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Home My WebLink AboutCC PACKET 02112014 HANDOUT 2City of St. Anthony Village 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418 Administration ANNUAL REPORT 2013 This report is the City of St. Anthony Village’s Administration Report outlining the activities and growth of St. Anthony Village over the past year. The information herein also provides a history of development, permits, voting data, stafﬁ ng and advances in communication and technology to evaluate growth levels and trends. This report includes an analysis over the past six (6) calendar years. City of St. Anthony Village 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418 Administration ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Table of Table of ContentsContents 1. City Council ............................ 1 II. Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) ........................ 5 III. Administration ......................... 5 IV. Planning Commission ............... 6 V. City Hall ................................ 7 VI. Community Planning and Economic Development ............................ 16 1. City Council 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 1 St. Anthony Village has a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council is the legislative branch of the City, which is responsible for the establishment of policies, adoption of local laws and ordinances. The City Council and is led by a Mayor and four member non-partisan City Council elected at large. Each member serves a four year term. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and serves as the chief executive ofﬁ cer for the City. The City operates under the Statutory Plan B of government, which gives the Council responsibility for policy and legislative activity, but delegates the administrative duties to the City Manager. The St. Anthony City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month for its regular business meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, unless otherwise noted. This is a public session with opportunities for citizen input. The City Council also meets periodically for work sessions in the City Hall Council Chambers. No formal action is taken at the work session. While open to the public, citizen input is allowed only at Mayor and Council discretion. City Manager 5 Full-time Employees 4 Full-time Employees 24 Part-time Employees 7 Full-time Employees 23 Part-time Employees 14 Full-time Employees 10 Seasonal Employees 26 Full-time Employees 1 Part-time Employee 12 Reserve Ofﬁ cers City Clerk 30 Part-time Election Judges Mayor and Council Members Parks Commission Administration Fire Public WorksPoliceFinance Liquor Operations Planning Commission Full-time Positions: 58 Part-time Positions: 73 Police Reserves (Unpaid): 12 Consultants: Engineer: WSB & Associates, Inc Human Resources: City of New Brighton Financial: Ehlers & Associates Legal: Dorsey & Whitney Planner: WSB & Associates, Inc. St. Anthony Organizational Chart 1. City Council1. City Council 2 1. City Council 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota In 2013, the City Council consisted of the following members: Mayor Jerry Faust Mayor Faust has served as Mayor since 2005. Prior to that, he served on the Planning Commission from 1992 through 1995. He then served as a Council member from 1996 through 1999 and 2002 through December 2004. His term expires on December 31, 2015. In addition to serving as Mayor he is the liaison to the following organizations: • St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce • League of Minnesota Cities • Metro Cities Associations • Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) • Northeast Diagonal Use/Transit Policy Advisory • Regional Council of Mayors Councilmember Jan Jenson Councilmember Jenson has served on the council since 2010. Prior to serving on the council, Councilmember Jenson served on the Planning Commission from 2004 through 2009. He has also served on the Parks Commission from 1997 to 2003. His term expires on December 31, 2017. In addition to serving as a Councilmember, he also serves as a City liaison to the following Committees: • St. Anthony Community Services Advisory Board • St. Anthony Village Kiwanis • St. Anthony Orchestra • St. Anthony Historical Society Councilmember Jim Roth Councilmember Roth has served on the council since 2008. His term expires on December 31, 2015. Councilmember Roth also serves as a City liaison to the following Committees: • St. Anthony Parks Commission • St. Anthony Sister City • Alternate to Metro Cities Association Councilmember Hal Gray Councilmember Gray was appointed to the council in 2005. Prior to serving on the council, Councilmember Gray served on the Planning Commission in 2004. His term expires on December 31, 2015. Councilmember Gray also serves as a City liaison to the following Committees: • St. Anthony Lions Club • North Suburban Access Corporation • North Suburban Communication Commission • St. Anthony Sports Boosters • St. Anthony VillageFest Councilmember Randy Stille Councilmember Stille has served on the council since 2008. Prior to serving on the council, Councilmember Stille served on the Planning Commission from 1999 through 2003. His term expires on December 31, 2017. In addition to serving as a Councilmember, he also serves as a City liaison to the following organizations: • City Auditor • Family Services Collaborative • St. Anthony Planning Commission • Ramsey County League of Local Governments • Alternative to Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) 1. City Council 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 3 The St. Anthony Village City Council has both legislative and quasi-judicial powers. An example of a legislative action is the adoption of a zoning plan for the community. An example of a quasi-judicial action is approval of a rezoning of a speciﬁ c parcel of property. The City Council deliberative process includes proclamations, resolutions and ordinances. A proclamation is a public announcement of support. A resolution is a formal motion and requires a simple majority vote of Council members present constituting a quorum of the Council to pass on one reading. An ordinance is a legislative act in most instances, quasi-judicial or administrative in others, and requires a majority vote to pass on three readings. Items placed on a consent agenda can be approved by Council with a single vote without further discussion. In 2013, the City Council held: • 23 regular meetings • 11 work sessions • 3 joint meetings with St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board The City Council passed 85 resolutions and adopted 5 ordinances, which overall is consistent with the past six years. