HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 -02 FebMayor Slawik Appointed to the Transportation Advisory Board
Mayor Slawik was recently appointed to the Transportation
Advisory Board (TAB). This appointment is a much coveted
position in the Metro area. Interested candidates apply
through a lengthy application process and board members
are selected by the Metro Cities Association. The TAB works
through the Metropolitan Council and allocates federal
transportation dollars to our region. In previous years these
allocations totaled in excess of $95 million per year on a
two-year cycle. Maplewood recently used over $8.0 million of funds that were
allocated by TAB for the Highway 36 - English Street Interchange project.
Congratulations Mayor Slawik!
Maplewood Welcomes FiveNew Police Officers To The Force
In January, five new Maplewood police officers were sworn in along with the
Mayor and Councilmembers. The process of selecting new police officers is
comprehensive. It includes a panel review, background investigations, and peer
association histories.
Living
City’s Official NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
2014 Trash Rates
Fish Creek Site Acquired
City Manager Letter
Thank You Will Rossbach
Recycling Cart Roll Out
Bridal Expo
New Maplewood
Maplewood
Public Works
Is Now On Twitter!
Get timely updates on
street plowing operations,
construction projects, detours,
local transportation issues,
and much more. Follow us
@MaplewoodPW
MaPle WOOd
February 2014Pictured left to right: Police Chief Paul Schnell at the podium, Officer Ben Slater, Officer
Zac Schoen, Officer Parker Olding, Officer Maria Mulvhill, Officer Mike Hoemke
- COntinued On Page 8
Mayor Nora Slawik
Consignment Boutique
2
3
4
5
5
6
7
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.
To advertise in this newsletter call 952.212.7333 or email
heidi@careycommunications.org.
Elected Officials
Nora Slawik: Mayor .........................................................651.484.5427
nora.slawik@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Marylee Abrams: Councilmember ..............................651.249.2000
maryleeabrams@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Robert Cardinal: Councilmember ...............................651.765.8600
bob.cardinal@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Kathleen Juenemann: Councilmember .....................651.771.3670
kathleen.juenemann@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
MaPleWOOdLiving
2 / February 2014
www.lastingimpressionsstaging-redesign.com
Transform Any Room
In Your Home!
952.412.5629
Specializing in Interior Design and Home Staging
Ask about our discounted rate for Maplewood residents.
International Staging and Redesign Professional Certified
Historic Context Study
Maplewood’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC)
invites the community to participate in the Historic
Context Study for the City. This type of study organizes
history based on cultural themes and their geographical
and chronological limits. For example, one historic
context for the state of Minnesota is Early Agriculture
and River Settlement (1840-1870). The context study
focuses on broad themes that the City can use to
organize and evaluate resources, creating a foundation
for future preservation planning and projects.
Join commissioners and consultants from Thomas Zahn
and Associates to help discuss themes in Maplewood’s
history at the February 13, 2014 meeting, 7:00 pm, in
the Council Chambers at Maplewood City Hall.
The historic context study is funded by a grant from
the State of Minnesota, from the Arts and Cultural
Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
For questions, contact Ginny Gaynor, (651) 249-2416.
2014 Maplewood Trash Rates
Based on changes in the Consumer
Price Index and Fuel Index there will
be a slight increase in the City’s
2014 trash hauling rates (per the
City’s trash hauling contract with
Allied Waste/Republic Services).
Beginning april 1, 2014, trash
hauling rates are as follows:
Rates listed include $.75 cart fee and taxes
(28% county and 9.75% state)
20 gallon cart (every other week) $6.93
20 gallon cart (every week) $9.42
32 gallon cart (every week) $10.72
65 gallon cart (every week) $11.98
95 gallon cart (every week) $13.42
For additional information, visit the City’s trash
webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/trash or
contact Allied at (651) 455-8634.
With you every smile of the way.
651-770-7585 parkdental.comPreferred Provider for most insurance companies.
· General dentistry for the entire family· Early morning and evening hours· Located on St. John’s Hospital campus
PDMPLW.Newsl.1.16.14.indd 1 1/17/14 11:13 AM
February 2014 / 3
This year, pledge to
DO GIVE BE
Still need a New Year’s resolution? Volunteer at
Second Harvest Heartland!
Help pack boxes of food for seniors or distribute
groceries directly to the most vulnerable people we
serve, children and their families.
