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Park Perspective February 2018

www.stlouispark.org

Contents 2 – Call to artists 3 – Small business support 4 – Developments happening in the city 5 – Fire department offers lockboxes 6 – Text–to–911 now available 7 – 2017 and 2018 construction projects 8 – New Interpretive Center project planning

Meet your city council Ward 2 Councilmember Anne Mavity has served on the council since 2010. She has worked for decades to create policies, resources and the public will to increase housing opportunities; to support services for those in need; and to align systems, strengthen communities and improve lives. She is executive director of Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP), one of the nation’s leading affordable housing support organizations; and was previously director of new projects at Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. Term ends: January 2022

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

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 www.stlouispark.org.

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@stlouispark @stlouispark

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or visit www.mystlouispark.org.

Members of the St. Louis Park City Council are (left to right) Thom Miller, Anne Mavity, Tim Brausen, Mayor Jake Spano, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris and Margaret Rog. On Jan. 2, 2018, four St. Louis Park ward councilmembers were sworn in to four-year terms ending in January 2022. Incumbents Anne Mavity, Ward 2, and Tim Brausen, Ward 4, were both re-elected to four-year terms. Newcomers Margaret Rog, Ward 1, and Rachel Harris, Ward 3, replaced outgoing councilmembers Sue Sanger and Gregg Lindberg, respectively, both of whom did not run for re-election. Below are brief bios of the mayor and councilmembers. Visit www.stlouispark.org for full bios and contact information for the mayor and councilmembers, as well as ward boundaries. Mayor Jake Spano was elected in 2016 after a four-year term as Councilmember At Large B (2012–2016). His day job is as Deputy Secretary of State to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. Mayor Spano serves on the Southwest LRT Corridor Management Committee, PLACES Committee and the Executive Committee for the Regional Council of Mayors, and is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Additionally, he is chair of the Transit Subcommittee and a member of the Transportation Committee for the National League of Cities (NLC) Federal Advocacy Board. Term ends: January 2020 At Large A Councilmember Steve Hallfin has served on the council since 2012. Prior to running for city council, he served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Born and raised in St. Louis Park, Councilmember Hallfin has been a resident since 1967. Councilmember Hallfin serves on the board of directors of the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP). He also served as president of both the St. Louis Park Little League and the St. Louis Park Baseball Association. Term ends: January 2020 At Large B Councilmember Thom Miller has served on the council since 2016. He and his family were drawn to St. Louis Park in 2000 for numerous reasons, including the neighborhood associations, the great schools and the diverse population. He joined the Birchwood Neighborhood Association right away and served as block captain for many years. Councilmember Miller helped to found Safety in the Park, a grassroots organization that worked to prevent the rerouting of heavy freight trains to St. Louis Park. Term ends: January 2020 Ward 1 Councilmember Margaret Rog is a 25-year resident of St. Louis Park who has served on the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, Peter Hobart PTO, St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission and parent booster groups for the arts at St. Louis Park High School. She’s also served as an election judge and Children First asset champion, Health in the Park grant writer and managing director for St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts. Term ends: January 2022

Ward 3 Councilmember Rachel Harris is a St. Louis Park High School graduate whose interest in politics began when she was selected to be a high school page at the Minnesota State Capitol. Her city experience includes serving as chair and co–founder of the Environment and Sustainability Commission, host for neighborhood National Night Out block parties, co-founder and champion of Health in the Park and member of the St. Louis Park Vision 3.0 Steering Committee. Term ends: January 2022 Ward 4 Councilmember Tim Brausen has served on the council since 2014. Working as a self-employed private practice attorney and part–time daycare provider to two grandchildren occupies much of his time when he’s not working for the residents of Ward 4. He works vigorously on issues of affordable housing, environmental sustainability, racial equity and community building. In addition, he wants St. Louis Park residents to continue to receive high–quality services in return for their tax dollars. Term ends: January 2022

2018 city budget adopted;

property tax levy increases 4.9% In December, the St. Louis Park City Council adopted the 2018 budget, which included a 4.9% increase in the property tax levy. This means that a median value residential property ($254,200 in 2018) is estimated to see an increase in the city’s share of property taxes of approximately $4.95 per month or about $59.40 for the year. Visit www.stlouispark.org/city–budget for more information about the budget.

2018 State of the City is March 8 2018 REPORT to

THE COMMUNITY Mayor Jake Spano will present the 2018 State of the City Thursday, March 8, 4:30–6:30 p.m. at The Rec Center Banquet Room, 3700 Monterey Drive. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by February 28 to Debbie Fischer at dfischer@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2525. Enjoy networking and food from 4:30–5 p.m., with a program by Mayor Spano starting at 5 p.m. Stay after the program (approximately 6–6:30 p.m.) for more mingling and tours of the ROC (Recreation Outdoor Center).

