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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01 -- Winter-SpringEffective with the new 2016 year, the City Council has made it easier for residents to connect with them through City of Corcoran email addresses. Please see the updated email address for each member of the Corcoran’s City Council below. City Council Ken Guenthner, Mayor kguenthner@ci.corcoran.mn.us Pat Hank, Councilor phank@ci.corcoran.mn.us Mike Keefe Councilor mkeefe@ci.corcoran.mn.us Tonya LaFave, Councilor tlafave@ci.corcoran.mn.us Ron Thomas, Councilor rthomas@ci.corcoran.mn.us New Email Addresses For City Council Winter/Spring 2016 The Power of a New Year www.ci.corcoran.mn.us What Does 2016 Hold for City of Corcoran Residents? The New Year is upon us and if you’re like me, you look back and wonder where the year has went. With various commitments from family and work, along with the daily grind of life’s moments such as getting the kids out the door or making dinner, it’s easy for time to get away from us. Fortunately, the ending of one year and the beginning of the next, offer a wonderful opportunity to take a deep breath, reflect on the year past, and look to the year ahead. Reflecting on 2015 reminds me of what a big year it was in Corcoran. Recalling just a few of the highlights, we welcomed two new councilmembers, established a new neighborhood bringing new residents and tax base into the community, coordinated significant staffing changes at City Hall, celebrated the grand opening of the Hope Center in Maple Hill Estates, held the first ever community Night to Unite event, and coordinated various planning project reviews including Corcoran Pet Care, which made a big investment to their building that looks magnificent. Looking ahead to 2016, more positive opportunities await the City of Corcoran. The City will continue to welcome new residents into our city, work towards extending water and sanitary sewer services to the downtown business community, review an application for a K-8 charter school to be constructed, review a proposed major expansion of Park Place Storage, hold a more significant Night to Unite program, increase City communication by adding a fourth newsletter, discuss the purchase of a significant portion of land for athletic purposes, update our plans for the future downtown district, and coordinate the upcoming 2016 election. On behalf of the City Council and staff, I want to thank you for being part of the Corcoran community and for the investment you have made here. We wish you a great 2016 and look forward to serving the community. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the City Council or staff. I can be reached by email at bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us or by phone at 763-400-7030. Sincerely, Brad Martens City Administrator Corcoran News Winter/Spring 2016 The next community workshop is tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 14th at City Hall. For more information visit the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us or contact City Administrator Brad Martens at bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us or 763-400-7030. Downtown Design Guideline Update 8-9 City Council Strategic Goals 2016 In 2015, the City Council directed staff to focus on seven strategic goals for the City. Here is an update on how each strategic goal is progressing into 2016: Complete Downtown Utility and Street Improvement Project An assessment hearing was held on October 22nd, and plans and specifications were reviewed on December 21st. Staff is adjusting final details to coordinate bidding the project in early 2016. Bid approval is anticipated in February. Pave Gravel Collector Roads In November, Council selected Willow Drive and Larkin Road as a preferred project. Discussion regarding assessing benefitting properties is taking place. Regional Recreation Amenity Plan (Athletic Complex on Roehlke property) Staff is meeting with possible project partners. Further discussion at the City Council meetings will take place in early 2016. Establish a Business Group As part of the survey of downtown business owners, staff asked about the desire of having a Corcoran business group. Limited support existed and no further action is being taken at this time. Establish Night to Unite Program Night to Unite was held on Tuesday, August 4, at four locations around the community. The event was a complete success and will be continued in 2016. Updates on the 2016 Night to Unite will be available on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. Update Sign Ordinance The City Council adopted the updated ordinance at the July 23 City Council meeting. Improve the City Council Chamber Staff is developing a plan in order to make improvements in 2016. Improve- ments being discussed include technology to record and broadcast meetings as well as safety improvements. Page 6-7 Public Safety/Works Page 10 Parks & Recreation 9 Page Parks & Recreation 4 Page Property Tax Info Page 5 Animal Ordinance Page Environmental 11  Page 2 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Page Corcoran Happenings 12 Fast Fact If you would like to address the City Council at a meeting, please contact City Administrator, Brad Martens, at 763-400-7030. If you have a question or concern for the City Council, please see City Council contact information on the front page or back page of this newsletter. Page Business Spotlight 14 Recycling Information Page 8-9 City Updates The City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursday’s of the month at 7:00 pm at City Hall. The following is a recap of a selection of items discussed at meetings since the last newsletter. A full recap can be found by reviewing the approved City Council minutes on the City’s website . Preliminary Plat and Ordinance Amendment for “Strehler Estates”  Approved an ordinance amendment to allow private driveways in the rural residential portion of the City if the Council finds that a public street connection is not required for the public street network.  Approved a preliminary plat to create four lots from the 80.06 acre lot, one of which is for an existing home. Public Hearing – Certifying Delinquent Fees to Hennepin County  Held the public hearing; approved resolutions certifying delinquent fees for recycling, dust control, and property maintenance. Public Hearing – Downtown Utility and Street Improvement Project Assessments  Council held the public hearing and approved the assessment roll assessing $975,000 on 38 properties for the proposed project. Utility Billing Process – Sewer Billing  Council discussed the existing utility billing process, specifically related to how the sewer portion is being billed. Staff was directed to bring back some considerations for changes in billing structure at a future meeting. Hazardous Property Update – 20112 County Road 10  Council directed staff to enforce the order to raze and remove the building. Ordinance Regulating Peddlers, Solicitors, and Transient Merchants  Council directed staff to work with the City Attorney to create an ordinance to regulate peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants. Hope Center Update – Brian and Jill Dejewski  Provided an update on activities taking place at the Hope Center in the first six months from opening. Presented a check to the City for $127,056.80, the entire amount due to the City for the project. Park Place Storage Sketch Plan  Reviewed a sketch plan for expanding park place storage with five additional buildings totaling 283,070 of new square footage. Council provided feedback that will be incorporated into a future application. Paving Gravel Collector Roads  Selected Willow Drive and Larkin Road as a preferred project; authorized staff to obtain a benefit letter to develop proposed assessments. Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing  Held the public hearing, heard from two residents who spoke about issues with allowing businesses to operate out of homes and the need to have someone getting out and attracting businesses to the community. Hennepin County Youth Baseball and Softball Grant  Heard that the City has been awarded a $12,275 grant to assist in the purchase and installation of a scoreboard at Snyder field. The remaining funds have been donated by the Corcoran Athletic Association. Beacon Academy Sketch Plan  Reviewed a sketch plan for a Beacon Academy to construct a charter school approximately 78,000 square feet in size; Council provided feedback on the plan. Compensation Study  Authorized staff to execute a contract with Springsted Incorporated to complete a compensation study. 2016 General Fund Budget and Property Tax Levy  Discussed the proposed budget and levy; approved as presented. 2016 Council Calendar  Approved as presented; Scheduled monthly work sessions for 5:30 pm prior to the first Council meeting each month. Community Room Event Rental The City Hall Community Room is available to rent for family or business events. The Corcoran Community Room is a great location for family holiday gatherings, graduation parties, birthday parties, weddings, baby or wedding showers, and family reunions. The Community Room is 45 x 45 feet and accommodates seating for up to 140, has a full kitchen, men’s/women’s restrooms and access to the Memorial Garden with a gazebo behind the City Hall. Banquet, classroom and lecture style seating are available for room setup options. Community Room rental fees per day: Monday-Thursday $150.00 Friday $275.00 Saturday or Sunday $350.00 For more information, please contact City Hall at 763-420-2288 or view the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. City Mission Statement The City of Corcoran will provide high quality public services in a cost effective, responsible, and pro- fessional manner in order to create a preferred environment to live, work, play and transact business.  Page 3 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Property Tax Info How can my property tax change? Many factors contribute to your property tax changing from year to year. Property value, your neighbor’s property value, decisions by the City Council, the County Board, your local School Board, and the state legislature can all impact property taxes. The value of your property, the total value of all the property in your community, changes to state programs, and changes in state laws can also affect the tax system and play a role in increasing or decreasing property taxes each year. 2016 City of Corcoran Tax Levy The City Council adopted its preliminary levy for 2016 at the September 10 meeting. This levy amount was used to create the City tax amount you saw on your proposed 2016 levies and taxes notice. The adopted final levy is in the amount of $3,487,368 which is a $169,800 (5.12%) increase from the 2015 levy. The overall 2016 budget is $4,208,081 which is a $157,263 (3.9%) increase from 2015. The increase in the levy is larger than the increase in the overall budget due in part to a reduction in state aid. Why is a property tax levy needed? Only a small portion of the City budget is funded through fees or charges for services. For 2016, the portion funded by fees or charges covers only 17% of the city’s expenditures. The remaining 83% is funded through the levy. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  Page 4 Winter/Spring 2016 When Do I Pay My Property Taxes? Most property owners pay their taxes in two installments — the first half in May and the second half in October. The bi- annual payment occurs even if your property taxes are collected by your mortgage company with your monthly mortgage payment. What Do I Get For My Property Taxes? Local governments get the money they use to deliver services from a few different sources: property taxes, fees, revenue sharing with the state, and grants. Property tax dollars pay for the services everyone in the community benefits from and can access, including residents, visitors, commuters, and tourists. This includes things like streets, street signs, police and fire services, parks, and libraries. Other services such as economic development programs to help businesses grow and develop, snowplowing, road grading and repairs, are all typically paid for with property tax dollars. Who Decides What City Services to Provide? City councils review the services they currently provide and think about what local preferences are and what population trends suggest about the kinds of services people will need. For example, one community might favor running its own pool while another does not see the need. Communities with lots of young families need to offer different kinds of services than communities seeing big increase in the number of senior residents. Sometimes cities have to provide certain services to comply with state or federal laws. Some common examples are requirements for testing drinking water and making public buildings accessible to people with disabilities. When Do I Homestead My Property? Homestead is a classification for your residence. To have your property homesteaded, you must complete the Application for Homestead form. To qualify for the homestead classification, you must:  Be one of the owners of the property or be a qualifying relative of at least one owner of the property  Occupy the property listed as your primary residence  Be a Minnesota resident A Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV) must be filed before homestead can be granted, and a copy of the warranty deed needs to be included with the homestead application. You can go to www.hennepin.us/residents/ property/homestead to download and complete the Homestead Application Form. Drop the application off at the City Hall with the appropriate documentation to complete the homestead property process. Fast Fact: The Homestead Act of 1862 remained in effect for more than 100 years. The final claim, for 80 acres in southeastern Alaska, was approved in 1988. Corcoran Animal Ordinance The Animal Ordinance (Chapter 81 in the Municipal Code) can be viewed in its entirety at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us or at City Hall, Monday—Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm. The City of Corcoran allows property owners throughout the city to keep farm animals, even in less rural areas. The minimum lot size required is a half acre. The City regulates the amount of animals a property can have based on the lot size. The amount of animals are calculated as an Animal Unit Equivalent (AUE) and are allowed .5 AUE’s per acre. For example, a horse is one AUE, so a property would need 2 full acres to be allowed a single horse. (At 3 acres, 2 AUE’s are allowed, then 1 AUE for every whole acre above 3.) It is becoming more and more popular for people to raise chickens, especially on smaller lots. There are some rules for keeping chickens. Below you will find a quick guide to the City’s rules for keeping chickens:  Chickens are calculated as .033 AUE. (Or ~30 chickens allowed per acre. Half acre minimum required to keep any farm animal.)  