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Home My WebLink About11 Nov 16CITY’S OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2016 In This Issue Passport Service Feedback City Performance Survey Budget & Tax Levy Snowplowing Safety Benchmark Your Business Maplewood Area Congregations Get Energized! Ten congregations are participating in the Energize Your Congregation! Energy Challenge. The Challenge is a partnership between the City of Maplewood, Neighborhood Energy Connection, and Xcel Energy. Through December 15th parishioners will participate in simple energy actions at home that will save energy and money. - continued on page 3 2 3 4 6 8 New Places to Eat, Shop and Play BY NORA SLAWIK, MAYOR nora.slawik@maplewoodmn.gov When I’m out and about in Maplewood, I’m often stopped and asked if I know when a particular new business is opening. As your Mayor, I’m always heartened and excited when people ask me these questions because to me, it means our community is engaged and excited by what’s coming. Lately, I’ve often been asked about what is coming to the vacant stores in Plaza 3000 on White Bear Avenue and I am happy to tell you a Golden Corral will open in the former Old Country Buffet. Currently, Golden Corral has targeted November 1 for its grand opening. Many people are clearly excited about Golden Corral and we’re thrilled the company moved so quickly to replace a restaurant that had many fans throughout Maplewood. The Aldi grocery chain will be opening a 19,000-square-foot store next door to Golden Corral. With its smaller footprint, reduced inventory, and other cost- saving methods, Aldi has gained a passionate following at stores across the metro. We have three fast food places coming to White Bear Avenue including Chik-fil-A in 2017, Hardees and Taco Bell’s re-build on County Road D is also nearly completed and is expected to open later this fall. The building’s fresh look and architecture is a very positive development for the City. Maplewood Mall will also soon feature two new dining options with the opening of Taste of Saigon and Blueprint Burger. Opening dates for these two restaurants are yet to be set. Beyond food, the City will soon celebrate the Hazelwood Medical Commons opening across from St John’s. It will be a 140,000 square foot ambulatory surgery and medical office building. We also welcome a new AT&T store and Grade Power Learning, a tutoring services business, and Orange Theory Fitness is scheduled for a fall debut. Finally, please read the article on page 5 regarding the beautiful expansion of Maplewood Women’s Care located on White Bear Avenue. - continued on page 3 LIVING 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. 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 NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2016 In This Issue Passport Service Feedback City Performance Survey Budget & Tax Levy Snowplowing Safety Benchmark Your Business Maplewood Area Congregations Get Energized! Ten congregations are participating in the Energize Your Congregation! Energy Challenge. The Challenge is a partnership between the City of Maplewood, Neighborhood Energy Connection, and Xcel Energy. Through December 15th parishioners will participate in simple energy actions at home that will save energy and money. - continued on page 3 2 3 4 6 8 New Places to Eat, Shop and PlayBY NORA SLAWIK, MAYOR nora.slawik@maplewoodmn.govWhen I’m out and about in Maplewood, I’m often stopped and asked if I know when a particular new business is opening. As your Mayor, I’m always heartened and excited when people ask me these questions because to me, it means our community is engaged and excited by what’s coming. Lately, I’ve often been asked about what is coming to the vacant stores in Plaza 3000 on White Bear Avenue and I am happy to tell you a Golden Corral will open in the former Old Country Buffet. Currently, Golden Corral has targeted November 1 for its grand opening. Many people are clearly excited about Golden Corral and we’re thrilled the company moved so quickly to replace a restaurant that had many fans throughout Maplewood. The Aldi grocery chain will be opening a 19,000-square-foot store next door to Golden Corral. With its smaller footprint, reduced inventory, and other cost- saving methods, Aldi has gained a passionate following at stores across the metro. We have three fast food places coming to White Bear Avenue including Chik-fil-A in 2017, Hardees and Taco Bell’s re-build on County Road D is also nearly completed and is expected to open later this fall. The building’s fresh look and architecture is a very positive development for the City. Maplewood Mall will also soon feature two new dining options with the opening of Taste of Saigon and Blueprint Burger. Opening dates for these two restaurants are yet to be set. Beyond food, the City will soon celebrate the Hazelwood Medical Commons opening across from St John’s. It will be a 140,000 square foot ambulatory surgery and medical office building. We also welcome a new AT&T store and Grade Power Learning, a tutoring services business, and Orange Theory Fitness is scheduled for a fall debut. Finally, please read the article on page 5 regarding the beautiful expansion of Maplewood Women’s Care located on White Bear Avenue. - continued on page 3 LIVINGTo advertise in this newsletter call Heidi Carey at (952) 212-7333 or email heidi@careycommunications.org. LIVING • Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care Call 651-770-4028 to schedule a tour today! 