HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-17-WSAGENDA ITEMS
Ramsey County Traffic Engineer Update
Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer
MEMO.PDF
Ramsey County Organics Collection
Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
MEMO.PDF
ATTACHMENT A.PDF
ATTACHMENT B.PDF
Simple Recycling
Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
MEMO.PDF
ATTACHMENT A.PDF
ATTACHMENT B.PDF
2017 State Of The City
Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
MEMO.PDF
ATTACHMENT A.PDF
2017 PTRC Work Plan And Project Priorities Discussion
Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sara Knoll, Parks and Recreation Coordinator
MEMO.PDF
COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS
ADJOURN
Mayor:
David Grant
Councilmembers:
Brenda Holden
Fran Holmes
Dave McClung
Steve Scott
City Council
Work Session
Agenda
May 15, 2017
5:00 p.m.
City Hall
Address:
1245 W Highway 96
Arden Hills MN 55112
Phone:
651 -792 -7800
Website :
www.cityofardenhills.org
City Vision
Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential
neighborhoods, vital business community, well -maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our
long -standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play.
CALL TO ORDER
1.
1.A.
Documents:
1.B.
Documents:
1.C.
Documents:
1.D.
Documents:
1.E.
Documents:
2.
AGENDA ITEMSRamsey County Traffic Engineer UpdateSue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer MEMO.PDFRamsey County Organics CollectionMatthew Bachler, Senior Planner MEMO.PDFATTACHMENT A.PDFATTACHMENT B.PDFSimple RecyclingMatthew Bachler, Senior Planner MEMO.PDFATTACHMENT A.PDFATTACHMENT B.PDF2017 State Of The City Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
MEMO.PDF
ATTACHMENT A.PDF
2017 PTRC Work Plan And Project Priorities Discussion
Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sara Knoll, Parks and Recreation Coordinator
MEMO.PDF
COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS
ADJOURN
Mayor:David Grant Councilmembers:Brenda Holden Fran HolmesDave McClungSteve Scott City CouncilWork Session Agenda May 15, 2017 5:00 p.m. City Hall Address:1245 W Highway 96 Arden Hills MN 55112 Phone:651 -792 -7800 Website : www.cityofardenhills.org City VisionArden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well -maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long -standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play.CALL TO ORDER1.1.A.Documents:1.B.Documents:1.C.Documents:1.D.
Documents:
1.E.
Documents:
2.
Page 1 of 1
DATE: May 15, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator
FROM: Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer
SUBJECT: Ramsey County Transportation Update
Ramsey County Traffic Engineer, Erin Laberee, will be in attendance to discuss the following
items:
• County Road F Roadway Project
• Hamline/CR 96 right on red
• Lexington Avenue Roadway Project
• CR 96 Traffic Signal Upgrades
AGENDA ITEM – 1A
MEMORANDUM
Page 1 of 2
DATE: May 15, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator
FROM: Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: Ramsey County Source-Separated Organics Collection
Background
In 2013, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the expansion of services at
yard waste site to include the collection of source-separated organics materials. These County
sites are viewed as an interim solution that will act as a bridge until curbside collection of
organics becomes more viable. The City received an application from Ramsey County in 2014
for a Conditional Use Permit to add organics collection to their yard waste site located at 3530
Hudson Avenue in Tony Schmidt Regional Park. The application was denied at that time due to
concerns that the service would affect the use of the park and neighboring properties by
increasing odors, litter, and traffic, and attracting unwanted wildlife.
Discussion
Since the County has implemented organics collection at its other yard waste sites, staff has
received several phone calls from residents inquiring whether this service could be added to the
Arden Hills yard waste site. Staff requested that Ramsey County attend the Work Session on
May 15, 2017 to provide the City Council with an update on how the organics collection areas
have been operating at the other yard waste sites. Ramsey County has provided a memo that
includes a detailed description of organics collection services and information on participation
rates and how sanitation concerns have been addressed (Attachment A).
Organics Collection Services
Each yard waste site has a designated area for organics collection with one or more covered
containers where materials are placed. The County yard waste sites are always staffed by a site
monitor to provide quality control. Collection containers are kept closed when yard waste sites
are not in use and are serviced once a week by Ramsey County’s contractor, Waste Management.