The chickens must be kept in a pen/corral and fenced to retain animals on the property. (No “free- ranging” off the property.)  A shelter must also be provided for the animals. (This must be no closer than 75 feet from another person’s home.)  Manure, bedding, and compost cannot be piled or allowed to accumulate closer than 75 feet from a property line or 140 feet from another residence and must be removed from the property every 6 months on properties less than 3 acres. (Fourteen days if accumulated within 140 feet of a property line.) Although the City hears minimal complaints about chickens, we do hear a number of complaints regarding roosters. Although roosters are allowed, their early morning crowing is not typically welcomed by neighbors and may violate the City’s noise ordinance. Ravinia Development Updates 2016 Pictured above Winsor Ravinia Classic Collection Based upon house sales in 2015, it is possible that 40 new homes could be permitted and built in 2016 in the Corcoran Ravinia neighborhood. This Lennar Homes Development is located at County Road 101 and Gleason Parkway, in the southeast corner of Corcoran. In planning your construction projects for 2016, please remember that the City has a number of guidelines and checklist handouts available to help you with the permit process. Handouts and permit forms are available at City Hall or on our website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. If you have any questions please stop by City Hall or call Mike Pritchard at 763-400-7033. For Building Code related questions, please call our contracted Building Official, Metro West Inspections at 763-479-1720. Building Permits  Page 3 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  Page 5 Winter/Spring 2016 Fast Fact: A typical egg-laying chicken, lays between 250 and 300 eggs per year, and produces roughly 90 pounds of manure. A flock of just 12 chickens can produce over 1,000 pounds of manure! Composting chicken manure is good for your garden and the Corcoran watershed! Combine the manure with carbon-based matter like fallen leaves or dry grass clippings, kitchen organics and the compost will be ready to be used as fertilizer in 4-6 months if turned occasionally. For more information on chicken manure management, view www.hencam.com/faq/chicken-manure-management/. Public Safety Firearm Safety Class Begins Soon! (Updated 2/3/2016) Corcoran Firearm Safety 2016 classes are scheduled for Sunday, March 20, April 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2016, from 6:00 — 9:00 pm at the Corcoran Community Room. The class will culminate with Field Safety Day on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 8:00 am — 3:00 pm. Registration opens February 1, 2016. Youth ages 11 and older can attend a firearms safety certification course and receive their certificate. The Firearms Safety Certificate becomes valid at age 12. Three basic rules of firearms handling:  Treat each firearm as if it is loaded.  Always control the muzzle of your firearm.  Be sure of your target and what is beyond. Watch the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us for more information. Winter Burning Permit? Burn permits are not required when the ground is snow-covered, which is ground that has a continuous unbroken cover of snow to a depth of 3 inches or more surrounding the immediate area of the fire. If you choose to burn yard debris, don’t forget to apply for a burning permit; it only takes a couple of minutes to apply in person during the business hours of Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 5:00 pm and Fridays 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Police Department. Burn permits are required for any fires larger than 3 feet diameter by 3 feet in height. Anything smaller than a 3 feet by 3 feet fire must be a recreational fire. Items approved to burn are vegetative material, such as grass, leaves, brush and untreated lumber. Items not approved to burn are hazardous wastes, demolition debris, motor vehicles, oils, rubber, plastics, chemically-treated materials, sheet rock, paint and garbage. You can find the complete list on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us or on the MN DNR website at:www.dnr.state.mn.us/ forestry/fire. The Corcoran Police Department shares information on Facebook and Twitter regarding emergency information, weekly press releases, special events and other happenings around the community. View or follow the links below for more information: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Corcoran- Police-Department/459695357400188 Twitter: www.twitter.com/corcoranpolice Corcoran Police Social Media www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 6 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Fast Fact: Corcoran is included in the 27,000 acres of land for the Three Rivers Park District. Guide maps to these parks and trails are available at City Hall. 2015 Safest Places in Minnesota Information from www.valuepenguin.com ValuePenguin.com analyzed the most recent FBI Crime Report to determine the safety of cities in Minnesota. The crime scene score ranged from 0 to almost 4,000 with an average of 864. In the small city category, Corcoran placed fourth overall! The 5 Safest Places in Minnesota in the Small Cities category are included below: 1. Hibbing, MN 2. Cold Spring, MN 3. St. Joseph, MN 4. Corcoran, MN 5. Minnetrista, MN For the complete article and report please visit www.valuepenguin.com/2015/07/2015-safest-places-minnesota. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Public Works Snowplowing in Corcoran A goal of the Corcoran Public Works Department is to clear snow and ice from City roads as soon as possible. Delays may occur in the event of equipment breakdown or extreme weather conditions. The safety of the public and the City employees is a top priority. Currently the City has more than 65 miles of roads that are maintained by the Public Works department. The criteria for the decision to begin snow and/or ice control operation are as follows:  Snow accumulation of two inches or more warrants the plowing of asphalt roads, two to four inches warrants the plowing of both asphalt and gravel roads dependent on road conditions. Call out is normally at 2:00 am when practical.  