Fridley
A report to
the citizens of Fridley
6431 University Avenue NE
Fridley, MN 55432
phone: 763-571-3450
www.FridleyMN.gov
e-mail: [email protected]
Mayor – Scott J. Lund
Councilmember-at-Large – Robert L. Barnette
Councilmember 1st Ward – James T. Saefke
Councilmember 2nd Ward – Dolores M. Varichak
Councilmember 3rd Ward – Ann R. Bolkcom
City Manager – Wally Wysopal
december 2013
No. 185
C O M M U N I T Y
R E P O R T
Pumpkin Night in the Park
On October 19, Springbrook Nature Center hosted its
annual Pumpkin Night in the Park event. Nearly 3,100
visitors flocked to the Nature Center for this wonderful
event. With 850 carved and lit pumpkins along the
scenic trails, the event brought the fall season to life
and engaged the community as hundreds of volunteers
shared their time and carving skills.
As a rainy day turned to a beautifully crisp fall night,
lively crowds of all ages enjoyed great food, a dance,
campfires, themed trail stations, live entertainment
and an amazing blacklight trail as they explored the
candle-lit trails. Attendance for this year’s event was
among our best ever. The Springbrook Nature Center
staff would like to thank all of the volunteers, visitors
and supporters for making this magical fall event a
Fridley tradition. Mark your calendars for October 18,
2014, and be sure to join us as a volunteer, or just for
fun, as we look forward to another amazing Pumpkin
Night in the Park. ■
We wish you a Happy
and Safe Holiday Season.
Fridley City Hall Holiday Hours:
December 20 - Offices will close at 3 p.m.
for an Annual Employee Meeting
December 24 - Offices will close at 1:30 p.m.
PRESORTED STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit NO. 92886
December 25 - closed
January 1 - closed
Holiday Tea and Handmade
Sale at Banfill-Locke Center
for the Arts
A one-of-a-kind experience awaits you at the Banfill-Locke
Center for the Arts, located at 6666 East River Road in Fridley.
You are invited for tea and to do your holiday shopping at the
Art Center this December. Beginning with a Holiday Tea and
grand opening celebration, the annual holiday sale starts at 6
p.m. on Thursday, December 5, and runs through December
21. You will find handmade soaps, jewelry, textiles, and
artworks made by artists from the North Metro area. Check
www.banfill-locke.org or call 763-574-1850 for more
information.
Christmas in the 1950s
Fridley Historical Society’s Christmas in the
1950s exhibit is open Tuesdays 2 - 4 p.m.
and Saturdays 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. through
December 17. The Historical Society is
located in the old Hayes School Building at
611 Mississippi Street NE in Fridley.
page 2
Fridley
Community
Report
2014 Preliminary Budget Sees Modest Levy Increase
In August, the City Council set the preliminary tax
levy at $11,511,288, an increase of 2.3% or
approximately $259,000 over 2013. At the October
budget work session, staff presented departmental
budgets to Council. Each department manager had
an opportunity to discuss the key intended outcomes
for the upcoming year. 2014 is expected to be
another active year for all of the City’s departments.
Journey to Freedom
Veterans’ Day was remembered in a special way this
year at the Fridley Community Center. The Fridley
American Legion Post #303 Color Guard presented
the Colors, and over 200 people in attendance heard
Peter Vodenka talk about his journey to freedom. His
story is one of hope and willingness to sacrifice for
freedom. In June of 1983, Peter and his wife, fouryear old daughter, and two-year old son, defected
from behind the Iron Curtin of Czechoslovakia.
Driven by his desire to live free from government
suppression, Peter spent 10 years planning an escape.
He knew that even the thought of escaping could
land him in prison, so his plan needed to be solid and
kept in the utmost secrecy. Their escape came in the
middle of a cold, dark, and rainy night while being
chased by guards with automatic weapons. He
described the anguish of what would have happened
to him should the escape fail. Many in attendance
had experienced their own fight for freedom.
Nonetheless, they were all on the edge of their seats
as Peter described landing safely beyond the Iron
Curtin. Today, Peter and his family, which includes 6
grandchildren, reside in North Dakota. He owns a
construction company and speaks regularly to groups
about his journey to freedom. His harrowing story
left those in attendance feeling grateful for the
liberties often taken for granted. Lunch followed and
was provided by the generosity of the Fridley
American Legion Auxiliary and Sam’s Club. The
program is an annual event sponsored by the Fridley
Parks and Recreation Department to remember
those who served to protect our freedom. ■
The 2013 Legislature enacted two important changes
that will have positive financial impacts for the City.
The first legislative change involved a change in the
formula for calculating Local Government Aid
(LGA). This change eliminates a number of unique
and narrowly-defined criteria that had continually
altered the LGA formula over the past years. The
City is expected to receive $1.2 million in 2014, an
increase of $450,000 over the past couple of years.
Even though this increase in LGA is a welcomed
sight, it is still a reduction of about $500,000 from
what the City had been receiving about a decade ago.
This new LGA funding, along with the base LGA, is
being dedicated towards capital improvements. LGA
has had a history being at the whim of the
Legislature, meaning that State budgets have been
balanced in part by LGA. Cuts to LGA have come as
late as December of the fiscal year, causing the City
to scramble to absorb changes in budget funding
levels. Realizing this can easily happen again, the
City is directing their entire LGA allotment towards
capital projects. Capital projects are often one-time
expenditures and can often be shifted to another year
or eliminated if financial issues arise. If LGA was
budgeted within the General fund, which is for the
most part on-going expenditures that occur year after
year, reducing or cutting these operational
expenditures has a much more dramatic effect on
service delivery.
