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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 - 03 Mar• Footloose Dinner Theater Saturday, April 14, 6-7:30PM Maplewood Community Center • 1st Annual Maplewood/ North St. Paul Joint Parks Clean-up Event Saturday, April 21, 8AM-1PM www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/recreation • Senior Expo Thursday, May 24, 10AM-2PM Maplewood Community Center • God Spell Dinner Theater Friday, August 10, 6-7:30PM Maplewood Community Center 5 Easter Egg Hunt 7 Police Dept. Expansion 8 Code Compliance 10 Spring Clean Up 11 50’s Tribute Show 12 Gateway Corridoor Save The Date Maplewood Monthly 2 Earth Hour 4 Council CornerMONTHL Y Deals New! SAVE On A Great Monthly Deal On pg.3 Thank you to our partners Minnesota’s Leading Travelgoods Specialty Retailer Planning A Trip Outside The USA? Planning travel outside the United States? First, get your U.S. passport at Maplewood City Hall, 1830 East County Road B. We’ll be open on Saturday, March 10, 10:00AM - 3:00PM and you do not need an appointment. You will be able to apply for standard processing (4-6 weeks) or pay an additional $60 for expedited processing (2-3 weeks, door-to-door). Passport Day in the USA also means passport-themed gifts. Each passport customer will receive a complimentary luggage tag and the opportunity to register to win a beautiful luggage tote. If you’ve been waiting to get your passport, this is the time! Call 651.249.2005 for more details. Frequently Asked Questions About Maplewood’s New Trash Plan New trash collection service under the Maplewood Trash Plan will begin on October 1, 2012. The plan includes City-wide residential trash collection for all single-family residents. Trash collection will be carried out by the City’s trash hauling contractor, Allied Waste Services. The Maplewood City Council authorized a five-year contract with Allied Waste Services on November 28, 2011. Since that time the City has received several questions regarding the plan. The responses to the frequently asked questions below represent the City’s best information available at this time. As more information and resident instructions become available, these will be communicated in the newsletter and the Maplewood Trash Plan webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/trash. How much will my trash collection cost under the new plan? Refer to the table for monthly fees for every week trash collection (includes all fees, County and State taxes, and the City’s trash cart fee [estimated at 75 cents per month per household]) Will the price stay the same over the five-year contract? The price could adjust once a year based on inflationary factors including the cost of disposal at the designated resource recovery facility, Consumer Price Index, and the specified price of diesel fuel. - continued on page 9 New Trash Hauling Fees Cart Capacity Price per Month 20 gallon $9.30 32 gallon $10.62 65 gallon $11.91 95 gallon $13.37 For low volume trash generators the plan will also offer a 20 gallon capacity cart with every other week collection at $6.83 per month. Maplewood Seasons Inside! March 2012 City Newsletter Promote Your Business Reach over 22,200 homes, businesses, and apartments with the Official Maplewood City Newsletter. The entire newsletter is featured on the city website. For more information, contact Heidi Carey at 952.212.7333 or heidi.carey@ci.maplewood.mn.us. Thank you to the advertisers who help support this publication! Frequently Called Numbers Maplewood City Hall General Information 651.249.2000 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30PM Deputy Registrar and Passport Hours Monday: 8:00AM - 6:00PM Tuesday - Friday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM Maplewood Community Center Registration 651.249.2230 Customer Service 651.249.2230 Admissions 651.249.2210 Theater/Banquet Room Rental 651.249.2103 Group Information 651.249.2204 Aquatics 651.249.2206 Fitness 651.249.2207 Maplewood Recreation General Information 651.249.2007 Maplewood Nature Center General Information 651.249.2170 Code Enforcement Hotline 651.249.CODE (2633) Online: Go to www.ci.maplewood.mn.us and click on “Report A Violation” on the right-hand side of the home page. Maplewood Public Works General Information 651.249.2400 City of Maplewood Elected Officials Will Rossbach: Mayor 651.484.5427 will.rossbach@ci.maplewood.mn.us Kathleen Juenemann: Councilmember 651.771.3670 kathleen.juenemann@ci.maplewood.mn.us James Llanas: Councilmember 651.488.2745 james.llanas@ci.maplewood.mn.us Robert Cardinal: Councilmember 651.765.8600 bob.cardinal@ci.maplewood.mn.us Marvin Koppen: Councilmember 651.770.5391 marvin.koppen@ci.maplewood.mn.us Jim Antonen: City Manager 651.249.2050 jim.antonen@ci.maplewood.mn.us City of Maplewood 2 March 2012 Maplewood Meeting Schedule Business & Economic Development Commission: 3rd Thursday at 6:00PM City Council: 2nd & 4th Monday - Listening Forum at 6:30PM Meeting at 7:00PM City Council Workshop: 1st Monday at 5:15PM Community Design Review Board: 4th Tuesday at 6:00PM Environmental & Natural Resources Commission: 3rd Monday at 7:00PM Heritage Preservation Commission: 2nd Thursday at 7:00PM Housing Redevelopment Authority: 1st Wednesday at 7:00PM Human Rights Commission: 2nd Tuesday at 7:00PM Parks & Recreation Commission: 2nd Wednesday at 7:00PM Planning Commission: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7:00PM All City Council and Commission meetings are broadcast live on Channel 16 and are rebroadcast on a schedule that is posted at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us.