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City of Woodbury
8301 Valley Creek Road Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 714-3500 |
Wireless Internet access now available in some city buildings
Apply for landscaping grants by March 19
Council Perspective: New initiative targets health care businesses
City striving to reduce impacts of foreclosures
Burglaries occur in winter too; take steps to protect yourself
Cursing the winter wind? Plant a tree
Measuring up: Emergency Medical Services delivered promptly
Dog licenses available at City Hall
Please scoop the poop!
Wireless Internet access now available in some city buildings
Parents eagerly waiting for their kids to finish activities at Bielenberg Sports Center now have technology available to help them pass the time.
A wireless Internet connection is now accessible at the city's ice arenas and field house, as well as Lookout Ridge indoor playground in the lower level of Central Park. In addition, community groups who reserve rooms at City Hall and Public Works for evening meetings now have access to the Web.
"Wireless Internet is a convenient service for our residents and other patrons who use our facilities," said Rob James, Information Technology director. "People want to have access to the Internet wherever they are and this advancement certainly helps them."
Web surfers simply can walk in, flip open their laptop or pull out their mobile device, and use wireless Internet in the following facilities:
- Bielenberg Sports Center (indoor facilities only)
- Main level of Central Park (provided by the R.H. Stafford Library through Washington County)
- La Lake Retreat Center (reserve facility through the Parks and Recreation Department)
Password required in some areas
However, wireless Internet users will need to establish a password with staff prior to using the service at the following locations:
- The meeting rooms at City Hall and Public Works
- Lookout Ridge indoor playground and the large Valley Creek meeting room in the lower level of Central Park
A password in these locations is necessary to provide added security for the city's network.
To reserve a meeting room and arrange for wireless service, call the affected facility directly: Public Works at (651) 714-3720, City Hall at (651) 714-3500, or Central Park at (651) 714-3586 (for access in the Valley Creek Room). You must establish or obtain a password for wireless service with a staff member at the time you reserve your meeting. To connect at Lookout Ridge, inquire with the playground staff.
"Plans for wireless access points at City Hall were made in conjunction with the building's expansion in 2007, making it the most cost effective and secure approach to adding wireless service to the building," James added. "Once the wireless network was established at City Hall, expanding the service elsewhere required minimal resources."
For more information, call City Hall at (651) 714-3500.
Apply for landscaping grants by March 19
Woodbury residents and organizations are eligible for grants through the Alternative Landscaping Grant Program to help pay for the costs of landscaping projects that will help improve water quality in city lakes and wetlands. Examples of projects include:
- Replacement of turf grass or invasive species with native plants
- Reduction of impervious surfaces (concrete, rock, asphalt) and replacing with native plants or other pervious surface (porous asphalt, permeable pavers)
- Creation of buffer areas around ponds and wetlands using native vegetation
- Creation of rain gardens
Grants up to $500 will be available to reimburse home owners for the cost of native plants and supplies. Property owners, community associations, businesses, schools, non-profits, and other community organizations are also eligible to apply. In 2010, up to eight projects may be funded through the grants.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 19. They are available on the city's Web site in the "Environment" section under the "Water Quality" link or by contacting Sharon Doucette, environmental resources coordinator, at (651) 714-3538. Applications also can be picked up at the Community Development Department at City Hall.
Review of applications will be completed by members of the Environmental Advisory Commission and city staff. Announcement of grant approvals will occur approximately two weeks after the application deadline. Grant recipients will be required to attend a two-hour workshop on April 27 given by a landscape specialist with expertise in rain gardens and native vegetation.
Council Perspective: New initiative targets health care businesses
By Mayor Bill Hargis
Woodbury has launched a new economic development initiative with a goal of promoting the city as the next great destination for a health care business. Called the "Woodbury HealthCore," the campaign seeks to expand on the high quality services currently available in the community by attracting specialty medical services and related uses. These businesses would not only create more jobs in our city, but also provide more choices for residents seeking health care.
The city began marketing the Woodbury HealthCore at an event in October featuring former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger. He has been working on health care reform for many years and spoke about the challenges involved in changing the system. The event, which was well attended, was geared toward developers, companies that build or manage commercial properties, business people who represent physicians, and other key contacts. In addition, all current health care providers and medical businesses in Woodbury were invited.
The HealthCore initiative is the end product of several years of work, starting with review of the city's commercial comprehensive plan in 2005-2006. After Woodwinds Hospital was constructed, there remained two large vacant parcels of land in the area. City staff and citizens assisting with the commercial review saw an opportunity for additional medical development and wanted to preserve the land for uses that would create good-paying jobs.
