Issuu

Park Perspective October 2017

Contents 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Vision 3.0 final stages Winter parking refresher Home water treatment systems Yard waste, brush drop-off update Setting out carts during the winter Tree pruning begins in January Recycling guide

The Park Perspective is printed on 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper in an effort to meet the city’s environmentally preferable purchasing policy.

stlouispark.org

General Election November 7 On the November General Election ballot: • S t. Louis Park voters in all four wards can vote for their ward councilmember.

Who do I contact if I have questions about absentee voting? • City Clerk: 952.924.2503

• St. Louis Park School District #283 offices.

• Hennepin County Elections: 612.348.5151

• Q uestion(s) related to the school district facilities referendum.

• MN Secretary of State’s Office: 1.800.600.VOTE (8683)

Who are the candidates for city offices on the 2017 General Election ballot? Councilmember, Ward 1

Councilmember, Ward 2

• Margaret Rog

• Anne Mavity

• Brian Shekleton

• Noelle Racette

Register to vote To be eligible to vote, a person must be 18 or older on the day of the election, a U.S. citizen, have maintained residence in Minnesota for at least 20 days before the election and be properly registered. You must re-register if: • Your name, address or apartment number changes.

Councilmember, Ward 3

Councilmember, Ward 4

• Rachel Harris

• Tim Brausen

• Jim Leuthner

5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416-2216

City Hall (7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) .............................952.924.2500 Emergency.............................................................911 Police (non-emergency)...............................952.924.2618 Municipal Service Center...........................952.924.2562 Winter Parking Hotline................................952.924.2180 The Rec Center...................................................952.924.2540 Westwood Hills Nature Center..............952.924.2544 For city events, activities and news, visit stlouispark.org.

To remain neutral, the city does not advertise or provide background information on candidates or political platforms. Candidates appearing on the ballot may have their own websites dedicated to their campaign. Information is available on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, sos.state.mn.us. Where do I vote? Enter your address in the Minnesota Secretary of State poll finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. The poll finder also lets you view a sample ballot for your next election, when available. When is absentee voting for the General Election? Now through November 6, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday at St. Louis Park City Hall.

nextdoor.com @stlouispark

The City Clerk’s office will offer extended hours for absentee voting on the following days:

@stlouispark stlouispark

• November 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Make service requests or receive city information via the app

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities Permit No. 603

or visit mystlouispark.org.

• November 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. How do I apply for an absentee ballot?

• You have not voted in four years. Check your registration before you vote • Online: slpmn.us/elections • Call the City Clerk’s office at 952.924.2503. Register before Election Day If you are not registered to vote, try to register before Election Day. In order to be listed as a registered voter on Election Day, voters must submit a valid registration application by October 17. • R egister online: bit.ly/2dhgsyr or download a paper registration application. • R egister in person or mail a completed voter registration application to the St. Louis Park City Clerk: 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 or Hennepin County Voter Registration office: 300 6th St. S., Minneapolis, MN 55487 Need to register on Election Day? In Minnesota, you can register or update your registration at your polling place on Election Day. Plan ahead and find out what you will need to bring with you to the polling place. • O nline: Visit slpmn.us/elections to learn about the proof of residence options you can use to register at your polling place on Election Day.

• I n person: You can request, receive and cast an absentee ballot in one visit to city hall.

• Call the City Clerk’s office at 952.924.2503.

• B y mail: Call 952.924.2503 to request an absentee ballot application OR download from slpmn.us/elections.

Are campaign signs regulated?

