HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-09-2021April 9, 2021
Public Meetings Next Week
Planning Commission Meeting Monday,
April 12th 7:00PM
City Council Work Session Tuesday, April
13th 6:30PM
The Local Board of Appeal of Equalization
Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April
21st at 5:00PM
City Agendas and Minutes
Visit our website
City Offices will once again be open to the public
beginning Monday, April 12th. City Council,
Commission, and Board Meetings will return to
the Council Chambers Monday, April 12th.
Tuesday April 6 City Council Meeting Summary
At the April 6th City Council Meeting Mayor Cadenhead Recognized City
Administrator Kristina Handt for 5 Years of Service to the City of Lake Elmo
Monday, April 12th Planning Commission Meeting Agenda
Meeting Materials Can Be Accessed Here
Tuesday, April 13th City Council Work Session Agenda
Welcome Home, Mullen Family!
Lake Elmo welcomed home US Army Specialist
John Mullen and his family. John lost his legs
while serving the country in Kandahar,
Afghanistan. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation
presented John and his family with a mortgage
free smart-home. The ceremony received a
tremendous turnout, attended by many residents,
City officials, First Responders, and sponsors who
made the home possible.
Public Facilities Project Update
Click here to vote on a name for new Public Facilities
Regular updates and documents are available here.
Capital Improvement Committee
At the February 2 meeting the City Council created
a new committee to aid the City in development of
the annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Members of this committee will help guide the
City's plan for infrastructure, vehicles, equipment
and public facilities.
Members of this committee will meet regularly May
through August to make recommendations for the
CIP including estimated costs, the need for
improvements, funding sources, and financial
impacts of improvements.
Interested residents are encouraged to apply!
More Information Available Here
East Metro Water Resource Education Programs
Shoreline Realtor Workshop – April 19
Raingarden Workshop – May 11, 6-7:15pm
2021 Workshops for the Public
Spring Road Weight Restrictions will end in Lake Elmo on Monday, April
12 at 12:01AM
Spring has sprung and nets are up at courts in City parks!
The City of Lake Elmo is
Accepting Applications for
Multiple Commissions and
Boards
The City of Lake Elmo is experiencing an
exciting time of community growth. The City is
fortunate to have active and involved residents
on its commissions providing valuable input for
future projects and growth. The City is
currently seeking applications for:
Planning Commission
Capital Improvement Committee
Economic Development Authority
Citizen Representative to the Ramsey
Washington Suburban Cable
Commission
If you are interested in serving the community
in this capacity, please contact City Hall at
651-747-3900 for an application form. The
application form is also available here.
The City of Lake Elmo is Accepting
Applications for the Following
Positions:
Building Official
Part Time Firefighter
Public Works Seasonal Employees
Paid on Call Firefighters
Visit our website
New Construction Update Available
Follow the link below to see the latest Construction Update:
Construction Update: March 2, 2021
To learn more about the project, visit the project website at:
www.co.washington.mn.us/Manning36Interchange
County Highway 13 (Ideal Avenue)
Phase II
Washington County in partnership with the City of
Lake Elmo are providing an online project update
on the proposed improvements to Ideal Avenue
between County Highway 14 and 44th Street. The
project website provides program information and
updates.
Project Website
Storm drains in our city help to protect
neighborhoods from flooding, but they
also carry litter and polluted runoff
from streets and parking lots into
nearby lakes and streams.
You can make a difference by
volunteering just 15-minutes, twice a
month, to keep their nearest storm
drain clear of litter, leaves, grass
clippings and dirt. To sign up: go to
www.Adopt-a-Drain.org and use the
map to find your neighborhood storm
drains – then click and sign-up to
adopt.
Temporary Rate Discount for Small
and Mid Sized Businesses from
Xcel Energy
If your business has experienced a material
impact from the pandemic, along with an electric
load decrease of 25% or more in electric demand
as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or
civil unrest, you may be eligible for a temporary
25% discount on base energy and demand
charges.
Information Available Here
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center Update
What Happened to All the Trees in the Park?
