02/2016 Community ConnectionsFridley has great headlines on the horizon. It is an exciting
time to be a part of the action, and the star of this story is
YOU! Our incredible residents and businesses make this a
great community, and we are here to support you in
creating a wonderful place to live, work and play.
The foundation has been laid at Springbrook for an
expanded Nature Center with new exhibits, new programs
and more. Columbia Arena is primed for new possibilities.
The facelift to our city website encourages citizen
involvement and keeps city information easily accessible.
February 2016
No. 198
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
Fridley continues to attract new businesses and
development.
The result = The energy of our community
is growing more vibrant every day.
In 2016, our focus is on you. We believe strong
partnerships make for a strong community. We want you
to be informed, included in changes and decisions, and to
feel welcome to ask questions, volunteer, attend meetings
and events, or join us for classes, activities and programs.
We invite you to be part of the action in this new year.
What’s Inside
Guiding Success:
City Manager’s Office ..........2
Protecting and Engaging:
Police and Emergency
Management .......................3
Rescue and Educate: Fire
Suppression and Prevention ..4
Building Tomorrow:
Community Development ......5
Sustaining Our City: Finance ....6
A City that Serves You:
Public Works .......................7
Designing Fun in 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
Stay Connected!
Like Us on Facebook:
search City of Fridley
Follow Us on Twitter:
@CityofFridley
YEAR IN REVIEW
Honor Our Vets
Friday, March 18 • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St NE
This educational event brings together Federal, State and County agencies to
help veterans plan for the future. Get detailed information on a variety of VA
benefits.
Free to veterans. Registration required.
Call Fridley Senior Center at (763) 502-5150.
Following this event, a resource fair is open to the public from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
City Hall Open House
Thank you for attending!
On December 28, the Fridley City Council hosted an open house regarding the
future of Fridley City Hall and exploring the possibility of relocating to the
former Columbia Arena site. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend,
share ideas, ask questions and learn more about the future of City services.
Our website provides a complete overview of steps taken so far, your
involvement, building assessments, financial impact and more. We welcome
your continued feedback and encourage you to ask questions.
Sometime in late January (after this newsletter goes to press), the City Council
will be continuing discussion and plans for City Hall and the Public Works
buildings. Look for a replay of City Council meetings and the most up-to-date
City Hall information on our website: FridleyMN.gov.
Merging Talents Together:
Human Resources
In 2015, we gained 13 new full-time employees, 13
part-time employees and paid, on-call firefighters,
plus a large number of seasonal and temporary
positions.
Our staff is here to support you, and the Human
Resources Department supports staff. Fridley is
fortunate to have dedicated and talented public
servants guiding our City, some who contribute years
of experience and others who join us with fresh ideas.
Here is a look at a few who reached milestone years in
2015:
35 Years: Craig Turbak (Public Works)
30 years: Sherrée Smith (Fire)
25 Years: Kyle Birkholz (Finance)
Mark Foster (Public Works)
Bruce Koopmeiners (Public Works)
Brian Strand (City Manager’s Office)
20 Years: Myra Harris Johnson (Police)
Ronald Julkowski
(Community Development)
Brian Weierke (Police)
15 Years: Debra Braaten (Police)
Scott Bradseth (Public Works)
Deborah Dahl (Human Resources)
Jennifer Fetrow (Police)
Jeffrey Guest (Police)
Tara Rogness (Parks & Recreation)
Kenneth Small (Public Works)
Stacy Stromberg
(Community Development)
10 Years: Brian Benesch (Finance)
Deborah Biorn
(Community Development)
Zachary Chlebeck (Police)
Ryan George (Police)
Wendy Hiatt (Public Works)
Denise Johnson (Council Meetings)
Nicholas Knaeble (Police)
Christopher McClish (Police)
Randi Oman (Police)
Richard Perron (Public Works)
Krista Peterson (Council Meetings)
David Schulze (Public Works)
Andrew Todd (Police))
In 2015, the City of Fridley lost a few wonderful
retired staff members. We honor the memories of:
•MaryLu Strom Gilderhus, City Manager’s
Secretary (retired 2/86)
•Hilbert Voigt, Police Sergeant (retired 2/92)
•John Oden, Police Officer (retired 3/78)
Guiding Success:
City Manager’s Office
Fridley City Manager, Wally Wysopal, works to
coordinate all 8 City departments with a single vision:
To create a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for
families and businesses. Wally works to make
Council’s priorities a reality by guiding all
departments in those efforts.
