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Home My WebLink About2024-2025 Winter SourceTHE SOURCE Welcome to the 2025 winter issue of The Source. There are so many great things happening in Lake Elmo and The Source is a place to share the vibrant stories and exciting developments that make our community truly special. In this winter issue, we share staff updates, finance news, tips from the Lake Elmo Fire Department to keep your home safe, school news and more. Stay tuned for insightful articles, heartening tales, and a glimpse into the future of Lake Elmo. WINTER 2025WINTER 2025WINTER 2025 LAKE ELMO Lake Elmo City Council, department directors, consultant staff and commission members met in January, to develop leadership goals and align the future mission for the city of Lake Elmo. Read insights from Mayor Cadenhead inside. PHOTO CREDITS: LEO A. DALY AND TOM GRADY 2025 Goal Setting & Strategic Planning LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WWW.LAKEELMO.GOV 1 NOTES FROM THE MAYOR Welcome to 2025! As we continue to implement our 2040 plan and set priorities for the next two years, I am excited to contribute to and share in the growth of our community. Our focus will be on enhancing parks and trails, improving water and infrastructure, welcoming new residents to Lake Elmo, and honoring the longtime residents who have nurtured and preserved the charm that makes our city special. ~Here’s to a bright and happy year ahead. On January 15-16, the Lake Elmo City Council and the Lake Elmo Staff Leadership Team conducted work sessions to develop both long-term strategies and short- term goals for the organization in 2025. The sessions focused on three key areas of strategic planning: long- term vision, organizational values and expectations, and short-term goal setting. Together, the group examined the elements of the long-term vision, crafting strategy statements to define that vision. This work also included assessing the current state of the City and organization to create a list of goals for both the Council and staff, aligning with that vision. Through discussions, participants reflected on strengths, weaknesses, potential impacts, and emerging opportunities. The group also reached consensus on how various functions of local government must collaborate to succeed, establishing shared organizational values and expectations. City Council will review the outcomes of these sessions as part of adopting the 2025 Strategic Plan. Through this work, core strategies and strategic objectives were developed which will lead our city. 2025 City of Lake Elmo Goal Planning Committee These six objectives are outlined as follows: 1) Build a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community through celebration, engagement, and shared spaces. 2) Manage growth with purpose and intent. 3) Balance finances consistent with current needs and future growth. 4.) Maintain responsive, transparent, and adaptive governance. 5) Deliver efficient, reliable, and innovative public services. 6) Build and sustain resilient infrastructure to support a thriving and sustainable community. The second session focused on determining how the elected officials, City Council, and City staff work together to impact and deliver effective local governance. Through this work, the team developed guidelines for critical thinking, direction and transparency that will provide a productive and efficient partnership as we continue to be an engaged, collaborative servant-leadership that strives to meet the needs of the community. The results of the team’s input have constructed a framework with a guiding mission statement: The mission of the City of Lake Elmo is to provide planned, quality public services consistent with the City’s character in a fiscally responsive manner in partnership with our community. To meet this mission, our City partnership is committed to performing with the values of excellence, integrity and service as we continue to provide the best possible services to our community and meet the challenges and opportunities in a fashion consistent with Lake Elmo’s long-term vision. 2 Since 2023, Lake Elmo Public Works, Lake Elmo Community Development, and our city engineers have met bi-weekly with Stillwater Schools, architects, and project managers to assist with the design and plans for the new Lake Elmo Elementary School. After multiple rounds of feedback from the City, Stillwater Schools staff, students, and residents of Lake Elmo, the design is complete. Development begins on-site in February, with the school scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. The school’s development team aimed to create a theme that reflects the local landscape, which led to the decision to create a 'Prairie Landscape.' The color palette captures the natural environment's essence, featuring soft hues of pale blue, coral, and green, along with trees and flowers throughout the building. We want to continue the rich tradition of community that Lake Elmo Elementary has provided for the last 100 years and bring that into the learning spaces we have designed for our students," said Mark Drommerhausen, Executive