Snow Removal Update

Kari Miller sent me the following info this morning:

"I received a call from Dan at Goetz to confirm they started clearing snow at 6:00 pm Saturdayand will be finishing clean up today.  Hugo had 16 inches of snow! I have been providing homeowners that call with the following information.

Thank you

Please refer to the following Snow Fall Parameters that are required  by your Association and Vender.  You had 9+” of snow last night.

Snow Fall Parameters

2”-4” – All snowfalls of 2” or more will be plowed.  Plowing includes driveways and walkways.  Additionally, areas prone to ice buildup will receive applications of de-icing chemicals.  Snow removal will begin when substantial accumulation has ceased.

4”-9” – Single storms that are forecasted to produce accumulations of 4”-9” inches will be plowed and de-iced to allow safe travel during the first service.  Trucks will be dispatched when accumulation reaches 3.5”-4.0” at the job site.  A final plowing will be performed when substantial accumulation has ceased.  During final clean up all areas prone to ice buildup will receive applications of de-icing chemicals.

9+” – Single storms that are forecasted to produce 9” plus of accumulation will be serviced to allow a flow of traffic in/out of driveways.  Plowing will continue during the entire storm to achieve the above.  Final plowing will be performed when substantial accumulation has ceased.  During final clean up all areas prone to ice buildup will receive applications of de-icing chemicals.

The Association, working with the Contractor, reserves the right to push/pile the snow anywhere on the common areas where it is most cost effective for the Association.  This may mean that areas adjacent to individual units and/or yards may be used for the storage of plowed snow. 

Note: According to the contract city sidewalks will be plowed within 24 hrs of the completion of a snowfall.  This is done because city sidewalk is considered a non-critical service.

Adult Holiday Party at Blue Heron set for Dec. 15

Come celebrate the holidays with your neighbors!  Drinks and appetizers will be provided.

Blue Heron Grill

Saturday, Dec. 15

8:00 pm

Public Ice Skating and Hockey Rick Initiative

Hello VG Residents,

This message is going out to gage how much interest there is in having an ice skating rink at Val Jean Park and potentially Arbre Park. We have two beautiful parks that are otherwise abandoned during the winter months. I already know plenty of kids, as well as adults, in the neighborhood who would love to get outside to skate, learn to skate and/or play hockey.

Unfortunately, the City of Hugo has only one public hockey rink located by Hugo Elementary School and it is maintained by the residents who live near it. After meeting with Scott Anderson, the Hugo Public Works Director, I learned that the City of Hugo does not have any sort of funds for hockey rinks, general skating rinks, warming houses or lights. This is unfortunate for kids who would love to be able to figure skate or play hockey, but may not learn until a later age or just wont have the opportunity to develop like the kids in neighboring cities. For comparison, Shoreview and Arden Hills have skating facilities at Sitzer Park, Wilson Park, Shoreview Commons Park, Cummings Park, Bucher Park, Bobby Theisen Park, McCullough Park, Shamrock Park, Valentine Park, Freeway Park, Hazelnut Park, Perry Park as well as 3 rinks in North Oaks. Each park has a warming house, a general skating rink, a hockey rink and lights.

So far I have pulled together a small group of people in the neighborhood who I knew would be interested in a rink. What we would like to do is find out how many others are interested, who would be willing to assist in planning, and who else would be on board with funding the necessary materials. After speaking with Scott, I have learned that the City of Hugo would store the boards during the summer months and that we would have access to water for flooding the rinks.

I would like to get a larger group of interested residents together to come up with a plan that we can submit to the ARC Review Board. In an ideal world we would have a hockey rink, a general skating rink, lights and a warming house. What we will most likely propose is a temporary (winter months only), slightly smaller hockey rink with short boards and a general skating rink for those who do not wish to play hockey but would like to skate.

If you have any interest in being a part of this initiative, please contact me by December 10th.

Thank you,

Rob Weaver 

rob_weaver@hotmail.com 

651-334-6649

Tree Pruning - Hugo's Public Works Director Explains

Boulevard tree canopy. 
These trees were pruned to encourage upward growth,
then outward growth over the street.
Low-hanging limbs were removed to
avoid large vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

As you may know, the City of Hugo requested that SFV residents prune their boulevard trees this winter.  More on the history of that request can be found in these two previous website posts:

• City Requests Boulevard Tree Pruning This Winter
• Boulevard Tree Pruning - Are you interested in hiring a pro?

