HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - 02 FebNEWS
February 2008
Together
We Can!
CHANGES PROPOSED FOR MAPLEWOOD WETLAND ORDINANCE
How Important is Wetland Habitat to Maplewood?
On a crisp winter day at the Maplewood Nature Center,In addition to providing habitat, wetlands maintain water
a class of 4th graders out snowshoeing, came upon minkquality by filtering pollutants and reducing flooding.
tracks. Mink in Maplewood?! Yes, itÕs true. Mink liveThey provide open space for recreation, education, and
on wetlands, lakes, or rivers and the adjacent uplandaesthetic enjoyment. They are an integral part of the
habitat. The Nature CenterÕs Green Heron Pond and itscityÕs environment.
adjacent upland is a delicatessen for this sleek mammal,
This winter Maplewood will decide how to best protect
abundant with minnows, crayfish, amphibians, small
its wetlands and wetland habitat. The Environment and
mammals and more. Without wetlands, mink and many
Natural Resources Commission has been working with
other animal species would not have a home in our
Wetland Ordinance continued on page 4
community.
D
ear Friends and Neighbors
Mission Statement
City Value Statements
2
FAMILY HEALTH FAIR
March 15, 2005
Maplewood Community Center
1pm-4:30pm
¥ Join with NO initial fee
This health fair will give participants and their
¥ All insurance benefits apply
families the opportunity to take advantage of
¥ Get full use of the facility with a
short-term membership
free health screenings and gather important
information from local health care professionals
Great Option for retirees who leave for the winter,
and organizations.
college students who return for the summer and individuals
who want to experience the MCC before purchasing an
annual membership.
Health Screenings
FREE
PUT YOUR FITNESS PLAN INTO ACTION BY JOINING THE
MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER.
Blood Pressure Checks
FREE
Family Health Information
FREE
2100 White Bear Ave. ¥ Maplewood, MN 55109
Admission!
FREE
www.maplewoodcommunitycenter.com
MAPLEWOOD LOOKING TO IMPROVE RECYCLING RATES IN 2008
In 2007, Eureka Recycling started
accepting milk cartons, juice boxes and
During 2008, wesoup and broth cartons (commonly
will be publishing a monthly article thatknown as Tetra Paks). Please recycle
will offer recycling tips and informationthese items with your bottles and cans
that will help you recycle more.after you have rinsed, removed caps
and flattened. Flattening cartons and
The 2008 Guide to Recyclinghas
plastic bottles is important since they are
been mailed to all residents of
bulky and fill the recycling truck more
Maplewood by Eureka Recycling and
quickly. Help Eureka Recycling save
should be in your homes. Please
time and fuel by reducing the number of
remember these tips to help increase
trips to the recycling center. And, even
recycling in Maplewood:
though Tetra Paks are mostly paper,
AT THE CURB BY 7:00 A.M.
they need to be collected with bottles
and cans.
Sometimes the routes change and
Eureka Recycling may come through
Eureka Recycling also accepts Clothes
your neighborhood at a different time of
and Linens that are in good, clean and
the day from week to week. To ensure
In 2006, 2,614 tons of recyclablesreusable condition. Place these items in
that your materials are collected, always
were picked up at the curb by Eureka
a sturdy plastic bag, fasten and mark
set them at the curb by 7:00 a.m.
Recycling. In 2007 recycling increased
ÒClothes and LinensÓ on the bag.
by 4 percent to 2,710 tons. The
RECYCLING BINS
FOR MORE INFORMATION
increase in recycling participation in
Call the Eureka Recycling Hotline at
Maplewood is commendable.
651-222-7678 to speak to one of their
However, we still have a long way to
friendly staff who can answer your
go since each year 1.3 million tons of
questions about recycling.
recyclables are thrown away in
Or, visit the Eureka website at
Minnesota at a cost of $312 million.
www.eurekarecycling.org which is
Nationally an estimated 86 percent of
loaded with program basics and
single serving plastic drink bottles are
additional waste reduction information.
not recycled.
3
Key Changes Proposed
for the Wetland Ordinance
Adopt new wetland classifications
The proposed ordinance adopts Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed
DistrictÕs (RWMWD) new wetland classifications. RWMWD visited
242 Maplewood wetlands and classified each using the Minnesota
Routine Assessment Method.
Changing buffer width requirements
The buffer is the zone of vegetation around a pond or wetland. It is an
area where no building, mowing, or cutting would be allowed. Buffers
city staff on changes to the cityÕs wetland
help filter pollutants and protect the wetland from human disturbance.
ordinance. A copy of the proposed
Research suggests that a 50Õ buffer is the minimal buffer that will
changes to the wetland ordinance will be
adequately filter pollutants. Thus, the proposed minimum buffer is 50Õ.
available on the cityÕs website
As the quality of the wetland increases, the buffer would increase.
(www.ci.maplewood.mn.us) in February.
Class C: 50Õ buffer, Class B: 75Õ Buffer, Class A: 100Õ buffer, Class
The City Council will take formal action in
A+: 200Õ buffer.
late winter or Spring.
