Park Perspective: July 2022 by City of St. Louis Park

Park Perspective July 2022

www.stlouispark.org

Follow the city’s strategic priorities The St. Louis Park City Council has adopted the following five strategic priorities. Look for the icons throughout this and future editions of the Park Perspective to read stories about how the city is working to meet these priorities. St. Louis Park is committed to: Being a leader in racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and inclusive community for all. Continuing to lead in environmental stewardship. Providing a broad range of housing and neighborhood-oriented development. Providing a variety of options for people to make their way around the city comfortably, safely and reliably. reating opportunities to build social C capital through community engagement. For city events, activities and news, visit www.stlouispark.org.

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@stlouispark

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

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

State primary Election Day is Aug. 9 Your next election is Tuesday, Aug. 9. This election is a state primary, which means voters will select which candidates will represent their political party on the general election ballot in November. You can vote at your polling place on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You will receive one ballot. Because this is a partisan primary, you can only vote for candidates from one major political party. In Minnesota there are four major political parties. Each party will have a column listing their candidates on one side of the ballot. You may not vote for candidates from more than one political party. Nonpartisan contests will be listed on the other side of the ballot. Flip your ballot to ensure you see all the races in which you are eligible to vote. Sound complicated? Just remember to vote in only one column on the partisan side of the ballot. When voting in person, an election worker will explain this process when they issue your ballot. If you are voting by mail, you can call the election line at 952.924.2503 before sealing everything up to make sure you are marking your ballot the way you want. St. Louis Park Public Schools bond referendum and capital levy St. Louis Park Public Schools is holding a special, nonpartisan election in conjunction with the state primary. This special election was authorized by the school board. If you live in the St. Louis Park school district, the nonpartisan side of your ballot will include two questions related to the renewal of a capital project levy for technology and a building bond referendum. To learn more about each question, please contact the school district or visit bit.ly/Aug9SLP bit.ly/Aug9SLP.. Vote now at city hall Early voting is now open at city hall through 5 p.m. on Aug. 8. Please consider voting early this year. The city recently completed redistricting, and for St. Louis Park this meant merging a few precincts. This means each polling place will serve a higher number of voters. Lines could form on Election Day, particularly during peak voting hours, typically early morning and after 5 p.m. To avoid lines, you can vote early in person at city hall during regular business hours or you can vote by mail. To learn more about your options to vote early, visit www.stlouispark.org/vote www.stlouispark.org/vote.. Tell a neighbor about your new polling place Almost one-third of St. Louis Park voters will have a new Election Day polling place this year because of redistricting. Look up your new location online or by calling the election line at 952.924.2503. Once you have that information, share it with others! Tell a neighbor about your new polling place or encourage them to double check their polling place before they vote. Visit with elections staff at summer events If you have a quick question or want to pick up a voting guide for yourself or a friend, you can find elections staff at most major events in St. Louis Park this summer. To invite elections staff to stop by an event this summer, like a neighborhood block party, email elections@stlouispark.org or call 952.924.2503.

NATIONAL Night Out 2022 Celebrate

Aug. 2

Every year, St. Louis Park Police Department representatives attend more than 100 citywide gatherings to build crime prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships, and organize residents so they are aware of what’s going on in their neighborhoods. We hope to see you Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6 – 9 p.m. to celebrate National Night Out. Other city departments, including the fire department and public works, will also be out attending as many National Night Out parties as possible. Interested in volunteering on National Night Out? Sign up at bit.ly/SLPNNOvol to learn more about city programs in elections, sustainability, recycling and organics. Then, talk to your neighbors about these important topics at your own National Night Out party or a few parties nearby! Visit www.stlouispark.org/national-night-out to learn more.

i s u Park o L . St Golf

Tournament

C ri

P r e v en ti o n

d Fun

Tee up at the Crime Prevention Fund Golf Tournament Sept. 16 Join the St. Louis Park Police Department for the 15th Annual Crime Prevention Fund Golf Tournament fundraiser, Friday, Sept. 16, at Ridges at Sand Creek, 21775 Ridges Drive, Jordan. Tournament has an 8 a.m. shotgun start; plan to arrive 30 minutes before tee time. We invite you to participate in five ways:

Join the Citizens’ Police Academy The Citizens’ Police Academy, offered each fall, is open to all interested adults 18 and over who live or work in the City of St. Louis Park. Participants will get an inside look at what it’s like to be a St. Louis Park police officer, learn about the police department’s role in the community and find out how they can play a part in maintaining a safe community. Classes take place over 10 consecutive weeks, Sept. 8 – Nov. 10, on Thursdays from 6 – 9 p.m. at the St. Louis Park Police Department, 3015 Raleigh Ave. S. Fifteen applicants will be accepted for each class. Dinner is provided. Potential participants must agree to a basic background check and must be able to attend all 10 sessions. To apply, complete and submit the registration form at www.stlouispark.org/police-academy by Aug. 25.

