HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Edition 118 June-July Edition 118 June /July 1999
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A newsletter for residents of the City of Brooklyn Center
City Working To Address Y2k Issue
The Year 2000 issue, often referred to as "Y2k" bug, is something the As your local government, the City also feels an obligation to ensure its
City of Brooklyn Center is taking very seriously. Briefly, the Y2k issue citizens also are well - prepared for Y2k, or any natural disaster. Here are
relates to electronic equipment containing a microchip that is date- some basic steps to follow in advance of the next millennium.
sensitive. Some of these chips, on January 1, 2000, will read that date
as January 1, 1900, and could possibly affect functions of some items. ► Create an inventory of possible affected equipment such as
personal computers, software, programmable thermostats, security
Throughout 1999, City Watch will provide readers with updates on the systems, VCRs, microwave ovens and anything else that is
City's extensive preparation for this event. We want you to rest assured programmable or has a display or calendar function.
that Brooklyn Center City Government is well aware of the situation ► Fix or replace items critical to personal health and safety that have
and is taking all necessary steps at the City level to make sure know Y2k problems. For medical equipment, contact your health
January 1, 2000, goes smoothly for residents. Providing City services care provider for alternatives.
such as water, fire, and police services are integral parts of the City's ► Make hard copies of all important files such as bank records and
preparation. prescriptions.
► Consider having some extra cash on hand, but don't withdraw all
The City already has undertaken several action steps in relation to the your savings. A good rule of thumb is to have enough cash to meet
Y2k issue, including: normal financial needs for the first business week of 2000.
► Always remember safety first. Carbon monoxide and improper
► Establishment of a multi - departmental Y2k task force. storage of flammable liquids pose more danger than the Y2k issue.
► An extensive inventory of equipment in all City departments, ► Have a good first aid kit accessible, along with flashlights and
offices, operations and facilities. batteries.
► Testing of vital City equipment.
► Development of a formal Y2k contingency plan using the City's (The information contained in this article contains information related
existing Emergency Operations Plan. to the Year 2000 problem and is intended to be protected by the Y2k
► Budgeting for any necessary replacements in advance of 2000. Readiness Disclosure Act Public Law 105 -271.)
► Implementation of replacement systems, as necessary.
Questions about the City's Y2k program? Contact Assistant City Manager Jane Chambers at janec @logis.org or 569 -3303.
City Officials Encourage Children to Read
Inside This Issue "Read Across America Day" was celebrated r�
March 2 throughout the country. Target stores
hosted storytelling hour in its stores with a -- --
Construction News ....... 2 -3 reading of "A Cat in the Hat." The event,
Vehicle Lockouts .......... 3 endorsed by the National Education Association,
takes place annually on the birthday of the
Earle Brown Days Festival .. 4 book's author, Dr. Seuss.
Entertainment In The Park .. 5
Landscape & Garden Brooklyn Center Mayor 7
Contest ............... 6 -7 Myrna Kragness, Police
Firefighters Needed ........ 8 Chief Joel Downer, and
Fire Chief Ron Boman
Sewer Backups ............ 8 participated in the event
by reading to the
children at Target in
Brooklyn Center.
Construction News 1999 Impro Projects
Streets Parks
• Neighborhood;° Several improvements will be made to Central Park
street and utility this fall, after the completion of the softball season.
replacements in The ballfields will be raised and regraded, with
the Southeast irrigation added. A new, permanent shelter /concession
Neighborhood, stand will be constructed in the area between the two
i n c l u d i n g softball fields. The Plaza ponds and the pergola and
Irving, Girard, boardwalk will also see rehab this summer. The edges
Fremont, and of the ponds, which are eroding, will be stabilized
Emerson from with landscaping and aquatic plants on one pond and
53rd to 57th; a keystone retaining wall on the other pond. The
and Dupont, boardwalk will be rehabbed, and all the woodwork
Colfax, Bryant, and Camden from 55th to 57th, and stained and refinished.
Aldrich from 56th to 57th; also the cross streets of
56th and 54th. When complete, the entire Southeast The playground at Wangstad Park will be replaced.
area from Logan to the Mississippi River, except for This will complete all the major playground
Humboldt Avenue and 57th from Humboldt to TH replacements. Swings will be added at Kylawn, West
100, which are County Roads, will have been Palmer, Grandview, and Riverdale Parks.
reconstructed with curb and gutter, utility
improvements, and new storm sewer. At Lions Park, the existing shelter building will be
removed and replaced with an open picnic shelter,
• Earle Brown Drive from John Martin Drive to the which will be donated by the Lions Club. The
Earle Brown Heritage Center new parking lot will pavement around the Little League fields and
receive a mill and overlay, similar to the concession stand will be replaced.
