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Home My WebLink About2013 - 10 OctCity Council Sets Tax Levy For 2014 The Maplewood City Council has set the maximum tax levy for 2014 at a 2.0% increase. This is the maximum amount that taxes can be increased, although a final decision on the budget and levy will not be made until after a Public Hearing is held at the regular council meeting beginning at 7:00 pm on Monday, December 9, 2013. The Council spent numerous hours at various meetings through May to August reviewing proposals for future programs and service levels, as well as hearing from Department Heads and the City Manager about proposed Capital projects that are planned for 2014 through 2018. The 2.0% increase is projected by Ramsey County to not increase the typical home’s City taxes due to a shift in overall tax rates between business, multi-family and single-family residential property classes. For homes with a value decrease of 2.3% from 2013 to 2014, which is the median amount, a typical home with a value near $100,000 in 2013 will likely see a 2.6 % [$10] annual decrease in City taxes, while a typical home with a value near $350,000 in 2013 will likely see a 1.6% [$28] annual decrease in City taxes. Highway 36 & English Street Improvements - Watch For Future Articles Living City’s Official NEWSLETTER 2 Commission Openings Apply Today! There is currently a vacancy on the Environmental & Natural Resource Commission and on the Planning Commission. The City Council will interview candidates and appoint individuals to fill these openings. For more details or to download an application, visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or call City Hall at 651.249.2000. The application deadline is October 11, 2013. In This Issue 3 Domestic Violence Awareness Month 5 Fall Clean Up Campaign 6 3M To Undergo Major Expansion 7 Business Highlights Next month: How the project benefits the community and what role the City played in getting the project done. Maplewood October 2013 - continued on page 4 Frequently Called Numbers City Hall 651.249.2000 Maplewood Community Center 651.249.2230 Recreation 651.249.2120 Public Works 651.249.2400 Police Non-Emergency 651.767.0640 Visit the city website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us for the meeting schedule of the City Council, Commissions and Boards. 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 Rebecca Cave: Councilmember ..............................651.773.7059 rebecca.cave@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 Chuck Ahl: City Manager ..........................................651.249.2050 chuck.ahl@ci.maplewood.mn.us Warm, Caring, and Confident Staff 2000 White Bear Ave • Maplewood • www.co.ramsey.mn.us/nh RAMSEY COUNTY CARE CENTER Rehabilitation Long Term Care Transitional Care (651) 356-5920 MaplewoodLiving 2 / October 2013 The City of Maplewood has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget from the Govenment Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of govemmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as: • a policy document • a financial plan • an operations guide • a communications device Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award. A Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. This has been presented to Gayle Bauman, Finance Manager. Mayor Will Rossbach presents award to Maplewood finance department (pictured left to right: Mayor Rossbach, Joe Rueb, Connie Kelsey, Gayle Bauman, Judy Debilzan, Mary Jackson, Andrea Sindt, Carole Anderson Finance Department Receives Distinguished Award Winter is Coming. Get settled into your new apartment at Oak Meadows before the snow flies. (651) 578-0676 www.oak-meadows.org 8131 Fourth St. N, Oakdale October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Each year Maplewood Police Officers respond to more than 500 domestic and family violence related calls for service. The department, in conjunction with community partners in advocacy and prosecution, is giving renewed attention to domestic violence response protocols. Domestic violence is a chronically underreported crime. It affects people in all socioeconomic statuses. In the United States one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Nationally, the cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion, with the majority of those costs directly associated with medical and mental health services. Domestic violence has a profound effect on victims and child witnesses. Research also shows that boys who witness domestic violence at twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults. The Maplewood Police Department employs a zero tolerance response approach to domestic violence. It is the goal of the department to work with our partners in advocacy and criminal prosecution to keep victims safe and hold batters accountable. Domestic violence is a complex crime that can be very difficult for victims to escape. As a department and as a community we must