HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-25 The FreshMarch 28, 2025
Public Meetings Next Week:
City Council Meeting. April 1, 7:00
P.M.
Visit our website
Join us on Nextdoor
Full meeting packets and meeting minutes can be accessed here:
Agendas and Minutes
Our mission is to provide quality public services in a fiscally responsible manner
in partnership with our community.
NOTICE OF TEAM MEETING
City Council
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Ave. N.
Agenda
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
B. Approval of Agenda
C. Presentations
D. Public Comments / Inquiries
E. Approval of Minutes
1. March 18, 2025
F. Consent Agenda
1. Approve Payment of Disbursements and Payroll
2. Approve Arbor Day Proclamation
3. Approve Support for Lake Elmo Association to Submit a Letter of Intent for Habitat Restoration
through the Priority 2 Settlement.
4. Approve Animal Inn CUP and Variance Extension - Resolution 2025-032
5. Approve NorthStar 2nd Addition Development Agreement - Resolution 2025-033
6. Approve Security Reduction and Accept Improvements for Royal Golf 3rd, 5th, and 6th Additions
7. Approve Release of Grading and Public Utility Security for the Union Park West Addition
8. Accept Sanitary Sewer & Watermain Improvements and Approve Security Reduction for NorthStar
1st Addition
9. Approve Plans and Specs and Order Advertisement for Bids for Stillwater Area School District
Utility Improvements - Resolution 2025-034
G. Regular Agenda
1. Accept Bids and Award Contract for the Village Parkway/UPRR Crossing Improvements -
Resolution 2025-035
2. Authorize Plans and Specifications for the I-94 Lift Station and Forcemain Improvements
H. Council Report
I. Staff Report
1. Future Agenda Items
J. Adjourn
Important Notice - Utility Rate Change
You will see an increase in your utility rates reflected on your
2025 Quarter 1 statement.
In a concentrated effort to secure funding for the operations and
maintenance of Lake Elmo's water treatment facilities and to
place the utility funds on a more stable long-term footing- the City
Council accepted the finance department’s recommendation for a
rate increase in the water and sewer funds, effective with the
Quarter 1 bills this April. No increases are planned for
stormwater fees in 2025.
Learn more about rate changes and sample calculations at Lakeelmo.gov.
Property Tax Valuation Notice
Each March, Washington County sends
property owners a Valuation Notice outlining
their property's assessed market value.
Your property's market value, defined
by Minnesota Statute 272.03, sub 8 ., provides
the basis for the property taxes you pay each
year.
2025 assessed values are based on real estate
transactions between October 1, 2023, and
September 30, 2024.
To learn more, visit Washington County's
website Understanding Your Property Value and
Tax section.
If you want to learn more or appeal your tax
valuation, attend the 2025 Local Board of
Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) meeting on
Tuesday, April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30
p.m. at Lake Elmo City Hal l.
The 2025 Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale begins April 7.
Contact Washington County Environmental Center @ 651-275-7475 or scan the QR code above.
All Lake Elmo pickleball and tennis courts are
now open!
Visit The City of Lake Elmo for more information.
Spring Load Restrictions are
now in effect
The Minnesota Department of Transportation, MNDOT,
will start spring load restrictions in the SOUTH,
SOUTHEAST, AND METRO frost zones, including Lake
Elmo, on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
Lake Elmo follows MNDOT's start and end dates for the
metro seasonal load limits. View the Spring Road Maps
and Lake Elmo road restrictions here. Road Restrictions
Cimarron Community Farm's
2025 Summer CSA
Do you love fresh, organic veggies? Do you want to
support your local food system? Cimarron
Community Farm's 2025 Summer CSA program is
now open and a perfect way for your family to eat
fresh all season.
16 weeks of fresh, local, organic produce
(mid-June to September.)
$530 for a summer share.
On-farm pick-up, Wednesdays, 4 p.m. - 7
p.m.
A typical box may include fresh herbs,
tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, broccoli,
lettuce, kale, eggplant, onions, and more.
Sign up now for our Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) membership to access the best
produce in town!
cimarroncommunityfarm.com
cimarroncommunityfarmMN@gmail.com
(952) 607-0157
Lake Elmo Public Works
is hiring!
We are hiring seasonal maintenance staff to assist
our full-time Public Works staff in maintaining and
repairing our city streets and parks.
This position will involve training in several areas.
Work up to 40 hours per week, with an anticipated
start date in May.
Salary range is $18 to $19 per hour/ starting pay.
Must be 16 years of age and have a valid driver's
license.
Apply Here
BECOME A WASHINGTON COUNTY TREE STEWARD
Join the Washington Conservation District and
UMN to learn more about trees and how to help
care for our collective urban forest!
The Minnesota Tree Steward program is
designed for people who love trees, enjoy being
outdoors, and want to volunteer with their
community.
Through a partnership with the Washington
Conservation District (WCD) and the University
of Minnesota, you’ll learn how to care for young
and newly planted trees in public spaces of
After completing the training and short
assessment, you‘ll also become a certified Tree
Steward Volunteer who can participate in
activities under the guidance of WCD/ host site
Forestry staff.
To stay active, volunteers must complete 25
hours of volunteer work and/or participate in 3
tree-related volunteer events each year.
Questions? Email Jessica Sahu Teli
Workshop dates (Pick one): April 5th: 9am - 2
pm: Scandia Community Center April 12th: 9 am
Washington County.- 2 pm: Nordic Center in Lake Elmo Park
Reserve. Register Here.
Pothole Season is upon us
A pothole is a depression or hollow in a road surface,
caused by ground water and traffic.