1. Play in the tournament 2. Sponsor a hole 3. Donate an item or gift cards to be used as an event prize 4. Make a direct contribution to the crime prevention fund 5. Participate as a volunteer If you are interested in playing, sponsoring or donating an item, complete the forms at bit.ly/crimepreventionslp by Wednesday, Sept. 7. Request paper copies of the forms by contacting Community Outreach Officer Ken Sysko at 952.924.2661 or slppdoutreach@stlouispark.org.

FREE!

Prizes, refreshments and lunch will be provided to participants after the tournament. The annual crime prevention fund golf tournament is the only fundraiser that directly supports the police department's community outreach initiatives and activities.

Preventing catalytic converter theft Catalytic converters are attractive targets for thieves due to their lack of identifying information and the difficulty in tracking them back to a specific vehicle. In addition, it only takes about 90 seconds for a catalytic converter to be stolen. Thieves then sell the stolen converters to a third party who in turn takes them out of state and mills them for precious metals. Take these steps to avoid theft Replacing a catalytic converter can be expensive. Take these steps to prevent theft of your catalytic converter: • P ark your vehicle inside a locked garage. If that’s not possible, park in a well-lit area and near building entrances or any other high-visibility area. • Calibrate your vehicle alarm to sound when it detects vibration. See your vehicle’s owner’s manual for instructions. • I f you see anything suspicious, call 911 right away. The faster you call, the more likely police officers are to catch the thieves. • C onsult with your auto repair facility about engraving your license plate number onto the casing of your vehicle’s catalytic converter. This may deter theft. In the event the catalytic converter is stolen, it can be tracked back to the vehicle. Be aware of your vehicle’s warranty information before engraving. • P urchase anti-theft equipment such as catalytic converter cages, clamps and/or cables. These devices are readily available online and can be installed to prevent theft. • I f you’re handy, marking a catalytic converter can be a do-it-yourself undertaking. All you need is high-temperature (1,200-2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) automotive exhaust paint or a quality handheld electric engraver that is suitable for etching metal, as well as a safe way to access the catalytic converter from under your vehicle.

July 2022

July 22, noon – 2 p.m. AGES 3+

Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), 3700 Monterey Drive Gather your pennies for fun games, music and more! Games and activities cost between 2 – 4 cents per play. Refreshment coupon may be purchased for $1.

Interested in homeownership? Think you can’t afford a mortgage payment? Maybe you can through the Homes Within Reach program! Also known as the West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust, Homes Within Reach is a nonprofit whose vision is to transform people’s lives through homeownership. Homes Within Reach purchases homes in the community, rehabilitates them and then sells them to qualified homebuyers through the community land trust model. The city has partnered with Homes Within Reach since 2006, and in that time has helped 25 families achieve homeownership in St. Louis Park. If you are thinking of selling your St. Louis Park home, consider selling to the Homes Within Reach program, which is currently looking at purchasing and preserving homes in St. Louis Park.

Delve into data about city development and housing Wondering what’s being built in St. Louis Park? Details on approved and completed development projects within the city are available on the development dashboard, bit.ly/3MyWoRy bit.ly/3MyWoRy.. This dashboard includes new developments and major additions of residential, office, commercial, industrial and park buildings since 2009. For detailed information on rental housing, visit the multifamily housing dashboard at bit.ly/3lsUrKw.. It shows the total number of rental units and the number of affordable units bit.ly/3lsUrKw created since the city’s inclusionary housing policy was adopted in 2015. It doesn’t reflect the total number of affordable rental units in the city as it doesn’t include new units built before 2015 or non-subsidized naturally occurring affordable units. The development and multifamily housing dashboards are interactive, so clicking or zooming in to the maps gives more details about a specific project or area. Both dashboards are best viewed on a computer due to the amount of available data.