High volume major collector roads and roads with steep hills and curves receive first priority.  Safety of the plow operators and the public are important. Therefore snowplowing operations may be terminated after 12-14 hours to allow personnel adequate time to rest. High winds creating white out conditions could cause suspension of services until weather improves. The City will assume no responsibility for damage to underground lawn sprinkling systems, exterior lighting systems, and similar landscaping installed in the public right-of-way. To review the City approved policy view the city website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and select Departments - Public Works/Parks Department - Snowplowing. Ninth Annual Truck Safety Seminar — March 10, 2016 Save the Date! Corcoran Police and Public Works will host the 9th Annual Truck Safety Seminar on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the Corcoran Public Works facility, 9100 County Road 19. The seminar is held from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and will cover a multitude of items such as the new commercial vehicle laws for 2016, rules and regulations, vehicle equipment requirements, questions you may have and much more! Coffee, rolls and lunch are provided by donations from sponsors. We greatly appreciate all of our sponsors for the Truck Safety Seminar! The seminar could not happen every year without their generosity! If you would like to be a sponsor of the 2016 seminar, contact Paula at 763-400-7002 or email psteelman@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Registration starts the end of January 2016. Space is limited, so registering early is a must! To get on the email listing for the seminar, contact Paula Steelman at 763-400-7002 or email her at psteelman@ci.corcoran.mn.us. City Snowplow Policy The Corcoran Police, Public Works and the Hennepin County Highway division would like to caution residents that it is unlawful to dump, plow or push snow from private driveways onto highway or city streets whether you are plowing your driveway or you have hired someone to remove snow. Snow dumped on highways or street right-of-way can create a hazard not only for motorists, but also for snowplows. Even heavy snowplows have been ditched and damaged when hitting compacted and frozen snow. The person responsible for depositing snow on roadways may also be liable in a civil lawsuit if damages or injuries that occur as a result of this action. Under MN Statutes, Chapter 160.2715, RIGHT-OF-WAY USE, violation of the above statute is a misdemeanor, city ordinance 130.04 also prohibits the plowing, blowing, shoveling or otherwise placing of snow from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots onto public roadways. The violations are considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a maxi- mum $700 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Through the years this issue has become a bigger concern as the community grows. The Corcoran Public Works and Police departments will be enforcing these laws.  page 7 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Residential Recycling Billing Reminder Christmas Tree Disposal Options Real trees are recyclable, but did you know that flocked or painted Christmas trees cannot be composted? Trees can be used in composting, made into mulch or used for fuel. Listed below are some Christmas tree disposal options.  FREE! January 4-29, 2016: Residents can drop off one tree per household for free at the SKB Malcolm Transfer Station, 630 Malcolm Avenue SE, Minneapolis. The site is open 7 am to 4 pm, Monday-Friday, except holidays. Bring a photo ID showing you are a Hennepin County resident. No wreaths or other decorations, no tree stands, no ornaments, no plastic bags.  If you are a current customer of Randy’s Environmental Services, they will pick up your Christmas tree for a small fee, during the week of January 4 or January 11, on your regularly scheduled pick up day. If you are a current customer, and interested in having Randy’s pick up your Christmas tree, simply set to the end of your driveway those first two weeks in January. The cost is $8.00 ($9.97 with Fuel/Enviro Fee) for an unbagged tree. The tree should be free from decorations and stands. If you have a bag on the tree there is an additional $2.00 fee (total $12.46 with Fuel/ Enviro Fee).  Check with your current sanitation/ garbage company regarding pick-up programs that may exist for Christmas tree recycling. For more recycling ideas visit http://www.recyclemoreminnesota.org/  page 8 Winter 2015 Corcoran Recycling News – Payment Options 2016 The City of Corcoran has partnered with Randy’s Environmental Services to provide convenient payment options to residents for their recycling services. Starting in 2016, Randy’s Environmental Services, the City’s residential recycling contractor, will be billing residents directly for recycling services. All payments for recycling services are to be made directly to Randy’s Environmental Services. Account logins can be setup and payments can be made through Randy’s Environmental Service’s simple and secure Bill Pay portal at https://secure.randyssanitation.com. Payments can also be made over the telephone to Randy’s Environmental Services using a credit/debit card at 763-972-3335, or by mailing in a check to Randy’s Sanitation. Invoices will be mailed to residents from Randy’s Environmental Services for the annual recycling fee in early 2016. The late charge for past due recycling fees will be 1.5% monthly of the annual fee and a one-time $10.00 late fee for recycling fees not paid by August 31, 2016. Any unpaid recycling fees will be certified to Hennepin County and will be added to your property tax bill. For more information, contact the City of Corcoran at 763-420-2288. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 8 Winter/Spring 2016 Commercial Property Recycling in 2016 Minnesota Legislative Requirement in 2016 In 2014, the Minnesota Legislature expanded recycling requirements to include commercial buildings. Owners with commercial buildings in the seven-county metro area – that also generate four cubic yards or more of trash per week – must be recycling at least three materials by January 1, 2016. Who must collect recycling? Property owners with commercial buildings (including multi-family buildings) located in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington counties. What must be collected? A minimum of three broad materials must be collected for recycling. Possible material types include paper, cans, glass, plastic, metal, cardboard or organics. Single-sort recycling collection with 3+ materials included meet the requirement. Businesses can get funds, recycling bins and advice from Hennepin County Hennepin County Environment and Energy has staff available to help make business recycling efforts a success. Businesses can get funds, bins, signs and onsite assistance here: www.hennepin.us/businessrecycling. Property owners with commercial buildings in the 7-county metro must begin recycling January 1, 2016.  