The other major legislative change is the elimination
of the requirement for the City to pay sales tax. For
more than 20 years, the City has been required to pay
sales tax on a majority of its purchases. Beginning on
January 1, 2014, a vast majority of the City’s
purchases will be exempt from sales tax. Staff has
estimated this will save the City’s General Fund
approximately $70,000 and $125,000 city-wide.
The General Fund savings, from the sales tax
exemption, allow the 2014 levy increase to be
redirected towards capital equipment.
Approximately two-thirds, or $175,000, of the 2.4%
levy increase is being directed towards the Capital
Equipment Fund. Over the past several years, the
City has had to issue equipment certificates in order
to purchase necessary capital equipment. Due to the
City’s tax levy charter restriction, the levy could not
be increased by a sufficient amount to cover basic
operations and the replacement of necessary capital
equipment. As a result, the City was required to
issue debt in the form of capital equipment
certificates to purchase necessary capital equipment
such as police and fire vehicles.
The goal of Council is to eliminate the need to issue
debt and the subsequent interest expense associated
with these equipment certificates. By dedicating a
portion of the levy along with LGA funds towards
capital equipment, the City is making great strides in
realizing this goal and saving the taxpayers
unnecessary interest expenses.
A public meeting to consider the 2014 budget is
scheduled for December 2, with final Council
approval slated for December 9. The public is
welcome to provide input at the December 2
meeting. ■
How Does the Cost of City Services Compare to Other Common Services?
On average, a Fridley
homeowner would spend
about the same amount
monthly for cable television
service as the combined
cost of all property tax
supported services.
Avg Monthly City Utility Bill......$46.59
Police & Fire ...............................$26.05
Public Works .................................14.28
Parks & Recreation..........................4.85
Community Development...............3.85
Debt Services...................................3.47
TOTAL: $52.50
Five Inducted into the
Fridley Historical Society
Hall of Fame
The Fridley Historical Society proudly announces
five new inductees to the Historical Hall of Fame.
They are: Gordon Backlund, Charlotte Fitzpatrick,
Charlene and Earl Hatten, and John Meyer. The
Hall of Fame is reserved for those who through
dedication, work and accomplishments have
contributed significantly to the growth and success
of the City of Fridley. The inductees were recognized
at a luncheon in their honor on November 2 at the
Community Center. ■
Cost of City services for home assessed at
$150,000 for taxes payable in 2014
Did You Know –
Liquor Store Proceeds
Reduce Property Taxes
Over the past 10 years, the City’s municipal liquor
stores have contributed $3.8 million to the City’s
general operating budget. The liquor store
proceeds defray the cost of police and fire
protection, snow plowing, park maintenance and a
host of other operational services. In addition, these
annual contributions directly reduced the tax
burden for all Fridley property owners.
For example, the 2014 preliminary levy is increasing
2.3% over the prior year. The 2014 liquor store
proceeds are projected to be $250,000. If those
proceeds are not included in the budget and the
budget was to remain whole, the tax levy would
need to increase an additional 2.2% to cover the lost
contributions from the liquor stores. The profits
from the liquors stores have and will continue to
help the City maintain one of the lowest tax rates of
our surrounding city neighbors. ■
w w w. F r i d l e y M N . g o v
page 3
Bringing Local
History to Life:
Civil War Christmas
Residential Properties to See a Reduction
in City Property Taxes
Even with the preliminary levy increasing by 2.3%,
residential property owners will likely see a
reduction in their City property taxes. Truth-inTaxation notices were delivered to property owners
in the middle of November. Those notices
provided the estimated property taxes payable for
all taxing jurisdictions. The notices also provide the
market value for both 2013 and 2014 for
comparison purposes. Overall, residential property
owners saw another decline in taxable market value
for taxes payable in 2014. On average, the market
value of residential properties declined
approximately 10 percent. This decline was for the
period October 1, 2011, through September 30,
2012, which is the interval assessors study to
estimate market value for taxes payable in 2014.
This is an average, and individual properties can
vary significantly depending upon variables such as
location, size, and other property amenities.
burden is shifting to the commercial and industrial
properties. These properties experienced less of a
percentage decline in market value than did
residential properties. Thus, the overall value for
commercial and industrial properties is
proportionately higher than residential property
compared to a year ago.
City staff prepared estimates for three separate
home valuation ranges and the decrease in City
property taxes almost mirrors the decline in
valuation.
These shifts are all cyclical and are dependent upon
market conditions. Preliminary market indicators
for taxes payable in 2015 are that residential
properties are increasing in value at a higher rate
than commercial and industrial properties. Thus,
residential properties may likely see an increase in
property taxes even if the tax levy for 2015 remains
constant. ■
So if residential property taxes are experiencing a
decline in tax burden, where did the lost and new
tax proceeds go? For taxes payable in 2014, the tax
Each year, the City levies a specific dollar amount
that is split amongst the various property types.
The proposed preliminary levy increases the size of
the pie by 2.3%, and yet a vast majority of
residential properties will experience a reduced tax
burden or receive a smaller piece of the pie. The
remaining pie, which is now larger than the prior
year, is then shifted to the commercial and
industrial properties resulting in a shift of
additional tax burden.
