The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05 May 2026 Arden Hills Notescityofardenhills.org • May 2026 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for the Arden Hills Community May 2026 The History of Nazareth Hall P a s t - P r e s ent - Futu r e A RDEN H I L L S 75 Years 20261 9 5 1 On the southern shore of Lake Johanna stands one of Arden Hills’ most recognizable landmarks. Nazareth Hall, with its 105-foot bell tower rising above the surrounding trees, remains a familiar sight to visitors of Tony Schmidt Park and nearby neighborhoods. The land was originally purchased in 1866 by Bishop Thomas Grace for $800, but it would be decades before the vision for Nazareth Hall took shape. Archbishop Austin Dowling later established the seminary to separate preparatory education from the College of St. Thomas, now known as the University of St. Thomas, envisioning a quiet, rural campus dedicated to study and reflection along the lakeshore. After years of planning, construction began in 1921 following Vatican approval. Designed by Boston architects Charles Maginnis and Timothy Walsh, the building was completed and dedicated in 1923. Through successful fundraising efforts, Archbishop Dowling ensured the project was completed without debt. Nazareth Hall served as a six-year preparatory seminary, offering four years of high school and two years of college before students continued on to St. Paul Seminary. Enrollment peaked in 1962, with more than 350 students. Over its 48-year history, approximately 3,000 students attended, and more than 600 were ordained to the priesthood. Due to declining enrollment, the seminary closed in 1970. That same year, the campus was sold to Northwestern College, now the University of Northwestern–St. Paul, for $2.575 million. Today, Nazareth Hall remains a prominent landmark and a lasting reminder of Arden Hills’ history. Do you have a story, photo or piece of Arden Hills history to share? Contact us! We’d love to help preserve and highlight it as part of our community’s story. Email celebrate75@cityofardenhills.org. Above: Preconstruction drawing (1920) 1923 1924 Story & photos courtesy of Dan Ashbach 2 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2026 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 Kurt Weber • 651-792-7857 kweber@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Jessica Jagoe • 651-792-7810 jjagoe@cityofardenhills.org Sr. Communications Coordinator Laura Michlig • 651-792-7817 lmichlig@cityofardenhills.org 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 2026 May is Building Safety Month, a time to highlight the importance of safe construction and following local building codes. For residents, it’s a helpful reminder that permits and inspections play a key role in protecting your home, your investment and your safety. Building safety is more than preventing fires or structural failures. It also includes protecting your health and comfort through proper ventilation, indoor air quality, weatherproofing and accessibility. Modern building practices also consider environmental impacts, such as energy efficiency and resilience during extreme weather, which all contribute to a safer home. Whether you are adding a deck, replacing a water heater or performing electrical work, it’s important to check if a permit is required. Obtaining a permit helps ensure your home project meets safety standards and local building codes. It can also prevent costly corrections, delays or complications later on, especially if you plan to sell your home in the future. Here are some common projects that typically require a City permit: • Exterior additions: decks, sheds and fences • Interior renovations: basement finishing and window replacements • Mechanical work: furnace and air conditioning replacements • Plumbing projects: water heater and water softener replacements • Electrical work: installing or relocating lighting, ceiling fans and additional circuits Permit requirements can vary depending on the scope of your project, so please check before you begin. For a complete list of projects that require permits, visit the City’s Building & Permits webpage at cityofardenhills.org/permit. Curbside Recycling Reminder Placing unwanted items at the curb for others to take can be a convenient way to give them a second life. However, if items are not picked up, they can quickly become an eyesore and impact the appearance of our neighborhoods. Residents should remove any items left at the curb within a reasonable time frame if they are not claimed. For larger or bulky items, several disposal options are available. Residents can contact their waste hauler for pickup services or find additional recycling and disposal resources through Ramsey County. For more information on recycling, visit: ramseycountymn.gov/residents/recycling-waste. Building Safety Month & Permit Reminders cityofardenhills.org • May 2026 • 3 April 13, 2026 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved Resolution 2026-014 Authorizing the Submission of the 2026-2028 Water Efficiency Grant Program Application to the Met Council • Approved Resolution 2026-015 Authorizing the Waiver of Utility System Delinquency Penalties Assessed During Qtr 4 2025 and Qtr 1 2026 • Approved Resolution 2026-016 Relating to Mow Less May for Arden Hills Residents and Businesses • Approved Proclamation Recognizing April as Fair Housing Month • Authorized Execution of Ramsey County Public Entity Innovation Grant (PEIG) Agreement for Recycling Cart Purchase • Approved Resolution 2026-017 Accepting Donation from the Arden Hills Foundation • Approved 2026 Contract with the Minnesota Department of Corrections Institution Community Work Crew (ICWC) Program • 2026 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project • Approved