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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 Edition 130 July-August Edition 130 July /August 2001 cl t wa t A newsletter for residents of the City of Brooklyn Center Congratulations Brooklyn Center Voters Elect Tim Ricker Police Explorer Post 999 As City Council Member The Brooklyn Center Police Explorer Post 888 attended the Brooklyn Center voters cast their ballots for the vacant 26 Annual Law Enforcement Explorer Conference from Council seat in the May 1 special election. Tim Ricker was April 26 through 29, 2001. There were approximately 54 the winning candidate receiving 749 of the 1,222 votes cast. different law enforcement Explorer Posts from around the The Council seat had been vacant since January 1, 2001, state with over 500 participants ranging in age from 14 to when Debra Hilstrom resigned her position as City Council 21. Many competed in different law enforcement scenarios Member to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives and academic events. The Brooklyn Center Explorers did District 47B. The four other members who compose the very well in many events, but performed excellent in the Brooklyn Center City Council are Mayor Myrna Kragness, Crime Scene Search taking 2 nd place in this event. The team and Council Members Kay Lasman, Ed Nelson, and Bob was scored on many elements of securing, identifying, Peppe. packaging, documenting, and processing a crime scene for evidence. Congratulations to all the team members, including the 2 nd place winners Ryan Christensen, Juel Lund, Jeremy Tiedeken, PaZao Vang, and also participating U.S. Census Bureau Figures Are In Clifton Mann, Tony Sederberg, Jessica Swanberg, and Josh Whittenburg. In early spring, the U.S. Census Bureau disseminated some of the information gathered in Census 2000. Although the U.S. Census Bureau will eventually supply a great deal of detailed information, the first releases of counts are limited to general population numbers. The Census 2000 numbers for Brooklyn Center as of April 2001 are as follows: Total Population: 29,172 1% increase over 1990 Census Race and Ethnicity: One race 28,191 Brooklyn Center Police Explorer Post 888 Pictured from White 20,825 left to right: Jeremy Tiedeken, Tony Sederberg, Juel Lund, Black or African American 4,110 Jessica Swanberg, Clifton Mann, PaZao Vang, Ryan American Indian/Alaska Native 253 Christensen, Joshua Whittenburg, and Police Officer Asian 2,565 Dwayne Holmstrom. Asian Indian 179 Chinese 87 Buff Insp ection De partment Filipino 69 ++''ter � t Japanese 30 Open ERtended Hours Korean 53 The Building Inspection Department will remain open Vietnamese 263 extended hours to assist the residents of Brooklyn Center Other Asian 1,884 with home improvement projects. The extended hours are Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 4 until 6:30 PM on July 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26. Residents Native Hawaiian 1 can also call (763) 569 -3344 during the extended hours, Other Pacific Islander 3 4:30 PM — 6:30 PM. Some other race 434 Two or more races 981 Know What To Look Out For When Selecting A Contractor For Horne Improvements Oftentimes homeowners hire a contractor to do home improvements or remodeling projects. It can be very difficult to know which contractor to hire. The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the agency responsible for licensing residential building and remodeling contractors. The Department recommends the following: • Hire a contractor who is licensed by the State of Minnesota. By hiring a licensed contractor, you ensure that the company has met certain requirements, including having a principal of the company pass an appropriate examination and having liability and property damage insurance. Check on the license status of a contractor by calling the Department of Commerce at (651) 296 -2488. • Make inquiries about the names of builders or remodelers who specialize or have experience in that type of construction. Ask friends or neighbors who have undertaken similar projects or ask building supply companies or others in the industry. • Call the Better Business Bureau to see if it has received any complaints against a particular contractor. • Ask for references, and be sure to contact and ask former customers if they were satisfied with the quality of the work of if they encountered any problems. • Ask the contractor how long he or she has been in business and where, and ask for a Minnesota business address other than a post office box and a telephone number where the contractor can be reached during normal business hours. The Department of Commerce offers the following information that may indicate the contractor may not be reliable. It is probably best to avoid working with a contractor who: • Arrives in an unmarked van or truck. • Appears to be willing to do the job at an unusually low price. • Requires full or substantial payment before work begins. Ten percent down payment is recommended. • Refuses to provide you with a written estimate or contract. • Refuses to provide you with a Minnesota