meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official news- letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 City Park Profiles--a series Arden Manor Park 4601 Prior Avenue by Tina Kulzer Arden Manor Park is a well-appointed, 2.5-acre park situated in the manufactured home community of Arden Manor, located north of Highway 96 between Highway 10 and I-35W. The City of Arden Hills did not initially have ownership rights in Arden Manor Park. As the manufactured home community is privately owned, the City was granted an approximately 3.61-acre easement in 1975 to construct, provide, and maintain park amenities for the residents. The City’s Parks and Recre- ation Committee recognized that residents of Arden Manor – a community bound in all directions by highways and interstate roads – did not have a safe or direct link to any of the other City parks. The committee believed that Arden Manor residents needed a park facility that was easily accessible within their community. However, poor soil quality, heaving during spring thaws, and ongoing drainage problems that caused significant flooding of the recreation areas in Arden Manor Park resulted in “the most primitive and underutilized park facilities to use,” according to Parks and Rec- reation Department notes from 2000. A critical redevelopment begins In 1999, the Parks and Recreation Committee sent a survey to residents of Arden Manor and held a community meeting to solicit their feedback on planned improvements at Arden Manor Park. Due to the extensive amount of drainage work and soil replacement that had to be com- pleted to make the acreage suitable for the plan concept – as well as challenges experi- enced as the City and the property owner negotiated the particulars of financing these improvements – the scope of the project was somewhat limited. In the end, existing amenities (picnic shelter, tennis and basketball hard court surfaces, and play structure) were removed. Grading work was done; basketball court surfacing and painting was completed; and a new concrete pad, park shelter, and playground equipment were relocated and installed in 1999 and 2000. Another outcome of this redevelopment was that the nature of the City’s role in the park changed: in 2000, the property owners con- veyed fee title of the easement property (on which Arden Manor Park is located) to the City. As a result of this donation, the City of Arden Hills became the owner of Arden Manor Park. Arden Manor Park today The amenities at Arden Manor Park are located close together within the park space, maxi- mizing their usage and ensuring safe ingress and egress for park users. The park features a large, mulched playground area, neatly bound by a railroad tie enclosure. A fully fenced-in, full-court basketball court and a park pavilion are available for residents, as well as a large continued on page 3 Benchmarks: a review of recent City Council action 3 September 14, 2015 • Approved County Road E/Pine Tree Drive improvements payment number 5 to Park Construction, Inc., in the amount of $547,209. (5-0) • Approved the 2015 Pavement Man- agement Program (PMP) pay estimate number 4 to Valley Paving, Inc. in the amount of $606,298. (5-0) • Accepted Terry Maurer’s retirement as the Director of Public Works/City Engineer. (5-0) • Adopted the Quarterly Special Assess- ments for delinquent utilities. (5-0) September 28, 2015 • Approved planning case 15-018, a site plan review for an 864 square-foot ac- cessory structure/detached garage on the property located at 3180 Hamline Avenue North. (4-0) • Denied an assignment of development agreement for Arden Plaza LLC and Frattallone LLC. (4-0) • Approved the assignment of develop- ment agreement for Arden Plaza LLC and Hemisphere Restaurant Partners re- lating to the construction of The Tavern Grill. (4-0) • Approved access to the Minnesota Gov- ernment Access (MGA) system which will allow the City to view public and confidential documents relating to court hearings and trials. (4-0) • Accepted the resignation of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee Chair, Jennifer Stephens. (4-0) • Accepted a resolution authorizing the application for Recycling SCORE Grant Funds from Ramsey County. (4-0) • Approved the appointment of Sue Iver- son as Acting City Administrator. (4-0) • Approved the appointment of John An- derson as Acting Public Works Director/ City Engineer. (4-0) • Accepted the 2016-18 agreement for law enforcement services with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. (4-0) • Set the Preliminary Levy increase pay- able in 2016 at a maximum of 3.5%, and approved the Truth in Taxation public hearing date for proposed taxes payable in 2016, as December 14, 2015 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, at which time a final levy will be adopted. (4-0) October 12, 2015 • Approved pay estimate number 5 for Valley Paving, Inc. in the amount of $891,657 for the 2015 PMP Improve- ments. (4-0) • Approved the notice of council vacancy (Councilmember Woodburn) to Ramsey County Elections for the 2016 Novem- ber election. (4-0). by Meg Lloyd Robertson, Library Manager, New Brighton Branch open play space suitable for informal team sports and free play. A line of mature trees and tall marsh grass bordering a small pond on the north end of the park provide a natural landscape in which community residents can play and enjoy the outdoors. Arden Manor Park is centrally located within the Arden Manor manufactured home community. It is accessible by Highway 96 at Arden Manor Way. After a right turn on Todd Drive and