In addition, the City Manager’s Office also includes
areas such as official records, elections, business
licensing, communications including the municipal
cable channels, Council agendas/minutes, and other
general government administration.
A Few Department Highlights from 2015:
•City employees were introduced to new
interpreter resources to help communicate
across different languages.
•We introduced a new City website designed
for easier navigation and engagement.
•We launched a new electronic business
newsletter as a tool for the Business
Expansion and Retention Program that began
in 2014.
•Cable TV production remains vital to the
City: Staff produced approximately 100
videos, and the City’s YouTube channel
received over 3,500 hits, plus we have the
City’s online PEG channel. We also
introduced a video supplement to this
newsletter with a monthly “Community
Connection” program. Videos are accessible
online, posted on our website, shared
through social media, and viewable on Cable
Channel 17.
2015 New Regular Full and
Part-Time Employees and
Paid, On-Call Firefighters
Finance Department:
Jill Brenna, Appraiser
Fridley Liquor:
Jed Thompson (Assistant Manager)
Tonya Diaz, Bonnie Laundry, Daniel Quick,
Benjamin Olsen, Jessica Pilarski,
Deborah Sjostrom and Debra Strand
Fire Department:
Rick Current, Fire Marshal
Adam Hopp, Paid, On-Call Firefighter
Katelyn Olaf, Paid, On-Call Firefighter
Kathryn Sivanich, Paid, On-Call Firefighter
Parks & Recreation:
Amy Sandquist, Administrative Assistant
Police Department:
Tyler Abrahamson, Police Officer
Jason Elasky, Police Officer
Patrick Faber, Police Officer
George Jensen, Public Safety
Data Systems Manager
Erik Johnson, Police Officer
Robert Loso, Police Officer
Peter Mueller, Police Officer
Nico Wallat, Police Officer
Enis Vatres, Community Service Officer
Public Works:
Beth Kondrick, Administrative Assistant
Jon Lennander, Assistant City Engineer
Aaron O’Connell, Water Division
Public Service Worker
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
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Ralph Messer (retired Fire
Marshal), Connie Thompson (Senior Center
Coordinator), and Siah St. Clair (retired Springbrook
Nature Center Director) for being inducted into
the Fridley Historical Society’s 2015 Fridley Hall
of Fame!
Stay Connected!
Like Us on Facebook:
facebook.com/CityofFridley
Follow Us on Twitter:
@CityofFridley
w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 3
New Initiatives
Cops in the Café
Beginning this January, Fridley Police is starting a
new program with elementary students. Twice per
month, a member of the Fridley Police
Department will join a select group of students for
school lunch. A group of 4-5 students will be
selected by the school each time for various
reasons. Perhaps they do not have a parent
available for a lunch time visit, or maybe they need
a positive influence to help guide behavior. The
program will start at Hayes Elementary and later
broaden to include the other three Fridley
elementary schools.
Senior Safety Seminars
Once a month, January through May, Fridley
Police will be hosting senior safety seminars. These
seminars will cover a variety of topics including:
•Scams that specifically target seniors
including the famous “grandchild” scam,
•How 9-1-1 works specific to Anoka
County,
•A behind-the-scenes look at Fridley Police,
•Meet Fridley’s Pawn Detective and learn
about an easy property recovery program
that may help if you are ever the victim of
theft, and
•Learn what it means to be an undercover
officer and what the world of narcotics
and violent crime look like.
You will not want to miss these valuable and
fascinating seminars.
Senior Safety Seminars will take place at the
Fridley Community Center on the 2nd Monday
each month, January through May, from
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. To learn more, call the Fridley
Senior Center at (763) 502-5150.
NextDoor.com
Fridley Police joined NextDoor.com in 2014 as a
way of keeping neighborhoods informed about
crime alerts, public safety topics and other
important information. Our online community
continues to grow and we invite you to visit
NextDoor.com. Join your online neighborhood
watch group and stay involved in keeping our
community safe.
New School Resource Officers
As Officers Nick Knaeble and Zak Chlebeck accept
their new promotions to Sergeant, we are excited to
announce our new School Resource Officers:
Mark Mickelson starts the new year with Fridley
Middle School, and Bob Stevens is assigned to the
Metro Heights Academy. Officer John Kotchen will
continue at Fridley High School. Congratulations!