page 9 Winter 2015 Parks & Recreation Corcoran Skating Rinks Open for the Season Corcoran's skating rinks offer fun and recreation for cold weather enthusiasts of all ages. Building and maintaining them depends on many variables. The very end of December finally offered cold enough weather to start making ice! Public Works crews need temperatures to be around 0 degrees to –10 degrees F for about one week and frozen ground about four inches deep for making optimal ice rinks. The crews then establish a six-inch base, which will help rinks survive most warm snaps. The final step is to build a smooth “finish surface” on the ice. Rinks are usually open over the winter holiday break until mid-to-late February. If rinks don’t have complete coverage, they can be unsafe for skaters. Pending weather conditions can lead to late openings and early rink closings. Once the rinks are open, depending on weather conditions, the Public Works crew cleans and resurfaces them daily, Monday—Friday and weekend mornings. (Roads and public safety are first priorities.) During extreme cold weather, the rinks and shelter building may be closed. Before dropping off your children, check for a “Closed“ sign posted on the shelter door. Warming house hours are: 11:00 am — 9:00 pm weekends and holidays 4:00 pm — 9:00 pm weekdays For ice rink concerns, please call the City Hall at 763-420-2288. Three River Parks Elm Creek Winter Activities The Winter Recreation Area at Elm Creek Park Reserve features a lighted tubing hill with lifts and snowmaking, a beginner-level downhill ski and snowboard hill, and almost 18 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. After the action, winter sports enthusiasts can warm their toes and grab a hot cocoa at the Chalet. A blend of modern and rustic, the Chalet provides equipment rental, concessions, public seating and a fireplace. Activity Passes and Trail Map Downhill ski and snowboard season passes can be purchased at the Elm Creek Chalet from 9:00 am— 9:00 pm. Purchase a season pass and receive great benefits at sister ski areas! Elm Creek offers scenic trails for cross-country skiing, skijoring, snowshoeing and more. Visit: https://www.threeriversparks.org/ activities/passes/cross-country-skiing.aspx for more information. 2016 Corcoran Recycling Schedule For more information regarding recycling, please contact Randy’s Environmental Services at 763-972-3335 or visit their website at www.randyssanitation.com  page 9 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Parks & Recreation Corcoran Gardeners Club Sponsored by Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission Corcoran has many resident gardens and many experienced gardeners but most of us do not know each other, which is unfortunate, because gardeners beautify the community and also help preserve native plants and wildlife. With the end of winter approaching, is a great time to start planning new gardens, and also to start thinking about which perennials will need to be divided in the spring. A gardening fact, perennials that have been in the ground for three years or more will usually need to separated and replanted to a new garden, or a friends garden or a city garden! Hostas, hydrangeas, coneflower, rudbeckia, phlox, forget-me-nots, sedum, daylilies and so many more are great perennials for Minnesota gardens! To learn more gardening tips, join the Corcoran Gardeners Club! Please consider volunteering and/or participating in the Corcoran Gardeners Club to share your gardening expertise, or simply join the Corcoran Gardeners Club to learn about gardening! Come be a part of designing gardens, as the City of Corcoran develops and grows! Volunteers for the Memorial Garden, and at the City Park, are especially needed to enhance the beauty of these areas of Corcoran. The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission is overseeing and organizing the Corcoran Gardeners Club. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please send an email to Tom Anderson at tom.thegardener@yahoo.com or call 763-428-2559. Homeowners in many parts of the country are catching on to rain gardens, which encompass landscaped areas planted with wildflowers and other native vegetation that soak up rain water, mainly from the roof of a house or other building. The rain garden fills with a few inches of water after a storm and the water slowly filters into the ground rather than running off to a ditch or storm drain. Compared to a conventional patch or lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more water into the ground. Why are rain gardens important? As cities and suburbs grow and replace forests and agricultural land, increased storm water runoff from impervious surfaces becomes a problem. Storm water runoff from developed areas increases flooding; carries pollutants from streets, parking lots and even lawns into local streams and lakes; and leads to costly municipal improvements in storm water structures. By reducing storm water runoff, rain gardens can be a valuable part of changing these trends. While an individual rain garden may seem like a small thing, collectively they produce substantial neighborhood and community environmental benefits. Rain Gardens Work For Us In Several Ways  Increases the amount of water that filters into the ground, which recharges local and regional aquifers.  Helps protect communities from flooding and drainage problems.  Helps protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban storm water — lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other fluids that leak from cars, and numerous harmful substances that wash off roofs and other paved areas.  Enhances the beauty of yards and neighborhoods.  Provides valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and many beneficial insects.  