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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 2018The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents March 2018 ban Hazmat Team, the North Subur- ban Technical Res- cue Team, and the Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team. “The Lake Johanna Fire Department has proudly served Arden Hills, North Oaks, and Shorev- iew since 1943,” said Tim Boehlke, who has served as the fire chief since 2002. “Service is what it is all about. We are so fortunate to have such a great team of well-trained and well-equipped firefighters who stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice.” Here are a few facts from the Department’s 2017 Annual Report: • The LJFD responded to 3,347 calls for service, which is an increase of 197 calls from the previous year. Of those calls, 1,895 or 57% were calls to residential properties. • The majority of the 3,347 calls were rescue or emergency medical service calls and included 2,513 calls or 75 percent of the calls received. • The City of Arden Hills accounted for 29.4 percent of the calls, up by 57 calls from last year. Calls in Arden Hills increased 56.8 percent during the past five years from 561 in 2013 to 986 in 2017. • The City of Arden Hills' residents and businesses recorded $736,200 in fire dollar loss for 2017. • The average response time for emer- Come hunt for candy-filled, colored eggs at the City's annual egg hunt. Join the Spring Bunny for a hopping good time! Who: Ages 1-12 Cost: $8 per child When: Saturday, March 31 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Where: Cummings Park Visit cityofardenhills.org to register. Lake Johanna Fire Department Fire Chief Tim BoehlkeThe Lake Johanna Fire Department (LJFD) serves some 41,000 resi- dents in the communities of Arden Hills, Shoreview, and North Oaks from three fire stations that cover a total of 36 square miles. The LJFD was organized in 1943 and is a non-profit organization. The Fire Department has 78 paid, on-call firefighters assigned to three stations. They are cross-trained as fire fighters and emergency medical technicians. The Department has medical clearance to carry and use Epinephrine (Epi), Aspirin, Nitro- glycerin, Albuterol Nebulizer, CPAP and Narcan. The Department receives medical direction from Regions EMS. The Department currently has a minimum of six firefighters on duty 24/7 and staffs two fire stations. When additional man- power or equipment is needed off duty personnel are called back for assistance. The Department is part of the North Subur- The Lake Johanna Fire Department responds to increase in calls for service gency calls to Arden Hills was 6:02 minutes. • The LJFD assisted neighboring fire departments a total of 22 times in 2017 with calls to the City of Roseville making up more than half of the Auto- matic Aid/Mutual Aid calls at 14. Like us on Facebook.com/LakeJoFD, or visit us at ljfd.org for more information and to find a copy of the 2017 annual report. Egg Hunt set for March 31 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 am-4:30 pm 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@cityofardenhills.org Steve Scott 651-604-0919 sscott@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Dave Perrault 651-792-7824 dperrault@cityofardenhills.org Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly 651-792-7817 dskelly@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Council Liaison Fran Holmes 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 Commis- sion are televised as well. Please visit cityofardenhills.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. Silseth and Scherbel recognized for years of service Arden Hills Notes Congratulations and thank you to City employees Pang Silseth, accounting clerk, and Dave Scherbel, building official, for serving the Arden Hills community for 15 and 20 years, respectively. Hats off to Public Works staff for quick snow removal Who could forget the large accumulation of snow in our community in such a short period of time on Monday, January 22? Thank you to the Public Works Department staff mem- bers who worked tirelessly to plow City streets and side- walks beginning at 1 p.m. that day and finishing in the early morning hours the following day. While our residents are asleep, staff members are hard at work taking pride in what they do for the community. Snow plow and park procedures The City's Public Works Department works to provide safe driving conditions for resi- dents while balancing costs of snow and ice control. Street plowing typically begins when 2 inches of snow have accumulated. Please keep the following information in mind: • Plows will get as close as possible to mailboxes, but the cleaning of the mailboxes and fire hydrants is up to residents. • Please do not park vehicles on the street after the accumulation of two or more inches of snow and until after plowing has been completed. • Parking is not allowed on any City street between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. year round. • Refer to the City’s snow plow policy on the City website for more information. January 8, 2018 Absent: Holmes (excused) Unless otherwise indicated, all items approved unanimously by 4-0 vote. • Named the Shoreview-Arden Hills Bulletin as its official newspaper for legal notices; appointed Campbell Knutson, P.A. as city attorney with Joel Jamnik as primary city attorney; appointed Ehlers & Associates, Inc. as financial consultant; and appointed Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich and Company (MMKR) as auditor. • Appointed or reappointed the fol- lowing people to serve on the fol- lowing committees with three-year terms ending as noted by the name: Economic Development Commit- tee, Dan Erickson – December 31, 2020; Parks, Trails, and Recreation Benchmarks: a review of City Council action Committee, Nancy O’Malley – De- cember 31, 2020. • Approved an agency agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for federal participation in construction projects. • Approved a shared service agreement with Ramsey Conservation District to assist the City with inspections required by the City’s grading and erosion control