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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 April/May 2023 Arden Hills NotesArden Hills notes • April/MAy 2023 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents April/May 2023 Northeast Youth and Family Services TCAAP JDA Update The Joint Development Authority (JDA) held its second meeting of the year on April 3, 2023. The board received the County Parks Department presentations on the adjacent park and recreation facilities at TCAAP. The board also received a presentation on the County’s Equitable Development Framework; this framework will help evaluate proposals from developers interested in developing the Thumb Parcel, which is guided for office or other similar uses. On April 24, the County officially issued the solicitation for the Thumb Parcel for development interest. A work session of the JDA is scheduled for May 1, and the next regular JDA meeting is June 5. Information related to upcoming meetings, summaries of advisory committee meetings, and additional background information can be found on the City’s website. The City of Arden Hills is currently accepting applications for seasonal Recreation and Public Works positions. Playground leaders, youth soccer officials, evening sports instructors, tennis instructors, and public works seasonal maintenance workers are all needed. For more information on these positions, please visit the City’s Employment Opportunities page at cityofardenhills.org/425/Employment-Opportunities. On April 10, 2023, the City Council voted to enter into an agreement with Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS). NYFS is a nonprofit, community-based and trauma-informed mental health and community services organization that has been serving the northeastern suburbs since 1976. The 2023 prorated contract amount is $16,661. This amount will increase each year. NYFS’ mission is “Transforming lives by ensuring access to care that nurtures healing, cultivates community, and inspires hope.” The City of Arden Hills will be included with fifteen other cities in the area that support the organization. NYFS also partners with nearby law enforcement agencies, school districts and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Services provided by NYFS include diversion for youth offenders, youth development, school and clinic based mental health programs, day treatment services for adolescents, and community advocacy. In the last year, NYFS served 786 clients across their different programs, totaling 21,696 appointments. These programs are funded across a multitude of different sources, such as, insurance coverage, donations, municipal support, and grants to name a few. Regardless of a person’s ability to pay, NYFS focuses on ensuring access to help for those that need it and work to remove financial barriers and serve clients that are uninsured, underinsured and/or low-income. For those wishing to learn more about NYFS, seek support, or get involved, more information can be found on their website nyfs.org. NYFS is located at 3490 Lexington Ave North in Shoreview. Now Hiring Fair Housing On April 10, 2023 the City Council voted to proclaim April 2023 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Arden Hills. The Fair Housing Act, enacted in 1968, enshrined into federal law the elimination of housing discrimination in the United States. By making this proclamation the City of Arden Hills showed its commitment to the mission and intent of the act to provide fair and equal housing opportunities for all. The City Council also voted to participate with the Just Deeds organization. Just Deeds’ goal is to assist residents with discharging discriminatory covenants that may have been written into deeds as late as the 1960s. See the article on Page 6 for more information and how you can see if your property has a discriminatory covenant. Summer staffing hours at City Hall begin Tuesday, May 30 and end Friday, September 1. City Hall will be open from 7:30 am–5 pm Monday through Thursday and 7:30–11:30 am on Fridays. Summer Hours Service Directory City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 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 Sr. Communications Coordinator Luke Cardona • 651-792-7817 lcardona@cityofardenhills.org City Council Liaison 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 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 • April/MAy 2023 Buckthorn Buckthorn is an invasive species that negatively impact local plant life diversity. To get rid of it, you have to pull it up by the roots or cut it down and spray the stump with a powerful herbicide to prevent it from returning and spreading. By request, the Public Works Department will pick up buckthorn from residential homes on Fridays beginning on May 26 and ending on October 27. Residents must place the buckthorn in