HomeMy WebLinkAbout2nd Q 09 City of
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Inside this issue: City Hall Facility Update
Following an extensive Pre- On April 6, 2009 the City Council
What is Included 2 qualification process to develop a awarded the City Hall Facility Con -
In Trash Pickup listing of general contractors with tract to Jorgensen Construction for a
similar and documented work histo- base -bid amount of $6,319,000 and
Paper 2 ries, the City received ten bids for various alternates totaling $39,500
Recycling the construction of the City Hall Fa- including the use of Andersen Win -
cility. Base bids ranged from $6.3 to dows. To make up for this shortfall,
Notes from 3 1 $6.8 million and with several possi- the City Council will be applying I
Public Works ble alternate options. Unfortunately, available reserve funds to fund the
these bid amounts were above the construction.
City 3 architect's estimate of $5,370,000.
Meetings The City will be holding a ceremonial
The City Council examined options "Groundbreaking" event on May 12
State Frontage 4 for re- bidding, but it was determined at 6:30 pm at the City Hall location —
Road Update that such action would not have nec- 14168 Oak Park Boulevard North.
essarily guaranteed a dollar -for- Full construction is estimated to be-
Pet Owner 4 dollar savings and /or would have gin in May once all contracts are
Reminders significantly reduced the square foot- executed and final permits are is-
age lessening the required efficien- sued.
Is a Building s cies of the total project as intended.
Permit Required
Traffic and Trail Patterns Near City Hall During Construction
House Numbers s In order to better ensure the safety of the construction crews working at
Are Required
the City Hall Facility as well as the general public, it is anticipated that
the eastern entrance into the City Hall Facility, located at the intersection
Carbon Monoxide s of 57 Street and O'Brien Ave. will be closed during the construction and
Alarms Required will re -open in summer 2010. The City apologizes for any inconvenience.
Police b Additionally, the east -west walking trail be
Files tween Oldfield Ave. and Oakgreen Ave (lying °
just north of the City Hall Facility project will
Arborist 7 also be impacted by Project. Temporary clo
News sures will be setup to facilitate the installation timing on
of the Reserve a city a this temporary closure is but is also
Park shelter anticipated to be this summer (2009).
What's included in trash pickup?
In addition to the typical garbage and recycling pickup, the City also E II" I III R „��III I „III
covers the disposal of yard waste, large household items, and `white- E 1111110
goods' such as televisions, refrigerators, couches, chairs, desks, water- "" II '',IE
heaters, stoves, dishwashers, dryers, etc. In order to have these items picked up in a timely fashion, please
contact Judy Tetzlaff at City Hall, 651- 439 -4439, at least two days prior to collection day so that the spe-
cial truck may be dispatched to your home.
Some items are not included in your monthly fee are extra bags of garbage not placed in your container.
The City's waste hauler, Veolia, will bill you $1.50 per bag. Some other items that are picked up for a fee
are carpet, sinks, toilets and construction debris. You will be billed by Veolia at a regulated rate as moni-
tored by the City.
In the event you receive aM billing from Veolia, except for the Annual Washington County Environmental
Charge, please contact the City Administrator at 651- 439 -4439 to ensure that the billing is correct.
REMINDER!!
Waste and Recyclable pick -up is every THURSDAY, unless the week contains one of the six holidays —
New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. During those weeks,
collection will fall on FRIDAY.
Wanted: more recyclable paper
It's time to rethink recycling. You can recycle more kinds of paper than you think. Approxi-
mately 21% of household garbage in the Twin Cities metro area is recyclable paper. This includes
items such as unwanted mail, office and school paper, phone books, magazines, catalogs, card-
board and other boxes, and newspapers.
Why does paper recycling matter? The demand for recyclable paper is greater than the supply.
Recyclers and manufacturers in Minnesota and the Midwest are looking for more paper, because
they can't get enough of it!
Demand for recycled paper is high for several reasons:
We're using more paper than ever. Global paper use is more than six times greater than what
it was in 1950.
Paper mills need recycled paper to produce new products. Recycled paper supplies more than
37% of the raw materials used to make new paper products in the U.S.
Paper is a valuable export. In 2003, more than 25% of U.S. re-
cycled paper was exported, much of it to China and sold over-
seas. It is expected that by 2007 one -third of recycled paper';
will be exported.