To learn more about Homes Within Reach, the community land trust model and eligibility requirements, or for an application, visit www.homeswithinreach.org or call 952.401.7071.

Do your part: adopt a storm drain! Pictured (left to right) are St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission Vice Chair Katie Lawler Turnball with 2021 Human Rights Award winners Luke Derheim, David Benowitz and Cory Litzow Lorentz.

St. Louis Park residents are invited to adopt a storm drain by committing to keep it clear of leaves, trash and other debris. The simple act of sweeping and cleaning up around a storm drain protects creeks, wetlands and lakes by preventing pollution from entering our shared waterways. Visit www.adopt-a-drain.org/map to sign up.

2021 human rights awards presented In June, the St. Louis Park city council and human rights commission recognized the winners of the 2021 Human Rights Award. The award recognizes individuals, groups, organizations or businesses that have made an outstanding contribution toward uplifting human rights, justice, equity and inclusion in the community, and seeks out those who have fostered increased understanding and cooperation between people of different backgrounds in St. Louis Park. Several outstanding nominations were received by the human rights commission, with two selected for recognition. In the business/organization category, Craft & Crew Hospitality Inc. Chief Operating Officer David Benowitz and Co-Owner Luke Derheim were honored for their influence in the service industry as leaders in diversity and equity initiatives. Craft & Crew is among the first restaurant groups to create a diversity and equity manager position. They have hosted Black History Month and PRIDE brunches, and through the Craft & Crew Cares initiative donated monthly to various charities chosen by their employees. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Craft & Crew has raised money for meals for health care workers at hospitals around the Twin Cities, with more than 20,000 meals made and delivered to date. Craft & Crew operates The Block Food & Drink in St. Louis Park, among other restaurants in the Twin Cities. In the individual category, Cory Litzow Lorentz, a multilingual learners teacher at St. Louis Park High School since 2005, was honored for her dedication to the welfare and success of her students. She makes the high school and community a much more welcoming place for immigrants, who happen to be mostly students of color. She regularly uses volunteers and professionals to help students better understand career options and pathways that are often unknown to children from immigrant families. She willingly arranges all-day retreats to build a stronger community among her students and reaches out to parents and visits homes to gain family understanding and support for the educational needs of children. Lorentz’s students know she cares deeply about each of them and her devotion without favoritism produces an environment where children can best learn and succeed. Visit bit.ly/SLPHRC to learn more about the St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Award.

36th Street and Wooddale Avenue Improvements Construction of the 36th Street and Wooddale Avenue improvements started in June. This project will improve infrastructure and safety for all users of these roadways and includes: • Reduction from four lanes of traffic to three lanes • Pavement replacement • Modification of the 36th Street and Wooddale Avenue and the 36th Street and Xenwood Avenue intersections • Separated two-way bicycle facility on the south side of 36th Street • Replacing watermain on 36th Street • Upsizing the sanitary sewer on 36th Street • Sidewalk upgrades to ensure ADA accessibility Work will be completed in stages in order to maintain access for the properties in the area. Lane closures and detours will be necessary to complete the construction. This is to ensure safety and shorten the duration of the project. Visit bit.ly/3PncMql for more information. If you have questions or comments, contact Joseph Shamla, project manager, at jshamla@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2552.

www.stlouispark.org

Recreational fire permits required Permits are required for recreational fires (in-ground fire pits, portable fire pits, fire bowls, chimineas, etc.). Natural gas and propane fire pits and fireplaces don’t require a recreational fire permit. Visit www.stlouispark.org/firepermit to view or print the permit application and to find complete information and regulations. Fires must be 25 feet away from any structure, and you may only burn clean, dry firewood. Do not have a fire if winds are more than 10 miles per hour or when still weather conditions prevent the smoke from moving away. Fires are prohibited when the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has declared a burning ban or the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert. Visit www.dnr.state.mn.us or www.pca.state.mn.us to learn more. Be considerate of your neighbors when having a fire Do your fires cause health issues for any of your neighbors? Listen to those who may suffer from your backyard fires. Let your neighbors know when you are planning to have a fire. Since fires release fine particles that contribute to air pollution, closing windows will not prevent wood smoke from affecting those with respiratory conditions.