Director of Operations at Stillwater Schools. "It's all about the kids. Building vibrant classrooms that allow natural daylight, incorporating design elements inspired by the outdoors, and creating spaces for both small and large group learning will provide the best possible environment for the students of Lake Elmo." Look for a groundbreaking ceremony at the new site once the ground has thawed and digging has begun, this spring. MOST RECENT SCHOOL RENDERING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Lake Elmo Elementary School plan moves forward 3 2025 Street and Utility Improvements. The public streets along 59th Street Circle in Prairie Hamlet; 55th Street in Judith Mary Manor; 57th Street in Rolling Hills Estates; Julep Way and 55th Street in Lake Elmo Vista; Jasper Avenue, 49th Street, and Jerome Avenue in Teal Pass Estates; and Irish Court have been identified for improvement in the year 2025. The evaluation of water main extensions is also being evaluated when the neighborhood is directly adjacent to the existing city water main. The extension of city water is also being evaluated for those neighborhoods that are directly adjacent to existing city watermain. The project engineering team hosted virtual neighborhood informational meetings January 28-29, 2025, for neighborhoods with the option of connecting to City drinking water. These meetings briefly outlined the project scope, costs, and preliminary design. Preliminary findings and recommendations for improvements will be presented to the city council on February 18. ENGINEERING Effective January 8, 2025, Nate Stanley (Bolton and Menk) is the new Lake Elmo City Engineer, Chad Isakson will remain as the Assistant City Engineer, and Jack Griffin will remain in a significant engineering support role as a Senior Project Manager. CITY PROJECTS / UPDATES On March 18, a feasibility report will be shared, which will include preliminary cost assessments for impacted properties. If the recommendations are approved, neighborhood informational meetings are planned for late April, followed by a Public Hearing on the improvements during the council meeting on May 6. If the council approves the project on May 6, a pre-construction meeting will take place in late May, with construction scheduled to begin shortly thereafter. The construction work is expected to be substantially completed by fall 2025. **TH36 and Lake Elmo Avenue (CSAH 17) Interchange (County-led Project):** Washington County is leading a project to install a grade- separated interchange, will be under construction in 2026 and 2027. The County is currently working on the 60% design plans and is in the process of acquiring the necessary right-of- way for implementation. In addition to the interchange, the project includes a south frontage road from Lake Elmo Avenue to Keats Avenue, along with traffic signals at both frontage road intersections: CSAH 17 and 58th Street, as well as CSAH 17 and 60th Street. Some segments of the city's trunk water main will also need to be relocated. The County will present a project update at the February 18 city council meeting. **CSAH 15 (Manning Avenue) Phase 3 Improvements: 10th to 30th (County-led Project):** Planned for 2025, the County is finalizing the 90% plans for city review. This project includes pavement rehabilitation and adding turn lanes at Manning Trail and other intersections, with most impacts occurring in West Lakeland Township. Council Adopts 2025 Operating Budget and Tax Levy The City Council set the 2025 tax levy and adopted the budget for the coming year at its December 17, 2024, meeting. The Council adopted a 2025 Property Tax Levy of $10,084,019: an increase of $1,161,977 or 13.02% over 2024. The City’s estimated tax rate for 2025 is 26.77%, up from the 2024 tax rate of 24.63%. Below is a summary of detailed information that can be found on the Finance and Utility page at www.Lakeelmo.gov. The overall City levy is made up of the General Fund Levy, Deby Levy, and a Capital Levy. 2025 General Fund Budget & Levy The General Fund levy was set at $5,588,958, a decrease of $409,254 or 6.82%. The decrease is due solely to a change in practice, incorporating separate capital levies instead of transfers from the General Fund. The General Fund Budget for expenditures for 2025 has an overall decrease of 2.33% from 2024, due to the move away from capital transfers. Individual department budgets can change year-to-year depending on activities. Some significant changes for 2025 include the following: Strategic Planning & Goal Setting (conducted every 2 years) New Communications position New Financial Software Comprehensive Planning (multi- year project) Increased City Center maintenance expenses Additional Paid-on-Call Firefighter hours Two additional Public Works staff As the city continues to grow, these investments in staffing, training and software will drive more efficient, sustainable, and responsive public services. 2025 Debt Service Levy Debt levies are increasing by $327,898 or 11.21%. 