So why an't supply keep u ? Recycling collection rates in the a ,r
Y PP Y P P• Y g _
Twin Cities metro area have been at a stand -still since 1998.x, J
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Many factors contribute to this, but one of the main reasons is
that many people are uncertain about what items are recyclable,
particularly what types of paper products.
Notes from Public Works
Pot holes on city streets Damage to the curb from the snow plow
Pot hole repairs will begin when the streets are Snow plow operations are done by an outside
swept and dried and road restrictions are off. This contractor. Minor damage is addressed by the
has been a very rough winter with numerous hard city with placement of black dirt and new seed
frosts and freeze thaw cycles. Please watch for along curbs. Damage to mail boxes or major
workers and staff working around vehicles and in damage is addressed to the contractor. The
the streets to avoid accidents. Slowing down helps home owner is responsible for watering new
us all be safer. areas of sod if needed.
Roadway and right -of -way trim and maintenance requirements
The City of Oak Park Heights, like most cities, has road right of way and pavement placed for neighbor-
hood use, transportation and emergency access. The adjacent homeowner maintains this boulevard por-
tion of the city property in exchange for the added yard and lawn use.
Homeowner Responsibility
Hedges and bushes should never be planted within 10 feet of the road. If older plantings have started to
encroach in to this area they must be removed or pruned and maintained so that there is always a mini-
mum of 6 feet of boulevard available on the side of the street and /or so that visibility is maintained.
The homeowner is responsible for mowing and controlling the grass in the boulevard area. Low level
plantings may be placed and maintained in the boulevard, however, they must never interfere with visibility
of signage or other traffic. The city has no liability if they are damaged. If these become a nuisance they
will require removal. The city does some snow sod repairs each spring by adding black dirt and grass seed
only. The homeowner must water the repairs as part of their maintenance requirements.
Utility and road work in the right of way requires contractor restoration of the grass. There is no claim
available for other types of plantings. Irrigation lines in this area are strictly the homeowner's responsibil-
ity.
Do not fill or plant items in a drainage area. These are designed to move storm water off site at a con-
trolled rate to purify the water, remove contaminants and avoid erosion or damage downstream. The city
must calculate the total amount of water and speed at which that water will move during a rain event to
protect the lakes and rivers around us. All storm water is discharged to the St. Croix River. Please re-
Sewer lines
The city contracts for main line sanitary sewer cleaning and televising to minimize the po-
tential of sewer backups. The sewer line between the house and the city lines is the
homeowner's responsibility. We notify homeowners if we find areas of concern when we
televise city lines, but our view from the pipe is pretty limited. Please avoid flushing
grease or solid items to your sewers. The grease solidifies in the lines and plastic and solid
items can start a dam that eventually can block the line. No one is happy when that
happens. The city will check the city lines if you are having problems and clear the city
line if any issues are found there.
State Frontage Road Update 7
For several years the City has requested that proximately 1,000 feet east of Osgood Avenue
the Minnesota Department of Transportation to Norell Avenue.
provide an adequate repair to the south front-
age road (both Street), as the roadway condi- To hasten this project, the City of Oak Park
tion has lapsed into an unsafe condition and is Heights has committed to accepting the plow -
well beyond simple pothole patching. This is a ing responsibilities for as long as the road does
State of Minnesota roadway. not revert to its current condition. While the
proposed project is not a full re- construction,
As agreed by the Minnesota Department of the outcome of the project is expected to result
Transportation, this frontage road will receive in a surface that is similar to the north frontage
a two inch mill and overlay this summer (likely road.
August according to MnDOT) from a point ap-
': Attention Pet Owners
Leash Law Reminder
The City of Oak Park Heights has a leash law in effect that prohibits pets from run-:
ning at large. Any dog or cat that is off the premises of the owner and not under the
physical control (by leash or by voice) of the owner or another designated person is in
violation of this Ordinance.
When you are out walking your pet, please remember to bring a plastic bag. Pet own-:
ers are required by City Ordinance to clean up pet waste on public and private prop-
s erty. 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 Li-
e cense. 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.
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Yellow Ribbon Communities
The Minnesota National Guard has pioneered a program which employers community
leaders to synchronize efforts and build an enduring network of support for service
members and families throughout the deployment cycle. The Yellow Ribbon Commu-
nity Campaign is a reminder that supporting service members cannot end when they
return home from deployment and the yellow ribbons are untied. A Yellow Ribbon City
develops an action plan and organizes groups to support military families.
