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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJan-Feb 2017The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents January/February 2017 Revenues • General Fund revenues in the 2017 budget are set at $4,860,297. • The most notable revenue line item is the levy amount, which will result in an additional $162,515 in revenue over the previous year. • Building permits and other revenue are expected to increase, too. Expenditures • General Fund expenditures for 2017 total $5,056,253. • Public Safety costs are set to increase 3.9 percent for the Lake Johanna Fire Department, 6.5 percent for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) contract, and 1.5 percent for dispatch services. These costs repre- sent a $92,515 increase in the budget, or a 2.7 percent increase to the levy. • After accounting for the Public Safety increases, the remaining General Fund budget increases are primarily due to employee salary and benefit Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and budgeted one-time expenditures. • Expenditures for City Hall mainte- nance and an infrastructure/capital reserve fund to address increasing repair costs for the City Hall are included this year. Other rate increases • 2017 utility fees are increasing as well. The water and sanitary sewer rates are increasing by 2 percent, and the surface water management rate is increasing by 3 percent. The overall budget for the City in 2017 was set at $18,777,880. See the approved budget and tax levy information in the December 12, 2016 City Council agenda posted on the City’s website. At its December 12, 2016 meeting, the City Council adopted a 2017 property tax levy of $3,641,290. This sets the City’s property tax rate increase for 2017 at 4.7 percent, which is unchanged from the preliminary levy rate set in September 2016. Funding from the City’s share of regional fiscal disparities has increased for 2017 and will contribute $290,710 toward the levy total. The City’s tax capacity has also increased, and taxes paid by City property owners will account for the remaining bal- ance, or $3,350,580. The impact of a 4.7 percent levy – applied to a net tax rate increase – translates to a $38.90 (or an approximate 4.7 percent) increase in annual taxes paid by resident owners of median valued homes (value changing from $300,300 to $306,350). In Arden Hills, the entire tax levy goes toward the General Fund expenditures in the City’s budget. The property tax levy accounts for approximately 75 percent of the General Fund revenues. Due to the current economic environment, $195,955 in reserves was used to balance the 2017 budget. In 2016, the City had a budget shortfall of $725,447. However, this was mostly due to a $565,121 transfer made in 2016 from better than expected revenues in 2015. Accounting for the transfer, the actual budgeted shortfall in 2016 was $160,326. What your Arden Hills tax dollar buys you: 2017 tax levy unchanged from preliminary 4.7 percent rate set in September This article was written by Director of Finance and Administrative Services Susan Iverson and Finance Analyst Dave Perrault. Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 www.cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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 Steve Scott 651-604-0919 sscott@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator: Bill Joynes 651-792-7810 wjoynes@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Editor/writer/photographer: Susan Cathey, Council Liaison: Steve Scott Staff Liaison: Julie Hanson Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and fourth Mondays 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.cityo- fardenhills.org for information about archived meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official news- letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 Bill Joynes becomes Arden Hills City Administrator Arden Hills welcomed William (Bill) Joynes as its new City Administrator on January 3, 2017. Sue Iverson had filled the position in an interim capacity since October, 2015, while the City Council searched for the right person to take over. The Council voted unanimously at their December 19 meeting to approve the contract with Mr. Joynes. Bill brings to the job over 40 years of service in local government, including City Manager/ City Administrator positions in White Bear Lake, Golden Valley, Pine City (interim), and recently in Shorewood. Concurrently, he has taught in the Graduate School of Public Administration and Business at Hamline University for the last 30 years. Bill’s Golden Valley position involved working on the development of the I-394 cor- ridor. That will be useful as he participates in the Rice Creek Commons development, something he expects to be a great experience. He is no stranger to Arden Hills, hav- ing worked here in a consulting capacity for almost ten years. Areas of involvement included labor relations, personnel, Council and Staff goal setting, hiring decisions and communications issues. Bill says that with all the turnover Arden Hills has had at the staff level, he looks forward to helping in the recruitment efforts and bringing some stability to the organization. Bill and his wife Judy, a Health Educator, have three adult children and have just be- gun experiencing the joys of grand-parenting. He also enjoys tennis, golf, and skiing when time permits. He states that he has “a lifelong commitment to the local govern- ment process and look(s) forward to working with the Council and Staff for the next several years.” City Council members sworn in Arden Hills’ new and re-elected City Council members were sworn in on January 9. David McClung and Steven Scott are shown above with City Clerk Julie Hanson. Councilmember Brenda Holden, who was sworn in earlier, is shown at right. 