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FN_February_20152014 was an exciting year for the City of Fridley. We saw physical changes to our City through construction, new buildings, new businesses, new homes and new streets. We embraced a more digital world with online billing, a transition to automated water meter readers, electronic communications and social media. Then there were the less obvious, but equally important, changes that we do not necessarily see but matter. Things like reorganization, staffing additions, property acquisitions, environmental efforts, and planning for the future with both our physical and digital infrastructures in order to maintain and improve our efficiencies and quality of life within our City. People are the success of our City. It is you, your involvement and everyday activity that makes Fridley a unique and wonderful city in which to live, work and play. From buying groceries at your local store, to volunteering with community organizations, to simply being a friendly neighbor or being part of Neighborhood Watch, you make the difference in our community. You make us proud to serve the residents and businesses of Fridley. As we embark into a new year, our momentum will continue as we nurture what works, evaluate improvements and continue the strides of progress. Some of the highlights for 2015 include: •Strive to achieve excellence in everyday core services. February 2015 No. 192 6431 University Avenue NE Fridley, MN 55432 phone: 763-571-3450 www.FridleyMN.gov e-mail: info@FridleyMN.gov P R E S O R T E D S T D U .S . P o s t a g e P A I D T w i n C i t i e s , M N P e r m i t N O . 9 2 8 8 6 Focus on Fridley: A Reflection on the Past Year YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! •The City of Fridley and the Fridley HRA acquired Columbia Arena. Now begins the process of considering options for that area. What’s Inside Guiding Success: City Manager’s Office ..........2 Protecting and Engaging: Police and Emergency Management .......................3 Rescue and Educate: Fridley Fire ..........................4 Building Tomorrow: Community Development ......5 Sustaining Our City: Finance ....6 A City that Serves You: Public Works .......................7 Fun in Friendly Fridley: Parks & Recreation ...............8 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 City of We believe in a Fridley that is a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. Fridley C O M M U N I T Y C O N N E C T I O N •Implement new technologies. We are already working on a more user-friendly website for this year and an upgraded finance system to improve efficiencies both internally and externally. •Engage the community. We want you to feel connected to what is happening in your neighborhood and in your city. Efforts will include improved electronic communications, listening to local businesses and being a visible presence within the community. •The SPRING project for the Springbrook Nature Center will begin its expansion this year and will help this hidden gem shine bright and be a wonderful gathering area for the entire community. Stay Connected! Like Us on Facebook: search City of Fridley Follow Us on Twitter: @CityofFridley SPECIAL EDITION Honor Our Vets Friday, March 20 • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St NE Free event. Register by March 16. Learn about Aid and Assistance, a little known pension benefit for veterans and their spouses. Veterans can receive up to $22,000 and spouses up to $14,000 for help with home care, assisted living and nursing home care. We will also learn more about VA benefits through the DAV, Veteran's Administration and other resources. Other activities include a Resource Fair, viewing of Honor Flight (movie) and a light lunch. Join us as we Honor Our Veterans. This event is sponsored by Catholic Eldercare and Mary T. Home Health and Hospice. Merging Talents Together: Human Resources Fridley is fortunate to have dedicated and talented public servants guiding our City. Many of Fridley’s staff have shared their talents with the City for a number of years, and others bring fresh ideas as they join our team. Human Resources kept extremely busy in 2014 as they processed over 800 job applications, resulting in the hiring and processing of 98 new employees. (The hiring of a new employee includes over 80 steps in each process!) Last year, we gained 8 new full-time employees, 19 part-time employees and a number of seasonal and temporary positions. Fridley’s Human Resources Department also handles safety issues, employee benefits, payroll, labor relations, employee performance and development, and management consulting. The longevity of many employees speaks to the positive environment. Here is a look at a few who reached milestone years