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Home My WebLink About01 Jan 16City’s Official NEWSLETTERMAPLEWOODLiving January 2016In This Issue 60 Stories Project Winter Safety New Recycling Law Trash Rates Go Down Mental Health & Aging 2 3 4 5 7 A Message From The Mayor I want to wish everyone in Maplewood a happy and prosperous New Year! As we start 2016 it’s worth reflecting on how to make our city even better. 2015 was both very productive and challenging for Maplewood. While at the Maplewood Community Center for a recent member celebration of more that 275 people, I couldn’t help but feel that Maplewood is truly becoming an even more vibrant and livable city. Elected leaders, City staff partnered with residents and local business to address our the challenges we face. I am amazed by incredible passion that exists in Maplewood to keep us moving forward as a City. During 2016, I propose a few resolutions for our City. There are many needs and services that local governments address and provide. The resolutions I offer are collective and demand that each of us do our part. But, unlike our resolutions to lose weight or exercise more each year, sustained action is what matters. • We resolve to come together as a community that cares about Maplewood, and embrace our geographic, cultural, and growing diversity as a first ring suburb; • We resolve as a community to get to know our two new Council members, Tou Xiong and Bryan Smith. We will be thoughtful and engaging as they start the steep learning curve to become excellent public servants; • We resolve to be kinder, gentler, and more connected with our neighbors. When we have a complaint or gripe about a neighbor we can talk directly with each other, or engage contact city code enforcement, police, or fire department staff depending upon the issue; • We resolve to recognize that crime is part of our world and we commit to keeping each other safe. We will lock our cars, secure our property, and regularly the Maplewood Police at 911 to report crimes or suspicious activity; • We resolve to use our wonderful city parks, trails, Nature Center and Community Center to be healthy, to enjoy our outdoors and to connect with each other; • We resolve as a City Council and leadership staff to carefully follow our strategic objectives as the foundation for our decisions; - continued on page 9 Mayor Nora Slawik Recycle Your Holidays Throughout the month of January 2016 you can dispose of your broken, old, or unneeded holiday lights at three City of Maplewood locations (Community Center, City Hall, and the Nature Center). The program is offered by the Recycling Association of America and employs over 200 individuals with disabilities at vocational centers throughout the State of Minnesota. Every part of the strand is dismantled and properly recycled locally. For more details visit the Recycling Association of Minnesota website at www.recycleminnesota.org. 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.maplewoodmn.gov for the meeting schedule of the City Council, Commissions and Boards. 2 / January 2016 Elected Officials Nora Slawik: Mayor ........................................................(651) 738-7099 nora.slawik@maplewoodmn.gov Marylee Abrams: Councilmember ............................ (651) 249-2000 marylee.abrams@maplewoodmn.gov Kathleen Juenemann: Councilmember .................... (651) 771-3670 kathleen.juenemann@maplewoodmn.gov Melinda Coleman: City Manager ...............................(651) 249-2055 melinda.coleman@maplewoodmn.gov Bryan Smith: Councilmember ................................... (651) 888-0085 bryan.smith@maplewoodmn.gov Tou Xiong: Councilmember ......................................... (651) 444-0531 tou.xiong@maplewoodmn.gov City’s Official NEWSLETTERMAPLEWOODLiving January 2015In This Issue 60 Stories Project Winter Safety New Recycling Law Trash Rates Go Down Mental Health & Aging 2345 7 A Message From The Mayor I want to wish everyone in Maplewood a happy and prosperous New Year! As we start 2016 it’s worth reflecting on how to make our city even better. 2015 was both very productive and challenging for Maplewood. While at the Maplewood Community Center for a recent member celebration of more that 275 people, I couldn’t help but feel that Maplewood is truly becoming an even more vibrant and livable city. Elected leaders, City staff partnered with residents and local business to address our the challenges we face. I am amazed by incredible passion that exists in Maplewood to keep us moving forward as a City. During 2016, I propose a few resolutions for our City. There are many needs and services that local governments address and provide. The resolutions I offer are collective and demand that each of us do our part. But, unlike our resolutions to lose weight or exercise more each year, sustained action is what matters. • We resolve to come together as a community that cares about Maplewood, and embrace our geographic, cultural, and growing diversity as a first ring suburb; • We