FN June 2013Following a national search for a new City Manager,
Fridley City Council met on Tuesday, April 30 in a
Special Meeting to appoint Walter (Wally) T. Wysopal to
lead the organization. Wysopal will begin his new
assignment June 17 and is looking
forward to getting started.
“I’m excited to join the City
of Fridley and look forward
to helping lead the City through its
next chapter,” said Wysopal. “The
City has many great qualities an d
has a st r ong legacy of
partnering with businesses,
schools, residents and community
groups. It is also well known for being
fiscally responsible and remaining
stable throughout some very difficult
times. It is my hope to continue the
effective leadership for which Fridley
is so well known,” said Wysopal.
Wysopal brings more than 29 years of experience in
local government and has held strong leadership
positions within several successful organizations. He is
well-versed in executing redevelopment strategies and in
building collaborative partnerships to achieve his goals.
He has been the City Manager for North St. Paul since
1998. His previous job history includes employment by
the City of St. Louis Park in the following positions:
Assistant City Manager (1993-1998); Assistant to City
Manager/Personnel Officer (1988-1993); and Public
Works Administrative Assistant (1986-1988). He also
worked for Northfield, Illinois, as the Assistant to Village
Manager (1983-1986).
In addition to his local government expertise, Wysopal
has been an adjunct professor with Hamline University
June 2013
No. 182
A report to
the citizens of Fridley
6431 University Avenue NE
Fridley, MN 55432
phone: 763-571-3450
www.FridleyMN.gov
e-mail: info@FridleyMN.gov
C O M M U N I T Y R E P O R T
PRESORTED STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit NO. 92886
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
Interim City Manager – Darin Nelson
School of Business since 1998 where he teaches Public
Administration. He also teaches with Metropolitan State
University in Human Resources.
Wysopal is enrolled in the doctorate
program at Hamline University for Public
Administration and has a Master’s of Public
Administration from Northern Illinois
University. He received his undergraduate
degree from St. Mary’s University of
Minnesota.
Mayor Scott Lund is anxious to work with
Wysopal stating “It’s been a long process in
selecting our next City Manager, so I am
excited to be working with Wally, and know
that he’ll do an outstanding job for the City
of Fridley.” Lund went on to say that “I
believe he has the expertise and leadership
style that will fit well with our city. I
am confident he will be resourceful, approachable and
responsive to the needs of our constituents, which are so
important in times of change.”
Wysopal rose to the top of the list of 46 applicants from
around the country, concluding a five-month selection
process conducted by the executive search firm of Slavin
Management Consultants out of Norcross, Georgia.
Consultants Bob Slavin and David Krings solicited
resumes and credentials and narrowed the group down to
nine (9) finalists for the Council to interview. The City
Council held initial interviews over two days (April 5 and
6) and held a second round of interviews on April 15 with
Wally Wysopal and Michael Ericson (currently an
Economic Development consultant with the City of
Maplewood).
Wysopal replaces former City Manager William Burns,
who retired after 24 years of service to Fridley.
Meet Fridley’s New City Manager
Fridley
Summer
Playground
Program
Parks and Recreation Department
For youth completing grades K-4
M - Th at 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
June 10 - August 8
Commons Park
For youth ages 3-5
M - Th at 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
June 17 - August 15
Commons Park
More programs online
at www.FridleyMN.gov
Thursday, June 27
6:00 p.m.Carnival –Medtronic
6:20 p.m.“Run for Fun” –St. Philip’s Church
6:30 p.m. ‘49er Days Parade –Rain or Shine
Friday, June 28
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sr. Activities –Community Center
5 -9 p.m. BINGO –Medtronic
5 - 11 p.m.Carnival –Medtronic
5 - 11 p.m.Lions Club Beer & Rotary Wine Sales –Medtronic
6 - 11 p.m.Softball Tournament –Community Park
7 - 11 p.m.Street Dance (Power of 10)- FREE –Medtronic
8 p.m.Pizza Eating Contest –Medtronic
Saturday, June 29
9 a.m.-10 p.m.Softball Tournament –Community Park
10 a.m.-4 p.m.Sand Volleyball Tournament –Community Park
12 - 11 p.m.Carnival –Medtronic
1 p.m. - close Lions Club Beer & Rotary Wine Sales –Medtronic
1 - 4 p.m.Kids Day Events –Medtronic
1 - 4 p.m.Allina/Unity Hospital Wellness Testing –Medtronic
3 p.m.Pie Baking Contest –Medtronic
5 -9 p.m. BINGO –Medtronic
5 - 11 p.m.FHS All Class Reunion –Medtronic
5:30 - 7 p.m.City Band –Medtronic
6 p.m.Fridley Ambassador Program –FHS
7 - 11 p.m.Street Dance - FREE –Medtronic
(Chris Brooks & the Silver City Boys)
Sunday, June 30
9 a.m.-5 p.m.Softball Tournament –Community Park
12 - 6 p.m.Carnival –Medtronic
1 - 6 p.m.Car Show –Medtronic
1 - 6 p.m.Fridley Idol –Medtronic
Buttons can be purchased for $3 from ambassador candidates, ‘49er Committee Members and at the
following locations: Fridley Municipal Liquor Store (Cub location); Fridley Parks & Recreation (City Hall);
Fridley Municipal Liquor Store (Hwy 65); Fridley Community Center (Senior Program)
Visit our website for locations and more details: www.FridleyMN.gov
‘49er
DAYS
page 2 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y R e p o r t
Please Do Not Feed
the Waterfowl
On city-owned park land, feeding waterfowl such as
ducks, geese, gulls or swans is a misdemeanor, due
to health and safety reasons - especially at Moore
Lake Beach, which has had to be closed on occasion
due to high e.coli bacterial contamination.