neat, manageable piles along the curb. Please note that only buckthorn will be accepted. You must complete and submit the Buckthorn Pick-Up Request form to arrange for a Buckthorn pick-up. The deadline for a same-week pick-up is 12 pm on Thursdays. If a form is submitted after 12 pm on Thursdays, the buckthorn will be picked up on Friday of the following week. Residents can also reserve a buckthorn removal tool from the city, which can be used for one week at a time, free of charge. To dispose of buckthorn yourself, the Ramsey County compost site accepts buckthorn from residents. More information, including the pick-up request form, proper pick-up procedures, and the removal tool request form, can be found at cityofardenhills.org/1172/Buckthorn. City News Park and Pavilion Rentals The City of Arden Hills has 14 beautiful parks that cover nearly 102 acres. City parks offer a wide range of facilities and activities. Picnic shelter facilities are available on weekends in May and daily from Memorial Day through October 31. Cummings Park and Perry Park have larger pavilions and are the only facilities meant for larger parties. Reservations for park facilities are taken on a first come, first serve basis. A fee is charged for reserving picnic facilities. A Facilities Rental Application can be completed and submitted online. Please visit cityofardenhills.org/933/Picnic-Shelter-and-Park-Pavilion-Rental to view the availability calendar or call 651-792-7848 during business hours. Touch-A-Truck! Join us to celebrate National Public Works Week on May 20 from 10 am-1 pm at Perry Park! Get a close-up look at some of your favorite vehicles, including a fire engine, squad car, patrol boat, snowplow, and more. Arden Hills Public Works, Lake Johanna Fire Department, Ramsey County Sheriff and the National Guard will all be in attendance. Don’t miss this day of family fun! cityofArdenHills.org • April/MAy 2023 • 3 City News (continued) Arden Hills Residents Can Receive EAB Tree Treatment Discounts Ash trees are a common native tree species and were also frequently planted as landscape or boulevard trees. More than one in five metro area trees is an ash tree. Where there are ash trees, there are Emerald Ash Borers (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia. Arden Hills residents will receive a discount for EAB tree care services from Rainbow Treecare. All residents will receive an informational postcard from Rainbow Treecare about these services. Browse their website rainbowtreecare.com/emerald-ash-borer/city-partnerships/arden-hills/ or contact them at 952-922-3810 for more information. Living With Wildlife Arden Hills is home to many wild animals, including foxes, coyotes, turkeys, deer, bears, and more. Many animals thrive on the habitat created by suburban sprawl and the fragmentation of woods and forests. Unfortunately, wildlife can cause damage to vegetation, leave behind waste, damage property and, in rare situations, become aggressive. To protect pets and wildlife, owners should monitor and leash pets in areas where they may encounter wildlife. Wild animals are protected and can’t be killed to defend a pet. In Arden Hills, you are restricted to trapping animals only. Do not take live animals to another area to release as this may spread disease. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office provides animal control services focused on domestic animal issues. Animal Control does not remove wild animals simply because they are on your property. If you find a sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal, please call Animal Control at 9-1-1. The City recommends using private, licensed professional animal control companies to remove distressed wildlife. Deputies and police officers will respond to public safety incidents involving injured or dangerous wildlife on private property. If you see road kill, like deer carcasses, call the road authority that has immediate responsibility. For interstates, U.S. and state highways, contact MnDOT. For county roads, contact Ramsey County Public Works. For city roads and streets, contact Arden Hills Public Works. As the weather warms, it's common for small rodents, like mice, to find their way into people’s homes. There are many ways people try to keep them from coming inside, including using rodenticides (mouse poisons). Residents should be aware that these poisons may pose a threat to children in the house, domestic pets, and wild animals as they tend to hunt/eat rodents that have ingested the poison, thereby poisoning themselves. Using rodenticides to eliminate mice can be deadly to birds of prey, pets, and children. Mice eat the poison but do not die quickly. The owls, hawks, and eagles then consume it. Using mechanical traps, non-toxic repellents, or a non-lethal approach is best. Filling in holes and gaps around your foundation and eliminating food sources (fallen