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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Summer SourceSummer 2022 City Hall - 3800 Laver ne Avenue Nor th - Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 (651) 747-3900 Changes for Lake Elmo in 2022 City Hall - 3800 Laver ne Avenue Nor th - Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 (651) 747-39003800 Laverne Avenue North - Lake Elmo, MN 55042 (651) 747-3900 2022 is off to a great start for the City of Lake Elmo, and is full of changes. You may have noticed that construction has started on the new Lake Elmo City Center as well as Public Works ahead of facility improvements. During construction, all services will be available at City Hall at 3800 Laverne Avenue North. Please be mindful of construction activities, slow down, and watch out for moving equipment. On top of the City Center project, our staff is growing to meet the needs of Lake Elmo. So far, we’ve added four new positions; a Code Enforcement Official, Assistant Public Works Director, and two full time Firefighters. The addition of full time Firefighters provides for more predictable scheduling, and greater coverage in the event of emergency. We are excited to expand departments to serve our residents and customers. This Summer is full of road construction projects, as well. The 2022 Street and Utility Improve- ments project consists of new pavement, curb, and gutter on nearly 2 miles of local streets, which does not include numerous neighborhood street, sewer, and water projects. Highway 36, on the North end of Lake Elmo, is undergoing major construction as well. Starting this Spring, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is resurfacing 12 miles of highway from Little Canada to Stillwater. This project causes many detours, lane closures, access changes, and delays. Read on for a project map and more info. The Highway 36 and Manning Interchange project is underway, and will cause further delays and lane closures throughout Spring and Summer. We will continue to publish updates to all projects on our website, social media pages, and weekly newsletter. Water supply issues remain central to everything we’re doing in 2022. In April, the City Council adopted a moratorium on new plats due to water supply issues. The one year moratorium prevents developers from submitting applications for residential and commercial development in roughly a quarter of the city. Last year, we asked the DNR for an increase in our water appro- priation. The request was denied citing a Ramsey County Court ruling to protect water levels in White Bear Lake. The City continues to urge the state legislature to provide a legislative solution to the water supply issues. Lake Elmo residents are encouraged to contact their state representa- tives to support language in the Environmental Omnibus Bill that would povide permit amendment requests for appropriations and new wells in Lake Elmo. 2 Summer 2022 How will Lake Elmo Change in 50 years? In conjunction with the construction of the Lake Elmo City Center, we’re launching a Time Capsule Project. We’re inviting residents to share their predictions for Lake Elmo in the next 50 years. Sub- mission slips are available at City Hall and City events for you to tell us how you think we’ll change between now and 2073, so you tell us: -How many people will live in Lake Elmo in 2073? -What will downtown look like? -How are City services delivered? -What else does the future hold for Lake Elmo? Fill out a slip at City Hall or a City event and we will include them in the time capsule in the City Center. Come back in 2073 to see how your predictions turn out! We are also accepting submissions for historical photos and artifacts to display in the new City Center mezzanine. If you have something you’d like to offer for display, please contact City Hall at 651-747-3900 City of Lake Elmo Commission Opportunities We’re experiencing an exciting time of community growth. The City is fortunate to have active, involved residents on its commissions providing valuable input. The City’s commitment to the community is to provide planned, quality public services consistent with the City’s character in a fiscally responsible manner in partnership with our community. With these values in mind, the city is accepting applications for Commissioners for the Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority. The Planning Commission advises the City Council regarding matters relevant to city planning and zoning practics, initiatives, applications, city code and the comprehensive plan. The Economic Development Authority (EDA) advises the Council on economic development matters including business retention, expansion, and recruitment. The City is currently seeking volunteers who have an interest in serving and representing the community. For more information about the commissions, visit www.lakeelmo.org/government. If you are interested in serving, please contact City Hal at 651-747-3900. 