Park Perspective - October 2018 by City of St. Louis Park

Park Perspective October ber 2018

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St. Louis Park in brief No me to read the en re Park Perspec ve? Here’s what you need to know if someone asks you what’s new in St. Louis Park!

Climate Action Plan progress continues Additional activities: • Both Xcel Energy and the city are replacing streetlights with LEDs, which are long-lasting and more energy eﬃcient compared to traditional high-pressure sodium streetlights.

• Minnetonka Boulevard improvements — Page 2 • 2019 budget — Page 3 • Arrange a home inspection — Page 4 • Solid waste changes — Page 6 • Snow emergencies — Page 8 Gas-powered equipment is being replaced with electric tools.

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

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

Work continues on the Climate Action Plan, adopted in February 2018 by the St. Louis Park City Council. The plan’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality – a net zero carbon footprint – in St. Louis Park by 2040. The plan began with three kick-start projects to engage the community and build momentum for change: 1.

Partnering with youth: The city continues to partner with St. Louis Park High School students, who held an Earth Day Climate Action Plan launch event in April and have been visiting businesses to talk about energy eﬃciency and renewable actions. They also created a business brochure to use during visits and to give out at events.

For city events, activities and news, visit www.stlouispark.org. nextdoor.com

@stlouispark

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

Centralizing information about the plan: Environment and sustainability commission members, along with city staﬀ and youth, are working to choose the resources, technology and assistance that will eventually become a community resource hub for the Climate Action Plan. One example is an online solar suitability map, which provides an estimate of the potential for solar energy systems at properties in St. Louis Park based on shading, roof pitch and size. Accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EV) by installing chargers in public parking lots: The city is reviewing EV charging opportunities for upcoming projects in public parking lots and ramps, including at Westwood Hills Nature Center. Through GreenStep Cities, the city has participated in the Cities Charging Ahead EV cohort to help gain insight from other cities. Through this cohort, the city is undergoing a one-year fleet analysis of city vehicles, funded by Xcel Energy. Results of the analysis will provide recommendations for which city vehicles would be best suited for replacement with electric vehicles or hybrids.

• New pool filters were installed at The Rec Center’s Aquatic Park to help reduce water use, save energy and reduce operations costs. In June and July 2018, water use was reduced by 645,000 gallons compared to the same time period in 2017. • The goal of the new Westwood Hills Nature Center interpretive building is to be zero energy, with 100 percent of the building’s annual energy needs supplied by on-site renewable energy. See page 5 for more information about this project. • In 2017, the city installed solar panels at the Municipal Service Center and Fire Station 2. In addition, four city buildings are 100 percent electrically powered by renewable energy – City Hall, the Police Station and both Fire Stations. • With grant funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the parks and public works divisions are taking steps to replace most of their gas-powered equipment, such as weed whippers, with electric tools to reduce emissions. This eﬀort is expected to expand to other city departments. See photo with this article. • The city is working to achieve SolSmart designation, which recognizes cities for fostering development of mature, local solar markets. The city is also working with Hennepin County and the cities of Edina and Eden Prairie to pilot energy benchmarking for certain building types, sizes and functions. By measuring energy use, it may be easier for building owners to manage that use. The Climate Action Plan was the result of the city’s collaboration with community members, the environment and sustainability commission, youth members of the Roots and Shoots Environmental Club at St. Louis Park High School and with nonprofi t organization iMatter. Visit www.stlouispark.org/climate-action-plan to learn more.

Interested in mobility sharing? Tell us about it! The City of St. Louis Park wants to know how residents feel about the potential for mobility sharing opportunities. Mobility sharing is a transportation option ideal for short distance trips. It allows users to pick up an available bike, scooter or other personal transportation device for use within a specific service area, generally the boundaries of a city. Examples of mobility sharing companies operating in the Twin Cities metro area are Nice Ride, Lime and Bird. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/YM6WSDL to take the survey, or visit www.stlouispark.org/mobility-sharing to take the survey and learn more about the city’s eﬀorts on mobility sharing. Your responses help inform the kind of service the community wants as well as how it might be used. Paper copies of the survey are available and can be filled out at City Hall. For other questions regarding mobility sharing, contact Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog at bmanibog@stlouispark.org or at 952.924.2669.

Be prepared for

snow season. See page 8.

