Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril-May 2020The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents April/May 2020 All of us can help keep our community safe during the COVID-19 outbreak by remaining vigilant and informed. Visit cityofardenhills.org/coronavirus to sign up for news announcements and alerts and to view information and resources from city, county, state and federal organizations. These web pages are updated continuously, as new information is available. City Hall remains closed to the public, but services are continuing. Payments, correspondence, permit applications, and more can be submitted online or left outside City Hall in marked bins. The US Mail bin is used by the mail carrier. Use the locked drop box for utility bill payments (checked daily by staff). There is a larger bin to drop off plan sets for permits. To maintain its commitment to robust public participation, all City Council and Planning Commission meetings in April will allow council and commission members, staff and the public to participate virtually in response to Find Coronavirus Updates at Cityofardenhills.org/Coronavirus the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interest of protecting the health and safety of the community, the city has devised multiple ways for the public to participate remotely in the city meetings before and during the live meeting. Call 651-792-7800 for more information or visit the city website at cityofardenhills.org. Sheriff’s Office forms COVID-19 “Help Team” The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office has formed a COVID-19 "Help Team" that assists those in the community who are most at risk and vulnerable during this time. Help team functions include the pick-up and delivery of prescription medication, pre-paid food and groceries; and referrals to organizations providing social services, financial assistance, medical assistance, mental health and more. For help, call or text 651-448-3874 or send an email to HelpTeam@ co.ramsey.mn.us during week days from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Always call 9-1-1 for emergencies. TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons Redevelopment Update The judge appointed to oversee a lawsuit that was brought forth by Ramsey County against the City of Arden Hills last spring has ordered the litigation to proceed. As the litigation over the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) redevelopment proceeds, the City of Arden Hills wants to address current news stories and public comments regarding the project. Affordable housing The City understands the demand for housing options to meet needs across a variety of income levels, which is specifically why the City worked with the County in 2016 and 2017 to ensure affordable housing was included in the TCAAP development. In fact, approximately 43 percent of the City’s housing stock is affordable per the Metropolitan Council housing standards. It is important for community members to understand that the City of Arden Hills has no authority to regulate housing affordability, nor does it work to restrict affordable housing in the City. The City’s role is to create the zoning for the City, and the zoning on TCAAP does not limit TCAAP Continued on Page 4 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 612-599-2457 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Dave McClung 651-332-0352 dmcclung@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 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 Commission are televised as well. Visit cityofardenhills.org for information about archived meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official newsletter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. City News Updates Ramsey County Yard Waste and Food Scrap Collection sites are open, including the site at 3530 Hudson Road in Arden Hills. Please stay six feet from others when using the site. Site hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, Closed; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Compost bin pickup has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with the exception of the May 2nd pick-up date. Yard Waste Sites Open; Compost Bin Sales Suspended City Cancels May Cleanup Day Event The city’s regularly scheduled May Cleanup Day event has been canceled. Other options are being explored. To learn about locations for disposing or recycling items, call Ramsey County’s Recycling & Disposal Hotline at 651-633-3279 (EASY) Answered 24/7. Fire Department Seeks Additional Location The Lake Johanna Fire Department is in talks with Bethel University to acquire a piece of land adjacent to the Anderson Center on Pine Tree Drive for a future fire station. If an agreement is reached between the fire department and the university, the fire department will need to go through the city’s normal public engagement process, which includes a neighborhood meeting and public hearings at the Planning Commission and City Council. Visit cityofardenhills.org/developmentprojects for more information on the project need assessment and background. Application Submitted For Vacant Fire Station O’Meara Construction has submitted an application to remove the existing vacant fire station at 3246 New Brighton Road and then subdivide the property into four owner-occupied, single-family residential lots. The proposed development is currently in the staff review process and has not been reviewed by the Planning Commission or City Council. Sign up for (Notify Me) news alert email notifications for future meeting agendas at cityofardenhills.org/NotifyMe. If you would like additional information, please call 651-792-7800 or email planning@cityofardenhills.org. Summit Development to Begin Site Grading in June Summit Development plans to build a 120-unit senior housing community west of Old Highway 10 on vacant land south of Parkshore Drive. Site grading is scheduled to begin in June 2020. Summer Hours Begin May 26 Summer staffing hours at City Hall begin Tuesday, May 26 and end Friday, September 4, pending Council approval. City Hall will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Benchmarks: A