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 7 7 2 6 13 5 82 95 90 84 95 85 Qu a n t i t y 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Ordinances 7726 1 3 5 Resolutions 82 95 90 84 95 85 Year 4 1. City Council 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota Though no ofﬁ cial action was taken, staff presented on the following: • Summer Survival School • Night to Unite • GreenCorp updates • University of Minnesota Sustainability Students • Citizen’s Academy Graduating Class • Swearing in of Police Ofﬁ cer Joseph Kauser • Fire Prevention Week Presentation. • 2013 Fire Prevention Poster Contest Winners • Operational Research Assistance (OPERA) Program Recap • Recognition of outgoing Fire Chief Malenick, new Fire Chief Sitarz and new Fireﬁ ghter Benik 2013 was an active year, below are a few of the highlighted actions: • Adoption of Strategic Plan (Pyramid) • Amended City Code to update fences, solar in light- industrial and recreation/open spaces, accessory buildings and driveways • Petitioned Rice Creek Watershed District for Waters Management Project to Address Storm Water Management and Flooding • Approved the Ridgeway Parkway Conveyance Quit Claim Deed for a trail • Imposing a moratorium on the creation, establishment or operation of businesses that sell Electronic Cigarettes and sampling • Adopting a Flood and Drainage Assistance Policy • Approved installation of a telecommunications facility on the City’s water tower • Public Hearings and approvals for street and utility reconstruction projects • Set fees for 2014 • Approved preliminary and ﬁ nal budget and levy Throughout the year Council was honored by several special guests who provided vast information and demonstrated St. Anthony’s strong ties with inter- governmental cooperation and collaborations. In 2013 the following guests presented: • Jerry Hromtka, Director of Northeast Youth & Family Services • Andrew Caddock, Planner for Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board • Jon Sitzmann, of CenterPoint Energy Community Partnership Grants • Rob Smolund of Open to Business • Alissa Boroff of Aging in Place • Eric Waage, Director of Hennepin County Emergency Management • Dan Freeman, Commissioner of Three Rivers Park District 3 • Patricia Nauman, Executive Director of Metro Cities • Linda Higgins, Commissioner of Hennepin County • Mary Jo McGuire, Commissioner of Ramsey County • Matt Bostrom, Sheriff of Ramsey County In addition, within our community the following also presented: • Bob Laney, Superintendent and Wendy Webster, Community Services Director, of St. Anthony-New Brighton School District #282 on their survey results • Julianne Hunter, Chair of Villagefest on this year’s schedule • Jan Fillmore, St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce announced the “Villager of the Year” and the “Business of the Year”. • Wendy Webster of Chamber of Commerce presented on the “Touch a Truck” Fall Event • Proclamation of Kiwanis Peanut Day • Wendy Webster, Community Services Director, of St. Anthony-New Brighton School District #282 with an update II. Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 5 III. AdministrationIII. Administration General Management: The Administration Department administers city government within the guidelines of State law and polices established by the City Council. The City Manager supervises the Administration, City Clerk, Finance, Police, Fire, Public Works and Liquor Departments in addition to the consulting planning, legal, human resources and engineering services. City Clerk: The City Clerk is responsible for the preparation, maintenance and publication of ofﬁ cial records, documents, resolutions and ordinances as well as the maintenance of the City’s website and communications coordination. In addition, the City Clerk conducts all of the elections for the City of St. Anthony. All elections are conducted with all statutory requirements and under the guidance of Hennepin and Ramsey County election guidelines. II. Housing and II. Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA)Redevelopment Authority (HRA) The City Council serves as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for St. Anthony Village. The HRA meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month as needed following a regularly scheduled Council Meeting. The HRA meets to consider and take action on economic development, housing and redevelopment issues presented to them. In 2013, the HRA met a total of 13 times and passed 5 resolutions. This amount is consistent with the total quantity of resolutions passed over the past 6 years (see below). 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 9 7 5 7 5Qu a n t i t y 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Resolutions 597575 Year 6 IV. Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota IV. Planning CommissionIV. Planning Commission The Planning Commission advises the City Council on planning and zoning related issues. The Commission also reviews plats and other land subdivisions, site plans for commercial and industrial buildings, rezoning requests, variances, conditional use permits, and other land use issues. Their recommendations are then presented to the City Council for ﬁ nal approval. The Commission meets once a month at St. Anthony City Hall on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. These meetings are public. The Commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council. Terms are for three years, with appointments made in January. In 2013, the Planning Commission consisted of the following members: Brian Heinis – Chair Erica Crone – Vice Chair Paul Cincoski Peter Chaput In 2013, the Planning Commission created the ﬁ rst ever “Planning Commission Work Plan”. The Work Plan is a schedule of objectives established by the Planning Commission, which provides an efﬁ cient method of prioritizing projects and achieving the most important goals as identiﬁ ed by the Planning Commission to work on during 2013. In addition to the duties identiﬁ ed in City Code Chapter 32, Section 32.06 for which the Planning Commission is responsible for, the Planning Commission also identiﬁ ed, amongst others, and completed following items as important to study in 2013: • Reviewed and updated the accessory buildings/structure standards • Reviewed and updated the fence standards • Reviewed and updated the residential driveway standards • Created solar energy standards for industrial and publicly zoned properties. In 2013, the Planning Commission held 5 regular meetings and 3 work sessions. The Planning Commission also approved the following resolutions: • 2 Variances • 1 Site Plan (SP) Pat Niccum Tom Grahek Craig Poucher 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 3 2 1 4 6 2 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Number of Variances 321462 V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 7 V. City Hall V. City Hall The Administration at City Hall works closely with the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks Commission preparing meeting agendas, meeting minutes, resolutions and ordinances. Other responsibilities of this Department includes the publication of the quarterly newsletter (Village Notes) and other pertinent communications, maintaining the City’s cable television channel and government access, data and historical archiving, managing contracted services (i.e. refuse and recycling) and other land use and economic development activities. Website The website is the City’s “one-stop shop” for information. It provides the resident’s the opportunity to obtain answers to their questions during non-business hours. In 2013, staff added to the website pertinent forms for the resident’s convenience such as licenses and permits. In addition to the new forms, the website continues to give the residents an overview of the departments within the city as well as keeps the resident informed on upcoming ofﬁ cial meetings, recycling events, and downloadable documents for residents to use. In addition, in conjunction with the St. Anthony Historical Society’s, the City’s website houses the Township minutes as well as the historical birth and death records. These searchable records are located on the website at www.ci.saint- anthony.mn.us Newsletter The VillageNotes is the City of St. Anthony ofﬁ cial newsletter and is published quarterly. The newsletter features valuable information for residents regarding seasonal items, recycling tips, city calendar and contacts, public safety articles and articles from local organizations. The newsletter is delivered to all residents and businesses within the City of St. Anthony. In addition, the City mails the newsletter to the surrounding City ofﬁ ces, State Elected Ofﬁ cials, County Elected Ofﬁ cials, League of Minnesota Cities, and City Consultants. COMMUNICATIONS The City of St. Anthony’s means of communications with residents are as follows: Ofﬁ cial Newspaper The ofﬁ cial newspaper for the City of St. Anthony is the “Bulletin” published by Lillie Suburban newspapers. You can ﬁ nd all of St. Anthony’s ofﬁ cial notices as well as other information publish in this newspaper. The Bulletin is published weekly and delivered on Wednesday’s to the residents of St. Anthony. 8 V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota The City of St. Anthony’s means of communication with employees: Intranet The City of St. Anthony continues communication with employees through the intranet site. This site hosts an assortment of information for employees and is accessible only through the city’s network. The intranet site supplies the most current information regarding the Employee Resource Guide, Health Insurance information (including portal for renewals), health & safety information, W-4’s, and staff announcements. Electronic Message Sign Located at City Hall, the electronic message sign provides an avenue for the City, School Board, and other afﬁ liated associations to communicate messages to residents. Upcoming meetings, events, or notices are projected utilizing the message board technology to keep the community informed at all times. CTV CTV is a non-proﬁ t organization operated by the North Suburban Access Corporation and provides a station with programming created by the City of St. Anthony, for the City of St. Anthony. Residents of St. Anthony have access to this public, educational and government channel, which provides notices, updates, and live and recorded broadcasting of all public meetings. Branding and Logo Policy In 2013, the City adopted a Branding and Logo Policy. This policy is for City staff to ensure a consistent message to the community is being displayed. The policy states that the City logo will be displayed on all information and promotional literature and will be used for ofﬁ cial use only. Social Media Policy The City adopted a Social Media Policy for employees in 2013. The policy was designed to enhance public outreach to residents while setting procedures for all departments. The Policy sets forth procedures to deliver a consistent message when establishing a social media presence to ensure the messages are meeting the City’s established goals. Twitter In 2013, the City of St. Anthony launched a Twitter page. Using this online social networking service, it enables the City to send instant messaging or “tweets” up to 140 characters in length to registered users or “followers”. This use of technology provides a fast and effective way to reach residents and property owners