Potholes form when water seeps into tiny cracks in the
road surface, usually caused by traffic. When this water
freezes it expands and then when it thaws, it gets
smaller. This makes the cracks larger, further
weakening the road and increasing the amount of water
that can get under the surface. As the road surface
weakens, traffic breaks it up to create a small hole,
which expands as more traffic passes over.
Need some help from our public works team?
Report a pothole here.
The Old Village Gardens Project
Join Connect Lake Elmo on Thursday, April 3, at
the Lake Elmo Library from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
to review proposed designs and learn more about
project objectives, timeline, and the maintenance
plan. Treats provided!
Connect Lake Elmo
Coming up at Sallie Manzara
Interpretive Nature Center
Here are some things that are coming up at
the SMINC:
• We will be boiling sap down to syrup this
weekend! Starting Friday, March 28, at 8
a.m., our friend Paul Red Elk and a team of
volunteers will be syruping at the SMINC.
Stop by during regular business hours to
check it out, take in the aroma, and ask
questions if you’re curious.
• Summer hours begin Monday, March 31st.
Until the leaves start to fall again, we’ll be
open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 to 3.
• Tim Clemens from Ironwood Foraging will
be here for two classes: an Intro to Foraging
class on April 10 (6 p.m.) and an Edible
Native Plant Gardening class on April 22 (6
p.m.) Each class is $45, but you walk away
with much helpful knowledge, and you can’t
put a price on that!
• We’re celebrating Earth Day with a
reseeding event on Saturday, April 19th.
Over the last several years, we’ve been
concentrating on removing buckthorn from
the park. Now, we’re ready to shift gears and
plant native grasses in select areas that have
been cleared. Many places will see the
natural regrowth of native wildflowers and
grasses simply by removing the buckthorn,
and it won’t need reseeding.
• Save the date! Our spring fundraiser will be
on Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. at the Lake
Elmo Inn Event Center. Our featured speaker
this year will be award-winning photographer
Layne Kennedy.
Join us to celebrate Earth Day on April 19th
at 9:30!
Visit Sallie Manzara Interpretive Nature
Center
Winter Parking Ordinance
The winter parking ordinance prohibits parking on Lake
Elmo streets from November 1 through March 31
between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM, or during a snow event
outside of those hours.
Remember, if the City's trucks are blocked they can't
plow your streets!
What do my property taxes
pay for?
Property Tax Calculator
The City Council adopted the 2025 Tax Levy on
December 17. City Finance Dept. staff has
developed a downloadable tool that estimates
2025 city taxes (not other jurisdictions) on your
home and shows approximately how much of
your taxes go toward each service area.
Check it out at:
https://www.lakeelmo.gov/departments/finance_
__utility/property_tax_calculator.php
Lead Service Line Inventory Project
The City of Lake Elmo has completed and submitted its service line materials inventory to
the Minnesota Department of Health. The service line inventory is publicly available, and
you can check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking
Tool (LITT) at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/ you may also contact us Lake Elmo staff @ 651-
747-3946. To complete the service line inventory our system gathered information from
building records along with, door to door and self verification. As on 09/27/2024, our
inventory contains 0 lead, 2 galvanized requiring replacement, 280 unknown material and
3327 non-lead service lines. You may contact the Lake Elmo Public Works Department to
update the tracking records at any time.
Attention – NEW Utility Billing Payment Portal
We have moved to an intuitive new Utility Billing Portal called Paya.
Grab your City of Lake Elmo utility account number and 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.
Safe Drinking Water Meeting
Replay is Available
The City of Lake Elmo, along with the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPCA) and Minnesota Department
of Health (MDH) hosted an
informational meeting regarding
PFAS, safe drinking water and private
wells on July 25, 2024, where
presentations were given by MPCA,
MDH and Lake Elmo’s City Engineer
as well as a question and answer
period for the participants. The
presentation slides are
available here as well as printed
copies are available at City Hall. A
recording of the meeting is
available here.
Private Wells
and PFAS
If you have questions about your private well water quality, please reach out to the MPCA.
You can request your well be tested here: https://webapp.pca.state.mn.us/gw-
sampling-req/
PFAS well sampling FAQs: PFAS Well Sampling Frequently Asked Questions
(state.mn.us)
Water filtration FAQs: PFAS Water Filtration Frequently Asked Questions
(state.mn.us)
MDH website about PFAS filtration PFAS and Home Treatment of Water - MN
Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
Private well sampling interactive map: Private Well Sampling in the East Metro Area
(arcgis.com)
If you have questions about private well testing in the East Metro, call 651-757-
2903, or email
east_metro_pfas_private_well_sampling_inquiries.mpca@state.mn.us
Information about PFAS from the department of health can be found Per- and
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
MPCA blueprint for Minnesota and PFAS. Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint | Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us)
Good information to reduce your exposure to PFAS can be found Reducing
Exposures: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-MN Dept. of Health and
PFAS - SixClasses.org
Please visit the City of Lake Elmo’s water resources webpage to learn more
at lakeelmo.gov/residents/index.php
If you know someone who has concerns about their water, please forward this newsletter
to them and encourage them to sign up for the FRESH HERE
The Lake Elmo Community Development
Department is happy to share our new Sign
Guide, created to help local businesses and
residents understand the sign regulations in
our community. This guide offers information
on the types of signs allowed, size
requirements, placement, and more. Whether
you are a business owner looking to advertise
or a resident curious about neighborhood
guidelines, this is a good resource for you.
Check out the Lake Elmo Sign Guide (linked
here: Sign Guide) to learn more.
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