then a left turn on Prior Avenue, parking can be found in a paved lot on Prior Avenue next to the main property building/emergency shelter. The park- ing lot is connected to the park via a paved trail to accommo- date park users and to facilitate access for City main- tenance vehicles. Four years have passed since the opening of the Ramsey County Library in New Brighton.The new space and the partnership with the Community Center have been even more successful than we imagined. Library staff continues to see faces from our Arden Hills days and have welcomed many new library users as well. Our partnership with the Community Center allows for extended access to library computers, rooms for programming and the opportunity to combine a library visit with play in the Eagle’s Nest, exercise in the fitness cen- ter, or attendance at an event held by the Community Center. Visitors from our previous Arden Hills branch will find much that is familiar in our new location—Friday morning story- times, great materials, and even some of the same staff! In addition, we now offer baby storytimes on Thursday mornings at 9:45 a.m., computer tech help (first Satur- day of the month), and a two-week series of computer classes twice a year. Also, books and movies at the library in New Brighton do not go to other branches to fill request lists, creating a fantastic browsing collection of new and popular items. Fall is here, and we are delighted to have a reading room with a fireplace for visitors to relax with a newspaper, magazine, or book. The library is open Tuesday 10 a.m.– 8 p.m., Wednesday 1–8 p.m., Thursday-Sat- urday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed on Sundays and Mondays. Give us a call at 651-724- 6002 or check out Ramsey County Li- brary’s website www.rclreads.org for more information. An update on the Ramsey County Library in New BrightonArden Manor Park continued from page 2 4 Construction continues; The Tavern Grill coming soon City Finances: Reporting also on the City’s highly-rated, award-winning financial management practices, Council- member McClung discussed the allocation of resident property taxes and provided a preliminary look at the 2016 budget, which will be finalized at the December 14, 2015, City Council meeting. A major- ity of 2016 budget increases are coming from Public Safety contracts. Councilmember McClung explained that the City’s Public Safety expenses have, in part, funded the Lake Johanna Fire Department’s new Duty Crew staffing. Lake Johanna Fire Department Chief Tim Boehlke was in attendance and reported a dramatic decrease in response times as a result of Duty Crew staffing. He also re- sponded to questions regarding the likely closure of Arden Hills Fire Station 110 on New Brighton Road. Arden Hills Foundation: Arden Hills Foundation Board Member Arlene Mitch- ell provided an overview of the Founda- tion’s work over the past year. She em- phasized that donations are tax-deductible when received through the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Foundation also is seeking new board members. Resident Resources: In closing, Mayor Grant made note of two resources, both available on the City’s website, that might be of interest to City residents: • Report a Concern – Mayor Grant en- couraged residents to use this online form to contact City Hall about any concern. • City Video Tour – Created by the Economic Development Commission and CTV North Suburbs, the City Video Tour is a new marketing tool available for the City to use to attract businesses and residents. starting BUILD came from the daughter of a Bethel University board member who had completed a similar program in Illinois but found it to be missing a faith-based component. Students who successfully complete 40-50 credits in the BUILD course of study will earn an applied skills certificate with an emphasis in health or human services, business, or education. They will have the skills necessary to live independently and be meaningfully employed. In addition to core course topics and electives, students are able to participate in Bible and theol- ogy classes as well as physical education. Volunteer social mentors, as well as paid housing and job mentors, provide an im- portant support component. Each semester BUILD students will be in- volved in internships for six to 12 hours per week, on campus the first year, off campus near Bethel the second. These provide the opportunity to gain and practice work skills in a monitored situation. BUILD director Dawn Allen says she is looking for oppor- tunities in the community to place students in areas such as office support; data entry; work with children, such as schools, day care, or the YMCA; and work with ani- mals. She can be reached at 651-635-8799 or build-program@bethel.edu. The program is off to a very good start. In addition to their classes and jobs, students are joining clubs and other activities. After one month, director Allen finds it “exciting to see students already making progress toward working more independently.” The intersection at Lexington Avenue and County Road E has been a hub of activity this summer with much-needed road construction and other projects in the area. But, things aren’t about to quiet down yet; a new all-American comfort food res- taurant is coming soon to Arden Hills. The Tavern Grill, with locations in Blaine, Edina, and Woodbury, will be constructed on the approximately one-acre site between the Walgreens (Lexington and County Road E) and the Lexington Avenue entrance to Arden Plaza. The plans for the grill, which will be