Charter commission discusses Healthy living grant program ranked-choice voting funds community projects In January 2018, the St. Louis Park Charter Commission outlined a plan for public process prior to making a recommendation to the city council regarding ranked-choice voting (RCV). • I n early February, the commission hosted an expert question and answer panel to answer questions from Charter Commission members. This session was recorded and is available to watch on-demand via city cable channels, YouTube or the city website – visit www.stlouispark.org/ranked-choice-voting for ways to view. • M arch 6, 6 p.m.: The public is invited to provide input to the Charter Commission at a listening session in the City Council Chambers, 3rd floor, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park. This session will be televised live and recorded. Visit www.stlouispark.org/ranked-choice-voting for ways to watch live and on-demand. • M arch 13, 5:30 p.m.: The Charter Commission will meet to vote on a formal recommendation to the St. Louis Park City Council regarding ranked-choice voting. While this meeting is open to the public, no public comment will be taken by the commission. The meeting will take place at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. As is standard practice, regular meetings of the Charter Commission are not televised live or recorded. Minutes of the meeting will be available. For more information, visit www.stlouispark.org/ranked-choice-voting. To submit a written comment about ranked-choice voting, email City Clerk Melissa Kennedy at mkennedy@stlouispark.org. Your comments will be shared with the Charter Commission.

City recognized for excellence in financial reporting For a 34th consecutive year, the City of St. Louis Park has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement, awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada, is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. St. Louis Park’s CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story. Visit www.stlouispark.org/financial-reports to read the CAFR.

In 2017, the City of St. Louis Park launched the Healthy Living Grant Program to support the citywide Health in the Park Program. The grant program is designed to support communities in building social connections through healthy eating, physical activity, mental health awareness and other community building wellbeing activities. Because St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged community, the Healthy Living Grant’s purpose is to increase wellbeing through community driven action. Healthy Living Grants support neighborhoods, individuals and organizations that collaborate with members of their communities in the places where they live, learn, work and play. The city funded several projects in 2017, including the Birchwood Neighborhood 5K (pictured below), free yoga classes at Susan Lindgren Elementary, healthy cooking education classes, the Be the Light Walk at the Westwood Hills Nature Center and a mental health support group. Here are some highlights: • Thirty volunteers helped to put on the Birchwood Neighborhood 5K, which had 134 participants of all ages who ran or walked the route. The youngest finisher was nine years old. After the race, neighbors gathered in Birchwood Park for lunch and relaxation. • Union UCC in St. Louis Park hosted six weeks of education on plant-based eating, as well as demonstrating and providing plant-based meals and compost and recycling best practices for its members. They offered a globally inspired recipe each week and provided recipes for members to take home. • The Health in the Park Mental Health team created the Depressed Cake Shop. It hosted community members who are suffering from depression or have loved ones who are suffering from depression at the Honey & Rye Bakehouse for a night of baking and community building. The city is now taking applications for 2018 Healthy Living Grant program. Contact Laura Smith at lsmith@stlouispark.org or 952.928.2847 for information on grant guidelines and an application, or visit www.stlouispark.org/health-in-the-park.

Calling all artists: Show us what St. Louis Park means to you!

We are doing a call for entries for the 2018-19 St. Louis Park City & School Calendar and are looking for artwork based on the theme, My St. Louis Park. Selected artwork will be featured on the top of calendar months throughout the calendar along with the artist’s name and a brief description of the piece. Calendars are mailed to every household in St. Louis Park in August and are given out at school district and city offices. What to submit: Photography, illustrations, collages and paintings are all eligible for the contest. Must be your own original artwork, non-copyrighted. Winners will be asked to sign an artwork release to verify originality. Who can enter: Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis Park is eligible to enter. No age limit.

Birchwood Neighborhood 5K.

Judging: Winners will be selected by judges from the City of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Public Schools, Friends of the Arts and Pernsteiner Creative. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2018.

Racial equity coordinator joins City of St. Louis Park

Deadlines: Artwork submissions due.....March 31, 2018 Winners selected/announced..................May 1, 2018 Final art due to city offices........................May 13, 2018 Calendar printed/mailed...........................July 2018 Artwork specifications: Artwork should be full color, in a horizontal format and fit proportionately (or scale-to proportionately) approximately 9” wide x 7” high. Final artwork must be high resolution if digital. We will scan artwork if needed. How to enter: Email a medium resolution (100 dpi) jpeg scan or photo of your artwork to us, along with your name, address, cell phone number, age and where you work (if not a St. Louis Park resident). Please also include a description of your artwork: where it was produced, the medium used and how it shows what St. Louis Park means to you. You may submit up to three entries per person. Submit artwork and entry information at www.stlouispark.org/art-competition.

In January, the City of St. Louis Park welcomed its first-ever racial equity coordinator, Alicia Sojourner, who will help the city on its continued journey in advancing race equity. Sojourner was previously the racial equity consultant manager at the YWCA Minneapolis, and was instrumental in leading that organization to a position as a market leader in the diversity, inclusion and equity consulting business. Sojourner’s experience includes team development, equity toolkits, baseline assessments, diversity and inclusion workshops, identity-driven leadership for leaders of color/LGBTQ, consultancy and executive coaching. Sojourner has been awarded the Beat the Odds Award through Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota, Young Alaka’i Award for working with marginalized youth and winner of Inspiring Women by the WNBA Minnesota Lynx.

City offers small business support

Grants help revitalize Walker Lake

In 2012, Hardcoat Inc., a St. Louis Park-based business that supplies anodized metal products to the aerospace, defense, medical and commercial industries, received a $500,000 loan from the City of St. Louis Park’s Economic Development Authority (EDA). The loan allowed Hardcoat Inc. to renovate and expand, growing from 14 to 40 employees.