General Election 2018 Tuesday, Nov. 6 Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. See insert for more information.

Join the PulsePoint community Help save the life of someone having a cardiac event in public by downloading the PulsePoint app. Are you trained in CPR? Would you like to be able to help someone who is having an emergency? Consider downloading the PulsePoint app. Here’s how it works. If the cardiac emergency is in a public place and 911 has been called, trained citizens within 400 yards are alerted by the app of the need for bystander CPR until police, fire or EMS crews can arrive. The app also directs citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest publicly accessible AED. PulsePoint is free and available for both Android and Apple smartphones. Once downloaded, locate “Agencies” under the menu tab, then select St. Louis Park Fire Department and click “Follow.” Under settings, select CPR and acknowledge the message. Residents who would like to arrange for training or a refresher in hands-only CPR or AED use may contact Nancy Schmelzle, St. Louis Park Fire Department community outreach coordinator, at nschmelzle@stlouispark.org or 952.300.1413. Visit www.stlouispark.org/pulsepoint to learn more. We hope you’ll consider joining the PulsePoint community!

Don’t make recreational fires a burning issue for neighbors The St. Louis Park Fire Department wants you to enjoy your 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 through 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 vulnerable to wood smoke in the air.

What’s required

Be a Hydrant Hero Volunteer to become a Hydrant Hero! The St. Louis Park Fire Department asks homeowners and businesses with fire hydrants on or near their property to shovel the snow around the fire hydrant after each snowfall and to keep the hydrant clear of plant overgrowth during the summer. Visit www.hydranthero.org to adopt a hydrant. Choose a hydrant, click on the “Adopt me” link and fill out the registration form – you can even give your hydrant a name! Questions? Call 952.924.2171.

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 at Fire Station 1, 3750 Wooddale Ave. S. For more information, call 952.924.2595 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There is a one-time fee of $25 for a lifetime permit for the current resident living at the property. Requirements for the permit are also at this site; be aware of the rules. If you suspect an illegal burn, call 911 and let us investigate and educate.

Hennepin County improves Minnetonka Boulevard This summer, Hennepin County made improvements along Minnetonka Boulevard (County Road 5) between Highways 100 and 169. Improvements included: • Replacing catch basin grates with bike-friendly grates • Restriping the road to include bike lanes, bike symbols and signs • Reconfiguring the Dakota Avenue and Minnetonka Boulevard intersection • Installing bicycle detection in the traﬃc signals at Lake Street and at Dakota, Louisiana and Texas avenues

Fire department offers lock boxes for residents One component of community resiliency is the ability to provide resources for residents to stay in their homes safely and securely, for as long as they choose. The St. Louis Park Fire Department offers a program to residents who are worried that, in case of an emergency, they may not be able to reach the door to let in first responders. Residents may request a secure lockbox, which is located at the entrance door and contains a key to the home that can be accessed only by a special key carried by police and fire personnel. When help arrives, if no one is there to meet them, firefighters or police officers can open the door with a key instead of forcing the door open and causing damage and additional cost. Thanks to funding from American Legion Post 282, the lockboxes are offered to St. Louis Park residents for a one-time fee of $50, which covers administration of the program for as long as the resident requires it. This program is available to any resident. The lockbox, produced by The Knox Company, installs easily and holds one key. Should the resident move or no longer require the lockbox, it can be returned to the fire department. If you need to update the keys, notify the fire department. If you or your loved one could benefit from this service, call the fire department at 952.924.2595 or visit www.stlouispark.org/lockbox to learn more.

October 2018

• Installing green crossbike striping at Texas Avenue • Repaving Minnetonka Boulevard between Edgewood and Vernon avenues When complete, these improvements will enhance existing on-street facilities between Highways 100 and 169, fill important links for Hennepin County and St. Louis Park bike routes and provide an alternate east-west route during the anticipated Southwest Light Rail Transit construction along Cedar Lake Trail. Weather permitting, work is expected to be complete this fall.

Your feedback requested In partnership with the city, Hennepin County is asking for feedback from residents on pedestrian crossing improvements along Minnetonka Boulevard between Highways 169 and 100. The goal is to improve pedestrian crossing access throughout the corridor. We want to know where you are currently crossing Minnetonka Boulevard, where you would prefer to cross or if you have any feedback on current crossing access. The feedback will be used to determine where to place temporary pedestrian crossing facilities in 2019 for trial, with permanent locations to be installed in 2020. Visit www.hennepin.us/minnetonkaboulevard to submit comments and for more information.