improvements on John Martin Drive last year. A
sidewalk will be added on the east side of Earle Several parks will see lighting upgraded, fencing
Brown Drive from Summit Avenue to the new parking replaced, and hockey rinks paved for roller hockey. In
lot. a cooperative effort with Brooklyn Center School
District, a new softball field will be added and the
• If given the go -ahead later this spring by the developer basketball court relocated at Firehouse Park. Trails at
of the Regal Theaters at TH 252 and 66th, 66th Bellvue and Evergreen Parks will be overlaid, and a
Avenue in the vicinity of Camden Avenue will be new trail will be added at Bellvue from the ballfield to
widened and a new traffic signal and turn lane will be the south end of the park, adjacent to the new Bellvue
installed to handle the traffic in and out of the new 20 Lane, and a relocation of the basketball court.
screen movie theater.
• The 53rd Avenue Greenway will be completed
• Miscellaneous sidewalk and , between Bryant Avenue and the
retaining wall repairs will �„ u4 s Mississippi River. The segment
�;y e
occur this fall. A number of between Bryant and Fourth Street,
traffic signal poles will be adjacent to the new homes on Bellvue
repainted. The 69th Avenue Lane, will be graded, sodded, and
Parkway fence will be landscaped. A bicycle path will be
repainted. constructed from Bryant to the new
North Mississippi Regional Trail east
of Lyndale Avenue. A separate
project will add decorative fencing and
a new city entrance sign.
2
Construction News 1999 Improvement Projects
Utilities
• Water Tower #1, at France and 69th Avenue, will be A large sanitary sewer interceptor runs adjacent to the
repaired and repainted. Towers #2 and #3 were both Mississippi River the length of the City. Most of that
repaired and repainted in the past two way the sewer is located under Willow
years. This will complete the cycle of Lane or Lyndale Avenue but a segment of
tower maintenance, with no repainting ( this interceptor, north of 66th Avenue and
expected for at least ten years. I Willow Lane, veers east and is very close
to the riverbank, which is eroding around
• The exteriors of Well Houses #5 it. This segment cannot be relocated
(corner of 70th and Camden) and #6 because several houses are in the way.
(69th and Emerson) will be Later this fall a project will be undertaken
rehabilitated with new brick cladding to stabilize the riverbank around this
and new roofs, along with interior interceptor.
work to replace some mechanicals and k
doors. Minneapolis should complete work on
t
its portion of the Shingle Creek
• Sanitary Sewer Lift Stations #10 Regional Pond south of Centerbrook
(Bass Lake Road at Shores Drive) and Golf Course, with final cleanup and
# 11(Shingle Creek Parkway landscaping at the Golf Course
south of John Martin Drive) and the Regional Pond this fall.
have reached the end of their FNeed.pm, re information on improvement
useful lives and will b jects? Contact Engineering
replaced with new units. 569 -3340
Station # 10 will be relocated or
across the street on the south Public Works Web site
side of Bass Lake Road on bworks .ci.broo klyn - center.mn.us
City -owned property.
Motorists —Take Caution Not To Get Locked Out of Your Vehicles!
The Brooklyn Center Police Department has assisted motorists who are locked out of their vehicles by using
a "slim jim" tool to unlock the car. The Police Department has restricted the response to those vehicles
having mechanical door locks or extenuating circumstances such as a child locked in the vehicle. Experience
has shown that officers have difficulty in unlocking vehicles with power door locks and power windows due
to the wiring and other electrical components that interfere with the operation of the "slim jim" unlocking
tool. The Police Department received information in April 1999 that a serious problem may result from
unlocking vehicles equipped with side impact airbags. Three officers have been killed when the introduction
of the "slim jim" sets off the airbag. The force of the airbag turns the tool into a potentially lethal projectile.
Effective May 15, 1999, the Brooklyn Center Police Department will no longer offer to unlock cars for
motorists who have left the keys in the ignition. The Police Department will only attempt to unlock the doors
of a vehicle when there are extenuating circumstances and the vehicle is not equipped with side impact
airbags. Motorists calling for lockout assistance will be advised to contact a locksmith.
3
�• ` ' �` M •� 17th Annual t• ' « ° .► «
•
° 1999 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, June 24 Saturday, June 26
6:30 - 9 p.m. 8 a.m. Start Time: 7 a.m. Registration ;
' aradc, 59th & Dupont to 69th & Dupont. * IOK & 2 Mile walk /Run, Central Park trail at NW corner of
110 units including bands, floats, marching & novelty. RD 10 (Bass Lk Rd) & Shingle Creek Pkwy. Sponsored
Grand marshal is Crystal Vandenberg, Miss Minnesota. by Discover The Center and HealthPartners.