2365 Helen Street | North St. Paul | www.polarridgeseniorliving.com 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 2 / November 2016 The City of Maplewood is responsible for providing essential services to our residents. Essential services include, but are not limited to, public safety, road maintenance, snow removal, park maintenance, etc. Additionally, the City offers other services through state and federal programs. Two services which have been staples in the community for many years are the Department of Motor Vehicle Deputy Registrar and Federal Passport Acceptance Facility. As part of our 2017 budget preparation, the City is considering no longer offering passport services. With numerous passport acceptance facilities in surrounding areas our residents would continue to have access to this service and current staff would be assigned to our growing deputy registrar department. The city council would like your feedback, so I would like to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at karen.haag@maplewoodmn.gov or by calling (651) 249-2002. We Want To Hear From You Regarding Passport Servies BY KAREN HAAG, CITIZEN SERVICES DIRECTOR karen.haag@maplewoodmn.gov November 2016 / 3 If you are a Maplewood resident, the Maplewood City Council wants to hear from you! An online performance measurement survey, designed to rate city services, is available now through November 30th. Resident satisfaction with city services is a high priority for the City of Maplewood. City officials utilize the survey results to improve city services and identify areas of concern in the community. All city residents are encouraged to complete the survey, as it allows the City to track progress of initiatives and programs over time. The survey consists of ten questions designed to measure resident satisfaction with services provided by the City. The survey takes just minutes to complete and includes the following questions: 1. How would you rate the overall appearance of the city? 2. How would you describe your overall feeling of safety in the city? 3. How would you rate the condition of city streets? 4. How would you rate the overall quality of snowplowing on city streets? 5. How would you rate the dependability and overall quality of city sanitary sewer services? 6. How would you rate the dependability and overall quality of the city water supply? 7. How would you rate the overall quality of city recreational programs and facilities? 8. How would you rate the city’s overall effort at promoting and maintaining environmental sustainability? 9. How would you rate the city’s overall fiscal health and management? 10. How would you rate the overall quality of services provided by the city? The questions are ranked on a scale of a.) Excellent, b.) Good, c.) Fair, d.) Poor, e.) Don’t know. Additional space is available for comments. The survey can be accessed through the link shown below, which is also available on the home page of the City’s website. A paper copy is available by contacting Citizens Services Director Karen Haag at (651) 249-2002. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Maplewood_2016 Free online banking and bill pay Free debit card usage Free mobile banking with remote deposit No minimum balance to earn rewards Extensive ATM network Choose Checking that Hits All the Right Checkboxes With FREE Rewards Checking from SMW, you’ll receive 1.75% APY* in cash along with nationwide ATM fee refunds each month you qualify! Plus, enjoy: FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION Contact us to open your account today. 651.747.1500 | www.smwfcu.com *Minimum to open account is $100. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 07-01-2016. Rate tiers are as follows: 1.75% APY applies to balances of $0.01 - $20,000 and 0.50% APY to balances over $20,000, if qualifications are met during the monthly qualification cycle. Ten debit card transactions and one ACH must post and clear during each calendar month. Member must also be signed up for eStatements. 0.05% APY applies to all balances if monthly qualifications are not met. All balances will earn 0.50% - 1.75% APY if monthly qualifications are met. Rates may change after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to an account. Intrabank transfers do not count as qualifying ACH transactions. ATM fee reimbursements of up to $10 provided only if qualifications are met within the monthly qualification cycle. Maplewood Branch 1691 Cope Avenue Maplewood, MN 55109 We Want To Hear From You Regarding Passport Servies Performance Survey for City Services BY ELLIE PAULSETH, FINANCE DIRECTOR ellen.paulseth@maplewoodmn.gov Economic development is one of the most important things a community like ours can do. The City Council, in partnership with City staff, is committed to fostering a positive and mutually rewarding relationship with businesses. Maplewood is a healthy and vibrant community where businesses of every variety can thrive and grow. Fall is in the air, and with Thanksgiving on the near-horizon, it’s the perfect time to share with you how thankful I am to be your Mayor, and to live and work in a City where residents care about each other, and are deeply invested in doing all they can to guarantee a healthy future for the