Annual Shop with a Cop
Laughter rang through the aisles of Walmart on
December 15 when Fridley Police escorted 32 kids on
a holiday shopping spree!
Uniformed officers in squad cars picked kids up
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 if they feel someone
could benefit from a positive experience with a police
officer.
After their flashy entrance and a quick lunch at
Subway, the kids hit the ground running! Thank you
to the 24 police officers, staff, reserves and volunteers
who shopped with this great group of kids, and to the
school staff who helped gift wrap.
The afternoon was complete with hugs and high-fives
from Santa (also known in some parts as Mayor)! A
special thanks to all the kids who made this day extra
special for every volunteer. Your smiles are contagious!
Citizen Academy
The Fridley Citizen Academy returned last fall with
22 participants. Residents had the opportunity for
hands-on, in-depth experience with Fridley Police.
Areas covered included Police K-9s, narcotics
investigation, patrol procedures, use of force and a
look at hot topics in the news. Yes, they got to use the
Taser!
This is your Police Department – find out what we are
all about. Join us next fall for this fascinating program.
There is no cost, and the information you will learn is
priceless. Registration and background check is
required. Look for details and application information
on the website this spring and in future City of Fridley
newsletters.
Fridley Lieutenant Graduates from
FBI National Academy
Congratulations Lieutenant
Steve Monsrud and welcome
back! Lieutenant Monsrud
returns following a 10-week
program at the FBI National
Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
T his p r estigi ous t r a i ning
experience is by nomination and
selection based on experience
and leadership. The training Monsrud received will be
extremely beneficial for the entire Fridley Police
Department and better prepare him for the challenges
of leading our patrol staff.
Director J. Edgar Hoover started the FBI National
Academy to increase the professionalism and training
of local law enforcement officers nationwide. For the
past 80 years, the Academy offers a wide range of
leadership and specialized training for command-level
professionals, as well as the opportunity to discuss
ideas, techniques, diverse solutions and experiences.
“Steve Monsrud has shown outstanding leadership
skills during the course of his twenty-year police
career,” says Brian Weierke, Fridley’s Director of
Public Safety. “Steve is respected by his peers and is
now overseeing the entire patrol unit in the New Year.
As a patrol lieutenant, he will use the many skills he
learned at the Academy to continue to solve the
common problems our patrol officers face each and
every day.”
Protecting & Engaging: Police and Emergency Management
Training and mentoring continue as a primary focus going into 2016, as our veteran staff show
our 7 new Patrol Officers the importance of community partnership and service in Fridley.
More 2015 Police Highlights
•Fridley Officers participated in Minnesota’s
Towards Zero Death (TZD) initiative. This
includes DWI, distracted driving and seat belt
enforcement. Officers worked tirelessly in these
efforts to reduce crashes.
•The 21st year of Safety Camp was a success! Over
3,100 youth have participated since the program’s
inception in 1995.
•Canine Jax and Officer Roddy successfully
completed training and began working together
in September.
•K-9 Kona retired in late May after 5 years of
faithful service.
•The first ever Fridley High School Arrive Alive
event was organized by Fridley School Resource
Officers to impact young drivers on the
consequences of distracted and impaired driving. Arrive Alive simulation at Fridley High School
Fridley Safety Camp 2015
Rescue and Educate: Fire Suppression and Prevention
Protecting Firefighters
Against Exposure to
Cancer-Causing Elements
In 2015, Fridley Fire, with the help of the Fridley
Flames, launched an initiative to further protect our
firefighters against the dangers of cancerous
carcinogens from contaminated fire products.
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
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, including medical emergencies,
hazardous material spills, house fires, river rescues and more.
#10: As a part of a continued commitment to fire
safety, Rick Current joins Fridley Fire as our
full-time Fire Marshal.
#9: A new county-wide records system is
implemented.
#8: We installed a new “Heart Safe” station
alerting system.
#7: Fridley Fire is the recipient of the
CenterPoint Energy Community Partner
Grant. The $1,300 award helped improve
water-related rescues with the purchase of
new rescue vests and cold water suits.
#6: A new Boat and Spill Trailer is purchased as
part of the Natural Resource Protection
Initiative.
