Loading...
1998 Spring/Summer City of Fridley rn = co—011da".ILMUM ty UP ateSpring/Summer 1998 No. 97 Music, family fun food and highlightannual '49erDays It's almost time for Fridley's McKusick Snyder, a former Miss . famous'49er Days, our annual Fridley and graduate of community festival celebrating the Spring Lake Park City's founding in 1949. There's High and St. Olaf something for everyone during the College. Admission i festivities that run from Thursday, is free with a '49er June 11 through Sunday, June 14. Days button. We urge everyone to check the Remember—many schedule of events on page 5 that events have discounted or accompanies this article, but we waived fees for those wear- :4 particularly want to mention three ing a '49er Days button. You events that are annual favorites. may purchase a button for$2 • On Friday evening from 7 to 11 (and discounted Carnival pm at City Hall Plaza—and back tickets— 5 tickets for $10 yrs by popular demand!—will be the —when purchased in f Rockin' Hollywoods performing advance by Wednesday, at the first Street Dance. June 10)at the following locations: The White Sidewalls will perform on • The following evening, Satur- Fridley Recreation Department, Saturday June 13th at 7:00 p.m.at The day, again at 7 to 11 pm at the Norwest Bank and Fridley Plaza. Plaza, our second Street Dance will Community Center. 't feature the White Sidewalls Rock For more information about the See page 5 for a complete '49er 'n Roll Revue. 1998 '49er Days activities, call our Days Schedule of Events. z • And Sunday evening begin- HOTLINE at 572-3600, ext. 349. ning at 6:30 pm at the Fridley High School Auditorium is the Annual Miss Fridley Pageant. Here the ,49er Days Beach Bash 1998 Miss Fridley and two Prin- cesses will be selected to represent Saturday, June 13th 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Fridley in events throughout the Moore lake Beach year. The winners are judged for A day of FREE activities for the entire family: S poise, appearance, communications skills, friendly personality, and • Contests and games • Moon Bouncer school and community involve- • Clowns and Balloons • Entertainment ment. Hosting the event is Kari 4 t v City of Fridley 1 t 1 Public Fridley Police unveil new program to reduce speeding on residential streets by Gary W.Lenzmeier,Deputy Public Safety Director One of the most frequent com- Acquired through a Federal grant,it is purchased two hand-held radar guns plaints by Fridley citizens is speed- a portable,self-contained speed that citizens can sign out and use on ing on our residential streets. Our display unit that is towed to sites their street.Their NRO will train past efforts to respond to these experiencing speed-related problems. them on use of the radar.Citizens complaints have not been satisfac- Many of our neighboring communi- using the radar will keep a log of the tory due to difficulty in determin- ties are using one with very good speeds of all vehicles using the ing dates,times and locations of the ® street. If a vehicle is found to be problems.Additionally, we have speeding,the citizen will attempt to difficulty attempting to lace ;. note the license plate number,the officers with radar at the right sites speed,and,if possible,a description and for long enough periods to of the car and driver. That informa- apprehend offenders. tion will be given to the NRO who In order to offer more effective will send a letter to the owner of the solutions to this problem,we have vehicle telling him/her what oc- established the Residential Speed curred and strongly suggest they Reduction Program,which will monitor their speeds at all times. coordinate efforts of the Fridley Police,the Neighborhood Watch Officer-run radar l Program,Neighborhood Resource g g If the results of either of the Officers and individual citizens who ��� ' '���� 'i�r `��"�`" �#�'�� � ` � � " above two actions indicate there is a are concerned about speeding. substantial speeding problem on the Our new program has three street,the NRO can work with the action phases that escalate in team supervisor to have officers severity according to conditions at run radar on that street for an each site:(1)a pro-active speed established number of hours. reminder to motorists through use results.This trailer contains a radar Citizens caught speeding will then of a speed trailer; (2)citizen use of attached to a large display board that be issued speeding citations. radar guns to monitor specific shows the speed of vehicles passing Of course, our goal is to gain problems areas;and(3)officer-run the radar. The trailer can be set out on a voluntary traffic compliance radar in highest problem areas. problem street where,it is hoped, through information and notifica- Citizens with a concern about drivers will then check their speed and tion. We