Friends of Lake Elmo’s Sunfish Lake Park won a grant called “Restoration of Sunfish Lake Park” From the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy program to remove buckthorn
from 40 acres of Sunfish Lake Park. Work continues on the project on which the City of Lake Elmo, theMinnesota DNR and the Friends are the "Partners".
For background, please visit https://www.legacy.mn.gov/outdoor-heritage-
fund and https://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/agencies/detail?AgencyID=957
Buckthorn is a very invasive plant that is detrimental to the park. Over time it takes over large areas and
outcompetes native plants that are needed for a healthy ecosystem. Late this Winter, subcontractor
Stantec completed “forest mulching” with heavy equipment in the southwest portion of the park. In this
process, a track-mounted device ground up whole buckthorn trees (some were 40 years old!) and
deadfall tree trunks to make a suitable cover for planting native species that had been displaced by the
buckthorn. Click on the buckthorn tab on our website www.sminc-lake-elmo.org to see it on a map. Much
of the buckthorn has been mowed down and mulched. If you take a walk in this part of the park, you will
notice that the air is permeated with the unforgettable and invigorating aroma of freshly ground buckthorn.
There are a few more areas that will require some hand work. We are looking for volunteers to help with
this project in the coming year. Please visit www.sminc-lake-elmo.org for up-to-date information or call
George at 651-757-5610.
Now that the old-growth buckthorn has mostly been removed from the 40-acre restoration area,
buckthorn stump sprouts will be sprayed next fall to kill off any new growth. This Spring about 15 acres of
the area will be seeded with native woodland grasses. In addition to improving wildlife habitat, the
grasses will help provide fuel for a prescribed burn (probably Fall 2022 or Spring 2023). Spot applications
of broad-leaf herbicide are also planned for late Spring to help control other broad-leaf weeds (like
burdock). A Stantec ecologist will be walking the woodland during the 2021 growing season to monitor
recovery of the native ground layer plants and guide weed control efforts. Of course these dates are
estimates and the actual times depend on weather and growing conditions.
The Friends recently received a beekeeping license from the City of Lake Elmo for an educational
beehive project at the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center. It includes an apiary area surrounded by
a fence (electrified at night to keep out hungry bears), and one hive will be set up so you will be able to
see the bees at work making honey and more bees.
The Friends are working with the Lake Elmo branch of the Washington County Library to set up a story
walk around the nature center, and to have outdoor readings for kids on Friday mornings at 10 AM this
Summer. Please check the website for details.
Xcel Energy providing $17.5 million to help
residential customers behind on electric bills
Xcel Energy will soon begin delivering $17.5 million in assistance to residential customers who
have fallen significantly behind on the electric bills during the COVID-19 recession, which has
caused economic hardship for many in our communities. The Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission approved the plan this week, which will help customers who may have the most
trouble catching up on their bills.
Well sampling in the east metro area
If you live in the area that is a priority for testing, you can request that your private well water be tested.
To see if you live in the priority sampling area, use the interactive map.
If you live in the priority sampling area, you can request to have your well tested by filling out and
submitting this online form.
More information about the priority testing area is available on the Well sampling in the East Metro Area
webpage.
Water Conservation
Rebate Program
The City of Lake Elmo, in
partnership with the Metropolitan
Council, is offering a rebate
program for purchases of eligible
WaterSense toilets and Smart
Irrigation Controllers. Qualifying
purchases are eligible for up to a
$200 credit on your water bill.
Program Details Available Here
Washington County Library branches are
currently open for Express Service. Visit thelibrary during reduced hours to browse
materials, pick up holds, and use a computer for
up to one hour. Curbside service is also
available for community members who cannot
enter our buildings. Learn how we’re keeping thelibrary safe for everyone at
WashCoLib.org/COVID19.
Washington County Library now has mobile hotspots and Chromebooks available to check out.
Get internet at home or on the go (for free!). Devices can be checked out for one month at a time,
and can be renewed three times if there are no other holds. You only need a library card
registered in Washington County to borrow a device. More information is available at
WashCoLib.org/devices.
Washington County Library Events