devel- oped by Hemisphere Restaurant Partners, have been finalized and were approved by the City Council on August 31. Con- struction is planned to start in the spring of 2016, and the restaurant is expected to open in the late summer or fall of 2016, ac- cording to Matthew Bachler, the Associate Planner for the City. Patrons will be able to enjoy their food inside The Tavern Grill’s cozy, relaxed at- mosphere or outside on the attached 3,050 square-foot patio area for seasonal seating. ALL DIMENSIONS AND CONDITIONS MUST BE CHECKED AND VERIFIEDON SITE BY THE CONTRACTOR AND SUB-CONTRACTORS. THE PROJECTMANAGER SHALL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF ANY DISCREPANCIESPRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH THE WORK. © NELSON 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Project Title & Address: Sheet Title: Designer: Seal: Client: Consultant: Nelson Upper Midwest Operating Company, LLCa licensed affiliate 1201 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 200Minneapolis, MN. 55403Phone: (612) 822-1211Fax: (612) 822-1006 Project Manager: Reviewed By: Approved By: Project No:Drawn By: 7/2 2 / 2 0 1 5 5 : 4 3 : 4 6 P M C : \ U s e r s \ M H u s t a d \ D o c u m e n t s \ M y R ev i t P r o j e c t s \ 2 0 1 4 \ 1 5 . 0 0 7 6 9 . 0 0 - T a v e r n R e s t a u r a n t _ M H us t a d . r v t SK-00 3D VIEWS --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- TAVERN RESTAURANT ARDEN HILLS, MN Designer Checker Approver MBH 15.00769.00 SH Hemisphere Partners --- --- --- Description:No: By: Date: 06/26/15 REVISED 07/24/15SK-00 AXONOMETRIC - ENTRY1 SK-00 AXONOMETRIC - PATIO2 SK-00 VIEW AT SIDEWALK ALONG LEXINGTON AVE3 MECHANICAL ROOFTOP UNITS TO BE SCREENEDWITH DURABLE SCREENING (PARAPET HEIGHTEXTENSION OR METAL), OR PAINTED TO MATCHADJACENT WALL SURFACE The Tavern Grill’s extensive menu truly measures up to its motto: Dream It. Build It. Eat It. There is something for everyone at The Tavern Grill including appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, seafood, steaks, and build-your-own burgers, sal- ads, and pizzas, with endless combinations. For more information about The Tavern Grill, visit its web- site, thetaverngrill.com. State of the City meeting continued from page 1 by Emma Theis BUILD continued from page 1 Coming up... Truth in Taxation hearing is December 14 This year’s Truth in Taxation public hearing is set for 7 p.m. on December 14, during the first regular Arden Hills City Council meeting of the month. Have coffee with a cop! Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Starbucks Coffee Shop 3833 Lexington Avenue N Arden Hills, MN 55126 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Hosted by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department 5 Energy, recycling, and the environment--some things you can do this fall Nature provides our lakes and streams with more nutrients – in the form of decaying leaves – than they can process every fall. Excess nutri- ents lead to algae growth during warmer months and, in extreme cases, cause the water to become green and foul smelling. Prior to modern development, the land- scape slowly absorbed most of these extra nutrients. Today, the storm sewer system collects runoff during rainstorms and quickly carries leaves and anything else found on city streets, sidewalks, and roofs to the nearest storm drain and waterbody. Think of it as experiencing Thanksgiving meals on a regular basis. Your body does not require that much food and cannot use it in a way that is good for you. The same is true of our lakes. Our lakes need your help! Many residents remove leaves and grass clippings from their yards and apply fertilizers. Instead of fertilizing your lawn, consider using your lawn mower to mulch leaves and grass clippings to provide the extra nutrients your grass needs. If you have more leaves than you can mulch into your grass this fall, consider composting them by creat- ing a pile and turning them with a shovel or pitch fork periodically. The more you turn the compost, the quicker it becomes a useful source of nutrients for your gardens. Leaves and our lakes--a little effort goes a long way! Lastly, some Rice Creek Watershed District cities offer yard waste pick-up and compost the material for you. Contact your city directly to learn more. These steps will protect nearby lakes and streams as well as save you time and money. Remember, for every five bags of leaves you compost or mulch into your lawn, you are keeping up to 500 pounds of algae from growing in your favorite swimming spot ofrfishing hole. You have heard of the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. For small appli- ances, such as blenders, coffee makers, toasters, and curling irons, let’s add a fourth R: repair. Repair Tips Small appliances that are not working often need minor repairs or parts replaced. Con- sider troubleshooting and repair options before getting rid of broken appliances. Some communities offer fix-it clinics where residents receive free, guided help from volunteers with repair skills to disas- semble, troubleshoot, and fix their items. About those small appliances Minnesota residents dispose of roughly three million tons of solid waste per year. The Minnesota Pollution Con- trol Agency found in a study that food and other organic waste makes up about one-third of our garbage, and that Min- nesotans throw away millions of pounds of recyclable paper, cans, and plastics every year. The top three components of garbage are organic waste (31 percent), paper (25 percent), and plastics (18 percent). Recycle