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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOct 2015 City of Oak Tree City USA Fall 2015 Newsletter Inside this issue: 2016 City Budget Outlook The City's Preliminary Budget for 2016 is set at $5,648,561 House Numbers and is generally adjusted for the changes necessary to fund 9 Required operations at the present level. The Preliminary Budget, in- cludes all operations and debt services for the next year and is an increase of$246,561 or 4.56% over the 2015 budget. The Arborist increase in expenditures includes snowplowing, debt re a repayments and capital purchasing funds for streets, fire station contribution and vehicle replacement. Decreases in the budget for 2016 include reductions in employees and shifting the consulting services of the arborist Frozen Water to staff. Pipes The Preliminary Tax Levy for the 2016 budget is $5,191,593, an increase of $168,862 or 3.36% over the 2015 tax levy and would largely fund the above 2016 Budget. The remaining Garbage and Recycling funds would be anticipated to be derived from other sources such as fees, permits, earned interest and other revenues. TAXES ON A INCREASE `Flushable'Wipes TAS{LEVY MEDIAN HOME OVER 2015 Not Flushable TAX LEVY 2015 2015 OPERATIONS $ 4,414,731 2015 DEBT $ 608,040 Utility Bill TOTAL 2015 TAXES $ 5,022,731 $ 1,062.70 Information IN CREASE DUETOVALLIEINCREASE 6.54 0.62% New Park: Oak Park 7 CHANGES TO LEVY Crossing Park OPERATIONS $ 156,862 $ 14.26 1.35°6 DEBT $ 12,000 $ 2.60 0.24°6 TOTAL2016BUDGET INCREASE $ 168,862 $ 16.86 1.59°/6 Volunteer Opportunities TOTAL INCREASE 23.401 2.20% Impact on Residential Property City residential property values are increasing on average 1% as compared to 2015 which Contact calculates to an estimated increase in property taxes for a residential property at .6% even if Information the budget Preliminary Levy did not change from 2015. The following is an example: A resi- dence valued at $205,800 in 2015 is valued at $206,840 for 2016 taxes. The 2015 taxes were $1,062.70, while 2016 is estimated to be $1,086.10. A 2.20% increase; (1.6% due to Enclosure: the Levy increase and .6% due to the residential value increase = Total 2.20 %) 2016 City Calendar Continued on page 2... Page 2 Fall 2015 Newsletter Budget...continued from page 1 Change in Property Value Share Property values for the City consist of values for residential, commercial and public utility properties. Each of these property classes share in the property tax levy. As market values of properties change so does each property class portion of levy. The following chart reflects that in taxes payable 2011 residential properties paid 30.71% of the tax levy. The Residential portion dropped to the lowest at 26.44% in payable 2013 due to a decline in property values. For taxes payable 2016 Residential property is estimated to pay 32.18%of the taxes; Commercial 29.56%; and Public Utili- ty 37.44%. As Commercial values have declined, the City has seen a tax levy shift from Commercial Property to Resi- dential Property. PROPERTY CLASSES-TAX CAPACITY%OF TOTAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL PUBLIC ALL TOTAL TAXES PAYABLE YEAR PROPERTY PROPERTY UTILITY OTHER TAX CAPACITY 2011 30.71% 35.265/o 33.13% 0.89% 100.00% 2012 28.75% 35.025/o 35.33% 0.90°1 100.00% 2013 26.44% 34.085/o 38.55% 0.93% 100.00% 2014 27.63% 33.38% 38.05% 0.94% 100.00% 2015 30.36% 30.36% 38.44% 0.84% 100.00% EST 2016 32.18% 29.56% 37.44% 0.82% 100.00% Truth in Taxation Hearing — December 8, 2015 The Preliminary Budget and Tax Levy is continuing to be reviewed and adjusted prior to its final adoption in December, however the City may NOT increase the amounts. The City's Annual 'Truth In Taxation" meeting is scheduled for De- cember 8, 2015, 7:00 pm at City Hall where the City will receive input on the 2016 Budget and Levy prior to any final changes and adoption. House Numbers Required by City Ordinance Not only are house numbers required by the City's Zoning Ordinance, they are essential for peo- ple to find you and can be critical for emergency response groups, such as the police depart- ment, fire department and emergency medical responders to assist you as quickly as possible. To make it easy to locate your ome, your house iv fibers should be: A minimum of 3 inches in height Made of a durable, weather resistant material such as metal, glass, plastic, etc. A color that stands out with the house or background upon which they are placed such as dark numbers against a light background Easily and clearly seen from the street when approached from any direction. You may want