Mail, fax or email a completed absentee ballot application to Hennepin County Elections at:

Keep in mind:

• M ail: Hennepin County Elections, PSL 012 Government Center, 300 6th St. S., Minneapolis, MN 55487 • Fax: 612.348.2151 • Email: hc.vote@hennepin.us Ballot will be issued upon receipt of a completed application. Can I vote by absentee ballot if I’m not a registered voter? Yes. When you apply for an absentee ballot you’ll be provided with the required voter registration materials. Can I place my absentee ballot directly into a ballot counter at city hall? Yes. All eligible voters can vote at city hall October 31 – November 6 and place their ballots directly into a ballot counter. Votes will be counted immediately, but results won’t be reported until the polls close on November 7. Direct balloting will be available: • October 31 and November 1 – 3: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • November 4: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. • November 6: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Political signs are regulated by MN Statute 211B.045 and City Code Section 36-362(h)(5).

• P olitical signs of any size are permitted in any number from 46 days before an election. • P olitical signs must be removed within 10 days after the General Election has been held. • P olitical signs should not be placed on the public right-of-way or on any publicly owned property, including boulevard trees and utility poles. • P olitical signs must not obstruct the vision at an intersection or otherwise create a hazard to public safety.

Publicly owned land

(Schools, public buildings, parks, etc.)

Traffic islands Street signs, signals, fire hydrants

Utility poles CAMPAIGN SIGNS

Louis Park, If you have questions regarding campaign signs in St. . contact the Inspections Department at 952.924.2588

Legal age increased to purchase tobacco in St. Louis Park In July the St. Louis Park City Council passed an ordinance raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and tobacco products in St. Louis Park from 18 to 21 years old and increasing administrative fines for violation of the ordinance. The ordinance went into effect October 1, 2017.

Housing authority opens one-bedroom public housing waiting list The St. Louis Park Housing Authority will accept online applications only for the one-bedroom public housing waiting list beginning November 7 at 8 a.m. through November 9 at 4 p.m. Applications are available online only. Applicants must meet income and family size eligibility requirements. For more details on eligibility and the application process, visit www.stlouispark.org/housingauthority.

The purpose of the ordinance is to limit availability of tobacco products and to help reduce the number of youth who begin using tobacco. The ordinance includes an increase in administrative fines for violations by tobacco license holders in the city, from $250 to $500 for a first violation and from $500 to $1000 for a second violation. It also increases the license suspension from three days to 30 days for a third violation within three years. Compliance checks of tobacco license holders are conducted annually by the St. Louis Park Police Department, and licenses are renewed annually.

VISION 3.0

moves into final stages

Don’t make recreational fires a burning issue for neighbors The St. Louis Park Fire Department wants you to enjoy your small backyard recreational fire safely. The term “recreational fire” means “cooking fires and camp fires using charcoal or firewood for cooking or pleasure.” Fires used for debris disposal purposes are not considered recreational fires. Yard waste including grass, leaves, branches, twigs, garbage and recycling must be disposed of via your garbage hauler or the city’s brush drop-off site. Be a good neighbor In addition to following the recreational fire permit rules, consider your neighbors as well. Remember that smoke and the smell of smoke often carries into neighboring homes, even on calm days. Not everyone likes the smell of a campfire, especially inside their home, and it can be an irritant. Young children, the elderly and people with asthma, lung or heart disease are especially vulnerable to wood smoke in the air. If you suspect an illegal burn, call 911 and let us investigate and educate. What’s required

All wood burning recreational fires within the City of St. Louis Park require a Recreational Fire Permit which is available at www.stlouispark.org/firepermit or Fire Station One, 3750 Wooddale Ave. S. Thank you to everyone who participated in St. Louis Park’s Vision 3.0 community engagement activities! More than 2,000 people in the community provided 5,000-plus comments on their ideas for St. Louis Park’s future. Community involvement activities included two in-person town hall meetings; two Facebook Live town hall meetings; a survey; questions of the week on Nextdoor, Facebook and Twitter; and “One Wish for St. Louis Park” chalkboards and sandwich boards at 20 locations and events throughout the community. Additionally, 65 specially trained resident facilitators conducted 38 community conversations about the future of St. Louis Park. Now that formal community engagement activities have ended, the Vision 3.0 process is in its final stages. The city’s Vision 3.0 consultant is analyzing the input and future trends to provide recommendations for areas to focus on for St. Louis Park’s future. The St. Louis Park City Council will review the final Vision 3.0 report at an October meeting. Vision 3.0 results will help inform development of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