page 10 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Create a Rain Garden View the complete How-To Rain Garden Manual at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/shorelandzoning/documents/rgmanual.pdf. For more information and ideas visit the links below: www.arboretum.umn.edu/raingarden.aspx www.metroblooms.org Environmental Updates What is Nutrient Pollution? Information from Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy How can a nutrient be bad for our water environment? Aren’t nutrients supposed to help sustain life? Nutrient pollution is a combination of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Nutrient pollutants are the excessive algae blooms that rob freshwater systems of the dissolved oxygen necessary to support a healthy fish community. This type of pollution is responsible for the slimy, green looking algae blooms that you may notice on many of our ponds and lakes during the summer months in Minnesota. Excessive algae growth also damages drinking water supplies, and degrades the recreational and aesthetic values of our waters. Toxic algae blooms, are called cyanobacteria or “blue-green” algae typically occur in nutrient-laden lakes in hot weather, and have proven fatal for livestock and pets. In humans, skin contact with blue-green algae toxins can cause itchy eyes and throat, skin rashes, and hives. Ingestion of the blue-green algae toxins range from unpleasant to severe health problems, including stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, severe muscle or joint pain, seizures and convulsions. Toxic algae bloom on Lake Crystal, Minnesota Reducing Nutrient Pollution Information from Hennepin County Environmental Services Fertilize Smart: Make sure your fertilizer is phosphorus-free. Sweep up fertilizer that spills on to hard surfaces. Excess phosphorus washes away into nearby lakes and streams where it feeds algae. Algae blooms stress fish and wildlife, and they make swimming and fishing unpleasant or impossible. Grass - Don’t Blow it Off: Grass and leaves blown into the street end up in ditches and storm sewers, where they are carried into nearby lakes and streams. Collect grass clippings and leaves and dispose of at local yard waste compost collection sites. Use Your Runoff: Direct your downspouts onto your lawn or garden or into a rain barrel. Scoop the Poop: Grab a bag when you grab the leash, and pick up after your pets. When pet waste is left behind, rainwater washes it into ditches lakes and streams. Pet waste contains bacteria that can cause illnesses. Use Chemical Wisely: Use chemical products according to label directions. Consider alternative or natural remedies to control weeds and pests. Don’t apply during the hot days of summer. Keep a Healthy Lawn: Aerate your lawn, seed bare patches and mow at a higher setting. A healthy, vigorous lawn needs less watering, fewer chemicals and less maintenance. Aerate your lawn periodically to loosen soil. Seed bare patches to prevent erosion and soil loss. Mow at a higher setting. Grass mowed to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches develops deeper, healthier roots and has a competitive advantage over weeds. Plant Rain Gardens: Capture, clean and infiltrate rainwater that would otherwise run off your property. Rain gardens are planted depressions designed to store rainwater and allow it to soak into the soil. Find out more about rain gardens at www.bluethumb.org. Replace Turf with Native Plants: Swap some of your high maintenance lawn for low maintenance native ground cover, plants or grasses. Reduce Your Footprint: Replace some pavement—such as a walk, patio or driveway - with pavers or pervious pavement. The porous surface will allow water to seep through, reducing the amount of water that runs off into the storm sewers. Go to the Car Wash: Commercial car wash facilities often recycle their water or are required to send their wash water to the waste water treatment plant, so if at all possible, use a facility to keep your car clean. For more information please click on the links below: www.hennepin.us/water www.elmcreekwatershed.org www.mda.state.mn.us/phoslaw www.mncenter.org Read the Packaging for Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer Products  page 11 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Look for the middle number: The three numbers on a fertilizer container lists its percent nitrogen, phosphorus and po- tassium content, in that order. A zero in the middle means a phosphorus- free fertilizer. Corcoran Happenings  page 12 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us NW Area Jaycees Upcoming Dates The Easter Bunny Makes a Stop in Corcoran! Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016 Time: 10:00 am Where: Corcoran Soccer Fields (Rockford Multi-Use Fields) 20300 County Road 50 The NW Area Jaycees will host their annual Egg Hunt on March 26, 2016! Don’t be late or you’ll miss out! Held outdoors so dress appropriately. Free event and geared for ages 0-10 with age appropriate treats in each age category. Bring your baskets to gather up the goodies. Turn in any prize eggs found for larger gifts! Bring your cameras for pictures with the Easter Bunny! The hunt is located at the Corcoran Soccer Fields, 20300 County Road 50. (Same location as Corcoran Country Daze off County Road 50, not the playground off County Road 10.) Check the Jaycees Facebook page for event details as the date draws near: www.facebook.com/nwareajaycees. Parks and Trails Commission Donate Shade Trees Sponsored by the NW Area Jaycees and Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission For the past several years, the Parks and Trails Commission has given away shade tree saplings to Corcoran residents made possible with funds donated by the Northwest Area Jaycees. Varieties offered include deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The trees will be given away at the City Park skating rinks/warming house shelter located at 20200 County Road 50 in late April. In an effort to increase distribution of these trees, Parks and Trails Commission will accept orders for up to five trees as long as supply lasts. To order, or for more information and delivery date, email Tom Anderson at trees4corcoran@yahoo.com or call 763- 428-2559. For your larger projects you can order additional trees from Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District. Please view their website at www.wrightswcd.org/ tree_program.html for complete information. Cost of each tree is about $1.10 per tree, and need to be ordered in bundles of 25. Tree Order Forms are mailed out in February. Please call 763-682-1970 to be added to the notification list. Corcoran residents interested in purchasing larger bare root trees and shrubs should watch the City of Plymouth website at http://www.plymouthmn.gov/ index.aspx?page=820 for updates on the annual tree and shrub sale. Prices vary depending on variety. To purchase trees directly through the DNR nursery, please view the link below: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/nursery/index.html. NW Area Jaycees 2016 Scholarships Available Sponsored by the NW Area Jaycees The Northwest Area Jaycees will be awarding up to $15,000 in scholarship monies to graduating senior high school students. All applicants must reside within Corcoran city limits and will be continuing onto their college education during the entire Fall 2016-Spring 2017 school year. The applications are scored on the following: Academics, Leadership, Community Involvement, and Financial Need. Complete all questions, including teacher recommendation letter, high school transcript and you must sign the application in the space provided. The Scholarship Committee will notify all applicants of scholarship status via mail and/or email. All questions must be answered on separate paper and typed. All unanswered segments of the application will be scored as zero. Completed Scholarship Applications must be received or postmarked no later than