in 2014: 35 Years: Connie Thompson (Senior Center) 30 years: David Jensen (Community Dev.) Carol Meyer (Finance) Julia Johnson (Police) Don Abbott (Police) Kim Herrmann (Fire) 25 Years: Joan Nunemaker (HR) Ray Statler (Public Works) Robert Rewitzer (Police) Michael Monsrud (Police) Roberta Collins (City Manager’s Office) 20 Years: Elizabeth Chevalier (Police) Philip Perron (Public Works) Mark Blake (Fire) Scott Hickok (Community Dev.) Kelly Odenthal (Public Works) Todd Messer (Fire) Peter Meyers (Fire) In 2014, the City of Fridley lost a few wonderful staff and past staff members. We honor the memories of Dick Larson (former Deputy Fire Chief ), Clint Paetznick (Public Works), Rusty Silseth (former Sewer Supervisor), and Don Stiller (former Public Works). Congratulations! Congratulations to Deb Dahl, Director of Human Resources, for being awarded the 2014 Life Long Learning Award from Fridley’s Community Education. Deb continuously supports lifelong learning by being an active participant in creating a healthy, engaged community. Deb volunteers with the Fridley Community Theater and Anoka County Mediation, and she consistently challenges herself and encourages others to try new things such as painting, journaling, photography, yoga and tennis. 2014 New Regular Full and Part Time Employees and Paid, On-Call Firefighters City Manager’s Office: Raquel Strand, Communications Specialist Moranda Zimmer, City Manager Intern Community Development: Laura Spencer, Rental Housing Inspector Jolene Buberl, Permit Technician Tony DeForge, Building Inspector (independent contractor) Finance Department: Julie Horak, Customer Service Representative Cheryl Pellegrin, Customer Service Representative Susan Johnson, Utility Billing Representative Sam Scott, Appraiser Fridley Liquor: Bob Crim (Asst Manager), Lynn Fiorendino, Michelle Gilstad, Joseph Hartmann, Jordan Johnson, Faye Majkozak, Ryan McNeal, Christopher Moberg, Heather Stokes, Patrick Vescio and Kristin Olson Paid On-Call Firefighters: Patrick Bauer, Robert Belmore, Thaddeus (Jamie) Jude, Mark Reina, Zachary Rickman, Caleb Tungseth and Nathaniel Westbrook Parks & Recreation: Sherry Lynn Peake, Administrative Assistant Police Department: Kyle Lusignan, Police Officer Shawn Murphy, Police Officer Michael Smith, Police Officer Krista Kryzer, Community Service Officer Public Works: Michael Boettner, Parks Division Adam Swinney, Utilities page 2 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y C o n n e c t i o n Guiding Success: City Manager’s Office Life Long Learning Award presented to Deb Dahl by Toni Craft from Fridley Community Education Guiding Success: City Manager’s Office In addition to overseeing the activities of all departments and communicating the City Council priorities with staff, the City Manager’s Office also includes elections, the City Clerk division (official records and business licensing), communications (including the City bi-monthly newsletter, the municipal cable channels, Council agendas/minutes and public notices), and other general government administration. Few Department Highlights from 2014: •City voter turnout is 6% above the state average, thanks to the successful efforts of Deb Skogen and her team, plus 139 election judges. •Introduced a new City logo to reflect our forward momentum. •Cable TV production remains vital to the City: Staff produced over 110 videos, and the City’s YouTube channel received over 3,100 hits. •Overall fresh and vibrant attitude of everyday excellence. w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 3 Meet Heather Henning Heather was first introduced to Shop with a Cop in 2009 when she was a Fridley Police Reserve. Despite no longer being part of the Reserve unit, she continues to return year after year. “I think this is such an amazing thing for these kids to be part of! The children love riding in the squad car. They find it to be so cool!” Heather describes. “The interaction with the kids and the officers is priceless.” Heather knows what it means to struggle to make ends meet. Being raised by a single mother, there were times when they needed a little help, and Heather learned early on to always give back in return. Growing up, she volunteered at a food shelf and Toys for Tots. Now, she passes that lesson on to her son. Plus, she always goes the extra mile for the kids she is paired with at Shop with a Cop. She buys each child a board game and special toy to enjoy during the holidays. When she learned one girl did not have any clothes that fit properly, she bought her a few outfits “so she has something nice to wear when she goes back to school.” “One girl was so kind-hearted, she wanted to buy gifts for her friends over herself and even asked for our last names so she could write us a thank you card. I enjoy