HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly notes - December 28th 2017 (002) l
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CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS—WEEKLY NOTES for: December 291. 2017
TO: City Council Members& Staff
FROM: Eric Johnson,City Administrator
Pursuant to the City's labor agreements and City Ordinances-CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED on Monday,January 1s;2018—
now Year's Day
Development and Zoning Items:
1. The City has not received any new applications.
2. There has been a bit of drama with the Fiesta Cancun liquor license. In short,(but there likely is a long story)the two owners
did part ways—with one of the owners apparently NOT renewing the liquor license—leaving the other in the dark about it.The
remaining owner of course cannot operate after 12131 without a license.This was realized by the remaining owner and an
application was submitted on 12126,but would require background checks,public hearings and State approvals.The earliest
time the City Council could consider this,if the background data comes back from the City Attorney and Chief DeRosler in
good order--is 119118 as Staff did publish this notice with the Pioneer Press.The City Ordinance also outlines that the license
may only be approved or denied at the NEXT regularly scheduled City Council Meeting,so in reality the matter could not be
considered by the Council until 1123118—however,the City's past practice has been to(although erroneously)approve or
deny these the same night of the hearing—meaning the Council should consider amending this ordinance to allow immediate
approval I denial following a public hearing.
1202.05 Granting of-Licenses.
A. The City Council shall investigate all facts set out in the application. The Council shall instruct the City
Administrator to cause to be published in the q f tial newspaper,ten(10)dati v in advance a notice.of hearing
to be held by the City Council,setting forth the day,time,and place when the hearing will be held the name
of the applicant, the premises where the business is located and such other information as the City Council
may direct. At the hearing the opportunity shall be given to any person to be heard,for or against the
granting of the license. A license, other than renewal, shall not be approved or refused before the next
regular meeting of the City Council following such hearing. No license shall become effective until said
application has been approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
3. Washington County appears to be proceedings with their Jurisdictional Transfer Study.Staff will seek some further guidance
from the Council on this matter at the upcoming Council Workshop to be held on 1110118.
4. The City has received Information from a resident to serve on the Cable Commission—See the enclosed letter to Mr.Graham
Amtzen of 5670 Newgate Circle.
5. Mr.James Norton has resigned from the Park Commission due to family conflicts with schedule.The City is currently seeking
applicants and the application information was also in the newsletter.If you know anyone who may desire to serve please let
them know to contact us here at City Hall.
Mayor McComber rovided:
1. METRO CITIES News for 12/21/17 and 12128/17.
2, November 301h--MCF-Stillwater—Community Advisory Committee meeting Minutes.
3. Conversations in the Valley—Little Free Library—Building Community—Jan. 17m,2018.
4. Information from Community Action.
Please let me know if you have any questions-651-253-7837 Call Anytime.
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g),
City of Oak Park Heights
14I68 Oak Park Blvd. N•Sox 2007.Oak Park Heigh%MN 55082•Phone(651)439-4439•Fax(651)439-0574
12128/17
TO: Mr.Graham Arnizen- via email only—grahamforntzen@gmatl.com
FROM: Eric Johnson,City Administrator
RE: CABLE COMMISSION—Citizens Rep.
Dear Graham:
As we discussed the City of Oak Park Heights is seeking the services of a CITY RESIDENT to serve on the Central
St. Croix Valley Joint Cable Communications Commission Valley Access Cable Commission as the appointed Citizen
Representative.The entity generally engages the following:
• The Commission is charged with operating and coordinating the local Cable Access Channels which ensure
the broadcasting of Public, Educational,Government and Inspirational programming within the local cable
networks. In addition,the Commission is the franchising authority for cable television in our area. The
Commission must ensure that the franchise agreement with the cable company is being followed and must
negotiate new agreements when appropriate.
• At meetings,the Commission takes action on several issues such as approving budget expenditures,joining
telecommunications organizations, keeping informed on legislative cable franchise issues,and handling
complaints regarding cable services.
• The Central St.Croix Valley Joint Cable Commission is a joint powers entity representing the cities of Bayport,
Oak Park Heights,Stillwater,and the townships of Baytown and Stillwater. The cities each have one elected
and one citizen representative that attend regular meetings. The Commission typically meets every other
month on the third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
if you would like the City Council to consider you as the City's Citizens Rep.please send/email me a letter
outlining your interest in the position and documentation of some of your background that may relate to
public engagement or policy roles you have held in the past.