2025 Capital Levy The City adopted a new capital levy for 2025. These funds will be used to plan future capital purchases and help to decrease the city’s debt load over time. Vehicle and Street Levies were formerly transferred from the General Fund and have just been moved to the new methodology. 2025 City Property Tax Rate & Tax Impacts The tax rate is calculated using the Total Levy divided by the city’s tax capacity. The City’s estimated tax rate for 2025 is 26.77%, an increase of 2.14 percentage points over the 2024 tax rate of 24.63%. Tax impacts on a home are due to the change in tax rate and home value. The Median Home Value fell from $585,700 in 2024 to $581,700 for tax year 2025. Applying the estimated tax rate to a median-value home would reflect an increase of $117 in city tax for the year or $9.75 per month. Lake Elmo continues to have one of the lower tax rates in Washington County, ranking 9th out of the 10 cities most similar in population in 2024. FINANCE Property Tax Calculator Would you like to see where your city property taxes go? You can use our Property Tax Calculator spreadsheet to illustrate the amount and percentage of your taxes that go to which city services. Find it on the Finance & Utility page at www.LakeElmo.gov. Detailed information on the 2025 Budget & Tax Levy is available on the Finance & Utility page at LakeElmo.gov. 4 General Fund Levy 55.4%Debt Service Levy 32.2% Capital levy 12.3% Capital Levy Debt Service Levy General Fund Levy TOTAL $1,243,333 $3,251,728 $5,588,958 $10,084,019 5 If you have lived in Lake Elmo, you may have encountered Rick Gustafson, dedicated Lake Elmo Public Works employee, plowing snow or mowing lawns over the years. However, his tenure at Lake Elmo Public Works concludes in February. With an impressive 34 years of service to the city, he began his career in landscaping and was hired to plow snow when one of the Public Works employees got hurt, Gustafson thought this was a part time job for the winters. In 1991, the city administrator offered him a full-time position, and he’s been taking care of Lake Elmo ever since. Gustafson’s favorite thing about Lake Elmo is the rural, country feel. He says the biggest change he’s seen is, “there’s more sewer and water!” Gustafson says he has enjoyed working for the city and after his retirement in February, he plans to travel to Hawaii and Florida, and spend more time with family. Rick Gustafson retires 2025 Lake Elmo Water Initiatives PUBLIC WORKS W E L L 2 I M A G E As the City of Lake Elmo continues to strive to provide safe and clean drinking water to all water customers, Lake Elmo Public Works took Well #2 offline Thursday, February 6, 2025, to begin construction of its new water treatment plant for PFAS removal. In 2001, Well 2 was built to accommodate the growing water needs of the City. This well, which draws its water from the Prairie du Chien/Jordan aquifer, was initially designed to pump 1,000 gallons per minute at full capacity. Seeing PFAS levels increase in Well #2’s water during 2022, the city proactively put it on a limited use-only status to meet summer irrigation demands even though its water met all safety regulations at that time. The PFAS Maximum Contaminant Level allowed in 2022 was 15 parts per trillion, well #2’s water was sampled around 10 ppt. In January of 2023, the EPA tightened regulations and lowered the acceptable PFAS MCL to 4 parts per trillion. In response, the City of Lake Elmo tightened irrigation restrictions to ensure Well #2 would not be needed to meet summer water demands. Construction of Well #2’s water treatment plant will include modifying the existing building by raising the roof of the well house to install large water filters that will remove PFAS from the drinking water. The MPCA is funding the development and installation of filters for Well #2. Project engineers estimate the work will be completed by mid-July. Lake Elmo’s Wells #4 and #5 will meet current water demands. Find 2025 irrigation restrictions at www.lakeelmo.gov. WELL 2 LOCATION AND DESIGN RENDERING 6 Lake Elmo Fire Department adds full time staff Lake Elmo Fire Class of 2025 LAKE ELMO PUBLIC SAFETY Meet our new Lake Elmo-paid on-call firefighters! The team has been busy with initial firefighting training. They attend class two nights per week through June, when they will obtain state certification for firefighting. Besides class, the team also responds to calls, push brooms after the fires are extinguished, work as duty crew at the station and do everything except getting into patient contact and hot zones. Welcome to Lake Elmo Fire Department. Brian Chapman joined the Lake Elmo Fire Department two years ago as a paid-on-call firefighter. He is now a full-time firefighter and shares his excitement about being part of the department’s growth. Chapman enjoys spending time with his ten-year-old step daughter and his one-year-old son. He is also looking forward to welcoming his baby girl, who is due in March. When he’s not protecting the community of Lake Elmo or being a busy dad, Chapman likes to participate in sports, go rock climbing, and spend time on the lake whenever possible. F O L L O W U S O N F A C E B O O K FAC EB O OK .CO M/LAK E E L M O F D / B A CK R O W : A ND R EW PLI N ER , AUS T I N EE S L E Y , MA T T