Photo by @ToddMyraPhotography

St. Louis Park receives City of Excellence Award The cities of St. Louis Park and Bloomington were recognized at the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference with a 2018 City of Excellence Award for their Pathways to Policing program. In early 2017, Bloomington and St. Louis Park were experiencing a reduced number of police officer applications and saw an opportunity to collaborate. The result was a program created to recruit more applicants and to attract more people of color and non-traditional candidates. The joint initiative won this year’s category of “Promoting Leadership and Career Opportunities in City Government.” The program, “Suburban Law Enforcement Training Academy (SLETA) – Pathways to Policing,” was designed to remove barriers for non-traditional candidates who have at least a two-year associate degree from an accredited college or university, and who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. The program focuses on candidates without the means to pay for or availability to attend a law enforcement academic program while in their current careers. The Bloomington and St. Louis Park police departments developed the program with their cities’ human resource departments prior to inviting other agencies. Sponsoring departments provided trainees with mentors to keep them engaged, and Hennepin Technical College provided support during training. The cities were intentional in marketing the program to a diverse pool of applicants. The program was promoted in many languages, in various communities and on numerous job search websites. The cities also held information sessions for potential applicants to learn more about the program prior to applying. More than 482 applications were received and more than 380 candidates interviewed. After two rounds of interviews, job offers were made to 12 candidates; exceeding the initial goal of eight final candidates. During the 2017 state legislative session, the state appropriated money to help agencies off set program costs. Another SLETA is underway this fall. To compete for consideration as a City of Excellence, cities self-nominate a project, program or initiative administered to achieve one or more of the following: improvement of the quality of a city service, development of an effective or innovative way to solve an old or common problem, modification of a program from another community or organization to fit city needs, discovery of a way to save the city money without compromising service results, and/or creative involvement of city staff or citizens in making a decision.

Body-worn camera testing underway

Public input invited on 2019 budget In September, the St. Louis Park City Council set a preliminary tax levy increase of 5.18 percent for 2019. City staff and the council will continue to discuss the budget with the goal of reducing the final tax levy increase to under 4.5 percent. A final levy increase of 4.5 percent or less would represent the third straight year that the final levy increase would be lower than the previous year. A few factors contributing to the increase include ongoing replacement and maintenance of infrastructure, including city roads, parks, buildings, technology and debt service as well as the costs associated with maintaining the city’s quality service to its residents. Additionally, the increase will support the city’s Vision 3.0 and comprehensive plan goals and the city council’s strategic priorities, in the following areas: • Environment: Supporting implementation of the newly adopted Climate Action Plan (CAP), including education, communications, data collection and tracking, development of programs and incentives. CAP has seven specific goals in order to reach carbon neutrality – a net zero carbon footprint – by 2040. • Race equity and inclusion: Providing outreach, communications and training and community engagement; creating and supporting opportunities for communities of color and indigenous people to be part of leadership roles; and investing in and supporting small business and services. • Ranked-choice voting (for mayor and city council elections): Resources for building and testing the system and for communications, marketing, assisting current and new voters, outreach and education. • Housing initiatives: Supporting and expanding efforts to maintain and support naturally occurring affordable housing and other housing opportunities. City staff will host a Facebook Live discussion of the budget in mid-November; watch for details on social media. Residents are invited to provide feedback on the budget at any time and may attend the public hearing Monday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the regular city council meeting at St. Louis Park City Hall. The final tax levy and budget will be adopted by council at its Dec. 17 regular meeting. Visit www.stlouispark.org/city-budget to learn more.