In surface waters, the presence of this bacteria is
attributed to fecal contamination, and one well-
known cause is geese. Infections start when you
swallow tiny amounts of this contaminated water.
Feeding the waterfowl encourages them to linger in
large groups around the beach, creating an
unsightly and unsanitary location, sometimes
requiring the beach to
be closed on some of
the hottest days of the
summer.
There is also concern
for the waterfowl’s
safety and wellbeing.
Typical foods given to
waterfowl by the
public include bread,
popcorn, and potato
chips. This type of
food does not hold the
natural nutrients that
birds need, and birds can become malnourished,
resulting in sickness or death. Also, if birds become
dependent on this source of food, they begin to
trust in people, making the birds vulnerable.
Although most people have good intentions, others
have been known to approach the birds and inflict
harm.
For the health and safety of our residents, and the
health and safety of the waterfowl - PLEASE DO
NOT FEED THE WATERFOWL.
It’s Saturday afternoon in the middle of March,
and you have just returned from the mailbox to
find your Notice of Valuation and Tax Statement
from Anoka County has arrived. You settle in with
a cup of coffee, open the notice and find that your
home’s estimated value has gone down again. You
were sure that you had just heard news reports
about the real estate market starting to bounce
back, and can recall reading several articles to that
effect in the past month or two. After logging on
the computer and doing some research, you find
those articles, along with numerous reports that
suggest the market is indeed improving. Your
curiosity grows as you notice that despite the
decrease in value, your taxes have increased. You
make a note to call the assessor on Monday.
This has been a common theme for calls to the
Assessor’s office this spring, as owners look at their
notice and try to reconcile the seeming disconnect
between value and taxes. A particular challenge for
the assessor is how to explain that the declining
estimated market value on the notice and the
perception the public has of an improving market
may both be right. The estimated value reported
as of January 2 was derived from the market of
traditional sales during the twelve-month period
from October 1, 2011, through September 30,
2012. Much of that time frame encompassed a
market that was still in decline, and that decline is
reflected in the current estimate of value. Sales data
from the MLS for the 4th quarter of 2012 and the
first two months of 2013 suggest a significant
increase in values, and are consistent with media
reports of a market on the mend. These two
perspectives can create confusion for homeowners
unless the process for estimated market valuation is
understood.
Assessors rely on historical data to forecast future
value through a process that involves four different
years. The January 2 estimated value was derived
from the market period October 1, 2011, through
September 30, 2012, and will determine a home’s
share of the levy for taxes payable in 2014. In a
market where values are trending lower, the
assessor’s estimated value will appear high and in
an increasing market the assessor will appear to be
below current market value. It is important to
note that all homes are valued with this process,
and no matter the trend, like properties in the
same neighborhood should be moved
equally to reflect these trends.
With regard to the relationship
between your home’s estimated
market value and the property taxes
paid, a useful analogy is to think of the tax levy as
a pie, and each of its slices represent residential or
commercial property values. The bigger the slice,
the larger portion of the levy that property owner
will be responsible for. A simple exercise can help
to understand how your value could go down but
your taxes still increase. Draw two circles side by
side with the second being slightly larger than the
first. Next, divide each circle into a north and
south ½ and then divide the top ½ of each circle
in half again.
The circles represent the tax levy which must be
paid by the properties within the circle. The two
homes in the north ½ were worth $100,000 each
for that first levy while the larger home in the
southern ½ was valued at $200,000. For that first
year, the lower value homes each owed 25% of the
levy while the higher value home owed 50%. The
next tax year, the larger circle represents an increase
to the levy but the homes have dropped 10% in
value. The $100,000 dollar homes drop to
$90,000 and the $200,000 home to $180,000.
Because the levy increased but the proportion of
responsibility to pay stayed the same, all owners
will have seen a 10% reduction in value but an
increase in their property tax bill.
This example is an over simplification, but does
help illustrate how the tax burden is distributed.
The actual distribution is quite complex, as it
involves differences in how the commercial
and industrial market is doing when compared
with the residential market. If one of these
sectors is changing at a greater rate than the other,
the tax burden will shift towards the one that
is performing better. Within the residential
sector, we can see the same types of shifting. If
entry level housing recovers at a more rapid
pace than middle and upper bracket housing,
the tax burden will shift down towards that
class of property and vice versa. If you have
additional questions regarding this article, please
feel free to contact Patrick Maghrak in the
Assessor’s office at 763-572-3536 or by e-mail at
patrick.maghrak@FridleyMN.gov.
Changing Home Values Are a
Matter of Perspective
Fridley Community Calendar
June
3 Parks & Recreation Commission
6 Housing & Redevelopment Authority
10 City Council
19 Planning Commission
24 City Council
27 Housing & Redevelopment Authority
27-29 Fridley ‘49er Days
July
4, 5 City Offices Closed in Observance of
Independence Day
8 City Council
9 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission
17 Planning Commission
22 City Council
NOTE:City Council meetings start at 7:30 p.m., all other
meetings at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are held at the Municipal
Center, 6431 University Ave 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.
2012 Levy
2013 Levy
House A
House B
House C
House A
House B
House C
$100,000$100,000
$200,000
$90,000 $90,000
$180,000
This year’s ‘49er Days Festival will offer some new
and exciting changes! Medtronic and the Fridley
‘49er Days Committee have teamed up and are
working together to make this year’s event bigger
and better than ever.
