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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 2018The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents May 2018 Seasonal construction and projects begin; plan accordingly and allow space for work crewsSesonal road improvements and proj- ects beginning in Arden Hills this month include the following: Gas pipeline replacement Xcel Energy will replace approximately two miles of natural gas pipeline along Red Fox Road, Snelling Avenue, and County Road E., and make updates to the distribu- tion services attached to the pipeline along Lexington Avenue and County Road E., beginning in May. The project will run through fall 2018. Roads will remain open during construc- tion. There will be intermittent, tempo- rary lane closures throughout the project. Driveway access will remain open for local residents and businesses during construc- tion. The project is designed to provide safe, reliable service to Xcel Energy customers within the area. This modernization project supports other infrastructure improvements in the area. Please keep your distance from any materi- als and equipment; only authorized person- nel are permitted in the work area. Email the project team at info@ardenhills- gaspipelinereplacement.com if you’d like to receive project email updates. Visit the Xcel project website for more information at xcelenergy.com/naturalgasprojects Trails The City awarded a contract to Sunram Construction for the construction of trails along the west side of Old Snelling Road between County Road E2 and County Road E, the south side of County Road E from Old Snelling Road and Freeway Park, and the south side of County Road E2 between Cleveland Avenue and New Brighton Road. Included in the project is water main construc- tion along County Road E2 and Old Snelling Road that will begin in May. Pavement management & reconstruction The City opened bids in late March for the pavement management project that includes reconstructing Indian Oaks Court, Indian Oaks Trail, West Floral Drive, James Circle, Gale Circle, and Norma Circle. The project also includes water main replacement, storm water improve- ments, concrete curb and gutter, and sanitary sewer repairs. Full depth reclama- tion will take place on Wedgewood Drive, Brueberry Lane, and Parkshore Drive. Construction will take place this summer. County and MnDOT County Road F from Hamline Avenue to Lexington Avenue will be reconstructed this summer. The project includes installa- tion of a traffic signal at Innovation Way. Highway 96 from Snelling Avenue to Highway 61 will include traffic signal and pedestrian ramp maintenance throughout the corridor. Temporary lane closures will occur. The Johanna Marsh Park playground equipment will be replaced and an overlook deck added this summer. The water tower off of Cummings Park Drive is undergoing rehabilita- tion, which includes sandblasting, repairs, and new paint. Work will be complete in July. For current information about the fol- lowing projects, visit ardenhills.org/ developmentprojects. • Marriott SpringHill Suites • Land O'Lakes expansion • HealthPartners expansion See inside for news on TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons and Lexington Sta- tion Phase II. Xcel Energy gas pipeline reconstruction project Update on City projects 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@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 7:00 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. City Hall News Now hiring for Parks & Recreation summer jobs The City of Arden Hills is hiring for spring and summer jobs with the Parks & Recre- ation program. We are looking for people who love kids, like to have fun, and are great role models. A general knowledge of recreation pro- grams (soccer, tennis, art, photography, painting, outdoor games, etc.) is a plus. Most positions require applicants to be 16 years of age or older. To applu, visit cityo- fardenhills.org/employment. The following positions are available: • Youth/Adult Tennis Instructor ($13.00-$15.00 per hour) • Park Attendant ($10.00-$11.00 per hour) • Youth Soccer Official ($13.00-$15.00 per hour) • Playground Instructor/Special Event Chaperone ($10.00-$13.00 per hour) For more information, call or stop by City Hall offices at (651) 792-7800. Summer office hours at City Hall begin on Tuesday, May 29. Summer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, September 4. The City of Arden Hills welcomed Gayle Bauman as its new finance director in early April. Gayle is responsible for all aspects of the City’s budgeting processes, including providing guidance on the annual bud- get, forecasting and reports; overseeing policies and pro- cedures related to billing and payroll; and supervising the accounting and financial analyst staff members. Gayle has held finance leadership roles with a number of cities, most recently as finance director for the City of Maplewood. As finance director for the City of St. Francis, Gayle assisted the city in earn- ing its first Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation award. Gayle holds a bachelor of art’s degree in accounting with a minor in