AGENDA ITEM – 1B
MEMORANDUM
Page 2 of 2
The County accepts food waste and various types of non-recyclable paper. To reduce odor or
wildlife problems, residents are required to put organics in compostable bags before placing
them into the containers. These compostable bags are provided by the County to residents free of
charge. Dry paper products, such as pizza boxes, can be placed directly into the collection
container. Ramsey County has provided photographs of their collection site in White Bear
Township (Attachment B). These photographs show a typical four cubic yard container used for
organics collection and the types of items commonly dropped off.
Participation
The yard waste sites in Mounds View and White Bear Township are likely the most comparable
to the Arden Hills site in terms of the residential population in the surrounding area. In 2016, the
Mounds View site had 3,520 visits attributed to organics collection and White Bear Township
had 3,872 visits. During winter months (December – March), the yard waste sites are only open
on weekends. However, the data collected by Ramsey County shows that the number of site
visits for organics drop-off in the winter remain similar to the regular season and that annual
visits are distributed somewhat regularly over the calendar year.
Ramsey County has estimated that there is an average of 33 site visits per cubic yard of container
capacity. In the case of Mounds View, this would equal approximately 107 cubic yards of
organics collected in 2016, or roughly 27 four cubic yard containers. Since the County services
the four cubic yard container once per week, on average the container at the Mounds View site
would have been half-full at the time of pick up.
Attachments
A. Memo from Ramsey County Department of Public Health
B. Photographs of SSO Collection Site in White Bear Township
Ramsey County
Source-Separated Organics (SSO) Collection
Background
In September 2013 the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved expansion of services at yard waste sites to
include collection of source-separated organic (SSO) materials. Shortly thereafter, Environmental Health Division (EH)
staff began seeking local permits, where necessary, for SSO service at the seven Ramsey County Yard Waste sites. The
County was successful in gaining local approval for all yard waste sites except the Arden Hills location. The six approved
sites were subsequently given approval by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as Permit-By-Rule SSO Materials
Transfer Facilities. SSO collection began at the six approved sites when the sites opened for the regular season on April
7, 2014 and continue to accept SSO year around on the following schedule, weather permitting:
Regular Season Hours (April – November) Winter Hours (December – March)
M,W,F 11-7 CLOSED
Sat. 9-5 Sat. 9-5
Sun. 11-5 Sun. 11-5
Source Separated Organics (SSO) accepted at county drop-off locations
• All food scraps including vegetables, fruits, meats (including fats and grease), poultry, fish, bones, grains, dairy,
egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags etc.
• Food soiled paper products including greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, paper plates, tissues, paper egg cartons,
dirty paper bags, etc.
• Other compostable items such as BPI-certified cups and utensils.
Note: The County’s education materials include a caution that packaging and
compostable tableware must have the logo from the Biodegradable Products
Institute (BPI) on the box or item.
Description of SSO Collection Services at Yard Waste Sites
SSO collection at the yard waste sites is available to residents of Ramsey County and local community coordinators that
generate SSO from small events.
• Each site has a designated area with one or more covered containers (“dumpsters”) in which people place SSO
brought to the site in compostable bags.
• SSO is kept separate from yard waste.
• Acceptable materials include food waste/scraps and various types of soiled/low-grade/non-recyclable paper
(plus some other minor items typically accepted in SSO collection programs, such as tea bags).
• County staff (yard waste monitors) serve as quality control.
• Ramsey County provides Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI)-certified compostable bags free of charge to
residents at site locations and local community centers.
• Sanimax, LLC provided hauling services during the first three years of the SSO collection program. Ramsey
County switched to Waste Management, Inc. as the contracted hauler on April 1, 2017.
• Containers are serviced weekly and SSO is hauled to a commercial organics facility for composting.
Participation
Charts 1 & 2 below show an increase in participation by month/year and an overall annual increase in 2014 - 2016
(collection began April 7, 2014, so there were no first quarter numbers to report for 2014). Hours shorten to weekends-
only during December – March resulting in fewer opportunities for residents to drop off organics and less combined
yard waste/organics delivery options. However, as site hours decrease over the winter months, site visits and volume of
organics collected remains similar to the regular season and reinforces the need for winter collection.