think that most traffic on speeding,or any other recurring be put on notice that citizens living residential streets comes from traffic problem on their street, there are concerned about the speeds people living on or near those should discuss the problem with of vehicles using that street. streets. Therefore, many of those their Neighborhood Resource The trailer is also equipped with a committing minor traffic offenses Officer(NRO).After analyzing the computer that keeps a record of the are our neighbors. By letting these problem,the NRO will then activate speeds of all vehicles going through violators officially know there is a one or more of the three listed the radar. This record can be examined problem, most will willingly actions to alleviate the problem. later to determine the extent of the conform to traffic laws. problem to help decide what further For more information on this Use of the Speed Trailer action is needed. Speed Reduction Program or to con- The SMART Speed Monitoring tact your Neighborhood Resource Awareness Radar Trailer is our Citizen use of radar guns Officer,please call 572-3632. newest speed containment tool. Late last year the Police Department 2 City of Fridley Public Safety BEYOND THE BADGE Howyour Police Department serves you When people think of the Fridley Police Department there is a natural tendency to consider the blue cars with emergency lights and officers in blue uniforms. The ' uniformed officers are certainly an important part of the service pro- vided, but we also try and assist you in other ways to make Fridley a great place to live and work. " Perhaps the most important service that you can get involved in is your Neighborhood Block Group. We have among the oldest and most active Neighborhood Watch Pro- grams in the State with over 350 Block Captains, but are always in Rosie Griep,Special Projects Coordinator,is shown visiting one of Fridley's four ele- need of people willing to serve in mentary schools to teach personal safety. Someone from the Department visits every that capacity. Fridley has received class at each school twice a year as part of the Fridley Police Department's outreach to National Awards for top ten finishes the community. of participation in National Night elementary youth specialist that Many of the above listed programs Out for the past five years. provides prevention education in the are conducted in cooperation with Fridley's Emergency Manage- schools, Safety Camp,and Project other City departments or with other ment,which deals with natural dis- Safety Net. Project Safety Net is a law enforcement agencies. In an asters,transportation disasters,etc., combination of different efforts attempt to work more effectively at is coordinated by the police depart- including a curfew center, drop-in solving some of the neighborhood ment. Citizens had an opportunity center on weekends,youth outreach, problems,a Neighborhood Resource to see the City's Emergency Re- and Harambee;and we are working Officer(NRO)has been assigned to sponse in 1997 with the flood. This with other area cities to explore a each of eleven districts in Fridley. It is an area that needs to be ready, but truancy center. There is also a full is important that each of you meet we hope that it isn't necessary to use time school resource officer to work your NRO before you have problems. very often. with the middle school and high The NROs have been specially The Fridley Police Department school on enforcement issues. trained to work with citizen and has always been strong on enforce- If you have an interest in volun- neighborhood groups to find ment of laws. We also realize that teering time to your community,there solutions to your neighborhood the best criminal cases are those that is a Police Reserve Unit(for adults), issues. never happen. We have a number and a Law Enforcement Explorer If you have questions about any of programs that deal with preven- Scout Program for youth that are of the services provided by the tion.There are a number of youth- interested in law enforcement careers. police department or have an oriented programs in which the In addition to the uniformed patrol, interest in riding along with an police department participates we have investigators, bicycle patrol, officer, please contact Dave including DARE(Drug Abuse and an officer assigned to the Anoka- Sallman(572-3625)or Rosie Griep Resistance Education),a full time Hennepin Narcotics Task Force. (572-3638). City of Fridley 3 Recreation & Natural Resources Playground 0 improvements c by Jack Kirk,Director-Recreation and Natural Resources As part of the City of Fridley's analysis for its superior - continuing plan to provide mod- quality, durability, �x� ern, safe and handicapped-acces- safety, equipment sible playground equipment in our longevity and aesthetic ; I,I � neighborhood parks, we will appeal. upgrade five park sites in 1998. Young users of the Replacement equipment will be playgrounds will be o installed in the following parks in enjoying their new the fourth year of the Depart- equipment soon. In- _ ment's 6-Year Playground Upgrad- stallations are sched- ing Program(see map): Briardale, uled to be completed Edgewater Gardens, Plymouth by mid-July. Square, Ruth Circle and Sylvan Hills. Five companies submitted bids for the five playground sites with the projects being awarded to the vendor(s)providing the City with the best value for the funds available. All playground propos- als were on display to neighbor- The playground equipment hood residents and 31 citizens — in the photo above is came to the Municipal Center to representative of the quality review the proposals, make com- Ruth to be installed in five Fridley ments and provide input on the Circle parks this summer selection of the projects. Park 0 On April 6, the Parks &Recre- ation Commission reviewed the i r equipment proposals and agreed Edgewater - with staff recommendations and Gardens Park ' E the majority of residential com- Sylvan Hills , Q Replacement playground ments to award all five park Park Briardale equipment will be projects to Flanagan Sales with its Park installed by mid-summer Little Tykes®line of equipment. e in the parks noted on the Our new playground equipment ✓ 1 map at left. is designed for pre-schoolers and € F elementary school-aged children. 9 1. Plymouth It will meet requirements set forth Square Park 0 in the Americans with Disabilities Act and conform to guidelines published by the United States Consumer Products Safety Com- - mission. It was selected after 4 City of Fridley Recreation 1 14 converted to a State grant allows early community educa iion ocenter. completion of Community Then, in 1997, the Fridley City Council joined the District 14 Board of Education in renovation Center's lower I and expansion of the building to i meet a growing list of community needs. These efforts were comple- The City of Fridley recently grams and activity while in the mented by many generous dona- received a$280,000 "Youth Center will be directed by Recre- tions from Fridley businesses and Inititative Grant"from the Minne- ation Department employees. organizations, as well as by many Lsota Department of Children, According to Jack Kirk, the City's individual contributions. Families and Learning for improve- Director of Recreation and Natural We are very excited about the ments to the 4,500 square foot Resources, this development is very project and look forward to a ! lower level of the Fridley Commu- important for Fridley young adults. September completion. In the j nity Center, 6085 "We haven't had meantime, if you have questions or 7th Street NE. appropriate would like to offer your skills, The grant "This development is very facilities for please call Jack Kirk at 572-3575 or proceeds, coupled youth program- Debi Campobasso at 572-3574. ` with City funding, important for Fridley young ming—just a will be used to adults. Now we'll have three room here or '49 e r Days provide space for specially-designed rooms all in there,"Kirk x middle school and explained. "Now Schedule of Events one area downstairs. we'll have three high school-aged —Jack Kirk s eciall de- THURSDAY, JUNE 11 y youth programs specially-de- City's Dirctor of Sr.Bowling Tournament 1:00 P.M. and drop-in Recreation and signed rooms all Carnival 6:00 p.m. activities, as well as Natural Resources in One area Fridley City Band Concert 6:00 p.m. for existing Senior downstairs plus Two-Mile Run 6:25 p.m. Programs. The an audio/visual Parade 6:30 p.m. grant allows the City to complete room and gym upstairs. This is a FRIDAY,JUNE 12 vacant space that was not sched- major improvement for the City in Sr. "500"Tournament 9:30 a.m. uled for completion until sometime providing for the needs of our BBQ 11:30 a.m. y Sr.Cribbage Tournament 1:00P.M. in the future. youth, as well as providing greater g p' Food Festival 5:00 p.m. Finished space will include a recreation opportunities for families Golden Lions Bingo 5:00 p.m. dance/aerobics area, a game room, and seniors." wine Tasting 6:00 p.m. Kirk said that in order to make j a lounge area and two new Basketball Tournament 6:00 p.m. restrooms. The game room will be sure these new facilities are designed Carnival 6:00 p.m. equipped with pool tables, with the preliminary users in mind Rockin'Hollywoods foosball, air hockey, video games —the City conducted focus group Street Dance 7:00 p.m. and table games. The dance/ studies that included youth partici- Miss Fridley Fashion Show 7:00 p.m. aerobics area will feature a cush- pants. Additionally, youth participa- SATURDAY JUNE 13 s ioned hard wood floor and a sound tion in several components of Horseshoe