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2017-01 Experience EaganExperience Eagan • January/February 2017 • 1 January/February 2017 Experience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience Eagan “Everyone Eagan” Focuses on Welcoming New Residents New Resident, New Year Whether you’re just moving in or have lived in Eagan for years and want a refresher, it is important that every resident feels welcome and comfortable here. So to start out 2017 we’ve got a top 10 list of things to know when you move in, or to stay con- nected, with City of Eagan services. 1.Safety first - In Eagan, any time you need police or fire assistance for emergencies and non- emergencies, you should call 9-1-1. The 24/7 dispatch staff can connect you with the best service for your situation. 2.Sewer and water services - should be trans- ferred into your name when you close on your new place (renters check with landlords on this). Call the Utility Billing staff at (651) 675- 5030 and they’ll set up your account and tell you about bill pay options. 3.Parking in Winter – Eagan has a permanent odd/even day parking system all winter, not just when it snows. From November 15 to April 15, between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, parking is only allowed on one side of the road. Park on the odd numbered side of the street on odd numbered calendar dates and on the even numbered side of the street on even num- bered dates. More snow plowing and a parking diagram are available at www.cityofeagan. com/snow. 4.Property Taxes & Homestead Credit – New property owners need to file for homestead- classification with Dakota County. This will greatly decrease your property tax. You must have proof of ownership with a warranty deed, certificate of title, contract for deed, etc. Call the Dakota County Assessor’s Office at (651) 438-4200 or visit www.co.dakota.mn.us 5.Get Connected with City Information – www. cityofeagan.com is the most comprehensive source of City information – you can even sub- scribe to get e-mail notices including agendas, publications, recreation happenings, construc- tion updates and much more. We also post on social media including www.facebook.com/ cityofeagan; @CityofEagan and @EaganPolice on Twitter and on Nextdoor. 6.Eagan’s Government – Eagan has a Mayor and four City Council members who all serve the whole community (not by districts). The Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Agendas are posted at www.cityofeagan.com/meetings. 7.What’s allowed here? – Moving to a new place sometimes means a different set of rules about what you can and can’t do in your yard, neighborhood, in parks and elsewhere. The Eagan City code is the set of laws adopted here—in addition to State and Federal laws. A guide to common code questions as well as the complete City Code can be found at www. cityofeagan.com/citycode 8.Garbage & recycling collection – an early need upon move-in is what to do with empty boxes and “stuff.” Based on the area of the City you live, garbage and recycling is picked up either Monday (West of Lexington Ave. /north of Diffley Rd.), Wednesday (West of Lexington Ave./south of Diffley Rd.) or Friday (East of Lexington Ave.). You can select from seven licensed haulers. All will do both garbage and recycling. More detail can be found at www. cityofeagan.com/recycling. 9.Drivers license – A change of address means a new driver’s license is in order and perhaps new vehicle registration. These services are provided by the State. Visit dps.mn.gov for online options or location information. In Eagan, a service center is located at 3932 Cedar Grove Pkwy. For MN Driver License and vehicle tabs, a Drivers Examination Station is located at 2070 Cliff Rd. 10. Parks, facilities & things to do – It’s time to have some fun. Eagan has 55 parks plus the Eagan Community Center for fitness, meetings and banquets; Cascade Bay a summer season water park, and the Civic Arena for indoor skating and events. The “Discover” catalogue outlines many of the season’s recreation offer- ings. The next issue should arrive in your home just after the first of the year. Making everyone feel welcome in Eagan is the pri- mary goal taken on by Study Action Team #3 of the Eagan Forward project. Anita Pagey leads this team. She and her team have created fabric bags, each one unique, and filled them with items to help new resi- dents get to know their new hometown. “I feel that the joy of making things by hand is a lost art, and is a key ingredient of strong communities,” says Pagey.” It is essential for any community -- that hopes to thrive, to be welcoming and inclusive. Via the Welcome totes we are trying to make new con- nections between city, residents (old and new).” Stop by the Admin/Finance counter at Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, and pick up a New Resident bag filled with an Eagan map, a Resident Guide, a welcome letter from Anita’s team and more. Starting last fall and continuing until May, the 163 City-owned streetlights on Yankee Doodle Road from Federal Drive/Central Parkway, east to O’Leary Lane are being upgraded