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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6 June-July 2010 July, 2010 Volume 4, Issue 6 Gem Lake News Special Interest Articles: • National Night Out Scheduled for August 3 • Population Numbers Challenged • City News-Page 4 • Volunteers Help Make Gem Lake What it is Today Upcoming Recycling Dates: July 28 August 11 August 25 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor Meet your neighbors and take part in a national crime fighting event! This year's "National Night Out" is scheduled for Tuesday, August 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event is held in communities throughout the nation and is designed to celebrate the power of neighborhood awareness in crime fighting. Gem Lake's event will be held at Heritage Hall and will feature food, refreshments and safety demonstrations. The Ramsey County Sheriff's department will be "National Night Out" Scheduled for August 3 City Claims Bigger Piece of the Pie in Terms of Charitable Gambling Receipts Gem Lake increased its percentage of the charitable gambling receipts it receives to the maximum allowed by state law, following a public hearing on the subject that was held May 18 at Heritage Hall. Charitable gambling receipts result when people buy pull-tabs at licensed venues within Gem Lake. Gem Lake's portion of those receipts was formerly 2%, but can, by law, be raised to a maximum10%. The city must use these dollars to fund charitable or on hand with crime fighting and safety information and tools. The fire department has been invited also and will try to fit us into their busy schedule for the evening. The annual event is an important way to get to know people in your area, meet city officials and simply enjoy a beautiful summer evening. Last year's event was very well attended by Gem Lake residents and we hope to see you this year. For more information, contact city secretary Jean Reiter at 651-747-2790. public safety programs. In the past, Gem Lake has used these receipts to fund literacy programs at Willow Lane Elementary School, stock shelves at the local food shelf, provide first aid training and buy an AED machine for Heritage Hall. In addition, the charitable gambling receipts were used this year to fund Gem Lake's new scholarship program. The program premiered in May and awarded $500 to a recent Gem Lake high school graduate for post secondary educational purposes. It is hoped that the increased percentage of the gambling receipts will allow the city to continue to fund important community programs, such as its ongoing support of the White Bear Lake Area Emergency Food Shelf. Ramsey County Sgt. Eric Bradt discussed safety programs for Gem Lake residents at last year's National Night Out. Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 City Challenges Metropolitan Council's Population Figures Earlier this summer, the Metropolitan Council issued estimated population numbers to area cities, giving them until June 20 to accept or challenge the information. Gem Lake decided to challenge the number provided for several key reason. First, council members felt certain the number of 451 was well over the actual number of people living here. Second, and more importantly, future growth and density projections issued by the Met Council will be based on numbers that Gem Lake feels are incorrect. Given the fact that the Met Council projects 10 and 20 years ahead, counting on regular growth each year, an inaccurate number now becomes more and more of a problem in the future. To arrive at a more accurate number, the Gem Lake City Council decided to do phone and door-to-door canvassing up and down each street. After reaching most households, the council feels the true population of Gem Lake is around 328, which is 123 less than the estimated number arrived at by the Met Council. Mayor Bob Uzpen conveyed the number to the Met Council, following the city survey. The response was to let us know they disagree with our number, but have offered to compromise at a population of 387, which they plan to certify and publish on the Met Council and State Demographer's web-sites in July. The principal forecaster at the Met Council explained in an email to our Mayor that they are basing their total population number on the average number of people per households that are found in surrounding communities, as well as data from the 2000 Census for our community. Using these factors, the Met Council originally estimated Gem Lake had 3.021 persons per household. After doing our local survey, Gem Lake City Council members feel the average number of people per household in our city is more like 2.2. However, both entities agree that there are 149 housing units in our city. The Met Council feels the drop from 3.021 persons per household to 2.2 is too drastic to be accurate, partly because it is less than households in Vadnais Heights and White Bear. They have agreed to compromise at 2.6. The Met Council said they will wait for the official 2010 Census figures to make further revisions. Storm Packs a Punch for Gem Lake Residents Residents spent much of the week cleaning up after the strong thunderstorms that plowed through the Metro Area on July 17. At least a half a dozen households had significant tree damage, including Mayor Bob Uzpen and long-time residents Connie and Dan Kunin. Both households lost large trees. The Kunins lost one evergreen that snapped near its trunk and hung very dramatically over their driveway near Goose Lake Road. Trees were lost all around Gem Lake, including several large old trees on the south side of the lake. Residents around the city reported significant loss of branches. "In some places, it was a real mess," says Mayor Uzpen. No one was hurt, but a lot of people are rethinking where they put their spare flashlights. Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 Shortly after Gem Lake's formation in 1958, Lorraine Birkeland agreed to serve as its first treasurer, partly because she "wanted to help get things started. I had little kids then, so it was kind of hard." Although she was happy to help out, Lorraine says she remembers very little about her actual duties, perhaps because Gem Lake had a budget the size of a large dust ball. Meetings were very informal then. Some of them were held in the basement of Hoffman's Grocery Store on old Highway 61 (now directly across the street from White Bear Floral, where Lorraine still works daily). Through the years, many citizen leaders have contributed their time and brain power to the running of Gem Lake. By the time Connie Kunin became a City Council Member in the late 1980's, things had begun to change significantly in the areas surrounding Gem Lake. Instead of focusing only on city issues, the council had to turn its attention to the development closing in upon it from all sides, and the regulations coming down from county and state agencies. For example, Connie recalls numerous discussions at meetings regarding storm water runoff and the need to become part of the area watershed district, now called VLAWMO (Vadnais Lakes Area Watershed Management Organization). She was on the council when the city was finalizing plans to allow for a Montessori School at the corner of LaBore and County Road E. (County Road E had not yet become the "superhighway" it is today.) Plans were also being evaluated for a possible health club across the street on the northwest corner of the same intersection, which is in Vadnais Heights. The health club sought feedback from the City of Gem Lake, but the project never came to pass. Volunteers of the Past Helped to Build the Gem Lake of Today Although she served almost 20 years ago, Connie remembers some of the same concerns we have today were foremost in the minds of residents: traffic volumes, density and maintaining some of the characteristic charm of Gem Lake, in the midst of a growing metro area. Nearly 40 years after Lorraine Birkeland volunteered to act as city treasurer, another Gem Lake resident volunteered to take on the same role. Richard Nordstrom had no experience with accounting when he took on the role of city treasurer, which was by now a paid part- time position with the city. He took over the role when the previous treasurer retired in 1987. At the time, he was the manager of a large jewelry store in downtown Minneapolis, a job he holds to this day. Although the budget was larger than it was in 1958, the duties were still performed manually for the most part. Richard remembers a large ledger book where all entries were made. He worked closely with long-time resident John Hannaford, who was then acting as city clerk. During his 14 years as part-time treasurer, Richard remembers many interesting council meetings, including much controversy surrounding a tree ordinance that was about to be enacted. Shortly before the ordinance became effective, another resident chopped down a large grove of trees in order to make a statement about property rights. The trees were mature and very beautiful and he remembers the experience as somewhat shocking. Richard says he enjoyed working for the city and doing something for his community. He performed this role until 2001. Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Amendments to Liquor and Tobacco Ordinances Passed Amendments to the Liquor and Tobacco Licensing Ordinances in Gem Lake were passed after a public hearing on May 18 at Heritage Hall. The amendments established hearing procedures and increased fines for violations of the liquor and tobacco ordinances, particularly as they related to the sale of these items to minors. For example, the penalty for violations of the tobacco ordinance were raised from $75 for a first violation to $500. For the second violation, penalties were raised from $200 to $1000. MS-4 Report Ready to Be Reviewed By Public A state mandated report on storm water management, called the MS-4 Report has been completed by council member Jim Lindner and accepted by the State of Minnesota. Jim spent countless volunteer hours trudging all over Gem Lake to document and photograph inflows and outflows in our city, as required by the report. The document is now on display at Heritage Hall for anyone who wants to read it. (zzzz....) As mandated by law, it will be on display for 30 days to allow for the expected throngs. Just in case you don't get a chance to stop by, we are holding a public hearing on it, also required by state law. The public hearing will be held August 17, during the August City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall. If you want popcorn, you will have to bring it yourself. Our thanks to Jim Lindner for taking on the task of completing this very detailed report. More Exciting News..zzzzz....... The Gem Lake City Council has renewed the utility right of way ordinances that allow xCel Energy run gas and electric lines into our city. The renewal is good for 20 years. You can pick up a copy at Heritage Hall or just wait for the movie..... Hunting in Gem Lake? Maybe Not An ordinance is now in draft stage that would ban hunting within Gem Lake, even when the land owner gives permission to the hunter to do so. The reasons are varied: first, very few cities in the metro area still allow hunting, due to safety concerns; second, Gem Lake has had a problem in recent years with people hunting on property without the knowledge or permission of the owner, an activity that is potentially dangerous to citizens. City News Page Another reason to draft an ordinance that permits or bans hunting, is for enforcement purposes. Currently, the Ramsey County Sheriff can enforce other laws if someone is trespassing, or discharging a firearm, but there is no specific language dealing with bow hunters who are wandering around and hunting. (Yes, it has happened.) Your feedback is requested on this proposed ordinance. The ordinance was discussed at the July City Council Meeting and will be the subject of a public hearing in August. In the meantime, you can obtain a copy of the draft ordinance by contacting Jean Reiter, City Secretary, using the contact information on page 6. Please note that we have received some feedback on the need to allow a tightly defined exception for archery target practice. This is in the works. Election Judges Established for Primary Elections in August A roster of election judges