For more information call 952.924.2595 during normal business hours. There is a one-time fee of $25 for a lifetime permit for the current resident living at the property. • R ecreational fires must be 25’ away from any structure and 10’ away from the property line. • O nly burn untreated, unpainted, clean, dry, aged firewood that is at least 1” in diameter. Fires that are unreasonably offensive or injurious to others as determined by the city will be required to be extinguished. • R ecreational fires are not allowed when prevailing winds are greater than 10 mph or if the state has issued burning restrictions. Details: dnr.state.mn.us or pca.state.mn.us. • P ermit holder is responsible for conducting, controlling and extinguishing the fire. All fires must be extinguished completely to ensure that there is no smoldering or potential for reigniting. Never leave a fire unattended and always have a garden hose or fire extinguisher nearby. • R ecreational fires are permitted Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – midnight.

How will you know

How will you know if a sn Register

if a snow emergency is in effect?

How will you know if a snow emergency is in effect? Register

Sign up for ParkAlert at slpSNOW.org. Choose how to be contacted: text message, email, cell phone call, land line Register call or allup of for theParkAlert above. at slpSNOW.org. Sign

Choose how to be contacted: text message, email, cell phone call, land line

Download call or all of the above.

Download the MyStLouisPark app in the iTunes or Android store for free.

arkAlert

Download

Download the MyStLouisPark app in the iTunes or Android store for free.

Check the city’s social media sites @stlouispark

Or call the winter parking hotline at 952.924.2180

Sign up for ParkAlert at slpSNOW.org. Choose how to be contacted: text message, email, cell phone call, land line call or all of the above.

Download

Download the MyStLouisPark app in the iTunes or Android store for free.

Don’t wait until the cold hits to work on those winter projects. If you are ready to update your heating system, add more insulation, or replace your water heater, the Lending Center at the Center for Energy and Environment can help make your home improvement projects a reality. The City of St. Louis Park has partnered with the Lending Center to provide low-interest financing for your home improvement projects. Through this partnership, residents have access to financing as low as 4% (APR 4.416%*). And with flexible terms, monthly payments will be affordable. Most interior and exterior home improvement projects are eligible, including energy upgrades, remodeling, windows and doors, roofing and more. Income limits may apply. Visit mnlendingcenter.org or call 612.335.5884 to get started or learn more about the program. The Lending Center at the Center for Energy and Environment is a Minnesota nonprofit that has been helping homeowners for nearly 40 years. *APR is based on a loan amount of $35,000 for a 20-year term. Energy Efficient Rebates The city matches 50 percent of utility rebates for energy efficient furnaces, water heaters and air conditioners, in addition to air sealing and insulation. Simply mail a copy of the utility rebate you received within one year of the rebate check date to the Community Development Department, and a city rebate check will be mailed to you. Mail to: City of St. Louis Park Community Development Department 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Attn: Marney Olson

arkAlert

For city events, Check the city’s social activities media sites: and news Download Download the MyStLouisPark app in the iTunes or Android store for free.

nextdoor.com

@stlouispark Follow

@stlouispark stlouispark

Check the city’s social media sites @stlouispark

Or call the winter parking hotline at 952.924.2180

Make service requests or receive city info

Or call the winter parking hotline at 952.924.2180.