2
Chart 1
Chart 2
0 0 0 73
6
2,
5
2
3
3,
3
2
5
2,
8
9
2
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4
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9
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10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Si
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Ramsey County Organics Collection
Participation 2014 - 2016
2014 2015 2016
73
1
3,
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8,
1
1
4
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4
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8
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51
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10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Battle Creek Frank & Sims Midway Mounds View Summit Hill White Bear
Twp.
TotalSi
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Ramsey County Organics Collection
Participation by Site
2014 - 2016
2014 2015 2016
3
SSO Collection Quantities (Weight)
Weights were determined by applying 9.72 lbs. per participant dropping off organics. This number is an average of
actual data collected by Ramsey County staff during the summer of 2015 and similar studies conducted by the City of
Minneapolis. This is considered more accurate data than what the County’s organics hauler reports on invoices, which is
a combination truck scale readings and, on trucks without scales, estimates of weights based on the driver’s assessment
of quantities within containers at the time of service. Therefore, the weights in Chart 3 below coincide directly with the
numbers in Charts 1 & 2 above.
Chart 3
Additional Collection Locations
In July of 2015, The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved expansion of SSO collection services to include up
to six additional collection sites. EH staff have been working with local cities to identify locations within their
communities to site SSO drop off locations that will, ideally, be available for use by residents on a 24/7 basis. The first of
these locations began operation in July of 2016 in partership with District 10/Como Park Community Council. Currently,
Ramsey County has an agreement in place with the City of Maplewood to install another 24/7 location in their
Community Center parking lot and staff are working with the cities of White Bear Lake and Roseville to site SSO
collection locations in those communities.
29
,
6
5
6
47
,
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4
1
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100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
Battle Creek Frank & Sims Midway Mounds View Summit Hill White Bear
Twp.
Total
Po
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Ramsey County Organics Collection
2016 Weight by Site
2016 at 9.72 lbs/visit
4
Sanitation
To prevent potential nuisances, such as odor or rodent problems, residents are required to bag SSO in compostable bags
before placing it into the containers at the yard waste sites. The exception to this is delivery of dry, non-food types of
organic wastes such as used paper towels and tissues, and other non-recyclable paper products. These can be placed
directly into the collection containers. Site monitors at the yard waste sites provide quality control by overseeing drop-
off of SSO. Residents are encouraged via promotional materials to deliver SSO on a schedule of at least once per week
since compostable bags containing SSO can begin to decompose after a week or so under certain conditions. This helps
prevent issues in the household and at the receiving end. Containers are kept closed when not in use and are serviced
on a once per week schedule by the SSO hauler for delivery to a commercial site for composting.
Observations
• Residents participating in the SSO program have followed instructions closely as there has been an extremely
low amount of contamination of unacceptable materials upon direct observation of the containers.
• In three years of operation there has been only one occurrence of illegal dumping of SSO at a site entrance.
• Odors have been kept at a minimum, primarily through use of the compostable bags and regular haul-out
frequency. During the past three years of operation there have been no issues relating to odor (odors have not
extended beyond a few feet from the container(s) and are typically noticeable within that distance only during
mid-summer months).
• Traffic has not shown a noticeable increase as most residents are combining their SSO drop off with delivering
yard waste or picking up finished compost or mulch.
• Staff have not witnessed any animal issues other than the rare occurrence of a squirrel gaining access to an open
container. There have been no reports of mice, rats, or other animals in or around the containers.
White Bear Township Organics Collection Area
Typical 4 cubic yard collection container with signage
Organic materials bagged in compostable bags and dry paper products
Page 1 of 2
DATE: May 15, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator
FROM: Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: Simple Recycling Discussion
Discussion
As part of the 2017 Work Plan for the SCORE Grant Agreement between the City and Ramsey
County, the City is required to consider options to increase textile recycling. Earlier in the year,
staff met with a representative from Simple Recycling, which is a for-profit recycling company
focused on curbside collection of clothing and housewares. The company has a collection hub in
Minneapolis where materials are sorted. High quality materials are resold to local thrift outlets,
mid-grade items are exported, and unusable items are recycled.