* Any meeting cancellations are posted on the City’s website. *Meetings are also streamed live on the City’s website. Earth Hour 2012 At 8.30PM on Saturday, March 31, 2012, hundreds of millions of people across the globe will switch off the lights of homes and businesses for one hour - Earth Hour. Earth Hour is the world’s largest public environmental action designed to raise awareness about sustainability issues. Earth Hour encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to show leadership on environmental solutions through their actions. Earth Hour serves as a platform to showcase to the world what measures you are taking to reduce your environmental impact. Earth Hour asks everyone to take personal accountability for their impact on the planet and make behavioral changes to facilitate a sustainable lifestyle. Carol Mason Sherrill, Maplewood Environmental and Natural Resources Commissioner, states that “the first step to a more sustainable lifestyle is as easy as turning off your lights. By switching off your lights for Earth Hour you are acknowledging and celebrating your commitment to do something more for the planet that goes beyond the hour.” Find out how you can get involved by visiting www.earthhour.org. FREE Solar Assessment 800-620-3370 • info@allenergysolar.com www.allenergysolar.com Min 3kW - offer good through 3/310/2012 Get It Before It’s Gone 60% XCEl REBATE & 30% TAX CREDiT! Call Now for an additiona l $1,500 OFF! MO N THL Y MO N THL Y Deals Deals Call 1-866-222-4595 today to receive $40 off a Premium Home Energy Squad visit. Mention MMAR40.* *Offer ends April 15, 2012. 651-578-0676 www.oak-meadows.org Schedule a visit with Kim and receive a special gift! (651) 774-9558 Your Electronic Filing Specialists! Individual, Small Business & Corporate $10 .00 Off! New Customers Only Exp. 4/15/12. Must present ad to redeem discount. millertax@integra.net 1696 White Bear Ave N, Maplewood Join A Maplewood Commission And Make A Difference in Your Community The City of Maplewood is now accepting applications to fill 12 openings; one (1) on the Business & Economic Development Commission; one (1) on the Community Design Review Board, two (2) on the Heritage Preservation Commission, three (3) on the Human Rights Commission, two (2) on the Parks & Recreation Commission and three (3) on the Planning Commission. These openings are due to terms expiring at the end of April and some commissioners resigning. The City Council will interview candidates that apply and will appoint individuals to fill these openings. More information on the commission can be found on the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or by calling City Hall at 651.249.2000. Applications can be picked up at the City Hall front desk or found online on the City’s website. The application deadline is March 16, 2012. Completed applications should be submitted to the City Manager’s office at 1830 County Road B E, Maplewood, MN 55109. Get Noticed. To advertise your business in this section contact Heidi Carey at heidi.carey@ci.maplewood.mn.us or 952-212-7333. free $25.00 Olive Garden Gift Card When You Set Up An estimate for Siding, Roofing, or Windows. 763-493-5500 Expires 3/31/12. Must own your home and mention this offer when you call to schedule your appointment. Serving MN for 65+ YeArS! www.minnesotaexteriors.com A+ rated MN Lic # BC002877 Council Cor n e r City of Maplewood 4 March 2012 Maplewood At The Crossroads By Councilmember Bob Cardinal Speaking of change; the city of Maplewood employee count is 180 good workers today. Exactly 1 out of 4, one-fourth, one quarter, 25% of this number is 45 Stars- which have served the City of Maplewood for over 15 years each. This makes me happy. For a city and a family to be healthy, its members must exercise their given gifts. The city council and mayor’s job is to serve the citizens. Service is to be alert to people’s needs. The city council should take action and be about citizen’s needs, not to be about their own agenda. One of the city council’s legacies when I was mayor from 1999 – 2005, was Legacy Village; a total mix of housing for thousands of new residents to Maplewood, increasing our city population several thousand in number. The legacy of the prior city council ending in December 2011 was making trash collection in Maplewood a one company monopoly, voted on and action taken after the election on November 8, 2011, when the makeup of the new city council changed for the 2012 city council. This action deserved a grade of “F” for fail- ure in leadership in Maplewood. That spells a total lack of leadership for the city of Maplewood in 2011. Now, this year, 2012, we will have a new level of leadership. Yes, that means we can only go up. Questions yet to be answered: • Compare Maplewood with North St. Paul rates. $5.00 seems like a big difference. Two very comparable cities, why are the projected rates in Maplewood so much cheaper? • The council never had a true study. They only compared open system to one hauler. They never compared it to zoning or other options. • The city council only compared haulers rates in 2011 to first year’s proposed contract rates, not the last year of contracts rates. • The council won an award in June 2011 for going organized. How could it not be premeditated? These behaviors go beyond the rational. Logic would dictate that a different path be taken. People want good, clean, safe, healthy environments. That should be our civic pride in Maplewood. We can seek understanding of the history of Maplewood and the people who contributed to it. We can ask them to tell about it, as the people usually will do this. It is on this historical