A market study conducted by The McComb Group found that the Woodbury market is underserved by medical providers and health-related businesses compared to other communities similar in size. As a result of the commercial review and the market study, a medical campus zoning district in the area surrounding the hospital was established by the City Council in 2008.
With the Woodbury HealthCore initiative, the city is actively marketing the medical campus district, as well as additional options for move-in-ready office, lab and commercial space throughout the city. Woodbury has land available for new construction as well as opportunities for redevelopment in buildings that are vacant or not fully utilized. More details about Woodbury HealthCore can be found at www.woodburyhealthcore.com.
A new strategic plan
As we embark on this new campaign geared toward growing medical businesses, we also have begun the process of updating the city's economic development strategic plan. The current plan was adopted in December 2006, and most of its goals have now been implemented.
Perhaps more importantly, the dramatic changes in the economic climate -- both nationally and locally -- make it essential to conduct another update and tackle the critical concerns the current economy is producing. Among these are: vacancies in commercial buildings and retail centers; business retention; and the need for job growth that will put people back to work and reduce the unemployment rate.
The process began in January with a review, analysis and assessment of the current plan by the Economic Development Commission, consisting of citizens with expertise in business and financial issues, who will work with city staff and our consultant to craft a new plan.
The next step is to evaluate the general conditions of the economy that will impact the city for the next three to five years. Critical components to consider are transportation, redevelopment and reinvestment opportunities, job creation, business retention, and sustainability. The goal at this stage is to identify the major variables that will guide and influence the strategic plan.
An important question to be answered through the planning process is what the city's role should be in facilitating development. Woodbury has never offered incentives for retail development. Instead, our focus for many years has centered on recruiting businesses that provide good-paying jobs and add to the city's commercial tax base. The new HealthCore initiative, with its emphasis on the medical industry, dovetails with that goal, which may be reaffirmed or modified in the new plan.
If our planning process goes as anticipated, a new economic development plan will be completed in July. It will incorporate a number of strategies - probably four to six - with accompanying objectives, and these will guide the city's economic development for the next three to five years. The city is not sitting back and hoping for an economic turnaround. We are taking steps to sustain the tax base and, hopefully, to support new growth in the future.
City striving to reduce impacts of foreclosures
When it comes to foreclosures, much of the news continues to be grim. In 2009, foreclosures in Woodbury totaled 421 -- a record number for the city, and significantly higher than the 225 in 2007 and 335 in 2008. The foreclosures are affecting all neighborhoods and types of housing stock in the city.
To address the foreclosure crisis, the city and its Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) are taking steps to lessen the impact and deal proactively with vacant properties.
"Early in 2008, when it was evident that Woodbury would be unable to duck the foreclosure crisis, city staff from several departments formed a task force and created a multi-pronged approach to deal with foreclosed properties," said Karl Batalden, housing specialist.
The effort involves police officers, code enforcement staff, planners, engineers, finance staff and others as needed. Every week the city receives data from Washington County regarding where the latest sheriff's sales have occurred. Community Development staff then analyzes and tracks this data while simultaneously inspecting affected properties for potential hazards.
Whenever a property is identified as vacant, Utilities Division employees turn off the water at the curb stop to prevent burst pipes that can damage not only the house but also the public infrastructure. The city also attempts to notify the banks that normally come into control of the foreclosed properties to ensure that adequate winterization and property maintenance occurs at the property, even while it is still vacant.
Foreclosure loan program
To help reduce the number of vacant properties, the Woodbury HRA created the Woodbury Foreclosure Purchase Program in January 2009. The program offers 3 percent deferred loans of up to $25,000 to income-qualified borrowers who purchase foreclosed homes.
"The 3 percent interest rate ensures that the city can afford the cost of issuing the loans," Batalden said, "and our conservative underwriting processes ensure that we are taking good risks with regard to borrowers' credit, their debt-to-income ratios, how much money they are putting in as a down payment, and so forth."
As of Jan. 27, 2010, the HRA has issued 16 of these loans working with a variety of families, realtors and banks. For more information about the loan program, visit the city's Web site at www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/planning/holoanprogs.html.
The city wants to be as proactive as possible when it comes to foreclosed properties. If you have questions or concerns about a property, contact Karl Batalden, at kbatalden@ci.woodbury.mn.us or (651) 414-3438.
Burglaries occur in winter too; take steps to protect yourself
The Woodbury Public Safety Department is seeing an increase in residential burglaries this season compared with past years. Many of the burglaries are occurring when the owners are out of town or when an overhead garage door is left open.
"People store valuable items, such as wallets, purses, electronics, cell phones, and house or car keys, inside vehicles within their garage," said Sgt. Sue McMahon. "Burglars who enter the garage may not only take items from unlocked cars but also may enter the home through an unsecured access door."