The City of Oak Park Heights would like to form a Citizen's Committee to start working
on an action plan. If you are interested in serving on the Citizen's Committee, please
contact Councilmember Mary McComber by e -mail at marymccombera aolxom or by
phone at 651- 351 -7879.
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Spring has finally sprung!
If you are thinking about a home improvement project, please remember to get your improvement permit.
Decks, fences, pools /hot tubs, roofing, siding, fireplaces, storage sheds, driveway alteration, parking pads,
additions and window replacements are just some examples of projects that require a permit.
Check to be sure your general contractor has applied for and been issued all the appropriate permits for
the project. With the issuance of the permit, the contractor will receive a yellow inspection record card.
This card should be posted in a location that it is visible from the street and accessible to the inspector.
On this card the inspector will record all of the inspections made and when they were made.
If you aren't sure if your project requires a permit, contact Building Official, Jim Butler at 651- 275 -9590
or email him at jbutler�cityofoakparkheights .com.
House Numbers Are Required
Not only are house numbers required by the o A color that stands out with the house or
City's Zoning Ordinance, they are essential for background upon which they are placed such
people to find you. Not only is it important that as dark numbers against a light background
the pizza delivery person find you, it is critical o Easily and clearly seen from the street
for emergency response groups, such as the when approached from any direction. You
police department, fire department and emer- may want to consider having the numbers
gency medical responders to assist you as coated with a reflective material for better visi-
quickly as possible. bility at dark or locating them beneath a light
source
To make it easy to locate your home, your o Attached to your home or a sign post that
house numbers should be: faces the street
• A minimum of 3 inches in height If your home does not have house numbers on
• Made of a durable, weather resistant mate- it, please make it a priority to get them put on
rial such as metal, glass, plastic, etc. today.
C arbon Monoxide Alarms — Now Required!!!
Minnesota Statute 299F.50 requires approved carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in all single family homes and
multifamily apartment units with effective dates as follows:
• All new construction single family homes and multi - family dwellings where building permits were issued
on or after January 1, 2007
• All existing single family homes effective August I, 2008
• All existing multi - family or apartment dwelling units effective August I, 2009
Every residential dwelling shall have one approved and fully operational carbon monoxide alarm installed
within 10 -feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping. Installation shall be as specified by the manufacturer
of the alarm and not located in "dead air" pockets such as room corners, at the junction of walls & ceilings
or within 36- inches of ventilation ducts. Combination smoke /carbon monoxide alarm devices are available
at many retail outlets; be sure to select an approved device.
MEN
INN
Oak ark Heights Police Files
From the desk of Chief Brian DeRosier
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The police department has been busy during the past few months since the last newsletter with
training and daily calls for service.
The department received a hand -held thermal imaging device and training at no cost to the city
through grant funding from the Federal Government. Officer Zwach attended three days of training
to become certified and return to the department to train all the officers on the department. The de-
vice detects differences in temperature and shows the operator a black and white image through a
video display. This allows the device to be fully functional in daylight and darkness. The device will
be utilized by the department in various ways including evidence recovery, search and rescue events
in a disaster, searches for missing or lost persons, suspect detection, and other benefits to the citi-
zens.
I attended two two -day conferences in Washington DC at no cost to the city, under other Federal
Grants. The Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Justice, Department of
Homeland Security, and FEMA presented valuable information as well as assistance available to the
department if needed.
I have placed a high priority on ensuring our officers are well trained and updated to provide us all
with a professional effective police department, minimizing the city exposure to liability. Our officers
complete re- certifications and training on a regular basis. Some recent training the officers have re-
ceived includes: juvenile criminal justice issues, alcohol intoxilyzer re- certifications, investigative tech-
niques and evidence processing, hands on defensive tactics and subject control, and legal updates.
We have replaced the old shoulder patch worn by our officers. Community and staff input was
sought to develop a patch that branded our department with the city. The previous patch was a ge-
neric patch issued to many departments across the state and country. I felt it was important for our
citizens and officers to have pride and ownership in our department. The patch is being implemented
as officers replace their old shirts. Look for the new patch displaying the city logo of the green oak
leaves as seen at the top of this article.
We have also completed our mandated transition to the 800mhz radio system. This system was
costly, but will provide increased reliability, officer safety, and interoperability. This was a mandated
transition for the city, trickling down from the federal, state, and county government. I have been
able to recover some of the costs to the city through grants from the federal government.