foundation that Maplewood will build our future. Part of respecting history is spending time in it. We can make a special effort to find out what has gone on in the past. Reading reports and files tells us how Maplewood has operated, added to face-to-face contact with the people who made Maplewood history. When we learn the culture we also learn what has made Maplewood what it is today. The future is built upon the past. The chances are that the resources that move Maplewood forward will be largely drawn from the same resources that brought it to where it is today. Maybe the resources will be supplemented, maybe they will be used differently, but most of what is needed to move Maplewood forward is in Maplewood right now. Our challenge is to help our citizens to find it, transform it, align it, or even create it out of what we find. What can we do and what should we not be doing? One of the main reasons efforts to change large systems falter is because most people did not know what they were signing up for when they began. We have to learn more about what really happens when we try to change citizen’s lives. We must let go of our naïve assumptions and our need for immediate action. This is not an argument against their restructuring. But there must be very compelling reasons for a change of this magnitude to justify such a consuming effort. We need to help our staff understand the immensity of their undertakings before they commit to them. Do not read this as an argument against change. Quite the opposite. It is an argument for knowing the truth about change. A change with a large time and resource perspective will probably help residents accept the inevitable obstacles as givens rather than as tests of will and patience. What is working in Maplewood, what is not working in Maplewood, and what can we do about it? This will require increasing transparency in Maplewood which will: • Enhance accountability • Increase citizen involvement in government • Raise performance • Boost government credibility and • Reduce corruption. Future – how to get there? If something is on the drawing board – it is already obsolete. Tuesday-morning quarterbacking is even more tempting in cities than it is in football. We can avoid assigning blame and instead can attempt to understand, so that we can help Maplewood move into the future. Offering residents a broad range of perspectives better enables them to discern the truth. We still have very much to learn, especially in devising suitable ways of collaborating more generously and effectively with other cities, school districts, counties, and the State of Minnesota and Federal levels of government. My wish for all of Maplewood this year of 2012 is that: You will be happy at home. The highest office in the land is a citizen. The Council Corner is a space that is rotated monthly between the Mayor and Council members. Editorial views expressed are those of the author and may not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinons of the City of Maplewood. The Council Corner is a space that is rotated monthly between the Mayor and Council members. Editorial views expressed are those of the author and may not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinons of the City of Maplewood.City News Community Garden Plots At Edgerton Community gardens were popular in 2011, with hundreds of people renting plots in Maplewood. This year, residents wishing to rent garden space have several options to choose from in Maplewood. The City offers garden plots at Edgerton Park (at Roselawn and Edgerton). Plots are 12’x15’ and there is a $25 plot fee for the season. The garden is open April 27 - October 15, 2012. To register for a plot, call 651.249.2120 or visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/communitygarden. Returning gardeners may reserve their spots now; gardeners new to the site may register beginning March 5th. Additional community garden sites with plots to rent in Maplewood: School District 622 Community Education rents out garden plots at Cowern Elementary School and has one large plot that people will tend together at Carver Elementary School (www.isd622.org/communityeducation). First Evangelical Free Church manages a large garden at County Road C and Hazelwood (www.harvestgardens.org). Watch for gardening classes in the April edition of the Parks and Recreation brochure. City of Maplewood 5 March 2012 Easter Eggstravaganza SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 10:00AM Pre-Hunt Activities 10:00AM Egg Hunt 11:00AM at Edgerton Community Gym 1929 Edgerton Street in Maplewood Experience the best egg hunt around! The City of Maplewood is teaming up with Perkins Restaurant to offer an assortment of delicious pastries. After you enjoy a delicious breakfast, visit the famous Easter Bunny and hunt for colorful eggs on the grounds outside at Edgerton Gym. Children will be divided into two age groups and will be hunting for wrapped candy and plastic eggs, some which may be redeemed for great prizes (including Perkins gift certificates!) Bags of goodies will be available for children under 2 years of age. Don’t forget your camera! Cost is $5.00 per child. Register today online at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or by calling 651.249.2230 and join the fun. Thank you to our partner On The Police Scanner In January, the Maplewood Police Department responded to 1,972 calls for service. 