mathematics. She passed the Certified Public Accountant examination and currently holds an inac- tive license status. She is a member of the Minnesota GFOA and has served on two of its committees over the years. In her free time, Gayle enjoys golfing, reading, crafts, and spending time at the family cabin in northern Wisconsin. City welcomes new finance director Summer office hours at City Hall begin May 29 Many home improvement projects require a permit and follow-up inspection. Please visit the city website at cityofardenhills. org or call 651-792-7800 to learn about requirements for the following: • Decks • Fireplaces • Fences • Water heaters, furnaces and AC • Windows, siding, roofing • Accessory buildings and sheds • Driveways • Basement and interior remodels • Insulation • Swimming pools Permits needed for home improvement March 12, 2018 Unless otherwise indicated, all items ap- proved unanimously by 5-0 vote. • Approved marketing agreement to allow Utility Service Partners Private Label Inc. to offer and market the Na- tional League of Cities Service Line Warranty Program for utility service line warranty products to residential property owners in the City of Arden Hills. • Conducted a public hearing and ad- opted and confirmed quarterly special assessments for delinquent utili- ties. Utility accounts with an unpaid delinquent balance will be certified to Ramsey County to be added to property taxes payable plus an eight percent penalty. • Approved the preliminary and final plat for property located at 3685 New Brighton Road, which allows the existing property to be subdivided to create three lots for single-family residential dwellings. The existing dwelling would be retained and two new lots would be located to the west. The three parcels would be oriented with principal frontage and driveways on Thom Drive. (3-2; McClung, Scott opposed). • Conducted a public hearing for a proposed partial vacation of the sewer easement for Arden Hills Lift Station #12, which is on property located at 3685 New Brighton Road. The request was denied and the existing easement area will remain unchanged. (3-2; Grant, Holmes opposed). March 26, 2018 Unless otherwise indicated, all items ap- proved unanimously by 5-0 vote. • Approved a minor subdivision at 3655 Hamline Avenue North, to subdivide the existing single-family residential lot at 3655 Hamline Avenue North into two parcels. The second parcel is expected to be for the development of a new single-family dwelling. Both proposed lots would conform to the zoning requirements and no variances were requested. • Approved a Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance to permit the construction of two additions to existing buildings on the main campus of Bethel University. The first addi- tion would be an 80-square-foot aviary facility to support research on birds conducted by students and faculty. The second addition would be a new 20,000-gross-square-foot addition on the northwest corner of the Academic Commons building for additional sci- ence programs on the campus, which encroaches 32 feet into the required setback from Valentine Lake. (4-1; McClung opposed). • Awarded the Old Snelling trail and water main improvements contract to Sunram Construction Inc. for the following: 1) Old Snelling trail from Snelling to Freeway Park, 2) Old Snelling trail from County Road E to County Road E2, 3) County Road E trail extension from New Brighton Road to Cleveland Ave, and 4) Old Snelling and County Road E2 water main improvements. • Approved the Horita Acres develop- ment contract and encroachment agreements for lots 1 and 2 for the three-lot subdivision located at 3685 New Brighton Road that was approved by the City Council on March 12, 2018. 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. Benchmarks: A review of recent City Council action Our Mayor, City Council and staff were proud to break ground on April 5 with Nick Roberts, Roberts Management Group staff, incoming tenants, contractors, architects, and engineers for Lexington Station Phase II. Phase II of redevelopment at the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and Red Fox Road will include the construction of a 17,000-square-foot, multi-tenant retail and office building and an additional 155 parking stalls. Roberts Management anticipates con- struction will be completed in 2018. Incoming tenants to date include Jimmy John’s, Club Pilates, Orchid Vietnamese res- taurant, Pancheros Mexican Grill, Pet Evolu- tion supply and grooming, and State Farm. Goundbreaking ceremony held for Lexington Station Phase II; new tenants named Erosion and pollution reduction The area of your yard adjacent to the water can be subject to strong erosional forces such as water fluctuations, wave action, and current. Buffers have exten- sive root systems that help anchor soil in place. Those same extensive root systems promote infiltration of runoff. Pollution in runoff is more easily captured in the soil or taken up by the plants themselves. Low maintenance The area adjacent to the water can be a nightmare for lawn maintenance. Saturated soils, muskrat runs, and steep slopes make it hard to mow, and debris can wash up Many of us