The main change is the ‘49er Days Festival will be
held at Medtronic’s Rice Creek Campus, located at
7000 Old Central Avenue. It will feature a carnival
with a variety of food and rides for all ages! Street
dances will be held on Friday and Saturday
evenings from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The “Power of
10” will kick things off on Friday night, and
“Chris Brooks and the Silver City Boys” will
perform on Saturday night.
The festival begins on Thursday, June 27, with the
Fridley Lions Club’s annual ‘49er Days parade,
and will conclude on Saturday evening, June 29.
This year’s parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. and
follow the same route (west on 61st Avenue from
the Middle School, north on 7th Street, east on
Mississippi, and south on Able Street back to the
Middle School). The Rotary Fun Run will precede
the parade and will start from St. Philip’s Church.
w w w .F r i d l e y M N .g o v page 3
‘49er Days and Medtronic Team Up!
June 27 – 30
One new event this year is a Pie Baking Contest
sponsored by Financial One Credit Union and
Bakers Square. The grand prize will be $1,000!
The contest will be held on Saturday, June 29, and
entries will be judged by Bakers Square. Anyone
age 18 and older may enter. Everyone who
registers prior to the event will receive a $5 coupon
for the Blaine Bakers Square. Participants may
register by going to the City’s website at
www.FridleyMN.gov, clicking on the Parks & Rec
dropdown menu, and then clicking on “Online
Registration.” The activity number you will need
to use to sign up is “494900.”
A number of other special events have been
planned. The annual John Gargaro Softball
Tournament will be held at
Community Park. The Fridley
Senior Program will be hosting
card tournaments on Friday, June
28. There will also be a pizza
eating contest sponsored by The
Zza Factory. A Fridley All-Class
Reunion is being planned for
Saturday. Kids’ Day will also be
held on Saturday from 1:00 to
4:00 p.m., and a variety of fun
activities will be offered for
children. Allina/Unity Hospital
will be conducting wellness
testing. The Fridley City Band
will also be performing on
Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
New Ranger to Patrol Fridley this Summer
Patrons of Fridley Parks may notice a new sight this
summer when police officers and reserves begin
patrolling trails on a new ATV. The 4-seat Polaris
Ranger Crew 500 4X4 will be easy to spot with its
police markings. The new ATV is unlike any other
vehicle in the police fleet — making it our lone
Ranger — and provides the City with the ability to
quickly deploy personnel and equipment to remote
areas and over rough terrain.
There have been many instances in past years where
police officers have faced challenges reaching areas
made inaccessible by storms or other calamities.
Three of the more significant recent incidents
during which the ATV would have enhanced
emergency services response include the 2011
tornado, the BNSF derailment later that same year,
and the 2005 windstorm. The ability of police
officers and emergency crews to quickly access
damaged areas with needed equipment and supplies
is a valuable asset. Thankfully, such large incidents
are relatively few, and the primary use of the ATV
will be more frequent and far-ranging patrols of our
parks and trails.
The new ATV improves the Police Department’s
ability to reach the nearly 600 acres of park land in
43 parks in the City. The ATV will improve the
response time of licensed police officers and/or
volunteer reserve officers to the parks, trails, and
Mississippi River shoreline which often prove
difficult or impossible to access by traditional police
vehicles. The ATV will expedite the movement of
equipment and personnel to areas with difficult
terrain during a critical incident when life and
safety are involved. Several incidents in recent years
have required police officers, reserve officers, and
firefighters to conduct large area searches within
our parks, including one case which involved two
days of searching for a missing person in the
Springbrook Nature Center. The ATV’s cargo area
provides rescuers with a quick way to transport first
aid supplies into and victims out of remote scenes.
Another duty planned for the ATV is patrolling and
serving community events where its capabilities will
allow swift response in crowded areas where the use
of traditional police vehicles is not practical or
possible. Look for it on patrol during the ‘49er
Days parade and carnival.
Funds to purchase the Ranger, which cost just
under $10,000, were provided through the Federal
2012 Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant or
JAG program. Drug forfeiture funds were utilized
to purchase the specialized equipment, making it
suitable for police service. The police officers and
reserve officers assigned to ATV patrol completed
several hours of required online and hands-on
training prior to operating the vehicle to insure
everyone’s safety.
We believe the ATV is another terrific tool that can
be used in crime prevention and emergency
response in Fridley. We want to ensure the safety of
all of our citizens, and that the City of Fridley
continues to be a great place to live, work, and play!
Any questions can be directed to Fridley Police
Sergeant Jim Mork at 763-502-1952 or by e-mail at
jim.mork@FridleyMN.gov.
Other activities are still being planned. Check out
the City’s website at www.FridleyMN.gov for
more information. If you or your organization is
interested in being a part of the festivities, please
contact Tom Bourque, ‘49er Days President, at
603-548-3958.
Fridley’s Website has
a New Look
Recently, updates were made to the Fridley
website to modernize the architecture of the
site, to make current information easier to see,
and to make commonly-accessed pages easier
to find. The redesign was done over a span
of four months by a committee of staff
from all City departments, who took
into account usage patterns
observed on the old site and
feedback the City has received over
the years. Fridley’s website is built upon the open
source platform Joomla!, a robust yet low-cost
content management system that enables the
creation of large, content-rich websites, while still
making the site easy for City staff to update and
maintain.
One important feature of the redesign is the Help
Center. Accessed via a link at the top of every
page, the Help Center is designed to provide a
quick list of links to information that is commonly
requested both on the website and by people who
call the City.
Another important new feature is the integration
of the City calendar with the City’s front page.
This feature is intended to keep the public
informed and involved, by bringing information
about important events front and center.
