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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May 2024 Arden Hills Notescityofardenhills.org • May 2024 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents May 2024 Goats Returning to Chatham Trails The most charismatic form of Buckthorn management will return to the Chatham Trails open space in early June. This will be their second visit to the area as they continue to graze Buckthorn to help with its removal. We can expect roughly 20- 30 goats, similar to their first visit last September. Residents are invited to walk the trails during this time to see the goats at work. Two fences will be put up to keep the goats from wandering: one low-voltage electric fence on the side closest to the goats and one regular fence to keep people away from the energized fence. The fences will be installed 1-2 weeks before the June start date, and signs on and near the fences will notify visitors about the project. Some of the trails may be temporarily closed due to the way the fencing may be laid out, so it will be important for visitors to refer to the posted signage. Buckthorn has been on the state’s Noxious Weed List since 1999, and both Common and Glossy Buckthorn can be found at Chatham Trail, among others. Until recently, there wasn’t enough knowledge about management strategies. New research has made buckthorn management more feasible, though still challenging and time-consuming. Learn more at mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/ minnesota-noxious-weed-list. While the goats are not a complete solution to our City’s buckthorn problem, they are a valuable tool in managing these woody, noxious weeds. By eating all the leaves they can reach (up to about 6’), they weaken the shorter plants by forcing them to use more energy from their roots to resprout. If done frequently enough, the saplings will eventually die, bringing us one step closer to a healthier trail area. The goats are also valuable for opening up the understory so that volunteers can have better access to cutting and removing the buckthorn from seedlings to mature trees. The City’s Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee is always looking for more volunteers to help with Buckthorn removal. If you are interested in volunteering, please call the Public Works Department at 651-792-7850. Buckthorn Pickup and Tool Rental for Residents The Public Works Department is once again offering a pickup service for buckthorn branches and leaves (no root waste). They will pick up buckthorn on Fridays, beginning May 17 and continuing through October 25. To utilize this service, you must submit the buckthorn pickup request form on the City’s website. This form must be submitted by noon on Thursday for pick up in the same week. Residents must place the buckthorn in neat, manageable piles along the street curb, with the cut ends facing the street. As a reminder, only buckthorn will be accepted. There is a helpful buckthorn pickup procedures document on the City’s website. Residents can also dispose of their buckthorn at Ramsey County’s collection site located at 1881 Hudson Road, St. Paul. For help with buckthorn removal, residents can reserve a buckthorn removal tool (weed wrench) for one week at a time. Reservation requests may be completed online, through the City’s website, or in person at the Public Works office. Once the completed reservation form has been submitted, City staff will confirm the reservation and tool availability. There is no fee for using this tool. To learn more, sign up for buckthorn removal, or rent the tool, please visit cityofardenhills.org/1172/Buckthorn. 2 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2024 Service Directory City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Office Hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 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 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. Council meetings, Work Sessions, and Planning Commission meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. 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 • May 2024 City News 2023 Drinking Water Report Arden Hill’s Consumer Confidence Report, better known as the Drinking Water Report, is now available online at cityofardenhills.org/228/Water. A print version is available by request by calling 763-792-7814. The City works with the Minnesota Department of Health to test drinking water for more than 100 contaminants. The Consumer Confidence Report contains the monitoring results from January 1 to December 31, 2023. Arden Hills had no violations reported, therefore, the drinking water is considered safe. City Hall Summer Hours of Operation Summer staffing hours at City Hall begin Tuesday, May 28 and end Friday, August 30. City Hall will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 am to 11:30 am on Fridays. Residents Can Receive EAB Tree Treatment Discounts Ash trees are a common native species frequently planted as landscape or boulevard trees. More than one in five metro area trees is an ash tree. All ash trees are at risk of mortality from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia. Rainbow Treecare - the City’s lowest bidder chosen provider - will inspect your tree(s) at no cost to you to determine if a tree injection treatment is the best option, and 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/cities/arden-hills or contact them at 952-922-3810 for more information. City-issued Licenses and Permits for Food Trucks No Longer Necessary The City Council has adopted an amendment to the City Code removing the previous requirement that food trucks and other mobile food units obtain a City-issued license. Instead, all food truck vendors operating at an Arden Hills business or private residence must obtain a license from Ramsey County or the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. In addition, residents no longer need to obtain a no-fee permit to host a food truck at their property. Please remember that food trucks cannot park in the street or in the right-of-way per City Ordinance. For questions or issues, please contact the City Clerk at 651-792-7811. Garage Sales and Soliciting in Arden Hills In Arden Hills, both hosting a garage sale and soliciting require a permit. To apply for a no-fee garage sale permit, use the online Garage Sale Application found at cityofardenhills.org/garagesale. Each garage sale is limited to three days or less, and no more than two garage sales are permitted annually. All signage must follow the guidelines outlined in the application to advertise the garage sale. Similarly, vendors