Resolution 2026-018 Awarding Contract to Bituminous Roadways, Inc. ($3,006.172.10) • Approved Professional Services Agreement for Materials Testing with Braun Intertec • Accepted Karth Lake Improvement District Board Resolution dated April 7, 2026 • Authorized Recruitment of Temporary Public Works Maintenance Worker • Approved Resolution 2026-019 – Request to Waive Landscaping Escrow – Lake Johanna Fire Department Planning Case 24-009 • Approved Resolution 2026-020 Authorizing Submittal of Livable Communities Grant Application • Approved Resolution 2026-021 Adopting a City of Arden Hills Fair Housing Policy Statement • Acknowledged Letter from Fishing for Life Related to the Previously Approved Exempt Permit to Conduct a Raffle and a Corrected Event Date of April 18, 2026 • Approved Resolution 2026-023 Adopting Special Assessment Roll – 2026 PMP Street and Utility Improvement Project • Approved Resolution 2026-022 Adopting and Confirming Quarterly Special Assessments for Delinquent Utilities • Approved Resolution 2026-024 Adopting the Arden Hills Park System Plan April 27, 2026 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Claims and Payroll • Approved 2027 Budget Calendar • Approved Amended 2025-27 Collective Bargaining Agreement for Central Pension Fund Contribution • Approved Appointment of Building and Code Enforcement Inspector • Approved Purchase of Residential Recycling Carts from Cascade Engineering • Accepted Resignation of Kate Olson from the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) • Approved Resolution 2026-025 Appointing Clara Bitzer to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee • Approved Professional Engineering Services Proposal from I&S Group, Inc. – Chatham Trail Area and Miscellaneous Storm Sewer Improvements • Approved Cooperative Agreement with the City of Roseville – Hamline Avenue Watermain and Trail Improvements (Between County Rd C and Snelling Avenue) • Approved Right-of-Way Acquisition and Temporary Easement Costs – Old Highway 10 Trail Improvements • City Code Chapter 13 – Zoning Code Amendments – Planning Case 26- 006 • Ordinance 2026-007 Amending City Code Chapter 13 – Zoning Code, Section 1320 to Include New Section 1320.16 – Requirements for Affordable Housing (Approved with amendments) • Publication of Summary Ordinance 2026-007 (Motion passed 4-1, Holden Opposed) For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” Curbside Recycling Reminder Building Safety Month & Permit Reminders City Council Benchmarks The City’s 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, better known as the Drinking Water Report, is now available. 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, 2025. Arden Hills had no violations reported, therefore, the drinking water is considered safe. View this report at cityofardenhills.org/drinkingwaterreport. 2025 Water Drinking Report Now Available 4 • Arden Hills Notes • May 20264 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2026 cityofardenhills.org • May 2026 • 5 Rec on the Go! Join Arden Hills/Mounds View/Spring Lake Park Parks & Recreation for our mobile recreation program. This program is free to all communities. Staff will have a variety of games at select locations throughout the summer. PRE-REGISTRATION is required for the program. Participants must be 5-12 years old and are required to sign up for the program. Kids can attend throughout the summer as they please. Once they are registered, they do not need to register for each meeting time. Registration runs through the end of August. Please Note: • Pre-registration is required. Once registered, you can attend any location all summer! • Participants must bring a water bottle and athletic clothes. • Participants will indicate on registration if they will be riding a bike, getting dropped off or walking to the program. • This program is NOT child care, this is a free community recreation program - participants will be introduced to games and activities. • Sign up for “26ROTG00 - Rec on the Go!” and attend any location all summer long. For more details, visit cityofardenhills.org/203/Recreation-Programs. The City Partners with Retold Recycling Did you know that clothing and household textiles make up a significant portion of the waste stream? The average American throws away more than 80 pounds of clothing each year, and over 11 million tons of textiles end up in landfills annually. Nearly 85% of textiles are discarded instead of being reused or recycled, even though many items could have a second life. The City is partnering with Retold Recycling to provide a simple way for residents to recycle unwanted textiles at the May 30 Recycling Day, free of charge. Residents are asked to place all textiles in a separate bag from other items being dropped off. Collected materials are sorted and directed toward their best use, whether that’s reuse, resale or recycling. Recycling textiles helps keep them out of landfills, reduces environmental impact and supports a more sustainable economy. Residents can recycle these items at no cost during the upcoming Recycling Day on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Public Works Yard in Arden Hills. For information on the Recycling Day event, visit cityofardenhills.org/recycling-day. To learn more about Retold Recycling, visit retoldrecycling.com. City Partners with Retold Recycling Collapsible Garden Bags Available Arden Hills residents have the opportunity to participate in Mow Less May. The start of the growing season is a critical time for hungry, newly emerging native bees. Floral resources may be hard to find, especially in urban and suburban landscapes. By allowing lawns to grow longer, and not applying pesticides to flowering plants in your lawn, you can provide nectar and pollen to help your bee