doing this every year and am so fortunate to be a part of it.” We would like to thank Heather and all our wonderful volunteers. Safety First •All outdoor warning sirens in Fridley have been upgraded and are 100% functional with the latest digital technology. •Continued focus and training on all hazardous materials, including oil train derailment. In fact, Fridley’s emergency management oil train awareness training became a model for statewide training. •Fridley crime rate is at a 25-year low! Congratulations to the community for their continued efforts to safeguard their persons and property. Active in the Community •9th year of Shop with a Cop! In 2014, Fridley Police was joined by the MN State Patrol and MN DNR in helping 32 kids purchase holiday gifts for their families. •Night to Unite celebrated community strength with visits to 94 block parties. •Neighborhood Watch continues to thrive and grow within Fridley neighborhoods. Our annual Block Captain meeting is held in April each year. •School Resource Officer Titus is also the assistant baseball coach at Fridley High School. •Liz Chevalier addresses elementary student safety and social issues on a daily basis. •Officer Mike Williams was recognized by a National Honor Society inductee at Fridley High School for the being a positive role model. •Officers, staff and families made a jump for Special Olympics at the Polar Plunge, and dished out a helping hand at Feed My Starving Children. •150 elementary students learned bike safety, first aid, how to respond to fire, and other basic elements of safety at our June Safety Camp. 9th Annual Shop with a Cop On December 16, Fridley Police, joined by two MN State Patrol Officers and one MN DNR Conservationist Officer, escorted 32 kids for some holiday shopping and a fun night out. Uniformed officers in squad cars picked up kids from Hayes, North Park, Woodcrest and Stevenson Elementary schools. Each child was given a $75 gift card, donated by Walmart, to select gifts for family members and themselves. Children are referred by school staff (including social workers, counselors and teachers) based on financial need or as someone who could benefit from a positive experience with a police officer. Smiles and laughter shined throughout the store by officers and children alike as they shopped, enjoyed a meal from Subway, and got some high-fives and hugs from Santa. Subway donated a free kids meal to each student, and in addition to the generous gift card donation, Walmart also donated supplies and assistance for gift wrapping. Protecting & Engaging: Police and Emergency Management We currently have 56 employees in Fridley Police including 40 sworn officers, divided between the patrol and detective divisions, as well as additional school resource officers and a drug task force officer. They all work together toward our main goal of improving safety in Fridley. Murder 0 0 0 Rape 5 10 -5 Robbery 19 14 5 Assault 30 38 -8 Burglary 109 143 -34 Larceny 855 886 -31 Auto Thefts 36 64 -28 Arson 422 Other Assaults 112 121 -9 Forgery/Counterfeit 35 44 -9 Fraud 137 136 1 Embezzlement 000 Stolen Property 32 71 -39 Vandalism 225 255 -30 Weapons 14 15 -1 Prostitution 0 24 -24 Other Sex Offenses 20 16 4 Narcotics 124 70 54 Gambling 0 0 0 Family/Children 13 10 3 DUI 63 85 -22 Liquor Laws 11 56 Drunkenness 0 0 0 Disorderly 596 714 -118 Vagrancy 0 0 0 Other 121 93 28 Total Incidents 2,508 2,816 -308 Biggest Project in 2014 Fridley Police have played a leadership role in the launch of a new public safety data system in Anoka County. This project is serving as a model for the state nationally on how we integrate public safety records between all 11 law enforcement agencies, 15 fire departments, the 9-1-1 central dispatch system and county jail. The first, and largest, segment of that project launched on December 9 with the installation of dispatch software and mobile application in squad cars and fire trucks. Coming in 2015 will be the integration of police and fire records, scheduling components, and emergency and incident management applications to help track and assign responders even as an incident is developing. Crime by the Numbers: 2014 vs 2013 JAN - NOV 2014 JAN - NOV 2013 CHANGE Rescue and Educate: Fridley Fire Awards •Public Service Commendation Award for Commitment to Safety and Education of Our Community – Dave Lenzmeier. (Dave retired in 2014 and still volunteers regularly with the department.) •Commendation Award – Zachary Picard •Chief’s Award for Outstanding Work in Firefighter Recruiting and Hiring – Renee Hamdorf •Firefighter of the Year – Michael Spencer •Fire Explorers placed 3rd in Governor’s Fire Prevention Day Explorer Challenge Fridley Fire by the Numbers •Over 1,160 people have learned about fire safety through scheduled station