3 providing some information about your skill level will enable the team to be ready with the optimum experience for you. Packages are available for multiple visits. The Alpine Factory is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. depending on the day and strives to provide flexible hours to suit their clients’ needs. This is not just learning to ski but also a wonderful fitness activity, especially since most of the time is spent skiing, not stand- ing in line. Jessica, who is an avid skier and instruc- tor, interned at a large indoor ski center in the Netherlands before opening this center. Alpine FActoryShortly before the holidays, a new Arden Hills business began operating at 1263 Red Fox Road. From the out- side, The Alpine Factory looks like any warehouse, but step inside and you feel you have been transported to a mountain ski chalet. Large murals depict a wintery mountain scene. Racks of ski boots, hel- mets, skis and snowboards stand ready for use on the two snowy white slopes. This is a new way to ski in Minnesota. Husband and wife owners Dan and Jessica Parcheta discovered indoor ski training in Europe, where it is popular. They wanted to bring one of these year-round ski facili- ties to Minnesota and have spent six years working on making their dream come true. The slopes are covered with a material similar to Astroturf, which is moistened prior to use. The pitch of the slopes and the speed at which they move can be eas- ily changed to suit the skiers using them. Large mirrors facing the skiers will pro- vide the opportunity to assess their form. Certified ski instructors are on the slopes at all times to teach, offer suggestions, and ensure safety. Up to three skiers can be on each hill at a time. One of the best parts? No lift lines! The facility offers skiing for children and adults, beginners and experienced skiers, individuals and groups of up to 24 people. When you call to make a reservation, Skiing, LEDs, and popcorn! A look at Arden Hills businesses She emphasizes that this activity is not a replacement for true mountain skiing but is meant to enhance or supplement that experience. She described it as “a wonder- ful way to stay in shape to do the sport we love.” To learn more or to make a reservation, call 651-330-1121 or visit their website at info@thealpinefactory.com. see “Businesses” on page 4 for more Arden Hills now has a gourmet popcorn shop. POP Culture Frozen Yogurt has added over 30 flavors of Gourmet Popcorn to their menu, made on site at POP Cul- ture, located at 3833 Lexington Avenue in Lexington Station. Owners Gary and Julie Gronquist set out to find the best quality popcorn. “Our focus is on high quality ker- nels and flavorings that have no trans fats and are non-GMO and gluten free.” When you walk into the store, your eyes are drawn immediately to the large con- tainers of colorful popcorn, which falls into one of four categories: sweet, savory, theater style, and specialty. On the sweet side are flavors like Birthday Cake and Fudge Brownie. Savory examples are Ranch and Spicy Cheddar. Staying true to the model the shop offers with frozen yogurt, customers get to add their own toppings to the warm theater style pop- corn, making it just how they want it. One of their specialties is chocolate drizzled caramel corn. Don’t miss the “Arden Hills Mix,” a combo of caramel and cheddar flavors. You can also purchase custom popcorn gift tins and themed gift boxes for all holidays and events. Take your popcorn to go, or relax in the comfortable atmosphere. POP Culture has a large TV with the latest pop culture happenings-everything from the celebrity news site TMZ to the Vikings games. Set up your laptop and use the complimentary WIFI. The Gronquists, who have lived in Arden Hills for 16 years, “want people of all ages to be able to drive, walk or bike to POP Culture--a place where you’ll find a real sense of community.” Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/pcgourmetpop- corn/ or call 651-766-2547. Gary Gronquist of POP Culture pop culture introduces Gourmet popcorn Above: Jessica Parcheta of Alpine Factory Members of the Arden Hills Economic Development Commission (EDC) have been working on the plan they developed last March following the informa- tion received through the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. One project involves completing regular visits to City businesses in order to let them know the City supports them and to find out about any issues causing concern. They are also interested in any plans for growth so they can offer assistance in finding op- portunities within the City limits. According to Commission member Liz Johnson, new businesses are attracted to areas that already have a vibrant business base, in addition to the residential sector, to