#5: Fridley Flames set a record serving spaghetti
to over 400 people, and waffles to over 525.
#4: All firefighters successfully tested and passed
the National Registry of Emergency Medical
Technicians’ psychomotor skills.
#3: 16 fire departments formed the Anoka
County Fire Protection Council under a
joint powers agreement.
#2: Daily vehicle and equipment inspections are
now electronic through Target Solutions.
#1: Firefighters now carry Narcan to reverse the
effects of opioids like Heroin.
Top 10 Notable
Events for 2015
Fridley’s new rescue boat provides the
horsepower and equipment necessary to
quickly and safely rescue water victims.
Fridley Flames purchased 40 protective hoods as a
fabulous first step in this initiative. These additional
hoods will allow equipment to be cleaned more
frequently, diminishing the breathing in of particles
trapped in a hood after exposure.
Fun Fire Fact
The fire station tradition of Black over Red was
started years ago when the Chicago Fire Department
bought red Ford Model T chief cars and the soft top
only came in black.
We are pleased to continue this tradition at Fridley Fire.
Congratulations!
Firefighter of the Year: Dean Knowles
Chief’s Award: Kim Herrmann
Fridley Firefighter Awards were presented on May 16,
2015, for exceptional contributions in 2014.
Hoverboard/Swagway Safety
Did someone in your family get a hoverboard over
the holidays? This self-balancing scooter has quickly
become the latest fad; however, many hoverboards
have been linked to fires. Fridley Fire urges you to be
careful when choosing and using these devices.
Signs of Trouble:
•Leaking fluids
•Excessive heat
•Odor
•Sparking
•Smoke
If you notice any of these signs, stop using the device
right away and call 9-1-1.
Safety Tips
•Look for the seal of an independent testing
laboratory.
•Read and follow all manufacturer directions.
•An adult should be responsible for charging
the hoverboard.
•Do not leave a charging hoverboard
unattended.
•Never leave the hoverboard plugged in
overnight.
•Only use the charging cord that came with
the hoverboard.
•Stop using your hoverboard if it overheats.
•Extreme hot or cold temperatures can hurt
the battery.
•Keep an eye out for updates from
manufacturers and safety groups.
Fridley Fire by the Numbers
Free Car
Seat Clinic:
March 8
By appointment only.
Fridley Police invite you to have your car seat
inspected or installed by certified technicians.
Tuesday, March 8 at Friendly Chevrolet
Reservations required.
Appointment times available
between 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Call Liz with Fridley Police at (763) 572-3626
40
Wednesday
number of public education visits
and tours: (resulting in over 1,200
people learning about fire safety)
has been the busiest day of the
week for calls, with the busiest
time from Noon – 1:00 p.m.
250 Monthly average number of calls:
19 Structure Fires:
43 Other Fires (vehicles, trash, grass, etc.):
41 Cooking-related Fires:
3,1 50 Total number of calls in 2015:
(103 of these were for fires)
(8 of these a result of falling asleep while cooking)
2,235 calls for medical/rescue
GreenStep City Accomplishments
•Outstanding Conservation Award from the Anoka
Conservation District
•Blue Star City Award from a state agency
partnership
•Obtaining a GreenCorps employee to write an
urban forestry plan for the City and organize
Arbor Day events for 2015.
•Obtaining SCORE funding from Anoka County
to hire a recycling intern who studied and helped
implement plans to improve apartment recycling.
•Fridley was selected for a Fall 2015 University
of Minnesota Environmental Problem Solving
class project and a Spring 2016 University of
Minnesota Humphrey Institute capstone class
project for transportation planning.
•Our first National Trail Day event was held at
Islands of Peace Park.
2015 Highlights
•Inspected 7,763 residential properties in 22 weeks
and resolved 1,903 violations.
•Public engagement reached new heights with over
800 hours of public input from citizens who met
to advise the City on the future of the Columbia
Arena site.
•New development in the City includes a future
hotel and additional retail coming to Fridley
Market, and Starbucks, AT&T and Leeann Chin
opening at 5300 Central.
•Northern Stacks is two years ahead of schedule,
thanks to millions of dollars in grant funds from
DEED and the Metropolitan Council.
•Completed over 8,500 rental inspections
including garages for the first time. Rental
applications and fees totaled $187,195.
•Issued a total of 5,119 building permits, adding
$57,064,000 in new value to the City.