resolve as a community to get to know our two new Council members, Tou Xiong and Bryan Smith. We will be thoughtful and engaging as they start the steep learning curve to become excellent public servants;• We resolve to be kinder, gentler, and more connected with our neighbors. When we have a complaint or gripe about a neighbor we can talk directly with each other, or engage contact city code enforcement, police, or fire department staff depending upon the issue; • We resolve to recognize that crime is part of our world and we commit to keeping each other safe. We will lock our cars, secure our property, and regularly the Maplewood Police at 911 to report crimes or suspicious activity;• We resolve to use our wonderful city parks, trails, Nature Center and Community Center to be healthy, to enjoy our outdoors and to connect with each other;• We resolve as a City Council and leadership staff to carefully follow our strategic objectives as the foundation for our decisions; - continued on page 9 Mayor Nora Slawik Recycle Your Holidays Throughout the month of January 2016 you can dispose of your broken, old, or unneeded holiday lights at three City of Maplewood locations (Community Center, City Hall, and the Nature Center). The program is offered by the Recycling Association of America and employs over 200 individuals with disabilities at vocational centers throughout the State of Minnesota. Every part of the strand is dismantled and properly recycled locally. For more details visit the Recycling Association of Minnesota website at www.recycleminnesota.org. To advertise in this newsletter call Heidi Carey at (952) 212-7333 or email heidi@careycommunications.org. Because the journey matters Call 651-770-4028 today to schedule a tour! Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care Enhanced Care 2365 Helen St. North St. Paul, MN 55109 Because the journey matters Call 651-770-4028 today to schedule a tour! Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care Enhanced Care 2365 Helen St. North St. Paul, MN 55109 • Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Enhanced Care Call 651-770-4028 today to schedule a tour! 2365 Helen St. • North St. Paul Because the journey matters In anticipation of Maplewood’s 60th anniversary on February 26, 2017 – local history buffs have teamed up to write one history story each week for the 60 weeks leading up to the anniversary. The stories will regale you with intriguing tales of people, places, and events from Maplewood’s past. Stories will be released each Thursday on Twitter, Facebook, and Maplewood’s 60 Stories webpage. Follow us on Twitter @MaplewoodMN for a Throwback Thursday photo and link to the stories at www.maplewoodMN.gov/60stories. As you enjoy the stories, file away some of the more interesting snippets in your memory. Maplewood’s anniversary festivities in 2017 will include a History Trivia Contest (with prizes!) based on these stories. This project is a made possible by Maplewood Heritage Preservation Commission, Maplewood Area Historical Society, and City of Maplewood. The stories are written by staff and members of these organizations. For more information, contact Ginny Gaynor at (651) 249-2416 or virginia.gaynor@maplewoodmn.gov. 60 Stories Project Launches in January! GREAT SMILES START HERE! cleanings • sealants root canals • teeth whitening tooth-colored fillings in-office gum therapy • and more DENTISTRY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY (651) 770-3831maplewooddental.com MAPLEWOODDENTAL ASSOCIATES, P.A. 1736 East Cope Avenue, Maplewood MAPLEWOODLiving The Town Hall for Little Canada Township (which included Maplewood) was built in 1879, and today sits at 1375 Frost Ave. January 2016 / 3 Winter Safety & Water Quality – The Balancing Act Providing safe winter driving conditions and maintaining the water quality of our local lakes, streams, and wetlands is important to the City of Maplewood. De-icing road surfaces with salt, when conditions warrant, is an important operation performed by the City to ensure safe winter driving conditions. The use of road salt is the primary and most effective technique for de-icing road surfaces. Unfortunately as the snow and ice melt the salt is washed from the streets into the storm sewer system; which then flows into lakes, streams, and wetlands. Road salts have been found to be a primary contributor to high chloride (salt) levels in public waters which can be harmful to fish and other freshwater aquatic life. Maplewood, like so many other cold climate cities, is faced with the challenge of balancing winter safety and water quality. So what is Maplewood doing to provide safe winter driving conditions and to minimize chloride pollution? Education and training of public works staff is an important first step to ensure the winter road conditions are being managed while minimizing the amount of salt. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has developed a training and certification course for teaching snow and ice control best practices, including topics such as application rates, environmental impacts, de-icing, and new maintenance methods. Currently 22 City public works employees have been trained and certified through the MPCA program. City staff has also taken part in other winter road maintenance training opportunities put on by the Watershed District, MnDOT, and the University of Minnesota. City snow plow trucks are equipped with current technologies such as calibrated controllers and pre- wetting systems that allow drivers to manage the road- ways for a variety of different winter conditions while minimizing the amount of salt used. The upgraded controllers allow each plow truck to be calibrated to spread a pre-determined amount of de-icing material based on current and extended forecasts. Maplewood also takes a proactive approach to de-icing, including the use of anti-icing and pre-wetting techniques. Anti-icing techniques use a brine solution liquid that is spot applied to areas such as bridges, steep hills, curves, shaded areas, and other known trouble spots. This solution helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the road surface making it easier to plow and requires less de-icing material. Pre-wetting entails adding a liquid brine solution to dry salt as it is applied. This process lowers salt’s effective working temperature; jump starts the melting process, and causes the salt to stick to the pavement thereby preventing it from bouncing off the road surface. Residents can also help reduce the amount of salt use by following some of MPCA’s recommendations: • Shovel: The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use. • Slow down: Drive for the conditions and make sure to give plow drivers plenty of space to do their work. Consider purchasing winter snow tires. • Salt application: Purchase a hand held spreader to help apply a consistent amount of salt on your walks or driveways as needed. Together Maplewood’s snow plow operators and resi- dents can help reduce the amount of salt entering public waters and achieve a balance between winter safety and water quality! 60 Stories Project Launches in January! Salt Application Controls to Help Minimize the Amount of Salt Used Pre-wetting Equipment Jump Starts the Ice Melting Process 4 / January 2016 Attention business owners, did you know that commercial trash is taxed at 70%? Fifty-three percent goes toward the Ramsey County environmental charge and 17% goes toward the Minnesota Solid Waste tax. That means for every $100 a business pays for trash service, another $70 is paid in taxes. Businesses can save money and reduce waste by recycling. A new state law will require many businesses to recycle. Beginning January 1, 2016, if a business contracts to remove four or more cubic yards of waste, the business will be required to recycle at least three types of materials (i.e., paper, glass, plastic, etc.). Need help getting started: • Contact Your Trash Hauler: When deciding what materials to recycle, consider what will work best for your employees and customers. Your trash hauler may be able to help you determine what containers you may need and how often waste and recycling should be picked up. By adjusting your waste collection program, you can save money on hauling fees and taxes. • Opt-Into the Maplewood Recycling Program: If you are a small business or organization in Maplewood you can opt into Maplewood’s recycling program. The cost is $3.26 per 95 gallon cart per month. For additional information visit www.maplewoodmn.gov/businessrecy- cling or call Chris Swanson, Environmental Specialist at (651) 249-2305. • Contact BizRecycling: BizRecycling was started by Ramsey and Washington Counties to help businesses become more efficient thus promoting job growth while protecting the environment. BizRecycling offers site visits and waste assessments, as well as grants to get a recycling and or food waste organics recovery program up and running. For additional information visit www.lesstrash.com or call (651) 266-1199 • Attend the BizWise Expo on January 26, 2016: Join the City of Maplewood and the White Bear Chamber of Commerce for the third annual BizWise Expo on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at the Maplewood Community Center (2100 White Bear Ave). Learn about the new law and how your business can save money by reducing waste and recycling. Free appetizers and cash bar will be offered. RSVP attendance to Tom Snell at the White Bear Chamber of Commerce (651) 429-8593 or info@whitebearchamber.com. New Year – New Recycling Law January 2016 / 5 Decrease in 2016 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Rates Hungry For More Content? The City’s residential trash and yard waste collection contract with Republic Services allows for a rate adjustment annually based on changes to the Consumer Price Index, Indexed Diesel Fuel Prices, and tipping fee (fee charged to haulers to dispose of trash at the Resource Recovery Facility in Newport). The new rates are reviewed by the City Council in