Friday, May 6, 2016! Visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and select Organizations/Events, and then Northwest Area Jaycees to view scholarship application information. Local High School Scholarship Info Links: Buffalo HS Scholarship Page http://bit.ly/1NVVjxC Delano HS Scholarship Page http://bit.ly/1MHhJkn Osseo HS Scholarship Page http://bit.ly/1SmMLFs Rockford HS Scholarship Page http://bit.ly/1OxWdpy Wayzata HS Scholarship Page http://bit.ly/1TpUuAZ For more information on available scholarships for graduating high school seniors, please visit the appropriate school district scholarship pages: Corcoran Lions Scholarships Corcoran Happenings Fast Fact: The most relevant of these ancient games to our modern day ‘Association Football’ is the Chinese game of ‘Tsu- Chu’ or ‘kick ball’ as it translates. Records of the game begin during the Tsin Dynasty (255-206BC) and represent a game in which soldiers competed in a training activity featuring a leather ball being kicked into a net strung between two poles. The main difference between Tsu-Chu and soccer was the height of the goal, which hung about 30 feet from the floor. Corcoran Athletic Association—Baseball Registration Sponsored by the Corcoran Athletic Association Corcoran Athletic Association registration begins February 1, 2016, on-line at www.caa-mn.com. There are no tryouts—everyone plays, everyone has fun! CAA focuses on players first, winning second. The Corcoran Athletic Association is a 39 year old non-profit group organized and coordinated by an all-volunteer board of directors. We count on active parents to be board members, division coordinators, coaches and activity organizers. If you want to be part of a fun organization, please join us! Volunteers are always welcome and CAA can work with any time you have give. Maybe you don’t have time to give, you can go online to make a monetary donation. The financial donations help to keep registration fees low, help maintain safe fields and purchase soccer equipment. Have A Business Interested in Advertising? The City of Corcoran has given CAA authority to sell advertising space on the fences of the three City park baseball fields. This money will be used to make major purchases to improve the experience for the children in the program. A two-year contract includes a sign with your business information hung up on the field of your choice and a business sponsor link on the CAA website. Umpires Needed CAA also needs umpires for the 2016 season. If you are interested and are 18 years of age or older, please visit the Minnesota Youth Athletics website at http://www.myas.org for more information on umpire training. Reimbursement for umpire training is covered by CAA if you bring your umpire certificate as confirmation of training, and after you umpire two games for CAA. A fee of $40.00 per game is paid for trained umpires meeting the above qualifications. More Information For more information about becoming a CAA sponsor or umpire training, please email Kevin Dale at: corcoranathleticsinfo@hotmail.com. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 13 Winter/Spring 2016 The Corcoran Lions are excited to offer their 28th annual scholarship program. Each year it is a great opportunity to be able to help our youth with the opportunity to further their education. As in past years, the basic rules remain the same and they are as indicated below. Applications are due by April 15, 2016, along with a transcript of grades. Applications can be found on the Lions website at www.corcoranlions.com or at or the following high school offices Buffalo, Delano, Maple Grove, Mayer Lutheran, Osseo, Rockford, Wayzata, Providence Academy and West Lutheran High School. If a student attends a high school outside of the area or has been home- schooled and still resides in the City of Corcoran, he or she is eligible for a scholarship. Please contact Jerry Cain by email if you need an application: jerryjcain@gmail.com. The Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at Corcoran City Hall, at 7:00 pm. The Corcoran Lions Club awards scholar- ships to graduating seniors who live in the City of Corcoran. This year the Lions will have the 7th annual Bill Schalo Scholarship. Bill’s scholarship is given based on community service in Corcoran. This scholarship is given in memory of the Lions’ fellow member who gave so freely to our community for so many years. The scholar- ships are based on academic, leadership, service to the community and a need basis. The graduate must attend college, junior college, university, trade or vocational school in the year directly following graduation to receive the award. The Corcoran Lions Club is a service that helps build communities through events, donations and assistance. The Lions Club makes donations to many organizations in our community, which includes the police and fire and City Hall. Their goal is to encourage new memberships and promote events held at the Corcoran Lions Park. If you are interested in becoming a Lions member, email jerryjcain@gmail.com or stop by one of our meetings held at the Corcoran City Hall at 7:00 pm, on the first and third Tuesday of each month. 2016 Corcoran Event Calendar Jan 11: Community Advisory Team (CAT) Meeting 7:00 pm — City Hall Jan 14: Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Jan 18: City Hall Closed—MLK Jr. Day Jan 28: Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Feb 1: Registration Opens for Firearms Safety Class Visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us for info Feb 1: Baseball Registration Opens for Corcoran Athletics Association Feb 4: Planning Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Feb 11: Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Feb 15: City Hall Closed — Presidents Day Feb 22: CAT Meeting 7:00pm — City Hall Feb 25: Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Mar 3: Planning Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Mar 10 Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Mar 10: Truck Safety Seminar 8:00 am — Corcoran Public Works Building Mar 14: Downtown Design Guideline Time: TBA — City Hall Mar 20: Fire Arms Safety Class Begins 8:00 am — Corcoran Community Room Mar 24: Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Mar 26: NW Area Jaycees Egg Hunt 10:00 am — Corcoran Soccer Fields Apr 2: Lion’s Chevy Dinner Location and Time: TBA Apr 7 Planning Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 14 Winter/Spring 2016 Coming Soon! Business Spotlight Local Corcoran Business Highlight The City of Corcoran is excited to begin spotlighting local businesses! The Business Spotlight section will be dedicated to showcasing local businesses to inform, and help residents learn more about the available services within Corcoran. How Do I Spotlight My Corcoran Business? For more information about the Business Spotlight section please contact Michelle Friedrich at City Hall at mfriedrich@ci.corcoran.mn.us and request information. The Corcoran News is published quarterly each year. Fast Fact: Did