December 7, 2013
2:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m.
Mississippi Branch Library
410 Mississippi St NE
A fashionable woman of the 1860s would have
worn her very best to celebrate the season and
that is just what this living history presentation
brings! A spirited talk from a presenter in full
1860s fashion shares stories of how a tree might
have been decorated in this area in the 1860s,
what Christmas treats would have been prepared,
the kinds of gifts exchanged and more. Guests
hear the music of the season and get a taste of
what a Christmas in Anoka County celebrated
during the hard years of the American Civil War
may have been.
This free program is offered in partnership with
the Anoka County Historical Society and is
funded with money with from Minnesota’s Arts
and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Bringing Local
History to Life programs are a collaboration
between the Anoka County Historical Society
and Anoka County Library. Programs are free
and open to the public, but seating is limited. ■
Service Directory
www.FridleyMN.gov
[email protected]
Police & Fire Emergency..................................911
Municipal Center ............................763-571-3450
Building Inspections.........................763-572-3604
Open Gym for Pickleball!
Mondays 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
January 13 – March 17
$3 per person/$6 per family
Code Enforcement...........................763-572-3592
Planning and Zoning .......................763-572-3592
Public Works ..................................763-572-3566
Police Administration .......................763-572-3629
Fire Administration ..........................763-572-3613
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing
sports in the country. Pickleball is a
combination of tennis, badminton and
ping pong. The sport is played on a
badminton-sized court with a perforated
plastic ball (similar to a whiffle ball) and
wood or composite paddles. Players of all
ages enjoy the easy-to-learn game that
can be friendly competition or a fastpaced workout. Gym time will be set
aside for Pickleball players of all skill
levels at the Fridley Community Center this
winter. Several wooden paddle racquets
and plastic poly balls will be available for
players to use during open gym. Call the
Fridley Parks & Recreation Department at
763-572-3570 for further information.
Parks & Recreation ..........................763-572-3570
Springbrook Nature Center ..............763-572-3588
Senior Program...............................763-502-5150
Engineering....................................763-572-3552
City Manager/City Council..............763-572-3500
Human Resources............................763-572-3504
Utility Billing ...................................763-572-3529
Assessing .......................................763-572-3536
Fax................................................763-571-1287
Newsletter......................................763-572-3500
Sewer Division (M-F 7am - 3:30pm) ....763-572-3566
(after hours) ...............763-427-1212
Fridley
page 4
Community
Report
Neighborhoods Personalize Your City Experience
Fridley’s strength as a City comes from vibrant
neighborhoods, through which the City organizes
many of its services. Small parks serve the
personal interests of neighborhoods. The Fridley
Police Department even organizes itself around
neighborhoods by assigning neighborhood officers.
Each of Fridley’s more than forty neighborhoods
has a distinct character attributable to the people
who settled the area or to a distinctive physical
feature.
Heading to Fridley’s northeast corner, for example,
you will find Flanery Park Neighborhood. The
family that gave its name to Flanery Park and
Flanery Park Neighborhood began farming land
there in 1910, and still has family members living
in the neighborhood today.
The Flanery Family
Dawn (Flanery) Cordes and her mother Fyllis
Flanery reside on Onondaga Street. Dawn has
researched her Flanery heritage and can trace
family records back to a Bernard Flanery born in
Ireland around 1816. Some of his descendants
settled in Minneapolis after spending time living in
England and New York. Around 1910, Dawn’s
great-grandfather, Thomas Flanery acquired the
land that is now Flanery Park, for use as a crop
farm. The family built only a small shelter and
cellar to use while tending to vegetables and fruit
and hazelnut trees, maintaining their home in
South Minneapolis.
The first Flanery to take up permanent residence in
the area was Dawn’s great-uncle, William Flanery,
who began building a home on Onondaga Street in
the mid-1940s. Having been an active member of
the Minneapolis Fire Department, he was
appointed to serve as the First Chief of the Fire
Department of the Village of Fridley in 1951.
The same year, Dawn’s family moved in down the
street. She remembers her “Uncle Bill” as a gentle,
kind man who always had butterscotch candies for
her and her cousins. She also calls him an unsung
hero of the family. He never married or had
children of his own, opting instead to care for an
ailing brother and aging father until they died.
William made arrangements for the farmstead to
be donated to the City in 1962, just months
before his own death. Development of a City park
on the land began later on. A memorial plaque for
William was installed in 1973.
Longtime Residents
Dawn is not the only current resident who can
recall the earlier days of the neighborhood’s
development. Bob Locker settled his family in the
neighborhood in 1968.
“It’s always been nice to have the park,” says Bob
Locker. “I coached hockey, and my two sons
played hockey, so they spent many many nights at
the hockey rink there. I could just open the door
at home and hear them playing and know they
were okay.”
“A lot of new homes had just been built, so quite a
few families moved in the same year. At that time,
Onondaga Street was just a dirt road and the area
to the south of us was still a field.”
Today
Longtime residents have seen natural cycles in the
neighborhood’s demographics over the years.
Sandy Money remembers that same field: “My
husband and I both worked at Onan [Power
Generation], which is why we moved here. To get
to work we just walked across the field from our
house. Back then this was quiet country.”
“Over the course of time, you see rotations of
young and old, and I think we’re starting to see
some of that now. This Halloween we had
probably 40 trick-or-treaters, and in years past
there have been less. We’re starting to see more
young ones again,” says Larry Alpert.