make use of their services. the role oF the economic development commission 4 Businesses continued from page 3 One of the projects of the Arden Hills Economic Development Commis- sion is to foster communication between the City and the businesses located here. In part, the EDC accomplishes that goal when Commission members pay regular visits to business sites. Recently, Com- mission member Liz Johnson stopped at aspectLED. Located at 3735 Dunlap Street North, aspect LED is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of high quality light emit- ting diode (LED) products. Owner Steve Nielsen, who founded the company with his wife Beth in 2014, says that the idea for this business was born during the process of building an energy-efficient home. The Nielsens ran into issues with a simple request to install recessed lighting. The builder did not have an immediate solution for the request as conventional recessed lighting requires more space than the ceiling allowed and also creates exces- sive heat, making it impractical in this particular application. Steve and Beth put their creativity to work, and the result is a technology-driven manufacturing business whose website describes it as “focused on driving down the cost of LED lighting, while producing top-quality products.” Customers are both residential and com- mercial and have included Marriott, Dis- ney, Wells Fargo, BP, McDonalds, Boeing, NASA, and Microsoft, just to name a few. If you’re looking for a new opportunity, aspectLED is hiring for several positions. Benchmarks---a review of City Council Action November 28, 2016 Approved Planning Case 16-023 for two variances: a 5 foot variance to the lot width and a variance to the requirement that minor subdivisions comply with all zoning requirements based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans within the November 28, 2016, Report to the City Council (5-0). Approved Resolution 2015-033 for a Mi- nor Subdivision at 1401 W County Road E in Planning Case 16-023, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the two (2) conditions in the November 28, 2016, Report to the City Council (5-0). Approved the PUD Development Agree- ment, Phase 2, based on the November 14, 2016, City Council consideration of Planning Case 16-024 (5-0). Approved a transfer from the General Fund to the PIR Fund of $565,121 (4-1 McClung opposed). Approved a budget adjustment for 2016 for a transfer from the General Fund to the PIR Fund in the amount of $565,121 (4-1 McClung). December 12, 2016 Approved Resolution 2016-040 for Com- prehensive Plan Amendment (4-1 Holden opposed). Approved Ordinance 2016-011 to rezone the 427 acre TCAAP property (4-1 Holden opposed). Approved Ordinance 2016-012 to amend the TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) as Section 1380 of the Arden Hills Zoning Code (4-1 Holden opposed). Approved publishing a summary of Ordi- nance 2016-011 and Ordinance 2016-012 (5-0). Approved a 4.7% Levy Increase (3-2 Grant and McClung opposed). Aspectled Approved the 2017 Final Budget 2016-038 (5-0). Approved the 2017-2021 CIP Budget (5-0). Approved the TCAAP Park Improvement Memorandum of Understanding (5-0). Approved TCAAP Option Agreement with Alatus Arden Hills LLC for City Purchase of Civic Use Land (5-0). December 19, 2016 Approved a contract with William Joynes as the City Administrator for the City of Arden Hills effective January 3, 2017 (5-0). Approved to appoint Dave McClung as Commissioner to the Joint Development Authority (3-2 Holden and Grant opposed). Approved to appoint David Grant as Commissioner to the Joint Development Authority (5-0). Find out more about this growing company and its products aat www.aspectled.com. continued on page 5 Ideas for a “Less-Waste” Lifestyle in 2017 5 Many people have made resolutions to be better stewards of our environ- ment in 2017. Whether it’s composting or hosting green events, there are plenty of resources to help accomplish our green goals. One way to move in a greener direction is to try living a less-waste lifestyle. Less is more. Choose an item to reduce. Think about an item that you know you get too much of and hope to reduce, and consider the alternatives. Or maybe you have some- thing that commonly ends up in the garbage that you know shouldn’t. Create a plan to keep that item out of the garbage by reducing or recycling. Whatever you choose, make a plan and resolve to stick with it. An example of an item that many com- munities are trying to reduce or eliminate is the plastic shopping bag. They can’t go in the recycling bin because they cause problems at recycling sorting facilities. But there are recycling options available to keep them out of the garbage. Purchase some durable reusable bags and get rid of the need for plastic bags altogether. Buying from bulk bins is a great way to cut down on packaging waste. For the bags you do get, collect them sepa- rately and bring them to local retailers who accept them or check out PlasticFilmRecy- cling.com for drop-off sites. Fix-It Clinics Do you have a lamp that won’t light, an iron that won’t steam, or jeans that ripped? Bring them all to a Ramsey County Fix-It Clinic. • Saturday, February 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Shoreview Library, 4560 Victoria Street, Shoreview • Saturday, March 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Macalester College – Kagin Commons, 21 South Snelling Avenue, Saint Paul. Achieving your recycling goals To move toward your goals and make sure your efforts have an effect, here are some questions to consider: 1. What’s your target? – Will you elimi- nate a specific item or add more drop- off items? 