Sign up for a volunteer shift today at
2harvest.org/volunteer or call 651.282.0901.
Bring this ad to your volunteer shift for an
Axel’s Bonfire giftcard!
1140 Gervais Ave.
Maplewood, MN 55109
MAPLEWOOD ACQUIRES 70-ACRE FISH CREEK SITE
For over 25 years the
dream of preserving open
space south of Carver Road
has been gathering
momentum. In December
2013, Maplewood acquired
the 70-acre Fish Creek
property. The City thanks
the many partners and
residents who worked to
make this dream come true!
The Conservation Fund
purchased the site in 2011
and agreed to hold it for
two years to give the City
and its key partners, Ramsey
County and Ramsey-
Washington Metro
Watershed District, time
to raise the $2.2 million
needed. Generous donations
from the Maplewood-based
3M Foundation, Friends of
the Mississippi River and
individual donors were
provided. A Natural and
Scenic Area grant from the
Department of Natural
Resources as well as a
grant from the Minnesota
Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund also
made this conservation
achievement possible.
The scenic site, located
north of the Highway 61
and Highway 494 junction,
features a mix of natural
landscapes, including open
rolling hills, prairie grassland,
wetlands, woodlands and
scenic bluff-top views of the
Mississippi River floodplain.
Adjacent to Ramsey County’s
130-acre Fish Creek Open
Space, this conservation
purchase will allow the City
and County to one day
develop the Fish Creek
Hiking Trail, which will
connect Point Douglas
Road in St. Paul to Carver
Lake Park in Woodbury
along picturesque Fish Creek.
Twenty acres of the newly
acquired parcel will be
deeded to Ramsey County.
The City and County plan to
jointly manage the new Fish
Creek property, including
developing additional
nature trails throughout the
site. Great River Greening
and the Friends of the
Mississippi River will
continue working with the
City and County to restore
the property’s natural
forested and grassland
habitats to benefit a variety
of wildlife species. Enough
funds were raised to
permanently protect 62
acres of the site. If
additional funding is
secured, the City will be
able to keep and preserve the
eight acres along Carver Road.
“This has been a true
collaborative effort,”
DuWayne Konewko, Parks
and Recreation Director
for Maplewood explained.
“Without the strong lead-
ership of Maplewood City
Council, The Conservation
Fund, our partners and
residents this project would
not be possible.”
4 / February 2014
From The Desk Of The City Manager
As this edition of our monthly
newsletter arrives in your home or
business, it is late January or early in
February. I recently read an article
about a study that found 50% of
us set resolutions to begin our new
year. Unfortunately, the study found
that 88% of those resolutions are
broken within two months.
The study went on to suggest
that resolutions likely to fail were those that were not
specific, such as “lose weight”; while the ones most likely
to succeed were more specific. The author suggests that
instead of “lose weight”, we should make goals such as
“I will take a brisk walk for 30 minutes at noon on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday”. In Maplewood, we
hope you take that walk on our City trails or as a
member at Maplewood Community Center!
I share this thought because it is time for our City staff to
begin the goal setting process for our City Departments.
As we set the goals for the City with two new members
joining our City Council, I would like to share a few
thoughts on the direction that I hope that we can take in
the next few years. I shared a quote by John Baldoni with
our Management Team the other morning: “Encourage
people to view change as a breath of fresh air that can
invigorate old thinking and open the windows to new
thought”. I think that captures the view from our Man-
agement Team. I also love the quote from the new Mayor
of New York, Bill De Blasio, who stated that he wants a
City that is safer, cleaner, nicer, healthier, and friendlier”.
Again, taking from Mayor De Blasio, I hope that in Maple-
wood our mission will be that we, as your City employees,
can deliver to you an urgent style of governance, where
we get things done with brisk efficiency.
The Maplewood Department Heads recently went
through a visioning process and I was so proud to be a
member of that team. Each of the Department Heads
talked about taking a fresh look at operations. The
goal is to be certain that we are efficient in what we
currently do before we tackle new projects. However,
new approaches and new directions are part of their
goals for 2014.