In November 2016, the city was awarded a Moving the Market Grant from Hennepin County to help reactivate the Walker Lake business area. Since then staff has been working with the businesses, high school and community members in the Walker Lake area to promote and rejuvenate the area neighborhood and businesses. Grant activities include:

“St. Louis Park provides a great environment for business opportunities,” said Michael Kelner, president and owner of Hardcoat, Inc. “Through the assistance of the EDA we continue to find new ways to expand both in terms of employment and new revenue opportunities.”

Brand development: The city engaged Nemer Fieger and a focus group for planning, research and design concepts. The focus group selected Historic Walker Lake as the preferred name for the area. Nemer Feiger and the St. Louis Park communications staff developed the final logo. This brand logo will be used in wayfinding and placemaking elements, such as signs, lighting, benches, bike racks and marketing.

“If you are a business owner who wants to locate to St. Louis Park, make the city your first stop,” Kelner continued. “They are helpful in so many ways.” St. Louis Park offers a range of programs and resources to help businesses grow. • O pen to Business Program: Business advisors offer free help to business owners and entrepreneurs. Call Rob Smolund at 612.789.7337, ext. 260, to schedule a meeting at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. • Revolving Loan Fund: Provides local businesses with gap financing, in conjunction with local lenders, to help area businesses grow and expand. Contact Mike Mulrooney at 763.784.3337. • S mall Business Liaison: Helps small businesses navigate regulations, approvals or permits and connects businesses with the resources they need. For more information on any of these programs, call the numbers listed above; contact Julie Grove, small business liaison, City of St. Louis Park, at 952.924.2523 or jgrove@stlouispark.org, or visit www.stlouispark.org/business-resources.

VISION 3.0 WRAPS UP;

work on Comprehensive Plan underway

More than 1,500 community members provided nearly 5,000 comments on their ideas for St. Louis Park’s future as part of the Vision 3.0 process in 2017. 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. Visit slpmn.us/vision for the finished report. Recommendations included: • Develop creative housing solutions • Develop future-focused transit and mobility solutions

Activation plan: The Musicant Group wrote an activation plan with steps designed to generate more activity in the Historic Walker Lake business area. The activation plan provides a place-based analysis of the area, makes strategic recommendations for enhancing the area and provides a prioritized list of actionable improvements, systems and activities that would enliven the area. This plan will be distributed to businesses, property owners and neighbors in the area. A copy of this plan can be found online at www.stlouispark.org. Implementation: With the remaining grant funds, the city will install permanent placemaking/wayfinding elements in spring 2018 to spur reinvestment, attract new businesses and broaden the customer base for local businesses. Placemaking and wayfinding elements could include directional signage, identification signs, banners, benches or lights. This winter, the city began work on designing street enhancements to the area which will provide a plan for placemaking and wayfinding locations.

Visit www.stlouispark.org/historic-walker-lake for more information.

Westwood Hills moves to city website The Westwood Hills website is now at www.stlouispark.org/whnc. The site has all the information from the old site, including information about the nature center and staff; current activities, programs and rentals; and volunteer opportunities. Use city’s online registration tool, webtrac.stlouispark.org, to register for Westwood Hills programs.

• C ontinue to lead in environmental stewardship and ensure access to green space for future generations • Prepare our next generations • Commit to being a leader in racial equity and inclusion As the city moves forward with the St. Louis Park 2040 Comprehensive Plan update, the identified values, trends and recommendations of Vision 3.0 will be included in the plan through land use and development planning, housing goals and strategies, environmental stewardship, transportation and mobility planning, parks and trail planning, public facilities, equity, economic development and resilience. Several neighborhood meetings and an online survey were conducted in fall 2017 related to development of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. If you weren’t able to participate, many more opportunities will be available in 2018. Visit www.stlouispark.org/slp2040 for more information about the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and to sign up to receive email notifications about the project.

Vision 3.0 reached across the age spectrum and achieved relatively balanced participation. No age given 9.2%

75 years and older

12.3%

65-74 years

13.9%

12-17 years

3.9%

18-24 years

Budget your utility bill payments online Residents with registered utility billing accounts can set up recurring scheduled payments through the city’s online payment system, InvoiceCloud. You may choose to pay a fixed payment amount on a specific day every month or on the date your invoice is due.

12.0%

25-34 years

19.9%

55-64 years

14.1%

35-44 years

14.1%

45-54 years

Once you have registered at www.invoicecloud.com/stlouisparkmn and a payment method is added, go to My Profile > Recurring Scheduled Payments for setup. Recurring scheduled payments can be combined with AutoPay. Utility billing staff will be using the Message Center on your utility bill to communicate key city messages regarding water, sewer, storm drainage or solid waste services. The first message will include details on the 2018 utility rates.

Home Remodeling Tour returns Sunday, May 6 Get home remodeling ideas and inspiration at this year’s St. Louis Park Home Remodeling Tour! The annual self-guided home remodeling tour is Sunday, May 6 from noon – 4 p.m. Whether you are thinking of a large addition, whole-house renovation or just updating an existing room, this tour is a great place to start. In addition to seeing the remodeled home you will get to talk to the homeowner, builder/ designer, city staff from housing and inspections and the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) who administers several of our loan and remodeling programs. Visit one or all six of the homes on the tour for a day of remodeling fun. An interactive map of the homes will be featured on www.stlouispark.org by the end of April.