•City Code updating included fences, signs, zoning
and floodplain. Staff also made updates to the
Northstar TOD Zoning District.
•Successful demolition of the unsafe Columbia
Arena building.
Congratulations Kay Qualley!
Kay recently passed the
American Institute of
Certified Planners’ exam
and has been granted the
AICP designation. This
is one of the highest
levels of commitment
and education available
for a career in planning,
and speaks to the well-
rounded level of expert
knowledge Kay brings to
the City.
Congratulations
Fridley Intern Jacquel Nissen was awarded 2nd place
in a prestigious student real estate competition last
November. Jacquel is majoring in Real Estate and
Business Finance at the University of St. Thomas, and
is currently working with the Fridley HRA on our
Business Retention and Expansion Program.
“Jacquel has great business sense and a communication
style that relates well with our Fridley business
owners,” says Paul Bolin, Assistant Executive Director
of the Fridley HRA.
Jacquel, in partnership with fellow student Jenna
Knutson, developed a concept that uses an innovative
form of funding to help businesses with their gap
financing needs. In addition to their second place win,
they were named “Best Presentation,” for a total award
of $4,750 in scholarship funds.
Building Tomorrow: Community Development
w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 5
Residents turn out for
Fridley’s first National Trail Day event.
Jacquel Nissen and Jenna Knutson
Spr ing Break Youth Trips
Grades K-5: School’s Out Events
Monday, March 21: Bounce around at Pump It Up
and bowl a strike at Mermaid
Lanes, $28
Tuesday, March 22: Escape to the tropics at a
Fridley MS pool party, $20
Wednesday, March 23: Reach new heights at Air Maxx
Trampoline Park, $28
Thursday, March 24: Explore at the MN Science
Museum and Omnitheater, $28
Friday, March 25: Make a splash at MN Wild
Woods Waterpark, $28
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.
Minnesota Caucuses
to be Held
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 • 7:00 p.m.
A precinct caucus is a closed meeting of a group of
people residing within a specific precinct and
belonging to the same political party. The business of
a precinct caucus is to sometimes take straw polls,
select representatives, and decide policy or party
platforms for the upcoming 2016 election. The City
of Fridley is in the 5th Congressional District,
Minnesota Senate District 41 and Minnesota House
District 41A.
To find out where your local caucus is being held, call
the City at 763-572-3523 or visit the Secretary of
State’s website at caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/.
Locations should be determined by February 1.
Columbia Arena comes down,
making way for future possibilities.
Registration is required
and space is limited.
Sign up online at
www.FridleyMN.gov
or 763-572-3570
A V A I L A B L E
What: Free Tax Preparation and Advice
For Who: Low to Middle Income Seniors
When: Wednesdays, February 3 – April 13
9:00 a.m. – Noon and
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Fridley Community Center:
6085 7th St NE
First come, first served. More complicated tax
returns may be referred to paid preparers
including farm taxes, business taxes and
complicated investment taxes. Bring copies of
your 2014 tax forms and your 2015 tax
information including W-2s, 1099s, medical
expenses, records of contributions, CRP from
landlord or Statement of Property Tax.
Highlights
•The Asse ssing Divis ion completed the
reappraisal of 625 exempt parcels to comply
with state statutes that require 6 year reviews.
Staff also completed the quintile review of
1,820 parc els a long wi th 64 0 per mit
inspections for new construction and repairs.
•The value of residential, commercial and
industrial properties are all on the rise.
Residential = 4-5% increase
Commercial/Industrial = nearly double
that of residential properties
•IT designed and improved a more secure online
meter reading entry screen that saves staff
time through automation, and better protects
private information. It is also easier to use.
Try it! Go to FridleyMN.gov and click the
Utility Billing button under the slideshow.
•Upgraded the Point of Sale system at Fridley
Liquor stores to conform to new credit card
regulations. The previous system performed
over 4 million transactions during its 16 years.
•Implemented a new integrated Enterprise
Resource Planning system to replace an
outdated 30-year old financial, payroll and
utility billing system. This system provides
more security, efficiency and the ability to
evolve with changing needs and technologies.
•The efforts to rebrand the City’s municipal
liquor stores are paying off. Liquor store sales
for 2015 increased by 10% over the prior year.
Sales surpassed $5.25 million in 2015!