Interested parties can even link directly to the
calendar of events via iCal.
page 4 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y R e p o r t
Now is the Time to
Take Advantage of
Fridley Home
Improvement Loans
Fridley residents considering home improvements
may benefit from low interest loans available
through the City’s Housing and Redevelopment
Authority and its partnership with the Center for
Energy and Environment. Financing your home
improvement project has never been easier or more
affordable.
The Fridley Home Improvement Loan is available
to qualifying homeowners with incomes up to 115%
of the area median income based on family size.
For a family of four, this is $96,500. The interest
rate is fixed at 4.75% and loans up to $35,000
are available. The maximum repayment term is
20 years.
The City contracts with the Center for Energy and
Environment (CEE), a Minneapolis-based non-
profit agency, to administer the City’s home
improvement loan program. This partnership offers
residents access to other loan products, some
without income limits, administered by CEE on
behalf of the State of Minnesota. Because the
requirements are different for each program, it is a
good idea to contact CEE to find out if there is a
program that can be tailored to meet your needs.
Eligible improvements include such things as
roofing, siding, doors and windows; electrical and
plumbing; kitchen and bathroom upgrades;
finishing a basement, building a room addition or
porch; landscaping; as well as building a garage or
installing a driveway.
The Fridley Home Improvement Loan cannot be
used to pay for non-home improvements (e.g. car or
boat), nor can they be used for things like tennis
courts, pools, spas, etc. Additionally, the programs
cannot be used to pay for work that has already been
started.
For more information call the Center for Energy and
Environment at (612) 335-5830 or visit their
website at: www.mncee.org. You can also find
information and applications for the Home
Improvement Loan Program on the City’s website.
Need help or ideas in planning
your remodel?
The City of Fridley and the Center for Energy
and Environment offer the services of a remodeling
advisor, at no cost, to all Fridley residents. For
more information or to schedule an appointment,
please call the Center for Energy and Environment
at 612-335-5874.
After holding a continued public hearing at their
January 7 City Council meeting, the Fridley City
Council voted to seek bids for the 2013 street
improvement project in the Meadowmore Terrace
and Flanery Park neighborhoods of Fridley. This
project includes 3.9 miles of street rehabilitation,
extending from 73rd Avenue on the south to
Osborne Road on the north, and is bound by
Central Avenue on the west and Stinson Boulevard
on the east. Jackson Street residents petitioned for
repaving from 73rd Avenue to Osborne Road and
are included in the project. Residents within the
benefiting area were notified of the hearing by mail,
along with the estimated assessment.
Private utility work began in April to replace
CenterPoint Energy gas mains and services in
coordination with the street project. At their
meeting on May 6, the City Council awarded the
bid in the amount of $964,248.98 for the City’s
project to Northwest Asphalt Inc. of Shakopee.
The project will be divided up into several phases,
and the contractor will complete each phase of the
project in a four-week period between the months
of June through mid-September. Staff has sent out
a notice regarding the overall project schedule to
homes and businesses in the construction area, and
will be providing periodic project notices to update
property owners regarding scheduled work and
temporary road closures.
As in past years, the City’s project work will begin
with the replacement of damaged or settled
curbing, and the repair of some water, sanitary
sewer, and storm sewer segments. The next step will
be to mill the existing paving and to mix the used
asphalt with the existing gravel base. Once the base
has been compacted and graded, the contractor will
apply a new, 2-inch asphalt layer. The final steps of
the project will include sawing and sealing
expansion joints in the new pavement and yard
restoration adjacent to curb replacements.
The City will be offering rain garden excavation
and preparation to those interested property
owners. A rain garden is a depressed area which
captures rain and snowmelt and provides improved
storm water quality. City staff and residents work
together to design rain gardens. The property
owner is responsible for providing plants and
maintenance thereafter.
We ask that the traveling public pay special
attention to work zone signage and detours during
the construction season, and to drive carefully in
and around work zone areas. Those who have street
construction or rain garden questions or inquires
should contact Layne Otteson, Assistant City
Engineer at 763-572-3551 or by e-mail at
layne.otteson@Fridleymn.gov.
2013 Street Improvement Project Begins
Other features on the website include the ability to
submit water meter readings and pay utility bills
online; register for recreation and athletic
programs online; view information about
properties in Fridley (including demographic,
special assessment, and code enforcement data);
review the City Code; contact City council
members and City staff; and research City council
agendas and minutes dating back to the founding
of the City.
The City is constantly working to bring even more
features to its website, to enable citizens to do their
business with the City at the time and place that is
most convenient for them. If you have ideas for or
comments about the City website, please visit us
and leave a comment at www.FridleyMN.gov.
w w w .F r i d l e y M N .g o v page 5
The City of Fridley will be seal coating 9.5 miles of
asphalt City streets located in the Rice Creek
Terrace, Rice Creek Plaza, and Holiday Hills
neighborhoods beginning in late June. This year’s
seal coating is to be completed in an area east of the
BNSF Railroad, West of Trunk Highway 65, north
of Mississippi Street, and south of 73rd Avenue NE
(see map).
Seal coating by chip seal application is a common
preventive maintenance activity that involves
spraying liquid asphalt emulsions on the surface of
an existing pavement, followed by the application
of a cover aggregate, such as granite or trap rock. Its
purpose is to protect the pavement from the
premature aging effects of sun and moisture.
Nine north-metro cities, including Andover,
Anoka, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Coon
Rapids, East Bethel, Fridley, Ham Lake, and
Mahtomedi bid their annual seal coating projects
jointly in order to provide savings through a
cooperative contracting process. These cities also
purchase other contracted services, such as street
sweeping and roadway striping through this
process. The Fridley City Council awarded the
Fridley portion of the 2013 seal coating contract to
Pearson Brothers of Hanover, Minnesota, in the
amount of $203,923.62. All funding for this
preservation work is provided from the City’s Street
Capital Improvement Fund.