Department of Commerce license number. • Refuses to provide you with references. • Shows up at your door unsolicited. • Uses high pressure sales tactics. • Asks you to obtain any necessary permits. When entering into a contract with a contractor, remember the following: • The contractor should obtain all necessary permits so that the contractor is responsible for meeting all building codes. Check with the City's Building Inspector at (763) 569 -3330 to make sure that the contractor has obtained all necessary permits and calls for all appropriate inspections. • The contract should include a start date, completion date, and a statement concerning reasonable delays. • Cleanup should also be included, especially if a project is likely to create debris. To obtain a detailed brochure on hiring a residential contractor, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce at (651) 296 -5175. If you have a complaint about residential building contractors, call the Department of Commerce at (651) 296 -2488. 2 f Housing Resource Center Can Provide Technical and Financial Assistance for Your Howie Remodeling Plans The Northwest Housing Resource Center was created in partnership with the Greater Minneapolis Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMMHC), the City of Brooklyn Center, and other suburban communities along with community financial institutions and state, regional, and county agencies. The Housing Resource Center is funded in part by the City of Brooklyn Center. The Housing Resource Center can: • Assist homeowners with flexible financing tools to complete home improvement projects. • Assist homeowners through the complex construction process when renovating their homes including written scopes of work, construction cost information and assistance with education on construction bid process, evaluation of bids and work completed and construction monitoring. In addition to the services listed above, the Housing Resource Center Northwest is offering Brooklyn Center homeowners a rehab incentive rebate of 10, 12, or 15% on home improvement projects (upcoming projects only). Money is limited and will be dispersed on a first -come, first -serve basis. The rebate amount cannot exceed $3,000. Qualifying homeowners' income must be less than $69,920 and they must live in Brooklyn Center. The Housing Resource Center Northwest is located at 2140 40 Avenue North in Minneapolis. All services of the Housing Resource Center are provided at no cost to Brooklyn Center residents. For information on services described in this article, you can call the Housing Resource Center Northwest at (612) 588 -3033 between 9 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Thursday. Home Repair And Chore Services Available To Senior And Disabled Residents Brooklyn Center residents who are 60 years of age or older or permanently disabled may qualify for help with home maintenance, repairs, and chores. The services are provided by two non - profit agencies, Senior Community Services and Community Emergency Assistance Program (LEAP), in cooperation with the City of Brooklyn Center. The program offered by Senior Community Services is called Household and Outside Maintenance for Elderly (H.O.M.E.). Repair services offered by H.O.M.E. include: • Interior and exterior painting jobs • Installing bathroom safety bars • Secure handrails • Fixing running toilets or leaky sinks • Repairing doors that "stick" • Sealing cracks and caulking • Replace washers in leaky faucets • Other minor carpentry, or minor home repair work H.O.M.E. has a core staff with a network of skilled workers and volunteers to do repairs. Fees for the services in the H.O.M.E. program are assessed on a sliding fee scale based on income. Anyone needing service may call Valerie or Angela at H.O.M.E. at (763) 504 -6980. 114 3 I First -Time Homebuyer Mortgage Loans Water Restrictions Available in Brooklyn Center May 1 through September 30 - ODD -FVFN SPRINKLING BAN Below market rate financing is available for first -time Permanent water restrictions are now in effect from homebuyers purchasing homes in Brooklyn Center. Loans are May 1 through September 30 every year. This odd -even i available from the Minnesota City Participation Program sprinkling ban does not apply to private wells — only the (MCPP) offered through the Minnesota Housing Finance City water supply. Agency (MHFA). This ban will be enforced. General Program Guidelines If your street address is an ODD number You must be a first -time homebuyer, defined as a person who (for example, 5917, 4501), you may water has not had an ownership interest in a PRINCIPAL your lawn and garden on ODD numbered RESIDENCE other than the property being purchased during days of the month (for example, July 5) the last three years. The mortgage interest rate is 6.05% for a 30 -year mortgage. If your street address is an EVEN number (for example, 5916, 4500), you may Program operates on a first -come, first -serve basis through water your lawn and garden on EVEN December 25, 2001, or until funds are gone, whichever comes numbered days of the month (for