Band awards ceremony held after parade at Evergreen 10 - 11:45 a.m. Contest: 9:45 a.m. Check -in
Soccer Field. Sponsored by Brooklyn Center Lions. Kids Fishinj contest, Shingle Creek behind Community Center.
For ages 12 & under. Prizes. Sponsored by BrookPark
Friday, June 25 Dental.
12:30 Start Time: Noon Check -in 10 a.m. - 6
*Mini -500 Tournament Community Center. Arts & Crafts Fair, Central Park.
For adults. Cost $3 per person, includes coffee, treats, Handcrafted items, original art work, food vendors and
expenses and prizes. children's art area.
I - 542.m. Noon - 1 - 12. m.
*summer Picnic at the Pool, Community Center Picnic, Central Park. Pack own or buy from food vendors.
Bring a picnic to eat on pool deck or patio. Or buy hotdog, 2 - 3:3 0 p. m.
chips and pop for $1.50. Bring air mattresses, inner tubes. old Fashioned Games & Contests, Central Park.
Regular pool admission prices. All ages. Water ballon toss, penny scramble, shoe kick,
6:30 - 8:3012.m. relay races & more. Prizes & gift certificates to winners.
ice cream social & Entertainment Brookdale. Sponsored by Daytonsll Door prize drawing - you must be present to win.
Brookdale Inn and Sebastian Joe's. Sponsored by Brooklyn Center Rotary.
7 - 10,2. m.
EVENT SITES: Battle of the sands, Central Park.
• Brooklyn Center Community Center & Central Park Teens ages 12 -17. Local bands will compete for best band.
6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. Sponsored by the Youth Initiatives of Discover The Center.
• Brookdale Center, Hwy 100 & County Rd. 10.
*Denotes admis unda , June 27
ss�on fee. y
Other Earle Brown Days festival events are FREE! 10 a.m. - 6 p. m.
Earle Brown Days Festival Arts & Cr afts Fair, Central Park.
Hotline - 569 -3400 Handcrafted items, original art work, food vendors and
�c children's art area.
-------------------------------------------------
Lp m.
Arts & Crafts Fair - Door Prize Drawing Slip The Main Event, Central Park.
Sign up for door prizes at the Arts & Crafts Fair
Professional Wrestling featuring Jim Brunzell, Wildbill
Nam Phone Irwin, Charlie Norris, Prime Time, Blood & Gutts.
Addres 8 - 10 12.m.
City
Reuben Ristrom & the Bourbon street Boys, Central Park.
Zip
Dixieland jazz music. Food vendors. Fill out and drop in box at Arts & Crafts Fair!!! 10 --JI
—
Fireworks, Central Park.
S ectacular fireworks display Food vendors.
4
1999
Bpoo GeBUIP
Unk
ne Pa*
i
Programs begin at 7p.m
Tuesday, June 15 Koncar Brothers Band* - Polka, variety
Tuesday, June 22 The Rockin' Hollywoods - The hottest 50's group in the Twin Cities area
Tuesday, June 29 Coda* - Swing, jazz, pop, variety
Tuesday, July 6 Brooklyn Community Band - Band music at its finest
Tuesday, July 13 LeRoy's River Minstrels* - Dixieland, jazz and golden oldies
Tuesday, July 20 Buffalo Gals* - Swing, Irish, Cajun, and cowgirl
Tuesday, July 27 Barncats* - Old time American string band with fiddles, banjo and guitar
Tuesday, August 3 The Red Gallagher Group* - Blues, jazz, country, rock & roll
Tuesday, August 10 Zuhrah Flames* - Big band music
Tuesday, August 17 Wonderful World of Woody* - Children's music, juggling & magic
Central Park, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway (located behind the community center.)
Central Park is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket. � Refreshments will be sold.
*In case of rain, program will be held in Constitution Hall at the community center.
schedule fs subject to change.
Entertainment In The Park is sponsored by the
City of Brooklyn Center, Community Activities, Recreation & Services Department
with a donation from the Brooklyn Center Lions Club.
Questions, please call 569 -3400.
5
& Garcle Co test
Q
Cit ®f Brno dyn Center
proudly announces its
fifth annual
Landscape and Garden competition.