If you live on one of the streets to be seal coated,
you will receive a notice from the City’s Public
Works Department in early June. The notice will
provide you with a work schedule and ask that you
keep vehicles off the street during the brief seal
coating process. The process will render driveways
inaccessible for a period of about thirty minutes
during the day. As the contractor moves to a new
street, signs will be posted to keep traffic off the
street until the contractor completes the work on
that street. After completion of the process, please
avoid sudden stops or starts on the freshly-coated
streets.
Streets that have been recently paved or have been
scheduled for repaving within the next two to three
years are not included in the seal coating project. If
you live on one of these streets within the project
area, you will not receive a notice and will not be
subject to parking restrictions.
Sealing of your asphalt driveway is a practice that
some find to provide added durability, however, if
you choose to seal your asphalt driveway make sure
to ask for an asphalt-based sealant product (which
is the type the City uses). Coal tar-based sealants
have a set of chemical compounds called PAHs that
can migrate with runoff and concentrate in
stormwater ponds and require costly disposal of
pond sediment.
If you have questions or concerns about seal
coating on your street, or questions, in general,
about this process, please contact the Fridley Public
Works Department at 763-572-3566 or by e-mail
at PublicWorksDept@FridleyMN.gov.
2013 Seal Coating Project to Begin in June
Code Enforcement
Resumes Inspections
For many years, the City Planning staff
has conducted systematic code enforcement
inspections during the summer. Each property is
inspected one-by-one down a street to see if there
are code violations on the exterior of buildings and
grounds. The Planning Division is hiring a
temporary inspector to conduct such inspections
again this summer to supplement ongoing code
enforcement by the rest of the permanent staff. In
2013, the focus will be on inspecting all
commercial/industrial properties in the City. Code
requirements that are addressed include, but are
not limited to:
•Exterior storage without a permit
•Garbage containment
•Unmaintained landscape
•Unlicensed or inoperable vehicle storage
•Parking of vehicles off the pavement
•Unpermitted signs
•Special use permit violations
•Zoning use violations
Property owners are given a reasonable amount of
time to correct violations. The City’s goal is to
rectify all violations before the summer inspector’s
13-week job term expires. If you have any
questions about code requirements, please contact
the Planning staff at 763-572-3592.
Fridley 2012
Drinking Water
Quality Report
The City of Fridley has summarized the results of
monitoring done on its drinking water for 2012 in
its annual Water Quality Report. This report
includes details on results of water quality testing in
2012 and news relating to Fridley’s water system.
Your drinking water meets Federal and State
standards.We are proud to report that no
contaminants were detected at levels that violated
state and federal drinking water standards. In
2012, there were no exceedances of Maximum
Contaminant Levels, Action Levels, or Health
Based Limits in Fridley Water.
You can review the Fridley 2012 Drinking Water
Quality Report, along with reports from
previous years, on the City’s website at:
www.FridleyMN.gov/water-quality-report
If you have questions on the 2012 Water Quality
Report, or would like to receive a paper copy
of the report, please contact the Public Works
Department at 763-572-3566.
Attention Utility Customers!
Did you know you can have your City of Fridley utility bill paid automatically? With our free Direct Payment
program you can have your bill paid automatically from your checking or savings account.
•Save money (no stamps, no processing fees)•Save time (no checks to write)
•No late fees, no worries!
Direct Payment is a free service and enrollment is easy! Simply complete the form below, attach a voided
check or savings withdrawal slip and return it to us with your current City of Fridley utility payment, or send
the form in at any time. Once enrolled your utility bill will state “*** Bank Draft***.” It’s that simple!
Bills are paid automatically from your checking or savings account on approximately the third Wednesday
of the month the bill is due. Our Direct Payment Program is a free service and you can withdraw anytime
by contacting us at least 10 days prior to the bank drafting date.
Call 763-572-3528 for more information. Mail completed forms to:
City of Fridley, Attn: Utility Billing
6431 University Ave NE, Fridley MN 55432
Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Utility Account #:________________________________________________________________________________
Daytime phone#:________________________________________________________________________________
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.
page 6 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y R e p o r t
Wireless Emergency
Alerts
You may have been surprised when your cell phone
or wireless device began sounding a different ring
tone and/or vibrating in a different way a few weeks
ago. When you checked your device, you likely saw
a short text message or special screen display
advising you of an Amber Alert. This was the first
use of a new alert system in Minnesota known as
WEA, or Wireless Emergency Alerts. The WEA
system will be able to alert wireless device users of
certain emergency and urgent situations. As the
messages are necessarily brief, recipients should
check local media outlets for more detail. It may
help to think of a WEA as being similar to a
warning siren – it isn’t able to provide you with a lot
of information beyond alerting you that something
is happening, and you should turn to area news
sources for more information.
The following description was adapted from a
news release by the Minnesota Department of
Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security:
Minnesotans are now able to receive time-
sensitive, critical information about severe
weather, emergencies, and disasters with the next
generation of emergency alerts on their smart
phones and cell phones. Wireless Emergency
Alerts (WEA) are location-specific so recipients
will receive an alert based on their current
geographical location, not where they live.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is
now able to send imminent threat public safety
alerts and The National Weather Service can
send severe weather alerts to wireless devices.