Dogs must be leashed

in St. Louis Park The city receives many complaints about dogs running at large or off leash. As a reminder, city ordinance requires owners to leash dogs whenever they are off their home property. Dogs must be leashed in all city parks, open spaces and on trails and may not run at large. This means that dogs must be controlled by a leash no more than 20 feet long, which is shortened to 6 feet when another person or animal is within 20 feet. The only locations dogs may be off leash aside from their home property is at a designated off-leash dog park. In St. Louis Park, off-leash dog parks are located at Cedar Knoll Park and Dakota Park and require a license to use. As a reminder, pets of any kind, even on leash, are not allowed anywhere at Westwood Hills Nature Center. Visit www.stlouispark.org for more information about leash laws and pet ownership in St. Louis Park. Three Rivers Park District also offers several off-leash dog areas throughout the metro area; visit www.threeriversparks.org for information. Parks and trails users may report unleashed dogs to the St. Louis Park Police Department non-emergency number at 952.924.2618. Pick up after your pet Rainwater carries pet waste into storm sewers, eventually polluting lakes and streams. Help keep local lakes and streams clean by picking up after your pet.

Attend a hands-only CPR training class Hands-only CPR training classes are available for those age 15 and over (an adult or guardian must be present with participants ages 15 – 17). There is a maximum of 10 participants per training. Training will be canceled if there is less than five people registered. Participants are required to wear a face covering. The training is not a certification course, and participants will not qualify for a CPR certificate. Upcoming training dates All training dates are held on the first Wednesday of the month from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 3750 Wooddale Ave. S. Visit pickatime.com/stlouispark/save-a-life to register online.

Stay safe with the

lockbox

program A key to community resiliency is providing 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 lockbox 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. At the resident’s request, a secure lockbox is placed at the entrance door and contains a key to the home. The lockbox can only be opened with a special key carried by police and fire personnel. When help has been called and no one answers the door, firefighters or police officers can open the door with the key from the lockbox instead of forcing the door open and causing damage and additional cost.

2022-2023

St. Louis Park City-School Calendar T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F

City-school calendar available early August UPDATED: JUly 22, 2021

The 2022-2023 city-school calendar, published jointly by the City of St. Louis Park and St. Louis Park Public Schools, will be available online in August at www.stlouispark.org and www.slpschools.org www.slpschools.org.. Printed copies will be distributed to St. Louis Park Public School students. A limited supply of printed copies will be available for pickup while supplies last at various locations, including St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. WWW.SLPSCHOOLS.ORG | @SLPUBLICSCHOOLS | 952.928.6000

July 2022

WWW.STLOUISPARK.ORG | @STLOUISPARK | 952.924.2500

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. Financial assistance is available to help cover the costs. 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 key, notify the fire department. If you or your loved one could benefit from this program, call the fire department at 952.924.2595, or visit www.stlouispark.org/fire to learn more.

Rebates available

for some appliances If you’re purchasing an Energy Star or WaterSense appliance, you might be eligible for a rebate! In partnership with the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, the City of St. Louis Park is offering rebates to encourage residents to install toilets and irrigation components that reduce water use, as well as washing machines and dishwashers that are energy efficient.

Stay connected with internet service, devices The Affordable Connectivity Program is a United States government program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. You are likely eligible if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant or free and reduced-price lunch. Visit www.affordableconnectivity.gov to learn more about who qualifies and to apply.

Rebates are up to $200 for a WaterSense toilet; up to $250 for a WaterSense irrigation controller and/or irrigation spray sprinkler bodies; and up to $300 for Energy Star washing machines and dishwashers. Rebates will be issued as a bill credit on your city utility bill. Eligibility requirements • Must be a St. Louis Park resident who receives a utility (water) bill from the city. • Qualifying purchases must be made after July 1, 2022. • New construction and new developments are not eligible for rebates. Rebate requests must include: • P hoto of the box showing WaterSense logo (for toilets and irrigation systems) and Energy Star logo for washing machines and dishwashers. • P urchase receipt. If contractor/plumber is installing any of the devices or appliances, provide an itemized receipt that shows the cost of the device as a separate line item. • First and last name of the person requesting the rebate, along with address.