neighbors thrive. Mowing less is just one thing we can do to protect pollinators. If you choose to participate in Mow Less May, stop by City Hall with a photo of your yard and pick up a free collapsible garden bag to use when your lawn maintenance begins. Supplies are limited and this offer is extended only while supplies last. The final day to pick up a bag is Friday, May 29. Please note that City Hall will be observing summer hours and closes at 11:30 a.m. that day. Discounted Ash Tree Treatment Available to Residents Ash trees are a common native species and are frequently planted as landscape and boulevard trees throughout the community. In fact, more than one in five trees in the metro area is an ash tree. Unfortunately, all ash trees are at risk due to the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia. EAB larvae feed beneath the bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, which typically leads to tree death within a few years if left untreated. To help residents protect their trees, the City has partnered with Rainbow Treecare, the City’s selected provider, to offer assistance. Rainbow Treecare will inspect ash trees at no cost to determine whether treatment such as a protective trunk injection is appropriate. Residents may also receive a discount on EAB treatment services through this program. All residents will receive an informational postcard from Rainbow Treecare with additional details about available services. To learn more, visit rainbowtreecare.com/cities/arden-hills or contact Rainbow Treecare at 952-922-3810. Has branches that grow directly across from one another Has compound leaves (a group of leaflets joined by a stalk to a woody stem) Has five or more leaflets with smooth or finely toothed margins 6 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2026 Garage Sales & Soliciting: What You Need to Know The Public Works Department is once again offering a buckthorn pickup service for branches and leaves (no root material). Collection will take place on Fridays, from May 29 through October 30. To participate, residents must submit the buckthorn pickup request form on the City’s website by noon on Thursday for pickup that same week. Buckthorn should be placed in neat, manageable piles along the curb, with cut ends facing the street. Please note that only buckthorn will be collected. A detailed pickup procedures document is available on the City’s website for reference. Residents can also dispose of buckthorn at the Ramsey County collection site, located at 1881 Hudson Road, Arden Hills. For those tackling removal projects, residents can reserve a buckthorn removal tool (weed wrench) for up to one week at no cost. Reservations can be made online through the City’s website or in person at the Public Works office. City staff will confirm reservations and tool availability once a request is submitted. To request pickup service or reserve a tool, visit cityofardenhills.org/buckthorn. Free Buckthorn Tool Rental and Pickup If you’re planning a garage sale or will be going door-to-door in Arden Hills, it’s helpful to know that both activities are regulated by the City. Residents hosting a garage sale are required to obtain a no-fee permit, which can be completed online at cityofardenhills.org/garagesale. Garage sales may last up to three days, and each property is limited to two sales per year. All signage must follow City guidelines outlined in the application. Businesses or individuals who wish to go door-to-door must obtain a permit through the City Clerk’s office. Solicitors must pass a background check and carry their City-issued permit at all times. Residents have the right to request to see this permit during any interaction. Soliciting is permitted only between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Some solicitors are based out of state and lack local contacts for follow-up. Therefore, if you encounter an unpermitted solicitor, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office asks residents to call 911 immediately to report the company. Please follow up by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 651-792-7800 to provide the company’s name so we are aware. cityofardenhills.org • May 2026 • 7 8 • Arden Hills Notes • May 2026 Inside Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710 Annual Drinking Water Report Arden Hills Tree Sale Buckthorn Building Permits and Safety City Council Benchmarks Curbside Recycling Emerald Ash Borer Tree Treatment Discount Garage Sales and Soliciting 2026 Recycling Day Event and more! Postal Customer Explore Arden Hills Parks As warmer weather arrives, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy everything Arden Hills has to offer. Whether you’re taking a walk, enjoying a picnic or spending time with family and friends, the City’s parks provide a great way to make the most of the season. Arden Hills is home to 16 parks spanning nearly 102 acres, along with one regional park and one county park. These spaces offer a variety of amenities and opportunities for recreation, relaxation and connection with nature. For dog owners, a designated off-leash dog park is available within Perry Park, providing a space for pets to run and play. To help keep parks safe and enjoyable for everyone, visitors are asked to follow a few important guidelines: • Tobacco and cannabis use is prohibited in all city-owned spaces, including parks, trails, athletic fields and parking lots. • Dogs must be leashed, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. • Glass containers, golf playing and motorized vehicles on turf or trails are not allowed. By following these simple rules, residents can help maintain clean, safe and welcoming parks for the entire community. Learn more about Arden Hills’ parks at cityofardenhills.org/parks