do all we can to send a strong and clear message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. All of us can play a role in working to prevent and stop this very serious and compelling community problem. Some ways we can make a difference: • If you suspect someone is being abused, gently ask if you can connect them to safe community resources. • Encourage boys to be more nurturing and girls to be strong. Help children develop knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that lead to healthy relationships. • Approach domestic violence as a human rights issue by involving men and women of all backgrounds. Support men to become empowered bystanders who can help confront abusive peers. • Support workplace, school, and community environments safe from all forms of violence and learn about resources that prevent violence and supports victims. While the month of October is the time we work to increase awareness about domestic violence, we remind those members of our community who may live in fear that help is available anytime. The City of Maplewood Police Department and our partners at Tubman Center are available to help. Tubman 612.825.0000 or www.tubman.org National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.7233 Maplewood Police Department Urgent: 911 Non-Emergency: 651.767.0640 Family Crisis & Support Services COUNTLESS WAYS TO HELP. Tubman is proud to partner with the schools, police and citizens of Maplewood. Tubman is here for you and your family. Safe shelter, legal services, mental and chemical health counseling, youth programming, elder care resources and community education are just a few of the ways we can help. Get Help 612.825.0000 www.tubman.org Give Help 612.825.3333 October 2013 / 3 Distinguished Award continued from cover... City Council Sets Tax Levy For 2014 Home market values do not increase or decrease by the same percentage for all properties. Therefore, the estimated city tax amount may be higher for some, particularly if there have been improvements that add value. Similarly, a larger decrease in value could cause a larger decrease in taxes. The proposed budget provides for an additional non-sworn Police Department employee to provide support for crime studies and evidence handling. Additionally, personnel are proposed to be added to the Fire Department late in 2014 when the new Fire Station on the 3M Campus is expected to be opened to enhance Fire service to the southern portion of the City. Experts testified to the Council that attempting to maintain service at the existing stations in the southern portion of the City would cost in excess of $1.0 million and would not provide an improvement in reliable response times. The professional staff informed the Council that the new station will provide at least equal, if not better response times, than using the current station and will be substantially more reliable due to the stationing of permanent personnel in the new station; plus it is nearly $1.0 million per year more efficient. The Council also approved a proposal to add a new Police Substa- tion with officers and squad cars to be housed within the new Fire Station on the campus. Police Chief Paul Schnell believes this addi- tional Southern Substation will help enhance service deliver for the southern portion of the City. The Council will continue to hear from City Department Heads about advancing street improvement projects in the Lakewood/Sterling area of the City, as well as, proposals to add funds to the repair of equipment and facilities within our Parks system. Finally, the Council will debate the use of the 2.0% increase during the fall, prior to the budget hearing for additional Park Improvements as well as investing in the expansion of economic development efforts for businesses within our community. The Council was informed that they would receive Local Government Aid [LGA] from the state of Minnesota as part of the 2013 Legislative action in the amount of $530,000. This is the first LGA that Maplewood has received since 2002. This aid allowed the Council to defer a planned tax increase that would have been necessary for bonding done in 2012 and 2013 for various street improvements and public building expan- sions. The Legislature also changed the sales tax rules to allow the City to purchase various items tax-free. This is a major change to operations and City Finance Director Gayle Bauman estimates that it will save City taxpayers nearly $90,000 when the new law takes effect in 2014. Copies of the Proposed 2014 Operating Budget and Adopted 2014 – 2018 Capital Improvement Plan are available on the City’s webpage along with video presentations of the Department Budget Summaries. A formal notice of the Budget Hearing in December will be provided by Ramsey County as part of the estimated tax statements that are mailed in November 2013. Questions and comments on the 2014 Budget can be made at the Budget Hearing or can be directed to City Manager Chuck Ahl at chuck.ahl@ ci.maplewood.mn.us. 4 / October 2013 October 2013 / 5 BUCkTHOrN HAUl Maplewood is on track to purchase the 70-acre Fish Creek parcel by the end of 2013. This 70 acre parcel of rolling hills and blufftop is south of Carver Road. Funding has been secured to preserve 62 acres and if funding is found for the remaining eight acres, that too will be preserved. In the meantime, our partner Great River Greening is working with the County and City on site restoration. Please join us on the bluff Saturday, October 19, 8:30 am -12:30 pm, for a community Buckthorn Haul. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the Fish Creek site, learn about natural resources restoration, and help with a community project. Great River Greening is organizing the event and it promises to be a fun day on the bluff. Two hundered restoration volunteers are needed to help haul and pile buckthorn. No experience is necessary and gloves are provided. The day begins with check-in at 8:30 am and ends at 12:30 pm. LUNCH is provided! Registration is required so sign up today at: www.greatrivergreening.org/ event/fish-creek/. Groups are welcome! If you have registra- tion questions, contact Laura Durenberger-Grunow at (651) 665-9500 ext: 11. For other questions about the Fish Creek site, contact Ginny Gaynor, (651) 249-2416 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood. mn.us/fishcreek. Hope to see you on the bluff. Fall Clean UP Campaign Allied Waste Services offers year round bulky item pick up through the Maplewood Trash Plan. To highlight this service, the City is partnering with Allied to offer bulky item pick up at a reduced rate (50% of the contracted price) during the second and third weeks in October (October 7-11 and October 14-18). To schedule bulky item pick up during the Campaign, simply call Allied and arrange the service (refer to scheduling information below.) All single family homes, townhomes, and manufactured homes that have curbside trash service are eligible to participate (including townhomes and manufactured homes that have not opted into the City’s trash plan). Residents with trash service through the Maplewood Trash Plan will be billed on their bi-monthly bill, residents without the City’s trash service will be asked to prepay via credit card. The annual Spring Clean Up will continue to take place and is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Aldrich Arena. To schedule bulky item pick up during the Fall Clean Up Campaign, contact Allied Waste Services at (651) 455-8634. For more information visit the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/cleanups or contact Chris Swanson, Environmental Technician, at (651) 249-2305 or chris.swanson@ci.maplewood.mn.us. Senior Living Facility Uses Art To Build Confident Memories Residents of Oak Meadows Senior Living in Oakdale recently participated in a community mosaic project that will be displayed in the facility’s memory garden. The project was led by local artist Anne Krocak through COMPAS, a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul that fosters art participation in schools, healthcare settings and senior living facilities throughout Minnesota. Research has shown these kinds of arts activities have many benefits for seniors, including generally improved health, fewer doctor’s visits and medications, better muscle strength and balance, and less depression. Kim Prayfrock, director of community relations at Oak Meadows, said she, felt the project was a major success. “It’s just so amazing when people think they can’t do something and then they do it,” Clockwise from top, artist Anne Krocak and resident Agnes Swiger unveil the Oak Meadows mosaic to be placed at their memory garden gate. Dorothy Kusch holds her personalized mosaic piece at the artist reception at Oak Meadows. Her artist statement mentions that she loves to smile. article by Oakdale - Lake Elmo Review photos by Linda Baumeister/Review To read the full article: http://www.lillienews. com/articles/2013/08/25/senior-living-facility- uses-art-build-confidence-memories 3M Company Undergoes Major Expansion 3M Company recently received City Council approval or a new 400,000 square foot research and development building, to be located on the northeast corner of McKnight Road and Conway Avenue. This new building demonstrates a considerable investment from 3M into its Maplewood campus. The state-of-the-art facility should be completed by the fall of 2015. The new building proposal delighted Maplewood city officials, who have sometimes worried that 3M’s rapid global expansion, might one day prompt a move or downsizing. City officials supported a tax-increment- financing deal for the project, which the Legislature approved in May. The City will capture 20 percent of the generated tax increment revenue to fund public improvements, while the remaining portion of the TIF revenue will be used to reimburse 3M for TIF eligible expenditures. Fred Palensky, 3M’s chief technology officer stated, “The