UPDATE:

Hugo's Public Works Director, Scott Anderson and I discussed this subject over the phone earlier this week.  We both agreed that more information might be helpful, especially if that info comes from the City of Hugo.  Accordingly, Mr. Anderson sent me the following email yesterday:

On Nov 28, 2012, at 9:19 AM, Scott Anderson wrote:

Mark,

There have been a few questions regarding the City’s request for boulevard trees to be trimmed in the Victor Gardens neighborhood.  I thought I’d send you a quick email to help understand why the request is being made. 

Years ago, CPDC and City of Hugo staff met to discuss maintenance responsibilities in the parks and common areas of the development.  It was agreed that all boulevard trees, except in park areas and adjacent boulevards, would be maintained by the HOA or homeowners.  This is why when a boulevard tree, not adjacent to a park, is hit by a car (or eaten by a beaver) the HOA is responsible for its replacement.  The City does pick up and remove the dead tree for public safety reasons.  This agreement gave the homeowners of Victor Gardens a bit more control over how and when the maintenance of the boulevard trees was performed. 

The City of Hugo is requesting that the HOA and homeowners perform the much needed pruning of the boulevard trees to prevent future damage to limbs by City equipment used during maintenance activities such as snow plowing and street sweeping.  Up to this point, HOA direction has been for minimal pruning and the result is trees with limbs beginning to grow out into the roadway.  City staff would like to see the trees pruned in a way that encourages upward growth and eventually outward growth.   

With that being said, the Hugo Public Works Department is willing to perform the tree pruning, however, it would be done according to the City’s “Tree Trimming Policy” and a more aggressive approach (to maximize the time between pruning) would be taken.  The request from the City for the HOA and homeowners allows the residents to perform the pruning in a manner that better suits themselves and still satisfies intent of the City’s policy. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call!

Sincerely,

Scott Anderson

Public Works Director

City of Hugo

651-762-6326 Office

651-762-6374 Fax

Goetz Landscape Will Offer Tree Pruning Services

For those SFV residents who responded to my pruning inquiry email, thank you.  I've submitted to Goetz Landscape Inc. an approximate number of boulevard trees that residents said they might be interested in having Goetz prune.  Additionally, a number of you said that you had other side-yard or back-yard trees that you might be interested in pruning also.  A few of you also asked about removing dead shrubs, beaver damaged, trees, etc.

Now that Goetz has that raw data, I'd expect them to respond within the next few days with pricing and next steps for those interested residents.  

When I have more info, I'll pass it along.

Disclosure Statement

Santa to Visit Wagner's Garden Center Saturday, Dec. 1

Say hello to Santa this Saturday, Dec. 1,  11:00am - 3:00pm at Wagner's Garden Center in Hugo. Enjoy refreshments, carolers, face painting and free photos with Santa.  Link to Wagner's website here.

Santa to Visit Lake Area Bank on Dec. 14

Santa Claus will visit Lake Area Bank on Friday, December, 14, 3:30-5:30pm

Tell him that you've been nice and don't forget to bring along your wish lists!

North Village Villas - Tree Decorating this Saturday, Dec. 1

The Victor Gardens North Village Villas sub-association is seeking volunteers on Saturday, December 1st around 1:00 PM to help decorate trees.  Volunteers will work together to beautify the North Village Villas entry/approach with holiday lights.

Please join us on Saturday! See you at 1:00.

The Nest Introduces New Home Concept Plans

Building on Fall Parade momentum from their Mackintosh model home, the Nest has developed a few new home concepts, elevations and plans. They include a contemporary interpretations of farmhouse, four square and shingle styles. See more on The Nest's Facebook.

Boulevard Tree Pruning - Are you interested in hiring a pro?

Dear Single Family Village neighbors,

As many of you know, the City of Hugo asked me to communicate with our residents about our boulevard trees. The City eventually wants to see a 12 to 15 foot clearance under each of Victor Gardens' boulevard trees. This will likely be an ongoing, multi-year effort. I posted an article regarding this on our website a few weeks ago. Click here for the full story.

Since our boulevard trees are owned by each of us individually and not by the association, residents may hire a professional to perform this service or do it themselves. Victor Gardens Master Association and its various condo sub-associations are hiring Goetz Landscape to prune their collectively owned boulevard trees.

Dan Steuernagel from Goetz Landscape asked me roughly how many Single Family Village homeowners might be interested in specially priced tree pruning this winter. Goetz would like to offer our Victor Gardens Single Family Village homeowners a deal:
For those of you who are familiar with our neighborhood's yearly discounted (bulk rate) lawn detaching, sprinkler blow-out, and core aeration services- it would work similarly:

• Trees would be pruned for a flat per-tree price; regardless of size, age, species, etc.
• All work would be performed by Goetz on one pre-determined "Pruning Day" in December. 
• Homeowners would need to sign up with Goetz on before this date (granting Goetz permission to be on their property and to prune their trees). 
• Homeowners would need to have a check and completed permission slip ready at their front door (hanging on a doorknob or under the mat) before Goetz arrived on the "Pruning Day". 
• If no check and permission slip was left, then Goetz would not prune the trees. 

