Photo by: Jim Dibble The Forest Lake Bulletin Spring 2016 Recycling Now Available in City Parks In this Issue City Launches New website 2 From the Desk of Mayor Stegner 3 Citizen Request Tracker 4 Online Licensing 4 New Business Recycling Laws 5 Dog Licenses 6 Parks Facility Reservations 6 Water Rebate Program 7 As part of a pilot program to evaluate recycling in Forest Lake Parks, the City of Forest Lake recently installed 20 recycling bins in Lakeside Memorial Park and 5 in Kulenkamp Park. These new recycling bins will offer residents the convenient ability to recycle while they are away from home. Current items that will be accepted in the bins are: Paper/Cardboard Plastic bottles Aluminum cans Glass The decision to add recycling to Lakeside Memorial Park and Kulemkamp Park resulted from feedback received from both residents and user groups who host events in these parks. Funds for the recycling bins were provided to the City of Forest Lake through the Washington County Recycling Grant Program. The city is monitoring the success of this program and will use the data collected to evaluate the possible expansion of the program to other city parks.
City Launches New Website The City of Forest Lake launched a completely redesigned website, www.cityofforestlake.com, in March. The main focus of the redesign project was to simplify site navigation, ease access to information, and increase the interactivity of the site. The new website overhauled the navigation structure by breaking the site down into 5 sections: City Services Business Services Resident Services City Council Our Community This new navigation structure was designed from a resident perspective, placing department pages in intuitive areas of the navigation menu rather than buried in city department organization charts. The navigation structure also helps minimize the number of clicks required to locate the information you are looking for. The most popular information on the site can now be accessed in 3 clicks or less. Online forms and an interactive request tracker also launched as part of the new website. Residents are now able to apply for a variety of licenses without ever setting foot into City Hall. See article on page 4 of the newsletter for a detailed list of forms that are able to be submitted online. The new request tracker (additional information also found on page 4) allows for residents to submit a complaint/concern to the city and receive messages back from City staff as they work through the issue. This option allows for residents to use the website to stay up to date on the status of their complaint/concern at anytime. For residents who surf the web on the go, the new site is also mobile responsive, which makes viewing on a smart phone or tablet much easier when compared to the old site. All of the design elements scale to the size of the screen so the look and feel of the site will remain the same no matter what device you choose to access the site on. After visiting the site, if you have questions or feedback on the new design send an email to info@ci.forest-lake. mn.us. We are always looking for ideas on how to better design the website to meets the needs of the City s residents. The City s Homepage circa 2005 The City s Homepage circa 2010 The City s Current Homepage Forest Lake Bulletin 2
From the Desk of Mayor Stegner With flowers blooming and allergy sufferers running for tissues, it can only mean one thing spring is here in Forest Lake. Spring s arrival marks an exciting time in the city and ushers in a flurry of activities with the city. Potholes are getting filled, grass is being cut and the compost site has opened for the season, spring certainly is a busy time here is Forest Lake. You may have noticed that city launched a new website over the winter. This new website features a number of new improvements to how residents access information and interact with city hall. You can now apply for a variety of licenses from the comfort of your own home and never have to set foot in the City Center to complete the transaction. If you prefer to handle your transactions in person, don t worry you can always stop by the City Center and staff will be happy to assist you. You can also submit and track questions/complaints using the new Citizen Request Tracker. Construction on the roundabouts at the 97/61 intersections is in full swing. The work is scheduled to be completed in October this year. Keep an eye on the city s homepage for project update and construction related detours. While the work is going on, don t forget to patronize those businesses affected by the construction. Speaking of road construction, the City Council and I have been in communication with MNDOT regarding the upcoming I-35 projects that include work on the 97 bridge, Highway 8 bridge, and the resurfacing of the lanes of I-35. We recently have passed a resolution asking MNDOT to consider the adding noise mitigation to I-35 project in the area around Clear Lake as part of the I-35 resurfacing. You Arts in the Park Schedule 2016 June 7 R&B Night with Ride can find out more information on upcoming I-35 project by visiting MNDOT s website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ metro/projects/35linolakes/index.html The city has been hard at work putting the final touches on this year s Arts in the Park line up. This year s schedule includes some exciting new acts and some returning favorites from years past. There is truly something to suit the tastes of all music lovers on the schedule this year. Arts in the Park takes place Tuesdays from June 7 through August 30 at Lakeside Memorial Park in downtown Forest Lake. I look forward to speaking with residents at this year s Arts in the Park about their ideas about how to make Forest Lake a great place to call home. If you re looking to replace your washing machine or toilet with one that is more environmentally friendly, you may qualify for a rebate. The City Council recently approved a water conservation rebate program where residents who replace older model washing machines or toilets with energy star rated or WaterSense models can apply for a rebate on their purchase. Visit www.cityofforestlake. com/waterrebate for full program details. June 14 June 21 June 28 July 4 July 5 July 12 July 19 July 26 August 2 August 9 August 16 August 23 August 30 50 s Night with The Bad Companions Shakespeare Theatre Kid s Night at Arts in the Park Charlie O & St. Croix Crossings Jeff Brooks Band Soul and Blues with Jorgensen Tagg Kid s Night at Arts in the Park Funktion Junction Accordion Legend Mark Stillman Oldies Night with Ken Wonovich Elvis Night Old Time County with the Roe Family Singers Community Corn Feed with the Rockin Hollywoods Forest Lake Bulletin 3