birdseed, garbage, open compost bins, etc.) is also effective. Creating and maintaining critical habitats where birds of prey can thrive will keep us and our parks healthy and safe. The Raptor Center of Minnesota says that the safest way to use these poisons is not to use them at all. Residents may want to consider alternative methods that do not threaten other people, pets, or our abundant wildlife. Construction and Development Project Updates There are several upcoming and ongoing projects happening around the City. While some are routine maintenance on city streets, others are MnDOT or County projects, such as the County’s second phase of the Lexington Avenue Reconstruction. Schedules, updates, and other pertinent information can change quickly. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the City’s web page at cityofardenhills.org/216/Construction-Projects. The status of development projects, such as the Old Pace Site or Lexington Station Phase III, can also change frequently. As city staff receives updates, we will update our website to reflect new information. Visit the Development Projects Page at cityofardenhills.org/400/Development-Projects for the most up-to-date information. March 13, 2023 City Council Meeting • Approved Resolution 2023-008 affirming allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenues. • Approved appointment of Senior Planner. • Approved Personnel Policy update pertaining to Paid Parenting Leave language. • Approved Resolution 2023-010 appointing Nancy Jacobson to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC). • Approved Resolution 2023-011 ordering preparation of Feasibility Report – 2024 PMP. • Approved Resolution 2023- 012 relating to No Mow May for Arden Hills residents and businesses. April 10, 2023 City Council Meeting • Approved Cooperative Agreement with Ramsey County for landscaping maintenance west of TH-10 at Highway 96. • Approved Resolution 2023-013 approving Grant Agreement between Met Council and City of Arden Hills for 2021 and 2022 Sanitary Sewer Lining Program. • Approved Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 1 – Bolton & Menk – Lift Station No. 10. • Approved Resolution 2023-014 recommending the City of Coon Rapids Award the 2023 Street Maintenance Program. • Approved Professional Services Agreement with Rainbow Tree Care. All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted.• Approved Resolution 2023-015 approving amended Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between State of Minnesota and Local Governments and authorizing participation in National Opioid Settlements. • Approved 2023 State of Minnesota Institution Community Work Crew (ICWC) Program contract. • Approved Resolution 2023- 016 adopting and confirming Quarterly Special Assessments for Delinquent Utilities. • Approved Planning Case 23-004 – Amendments to Chapter 13 - Zoning Code – Solar Energy in Conservation District, including approval of: Ordinance 2023- 002 amending Section 1305, Subsection 1305.04; Ordinance 2023-003 amending Section 1320, Subsections 1320.04, 1320.05 and 1320.15; and authorizing publication of Summary Ordinance 2023-002 and 2023- 003. • Approved Resolution 2023-017 – Planning Case 23-003 – Minor Subdivision and Variance for 1174 Edgewater Avenue. (motion carried 4-1, Holden opposed) • Tabled the City/TCAAP Survey until after discussion at the City Council Retreat. (motion carried 3-2, Grant and Holden opposed) • Approved Resolution 2023- 018 condemning the use of and discharging discriminatory covenants on City-owned property. • Approved participation in the Just Deeds Coalition. • Approved Request for Proposals for Attorney Services. • Approved the Northeast Youth and Family Services Agreement. • Approved Staff working with Kimley Horn to draft a proposal to update the TCAAP AUAR. (motion carried 3-2, Grant and Holden opposed) • Approved Fair Housing Proclamation (motion carried 4-1, Holden opposed) April 24, 2023 City Council Meeting • Approved First Quarter Financials. • Approved 2024 Budget Calendar. • Approved City staff to begin summer work hours beginning Tuesday, May 30, 2023 and concluding on Friday, September 1, 2023. • Approved Resolution 2023-019 – Site Plan Review for 4300 Round Lake Road and 1987 Gateway Boulevard. • Approved the authorization to recruit for a Building Inspector/ Code Enforcement Officer. • Approved Planning Case 23- 007 – Amendments to Chapter 13 – Zoning Code – Commercial Recreation, Outdoor B-2 District, including approval of: Resolution 2023-020 - Planning Case 23- 007 – Site Plan Review for 1273 W. County Road E, Ordinance 2023-004 - Amendments to Chapter 13, Section 1305 – Subsection 1305.04, Section 1320 – Subsection 1320.05, and Section 1325 – Subsection 1325.02, and authorizing publication of Summary Ordinance 2023-004. • Resolution 2023-021 – Planning Case 23-006 – Site Plan Review for 