Sergeant Ryan George of the Fridley Police, who
has served as one of Flanery Park’s Neighborhood
Resource Officers since 2006, comments: “I have
met several people in the neighborhood who have
lived in the same house for over 40 years. They still
speak fondly of the neighborhood and the City, as
they reflect on what they have accomplished, such
as raising children, making improvements to their
homes, and getting to know their neighbors.”
Many longtime residents recall neighborhood
barbecues or volleyball games as families grew up
together. The close proximity to the park allowed
for many recreational activities.
The Park
“The park is irregular shaped, yet a very nice example
of a neighborhood park, with open space to allow
tennis, hockey, play equipment for the younger kids,
or an open area for softball or that touch football
game after Thanksgiving dinner,” notes Fridley
Community Development Director Scott Hickok.
Resident Larry Alpert, who has lived in the
neighborhood since 1978 can attest. He says his
family spent a lot of time in the park as his kids were
growing up. “Even now, when relatives visit, a trip to
the park is in order,” he says.
Sandy Money has been able to share wisdom with
newer residents. “My husband and I are kind of
the grandparents of the block. When the younger
neighbors have problems, they come to my
husband to help fix things.”
Dawn Cordes, who remembers Irish and
Norwegian neighbors when she lived here as a
child, says that nowadays she has met neighbors
with roots in Vietnam and Tibet. “I feel that it
is a safe, comfortable, and caring neighborhood.
Everyone looks out for each other,” she says.
Bob Locker echoes that sentiment: “It’s a nice
comfortable area. A lot of people don’t come up to
this northeast corner. But when they do, they see
that it’s nice – there are a lot of trees and it’s quiet.”
A wealth of fascinating history and life experiences
is contained in each of Fridley’s neighborhoods.
Whether you are a longtime resident with a
lifetime of memories here or a newcomer just
starting out, what’s your story? Get out and meet
your neighbors and watch for more featured
neighborhoods in the Fridley City Newsletter. ■
Want your neighborhood featured?
Call the City Office at 763-572-3500
Fridley residents continue to Go Green!
If your newly designed City of Fridley utility bill
hasn’t arrived yet, it will soon! The new bill
provides simple instructions for enrolling in eBill.
This free service sends an email notification to you
when your bill is available to view online.
Name:
Address:
Utility Account #:
Daytime Phone#:
In addition to enrolling for eBill, you can also sign
up for our Direct Payment service to have your
utility bill paid automatically prior to its due date,
avoiding late fees, stamps and the hassle of mailing
a payment! Simply complete the form to the right
and include it with your next utility payment.
For more information, on either of these
programs go to www.FridleyMN.gov and click on
“utils/streets” or call 763-572-3529. ■
Financial Institution:
■ Checking
■ Savings
By signing below, I am authorizing the City of Fridley Utility Department to automatically withdraw my
utility payment from my checking/savings account.
Signature
Date
Attach voided check or savings withdrawal slip here.
/
/
w w w. F r i d l e y M N . g o v
page 5
Toy Safety Tips
With the holiday season fast approaching, the City
of Fridley and the Fridley Fire Department would
like to offer some safety tips to help make sure
your holidays are spent together as families instead
of at the emergency room. There are many new
toys that make their debut each holiday season,
and while many young children are excited to try
them out, not every toy is appropriate for every
child. Parents know their child’s developmental
stage the best, and are encouraged to recommend
to other family members the gifts they feel are
SPRING Project Update
Not too long ago, you could barely hear the person
talking next to you sometimes,” says Parks and
Recreation Director Jack Kirk, recalling the
experience of traffic noise spilling into Springbrook
Nature Center along 85th Avenue. Today, visitors
to the park are sheltered from the sights and sounds
of the road by a landscaped berm that reaches up to
15 feet high. “The berm serves as a buffer, exactly
as expected, and will do an even better job as the
plants continue to grow,” Kirk adds.
This successful landscaping installation is one
completed element of the Nature Center’s ongoing
$7.6 million improvement project, known as the
Sanctuary Protection and Renewal Into the Next
Generation (SPRING) Project.
The ambitious, three-phase project aims to revamp
the 7-acre entrance area of the park. In addition to
the berm, Phase 1 of the project plans for an
outdoor pavilion, a celebration plaza, and a healing
garden. Highlights of the following phases include
adding an amphitheater and outdoor classrooms,
and nearly tripling the size of the interpretive
center.
Springbrook Nature Center Director Mike Maher
is enthusiastic about the potential of the new
facilities. “These improvements will make
Springbrook a real ‘destination’ nature center,
attracting people from the entire region, which will
have an economic impact that will reach out into
the community.” In addition to providing more
amenities for the casual visitor to use for free, the
new spaces will bring the capability to host a huge
variety of events such as weddings and community
gatherings, he says.
Kirk emphasizes that the renovations will allow
Springbrook to expand on its educational purpose.
“Education is a major goal of all nature centers, but
especially at Springbrook. We are part of four
different school districts in Fridley, which is a rare
opportunity. The SPRING Project improvements
to facilities will allow us to expand our interaction
with the schools. We will be able to broaden the
appropriate. For infants and toddlers, toys with
reach of our message, to teach more students about
the relationship between people and nature, and to
show them how to be better stewards of this
planet.”
