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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust-September 2018The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents August/September 2018 Standard & Poor’s, one of the nation’s bond-rating agencies, has upgraded the City of Arden Hills general obligation bonds to AAA from AA+ for the first time in the City’s history. Arden Hills now shares this top rating by S&P with 22 other cities in the State and is the fifth smallest city in population to earn this S&P recognition. A certificate of award was presented by Ehlers, the City’s financial advisors, at the June 25 regular City Council meet- ing. S&P rated the City very strong in economy, manage- ment, budgetary performance, budgetary flexibility, liquidity, and debt and contingent liabil- ity profile. “The AAA rating is a good indicator to the residents of Arden Hills that their elected officials are acting in good faith and as fiduciaries with their tax dollars,” said City Administra- tor Dave Perrault. Pictured (L to R) Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Dave McClung, Fran Holmes, Brenda Holden, and Ehlers Inc. Senior Municipal Advisor Stacie Kvilvang. Not pictured: Councilmember Steve Scott. S&P assigned the AAA long-term rating to the city’s series 2018A general obligation utility revenue bonds, and the designation results in lower interest costs for the City. If you are going to the Minnesota State Fair (August 23-September 3), you can park your vehicle at one of several Park & Ride lots in and around Arden Hills and take a bus to the fairgrounds, free of charge. • *North Heights Lutheran Church 1700 Highway 96 W. (Newly added) • *Country United Financial 3499 Lexington Avenue N. • *The Gathering Place 3245 New Brighton Road • Bethel University Anderson Center 2 Pine Tree Drive • Presbyterian Church of the Way 3382 Lexington Avenue N. * Park & Ride lots fill quickly and resi- dents often park on nearby streets. Please heed the No Parking signs located on some of the nearby streets. Violators may be ticketed. These signs are in place to ensure general safety and access for garbage and mail service providers. Please be courteous to nearby residents and their properties. For Park & Ride locations and hours, visit MinnesotaStateFair.org/transportation. Photo courtesy of Minnesota State Fair The City sold $2.415 million in bonds for multiple water and sewer utility improve- ments. In the agency’s rating summary, S&P said the City’s general obligation bonds are rated “above the sovereign because we believe the city can maintain better credit characteristics than the nation in a stress scenario.” The City also received a clean audit opinion of its Compre- hensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), presented to the City Council June 25th by officials with MMKR, the City’s auditing firm. The annual audit examines all of the City’s financial accounts and assets. Audit results are used by rating agencies to evaluate the credit worthiness of cities and corpo- rations. City of Arden Hills receives Standard & Poor’s Highest Bond Rating of AAA New State Fair Park & Ride location added; residents urged to heed no parking signs City Hall NewsArden 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. State of the City meetings set for September 27 and October 2 Two annual State of the City meetings are scheduled for residents and business audiences as follows: • Thursday, September 27, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Tavern Grill, 3561 Lexington Avenue North • Tuesday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at City Hall, 1245 W. Highway 96. You are invited to attend either meeting, where the same information will be presented. The City Council and Economic Development Commission are preparing a presentation that will outline City goals and accomplishments related to the Rice Creek Commons/ TCAAP development, development projects, transportation improvements and other City news. The City is seeking applicants for two Planning Commission vacancies. Serving on the Planning Commission is a great opportunity to learn more about proposed development projects and to advise the City Council. The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations concerning all land use applications, considers changes to the City’s Zoning Code and periodically reviews and recommends updates to the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission has seven members. Please visit cityofardenhills.org/ planningcommission for more information. Regular office hours at City Hall resume September 4 Regular office hours at City Hall resume on Tuesday, September 4. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City has been operating under a different schedule during the summer, as follows: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City seeks applicants for Planning Commission vacancies Register now for Fall Parks & Recreation classes Registration is now open for the fall Parks & Recre- ation classes, sports and activities. Registration details can be found at Cityofardenhills.org/recregistration or by stopping at City Hall. The fall Parks & Recreation Guide was mailed the first week of August. Visit Cityofardenhills.org/Fall2018ParksandRecreationGuide to view it online. June 25, 2018 Councilmember Scott, excused. All items approved unanimously by 4-0 vote. • Accepted a certificate recognizing that Arden Hills received at AAA Bond Rating, the highest rating available, by Standard & Poor’s. • Approved the City’s Auditors (MMKR) audited financial statements for the 2017 year, which issued an unmodified (“clean”) opinion. • Approved a construction activity waiver for June 26 through August 15, 2018 for the County Road F improve- ment project permitting the contractor to begin work an hour earlier than ordinarily provided to lessen traffic impacts and improve scheduling. • Awarded the sale of General Obliga- tion Utility Revenue Bonds in the amount of $2,415,000 for the pur- pose of financing the construction of various utility system improvements within the City. Due to the receipt of a premium bid and lower costs of is- suance, the total amount of the bonds was reduced from the original issu- ance of $2,600,000 by $185,000. July 9, 2018 All items approved unanimously by 5-0 vote. • Authorized the scope and fee for preliminary roadway and trail layout, and bridge bidding and construction phase services related to improvement to the Old Snelling Avenue Bridge between County Road E and Trunk Highway 51. • Approved motion to reaffirm the City’s commitment to the previously agreed upon TCAAP Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County for future costs and remuneration at Rice Creek Commons. 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 June 11, 2018 All items approved unanimously by 5-0 vote. • Approved a planning case site plan review request by Primrose Schools for site modifications at 4061 Lex- ington Avenue. Primrose Schools is considering purchasing the property currently owned by Bremer Bank for a new daycare center. A condition of approval includes the City and the ap- plicant exploring the possibility of the potential for an easement for a future Arden Hills gateway sign at Lexington Avenue and County Road F. • Conducted a public hearing and adopt- ed and confirmed quarterly special as- sessments for delinquent utilities. Util- ity accounts with an unpaid delinquent balance will be certified to Ramsey County to be added to property taxes payable plus an eight percent penalty. • Authorized continued participa- tion by the City in the Community Development Block Grant entitlement program with Ramsey County. Annual Committees & Commissions Picnic recognizes City volunteers ~Thank you to all the volunteers who help guide our policies and procedures that keep the City running smoothly. Dozens of committee and commission members and their families mingled with City Council and staff members. It was a beautiful day at Cummings Park on July 10. The outdoor swimming season is coming to an end. If you have a backyard pool or hot tub that uses chlorine, please follow these rules for draining your pool. 1. Stop chlorination of pool water for several days before draining your pool. This will allow the chlorine to dissipate. A chlorine testing kit can be used to gauge the level of chlorine. 2. Discharge your pool water to the lawn. It is best to allow the water to flow into plants or surrounding vegetation on your lawn. Do not allow water to flow into a wet- land, ditch or nearby lake. 3. Do not drain your pool down your driveway or into the street, where it will filter into the storm water system. According to City code, drainage of swimming pools onto public streets or into public drainage ways shall not be permitted without municipal approval. 4. Do not allow your pool water to drain onto your neighbor’s property. According to City code, water shall not be permitted to drain from the pool, directly or indi- rectly onto property other than that of the owner. Similar procedures should be followed when draining hot tubs. If you have questions, please contact City Hall staff at 651-792-7800. View the City code at cityofardenhills.org/Citycode. The City was recognized at the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference in June for its advancement to Step 2 in the GreenStep City program, a voluntary, challenge-based program meant to help cities achieve sustainability and quality-of-life goals. To advance to Step 2, Arden Hills successfully completed actions in the following areas: • Energy efficiency of pub- lic buildings and flashing street signs • Resilient city growth • Efficient design for highways and automobiles • Design for natural resource conserva- tion • Increasing mobility options • Investing in parks and trails • Solid waste prevention and reduction • Protecting tree canopy & surface waters To view actions the City took relating to these areas and to learn more about the program, visit