Internet providers St. Louis Park residents may choose from the following internet service providers: • CenturyLink — 1.866.963.6665 or www.centurylink.com • Comcast — 1.800.XFINITY (934.6489) or xfinity.com • HughesNet — 1.877.809.7843 or internet.hughesnet.com • US Internet — 612.444.1888 or usinternet.com

Rebates are for product purchase only; residents are responsible for installation and permit costs. You can replace multiple toilets in your home, along with other qualified items listed in the rebate, and receive utility credits for all the devices. Rebates will be processed in the order they are received and will be issued until the funds are used. The city received a total of $31,250 to distribute in rebates to residents. For more information, contact Jay Hall, utilities superintendent, at 952.924.2557 or jhall@stlouispark.org.

About US Internet US Internet is expanding its service in St. Louis Park this year and in 2023. You may see US Internet working in your neighborhood or preparing for work. It’s important to know they use directional boring, a trenchless method of installing underground utilities, to install fiber. This method results in minimal damage to the right of way. Additionally, like all other companies working in the right of way, US Internet is obligated to restore any disturbed areas to its original state. Call 95.924.2632 if you have questions or comments about US Internet’s activities in St. Louis Park.

Dead-end fire hydrant flushing this fall The city will be flushing dead-end fire hydrants Sept. 26 – 30 and Oct. 3 – 7. Flushing hours will be from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. As always, the estimated dates are based on the weather, current maintenance needs or emergencies that staff need to address. This process will be mainly on dead-end streets or cul-de-sacs and is necessary to maintain water quality. Any one neighborhood or area won’t be affected for the entire week. Once a watermain is flushed, city crews will move to the next one. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to specify exact dates and times crews will be in specific neighborhoods, which is why the five-day window is published. Residents can check to see if watermains have been flushed in their neighborhood by visiting bit.ly/WMflushing to view a map. Crews flush the watermains by opening fire hydrants, so don’t be alarmed if you see water gushing from hydrants while a city truck is nearby.

Rotary Clubof

St.Louis Park Minnesota

USA

Chartered in1947

Founding Club

Children First

St. Louis Park

Rotary Club

FREE !

Summer Concert Series The St. Louis Park Rotary Club Summer Concert Series takes place evenings this summer. Visit www.stlouispark.org/concerts for performers and dates.

While water has improved color and taste after watermain flushing, the process can temporarily discolor water due to loose iron particles. Iron naturally occurs in groundwater and isn’t harmful to your health. If you experience discolored water, take the following precautions. If you have questions, call public works at 952.924.2562. • Turn your water softener off or set it to “bypass” for the time period watermain flushing is scheduled. • During this time period, don’t do laundry without first checking to see if your water is rust colored. Check water by running the tap. If it’s rust colored, don’t run your washing machine until you’ve cleared the water. To clear your water, run the cold water tap in your laundry tub until it runs clear, then do your laundry. If your laundry is stained by the water during this time period, keep the laundered items wet and call public works at 952.924.2562. We will deliver a chemical that will remove the stains. • E ach morning during this time period, run the cold water tap to flush your household system of any discolored water sitting in the pipes. If tap water becomes discolored during the day, run the cold water tap until the water clears again. www.stlouispark.org

Get trees and

planting at a It’s not too late for emerald ash borer treatments Consider protecting your ash tree(s) from emerald ash borer (EAB) this summer. Treatments on healthy ash trees are very effective and can be done until the end of September. City ordinance requires the removal of any untreated ash trees that are infested with EAB. Owners of private ash trees in St. Louis Park are eligible for a bulk rate discount through Rainbow Treecare. For more information, visit www.RainbowTreecare.com/stlouispark or call 952.767.6920.

Know your recycling day For your convenience, the next three months of the recycling schedule are provided below. Visit www.stlouispark.org/recycling to download a yearly calendar, find your collection day or sign up for email reminders. • If your normal service falls on or after a holiday, you will receive service one day later. • M issed collection? Contact Waste Management at stlouispark@wm.com or 763.783.5423. • This calendar applies only to properties with city-provided recycling. Multifamily buildings are required to offer recycling to their tenants. Check with your building management or contact city staff at recycling@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2187 if you have questions about recycling collection at your building.

September 2022 Tu

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

Week A

Week B

Media swap Wednesday, Aug. 24, 4 – 6 p.m.

Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), 3700 Monterey Drive

Holiday

Thursday, July 28, 4 – 6 p.m.

Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), 3700 Monterey Drive • Acceptable items: all styles, sizes and types of clothes and shoes • Items not accepted: linens, blankets Visit www.stlouispark.org/reuse or call public works at 952.924.2562 for more information.

July 2022

Visit www.stlouispark.org/trees to learn more about both programs.