As we begin our second month of 2014, I shared the
following with all of our Maplewood employees:
There are four words that provide the guidance for me
each day. I certainly did not develop this, as I heard a
presenter at a conference state it, but, I try to convey
this as a daily reminder as I hope our organization moves
forward. The four words are: Purpose, Passion, Pride
and Privilege. Briefly, I look at this as meaning that what-
ever our role at Maplewood, we need a Purpose. What
are we doing and how is it part of our mission and goal
as a department and City? This is our visioning process.
Second is Passion. Have a Passion for whatever it is that
you do. Third, take Pride in your work. It is important and
vital. Finally, I believe and thank God every day that I have
a job in Maplewood; and, I think it is an absolute Privilege
to have that job. In my case, I have the greatest Privilege
to serve as your City Manager, and, what a Privilege it is
that our City Council provides us with the Privilege to give
them a recommendation on many of the items that the
five Council members face as they set policies for the
operation of their City of Maplewood. I take that
extremely seriously and hope to meet all your
expectations in 2014 and beyond.
As our Department Heads finalize their vision and share
that vision with the City Council in February and March, I
believe the final outcome will mean many exciting changes
for our departments as our leaders look for ways to do
things better. I do not foresee that Maplewood will
grow by adding numerous sources of new revenue
or significantly higher taxes, but, I challenged our
department heads to do many new things by prioritizing
and doing away with things that don’t work and are not
effective. That might mean doing things different and
ending some long standing programs that need to be
replaced with more efficient services. In some cases,
change can be disrupting and scary. Our team resolves to
use our guiding principles to find our Purpose; we will
do our jobs with a Passion; we will take Pride in what we
do, and recognize the Privilege that we enjoy. I hope that
you will join in this exciting journey so that we make our
resolutions a success for 2014 and beyond.
City Manager
Chuck Ahl
1736 East Cope Avenue Maplewood
651.770.3831 www.maplewooddental.com
Family Dental Care
Preventive Care
Comprehensive Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry
State-Of-The-Art Technology
DENTISTRY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
February 2014 / 5
“The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has
earned them our lasting gratitude.” —Jeff Miller
ReCyCling CaRt ROll Out
In December the City Council
authorized a four-year recycling
contract with Tennis Sanitation,
LLC. The contract began
January 1, 2014 and ends
December 31, 2017. Tennis has
been the City’s recycling
contractor for the last three
years, with single sort recycling
collected in the City-supplied
recycling bins. The new
contract requires that Tennis
supply recycling carts for the
City’s recycling program. The
roll out of recycling carts is
planned as follows:
• 65 gallon recycling carts
delivered to all single family
properties.
• 32 gallon recycling carts
delivered to all townhomes
and manufactured homes with
curbside recycling.
• Residents are asked to try
out the standard size for three
months prior to requesting a
change.
• Carts to be rolled out in
March 2014.
• Existing recycling bins can
be retained by the property
owner, or tipped upside down
and left at the curb on
recycling day. The recycling
bins will then be collected by
Tennis and recycled.
For up to date information on
the cart roll out visit the City’s
recycling webpage at
www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/
recycling or contact Tennis at
(651) 459-1887.
Maplewood Police DepartmentEstablishes 2014 Priorities
Based on feedback received through the recent online Community Safety Survey,
and a review of crime and call for service data, the Maplewood Police Department
has established the policing priorities for 2014. The list of suggested focus areas
provided by survey respondents was quite comprehensive. The top community
concerns included: drug and alcohol crimes, theft, domestic and family violence,
drunk driving, vandalism, and gang problems.
The following priorities and preliminary strategies were established:
domestic and Family Violence Strategies:
• Continued zero tolerance enforcement of domestic violence offenders.
• Identification of a top 10 offender list.
• Proactive “Order for Protection” and “Domestic Abuse No Contact Order”
(restraining orders) compliance checks.
• Strengthened partnership and collaboration with local domestic violence
advocacy services.
William (Will) R. Rossbach
City of Maplewood
City Council Member 2004 – 2009
Mayor 2010 – 2013
The City Council and city staff would like to thank
former Mayor Will Rossbach for his 24+ years of
service to the city and wish him and his wife Beth well
as he retires from elected service.