December and go into effect April 1 of each year. This year there was a decrease in diesel fuel prices, which will result in a DECREASE in residential trash and yard waste collection rates as follows: $6.70 9.12 10.44 11.73 13.19 20 every other week 20 every week 32 every week 65 every week 95 every week AMOUNT OF MONTHLY CHANGE $7.02 9.53 10.85 12.16 13.62 2015SIZECOLLECTION 2016 Maplewood Yard Waste Subscription Rate Weekly Collection of Yard Waste from April 15 through November 30 (No additional taxes or fees are applied) 2015 - $79.50 2016 - $71.04 Decrease of $8.46 a year For more information contact Republic Services at (651) 455-8634 or visit the City’s residential trash webpage at www.maplewoodmn.gov/trash. In addition to Maplewood Living, we post much more information on our website at www.maplewoodmn.gov and utilize several different online websites to deliver even more content to our residents. Like us on Facebook.com Have a question, comment or want to share a picture or your neighborhood park? Post it here and we will connect with you and your neighbors. www.facebook.com/ MaplewoodMN.gov Follow us on Twitter.com @MaplewoodMN and receive the very latest news here in 140 characters or less. There you will also be linked to our Periscope account where you can catch special live streaming events happening throughout the City. Follow us on ISSUU.com Simply search for MaplewoodMN to read past publications of our printed media. And keep an eye out for more to come in the near future ! MAPLEWOOD TRASH HAULING RATES (RATES INCLUDE ALL TAXES AND A $.75 PER MONTH CART FEE) Decrease of $.32 Decrease of $.41 Decrease of $.41 Decrease of $.43 Decrease of $.43 Team Bacon Bits (Maplewood Police) is registered and ready to accept team members and/or pledges. Plunges: White Bear Lake, Minneapolis, and Grand Rapids https://reg.plungemn.org/team/baconbits 2016 SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. 6 / January 2016 Continued from cover...Message From the Mayor • We resolve to stop using the eight most frustrating words “we could never do that in our City”. We have accomplished wonderful things in our City including the partnership with the YMCA and the Maplewood Community Center, forging into a new frontier of managing our own cable communications and adding Century Link, redesigning our website, securing an arts grant to make Maplewood a Kid City, Safe Routes to School funding, and the list goes on. Great cities make good and often hard choices that can take years to come to fruition. I am proud of our citizens and our City staff for making those hard choices. This list isn’t intended to be comprehensive. I could have added that we resolve to be patient for Public Works to get the snow plows by our street during a blizzard too! But I am inspired to share these resolutions with you because after finishing my second year as Mayor, I am pleased how our city has come together and how we have shown how we care about where Maplewood is going. I am looking forward to 2016 and engaging with you even more. Want compassionate and individualized mental health care? Help for children, adolescents and adults. North St. Paul and Five Other Locations. (651) 662-0800 bhsiclinics.com Our staff of psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers and family therapists are committed to offering high quality mental health care. 2497 7th Ave E, Suite 101 • North St. Paul Behavioral Health Services Channel 16 Under Construction Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to watch all of Maplewood’s City Council, Commission and Board meetings LIVE on Channel 16 while we work on this project. Nothing is changing there. What will be happening in the coming months is a redesign of what’s played beyond those live meetings. Currently, Channel 16 consists of our public meeting replays and a handful of public service announcements. We’ll be livening that up by partnering with a number of agencies to air relevant, timely information to our residents. Such as, County Board meetings, School Board meetings and other programs that present useful information to our residents. And for those of you that don’t have access to Channel 16, we still want you to have access to all of these great programs and public service announce- ments, so many of them will be viewable on our website, www.maplewoodmn.gov. Keep an eye open for updates on this exciting project in future Maplewood Living issues. January 2016 / 7 Free Mental Health and Aging Seminar Maplewood Parks and Recreation, in partnership with NE Seniors for Better Living, is excited to offer FREE seminars of various topics regarding mental health and aging. Join us at these informative, insightful seminars and build your personal information “library” and find the tools available to help you or the loved ones you know. Food and beverages will be provided at all seminars. Tuesday, February 16: 5:30-8:00 pm – Movie and Pizza Held in the MCC Banquet Room - 2100 White Bear Ave. “His Neighbor Phil” –A story of devotion, love