19 Assault Cases 2 Robbery Case 28 Burglary Cases 137 Theft Cases 13 Auto Theft Cases 36 Theft from Vehicle Cases 30 Criminal Damage to Property Cases Officers also made 40 arrests for shoplifting and 14 arrests for DWI. ENJOY A CATERED DINNER FOLLOWED BY A MAGICAL THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE! TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.ASHLANDPRODUCTIONS.COM BEGINNING MARCH 1 2100 WHITE BEAR AVE • MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109 • 651.249.2230 SATURDAY, APRIL 14 • DINNER 6:00PM • SHOW 7:30PMDINNER THEATERPresented By Ashland Productions T TDaddy Daughter DanceDaddy Daughter Dance wwFriday, April 13, 6:30 - 8:00PM at the Maplewood Community Center $25/couple • $7 each additional child MCC & NSP members: $20/couple • $5 each additional child (651) 249.2230 Girls ages 5-12 City of Maplewood 6 March 2012 City News 2012 Street improvement Projects The City of Maplewood’s Public Works Department is in charge of maintaining the public infrastructure which includes the streets, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer within the public right-of-way throughout the City. As this public infrastructure ages, it gets to a point where basic maintenance is no longer cost-effective and more intensive repairs or replacement is necessary. These more intensive projects are typically completed as public improvement projects. Each year the City prepares a 5 year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that is adopted by the City Council in order to prioritize these prospective projects for the coming years. The CIP serves as a planning document for future projects and their proposed funding sources. The Maplewood Public Works Department is proposing the following two public improvement projects for 2012: Bartelmy- Meyer Area Street Improvements, City Project 11-14 The streets and utilities included in the Bartelmy-Meyer Area have deteriorated to the point that a full reconstruction project is necessary. The streets in this neighborhood contain significant cracking, settlements, patching, and potholes that are not effectively repaired with basic maintenance. The utilities in this neighborhood, such as the water main and storm sewer system, are in need of total replacement. During neighborhood meetings held with area residents concerns were also raised about vehicle speeding, flooding issues, pedestrian safety, and the need for an update to Gethsemane Park Playground. The streets included in the Bartelmy-Meyer Area Street Improvement Project include: • Bartelmy Lane – (Stillwater Road to Minnehaha Avenue) • Brand Street – (Bartelmy Lane to End) • Mary Street – (Minnehaha Avenue to Bartelmy Lane) • Meyer Street – (Minnehaha Avenue to 7th Street) • 7th Street – (Sterling Street to End) • Sterling Street – (Mary Street to 7th Street) The water main and storm sewer are proposed to be replaced throughout the project area. Repairs are also proposed to the sanitary sewer mainline and services in select areas. The streets in the project area are proposed to be fully reconstructed including the replacement of sub-grade materials, new concrete curb, and new asphalt pavement. The playground at Gethsemane Park is proposed to be updated as well. The City has the opportunity to partner with the Ramsey- Washington Metro Watershed District on this project as part of a unique one-time grant opportunity utilizing “Living Streets” concepts. The proposed design incorporates narrower streets, boulevard rain gardens, sidewalks along one side of all neighborhood streets, and additional tree installations to improve water quality, pedestrian safety, reduce traffic speeds, and to enhance the urban forest. This project begins in May 2012 and will be completed in the fall of 2012. 2012 Mill and Overlays, City Project 11-15 The streets included in the 2012 Mill and Overlay project have surfaces that have deteriorated to the point at which patching is no longer cost-effective. These streets contain a great deal of surface cracking, potholes, and patching that present a decreased level of service for the residents of Maplewood and an ongoing maintenance problem for the City’s Street Department. The streets included in the 2012 Mill and overlay project include: • Conway Avenue – (McKnight Road to Century Avenue) • Highwood Avenue – (McKnight Road to Farrell Street) • Linwood Avenue – (McKnight Road to Century Avenue) • Maryland Avenue – (McKnight Road to Lakewood Drive) • Roselawn Avenue – (Rice Street to Trunk Highway 61) • Stillwater Avenue – (McKnight Road to Lakewood Drive) • Southlawn Drive – (Beam Avenue to Legacy Parkway) The project streets are proposed to have the top 2” of bituminous pavement milled and replaced with a new 2” smooth bituminous surface. Other repairs associated with this project include the replacement of broken concrete curb and gutter, the replacement of all bituminous curbing, the updating of pedestrian ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, the installation of dynamic speed display signs on select streets, and the replacement of old sanitary sewer castings. This project begins in May 2012 and will be completed in the fall of 2012. Proposed Condition City of Maplewood 7 March 2012 City News Council To Consider Expanding Police Department One of the City Council’s goals for 2011 was to consider the facilities and building/office needs for our Police and Fire Public Safety Departments. The City Council authorized preparation of a study of space needs within the Police Department by architect, Larry Koch, of SEH, Inc. A copy of the report and summary of the findings along with options for expanding the Police Department are available on the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us under the Police Department section of the webpage. The SEH representatives spent a significant amount of time reviewing