Meadowbrook Collaborative transitions to new efforts If you grew up in St. Louis Park or have lived here for a while, it’s likely that you’ve heard of the Meadowbrook Collaborative. As an innovative partnership between the former owner of Meadowbrook Manor (now ERA on Excelsior), Park Nicollet Foundation, the City of St. Louis Park and the St. Louis Park School District, Meadowbrook Collaborative was a force for good in the Meadowbrook neighborhood for nearly 25 years. Because of the efforts of the collaborative, the Meadowbrook Manor rental complex became a strong, supportive community offering affordable housing to its residents. Health, education and safety all improved for residents. School-aged children received extra learning time after school on-site; preschoolers received free preschool education from certified teachers; and adults received support for healthy living and chances to socialize. Summertime offered recreational programming for school-aged children and a special scouting troop. The program was lauded locally and even nationally as an award-winning America’s Promise initiative, with thenCoordinator Linda Trummer honored as a guest at a White House celebration event. Hundreds of community volunteers helped kids and families throughout the existence of the Meadowbrook Collaborative, including now-prominent citizens like State Representative Peggy Flanagan, current St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano and former Mayor Jeff Jacobs, St. Louis Park City Council members Margaret Rog and Anne Mavity, and many more. Additionally, the financial support of committed individuals has been critical to the success of the collaborative.

In September, following an August public hearing, the St. Louis Park City Council aﬃrmed a body-worn camera policy for the St. Louis Park Police Department. Field testing of equipment from two vendors is now underway to identify the appropriate equipment that will meet the needs of the police department. Once equipment has been purchased, oﬃcers will receive comprehensive training on the equipment and its appropriate use and on the body-worn camera policy.

The City of St. Louis Park and the community partners have much to be proud of in the successes of the Meadowbrook Collaborative. Now, Meadowbrook Manor is renamed and remodeled as ERA on Excelsior under new ownership. The needs have diminished that once motivated decision makers to invest innovatively in the neighborhood to improve residents’ outcomes. It’s time to export the learning from nearly 25 years of community-building to other projects, keeping the founders’ powerful partnership intact.

The goal is for all St. Louis Park police oﬃcers to be using body-worn cameras by spring 2019. Visit www.stlouispark.org/body-worn-cameras for more information.

Watch for the city, the school district and Park Nicollet Foundation to flex their well-practiced cooperative skills to jointly address current community needs. The lessons of innovation and risk-taking from Meadowbrook Collaborative’s history will inform their next collaborative eﬀort.

www.stlouispark.org

Selling your home? Arrange for a home inspection! Before listing your house, duplex, condominium or townhome for sale, apply for a permit for a property maintenance inspection certificate. Property inspections, required whenever a property is sold or ownership is transferred, helps protect the overall quality of the city’s housing stock by correcting unsafe conditions and preventing major deterioration.

Common property maintenance issues

A typical inspection takes about an hour, and appointments are usually available within one to three days. During the inspection, a city inspector will check that the siding, roof, garage and interior meet the city’s property maintenance code. If no corrections are needed, you’ll receive a property maintenance certificate, which must be presented to the buyer and title company at closing. If the inspector finds corrections to be made, homeowners can arrange for a re-inspection within 90 days, at no additional cost, to ensure all corrections have been made.

Bare wood or peeling paint on exterior surfaces

While in most cases the sellers makes the code corrections, a buyer can obtain a temporary property maintenance certificate by meeting certain conditions. Visit www.stlouispark.org/housing-inspections for details. “We’ve heard from realtors who like the program because it means there are no surprises,” said Ann Boettcher, inspections supervisor. “With the certificate in hand, buyers and sellers can be assured the home meets city code.” To learn more about the property maintenance inspection certificate and to apply online, visit www.stlouispark.org/housing-inspections. If you have questions, contact the inspections department at 952.924.2663.

Missing or damaged roofing or siding

Inoperable or missing smoke detectors

City inspectors typically complete nearly 2,500 property maintenance inspections and re-inspections per year, in addition to their other duties. Pictured above (left to right) are Michael, Jason, Joe, Randy and Bret.

US Internet makes inroads

US Internet is a home and business internet service provider using high speed fiber-to-the premise (FTTP) technology. In 2017, US Internet made service available at Era on Excelsior, Village in the Park and some apartment complexes south of Wayzata Boulevard. Service was also oﬀered to business customers in the Wayzata Boulevard business corridor, the Park Glen Road and Parkdales areas, West End and the Interchange Tower. Planned service installation for 2018 included the Louisiana Court and Garden Village apartments, among other locations. By fall 2019, US Internet plans to provide its first service to single-family homes starting in the southern part of the Sorensen neighborhood and possibly one other area in the city. Its success there will determine the pace of single-family home expansion in St. Louis Park going forward. Oﬀering service at multiple dwelling units and business complexes requires owners to come to an agreement with US Internet.