As a neighborhood, we haven't done this before. I'm a little uncertain how many trees we're talking about. Goetz Landscape could offer us a better deal if more trees were included in the "Pruning Day". Dan can set a price if he knows roughly how many homeowners are interested. More trees = a greater discount for everyone.

Here's my question for you all:  Please reply
If you're interested in Goetz Landscape per-tree pricing to professionally prune your trees and remove the pruned branches, please let me know the following:

1. How many boulevard trees on your property would you wish to have Goetz prune?
2. How many other deciduous (leaf dropping) trees on your property (in your front, side or back yard) would you wish to have Goetz prune?

Please email me in the next few days if you're interested, and please answer the above questions. I'll share the raw numbers with Goetz and they'll make an offer to us based on those numbers.

- Mark

VG Long Term Planning Committee Meeting set for Monday Nov. 26

The newly formed VG Long Term Planning Committee is scheduled to meet:

Monday, Nov. 26

7:00pm

Hosted by Kim Scanlan, 4767 Dahlia Way N. in the Creek Side Villas area.

Tamarack Nature Center's Upcoming Winter Opportunities

Here are a few highlights of upcoming programs offered at Tamarack Nature Center. More opportunities for all ages available online via this link Think snow!

• Adult Yoga - Nov. 28-Dec. 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., $32/person
• Nature Photography Club - Sat., Dec. 15 & Jan. 19, 10 am - noon
• Winter Bird Banquet - Sat., Dec. 1, 1:00-3:00 p.m. $6.50/person, plus $2/supply fee

YOGA FOR KIDS, Sundays, 3:00 - 3:50 p.m. Session I: December 2, 9, 16 $19.50 series; or $7.50 Individual classes Session II: February 3, 10, 17, 24 March 3, 10, 17$45.50 series; or $7.50 individual classes Ages 5-12 years

VISION QUEST - WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP-TWO DAY CLASS (for adults) - Sat., Jan. 12, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 13, 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.$65/person for the two-day class

TAMARACK NATURE CENTER PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB - Third Saturday of each month Dec. 15, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16 10:00 a.m. to noon



You can also drop us an email with your questions or requests at:tamarack@co.ramsey.mn.us

SFV Board Meeting Tonight, 7pm at VG Activity Center

Victor Gardens Single Family Homeowners Association  (SFV)

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, Nov. 15 , 2012, 7:00 PM Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center

Directors: Julie Bixby, John Roehrich, Josh Berger, Terry Forbord

AGENDA

1. Call to order:

2. Approval of Minutes:

a.    4-18-12 Board of Directors Meeting b.    4-24-12 Annual Meeting

3. Resident Forum:

a.    SFV residents are encouraged to speak to the Board, ask questions, raise concerns, etc.

4. Financial Report:

a.    Current Financials b.    Collections Report

c.    Status of Master Association payable.

5. Committee Reports:

a.    SFV AAC Report:

b.    SFV ARC Report:

i.    Improving Architectural & Landscape Change Application ii.    Summary of Applications

6. Management Report:

7. VGCA (Master Association) Report:

a.    Master Board:

i.    Grantaire Green and Main Entrance electrification project. (Mark is working with City of Hugo, Goetz Landscape and Connexus Energy.)

ii.    Holiday lighting installations. b.    Social Events Committee:

c.    Long Term Planning Committee:

i.    New group met first time on 11-8-12.

ii.    Next meeting 11-26-12, 7:00pm at 4767 Dahlia Way. iii.    Currently evaluating scope of work.

1.   Could include:

a.     Recommending uses of property near VG pool. b.     Monument signage

c.    Other areas identified by a survey.

d.    Master ARC:

i.    New builder, Colfax Companies.  New model home approved for

14254 Victor Hugo Blvd. near tennis court.

8. Old Business:

a.    Gazebo, picnic structure, postal station, etc. repainting schedule.

9. New Business:

a.    Beavers

b.    Boulevard tree pruning – Action required/requested  by the City of Hugo. c.     Hugo sign ordinance enforcement

10.  Review of Action Items

11.  Adjournment

Master ARC Meeting Cancelled

Tomorrow's Master ARC Meeting has been cancelled. 