Kirk and Maher’s view of the project’s outlook is
shared by many local legislators. Bipartisan support
for the SPRING project has resulted in its
inclusion in three state bonding bills; however,
funding for the project has been line-item vetoed
by the governor each time. Nevertheless,
Springbrook again hosted visitors from the
Minnesota House of Representatives’ Capital
Investment Committee this fall to promote the
project for the upcoming bonding bill. “We’re
optimistic that we’ll be in the bill and be able to
move forward,” says Kirk. The final bonding bill is
expected towards the end of the session, most likely
in May.
small parts should be avoided; anything that can
fit through the inside of a toilet paper roll can pose
a choking hazard. Toys with sharp edges or points
should be avoided for all children under age eight.
Any sports equipment should always be utilized
with the appropriate safety gear. Parents should
also inspect new toys prior to allowing their child
to play with them. Plastic wrappings should be
disposed of immediately, loose parts secured or
removed, and battery covers checked to make sure
they are secure.
Every year in the United States, an estimated
2,800 kids are treated by emergency rooms after
swallowing button batteries. The small coin-sized
lithium batteries are found in toys, remotes and
run many everyday electronic devices. When
The balance remaining beyond the $5.5 million
being requested from the State will be raised
through grants, corporate donations, and grassroots
efforts coordinated by the Springbrook Nature
Center Foundation. Funds already raised by the
Foundation have covered the installation of the
berm and are paying for detailed Phase 1
architectural plans expected to be completed in
February. The Foundation’s support for advanced
planning puts the SPRING Project on “shovel
ready” status—always prepared to move forward as
funding comes through.
swallowed, the batteries pose a significant risk of
injury or death. All toys designed for children are
required to have safety doors with screws to limit
access to the batteries. Items geared toward adults
however, do not have the same requirements, and
may be easily accessible by small children. We
encourage you to secure those items and make sure
that small children do not have access to spare
batteries.
Taking a few extra steps this holiday season to
With a target to complete Phase 3 within five years,
the project relies on the involvement and support
of local organizations, businesses, and individuals.
Those interested in making a donation can watch
for publication of the Foundation’s upcoming
fundraising campaign. To learn more about the
SPRING Project, visit springbrooknaturecenter.org
or contact Springbrook Nature Center Director
Mike Maher at [email protected] or
763-572-3589. ■
Saturday, January 25, 2014
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy a wild winter afternoon at Commons
Park with the entire family. Sleigh rides, ice
games, dog sled rides, and snowball
launching are just a few of the many
outdoor activities you can participate in.
Or, challenge yourself and your family to a
medallion hunt with a $100 cash prize.
Afterward, keep warm at the huge bonfire
while enjoying s’mores, crafts, refreshments,
BINGO, games, and dancing located
indoors at the Fridley Community Center.
Call 763-572-3570 for information.
inspect
all
new
toys,
read
through
all
directions/safety information, and properly
assemble toys will help make your family time
memorable for the right reason.
■
page 6
Trees Near Power
Lines: Take Caution
Fridley
Community
Report
Development Update
Many homeowners find the winter season a
good time to trim trees. If you find yourself
thinking the same, please consider the overhead
power lines.
Trees provide many environmental and aesthetic
benefits, but they are also a major cause of
electric service interruptions. Under certain
circumstances, Xcel Energy will prune and
removes trees near power lines. Tree pruning is
the selective removal of branches that are not an
adequate distance from power lines, or that will
grow too close to the power line before the next
maintenance cycle.
Trees may cause outages in two ways:
mechanical and electrical. Mechanical damage
refers to entire trees or portions of trees falling
and physically damaging facilities (knocking
down wires, poles, etc.). Because trees can be
conductive, electrical outages can also occur.
These interruptions are caused when a portion
of a tree becomes a short-circuit path for
electricity to flow, causing a protective device to
operate and stop the flow of electricity.
Therefore, trees must be maintained an
adequate distance from the conductors in an
attempt to prevent electric service interruptions.
Xcel Energy recommends that customers not
attempt to trim trees near power lines and
reminds customers that contact with overhead
lines or downed lines poses safety hazards that
can result in serious injury or even death. Adults
should remind children to stay away from fallen
power lines and any object a downed line may
come in contact with, especially trees whose
limbs might come into contact with lines. A tree
limb touching a power line will become
energized, and touching the energized limb
would be just as dangerous as touching a live line.
If you have concerns about trees growing near
power lines, please contact Xcel Energy’s
customer service at 1-800-895-4999. A
customer service representative will be happy to
assist you.
What Winter Teaches
By Peter William Stein
The sun barely wakes up these days
I wait for it in bed as long as I can
Then medicate with coffee
black as the morning sky
I stay up hours past sun down
which isn’t so late
and wait
It’s all there is to do
all we ever do
we wait in traffic
we wait in the elevator
we wait while tying our shoes
riding a rollercoaster
or reading a book
We wait in our dreams
for a little more sunlight
then wake grateful
there is something
to wait for
Peter William Stein is a member of the
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts.
Exciting developments are happening in Fridley.
One recent example, Vision Woodworking is
expanding. Other exciting developments include:
McDonald’s in the Fridley Market Development,
movement forward on the Gateway NE project
along University Avenue, and a tremendous
amount of activity in the scattered site housing
replacement program.
Vision Woodworking
Vision Woodworking is an industry that provides
beautiful cabinetry, other woodwork, solid surface,
thermoformed products, and other high-end
interior products for clients around the world.