Damaged or missing electrical outlets

Overloaded electrical circuits

Sign up for email and text notifications The City of St. Louis Park is excited to announce a new way for you to stay informed about city news and what’s happening in St. Louis Park. Sign up for email or text alerts on topics including road construction, community events, recreational programs and more. When signing up, be sure to select the St. Louis Park neighborhood you live in so you can receive neighborhood-specific updates. Visit www.stlouispark.org/sign-up to sign up. The city will continue to provide updates through www.stlouispark.org, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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October 2018

Electric garage door openers with inoperable safety devices

Authorization for the Westwood Hills Nature Center project will take place in November, with some work starting in late November. Construction is expected to start in spring 2019, with completion in 2020. The estimated project cost is $12.5 million.

City of St. Louis Park

N A T U R E

C E N T E R

Interpretive Center project update

Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission is partnering with the city to install a water feature north of the new interpretive building. This feature will improve water quality by providing additional stormwater runoﬀ storage, reducing runoﬀ volume and reducing sediments and nutrients in the water through infiltration, evaporation or evapotranspiration. The water feature’s interpretive signs, interactive pumps and pedestrian bridges for access will serve as educational tools for visitors. An educational curriculum will be developed based on the bog and the hydrologic cycle represented through the water feature. An arts and culture task force has been established to discuss opportunities to include art in the new interpretive building.

The goal of the new interpretive building is to be zero energy, with 100 percent of the building’s annual energy needs supplied by on-site renewable energy. This design aspect aligns with the city’s Climate Action Plan, adopted in February 2018 by the St. Louis Park City Council (see page 1).

Visit www.stlouispark.org/whnc/new-interpretive-center for more information about a bou b ou utt tthe he he p proj project. ro oject. oj je ecc t.

Parks, recreation programs receive statewide awards

Mosaic installed at ROC

The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) annually recognizes agencies or organizations in Minnesota that set a standard of excellence in the field of recreation, parks and leisure services, in order to increase public awareness of and appreciation of the state’s excellent parks, trails and recreation services. This year, the City of St. Louis Park received MRPA Awards of Excellence for the following projects. Westwood Hills Nature Center woodland and shoreland habitat restoration partnership,, which is a collaborative eﬀort between several organizations to partnership enhance the diversity and resilience of plant communities, increase their value as wildlife habitat and enhance their use as an outdoor classroom for nature-based programs. Management strategies were developed to control invasive species, native trees and plants were seeded and planted and a natural resources management plan was established to manage the renewed landscape. Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), (ROC), built as a multi-use outdoor recreational facility and used as a covered ice rink in the winter, a dry concrete floor in the summer and fall and turf field in the spring. Recycling Champions Program Program,, which was launched in 2017 to engage residents who are interested in learning more about recycling. Through the program, residents serve as ambassadors in the community and share what they learn with family, friends and neighbors.

The finished mosaic “Time to Play” is mounted in the ROC hallway, just beyond the warming house.

As part of the city’s Arts and Culture Grant program, mosaic artist Caron Learned completed a mosaic for the Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC). Titled “Time to Play,” and featuring tiles from Portugal, Mexico, Italy and ocally based Clay Squared and Mercury Mosaics, the mosaic is designed to reflect the many groups, activities and events using the ROC for gathering, recreation, entertainment and much more. While creating the piece, Learned focused on what the building meant to the community as well as representing it as a place to gather. To her, art connects the community just as the ROC has done and will continue to do for the St. Louis Park community and visitors. Learned oﬀered two workshops at The Rec Center that were open to the public. Participants created their own piece using the basics of mosaic tiling, and also helped with pieces of tile used in the finished mosaic at the ROC.

Recycling Champions are pictured below at a summer event. Learned’s artistic influence formed while fishing with her dad in Minnesota and then later in California near the ocean. Water, movement and light can be seen in many of her early impressionist landscapes in oil and today in her mosaic pieces. Learned has showcased her work in group and solo exhibitions for the past 15 years. In 2016, with Mercedes Austin, she completed her largest public art commission – two permanent three-dimensional, 10-foot, fine-art mosaics in the main terminal of the Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. Visit www.artbycaron.org to learn more about Caron Learned. The Arts and Culture Grant program is a collaborative eﬀort of the City of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Youth Development Foundation and St. Louis Parks Friends of the Arts to highlight the community’s commitment to supporting arts of all forms, artists and art organizations as a vital piece of a healthy community. Visit www.stlouispark.org/arts-culture-grant for more information.