O PP ELT , JE F F A LD R ID G E FR O N T R OW: PAU L ED G E R TO N , M A L A CHI T H OM A S, D E R EK J O H N S ON Austin Pavelka joins us as a fully certified fire fighter paid-on-call, and an EMT; and also serves as fire fighter for both the Lake Johanna Fire Department and the Vadnais Heights Fire Department. Passionate about the adrenaline rush, Pavelka got into fire fighting in 2023 after his tour in the Minnesota National Guard. He missed the camaraderie of teamwork and says, “the best thing about my job is the community relations aspect.” “Obviously I value the relationship with coworkers, but working with residents; helping families with their situations, that inspires me.” When he’s not fighting fires or working as an EMT, you can find Pavelka coaching high school kids at Concordia Academy and working as a youth pastor at his church. Welcome Austin Pavelka 7 Close before you doze Adopt a fire hydrant FIRE SAFE TY T IPS We have snow this winter in Lake Elmo! If there was an emergency in your neighborhood, could firefighters locate the closest fire hydrant? We ask residents to help your firefighters by clearing snow and ice a minimum of 3 feet around fire hydrants and clear a pathway to the street. This will allow firefighters to focus on fire department operations during emergencies when every second is critical. Close Before You Doze® A closed door can be an effective barrier against deadly levels of carbon monoxide, smoke, and flames, and may give you more time to respond to the smoke alarm. In fact, there can be a 900-degree temperature difference between a room with an open door and one with a closed door. While a room with an open door may reach 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit a room with a closed door may only reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Make closing doors at night part of your bedtime routine. Learn more at https://closeyourdoor.org/ Working smoke alarms save lives! Check the age of your smoke alarm, it’s probably older than you think! All smoke alarms must be replaced with a new alarm if they are 10 years old or older. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect your home’s smoke alarms. This way, when one sounds, they all sound. Teach children the sound of the smoke alarm and to exit the home/building when it sounds. Make sure your alarms have working batteries: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with non- replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. F A C E B OO K.C O M /L A KE EL M OFD/ What You Need to Know About Smoke Alarms LAKE ELMO PUBLIC SAFETY 8 WELCOME JASON STOPA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMUNITY PLANNING TEAM PROMOTES SOPHIA JENSEN AND ASHLEY MONTERUSSO LAKE ELMO STAFF IS GROWING! After nearly ten years as the community development director for St. Bernard Parish outside of New Orleans, Jason Stopa joined Lake Elmo in February 2024 as the Community Development Director. His work has focused on geographic information systems (GIS), historic preservation, and property redevelopment. Miranda joined the City of Lake Elmo in July. She brings with her great experience ranging from customer service to emergency response to healthcare. She says she is excited to use her skills to assist the residents of Lake Elmo. Miranda Moulis Planning Assistant When it comes to public works, Zach Zellner has a depth of experience that lends itself to his position. Prior to working here, Zellner operated equipment for Frattalone Companies, and as project manager for an exteriors company before. Outside of work, he and his wife have been busy preparing for the arrival of their baby girl, due in May. Zach Zellner, Public Works Kathie Smith brings communications and marketing expertise from her roles as communications and marketing director for YWCA St. Paul, and as a digital communications specialist at Local Media. In her free time, Smith enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with family. K a t h i e S m i t h Communications Coordinator Sophia Jensen has been a city planner since 2021 and was recently promoted to Senior Planner. She earned her bachelor's degree in Urban Planning from the University of River Falls (UWRF). Ashley Monterusso began her career in Lake Elmo as an Planning Assistant and was promoted to City Planner in May 2024. She holds a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin. Congratulations to both of them! 9LIFE IN LAKE ELMO Lake Elmo Park Reserve offers enjoyment for visitors year-around Designated as a park reserve, Lake Elmo Park Reserve can use only 20% of its land for active purposes, while the remaining 80% is defined as wild lands that reflect the native landscape. The park will eventually return to resemble its prairie biome as it existed before early settlement in the 1800s. At Lake Elmo Park Reserve, trails and events are offered year-round to keep you engaged. Learn to ski in the winter or try a birding class to identify various bird species in our parks. Forest bathing, a Japanese term meaning “a visit to a forest for relaxation and to enhance one’s health,” is also a year-round activity. Join the upcoming