first. example, July 6) Maximum gross household income is based on household va u 4 a o 'These water restrictions have size (see table below) o u o ° ° been enacted to encourage ° water conservation and to Household Income Limits keep utility rates as low as for 11- County Metro Area III � ° possible. Without water restrictions, the City would 1 person - $41,900 5 person - $64,600 have to consider building a reservoir and pumping station, 2 person - $47,850 6 person - $69,400 at an estimated cost of $3.3 3 person - $53,850 7 person - $74,200 million. Your water rates would increase an estimated 8 to 10 cents per 1,000 gallons, or bg 10 to 13 percent 4 person - $59,800 8 person - $78,950 Thank you for cooperating! Maximum home purchase price for existing homes is $175,591. BROOKLYN CENTER Eligible properties include single - family, qualified WATER DEPARTMENT (763) 569 -3390 condominiums, townhomes, and 2 -unit duplexes. Down payment and closing cost assistance is available to 2000 Water Quality Report qualified buyers who meet specific income guidelines. Contact Included with this edition of City Watch is the Brooklyn a participating lender for details. Center Drinking Water Quality Report for the 2000 calendar year. The United States Environmental Protection Agency Financing is only available through participating lenders. requires municipal water systems to report annually on the safety of the drinking water provided to their citizens. If you For a copy of the lender list and additional program have questions regarding the report, please call the Brooklyn information call the City offices at (763) 569 -3300. Center Public Utilities Division at (763) 569 -3390. 4 Severe Weather Awareness Severe weather may strike anywhere in the state of Minnesota through spring and summer and into the early fall season. Residents are made aware of severe watches and warnings through radio and television broadcasts. Severe weather watches are issued when conditions are favorable for tornados, severe thunderstorms, or flash floods. If you are in a watch area, make plans to seek shelter if necessary. Severe weather warnings are issued when severe weather has been reported or is imminent. Seek shelter immediately if you are in or near the path of the storm. Warnings are issued by county names. Know the name of the county you live in and the counties that surround you. Sirens are designed to warn those who are outdoors. If you hear a siren, turn on a radio or TV to hear safety information and seek shelter immediately. Thunderstorms, Winds, and Hail • The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. • Thunderstorms can produce a strong rush of wind known as a downburst or straight -line winds which may exceed 120 mph. Straight -line winds can overturn mobile homes, tear roofs off houses, and topple trees. • Hail annually causes nearly 1 billion dollars in damage nationally. Large hail stones fall at speeds faster than 100 mph and have been known to severally injure or kill people. Lightning • Lightning kills approximately 100 Americans annually and an additional 300 others are injured. Myth: If it is not raining, there is no danger from lightning. Fact: Lightning may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. Myth: Rubber tires on a vehicle will protect you from being injured by lightning. Fact: Rubber provides no protection from lightning, however the steel frame of a vehicle acts as a cage and routes the lightning strike to the ground. Tornadoes • Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 PM but have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night. • The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph. Myth: Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes. Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes. In the late 1980's, a tornado swept through Yellowstone National Park leaving a path of destruction up and down a 10,000 ft. mountain. Myth: The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to "explode" as the tornado passes overhead. Fact: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural damage. Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage. Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows alone; instead, immediately go to a safe place. Assemble a disaster supplies kit that includes: a 3 -day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil + one change of clothing and footwear per person + one blanket or sleeping bag per person + a first -aid kit, including prescription medicines + emergency tools, including a battery- powered portable radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries + an extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash + special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members. Shay safe while enjoyvW a heatW"Minnesota summ&v and fall sieawn 5 i UCCESS Community Resources for BY Children and Families The mission of Success By 6® Northwest is to identify and Northwest remove all barriers to early childhood development so all children have the tools to succeed for life. Since 1990, Success Helgrg all dill= &=a-,d fcr life. By 60 Northwest has provided resources and information to families with young children. The following is a brief list of resources within your community: Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association. (612) 341 -1177 A nonprofit social change agency that advocates for quality childcare by offering services to parents and childcare providers. POINT Northwest for Runaway Youth. (763) 493 -3052 Short -term crisis intervention program that provides services to runaway, homeless, and throwaway youth and their families ages 10 -17 in the northwest suburbs of Hennepin County. Home Free. (763) 559 -4945 Provides emergency shelter for battered women and their children. Also provides community advocacy for unsheltered women in Northwest Hennepin cities. Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. (763) 824 -8000 Provides 72 hours of shelter care for children up to 6 years of age for families who are dealing with stress or crisis and need time away from their children to stabilize themselves. There is no fee and there are advocates to assist the families in finding resources. Hennepin County Economic Assistance Program. (612) 348 -3400 Provides cash assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, emergency food and shelter, and child support to'Hennepin County residents. Success By 6® Northwest is coordinated by Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council, the research, planning, and coordinating agency for the Northwest Hennepin area. If you have questions about Success By 6® Northwest or would like to become involved, please call Jessica Ness at (763) 493- 2802 ext. 124. North Hennepin Mediation Program Inc. Offers Mediation for Landlords and Renters Do you find yourself in a situation in which there is unresolved conflict where you live? Perhaps the conflict arises from issues regarding noise, personal property, interactions of area children, living conditions, payment/collection of rent, etc. If you would like to try to resolve these or other issues, North Hennepin Mediation Program Inc. (NHMP) can help. Through NHMP, residents and/or landlords can meet in a mediation session with neutral mediators who are there to facilitate the discussion and write up agreements the parties reach. In addition, NHMP offers follow -up after the session. NHMP provides mediation services at low or no cost. Mediations can be held days, evenings, or weekends. Call North Hennepin Mediation Program Inc. at (763) 561 -0033. 6 Pubffe Input Sought For Brooklyn Center Smart Growth Opportunity Site Residents, along with business and property owners, have a rare opportunity to help shape the future Brooklyn Center Business District at a public workshop on July 11, 2001. The idea is to help design a new look for an 88 -acre opportunity site located just south of I -694 and west of Hwy. 100. Participants will work in small groups to locate future design features on a footprint map of the area. Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site Public Workshop Wednesday, July 11, 2001 6:30 to 9:30 PM Earle Brown Heritage Center 6155 Earle Brown Drive Brooklyn Center The City of Brooklyn Center is working with the Metropolitan Council as part of the Smart Growth Twin Cities project to plan for redevelopment of the area. For more information on the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site project, visit www.metrocouncil.org/sgtc or contact Brooklyn Center Community Development Director Brad Hoffman at (763) 569 -3300. volunteer Opportunity Sntertainment In The Park to Serve on the Tuesday, June 26 — A BiYA — Music of the am Park & Recreation Commission Caribbean Tuesday, July 10 — Sandy & The Hitmen — Classic rock and roll The City of Brooklyn Center welcomes residents to Tuesday, July 17— Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble — Old apply for the Brooklyn Center Park & Recreation time music, humor, polkas Commission. Tuesday, July 24 — Singin' Safari Band — Enjoy a musical safari, children's favorites The general purpose of the Commission is to act in an Tuesday, July 31— Calhoun Brass — Traditional classical, show advisory capacity to the City Council on issues related tunes, popular music Tuesday, August 7 — Power — Enjoy nostalgic favorites of the to the conservation of environmental resources in the Four Tops & Temptations City of Brooklyn Center and to the park system and Tuesday, August 14 - Chris Olson - Elvis Presley recreation programs, and to advise the City Council of impersonator citizen attitudes and policy matters relevant to the conservation, park and recreation functions in All concerts begin at 7 PM. Bring your lawn chair or Brooklyn Center. blanket. Refreshments will be sold. In case of inclement weather, concert will be held in Constitution Hall at The Park & Recreation Commission generally meets Community Center. the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM. This is a )W9 Carnival volunteer position. Interested persons can obtain an application at Brooklyn Center City Hall, 6301 Shingle Friday, July Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, or call City Clerk 1:00 - r C entral Park PM Sharon Knutson at (763) 569 -3300. Final appointment Brooklyn Center C will be made by the Mayor and City Council. 