Make your remodeling dreams a reality with city programs Are you considering a remodel or an addition to your current home and don’t know where to start? The city offers two programs to assist you with your project. The city partners with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to provide an experienced remodeling advisor who will come to your home to discuss your remodeling ideas at no charge. They can answer questions about renovating an existing space or building an addition and contractor bids. To schedule your appointment, call CEE at 612.335.5856. The city also makes it easy for residents who are building a home addition to consult with an architect. The homeowner pays $25 and can select one of the participating architects listed on the city’s website, www.stlouispark.org/home-remodeling. There is no income limit for either of these programs. The city also has loan programs available that have income restrictions to help make your remodeling dream a reality; visit www.stlouispark.org/home-remodeling.

Assistance program helps low-income families with children stay in St. Louis Park

The City of St. Louis Park, in partnership with the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) and the St. Louis Park School District, created a new program to assist lowincome St. Louis Park rental households who have children attending school in St. Louis Park, or their assigned attendance school, to remain in their current housing. Housing instability keeps students from attending school consistently and diminishes their likelihood of achieving key measures like reading proficiency, a predictor of future success. To develop their full potential, children need safe and stable housing. The Kids in the Park Rent Assistance Program will provide rental assistance to households for up to 48 months. Participants will receive a flat monthly rental assistance that decreases annually over the four-year period. Nine families are receiving assistance through this new program, which was rolled out in December 2017.

Inspections staff ready to help Ask City of St. Louis Park Inspections Services Manager Ann Boettcher the most unusual way plans were ever submitted to inspections, and she has a ready answer - Sheetrock.

Developments happening in the city 3

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“Sheetrock! Someone brought in a chunk of Sheetrock with a plan sketched on it,” she recalls. “It was no problem! We made a copy of it for our paper records and conducted a plan review based on that sketch.” Whether your project lives in your imagination, is sketched on a cocktail napkin or fills a set of blueprints, the City of St. Louis Park inspections staff can help with permits for a variety of projects from fences to remodeling to new building construction. “We are here to help residents by ensuring work is done correctly and to code, and that properties are safe,” said Brian Hoffman, City of St. Louis Park inspections director.

If it’s a license you need, inspections staff can help with that too. Some of the more common licenses issued include non-owner occupied rentals, tobacco establishments, massage establishments, massage therapists, mechanical contractors, solid waste contractors (including contractors providing dumpsters to the city), tree maintenance contractors, courtesy benches, billboards, vehicle parking facilities, commercial entertainment and pawnbrokers. If you want to learn more, stop by St. Louis Park City Hall between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or call 952.924.2588. We look forward to working with you!

Permit technicians Aaron, Eileen, Elena and JoAnne can help!

1 – Parkway 25

2 – 4800 Excelsior

Construction has begun on this five-story, mixed-use building. The development consists of 112 market rate apartment units and 12,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space on a 1.57-acre parcel. Completion is anticipated fall 2018.

Weidner constructed a six-story, mixeduse development immediately west of Excelsior & Grand. It contains 164 apartments and 28,225 square feet of commercial leased to Fresh Thyme grocery and liquor store. The project opened December 2017.

3 – Courtyard by Marriott

4 – Central Park West Apartments

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel was constructed on the north side of the existing Marriott Hotel in the Shelard Park area. The hotel is six stories with 142 rooms. The project opened January 2018.

Part of the final phase of the West End, DLC Residential constructed a 199-unit apartment building with underground and surface parking. The building will be next to a large public gathering space for recreation. The project opened December 2017.

5 – AC Hotel by Marriott A six-story, 126-room AC Hotel by Marriott was built in the West End area. The development features 3,000 square feet of restaurant/lounge area, 1,000 square feet of meeting space and a spa. The project opened January 2018.

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A full list of development projects and a map are available at www.stlouispark.org/ development-projects.

Join the St. Louis Park PulsePoint community

Be a Hydrant Hero The St. Louis Park Fire Department reminds homeowners and businesses with fire hydrants on or near their property to shovel the snow around the fire hydrant after each snowfall and keep the hydrant clear of overgrowth of plants during the summer. To adopt a hydrant, go to www.hydranthero.org. 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.

In 2016, more than 52 people experienced cardiac events in public places in St. Louis Park, each waiting for trained help to arrive. Every minute in delay in CPR or automatic external defibrillator (AED) use means a 10-percent reduction in survivability of the cardiac event. In 2017, the City of St. Louis Park became the first city in Minnesota to become a PulsePoint community. Here’s how the PulsePoint app 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. Upcoming classes will also be posted to www.stlouispark.org/pulsepoint. We hope you’ll consider joining the PulsePoint community!

City receives upgraded insurance rating St. Louis Park has moved up from a Class 3 to a Class 2 Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, primarily due to work done by the St. Louis Park Fire Department in the areas of prevention and community risk reduction. Residents and business owners may wish to inform their insurance agent of the rating change in case it may lower premiums.

