HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-26-25 The Fresh NewsletterDecember 26, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
City Hall Meetings Schedule
No Meetings
Meetings are held at City Hall, 3880 Laverne Ave N., Lake Elmo, MN
55042. Changes or cancellations will be posted at
Lakeelmo.gov/calendar.
How to Watch
Watch online or on cable television here.
Find meeting agendas and minutes at the City of Lake Elmo, MN
CITY BUSINESS
Thank You, Council Members, Commissioners, and
Committee Members, for your service to Lake Elmo in
2025
Thank you to the City Council, commissioners, and committee
members for your time, dedication, and service to the City of Lake
Elmo this year. Your thoughtful leadership, willingness to serve, and
commitment to the community help guide important decisions and
move our city forward. We are grateful for the countless hours you
volunteer on behalf of Lake Elmo and the positive impact you make
for our residents.
Lake Elmo City Council Adopts 2026 Budget and Tax
Levies
The Lake Elmo City Council approved the city's 2026 Budget & Tax
Levies on Dec. 16.
Elements that shaped the budget include personnel costs;
inflationary increases in contracts, supplies, and equipment;
technology and software investments; rising costs for utilities, facility
maintenance, and fleet operations; and public safety.
Budget development began in May, and the proposed budget was
first presented to the council in a public workshop in August. The
council and staff worked together to reach strategic goals, maintain
fiscal responsibility, and plan for growth.
The 2026 property tax levy is $11,497,785. The City Levy comprises
the General Fund Levy, the Debt Levy, and the Capital Levy, and the
change from 2025 to 2026 is $1,413,766, or 14.02%. Approximately
38% of the increase is for long-term capital needs and to help the city
achieve its strategic goal of reducing debt over time.
The median home value increased from $581,700 for tax year 2025
to $585,800 for tax year 2026. When applying the estimated tax rate
of 29.57% to a median value home, you would see an increase of
$179 in city tax for the year, or less than $15 per month. Lake Elmo’s
tax rate remains low relative to other cities in Washington County,
ranking 8th out of the 10 cities closest in population.
The city council also approved the 10-year Capital Improvement
Program, a guide to long-term capital investments in city
infrastructure and equipment.
Visit the Lakeelmo.gov to learn more.
Lake Elmo Utility Bills are Getting a Fresh Look in 2026!
Coming in mid-to-late January 2026 - The look of your utility bills is about to change! The old-style
postcards are no more.
Be on the lookout for an envelope from the City of Lake Elmo, which will include full-size utility statement as
well as other pertinent and timely info for City residents.
You’ll find a much more detailed statement as well as details on how to sign up for the new platform,
paperless billing, and autopay!
The Fresh Moves to a New Format in 2026
The City of Lake Elmo will implement a new email system in 2026
designed to improve reliability, security, and ease of use for both staff
and residents.
This updated platform will streamline communication across
departments, enhance data protection, and create a more user-
friendly experience for those interacting with the city.
Please check your spam account in the first few weeks of January.
Current Fresh subscribers will automatically be subscribed to this
new email.
City Hall will be Closed Thursday, January 1, for New
Year's Day
Happy New Year! The City of Lake Elmo will be closed on Thursday,
January 1 for New Year's Day. City offices will reopen during regular
business hours on the next business day.
Learn About the Features on Our New Website
The City of Lake Elmo will begin using the Civic Send email system
from our website to deliver the Fresh beginning in January. You can
sign up for the Fresh directly at Notify Me • Lake Elmo, MN •
CivicEngage. Just click on the Fresh Community Newsletter and
follow the prompts. Don't forget to confirm it in your email.
LAKE ELMO PARKS AND RECREATION
With over 500 acres of city parkland and more than 80 miles of trails, Lake Elmo features an extensive park
and trail system for residents and visitors to enjoy and explore. Our park and trail system provides a diverse
range of recreational opportunities, including organized sports, casual play, nature appreciation, hiking,
cross-country skiing, horseback riding, picnicking, relaxation, and many other outdoor activities.
Each park offers high-quality recreational facilities and open spaces for the community to enjoy while
preserving the history, setting, character, and unique features that make each park special. We are excited
to highlight one of Lake Elmo Park's parks biweekly, inviting our community to learn about and appreciate
the contributions these parks make to our growing and thriving community.
Lions Park Ice Rink is Open!
Lions Park Ice Rink is officially open for the season! Residents are
invited to lace up their skates and enjoy one of Lake Elmo’s favorite
winter traditions. Our Public Works team regularly maintains the rink
to ensure smooth, safe skating conditions for all ages. Grab your
skates, bring your friends and family, and make the most of this
classic winter fun right here in Lake Elmo.