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Application deadline is July 30, 2001. Booths priced from 4 - 13¢ , Fish pond. Candy Walk. Face Painting. , Games. (763) 569 -3400 7 Eco -Yard Demonstration Site Opens Hennepin County Environmental Services held a grand opening event June 9 for the Eco -Yard Demonstration Site located adjacent to the Hennepin County Recycling Center and Transfer Station, 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park. The site provides self - guided tours throughout the season and demonstrates environmentally friendly landscaping with plants that thrive in Minnesota with less effort, less use of pesticides, less fertilizing, less watering, and less time. The site is open Tuesday — Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM — 4 PM. The following FREE seminars are also scheduled. Call (612) 348 -4919 to register. July 11 7 PM Designing an Earth - Friendly Home Landscape with Fred Rozumalski - Landscape Architect, Barr Engineering July 14, August 4, September 8 10:00 AM Seasonal Lawn Care & Garden Tips 10:30 AM — Noon Ask a Master Gardener — Plant Clinic September 11 7 PM Fall Maintenance for an Earth- Friendly Home Landscape with Fred Rozumalski - Landscape Architect, Barr Engineering Yard Waste Drop -Off Site Materials Management Guides Available The yard waste site reopened April 2, 2001. The City's contract New 2001 guides were mailed to every Brooklyn Center yard waste site continues to household in March. If you did not receive your copy, you provide a free drop -off location for may pick one up at City Hall, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway, its residents to use with proof of or call (763) 493 -8006 to have one mailed to you. residency. The site will accept grass clippings, leaves, garden materials, and brush and tree Call Before You Dig trimmings that are 2" or less in diameter. Bags must be (651) 454 -0002 emptied and removed from the site. Maple Grove Yard Waste Just about anywhere you dig there could be buried Drop -Off Site underground utilities. Homeowners and contractors can 14796 - 101 st Avenue North prevent damage to underground utilities and prevent service Maple Grove, MN interruptions by calling Gopher State One -Call (GSOC) at 24 -hour information: (763) 420 -4886 least two working days prior to excavating. GSOC takes Hours information from callers who are digging, processes it in a 8 AM to 7 PM computer, and notifies underground utility operators that Monday through Saturday may have utilities in the area. The owners of the utilities Noon to 7 PM Sunday will send personnel to mark and locate their utilities within April 1 through November two working days. Protect yourselves and your property (weather permitting) against underground utility damage and liability. Find out where the underground utility lines might be buried before you dig. 8 The Proper Use of STOP Signs A common suggestion when speeding is suspected in a neighborhood is that STOP signs be installed. Unfortunately, the role of the STOP sign is often misunderstood. A STOP sign has only one function: to indicate which vehicle or vehicles have the right of way when regular rules of the road, sight obstructions, STOR or traffic volumes make that unclear or difficult or dangerous to judge. There are defined engineering standards called "warrants" which specify when a STOP sign is justified. Because STOP signs play such as important role in traffic control, it is very important not to LL overuse them. Excessive use of STOP signs desensitizes drivers to them, not only reducing STOP signs are not their effectiveness but also endangering other drivers who assume the other driver will stop an effective or at the sign instead of rolling through it. recommended means of addressing The following are common myths about STOP signs: speed or volume concerns. • A STOP sign will slow people down. Extensive national research has shown that STOP signs do not have any lasting impact on traffic speed. STOP signs tend to reduce speed only in the immediate vicinity of the sign; vehicles are able to accelerate to the previous speed very quickly beyond the STOP sign. In some locations it may make a speed problem worse because people accelerate between STOP signs to make up lost time. • A STOP sign will eliminate cut - through traffic. STOP signs are generally not enough of an inconvenience to push people away. • A STOP sign will make the neighborhood safer. A STOP sign may give a neighborhood a false sense of security. It is easy to assume that everyone will stop for the STOP sign, when in fact some drivers may roll through STOP signs they see as impediments to them. • A STOP sign is cheap. A STOP sign may cost only between $100 -$200 to install, but the operating costs are much larger. Vehicles stopping at the sign use extra fuel and generate extra air pollution. City Ordinance Limits Height of Grass to & Inches Defines Noxious Weeds The State - mandated Noxious