July 2003

Budget workshop scheduled Aug. 11
Celebrate National Night Out Aug. 5
Council Perspective: Council agrees on liquor ordinance changes
Skate park open
Annual photo contest puts 'Focus on Woodbury'
Pavers leave personal marks at Central Park

Budget workshop scheduled Aug. 11

The City Council will begin work on the 2004 city budget at a workshop meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, at City Hall. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 4 p.m. and continue into the evening until all department budgets have been reviewed.

At the workshop, the Council will discuss city programs and funding levels for 2004, as well as a variety of issues that impact the 2004 property tax levy. Information on the budget will be available through the Finance Department at City Hall several days prior to the workshop.

"The workshop is when citizens should get involved if they want to have meaningful input in the budget process," said City Administrator Barry Johnson.

According to Johnson, guidelines given to city staff regarding next year's budget include no new staff positions for 2004 and no increase in operating expenses. Woodbury is losing about $1 million in state aid and is allowed to levy back 60 percent of that funding. If approved by the City Council, this will produce a property tax increase for the average homeowner.

The city's budget process follows a timetable established by state law. The City Council must set the maximum tax levy by mid-September. This is the amount published in the truth-in-taxation notices mailed out by Washington County, usually in mid-November. The August workshop permits thorough review of city expenses and revenues in advance of that deadline.

State law also requires the city to hold a public hearing on the budget in late November or early December. Citizens who attend that hearing are often frustrated to learn that the Council's detailed discussion about the budget occurred several months before, Johnson said. He urges interested persons to attend the August workshop.

For more information, contact the Finance Department at (651) 714-3503 or send an e-mail to finance@ci.woodbury.mn.us.

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Celebrate National Night Out Aug. 5

To celebrate and promote community, the City of Woodbury and the Woodbury Public Safety Board are hosting a community-wide National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Ojibway Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

All residents are invited to join together with the Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation Departments to celebrate the community while observing the National Night Out Against Crime. Activities will include a performance by Woodbury's Puppet Wagon, which is marking its 20th year of entertaining at city parks, followed by a musical performance featuring Will Hale.

The always popular "Touch a Truck" puts city vehicles on display so people can get up close and see what's in them and how they work. Concessions such as hot dogs, chips and ice cream will be sold. Special guest appearances by Woodbury K9 "Shadow," the Washington County Mounted Patrol, and the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter are planned.

This is the third year the city has sponsored a community-wide National Night Out event at Ojibway Park instead of just encouraging neighborhood block parties that night. While inviting all residents to celebrate at the city event Aug. 5, public safety officials still encourage each neighborhood to plan a block party sometime during the summer.

"The Department of Public Safety recognizes that a neighborhood where the residents have strong ties provides a high degree of safety and well-being to those residents and their property," said Police Officer Mary Meyer.

For help in planning your block party, pick up a neighborhood block party packet from the Parks and Recreation or the Public Safety Department. The packet provides terrific ideas and suggestions on making your block party a success! Included in the packet are game ideas for all ages, Woodbury trivia, and a form to request a visit from the Police and/or Fire Departments during your gathering.

The Police and Fire Departments are happy to accommodate visit requests with the exception of the National Night Out. On that evening, you can meet police and fire staff members at Ojibway Park.

Why a National Night Out?
The National Night Out Against Crime is observed annually as a way to give crime and drugs a going away party.

The goals of National Night Out are to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are united and fighting back

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Council Perspective: Council agrees on liquor ordinance changes

At our workshop meeting in June, the City Council considered three liquor ordinance issues. The first involved the closing time for local restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages. The other two issues revolved around food -- whether to establish a food sales requirement at licensed establishments and whether to specify that food must be available until a certain time of day.

The matter of closing times was on the agenda due to a change in state law approved during the 2003 legislative session. The change allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages in licensed restaurants and bars until 2 a.m. - an hour later than the previous 1 a.m. deadline. The decision on whether to permit the later closing time was left up to individual cities, however.

Woodbury's current ordinance allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages until midnight on Sunday night and until 1 a.m. all other days of the week. Several establishments currently operate on that schedule; many close earlier, usually between 10 and 11 p.m.