Police operations and conducted a survey of personnel regarding the needs of the various Police functions. [Please note: this was a study of the needs for space for our police department. We do not expect any major expansion in personnel or service provision for Police in the next 10-15 years.] In summary, the study determined that no new space has been provided to our City’s Police Department since construction of our original City Hall in 1985-86, even though Department needs and size have expanded in some areas by more than 200% in the 25+ years since the last improvements to address the department needs. Some specific findings were the lack of adequate locker room space for our uniformed officers as well as the placing of as many as six officers into an office area designed for one officer. In general, the finding of the study was that our Police Department has only 45% of the space needed for professional operations. The report shows that building a new facility for our Police Department would cost between $13.8 and $16.5 million. The Council decided to not explore the new facility option further, but to explore options that would use existing spaces within other areas of City Hall that might require relocation of some other department functions to other areas on the City Hall campus. The Council held a work session on February 6, 2012 to review options and to expand on the impact to City Hall with new information on an option that uses existing space to provide for a significant relocation of one police function into the current space occupied by the Community Development staff. The Council discussed a staff recommendation to address a portion of the needs beginning in late 2012 and to defer 25-40% of the total expansion needs for 5-7 years. The staff proposal is to address Police Chief Dave Thomalla’s highest priority of providing additional space for locker rooms as priority #1a and office space as priority #1b. The staff proposal may delay the addition of the expanded parking area, and would defer over $3.3 million from the overall project. The Management staff noted that while those additions are part of the best long-term plan to meet our Police Department needs, and should be included in building planning, the Council goal of financial sustainability require prioritization and delay of specific needs. The current recommended plan from the management staff includes a phased approach, which would include an expenditure of approximately $4.0 million in 2012 - 14; with the next phase of approximately $3.5 million in post 2016-18. The Council’s top goal for 2011-12 was financial sustainability, so planning for this $4.0 million expense has been incorporated into the long-range planning. The Council approved staff to prepare consideration of the $4.0 million expenditure in 2012 to 2014 with the provision that no major tax increase could result from the project. The financial budget approved in 2011 will help address these needs, as operation costs have been reduced to set aside $200,000 annually for the payment toward a $4.0 million bond. The current plan would require an additional $175,000 per year for 15 years to pay that type of debt. Staff will continue to explore further operational reductions in city-wide expenses to keep any proposed debt from this bond sale below a 1.0% tax increase. This type of bonding is called a CIP Bond, which can be issued by the Council for various types of public facility improvements, such as City Hall, Fire Stations, Police Stations, or Public Works Buildings. These types of CIP Bonds can be issued without a referendum if certain conditions are followed, including that the Council must hold a Public Hearing on the proposed improvement project. [Note: the Council has not decided on this approach and has not called for a Public Hearing.] This proposal, if approved by the Council, would be to issue $4.0 million in CIP Bonds and offset the cost of payment for those bonds by reductions in existing expenses to limit any tax increase to less than 1.0% for property owners. For more information on this proposal, please contact Police Chief Dave Thomalla at david.thomalla@ci.maplewood.mn.us or Assistant City Manager Chuck Ahl at chuck.ahl@ci.maplewood.mn.us. (651) 748-9009 WWW.MAPLEWOODHISTORICALSOCIETY.ORG 1 st City of Maplewood 8 March 2012 City News Code Compliance in Maplewood The City of Maplewood has numerous rules and regulations that protect property owners and neighborhoods, which are called the City Code of Ordinances, or “Code”, for short. When someone calls with a nuisance code complaint, our City staff usually ask if they’ve discussed the problem with the complainant. City staff encourages residents to try resolving the issue themselves before getting the City involved. However, if you need assistance from the City, a complaint can be filed at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/codeviolation or phone 651.249.Code (2633). It’s important for you to note that the City is obligated by Minnesota State Law not to disclose the name of the person who made the complaint. In addition, please note that the City does not investigate anonymous complaints. The different types of complaints the City receives are shown in the following chart. In addition, the chart demonstrates the proportion of these complaints to each other in 2011. Compliance The City’s preference is for the resident to comply voluntarily. Most violations are quickly remedied in 7 to 10 days. Violations that may require more time and/or effort are given a bigger window of time to come into compliance. Once a compliance order is issued the property owner