within the City with important notices, emergency information, and other messages. Look for items such as Salo Park Concert Series, Holidays, Clean Up Day and other special events. The City’s twitter account is @cityofstanthony. V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 9 ELECTIONS Electronic Poll Book Pilot Study The City of St. Anthony participated in the Electronic Poll Book Pilot Project which was adopted during the 2013 Legislative session. The pilot study allowed voters to check in electronically using either a tablet or netbook. The poll books allowed for new voters to register on Election Day electronically making the process quicker and more efﬁ cient. All three of St. Anthony’s polling places participated and provided feedback to the Elections Task Force which will report to the Legislative bodies regarding the future of Electronic Poll Books in the State of Minnesota. New Election Tabulators St. Anthony’s Hennepin Precincts had their ﬁ rst experience with New Election Tabulators. Hennepin County purchased the DS200’s in the late spring and was used throughout the 2013 election season. The DS200’s have digital scanning capabilities where the old machines were optical scanning. Digital scanning actually scan every ballot that is entered into the tabulator and stored an electronic image onto a USB drive. This is beneﬁ cial to election staff for tabulating write-in ballots allowing the process to be more streamlined. General Municipal Election The General Municipal Election was held on November 5, 2013, with a 10.5% voter turnout. As you can see from the odd year data below, the voter turn-out was lower than normal. Turnout Population Remaining Population 34% 66% 2009 20% 80% 2011 10% 90% 2013 66%80%90% 34% 20%10% 10 V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota LICENSES The City of St. Anthony regulates a variety of activities within the city. Part of the regulation process, businesses are required to obtain a license from the City of St. Anthony. These licenses are as follows: Type Of License (Number Of Licenses Issued in 2013) REFUSE & RECYCLING St. Anthony applied and received Recycling Grants through both Hennepin and Ramsey County. Hennepin and Ramsey County both have very different grant requirements. For Hennepin County, 90% of the funds received through the grant are distributed back to St. Anthony residents. Ramsey County’s grant funds are applied to fees for the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) that is held between Ramsey County and the City of St. Anthony. The JPA with Ramsey County allows all of St. Anthony residents to use the yard waste facilities as well as the hazardous waste collection sites in Ramsey County with no additional cost to St. Anthony residents. This JPA was established in 2005 and currently expires in 2017. St. Anthony’s Annual Clean Up Day was held on May 4, 2013, with a total of 243 cars participating in the event (this is up 75 cars from 2012!). Clean Up Day gives St. Anthony residents an opportunity to dispose of items such as appliances, electronics, construction debris, tires and batteries for a small fee. Other services such as document shredding, ﬂ uorescent light bulbs, clothing and furniture can be disposed of free of charge. During the 2013 Clean Up event, residents were handed a “goodie bag” that contained a water reduction faucet aerator, a bottle of eco-friendly household cleaner and useful recycling information. In addition, the City added cell phones and unwanted holiday lights to the list of items you can recycle at City Hall. We continue to collect batteries and empty printer cartridges. The City is continually looking for new ways to increase refuse and recycling. Bench (7) Cigarette/Tobacco (7) Contractors (74) Dog (95) Fireworks (2) Garbage Haulers (6) Liquor License Intoxicating (3) Liquor License Wine/Strong Beer (2) Liquor License 3.2 Beer (2) Massage Therapy (3) Motor Vehicle Towing (2) Multiple Dwelling (13) Rental - Single, Duplex (71) Security Alarm System (199) Service Stations (6) Vending (7) V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 11 COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS The City of St. Anthony works closely with several local organizations including: • Aging In Place • Northeast Youth and Family Services • Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation • St. Anthony Adopt-A-Family • St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce • St. Anthony Kiwanis • St. Anthony Historical Society • St. Anthony New Brighton School District/Community Services • St. Anthony Sports Boosters • St. Anthony Villagefest • St. Anthony Lions Aging in Place Through funding by a grant from the MN Department of Human Services: Access Solutions, GMHC (Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation) and the City of St. Anthony Village have partnered to provide information and outreach to consumers to provide resources and support to older adults to continue living independently by implementing simple, cost effective home modiﬁ cations to lower the risk of falls and promote active living. General Objectives include: • Enhance the quality of life for older adults living in their own homes in St. Anthony Village • Provide home safety assessments and recommendations to 25 older adults in each city over the course of two years. Each grant participant will then receive project management assistance and up to $500 to implement home modiﬁ cations in to their home. • Provide information and resources to participants on additional services that promote aging in place. • Provide assistance to participants for identifying and securing funding resources for implementing aging in place modiﬁ cations. • Educate consumers and staff at each city and GMHC in universal design and aging in place • Provide outreach at a variety of community settings • Provide educational materials to industry professionals During the course of the project, Access Solutions provided Home Safety Assessments and Recommendations for improving safety and accessibility in the homes of twenty-ﬁ ve (25) St. Anthony Village residents. Each grant participant was then assisted in gathering estimates and implementing recommended modiﬁ cations. Common features that were implemented include: grab bars, handrails, comfort height toilets, and hand held shower heads. Access Solutions also provided four (4) community education sessions for residents to provide information and resources about making homes safe to promote aging in place. These sessions were free and open to the public. In addition to the community education sessions, a seminar about Universal Design is scheduled for the winter of 2014 to provide education to area professionals in the building and remodeling industry about aging in place. This is an important outreach opportunity to improve quality of life for residents and promote aging in place for our older residents. 