You can email it to me at aaiohnson@citvotoakparkneiahtS.COM
Kind Regards
Eric
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Current/Archived Newsletters -Metro Cities Pagel of 5
METRO CITIES
Association of Metropolitan Municipalities
Search I GO
Metro Cities News
December 21, 2017
Have you heard the latest?
Reminded Metro Cities Seeking Follow us on Twitted
Candidates for the Transportation
Advisory Board (TAB)
w Metro Cities is seeking interested
candidates for an opening on the
Transportation Advisory Board (TAB).
Metro Cities has statutory appointing
authority for making municipal
Oman Gwrmia� appointments to the TAB.
Municipal appointees for the TAB must be
elected officials. Metro Cities'guidelines
place a priority on making the TAB
balanced with respect to city size and
qiii ,,;l-; geography. The Metro Cities Board also
-LL- -� gives preference to those who agree to
ss serve on Metro Cities Transportation Policy
Committee. The board seeks candidates
km*aOd who will be committed to strong attendance
*AM*C at meetings.
The deadline for application
is Wednesday, January 8th,
In CurrentlArchived 2078. Interested candidates should
Newsletters: complete this and submit
Archives a letter of interest and resume to Kim
Ciarrocchi
at kimberly_Qrnetrocitiesmn.org or by
mail to Metra Cities at 145 University Ave
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Current/Archived Newsletters Metro Cities Page 2 of 5
W, St. Paul, MN, 55103.
Questions? Please contact Steven Huser
attrv � r+et�rt�li : .or .
Metropolitan Council Committee
Recommends Comp Plan Extension
Policy
The Community Development committee
this week recommended a policy for local
governments to use in making requests for
extension for submitting comprehensive
plan updates. The updates, which are
statutorily required to be submitted every
ten years, are due December 31, 2018.
The recommended policy calls for local
units of govemment to request an
extension by the end of May 2018. Council
staff will review requests and
administratively grant extensions. Staff will
also provide the Community Development
committee regular updates on extension
requests. Metro Cities provided written
comments in support of a uniform and
streamlined process and supports having
extensions be administratively granted. In
the last cycle, 70 communities submitted
extension requests and Council staff have
received requests for information on how
extension requests will be handled.
Communities which have received planning
assistance grants (70 communities sharing
$1.9 million)will have to amend their
planning grant agreements recognizing a
later deadline. This will allow these
communities to receive the second half of
their grants.
Council staff told the committee that four
communities have submitted comp plan
updates for plan review, a year ahead of
the deadline.
Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-215-
4001 or charlie(ametrocitiesmn.orci with
any questions.
Metropolitan Council Regional Growth
Strategy Work Group Meets
The Met Council Regional Growth Strategy
Work Group held its second meeting this
week. The work group was created to serve
as a forum for Council members to consider
long term regional trends and their impacts
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Current/Archived Newsletters- Metro Cities Page 3 of S
on regional systems, from an integrated,
cross-divisional perspective. Metro Cities
supported having the meetings of the group
be posted and will monitor its work. The
group will allow a sub-set of Council
members to provide feedback to staff on
what information might be useful to the
Council in developing regional growth
strategies.
At this meeting, members discussed what
information and data should be included in
a presentation by staff to the full Council in
order to facilitate a discussion on regional
growth strategy. The discussion will include
information on the strategies the Council
has used to plan development and other
potential tools the Council can use in
planning growth in the region.
Staff has been asked to include various
metrics related to the management of
growth and development and to make
comparisons to peer regions based on the
metrics into their presentation. The metrics
that were asked for include population
density and built infrastructure and their
impact and effect on social mobility and
equity measures, economic data and
information from peer reviewed studies.
Metropolitan Council staff will also present
historical growth patterns and how Council
policy has impacted regional development
over time.
Council members also discussed how the
Metropolitan Council plans for and operates
regional level infrastructure, such as
wastewater and transit, and how these
systems have influenced development as
well as their role in managing regional
development in the future.
It has not been determined if this
presentation will be as an informational
item at a Council meeting or as part of a
Committee of the Whole discussion. The
Work Group is tentatively planning its final
meeting in mid-January to finalize the
presentation. The presentation will likely be
made in late January or early February.