Paint a fire hydrant We’re looking for individual or group volunteers to paint fire hydrants around the city and in your neighborhood. Volunteer opportunities are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Training and materials will be provided. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Laura Smith at 952.928.2847.

Fire department

staff recognized at MSFCA Conference

St. Louis Park Fire Department staff was recognized at the 2017 Minnesota State Fire Chief ’s Association (MSFCA) Annual Conference.

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 is offering a new 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 a grant from American Legion Post 282, the lockboxes are offered to St. Louis Park residents for a one-time subscription 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, please call the fire department at 952.924.2595 or visit www.stlouispark.org/lockbox to learn more.

Fire Lieutenant Eva Hansen received the 2017 Public Educator Award for her superior leadership skills in promoting and raising awareness of fire and life safety in the community. Deputy Fire Chief John Wolff was honored with the President’s Leadership Award for his tireless work as the association’s finance chair. Thank you Eva and John for your work and commitment to MSFCA and to the City of St. Louis Park.

Fire department conducts winter training Every year during the first week of December, the St. Louis Park Fire Department practices ice rescue skills. Although the department is prepared and ready to respond to water emergencies at any time throughout the year, iced-over lakes present a unique set of challenges to the rescuers. This winter, training was at Lamplighter Pond. The photograph shows a firefighter rescuer crawling out to the victim on only one inch of ice. They are lying flat to spread their weight out, so as not to break through the thin ice.

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Text-to-911 now available Cops ‘n’ Kids Holiday Shopping In an emergency, dialing 911 is a call for help. But people with hearing loss or those who must remain quiet in a dangerous situation aren’t able to place a call safely or at all. Now, there’s a whole new way for Minnesotans, including St. Louis Park residents, to get help.

Text-to-911 was introduced statewide in early December 2017. In addition to providing an alternative to calling in an emergency when it would be unsafe for an individual to speak, it also means individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use Text-to-911 as a first contact option.

If there is an emergency and you can’t call 911, take these steps on your smartphone: 1. Enter the numbers 911 in the “To” field. 2. Text your exact address and type of emergency. 3. Send the message. 4. U se simple words, but do not include abbreviations, emojis, pictures or slang. 5. Promptly answer questions and follow instructions. Text-to-911 does have some challenges. For instance, emergency response may be lengthened due to the time it takes for a text to 911 to be typed and sent. Delivery of texts and speed of delivery are also not guaranteed. Here are several reminders to ensure the best service and response from dispatchers. • D ispatchers prefer calls so they can get cues from background noise and voice inflections. If you text 911, dispatchers will ask if they can call you. • L ocation is not as accurate with texting as it is with a call. Be sure to text your exact address. • A text or data plan is required to use Text-to-911. • Texts to 911 will get a bounce back message if you are roaming. • T exts to 911 have a 160 character limit, can get out of order or may not be received. • There is no language translation service for texts to 911. • Do not text and drive! The new service should only be used in emergencies. Texting 911 with a false report is a crime. If you accidentally send a text to 911, send another text, or call 911 to let the dispatcher know that there is no emergency. Remember: Call if you can, text if you can’t.

Winter parking rules refresher Here’s what you need to know: • Three inches of snow or more will still be the guideline for declaring a snow emergency. Once the three-inch threshold is met, day or night, the parking ban goes into effect. However, in an effort to be proactive whenever possible, the city can declare a snow emergency in advance of the storm with information gathered from a combination of available forecasts to determine severity of the storm. xample: Leading forecasts call for the city to receive 4 to 7 inches of snow between 6 p.m. and E 11 p.m. on Dec. 15. The city would proactively announce during the evening of Dec. 15 that a snow emergency will be in effect at 2 a.m., Dec. 16.

• A s always, vehicles parked on a street during a snow emergency are subject to ticketing. If your vehicle remains on the street 12 hours after it’s ticketed, it will be towed. • The snow emergency will remain in effect until tagging operations are completed. • Snow 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. • T he new, proactive approach to 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.

Have snow plowing questions? Call public works at 952.924.2562 during regular business hours or visit www.slpSNOW.org.

Using salt for managing snow and ice The danger of ice and snow on roads and sidewalks is a fact of life in Minnesota, and salt or sand can help reduce ice while adding traction. Currently, salt use is not regulated, but it’s best to use no more than one pound of salt per 250 square feet (for scale, a typical parking space is about 150 square feet). One pound of salt fills up a 12-ounce coffee mug. The city uses a salting strategy that balances financial and environmental responsibilities to achieve a safe driving surface for the public. Road salt is a great tool in the snow and ice-fighting toolbox, but it is not a cure-all for all things icy and doesn’t work well by itself. The city maintenance staff works diligently to follow the Snow Removal/Ice Control Policy, adopted by the St. Louis Park City Council, which provides direction for snow and ice removal activities and establishes priorities for how this is accomplished. To learn more about St. Louis Park’s salting strategies, visit www.stlouispark.org/salting-strategies.

The St. Louis Park Police Department celebrated its fourth annual Cops ‘n’ Kids Holiday Shopping on Nov. 28 with 15 St. Louis Park students and 15 officers. Officers and students shopped for holiday gifts at Target (3601 Hwy. 100), ate pizza donated by the Park Tavern, wrapped the gifts and toured the police station.