Applications must be submitted
b
Jul 14, 1999°
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City Of Brooklyn Center
]Landscape and warden Application
Category (circle appropriate categories)
(LANDSCAPING FLOWER GARDEN or BOTH[
Address of Property
(Name of
Resident or Business
Nominator Address
Submit nominations to:
City of Brooklyn Center landscape & Garden Contest
6301 Shingle Creek Pkw
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 -2199
6
LANDSCAPE &GARDEN CONTEST `��
CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
STH ANNUAL CONTEST TO BE HELD IN JULY
Applications must be Criteria for awards announced
submitted b 111y 13 To qualify for the City of Brooklyn Center Landscape and
Y Garden contest your property must meet the following criteria:
The City of Brooklyn Center is • must be in the Brooklyn Center city limits
proud to announce its fifth annual • should pose no problems for the sidewalk or street
Landscape and Garden competition. • must be well maintained, all structures (including fences)
You can nominate yourself or a must be in good repair
neighbor. Anyone with a green thumb • must not violate any City codes
qualifies! judging criteria for the Garden category includes:
Applications or nominations must be • must be partially visible from the street
submitted by July 14, 1999 with two • creative, visually significant, summer -long display
photos. The photos will not be • creative use of plant selection that provides color, height,
returned. judging will take place the texture, and food for human and /or habitat consumption
week of July 19- 23, 1999. judging criteria for the Landscape category includes:
Awards will be presented the last • overall general yard plan
• unusual features and creative use of materials
week in July to the top two • must have positive visual impact on the immediate
contestants in two categories —Best neighborhood
Garden and Best Landscaping. The • use of four seasons plant material
contest will feature two divisions:
Residential and Business. Additional application /nomination forms are available at
/fyou have any questions, please ca// Brooklyn Center City Hall, and the Community Center at 6301
569 - .495. Shingle Creek Pkwy.
1998 Contest Winners
N g,
1 111Iii ��
Fred & Yvonne Bebensee take a break
' and enjoy their award winning yard at
2913 63rd Avenue North. Their yard
was selected as the Best Overall Yard
& Garden in 1998.
I r Firefighters Ne_ede�17 Seiver Backups
City of Brooklyn Center
6301 Shingle Creek Parkway
-The Brooklyn Center Fire -If you experience a sewer backup Brooklyn Center, MN 554
Department is now recruiting for problem, call the City before calling
firefighter classes. All candidates a sewer cleaning service. City public e-mail the City at.
will be interviewed by a committee utilities personnel will respond and
of firefighters. All training and determine if the blockage is in the info @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us
exams will be paid by the City. To City sewer line or your private sewer
become a volunteer firefighter you line at no charge. If a sewer cleaning City Hall and TTY 612.569.3300
must: service is called first and the
-be 18 years of age or older; blockage is in the City line, they will Recreation 612.569.3400
-live in Brooklyn Center or charge for the call and the City
within four minutes of a fire won't reimburse you for that charge. Emergency 911
station; Police non- emergency 612.569.3333
-be a safe driver without any CALL THE CITY
history of major violations; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 4:30 p.m. Job Information Line 612.569.3307
-pass a physical ability test; and 569 -3390 or 569 -3333
-be available during the day. 569 -3300 (Police Dept.) Mayor Myrna Kragness
-The reasons for wanting to become Councilmember Debra Hilstrom
a volunteer firefighter are many, but Public Utilities on -call personnel Councilmember Kay Lasman
among them are the personal will assist with the problem. Councilmember Ed Nelson
satisfaction of giving something Councilmember Robert Peppe
back to your community. The City Does your homeowner insurance
provides training gear and uniforms, cover sewer backups? City Manager Michael J. McCauley
pensions collectible at age 50 with City Council meetings are held the
vesting after ten years, and pay for - Occasionally sewage will backup 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at
duties at the fire station (including into businesses and/or private 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council
weekly fire drills). residences as a result of blockages in Chambers. Informal Open Forum is
-Our volunteer firefighters are highly private sewer services or the public held at 6:45 p.m. before Regular
skilled professionals who are proud sewer system. When this occurs, in Session Council meetings. Watch City
to serve this community. Wouldn't addition to the mess and odor, Council meetings live on cable
you like to join them? If you think considerable damage can also occur Channel 37. Replays shown at 6:30
you'd qualify for this job, call Fire to ro e Most homeowner p.m. on Tuesdays and 6:30 a.m. and
p
Chief Ron Boman at 569 -3360 or insurance policies will not cover 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays following
y Hall
City City Council meetings. Call
pick up an application at the fire without a special rider and the City to verify meeting dates, 61 2 . 569 .3 300.
ll Cit Hall
station at 63rd and Brooklyn will not cover damages unless it is
Boulevard any night after 8 p.m. or proven that the City was negligent in
Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. maintaining its system. The City
to 8 p.m. Interested persons can also recommends you consider obtaining
pick up an application at City Hall a rider that would cover such printed on recycled paper t
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to damage if it would occur.
4:30 p.m. Apply before July 1, 1999.
City of
BROOKLYN
CENTER
6301 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430