Tournament 8:30 a.m. construction is Tanned, including Tennis Tournament 9:00 a.m. system for teen dance events, and p g Food Festival 11:00 a.m. all-age aerobic classes, exercise painting of a wall mural, painting of Family Beach Bash at ` classes and dance lessons. It will walls, sound system installation and Moore Lake 3:00 p.m. also be equipped with video cabinet construction. (Arts&crafts,moon walk,youth equipment for various instruc- The Fridley Community Center, activities,much more) tional activities. The lounge area located at the corner of 61st Avenue White Sidewalls Street Dance 7:00 p.m. will include a fireplace, a snack/ and 7th Street.NE, was originally the SUNDAY,JUNE 14 concession area, loun a furniture, Park View Elementary School. After Horseshoe Tournament 8:30 a.m. g school enrollments dropped, District Carnival Noon and a television set. Youth pro- pp Miss Fridley Pagent 6:30 p.m. i k City of Fridley 5 Home • 5% Home t Improvement Loans __0 1 Zv, Available to Fridley -� Homeowners J The Fridley HRA continues to Home Improvement for collecting estimates and offer 5% home improvement loans Grants Available selecting a contractor. to Fridley residents. Since the pro- For more information or an gram began two years ago, 225 to Lower-income application call the Fridley Home homes have been improved in Families ImprovementHotline at#335- Fridley. Don't miss your chance for 2651. this low-cost financing program. This year, the City of Fridley has You can borrow up to $25,000 grant funds available to lower in- with repayment terms up to 20 come families who need financial First Time Homebuyer years. We can structure the help making basic repairs to their program Offers financing to meet your budget. To homes. Eligible families can get up qualify, you need to meet these to $15,000, a portion of which is 6.05% Mortgages simple guidelines: forgiven each year. After five years, 1. Your income must be less than 50% of the money must be repaid The Fridley HRA has low $58,650. when the home is sold or is no interest mortgage loans available to first-time rs 2. You need to have decent credit. longer the owner's permanent qualifiedt-time homebuyers. ' 3. You need to live in the property residence. The program offers mortgage loans to be improved. Income qualifications are based at 6.05%, fixed rate for a 30 year 4. The improvements must be on household size(see chart below). term. permanent. Eligible repairs in- In addition, applicants cannot have To qualify you need to meet clude new roofing, furnace re- more than$25,000 in assets, exclud- these guidelines: placement, window replacement, ing the value of the home. Eligible 1. Must be a first-time homebuyer. kitchen and bath remodeling, properties include owner-occupied 2. Maximum annual household basement finishes, driveways and 1 or 2 unit homes. income is $45,650. garages. 3. Maximum home price is Because our underwriting Family Size Maximum Income $95,000. guidelines are flexible, we can 1 $21,300 4. Good credit and the ability to make loans even if you have little 2 $24,700 meet normal bank underwriting equity in your house. To apply, 3 $27,350 standards. all you have to do is fill out an 4 $30,400 FHA, VA and conventional application form, attach proof of 5 $32,850 loans are eligible. You must apply income, and estimates for the work. 6 $35,250 directly at one of the participating It's that simple. For more informa- lenders. This is a limited opportu- tion or an application, call the If approved for assistance, an nity, so call now. For more infor- Fridley Home Improvement Hotline inspection will be done on the mation and a list of lenders call at#335-2651. home to determine qualified #572-3591. repairs. A scope of work will 10 Equal Housing Opportunity Agency then be given to the homeowner Equal Housing Opportunity Agency 6 City of Fridley Home Improvement Home values continue The (P(pFridley Remodeling upward; property inspections scheduled Handbook" is now for the SE quadrant available...and it's free. by Ed Hervin,Assessing The assessor's office will be by Dave Mayer,Remodling Advisor A beginning their new quartile for property inspections very soon. The Fridley HRA has two new N Each year one-fourth of the city items to offer you this spring. properties are inspected on a First, I have been hired as the revolving basis. This year we will new Remodeling Advisor. For R *'d'ey Rett,.d be looking at properties generally those of you who may not be HarydbO©k� � south of Mississippi St. and be- aware, the City offers the tween the railroad tracks on the remodeling advisor as a free 4 west and the east city line,approxi- service to assist you in devel- 4 f mately south to the freeway. oping ideas and plans for ,tl Property values for the city remodeling your home. I N seem to be increasing at about the have a