www.stlouispark.org

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Keep an eye on I/I Inflow and infiltration (I/I) is clear water – such as groundwater and surface water – that enters the wastewater system from sources such as defective sewer service laterals (the pipe from a building to the main sewer line), poor pipe connections, sump pumps, gutters/downspouts, building drains and aged or broken sewer main and maintenance hole covers. When clear water enters the wastewater system it needs to be treated at a wastewater treatment plant. During rain events, I/I adds significant amounts of clear water to the wastewater system that it was not intended to accommodate or treat. The clear water in the wastewater system reduces the capacity of city sewer pipes, regional interceptors and treatment facilities. In the end, this requires additional funding to enlarge existing facilities or build new facilities at the local and regional level. Costs for larger facilities in the Twin Cities is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Reducing I/I will lessen future costs for additional infrastructure and keep utility rates and fees at some of the lowest rates in the nation. Excessive I/I in the wastewater system can aﬀect your health and decrease the value of your property. A wastewater system that is over capacity due to I/I can lead to sewage backups into basements and sewage overflows into lakes, streams, wetlands or other environmentally sensitive areas. Additionally, the resale value of a property can be reduced if problems exist in the building’s sewer service lateral – the sewer pipe from a building to the city’s sewer main.

Pollinator patch, rain garden installed at Wolfe Park This fall, the city will be installing a pollinator area at Wolfe Park that includes a rain garden. This area will use open space the city is currently mowing and that is underused for recreation. Because the area is constantly wet, a rain garden will be an excellent addition to the space as it will allow stormwater to be absorbed more easily. See page 7 to learn how you can install a rain garden on your property.

Property owners can reduce I/I by: • Properly connecting sump pumps and gutters/downspouts. • Having a plumber inspect the sewer service lateral from your building to the city sewer main for cracks, deterioration or tree root intrusions. • Making repairs to your sewer service lateral if needed.

Changes coming to city solid waste collection service On Oct. 1, 2018, Waste Management began providing residential yard waste and organics collection, in addition to the garbage and recycling collection provided by the company over the past five years. While many aspects of the city’s solid waste program remain the same under this new contract, some important changes have been made. Residents can still call Waste Management’s customer service line dedicated to St. Louis Park residents at 763.783.5423 or email stlouispark@wm.com. Waste Management can be contacted to report a missed pickup or schedule pickup of an appliance or bulky garbage. Residents’ collection day and recycling week also remains the same. For those participating in the organics program, the following changes will be in eﬀect in 2019: • Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, organics and yard waste will be collected separately due to requirements made by the city’s contracted composter. Yard waste will not be allowed in city-owned organics carts and should instead be set out in paper yard waste bags or a personal reusable container. The city does not provide yard waste carts. For those interested in switching to every-other-week garbage collection, service will be available in 2019: • Residents with 20- or 30-gallon garbage service may opt to switch to every-other-week (EOW) garbage collection in 2019. Those choosing EOW garbage will have their garbage collected on the same week as their recycling and must participate in organics or manage food scraps through backyard composting. Participating households will be identified with stickers applied to garbage carts by WM after signing up. This month, the city council will establish new solid waste rates for EOW garbage collection.

Questions about your tap water?

IMPORTANT: Residents may request changes to their service level online at www.stlouispark.org/garbage-recycling or by calling utility billing at 952.924.2111. Please wait until December to request a smaller organics cart or to sign up.

If you are experiencing tap water taste, odor or appearance issues in your home, try running cold water for 5 – 10 minutes in your basement laundry tub to remove older, stagnant water from your service line. This brings water into your home from the city mainline; water should be cold to the touch. If you don’t have a laundry tub, use the tap closest to where the service line enters the home. If you are still having issues after trying this, call St. Louis Park Public Works at 952.924.2562 so that technicians can address your concern.

In addition to the changes in program services, the city reviews acceptable material lists for recycling and organics on an ongoing basis. Be sure to review the detailed solid waste and recycling guide mailed to city collection customers in September to help keep the city’s recycling and organics programs clean and free of contamination.

October 2018

Visit www.stlouispark.org/garbage-recycling for more information about the city’s solid waste collection services.