primary focus here is to maintain the vitality of [3M’s] innovation and technology.” Nearly 700 scientists and researchers will be employed in the new building with an average hourly wage of $50. As part of the TIF agreement 3M is required to meet job retention and average salary goals which will be documented to the City in order for the company to receive the annual TIF revenue. This TIF assistance results in the retention of a significant number of high-paying skilled laboratory positions within the City of Maplewood, and provides the foundation for further campus investment by 3M. 6 / October 2013 Truck Utilities of Maplewood Celebrates 50 Years In Business In 1963, Jay Langer and Leo Capeder opened the doors to a new company called “Truck Utilities.” Fifty years later, the company is still family owned and now serves customers from three locations across the midwest, including the Maplewood location. From fabricating specialized truck bodies and parts to distribution and service, Truck Utilities has been an innovator in their industry, dedicated to customized solutions for their customers. Paul Capeder, third generation family member in the company, explains, “The company has always provided products and services that let our customers do their jobs better and more efficiently.” Happy 50th Anniversary to Truck Utilities, Inc! Call (651) 484-3305 or visit their website to learn more about Truck Utilities. www.truckutilities.com Halloween Express is Maplewood’s Scariest Little Secret There are less than 30 days left until Halloween. It’s time to start thinking about ghouls, goblins, graveyards, and gaggles of grotesque goblins. Halloween Express is ready to get you in the spooky spirit. The shop is located off White Bear Avenue in Maplewood and owned and operated by Luis Berocay and Dian Lowe. Luis and Dian first opened the Halloween Express store in Maplewood Mall 14 years ago. They moved to the White Bear Avenue location five years ago and are now open year-round. What makes Halloween Express stand out from the other costume shops in town is the atmosphere. It’s not just rows and rows of Halloween costumes but the central nervous system of Halloween itself. Creatures and skeletons laugh and shake around every corner. Fog machines create an eerie layer of mist on the ground and fun, moody Halloween music plays in the store. They offer over 16,000 different Halloween items in their store. The items are endless with over 560 different masks, more than 800 wigs, an abundant variety of shoes, and the makeup . Luis says he listens to their customers to learn what they want. They keep a large stock of costumes so they rarely run out and they keep their prices competitive. Halloween Express also features a monster duo that was created on the Discovery Channel’s “Making Monsters.” You can see this famous hand-made creation sitting in the front of their store. Halloween Express also offers pet costumes, mascots, and costumes for all other occasions including Zombie Pop Crawl, theater performances, ice skating productions, murder mystery parties, and school events. Call (651) 748-1185 or visit their website to learn more about Halloween Express. www.halloweenexpressmn.com Community Development- continued from page 6Business HigHligHtsMaplewood The following articles highlight businesses licensed with the city. If you are interested in having your business highlighted contact Karen Guilfoile at 651.249.2002 or at karen.guilfoile@ci.maplewood.mn.us. Discovery Channel’s “Making Monsters” created this prop on one of their feature shows. Large crowds came to honor Truck Utilities for 50 years in businessConstruction Equipment GuideConstruction Equipment Guide(L-R) are Leo Capeder, co-founder; Craig Capeder, president; Paul Capeder, secretary/treasurer; and Jay Langer, vice president (see coupon on page 6) 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. SHLANDPRODUCTIONS Performance for a Lifetime www.ashlandproductions.org 651-274-8020 Performances Oct. 25, 26, 27 Nov. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 CCCU.COM Pay $360 less a year in fees than the national average with a free checking from your local Credit Union. Plus, you’ll enjoy free online access, bill pay, mobile banking with smart apps and mobile deposit. Make the switch to a better checking today! (651) 225-2700 l 1 800 223-2801 Source for fees: Raddon Financial Group. Federally insured by NCUA. BECAUSE Y OU’RE WOR TH IT. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL HURRY - OFFER VALID OCTOBER 1 - 31 ONLY! PURCHASE OR RENEW YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ...AND GET TWO MONTHS FREE + NO INITIATION FEE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP EARLY FOR YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 2013 RATES! 2100 WHITE BEAR AVENUE • MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109 • WWW.MAPLEWOODCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM • 651.249.2230 October, 1994 - October, 2014