Gov. Dayton Announces Now Task
Force on Affordable Housing
Governor Dayton established a new task
force to propose solutions to address the
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Current/Archived Newsletters-Metro Cities Page 4 of 5
state's affordable housing needs. Dayton
said the task force is charged with
developing new solutions to addressing
Minnesotan's housing challenges and
helping to ensure more families have
access to safe, affordable housing.
The task force is made up of 28 people
representing local governments including
cities, developer;, realtors, landlords,
construction trades, lenders, housing
authorities, legislators and social service
organizations.
According to the governor's office, the
group will review effective and ineffective
existing housing strategies as well as
consider practices to improve housing
stability and affordability. Meetings will be
held beginning in January with policy
proposals due by the end of July 2018.
Metro Cities will monitor the task force and
provide comments in a manner consistent
with Metro Cities' policies.
Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-215-
4001 or earl e(Wmetrocitiesmn.ori, with
any questions.
Thank You and Happy Holidays!
As we near the end of 2017, we would like
to take this opportunity to thank every one
of our members for joining committees,
attending meetings, testifying at the Capitol,
and all the other ways you are involved in
and show your interest in the issues that
matter to metro area cities. We are honored
that you trust us with this work, and look
forward to continuing to work for you in
20181 We wish you a Merry Christmas,
Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!
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Current/Archived Newsletters - Metro Cities Page 5 of 5
Metro Cities News is emailed periodically
to all Metro Cities member mayors,
councilmembers, city managers and
administrators to keep officials abreast of
important metro city issues. This
information is also intended to be shared
with city staff.
If you'd like to sign up to receive Metro
Cities News, please
email newsletter __metrocitiesmn.orq and
provide the following: Name, Title,
Employer and Email address. Thank you.
Metro Cities 145 University Ave W., St.
Paul, MN 55103-2044 Phone 651-215-
4000 Fax 651-281-1299
Website www.MetroCitiesMN.or
Hume I About i Metrip Miss MombmI Board of Directors I Lftslaturp I Mob—apaillan cow I mwo mesTwk Force RqportonMehyWitan
Governance I Press and Pubill ations I LeoislaNve Policies I Policy committees I currentlArehWed Nomletters I Metropglltan Area Management
Association I Questions,comments orguagesUons I Staff I Links and Presentations I Uocoml_ng Metro clues Events
POW&W"
6
Pruner iendly Version
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Current/Archived Newsletters -Metro Cities Pagel of 3
METRO CITIES
***4L Association of Metropolitan Municipalities
Search F GO
Metro Cities News
December 28, 2097
Newsletter Archivf,
Have you heard the latest?
Reminder! Metro Cities Seeking Follow as onTlvXW.
Candidates for the Transportation
Advisory Board (TAB)
Metro Cities is seeking interested
candidates for an opening on the
' Transportation Advisory Board (TAB).
Metro Cities has statutory appointing
DOW Gaftww� authority for making municipal
appointments to the TAB.
Municipal appointees for the TAB must be
elected officials. Metro Cities'guidelines
a place a priority on making the TAB
balanced with respect to city size and
geography. The Metro Cities Board also
e gives preference to those who agree to
serve on Metro Cities Transportation Policy
Committee. The board seeks candidates
who will be committed to strong attendance
mow* at meetings.
usamwea"A"coo
The deadline for application is Monday,
January 8th, 2018. Interested candidates
should complete this guestionne1w and
N ewsletters:CurrentlArchived submit a letter of interest and resume to
N
Kim Ciarrocchi
Archives at
4"O+erimetrocitiesmn.oro or by
mail to Metro Cities at 145 University Ave
W, St. Paul, MN, 55103.
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Current/Archived Newsletters-Metro Cities Page 2 of 3
Questions? Please contact Steven Huser
at stevenOmetrocitiesmn.ore.