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
Sustaining Our City: Finance
Fridley Liquor
now offers Gift
Cards! Think of us
next time you need
the perfect gift!
Available at both
locations: Hwy 65 or
University Avenue
City Council Approves 2016 Budget and Levy
2016 Tax Levy
$176,000 Assessed Market Value for Taxes Payable in 2016
City Taxes = $629 City Taxes = $679 City Taxes = $693
The 2016 City Budget was adopted by
Council on 12/28/2015 and is
available for viewing online
at www.FridleyMN.gov/budget.
What is a levy?
First things first, what is a levy? In the simplest terms,
a levy is a tax. For our purposes, it is a local govern -
ment tax collected through property tax payments.
This tax is used for a variety of essential city services
like police, fire, parks and streets.
What can homeowners expect?
The average homeowner will see an approximate
property tax increase of about 2%. This equals
around $15 for a home with an estimated market
value of $176,000.
How is the levy used?
The additional levy collected is split into 2 main uses.
The increase of 1.4% (which is this year’s cost of
inflation and the City’s Charter limit) will be used to
fund essential city services including staffing and cap -
ital improvements. The additional 2.57% is used to
prepay debt that was originally issued in 2007 and
2008 to pay for necessary street improvements. This
type of use is not subject to the Charter limit.
Prepaying this debt will save the city almost $40,000
over the next 2 years.
What do the numbers mean?
In 2016, the total levy collected from all sources will
increase by 3.9%, or about $466,000, providing
approximately $12.2 million for city services. As a
homeowner, your property tax portion of this percent -
age is different from the total percentage collected.
The levy is collected from all types of property within
the City, based on taxable market value. As you have
likely experienced over the last several years, proper -
ty values ebb and flow. Residential property values
change differently from commercial and industrial.
For example, home valuations remained virtually flat
from January 1, 2014, to January 1, 2015. January
1, 2015, is the valuation year for taxes payable in
2016. On the other hand, commercial and industrial
properties increased about a 7–8% rate during this
same time frame. Because the value of these types of
properties has recently increased more than residen -
tial properties, they will see a proportionate shift in
property taxes.
The City’s Budget, Capital Improvements Plan and
Certified Annual Financial Report can all be found on
the City’s website: FridleyMN.gov/233/City-Budget.
2015 Levy 2014 Levy 2016 Levy
Red Wine, Sparkling
Champagne,
the perfect Cognac...
Let Fred Lee,
a.k.a. Mr. Romance
help you set the mood!
Fridley Community Calendar
February
1 Charter Commission
1 Parks & Recreation Commission
3 Appeals Commission –cancelled
4 HRA Meeting
8 City Council Meeting
9 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission
15 City Offices Closed in Observance of
Presidents’ Day
17 Planning Commission –cancelled
22 City Council Meeting
March
2 Appeals Commission
3 HRA Meeting
7 Charter Commission
7 Parks & Recreation Commission
8 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission
14 City Council Meeting
16 Planning Commission
22 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.
is in the air
at Fridley Liquor! ™™
™
™™
™
Be the first to know about
Fridley Liquor events, specials
and tastings! Sign up online at
FridleyLiquor.com.
Stay Connected!
FB: facebook.com/FridleyLiquor
Twitter: @FridleyLiquor
w w w . F r i d l e y M N . g o v page 7
Public Works by the Numbers
•Over 1,400 field work orders completed.
•Only 4 plowings in 2015 after a season with 22!
•1 sewer main backup.
•800 athletic field preparations.
•415 automated meter reader (AMR)
appointments and installations.
•55 televising of sanitary sewer systems.
2015 Highlights
•Over ¼ mile of new boardwalk installed at
Springbrook Nature Center, including a 900’
section of floating boardwalk.
•Construction of a holding pond at Creek Ridge
Park for flood mitigation.
•An expedited 2015 street project, including
extensive utility repairs, bid $275,000 below
budget.
•Over 1,500 fleet work orders completed from
flat tires and services to crash repairs and
engine overhauls.
•Enhanced corridor maintenance efforts to
include Highway 65 mowing and bus stop trash
collection.
•Four of the City’s 13 wells were updated. Four
others received power supply rebuilds.
•Secured Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization funding of $862,000 for the 2015
and 2016 street projects for construction of water
quality improvements.