3 Summer 2022 Lake Elmo Public Safety Recreational Fires As patio fire pits and outdoor fireplaces grow in popularity, so does backyard burning. Homeowners enjoy fire pits and outdoor fire- places for warmth, recreation and outdoor burning night cooking. Increase your enjoyment of outdoor fires by knowing you’re doing all you can to burn cleanly, safely, and responsibly for your family, neighbors and community. Recreational fires are restricted by size and material. A recreational fire cannot exceed three feet in diameter nor shall it exceed three feet in height (height of material stacked to burn). The burn site must be completely surrounded with non-combustible material and be constantly attended. Be A Good Neighbor Be a good neighbor when burning and consider your neighbors, as well as wind direction. Often times this prevents unnecessary calls to the fire department regarding smoke. Cleaner Alternatives Learn about your options before burning wood in your backyard. Switching to natural gas or propane reduces harmful air pollutants. Kits that convert existing fire rings and pits to natural gas or propane burners are available at hearth and patio stores. Don’t Wait or Hesitate! If your recreational fire gets out of control, don’t wait or hesitate. Call 911 immediately. Feel free to call Fire Station #1 – 651-770-5006 with any questions. Recreational fires are allowed without a permit under the following guidelines: (1) Only clean, dry, wood can be burned. (2) The fire shall not exceed three feet in diameter with a flame height of three feet maximum. (3) The fire shall take place on the owner’s property and shall be a minimum of 15 feet from property lines. (4) The fire shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. (5) Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer ’s instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. (6) The fire shall not be conducted if the wind speed exceeds ten miles per hour. (7) The use of flammable or combustible liquid accelerants is not permitted. (8) The fire must be constantly attended and supervised by an adult until the fire has been completely extinguished. (9) A connected garden hose or other means to extinguish the fire must be readily available. (10) Any person planning to have a recreational fire must be aware of local burning bans that have been issued by the state depart- ment of natural resources. If a burning ban is in effect, all recreational fires are prohibited. (11) The fire must be extinguished if it becomes a nuisance to others or if not under adult supervision. LEFD Receives New Command Vehicle Late last year, the Lake Elmo Fire Department took delivery of a new Tahoe as C1 which serves as a mobile command unit at emergencies. You won’t be able to miss it if you see it around town! 4 Summer 2022 New City Staff Ben Hetzel Ben joined the City in April as City Planner. Most recently, Ben worked as a Land USe and Conservation Specialist for St. Croix County, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation prior to that. Jeff Guertin Jeff joined the City in April as one of our first ever Full Time Firefighters. Most recently Jeff worked with the Lake Johanna Fire Department, the University of Minnesota and served 15 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Sergeant First Class Highway 36 Road Resurfacing Project A 12 mile stretch of Highway 36 between Little Canada and Stillwater will undergo a road resurfac- ing and improvement project in the Summer of 2022. The work includes resurfacing pavement, updating pedestrian accessibility, and upgrading drainage. The project will create significant access delays to Highway 36 from Lake Elmo streets. We will regularly post updates on our website, social media pages, and weekly E-Newsletter. The Minnesota Department of Transportation maintains a project page on their website, www.dot.state.mn.us 5 Summer 2022 2021 Consumer Confidence Report Now Available The 2021 Lake Elmo Consumer Confidence Report is now available. The full 2021 report along with the reports from past years can be found by visiting the Water and Sewer Utility page under the Public Works & Engineering tab on the City’s website at www.lakeelmo.org. Hard copies of the report can be requested at City Hall, 3800 Laverne Ave N. Water Rebate Program The City of Lake Elmo, in partnership with the Metropolitan Council, is offering rebates for new installations of water saving devices. With numerous water supply issues, there has never been a better time to install a Smart Irrigation Controller or EPA Approved WaterSense Toilet.To date, the program has applied over $24,000 in water bill rebates on devices estimat- ed to save over 1.5 million gallons of water per year! Water customers in Lake Elmo are eligible for up to $200 for installing Smart Irrigation Controllers and $100 per EPA WaterSense toilet. Purchase and install a qualifying device and complete a rebate form with a copy of your reciept. Upon approval, a credit will be applied to your water account. Applications must be received by June 30th. Billing Updates Beginning with Quarter 1, 2022 the Stormwater utility bill will be combined with the Water & Sewer bill and it will be billed quarterly rather than annually. The Stormwater amount will be ¼ of the annual fee which is $21.25 per quarter for 2022 for a residential lot. Stormwater bills for residents who only have a Stormwater account will continue to be billed annually. Additionally, we can now take electronic payments for for Building Permits and Planning and Zoning fees. The City is looking to expand online payments via credit cards for all City services in 2022. 