Simple Recycling is expanding its operations in Minnesota and has recently started collection
service in the cities of Brooklyn Center, New Hope, Crystal, Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park, and
Shorewood. Several additional cities have approved the program and will start services soon.
Staff contacted the Brooklyn Park Recycling Manager who noted there has been a lot of
community support for the program and that only a few minor issues were experienced with the
initial roll-out of the program.
The collection program is offered at no cost to municipalities or residents and is administered
entirely by Simple Recycling. The company provides residents with green bags as needed for
recyclable materials that are left at the curbside for pick-up. Simple Recycling would follow the
City’s existing trash and recycling collection schedule so there would not be additional collection
days added. Collection could also be completed using a cargo van so as not to increase heavy
truck traffic on City streets.
Simple Recycling tracks the amount of materials collected in each community and the City
would be compensated at a rate of $20.00 per ton of material collected. Additionally, the
company would provide a monthly collection report, which could be used as part of the City’s
annual reporting to Ramsey County on recycling collection.
AGENDA ITEM – 1C
MEMORANDUM
Page 2 of 2
Paul Gardner of WasteZero markets the program in the metro area. Mr. Gardner will be in
attendance at the Work Session on May 15, 2017 to provide additional information on the
company and to respond to any questions the City Council may have.
Next Steps
If the City Council chooses to work with Simple Recycling to provide curbside textile collection,
the next step in the process would be to draft a contract between the City and Simple Recycling
that would specify items such as schedule, collection process, collection vehicle requirements,
fees, education program, etc. The term of these contracts is typically five years.
Attachments
A. Simple Recycling Information Packet
B. Simple Recycling Sample Resident Flyer
Page 1 of 2
DATE: May 15, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator
FROM: Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: 2017 State of the City
Discussion
A State of the City event has been held in five of the previous six years. In 2014 and 2015, two
separate events were held: one at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl on a weekday morning to be convenient
for the business community, and the second at City Hall on a weekday evening to be more
convenient for residents. Feedback for State of the City events has been positive. The following
table provides attendance numbers for the event since 2013:
Flaherty’s City Hall Total
2013 75 -- 75
2014 70 60 130
2015 40 35 75
2016 67 -- 67
The total cost of the 2016 event including advertising, food, and beverages was $2,144. The cost
of holding two events in 2014 and 2015 was only nominally more, averaging approximately
$2,200. Funds are budgeted for a 2017 State of the City in the EDA budget.
The Economic Development Commission (EDC) discussed the State of the City event at their
meeting on April 5, 2017. The EDC recommended that the State of the City be held again in
2017 and they supported holding separate morning and evening events.
For the morning event, the EDC suggested focusing on topics relevant to businesses, such as
transportation improvements and current development projects. The EDC also recommended
reaching out to local businesses to see if a representative would like to present. It was suggested
Land O’Lakes may be interested in providing an update on their current expansion project.
Similar to past years, time will also be set aside for networking following the presentation.
AGENDA ITEM – 1D
MEMORANDUM
Page 2 of 2
For the past several years, the morning event has been held at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl. The EDC
recommended considering holding the event at the new Tavern Grill restaurant this year. Staff
contacted the restaurant owners and they expressed interest in providing space for the event. In
the past, the morning event has been held on a Wednesday or Thursday in mid to late September.
Potential dates for the morning event include:
• Wednesday, September 20
• Thursday, September 21
• Wednesday, September 27
• Thursday, September 28
In 2014 and 2015, the evening event was held on a Tuesday in the third or fourth week of
September. Potential dates for the evening event in 2017 include:
• Tuesday, September 26
• Tuesday, October 3
Questions:
1. Would the City Council like to hold a business-focused State of the City event in 2017?
Would the City Council like to hold an evening State of the City event as well?