strong background in A Ra*"blerEdition 4% rate, as they have for a long both design and construc- time. Taxes have decreased in tion, and hope I can be many cases due to financial input helpful to you in developing from the state. your remodeling plans. Second, we have put together a book to give you some ideas on The book focuses on four improving your home. The Fridley different rambler styles that are Remodeling Handbook was devel- found in Fridley. For each of oped for the typical Fridley ram- these plans there are four remod- bler. This resource includes a wide eling plans. Each plan addresses D variety of information that should ways to enhance both the looks be very useful for all those people and the function of your home. 1 who are interested in making • There are 17 remodeling plans for improvements to their Fridley home. you to review in hopes of finding f Issues covered by the book ideas for remodeling your Fridley Qinclude: home. • Prioritizing your home improve- We hope you will find the ment needs book useful. It is available now, • Evaluating home improvement free of charge, at the city offices. ° costs vs. payback at resale Or, if you schedule an appoint- 0 Building and zoning code issues ment to see me, I will be sure to • Exterior design issues bring along a copy. You can reach • Hiring a contractor vs. do-it- me Monday - Thursday, 8:00 - o yourself 11:30, or 8:00 - 5:00 on Fridays. Financing I am also in the office Tuesday Other items included in the book: evenings from 5:00 - 7:00. A list of other resources for Evening appointments at your developing your plans home are also available. The area outlined in the box shows the A list of common construction approximate quadrant that will be related terms accessed this year. A list of zoning terms City of Fridley 7 Recycling& The Environment Recycling News Aluminum Price Now Fridley Reaches Recycling the most common item that are not Higher! Goals! recyclable. These boxes have a wet- strength coating added to them that As of February 1, 1998 a person Each year Anoka County sets prohibits the paper fibers from driving to the Fridley Recycling recycling goals for cities. The City breaking down to be made into new Center will notice several changes. of Fridley reached its goal by only The price per pound for aluminum one ton in 1997, thanks to the paper. The four"C's"should be placed cans is higher, the recycling bins recycling efforts of thousands of . a paper bag together with your are different, and boxboard Fridley residents. This narrow mixed mail at the curb. (cereal-type boxes)is no longer accomplishment shows how each accepted. These changes stem from individual's efforts are critical. If only five less households would Get Involved... a desire to offer the best price Y Form an EcoTeam possible on aluminum and increase have recycled in 1997, the City the number of customers who use would not have achieved our goal. If you'd like to get to know the facility. Recycling accomplishments for your neighbors and are also inter- The City is able to offer a higher the past year include: ested in being a better steward of price for aluminum cans due to • A total of 2,469 tons of residential natural resources,consider forming new contract arrangements. The recycling reported an EcoTeam in your neighborhood. recycled EcoTeams are comprised of six •An increase of 154 tons rec City is also offering$.03/1b. bonus y coupons at both of the Fridley from the previous year to eight households. Teams meet Liquor Stores. Also watch for ¢ Pounds collected per household eight times over a four month time coupons on the back of your curbside rose from 403 lbs. in 1996 period to provide support and receipts from the Northtown CUB to 437 lbs. in 1997 encouragement for conservation Foods Store and the Fridley Monthly participation rates actions. New techniques for reduc- Holiday Plus Store. curbside rose 14% in 1997 ing consumption of electricity, Boxboard has been eliminated Over 63 tons of plastic bottles water,gasoline and other pollutants from our collections to reduce were collected curbside in 1997 are covered in a workbook that the costs. Our new contractor will An increase of 25 more tons team goes through together. continue to provide recycling for recycled by multi-unit dwellings The first group to form an Eco- Newspaper, Magazines, Mixed Over 16 tons of major appliances, Team in Fridley found that the con- Paper,Glass(sorted by color),Plastic scrap metal, and fluorescent lamps servation methods they learned Bottles,Scrap Metal,Steel Cans,and were collected at the Fridley Recy- saved them$124 per year on aver- Corrugated Cardboard on site. cling Center in just three month. age. This was a group of neighbors Fridley residents can recycle who felt they were already doing a boxboard (the 4"C's")in the City's Why You