Weed Law administered by the Public Works Department is defined in Section 19 -1603 of the City Ordinances and classified as any plant which is identified by the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture as a noxious weed and any weeds or grass growing to a height greater than eight (8) inches or which have gone or about to go to seed. The City Weed Inspector routinely inspects all areas of the City. Property found to be in violation of the ordinance is classified as a public nuisance and the owner must mow or destroy the noxious weeds /tall grass within 7 days. In the event the property owner does not comply, the City will order a contractor to perform the work at a rate of $45.00 per hour with a 2 -hour minimum charge. Property owners are encouraged to maintain their property to the standards referenced in the ordinance. 9 L k i Garden Contest as PM The City of Brooklyn Center v announces its seventh annual Landscape and Garden competition. Applications must be submitted By July 13, 2001. 2000 f Contest Winners Carole & Alze Hallman The Hallman family is pictured in front of one of their award winning gardens. The property at 1600 55th Avenue, in the southeast section of Brooklyn Center, was selected for the 2000 Award of Excellence in the City's landscape and garden contest. 10 tax)-ciscapeu a n `c�►rz:e 7th ANNUAL CONTEST TO BE HELD IN JULY Applications must be Criteria for awards announced submitted by July 13 To qualify for the City of Brooklyn Center Landscape and The City of Brooklyn Center is proud to Garden contest your property must feet the following criteria: announce its seventh annual Landscape Must be in the Brooklyn Center city limits and Garden Competition. Should pose no problems for the sidewalk or street You can nominate yourself or a Must be well maintained, all structures (including neighbor. Anyone with a green thumb fences) must be in good repair qualifies! Just remember: 0 Must not violate any City codes Applications or nominations must be Judging criteria for the Garden category includes: submitted by Friday, July 13, 2001 0 Must be partially visible from the street with two photos. The photos will not 0 Creative, visually significant, summer -long display be returned. 0 Creative use of plant selection that provides color, height, texture, and food for human and /or habitat Judging will take place the week of consumption July 16 -20, 2001 from 9 AM to 1 PM Judging criteria for the Landscape category includes: Awards will be presented the last • Overall general yard plan week in July in two categories —Best 0 Unusual features and creative use of materials Garden and Best Landscaping. 0 Must have positive visual impact on the immediate neighborhood If you have any questions, please call 0 Use of four seasons plant material (763) 569 -3495. Additional application forms are available at Brooklyn Center City Hall and the Community Center at 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. X (cut here))-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- City of Brook Center Landscape an G ar d en Application Category (circle appropriate categories) LANDSCAPING FLOWER GARDEN or BOTH Add ress of Property Name of Resident or Business Nominator Add ress Submit nominations to: City of Brooklyn Center Landscape & Garden Contest 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 -2199 11 Sewer Backups City Of Brooklyn Center 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway If you experience a sewer backup problem, call the City before Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 calling a sewer cleaning service. City public utility personnel will e -mail the City at: respond and determine if the blockage is in the City sewer line or info @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us your private sewer line at no charge to the resident. If a sewer cleaning service is called first and the blockage is in the City line, City Hall and TTY (763) 569 -3300 the sewer cleaning service typically will charge the resident for Recreation (763) 569 -3400 the call out. The City won't reimburse you for that charge. Emergency 911 CALL Police non - emergency (763) 569 -3333 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Weekdays (763) 569 -3390 (763) 569 -3300 Job Information Line (763) 569 -3307 After Hours, Weekends, and Holidays (763) 569 -3333 (Police Department) Mayor Myrna Kragness Voicemail: (763) 569 -3450 Public Utility on -call personnel will assist with the problem. mayorkragness @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us Councilmember Kay Lasman If you hire a sewer cleaning service and they remove tree roots, Voicemail: (763) 569 -3448 please notify the City to prevent a secondary backup from councilmemberlasman @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us occurring. A secondary backup can occur when roots cleaned from private house sewer lines get lodged in the main City sewer Councilmember Ed Nelson line. If unchecked, this could result in a sewer backup in your Voicemail: (763) 569 -3447 basement as well as your neighbor's basement. councilmembemelson @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us Councilmember Robert Peppe Does your homeowner insurance cover sewer backups? Voicemail: (763) 569 -3446 Occasionally sewage will backup into businesses and/or private councihnemberpeppe @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us residences as a result of blockages in private sewer services or the public sewer system. When this occurs, in addition to the Councilmember Tim Ricker mess and odor, considerable damage can also occur to property. Voicemail: (763) 569 -3449 Most homeowner insurance policies will not cover this without a councihnemberricker @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us special rider and the City will not cover damages unless it is proven that the City was negligent in maintaining its system. The City Manager Michael J. McCauley City recommends you consider obtaining a rider that would cover such damage if it would occur. City Council meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Monday of the v month at 7 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. Informal Open Forum is held at 6:45 PM before Regular Session Council Printed on recycled paper meetings. Watch City Council meetings live on cable Channel 16. Replays shown at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays and 6:30 AM and ■ 12:30 PM on Wednesdays following City Council meetings. Call City Hall to verify meeting dates, (763) 569 -3300. XBROOKLYN joP 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Presorted Standard NTER Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 2170 Minneapolis, MN I 12 City of Brooklyn Center 2000 Water Testing Results The table below lists drinking water testing results for your tap water dur- ing 2000, Those items listed were the only ones detected from a list of about 80 regulated substances and several more unregulated sub- stances. Regulated substances are those that have had Maximum Contaminant Levels set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Unregulated sub- stances are monitored because they may affect the safety and quality of drinking water, and they are impor- tant for establishing future drinking water regulations. The State of Minnesota assesses these parameters using values known as Health Risk Limits. Because testing is not required for each parameter every year, some parameters listed below were detected in previous years' testing. No parameters were detected at lev- els that exceeded EPA or State of Minnesota limits for safe water. Substances Regulated at the Water Wells Fluoride Alpha Emitters Total Trihalomethanes Toluene Units of Measure ppm pCi /L ppb ppm Year Tested 2000 1999 2000 2000 Highest Level Allowed (MCL) 4.0 15 100 1.0 Detected Level Used to Determine Compliance 1.18 1.5 0.75 0.0002 Range of Detections 1.1 -1.3 — — — Recommended Maximum (MCLG) 4.0 0 — 1.0 Typical Source of Substance Additive, Erosion of Water Petroleum natural deposits, natural disinfection factory fertilizer deposits by- product discharge Substances Regulated at the Tap Lead Copper A message from: Units of Measure ppb ppm Year Tested 1998 1998 ^, United States Action Level: 90% of samples must be below this level 15 1.3 Environmental Protection Agency Number of samples tested over the action level 1 out of 30 0 out of 30 Drinking water, including bottled 90% of samples were below this level 2.1 0.78 water, may reasonably be expect - Typical source of substance Corrosion Corrosion ed to contain at least small amounts of home of home of some contaminants. Their pres- plumbing plumbing ence does not necessarily indicate Unregulated Substances Sodium Sulfate Chloroform that water poses a health risk. More Units of Measure ppm ppm ppb information about contaminants Year Tested 2000 2000 2000 and potential health effects can be Amount Detected 13.0 69 0.1 obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Typical Source of Substance Erosion of Erosion of Water Drinking Water Hotline (800-426 - natural natural disinfection 4791), deposits deposits by- product Key to Terms: Detected Amount Used to Determine Compliance: sometimes the highest level detected and sometimes the average of all detected amounts. MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level (The highest amount allowed in drinking water. Set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology). MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (The level below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety). Action Level: the concentration which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirement the system must follow. PPB: parts per billion. PPM: parts per million, pCi /L: Picocuries per liter, a measure of radioactivity. Brooklyn Center 2000 Water Quality Report Drinking Water Regulations ter System Overview Testing Tap Water Quality from a variety of sources such as agriculture W ater Source Sup" System Infrastructure EPA sets national standards for drinking water urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. Brooklyn Center's water comes from nine The first well was drilled in the 1950's near