may contact the inspector for further information regarding the City Code, the enforcement process or to seek an extension on the compliance date. If the alleged violator admits the violation(s) and requests extended time for compliance, it may be granted if circumstances warrant and/or if a “good faith” effort has been made to correct the violation(s). The ideal outcome is to attain compliance within the requested time. Occasionally, a second notification letter is necessary to encourage compliance. Infrequently, after all attempts to obtain compliance are exhausted, a citation will be issued and then the case is turned over to the City Attorney for prosecution through the court system. If a citation is written, the resident must schedule a date in Ramsey County Court at which time the matter is heard by a judge. The judge determines if a fine must be paid and how/when the matter will be resolved. The fine may not exceed $300. The City only utilizes the courts as a last resort since the primary goal of code enforcement is voluntary compliance, not punishment. Abatements A common domino effect of foreclosures is as follows: Homeowners move out of the house during a foreclosure process often leaving trash and debris at the property along with uncut grass which quickly reaches long grass status of 8-inches in height. Upon receipt of a report of long grass, an inspector from the City’s Community Devel- opment Department will inspect the property to see if it is in violation of city code. If a code violation exists, code enforcement will post a letter on the property and mail a letter to the property owner stating that they must bring their property into compliance within 7-days, at which time a follow-up inspection is performed. If the property remains in violation, the inspector will have the City’s Public Works Department mow the lawn, for which the city will bill the property owner. Unpaid bills will be assessed against the property. Code enforcement has been a team effort for the City of Maplewood. The Health Officer, the Building Inspectors, the City Planners, the Police Department, Fire Department and the Public Works Department work together to enforce the City Code. Number of Abatements Number of Citations Issued City of Maplewood 9 March 2012 City News - Trash Plan Continued From Cover How do I order trash service? This spring the City will send a survey to all eligible residents requesting that you order your preferred trash collection service level, yard waste subscription, and specify other special needs such as walk-up service requests for elderly or if you have physical limitations. If a resident fails to submit the survey, the City will provide a 95 gallon cart as the initial default level of service. The City is conducting the initial cart survey as part of the cart purchasing, so all questions should be directed to the City. Who is included in the trash plan? All single-family residential properties (properties with one to four units) will be included in the trash plan. Who is excluded from the trash plan? All townhome and manufactured home developments that currently have trash collection contracts are initially excluded. But these developments can opt into the plan. Information on opting into the plan will be sent to eligible townhome and manufactured home developments in the spring. Who will do the billing for trash collection? Allied Waste Services will send bills to residents once every two months beginning in October. Can I have a different trash hauler other than Allied Waste Services pick up my trash? No, as part of an organized trash collection system all residents in single-family homes must have their trash collected by Allied Waste Services as specified in the City’s trash collection contract. No other trash haulers will be licensed to pick up single-family residential trash after October 1, 2012. What if I have a contract with my current trash hauler that extends beyond October 1? All licensed residential trash haulers in the City of Maplewood have been notified that they must not enter into a contract which extends beyond October 1, 2012. If you have a contract which extends beyond that date, contact your trash hauler and request reimbursement for any service pre-paid beyond October 1. Contact the City for more information or assistance. Because of my physical limitations, my current trash hauler picks up my trash cart from the side of my garage. Will the new plan offer this service? Elderly residents or those with physical limitations can apply for walk-up collection service. This information will be included in the above-mentioned survey. Can I opt out of the plan? Minnesota Statutes 115A.941, subdivision (b), states that a city may exempt a residential household from the requirement to have solid waste collection service if the household ensures that an environmentally sound alternative is used. The Maplewood City Council will be reviewing standards and procedures of this opt out option during their review of the City’s solid waste management ordinance this spring. Will Tennis Recycling continue to pick up my recycling? Yes, Tennis Recycling will continue to pick up recycling at all residential properties in Maplewood. Will I continue to be billed for recycling on my water bill? Yes, your recycling fee of $2.22 per month will continue to be billed on your water bill. What size cart is included in the yard waste subscription? The subscription yard waste service will cost $79.50 per year and will include a 95 or 65 gallon cart which will be supplied by Allied Waste Services. The service will run April through November each year. For 2012, the