tours, truck visits and safety training. •On average, Tuesday is the busiest day—the one with the most calls. •Between January 1 – November 17, there were 30 cooking fires in Fridley. –No one home: 2 –Fell asleep: 2 –Items stored in oven: 3 •67.76% of all Fridley Fire responses were for rescue and emergency medical. •Firefighters assisted Allina Health Emergency Medical Services with 90 lift assists. •Actual “fires” were only 3.82% of all responses. •Monthly average = 250 Fire responses. •57 residential fires in 2014 –27 single family/duplex –29 apartments –1 motel/hotel •Between January 1 and November 30, there were 2,824 fire calls/alarms. •A stove top fire extinguisher minimized damage and may have saved at least one life in a November apartment cooking fire. •85% of the department (up to 40 positions) are paid, on-call firefighters. •Looking back, in 2013, there were 78 sprinkler system saves in Minnesota. Two of them occurred in Fridley. page 4 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y C o n n e c t i o n Firefighter Dave Lenzmeier How often do you get to rescue a 40lb pug from the river? Fridley has 3 fire stations, including Station 1 which is staffed 24 hours/day. As an all-hazards department, Fridley Fire responds to a variety of calls, from medical emergencies, to the spill of hazardous materials, to house fires, and more. #10: The Fridley Fire Explorers organized and trained an Honor Guard. #9: Fridley, Columbia Heights and St. Anthony Fire Departments cooperatively developed Standard Operating Guidelines. #8: Totino Grace High School is the second school in Fridley to have full sprinklers throughout the building. #7: Full-time firefighters began the transition from conducting rental housing inspections to only conducting commercial property inspections. #6: For the first time ever, the Fire Department has a computer-aided dispatch mobile application in each vehicle. #5: Station 1 has a newly constructed entrance that includes a handicap accessible ramp. Plus, the station finally has red doors! Red is reminiscent of the days when fire departments had to compete for insurance money to put out fires and regal colors and brass were used to stand out. At that time, red was the most expensive and often the color of pumps, station lights and doors. #4: New Fire Engine 3 was dedicated and put into service at Station 3. #3: Retired Deputy Chief Richard Larson passed away after a long fight with cancer. He will be greatly missed. #2: The City of Fridley maintained an insurance service organization classification of 03/3x for fire prevention after an extensive ISO evaluation. This is one of the highest ratings available for a department our size. It helps to maintain lower insurance rates for commercial properties and businesses within the City. #1: Fridley Fire developed a new Mission Statement and list of Core Values. Both are proudly displayed in all fire stations. Top 10 Notable Events for 2014 Fire Explorers participate in the Governor’s Fire Prevention Day Explorer Challenge. Fridley Goes Green! The City of Fridley, led by Environmental Planner Kay Qualley, took great strides in our conservation efforts throughout 2014. As we go into 2015, we will continue to paint the town green through education, recycling, pollution control and energy savings. Here are a few highlights from the past year: •Fridley won an Outstanding Conservationist award from the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, having been nominated for the Oak Glen Creek restoration project and other initiatives. Fridley is stepping up efforts to protect the Mississippi River. You can help by creating rain gardens and cleaning out your street’s storm drain. •Fridley becomes a GreenStep City! The GreenStep Cities’ program is a voluntary, continuous improvement partnership program coordinated through the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. GreenStep is based on practices which reduce municipal, home, and business energy use; decrease stormwater runoff and more. The City Council voted to become a member and to continue to work on the kind of best resource management practices that are practical and of lasting value to the City. •Partnerships with Anoka County and other community organizations led to rain garden design, coordinated events and community education programs. •In 2014, Fridley added a third drop-off event to the annual spring and fall recycling days. Our events enabled more than 1,800 residents to properly dispose of items such as electronics, appliances, excess cardboard, mattresses, old carpeting and more. New Initiatives Among the countless new ideas taking fold, plans for future development, and long-term projects breaking ground, Community Development had two brand new initiatives take off in 2014. •Fridley’s