In his personal life Will is a remodeling contractor and co-owner of Rossbach
Construction where he has been employed for 35 years. During his 24+ year
tenure as an elected council member and Mayor, Will served and/or was
involved in the following:
additional government Related involvement:
• Rush Line Corridor Task Force member (8 years)
• Past President of the Ramsey County League of Local Government (8 years)
• NEST (North East Suburban Transit) Commission Member (6 years)
• LOCATE Task Force alternate (1 year)
• Water Commissioner St. Paul Regional Water Service (6 years)
• Gateway Corridor (2-3 years)
• Transportation Advisory Board (2-3 years)
• Municipal Legislative Commission (On and off for 4 years)
• League of Minnesota Policy Committee (3 years)
• Tartan Ice Arena Joint Powers Board (as needed)
• Firefighters Relief Association Board (4 years)
• Planning Commission Liaison (6 years)
• Parks and Recreation Commission Liaison (2 years)
• Maplewood Historical Society (10 years)
Will plans on spending some of his free time devoted to his construction business
and with family. Will enjoys outdoor activities particularly hunting, fishing, hiking
and enjoying time at cabin property in northwest Wisconsin. Will has been married
to wife Beth, 33 years; they have three daughters and three grandchildren.
Thank you again Will for your 20+ years of service – we wish you well.
- COntinued On Page 7
6 / February 2014
BEFORE
YOU BUY
TRY 1-WEEK TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
CHECK OUT EVERYTHING
MCC HAS TO OFFER...
Whether you are looking for
fitness or fun, MCC offers
something for every member
of your family!
Begin a FREE Maplewood Community Center one-week trial
membership anytime February 10 - 21
2100 WHITE BEAR AVE • MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109
WWW.MAPLEWOODCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM • 651-249-2230
Maplewood Community Center
Redeem by visiting the MCC Admissions
Counter. Some restrictions apply.
For Heart Disease Awareness Month take
advantage of Maplewood Community
Center’s heart-healthy special
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL
2100 WHITE BEAR • MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109
651.249.2230 • MAPLEWOODCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM
Purchase a monthly membership in the month of Februaryand we will waive the initial fee - a $75.00 value!*
Make a one-year, monthly commitment and receive a FREE one-hour massage, one-hour personal training session, or group swimming lesson.
*Minimum 3-month requirement. Offer expires 2-28-14.
maplewood community center specials & events
A Valentine’s Day Celebration
FeBRuaRy 14, 7:30PM
at Maplewood Community Center
Looking for a fun and festive adult
night out on the town? Pop into
the Maplewood Community
Center for a Pop Up Valentine’s
Day Event. Start the night off by
hitting our tasty dessert bar. Then,
head into the theater for a great
performance of, “Pop Up Musical.”
Inspired by VH1’s Pop Up Video series, and with a nod to
Mystery Science Theater 3000, Pop Up Musical provides a
fresh twist on the live musical revue. Pop Up Musical
features four vocalists and a flip chart in an energetic
variety show of Broadway musical hits interspersed with
informative “pop ups” throughout each number. You’ll
hear gems like “Luck Be A Lady,” “Edelweiss,” “Seasons of
Love” and more, augmented by fun facts and some snarky
commentary. Purchase tickets for this fun night out at
www.maplewoodarts.com.
Bridal Expo
FeBRuaRy 15, 12:00 - 3:00PM
at Maplewood Community Center
Wedding woes? Worry no more!
The Maplewood Community
Center’s semi-annual Bridal Expo
will provide you with everything you
need to plan your special day. Meet with dozens of
Minnesota’s top wedding professionals and learn about
everything from cake and catering to flowers and photos.
Offering a comprehensive collection of vendors including
event planners, photographers, florists, DJs and transpor-
tation specialists, the 2014 Winter Bridal Expo is your
one-stop wedding planning resource. Bring your family,
your friends, and of course, your wedding party for a day
of fun, food, and fashion. Whether you have just started
your wedding planning or are putting the finishing touches
on your event, this Bridal Expo will offer something for
everyone. To purchase your tickets, call (651) 249-2230.
Admission is free with pre-registration or $5.00 at the door.
Valentine’s Gift
Now through February 14, 2014!
$5.00 OFF One-Hour
Massage Gift Certificates
(651) 249-2230
BusinessMaplewood
“Nesting Too” Fine Consignment & Boutique Opens In Maplewood
After eight years in business in Downtown White Bear Lake, sisters Deb Walczak and
CoCo Millage of Nesting, Inc. Fine Consignments & Boutique have opened a second
location in Maplewood. With customers travelling across the Twin Cities, the
Maplewood location offers a closer destination in addition to a whole new source
of fine home furnishings, consignments, and enhanced product selection.