3610 Snelling Avenue North. For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills. org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” City Council Benchmarks 4 • Arden Hills notes • A pril /MAy 2023 cityofArdenHills.org • April/MAy 2023 • 5 Getting Rid of Household Hazardous Waste Garage/Boutique Sales and Food Trucks If you are planning a garage/boutique sale or want to host a food truck at your property, permits are required. You can apply via the City’s website or in person. There is no charge for garage sale/boutique and resident food truck permits. Please visit cityofardenhills.org/947/Misc-Garage-Sales-Resident-Food-Truck-Pe for more information. Mobile food unit/food truck vendors are required to obtain their own license from the City. A list of 2023 licensed vendors can be found at cityofardenhills.org/DocumentCenter/View/4852/2023-Licensed-Mobile-Food-Units-Food-Truck-List-PDF. Please remember that vendors should park in driveways/on private property and cannot park in the right-of-way or on the street. Spring Rain Garden Tips The rain garden on your property makes a positive impact on the water quality of nearby lakes and streams. The vegetated shallow depression is designed to capture and absorb rainwater. The soil in your rain garden removes pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metals from the water. In the spring: Prune dead vegetation; Cut or divide plants that have grown too large; Remove sediment or leaves that have accumulated around plants and where water enters the garden; Pull weeds as needed; Add plants, if desired; Add shredded hardwood mulch to maintain a 3” layer. More rain garden information is available at cityofardenhills.org/113/Rain-Gardens. Soliciting in Arden Hills Vendors that wish to go door-to-door to promote their business are required to obtain a license from the City Clerk. They are subject to a background check and must carry their city-issued license on their person at all times. If a solicitor visits you, they must be able to provide their license if requested. They are also subjected to regulations regarding hours of operation, which are limited to 9:00 am-7:00 pm every day. If you do not wish to receive peddlers or solicitors at your home, the city encourages you to display a sign that says, “Peddlers, Solicitors, and Transient Merchants Prohibited,” or something similar. If you have any questions, issues, or concerns, please contact the City Clerk at 651-7922-7811 during regular business hours or call 911 outside of normal business hours. Many household products you use to clean your kitchen and bathroom, maintain your car and home, and control animals and insects contain hazardous materials. If a container has the words caution, warning, danger or poison on the label and still has product inside, it is considered hazardous and does not belong in the trash. Bring these items to Ramsey County’s free household hazardous waste collection sites for safe disposal. The mobile collection site will be at in Arden Hills for the months of May and July, check Ramsey County's website for the exact location. Also, Ramsey County has a year-round collection site in Saint Paul at 5 Empire Drive. Find hours, directions and the full list of items accepted at RamseyRecycles.com/HHW. Or call the Ramsey County Recycling & Disposal hotline at 651-633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7. More information on recycling in Ramsey County can be found at RamseyRecycles.com. Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 Northeast Youth and Family Services Living With Wildlife Buckthorn Removal Getting Rid of Household Hazardous Waste Garage Sales/Food Trucks/Solicitor Info Postal Customer Discharging Discriminatory Covenants Through Just Deeds From post-Civil War through the first half of the 20th century, discriminatory covenants were included in deeds to homes that precluded non-white ownership and rentals. Following the Fair Housing Act of 1968, enforcement of those covenants is prohibited under Federal law; however, those covenants, while unenforceable, may still exist in the original deed language. This is true across the country, for many parts of Ramsey County, and in Arden Hills. On April 10, 2023 the City Council passed a resolution condemning discriminatory covenants, directing Staff to discharge any such covenants on City-owned property and participate with Just Deeds. Just Deeds is an organization that works with residents at no-cost to discharge these covenants from their deeds. More information will be available on the City’s website on how to work with Just Deeds, but until then residents are encouraged to visit Just Deed’s website at justdeeds.org. Residents can also visit the Mapping Prejudice Project web page at mappingprejudice.umn.edu- to learn more and see if their property has been identified as having a discriminatory covenant.