Situated quietly back against the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe rail line in Fridley’s Onaway
Industrial District, this company has experienced
enormous growth since their establishment in
1994. Since then, they have not only purchased
other buildings near their original location on
Hickory Street, they also purchased another
woodworking industry in Bloomington a few years
ago. This company has been experiencing positive
growth. We are not only happy for them, but we
are proud they call Fridley home.
Currently, Vision Woodworking is moving
forward with a 13,100 expansion to the north end
of their westernmost building (they also own 2
buildings on the east side of Hickory). In order to
complete this expansion, Vision Woodworking
needed to request that a short section of the deadended 79th Avenue NE, north of their property be
vacated. They needed the cooperation of the two
industries to the north and an official vacation
action from the City of Fridley. All necessary items
were received and the addition has been given the
green light. Construction is expected to begin in
late 2013.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s in the Fridley Market is scheduled to
open in mid-November. After closing its store near
Cub Foods just before demolition of the old store,
McDonald’s has not had a presence in the
martplace near Cub. The good news is that is
changing. McDonald’s began construction of a
beautiful new facility in September.
The store is one of McDonald’s new prototype.
Though it is similar to others you may have seen
elsewhere, it is most like their first store of this
McDonald’s generation in Chaska.
The store is modern in that it will have the double
drive-though/menu board feature to help with
vehicle stacking and it will have an outdoor dining
patio for nice weather dining as well.
The architects from McDonald’s worked with the
Fridley Market architects to make sure that their
color selection for the store would be
complimentary to the color scheme of the larger
development. It all has come together nicely.
Regulars will tell you, it isn’t until a store is down
and you don’t have it for a while, that you realize
how much you appreciated it. Many seniors tell us
this was their morning coffee/meeting spot, and
they look forward to having it back.
Gateway Northeast
Plans for a development at Gateway Northeast are
moving along well. Trident Development and
Lyon Construction, the developer, and our staff
met with everyone who have utilities in the area to
make provisions for the 3 new buildings that will
occupy the 6-acre site between the Gateway East
Townhomes and 61st Avenue.
A Transit Oriented Development Masterplan and
a S-2 Redevelopment District Masterplan will be
before the City Council in early 2014. If all goes
as well as it is anticipated, the first of three
buildings will be under construction by mid-2014.
Scattered Site Housing
Replacement Program
The 36th of 100 homes will soon be under
construction within the next month. Our readers
may recall that the Minnesota State Legislature
allowed the Fridley Housing and Redevelopment
Authority (HRA) to purchase up to 100 homes to
put in a Scattered Site Housing Replacement Tax
Increment Finance District. The idea of the
program was to allow the HRA and its staff to
investigate and purchase homes that are empty,
blighted and in need of demolition and
replacement.
By doing this, it has not only removed blight from
neighborhoods, it has encouraged reinvestment in
neighborhoods. The increment generated from the
new taxes goes back into the housing program so
that the HRA can continue to address
housing/redevelopment needs in the community.
Gateway West, north of Burger King, along
University Avenue is one of the most obvious areas
where you can see these homes being built. Drive
many streets in Fridley however, and you will see a
new home standing where a tired older home once
stood.
The HRA has gotten very positive feedback from
Fridley residents on the success of this program
and the delight of having a new home standing
where there was once a home in need of serious
attention.
Next year promises to be excellent for
development in Fridley. Many projects that have
been somewhere in the process of redevelopment,
are now out there and are ready for groundbreaking events. Keep watching as new and fresh
projects continue to come our way. ■
w w w. F r i d l e y M N . g o v
page 7
Embrace Winter
and Head Outdoors
How are we doing?
The City wants to constantly improve its quality
of service. To accomplish this goal, we need
feedback just like a business does. The feedback for
a business helps improve the bottom line--profits.
At the City, we are interested in feedback so we can
improve satisfaction levels and value for the taxes
paid. We do get feedback when citizens contact us.
While we appreciate the emails, phone calls and
letters, they are not enough to know if we are
getting any better at providing services. We need
to reach out to citizens and ask the tough
questions related to satisfaction and tax value.
When the days shorten and the snow piles
up, do you curl up in your favorite chair,
venturing outside only when necessary? Are you
wasting days you will never get back, waiting for
spring? Maybe it’s time to embrace winter, zip up
your coat, grab your hat and gloves, pull on your
boots, and head outdoors.
There are plenty of outdoor recreation
opportunities in Fridley during the winter months.
To start with, Fridley maintains 11 neighborhood
ice skating rinks, 5 of which have hockey rinks.
In addition to the neighborhood rinks, there is a
large winter recreation area at Commons Park.
Commons Park is located at 555 - 61st Avenue,
across from the Community Center. Commons
Park is home to two hockey rinks, a skating
oval, a sliding hill, and plenty of open space for
snowshoeing or just making snow angels.
Fridley’s only warming house is also located at
Commons Park. Warming house hours are
Monday through Friday, 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.;
weekends and schools-out days, 12 to 9:00 p.m.;
and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s
Eve and New Year’s Day, 12 to 4:00 p.m.
Maybe nature is your thing. Springbrook Nature
Center is alive all winter long. The trails are open
for hiking and snowshoeing. Cross-country skiing
is also allowed, but the trails are not groomed. New
this year, Springbrook Nature Center has snowshoe
rentals available on a first-come, first-served basis
Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
Saturdays and Sundays 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; as well
as December 26, 27 and 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Snowshoe group lessons are also available.