Cannot Recycle good job in conservation before curbside recycling program along Your Pop Case completing the program. Nationally, with bagged mixed paper. Please Our curbside recycling contractor teams have found a family of four note pop cartons, frozen food started adhering to the four "C's" completing this EcoTeam program to boxes, milk cartons, and pizza save around$400 per year. P definition of boxboard this past boxes are not recyclable in any winter. This has prompted much The City of Fridley has funding recycling program. These items for two new teams, making partici- either P g confusion about what type of either do not break down intoboxboard is recyclable. The fpation in this program free. Is your our neighborhood interested? If so,call reusable fibers or stain the new "C's"means cereal boxes, cake mix product and should be thrown away. boxes, cracker boxes,and chip(potato) Julie Jones,Fridley Planning Assis- Please call our recorded boxes. In the past,drivers were message tant/Recycling Coordinator at 572- line(accessible 24 hours per day) mistakenly taking more types of 3594 or Carol Teasdale at Global Ac- at 572-3607 for the current alumi- boxboard than are marketabl tion Plan of Minnesota at 824-2433. e. num can price. Pop and beer carrying cases were 8 City of Fridley City Construction City of Fridley 1998 construction report We've scheduled a number of mann Lane and Hackmann Circle as providing bank stabilization along projects for the 1998 construction part of a water project to replace the the creek both to eliminate property season that will be undertaken this deteriorating pipe in Hackmann Lane. loss and to reduce the sediment that year in Fridley by the City,Anoka This improvement will involve new accumulates in the Rice Creek County or a combination of both. water pipe,asphalt street surface and system. •The County will be upgrading concrete curb and gutter for inproved •As you've probably read earlier, Central Avenue from I-694 north to drainage in this area. the City is replacing five playground Rice Creek. Plans include milling •The City and County together will sets at Briardale,Edge Water Gar- the existing surface and overlaying rebuild 57th Avenue between Main dens,Plymouth Square,Ruth Circle it with new asphalt. Central Avenue Street and University Avenue. This and Sylvan Hills. Additionally,we north of Rice Creek will be widened segment of 57th will be upgraded for will install handicap ramps and by eight feet in conjunction with additional lanes,protected medians, paths in our park system to comply the installation of a storm sewer street lighting and landscaping to with the American Disabilities Act. from Osborne Road on the west side complement this commercial area. •Finally,we continue our park of Central. While Central Avenue •The City,is assisting in a storm maintenance program by resurfac- is being widened, traffic will be water project in conjunction with the ing deteriorating tennis courts and routed into one lane in each Rice Creek Watershed District and the replacing picnic tables, benches direction. residents of Rice Creek in the 400-600 and trash containers throughout •The City will upgrade Hack- block of Rice Creek Terrace. We'll be the system. Six Cities Watershed District Annual Report storm water improvements that were New projects improve wetlands, identified as needed as a result of handling of storm m wa to r July storm damage in Fridley. These projects included the installation of new storm sewers, catch basin During this past year the City of through an agreement with the City improvements and drainage swales Fridley has initiated several projects of Spring Lake Park and storm water that will more effectively handle in compliance with scheduled capital assessments within the sub-watershed storm water runoff. improvements identified in the Six in the City of Fridley,and local A Minnesota Pollution Control Cities Watershed Management assessments and contributions from Agency grant is also being used to Operations Plan. the City's storm water fund. investigate the flows entering the The largest the Stonybrook Other City projects related to the Springbrook Nature Center from Creek Project—was completed by welfare of the Watershed District Coon Rapids,Blaine and Spring Lake Schield Construction Company in include the adoption of ordinances Park. The data from the investiga- November 1996 at a cost of dealing with erosion control and best tion will be reviewed to determine $347,380. In this project a conduit management practices for wetlands. the effects of these flows on the was installed from East River Road The City also has adopted a"critical Springbrook Nature Center ponds through the back of five properties, area plan"that establishes appropriate and wetlands. It will also be used to in conjunction with a conveyance