Citizen Request Tracker Have a long grass complaint? Want to report a new pothole? The new Citizen Request Tracker, launched as part of the City of Forest Lake s new website, allows you to report your concerns on a variety of topics. By clicking the Report a Concern button, located on the city s home page, you will be able to submit a complaint/ concern form regarding your issue. These forms include a form for property complaints, FixIT Forest Lake for street issues like potholes or water leaking on the roadway, a park maintenance issues form, and a form for general inquiries. This new system also allows for the resident to receive automatic update emails on the status of their issue anytime staff works on it. These updates help to keep residents better informed of the status and process surrounding their complaint. To access the status updates, residents need to set up an account on the website prior to submitting a request tracker ticket. Instructions on setting up an account can be found on the website s home page. For those who wish to remain anonymous, the system also allows for any and all requests to be submitted anonymously, however these complaints will not receive emailed status updates. Online Licensing Now Available Currently, Outdoor Entertainment Permits, Dog Licenses, and Temporary Banner Permits, are now able to be submitted online, making it easier to apply for the license you need. Online license application can be found on resident services page of the city s new website: www.cityofforestlake.com Forest Lake Bulletin 4
New Recycling Laws for Businesses A new state law, put into effect on January 1st, 2016, requires most commercial buildings-including businesses, sports venues, restaurants, and churches, to start recycling. Is your business one of them? The answer is yes if you meet all of the following criteria: 1) If you currently have a contract to remove 4 or more cubic yards of waste. 2) If your business is located in the 7-country Twin Cities Metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington counties). 3) If your business is classified in sectors 42 to 81 under the North American Industrial Classification System. You can find your business classification on the North American Industry Classification System website. http:// www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ A minimum of three recyclable materials must be collected to be in compliance with the new law. If your business already recycles but does not recycle at least three items, you will need to expand your program. Since every business is different, the materials chosen should be those that will best accommodate your employees and customers. Materials include, but are not limited to, paper (boxboard, envelopes, magazines and newspapers, office papers), glass (food and beverage bottles and jars), plastic (water, soda, and juice bottles, ketchup and salad dressing bottles, milk and juice jugs, yogurt cups, butter tubs, etc.), and metal (food and beverage aluminum and tin cans). If you rent your space, but do meet the other requirements, your building owner will be required to comply with the law. However, if you manage your own waste hauling program for your business that is located in a space you rent, it is a good idea for you to begin or continue a recycle program too. Recycling can reduce both your garbage collection costs (since there is less trash to pickup), and the amount you pay for hauling taxes. Don t know where to start? A program called BizRecycling can help. Their website, www.lesstrash.com has many helpful resources, including free consulting, labels, and even grants to help with the purchasing of recycling bins. Forest Lake Bulletin 5
Dog Licenses Did you know that all dogs living in the City of Forest Lake must be licensed with the city? Applying for a dog license is easier than you think and in the event your dog runs away a from home, a licensed dog can help ensure your dog is returned quickly. To apply for a Dog License, residents must have the following information: Owner Name and Address Dog Breed, Name, and Gender Rabies Tag number Copy of Rabies vaccination paperwork Applications for a dog license can be either online or in person at the Forest Lake City Center. The cost of a license is $10.00 and the license s expiration date corresponds to the dog s rabies vaccination expiration. Questions about dog licensing? Give us a call at 651-464-3550. How do I Reserve a Park Facility? You can now submit reservation requests for city park facilities online. To make an online reservation click on the Facilities Module and find the facility you want to reserve. The page for the facility will show its location, features and a picture. The cost to reserve is located on the facility s page as well as a calendar where you view availability. To make a reservation, simply click on the date and time you wish to reserve the facility for and then click Check Availability. If the facility is available, you will be taken to a screen where you can fill out and submit your event details. Staff will then review the reservation and contact you with payment instructions. When the reservation is approved and payment is submitted, the reservation will be added to the calendar. If you prefer to book over the phone, reservations can also be made by calling Jamie Muscha at 651-209- 9723. Forest Lake Bulletin 6
Water Rebate Program In an effort to promote water conservation, the City of Forest Lake along with the Metropolitan Council are offering rebates for water utility customers who replace old toilets and washing machines with Energy Star Washing Machines and WaterSense toilets. Rebates are $150 for washing machines and $100 per toilet. To qualify for the rebates residents must be serviced by the City of Forest Lake s water system and must be current on their account. The applicant is responsible for securing any permits necessary for the work. For toilet purchases, both the bowl and the tank must have the WaterSense label. Rebate funds are limited and applications will be processed in order of receipt. Visit www.cityofforestlake.com/waterrebate for full program details and rebate forms. Washing Machine Rebates Qualified models must have the Energy Star label. One (1) clothes washer rebate per qualifying property. Rebate of $150 per qualifying washing machine Toilet Rebates Qualifying toilets must have the WaterSense label on both the tank and bowl. Up to three (3) toilet rebates per qualifying property. Rebate of $100 per qualifying toilet For additional information visit: Forest Lake Bulletin 7