Or call the winter parking hotline at 952.924.2180

Get your home ready for winter

Sign up for ParkAlert at slpSNOW.org. Choose how to be contacted: text message, email, cell phone call, land line call or all of the above.

mystlou

Winter parking refresher The City of St. Louis Park uses a proactive snow emergency declaration to notify residents that they must remove vehicles from city streets to accommodate plowing operations. Here’s what you need to know: 1. T hree inches of snow or more will still be the guideline for declaring a snow emergency; however, instead of the snow emergency going into effect at the time three inches of snow is observed, the city, using a combination of available forecasts, will be able to declare a snow emergency in advance of the storm. 2. E xample: Leading forecasts call for the city to receive 4–7 inches of snow between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on December 15. The city would proactively announce during the evening of December 15 that a snow emergency will be in effect at 2 a.m., December 16. 3. A s always, vehicles parked on a street during a snow emergency are subject to ticketing. If your vehicle remains on the streets 12 hours after it’s ticketed, it will be towed. 4. T he snow emergency will remain in effect until your street is plowed to the curb. As soon as your street is plowed to the curb, you may again park vehicles on the street. 5. S now removal operations are not changing. The city will provide the same highquality service following the same pattern it has in the past – plowing main roads and then moving into neighborhoods. 6. T he new snow emergency declaration also provides additional flexibility. If the city received three back-to-back snow events of two inches each for three days, for instance, it could declare a snow emergency if needed to plow streets. Or in the spring if there is more than three inches of snow predicted, but also high temperatures the following day that would likely melt the snow, the city could decide not to declare a snow emergency. When on-street parking is allowed When a snow emergency has been declared, on-street parking is allowed if your street has been plowed to the curb. When snow accumulation is less than three inches, plows may be dispatched but parking is not banned. However, snow plow drivers can do a better job of clearing streets if you park off the street even during minor snowfalls. If you aren’t sure if parking is banned, call the Winter Parking Hotline at 952.924.2180. Vehicles can be ticketed and towed

Vehicles parked on a street during a snow emergency are subject to ticketing. If they’re not moved within 12 hours of being ticketed, they can be towed. Ticket and towing charges can include any of the following and can be higher: • $30 minimum parking ticket (fee can be higher) • $ 115 minimum towing charge, plus administrative fees (additional charges if the vehicle must be shoveled out or weighs more than one ton)

Schedule your Home Energy Squad visit this winter Minnesotans have grown accustomed to an existence that involves some degree of discomfort, especially in the winter months. We anticipate the drafts and cold spots in our homes the same as we expect the changing seasons. However, that discomfort is preventable, as some have learned with help from the Home Energy Squad. The City of St. Louis Park pays $50 towards the cost of a Home Energy Squad Enhanced visit, a program provided by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy, and delivered by the local nonprofit, Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). The service includes a home performance audit plus the installation of energy saving products. The Home Energy Squad Enhanced visit is normally $100. St. Louis Park residents pay only $50 with the city buy down; smart thermostats are an extra upcharge. To schedule an appointment, call 651.328.6220 or visit mncee.org/hes-slp.

• $30 storage fee per day If you’re plowed in, ticketed or towed If your vehicle is ticketed or plowed-in, dig it out immediately and move it to a driveway, garage or plowed street. If your vehicle is towed, call Bobby & Steve’s at 952.944.1690 to find out where to pick up your vehicle. Avoid ticketing and towing

To avoid the risk of ticketing and towing, pay attention to the weather forecast. If snowfall is predicted, regardless of depth, don’t take a chance; park on the driveway or in your garage. If you’re going to be away from home, don’t leave your car on the street. If you aren’t sure if parking is banned, call the Winter Parking Hotline at 952.924.2180. Another way to avoid a ticket and towing is to make it your winter habit to park off the street, especially at night. You can be ticketed and towed if you park too close to an unplowed area of the street. City ordinance prohibits vehicles from being parked within 50 feet (about two car lengths) of any snow left behind when plows went around parked cars. Have snow plowing questions?

Call Public Works at 952.924.2562 during regular business hours or visit slpsnow.org.