2. Does the Council have a preferred date for either event?
3. Does the City Council have suggestions regarding event venue or program?
Attachment
A. Draft City Meeting Calendars – September and October 2017
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
3 4
Labor Day –
City Hall Closed
5
Joint Development Authority
Mtg (JDA) – 5:30 pm
(City Hall)
SUMMER HOURS END
6
EDC Mtg – 8:00 am
(Community Room)
Planning Commission Mtg –
6:30 pm (Council Chambers)
7 8 9
10 11
Regular Council Mtg –
7:00 pm
(Council Chambers)
12
Communications Committee
Mtg – 5:00 pm
(Council Conference Room)
FPAC Mtg – 6:00 pm
(Council Chambers)
13 14
Sheriff’s Contract Cities Mtg-
8:00 am (Ramsey County
Sheriff)
15 16
17 18
Council Work Session - 5:00
pm (Council Chambers)
19
PTRC Mtg – 5:00 pm
(City Hall)
20
Joint Development Authority
(JDA) – 5:30 pm (City Hall)
21 22 23
24 25
Regular Council Mtg –
7:00 pm
(Council Chambers)
26 27 28
29
30
City Meeting Calendar (all dates subject to change) September 2017
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
Joint Development Authority
Mtg (JDA) – 5:30 pm
(City Hall)
3 4
EDC Mtg – 8:00 am
(Community Room)
Planning Commission Mtg –
6:30 pm (Council Chambers)
5 6 7
Fall Clean Up Day
Event
8 9
Regular Council Mtg –
7:00 pm (Council
Chambers)
10
Karth Lake District Mtg –
6:30 pm (Council Chambers)
11
12 13 14
15 16
Council Work Session -
5:00 pm (Council
Chambers)
17
Communications Committee
Mtg – 5:00 pm
(Council Conference Room)
PTRC Mtg – 6:30 pm
(Council Chambers)
18
Joint Development Authority
(JDA) – 5:30 pm (City Hall)
19 20 21
22 23
Economic Development
Authority Mtg (EDA) –
6:00 pm (Community
Room)
Regular Council Mtg – 7:00
pm (City Hall)
24
25
26
Sheriff’s Contract Cities
Mtg-8:00 am (Ramsey
County Sheriff)
27 28
29 30
31
City Meeting Calendar (all dates subject to change) October 2017
Page 1 of 2
DATE: May 15, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator
FROM: Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sara Knoll, Parks and Recreation Coordinator
SUBJECT: PTRC Goals and Work Plan
Requested Action
Discuss goals and work plan priorities for the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC)
for 2017.
Background
Each year, the various City committees and commissions discuss and recommend goals and
project priorities for the upcoming year. These are then brought to the Council for evaluation
and further discussion in order to finalize a work plan for each committee. The Parks Trails and
Recreation Committee (PTRC) is prepared to discuss their goals and priorities for 2017 at
Monday night’s meeting. The Council will make the final determination as to what the goals and
priorities are for the upcoming year. The joint meeting will be an opportunity for the PTRC to
present their goals, priorities, discuss current parks and trail issues and receive Council feedback.
Discussion
Attached are the purpose, mission, expectations and goals for the PTRC. Listed below are ten
ongoing and as needed goals that help guide the committee’s work plan every year. These are
reviewed annually by the committee.
ONGOING and AS NEEDED:
1. Recommend actions that advance the vision for parks, trails, and recreation.
2. Assist in identifying ongoing parks and trails maintenance/improvement priorities.
3. Recommend and review grant opportunities, sponsorships, and partnerships for parks
and trails.
4. Assist, recommend, and monitor plans for parks, trails and recreation within Arden
Hills at the appropriate time.
AGENDA ITEM – 1E
MEMORANDUM
Page 2 of 2
5. Continue to work with Ramsey County on mutually beneficial trail/park projects and
activities.
6. Monitor potential road improvements to encourage inclusion of pedestrian friendly
infrastructure whenever possible.
7. Look to enhance/add recreational opportunities in our parks.
8. Recommend future enhancements for the 5 year Capital Improvement Program each
year.
9. Sponsor and organize Community events such as special events, garden clean-up day
and other volunteer projects.
10. Prepare semi-regular articles that the Committee would like to see highlighted in the
City Newsletter.
The PTRC has put together a proposed list of priorities for their 2017 work plan and they are
listed below:
1. Parks Goals
2. Trail Goals
3. Recreation Goals
4. Community Partnership Goals
The committee will be presenting each of these priorities, along with other parks and trail topics,
in more detail with a power point slide show at the meeting.
Requested Action
Discuss goals and work plan priorities for the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC)
for 2017.