Contact the Nature Center at 763-572-3588 for
more details. Springbrook staff asks that you
respect the Nature Center and remain on the
designated trails.
You may want to join in on the winter bird
count on Saturday, December 21 (preregistration
required). Sunday bird banding will be held
through the winter. Springbrook offers many
more activities throughout the season. For
more information about upcoming events
or to register for events at Springbrook
Nature Center, go to their website at
www.SpringbrookNatureCenter.org.
Within the City of Fridley, Anoka County has
many parks. Most of these parks are in natural
surroundings and are open to guests from sunrise
to sunset through the winter. Their park trails are
plowed and available for hikers and
snowshoeing; cross-country skiing is
allowed in designated areas. Perhaps you feel
adventurous and want to hike the woods and take
winter photographs of nature. Many species of
birds and wildlife winter in Fridley. The Mississippi
River and many creeks flow all winter long, making
these parks a great place to view winter wildlife.
Anoka County hosts many outdoor activities
throughout the winter in some of their parks
outside of Fridley. Check out their website at
www.AnokaCountyParks.com.
Many people enjoy ice fishing on Moore Lake.
While ice fishing and skating on lakes and ponds
are great winter activities, please be very careful of
ice conditions. No lake or stream is completely safe
in the winter. Ice conditions can vary drastically
within just a few feet, and falling through the ice
can be deadly in a matter of just a few minutes.
The City has contracted with the MorrisLeatherman Group to conduct a Citizen Survey.
This survey will be scientifically designed, and
implemented to assure impartiality. It will be done
by phone, and participation is completely
voluntary. It is too costly to call everyone, so a
random sample of approximately 300 will be
called. If you get a call, we encourage you to
respond. It should take about 15 minutes of your
time. If you do not get a call to participate in the
survey, send us an email, give us a call or send us a
letter and tell us how we are doing. It will not be a
part of the survey results, but we appreciate
knowing what you think.
The results of the survey will be shared with the
public in January. The results will help guide the
City Council in developing policies and programs
that meet the needs of the City. It also helps City
staff manage the programs more effectively and
efficiently.
If you have any concerns about the survey, contact
Wally Wysopal at 763-572-3500. ■
Fridley Community Calendar
December
2
As always, the Fridley Recreation Department has
many outdoor winter sports leagues. Broomball
and boot hockey leagues are now accepting team
registrations. Check out all their offerings at
www.FridleyMN.gov/Recreation.
Fridley’s Winterfest is the perfect event for the entire
family. This indoor/outdoor festival will be held
Saturday, January 25, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the
Fridley Community Center and Commons Park.
Full details will be available on
the City’s website as the
festival nears.
The City is also maintaining
sidewalks and many bike
paths this winter. Please keep
in mind that although these
paths are important, they are
not a priority, and will be
cleared last during snow
events.
Now
you
have
the
information to get outside,
and get some winter exercise.
Bundle up, stay warm, and
have fun. ■
4
5
9
18
20
24
25
City Council
Parks & Recreation Commission
Appeals Commission
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
City Council
Planning Commission
City Offices close at 3 p.m.
City Offices close at 1:30 p.m.
City Offices Closed in Observance of Christmas
January
1
2
6
14
25
20
27
City Offices Closed in Observance of
New Year’s
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
City Council
Charter Commission
Parks & Recreation Commission
Environmental Quality & Energy Commission
Planning Commission
City Offices Closed in Observance of Martin
Luther King Jr. Day
City Council
NOTE: City Council and Commission meetings start at
7:00 pm. Meetings are held at the Municipal Center, 6431
University Avenue NE. The public is welcome.
Hearing impaired persons who need an interpreter or other
persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids and would
like to attend a meeting, should contact Roberta Collins at
763-572-3500 at least one week in advance.
w w w. F r i d l e y M N . g o v
page 8
Fridley Neighborhood Watch Block Captains:
The Best Volunteer Job Around!
Fridley Neighborhood Watch Block Captains
provide an integral link between the Fridley Police
Department and the community. Block Captains
are the foundation for Fridley’s strong communitypolice partnership.
Fridley has 38 police officers, with 27 patrol officers
who respond to calls for service and look after the
City 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even so, it
is difficult for officers to know the rhythm of a
neighborhood as well as those who live there. This
is where the role of a Neighborhood Watch Block
Captain comes into play. Block Captains often
know who lives where, what vehicles frequent the
area, and when something seems out of sync. Block
Captains are essential to the success of our
community-police partnership.
Fridley instituted a Neighborhood Watch Program
in 1978 to help facilitate communication between
the community and the Police Department. It also
helps residents make connections to other City
departments and programs. For example, Block
Captains worked tirelessly at getting information
out when the City initiated a recycling program.
Fridley has 43 individual neighborhoods divided
into 11 separate districts. Each district has two
Fridley officers who have volunteered for the extra
assignment of being a Neighborhood Resource
Officer. Neighborhood Resource Officers work
directly with Block Captains and the neighborhood
to help resolve issues, which are not necessarily
emergencies, but affect quality of life.
