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Home My WebLink About10 Oct 2024 Arden Hills Notescityofardenhills.org • October 2024 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents October 2024 November 5 General Election Two Businesses Open in Arden Hills Early and Absentee Voting Early voting has begun. You can mail your absentee ballot to the Ramsey County Elections Office or turn your ballot in person at the same place, located at 90 Plato Blvd. W. Ste. 160 in Saint Paul. On October 18, other Ramsey County voting locations open for early voting (placing the ballot directly into the ballot machine yourself), and the closest early voting locations for Arden Hills residents are the Ramsey County Library-Shoreview, located at 4560 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview and Ramsey County Library-Roseville, located at 2180 Hamline Ave in Roseville. If you wait until Election Day on November 5 to submit your absentee ballot, you must return it to the Ramsey County Elections Office (90 W. Plato Blvd.) by 8 p.m. or vote in person at your assigned polling place. You can find your polling location at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. More information on voting early, including dates and hours of operation, can be found at cityofardenhills.org/664/Absentee- and-Early-Voting. Voting on Election Day Those voting on Election Day must do so at their local polling place on November 5. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. There are three precincts in Arden Hills: • P1 Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Avenue N., 55126 • P2 Anderson Center (Bethel University Satellite Campus), 2 Pine Tree Drive, 55112 (note: the Anderson Center is not located on Bethel’s main campus. The Anderson Center is located south of County Rd E on Pine Tree Dr., between Lexington Ave and Snelling Ave) • P3 North Heights Lutheran Church, 1700 West Highway 96, 55112 Information about elections, including registering to vote, important dates, and more, is available on the City’s website at cityofardenhills.org/Vote. If you have questions, call City Hall at 651-792-7800. Hear from the City Council Candidates On September 21, the League of Women Voters Minnesota (LWVMN) held a City Council Candidate Forum featuring the four candidates running for City Council. The full video can be viewed online at lwvmn.org/2024- candidate-forums Last month, NineNorth filmed each of the City Council candidates as part of their “Candidates Speak Out” series. You can view the full video at cityofardenhills.org/NineNorth- Candidates. As a reminder, you can also read candidate profiles, written in their own words, at cityofardenhills.org/ CouncilCandidates. 3673 Lexington Ave N. Suite C Papa Murphy’s, the largest take-n-bake pizza company is back in Arden Hills, opening in early October. 3833 Lexington Ave N. Suite 102 StretchLab is a unique wellness concept that offers customized, assisted-stretch sessions in a comfortable group setting. 2 • Arden Hills Notes • October 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 Interim City Administrator Jessica Jagoe • 651-792-7810 jjagoe@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 • October 2024 Help Locate Rain Gardens in Arden Hills The City’s Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee is helping the City take action to keep our rain gardens functional and beautiful. During Night to Unite, some residents were asked to locate and report the location of rain gardens on public right-of-way in their neighborhoods. Your responses were greatly appreciated, and now we need the input of others! It’s essential that the City has a complete inventory of all the rain gardens since they are responsible for managing stormwater runoff to meet the water quality goals set by the Rice Creek Watershed. Why are our rain gardens important? • They capture stormwater runoff • They reduce the volume of stormwater runoff • They filter out toxins and pollutants present in the rainwater • This process helps improve the water quality of our lakes • They can add beauty and plant diversity to our boulevards How can you help? We need help identifying rain gardens in Arden Hills! If you have a rain garden in your yard located along the street, the City would like to know about it. You can also identify other rain gardens in your neighborhood and send the address and a photo to Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen at DSwearingen@cityofardenhills.org. Please include the address of the house closest to the rain garden. Fire Prevention Month October is Fire Prevention Month! The goal of Fire Prevention Month is to raise fire safety awareness and help protect homes and families. In 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) named the second week of October Fire Prevention Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Below you’ll learn ways to prepare for a home fire and guidelines for having recreational fires outside. Ways to Prepare for a Home Fire The American Red Cross emphasizes key safety measures to protect your home and family in preparation for fire emergencies. Install the correct number of smoke alarms, test them monthly, and replace batteries annually. Ensure everyone knows two ways to escape from each room and establish a family meeting spot. Practice fire drills at least twice a year, and teach everyone to “Stop, Drop, and Roll” if their clothes catch fire. You should also safeguard your home by keeping flammable items away from heat sources and never leaving cooking unattended. Photo credit: University of Minnesota Extension cityofardenhills.org • October 