based on existin g scientific data to protect Organic chemical contaminants, includi groundwater wells. These wells all tap 63rd and Brooklyn Blvd. Prior to that time, ng p urchased from the water was against health risks while considering available synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, into the Prairie DuChien Jordan aquifer p treatment technology and cost. These nation - which are by- products of industrial processes approximately 300 feet below the Minneapolis Water Works. The water sys- al standards prioritize potential contaminants and petroleum production, and can also surface. tem has grown to now include: and limit their amount in public drinking water. come from gas stations, urban stormwater Water Hardness 12 ,300 accounts wat er main fire hydrants 114 miles of wat Testing is required to ensure public water sup- runoff, and septic systems. plies are meeting these limits. If a limit is Water from Brooklyn Center's wells is at a 3 million gallons of storage Radioactive contaminants, which can be nat hardness level typical of the region: exceeded (violation), the water utility must tyP on: 21 to 1356 valves � 9� notify residents and take action to remedy the urally occurring or be the result of oil and gas 23 grains per gallon. This figure is impor_ 1 .3 billion gallons pumped F problem. Testing results for Brooklyn Center production and mining activities. tant when installing a water softener in per year tap water are listed on the back of this report. our h ome and adjusting the softness Bottled Water Regulations All detected substances are within limits and Contaminants in bottled water tongs on your existing softener. the water utility has received no violations. are regulated by the Food and w. that a softener must be main - The City of Brooklyn Center obtains water from Drug Administration (FDA). The tain s ber egularly for it to work properly. groundwater wells. Types of water sources FDA sets limits that protect the onv problems and complaints about i vary, however, from city to city. Water sources public in the same manner as tap water regu- mater originate in poorly maintained for other cities and water bottlers can also lations. It is important to understand that bot- appliances like softeners and water include rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and tled water is not necessarily safer than tap heaters, :e , springs, in addition to groundwater wells. As water but much more expensive. water from rain and snow melt travels over Information for People with Special land surfaces and seeps down into the ground, it can dissolve naturally- occurring Health Needs Water Treatment minerals, radioact've material if present, and People can drink Brooklyn Center tap water Your water undergoes three basic can pick up substances and water in most other American cities with- Disinfection. Potential disease-causin resulting from people, "' ' ' out a second thought regarding its safety, treatment processes offer it is g wildlife, and farm animals. However, if you have special health require- pumped from the ground. microorganisms are killed using chlo- Laboratory testing screens ments, you should know some people may be ramine. This alternative to chlorine is for the following contami more vulnerable to contaminants found in Fluoridation. Fluoride is added to the more persistent in the system, killing nant groups in source water; drinking water than the general population. water at levels mandated by state bacteria right up to your tap. Immuno- compromised persons such as per- law— around 1 part per million. Microbial contaminants, - sons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy Fluoride at this level has been proven Disinfection of drinking water supplies such as viruses and bacteria, persons who have undergone organ trans- to reduce tooth decay. The concert- is one of the great public health which may come from sewage treatment plants, people with HIV /AIDS or other immune advances of this century, having plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock system disorders, some elderly, and infants tration is checked regularly so that y, g operations, and wildlife. can be particularly at risk from infections. optimum levels are maintained. saved literally millions of lives in this Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and These people should seek advice about drink- Corrosion Control, Plumbing corrosion country alone. metals, which can be naturally- occurring or ing water from their health care providers. can result in unacceptable levels of result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial EPA /Centers for Disease Control guidelines on lead and copper in the water. To pre - or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and appropriate means to lessen the risk of infec- gas production, mining, or farming. tion by Cryptosporidium and other microbial vent this a corrosion inhibitor is added Pesticides and herbicides, which may come contaminants are available from the Safe which coats the inside of your pipes, Drinking Water Hot -Line at 800 - 426 -4791.