2017 Citizens’ Police Academy graduates

celebrate accomplishments The fall 2017 Citizens’ Police Academy graduates celebrated their hard work and accomplishments. The graduates spent 10 weeks learning about traffic stops, investigations, dispatch, paper target shooting and much more. The Citizens’ Academy is a 10-week course that gives citizens an inside look at what it’s like to be a St. Louis Park police officer. It aims to strengthen the partnerships between the police and those in the community. The program is open to all interested adults 18 and over who live in St. Louis Park. Details on the spring 2018 academy will be available on the Citizens’ Police Academy webpage, www.stlouispark.org/police-academy, when finalized.

St. Louis Park City Council bans flavored tobacco sales in St. Louis Park

At a meeting in early December, the St. Louis Park City Council voted unanimously to ban the sale of flavored tobacco in St. Louis Park. The effective date for prohibiting retail sales of all flavored tobacco products is May 1, 2018, which allows retailers sufficient time to sell their inventory of flavored tobacco regulated under this ordinance. Menthol, mint and wintergreen are exempt from the list of prohibited flavors, as they have been in regular use for many decades and are not directly marketed to youth. Although federal law prohibits flavored cigarettes, tobacco companies offer items such as cigars, chew, blunt wraps, e-cigarettes and the tobacco used in hookahs in flavors like candy, chocolate, bubble gum and fruit. Research in this area by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that flavored tobacco use is more common in youth than adults, and that of those middle and high school students who reported using tobacco products, an estimated 70 percent had used flavored tobacco products in the last month. This is the latest step in the St. Louis Park City Council’s efforts to limit the availability of tobacco products in the city in order to help reduce the number of youth who begin using tobacco. On Oct. 1, 2017, the legal age to purchase tobacco and tobacco products in St. Louis Park increased from 18 to 21.

Water Treatment Plant #4 upgrades underway Water Treatment Plant #4 (WTP4), located at 4701 41st St. W. in St. Louis Park, was taken out of service at the end of 2016 after aggressive testing showed that while some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were being reduced by an implemented short-term treatment solution, others were still increasing. Prior to this action, the city had been working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and a design consultant on upgrades to WTP4 to treat all identified contaminants, regardless of their source, down to published advisory levels. Final plans were approved in September 2017, and a contractor was selected in November 2017. In December 2017, the contractor began demolition of existing features inside the treatment plant to prepare the space for new treatment equipment, which will include two air stripping units to treat the VOCs found in the water at this plant. Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2018. St. Louis Park’s drinking water is tested quarterly by the Minnesota Department of Health, and results are available to the public in annual drinking water reports. This testing confirms that St. Louis Park water is safe to drink and meets all drinking water standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency to be in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more information about WTP4 or to view past year’s drinking water reports, visit www.stlouispark.org.

A look back: 2017 projects

Looking ahead: 2018 projects

Texas Avenue Texas Avenue, from Minnetonka Boulevard to West 36th Street was closed from April through November for installation of a new 24-inch gas main by CenterPoint Energy and reconstruction of the road by the city. Work included pavement rehabilitation; reconstruction of existing sidewalk, curb and gutter; bike lane installation; and improvements to the water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer. Boulevard trees and remaining bike lane symbols will be installed in spring 2018.

2018 Pavement Management

West 37th Street Road and Bridge Reconstruction

2018 Connect the Park

West 37th Street, between Boone Avenue and Aquila Lane, was reconstructed with a new segment of sidewalk on the south side. Additionally, the aging West 37th Street Bridge over Minnehaha Creek was replaced. The new bridge provides sidewalks on each side and meets current standards for flood elevation above Minnehaha Creek. New street lights will be installed this winter along West 37th Street.

The city is looking for opportunities to enhance walking and biking along 28th Street West up to Cedar Lake Road. An open house was held in November 2017 to gather information from residents about how they walk and bike to Cedar Lake Road and if there are ways to improve the connection. In addition, the city has begun preliminary design for the bikeways and sidewalks in the Browndale, Minikahda Vista and Wolfe Park neighborhoods. Work on the Utica Avenue Trail from 27th Street to North Cedar Lake Regional Trail will start in spring 2018.

This project includes pavement rehabilitation, concrete repair, utility replacement, sidewalks and traffic control changes on street segments in the Elmwood, Brooklawns and Brookside neighborhoods. In 2017, the city conducted public meetings to gather feedback on project scope and design, which helped guide staff on the final design. Project scope and recommendations will be presented to the city council in February. Construction is expected to occur May – November 2018.

Pavement Management/Connect the Park Project Aquila Avenue Rehabilitation

The 2017 Pavement Management and Connect the Park Project included reconstruction of streets in the Sorensen and Birchwood neighborhoods. This project included pavement rehabilitation, water main replacement on selected streets, random sidewalk repair and new sidewalk construction. The project was substantially complete in November 2017; the contractor will address any remaining items in spring 2018.

The city will be completing a mill and overlay of Aquila Avenue from West 36th Street to Highway 7. Minor utility work is also expected along the corridor. The signal at West 37th Street and Aquila Avenue is being reviewed to determine if any modifications are needed. Construction will occur in summer 2018.

