HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly notes 3-3-23
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS – WEEKLY NOTES for: March 3rd, 2023
TO: City Council Members& Staff
FROM: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Zoning & Development Items:
No new applications have been received for the MarchPlanning Commission. The PC will be holding a public hearing
on the parking-lot size/ heat island reduction matter in March.
We are informed that STARBUCKS plans to open --today 3-3-23 - I cannot verify this .. but.. we will all know soon.
The MET COUNCIL is taking input on their next round of Transportation Planning the 2050 Plan– they are seeking
input at this time into the PROCESSof how the plan will bedeveloped.See enclosed.
Onoccasion, we all may hear the term“SECTION 8”
housing, I have enclosed a short- piece from
Washington County that better defines this and
outlines that there are a total of 470housing unitsin
theentireCountythatoperate undersucha voucher-
system.
Staff is still waitingfor thecorrection on the lighting
at the east side of the NAPA building … non-full cut
off lighting – See image
Other Items:
The City’s legislativeconsultant (Ann Lencezewski)has informed us thatthere is a potential hearing of Senate
File 898 UPDATED TO 3/8/23 -- Senator Housley in theSenateonWednesday, March8 inSenate Energyand
Utilities at 12:30 pmin Room1150. Some OPH Background data on SF 898 is enclose d.
Chief Hansen has provided the Feb 2023 Police Activity Report.
Staff has begun compiling data associated with various FIRE SERVICES studies – Both Lake Elmo and Stillwater
have provided theirrecently completed studies.
Mayor McComber Provided:
1.NLC Updates 3/1/23
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From:Ann Lindquist
To:Eric Johnson
Subject:RE: Housing Choice Voucher Applications being accepted
Date:Monday, February 27, 2023 10:55:49 AM
We manage around 326 of our own vouchers from different funding sources. For the HCV program
we have 153 vouchers.
Thanks,
Ann Lindquist
Housing Assistance Director
Washington County Community Development Agency
7645 Currell Boulevard, Woodbury, MN 55125
651-202-2807 phone
651-458-1696 fax
This message is intended only for the recipient named above, and may contain information that is confidential or protected by law.
If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately at 651-202-2813, and delete the message. The
Washington County Community Development Agency is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Email will be
treated in the same way as written communications under the Act and, except as protected by law, may be available to the public
upon request.
From: Eric Johnson <eajohnson@cityofoakparkheights.com>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2023 10:36 AM
To: Ann Lindquist <AnnL@washingtoncountycda.org>
Subject: RE: Housing Choice Voucher Applications being accepted
This message originated from outside the organization
***External message alert: This message originated from outside the Washington County CDA
email system. Use caution when clicking hyperlinks, downloading pictures or opening
attachments.***
Thanks
How many vouchers are available in the County?
From: Ann Lindquist <AnnL@washingtoncountycda.org>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2023 10:00 AM
To: Eric Johnson <eajohnson@cityofoakparkheights.com>
Subject: RE: Housing Choice Voucher Applications being accepted
Hi Eric
Melissa forwarded your message regarding the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 wait list. I have
attached the flyer with directions on how to apply to the wait list along with a more detailed
explanation of the program below. Hope this helps, please let me know if you have any questions.
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The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting
very low-income families, individuals, the elderly, and the disabled to access affordable
housing in the private market. The CDA administers this federal program for all of
Washington County with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD).
If determined eligible participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family
homes, townhouses, and apartments. The participant’s rent is based on their household
income and the amount of subsidy allowed by the program. The program provides rental
assistance which is the difference between the participant’s rent portion and the contract rent.
The rental assistance is paid by the CDA directly to the property owner on the first of each
month. The assistance is transferable to other units and moves with the participant so long as
the participant remains eligible and has not violated any program rules.
Thank you,
Ann Lindquist
Housing Assistance Director
Washington County Community Development Agency
7645 Currell Boulevard, Woodbury, MN 55125
651-202-2807 phone
651-458-1696 fax
This message is intended only for the recipient named above, and may contain information that is confidential or protected by law.
If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately at 651-202-2813, and delete the message. The
Washington County Community Development Agency is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Email will be
treated in the same way as written communications under the Act and, except as protected by law, may be available to the public
upon request.
From: Eric Johnson <eajohnson@cityofoakparkheights.com>
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2023 8:50 AM
To: Melissa Taphorn <MelissaT@washingtoncountycda.org>
Subject: RE: Housing Choice Voucher Applications being accepted
This message originated from outside the organization
***External message alert: This message originated from outside the Washington County CDA
email system. Use caution when clicking hyperlinks, downloading pictures or opening
attachments.***
Thanks Melissa
Is there anymore background you could share about this program?