2. What do you need? – Do you need any extra supplies or time set aside to ac- complish this? 3. How long do you need? –When do you expect to see results? 4. How will you evaluate your goal? – Results may be very visible. Consider before and after photos. Is your garbage can less full? 5. What if it works? – Be proud of your accomplishments and celebrate your achievements! Moving toward 75 percent The state of Minnesota has set a goal of 75 percent recycling by 2030. The current re- cycling rate is about 47 percent, so there’s more work to be done. Use your plan to reduce as a springboard into greening even more in your home. Get some tips on how to improve your recycling from Ramsey County by visiting RamseyRecycles.com. or zerowastehome.com. Approved to appoint Jonathan Wicklund as the Chair of the Joint Development Author- ity (3-1 Holden opposed and Wicklund abstained) January 9, 2017 Councilmembers Dave McClung and Steve Scott were sworn in. Approved Lift Station No. 11 Reconstruc- tion Payment #3 (4-0) Approved Ramsey Conservation District Shared Service Agreement (4-0) Approved Northeast Youth and Family Ser- vices 2017 Contract (4-0) Held a public hearing for consideration of Nutmeg Brewery. Council Approved issu- ing a license. (4-0) Benchmarks, continued from page 4 Ask the SheriffIf you have a compliment, concern or complaint (non-emergency) and would like to let the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office know about it, you can do so by visiting the Public Safety Resources page on the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office website., www.ramseycounty.us (You also will find a link to the website on the homepage of the City of Arden Hills site www.cityofardenhills.org.) Once you submit your commendation or complaint, the Sheriff’s office will for- ward your comment to the appropriate staff person. This is a great way to give the Sheriff’s office your feedback or to submit a concern. Want to learn more about the actions of the Arden Hills City Council? Go to www.cityofardenhills.org. First click on “Government” and then on “City Council.” Need more detail? I n s i d e Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit #1962 Postal Customer An update on Rice Creek Commons development planning Tax levy details New City Administrator A look at the EDC and local businesses Ideas for less waste in 2017 The Arden Hills community has a lot to look forward to in the coming year. After an incredible investment of time, resources, and energy, a development plan has been approved for redevelopment of the 427 acre TCAAP site. The plan’s vision will create new places to live, shop, and work, while providing the community with space to gather and enjoy an abundance of natural resources. In May of 2016, the City of Arden Hills and the Ramsey County Board of Commis- sioners selected Alatus, LLC, in conjunc- tion with their partners Inland Development Partners and Traditional Development Corpora- tion, to be the master development partner of the TCAAP site. After approval from the City regarding changes to City codes such as increasing the building heights in certain areas, increasing density in other, and approving a civic space area, the partners worked to cre- ate a well-planned and thoughtfully designed development plan. Following the comple- tion of draft develop- ment plans, the devel- opment partners, the City of Arden Hills, and Ramsey County conducted a public meeting in December of 2016 to gather community feedback. Based on discussions and feedback, the partners made necessary changes to ensure the development of a financially viable development that would appeal to community members. The partners have worked to create a well-planned and thoughtfully designed development that will focus on incorporat- ing the current community with this new portion of Arden Hills. The inviting and vibrant town center, and welcoming parks and green space, allow for the project to create and cultivate relationships between residents, business owners, visitors, and office workers. The next step is for the master develop- ment partner and Ramsey County to work together to finalize a Master Development Agreement, expected to take six months. Once approved, phase one of construction would begin, which will involve a mass grading of the entire site to prepare for infrastructure improvements, including utility lines, streets, and gutters. By the end of 2017 the community will see waves of activity that will turn an old ammunition factory into the newest part of Arden Hills where current and future resi- dents can live, work, and play. It has taken decades for us to get here and more work will be required to move forward. But we are in a new place at an important time for Arden Hills. We have great partners and an amazing opportunity to build on a legacy that will greatly benefit Arden Hills and our region for generations to come. The illustration at left shows the conceptual plan for the Rice Creek Commons development.