Some of these break-ins occur during the overnight hours when homeowners and their families are sleeping. Other burglaries occur when criminals force entry into a home. The Woodbury Public Safety Department offers the following tips for preventing winter home burglaries:
- Lock all doors and windows, including the door between the garage and home.
- Use quality heavy duty deadbolt locks with at least a 1-inch throw bolt.
- Use a heavy duty strike plate with 3-inch screws.
- Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and televisions. Making your residence appear occupied will help to deter criminals.
- Have someone collect mail and newspapers if you are not home in lieu of stopping the newspaper or mail.
- Arrange to have someone plow or shovel your sidewalk and driveway.
- Keep your valuables in an unlikely place.
- Keep the perimeter of your home well-lit. Installing low voltage or motion sensor outdoor lighting can help discourage burglars.
- Assure that your garage door is closed before going to bed each night. Keep the garage door closed when you are not home.
- Sign up for a vacation check with the Police Department. This can be arranged online through the Citizen Service Request System or in person at the Public Safety Department, 2100 Radio Drive.
- Get to know your neighbors. Having a trusted neighbor that you can count on to watch your home can be significant for burglary protection.
- Call about suspicious activity. Dial 911 (emergency) or (651) 439-9381 (non-emergency).
Cursing the winter wind? Plant a tree
There's a reason why so many farm fields are lined with trees, and it has everything to do with the wind. During the 1930s, the United States endured both an economic depression and a severe drought. The plains states, where people had replaced deep-rooted prairies with shallow rooted farm crops, suffered the most. Lacking water and without the deep roots to hold the soil in place, farm fields literally dried up and blew away in the wind.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) were formed in the 1930s to prevent this kind of catastrophe from happening again. They planted trees in wind breaks along farm fields to reduce the drying action of the wind and limit erosion. They also began selling low-cost trees for people to plant around their homes to provide protection from the wind and sun as well as to create wildlife and bird habitat.
This spring, the Washington Conservation District will be offering tree seedlings in bundles of 25 for $32.50. These trees are available for people living inside and outside the county, but they must be pre-ordered before the pick-up days on April 30 and May 1.
Now is the perfect time to look out your window and assess your current tree needs. Do you have old or diseased trees that will die within the next five years? Is the shelterbelt along your field beginning to look a bit patchy? Perhaps, you are interested in planting a smaller tree like serviceberry or highbush cranberry to attract birds to your yard.
Whether you're hoping to save money on energy costs or to beautify a barren backyard, trees are a low-cost option that will offer benefits for years to come. For more information, visit www.mnwcd.org and click on “trees,” call (651) 275-1136, or send an e-mail to Ahong@mnwcd.org to request an order form.
Measuring up: Emergency Medical Services delivered promptly
Beginning this month, the City Update will periodically contain reports about a specific city service and how well the city is performing in that area. This report focuses on how Woodbury is "measuring up" with Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
EMS can best be defined as the prompt response to any medical emergency at any time of day or night. In Woodbury, EMS is provided through a collaborative effort between full-time paramedics, firefighter/emergency medical technicians, police-paramedics, and support staff. This service is not funded through the traditional property tax levy, but rather is supported by service fees.
The city currently has four ambulances and responds to more than 2,000 calls a year. Woodbury's average response time to an EMS emergency, from the time the call is made to arrival, is 3.6 minutes, compared to a national standard of eight minutes or less (set by the National Fire Protection Association).
Due to this quick response time, as well as advanced training and equipment, the city has one of the best cardiac arrest save rates in the nation. According to the American Heart Association, it is estimated that about five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive to reach the hospital; Woodbury's save rate is nearly 50 percent.
For more information about this and other city services, view the annual Performance Measurement Report on the Woodbury Web site.
Dog licenses available at City Hall
Did you know that city ordinance requires that a license be purchased for each dog over the age of 6 months residing in the City of Woodbury? In addition, dog licenses must be renewed every two years.
Licenses can be obtained at Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road; the Public Safety Department is no longer issuing dog licenses.
There is a charge of $10 for neutered or spayed dogs; there is an $18 charge for non-neutered or non-spayed dogs. Payment options are cash or check only; credit cards are not accepted.
Proof of rabies vaccination must be provided when purchasing the license.
For more information and to print an application form, visit www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/govt/lidog.html. Call (651) 714-3500 if you have questions about licensing.
Please scoop the poop!
Woodbury's parks and trails are used year-round. So even during frigid weather, people are expected to pick up after their pets. City ordinances require pet owners to carry supplies for excrement removal when walking a pet off their property, and to clean up all messes on public property or on the private property of others. The city has received several complaints about pet feces left on public trails this winter.