Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 March 2023 Arden Hills NotesArden Hills notes • MArcH 2023 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents March 2023 to advance the project. To emphasize this joint commitment the JDA adopted, by unanimous vote, the following Project Vision: “The Joint Development Authority’s vision for the Rice Creek Commons site is to create economic prosperity, build an inclusive economy, have a long-term sustainable development, and develop an energy-forward com- munity by providing much needed housing at a variety of income levels – including affordable housing – and creating well-paying jobs.” In the coming months the JDA will be building upon prior plans for TCCAP development, which included commercial development, parks and residential properties of both the single family and multi- family varieties. To facilitate this planning process staff of both the County and the City recommended to the JDA the appointment of an advisory committee to work with staff in reviewing business items and making recommendations to the full JDA Board. That recommendation was adopted unanimously by the Board, which then named JDA Commissioners Frethem and Fabel to the advisory committee. Lastly, the City appointed Arden Hills resident Jonathan Wicklund on March 7 to serve as the JDA Chair. Meetings of the full JDA Board during 2023, all of which will be public meetings held at Arden Hills City Hall, have been scheduled for April 3, June 5, August 7, October 2 and December 4. Following four years of not meeting, the Joint Development Authority (JDA) reconvened to try and move the Twin Cities Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) project forward. The 427 acre parcel north of Highway 96, which was purchased by Ramsey County, is the subject of a Joint Powers Agreement entered by Arden Hills with the County in 2012. Under that agreement a Joint Development Authority (JDA), with representatives from both the City and the County, was created to guide the planning process for the development. To date, Ramsey County has invested approximately $40 million into the site for purchase, remediation, site preparation and infrastructure. On February 6 the JDA held its first meeting since February, 2019. The new Commissioners, each appointed to a two year term, are County Commissioner Nicole Frethem and City Council members Tena Monson and Tom Fabel. Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt remains on the board and was appointed in 2019. During the public JDA meeting, held at Arden Hills City Hall, the four Commissioners each pledged to work cooperatively with one another TCAAP JDA Resumes Proposed 2018 TCAAP Development Concept Lake Johanna Fire and Ramsey County Sheriff Annual Reports for 2022 The Lake Johanna Fire Department (LJFD) and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) have released their annual reports, both can be found on the City's website at cityofardenhills.org/211/Emergency-Fire-Police. LJFD provides fire protection for the City of Arden Hills and RCSO provides police services, both agencies also serve a number of nearby cities. The City extends its gratitude to the firefighters and deputies that work hard to keep our City safe 24/7. Service Directory Arden Hills City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 www.cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Office Hours Monday–Friday: 8:00 am–4:30 pm Sheriff and Fire 911 - Emergency & Non-Emergency Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor David Grant • 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org City Councilmembers Brenda Holden • 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Emily Rousseau • 651-792-7856 erousseau@cityofardenhills.org Tena Monson • 612-758-0695 tmonson@cityofardenhills.org Thomas Fabel • 651-303-3611 tfabel@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Dave Perrault • 651-792-7824 dperrault@cityofardenhills.org Communications Coordinator 651-792-7800 City Council Liason Thomas Fabel Resident Resources cityofardenhills.org/resident-resources Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 pm. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings are also televised. Please visit www.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. 2 • Arden Hills notes • MArcH '23 Calling All Gardeners - Garden Plots Are Available! Are you excited by the idea of growing your own flowers, herbs, and produce but don’t have adequate conditions for a garden? The City offers residents the opportunity to rent a garden plot at the City’s shared site located on Old Highway 10. To reserve a plot, please complete the Garden Plot Sublease form online or print and mail it to City Hall. There is a $55.00/plot fee for the cost of garden preparation. April 30th is the final day to apply for a plot before other applicants can request a second. There is a $25 fee for the rental of a second plot. For more information, call 651-792-7848 or visit cityofardenhills.org/210/Garden-Plot-Rental. City News Spring/Summer 2023 Parks & Recreation Guide Get ready for the warmer weather with sports offerings