Visit www.stlouispark.org/reuse or call public works at 952.924.2562 for more information.

Clothing swap 6

A similar program is also available for business owners, who can hire any licensed landscaping company to plant up to three trees on their property, then apply to the Shade SLP cost share program to be partially reimbursed.

Items not accepted: VCRs, DVD players, video game consoles, stereos, home recorded videos, handheld electronic games, battery-operated CD players, mixed tapes or puzzles/games with missing pieces

October 2022 Sa 1 8 15 22 29

With the City of St. Louis Park’s new full-service tree planting option, residents can order discounted trees through Tree Trust, a local nonprofit, and work directly with them to have the tree planted at a discounted service rate. Higher discounts are available for properties located in Environmental Justice priority areas and for homes that recently lost an ash tree due to emerald ash borer (EAB).

Acceptable items: • Books: children’s, adult, fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, magazines, etc. -N O damaged items that are unreadable (e.g. missing pages) or outdated textbooks (older than 10 years) • G ames: board games, puzzles, video games - NO puzzles with missing pieces, video game consoles, or handheld electronic games • Movies: DVDs, Blu-ray - NO home recorded items, VCRs or DVD players • Music: CDs, vinyl records - NO home recorded items (e.g. mixed tapes/CDs), cassettes, 8-track tapes, battery-operated CD players or plug-in stereos

August 2022 Su

discounted rate

Aquatic Park last day of summer Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1 – 7 p.m. Aquatic Park, 3700 Monterey Drive Bring a non-perishable food donation for the STEP food shelf and pool entrance is just $4. All season pass holders who bring a donation will receive a coupon for one free small fountain beverage at the concession stand. The concession stand will feature last-day specials. BOGO coupons not applicable for this event. In case of questionable weather, call the Aquatic Park weather line at 952.924.2567.

ST LOUIS PARK

ART

FAI R

Sept. 10, 10 a.m – 5 p.m.

Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), 3700 Monterey Drive Visit www.slpfota.org/artfair for event details, vendor applications and sponsorship opportunities.

SAVE THE ! DATE

Now is the time to explore solar If you’ve ever considered installing solar panels at your home or business, 2022 is the year to do it. You can still take advantage of the full 26% federal solar installation tax credit while it lasts. In 2023, the credit will drop to 22%, and in 2024 the credit will be eliminated for homeowners and decrease to 10% permanently for business owners. Plus, with the City of St. Louis Park’s Solar Sundown cost share program, residents and business owners can receive an additional 4% or 6% reimbursement on solar in 2022. Visit www.stlouispark.org/solar to get started.

Fall paper shredding event, Sept. 28 The city will be hosting a free paper shredding event for confidential papers on Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Creekside Park, 7341 Oxford St. Residents may bring up to five grocery bags of paper. Do not use lawn/leaf bags or plastic bags of any kind. Visit www.stlouispark.org/cleanup or call 952.924.2562 for more information on event guidelines. Also, remember that shredded paper is not accepted in recycling or organics carts. So, be sure to bring confidential papers to a shredding event instead if you would like them to be shredded on-site and recycled.

Recognizing new Get your energy efficient utility rebate matched Feeling the pain of rising prices in your home energy bills? Energy efficiency is more important than ever, not just for the planet, but for your budget as well. St. Louis Park is here to help! The city matches 25% or 50% of utility rebates for high efficiency furnaces, water heaters and air conditioners, in addition to air sealing and improved insulation. The more energy you save, the greater your rebate! This means if you receive a $400 rebate from your utility company, St. Louis Park can offer you an additional $100 – $200, depending on your income level. Not only will higher efficiency equipment be cheaper to buy, it will also save you on gas or electricity over the lifetime of the equipment. Contact Ellie Rabine, sustainability specialist, at erabine@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2131 for more information.