permits process. • Approved a development proposal to WSB and Associates for design and construction services for Johanna Marsh Park not-to-exceed $33,000. Motion carried 3-1 (McClung op- posed). January 22, 2018 Absent: Holden (excused) All items ap- proved unanimously by 4-0 vote. • Approved resolutions to restrict park- ing at Old Highway 10 and County Road E2 due to trail improvements. • Denied a planning case for a site plan review at 1504 Edgewater Avenue for an accessory storage shed located in front of the single-family dwelling. • Denied municipal consent for the final layout for the US 10 improvements and instead requested MnDOT to relocate the affected City’s water main to meet City standards at MnDOT’s expense and to stripe as a two-lane road the service road impacted by this project. For a complete and detailed listing of recent City Council action, please review the meeting minutes on the City website at cityofardenhills.org and click on Agendas & Minutes. Mary Nosek and Susan Cathey were recognized by Mayor David Grant for their years of dedication and professionalism in writing, editing, and producing the City newsletter Arden Hills Notes, as members of the Communications Committee. Thank you, Susan and Mary, for the many hours you devoted each month to providing the community of Arden Hills with an excellent newsletter. Many people use Arden Hills’ trails and parks in all seasons, and it is important that it be an enjoyable experience for all. The spring season is a good time to remind dog owners of the City’s laws regarding their pets in public areas. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up and disposing of feces in a sanitary manner. Pets may not be on public property or some- one else’s private property without the owner having in their im- mediate possession the means to remove feces and dispose of it in a proper receptacle on the property or on the pet owner’s property. Except in designated off-leash areas, the owner of an animal within the City of Arden Hills must keep their pet restrained at all times while in a public place. This includes but is not limited to school properties, trails, parks, open space areas, and streets. Reminders about pets in public areas Spring/Summer 2018 Parks & Recreation Guide Watch your mailboxes for the Spring/Summer 2018 Parks & Recreation Guide. Registration is now open for all classes, sports, and activities. Registration details can be found at cityofardenhills.org or by stopping at City Hall. Seasonal hires wanted The City of Arden Hills has several seasonal jobs available. Visit the Employment Opportunities page on the City website at cityofardenhills.org for details. Parks & Recreation news Backyard composting and sustainable landscaping As spring approaches, many residents are beginning to plan for upcoming landscaping projects. The health of the environment is a priority for Arden Hills, and there are many ways for residents to help achieve this goal by using sustainable landscaping practices. Backyard composting Starting a backyard compost pile is a great way to recycle kitchen scraps and yard waste and at the same time generate a nutrient-rich and chemical-free supplement for garden soils. Please remember that compost bins or piles are required to be located in the rear yard of a property and must be at least three feet from any property line. Additional information on how to start a compost pile can be found at Ramsey- Recycles.com/organics recycling (click on “backyard composting”). Rain barrels Rain barrels are used to capture rain runoff from a building’s roof using gutters and downspouts and to store the water for future landscaping use. Rain barrels are helpful in diverting water from storm drain systems, storing high quality water for gardens, and reducing water bills. The Recycling Association of Minnesota has annual spring sales of rain barrels and compost bins at low cost to Minnesota resi- dents. Visit RecycleMinnesota.org for more informa- tion on upcoming sales events. Funds available to landowners to seal un- used or abandoned wells Unused wells can serve as direct conduits for surface contaminants to reach our aquifers. The Ramsey Con- servation District has been awarded grants through the Clean Water Fund to help eligible landowners seal unused wells located within Ramsey County, targeting vulnerable groundwater areas such as Drinking Water Supply Management Areas. For more information about the cost-share program, visit Ramsey County’s cost-share funding and as- sistance web page or call the Ramsey Conservation District at 651-266-7274. News from Ramsey County nearby Shoreview and see this property as an opportunity to fill a niche.” SpringHill Suites is the newest property type in the Marriott hotel brand, and will be unique to the immediate area, Bhakta said. The hotel will include 139 suites, a break- fast buffet, indoor pool, fitness center, busi- ness center, and high-speed internet. JR Hospitality partners with Iowa-based Hawkeye Hotels. Together they are devel- oping additional hotel properties across the Twin Cities metro area that represent vari- ous hotel brands and are looking forward to putting their footprint in Arden Hills. “We’ve been very pleased with the support we are receiving from the City and commu- nity,” Bhakta said. “We are excited to be a part of Arden Hills.” Tree sale deadline April 20 Developer finds sweet spot in Arden Hills A Marriott SpringHill Suites all-suites hotel is scheduled for groundbreaking on Northwoods Drive this spring. A local hotel developer is capitalizing on decades-long growth opportuni- ties in the Twin Cities, including the City of Arden Hills, with a new Mar- riott SpringHill Suites hotel scheduled for groundbreaking this spring. The hotel will be located next to the Health Partners Clinic on Northwoods Drive and will take about a year to build, according to Jay Bhakta, managing partner with JR Hospitality, which will own, develop, and manage the new Marriott property. The ho- tel will replace a building that was recently demolished and occupied by Aerotek Staff- ing Agency. “There hasn’t been a new hotel in Arden Hills for 30 years,” Bhakta said. “We’ve seen significant growth in the