greenstep.pca.state.mn.us. Arden Hills became a Min- nesota GreenStep City in 2016. The Program identi- fies 29 Best Practices in the areas of building and light- ing, land use, transportation, environmental management, and economic and community development. Cities are able to choose ac- tion steps that best align with their goals. As cities imple- ment different actions and track metrics, they advance from a Step 1 to a Step 5 city. From a total of 853 town and cities in the State of Minne- sota, 122 have enrolled in the GreenStep City program. Arden Hills joins 94 other communities that have reached Step 2 or higher. There are currently only 12 com- munities that have reached Step 5. Rules and best practices for draining swimming pools City recognized for completing next step in GreenStep City program Pictured (L to R) are Councilmembers Steve Scott, Dave McClung, and Fran Holmes; City Planner Matthew Bachler, Mayor David Grant and Councilmem- ber Brenda Holden Fix-It Clinic volunteers needed If you can troubleshoot repairs for broken items, consider volunteering at a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electri- cal repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to mak- ing the clinics successful. Please email FixItClinics@ramsey- county.us or call 651-266-1199 for details and to sign up. Save the date: Annual Fall Cleanup Day is October 6 at Ramsey County Public Works Site The annual Fall Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, October 6 at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility from 7:00 a.m. to Noon, 1425 Paul Kirkwold Drive. Arden Hills and Shoreview residents (I.D. required) are able to drop off refuse and electronics for a ree. Rates will increase this year. Watch your mail for a flyer or visit the City website in early October for more information. Recyclable Items Accepted • Electronics • Appliances • Tires Why do your recyclables need to be empty, clean and dry? If you are not emptying, cleaning and making sure your recyclable materi- als are dry before placing them in your recycling containers, they may not get recycled. According to Republic Services, the City’s curbside recycling service pro- vider, trying to recycle unclean or unre- cyclable material increases sorting time and slows down the recycling process. It damages the facility’s equipment and causes contaminants in the bales of clean recyclables, which decreases the value of the items. Please follow these simple steps—Emp- ty, Clean and Dry—to make sure your recyclables get recycled. 1. EMPTY Make sure there is no food residue in or on the containers by putting food or liquids in the trash or down the drain. 2. CLEAN Rinse containers. For example, remove mustard or leftover ketchup from the bottles. If you cannot get a container completely clean, it is best to put it into the trash so as not to contaminate the rest of your recycling material and the overall process. 3. DRY Let containers dry before placing in your recycling container, so that paper and cardboard do not get wet. Simple Recycling update In September 2017, the City began a textile and household item recycling program with Simple Recycling. The program allows residents to recycle used clothing, shoes, and home goods at the curb on their regular recycling pick-up day. There is no cost for the City or its residents to participate in the program. Since beginning collection, Arden Hills residents have recycled 10,364 pounds of textiles and home goods. Additional free orange bags can be requested at simplerecycling.com or by calling 866-835-5068. Bags are also available at City Hall. Simple Recycling is not a charity orga- nization, so please continue to donate items in good condition to your regular donation service. • Water Softeners • BBQ Grills • Lawn mowers (drain oil or gasoline) • Snow blowers (drain oil or gasoline) • Scrap metal Non-recyclable Items Accepted • Construction debris • Carpeting • Mattresses/box springs • Vacuum cleaners • Furniture • Household Hazardous Waste You can avoid Cleanup Day traffic by bringing your HHW to a drop-off location hosted by Ramsey County, or by visiting the Arden Hills site on another date. Reuse Items Accepted • Bicycles • Tools for the St. Paul Tool Library Items Not Accepted • No brush/yard waste • No railroad ties • No oversize items such as hot tubs, boats, or sheds • No engines containing gasoline or oil • No donations other than the bicycles and tools listed above. For more information on other disposal options, visit RamseyRecycles.com or call 651-633-EASY. Communicating about the news, events, City services, construc- tion projects and ordinances that impact our residents and business owners is important to the City Council and staff. Below is information about a survey sent to all residents, as well as information about the City’s communication channels. Survey Please help us improve the way you get your news and information by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ArdenHillscommunica- tion to