to consider having the numbers coated with a reflective material for better visibility at dark or locating them beneath a light source Attached to your home or a sign post that faces the street It y dome does not have house r lers on it, make it a priority to put them on today. Tree City USA Page 3 New City Arborist The City of Oak Park Heights has a � new arborist! Lisa is an Oak Park Heights Public Works Operator and took over for Kathy Widin when she retired. Lisa has a Bachelor's Degree',_al in Conservation Biology which she 4 - earned at the University of Wiscon- sin—River Falls and is a Certified Ar- borist. If you are an Oak Park Heights resi- dent and have a problem with a tree or shrub, such as an insect or a disease, TM., have planting questions, or just want to have a plant identified, please call ` the new City Arborist, Lisa Danielson, at 651-439-4439, ext. 1302. She can either answer your question over the phone or make an appointment for a site visit. This service is paid for by the City of Oak Park Heights. Oak Wilt Ash tree removal and replacement Due to insect transmission of the oak wilt fun- In an effort to continue to reduce the popula- gus to fresh wounds on healthy oaks, oaks tion of ash trees on boulevards and in parks, should not be wounded or pruned during the the City of Oak Park Heights is continuing to high risk' period from April 1St to July 1St. If remove ash trees which are doing poorly, are they are wounded anytime during the growing interfering with power lines, competing with season (April 1- October 1), the wounds other trees, have storm damage, or are block- should be painted with latex house paint to ing sight lines along the street. If you have any prevent oak wilt infection. It is best to prune questions about the ash tree removal plan, oaks between October 15th and March 15th. contact the Oak Park Heights Arborist. Watering Trees and Shrubs If the weather is drier, established shrubs, small trees, and evergreens will need water. Water plants well, once per week, at the ground line. If the property slopes at all where you are watering, use a root-feeder, which attaches to your garden hose, pushed into the ground about four inches. Water plants weekly until the ground freezes. If you receive a new boulevard tree in the fall, please water those trees well once a week (at least 10 gallons of water per week) up until the ground freezes. Any week where we have a half inch of rainfall or more, you will not need to water. Leave mulch around new trees for at least several years to help retain soil moisture. Page 4 Fall 2015 Newsletter Frozen pipes in the winter months Your water lines may be at risk of freezing during prolonged periods of bitter cold. Water service lines that run from the main line to the home are private property as are the water shut-off boxes. The City does not have the capacity to thaw frozen private water lines. Here's what you can do to prepare.- Monitor repare.Monitor the weather reports for extended periods of severe cold; then take action. • Allow warm air to circulate in the area where the water comes in to the house. • Leave utility room doors open and clear space around the waterline. • Remove contents of vanity cupboards and leave the doors open. • If possible/practical leave snow cover over the area where your lateral water line runs from the curb stop to the house. • Put a fresh battery in the thermostat if the thermostat is not hard wired in to the home. • Run your cold water closest to the water line entry point for a couple minutes and then take the temperature of the water. Please first notify the City if you must leave your water running. • If water from the tap is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit it is recommended that you let your cold water run from this faucet at a pencil thickness until a few days after frigid temperatures sub- side. • You may want to run your faucet non-stop overnight when temperatures typically dip lower or no water is being used for a period of time. Monitor such flows and keep track of water use and proactively inform the City that you are running water to preclude a frozen water line. The City will make appropriate adjustments to water and sewer billings for homes that do run water to prevent freeze-up. • Contact the City with any questions you may have as we head into the winter season. Garbage and Recycling In addition to the typical garbage and recycling pickup, the City also covers the disposal of yard waste, large household items, and `white-goods' such as refrigerators, couches, chairs, desks, water-heaters, stoves, dishwashers, dry- GE