“Time is critical in an emergency and warnings
using this new technology will help people
take action to be safe,” said Kris Eide, director
of the Minnesota Department of Public
Safety’s Division of Homeland Security
Emergency Management (HSEM). “Adding
cell phone alerts to the current mix of outdoor
warning sirens and notification by television
and radio will save lives.”
The emergency alerts include what action the
recipient should take. For example the alert
message will let recipients know there is a
tornado warning for a particular area and those
in the area are advised to seek shelter. “It is
important to have weather warnings available
in many different formats that include
instruction on what protective action to take,”
said Todd Krause, Warning Coordination
Meteorologist for the National Weather
Service in Chanhassen.
WEAs will look much like a text message on
newer-model phones; cell phones will vibrate
and sound a tone. The 90-character-or-less
text message is free and uses different
technology than actual text messages which
means the alerts will get through when
traditional text messages may not due to high-
volume messaging during an emergency.
HSEM will use the new technology in the
unlikely event of a public safety concern
involving an incident at one of Minnesota’s
two nuclear generating plants or a major
hazardous materials spill. Eventually county
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPS) will
be able to issue more localized alerts. Staff will
be trained to only use the Wireless Emergency
Alerts in urgent situations.
The President of the United States will use the
Wireless Emergency Alert system in a time of
national urgency. Cell phone users may not
opt out of presidential alerts but may opt out
of Amber Alerts and state and local alerts.
Contact your wireless carrier for instructions.
For more information on the WEA system,
please visit www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-
alerts.
Princess & Prince
Come dressed as your favorite Prince or
Princess and get ready to have a ball! We’ll
create a crown, wand, castle and more!
Activity #385107-1 Jul 23 & 25 $15
Animal Circus
Love animals? Join us to create cool animal art
projects and play a variety of circus games.
Get ready to walk the tight rope, tame the lions
and be a ring leader!
Activity #385105-1 Jun 25 & 27 $15
Under the Sea Party
Come in your swimming suit, because it’s going
to be a water party! We’ll play a variety of
water games and make an under the sea craft
each day.
Activity #385106-1 Jul 9 & 11 $15
Superhero YOU!
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s SuperYOU! Invent
your own superhero identity and choose your
special power! In this fun camp, you’ll create a
costume and accessories to become SuperYOU.
Children are welcome to come in costume.
Activity #385108-1 Aug 13 & 15 $15
Single Sort Recycling Update
It’s never too late to upsize your recycling
container. Over 100 City of Fridley residents have
taken advantage of the opportunity for a free
upgrade. Households with two or more individuals
are finding that they need the larger size if they
recycle the many eligible items. Call Allied/
Republic at 952-941-5174 to upsize your cart and
tell your neighbors about it! Questions about
what to recycle: check the website at
www.FridleyMN.gov/recycling
Blue and gray zone maps with 2013 recycling dates
are on the City’s website under the “Utilities &
Streets/Recycling” tab. You can also access your
recycling dates from your property information by
clicking on the designated blue or gray area and day
you were assigned or by calling 763-572-3594 for
more information.
2013 Residential Recycling
Drop-Off Events
On October 12, the City will host Recycling Drop-
Off events. A postcard with more information will
be sent to all Fridley residents.
Cell Phone Recycling at
Fridley Municipal Center
A new collection box for used small electronics like
cell phones and small printer cartridges is located
in the main lobby. The list of accepted materials is
on the box and posted on the recycling webpage.
New Video About Elk River Garbage
Burner Now On Fridley Cable TV
What happens to garbage once it leaves your home?
Watch the story about the journey of trash as it is
transformed into energy at a former coal and
nuclear power plant in Elk River, Minnesota.
Recycling Update
Parks & Recreation
Pre-school
Summer Camps
Commons Park • Ages 3-5
Tue & Thu • 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
763-572-3570
www.FridleyMN.gov
Nickel Jamboree
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31
Commons Parkcarnival games • prizesface painting • crazy hairpuppet shows • bingopopcorn • hayrides and more!
Most activities are
just 10 - 50 cents,
so bring your change!
w w w .F r i d l e y M N .g o v page 7
Public Safety Data System
Since the earliest days of law enforcement in our
country, advances in police effectiveness have
generally resulted from improving the accuracy of
information, the distance it is shared, and the
speed of its transmission. Long gone are the days
when all a criminal had to do to evade capture was
to cross a county or state line. Perpetrators simply
had to be faster than the mail or a telegraph, or
travel beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of their
pursuers. The telephone and police radio
effectively shrank the criminal’s world during the
20th century. Enhanced evidentiary processes and
the nearly instantaneous sharing and transmission
of digital criminal justice system data will likely be
the 21st century’s quantum leap forward in public
safety effectiveness. Anoka County’s public safety
agencies are poised to take a giant step toward that
goal with the new Public Safety Data System.
A lot has happened regarding the new Public
Safety Data System (PSDS) since our update last
June. The PSDS is a collaborative project of the
Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council
and the Anoka County Fire Protection Council.
These two groups include the 11 law enforcement
agencies and 15 fire departments serving the 22
communities in Anoka County. The new PSDS
will integrate law enforcement records and fire
reports together with data systems utilized by the
Anoka County Jail and the county’s 911 call
center. This project is generating interest and
excitement on a national level due to its
collaborative and comprehensive nature.
Since the last update, a team of county and local
public safety and information technology
professionals, including Fridley Police Captain
Bob Rewitzer and Fridley Fire Chief John Berg,
have worked diligently to evaluate and rank the 11
proposals that were submitted by prospective
vendors. This process involved studying boxes full
of written proposals, hosting demonstration
sessions where the top vendors were able to show
their systems in action in a laboratory-style
environment, and visiting other public safety
agencies where the systems were in actual use. The
evaluation team narrowed the field to the top
three, and then down to two final vendors.