Review of Recent City Council Action All items approved by a unanimous 5-0 vote, unless otherwise noted. February 24, 2020 • Approved a resolution requesting a funding advance of $1.3 million from Municipal State Aid Funds related to 2018 Old Snelling Trail and Water Main Projects. • Approved a planned unit development amendment and site plan review for a 700 sq. ft. addition and loading dock to Building 10 on the Boston Scientific Campus. • Denied a variance request for a new larger deck at 3159 Shoreline Rd and approved a resolution establishing findings of fact regarding denial of the case. Applicant was requesting an additional 5.5 foot encroachment into established shoreline setbacks on Lake Josephine. • Approved an amendment for Brausen’s Family Automotive & Repair on County Rd E. The Applicant requested to modify the previously approved building architecture and materials. March 9, 2020 • Approved an extension of preliminary and final plats and developer’s agreement for Summit Development for a 120-unit senior housing and assisted care facility on Parkshore Drive and Old Highway 8. • Approved a contract with MN Dept. of Corrections Institution Community Work Crew (ICWC) to provide labor for various city projects. • Approved Public Works Department purchases of two new trucks and a Bobcat for $191,416 (5-0 vote). Amendment to postpone purchase of a 3rd truck approved 3-2 (Holmes and McClung opposed). March 23, 2020 • Approved promotion of Senior Engineering Tech David Swearingen to Assistant City Engineer, Engineer in Training. • Approved appointing Marcie Jefferys and Kurtis Weber (alternate) to the Planning Commission for terms ending December 31, 2022. • Approved a resolution supporting Arden Manor Park improvements via Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $189,700. • Approved a resolution authorizing the City of Coon Rapids to award the 2020 Street Maintenance contract under an existing North Metro Regional Joint Powers Agreement. • Approved a $90,000 Stormwater Management Grant Agreement from the Rice Creek Watershed District to address the Karth Lake Runoff Control Project. • Approved a resolution certifying quarterly delinquent utilities to Ramsey County. March 23, 2020 • Mayor Grant declared a Local Emergency effective 2:00 p.m. on March 23, invoking the city’s disaster plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At its regular March 23 Council meeting later that evening, the full Council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution that extends the declaration of the local emergency until the emergency has ended or further action is taken by the City Council. March 26, 2020 • At an emergency Council meeting, the Council approved a resolution that set the Arden Hills Water Main (Lexington Avenue) project and Mounds View High School Trail Segments project as their number one and two priorities, respectively, for State bonding consideration. For a complete listing of recent City Council action, please review the meeting minutes on the city website at cityofardenhills.org and click on View Agendas & Minutes. TCAAP continued from page 1 or restrict the development of affordable housing. Once the zoning is established it is up to the developers to design and build projects, some of which may or may not be affordable, but that decision is not made by the City. It is also up to the developer to decide how the affordable housing will be paid for. Like in the rest of the City, there is nothing prohibiting affordable housing on TCAAP. Outside of TCAAP, the City already has a significant amount of affordable housing; approximately forty-three percent of the City’s housing stock is affordable per the Metropolitan Council housing standards. Tax and other incentives In some circumstances, a developer requests that a city contribute to the cost of affordable housing through tax and other incentives. However, from the beginning of the TCAAP development, the City of Arden Hills has made it clear that it will strive to not increase the tax burden of the current residents of Arden Hills with the costs of developing TCAAP. With its financial constraints and expectations to provide other services such as police, fire, snow plowing, roads, road maintenance, parks and recreation and a myriad of other services, the city does not have additional funds available for tax incentives to the developers unless it were to risk a significant additional tax burden on current residents. TCAAP will not be a "cash cow" The TCAAP development will not be a “cash cow” for Arden Hills; the increased taxes the City will receive from the TCAAP development will be used to provide the needed services for that area. Ford site comparison A comparison commonly made to TCAAP is the former Ford site in St. Paul, where TCAAP is planned for 1,460 units and the Ford site is estimated between 2,400 and 4,000 units. A city the size of St. Paul, at 308,000 residents, has more tax capacity and resources to finance a development like the Ford site with greater density and affordable housing demands than Arden Hills, at 9,900 residents. The Ford site generates property tax revenues for St. Paul and has for years, even though it is not yet built out. These revenues can offset the costs of development. Property taxes will not be collected on the TCAAP site until the site is developed. Therefore, TCAAP has nothing coming in to help support development of affordable housing or higher density. The Ford site will require less investment by St. Paul in terms of infrastructure which is already in place, such as sewer and water and a well-functioning public transit system. The TCAAP site does not currently have sewer and water on the site or public transit options. The Metropolitan Council, which oversees public transit, does not have any plans to greatly increase public transit to TCAAP, either. City wants sustainable project The City of Arden Hills is committed to ensuring TCAAP is a viable and sustainable project, but significantly changing a well- thought-out plan at the last minute risks the long-term success of the project. That is a risk the Arden Hills residents should not have to take. If you are ready to get