ers, etc. for single family residences and complexes with four units or less in Oak Park Heights. In order to have these items picked up in a timely fashion, please contact City Hall at least three days prior to collection day so that the ' special truck may be dispatched to your home. ''` Some items not included in your monthly fee are extra bags of garbage not placed in your container. The City's waste hauler, Tennis Sanitation, will bill you $1.50 per bag. Some other items that are picked up for a fee are sinks, toilets and construction debris. You will be billed by Tennis Sanitation at a regulated rate as monitored by the City. Electronic and hazardous waste cannot be picked up, but can brought to the Washington County Environmental Center, 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury. Call 651-430-6655 for directions and hours. The City's general fund covers the cost of garbage and recycling services for single family residences and multiplexes with four or less units. In order to keep costs down for the City, please use the container size that fits your needs. If you currently have a large container that you are not filling each week, please call City Hall to have your container size reduced to a small or medium size. Tree City USA ._ . _ Don't flush Iflushable' wipes ~" The City of Oak Park Heights Public Works Department p ro- vides for the collection, operation, and maintenance of a {: =' wastewater system that ultimately leads to treatment and the return of water back to the ecological system at an environ- mentally safe level. Oak Park Heights has approximately 28 miles of sanitary sewer — a mains, roughly 750 sanitary sewer manholes and four lift sta- tions. Each year about 30,000 linear feet or roughly six miles of the City's sanitary sewer mains are cleaned and inspected. Mains that require a higher level of maintenance are cleaned more frequently. This routine maintenance helps to prevent blockages and sewer backups; however when unauthorized items are flushed into the sanitary sewer, the City's ability to prevent back- ups is no longer controllable. As a resident, you play a key role in preventing sanitary sewer backups. To help prevent back- ups, please dispose of the following items properly, by NOT dumping in a drain or flushing down the toilet: • Diapers • "Flushable" wipes (these do not dissolve, therefore they clog sanitary sewer lines and pumps) • Cooking grease and oil • Sanitary napkins • Rags or shop towels • Garage waste products such as oil, grease, gasoline, antifreeze • Household waste such as ashes, corrosives, glass, metals, paint, poisons, or solvents • Yard waste such as sand, soil, or mud. Sanitary sewer problems should be reported to the City of Oak Park Heights Public Works De- partment during business hours by calling City Hall (651) 439-4439. The public works depart- ment also has a 24 hour emergency only hotline (651) 485-2304. The sewer main is owned by the City. City staff are responsible to maintain the City main lines. The sewer service or lateral from your home, business, or other property to the City sewer main is the property owner's responsibility. That means the property owner is responsible for clearing any blockages in the service lateral between the home and the main. Trash receptacles During a snow event on a trash pickup day, it is helpful to the street plowing crew when residents keep trash receptacles from creeping too far into the street. Please be aware on trash day if a snow event is occurring. The plows will likely be out. Page 6 Fall 2015 Newslefter ..Go GREEN: Pay & View Oak Park Heights Utility Bills Online f Pay ONLINE WHY? Help save natural Go to www.City0f0akParkHeights.com resources by viewing r 1. Click"Pay Utility Bill" and paying online 2. You will go to our payment processor's website where you should register and make your payment • Easy,fast and secure ' • Pay immediately, Or CALL schedule a payment onset up Auto-Pay 1-877-886-7968(have your bill handy to provide your account number) . Keep costs down; opt out of paper bills View Bills Online • PriOrecelpts,view paymeOt Its ory Go to www.Cit Of0akParkHeights.com and more 1. Click"View Utility Bill" Vile accept... 