•Waterproofing of City Hall east entrance and
replacing lighting.
•Completion of new Police impound building site
improvements including coordination of
construction, paving, utility work, and door
adjustments.
•Awarded $486,000 in federal funding for 2018
construction of a multi-use trail along the west
side of Moore Lake.
Fridley’s Water Quality
In 2015, we provided 1.154 billion gallons of
safe, clean, quality water to Fridley customers.
The Fridley Drinking Water Quality Report and
yearly information comes out each June:
FridleyMN.gov/waterquality.
Fridley wells pull water from the earth, up to 870 feet
deep. This water is contained in layers of porous rock,
sand and gravel. Fridley maintains the operation of 13
wells, the TCAAP line, 4 reservoirs and 3 filter plants.
Well Sealing Grants Available
Do you have an unused well on your property?
Financial assistance is available to help residents with
well sealing. The grant provides 50% reimbursement
of eligible costs up to a total of $750 for contracted
well sealing work. Hurry, work needs to be completed
by April of this year.
Interested? Applications are available online
at FridleyMN.gov/wellgrant or call Beth at
(763) 572-3554.
A City that Serves You: Public Works
New boardwalk at Springbrook
includes a 900’ floating section
Artesian Well
Winter Reminder Fridley does not declare snow
emergencies. Winter parking restrictions are in place November 1
through April 1 regardless of weather.
Reminder: There is no street parking in Fridley
between 2:00 - 6:00 a.m.
There is also no street parking anytime plows are out.
Plow Safety
•Do not let children play or build snow structures near the street.
•Reduce your speed around plows and keep your distance.
•Keep garbage and recycling cans out of streets and sidewalks,
as well as any toys and sleds.
6pm Dinner Show: Tickets $25
Feb 13, 18, 19 & 20
3pm Show Only: Tickets $15 • Feb 14 and 21
Tickets available online at
www.FridleyCommunityTheatre.org
Or by phone at (763) 502-5100
Senior Center
•Honor Choices: A new program in partnership
with Allina Health launched in 2015 to help
seniors with their health care directives.
•The Senior Program partnered with the Green
Book Fair for 2 book recycling events in 2015.
Over 2,000 books were exchanged through these
events.
•325 seniors attended the 40th anniversary of the
Senior Program Holiday Lunch.
Recreation
•ZONE attendance increased by over 1,000 in
2015! As of late November, we counted 5,888
participants.
•Summer ROCKS 2015 = 1,694 enrollments in
over 150 arts, sports and enrichment classes.
•134 adult sports teams participated in softball,
football, basketball, volleyball and broomball
leagues.
•Winterfest 2015 was a huge success with over 900
guests.
•Fridley ‘49er Days took over Commons Park last
June with new activities in a park setting. Stay
tuned for dates and details for 2016!
Designing Fun in Friendly Fridley: Parks & Recreation
2016 Adult Softball Leagues
Registration begins February 2.
Co-Rec: $625
Men’s Leagues: $710 Sunday Leagues
or $780 for Weekday Leagues
Q
2016 Adult Co-Rec
Kickball Leagues
Registration begins March 28.
Games are played on Sunday evenings
beginning May 8.
Games played at Community Park in
Fridley and Aquatore Park in Blaine.
$215/team
For details and registration information,
visit www.FridleyMN.gov
or call (763) 572-3570
Time to Reserve your Garden Plot!
Location: Locke Park
Rental Cost:
Fridley resident: $28/plot
Fridley senior (55+): $22/plot
Non-resident: $45/plot
Limit 2 plots per gardener.
Reservation Schedule:
Returning Fridley Gardeners: Now through March 14 (same plot)
Fridley Residents (new plots): Beginning March 17
Returning Non-Resident Gardeners: Beginning March 25 (same plot)
Non-Resident (new plots): Beginning March 31
Questions? Give us a call at (763) 572-3570
Springbrook
On October 7, 2015, a groundbreaking ceremony
was held to kick off construction of a new and
remodeled 13,000 square foot interpretive building at
Springbrook Nature Center. Construction is
underway, and the new building should be ready for
use this summer!
In partnership with Split Rock Studios, City
staff and volunteers created an exciting design for
all the new exhibits to be part of the new
Springbrook building.
Trusses going up as the Springbrook Nature Center
building prepares for a roof.
page 8 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