Texas Avenue South of Highway 7 During summer 2018, the cities of St. Louis Park and Hopkins will be partnering to make street, bikeway, sidewalk and utility improvements south of Highway 7 along Texas Avenue and Division Street. These streets are under shared ownership, the east side of Texas Avenue and the north half of Division Street is owned by the City of St. Louis Park. Bike lanes will be installed on Texas Avenue as part of this project. The new bike lane will provide a connection to the bike lanes north of Highway 7 on Texas Avenue, as well as to the regional trail south of Texas Avenue through the South Oak Hill Neighborhood. The City of Hopkins will be installing a “share the road” bike facility from Division Street to Lake Street on the west side of Texas Avenue in order to complete the St. Louis Park bike lane connection. New sidewalk is being constructed on both sides of the road between Highway 7 and Division Street and on the east side of Texas Avenue from Division Street to Lake Street.

2017 Connect the Park Connect the Park is the city’s 10-year plan to add more sidewalks, trails, bike lanes and bikeways throughout the community. The plan was developed with community input through a process that took several years. 2017 was the third year of sidewalk and trail construction and the second year of installing bikeways in the community. Sidewalks completed in 2017 included Xenwood Avenue from 29th to 27th Street; 36-1/2 Street from Excelsior Boulevard to Monterey Drive; France Avenue at Cedarwood/24th Street; and Barry Street from Highway 100 to 26th Street. Bikeways on Texas Avenue and 28th Street will be signed and striped in 2018.

Alley Reconstruction

Alley reconstruction was completed at Library Lane and Idaho Avenue South between 2nd Street Northwest and 33rd Street West; Gorham Avenue and Brownlow Avenue between 2nd Street Northwest and 1st Street Northwest; and Brownlow Avenue and Library Lane between Lake Street West and 1st Street Northwest.

The gravel and bituminous alleys located in the Sorenson Neighborhood are proposed to be reconstructed in concrete in 2018. Public information meetings will be held to discuss the project with property owners this winter.

For more information on city construction projects, visit www.stlouispark.org/construction-updates.

New skate park, stormwater improvement project at Carpenter Park

Rainwater Rewards Program PROTECT. RESTORE. PRESERVE. Rainwater Rewards Program To learn more, visit: www.stlouispark.org/rainwater-rewards, or contact Erick Francis, water resources manager, at efrancis@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2690.

Rain Water Rewards postcard handout.indd 1

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It’s not too early to start thinking about spring landscaping projects that manage stormwater. The City of St. Louis Park Rainwater Rewards Program will provide funding and technical guidance to residential property owners who install projects that:

Finished skate park.

During summer 2017, the City of St. Louis Park completed an award-winning regional stormwater improvement project at Carpenter Park, 3001 Raleigh Ave. S., in the Bass Lake Preserve watershed. A large concrete vault installed below the park’s surface collects stormwater from a 42-acre watershed; it then removes sediment and harmful nutrients, such as phosphorus, before discharging the water downstream to Bass Lake Preserve. In addition to the stormwater treatment benefits, the project improved drainage conditions at Carpenter Park. The project received the Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) 2018 Environmental Excellence Award, which was the result of a successful collaboration between Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and City of St. Louis Park staff. The project also provided a foundation for the city’s new 6,500-square-foot, concrete skate park, designed by California SkateParks. This plaza-style skate park includes stairs, rails and a mini half-pipe and has already been well used since its unofficial opening in October 2017. Grand opening is June 11; watch for more details!

• • • •

Protect and restore stormwater by capturing pollutants in rainwater runoff; Increase the watershed’s ability to store water; Preserve and restore native plant and wildlife communities; and/or Protect and preserve groundwater quality and quantity.

Program benefits include cost share and guidance with managment practices, selecting designers and contractors, and future planning. Project examples: • Green roofs • Pervious pavement • Biofiltration and infiltration basins • Rain barrels • Tree planting The program is currently available to residential properties in St. Louis Park. Applications will be accepted year-round on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn more, visit www.stlouispark.org/rainwater-rewards, or contact Erick Francis, water resources manager, at efrancis@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2690.

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Think ahead to spring street sweeping RECREATION OUTDOOR CENTER

As winter winds down, city crews start thinking about spring cleanup and street sweeping. The focus is on removing organic material, such as leaves left over from fall, as well as sand applied for snow and ice control. Sweeping typically starts in April as soon as the snow/ice melts enough to allow the sweepers to get to the curbs. The goal is to sweep all 308 miles of curb line in the city, 19 miles of alleys and all cityowned parking lots by mid–May.

Experience Recreation in the Park!

Weather greatly affects the start of the sweeping season. The city makes every effort to sweep all streets twice before the summer maintenance activities begin. Remember that raking grass clippings and leaves into the street is not only bad for our local lakes, creeks and rivers, it is also a violation of city ordinance. Aquatic Park – 2018 Ages 1 – 54: $9.50 | Ages 55+: $5.50

Yard waste collection begins April 2 During residential yard waste season, yard waste is collected every week on the same day as your garbage. Yard waste must be set out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection. If you believe your yard waste was missed, please call Advanced Disposal at 763.786.7233. There is no additional cost for yard waste collection during residential yard waste season; it is included in your standard solid waste collection rate. Yard waste includes all garden waste, grass clippings, leaves, weeds, wood chips, twigs and branches. Branches must be less than four inches in diameter and less than four feet long. Tie branches into bundles with string or put them in one of the container options below. Set yard waste out for collection in one of three ways:

June 2 – July 31 M – F: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sa – Su: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

August 1 – 26

M – Su: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Rec Center

Rent the ROC

Features

Wedding receptions Bar and bat mitzvah parties Company events & more!