think agri- culture when considering the term “planting a buffer,” a strip of plantings 10 or more feet wide adjacent to water that reduces erosion and pollution. Buffers aren't just for farmers. The same con- cept can be applied to your yard if you live on a lake or pond. Buffers offer a host of benefits. Goose deterrent While we all like wild- life, geese can present challenges to the water adjacent homeowner. They can harm your lawn because they find tender lawn grass scrumptious and tend to deposit their brand of fertilizer afterward. This is where your new buffer comes in. Geese think predators are hiding in your buffer ready to catch them, so they avoid those areas. Bird, butterfly, and frog habitat There are some animal visitors that we quite enjoy. Many birds, butterflies, and frogs rely on buffer plantings to provide food and shelter. Some popular butterfly plants, like Swamp Milkweed, grow best close to the edges of waterbodies. Planting a buffer can deter geese, protect shorelines, and add beauty on shore. While buffers aren't no-maintenance, the maintenance require- ments are less frequent than weekly mow- ing. No fertilizers are needed. Beauty You can add a little extra wow to your yard with a shoreline planting. The upper edge that you view from your house is perfect for showy plant- ings. Of course, not just any plant can go into a buf- fer. It is important to use only native plants in buffers for your yard or cabin. Not only will you realize the habitat benefits that you are looking to achieve, but you will prevent the introduction of invasive non-native plants into the environment. Interested in adding a buffer but aren't sure where to start? Good news! Rice Creek Watershed District offers mini-grants of up to $500 per year for an eligible project. You can learn more about buffers by con- tacting Rice Creek Watershed District at 763-398-3073. The MDA will spell out the development plan details and financial commitments. “Much progress has been made on the Rice Creek Commons development,” said Mayor David Grant. “We are closer to getting the necessary agreements in place and look forward to being able to break ground with our partners.” For more information, visit the Joint Development Authority (JDA) meeting section on the City of Arden Hills website at cityofardenhills.org. From the homep- age, click on Agendas and Minutes. TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons MDA updateThe City of Arden Hills, Ramsey County, and Alatus LLC are negotiating the terms of a Master Development Agreement (MDA) for the Rice Creek Commons development that will be located on 427 acres on the northwest corner of the former Twin Cit- ies Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property. Several news stories have been printed and aired about this project, but an MDA has not yet been signed. It is anticipated that the Joint Development Authority will approve an MDA by the end of summer. Sewer and water service line protection available for homeownersThe City has partnered with Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) to offer protection for homeowners in the event of damage or breakage in their sewer and water lines. The coverage is voluntary and available at afford- able monthly or annual prices. SLWA is endorsed by the National League of Cities and has partnered with more than 400 leading cities and mu- nicipalities in the country to provide repair service plans. “Many homeowners do not know that damage to the service lines on their property is their responsibility to repair,” said Sue Polka, City engineer and public works director. “In the event of a service line emergency, the homeowner is responsible for schedul- ing the repair and covering the associated cost. As the City’s homes age, along with the infrastructure serving them, SLWA repair plans provide homeowners with an optional peace of mind solution so they can be better prepared in the event of these unexpected repairs.” The SLWA Service Line Warranty Program protects against damage to pipes on home- owners’ property. Repairs to these pipes are not covered by basic homeowners' insurance or by the City of Arden Hills. If a customer’s line is in need of repair, a simple call to the SLWA 24-hour hotline will dispatch a lo- cal, licensed contractor familiar with local code. There are no service fees or deductibles. Many factors contribute to the life expectancy of a service line includ- ing the age, type of piping material, soil conditions, and installation quality - all factors which are cov- ered through the SLWA protection program. This program is voluntary for residents and provided at no cost to the City of Arden Hills and no public funds are used to promote or administer the program. Residents will soon receive a letter from SLWA that outlines the program, its ben- efits, and rates. For questions about this service, or to enroll, please contact SLWA at 1-844-257-8795, or visit slwofa.com. Walk & Bike to School Day is May 9 Many of our local schools will participate in Walk & Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9. While we must be aware of kids walking and biking every day, please know that on this day there will be many more kids on the streets making a healthy trek to their classrooms. Sheriff’s Office deputies, reserves, and community affairs officers will be on hand directing traffic in some of the com- munities. Importance of bike safety Spring in Minnesota will find more people out and about, so more attention will need to be paid to bike and pedestrian safety. It is important to remember that bicyclists and motorists are equally responsible for bicycle safety. Bike Rodeo to be held June 14 The Sheriff’s Office will conduct a Bike Rodeo on Thursday, June 14, at Island Lake County Park, 3611 North Victoria Street, Shoreview. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and is open to all Ramsey County residents. This Bike Rodeo will have four components, including equipment check, safety instruction, rules of the road, and an obstacle skills course. It will take about 45-60 minutes to complete all the train- ing, and sessions will start on the hour. Bike rodeos are geared toward children, however adult riders are welcome to participate in the training too. Advance registration is appreciated, and can be done online at surveymonkey.com/r/BikeRo- deo2018, or by calling 651-266-7332. The number-one factor contributing to bicycle-vehicle collisions is failure to yield the right-of-way — by bicyclists and driv- ers alike. About one-half of all bicycle- vehicle collisions are due to a variety of bicyclist behaviors, such as disregarding a traffic sign or signal. The other half are caused by vehicle driver behaviors, such as inattention and distraction. Upcoming events hosted by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office promote bicycle safety 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 This program makes a big difference for people who cannot afford dental care. Day for Girls provides feminine hygiene products and has reached more than one million women and girls in 116-plus coun- tries. This program was started to lower the rate of girls dropping out of school because of missing a week of school a month. Roberts Management Group owns and builds commercial/retail businesses in Arden Hills. They working on the project behind the Potbelly/Noodles buildings at Lexington Avenue and Red Fox Road. Spedco is an Arden Hills development company that originates SBA 504 loans in Minnesota. The MN National Guard talked about its current development plans for Arden Hills, as well as green standards used in all buildings. The Twin Cities Kids In Need Resource Center, located in Roseville, has as its mis- sion to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed in the classroom by providing free school supplies to students most in need. Vision Loss Resources provides services to support individuals with vision loss. Kaposia works with companies to custom- ize employment that matches the abilities and desires of people with developmental disabilities with employers’ needs. There is Seasonal construction begins Spring Cleanup Day information Sewer/water insurance program RCC/TCAAP update Bicycle safety events Lexington Station phase II tenants The role of a City Councilmember in Arden Hills not only includes at- tending Council meetings, but each Councilmember also is assigned to be a liaison to other standing City committees. I am the liaison for Lake Johanna Fire Board, Lake Johanna Fire Relief Board, Economic Development Commission, Financial Planning & Analysis Committee, and the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary. The rotary whose motto is “service above self” is by far my favorite. Every Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. a group of residents meet to learn about what great things people are doing in our community and the world, and what they can do to help the world be a better place. I’m always amazed by the impact one person can have on the world. Recent presenters included: Hope Dental Clinic (hopedentalclinic. org) is a FREE clinic that provides exams, cleanings, sealants, root canals, and extractions. In the last 12 months more than 1,684 hours were donated by dentists and 4,800 hours donated by other dental professionals with 12,465 procedures performed. The clinic was started in 1965 by Dr. Dale Jacobsen and students in his class from the University of Minnesota School of Den- tistry. Saint Paul Dental Society dentists organized support and donated their time and talent to help establish the program. a significant amount of evidence indicating that integrated, customized employment options improve outcomes for people with disabilities, cost less than other options, and generate savings for taxpayers. Life Source is an organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. It works with hospitals and community partners to support donor families, manage the donation process, and educate communities to create a culture of donation. The Rotary club also has many hands-on projects, such as serving dinner at the Ron- ald McDonald House, volunteering with Feed My Starving Children, local park cleanups, Salvation Army bell ringing, and raising money and providing scholarships for education. Have a great summer! Brenda Holden City Councilmember From the City Council