and playground programs for a variety of youth ages, and yoga and meditation classes for adults. For detailed information and registration deadlines on upcoming courses, visit our Parks & Recreation Guide page on our website at cityofardenhills.org/204/Parks- and-Recreation-Guide. The Spring Egg Hunt is Back! Calling all kids! Join us to hunt for filled colored eggs on April 8th! The Spring Bunny will be bringing plenty of eggs, surprise gifts, and a hopping good time! The event will be held at Cummings Park regardless of the weather. Ages 1-12, with a fee of $8 per child. Pre-registration is required. The Registration Deadline is Wednesday, April 5th. Please visit cityofardenhills.org/180/Parks-Recreation to register. New Senior Program Coming Soon! SAIL: STAY ACTIVE & INDEPENDENT FOR LIFE The City of Arden Hills will soon be introducing this FREE senior fitness program! Classes are specifically geared toward adults 55 years or older to help improve strength, balance and mobility. This evidence-based fitness class will reduce the risk of falls, and help keep you active, healthy and independent. Classes are perfect for any fitness level, you can even participate sitting down! Classes will be held at Arden Hills City Hall. We are currently looking for seniors who are interested in being trained leaders in the program. Please contact mjohnson@cityofardenhills.org or call 651-792- 7848 to be added to our list. cityofArdenHills.org • MA rcH 2023 • 3 Through the Hills - 2023 Construction Updates Arden Manor Park and Floral Park Improvements In 2021 Arden Hills was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by Ramsey County, to invest in park improvements at Arden Manor Park. Improvements will include replacement of the play structure, replacement of the shelter, rehabilitation of the basketball court and pavement rehabilitation. The City is finalizing design work and the project is scheduled for construction this year. Design improvements to Floral Park will be finalized this spring with construction scheduled in 2023. These improvements will likely include trail rehabilitation and improvements, hard court resurfacing, picnic/shade structure replacement, play structure replacement, removal of dead and diseased trees, along with other amenities gathered from public surveys. For more details, please visit the project page at cityofardenhills. org/1054/Arden-Manor-and-Floral- Park-Improvements. Intersection and Utility Improvements at County Road E and Old Snelling Avenue Ramsey County and the City are planning to move forward with the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of County Rd E and Old Snelling. A recent study conducted by Ramsey County indicated that the roundabout design was recommended to improve the existing conditions of the intersection now and into the future. Construction is planned to begin this spring with the goal of having the intersection open to traffic in all directions before school starts in September. Along with this project, the City is taking advantage of the street being torn up by proactively replacing and upgrading needed water and sewer utilities within the corridor, saving the street from being torn up twice. Additionally, the County is planning on repaving Old Snelling from County Rd E up to Hwy 96 via mill & overlay. This project will create many traffic changes throughout the 2023 construction season, to stay informed with details please visit Ramsey County’s project page at ramseycounty.us/residents/roads- transportation/future-road-projects/ future-road-construction-projects/ county-road-e-old-snelling-avenue- intersection. Mounds View High School Trail Improvements The City is planning construction of a new trail that extends along Lake Valentine Rd from Mounds View High School to Old Snelling and then extends along Old Snelling from Lake Valentine Rd to County Rd E2 where it connects to an existing trail. The trail will consist of bituminous pavement with a width of 10-feet and will be grade-separated behind the existing street curb and gutter. This trail received a Safe Routes to School Grant in 2022. For more information and contact info please visit the City’s project page at cityofardenhills.org/1029/MVHS- Trail-Improvements. Lexington Avenue Reconstruction The Ramsey County construction project on Lexington Avenue from County Rd E to Hwy-694 will continue this spring with anticipated completion mid-summer 2023. Remaining items include completion of turn lanes, center medians, pedestrian ramps, new trail and sidewalk along with storm sewer and watermain construction, and remaining traffic lane construction. For more information please visit Ramsey County’s project page at ramseycounty.us/residents/ roads-transportation/current- roadwork/2022-road-construction- maintenance/lexington-avenue- reconstruction. See map on next page for upcoming project locations. Tree Plantings Installed Around the City In August of 2022, the City received quotes for a variety of disease resistant trees to be installed along Highway 96, and turnaround medians on Oak Avenue and Thom Court. The project was awarded to Margolis Company who installed 55 trees in those locations, consisting of Honeylocust (thornless), Kentucky Coffeetree, American Elm, and Hackberry. A variety of maple trees to add shade and color were added to Perry Dog Park. Funding for this project came from the City’s Tree Preservation Program which is comprised of required contributions made to the fund by developers who are unable to plant enough replacement trees on their project sites. Through the Hills - Construction Updates - 2023 Project Locations Trail maintenance includes crack sealing and fog sealing. Trail rehabilitation includes removing sections of aged and failing pavement and replacing with new pavement. 