has been finalized for the Gem Lake primary election process, which will take place on August 10th. The judges include Dolores Lorentzen, Irl Carter, Lolle Stephenson and Roger Seiberlich. All judges reside in the area. For Gem Lake residents, voting will take place at Heritage Hall. Speaking of Elections... There will be two spots on the Gem Lake City Council up for Election this November. If you are interested in being a candidate, you need to file an Affidavit of Candidacy anytime between August 3 and August 17. The forms are available on the Ramsey County web-site. You must be 21, a resident of Gem Lake for at least 30 days and eligible to vote in Minnesota. You file the form at Heritage Hall. Wind and Alternative Energy Ordinance is New Territory for Gem Lake This summer the Gem Lake Planning Commission will begin drafting a wind and/or alternative energy ordinance. The process began with the gathering of three sample ordinances from cities in the area, each dealing with wind turbines, wind energy or alternative energy resources, such as solar. The Planning Commission will evaluate existing ordinances at its next meeting on August 2. Wind energy expert Rory Artig of Wind Management LLC has been invited to speak at this meeting. Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 The Gem Lake Planning Commission recently added local resident Arthur Pratt as an alternate member. The addition came last month, in response to the need for a person to step in when a commission member cannot attend one of the monthly meeting. Having an alternate available ensures that a quorum always exists, so voting can take place and commission business can be conducted without interruption. Arthur Pratt has been a project manager for Pratt Homes from 1994 to the present, and is involved in everything from initial home planning to final completion of the project. This includes cost estimating, home design, material selections and customer service. Prior to this, Arthur worked as a carpenter for six years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He is also a Parent Teacher Organization volunteer for Willow Lane Elementary School. Arthur moved to Gem Lake a number of years ago, building a home on Goose Lake Road. Please welcome our newest volunteer. Door to Door Transportation for Seniors As you may know, the Lake Area Bus, which provided door-to-door transportation services to seniors, has been absorbed into the Metropolitan Transit Commission. The "Lionmobile" may be an additional alternative if you are in need of transportation to and from doctor appointments and other important transportation needs. The service is operated by The White Bear Area Senior Program, with the help of local Lions Clubs and other groups. The bus is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and costs between $5 and $13.50 for a round trip, depending upon where you are going. Art Pratt Becomes Alternate on Planning Commission The service is door-to-door and the bus is equipped to handle wheelchairs. Call 651- 653-3122 to learn more about the service. New Tobacco Law Aimed at Minors Takes Effect August 1 On August 1, Minnesota will implement the Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010--the first-of-its-kind law in the country. The new law limits youth access by requiring tobacco products to be placed behind the counter, restricts free giveaways of novel tobacco products and prevents youth from buying new tobacco products and e- cigarettes. With these changes, Minnesota is keeping pace with a rapidly evolving tobacco industry that continues to innovate and adapt in an increasingly smoke-free environment. The 2008 Minnesota Youth Tobacco and Asthma Survey found that 15.6% of boys and 2.4% of girls use smokeless tobacco, which is addictive and destructive to health. For more information, visit: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/tcp/le gal.html. Free CPR Class in the Works Sometime this fall, Gem Lake will host another CPR class at Heritage Hall. The class will be conducted by the American Heart Association and will be free to residents of Gem Lake. The cost of the class will be underwritten by charitable gambling receipts the city obtains each quarter as a result of pull-tab sales. Space will be limited. If you are interested, get in touch with Jean Reiter at Heritage Hall. See page 6 for contact information. Bob Uzpen-Mayor Phone: 651-492-5083 City Council Members: Gretchen Artig-Swomley Phone: 651-260-9742 Rick Bosak 651-426-9695 Jim Lindner Phone: 651-429-7597 The following Gem Lake Meetings will be held at Heritage Hall through June, 2010: July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. August 2, 2010 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. Proposals for wind energy ordinances will be discussed. May/June Meeting Dates Your Gem Lake City Council The City of Gem Lake PHONE: (651) 747-2790 FAX: (651) 747-2795 City Hall Address: 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 GENERAL E-MAIL: City@gemlakemn.org Newsletter e-mail: gretchenas@comcast.net To reach the Gem Lake City Secretary Jean Reiter: Phone: (651) 747-2790 Jean’s E-mail: Jean.Reiter@co.ramsey.mn.us To report incidents for the Neighborhood Watch program or for information on that program contact Block Captain Chuck Watson 651-653-8319; Charles.Watson@bdk.com We’re on the Web! See us at: www.gemlakemn.org CITY OF GEM LAKE 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 hearing on the 2009 MS-4 report. MS-4 refers to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. . August 3, 2010 National Night Out from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall August 3, 2010 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. August 17, 2010 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will include a public Tom Rasmussen Phone: 651-426-8854 For more information on meetings, city ordinances, recent events, permit procedures, etc. please consult the Gem Lake web-site. The address is www.gemlakemn.org Each Gem Lake Newsletter is also posted on the web-site under the news section. Please email your ideas, comments and suggestions. See box at left for detailed contact information.