Business Expansion & Retention program was launched with 40 visits to local businesses and more planned for the coming year. •A successful first year with the transfer of Rental Inspections to work side-by-side with the Building and Planning Divisions. Rental Inspectors Pat Wolfe and Laura Spencer converted from a 4-year to a 3-year rotation schedule in hopes that the more frequent inspections will help better educate owners and result in lower correction orders. Since 2014, inspectors found a need for over 7,500 corrections, and most have now been addressed. Highlights •Education through systematic code enforcement resulted in the inspection of over 5,500 properties last summer, creating 1,236 cases, all of which are now closed. •Demo of the old CITCO gas station to move towards an improved look on University Avenue. •All of the available scattered site lots sold for new homes. •Construction began in the area known as Northern Stacks after successful and positive negotiations with Hyde Development. Governor Mark Dayton attended May’s groundbreaking ceremony. •We coordinated a $100,000 Northstar Transit- Oriented Development Master Plan Grant, proposing to double the number of multi-family housing units in the area. •Groundbreaking on the Cielo Apartments which will bring new architecture and landscaping to this area. •The Building Division had a tremendous year with over $47 million in new building value! Building Tomorrow: Community Development w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 5 Construction at Cielo Apartments Recycling Drop-off Event CITCO Demolition Governor Mark Dayton at the Northern Stacks Groundbreaking Ceremony Groundbreaking on the Cielo Apartments Spring Break Youth Trips Grades K-5: School’s Out Events Friday, March 27: Get ready to feel weightless at Zero Gravity, $28 Monday, March 30: Have a blast at the Big Thrill Factory, $28 Tuesday, March 31: Get a strike at Mermaid Lanes, $24 Wednesday, April 1: Get wild at the MN Zoo, $28 Thursday, April 2: Escape to the tropics at a Fridley MS pool party, $20 Friday, April 3: Learning and lounging at The Works & Cinema Grill, $30 All events leave and return to the Fridley Community Center from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Extended hours available for $8 additional: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Sign up online at www.FridleyMN.gov or 763-572-3570 Highlights •Assessing Division saw an increase in home values of about 16-18%, and commercial property values increased 5%, after several years of decline. The estimated market value for residential, apartment and commer - cial/industrial properties co m bined inc reas ed 12.1% from 2013. •Continuing our commitment to better communicate how your tax dollars are spent, we revised the budget process to include key indicators and measures to help tell a story of where the money is going. •Dog licenses changed from annual to one lifetime license for your furry friend. •The Highway 65 Fridley Liquor store installed new cost-saving lights for a brighter look. •The first full year of on-line utility billing saw an increase of 129%. E-bills provide a convenient way for residents to view and pay their bill. Plus, electronic banking of utility checks received at City Hall now saves time for staff and results in fewer mistakes. •The Assessing Division resolved 71 tax-court petitions in 2014 and helped sustain the tax base within the City of Fridley. This included 39 new petitions added to petitions from prior years. As of December 31, 2014, only 20 remain. •The Assessing Division reviewed approximately 475 permits consisting of all property types. There were a total of 472 property sales in 2014. •Our Information Technology (IT) Division worked with both Fridley and Blaine Police to implement a new two-factor authentication and encrypted data communications system to support over 120 officers and 60 mobile units. •Finance started the conversion of a new financial system to replace 25-year old outdated technology. Once completed (mid-2015), it will improve both staff efficiency and financial reporting. This included IT’s installation of a new virtual server and storage infrastructure. •As of December 19, the IT Division resolved 857 internal requests for service. •Our IT Department began expanding WAN (wide area network) to the Fridley Liquor stores to improve the sharing of information between stores and City Hall. •December marked the successful grand re- opening for Fridley Liquor on University and 57th Avenue. Stop in to see the new retro décor and Fridley historical photographs. Better yet, take part in our customer experience and join us for one of our many free tasting events. page 6 F r i d l e y C o m m u n i t y C o n n e c t i o n Fridley Community Calendar February 2 Charter Commission 2 Parks & Recreation Commission 4 Appeals Commission 5 HRA Meeting 9 City Council Meeting 10 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission 16 City Offices Closed in Observance of Presidents’ Day 18 Planning Commission 23 City Council Meeting March 2 Charter Commission 2 Parks & Recreation Commission 4 Appeals Commission 5 HRA Meeting 9 City Council Meeting 10 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission 18 Planning Commission 23 City Council Meeting NOTE: City Council and Commission meetings start at 7:00 p.m. 