City and Rice Creek Commons continues to move forward. In early February, the U.S. Army released findings from its optimization study that looked at possible ways to improve the effectiveness of the current treatment plan for handling groundwater pollutants at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). Study findings point to the need for minor changes to the ongoing deep groundwater treatment plan. The information allows the Alatus Master Development Team to final- Rice Creek Commons update: U.S. Army releases findings from optimization study Looking ahead, site work is expected to be put out for bid in late 2018, followed by infrastructure construction in 2019 and housing and early commercial construction in 2020. “Rice Creek Commons presents an amaz- ing opportunity for our City to continue to grow and prosper,” said Mayor David Grant. “It’s exciting to know we will be breaking ground for sewer and water lines next year, with early commercial and resi- dential construction to follow.” ize the grading and infrastructure for the Rice Creek Commons’ mixed-use housing and commercial development. The Army and Rice Creek Commons proj- ect engineers will work closely to ensure that changes have little, if any, impact on future site development. Just as it is for the City, drinking water for the development will be provided by the City of Arden Hills and sourced by Saint Paul Regional Water Services. Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County is delighted to offer 15 locally-grown, hardy selections of trees, shrubs, roses, and vines from Bailey Nurseries as part of its annual tree sale. New this year is a columnar serviceber- ry to fit smaller urban yards. Returning favorites include native Northern Pin Oak and native Ironwood, as well as the extremely fragrant ‘Miniature Snow- flake’ mock orange with double white flowers. The fragrant and hardy shrub rose, ‘High Voltage’ is a recurrent bloomer that will have buds and blooms when you pick it up, making it an excellent choice for a Mother’s Day gift. The blue-white flowers of ‘Diamond Ball’ clematis are 4”-5” in diameter and bloom all summer long. With your help, Friends of the Parks and Trails has donated more than 7,500 trees to Twin Cities Metro area parks. Order deadline is April 20. Pickup is May 5, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 2015 Van Dyke Street in Maplewood. Orders can be placed and donations to parks can be made online at friendsoftheparks.org/annual-tree-sale Postal Customer ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit #1962 I n s i d e Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 From the City Council LJFD 2017 statistics Thank you newsletter volunteers Snow removal procedures Composting and well-sealing grants Egg hunt and Parks & Rec news Pet reminders and policies As Robert Frost famously said, “Good fences make good neigh- bors.” It also could be said that “good pets make good neighbors.” What can you do if you are dealing with a neigh- bor who has a problem pet? Arden Hills contracts with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Of- ficer to respond to resident concerns about domestic animals, including: • Responding to animal ordinance viola- tions. • Impounding stray and dangerous dogs. • Following up on all animal bite reports. • Helping to resolve issues through negotiation or issuing a citation if necessary. Pet rules and procedures Before detailing the animal control ser- vices, let’s back up and cover some basics: All dogs and cats in the City must be vac- cinated and licensed. Visit the City website to apply online for a license. Once the animal is licensed, the City issues a metal- lic license tag that must be attached to the animal’s collar. An ID on your pet can be extremely help- ful in assisting in getting a lost or stray pet back to its owner. The Sheriff’s Animal Control Officer would rather bring your dog home than to the impound shelter. Only domestic animals are allowed as pets in the City. These are defined as animals kept within the home as pets, such as fish, dogs, cats, and household birds. Farm animals, defined as animals which are kept outside the home, such as chickens, horses, sheep, and goats, are prohibited in the City (see the City Code for very limited excep- tions). The Animal Control Officer takes a com- munity-based approach with an emphasis on education and finding solutions that help make dogs and cats good neighbors. This means that the officer will attempt to mediate between the neighbors to reach a common ground and solution that everyone can live with. You can report an animal control problem by calling the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Public Safety Services Division, non-emergency dispatch, at 651-767-0640. Lost or stray dogs If a dog is lost or stray, the officer will at- tempt to locate the owner. Pets are brought to a temporary shelter. You can check with the Animal Control Officer to see if your dog or cat is impounded by calling non-emergency dispatch at 651-767-0640. There may be fees and procedures to fol- low in order to have your pet returned. An enforcement approach is taken when public safety is at stake, such as a dog bite or dangerous animal is reported. You should contact the animal control officer by calling 911. A deputy or an animal control officer will respond to take a report. As part of the report, vet records are collected. The situation may require the animal to be quarantined for 10 days. At the end of the 10 days, the Animal Control Officer will check the dog to ensure it is healthy and then follow-up with the bite victim. Depending on the severity of the bite, the dog may be declared potentially dangerous or dangerous after one incident. It is impor- tant to report dog bites to law enforcement. Barking dogs According to Ramsey County Animal Con- trol, the number one complaint received is barking dogs. The object of animal control laws is to not let animals disrupt our neigh- borhoods. They advise that residents pay attention to their dogs’ barking and work toward solutions with their neighbors. We all love our pets. Let’s make sure that our pets are not problems for others. Fran Holmes, City Councilmember