Also, don't forget, with all this fresh snow, it's a great time to hit Lake
Elmo's groomed trails: Demontreville Wildlife Park, Elmo's Pup Park,
Pebble Park, Reid Park, and Sunfish Lake Park.
Learn more about all of Lake Elmo's Parks here.
LIFE IN LAKE ELMO
Bag It, Bin It: Pet Waste Reminder
Even in the cold, please remember to pick up after your pets on
sidewalks, in parks, on trails, and throughout the City of Lake Elmo.
Pet waste left behind can harm water quality, pose health risks, and
detract from everyone’s enjoyment of our shared spaces.
Bag it, bin it, and help keep our sidewalks, parks, and community
clean and welcoming for all—thank you for doing your part!
Kickstart your plastic-free journey: Take the Plastic-
Free Challenge
With so many single-use plastic items in our lives, avoiding them
may feel overwhelming! Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to help
create a world with less plastic. Are you up for the challenge? Join
the Plastic-Free Challenge (tcplasticfree.ecochallenge.org) to explore
what’s possible.
During the one-month challenge, you can focus on learning about
plastic recycling, making plastic-free swaps, and advocating for
changes in your community. As part of a community acting together,
see how our individual actions add up to a big impact!
About the Plastic-Free Challenge
The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting February 1
to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways
that fit best in your lifestyle. Businesses, organizations, and
community groups can also join the challenge as Plastic-Free
Challenge partners.
The challenge runs during the month of February. Registration opens
on January 1. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
Learn About the Power of Medicinal Trees in the
Spring
In spring 2026, we will be welcoming Dr. Paul Red Elk to the
SMINC for a series of lectures on Medicinal Trees. In each
session, Paul will discuss the habitat in which the trees are
found, the historical and modern uses of the trees in medicine,
and additional uses of the trees beyond medicine.
This is an opportunity to connect with an experienced, well-
educated native healer.
Sessions run January through April, two Tuesday evenings
each month, with a different topic each session (see our
website calendar for specific dates and topics). The first
session will be Tuesday, January 13th, from 6 to 8 p.m. and will
focus on Oaks. The cost is $50 per person/per session. You
can learn more at Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center.
Support the St. Croix Valley Through Service
The Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club (ABL Lions) is a vibrant and
welcoming group of community volunteers who believe in giving back
while having fun.
Under their motto “Where There’s a NEED, There’s a LION,” club
members enthusiastically take on projects and initiatives that meet
real community needs. For anyone in the surrounding areas of the
St. Croix Valley looking for a chance to give back, meet like-minded
locals, and help make the world a better place to live, the ABL Lions
welcome you.
Visit www.ABLLions.com or
email aftonbayportlakelandlions@gmail.com to learn more!
Don't Toss Your Holiday Lights in the Recycling Bin.
Recycling holiday lights at designated centers helps cut down waste
and supports environmental efforts in Washington County.
Instead of discarding your holiday lights, residents of Washington
County can drop them off at one of the environmental centers in
Forest Lake or Woodbury.
We appreciate your efforts to keep our community green. You can
find out more about all the items you can recycle in the Washington
County Going Green Guide.
Metro Transit is Expanding its Woodbury Area Zone
Metro Transit just launched the Woodbury Area zone expansion with
its December service change on 12/6/2025. Also new is Route 345,
which will connect the Metro micro zone with the airport and the Mall
of America.
Route 345 has three Park & Ride lots: Woodlane Station in
Woodbury, the Newport Transit Center, and 30th Avenue Station in
Bloomington. In Woodbury, Route 345 stops at Woodlane Station,
which also serves routes 323, 355, and Metro Micro, along with the
Gold Line. The new route is said to cut nearly 30 minutes off the
commute time between Woodbury and the Mall of America,
according to Metro Transit.
Winter Parking Ordinance
The winter parking ordinance prohibits parking on Lake Elmo streets
from November 1 through March 31 between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00
a.m., or during a snow event outside of those hours.
Remember, if the City's trucks are blocked, they can't plow your
streets!
Text Link
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.
What Do My Taxes Pay For?
The City Council adopted the 2026 Budget on December 16. City Finance staff have developed a
downloadable property tax calculator that estimates 2026 city taxes (no other jurisdictions) on your home. It
shows approximately how much of your taxes are allocated to each service area. Check it out here.
If you need to search your property, you can view the Washington County Property Tax Search here.
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, and printed copies are
available at City Hall. A recording of the meeting is available 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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Our mission is to provide quality public services in a fiscally responsible manner in
partnership with our community.
City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Avenue North | Lake Elmo, MN 55042 US
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