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Home My WebLink About03-14-25 The Fresh NewsletterMarch 14, 2025 Public Meetings Next Week: Parks Commission Meeting. March 17, 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting. March 18, 7:00 p.m. Visit our website Join us on Nextdoor Our mission is to provide quality public services in a fiscally responsible manner in partnership with our community. NOTICE OF TEAM MEETING Parks Commission Monday, March 17, 2025, 6:30 P.M. City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Ave North Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Approve Agenda 4. Approve Minutes a. January 22, 2025 b. February 19, 2025 5. Public Comment 6. Inwood 8th Addition / Towns of Inwood Preliminary Plat and PUD 7. Park Use Policy 8. Communications 9. Adjourn ***Note: Every effort will be made to accommodate persons that need special considerations to attend this meeting due to a health condition or disability. Please contact the Lake Elmo City Clerk if you are in need of special accommodations. Our mission is to provide quality public services in a fiscally responsible manner in partnership with our community. NOTICE OF TEAM MEETING City Council Meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 7:00 P.M. City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Ave North Agenda A. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance B. Approval of Agenda C. Approval of Minutes 1. March 4, 2025, Special and Regular Meetings D. Public Comments/ Inquiries E. Presentations 1. Lake Elmo Jaycees F. Consent Agenda 1. Approve Payments and Disbursements 2. Approve Lease for Farmland with David See Farms 3. Approve T-Mobile Temp Tower 3303 Langly 4. Approve Pay Request No. 1 for Well No. 2 PFAS WTP 5. Approve Security Release for Easton Village 4th Addition 6. Accept Improvements and Approve Security Reduction for Easton Village 7. Accept Donation from Lake Elmo Jaycees - Resolution 2025-028 8. Approve Washington County Tree Stewards Program 9. Approve Lake Elmo Elementary Development Agreement - Resolution 2025-031 10. Authorize Administrative Services Coordinator Job Posting G. Regular Agenda 1. Accept Feasibility Report and Call for Improvement Hearing; Approve Plans and Specifications and Order Advertisement for Bids for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements - Resolution 2025-030 2. Letter of Intent for 3M Priority Funding (Trail Project) 3. Approve Old Fire Station and Public Works Building RFP 4. Approve Utility Rates and Fee Changes for 2025 - Ordinance 2025-09; Resolution 2025- 029 H. Council Reports I. Staff Reports 1. Future Agenda Items J. Adjourn Full meeting packets and meeting minutes can be accessed here: Agendas and Minutes 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. What if you believe your assessed value or classification is incorrect? If you want to discuss your tax assessment, contact the Washington County Assessor's Office, or email assessor@co.washington.mn.us. 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 Hall. 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 Daylight Saving Time is a great time to check your smoke alarms Working smoke alarms save lives! Here are some tips to remember to keep your home safe. 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 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. Get out of the kitchen! Ivywood Pickleball Courts are open! Did you know that pickleball is one of the fastest- growing sports in the U.S.? With spring approaching, the Ivywood Courts in Lake Elmo are ready for play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so please practice good sportsmanship and follow the court rules. You can learn more about the parks in Lake Elmo by visiting the provided link. Spring Load Restrictions start March 1 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 Please Pick Up Pet Waste Please take a moment to pick up after your pet to keep our community clean and enjoyable for everyone. Cleaning up after your pet is important all year round, not just in specific seasons. Dog waste can carry harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, as well as parasites that can make other animals sick. Additionally, rain and melting snow can wash this waste into storm drains and pipes, potentially contaminating our surface waters. Thank you! Stormwater Pond Maintenance begins Public works is beginning stormwater maintenance throughout Lake Elmo, so expect to see crews clearing trees over the next few weeks in multiple areas throughout the city. Because brush and trees encroach the inlet and outlet pipes and disrupt the water flow in swales, ditches, and ponds, debris needs to be removed periodically to keep water running efficiently. The city holds drainage easements on private property that allow maintenance to be performed, Questions can be directed to the contact listed on the door tag or can be directed to the Lake Elmo Public Works and crews attempt to contact private property owners or leave notifications on doors if they are unavailable. team here: Lake Elmo Public Works Stormwater Management. 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 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 and newly planted trees in public spaces of Washington County. pm: Scandia Community Center April 12th: 9 am - 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. Be a Better Recycler! Want to recycle, but you don't know what's accepted? See below, or visit City Recycling Resources | Washington County, MN PAPER • Boxboard including corrugated cardboard (OCC) • Envelopes- window and metal clasps acceptable • Magazines and catalogs • Mail, office and school papers • Newspaper and inserts • Phone books CARTONS • Milk and broth cartons • Juice boxes METAL • Food and beverage aluminum/tin/bimetal cans GLASS • Food and beverage bottles and jars PLASTICS • PET (#1) - water, soda and juice bottles - ketchup and salad dressing bottles • HDPE (#2) - Milk and juice jugs - Dish soap bottles and detergent jugs - Shampoo, soap and lotion bottles • PP (#5) - Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups - Margarine, cottage cheese and other tubs 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! 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. Tree Trimming Lake Elmo Public Works Staff will be trimming trees over public sidewalks, trails and along the roadways as weather permits. Tree trimming is necessary to improve the health and appearance of trees and to lessen the interference with pedestrians, bikers and traffic. Trimming is required if trees are obstructing street lights, signs, trails, and roadways. Trees are trimmed to 20 feet over streets or curb, and 7 feet over a sidewalk or path. Staff will only be trimming trees which are in the city’s right-of-way (typically 15 feet behind the curb or road edge) or impede on a city sidewalk and trail. Limbs will be cut back to the trunk of the tree and will be removed from the site. To balance the appearance of a tree staff will occasionally trim around all sides of a tree. Questions can be directed to Lake Elmo Public Works 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 Will Your Mailbox Survive the Winter? Below are the proper installation instructions from the USPS: 1) Position your mailbox 41” to 45” from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry 2) Place your mailbox 6” to 8” back from curb. If you do not have a raised curb, contact your local post-master for guidance. 3) Put your house or apartment number on the mailbox 4)If your mailbox is on a different street from your house or apartment, put your full street address on the box 5)If you are attaching the box to your house, make sure the postal carrier can reach it easily from your sidewalk, steps, or porch 6) If your mailbox is physically struck by the city plow (not the weight of the snow wake) please contact public works within 72 hours to investigate the damage. City plows get as close as practical to allow for passage of traffic and mail delivery. Residents are responsible to keep piled snow away from the mailboxes. If mailbox damage is determined to be caused by a city plow making direct physical contact with a properly installed mailbox, the city will replace it with a standard size, non-decorative metal mailbox and treated wooden 4x4 post 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. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM We're now on Instagram and we'd love to connect with you. Like, share and follow us for more! (see all our social media below!) 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