In preparation for the workshop discussion, local establishments were surveyed about their interest in staying open later, and all were notified that the issue would be on the June 17 agenda. Most of our local restaurants said they are not interested in staying open until 2 a.m., but a few said they would like the option of the later time - especially on weekends. There was also a concern among license holders that they could lose business to restaurants and bars in neighboring cities if those establishments are open later.

Public safety concerns
During a fairly lengthy discussion, the Council weighed the potential effects that an extra hour of drinking might have on public safety. We are aware of concerns that there might be more arrests for driving while intoxicated, more accidents and injuries caused by impaired drivers. We take these concerns very seriously.

However, there is no evidence that keeping the 1 a.m. closing time will make streets safer in Woodbury -- particularly if neighboring metro cities allow the 2 a.m. closing. Woodbury residents and others who desire an extended drinking time will be able to find it in Cottage Grove, Oakdale, or elsewhere, and they will use local roads when returning to or passing through Woodbury.

While the earlier closing time can't guarantee public safety, it could put our local restaurants at a competitive disadvantage with establishments in other communities. Since weekends seemed to be the most critical for business, the City Council decided to allow the 2 a.m. closing time on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and also on New Year's Eve.

Focus on food sales
Far easier than the closing time issue, was the matter of food. It has been the city's practice to grant liquor licenses only to establishments that sell food, and not to allow "saloons" in Woodbury. But a food sales requirement is not contained in our current ordinance. As a result, a business whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol could apply for a license, even if it didn't offer food.

The Council decided to formalize past practice by adding language requiring that at least 50 percent of sales must be from food. All of our currently licensed establishments exceed that minimum, reporting food sales that range from 63 to 99 percent of total sales. Adding the 50 percent requirement to the ordinance will not adversely affect current businesses and will ensure that the city continues its emphasis on granting licenses to restaurants.

Finally, we discussed requiring alcohol-serving restaurants to have food available up until a specified time to prevent a scenario where only alcoholic beverages are being sold into the evening. This again is a preventative measure. Among our local establishments, six have food available at all times, three stop serving food one hour before they discontinue alcohol sales, and five quit serving food two hours prior to ending alcohol service. The Council agreed on the two-hour standard.

The changes we discussed will be drafted into ordinance amendments and placed on a Council meeting agenda for adoption. We will have the Public Safety Department monitor the results, particularly of the later closing time, and we will make further adjustments if they become necessary.

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Skate park open

Woodbury's new skate park opened to the public on June 7. The park, located in the outdoor hockey rink at Ojibway Park, is open to skateboarders, in-line skaters, and BMX/freestyle bicyclists. Hours of operation are the same as the park hours, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. While the ramps and equipment shown here were borrowed, the city expected new equipment to arrive and be installed in July. The skate park is the first no-fee park in the Twin Cities metro area to feature four-foot high ramps, quarter pipes and half pipes.

Mac Blumel, 11, tests Woodbury's new skate park, which opened to the public on June 7.

Clay Conrad, 15, executes a backside board slide on the s-rail.

Sean Scanlon, 10, catches air using one of the skate park's ramps.

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Annual photo contest puts 'Focus on Woodbury'

What makes Woodbury a special place? For the fifth year, the city invites you to showcase Woodbury scenes and Woodbury residents with your personal photographs.

Select your best three images and you're ready to enter the annual "Focus on Woodbury" photo contest.

While this year's contest will be similar to previous competitions, the timetable for entering and displaying the winners has changed.

"This year the contest will take place in conjunction with Minnesota Cities Week," said communications coordinator Julie Lehr. "Since the photos capture moments that demonstrate why Woodbury is a unique place to live, work and play, the contest seemed an ideal way to celebrate community life."

The deadline for submitting entries is 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. Winners will be announced and displayed at Central Park during Cities Week, October 5 through 11.

Contest categories
As in past contests, there are three categories for standard photography: nature; people and personalities; and event/feature. In addition, there is a separate category for digital or digitally-enhanced images.

The nature category could include plants, animals, parks or natural settings in Woodbury. People and personalities could depict expressions, moods and an "up close and personal" look at Woodbury people. Public events and places in Woodbury such as cityscapes, sports, community events, or buildings are some of the possibilities for the event/feature category. All digital and digitally-enhanced photos should be placed in the category for digital images. With a little luck and a good imagination, your images may be a winner.