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. Sustaining Our City: Finance •Director of Finance, Darin Nelson, receives the GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This is the highest form of recognition a city can receive in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and represents our commitment to a fair presentation of financial affairs to our community. •Fridley is given a bond rating of Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service, and they removed a previous negative outlook that was assigned in 2012 during the housing market decline. Aa1 is the second highest rating, placing Fridley in the top 10% of rated cities and jurisdictions nationwide. Bond ratings are important. They get the City a lower interest rate when we go out to issue debt for infrequent large projects such as water treatment plant reconstruction. That translates into savings for our taxpayers. Congratulations Your Tax Dollars at Work The majority of tax dollars go into what the City calls a General Fund. Here is a breakdown of how funds are divided. Police 37% Fire 9% Public Works 24% Parks & Rec 6% Comm Dev 7% City Mgmt 7% Finance 8% Other 2% The 2015 City Budget was adopted by Council on 12/22/2014 and is available for viewing online at www.FridleyMN.gov. Don’t write another check! Enroll online at www.FridleyMN.gov to receive and pay your City utility bill electronically. •2014 marked Fridley Liquor’s best year ever for November - December sales, and the 2nd best year for total gross profit. •Fridley Liquor rolled out new character spokesperson, Fred Lee, and hired wine expert Bob Crim as Assistant Manager. w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 7 Big Projects •2014 Streets Project in north industrial area included repaving 3.2 miles of streets and ¾ miles of water main replacement, as well as some utility work in that area. •Reorganization of the maintenance divisions for better efficiency and staff coverage. •Oak Glen Creek bank stabilization project, state funding through the Clean Water Fund Grant, to mitigate erosion of the river bank. •100% of sewer cleaning in the City (typically about 80%), partially due to the purchase of a new Vac-Con machine that saves time and enhances capabilities for sewer cleaning and assists with things like water main repairs. •Completed MS4 permitting for stormwater. This will lead to activities over the next 5 years to reduce pollution into the Mississippi River. •Explored new playground equipment purchases and worked on replacing the boardwalk at the Springbrook Nature Center. Both will continue into 2015. •Upgrades to Fire Station 1 entrance, including handicap accessible ramps. New in 2014 •Parks Division now maintains and plows over 7 miles of trails in the winter as an upgraded service to our residents. •Installation of 1,000 new water meters, as we continue the City-wide transition to automated meter readers. •Partnership with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization on a ravine project at Stevenson Elementary with a terrific educational component, including an outdoor classroom. •New City street: Northern Stacks Court. Challenging Start to 2014 Record frost depths and record cold kicked off 2014 with 80 frozen water services and an unsurpassed number of water main breaks! We have not had a water service freeze like that in decades. In addition, we had a record number of plowing and sanding events which continued well into April. Our staff responded with long hours and dedication to servicing the needs of the community. Coming This Year •Street reconstruction and utility work in the area south of I-694, north of 49th Avenue between Main Street and University Avenue. •Met Council activity in 3 areas: 69th Avenue, near Community Park and on the western end of Springbrook Nature Center. •New railroad crossing at 69th Avenue on the eastern side of Fridley. •Upgrading response for ice/snow events including remote monitoring during off-times when staff is typically not available. Fridley’s Water Quality Fridley’s water quality is excellent and continues to meet all standards, including the new health risk limit for TCE (trichloroethylene) issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. Reports