St. Louis Park drinking water comes in tops in taste test St. Louis Park’s drinking water finished in the top four at the Great Minnesota Tap Water Taste Test conducted by the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair. The taste test included drinking water samples from 22 cities across Minnesota. The winner was Lake Elmo, with North St. Paul, Plymouth and St. Louis Park as the other top four finalists. Water samples are judged by audience members. Since 2012, the MDH and AWWA have hosted this event at the Eco Experience building at the State Fair as a way to promote Minnesota tap water and to educate the audience about public water and water treatment.

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Hwy. 7, Hopkins homeremodelingfair.com The fair features a wide variety of exhibitors with products & services related to home improvement.

Help keep streets and waterways clean The city cleans city streets to provide safe conditions for all kinds of transportation and to protect the environment. All city streets are swept twice a year – in the spring and again in the fall.

@westmetrohrf

Drug Take Back Day October 28 Drop off your unwanted prescription drugs at Drug Take Back Day October 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the St. Louis Park Police Department, 3015 Raleigh Ave. S. For more information call 952.924.2600 or email slppdoutreach@stlouispark.org.

About home water treatment systems Periodically the city hears from residents who have been contacted by companies attempting to sell home water treatment systems. Sometimes, these companies may raise concerns with residents about the safety of St. Louis Park’s drinking water. The City of St. Louis Park supplies its residents with safe, quality drinking water that meets all drinking water standards set by the US EPA to be in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. This is confirmed through annual testing by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Testing data is published in an annual drinking water report distributed to all residents via the Park Perspective and available at stlouispark.org. Water treatment units are best for improving the physical qualities of water – the taste, color or odor. To determine if you need a water treatment unit in your home, or what type of unit would be best for you visit the MDH website page about home water treatment at http://bit.ly/2vtIJIh, or visit health.state.mn.us and search “home water treatment.”

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Fall street sweeping starts in early October and continues until snow season. The goal is to remove leaves from the street to prevent plugged storm drains and to ensure streets are as clean as possible prior to snowfall. When leaves accumulate in the street, sweepers are ineffective so the city first uses equipment to push leaves into a pile and haul them away. Then the sweepers will resume sweeping to do a final clean up. Weather greatly influences the amount of sweeping that occurs in the fall. Help keep streets clear: If possible, avoid parking on streets during daytime hours. The city does not post “no parking” signs for street sweeping since it sweeps on a continuous cycle while the weather holds. However, crews can do a better job when cars aren’t blocking their access to the curb. Help local waterways: Grass clippings and leaves in the street end up in our local bodies of water where they decompose and release phosphorous. Algae use this nutrient to grow, which can turn our lakes green and negatively affect fish. Better alternatives include leaving grass clippings on your lawn or collecting grass and leaves for pickup by the city’s yard waste hauler. Thanks for doing your part to protect our local lakes, creeks and rivers!

AMERICA Recycles Day November 15, 2017

Last week of yard waste collection is November 27 The last week for yard waste collection is the week of November 27 – December 1, unless there is a significant snowfall before this week, then yard waste collection will end at that time. Remember, yard waste must be in containers or compostable bags separate from garbage. Organics recycling participants will continue to have their food scraps picked up year-round using the brown-lidded organics carts.

What will you do to celebrate?

Learn more and take the #BERECYCLED pledge at americarecyclesday.org.

Last day for brush drop-off is Oct. 29 The city’s brush drop-off site will be closed for the season after Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, and will reopen in the spring. Location: 2501 Edgewood Ave. S. Entrance at intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Avenue South. St. Louis Park residents only; ID or utility bill required. Hours of operation: • Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. • Sundays: Noon – 4 p.m. • Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Materials accepted: Branches, brush, logs.

Temporary collection change for organics recycling participants Participants in the organics recycling program will notice a collection change during the months of October and November 2017. The city’s hauler, Advanced Disposal, will be collecting the contents of organics carts separately from any yard waste that is set outside of the cart for collection. Organics and yard waste will still be collected weekly on the regular collection day for each household. The time of day that collection occurs for organics carts will be different from yard waste. This is being done to aid the composting process at the composting facility during the peak yard waste months. Organics participants are asked to wait until 6 p.m. to report any missed pickups of organics or yard waste to Advanced Disposal by calling 763.786.7233.