Draft 2040 comprehensive plan under review Solid waste and recycling A guide to the city’s solid waste services

The city is updating its comprehensive plan for 2040. The comprehensive plan is an oﬃcial document that guides the future of the city, setting forth policies and programs that govern land use, transportation, public facilities, economic development and housing. It is “comprehensive” because it looks at the city as a whole to help make coordinated plans and avoid future conflicts. In July, a six-month review period by surrounding communities and jurisdictions began for the city’s draft 2040 comprehensive plan. The review should be complete by the end of the year, after which it will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council for review. Visit www.stlouispark.org/slp2040 to read or comment on the draft plan.

City provides ADA transition plan; comment invited The City of St. Louis Park Engineering Department developed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan to guide its eﬀorts in ensuring pedestrian facilities located within the city’s public right of way meet the accessibility needs of all residents. The plan also establishes an ADA coordinator for public right of way to provide a single point of contact for the public to report and address concerns and comments regarding pedestrian facilities in the public right of way.

Guide mailed in September In September, a new solid waste and recycling guide was mailed to residents who receive city collection services. Be sure to keep this guide as a reference for contact information, holidays that aﬀect collection, tips (e.g. how to set out extra recycling, request an additional recycling cart, report a damaged cart), optional services and other resources available including the city’s brush site and Hennepin County’s drop-oﬀ facilities. The city will not be mailing out recycling calendars this year; residents are instead encouraged to view and/or print the recycling calendar online at www.stlouispark.org/recycling.

Keep shredded paper out of the recycling bin Due to problems caused at sorting facilities, St. Louis Park residents are asked to stop placing shredded paper in the recycling. Even when placed in a paper bag, the shredded paper usually ends up mixed with other recyclables and the small pieces contaminate glass. In addition, shredded paper should not be placed in organics. Toner ink contains plastic, so putting shredded paper in organics can contaminate the finished compost with microplastics.

Visit www.stlouispark.org/ada-transition-plan to review the plan and submit comments. Accessible pedestrian signals (APS), pictured above, are devices added to traﬃc signal crosswalks, mainly for people with visual impairments. These signals have speakers near the push button and have been shown to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles.

Rainwater Rewards adds 20 rain gardens Homeowners enthusiastically signed up for this year’s Rainwater Rewards program, adding 20 rain gardens on private properties across the city. This city-led program oﬀers financial and technical assistance to residents who install stormwater management projects, including rain gardens and other eligible projects, on their property. Using Clean Water Amendment Act funds and city stormwater dollars, the city collaborated with Metro Blooms on this year’s program. Conservation Corps of Minnesota helps with construction services to follow designs provided by Metro Blooms, then homeowners had the fun of planting the rain garden. Visit www.stlouispark.org/rainwater-rewards to learn more about this program.

Help keep streets and waterways clean

Limit shredding to confidential items, and if possible, save these papers to shred at city or businesssponsored shred events. Many oﬃce supply or shipping businesses also oﬀer shredding services for a fee. Paper that has already been shredded will be accepted at city cleanup events. As a last resort, shredded paper should be placed in the trash.

Become a Recycling Champion! Want to learn more about recycling in the city and help educate your friends and neighbors? The Recycling Champions program was launched in 2017 to engage residents who are interested in improving recycling and promoting waste reduction. Through the program, residents serve as ambassadors in the community by sharing information and volunteering at events. The 2018 training has been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 22, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. All St. Louis Park residents are welcome; RSVP to recycling@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2187. Please include your phone number and neighborhood.

Here’s how you can help:

St. Louis Park cleans city streets to provide safe road conditions for transportation and to protect the environment. All city streets are swept at least twice a year – in the spring and again in the fall. Fall street sweeping starts in early October and continues until the snow falls. 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. 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.

Keep streets clear: If possible, avoid parking on streets during daytime hours. “No parking” signs aren’t posted for street sweeping since work is ongoing as long as the weather cooperates. However, crews can do a better job when cars aren’t blocking access to the curb. Protect local waters: Grass clippings and leaves in the street end up in local water bodies where they decompose and release phosphorous. Algae use this nutrient to grow, which can turn lakes green and negatively aﬀect fish. It’s recommended that you leave grass clippings on the lawn or collect grass and leaves for pickup by the city’s yard waste hauler. Thanks for doing your part to protect local lakes, creeks and rivers!

www.stlouispark.org

7 3

Be prepared for snow season What does the city plow? The city maintains city-owned roads, trails and parking lots. A few county and state highways are located within the city, which are maintained by Hennepin County and Minnesota Department of Public Transportation (MnDOT). Private association roads are maintained by those associations. See the snowflakes for statistics!