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The links in the press Rel do not really tell me much.
I am hoping I can offer information that the SECTION 8 designation is not what people think it may
be?
From: Melissa Taphorn <MelissaT@washingtoncountycda.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2023 3:11 PM
To: Jennifer Wagenius <Jennifer.Wagenius@co.washington.mn.us>; Jennifer Ochocki
<Jennifer.Ochocki@co.washington.mn.us>; Afton <administrator@ci.afton.mn.us>; Becky Herman
<townclerk@denmarktownship.org>; Bobbi _ Town of May <Bobbi@townofmay.org>; Bryan Bear
<BBear@ci.hugo.mn.us>; 'mkline@ci.bayport.mn.us' <mkline@ci.bayport.mn.us>; Carrie Seifert
<townclerk@westlakeland.govoffice2.com>; Cheryl McColley <townclerk@greycloudislandtwp-
mn.us>; Chris Volkers Oakdale <chris.volkers@ci.oakdale.mn.us>; City of Lakeland
<city@ci.lakeland.mn.us>; clerk@stillwatertownshipmn.gov; Clinton Gridley
<clint.gridley@woodburymn.gov>; Dan Wietecha <dwietecha@hastingsmn.gov>; Dave Engstrom
<lscb@comcast.net>; Dellwood (cityhall@dellwood.us) <cityhall@dellwood.us>; Ellen Richter
(erichter@whitebearlake.org) <lcrawford@whitebearlake.org>; Eric Johnson
<eajohnson@cityofoakparkheights.com>; Jan Lucke <Jan.Lucke@co.washington.mn.us>; Jennifer
Levitt <jlevitt@cottagegrovemn.gov>; Joe Hatch- City of Newport <jhatch@newportmn.com>; 'Joe
Kohlmann' <jkohlmann@ci.stillwater.mn.us>; Kevin Corbid <Kevin.Corbid@co.washington.mn.us>;
Kevin Walsh <kwalsh@stpaulpark.org>; Kim Points <clerk@cityofgrant.us>; Kristina Handt
<khandt@lakeelmo.org>; Lakeland Clerk <lakelandshores@gmail.com>; Lynette Peterson
<mosc@midconetwork.com>; Marian Appelt_West Lakeland
<marian.appelt@westlakeland.govoffice2.com>; Christina Volkers <chris.volkers@oakdalemn.gov>;
Michelle Elsner- City Of Lakeland <melsner@cityoflakeland.us>; Nancy Healey
<clerk@baytownmn.org>; Patrick Casey <patrick.casey@ci.forest-lake.mn.us>; Rebecca Kellen
<rebecca.kellen@cityofbirchwood.com>; Rick Juba -WBL <rjuba@whitebearlake.org>; Scott Neilson
<sneilson@ci.mahtomedi.mn.us>; St Mary Point Cindie Reiter <ClerkSmp@comcast.net>; Tobin Lay
_ Landfall <tlay@cityoflandfall.com>; Vickie Keating <vkeating1@comcast.net>; Anne Hurlburt
<a.hurlburt@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Housing Choice Voucher Applications being accepted
Good afternoon,
I’m excited to announce that the CDA is opening their wait list for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section
thth
8) on March 6 and 7. See attached press release. Please feel free to share this information on
your websites or other community communications. Please reach out to me or Ann Lindquist,
Housing Assistance Director, if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Melissa
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Melissa Taphorn (She/Her)
Executive Director
Washington County Community Development Agency
7645 Currell Boulevard, Woodbury, MN 55125
651-202-2821 phone
651-458-1696 fax
This message is intended only for the recipient named above, and may contain information that is
confidential or protected by law. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately at 651-202-2821, and delete the message. The Washington County Community
Development Agency is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Email will be
treated in the same way as written communications under the Act and, except as protected by law,
may be available to the public upon request.
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CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.,
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
rd
March 3, 2023
To:Mayor and Council
From: Chief of Police, Steve Hansen
Subject: Police Activity Report February 2023
This overview report is the activity of the Oak Park Heights Police Department during the
month of February 2023. Officers responded to and generated 375 calls for service in the City
of Oak Park Heights during this month. Quick breakdown for some of those calls for service
include: 98 medicals, 13 vehicle accidents, 3 fire related, 14 alarms, 7 disturbance/disorderly
conducts, 24 traffic violations, 7 thefts from businesses/residential, 11 suspicious
persons/vehicles, 10 mental health/suicide threats, 11 welfare checks.
This past month I met with State Senator Karin Housley at City Hall to discuss current law
enforcement trends and concerns for public safety. Some of these topics included recruitment
and retention issues along with funding for the fence consortium at the state level to offset
costs.
st
The Community Advisory Committee for the prisons met on the 21 at the Bayport Prison.