you know we have several businesses that have made their home in Corcoran for several decades. For example, Corcoran Meat Locker has been operating in Corcoran since 1947! The City of Corcoran is collecting data on local businesses for future Corcoran News issues. Please share your stories and points of interest with Michelle Friedrich at mfriedrich@ci.corcoran.mn.us for future updates to the Business Spotlight section. Corcoran Happenings Hope Community Church Upcoming Events Sponsored by Hope Community Church Hope Community Church is located at County Roads 30 and 116, and has been active in the Corcoran Community since it was founded in 1997. One of the key ways they serve is through community events. Jason Upton in Concert Hope Community Church welcomes Jason Upton, a talented singer/songwriter. His songs and his messages reflect a life fully lived, and the importance of family and friends. Learn more at www.jasonupton.com. Date: Sunday, February 21 Time: 6:00 pm Cost: Free admission Location: Hope Community Church 19951 Oswald Farm Road, Corcoran For more information visit www.myhopecommunity.org or call 763-494-4673. Genealogy Research Sponsored by Hennepin County Libraries A genealogy volunteer will help you get started or offer suggestions on where to find more useful genealogy information. No appointment necessary. Location: Minneapolis Central Library , 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Hennepin County Library Happenings The History of Your Home Sponsored by Hennepin County Libraries Discover the history of your house, the people who lived there, the history of your neighborhood and more using the Minneapolis History Collection. We'll guide you through the use of print and digitized materials. Stay after to continue researching the history of your own home. If you live outside the city of Minneapolis, check with your local municipality for house history resources available to view. Location: Minneapolis Central Library , 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Saturday, Feb. 6, 10:30 –11:30 am  page 15 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us CROSS Meals on Wheels What is Meals on Wheels? CROSS Meals on Wheels offers delivery of hot, ready-to-eat meals to elderly, disabled, and homebound individuals living in Corcoran, Maple Grove, Osseo, Rogers, and Dayton. When are meals delivered? Meals are delivered between 11 am to 12:30 pm Monday —Friday. What type of food is served? Meals are a main entrée, vegetable, bread, dessert, fruit, and milk. Can relatives sign up their loved ones? Family members are encouraged to contact CROSS to obtain information about enrolling loved ones. How much does it cost? With the new sliding fee program, the home delivered meal program is now open to more community members, the meal price determined on eligibility to pay and need. Do you need volunteers? As our program grows, so does the need for volunteer drivers. Whether once a month or once a week, CROSS will work around your schedule. Drivers must have their own vehicle, driver’s license and insurance. Based in Rogers, CROSS Services in a nonprofit organization serving families and individuals for 38 years. For more information, contact CROSS at 763-425 -1050, info@CROSSservices.org, or visit www.CROSSservices.org. LEGO® Lab Sponsored by Hennepin County Libraries For families. Calling all future engineers and architects! We've got the bricks, but we need you to bring your imagination. No experience necessary. Location: Rockford Road Library, 6401 42nd Ave. N., Crystal , MN 55427 Saturday, Feb. 6, 1–3 pm Tuesday, Jan. 12, 5–8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 13, 11 am–1 pm Thursday, Jan. 14, 2:30–5:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 16, 1–4 pm Tuesday, Jan. 19, 5–8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 20, 11 am–1 pm Tuesday, Jan. 26, 5–8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 27, 11 am–1 pm Thursday, Jan. 28, 2:30–5:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 30, 1–4 pm Corcoran News is published quarterly by the City of Corcoran to update residents and businesses on city government news. City Council Ken Guenthner, Mayor kguenthner@ci.corcoran.mn.us Pat Hank, Councilor phank@ci.corcoran.mn.us Mike Keefe Councilor mkeefe@ci.corcoran.mn.us Tonya LaFave, Councilor tlafave@ci.corcoran.mn.us Ron Thomas, Councilor rthomas@ci.corcoran.mn.us City Administrator Brad Martens 763-400-7030 bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us City of Corcoran Main Office — 763-420-2288 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am — 4:00 pm Upcoming Meetings Planning & Commission Meetings Feb 4, Mar 3, and Apr 7 7:00 pm Parks & Trails Commission Meetings Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 15, and Apr 19 7:00 pm Corcoran City Council Meetings Jan 14, Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 10, and Mar 24 7:00 pm City Website www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Save the Date: April 14 Open Book Meeting The Open Book meeting is an opportunity for residents to discuss their property assessment. For more information on the process see the Hennepin County Assessor’s Office website at http:// www.hennepin.us/residents/property/ property-value. Open Book Meeting Info April 14, 2016 5:30 pm — 7:00 pm Corcoran City Hall Community Room 8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340 Commissioners Needed Looking for a way to become involved in the future of the City of Corcoran? Become a member of the Planning Commission, Parks and Trails Commission, or Charter Commission. If you are a current resident, and would like to serve as a City Commissioner, please contact Jessica Beise via phone at 763-400-7029 or via email at jbeise@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Ordinance/Other Reminders Road restriction ordinance goes into effect in mid-March, please remember to plan your projects accordingly. The truck safety seminar that is hosted by the Corcoran Public Works and Police Department is scheduled for March 10, 2016. Visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us for more information. Garbage container driveway location during the winter months, must be placed inside your driveway perimeter or boundary on garbage pickup days. Heavy snow in winter months can be thrown off the plow blade to the roadside can cause mailbox posts to tip or break off. City Council Work Sessions The City Council will be holding work sessions prior to the first City Council meeting of every month. These work sessions are open to the public. Agendas for the work sessions will be available on the website, under City Council -> Agendas -> 2016, prior to the meeting. Upcoming Work Sessions: Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 10, and Apr 14 PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 98 City of Corcoran 8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340  page 16 Winter/Spring 2016 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us General Information