12 V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) The Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) is a nonproﬁ t organization created more than 40 years ago by Minneapolis business leaders to increase and improve affordable housing in the Twin Cities. One of its core purposes is to assist local communities with housing revitalization and community development initiatives. Since 2002, GMHC’s HousingResource Center™ has partnered with the City of St. Anthony to provide its residents with housing programs and services. During 2013, GMHC continued to administer two core housing programs for the City: • The Home Improvement Loan program which provides up to $10,000 to homeowners to make improvements to their properties at a low-interest rate of 3%; and • The Rehab Incentive Program which offers a rebate to eligible homeowners of a portion of the total cost of their home improvement project. In addition to funding for home improvements, GMHC has a construction manager on staff to provide free consultations to home owners to prioritize and plan improvement projects, write scopes of work, make contractor referrals and evaluate bids. In 2013, nearly 50 households in St. Anthony used one or more services provided by GMHC’s Housing Resource Center. Northeast Youth and Family Services Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) is a non-proﬁ t, community based social service agency that has been in existence since 1976. Their mission is to transform lives today and create a better tomorrow for youth, families and our community. This is accomplished through a continuum of services that include mental health counseling and youth development programs. The primary population served is youth ages 5-21 and their families, but they do also provide services to all ages. Through their main ofﬁ ce in Shoreview and a satellite ofﬁ ce in White Bear Lake, they work closely with local school districts and municipalities to help youth and families in the northeast metro area develop the skills and fortitude to resolve issues in the present and reach their potential in the future. NYFS provides a variety of services to the residents of St. Anthony. A commonly used service is their Senior Chore program that matches youth and adults with seniors who need help with household tasks to remain living independently in their homes. NYFS also provides mental health counseling to all ages and is recognized as a regional provider of mental health day treatment services for middle and high school aged youth. They are certiﬁ ed by the State to receive third party insurance for services offered. They also provide diversion services to ﬁ rst time youth offenders and their families that help youth make positive choices and avoid further involvement with the criminal justice system. Because of NYFS’ partnership with St. Anthony, most services are provided regardless of cost to the residents of St. Anthony. V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 13 SISTER CITY Since 1984, the City of St. Anthony has enjoyed a sister-city relationship with the City of Salo, Finland. Sister Cities International (SCI) is a not-for-proﬁ t agency, which links communities from the United States with communities worldwide. Currently, SCI represents 1,200 U.S. cities, counties, and states and their 2,100 partners in 125 countries worldwide. In 2005, Mayor Faust and City Manager Mornson made the inaugural visit to Salo, Finland. In 2007, Councilmember Stille and Public Work Director Hartman visited Salo, and in 2012, Councilmember Gray and City Manager Casey visited. SUSTAINABILITY Although it wasn’t always coined “sustainability”, St. Anthony Village has long valued the protection and wise- use of our resources. With our mission statement “to be a progressive and livable community, a walkable village, which is sustainably, safe and secure”, sustainability is an integral part of the day-to-day workings within City Hall. In 2012, City staff made major efforts to enhance the communications relating to sustainability to its residents and made efforts to raise the City’s proﬁ le in sustainability. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL St. Anthony has begun a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Planning process for Wilshire Elementary. SRTS programs improve safety, reduce trafﬁ c, and improve air quality near schools. Rooted in the ﬁ ve E’s of evaluation, engineering, education, encouragement, and enforcement, Safe Routes to School offers a well-rounded approach to improving the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bike to school. St. Anthony is receiving technical assistance from a consultant team through MnDOT Safe Routes to School Planning Grant. The assistance provided will help a local SRTS team (including the City, School District, school staff, parents and students) to develop a Safe Routes to School Plan that will identify projects and programs to enhance the safety of our streets for children and families that want to walk and bike to school. The planning process began in late 2013 and will extend into the 2014 school year. INTERNSHIP During the fall, the City had the internship services of Nicole Nissen-Hooper, who was a Sustainability & Complex Systems major from University of