are available online at www.FridleyMN.gov, and questions can be directed to Fridley Public Works at 763-572-3566. A City that Serves You: Public Works Record frost depths and record cold kicked off 2014 with 80 frozen water services and an unsurpassed number of water main breaks! Work at Oak Glen Creek New Van-Con Machine Railroad Track Garden Plots: Garden plots are now available for rent in Locke Park, east of the former Columbia Arena. Plots are 15’ x 20’. Cost is $28/plot for Fridley residents and $22 for Fridley seniors (age 55+). The non-resident fee is $45/plot. Limit of 2 plots each. Weather permitting, plots should be available for use by May 15. Call 763-572-3570 for more information. 15% Off Total Non-Sale Purchase Valid at Fridley Liquor No limits. No other discounts apply. Good through Feb. 28, 2015 Senior Center •Connie Thompson, Senior Center Coordinator, initiated a new special event: Honor Our Vets. Ninety veterans and their families benefited from the first seminar which explained lesser known aid and assistance opportunities. Due to popular response, we will do it again on Friday, March 20. There is no fee for this invaluable event. See ad on page 1 for details. •Tax assistance through the Senior Program had a record-setting year with help to 585 people. •Other new programs included fitness and educational programs, Joy of Painting, Honoring Choices (health care directives), Card Bingo on Fridays and an Age Sensitivity class. •Chores & More served over 340 households in 2014. Recreation •ZONE attendance jumped 40% in 2014, thanks to the efforts of Cleveland McCoy and the ZONE staff. •The Summer ROCKS program had the highest attendance in years and offered 50 different activities, including sports and games, arts and crafts, science programs and more. •When severe storms ripped through the ‘49er Days during the Kids’ Day events and Fridley Music Festival, Sue Johnson and Margo Numedahl successfully guided staff, volunteers and participants to safety as they moved to the Fridley High School auditorium. Springbrook 2014 marked a year of incredible strides for the Springbrook Nature Center. The City hired Split Rock Studios to develop a conceptual plan for new innovative and educational exhibits as part of the SPRING (Sanctuary Protection and Renewal Into the Next Generation) project. Work on the SPRING project began over a decade ago to revitalize the seven- acre park entrance and interpretive center. Now that expansion is becoming a reality. They have been awarded a five million dollar state grant to jump-start the project, and the Springbrook Foundation is busy fundraising and planning community involvement to raise the rest of the funds necessary to build this dream. The next few years will be a very exciting time for the center and for the entire community. Pumpkin Night: record setting attendance of over 4,600 people! Summer Day Nature Camps: new change of format to more full-day camps resulted in greater attendance and $13,000 increased revenues. Congratulations Parks & Recreation Director Jack Kirk was presented with the Clifton E. French Distinguished Service Award by the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association. This lifetime achievement award recognizes professionals who are nominated by their peers for work in developing and improving parks and related recreation programs. Margo Numedahl, Program Supervisor, was presented with an Honorary Commodore Award by the Minneapolis Aquatennial for her exemplary work on youth activities with the Fridley ‘49er Days. w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 8 Fun in Friendly Fridley: Parks & Recreation Zumba! Zumba! Zumba! We have it all! Zumba Fitness: Dance your way to a healthier you! Fridley Community Center, 6-week classes Zumba Toning: Sculpt in rhythm with Toning Sticks. Fridley Community Center, 6-week classes Aqua Zumba: Splash your way into shape! Fridley Middle School, 5 or 6-week classes For more details and to registration online, visit www.FridleyMN.gov/recreation or call 763-572-3570 Springbrook Discovery Dinners Pair lively and educational presentation with a delicious catered meal—the perfect night out! Registration required and space is limited. Tickets are $25 each or $22.50 when purchasing multiple tickets. Discovery Dinners are from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. March 14: Springbrook Swampblossom The dynamic story-telling of Mike Maher featuring nature-based myths, legends and folktales. February 21: Saving the Butterflies (with Karen Oberhauser from the Univ. of MN Monarch Lab) A look at the decline of monarch butterflies and other insects, and what we can do to help. Tickets/reservations available by calling Springbrook at 763-572-3588.