and Alzheimer’s disease starring Daniel Roebuck. Join us for a showing of the locally filmed movie, His Neighbor Phil, some pizza, popcorn and conversation. There will be a talk-back session at the conclusion of the film. Sponsored by Maplewood Parks and Recreation, NE Seniors for Better Living, and HealthStar Home Health. Plot Description: Harvey is devoted to his beautiful wife, Mary, who is stricken with early onset Alzheimers Disease. Discovering that music somehow gets through to Mary when nothing else will, Harvey brings music to Mary whenever possible, to keep her with him, even for a few moments more. But when Harvey begins to believe that his neighbor Phil may have once been in love with Mary, Harvey wonders if maybe Mary had ever really loved him after all. An emotional drama, with music and some humor as well. David Jones Historical Presentations David Jones speaks on topics that are of general interest. Each presentation is selected based on its appeal to a large audience. The presentation will consist of lecture and an easy-to-follow power point slide show. Refreshments will be served. Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:00 am (Cost: $8) Held in the MCC Banquet Room - 2100 White Bear Ave. February 23: PROHIBITION: A GRAND MISADVENTURE In 1920, the United States entered a period during which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was banned. As it turned out, the US also entered a period of lawlessness and corruption, unequaled in its history. April 5: Charles Lindbergh: Triumph, Tradegy and Controversy In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first pilot to fly solo from New York to Paris. This feat made him one of the biggest celebrities of his time. However, his life following the flight was filled with tragedy and controversy. Join us to explore the complicated life of a complex man. The YMCA And Maplewood Community Center Have Partnered To Offer Best-In-Class Aquatics Programs For The Entire Family • Weekday and weekend classes to fit your family’s schedule • Expertly trained certified instructors • Small instructor-to-student ratios • Parent/child, preschool, school age, teen and adult classes • Emphasis on pool exploration, stroke development, and safety techniques Members - $64 Non-Members - $79 Four Ways to Register! • Email Contact Jana Krautkramer at Jana.Krautkramer@maplewoodmn.gov • Online https://activenet004.active.com/ maplewoodmn/ • In Person MCC Customer Service 2100 White Bear Avenue • By Phone (651) 249-2230 MCC Customer Service Hours Mon 9am-7pm; Tues-Thurs 9am-5pm REGISTRATION Going On Now! City of Maplewood 1830 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55109 Phone: (651) 249-2000 www.ci.maplewoodmn.gov 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. Energize Maplewood! Team Energy Challenge Baby its cold outside, but the competition is heating up! Join your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors as they compete in the City of Maplewood’s Energize Maplewood! Team Energy Challenge. Teams of house- holds are competing against each other to see which team will be the “biggest energy losers”. The team that scores the most points will win the $500.00 grand prize. There will be plenty of opportunities during the Challenge to win smaller prizes, attend exclusive events, and learn ways to make your home more comfortable and healthy, all the while saving energy and money. While the Challenge officially started tracking energy of participating households on January 1, it’s not too late to join - the Challenge runs through May 31, 2016. That gives you plenty of time to do energy saving actions at home and contribute to your team’s total points. It also means you and your family can enjoy the free Challenge Launch Party on Saturday, January 30 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Maplewood Community Center located at 2100 White Bear Avenue. Join now on the Energize Maplewood! Team Energy Challenge webpage at www.maplewoodmn. gov/energychallenge or contact Cindy Ojczyk, Energy Program Coordinator, at cindy.ojczyk@maplewoodmn. gov or (651) 249-2306. (The Energy Challenge is sponsored by the City of Maplewood and Xcel Energy. While it targets Maplewood residents, anyone that is an Xcel Energy electric and natural gas customer is eligible to participate.) �� READY. SET. CHECKING CHALLENGE. Make a Change. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SALE CHECK OUT EVERYTHING MCC HAS TO OFFER... • Aquatics Center • Cardio & Weight Centers • Drop-In Child Care • Daily Locker Use • Walking/Jogging Track • FREE Group Fitness Classes • Family Friendly Atmosphere 2100 WHITE BEAR AVE • MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109WWW.MAPLEWOODCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM • 651-249-2230 PURCHASE AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP & PAY NO ADMINISTRATIVE FEE + NEW MEMBERS GET $50 IN MCC BUCKS HURRY - OFFER VALID NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31AND SO MUCH MORE!