Two indoor ice arenas Meeting rooms Banquet facilities All available to rent for your next event!

Outdoor Ice Rink Rental

Birthday parties For city events, activities and news, visit stlouispark.org. School events & more!

For city events, activities and news, visit stlouispark.org.

St. Louis Park Aquatic • The Rec Center Recreation Outdoor Center For Park city events, activities and news,• visit stlouispark.org. 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416

@stlouispark Aquatic_Rec_ROC ad destination guide 2017 3.indd 1

RECREATION OUTDOOR CENTER

slpmn.us/recreation • 952.924.2540 •For city events, activities and news, visit stlouispark.org.

nextdoor.com

Make service requests or receive city information via the app or visit

11/27/2017 11:55:41 AM

Make service requests or receive city information via the app or visit mystlouispark.org

Make service requests or receive city mystlouispark.org information via the app or visit

Make service requests or receive city information via the app or visit mystlouispark.org mystlouispark.org

1. U se your own reusable container. The container should be 32 gallons or smaller, sturdy and have handles so it can be lifted by a single person. Containers do not need to be lined with a compostable bag. 2. U se certified compostable bags, brown paper Kraft lawn bags or brown paper grocery bags. 3. I f you’re signed up for organics recycling, you can also include yard waste in your brown-lidded organics cart along with your food scraps.

Note: Each container, bag or bundle should weigh no more than 40 pounds.

Residential brush drop-off site opens April 28

Branches, brush or logs greater than four feet in length or four inches in diameter are too big for residential curbside collection. Bring them to the city’s brush drop-off site, located at 2501 Edgewood Ave. S., at the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Avenue South. There is no charge for St. Louis Park residents. A Minnesota ID or driver’s license is required as proof of residency. Yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves and small branches, is not accepted at the site and should be set out for curbside collection. Questions? Call 952.924.2562 or visit www.stlouispark.org/brush-drop-off.

No bags please. Keep recyclables loose! For many residents, bags are a convenient way to collect recyclables. Unfortunately, those bags cause significant challenges in the recycling sorting process. Recyclables tied up in plastic bags are often removed and discarded because workers don’t have time to open bags, and loose plastic bags wrap around equipment. Paper bags can trap recyclables inside resulting in improper sorting. To help ensure your recyclables are sorted correctly, be sure to empty recyclables directly into your recycling cart or dumpster. Empty plastic bags should go in the garbage if you can’t reuse them. Paper bags are recyclable and can be put in your recycling cart once empty. As an alternative, reusable recycling containers are a great way to avoid bags altogether.

Questions? Email recycling@stlouispark.org or call 952.924.2562.

The City of St. Louis Park is once again partnering with Tree Trust to offer trees for sale at discounted prices.

TREE SALE STARTS MARCH 5 Each resident may purchace up to three trees for only $35 each.

To see available trees and place your order, visit www.treetrust.org.

Trees are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The sale begins March 5 and will last until all trees are sold. 2018 tree sale pickup: • Saturday, May 5, 8 a.m. – noon • Monday, May 7, 5 – 7 p.m.

Municipal Service Center 7305 Oxford St. St. Louis Park, MN 55426

New Interpretive Center considered for nature center Located south of I-394 and east of Highway 169, the 160-acre Westwood Hills Nature Center is a treasured gem in St. Louis Park. However, at almost 40 years old, the current Interpretive Center doesn’t adequately meet the needs of its tens of thousands of nature-loving visitors each year, from preschoolers to homeschoolers to seniors. In keeping with its commitment to being a leader in environmental stewardship, the City of St. Louis Park is in the midst of designing a new Interpretive Center. Goals include connecting people to nature through building design and site; supporting first-class programming while welcoming the public to a fully accessible facility; reducing energy use and using resources wisely; and blending in with nature through location site and building design. Work on this project began in 2015 with creation of a master plan to address facility development and goals. Public input and design development will continue through 2018, with construction to begin in 2019 and completion in 2020. For more information about this project, including how you can provide your comments and input, visit www.stlouispark.org/whnc/new-interpretive-center.

Aquila Park fastpitch fields added

Two fields at the Aquila Park softball complex are being converted to permanent fastpitch softball fields, including new outfield and backstop fencing, dugouts, irrigation and site restoration. The fields will be used by both the St. Louis Park High School girl’s fastpitch team and the St. Louis Park Fastpitch Association. This $1.2 million project is being paid for in part by $245,000 in grants, including a $200,000 Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant and a $45,000 Minnesota Twins Hennepin County Youth Baseball and Softball Facility Grant. The new fastpitch fields are expected to be available for play in fall 2019.

Think spring & summer It may be cold outside, but we’ve got warm weather on our mind!

Online registration for spring and summer parks & recreation programs is scheduled to open mid-March; printed brochure mailed mid-March.