The JLEC and Fire Protection Council are
negotiating with one vendor for law enforcement
records, computer-aided dispatch, and a mobile
data system to communicate with wireless devices.
Negotiations will soon follow with a separate
vendor for fire records. Full integration between
all of these applications and the Anoka County
Jail’s system is required. The negotiating team,
headed by Fridley Director of Public Safety Don
Abbott, will further narrow the scope of these
proposed systems with the goal being to
implement the best system for the residents of
Anoka County.
During the next few weeks, the Governance
Committee and its public safety partners will focus
on the following tasks:
•Conclude negotiations specifying final system
components and capabilities, performance and
acceptance criteria, final costs and payment
terms, and a payment schedule
•Create a contract for services with the vendors
•Obtain final approval for the project from the
Anoka County Board, the JLEC, and the Fire
Protection Council
•Select a site for the system’s physical hardware
to be located
•Create a plan for system implementation and
administration
•Draft standards for how data is gathered,
entered into the system, and accessed in
keeping with best practices and data privacy
requirements
•Plan for training police, fire, dispatch, and jail
staff on the new system
While planning, implementing and funding
systems of this size and scope requires a significant
commitment, by working together across agency
and jurisdictional lines, we can achieve significant
financial savings and operational efficiencies. The
new system is fully expected to do more and cost
less than if each of the law enforcement agencies
and fire departments had to acquire their own
independent data systems.
The purchase of the new system will be funded
through bonds sold by Anoka County. In 2011,
the State extended the bonding authority Anoka
County used to build the 800 MHz radio system
in 2003. Bond sales for the radio project totaled
$10.2 million and resulted in a cost of
approximately $7.00 per year on a $200,000
home. The tax impact of acquiring the new data
system is expected to be less than the 800 MHz
project, as the extension established a cap of
$8 million for future projects and PSDS has always
been expected to come in below that figure. The
bonds for 800 MHz project were paid off in 2012
and the payment on PSDS bonds is anticipated to
begin in 2014. System administration and
maintenance expenses will be allocated across all
Anoka County communities on an annual basis, as
they have been for the police records management
system for the past 14 years.
Once the deal is done and contracts signed,
actual system build-out and implementation will
take 18-24 months. We expect the new system
to go live early in 2015. If you have any questions
or comments please feel free to contact
Fridley Director of Public Safety Don Abbott at
763-572-3625 or Don.Abbott@fridleymn.gov
Time-Honored
Profession
Have you ever dreamt of being a firefighter? Do
you have a desire to serve your community or serve
others in their time of crisis?
The greatest resource the Fridley Fire Department
has is its firefighters. Fridley has firefighters that
are on shift and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week to answer a variety of emergency and non-
emergency calls for service, as well as provide
routine services on a daily basis. Many people do
not realize that only five of the forty authorized
positions are full-time. Over 80% of our
firefighting staff is composed of paid-on-call
firefighters.
Fridley’s paid-on-call firefighters represent a vast
cross-section of the community, ranging in age
from 20 to 61. Fridley Firefighters come from a
very wide range of occupations including
mechanics, carpenters, a school teacher, sales,
students, an architect and a housing inspector.
Some of them are full-time firefighters, paramedics
or dispatchers for other agencies. In addition to
their full-time jobs and family commitments, each
paid-on-call firefighter contributes at least 20
hours a month serving the community. Many say
that serving as a paid-on-call firefighter completes
their lives, giving them the opportunity to serve
others during difficult times and gives them a
reward and sense of fulfillment and teamwork they
are unable to achieve in their full-time
occupations.
Don’t have any training or experience?
Let us train you. The Anoka County Fire Academy
has a goal to train over two hundred firefighters
over a four-year period. The training is typically on
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with classes
beginning in August and January each year.
Daytime classes are also being considered. There
is also a $500 sign-on bonus to each student that
completes one year of employment with a fire
department in Anoka County.
Not sure you have what it takes? Join us in June for
an opportunity to feel what it is like to be a
firefighter. On June 15 at 10 a.m. and again on
June 17 at 7 p.m. Fridley firefighters will take you
on a tour of some of the activities their job
requires. Wear real firefighter protective clothing,
crawl through a simulated smoky environment,
watch as firefighters remove a trapped patient from
a damaged vehicle, feel the heat as firefighters
extinguish a burning vehicle, and ride the aerial
ladder to the top of the training tower. To schedule
a date to attend, call 763-572-3612.
To be a Fridley firefighter, you must live or work
within six minutes of a Fridley fire station and be
age 18 or older. It also helps to be in good shape
and have a clean driving and criminal record.
Beyond that, it’s a matter of what you’re willing to
give of yourself and your time.
For more information, visit www.FridleyMN.gov
or contact Sherrée Smith at 763-572-3612 or by
email at Sherree.Smith@FridleyMN.gov.
Tuesday,August 6, 2013
Join us as we celebrate our
Police and Community Partnership.
If you are interested in hosting a
neighborhood block party, please contact
Fridley Police Special Projects Coordinator
Myra Harris Johnson at 763-572-3638
or Myra.Harris@FridleyMN.gov
Summer Safety
Now that school is out and temperatures are on the
rise, so are outdoor activities. City staff and the
Fire Department would like to offer some
reminders on the importance of safety this summer.
As temperatures continue to climb, it is very
important to remain hydrated, protected in the sun
and not to over exert yourself. To adequately stay
hydrated, you should be drinking enough water so
that you never feel thirsty. By wearing lightweight,
breathable clothing, and regularly reapplying
sunscreen, you can avoid both sunburn, as well as
the early stages of heat exhaustion. It is also
important to limit high levels of activity and
exposure to the sun during peak times of the day.