yard waste subscription rate will be prorated and the fee will be $19.80 for the months of October and November. What if I only have occasional yard waste to be picked up? For one-time pick up of yard waste you would contact Allied Waste Services in advance (once the new trash service begins on October 1). Allied will charge $3.50 per compostable bag of yard waste picked up for the one-time service. Will the City continue to offer Clean Up Events? In 2012 the City will hold a Spring Clean-Up event scheduled for Saturday, April 21 from 8:00AM - 1:00PM at Aldrich Arena (see Spring Clean-Up article on page 10). The Fall Clean-Up event is under review. Residents will receive more details on the Fall Clean-Up in the coming months. Additional Information? Visit the Maplewood Trash Plan webpage at www.ci.maplewood. mn.us/trash or contact Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner at 651.249.2304 or shann.finwall@ci.maplewood.mn.us. Number of Abatements Number of Citations Issued City of Maplewood 10 March 2012 City News Spring Clean Up And Home improvement & Design Expo SATURDAY, APRIL 21 8:00AM - 1:00PM (Spring Clean Up) 10:00AM - 5:00PM (Home Imp. & Design Expo) Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Ave. Attention Maplewood residents - help Maplewood clean house by participating in the annual Spring Clean-Up event held at Aldrich Arena parking lot. When you’re done cleaning up, get a head start on your next home improvement project by attending the Home Im- provement and Design Expo in the Aldrich Arena building. All Spring Clean-Up participants will receive a FREE ticket to the Home Expo! During the Spring Clean-Up event residents will be able to dispose of appliances, tires, construction debris, furniture, car parts, scrap metal, other assorted junk, and all electronic equipment such as televisions, computers, monitors and cell phones. No yard waste will be accepted. Yard waste can be brought to one of four Ramsey County compost sites. For compost site information visit www. ramseyatoz.com or call 651.633.EASY (24/7). Following is a list of materials accepted at the Spring-Clean Up event and the cost of disposing of those materials: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE- NO CHARGE www.ramseyatoz.com or 651.633.EASY (24/7) In conjunction with Maplewood’s Spring Clean-Up event, Ramsey County will be collecting household hazardous waste including oil, antifreeze, paint, fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, and other hazardous waste items. FURNITURE COLLECTION BY BRIDGING- NO CHARGE www.bridging.org A non-profit organization called Bridging will be on site to collect reusable furniture and house wares which will be redistributed free of charge to families in need. Bridging accepts mattresses and box springs in good condition, quality used furniture, and cookware. Bridging asks that all donations be free of rips, stains, pet hair, and be in good working condition. MATTRESS COLLECTION BY PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING- NO CHARGE www.pplindustries.org Project for Pride In Living is a non-profit organization that recycles mattresses, box springs, sleeper sofas, futons and water beds that are not reusable, and would not be taken by Bridging. RECYCLE THAT BICYCLE- NO CHARGE www.re-cycle.com Bicycles in any condition will be collected once again by Re-Cycle, a used bicycle shop. Many of the bicycles will be restored and returned to the road for reuse. BRO-TEx CARPET RECYCLING - NO CHARGE www.brotex.com/carpetrecycling Keep your old carpet out of the waste stream by recycling it with Bro-Tex. Bro-Tex recycles the materials from the carpet for use in new carpet, plastic resin for making plastic parts, plastic drainage pipe, new carpet pad, acoustic matting, sorbent material for water pollutants or as an energy substitute for natural gas and coal. Carpet must be dry, maximum of six-foot wide carpet rolls, tied with string or twine, padding separated from carpet accepted as well. FOOD DRIVE FOR SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND FOOD BANk www.2harvest.org In conjunction with this event, Maplewood will be sponsoring a food drive for the Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank. You can also drop off your food donation at the door as you enter the Home Improvement and Design Expo. For more information visit the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/recycling or contact Shann Finwall, at 651.249.2304 or shann.finwall@ci.maplewood.m.us. COLLECTION FEES (CASH OR CHECk ONLY) TYPE OF LOAD E-WASTE Cars and Truck Load $10 Televisions $5 each SUV/Van/Truck $15 Computer/Monitor Additional Trailer $20 Printers DVD/VCR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Car tires on or off rims $5 Appliances $15 SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 10:00AM - 5:00PM ALDRICH ARENA fREE to All Spring Clean-Up Participants! Explore up to 100 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services for starting your home improvement project. Talk with the experts and get free tips and ideas. Meet builders, remodelers, landscapers, designers and other home improvement professionals. Plus view on-going speakers, presentations, demonstrations and entertainment. City of Maplewood 11 March 2012 City News 2100 White Bear Avenue • Maplewood, MN 55109 Purchase Tickets Today at www.ashlandproductions.ORG Join The Cast Of at our SHOW After Party for a totally radical 80’s prom! Prom ONLY Tickets: $12/Advance • $15/Door PROM & SHOW COMBO DISCOUNT TICKETS ALSO AVAIALBLE PRESENTED BY ASHLAND PRODUCTIONS AprIL 28 • 10:00PM (FOLLOWING FOOTLOOSE PERFORMANCE) 80’s PROM A Footloose After Party! Maplewood Area Historical Society and Ramsey County Libraries Present: TueSdAyMARCH 20 7:00- 9:00PMAt the Maplewood Library3025 Southlawn drive “Life at the Ramsey County Poor Farm”A Talk By Pete Boulay Free Admission! Learn how ramsey County cared for its citizens in the early years when they were too sick or poor to provide for themselves – including their burial in an unmarked cemetery. see photos from the late 1800 to early 1900’s and stories of senior care before social security and nursing homes. (651) 748-9009 www.Maplewoodhistoricalsociety.org This project was funded in part with money from the vote of the people of mn on nov. 