elevations for the Mississippi River identify needed water quality ditch constructed across the back of flood plain. Additionally,the City is improvements. This is a joint project four properties,to the Mississippi developing a shoreland ordinance that of the Cities of Fridley,Coon Rapids, River. This work was done in prescribes building setbacks for the Blaine and Spring Lake Park. This conjunction with the Locke Lake Locke Lake and Moore Lake areas of study will continue into 1999 with excavation project providing the Fridley. the adaption of best management necessary fill for erosion that had In addition to completing planned practices by the four cities to occurred in the Stonybrook Creek capital improvement projects,the City preserve the environment of the channel. This project was funded has also completed seven unplanned Nature Center. City of Fridley 9 Community Involvement Help plan Fridley's future Fridley's 50th City of Fridley hosts Vision define what Fridley is today and Anniversary task what it should be in the future. A force gets organized meetings on May 28 and land planning professional will June 25 facilitate the meeting, using a A task force of volunteer repre- variety of group discussion tech- sentatives from a wide variety of What should Fridley be like in niques to ensure fullest participation community organizations and the the year 2010? and uncover as many ideas as school districts has been meeting What are our city's strengths? possible. to develop a plan of action for the Weaknesses? Opportunities? How At our second meeting on Thurs- celebration of Fridley's 50th anni- should we be growing?What day, June 25, 1998 we will build on versary in June of 1999. Approxi- kinds of city services will we need ideas from the first meeting and mately twenty individuals includ- in the future? What is the best further explore the concepts, weigh ing students,representatives from way to build on what we've priorities and identify benchmarks organizations, City Council mem- accomplished? for succcess. bers,and City staff have been We're sure you have ideas, Both meetings will begin at 7 pm meeting since December, 1997. concerns, and plans. We invite in the Gymnasium at the Fridley The task force began its work you to share them with others who Community Center, 6085 7th Street with the help of former Fridley also care about our community's NE. School Superintendent,Dennis future. Anyone who lives, works, The outcome of our meetings will Rens. With Dr.Rens'help,the task or owns a business in Fridley is be compiled and published in an in- force determined that the purpose invited to attend two upcoming sert in the "Fridley Focus."Further of the celebration was that of "vision"meetings hosted by the public response will be available at "coming together to celebrate our Mayor and City Council that will that time. community's sense of pride, spirit, lay the groundwork for updating For questions or more informa- vision, values and fifty years of Fridley's Comprehensive Plan. tion, please call Barbara Dacy, Com- accomplishment." The first meeting is Thursday, munity Development Director, at Having developed a mission and May 28, 1998; its purpose is to 572-3590. a plan of action,the task force next turned its attention to organization. They elected Scott Lund as Chair- person and Tom Myhra as Vice- Fridley Charter Commission Chairperson. seeks applicants They also divided into sub- committees that focus on special Applications are being ac- members serve four-year terms. events,products, and contests that cepted for membership on the The only legal requirement for will be planned for the 50th anni- Fridley Home Rule Charter membership is that candidates are versary celebration.Additionally, Commission. qualified to vote in Fridley. the task force has determined that it The Charter of the City of If you are interested in serving will meet on the second Thursday Fridley is the document that on the commission, please submit of each month in 1998 at 5:30 p.m. enabled Fridley to become a self- a letter of application and resume in the lower level of the Fridley governing city under the munici- to William Holm, Fridley Charter Municipal Center. pal home rule provisions of the Commission chair, 6431 Univer- Chairperson Scott Lund and all of constitution and statutes of sity Ave., Fridley the members of the task force Minnesota. The 15-member For further information, welcome your participation and commission meets eight times contact Bill Champa, city staff ideas. If you would like to help or per year to review the City liaison to the Charter Commission, become a member of the task force, Charter and recommend amend- at 572-3523. please contact the City Manager's ments. Upon appointment, office at 572-3500. 