52 miles of sidewalk s

21 miles of alleys

20park plus ing lo t

Six pedest ria bridges n

il e s 150 m ets of stre

30.5 m of tra iles ils

How will I know when it’s safe to clear my driveway without getting plowed in? Until your street is plowed to the curb, and depending on the amount of snowfall, plows may come through multiple times. To help avoid getting plowed in, follow these tips:

When does plowing start? Snow removal start times are based on the latest forecast information on timing, intensity and duration of the snow event. In most cases, snowplowing operations begin between 2 and 4 a.m., but the exact time depends on weather conditions. Citywide snow removal starts when snow accumulation approaches two inches or more.

In what order is the city plowed? The city is divided into 11 plow areas, each with high-volume and residential streets. In a snow event, high-volume roads are plowed first; residential streets and cul-de-sacs are plowed next. The goal is that residents will have to only drive two to four blocks before reaching a plowed street. Plowing starts in diﬀerent areas of the city for each snow event so that some areas aren’t always plowed first or last.

How long does it take to plow the entire city? The city’s goal is to clear streets and cul-de-sacs within 10 hours during an average three- to six-inch snowfall. Each additional inch of snow will increase snow removal time.

• Move snow to the right or left of your driveway. • Clear an area of your property on both sides of your driveway, along the roadway. This gives plows a place to push snow and reduces the chances of piling up across your driveway entrance. • Remember, it’s against the law to plow, blow or shovel snow into or across any street or alley.

How is salt used for snow and ice control? Due to environmental concerns about high salt (chloride) levels found in water bodies, including Minnehaha Creek, the city closely monitors the amount of salt applied by city vehicles. This concern is balanced with the responsibility to provide the traveling public with a safe driving surface. Current practice limits ice control to streets and alleys when needed. It does not allow for salt on sidewalks or trails. Through automated vehicle location (AVL) on snow removal equipment, the city can monitor how much salt is being applied and where. Application rates can be adjusted based on current weather conditions, using real-time data to be most eﬀective for both environmental and safety concerns. The city’s equipment is checked and calibrated each year to ensure accuracy.

What should I do in a snow emergency?

What slows down the plows? A snowfall before and during rush hour will cause more delays in plowing than snow falling from midnight to 3 a.m. Remember, if you are stuck in traﬃc, so are the snow plows. Additionally, heavy, wet snow followed by a cold snap requires more time to clear than dry snow.

The city declares snow emergencies for major snow events of three inches or more. During a snow emergency, vehicles must be parked oﬀ the street until the street is plowed to the curb. Vehicles that aren’t moved may be ticketed and towed. See information below for ways to stay informed.

How will I know if there’s a snow emergency? The city announces snow emergencies in several diﬀerent ways. Use any of the following to find out if a snow emergency has been declared: • Watch the city website at www.stlouispark.org or visit www.slpsnow.org • Visit www.slpsnow.org to sign up for ParkAlert, the city’s citizen notification system. The system automatically calls all phone numbers listed in the white and yellow pages, but signing up lets you choose how you want to be contacted. Choose text messages, emails, cell phone calls, landline calls or all of the above. Note: Your telephone caller ID will show 952.924.2646 when you are called by ParkAlert; you may wish to save this number in your contacts. • Download the myStLouisPark app for Apple or Android devices. The app will display an alert when a snow emergency is in eﬀect. • Follow the city’s social media sites on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@stlouispark), as well as Nextdoor. • Sign up through GovDelivery for email and text notifications for snow emergencies and other events: www.stlouispark.org/sign-up • Call the winter parking hotline at 952.924.2180 • Watch ParkTV or the local television news stations (Channel 4, 5, 9, 11)

arkAlert

at www.slpsnow.org for ParkAlert. Choose how you want to be contacted: text message, email, cell phone call and/or landline call.

the city’s social media sites:

nextdoor.com

@stlouispark

for text or emails: www.stlouispark.org/sign-up ww ww w.st .stlo .st lo oui uisp u isp sp par ark. k or org/ g/ssi g/ sign n-u up

Call the winter parking hotline: 952.924.2180 8

October 2018

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

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