This was the first meeting back since 2020. The Mayor and myself attended along with other
representatives from Stillwater, Bayport,
Baytown.
OPHPD also assisted an independent film crew
this month as they requested the use of a “real”
squad car and ambulance. They only needed to
film the inside portion with their actors talking
back and forth. Sgt. Joe Croft assisted with this as
they went to a few locations in OPH. The film
crew are students from St. Thomas and the
University of MN and the assistant producer has
family connections in OPH. They will send off
their short documentary crime film to
Netflix/Hollywood to hopefully be picked up.
Our new squad cars have graphics and will
hopefully be completed by the end of March with
interior build out of equipment by EATI in
Oakdale.
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Training:
The entire department participated in the
annual Taser re certification training with
Bayport PD at OPH City Hall.
New Hires:
Officer Gustafson has now completed phase 2
of field training and is now moving onto phase
3 which includes more responsibility for
handling calls for service and concentrated
efforts on self-initiated activity which includes
the DWI process.
Officer Fuhrmann has submitted his resignation
letter effective March 3, 2023.
Community Outreach:
Officers participated in our quarterly coffee with
a cop engagement at the Boutwells Complex at
two locations consisting of their main café and
at their transitional/long term car unit at the
Gables.
Calls for Service Highlights:
1. Officer responded to a rollover accident on the ramp from hwy 95/96.
2. SRO and officers responded to an unconscious student medical involving an
intentional overdose. Narcan administered and airway management applied until
medics arrived.
3. OPH Officers responded to assist WCSO with a report of possible plane that
crashed. OPH Officers were the first to locate the crashed plane in the field just
south of OPH.
4. Officers received a stolen motor vehicle report from small auto dealership on Olene,
veh was later recovered in Forest Lake a few days later.
5. Officers located a female slumped over in a vehicle parked at Wendy’s restaurant.
SW officer used Narcan on female and she was later transported to the hospital.
6. Officers responded to the St. Croix River Bridge for a road hazard involving a large
rug in the roadway. Officers removed such rug upon arrival.
7. Kwik trip reported a vehicle drove off with the gas pump nozzle attached. Officers
later located the nozzle at the Starbucks parking lot and returned it. Unable to
locate veh though.
8. Officers responded to a vehicle that crashed into a building of the old central
automotive bldg. on the frontage road. Male individual arrested for DWI at
2:30pm.
9. Officer received theft report of catalytic convertors stolen from vehicles parked in
the summit condo lot and menards lot, incident occurred during the daytime.
10. Officers responded to the American Inn Motel for an overdose patient. Narcan
administered and patient transported to hospital.
11. Officers responded to the Verizon Store for disorderly male upset with his cell
phone billing. Suspect threatened, assaulted and threw property around in the store.
th
He was later trespassed and cited for 5 deg assault, disorderly conduct.
12. Officers responded to Hwy 36 for reported a Toilet left on the roadway during the
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snow storm. Officers unable to locate item.
ADMINISTRATION
Kevin Corbid, County Administrator
Jan Lucke, Deputy County Administrator
Jennifer Wagenius, Deputy County Administrator
February 28, 2023
Eric Johnson
City of Oak Park Heights
*VIA EMAIL*
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
RE: County South Frontage Road Proposal
Dear Eric-
Thank you for the follow up regarding your council’s discussion related to the county’s proposed project to connect
CSAH 15 (Manning Ave.) via 58th Street. It is disappointing that the efforts spent during the last year working on
a MOU to facilitate that extension and protect the city’s interests and financial limitations was not better received.
The goals for this connection have not changed. They are to provide a regional route that connects CSAH 15
(Manning Ave.) and to provide bicycle/pedestrian connections to local features, including Stillwater Area High
School.
As you indicate, prior to the city’s council meeting in January, the MOU discussions have been done at a staff level
only. Given the city council’s response to negotiations to-date and all of the county concessions included in the draft
MOU; fully funding the new roadway connection, designing and funding improvements on the city’s behalf at the
Neal Avenue/58th Street intersection, protecting the city’s utilities, and ensuring all road drainage is within a
separate system, we agree that it makes sense to put further MOU discussions on hold.
I will engage with our Public Works department and county board on next steps and let you know the result of that
engagement.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wagenius
Deputy County Administrator
Cc: Joe Kohlmann, City Administrator, City of Stillwater
A great place to live, work and play…today and tomorrow
Government Center | 14949 62nd Street North | P. O. Box 6 | Stillwater, MN 55082-0006
P: 651-430-6001 |F: 651-430-6017 | TTY: 651-430-6246
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Washington County is an equal opportunity organization and employer
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