Single Family Village Board Meeting

The Single Family Village will hold a board meeting at the VG Activity Center this Thursday, November 15th starting at 7P.   A formal agenda is still being drafted but topics will include beaver damage, new construction updates, Master Board updates, financials and more.

As always, SFV residents are encouraged to attend. There will be a portion of the agenda set aside for a resident forum.

Hope to see you there!

Long Term Planning Committee Meeting Notes - Nov. 8, 2012

VICTOR GARDENS

LONG TERM PLANNING COMMITTEE

11-8-12

MEMBERS PRESENT:

DAWN LA FONTSEE

KAREN RAY

KIM SCANLAN

SINCE THIS WAS THE COMMITTEE’S FIRST MEETING WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH OUR PURPOSE.  WE SEE THIS COMMITTEE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MASTER BOARD BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.  WE ARE SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN LAND USE, DEMOGRAPHICS, VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNICATION, AND ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LONG TERM PLANNING COMMITTEES WITHIN OUR LARGER COMMUNITY.

OUR ACTION PLAN:

1.     CREATE A SURVEY TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE VICTOR GARDENS THROUGH THE VARIOUS SUB-ASSOCIATIONS.  WE WOULD LIKE TO DETERMINE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE AREA, ESTABLISH DESIRED COMMUNICATION METHODS, AND ASK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM CONCERNING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.  WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHAT THE ORIGINAL VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY WAS.

2.     WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAN ANOTHER MEETING TO INCLUDE OUR OTHER MEMBER, RACHEL BERGER BEFORE PROCEEDING ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

3.     WE WILL ASK THE MASTER BOARD FOR A BUDGET TO HELP WITH ANY INITIAL COSTS INCLUDING POSTAGE, ETC, AND TO USE IN THE EVENT WE NEED TO PAY FOR A SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL BID.  INITIALLY WE WILL ASK FOR $1,000.  IF WE GET INTO A SPECIFIC PROJECT WHERE FUNDS ARE NEEDED WE WILL APPROACH THE MASTER BOARD FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS ALONG WITH APPROVAL.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM THE SURVEY WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND POSSIBLY CREATE SEVERAL FOCUS GROUPS TO HELP DIRECT OUR EFFORTS.  WE ALSO SEE SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE CITY OF HUGO’S LONG TERM PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND BECOMING INVOLVED WITH THEIR AGENDA WHERE IT MAY AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE SURVEY SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS VIA E-MAIL, FACEBOOK, AND ON PAPER FOR THOSE NOT CONNECTED BY COMPUTER.  WE CAN POSSIBLY GET A NOTICE OUT THAT SURVEYS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT A MASTER BOARD MEETING.

AGENDA:

WE ORIGINALLY HAD TWO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA, THE PROPERTY NEXT TO THE POOL, AND MONUMENT SIGNS.  WE DECIDED TO TABLE THE SIGN ISSUE UNTIL WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS VIA THE SURVEY.

WE ALL AGREED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO WORK ON THE VACANT LAND BY THE POOL, AND PROVIDE OPTIONS TO THE MASTER BOARD.  RACHEL BERGER WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INSIGHT ON THIS MATTER SO WE WILL ADDRESS THE TOPIC AT THE NEXT MEETING.

NEXT MEETING:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26^TH 7:00 P.M. AT THE HOME OF KIM SCANLAN, 4767 DAHLIA WAY IN CREEKSIDE VILLAS.

Goetz Offers Holiday Lighting Special Offer Benefitting Food Shelf

Goetz Landscape is offering FREE Holiday Light estimates to all Victor Gardens Residents. We can hang your own lights for you, or provide you commercial grade LED lights. 

In appreciation of Victor Gardens residents using a local company for their Holiday Light provider, we will donate 5% of total proceeds to the Hugo Food Shelf just in time for the Holidays. Please contact Goetz Landscape @ 651-426-2136 or www.goetzlandscape.com to schedule your appointment.

- submitted by Goetz Landscape

Disclosure

City Requests Boulevard Tree Pruning This Winter

Boulevard trees require
pruning this winter.

Update 11/29/12:
Previously the headline of this post used the word "Required". This was incorrect and the corresponding text has also been updated.  Although the City is not requiring owners do this, there are many good reasons to do so.  More info is avaivalbe in a 11/29/12 post.

Hugo's Public Works Director, Scott Anderson has been discussing Victor Gardens' boulevard trees with VG's Community Manager, Kari Miller, VG's landscape contractor Goetz Landscape, and myself.  Mr. Anderson has asked me to reach out to residents via email and the website.