10 City of Fridley Community Involvement City completes citizen survey do not want the City to adopt a new street lighting policy that reduces the A quick look at how you distance between street lights.You were also less than enthusiastic about View your city building additional gymnasium space at the Fridley Community Center. by Bill Burns, City Manager While a sizable number of citizens would like to see the City establish a The City has been conducting As was the case in 1995,the majority monthly brush pickup program citizen surveys in odd numbered of you are opposed to the consolida- during the summer months,only a years since 1993.The 1997 survey tion of Fridley's public services with plurality of you would be willing to results are back and are being used those of neighboring cities. While a pay additional tax dollars to support as we plan for 1999. sizable percentage of the respondents this new service. The survey questions attempt to want to increase the legal size of Finally,most of you feel that measure citizen satisfaction levels refuse containers and change the Fridley does not have an image with City facilities and City services. City's ordinance to allow the curbside problem.Among those who do feel They are also used to measure placement of refuse containers,many that way,there was no strong opinions on certain issues that have of you say that you do not really care consensus as to what could or should been raised about the future direc- one way or the other about this issue. be done about it.There was,how- tion of City policy and the future ever, some support for the position use of City resources.Since the sur- that Fridley needed to do something vey is very long,I will only briefly -We found that Fridley to beautify and maintain the three discuss a few of the highlights. residents felt good about north-south transportation corridors In general,citizens continue to their neighborhoods.... that run through our City report high levels of satisfaction Most of you seem to be Those are the highlights of the with most City services.We did comfortable living here." citizen survey. If you would like to find,however,that more of the learn more about the survey results, 1997 respondents tended to say that please call the City Manager's office they did not know enough about In contrast,almost all of the respon- at 572-3500. our services to evaluate them than dents like the City's change from-bi- Also,many thanks to the 500 was the case in 1995.Additionally, weekly curbside recycling to weekly randomly chosen Fridley residents we found that Fridley residents felt curbside recycling. who took the time to answer our good about their neighborhoods. In contrast to your support for survey questions. We trulyy appre- This is true whether we were changes,a significant majority of you ciate your effort! talking about perceptions of neighborhood crime,housing conditions or the availability of Neighborhood Crime parks.Most of you seem to be 1997 City of Fridley Residential Study comfortable living here. 70 Our survey also indicates that so 62 5s citizens are generally satisfied with 50 4 the responses that they get to calls 40 � a$ they make to City hall.We did so notice,however,that fewer of you t9 in 1997 than in 1995 felt that you 20 t t 12 could have a say in the way City i0 ' 4 8 2 officials are running things. This is ° Increased Decreased About the Same Unsure obviously disappointing to us and 1 101997 01995 1993 something that we will address through further surveys. In answer to the question—"Do you feel crime in your neighborhood has increased?"— a The answers to various issue dramatic number of residents,as shown by the bars on the left,do not think it has. This is questions were also very interesting. another indicator of thegrowing quality of life the majority of Fridley citizens enjoy, City of Fridley 11 Dog Licenses Due Period from May 1 , 1998 to April 30, 1999 Fridley City Code Chapter 101 mandates that all dogs over the age of six months must be ilicensed and vaccinated against rabies. ; ' Furthermore, the tags must be affixed to the dog. Dogs and cats must be leashed unless �¢ ' ' they are confined in their yard. Please print information on this form and return it to the City with proof of current rabies vaccination. Your license, certificate and tag will be sent to you upon approval. Mail to: City of Fridley 6431 University Avenue ❑$5.00 for each non-neutered or non-spayed dog Fridley, MN 55432 ❑$2.50 for neutered or spayed dogs(proof required) Pet's Name: Color: Sex: Breed: ' Vaccination Date: Age: Approximate Weight: ' Applicant: Telephone Number: ; Address: Zip: ' For Office Use ' ' (Signature of Applicant) ' The City,of Fridley ECR a 6431 University Avenue N.E. B""`RATE { � � U.S.POSTAGE Fridley, MN 55432 PAID Minneapolis, MN �+ x Permit No. 2886 f 'L7T N itMI3 � A" 30 0n . n # lam. YM **ECRWSS** Postal Customer r 2 _T 3