Minnesota. As a student at the U of M, Nicole participated in the 2012 Sustainability Forums that St. Anthony held in conjunction with the cities of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale. One of her projects this fall was assisting with this year’s event. Nicole will be working a various “sustainable” projects though out her tenure with St. Anthony. “The Walking School Bus” In 2013, the City: • Enhanced the “sustainability” tab on the City’s website • Participated in a Sustainability Festival put on by the University of Minnesota in coordination with Falcon Heights and Lauderdale 14 V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota HUMAN RESOURCES In early 2012 the administration department was reorganized and the City shifted from in-house to consulting human resources. The City of New Brighton’s Assistant to the City Manager Schawn Johnson was contracted as the Human Resources Advisor approximately four hours a week. During his City Hall ofﬁ ce hours where he served as a resource for staff, Mr. Johnson worked on the following: 1. The following sections of the Employee Resource Guide were updated in 2013 to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations concerns and address changes in the operations of the City; • Family Medical Leave Act Policy-March 2013 • Social Media and Logo Branding Policy-May 2013 • Vehicle Use Policy-May and August 2013 2. In January 2013, the City of St. Anthony submitted a completed State of Minnesota’s Pay Equity Compliance Report to the Department of Management and Budget. In April 2013, the City of St. Anthony was notiﬁ ed by the Department of Management and Budget that it was in compliance with the State of Minnesota pay equity requirements. 3. In 2013, the City of St. Anthony began reviewing, updating, and revising job descriptions for staff members. Forty-one job descriptions were revised. The new job descriptions are scheduled to be implemented by the City in early 2014. 4. Assisted the City Manager and department heads with managing various employee recruitments and potential employee interviews in 2014. 5. Assisted the City with compiling comparative salary and health insurance beneﬁ t information that was used during union negotiations. UNION NEGOTIATIONS The City of St. Anthony has three separate collective bargaining units that represent the Police, Fire and Public Works departments. Due to the unknowns of the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the previous contacts each had a “re-opener” for the health care section. In 2013, the City and unions were able to execute the contracts with splitting the premium increase. WEB-BASED GIS The City of St. Anthony worked with WSB & Associates, Inc. to develop a web-based geographic information system (GIS) mapping tool for use by City staff. This system allows the City’s mapping system to be accessed on the internet on desktop computers or via Wiﬁ on tablet and smartphone devices. It enables staff to access and share information such as hydrant locations, sanitary sewer and water main lines, gate valve locations, sign locations (for replacement) and other pertinent data. Utilizing this web-based system also makes updating information and data more streamlined as staff will only need to update the information in one location as opposed to individual computers or electronic devices. V. City Hall 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 15 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The City of St. Anthony has a strong tradition in providing the staff with a variety of professional development opportunities. New in 2013, the City Manager and Department Heads participated in quarterly meetings with Dr. Bruce Miles of Big River Consulting. Dr. Miles was able to present what academia research shows along with best practices and practical applications to use with our work force. The knowledge and enhance skills that has been gained enabled the staff leadership team to dispense this to their respective departments. Examples of the subject areas covered were succession planning, employee engagement, evaluations and emotional intelligence. This investment will ensure sustainable excellence of the City’s most value asset – our staff. SAFETY COMMITTEE The Safety Committee is comprised of employees representing the City departments. The purpose of the Safety Committee is to promote continued training, education, and communication on safety-related issues to all city employees and to provide and maintain a safe and healthy work environment. In 2013, the City of St. Anthony safety committee met ﬁ ve times to discuss and address any safety related issues or topics that are occurring within the various City facilities. The Committee’s responsibilities are to: • Serve as a means of communication for employees regarding workplace safety hazards, issues, and concerns; • Review and make recommendations regarding the City’s safety program; • Review incidents and make recommendations to prevent future occurrences; • Maintain the safety incentive program; • Keep employees informed of safety policies, training programs, and other safety information. With the assistance of the City’s safety consultant (Integrated Loss Control ), the City’s safety committee and department heads implemented the City’s new safety manual in 2013. The new safety manual complies with all applicable OHSA laws and regulations that impact the City of St. Anthony. The safety manual is available on-line for staff members to review on the City’s intranet site. In 2013, the City of St. Anthony began to implement a safety training program for all employees. Right to Know/AWAIR and other safety related trainings were provided to all City staff members in 2013. The safety training program ensures that all required safety training topics are provided to City staff on an annual basis. With the assistance of ILC, the City also began to implement annual walk through safety inspections at City facilities. In 2013, the City of St. Anthony and ILC conducted walk through safety inspections at city hall, public works facility, ﬁ re department, and liquor stores. The safety inspections are used to identify, educate, and correct any safety issues or concerns that may arise at the various City facilities. The City of St. Anthony is looking forward to continued growth and development of its safety program in 2014. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE The purpose of the Employee Recognition Committee is to promote a sense of team among City staff and to plan a luncheon that acknowledges employees for their contributions to the City and its residents. The City’s recognition program is used to congratulate full time, volunteer, and reserve City employees on their years of service and their efforts in making the City of St. Anthony a desired place to work, play and do business. This program is also intended to give employees an opportunity to honor their peers for their accomplishments. New in 2012, was the Spirit of St. Anthony Award. This peer nominated award goes to the employee who demonstrates the characteristics of S.E.R.V.I.C.E an acronym for the values of: Support, Effective, Responsible, Visionary, Innovative, Courteous, and Exemplary. 16 VI. Community Planning and Economic Development 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota VI. Community Planning and VI. Community Planning and Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development In 2012, the City of St. Anthony Village elected to hire a professional consulting planner in an effort to be more efﬁ cient with the services provided to the residents, and to be conscious of expenditures associated with planning. WSB & Associates, Inc. planner Kelsey Johnson was contracted as the City Planner approximately 8 hours a week. In making this transition, Staff was able to streamline the application process and “vet” ideas out prior to reaching the Planning Commission and City Council. As part of this new process, staff worked closely with the City Council to facilitate a “cost reimbursement plan/ fee escrow” policy that was implemented in 2013. The City planner is responsible for conducting long-range planning for future growth as well as coordinating and assisting the Planning Commission in reviewing zoning and site design of current development projects. OPEN TO BUSINESS Open to Business provides one on one business counseling to current and prospective entrepreneurs. Consultants work with resident to develop a strong business plan, identify challenges and opportunities, and to tailor solutions. In addition to direct consulting, Open to Business program staff can link entrepreneurs with additional resources to help them succeed, including training programs, community or governmental services, and industry and business professionals. In 2013 there were three clients served by Open to Business (OTB) in St. Anthony Village; one new entrepreneurs/start-up and two existing businesses. These businesses heard about OTB through the City’s newsletter as well as a referral from a bank. Financing facilitated through OTB included one loan in the amount of $10,000. Other program assistance provided in St. Anthony Village included business plan development, lease review/negotiation, real estate analysis, strategic planning, marketing and cash ﬂ ow analysis and projections. The types of businesses given assistance through OTB in 2013 included a graphic design/marketing ﬁ rm, a furniture manufacturer, and a travel agency. The bank referral as mentioned above was for a St. Anthony business that does large formatting printing jobs and custom design work. Open to Business helped the owner in a variety of ways including helping him access a $10,000 line of credit, reviewing lease proposals, strategic planning and a number of referrals. Also, OTB assisted the owner with evaluating the purchase of the property that he is currently leasing. Comments from an Open to Business client participating in an Open to Business Client Survey (Dec 2013): “Open to Business provided me an invaluable forum to bounce my thinking off of someone and obtain honest, unbiased feedback. The perspective and help I received was important. Rob’s input allowed me to explore and think through issues that will impact my business and its entire future. There is no price tag or value that can be attached to that. I thank you all for having this service available.” VI. Community Planning and Economic Development 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 17 Valuation of the permits is broken down into two categories: residential and commercial/industrial. In 2013, the valuation breakdown was as follows: • Residential Valuation: $19,409,844 • Commercial/Industrial Valuation: $669,605 Historical Building Permit data from the past six years reﬂ ects that the quantity of permits pulled in 2013 is beginning to increase over the dip in 2012, reﬂ ecting numbers consistent with 2010. Valuation for residential development is higher in 2013 than previous in 2012. BUILDING PERMITS 303 Building Permits were pulled in 2013. These permits range from new development to small remodeling projects. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Comm/Ind $9,507,90 $16,101,7 $4,385,81 $1,490,41 $1,752,66 $669,605 Residential $2,426,59 $6,339,57 $3,258,81 $3,698,78 $11,552,7 $19,409,8 Total $11,934,4 $22,441,3 $7,644,63 $5,189,20 $13,305,4 $20,079,4 $0 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 $15,000,000 $20,000,000 $25,000,000 Va l u a t i o n Com/Ind 3% Res 97% 2013 Res 97% New Development In 2013, the City Council reviewed and approved a site plan for a Dominium development named “The Senior Landings at Silver Lake Village”, a 172 unit affordable senior apartment development. New businesses that opened in 2013 include: • Northeast Nutrition – 2916 Pentagon Drive (retail nutrition) • Nancy Nifty Thrifty – 2701 39th Avenue (second hand goods) • NED Services – 3805 Stinson Boulevard (wireless accessories & shipping) • Golden State – 2526 Highway 88 (online car dealership) • Wine & Canvas – 2900 Pentagon Drive (painting studio) • Clarus Dermatology – 2603 39th Avenue #D202 (medical/dermatology) • A Backward