and Compost More The study pinpoints areas for improve- ment (most of these items are accepted in curbside recycling programs): • Food waste (519,400 tons) could be composted. • Paper (285,400 tons) could be re- cycled. • Plastic bags and film (192,600 tons) could be recycled. • Aluminum cans (12,000 tons) and plastic bottles (23,000 tons) could be recycled. Our recyclable material has economic value, and much of it is reprocessed into new forms of material. Check www.ramseyrecycles.com or call 651-633- 3279 for more information. Nearly 40 percent of what we throw away can be re- cycled. When we increase our efforts, we’ll conserve energy, protect natural resources, and conserve landfill space. Garbage has demographics, too Fix-it clinics teach valuable troubleshoot- ing and basic repair skills. They also build community connections and reduce the number of repairable objects that are thrown in the trash. Check www. ramseyrecycles.com or call 651-633-3279 for a list of free fix-it clinics. Also available is information regarding how to extend the life of a small appliance as well as tips on reducing, reusing, and recycling small appliances. The Energy Conservation Deferred Loan provides up to $6,500 in forgivable financ- ing for the energy improvements you need today, including new furnaces, boilers, and insulation. Eligible upgrades will be identi- fied in a home energy audit. Make ZERO payments, pay ZERO interest, and OWE NOTHING when you own your home for ten additional years. Don’t spend another winter in a chilly, drafty house with high energy bills. The Neighborhood Energy Connection is a trusted 30-year old nonprofit right here in Ramsey County. Call them at 651-789- 5706 or visit online at the nec.org/home- loans/forgiveable-home-improvement. Do I qualify? • Your home was built before 1995. • The market value of your home is less than $251,750. • Your household assets are under $50,000, excluding the value of your home, autos, and retirement fund. • Maximun household income: 1 person $48,560 5 people $74,880 2 people $55,440 6 people $80,400 3 people $62,400 7 people $85,920 4 people $69,280 8 people $91,520 Why be cold? The NEC makes energy improvements easy BUILD continued from page 1 from the Neighborhood Energy Connection from the Rice Creek Watershed District from Ramsey Recycles Postal Customer ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid St. Paul, MN Permit #1962 I n s i d e Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 State of the City Update BUILD program at Bethel Arden Manor Park The Tavern Grill construction News from the City Council Remembering Woody As many of you know, Council- member Robert Woodburn passed away on October 2 due to complications from an auto accident on September 20. Woody, as he is known by his friends, did a lot for the City of Arden Hills. I would like to share some about Woody, City leader and Arden Hills resi- dent of 53 years. He served as Mayor for seven years in the early eighties and more recently as Councilmember starting in 2015. During his term as Mayor, Arden Hills was one of the fastest growing cities in Minnesota. It was through his leadership that many of our neighborhoods and parks were built. Back in those days, we were known as The Village of Arden Hills. As he returned to council in 2015, he would on occasion refer to the City as the Village. In part I think it was habit, and perhaps it was also to remind us of our earlier humble begin- nings. I first met Woody in 2000 when I joined the City Council. He came to State of the City and other meetings and would share his thoughts. I was surprised in 2014 to learn that he filed for a City Councilmem- ber seat. I remember thinking, “What would it be like for me as your Mayor, serving with a former Mayor?” It didn’t take long to realize that Woody was serv- ing because he loved the City of Arden Hills. That’s it, pure and simple. You may not have known Woody, but I can tell you that he cared deeply about each and every resident and business. Woody was always well-prepared for meetings, often doing his own research on topics. Woody also had the gift of humor. I recall one of our last worksessions where we were discussing a topic and he spoke up saying, “I used to think I was indecisive,” there was a dramatic pause and he contin- ued, “but now that I think about it some more, I am not so sure.” He smiled. We all laughed and then returned to consider- ation of the question, with a renewed focus. Woody enjoyed humor, serving others, and brightening people’s lives. Woody was a pathologist, hardware store owner, woodworker, world traveler, pilot, skier, dog owner, motorcyclist, home re- pairman, and avid Internet user. He would often ride his motorcycle to City Council meetings. Years ago he twice piloted his twin-engine airplane from Minneapolis to France. Woody enjoyed life and felt it should be enjoyed to the fullest. I think there is a lesson there that Woody would want us all to remember. One of Woody’s favor- ite parting comments was, “Ok, go have more fun.” Arden Hills truly lost one of its founding fathers and a person with deep commitment to public service. The City is looking to fill the vacant City Council seat. Applications will be avail- able at City Hall and on the City website from December 1 through December 15. The deadline for applications is December 15. Interviews will be held January 11 and 13, 2016. The appointment will run from January 2016 through December 2016, with the seat up for re-election in Novem- ber 2016 for a special two-year term. Regards, David Grant Mayor