Contest prizes
Prizes to be awarded in each category are $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third. First place entries will be published in the city newsletter. Judges will also award a number of honorable mentions in each category.

The contest is open to Woodbury residents and employees of Woodbury businesses. There is a limit of three entries per person. An entry form (below) must be attached to each photo submitted. Additional forms are available on the city's Web site at www.ci.woodbury.mn.us and at Woodbury City Hall.

Completed entries can be dropped off at City Hall or mailed to: Photo Contest, City of Woodbury, 8301 Valley Creek Road, Woodbury, MN 55125.

Mailed entries must be postmarked by Sept. 5. Contestants must follow all rules or their entry will be disqualified.

Questions? Need an entry blank? Contact Michele Jurjans, administration intern, at (651) 714-3522.

Photo Contest Rules

• You must be a Woodbury resident or an employee of a Woodbury business to enter.
• Photographs may be black & white or color prints, digital images or digitally enhanced photos. They must be enlarged to 5 by 7 inches. Digital images must be submitted as prints. Slides are not eligible.
• All photographs must be mounted on matte board or foam board no larger than one-quarter inch thick (not poster board) and without frames. Window matting is optional; however, the finished size may be no larger than 8 by 10 inches.
• Maximum of 3 entries per person.
• You may enter only photographs that you personally have taken.
• No personal identification is allowed on the front of the photograph.
• A completed entry form must be attached to the back of each entry.
• Do not submit photographs previously entered in the "Focus on Woodbury" photo contest.
• Contest is open to everyone, regardless of age, except professional photographers (one who makes over half his/her income from photography).
• City employees, City Council members and their families may enter, but are not eligible to win.
• All photo entries become the property of the City of Woodbury and will not be returned.
• Entry deadline is Sept. 5, 2003, at 4:30 p.m. No exceptions.

Contestants must follow all rules or their entry will be disqualified.

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Pavers leave personal marks at Central Park

They bear personal messages engraved in concrete bricks for all to read. Most of the "pavers" on the sidewalks of Central Park have a story to tell.

Woodbury resident Theresa Janechek poses next to her paver at Central Park. The pavers are embedded in the sidewalks in and around the patio area on the south side of the park.

In May 2002, local residents were given the opportunity to add their name to Woodbury's history by purchasing a specially-engraved brick. The pavers -- 116 of them to be precise -- were installed in November. They are imbedded in the sidewalks near and around the patio area on the south side of Central Park.

Many who purchased a paver wanted to honor an important person in their life or share a message with the community.

Theresa Janechek and her husband Jeff Janechek, residents of Woodbury since 1993, purchased a paver as a way to "leave their legacy." The Janecheks' message on the paver is simple: "Since 1993. Jeff and Theresa Janechek."

"When we first moved to Woodbury, we had -- and still have -- no intentions of ever leaving," Theresa explained. "We have really enjoyed living in Woodbury. We bought our first house here and we wanted to feel like we're a permanent part of the community."

Sharing her enthusiasm
Sharon Glasrud, who moved to Woodbury five years ago, also purchased a paver. Her message reads: "Great living in Woodbury!"

"I just love living in Woodbury," Glasrud said. "Everything that I need is here. I don't have to leave town. Everyone is so friendly here. It's just wonderful."

Glasrud wasted no time in finding her paver at Central Park.

"It looks really nice. I like the way they placed the other bricks around the paver," she said. "The entire Central Park facility is gorgeous. I take my family and friends there all the time when they visit."

Tom Kreimer of Lake Elmo also engraved a message. His paver reads: "In loving memory of Albert T. Kreimer," Tom's father, who passed away in 1979 when Tom was just 11 years old.

"I want to try to remember him whenever I can," Kreimer said. "I thought a park was a good place for a memorial because I intend to spend a lot of time there with my kids (Matthew, age 3, and Andrew, 1)."

The pavers cost $75 each, covering the city's expense for creating and installing the eight-inch concrete bricks. Engraved messages were limited to 13 characters per line, with a maximum of four lines per paver. The pavers have sold out and are no longer available.

The public is encouraged to check out the permanent fixtures at Central Park, 8595 Central Park Place. If you need assistance in finding a specific paver, stop by the Central Park information desk on the main level of the facility, near the west entrance.

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