Not accepted: Grass clippings, leaves, root balls, lumber, wood scraps, fencing, trash, sod, stump grindings.

Free compost available at the brush drop-off site

ovided by: r p t s o omp

Does your soil need a boost before the long winter nap that awaits? Then it’s time to pick up your free, limited supply of compost! Food scraps collected in the city’s organics recycling program are composted by The Mulch Store. Finished compost is provided each year to residents to help build healthy soils in our city. Compost is available at the brush drop-off site during regular operating hours (see brush drop-off article above), while supplies last. • Limit five 5-gallon buckets. • Bring your own container and shovel. • Bring proof of residency. • Compost is located beyond the check-in gate. Look for The Mulch Store sign. Visit kisstheground.com/thecompoststory to watch a video about the ways that compost improves soils.

3 5

Holiday recycling, organics recycling and garbage schedules If a holiday falls on the weekend, there will be no delayed collection. If a holiday falls during the week, collection will be delayed by one day all week through Saturday (9 a.m. through 6 p.m.).

Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 No collection on Thursday. Thursday and Friday collection will be delayed by one day.

Christmas Day Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 No collection on Monday. Collection delayed one day all week.

New Year's Day Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 No collection on Monday. Collection delayed one day all week.

Contact Public Works at 952.924.2562 for more information.

Holiday tree collection For households that receive city collection service, holiday trees can be set out for collection at the curb or alley on your regular collection day. Real trees: Advanced Disposal will collect real (cut) holiday trees for no charge from Jan. 1 – 19, 2018. • Remove all decorations, wires, stands, lights, tinsel, etc. • Do not bag your tree. • Set out by 7 a.m. on collection day. • Ensure your tree is not stuck in the ice or snow on collection day. Artificial trees: Donate or give away for reuse or dispose in the trash. • Smaller trees: Place in your garbage cart, no need to bag. • L arger trees: Waste Management will accept artificial trees that are too large to fit in your trash cart through bulk pickup for $7.50, plus tax. You must call 763.783.5423 prior to setting your artificial tree out. Note: Residents living in multi-family buildings may take real trees to the city’s brush drop-off site during the month of January on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Artificial trees are not accepted.

Please don’t modify your carts Solid waste is collected in city-owned carts through the city’s curbside collection program. Please do not modify the carts by placing stickers on the carts or relabeling them for other uses. If you relabel your cart for something other than what it is intended, the material cannot be collected and your cart will be tagged as a reminder. Please note that green-lidded garbage carts are for garbage; blue-lidded recycling carts are for recycling; and brown-lidded organics carts are for organics. If the size of your garbage, recycling or organics cart does not meet your current needs, please contact Utility Billing at 952.924.2111 to change your cart size or request an additional recycling cart.

Holiday lights recycling In the past the City of St. Louis Park collected holiday lights for recycling. Due to changes with our partner organization, the city discontinued this program in March 2017. Please do not bring holiday lights to The Rec Center or Municipal Service Center. St. Louis Park will accept holiday lights at the city cleanup events held annually in June and September. Residents who want to recycle strands of lights other times of the year can take them directly to one of the Hennepin County drop-off facilities (Brooklyn Park or Bloomington). For a closer option, Express Metals in Hopkins also accepts holiday lights; visit expressmetals.net for location and operating hours.