complete the Communication & Information Survey. The survey is anonymous, contains 10 questions, and takes an average of three minutes to complete. You also received a paper copy of the survey with your July utility bill. Please complete the survey in paper format or online. Thank you for helping us improve the way you receive news and information.Thank you to those of you who already completed the survey. Social Media Did you know the City has a Facebook page and a Twitter account? If you want to receive communication through these channels, you can find us on Facebook at CityofArdenHillsMN, or Twitter@ ArdenHillsCity. The City also maintains a YouTube channel at YouTube.com. We are exploring additional social media. Watch City meetings You can view live or pre- recorded City Council and Planning & Zoning meet- ings on Cable Channel 16 or online. The Cable Channel 16 playback schedule is as follows: Monday-Friday, 3 a.m., 11 a.m., 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m., 2 p.m., 10 p.m. Watch City Council and Planning and Zoning meetings online at cityofardenhills.org/watchmeetings. Email and text alerts Many of you may want to re- ceive City news and updates electronically. Visit the City’s website to sign up for City News, Newslet- ter and Meeting Agenda alerts. Additional types of alerts are being considered and will be added as resources permit. How are we communicating? Your responses are important to us Website The City website is undergoing a facelift to better meet your needs. A newly designed website with improved navigation is sched- uled to go live in early 2019. Concerns If you have a concern or complaint, please visit the City website at cityofardenhills.org/ requesttracker and fill out a form, where your request will be tracked. You can also contact City Hall staff at 651-792-7800. Information requests If you have a question for City Council or staff, you can find a direc- tory on our website and give us a call, or send an email to info@cityofarden- hills.org. You can also visit us at City Hall at 1245 W Highway 96. We are happy to assist you. Stop in and say hello to our friendly front desk staff. Dan Reichert and his local State Farm team hosted a barbeque earlier this summer to show their appreciation for the work of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. You might call it a “Hot Dog for the Deputies.” The turnout was excellent, with roughly 30 members of the sheriff’s de- partment in attendance, including administration, volunteers, the crimi- nal investigation unit, public safety officers, water patrol and sergeants. It was a feel good day that connected members in the community. The groups decided to hold the event semiannually, and the Sheriff’s De- partment invited Dan to attend a barbecue at its patrol headquarters. State Farm hosts a barbecue for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Around Town Summer of 2018 Who let the dogs out at Bark & Rec Day? You did. Thank you. Drawing a strong self-portrait at the Penny Carnival The horses are popular at “Hot Dog with a Deputy” events. Look what bloomed at the stormwater booth. Hot Dog with a Deputy, Perry Park, July 11 Penny Carnival & Stormwater Meeting, July 27 Bark and Rec Day, Perry Park, July 28 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit #1962 Postal Customer From the City Administrator City receives S&P AAA bond rating State of the City meetings scheduled Popular Annual Financial Report City recognized as Green Step 2 city New Playground Equipment Our Public Works Department has been working very hard this summer, as they have been busy with street projects, water main projects, park maintenance and getting new playground equipment at Johanna Marsh Park. Was summer long enough for you? Me neither. Not only is summer almost over, but this year is flying by, too. Since start- ing in the City Administrator role back in January, I have had the pleasure of working with a great staff here at the City of Arden Hills, and I have been involved in some exciting events around the City. I thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight some of those events. MNGFOA Awards As you saw on the front page, the City re- ceived a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, which is a big accomplishment for the City. The City was also a recipient of all three of the Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association awards, only seven other cities in Minnesota receive all three. Business News In Arden Hills, we have businesses, both large and small, that are an essential part of our community. I was able to attend the grand opening of the Dunn Brother’s Coffee shop (sometimes my daughter, Ada Mae, tags along), and the grand opening of the Land O’Lakes expansion. Best wishes for a great autumn season. Dave Perrault City Administrator Mayor David Grant, Finance Director Gayle Bauman and GFOA Representative Josh Feldman New Johanna Marsh Park playground City Administrator Dave Perrault and his daughter Ada Mae