forest bathing adventure on April 25, which combines Earth Day and Arbor Day. The swim-pond will get a refresh this spring with nature and animal themed equipment, providing improved accessibility, varied play experiences for several age groups, custom shade structures and poured-in place surfacing. During the summer, many day camp experiences are available for kids, and registration is now open. https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/3326/Summer- Day-Camps. Winter Skiing at Lake Elmo Park Reserve The regional parks and trails of the Twin Cities are regarded by many as some of the greatest features of the metropolitan area. Washington County began acquiring land for Lake Elmo Regional Park in 1972, investing over $5 million to relocate homes and private properties. It was developed in the early 1980s and dedicated in 1985. Be a Battery Hero! If it lights up, makes noise, or moves without a plug, it has a battery! Batteries make our daily lives more convenient. Once they are used, though, they must be disposed of properly. If thrown in the trash or recycling, batteries may catch fire and pose a threat to people and property. Some batteries also contain toxic metals, such as cadmium, lead, or mercury, which can pose a threat to health and the environment. Be a battery hero! With so many different kinds of batteries, it can be confusing to know how to dispose of batteries correctly. To make it easy for residents, ALL batteries are accepted at the Washington County Environmental Center for free recycling, including rechargeable, button, and alkaline batteries. Recycling 1 0LIFE IN LAKE ELMO Parking Regulations: The winter parking ordinance in Lake Elmo prohibits parking on streets from November 1 to March 31 between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM. Spring and Summer Watering: To maintain water tower levels for emergency response during peak heat periods, Lake Elmo has implemented watering restrictions per city code that will be in effect this spring and summer. Find watering schedules at lakeelmo.gov. You can reach Public Works at (651) 747-3946 on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM to report a public works concern, or to submit a non- emergency maintenance request. For after-hours emergencies (watermain break, sinkhole, etc.) please contact the Washington County Dispatch Center at (651) 439-9381 (or call 911) and a dispatcher will alert the proper staff. We kindly ask that you minimize street parking and keep garbage containers in your driveway, ensuring they are off the streets. City Reminders Lake Elmo Firefighters performing an inspection of the new fire truck Lake Elmo parks update The protection and enhancement of resources, parks, and open spaces are defining elements of Lake Elmo’s character, making the community a special place to live, work, and recreate. The City's extensive natural resources, including woodlands, meadows, lakes, and wetlands, along with scenic rural amenities situated throughout the community, are valued assets for all residents. In line with the 2040 comprehensive goals, the City recently completed Schiltgen Park, a 2.9-acre property that has been placed under a conservation easement as part of the new Northstar Development. An additional $218,876 was contributed to the Park Dedication Fund. Residents and visitors can now enjoy nature trails in Schiltgen Park, providing another opportunity to experience the beauty of Lake Elmo. The park also features benches and picnic tables for the community to relax and gather. Exciting news! Our City website is getting a vibrant makeover this spring. Stay tuned for a fresh new look and enhanced features at www.lakeelmo.gov. We can't wait to share it with you! PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID LAKE ELMO, MN PERMIT NO. 19City Hall3880 Laverne Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 LakeElmo.gov | (651) 747-3900 POSTAL PATRONLAKE ELMO, MN 55042 A publication of the City of Lake Elmo 3880 Laverne Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 651-747-3900 www.lakeelmo.gov Reminders: The winter parking ordinance prohibits parking on Lake Elmo streets from November 1st through March 31st, between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM, or during a snow event outside of those hours. Tickets will be issued along with option to tow. NEIGHBORLY TIPS: HOW DO I? Report a Streetlight Outage Go to Xcel Energy https://mn.my.xcelenergy.com/s/part ner-resources/municipalities/outdoor- lighting/outdoor-lighting-reporting Either “Report it Now” or “Check Outage Status“ NEIGHBORLY TIPS: HOW DO I? Pay your Utility Bill With your City of Lake Elmo utility account number, proceed to Paya at the link below to register, manage your account, set up autopay, or make payments. LakeElmo.PayaCP.com If Autopay isn't for you, try out the new Text-and-Pay option. If you need assistance, reach out to us at RNess@LakeElmo.gov or call 651-747-3906. Mayor Charles Cadenhead | 651-300-9641 Council Nick Dragisich | 651-303-6378 Matt Hirn | 715-432-3608 Jeff Holtz | 651-705-6675 Nick Kragness | 952-288-5401 City Administrator Nicole Miller | 651-747-3905