Glance – 2914 Pentagon Drive (second hand goods) • Hindia Wireless – 3803 Stinson Boulevard (wireless sales) • Supreme Services – 3007 37th Avenue (dry cleaners) • Miracle Ear – 2700 39th Avenue #119 (hearing aids) 18 VI. Community Planning and Economic Development 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota INSPECTIONS The City of St. Anthony Village is responsible for several development functions, which includes building inspection. The City contracts with a private inspector for building inspections and some code enforcement services. The building inspector is responsible for enforcing the uniform building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes. The inspector also works closely with the Fire Department in enforcing ﬁ re and life safety codes. Applications for new construction projects are reviewed and building permits are granted after a plan check is completed to determine compliance with building and zoning codes. In 2013, the building inspector performed a total of 532 inspections. The number of total inspections for 2013 is slightly lower than those performed in 2012. Mechanical Permits In 2013, there were a total of 156 Mechanical Permits issued in St. Anthony Village. Of these 156 Mechanical Permits issued, 152 of them were for residential uses. Plumbing Permits 69 Plumbing Permits were issued in 2013, which is right in line with the trends over the past 6 years. Of the 69 permits issued, 60 of these were for residential uses. 200 8 200 9 201 0 201 1 201 2 201 3 Plumbing Permits 73 61 70 64 72 69 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 Nu m b e r o f P e r m i t s 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13 Mechanical Permits 147 144 168 181 157 156 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Nu m b e r o f P e r m i t s 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Inspections 352 551 463 651 540 532 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Qu a n t i t y VI. Community Planning and Economic Development 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 19 Electrical Permits As a result of past State Government shutdowns, many communities across the State of Minnesota that contracted with the State for electrical inspections were not able to have these inspections performed during the time of the work stoppage. Previously, St. Anthony Village contracted with the State to have electrical inspections performed. The electrical inspector was contracted with the State to perform the inspections and therefore the State received all the inspection fees. In 2012, the City Council approved an Ordinance amending the City Code and establishing an electrical inspections program. This program provides the ability for the City to directly contract with an electrical inspector for electrical inspections and collect the fees instead of the State collecting the fees. In 2013 191 electrical permits for a total of $13,766 was collected. Sign Permits In 2013, there were a total of 7 Sign Permits issued within the City. The total sign valuation for those improvements was $57,839. 2013 saw a decrease from 2012, but is consistent with trends from the previous 5 years. Public Safety Registration Permits Prior to opening, but after an ofﬁ cial “Certiﬁ cate of Occupancy” by the Building Ofﬁ cial, a new business within the City of St. Anthony Village must receive a Public Safety Permit. The permit must be reviewed and approved by varying departments including building, zoning, police and ﬁ re. This permit notiﬁ es City staff of the business and veriﬁ es that it meets all applicable codes, rules and regulations prior to opening its doors. In 2013, there were a total of 13 Public Safety Registration Permits approved for new businesses in the City. This was the higher permits pulled in 2010-2012. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Sign Permits 8896 1 1 7 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Nu m b e r o f P e r m i t s 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13 Public Safety Permits 17 19 12 10 9 13 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Qu a n t i t y 20 VI. Community Planning and Economic Development 2013 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota CITY OF EXCELLENCE In 2013, the City of St. Anthony Village received the League of Minnesota Cities “City of Excellence Award”. This award was presented at the League of Minnesota Cities Conference in June. Here is an excerpt from the nomination: “In an era of diminishing resources and increased demand, the City of St. Anthony Village has found collaboration to be fundamental to our mission of providing existing and expanding services to our community members. Forging a network of collaboration with numerous government entities, the City has been able to build relationships that enable us to maintain and expand a variety of city services throughout our departments that may have otherwise not existed”. The City of St. Anthony has found that collaboration is imperative in order to thrive and prosper and, in short, it is essential to good government. The synergy created through this network of collaborations will sustain us in the future. IN SUMMARY 2013 was another productive year! The City continued its focus on maintaining and enhancing the community while strategically investing in the future. The City made progress on projects, enhanced and developed new partnerships and programs, and continued to enhance the services that make St. Anthony a great place to live, to work, and to do business. This report highlighted many of these outstanding efforts. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION On Wednesday, June 19, the Mayor, Council, City Manager, Department Heads and nine former elected ofﬁ cials attended the League of Minnesota Cities Centennial Celebration at the Union Depot in St. Paul. The event provided an excellent opportunity to network with current and former City of St. Anthony elected ofﬁ cials and staff along with over four hundred elected and appointed League of Minnesota Cities members throughout the state.