6 Summer 2022 Code Enforcement As we move into warmer weather it is important for residents, business owners, and visitors to abide by standards set forth in City Code. The City acknowledges that in many cases residents are simply unaware they are in violation of City Code. Below is a brief checklist that you can use to ensure your property is compliant: Permits for on-site improvements have been obtained Homes and accessory structures are well maintained Lawn grass is mowed Landscaping and tree limbs are alive and well maintained Personal property stored outside is properly screened or stored within a building Licensed and operable vehicles are parked on a durable and permitted surface Inoperable vehicles are removed or properly stored Refuse and landscape debris is properly disposed of *Please note this is not an all-inclusive list, but is composed of most frequent code violations. For full municipal code please visit the Planning Department page on the City website. The City accepts code violation complaints submitted the following ways: • Online submission portal on the Code Enforcement page of the City websiteC • A formal complaint document located at City Hall • Handwritten or Emailed with date of violation, address of violation, and type of violation Thank you in advance to all for your cooperation and commitment to making Lake Elmo a safe and beautiful community! 7 Summer 2022 Online Bill Pay Now Available! National Night Out 2022 National Night Out will be held once again Tuesday, August 2nd from 6-8PM at Lion’s Park downtown. This is a great opportunity for everyone including residents, businesses, and public services to join together as one city. Last year nearly 50 businesses and organizations participated in the event. We had an incredible turnout last year and hope to do so again. Look for updates on the City website, social media, and the FRESH E-newsletter for how you can get involved. National Night Out 2021 Adopt a Storm Drain Volunteer fiteen minutes, twice a month, for cleaner waterways and a healthier community. Storm drains flow directly to our lakes, rivers, and wetlands and act as conduits for trash and pollutants. Adopt a Drain asks residents to adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood and keep it clear of leaves, trash, and other debris to reduce water pollution. Sign up, keep your drain clear, track your impact, and lead by example. The City of Lake Elmo is seeking volunteers for the Adopt-A-Park Program. The program is intended to make parks more appealing through general spring, summer and fall clean-up to remove debris, flower planting, and weeding. All materials are provided by the City and coordinated through Public Works. Adopt-A-Park is a program for volunteers who are interested in cleaning up Lake Elmo’s parks, and is an excellent way for residents and organizations to make a personal contribution to the community. The program is open to individuals, families, groups, religious organizations, service organizations, schools, businesses, and other community organizations, adoption terms are for 2 years. 8 Summer 2022 Mayor Charles Cadenhead Council Lisa McGinn Dale Dorschner Katrina Beckstrom Jeff Holtz City Administrator Kristina Handt Internet: www.lakeelmo.org Email: comments@lakeelmo.org POLICE-FIRE Emergency: 9-1-1 Non-emergency: (651) 439-9381 A publication of the City of Lake Elmo 3800 Laverne Ave. N., Lake Elmo MN 55042 • 651-747-3900 PRSTD STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 19 LAKE ELMO, MN 3880 Laverne Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 POSTAL PATRON LAKE ELMO MN 55042 www.facebook.com/LakeElmoMN Public Works Contact Info: The City Wants Your Input! Public Works: 651-747-3940 Emergency: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. City Hall: 651-747-3900 All other hours and weekends, Washington County Dispatch: 651-439-9381 The City has been using the Polco platform to collect the opinions of residents to better improve City services. Questions have been related to the City of Lake Elmo’s streets, parks, public safety, and more. New questions are posted regularly. If you are interested in sharing your opinions, visit www.polco.us/lakeelmo and create an account! The City is on Nextdoor! In an effort to reach as much of the com- munity as possible we’ve joined Nextdoor to post important updates for residents.