Background info:
Boulevard trees are generally described as the trees planted between the sidewalk and the street curb. This area is part of the City's “street right-of-way” easement.  According to VG's Covenants, each individual Single Family Village (SFV) owner is responsible for the health and upkeep of their own boulevard trees.  If a SFV boulevard tree dies, the owner must replace the tree. Over the last few years, the City of Hugo's crews have begun pruning boulevard trees within Victor Gardens' city-owned parks.  These include Arbre Park, Victor Square and Val Jean Park. The time has come for the rest of the neighborhood's boulevard trees to be maintained.

Q: Why do my boulevard trees need to be pruned?
Pruning provides clearance for buses, garbage trucks, street sweepers, moving vans and other large curbside vehicles that can damage, or be damaged by, low branching. Pruning provides overhead clearance for pedestrians, and also facilitates visibility of traffic signs and allows motorists a clear view of intersections and driveways.  Some varieties of trees also cast a dense shadow. Trimming them allows sunlight to penetrate lawn and shrub areas. In some cases, removing lower branches will eventually increases nighttime security because streetlights can bathe a broader area.

Q: How high up do my boulevard trees need to be pruned?
Branches on trees in the boulevard are generally pruned to provide more clearance than trees in parks, golf courses or on private property. The City of Hugo is asking that we prune our boulevard trees so that there is a 12 to 15 foot clearance to the ground.  This provides enough clearance and will develop the attractive tree lined street canopy envisioned by the original development plan.

Q: Why should seemingly healthy lower limbs be removed?
Lower limbs that will eventually become problems because of their location are best removed when the tree is young. Low limbs do not rise higher as the tree gets older, but they do bend closer to the ground as the tree matures.

Q: What other kind of pruning is healthy for the trees?
Pruning trees to remove dead wood, rubbing branches, crossed limbs, split or hollow limbs, storm damage, shattered wood and trunk sprouts are great ways to keep trees healthy.  Pruning when the tree is young is less stressful and looks better than pruning a mature tree.

Q: My trees seem too small to prune now. Isn't it too early?
It's important to develop a strong primary (scaffold) branching structure while the tree is still young. As they grow, these trees will possess a stronger branching framework that requires less corrective pruning maintenance and will be able to withstand wind, ice, or snow events. With the smaller size of some of our neighborhood's newer trees, this may be difficult and still have the tree's canopy look good.  In these cases, lower limb pruning to a 15 foot clearance may be spread over a course of a few years.

Q: What time of year is best for pruning?
Winter is the best season for pruning.  Trees are dormant during winter and are less susceptible to stress and introduction of disease and pests.  Spring will bring a new flush of growth in the top of the tree and the upper branches and will provide nutrients for the lower portion to heal properly.  Winter's also a great time because problem branches are easily spotted without leaves obstructing the view.


Q: When should this pruning take place?
This winter, before new buds start to form.

Q: Are trees other than my boulevard trees involved?
The City is primarily interested in you properly maintaining your boulevard trees.  Many of the same reasons for pruning boulevard trees also applies to other trees on your property. Thoughtful pruning is a good way to promote healthy growth and sturdy structure. 

Q: What do I need to do now?

In the next few weeks, I'll follow up with more information on what SFV residents need to do regarding their boulevard trees this winter.  I've included some links below to give everyone a better idea of what's involved:

Pruning Instructions:

• How to Prune Trees (USDA Forest Service)
• How to Prune Trees (USDA Forest Service) - PDF
• Pruning Young Trees (ISA)
• Pruning Mature Trees (ISA)

Mail Delivery Snafu

This morning a neighbor asked me to share this with you:

"I discovered on Saturday that a substitute mail delivery person had placed ALL the mail for Provence Way North in a big stack in one of the gray slots to the side of the actual locked mail boxes. I delivered all the mail to my neighbors by hand, as there were bills, bank statements and paychecks in the stack and I was concerned about theft. I contacted the post office this morning to report my concerns and they are looking into it. If any other mailstops in the neighborhood ran into the same situation it would be a good idea to report it to the Hugo Post Office Manager, Craig."

Last Chance for Discounted Sprinkler Blow-out - $50

$50 Sprinkler Blow-Out

Today and tomorrow, Shawn Herman, of Classic Lawnscape Inc., offering discounted services for VG residents.  Each year, Shawn offers a Victor Gardens resident discount to perform seasonal blowing out and shut-down of individual sprinkler systems. He always does a thorough and professional job.

Shawn's price for blowing-out sprinklers today (Saturday, October 20) and tomorrow (Sunday, October 21) is $50.00 per home.

Please contact Shawn Herman directly at (612) 366-6088 or shawn@classiclawnscape.com

*Disclosure