I always encourage you to assist us in providing service to you. Call or email concerns and sugges-
tions.
Boulevard Trees
Each year, the City of Oak Park on the boulevard to keep trees Tree s?
Heights plants trees on the at least ten feet away from
boulevards, either to fill in a spot mailboxes, driveways and utility If you are an Oak
where a tree has died or been boxes, and twenty feet away Park Heights
removed, or to plant a location from other trees. The city plants resident, and
which has not yet had a boule- boulevard trees the end of Au- have a problem
vard tree. Boulevard trees cur- gust and there is no charge to with a tree or
rently being planted on boule- residents for this service. If you shrub, such as an
vards are the following species: have a space on the road front -
American linden, bicolor oak, age of your property, and are disease, or a
red maple, thornless honeylo- interested in having a boule- d have
cust, hackberry, white ash, and, vard tree planted, please con- p 1 a n t i n g
in more restricted locations, flow- tact the Oak Park Heights Ar- questions, or just
ering crabapple or Japanese borist at 439 -4439, Ext. 252, prior want to have a
tree lilac. There must be room to July 10. plant identified,
call Dr. Kathy
_._________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ Wi di n, the OPH
Oak ilt Arborist, at 439
4439 Ett. 2,52.
Do not prune oaks between April 1 and September 15 to avoid creating She can either
wounds which attract the insects that spread the oak wilt fungus (the answer your
cause of a fatal disease of oaks). If oaks are pruned or wounded during question over the
this period (especially those wounded April 1 to July 1, paint the wound phone or make
immediately with either a tree wound dressing, varnish, or latex house
paint. Painting wounds will keep them from being attractive to the insects an appointment
which spread oak wilt. All oak species are susceptible to this disease. If for a site visit.
you have an oak which looks sickly or suddenly wilts from the top down, This service is
contact the Oak Park Heights Arborist at 439 -4439 Ext. 252, for an inspec- paid for by the
tion and management information. The city will remove currently diseased City of Oak Park
red or pin oaks from both public and private property. Heights.
Tree City, USA
For the past 26 years, the City of Oak Park Heights has received the Tree
City, USA award designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation. This °
award requires that a city, each year, have a tree ordinance, a tree board
(the Oak Park Heights Parks Commission), issue an Arbor Day Proclama-
tion, have a ceremonial tree planting, and spend at least $2.00 per resident
on tree - related expenditures: planting, pruning, removal, a forester or ar-
borist, etc.. This award designation shows that the City of Oak Park Heights
has a strong commitment to trees and tree maintenance in this community,
which spans more than a quarter of a century.
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
PO Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 RESERVE A CITY PARK SHELTER!
Phone: 651-439-4439 NO RESERVATION FEE
Fax: 651-439-0574
Police non-emergency: 651-439-4723 Are you thinking about having a get-together or a family reunion? The
Police Emergency: 911 Brekke, Valley View, and Autumn Hills Park shelter buildings can be
reserved free of charge for your event. The Autumn Hills Park Shelter
Office Hours: does require a refundable $100 deposit.
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Brekke Park is located on Omar Avenue south of the former St. Croix
excluding legal holidays Mall. The park has a covered shelter building with restrooms as well as
a tot lot, baseball diamonds, playground equipment, and barbeque
MAYOR grills.
David Beaudet
COUNCILMEMBERS Valley View Park is located on Osgood Avenue at the edge of the city
Les Abrahamson limits. This park has a covered shelter building, picnic areas, play-
Mary McComber grounds and a beautiful passive park area with trails, a prairie restora-
Mike Runk
Mark Swenson tion area and wetlands.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR Autumn Hills Park is located at 5697 Norwich Parkway off of 58th Street
Eric Johnson
adjacent to the Boutwells Landing campus. The park contains mean-
dering trails, trail access parking, and playground equipment. It has a
2,000+ square foot shelter, which includes a covered gathering area
Visit our Website!
with a small kitchen/serving area, men's and women's restrooms, and
a water fountain.
You may use the City's online reservation form to reserve either the
The Oak Park Heights Brekke Park or Valley View Park shelters. You may obtain the Autumn
newsletter Hills Park Shelter reservation documents and information online as well.
is published by the City Or, you may call or visit City Hall anytime to reserve any of the shelters
of Oak Park Heights.
Comments are welcome. for your next event!
651-439-4439
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