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve minnesota’s art and cultural heritage Back To The Fifties Tribute Show FRIDAY, MARCH 16 AT 7:00PM Come on down to the Maplewood Community Center located at 2100 White Bear Avenue for a nostalgic trip down memory lane at this 1950’s Tribute Performance. Hear all the great voices of the past in one great night of music! The first set will include a musical remembrance of Buddy Holly as well as a tribute to Bobby Vee and Roy Orbison. The second set will play host to additional singing stars of the ‘50s and ‘60s including Patsy Kline and Paul Anka. Also enjoy the music stylings of Gene Pitney whose hits include, “Town without Pity,” “Only Love Can Break A Heart,” and “Liberty Valence.” An Everly Brothers tribute will round out the act with hits such as, “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake up Little Suzie,” “Cathy’s Clown,” “Dream,” and “Claudette.” Led by one of the original members of The Shadows – the group that played in Fargo-Moorhead for Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens after their plane went down following the rocker’s previous night’s show in Clear Lake, Iowa – this performance is generally regarded as the #1 tribute show in the nation, according to fans and critics who have seen the show. The Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre is a first class venue for concerts and performing arts of all kinds. Located in the East Metro area, the Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre is the Twin City’s best kept secret. This beautifully intimate theater seats up to 276 guests for concerts, theatrical productions, and more. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this phenomenal show live! Tickets are priced at $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door. Call 651.249.2230 or visit www.maplewoodarts.com to purchase your tickets today. MAPLEWOOD ARTS Theatre performing City of Maplewood 1830 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55109 Phone: 651.249.2000 www.ci.maplewood.mn.us PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #32324 Twin Cities, MN********ECRWSS** RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER Upon request, this newsletter will be made available in an alternate format.Printed on 10% post consumer product. PEDAL TO THE METAL SOME PEOPLE BURN RUBBER TO GET ATTENTION. WE LOWER AUTO LOAN RATES. 2.99% MODEL YEARS 2009 & NEWER l NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS (651) 225-2700 l 1 800 223-2801 Interest rate may vary by model year, term of loan, credit worthiness and amount financed. Rate effective 2.13.12 and is subject to change. Interest will accrue for the first 90 days without payment. offer only available on new loans to CCCU. RAtes As low As APR CCCU COM APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Interest rate may vary by model year, term of loan, credit worthiness and amount financed. Rate effective 11.1.11 and is subject to change. Interest will accrue for the first 90 days without payment offer only available on new loans to CCCU. SOME PEOPLE BURN RUBBER TO GET ATTENTION, WE LOWER AUTO LOAN RATES. PEDAL TO THE METAL 2.99%APR ’5 YEAR TERM ’MODEL YEARS 2008 & NEWER ’NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS! APPLY TODAY! RATES NOW AS LOW AS cccu.com SHLANDPRODUCTIONS Performance for a Lifetime www.ashlandproductions.org 651-274-8020 Ashland Collaborative Theater April 13th through the 29th Purchase tickets online starting February 27th. The Musical Gateway Corridor Open House Learn about the bus and rail transit options and routes being studied along the Gateway Corridor (1-94 between Minneapolis, St Paul, and Eau Claire, WI). Information will be presented on how many people are expected to ride the line and a comparison of the costs to build, operate and maintain each option. Get your questions answered and share your ideas and opinions about the transit options and routes under consideration. For additional information about the public open houses and the Gateway Transit Alternatives Analysis study, visit www.thegatewaycorridor.com or contact the Gateway Corridor Project Team at gatewaycorridor@co.washington.mn.us or 651.430.4300. To request an ASL or language interpreter, contact the Gateway Corridor Project Team no later than Friday, March 23. All facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES March 27, 6-8PM Eastside Community Center (presentation at 6:30PM) Harding High School 1526 6th St. East, St. Paul March 29, 5-7PM Chippewa Valley Technical College (presentation at 5:30PM) Health Education Center Room 118 615 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI April 4, 5-7PM St. Croix Government Center (presentation at 5:30PM) Lower Level (enter by Sheriff’s Office) 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI April 5, 5-7PM Woodbury City Hall (presentation at 5:30PM) Ash/Birch Room, Main Floor 8301 Valley Creek Road, Woodbury