4 • Arden Hills notes • MArcH '23 City Council Benchmarks February 13, 2023 City Council Meeting • Approved 2022 Budget Carryovers and 2023 Budget Adjustment. • Approved Resolution 2023-005 appointing City Council and Staff Liaisons to the remaining City Commissions and Committees. • Approved bulk road salt purchase. • Approved payment for the Ramsey County Lexington Avenue reconstruction project. • Approved the Professional Services Agreement for 2023 with HR Green for on-call engineering services. All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted.• Approved the purchase of Lift Station 7 in-line grinder replacement parts and to invoice Presbyterian Homes. • Approved Public Works capital equipment replacement of the 2012 International plow truck. • Approved Resolution 2023- 006 appointing Kate Olson, Lacy Loosbrock and Emelia Rogers to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC). • Approved Resolution 2023-007 appointing Brad Bjorklund to the Planning Commission. • Approved recruitment of a new Communications Coordinator. • Approved signs for Planning Case 22-023 Planned Unit Development – New Perspective Senior Living – 3565 Pine Tree Drive – Arden Hills RE, LLC. • Approved Ordinance 2023-001 Amending Chapter 2, Section 220, Subsections 220.01 and 220.03. (motion carried 3-2, Grant and Holden opposed) • Authorized Publication of Summary Ordinance for 2023-001 Amending Chapter 2, Section 220, Subsections 220.01 and 220.03. (motion carried 4-1, Holden opposed) For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” Pets and Water Quality As the snow begins to melt, the telltale signs of pet feces begins to show in yards as well as at our parks and along the trails. While none of us likes to unexpectedly step into a pile of waste, pet feces actually pose a threat to our local water quality. WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO CLEAN UP AFTER PETS? You, as a responsible pet owner! Per City Code, pet owners are responsible for removing and sanitarily disposing feces left by an animal on a private property or yard as well as public property such as trails, parks and boulevards. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In addition to being unsightly, public health is put at risk. Pet waste contains harmful fecal coliform bacteria and parasites – dog waste is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, which negatively affect our waters. HOW DOES PET WASTE IMPACT WATER QUALITY? When not disposed of properly, pet waste breaks down over time and washes into the city’s storm drainage system. Those nutrients found in pet feces eventually reach our ponds, streams, lakes and rivers, depleting oxygen fish need to survive while encouraging harmful algae. HOW DO I PROPERLY DISPOSE OF PET FECES? You should be sure to always carry biodegradable pet waste bags on your walks and dispose of the them in the garbage right away. You should also try to clean up pet feces in your yard as soon as you can as well. cityofArdenHills.org • MArcH 2023 • 5 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 Arden Hills notes • MArcH 2023 • 6 TCAAP JDA Resumes Construction Updates Tree Plantings Installed Around the City Pets and Water Quality Postal Customer No Mow May On March 13th, the City Council voted to approve Now Mow May for Arden Hills' residents and businesses. The No Mow May initiative has been growing across the country in response to the ongoing threats to pollinator populations. The main purpose of No Mow May is to encourage people to let spring flowers in their lawns bloom before mowing. Many insects overwinter in the ground and in leaves or other plant material. As they emerge in the spring, they are in need of food and habitat. Reducing mowing during this time increases available food and habitat, promoting the survival and increased diversity of many insect species. No Mow May is optional, residents and businesses may choose to participate if they'd like. There is no registration required. The enforcement of City Code regarding long grass will temporarily be suspended for the program. The program will run from May 1st through May 31st. Participants are expected to have their properties back into compliance no later than June 10th. Code enforcement will start taking action on any properties not in compliance after June 10th. More information on No Mow May and how to help pollinators can be found at the University of Minnesota's Bee Lab website at beelab.umn.edu/no-mow-may.