Climate Champions

Congratulations to Dreamers Vault Games, Anderberg Innovative Print Solutions and Nelson’s for becoming St. Louis Park Climate Champions! These local businesses recently upgraded old HVAC or lighting equipment for more efficient models, and thanks to utility rebates and the City of St. Louis Park’s Climate Champions cost share, were able to offset much of the cost. The businesses also received a free, whole-building energy assessment from Energy Smart, a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce program. If you own a local business, learn more about how you can save money and be recognized for energy efficiency at www.stlouispark.org/climate-champions www.stlouispark.org/climate-champions.. Even if you don’t own a business, you can still help us spread the word by letting your favorite local spots know about the program.

www.stlouispark.org

2022 Fire Department Open House and Community Health Resource Fair Tuesday, Sept. 13, 5 – 8 p.m.

Displays and demonstrations

For kids

• Squirt house • Home Depot kids’ workshop

• Kitchen safety • Fire extinguisher demonstration • Burn rooms/fire sprinkler demonstration • Emergency preparedness • Hennepin County Medical Center ambulance

Food • Hotdogs, cookies, chips, water

• Hands-only CPR • Police squad car • Public works heavy equipment • City departments

Fire Station 1 3750 Wooddale Ave. S.

Know before you throw On Wednesdays, the city posts information on social media on how to properly dispose of confusing items. Below are samples of those posts! Follow the city’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts (@stlouispark) for more useful tips in the future! If you have questions about what goes where, visit www.stlouispark.org/garbage-recycling or contact staff at recycling@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2562.

Remodeling help is here RECYCLING: Plastic medicine bottles can be recycled, but only if they are greater than three inches tall by three inches wide. Bottles smaller than three inches are not accepted because they are too small for the equipment at recycling facilities to sort them correctly, so they should be placed placed in the garbage instead. You may even try some creative reuse options to organize small items like nails, pins or buttons. Make sure to bring leftover medicine to a drop box. Visit www.hennepin.us/medicine

for locations.

GARBAGE: A lot of toothpaste tubes these days claim that they are recyclable. However, that is misleading as you should NOT be placing them in your curbside recycling cart! The tube and the cap should both go in the garbage. The tubes are usually made out of multiple materials laminated together, which make them hard to sort at recycling facilities. Some toothpaste manufacturers have started mail-in recycling programs, which you can find out more about by searching for the company’s website. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out!

ORGANICS: Banana peels, apple cores and other fruit peels and pits can all go in the organics. Don’t know what organics is? Maybe you’ve noticed the small, brown-lidded organics carts that your neighbors set out on collection day or at the drop-off sites available to residents in apartments or condos. The city’s organics program helps keep food scraps out of the garbage by sending them to a commercial composting facility instead. Visit www.stlouispark.org/organics

for more information on what is accepted in organics, or to sign up!

Join the growing number of residents

participating in organics! The City of St. Louis Park offers weekly collection of food scraps and compostable material through the organics program, which is available to you at no extra cost. Already 40% of St. Louis Park residents participate in the organics program. That’s a great number, but we want to lead the way in recycling in Minnesota by increasing organics participation to more than 50%! To sign up, visit www.stlouispark.org/organics or call utility billing at 952.924.2111.

July 2022

Summer is here, which means it’s time to start thinking about what home improvement projects you want to tackle this year. Whether it is remodeling your kitchen, installing solar panels or new siding, the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) and the City of St. Louis Park can help you make it happen through a variety of financing options. From statewide loans to loans specifically for St. Louis Park residents, CEE can help you kick off your home improvement projects. CEE’s loans offer low monthly payments and flexible terms. Loans are only available while funds last. You can find more information about St. Louis Park’s loans and statewide loans by visiting mncee.org/loans or by calling 612.335.5884.

Bike identification

Make: ______________________________________________

Make: _______

Model: _____________________________________________

Model: ______

Size: _______________________________________________

Size: ________

Color: ______________________________________________

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Serial number:_______________________________________

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St. Louis Park Police non-emergency number: 952.924.2618

St. Louis Park P

Owner name: _____________________________________

Owner name:

Phone number: ____________________________________

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Keep your bike safe Bike identification

Make: ______________________________________________

Make: _______

Model: _____________________________________________

Model: ______

Owner name: _____________________________________

Owner name:

Phone number: ____________________________________

Phone number

The St. Louis Park Police Department recommends purchasing a high-quality method Size: _______________________________________________ Size: ________ of securing your bike when not in use and recording your bike’s information for ______________________________________________ Color: _______ safekeeping. StopColor: by the police department lobby, 3015 Raleigh Ave. S., or city hall Serial number:_______________________________________ lobby, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., to get your free bike identification card to recordSerial yournumber:_ Louis Park Police non-emergency number: St. Louis bike’s information.St.Additionally, take photos of your bike952.924.2618 and keep this information in Park P an accessible, secure location in case of theft.