Over 20 years ago, solid partnerships were
established between Fridley’s police and our
residents. While the demographics of Fridley have
changed in the intervening years, the original
partnerships and relationships continue to provide
a strong foundation for the Police Department to
work from. Block Captains become involved with
many of our police efforts such as organizing Night
to Unite, distributing extra crime alerts when
needed, and each fall by ensuring neighbors know
about the Fridley winter parking ordinance.
Fridley always has a base of Block Captains who
come forward with helping hands, something that
is not always the case in many communities. All
relationships take work to grow and evolve, and
community-police partnerships are no different.
Sharie Ahlers • Bruce Nelson • Dick La Kang
Jan Retzer • Marilou Johnson
A Block Captain is not expected to respond to
suspicious situations or intervene when a
disturbance occurs in the neighborhood. Block
Captains do not have foot patrol duties, nor should
they investigate crimes. Block Captains are not
expected to be available 24 hours a day.
A Fridley Block Captain is a resident who is
concerned about his or her neighborhood being a
safer place to live and is willing to share that concern
with others. A Block Captain is a communication
link between the residents, the immediate
neighborhood, and the Fridley Police Department.
Many of Fridley’s Block Captains become quite
knowledgeable of how other City departments can
assist with resolving quality of life issues.
The number of active Block Captains is always
changing, but it is fair to say Fridley has around
200 Block Captains at any given time. With that
many volunteers, it may appear that every block in
Fridley has a captain, but that is not the case. Some
areas of the City could use additional block
captains. If you are interested in becoming a
Fridley Neighborhood Watch Block Captain,
please contact Myra Harris Johnson at 763-5723638. It is a great volunteer opportunity! ■
There is risk of damaging the snowplows, damaging
the vehicles, and incurring extra cost for the City to
tow the vehicles and re-plow streets. Vehicles are
not the only obstacles left behind. “There can be
thousands of trash and recycling bins left out in the
street every winter. It’s important to keep them on
the driveway.” adds Zurbey.
middle. Perron asks people to remember that the
crew members themselves are not immune to the
reality of the situation. “We still have to go home
and shovel our own driveways, which will look just
the same.” Walking a mile in a crew member’s
boots might offer some new perspectives on the
work they do.
Meet the Snow Plow Crew
Minnesota is a good place for Fridley Public Works
employee Rich Perron, especially this time of year.
“I love plowing snow and I love winter,” he says.
He and the rest of the City’s 24-person snow
removal team are some of the first people at the
ready when a winter storm moves in—and there is
a lot to prepare for.
“Fridley plows 107 miles of city roads, 80
cul-de-sacs, 18 alleyways and dead-ends, 17
parking lots and about 12 miles of
sidewalks,” says Streets Division Supervisor
Jeff Jensen. In addition, Public Works
crews will begin plowing select trails in the
City of Fridley as part of a pilot program
beginning this snow season. The City
Council will be presented with the formal
policy on trail plowing in accordance with
the Active Transportation Plan approved
earlier in 2013.
After any snowfall, the first priority for
crews are the “redlines,” or emergency routes.
Public Works and Public Safety worked together to
establish redlines that would allow emergency
vehicles to get within one or two blocks of any
house. “We double up equipment in order to get
these roads cleared in one pass. After the
emergency routes are clear, we move on to the 11
plowing districts,” says Jensen. In an effort to take
fairness into account, there are 4 different starting
points spread out within each of the districts that
are used in rotation with each snowfall. “We don’t
want anyone to feel like they are always the last
street plowed.”
Bud Zurbey has over 20 years of experience in snow
removal. He says that one of the biggest hazards of
the job is obstacles left in the street by residents.
Cars parked in the street during snow removal are
against City Code and cause a number of problems.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize that
we’re basically on call all the time. With the
weather being so fickle, you have to always
be ready day or night,” says Zurbey.
Residents should also be careful when encountering
snowplows. When driving, giving the plows ample
space to turn and back up during snow removal is
crucial. Sight lines from the trucks can be limited
at times. For Perron, whose duties focus on cul-desac clearing, his biggest concern is children who
come out to play in the snow banks. Children
should be monitored and kept at a safe distance
when plows come through.
While Perron and Zurbey say that the majority of
residents are appreciative and understanding, some
residents express frustration at the perception that
extra snow gets pushed into their yards or driveways
compared to their neighbors’. There are some
factors such as how close together neighboring
driveways are, or how near the street corner is, that
can affect the way snow gets pushed, but the crews
do what they can to split roads right down the
“We’ve had four-day Christmas holiday
weekends where the guys have had to work
three out of those four days, sacrificing time
with family and visitors,” says Jensen. On
top of snow removal, over half the crew
members have other Public Works’ duties
that must be completed. For an overnight
snowfall, 7 crew members report at 4 a.m.
to prepare for plowing by 5 a.m. A standard
snowfall of 2-6 inches takes about 8-10 hours to
clear completely.
Despite the cold temperatures, odd hours, and
unique hazards, Perron is back for his 9th winter of
snow removal for Fridley. He overcomes the
challenges with a positive outlook and an attitude
of service: “It’s not any easy job. It’s a mentally
stressful job. But we’re trained to do it and we love
to do it. We’re here to do our job as best we can so
everyone else can get out and do theirs.”
Do your part to make snow removal as quick,
efficient, and safe as possible by keeping
parked vehicles and waste receptacles out of the
street, driving cautiously around snowplows, and
keeping a careful eye on children. For more
information, please visit the Street Division page at
www.FridleyMN.gov. ■