community they love. I hope this season of Thanksgiving brings you and your families much peace and happiness. Participating congregations include: Arlington Hills Church, Beaver Lake Lutheran Church, Cross Lutheran Church, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Redeeming Love Church, St. Paul Monastery, Salvation Army, and the Twin Cities Hmong Alliance Church. For more details visit: www.maplewoodmn.gov/energizeyourcongregation. - cont. from pg. 1 New Places To Eat, Shop and Play - cont. from pg. 1 Congregations Get Energized Public Hearing for 2017 Budget and Tax Levy The Maplewood City Council will hold a public hearing to receive input on the proposed budget and tax levy for taxes payable in 2017. The Council adopted a preliminary property tax levy, in the amount of $20,738,833, in September. The preliminary levy is 5%, or $987,563, more than the levy adopted by the council last year. Interested taxpayers should attend the public hearing at City Hall on December 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Budget and Tax Levy The Council will adopt the final budget and levy after the public hearing. The preliminary levy cannot be increased; however, the city council may decrease the levy before final adoption. Components of the property tax levy are shown below: The property tax levy supports budgeted expenditures in the amount of $26,153,513. The details of these budgeted expenditures are shown on the following graph: Budget Initiatives for 2017 The property tax levy will fund city operations for next year, as well as pay for the City’s debt obligations and meet a number of capital needs. New initiatives for 2017 include police body cameras, a revision of the comprehensive plan, increased prosecution of domestic violence, increased costs for public safety dispatching, a study of public safety facilities, equipment replacement, and a reduction of deficit fund balances. Impact of the Proposed Budget on Property Taxes The proposed 5% increase in the city levy will have an estimated 3.2% impact on city property taxes, or about $28 per year for the average homeowner. Your Total Tax Bill City taxes account for approximately 31% of the total tax bill. The property tax bill also includes taxes for the county, school district, and special districts. The example on the left illustrates the distribution of a typical Maplewood tax bill in 2016: BY ELLIE PAULSETH, FINANCE DIRECTOR ellen.paulseth@maplewoodmn.gov Fund Final Levy Proposed Levy (Decrease) (Decrease) General Fund $13,131,520 $14,418,079 $1,286,559 9.8% Debt Service 4,792,820 4,891,484 98,664 2.1% Recreation Fund 200,000 205,000 5,000 2.5% Capital Outlay 1,537,660 1,135,000 (402,660) -26.2% EDA 89,270 89,270 - 0% TOTAL $19,751,270 $20,738,833 $987,563 5.0% 2016 2017 $ Increase % Increase 4 / November 2016 November 2016 / 5 Dr. Melvin Ashford, the founder of Minnesota Women’s Care, and his staff know that patients are concerned with finding the best care available that focuses on their unique needs. That’s why they are proud to offer the right treatment solutions for their patients. Minnesota Women’s Care is located at 2603 White Bear Ave. N. in Maplewood and opened its doors on December 1, 2012. They are currently expanding and opening a clinic in Woodbury. There are six providers that specialize in OBGYN and Pelvic Specialty Care for women of all ages. Dr. Melvin Ashford is one of the few board certified Urogynecologists in the state. As a result they provide specialized care for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ proplapse, and pelvic pain. A large number of Minnesota Women’s Care patients are from Maplewood but patients come from all over the Twin Cities. Patients routinely travel more than four hours for their life-changing hormonal therapy program. “This is the decade for so many new things in women’s health care,” says Dr. Ashford. “One of the most impactual new treatments for us is Sottopelle homone therapy. SottoPelle Therapy is an all-natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy that specializes in the use of subcutaneous testosterone and estradiol pellets. Dr. Ashford has practiced medicine in Maplewood for 15 years. “My first 12 years was as a member of Aspen Medical Group.” says Dr. Ashford. Minneota Women’s Care has two doctors who have been recognized in Mpls/St. Paul Magazine’s “Top Doctors”. Dr. Ashford has been recognized for the third year in a row, and Dr. Kelly has been recognized for ten years running. As the magazine says, “if you’re looking for exceptional physicians who have earned the confidence and high regard of their peers, you can start your search here.” Dr. Ashford’s primary goal for Minnesota Women’s Care is to be relevant to the lives of women today and the issues they face in present times. He says, “Too many gynecolo- gists are providing the same care that doctors provided 50 years ago. We are not the gynecologist of yesterday. We are actively pursuing and providing answers and solutions for the conditions that our patients are facing today. We are not just the place to go to for your pap smear.” The clinic is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and can be reached at (651) 600-3035 or www.mnwcare.com. Meet SottoPelle – a natural, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that’s custom tailored for your unique needs. A special mix of natural ingredients is combined