Deb & CoCo are supported by their two sisters, Dawne & Jules, to help round out
their suite of services that range from interior design and color consultation to
contracted original works of art and complete painting & refinishing services. The
popular Creative re-Design, Model, and For-Sale Staging services have been a great
asset to both Nesting and their customers. With a never ending supply of new items
weekly, it pays to stop in often or check the website (www.nestinginc.com) for updates
on new products in each location. Additionally, they offer on-line shopping through
the Legacy Line featuring high-end and unique pieces.
Nesting Too is located at 1705 Cope Avenue E just off of the Hwy 36 and White Bear
Avenue exchange and is open every Friday & Saturday from 10:00am - 6:00pm. No
appointment is necessary to bring in your home furnishing and accessories consign-
ments. Call (651) 493.3558 or visit the website to learn more. www.nestinginc.com
February 2014 / 7
HigHligHt
continued from page 5. Police Department Priorities
drug and alcohol Crimes Strategies:
• Increased drug intelligence gathering, investigation,
and interdiction.
• Encourage use of text message based tip system for
providing drug, weapon, and general crime tips.
• Expand capability and use of K-9 resources for narcotics
interdiction.
• Monitoring of DWI blood alcohol levels as a possible
indicator of over-service issues.
theft and theft-related Crime Strategies:
• Increased crime prevention education and hot spot
target hardening through increased presence.
• Employ use of portable wireless video cameras to target
theft from vehicle hot spots (parks, parking lots, etc.).
• Re-implement assignment of retail crime officers to
increase deterrence, provide rapid response, and
coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions regarding
organized retail crime groups.
• Explore regular public release of surveillance
photographs of theft and/or credit card fraud suspects
to increase potential for identification.
• Deployment of multiple Automatic License Plate Reader
(LPR) technology to quickly and efficiently identify stolen
vehicles and/or stolen license plates.
traffic Safety Strategies:
• Increased on-duty
targeted traffic
enforcement around
high crash areas.
• Enhancement of stop
sign and stop light
violation enforcement efforts
• Periodic publicized enforcement efforts to address distracted
driving, seat belt use, speeding, and impaired driving.
• Increased speed enforcement and use of the department
speed radar trailer.
• Continued involvement and participation in the
interagency Ramsey County Traffic Safety Collaborative.
While the department has these targeted priorities for
2014, there continues to be a general commitment to
provide responsive service through proactive patrol and
easy access. Know that your police department is
committed to effective problem identification and
encourages residents to report any and all suspicious
activity. If you have a suggestion to include in our 2014
strategies, call (651) 249-2602 or email Chief Schnell at
paul.schnell@ci.maplewood.mn.us.
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.
UrinetownUrinetown
SHLANDPRODUCTIONS
Performance for a Lifetime
www.ashlandproductions.org 651-274-8020
Performances
Jan. 24, 25, 26, 31
Feb. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9
Discover the Joy & Excitement
of a City & County Credit Union
Platinum RewaRds
CRedit CaRd
with unlimited cash-back.
See CCCU Visa Credit Card Terms & Conditions for complete details
Apply TodAy! | (651) 225-2700 | 1 800 223-2801
Continued from cover...New Police Officers
The department then presented its recommendation to
the City Manager, who extended conditional offers of
employment to our candidates.
The selection process is based on the fact that police
officers have a unique role in a democratic society. While
officers are granted immense authority in accordance
with the law, they are at the same time expected to
exercise equally high levels of restraint in the use of that
authority. The Maplewood Police Department expects
officers to be ethically just, courageous, and empathetic
in the performance of their duties. It is also expected
that our officers will be tenacious in their pursuit of those
who harm the safety and quality of life for those who live,
work, and visit this great City.
In the end, officers have a three-fold responsibility:
1. Promote community peace,
2. Maintain order, and
3. Enforce the laws
During the swearing in ceremony, the new officers were
reminded that the Oath of Office is their promise to
provide public service to this community as peace officers.
We welcome our new police officers and extend wishes
for a long and safe career in service to the people of
Maplewood.
The new officers are (pictured on cover page):
· Officer Michael Hoemke
· Officer Maria Mulvihill
· Officer Parker Olding
· Officer Zachary Schoen
· Officer Benjamin Slater