to use energy-efficient LED bulbs. LEDs (short for light-emitting diodes) will mean lower energy consumption and operating costs for the City. Eagan’s Transportation Operations staff has been considering LED technology for a while, and the initial cost for installation has reached the point where it now makes fiscal sense to invest in the technology. “As a city, we are always looking for ways to improve service while remaining cost-effec- tive,” says Russ Matthys, Director of Public Works. “With the switch to LEDs, we are able to employ the most current lighting technolo- gy while saving the City money and being good environmental stewards.” There will be many benefits with the LED street- lights, such as: ◗ Lower costs: LED lights are more durable, energy efficient, and last up to three times lon- ger. While the initial investment on the bulbs is higher, LEDs offer substantial cost savings over time. ◗ Environmentally friendly: LED bulbs use less electricity and generate less heat than the HPS (high pressure sodium) bulbs currently used and they do not contain mercury. ◗ Remote monitoring: The new streetlights are network-enabled, which gives staff remote access to easily control and monitor for out- ages—plus the receivers in the lights can “talk” to each other for more efficient management of the system. ◗ Improved safety: The bright white light from the LED bulbs improves nighttime visibility, making for safer roads for drivers and pedestrians. New lights may appear significantly brighter. Streetlighting Fees Street lighting around Eagan provides safety and security for residents and visitors. To maintain and operate the City-owned streetlights on common roadways and intersections, there is a Community Streetlight fee on all residential and business util- ity accounts. In addition, many residents also see a Neighborhood Streetlight fee on their utility bill. This charge is paid by residents who have street lighting in their neighborhood. The street light fees for 2017 are as follows: ◗ Community Streetlights – Residential $6.78/single family home per quarter ◗ Neighborhood Streetlights – Residential $2.50/single family home per quarter Starting last fall and continuing until May, the 163 City-owned streetlights on Yankee Doodle Road from Federal Drive/Central Parkway, east to O’Leary Lane are being upgraded to use energy-efficient LED bulbs. LEDs (short for light-emitting diodes) will mean lower energy consumption and operating costs for the City. Eagan’s Transportation Operations staff has been considering LED technology for a while, and the initial cost for installation has reached the point where it now makes fiscal sense to invest in the technology. “As a city, we are always looking for ways to improve service while remaining cost-effec- tive,” says Russ Matthys, Director of Public Works. “With the switch to LEDs, we are able to employ the most current lighting technolo- gy while saving the City money and being good Bright Lights, Big Savings Experience Eagan • January/February 2017 • 2 You can get a little help in becoming more energy efficient in your home laundry room. Rebates are still available to residents who purchase new front-loading, Energy Star washing machine. The $100 rebates are available to residents through this spring, and are funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Council through the Legacy Amendment’s Clean Water Fund. The program is designed to encourage water reduction measures in cities within the metro area. 625 rebates will be made available to Eagan residents in total. Nearly 500 rebates remain. “We’re excited to bring this opportunity to resi- dents,” says Russ Matthys, Public Works Director. “By encouraging people to trade out their older less efficient clothes washer for a new water-con- serving front load, Energy Star washer, we’ll help save millions of gallons of water. These washers use half the water of a top loading machine and can save homeowners over $100 per year in energy costs.” Matthys says the City wants to give residents an incentive to use less water. While low flow toilets and showers both help save water, one of the larg- est water users in a home is the clothes washer. In fact, studies indicate that the use of an Energy Star front loading washing machine provides the big- gest water savings of any home improvement. New construction and new developments are NOT eligible for the rebates, and rebates need to be used for the replacement of an existing washing machine. More information is available on the City’s Web site at www.cityofeagan.com/washerrebate on how to take advantage of this money-saving program, and help the City of Eagan conserve water. Save Money: Washer Rebates Still Available Be Safe at Home: Test for Radon Living in the Midwest sure has its benefits. But one drawback to living here is the presence of radon in many of our homes. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the earth that has been proven to cause cancer. The greatest exposure to radon is right inside your home. It doesn’t matter if your home is old or new; well-sealed or drafty; with or without a basement. Average radon levels rise and fall throughout the seasons due to home ventilation and heating. Radon levels tend to be higher in the winter, but can be high anytime of the year. About 40% of radon tests in Dakota County homes (and across the state) are above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 4.0 pCi/L. The City of Eagan’s Energy and Environmental Advisory Commission (EEAC) made it a goal to help get the word out to Eagan residents about radon concerns, and provide information about testing options. “Providing awareness and educating citi- zens on environmental options is a desire of all the commissioners,” says Aditya Jayam Prabhakar,Chair of the EEAC. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer (after tobacco) in smokers. In fact, some 21,000 people nationwide, including an estimated 500-700 Minnesotans, die each year from lung cancer caused by radon exposure, according to estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Free Test Kits are Available The only way to detect the presence of radon is through a test. Fortunately, testing is easy and kits are available through Dakota County Public Health at the Western Service Center. Kits will be loaned out to County residents at no cost. Reusable test devices can be picked up and returned to the Public Health Department on the second floor of the Western Service Center in Apple Valley. Visit www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/AirQuality/ Radon or call (952) 891-7500 to check on kit avail- ability as there are a limited number of testing kits available. Kits are also available at most local hardware or home stores for about $15 to $20 (this may not include the cost of lab analysis which may require an additional fee.) If radon is discovered, a list of radon removal companies, as well as a list of questions to ask radon removal contractors, can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health website at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/ mitigation.html. Need Some Help Improving your Home? Homeowners know that things like leaking roofs, furnace trouble and electrical or plumbing problems never come at a convenient time. If you have home improvement needs, the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) might be able to help. The CDA’s Home Improvement Loan Program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners with mak- ing repairs and improvements to their homes. Eligible applicants must own their home, have suffi- cient equity in the property, a satisfactory credit his- tory and a gross annual income within the program income limits. Income limits are from $46,000 to $86,750 based on household size. Loan Features • Zero percent interest • No monthly payments • Repayable when ownership changes or you move from the property. May be required to repay the loan if you refinance your home or take out a home equity loan. • $15,000 loan minimum; $25,000 loan limit More information about the Home Improvement Loan Program is available at www.dakotacda.org in the “Homeowners” section or by calling (651) 675- 4469. Give Plows Room Each winter the City of Eagan’s snowplow fleet is out in force keeping our roadways safe. Allowing more space between the plow and your vehicle can prevent accidents. To get a first-hand view of what a snow plow driver sees, watch “A View from a Plow” at www.cityofeagan.com/plow. Clearing Your Driveway Plows are angled to the right for plowing from the centerline of the street toward the outside edge of the street. A certain amount of snow will be depos- ited into driveways abutting curb lines. This dia- gram shows how property owners can clear their driveway to reduce the amount of snow deposited. Stay Ahead of Winter Trail Plowing Petitions Each spring, the City Council reviews residents’ peti- tions to add new segments of trail and sidewalk to the City’s plow route for the next winter. Don’t miss your opportunity to request a new segment be added. All petitions must be received by April 1st. For more information visit www.cityofeagan. com/trails. Driveway Place snow from end of driveway on this side Clear this area of snow to form an opening in which the snow from the road can land after plowing. Clear snow around mailboxes and set trash and recycling bins back from the road. Be Safe. Be Energy Efficient. Save $$ at Home. Experience Eagan • January/February 2017 • 3 Residents often ask, “Was it just me, or were there more planes over Eagan this year?”. The short answer is, yes, more planes took off over Eagan than previous years. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) both acknowledge that the south metro, including Eagan, took the brunt of air traffic departing from MSP Airport this past summer and fall. The reason is twofold. First, we continue to experience increased wind from the south. Since planes must take off into the wind, Eagan has more aircraft departures overhead with southerly winds. For this reason, most Eagan resi- dents hear aircraft far more in the summer than the winter, when winds tend to come from the north. Second, new safety standards issued by the National Transportation Safety Board to the FAA resulted in changes to runway use. The new standards, referred to as non-intersect- ing Converging Runway Operations (CRO), seek to prevent collisions when planes depart over Minneapolis, while simultaneously planes are arriv- ing over Eagan. As pictured, the FAA is addressing the potential risk if an aircraft landing on Runway 35 must discontinue its approach and “go around”, while simultaneously a plane is departing over Minneapolis, thus leaving both planes on the same flight path and at risk of colliding. Confused about what’s legal? Curious about law enforcement procedures? Have you wondered what the Police in Eagan really deal with while on the job? The Eagan Police Department will be welcoming in a new class to its highly popular Citizens Academy, beginning March 9, 2017. The applications process will open Tuesday, January 10. The academy gives a look inside the inner workings of the Eagan Police Department. Participants meet the K-9 Officers, shoot a taser, go on a ride-along, watch DWI testing, tour the SWAT truck and com- mand vehicle, follow a homicide investigation case, take a front seat in a “use-of-force” scenario and more. The Citizen Academy is open to Eagan residents and those who work in Eagan. Sessions meet on eight Thursday evenings, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at FAA Responding to Aircraft Noise Concerns Citizen Academy’s Inside Look at Law Enforcement The new safety standards have resulted in changes to runway use, and the outcome has been more planes taking off over Eagan. Action has been taken by the MAC, at Eagan’s urging, to require the FAA do an environmental review to evaluate the noise, runway use, and airport capacity impacts prior to and following the implementation of the new con- verging runway standards. The FAA acknowledges residents’ concerns about noise and is currently testing new flight procedures to get runway usage back to the levels they were prior to the implementation of the CRO standards. The FAA is hopeful these new procedures will be implemented by the fall of 2017, if not sooner. The City’s Airport Relations Commission will monitor the FAA’s progress closely. the Eagan Police Department. Applicants must be age 18 or older. They must also agree to a criminal background check, due to the sensitive nature of some of the training. 25 openings are available. The application will be posted on the City Website on January 10, at www.cityofeagan.com/police. For more information, contact Crime Prevention Specialist – Jill Ondrey at (651) 675-5700. Recycle Your Flag at the Eagan Community Center We know there are rules about proper flag eti- quette; how to display and to replace them when tattered, etc. But what should you actually DO with the flag when it is no longer suitable to be flown? The Eagan Community Center has teamed up with the local American Legion post to collect flags from the public. “Most people do not know what to do with a U.S. Flag when it becomes unserviceable. Often these flags end up being stored for years or are just thrown away,” says John Flynn, Commander, Eagan American Legion Post 594. “It will be [our] honor to be entrusted by residents to provide the stewardship of conducting a respectful and solemn U.S. Flag retirement.” A designated flag collection slot is available at the main level guest service desk at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway. Collected flags will be properly retired. Commission Members Speak Up for Community You voted. You’ve subscribed to get Council agen- das in your e-mail. You watch meetings on E-TV or from the City Web site. Maybe you were involved in the Eagan Forward process. Another way to be informed and even have a voice in shaping the decisions made about your commu- nity is to serve on a City Commission. The Council appoints 15-20 people each year to serve on Commissions to advise them on specific topics. Commissions include: ◗ Advisory Planning Commission ◗ Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission ◗ Airport Relations Advisory Commission ◗ Energy and Environment Advisory Commission ◗ Eagan-Inver Grove Heights Watershed Management Organization. Most commissions appoint several members each year in April. Applications are now available through March 24, and interested residents are encouraged to apply. Candidate interviews will be scheduled in mid-April. Commissions meet every one to two months, depending on the commission. Descriptions, gener- al meeting schedules and applications are available at www.cityofeagan.com/commissions. Lighting the Night There is a new light on the northern sky- line, where the old Sperry water tower used to be. And it changes color! The old tower came down this spring. It hadn’t been used to hold water for years. What it did hold, however, was cellphone and emergency services antennae. Instead of painting and rehabbing the tower at substantial cost, this lower-maintenance tower was erected in its place to hold and hide the important communication equipment. The tower has custom lighting which