into a small pellet that’s painlessly inserted under the skin. It delivers months of symptom relief with a gentle release of hormones – exactly as nature intended. Best of all, you’ll feel like yourself again. Call 651-600-3035 or visit www.mnwcare.com. We welcome new patients. Hormone imbalance can make you feel miserable ... hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, memory loss, moodiness, lack of libido, weight gain and more. But, you don’t have to live with it. Feel like your old self again.y ou n g--- Minnesota Women’s Care offers the most advanced, personalized healthcare for women: pregnancy care with physician or midwife, menopause relief, treatment for incontinence, urogynecology diagnosis and treatment, and advanced pelvic floor repairs. Minnesota Women’s Care 2603 White Bear Avenue N Maplewood, MN 55109 Coming soon ... a 2nd location in Woodbury! 683 Bielenberg - Suite 103 Woodbury, MN 55125 Melvin Ashford, MD Amy Kelly, MD Andrea Brockberg, CNP Rachel Snell, CNP Torri Washington, CNM Heather DeJarnett, CNM Advanced Obstetrics & Gynecology For Women of All Ages Dr. Melvin Ashford, founder of Minnesota Women’s Care 6 / November 2016 Dog Permit Renewal (JAN 1, 2017 – DEC 31, 2018) Fees: $21 Female/Male $19 Senior’s Discount $18 Spayed or Neutered $16 Senior’s Discount The original signed certificate of rabies (Senior’s – 62 years or older – are required to show/ vaccination from your veterinarian must proof of senior status, such as MN Driver’s License, be submitted with this application. MN ID, etc.) ADD $5 PENALTY FOR PERMITS PURCHASED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2016. NEW DOGS ARE EXEMPT FROM PENALTY I, ___________________________________________residing at ________________________ ______________________________________, Maplewood, MN________________________ Telephone (H)____________________________ (W)__________________________________ hereby apply for a permit to keep the below-described dog and do agree to comply with the rules and regulations duly adopted by the lawful governing body of the City of Maplewood and the applicable state and local laws. The information contained in this application shall be deemed public unless private by State Statute. Pet’s Name____________________________________________ Age of Pet_______________ Dog Breed__________________________________________ Color of Pet________________ Male Female Sterilization Yes No Microchip Yes No Veterinary Clinic____________________________________ Clinic Phone_______________ Signature of Owner__________________________________ Date______________________ Maplewood ordinance requires dogs over three months of age have a city issued permit. If your dog does not already have a permit and it is not convenient for you to come to City Hall, you may obtain the permit by mail. Complete the form and mail it along with the appropriate payment and original signed certificate of rabies vaccination from your pet’s veterinarian to: City of Maplewood 1830 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55109 Applications can also be obtained online at www.maplewoodmn.gov. (651) 249-2001 DO G permit Renew Your Dog’s Permit Starting November 14, 2016 Though our pleasantly warm fall weather might suggest otherwise, winter is on its way to the North Star State. The City of Maplewood’s dedicated public works team is already preparing to spend the next several months battling snow and ice. Each fall, the city’s plow drivers make a concerted effort to remind drivers to stay at least 75 feet behind plows. Plow drivers don’t have a great line of vision directly behind their vehicle, so giving them plenty of space is critical. Another vital safety tip is to make sure kids do not build snow forts within the public right of way or anywhere near the street. If the structures are too close to the street, tunnels and openings can be filled in by a passing plow. It’s also important for home owners to make sure their garbage cans aren’t in the street on trash day. Melting or moving snow can push the cans into the street, and if the snow is high enough, plow drivers will be on top of the cans before they have a chance to evade them, leaving a mess behind. The City of Maplewood has established a goal of plowing all streets within eight hours after the snow quits falling for a typical three inch snowfall. The sidewalk and trail system will be cleared within 48 hours after completion of the street plowing operations. - continued on page 7 Please Share The Road With Us - Your Snowplow Drivers BY MICHAEL THOMPSON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR michael.thompson@maplewoodmn.gov A GREAT PLACE TO TRAIN Emergency responders, elected officials, and civic officials from across the east metro joined together Sunday, October 9th to celebrate the opening of the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility. The training facility, located at Minnesota Hwy. 5 and Minnesota Hwy. 120 (Century Ave.), will offer a place for emergency responders to train in two fire simulation buildings, including a tower and a two-story house with a garage. Additionally, the facility also has space to simulate chemical spills and kitchen fires. A classroom will also provide opportunities for additional training. The facility will be used by all east metro public safety disciplines. Additionally, students in Century College’s firefighting program will also use the training center. “This is really going to provide a state of the art facility for not only Maplewood emergency responders, but emergency responders from across the east metro area,” said Maplewood Fire Chief Steve Lukin. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work from dozens of people.” The project was the idea of Lukin and his colleague in Oakdale, Chief Jeff Anderson. The two chiefs first conceived of the idea in 2009, and during a July 2011 special legislative session, the facility was given state money. Sen. Chuck Wiger, Rep. Leon Lillie, and Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik, who was then in the Legislature, championed the project at the Capitol and also spoke at the opening event. Sen. Susan Kent, and Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, also shared remarks regarding their roles in making the project happen. Rep. Peter Fischer and Rep. JoAnn Ward, who also championed the project, were also at the event. Lukin explained the state money covered three-quarters of the facility’s $6 million price tag. The Minnesota Department of Transportation donated the land. The remaining cost was covered by a grant from Ramsey County and user fees. When it comes to preparing Maplewood’s emergency re- sponders for the future, Lukin noted he’s excited that the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility will provide more oppor- tunities for partnerships with other cities and departments. “We can work together to share information and training programs,” Lukin said. “It’s going to make all of our communities safer and more efficient.” The center will be operated through a joint-powers agreement with direction coming from a board of directors made up of the Oakdale, North Saint Paul, Lake Elmo, and Maplewood fire departments. Currently, 12 other departments have used the training center on a rental basis. “The groups using the center will pay a share to help maintain it,” Lukin said. “We’re estimating the cost to be between $80,000 and $90,000 per year.” “The East Metro Public Safety Training Facility is really an example of governments working together to come up with solutions for our public safety training needs,” Mayor Slawik said. “We had people working tirelessly at the local, county, and state level to make sure this vital project became a reality.” BY STEVE LUKIN, FIRE CHIEF steve.lukin@maplewoodmn.gov November 2016 / 7 A Few More Snow Removal Reminders: • Plow drivers don’t have a start or stop time, they plow when they’re needed, whether it’s mid-day or the middle of the night. • Home owners shouldn’t shovel or blow snow into the street. • Remember to keep your car off the street during snow remergencies. Parked cars make it nearly impossible for plow drivers to thoroughly clean streets. And for drivers, leaving your car on the street during a snow emergency, can lead to a ticket or towing. Also don’t forget there is no parking year round from 2:00 am - 6:00 am. To learn more please call us at (651) 249-2400 or visit: www.maplewoodmn.gov/430/Snow-Ice-Removal - cont. from pg. 6 Snowplowing Safety City of Maplewood 1830 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55109 Phone: (651) 249-2000 www.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. Unleash your home’s full potential with a home equity loan. Use the equity in your home to cover things like: • Home improvements • A new roof • Major medical expenses • Debt consolidation • College tuition Equal Housing Lender. Rate presented based on fixed home equity loans based on a term up to 20 years and assumes 60% loan-to-value. Interest rates may vary based on credit, LTV, and amount financed Closing Costs do not include standard appraisal fee if required to complete loan, the average cost is $475. Cannot use loan proceeds to pay off an existing CCCU loan. Minimum Loan amount for a Fixed Home Equity is $25,000. Offer subject to change. APPLY TODAY! CCCU.COM (651) 225-2700 BORROW SMART.DO MORE. PLUS OPEN A HOME EQUITY LOAN OR LINE OF CREDIT AND RECEIVE A REMODEL TOOLKIT AND A $25 HOME DEPOT GIFT CARD. We’ve all heard the saying, “What gets measured gets done.” The information we gather from regularly measuring and reporting helps make decisions that will improve results. This is true with energy use--you must measure your energy use in order to manage it. The City of Maplewood, in partnership with the Minne- sota Chamber of Commerce and Xcel Energy, is offering a program to help businesses measure and manage their energy use. Benchmark Your Business is a free program available to all Maplewood businesses, large and small. Through the program your business will receive: • Free on-site energy assessments and energy benchmarking. • Assistance identifying energy saving projects eligible for rebates and financing. • Incentives to reduce the cost of Energy Star certification for buildings who have a qualifying Energy Star score. Sign up for Benchmark Your Business now and start reducing your bills and increasing occupant comfort. Energy savings are cost savings! For more information visit www.maplewoodmn.gov/benchmarkyourbusiness or contact Stefan Schiltz, Energy Program Coordinator at (651) 249-2306 or stefan.schiltz@maplewoodmn.gov. Benchmark Your Business Start reducing your bills and increasing occupant comfort by benchmarking your energy use. 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