Holiday Train returns to St. Louis Park December 10

Setting out carts during winter months On your collection day, garbage, recycling and organics carts must be placed at the curb or alley by 7 a.m. where collectors can easily get to them. Carts cannot be placed in the streets, alleys or sidewalks because they get in the way of vehicles and pedestrians and obstruct snow removal. Setting out your carts for collection During winter months you must keep the area where you place your carts for collection clear of snow. This helps collectors safely access your carts. Make sure your carts are out by 7 a.m. as collection times may vary due to weather conditions. • I f you have curbside collection, place carts on your driveway or on the boulevard between the street and sidewalk. • I f you have alley collection, place carts on your property, driveway or beside your garage next to the alley. Storing your carts after collection Put carts away promptly after collection. If you store your carts outdoors, please be considerate. The city requires that carts are not stored adjacent to the street and are at least four feet from property lines shared with a neighbor.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will return to St. Louis Park Sunday, December 10, 2017, stopping at West Lake Street and Library Lane. The event time will be announced in mid-October. The Holiday Train’s mission is to bring awareness of hunger and collection donations for agencies like the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP). Last year, the Holiday Train event resulted in almost $25,000 and more than 5,000 pounds of food donated to STEP. The train’s 14 cars are brightly decorated with thousands of LED lights and holiday designs, with live musical entertainment and a short program at each stop. An announcement of Holiday Train entertainment and a full schedule of stops, including times, will be available in mid-October. To learn more about the Holiday Train, visit cpr.ca/holiday-train/schedule-united-states. Pre-train musical entertainment at the St. Louis Park stop will feature Minneapolis-based Tim Mahoney. The event is free; participants are asked to bring a food or financial donation for STEP. For information about how to become a sponsor of this year’s Holiday Train, contact the Host Committee at info@stepslp.org or call 952.925.4899, ext. 17.

Refrigerator insider: help your refrigerator save food

Top shelf This area has the most consistent temperature in the fridge. Store cheese, butter, and cooked meats here.

Freezer Door Prepare and freeze items The warmest space in for use throughout the the fridge. Good for month. Freeze foods you condiments, but not good won’t be able to eat in for perishables (like milk time, such as bread, sliced and eggs) fruit, or meat. Bottom shelf Crisper drawers The coldest part of the fridge. Can help control humidity Store eggs, milk, and raw levels for better storage meat here. (e.g., high humidity for lettuce, low humidity for fruits and veggies).

Keep your fridge temp at 40 degrees or below. Bacteria do not like the cold.

City hosting Minnesota GreenCorps member The City of St. Louis Park is hosting a Minnesota GreenCorps member from September 2017 to August 2018. Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program created and coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency with projects focused on improving environmental outcomes. The city’s GreenCorps member will primarily focus on improving recycling in multi-family buildings and parks, as well as increasing participation in curbside organics collection.

Tips to fight food waste Keep fridge temp at 40 degrees or below. Bacteria do not like the cold.

Food waste is a big issue – 40 percent of food is wasted in the U.S. But people don’t often think they contribute to the food waste problem. Most consumers think they waste less food than the average person. The reasons they waste food are related to good intentions – people want to eat healthy, be a generous host, be good caretakers and be adventurous eaters. With some simple strategies, we can all help cut back on food waste – it’s good for the wallet and good for the environment. Here’s just one of many strategies to consider. Help your refrigerator save food Your fridge can help to extend the life of food. It comes down to where you place your food within your fridge and keeping your fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Here’s what to store in your refrigerator and where: • T op shelf: Has the most consistent temperate in the fridge so store butter, cheese and cooked meats here. • D oor: This is the warmest place in the fridge, so keep condiments and hard-to-spoil items here. • B ottom shelf: The coldest area of the fridge, so keep eggs, milk, raw meat, and other perishable items here. • C risper drawer: Controls humidity for better storage (e.g. high humidity for lettuce, low humidity for fruits and veggies). • F reezer: The freezer should obviously be used for frozen goods, but also use it to freeze now/use later items. If you won’t be able to eat bread, meat or fruit before they go bad, put them in the freezer and use them later. More tips can be found on Save the Food’s website, savethefood.com.