Establishing a Class A+
When setting environmental policies the
The proposed ordinance would establish a Class A+. A+ wetlands
city strives to balance financial hardship
would be the highest quality, most diverse, or most unique wetlands in
for landowners with protection of the
the city. These would have a minimum 200Õ buffer. While smaller
environment and the public good. Are
buffers can filter pollutants, a 100Õ buffer is not wide enough to
wetlands and wildlife habitat important to
provide habitat for many species. For example, snapping turtles have
you? Voice your opinion.
a mean nesting distance of 196 feet from the wetland; tiger
salamanders may roam over 656 feet from the wetlands; wood frogs
For additional information on the
commonly use 200 feet of buffer and may feed over ? mile from a
proposed changes, please contact
wetland. And that mink at the Maplewood Nature Center? Female
Virginia Gaynor, Open Space Naturalist,
mink need about 40 acres of wetland/upland habitat but male mink
at 651-249-2416 or Shann Finwall,
hunt up to ? miles away from the water.
Planner, at 651-249-2304.
Require best management practices
The proposed changes would require that projects requesting a
variance to encroach on the required install best management
practices, such as restoring native vegetation in the buffer or reducing
storm water impacts outside the buffer.
4
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
In 1999 the City implemented a
Pavement Management Policy that
defines a special assessment levy for
properties receiving a direct benefit
from a street improvement project.
For example: In 2008 the levy to a
residential property benefiting from
full street reconstruction is $5,460
In November of 2007 the City
compared to $4,960 last year (10%
Council passed the 2008-2012
increase). It is an opportune time to
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for
upgrade your streets with the special
expanding and maintaining the
levy likely to rise in the coming years
infrastructure within the City over the
until it covers 50% of project costs.
next five years. In 2008 alone
And with current market conditions
approximately thirty Capital
the City has been receiving favorable
Improvement Projects are listed for the
construction bids from contractors
Public Works Department ranging
resulting in cost savings of roughly
from park improvements to street
25%. The seven 2008 neighborhood
reconstruction projects. The majority
reconstruction projects would likely
of the five-year CIP addresses
see construction beginning in early to
reconstructing streets and utilities
mid spring after the public
within older neighborhoods; with
improvement process is completed
seven neighborhoods planned for
which entails neighborhood meetings
reconstruction in 2008. A portion of
and a series of public hearings.
costs for these projects is recovered
through special assessments.
PERSONAL SAFETY &
THREAT AWARENESS CLASS
LIFESAVING
Learn to identify threats and how to react as well as
AWARD
different tools that can be used for self defense.
Receive a quick study of local crime trends both
current and older scams used on people. You
will see video clips of local crimes that have happened and cover what
to do to avoid being a victim. Other items covered include defense
tactics and hands on practice, the correct frame of mind to survive
attacks and current crime trends.
Location: Maplewood Community Center
Instructor: Scott Steffen-
Sergeant Maplewood Police Department
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Lifesaving Award recipient
Jonah Hale and Chief Steve Lukin.
Time: 7:00pm Ð 8:00 pm
Jonah received the Lifesaving
Three ways to register:
Award for his fast thinking in a
Online: www.maplewoodcommunitycenter.com
swimming pool when he called
Phone: MCC (651)249-2230
NO COST
for help and swam over to assist
In Person: Maplewood Community Center
¥FREE¥
his brother Micah to the side of
2100 White Bear Avenue
the pool.
Maplewood, MN 55109
5
Romance
CITY MEETINGS:
City Council Meetings:
at the Maplewood Community Center
Citizens Forum:
Community Design Review Board:
Featuring: The George Maurer Trio
Environmental & Natural Resources:
One of Central Minnesotas sparkling contributions to the arts.?
Housing & Redevelopment Authority:
--Dale Connelly/Jim Ed Poole/ MPRs The Morning Program
"Jazz beyond suburbia...and then way out..."
Planning Commission:
--Leigh Kamman, host of The Jazz Image on MinnesotaPublic Radio
"The George Maurer Group has a refreshing energy to their
performances with an irreverent style and sly musical humor."
--The Dakota Bar & Grill, St. Paul
Parks & Recreation Commission:
"The diverse backgrounds of all these players make for a concert
experience that's pure entertainment."
Police Civil Service Commission:
--Jazz88FM (KBEM), Minneapolis
Historic Preservation Commission:
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Social Hour 6:30 pm
Performance 7:30 pm
MCC Banquet Room
www.ci.maplewood.mn.us
Hors d oeuvres & Cash Bar
FREE Gift for Female Guests
Call 651.249.2230 or visit
customer service for tickets.
$22/Advance $20/Seniors, MCC Members, Students
$25/Day of event (6.5% sales tax will be added)
CITYOFMAPLEWOOD
Mayor:
Diana Longrie651.774.1490diana.longrie@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Council Members:
Kathleen Juenemann651.771.3670kathleen.juenemann@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Come and Celebrate
Erik Hjelle651.846.4328 erikhjelle@yahoo.com
51
Will Rossbach651.484.5427will.rossbach@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Maplewoods st and
John Nephew651.776.5963john.nephew@ci.maplewood.mn.us
150
City Manager:the State of Minnesotas th
Chuck Ahl651.249.2050chuck.ahl@ci.maplewood.mn.us
Birthday on
CITY HALL
Feb. 23rd, 2008, 2?6 at
PM
1830 County Road B East, Maplewood, MN 55109
Phone 651.249.2000 Fax 651.249.2009
The Maplewood Community Center
www.ci.maplewood.mn.us
2100 White Bear Avenue
DEPUTY REGISTRAR AND PASSPORT HOURS
Monday Ð Friday: 8:00 am Ð 4:30 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am Ð 12:00 noon
Printed on recycled paper.