started on a home improvement project this spring, be aware most projects require permits from the city before work begins. These projects must be inspected when completed to make sure that the minimum standards are met. Projects that require a permit include: accessory buildings or sheds, decks, gas or wood fireplaces, fences, replacement water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, windows and egress windows, siding, roofing, driveways, insulation, in-ground swimming pools; and any interior remodels that involve demolishing, opening up walls, or moving or building walls. Visit cityofardenhills.org and click on the Get A Permit button to learn more about how to obtain a permit or call City Hall staff at 651-792-7800. City Hall is closed to the public, but staff are available by phone or email. Please maintain social distancing of 6 feet apart from others and pick up your dogs’ messes when using city trails, parks and sidewalks. Pets must be leashed at all times. Pets are required to be licensed by the city. This helps track them if they are running loose or lost. For information, visit cityofardenhills.org and search for pet licenses. Thank you for keeping our parks and trails enjoyable for all. Home Improvement Projects Require a Permit Parks, Trails & Pet Rules The Lake Johanna Fire Department (LJFD) serves some 42,000 residents in the communities of Arden Hills, Shoreview and North Oaks from three fire stations that cover a total of 32 square miles. Currently the department operates three stations: Station 2- 4676 Hodgson Road, North Oaks; Station 3- 5545 Lexington Ave. N. Shoreview; and Station 4- 3615 Victoria Street, Shoreview. Fire Station 1, located on New Brighton Road in Southern Arden Hills, was closed in 2017 and not replaced. The department responds to all fire, EMS and Rescue calls and anticipates responding to over 4,000 calls in 2020. Fire department officials are currently negotiating with Bethel University to purchase land on Pine Tree Drive in Arden Hills, in order to build a new fire station to better serve southern Arden Hills and Shoreview. This future station would replace the current Station 140 on Victoria Street. The department is a combination department with five full-time and 78 paid on- call firefighters assigned to three stations. They are cross-trained as firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians. The Department is part of the North Suburban HAZMAT team with neighboring fire departments and also operates the North Suburban Technical Rescue Team with Roseville Fire Department. The department currently has a minimum of six firefighters on duty 24/7 and staffs two fire stations. When additional manpower or equipment is needed off duty personnel are called back for assistance. 2019 statistics In 2019, the Lake Johanna Fire Department responded to 3,820 calls for service in the three contract cities. 1,138 of these calls were for service in Arden Hills, which accounted for 29.8 percent of all department calls and reflects an increase of 99 calls over last year’s Arden Hills' totals. The full annual report can be viewed at ljfd.org or at cityofardenhills.org under the Government tab on the Emergency, Fire & Police web page. Lake Johanna Fire Department Publishes 2019 Annual Report The Arden Hills community recycled a total of 1.6 million pounds (803 tons) of material in 2019! The most recycled materials were mixed paper at 35% and cardboard at 19%. Through Simple Recycling (ended February, 2020), residents recycled 11,550 pounds of textiles. 2019 Waste and Recycling End-of-Year Report; Congratulations Arden Hills! The Arden Hills Yard Waste and Food Scraps Collection Site had 8,301 visits, up 15% from 2018! To get started collecting food scraps, pick up a starter kit at the Arden Hills Yard Waste Collection site at 3530 Hudson Avenue. If you notice that your business or multi-family building isn’t recycling to the best of its ability, tell the property manager to check out BizRecycling.com, which provides free recycling resources, grants and consultations to businesses and multi-family buildings. The community should be proud of its efforts! Visit RamseyRecycles.com or call 651-633-3279, for more information on what can be recycled in Arden Hills. The City of Arden Hills has identified a number of street improvement projects for 2020 and beyond, including the following: 2020 Street Maintenance Project Each year, the city performs street and trail preservation activities in different parts of the city as part of a long-term program. Pavement preservation work for the 2020 construction season will include seal coating, crack sealing and fog sealing within segments of city streets and trails. For project information, visit cityofardenhills. org/roadconstruction and the 2020 Street Maintenance Project for a project map, details and updates. Snelling Avenue North and County Road E Improvements The city is in the early stages of planning and design for proposed improvements to Snelling Avenue North scheduled for construction in 2022. Project planning includes the following components. 1. Reconstruction of Snelling Avenue North extending from Highway 51 through the intersection with County Road E. 2. Consideration of a single lane roundabout at the intersection of County Road E and Snelling Avenue North in partnership with Ramsey County. 