2024 • 3 cityofardenhills.org • October 2024 • 3 Fire Prevention Month cont’d Aug. 26, City Council Meeting This meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum. Sept. 9, 2024 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Authorized Release of RFP for Recycling Services • Adopted Ordinance 2024-008 Amending the Arden Hills City Code Regarding Salaries for the Mayor and City Councilmembers • Approved Acknowledgment of Twin Cities Gateway Grant Funds • Approved Resolution 2024-042 Appointing Vincent Meyer as Youth Commissioner to Economic Development Commission • Approved Payment No. 2 – Hydro- Klean, LLC – 2024 CIPP Lining Project ($193,452.38) • Approved Payment No. 4– S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. – 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project ($681,010.61) • Approved Final Payment – Hydro-Klean, LLC – Nursery Hill Sanitary Sewer Repair and Lining ($11,272.72) • Approved Payment No. 1 (Final) – GMH Asphalt – 2024 Street Maintenance Program Large Area Patching Project (Grey Fox Rd, Red Fox Rd and Lake Valentine Rd) ($146,810.10) • Approved a Preliminary Plat for the Subject Property at 1700 West Highway 96 – Trident Development, LLC – Planning Case 24-015 (North Heights Lutheran Church) • Tabled Resolution 2024-041 for Rezoning for the Subject Property at 1700 West Highway 96 – Trident Development, LLC – Planning Case 24-015 (North Heights Lutheran Church) Sept. 23, 2024 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved Ordinance 2024-009 Amending Chapter 3 – Licenses and Regulations, Section 310 – Fees, Subsection 310.01 – Establishment of Fees by Ordinance Related to Event Centers and Authorize Publication of Summary Ordinance • Approved Ordinance 2024-010 Amending Chapter 5 – Alcohol Beverages, Section 500 – General Provisions, Subsection 500.1 – Definitions and Subsection 500.3 – Types of Licenses Related to Event Centers and Authorize Publication of Summary Ordinance • Approved Ordinance 2024-011 Amending Chapter 3 – Licenses and Regulations – Section 350 – Tobacco Products, Related to Tobacco Licensing in the City and Authorize Publication of a Summary Ordinance • Approved Resolution 2024-043 Appointing Ben Lindau as Planning Commission Alternate • Accepted Resignation of Permit Technician/Office Support Specialist • Authorized Recruitment for a Permit Technician/Office Support Specialist • Approved Development Agreement for Elegant Event Center (Rose Kukwa) – Planning Case 24-014 • Approved Payment No. 2 and Change Order No. 2 – Arden Manor and Floral Park Improvements Project – Peterson Companies, Inc. (payment = $22,004.91, change order = $12,293.69) • Accepted GameTime Community Champions Playground Grant Funds and Authorized Purchase of Playground Equipment at Arden Oaks Park (grant = $83,487.00, payment = $172,178.00) • Approved Resolution 2024-044 Adopting and Confirming Quarterly Special Assessments for Delinquent Utilities • Set Preliminary Levy and Establish Truth-In-Taxation Public Hearing Date for Proposed Taxes Payable in 2025 o Approved Resolution 2024-045 – Preliminary Levy of 15.50% (or $6,134,231) (3-2, Grant and Holden opposed) o Approved Resolution 2024-046 – TNT Public Hearing Date Set for December 9, 2024 For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” Read all seven tips to prepare for a home fire, plus other fire-safe habits, by visiting cityofardenhills.org/RedCrossFireTips. Recreational Fires Recreational fires are allowed in Arden Hills without a permit, but residents must follow specific safety guidelines. Fires must be no larger than 3x3 feet and located in a fire pit at least 25 feet from structures. Wind speeds must be below ten mph, and only clean, untreated wood can be burned. A fire extinguisher or water source must be readily available, and the fire must be constantly monitored. Fines may be issued if a fire is left unattended or guidelines are ignored. Enjoy your fall fires responsibly and stay safe! For more information, visit ljfd.org/RecFire. City Council Benchmarks 4 • Arden Hills Notes • October 2024 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 Help Identify Rain Gardens Fire Prevention Month City Council Benchmarks Postal Customer Summer Parks & Rec This summer, the City’s Parks & Recreation team held a wide variety of programming and activities throughout the City for community members of all ages. Here are just a few of the fun activities that were held: • The playground program at Cummings and Hazelnut Park had over 108 participants. • Summer Youth Baseball and Youth Soccer Leagues had over 167 participants. • Touch-A-Truck featured many organizations, including the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, Arden Hills Public Works, Lake Johanna Fire Department, Allina Health, and Mounds View Public Schools. This year’s event included bounce houses provided by the Arden Hills/Shoreview Lions Club and Relish Brothers hot dog cart. • The Penny Carnival was a big success. Seasonal playground leaders led carnival games, face painting, and nature-based activities, and an Arden Hills Naturalist provided information. • Our local parks received five donation benches, including Floral, Cummings and Arden Oaks. • Arden Manor and Floral Park opened with updated playground structures, shelters and hard courts. • A Community Picnic was a new and free event in collaboration with Arden Hills/ Shoreview Lions Club. It featured free food, door prizes, Llamas, yard games, face painting, and live music. Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, staff, and partner organizations that made summer 2024 a great one in Arden Hills!