will change each night and provide unique color options for special occa- sions. More information can be found at www.cityofeagan.com/tower. PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDTWIN CITIES MNPERMIT NO. 4902* * * * * ECRWSS * *Residential Postal Customer3830 Pilot Knob RoadEagan, Minnesota 55122Page 1 Bright Lights, Big Savings New Resident, New Year “Everyone Eagan” Focuses on Welcoming New Residents Page 2 Washer Rebates Still Available Be Safe. Be Energy Efficient. Save $$ at Home. Need Some Help Improving your Home? Stay Ahead of Winter Page 3 FAA Responding to Aircraft Noise Concerns Recycle Your Flag at the Eagan Community Center Commission Members Speak Up for the Community Citizen Academy’s Inside Look at Law Enforcement Page 4 New Year, New Options…New You! We Want Your Park Improvement Ideas Vehicle Storage Clarified Mayor Mike Maguire Councilmembers Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields Gary Hansen Meg Tilley City Administrator Dave Osberg (651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY www.cityofeagan.com Experience Eagan facebook.com/CityofEagan @CityofEagan We Want Your Park Improvement Ideas The Parks and Recreation Department has sev- eral large improvement projects slated for 2017. Hearing what the public really wants and needs is an important part of the planning process, says Andrew Pimental, Eagan’s Director of Parks and Recreation. “Community input is a critical component in proper development and redevelopment of our park system,” says Pimental. “It helps us ensure that Eagan’s park system remains one of the best in the state.” 2017 projects include: ◗ Reconstruction of the Bridle Ridge Park building ◗ Improvements to the Thomas Lake Pavilion ◗ A rebuild of the Eagan Skate Park ◗ Nature trail connections and a nature-play area at Patrick Eagan Park ◗ WiFi at the Eagan Art House ◗ Reconstruction of the Goat Hill Baseball #1 diamond and field Several smaller projects include additional ten- nis practice boards at some parks, new benches throughout the trail system, bike racks at most park shelter and pavilion buildings, and minor improvements to the dog park. A page at www.cityofeagan.com/parkprojects will have updates on the planning and input pro- cess. You may also sign up there to receive e-mail updates on upcoming community engagement meetings and project progress. New Year, New Fitness Options…New You! The New Year is great time to consider new goals. For many it is a time to begin, or restart, an exercise program. The Eagan Fitness Center, located within the Eagan Community Center, has expanded mem- bership plans and hours to provide more options. Plans now include: ◗ month-to-month by auto-pay ◗ family plan ◗ senior discount ◗ 30- or 90-day and 1 year plans ◗ indoor walking track only pass ◗ 10 or 20 visit pass (good at fitness center and/or group fitness classes) Early riser? You’ll like the new 5:00 a.m. opening, Monday-Friday beginning in January. “This is a request we’ve heard loud and clear,” says Andrew Pimental, Director of Parks and Recreation. “People want the option to get in a workout, get showered and get to work. We’re happy to accommodate with these new hours.” The fitness center also has some new, top-of-the- line equipment with high-tech treadmills, multi media-enabled recumbent bikes and more. Learn more at www.eagancommunitycenter.com or better yet, visit in person to take a tour and get your questions answered by our highly trained and very friendly staff. Vehicle Storage Clarified In the September/October issue of Experience Eagan we incorrectly stated that “any vehicle parked or stored at your home must be in the garage or on the driveway surface, and cannot be stored on the grass or yard even in winter.” It should have stated that vehicles parked in front of the home must be in the garage or driveway surface and not parked in the grass area of the front yard. Please contact code enforcement at (651) 675-5687 with any ques- tions regarding parking on your property. Skip the Winter Blahs. Jump Into Spring! Ready to give the snow blower the boot? Tired of bun- dling up? Eagan’s Landscaping for Clean Water workshop on Monday, February 27 can get you planning your spring landscape, now. Landscaping for Clean Water workshops teach resi- dents how to create their own rain garden, native plant garden or a garden to stabilize shoreland. Register now and you can have plans in place for your spring project before the snow melts. Introductory workshops are free. Garden design courses, which will be offered one to three weeks after the initial workshop, cost $25. The design course helps you create a garden that’s perfect for your yard. The program will even help you install it, and if funds are available, may even help with cost. The February 27 workshop is held at Eagan City Hall and begins at 6:15 p.m. Preregistration is required. Additional workshop dates and locations are avail- able throughout the County. Register at www.dakotaswcd.org or call (651) 480-7777. Last year, 44 raingardens and native shoreline gar- dens were planted, benefitting lakes and streams.