3. Replacement of water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer based on a condition assessment currently underway. A neighborhood meeting was conducted last fall to share project information and get feedback. An environmental site assessment is currently being conducted along the project corridor. Soil and groundwater samples will be collected at 14 locations in April 2020 to identify if potential contaminants exist under the roadway where water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utility replacement may be necessary. The environmental assessment is scheduled to be completed in June. Additional project design, cost estimating, and public informational efforts will resume in July. Hazelnut Park Area Street Improvements (2021) The city is collecting data and project planning for proposed street and utility improvements within the Hazelnut Park area anticipated for the 2021 construction season. The project includes the following street segments. • Glenpaul Avenue from New Brighton Road to Cleveland Avenue • Edgewater Avenue from New Brighton Road to the west end of the cul-de-sac • Jerrold Avenue from New Brighton Road to the west end of the cul-de-sac • Prior Avenue from County Road D to Jerrold Avenue • Lake Valentine Road from Snelling Avenue North to Mounds View High School (tentative) City staff is determining the extent of water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer replacement that should be included in the project. A letter describing the project scope, process and schedule will be mailed to property owners within the project area in May. 2020 Street, Parking Lot and Drainage Improvements The design process is underway for three smaller projects that were packaged together for delivery as listed below. 1. Installation of two new pedestrian crosswalks with raised medians along Hamline Avenue, located near Wyncrest Court and Indian Oaks Circle. 2. Installation of drainage improvements along the north portion of Shorewood Drive to resolve local flooding issues. 3. Replacement of deteriorated parking lot pavement at the City Hall site. The project consultant has completed design work for the pedestrian crosswalks and field survey work for the parking lot and drainage improvements. Construction plans are being prepared for review by the City Council at an upcoming work session. Project bidding is anticipated to occur in June. Additional information regarding the construction schedule will be available after receiving bids. City Identifies Street Improvement Projects for 2020 and Beyond In 2019, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office responded to 35,420 calls for service in the seven contract cities of Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township, which is an increase of 10 percent in calls from 2018. There were 5,253 calls in Arden Hills in 2019, which is 1.48 percent less than the number of calls in 2018. See calls by classification in the pie chart below. Arden Hills 2019 Traffic Violations In 2019, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted 423 traffic stops in Arden Hills, which resulted in 368 citations (219 were for speeding) and 55 verbal warnings. The 2019 statistics are located at cityofardenhills.org. Visit the Government tab and then the Emergency, Fire and Police web page and click on the Related Documents box. Mounds View High School Traffic and Pedestrian Improvements In May 2019, the City Council approved a planning case for building and site improvements at Mounds View High School. City Council approval included conditions that the School District perform a traffic and pedestrian study and implement safety measures to address the significant increase in pedestrian crossings of Lake Valentine Road by students using the parking lot north of the school building. The traffic and pedestrian study has resulted in 12 recommended improvements along Lake Valentine Road adjacent to the school. The list of recommended site improvements will be presented to the City Council at the April 27 Regular City Council meeting in the form of an amendment to the Planned Unit Development Agreement for Mounds View High School. I-35W North MnPASS Construction The I-35W North MnPass Project will continue this spring with a focus on center lanes and the median portion of the corridor, in addition to continued work on bridge structures. Northbound traffic lanes will be shifted to prepare for full construction work to begin in April. The final traffic configuration plan for 2020 is being reviewed by MnDOT and will be shared with the City Council when approved by MnDOT. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Releases 2019 Stats Patrol Calls by Classification – Arden Hills 2019 Calls for service are initiated by citizens via 9-1-1 or deputy initiation while on patrol. Quality of Life Calls involve situations and acts of physical disorder, damage to property or disruption of community life. Other/Miscellaneous Calls are those requests that don’t meet the other four descriptions, such as assisting medical calls, fire agencies and alarm calls. Street Projects (Continued) Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 COVID-19 Update TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons Update Sheriff and Fire Department Reports Street Improvement Projects Made in Arden Hills Features Powder Technology Inc. Powder Technology Inc., located at 1300 Grey Fox Road, manufacturers ISO test dust grades and other test contaminants used for testing automotive, aerospace and military mechanical components, as well as air and liquid filtration testing. The company has been in business since 1980 and has three parts of its business operations: ISO test dust and test dust contaminants, particle size analysis and toll processing. Three things to know 1. Powder Technology produces the contaminants used to test products such as air, fuel or water filtration systems. Different grades of dust are needed to test different products, such as filters, windshield wipers or upholstery, for example. 2. Powder Technology has an in-house laboratory to measure particle sizes for material being processed as well as samples sent in by a customer. Depending on the material being tested there are a few different ways to test, and PTI personnel can help with which is the best to meet the customer need. 3. Toll processing can test the feasibility of new products, improve applications and increase manufacturing efficiency. Onsite equipment is used to process non-hazardous dry industrial powders. The company can custom process materials, including reducing the particle size of materials or narrowing the particle size distribution, packaging, labeling and distribution. Powder Technology Inc. helps companies achieve particle size range goals in a collaborative and confidential environment. Powder Technology Inc. has a stable and growing employee pool, a comprehensive benefits package and space for expansion. For more information, visit powdertechnologyinc.com.