Thank You and Happy Holidaysl
As we near the end of 2017,we would like
to take this opportunity to thank every one
of our members for joining committees,
attending meetings, testifying at the Capitol,
and all the other ways you are involved in
and show your interest in the issues that
matter to metro area cities. We are honored
that you trust us with this work, and look
forward to continuing to work for you in
20181 We wish you all a Happy New Year!
Paul, MN 55103-2044 Phone 651-216-
4000 Fax 651-281-1299
Website rww.&IetroCitiesMN.ora
Home I About Us I Metro Cities membem I Board of Directors I Legislature I mampoutan council I Mho Cltlos Task Force Report on Metropolitan
6orernance I Press and Publiwms I Legislative PQliclea I Policy Committees I Cu mhlyed Nmelmftm I M I n rr a M em
ent
Ageociation(MAMA)I-Oumnons.Comm ft or Suga%ifflona I Staff I Links ►esentations I UpcominLetm CI Eve
ntn
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MDEPARTMENT
11 OF CORRECTIONS
DATE: December 15, 2017
TO: Community Advisory Members
FROM: Eddie Miles Jr., Warden
SUBJECT: Community Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 30,
2017 held at MCF-Stillwater
Attendees: Eddie Miles, Jr. STW Warden, Chris Paweik STW AWO, Victor Wanchena
STW AWA, Sherlinda Wheeler OPH AWA, Laura Eastman Chief Bayport PD,Adam Bell
Bayport City Administrator, Dan Starry WA County Sheriff, Brian Mueller WA County Chief
Deputy, Roger Heinen WA County Jail Commander, Pete Orput WA County Attorney,
Brent Wartner WA County Attorney's Office.
➢ Introductions
➢ Presentation by Sheriff Dan Starry, Chief Deputy Brian Mueller, and Jail
Commander Roger Heinen
• The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Jail Emergency Response
Team thanked Warden Miles, Warden Smith, Lt. Rick Wilson, and the
SORT instructors for their roles in providing training to the Washington
County ERT Officers at Camp Ripley the past two years. They expressed
how important this training and partnership is and how appreciative they are
of the individual attention the trainers gave their officers.
• They also presented the group with American Flag plaques symbolizing the
"Thin Silver Line"that represents the courage, commitment and honor
Corrections Professionals demonstrate everyday working in our jails and
prisons.
➢ MCF-Stillwater Updates: Warden Eddie Miles Jr,
During the Community Advisory Meetings we want to make sure we are not
just providing information that you already know. We are working to change
the perception of MCF-STW and what is being done at the facility to help
protect the public. We are looking at ways to reduce violence within the
facility by improving communication and providing offender programming
proven to reduce recidivism.
The department is looking at adding a new 106 bed unit at MSU but the
funding for this is low on the priority list.
Changes have been made in front of the facility to make it cleaner and
safer. There is no parking in front which has made it safer for people
crossing the street by improving sight lines. We have also added flashing
cross walk signs and new lighting. These improvements shine a better light
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generator gears, our generators allow us to be self-sufficient in a power
outage so this equipment needs to be upgraded.
A fence has been installed to keep deer out of our apple orchard located
northwest of the cemetery by MSU.
We are working on our pollinator gardens.
Our horticulture staff will begin to grow annuals from seed in the coming
months. We are happy to supply flowers to outside agencies if your order is
placed within the next couple of months,
We are looking at the viability of bee keeping. This will need to be explored
further before moving forward.
We are in the process of changing the location of our outside commissary
by moving/changing which buildings are being occupied. The goal is to
have a secondary address for deliveries which would help to keep delivery
traffic off Pickett Street.
• Offender work crews will wear red vests with offender labeled on the back
so everyone is aware who the offenders are.
•
All minimum offenders wear GPS bracelets for monitoring while they are on
campus and away. If they coat the bracelet off we know immediately.
A MCF-OPH: AWA Sherlinda Wheeler
• On November 16, 2017, six acres of pollinator friendly plants were seeded
into the surrounding prairie area between the prison and Osgood Ave. Over
30 different seed types were included in the mix. After a year or two of
mowing, the new prairie will be a self-sustaining, bee friendly environment.
The Pollinator Friendly Alliance and Washington County Conservation
employees assisted in this project.
➢ Washington County Attorney - Pete Orput
• Washington County has some new prosecutors and it would be beneficial
for them to tour the facilities.
Things are steady and going well, our relationship with the prison is very
good.
➢ City of Bayport—Adam Bell, City Administrator
• We are working on our budget and we hope to hire another full time officer.
D Washington County Attorney— Brent Wartner
Working with Lydia Newlin and Cad Gerlicher on victim contact. Offenders
who remain in contact with victims need to be managed and there is no
easy solution.