that wish to go door-to-door to promote their business must obtain a license from the City Clerk. They are subject to a background check and must always carry their City-issued license. If a solicitor visits you, they must be able to provide their license, if requested. They must also follow regulations regarding hours of operation, which are limited to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day. If you have any questions, issues, or concerns with a solicitor during regular business hours, please contact the City Clerk at 651-792-7811. If it is outside of regular business hours or on the weekend, please call 911. cityofardenhills.org • May 2024 • 3 cityofardenhills.org • May 2024 • 3 City Council Benchmarks April 8, 2024 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved Resolution 2024- 015 Relating to Mow Less May for Arden Hills Residents and Businesses • Approved Hiring of Building Official • Approved Hardcourt Rehabilitation – Cummings, Valentine and Ingerson Parks ($14,875.00) • Approved Resignation of Planning Commission Alternate Steven Jones • Approved Resolution 2024-016 Appointing Steve Erler to the Planning Commission as a Regular Member • Acknowledged the Application of Fishing for Life for an Exempt Permit to Conduct a Raffle with the Drawing being April 13, 2024 with No Waiting Period • Approved Resolution 2024-017 Approving a Site Plan Review at 1230 Red Fox Road and 1221 Cummings Park Drive – Water Tower Security Fencing – Planning Case 24-003 • Approved a One Year Extension Until April 10, 2025 for a Minor Subdivision and Variance at 1174 Edgewater Avenue – Planning Case 23-003 • Approved Resolution 2024-018 Accepting Bid and Authorizing Award of Contract to Hydro- Klean, LLC – 2024 CIPP Lining Project ($400,360.00) • Approved Resolution 2024- 019 Recommending the City of Coon Rapids Award the 2024 Street Maintenance Program ($90,000.00) • Approved Professional Services Agreement with Rainbow Tree Care ($5,500.00) • Approved Professional Services Agreement for Design Services with Bolten & Menk, Inc. – Arden Oaks and Free Parks Project (amount not to exceed $12,419.00) • Approved 2024 Stormwater Management Grant Agreement with Rice Creek Watershed District –2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project ($70,000.00) • Approved Resolution 2024-023 Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of Proposed Assessment and Calling for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Assessment related to 1570 McClung Drive – 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvement Project • Adopted Fair Housing Proclamation • Approved Resolution 2024-020 Confirming Quarterly Special Assessments for Delinquent Utilities • Planning Case 24-006 – Chapter 13, Section 1380 –TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) – Development Flow Chart --> Adopted Ordinance 2024- 002 Amending Chapter 13, Section 1380 Concerning the Development Flow Chart of the TRC and Authorized Publication of Summary Ordinance 2024-002 • Approved Resolution 2024- 021 Special Assessment Roll –2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project • Approved Resolution 2024- 022 Accepting Bid and Authorizing Award of Contract to S.M. Hentges and Sons, Inc. –2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project ($2,842,791.05) • April 22, 2024 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved 2025 Budget Calendar • Approved Hiring of Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Official • Authorized City Staff to Begin Summer Work Hours Beginning Tuesday, May 28, 2024, and Concluding on Friday, August 30, 2024 • Approved Ordinance 2024-003 Amending Chapter 3, Licenses and Regulations, Section 320 Limited/Temporary Permits and Section 395 Mobile Food Units/ Food Trucks and Authorized Summary Ordinance Publication • Approved Resolution 2024-024 Approving a Conditional Use Permit for Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Sales at 3717 Lexington Avenue N (Cub Discount Liquor) – Planning Case 24-007 • Approved Proposal for Professional Services for Materials Testing – Braun Intertec – 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project ($2,842,791.05) • Approved Appointment of John Connelly as Board Representative to Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau • Authorized City Administrator to Submit Letter of Support for Federal Funding – Lake Johanna Fire Department Headquarters Project For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” 4 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2024 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 Buckthorn Emerald Ash Borer Tree Treatment Discount Food Truck Licenses Update Garage Sales and Soliciting City Council Benchmarks Postal Customer Swim at the Beach this Summer! As the warm summer days draw near, it’s time to gear up for some water fun at Tony Schmidt Regional Park’s swimming beach! Located at 3500 Lake Johanna Blvd. in Arden Hills, this park has easy access to the swimming beach and a beach building. Other amenities include a gazebo with four benches, a play field, restrooms, parking for over 125 cars, multiple boat trailer slots, multiple playgrounds, a walking path, a boat launch site, a fishing pier, and picnic tables. The swimming beach is open May 27 through Labor Day, with swimming starting 30 minutes before sunrise and ending 30 minutes past sunset. The beach at Tony Schmidt Regional Park does not have lifeguards on duty, but if you would like to swim where there are lifeguards, visit the beach at Long Lake in New Brighton Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. Neighboring Lake Josephine is another great beach to visit for easy access to swimming. This park is located at 3027 North Lexington Ave. in Roseville. To learn more about swimming beaches in Ramsey County, visit ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation/beaches-water-park/swimming-beaches. 2024 Touch-A-Truck Join us at Perry Park on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a fun time with all kinds of big trucks and vehicles! This event is FREE for kids and their families. Celebrate National Public Works Week in Arden Hills by getting a close-up look at some of your favorite vehicles, including a snowplow, fire engine, squad car, boat, and more! When you get hungry, grab a bite to eat from Relish Brothers. This event is hosted by Arden Hills Public Works and Recreation, Lake Johanna Fire Department, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, and the National Guard. The annual Storm Sewer Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) meeting will coincide with this event.