Along with the increase in temperatures, there
seems to follow an increase in bees and insects. If
you are stung by a bee or other insect, scrape away
a stinger instead of using a tweezers, and wash the
area with soap and water. Covering the site with a
bandage may help reduce scratching. If you have a
known allergy to stings, make sure to carry an
EpiPen with you at all times, know how to use it,
and follow the storage recommendations (exposure
to heat and sun can affect the medication). Be
mindful of leaving food and sweet beverages out
where bees tend to congregate.
Two seemingly favorite summer pasttimes include
recreational fires and fireworks. Recreational fires
are allowed in Fridley between the hours of 9 a.m.
and midnight. Only clean, untreated wood is
allowed to be burned in a contained area such as fire
pit at least 25 feet away from any combustible
structure, with a water supply readily available. The
size of the fire cannot exceed 3 feet in diameter with
a flame height of no more than 2 feet. There must
be a competent adult supervising the fire at all
times. More information about Fridley’s policy may
be found on our website.
Since 2002, Minnesota has allowed the use of non-
explosive, non-aerial sparklers or novelty type
fireworks. Firecrackers and sparklers burn at
temperatures of at least 1,200°, more than twice the
temperature that wood burns at, and hot enough to
cause third-degree burns. Tips for preventing
injuries include never pointing or throwing
fireworks at another person, not touching or
attempting to re-light fireworks that did not
properly ignite, and always keeping a bucket of
water handy in case of an emergency.
The Fridley Fire Department wishes you a safe
and enjoyable summer. Please think about safety
equipment as you partake in the many activities
summer has to offer. Bike helmets, life jackets and
seatbelts save lives every day and are required in
many circumstances.
w w w .f r i d l e y m n .g o v page 8
Siah St. Clair, long-time Director of Springbrook
Nature Center and an employee of the City of
Fridley for the past 35 years, retired on April 30.
Siah has been instrumental in making the
Springbrook Nature Center one of the most
visited parks in the north metro area and into
a leading environmental education center. In
2012, more than 750 programs were conducted,
serving over 24,000 people. Under his watch,
Springbrook Nature Center has been recognized
by the StarTribune newspaper on its 1992 list of
“Must See” places to take visitors and relatives in
the Twin Cities. In 1996, a Minnesota Parent
Magazine reader survey voted Springbrook the #1
“Park/Nature Center for Families” in Minnesota.
In 1997, the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources’ Volunteer magazine listed Springbrook
as one of 13 “hot spots” in the metro area to view
wildlife.
Siah has established a great working relationship
with area school districts, and has Springbrook
staff working with the elementary and middle
school students on an exciting and informative
environmental education curriculum. His
wonderful creativity was evident in the very
popular annual Pumpkin Night in the Park and
the Spring Fling special events that drew people
from all over the Twin Cities area.
His many accomplishments are impressive and
have made a tremendous positive impact on
Fridley and the people who live, work and visit the
community. Some of the major accomplishments
include leading the City toward receiving a State
of Minnesota/Metropolitan Council grant to
build the existing Nature Center interpretive
building, getting a Community Development
Block Grant to build the handicapped accessible
beaver pond trail, leading the significant Nature
Center clean-up after the 1986 tornado,
coordinating the major ponding project in the
park, and installing the floating boardwalk system.
He inspired and coordinated the work of
thousands of volunteers throughout his career and
guided the completion of over 35 major Eagle
Scout projects in the park. He has been a
visionary, and has been working closely with City
staff and the Springbrook Nature Center
Foundation on the proposed $6.9 million
SPRING project.
Siah has been active in the Minnesota Naturalists
Association, including a term as president of the
organization. He is a past president and one of the
founding members of the Minnesota Association
of Environmental Education. He has chaired
numerous state, regional and national professional
conferences, and is a past member of the steering
committee of the Minnesota Association of
Museums. Siah is a master instructor in the
Minnesota Advanced Hunter Education Program,
and an instructor with the Minnesota Master
Naturalist Program. He has also been a leader for
the National Audubon Society’s North
Minneapolis Bird Count.
Fridley Parks and Recreation Director Jack Kirk
stated, “I always admired how very knowledgeable
Siah is and how passionate he is about connecting
people with nature. He cared for the Springbrook
Nature Center as if it were his own personal
property.” Said Malcolm Mitchell, Chairperson of
the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, “Few
people have had as much of an impact on Fridley
and the north metro as Siah St. Clair. He has
influenced thousands of people by enriching their
lives with nature and increasing their
understanding of it.”
Siah’s knowledge and love of nature made the
Nature Center what it is today. The City thanks
him for making Springbrook Nature Center such
a great place to visit, and wishes him well in his
retirement years.
Springbrook Nature Center Director Retires
Summer Field Trips!
June 12
Chuck E. Cheese’s & Cheap Skate: K-3
Outdoor Adventure & Kayaking: 4-7
June 19
Nickelodeon Universe: K-3
Valleyfair: 4-7
June 26
Zero Gravity & Mermaid Lanes: K-3
July 17
Bunker Beach: K-7
July 24
Pump It Up & Springbrook: K-3
Curling at Fogerty: 4-7
August 7
Apple Valley Aquatic: K-7
August 14
Climbing Wall, Log Rolling & Swimming: K-3
Twins Game: 4-7
City of Fridley Parks and Recreation Department
763-572-3570 l www.FridleyMN.gov
For Grades 4-7
and Grades K-3