9 Washington County Sheriffs Department—Sheriff Dan Starry
We have some newer sergeants and a new patrol manager that would
benefit from a tour the facilities.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at MCF-Oak Park Heights date to be determined.
Contributing to a safer Minnesota
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M C F-S t 1 1 1 w a i e r page 3
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Eric Johnson
From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27,2017 12:11 PM
To: Eric Johnson
Subject Fwd:Join us for our Conversations of the Valley with guest speaker Todd Bol
For weekly notes
-----Original Message---
From: St. Croix Valley Foundation <srivard@scvfoundation.org>
To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 27, 2017 11.38 am
Subject: Join us for our Conversations of the Valley with guest speaker Todd Bol
ST. CROIX VALLEY FOUNDATION
Presents:
Conversations of the Valley
A luncheon speaker series sponsored by
St. Croix Valley Foundation & First State Bank and Trust
"Little Free Library: Building Community,
Sparking Creativity, Inspiring a Love of Reading"
with guest speaker
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Todd Bol
Creative & Executive Director of Little Free
Library
I�
Todd Bol of Hudson Wisconsin, is creator and executive director of Little Free
Library, a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds
community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges
around the world. With three decades of experience as a social entrepreneur
Todd has created international programs in nursing education, barter,
innovative business models, teaching, and community education.
Little Free Library has become a global movement with 50,000 libraries in all 50
states and more than 70 countries and has facilitated the exchange of millions
i
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of free books annually.
Wednesday, January 1l, 2018
11 :30 a.m. to 1 :00 p.m.
The Lowell Inn Event Center
702 N. Second St. Stillwater
Free parking in the ramp with validation.
The cost of the lunch and program is $17 and must be paid in advance to
guarantee your reservation. (Any payments received on the day of the event
will be charged $20 a ticket, if seats available.)
To make a reservation (due in SCVF offices by noon prior to the day of
luncheon):
1. Mail your check to: SCVF, 516 Second St. #214, Hudson, WI 54016, or
2. Make your reservation by credit card online using the PayPal button below.
There is a $1.00 processing fee per person using PayPal.
3
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Mayor Mary McCornber
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
PO Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082-3007 Community Action
Dear Mayor Mary McComber,
Please add your neighbors to your gift list—
Everybody deserves a happy andwarm new year!
Do you take heat,electricity, and your safe,warm home for granted?
must admit that I often do. But Brittney doesn't... so we are hoping that you can M
help parents like her, living in poverty,who are in dire need of your support.
A proud mother, Brittney struggled for years to keep the lights on and a warm roof
over her daughter's head.Thankfully,that is no longer the case since she found help
from Community Action's Energy Assistance Program.The program both covered her - 9w
utility bills to prevent service from being shutoff and enabled her to secure rental
assistance so she could finally have stable and safe housing for her family.
"We honestly would not have electricity
Each year, Community Action helps more than 60,000 men,women and children without Community Action'shelp
.
avoid hardship through our Energy Assistance Program. Program services include The servlcelreceived was excellent
bill payment assistance and energy crisis intervention,as well as,guidance to secure Their assistance helped us to he in a much
6etterposition(hnandally)."—Brittney
financial assistance to meet their family's other basic needs.
Unfortunately, in a cold climate like ours,the dollars provided to CommunityAction
through the federal government's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP)only meet part of the need in our community. In order to assist local `
households once LIHEAP funds have been exhausted,Community Action relies on
an emergency fuel fund known as Reach Out for Warmth.This critical lifeline,
made possible by donations from generous donors like you, is indispensable in
helping our low-income neighbors to:
• Avoid utility service interruption or disconnection to keep homes safe and warm
Get help finding affordable housing,acquiring healthy food,and other services ONE MONTH
Conserve limited resources to purchase medicine,pay for child care, access ` OF WARMTH
transportation, and meet their basic needs
Thank you for considering how you can "reach out"to keep families like Brittney's
safe and warm this winter.Your gift to Community Action will help ensure that we
can always help those most in need.
With gratitude,
Clarence Hightowe, Ph.D.u Community Action
Executive Director Partnership of Ramsey
&Washington Counties
450 Syndicate Street N
Saint Paul,MN 55104
'Neb Site:caprw.org
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Tel:651-645-6445
3 She