2. You will go to our payment processor's website to register 3. You will get an email each time your bill is ready PSN ecneck ' „ a``y� VISA You don't have to pay on1#7e to view your bills o&e. Third quarter 2015 utility bills City Meetings Utility bills for the third Quarter of 2015 (July 1 Septem- (subject to change) ber 30) will be mailed to residents in October and will be due November 9, 2015. City Council: Auto pay is available. With auto pay, there is no need to 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 waste time writing and mailing a check. Paying your utility p.m. bill electronically allows you to save time and money on stamps and late fees. The amount you owe on your utility bill is automatically withdrawn from the ac-count you designate Planning Commission: on the billing due date each month. You will continue to re- 2nd Thursday at 7:00 P.M. ceive your bill so that you know the date and amount to be withheld from your account. Parks Commission: If you are interested in participating, please call or stop by 3rd Monday at 7:00 P.M. City Hall to obtain an enrollment form. The form is also avail- able on the City's website, under City Information, Forms & Agendas and Minutes are posted Handouts. on the City's website: Call Judy Tetzlaff at City Hall, 651-439-4439, if you have www.cityofoakparkheights.com questions. Tree City USA ._ . _ Oak Park Crossing Park The Oak Park Heights City Council and Parks Commission held the Oak Park Crossing Park Rib- bon Cutting Event this summer on July 20, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Oak Park Crossing Park is the City's newest park and features a new playground and picnic shelter, walking trails, prairie grass- es, and plenty of parking. The new park is located north of Valley ., View Park and west of Cover Park at 15055 60th Street North, which is the former Moelter fly-ash site. The site has been capped off and turned into a beautiful park. Oak Park Crossing Park received its name through a 2013 contest open to children 17 years and under. The entries were consid- ered by the Parks Commission and nar- rowed down to three finalists. The winning name was submitted by resident Shelby Zeuli. Shelby was recognized at the City's Party in the Park on September 8, 2013, by Mayor Mary McComber. This park will continue to be developed. The Parks Commission and City Council are currently working on a trail plan that could possibly include some pavilions and scenic overlooks. Leash Law Reminder The City of Oak Park Heights City Council updated its Leash Law Ordinance effective March 1, 2015. All dogs and cats that are off the premises of the owner must be on a leash at all times and under control of the owner or another designated person. If you do not have your dog or cat on a leash,you will be in violation of the new Ordinance. Also, when you are out walking your pet, please remember to bring a plastic bag. Pet owners are required by City Ordinance to clean up pet waste on public and private property. Removal and proper disposal of pet waste helps keep our City clean and healthy. Pet Licenses All dogs and cats in the City for more than 30 days are required to have a City Pet License. There is no charge for this service and it could save your pet from a trip to the animal shelter. Bring proof of your pet's rabies vaccination to City Hall to receive a pet license and tag. For more infor- mation, please call City Hall at 651-439-4439. City Ordinances can be viewed on the City's web- site: www.cityofoakparkheights.com. City of Oak Park Heights Presorted 14168 Oak Park Blvd N, Box 2007 Standard Oak Park Heights, MN 55082-2007 u.s.Postage PAID Twin Cities,MN Permit No. 90100 City of Oak Park Heights - 14168 Oak Park Blvd.N. PO Box 2007 Oak Park Heights, -4 55082 Volunteer Opportunity Phone:65 I-439-4439 Fax:65 1-439-0574 Police non-emergency:651-439-4723 The City Parks Commission is always searching for volunteers to Police Emergency:91 1 host and organize Park Improvement Projects. Office Hours: Monday through Friday In the past this has included planting rose gardens, installing blue xcl a.m.le 4:h holidays bird boxes, park-trash clean-ups and even buckthorn removal excluding legal holidays events. MAYOR Mary McComber:351-7879 There are certainly other opportunities. For example, if your or- COUNCILMEMBERS ganization is looking for a location to host a ""raised garden," the Chuck Dougherty:491-0419 City Parks may be able to accommodate allocating space for such Mike Liljegren:351-2742 Mike Runk:439-5458 an opportunity. If you or your organization are looking for a way to Mark Swenson:270-5385 give back to the City Parks, simply contact City Hall and let us CITY ADMINISTRATOR know your ideas and/or what you are looking to do. Eric Johnson • •' This is a special edition of the City of Oak Park Heights Newsletter. The Oak Park Heights This edition includes the 2016 City Calendar. newsletter Remove the newsletteruse es a to our calendar. is published by the City p g y of Oak Park Heights. Comments are welcome. 651-439-4439