Electronics recycling Have old electronics you need recycled? There are many options out there, but be sure to verify that the business or individual who takes your item is registered with the state of Minnesota. It is illegal for any non-registered entity to collect or accept TVs, computers (including laptops) and monitors, keyboards, printers, fax machines or DVD/VCR players for recycling. Hennepin County charges $10 per TV, laptop, or computer monitor at the drop-off facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington. Other electronics are accepted at no charge. Learn more at hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/items/electronics. For additional registered collectors, check the MPCA’s list at http://bit.ly/2vSWxYs.

Tree pruning to begin in January Each year the City of St. Louis Park hires a licensed tree service to prune a portion of the city’s boulevard trees. This “rotational” pruning takes place from January through March. The city-hired tree service contractor, S & S Horticulture and Tree, Inc., will be starting the first week in January 2018 finishing the Sorenson neighborhood, then moving into the Birchwood, Bronx and Lenox neighborhoods. They will prune through the end of March 2018. This work is intended to improve the health, safety and function of boulevard trees; each boulevard tree is pruned once every nine years. Visit stlouispark.org to see a map of when pruning will occur in your neighborhood. Property owners are responsible for the full cost of pruning trees on private property, and may use only tree services licensed by the city. By licensing tree contractors, the city is assuring its property owners that these companies have adequate insurance and qualifications to perform safe and professional tree work. Pruning of trees is strongly recommended during tree dormancy, November through March. Visit stlouispark.org for a list of licensed tree services.

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Stick to the recycling guide Recycling is an important way for our community to reduce the negative impact we have on the environment and to support job creation. Curbside recycling is available to all residents who receive city collection services. State law and local ordinance also require that recycling service be made available to multi-family residents by their property management. This recycling guide lists the most common recyclable materials that are accepted in the city’s recycling program and programs offered through multi-family buildings. If you’re not sure if something can be recycled, check the guide first. If you don’t find it there, please don’t toss it in the recycling bin for someone else to figure out! Doing so can cause contamination and lower the value of recyclable material. Plastic bags, electronics and diapers should never go in your recycling bin, no matter where you live. If something isn’t listed on the guide, ask for help or put it in the trash.

Questions about curbside recycling? Contact Kala Fisher at 952.924.2183 or kfisher@stlouispark.org.

Questions about multi-family recycling? Contact Emily Barker at 952.924.2187 or ebarker@stlouispark.org.

Paper

Plastic

Cartons

Glass

Metal

• Mail, office and school papers • Magazines and catalogs • Newspapers and inserts • Phone books • Books (remove hard covers) • Shredded paper in closed paper bags marked “shredded”

Bottles & jugs: • Water, soda and juice bottles • Milk and juice jugs • Ketchup and salad dressing bottles • Dishwashing liquid bottles and detergent jugs • Shampoo, soap and lotion bottles Cups and containers: • Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups

• Milk cartons • Juice boxes • Soup, broth and wine cartons

• Food and beverage bottles and jars

• Food and beverage cans • Aluminum foil and trays rinsed clean

Don’t place in your recycle cart: Styrofoam™ • plastic bags/wrap • microwaveable food trays • paper soiled with St. Louis Park food • paper plates and towels • drinking glasses • dishes, mirrors or Organics containers that Recycling held hazardous products. Recycling, & Garbage

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

• Toothpaste, medication and other toiletry boxes

• Disposable cups and bowls • Margarine, cottage cheese and other containers • Produce, deli and take-out containers Packaging: • Clear packaging from toys and electronics

PAID

• Cereal and cracker boxes • Shoe boxes, gift boxes and electronics boxes

Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 603

Boxes: • Cardboard

Reminder: Plastic bags cannot be recycled in your curbside recycing cart. Please check with your local retailer or grocer to see if they collect plastic bags for recycling or visit plasticfilmrecycling.org for more information on how to recycle plastic bags.

This guide includes useful tips and information for residential recycling, organics, yard waste and garbage collection. Get Labels For Your Home