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March 2021 • Volume 22, No. 3
Sign up to
receive emergency
calls from the city
Do you want to be among the first to to as many addresses as needed. If you
receive important emergency messag- have a winter home in another state,
es from the city? If so, you should sign you can link your Woodbury home’s
up to receive emergency calls and text profile to your winter home’s profile,
messages on your mobile phone. provided your winter home’s jurisdic-
tion also uses CodeRED.
The City of Woodbury, in conjunc-
tion with Washington County, uses In addition, a free CodeRED app is
CodeRED, a high-speed telephone available for many smartphones. You
calling system, to notify local residents can use it to view alerts issued in dif-
and businesses about emergency situ- ferent CodeRED service areas.
ations. The system allows the city to
send critical communications to the How it works
entire city or to targeted areas within City staff accesses CodeRED via a
the city in a matter of minutes. secure portal on the Internet and
marks a call area. Telephone num-
The system also can be used to send
Loan programs offer
bers are matched up electronically to
important “non-emergency” messages
these addresses through the use of
which are optional; residents can opt
opportunities for home
geographical information systems.
out of receiving them. However, in
A message is sent via the telephone
most instances, the system is used in
ownership and reinvestment
with information about the incident
emergency situations where rapid and
and possibly instructions for action
accurate information to residents are
to be taken. The message is played
A guiding principle of Woodbury’s fact that the Woodbury loan will help essential for life safety.
when answered by a live person or an
2040 Comprehensive Plan is to reduce or even eliminate the need for The system is not used for weather answering machine; the system makes
“encourage the development of a private mortgage insurance. warnings, but may be used for follow- three attempts to connect to each
diversity of housing to accommo- up information such as evacuations or
Following a discussion at its Oct. 21, number.
date people of all ages, income levels shelter locations.
2020, workshop discussion about the
and family status.” With respect to The calling number for CodeRED
city’s update to its Housing Action
housing affordability in the com-
Plan, the Woodbury HRA authorized
How to receive alerts emergencies will display as 800-
munity, Woodbury’s Housing and 419-5000. The calling number for
a new component to the First-Time If you reside or own property, includ-
Redevelopment Authority (HRA) CodeRED general messages will dis-
Homeownership Program that offers ing a business, within Woodbury, you
offers two loan programs that can help place as 855-969-4636. If you would
a 0% interest rate to first-generation are urged to sign up for CodeRED
income-qualified households purchase like to hear the last message delivered
homebuyers, making an already effec- messages and ensure that you receive
their first home or renovate a home to your phone, simply dial the number
tive affordable housing tool even more any emergency notifications.
that they already own. back. Users also may add these num-
helpful to first-generation buyers. You also can opt in to receive calls bers as “contacts” in their phones, so
Woodbury First-Time The Woodbury HRA prioritizes the directly to your mobile phone, text they recognize the call is coming from
Homeownership Program stewardship of its public dollars and messages, and/or email alerts. You can the CodeRED system.
The Woodbury HRA has operated its requires full manual underwriting of register as many devices as you wish continued page 2
First-Time Homeownership Program all loan applications. While this neces-
since 2009 providing low-interest sitates a 30-day review period for all
$25,000 deferred loans to income loan applications, it has also led to
qualified first-time homebuyers. The a default rate of less than 1% – a
structure of the program can help a number far lower than commercial
homeowner save $250 to $400 per lending standards.
month given the deferred nature of the
principle, the low interest rate, and the continued page 3
woodburymn.gov /WoodburyMinnesota @CityofWoodbury /WoodburyMinnesota /CityofWoodburyMN
Sign up...from page 1
By Mayor Anne Burt
CodeRED is just one communications
tool the city uses to share information
with the public. Depending on the
event, updates may also be available
New type of emergency via the city’s website, City Update
newsletter, InTouch email service, the
responder joining Public Safety city’s social media accounts, govern-
ment access cable TV channels and
local media.
T he Woodbury Public Safety
Department is welcoming a new
kind of emergency responder to its
role, such as locating lost persons
or fleeing suspects, or gaining the
scope of a grass fire. These inci-
A department member will serve as
the UAS program coordinator and
will be responsible for the manage-
How to register
dents often occur in or around dif- ment of the UAS program. The pro- To ensure emergency notices reach
team. At our Jan. 27 meeting, the
ficult terrain, where the UAS can gram coordinator will ensure that residents and utility users, accurate
City Council approved the purchase
cover an area much more efficiently our procedures conform to current and up-to-date information is essen-
of an unmanned aerial system (UAS)
than a responder on the ground laws, regulations and best practices. tial. The CodeRED system uses the
for emergency response purposes.
can. Applications like this can help Notification of use and operation most recent information entered for
I want to tell you more about how
save lives, save time and protect will be recorded, reported to the an address and overwrites previ-
we intend to use this important new
property. state annually and be included with ous information associated with an
emergency responder device.
the department performance mea- address. The best way to manage con-
A UAS is an unmanned aircraft that We will not be using the UAS to tact information is to create a profile
sures.
is controlled remotely without a pilot conduct random patrols of the so that the user can continually make
on board. Instead, a certified pilot on city from the sky. We are follow- About the technology updates as desired.
the ground operates the device. ing state law and Federal Aviation
We have a commercial quality If you are not an existing subscriber,
Administration rules in imple-
There are many benefits of using an unit that allows up to 55 minutes you can self-register by visiting
menting this program, just like
UAS in public safety. Public Safety of flight time on a single charge. the city’s website at woodburymn.
our neighboring communities with
officials can quickly deploy them in Compared to hobby-level devices, gov/codered or texting keyword
similar programs. There are privacy
search and rescue situations or use Woodbury’s UAS can carry more “WashingtonMN” to 99411. You
restrictions in the state law about
them to capture a comprehensive weight (i.e., a high-quality camera may register as many mobile phone
using this technology in residential
view of natural disasters, fire scenes, that includes thermal imaging), numbers and email addresses as you
areas and they are more restrictive
and crash and crime scene investiga- features improved resistance to desire.
for these devices than for similar
tions. Police also can use it, in lim- weather elements such as wind and
Google Streetview technology. Persons without internet service can
ited cases, to service warrants. Other temperature, and allows for creat-
When our new UAS is needed in call Woodbury Public Safety at 651-
city departments will also be able to ing flight plans. It also has cameras
Public Safety, an officer will request 714-3600 between 8 a.m. and 4:30
use the device for tasks such as infra- and sensors to allow for live mission
the resource and a certified pilot p.m. for assistance with registration.
structure inspections. recording.
and/or a supervisor will be consult- If you have any questions about
UAS improves emergency ed to determine if use of the UAS is Public input the CodeRED system, contact the
response appropriate. State law requires government enti- Woodbury Public Safety Department
Responding to certain types of ties to provide an opportunity for at 651-714-3600 or police@wood-
This is a cost-effective way to
incidents from the air increases the public comment related to UAS burymn.gov.
enhance emergency response. No
probability of success and can reduce purchase and policy. This infor-
new staff positions were added to
the number of personnel needed on mation is available for review at
support the program. Two current
the ground. woodburymn.gov/uas. We solicited
police officers have been certified The Woodbury newsletter is published 10
for this input in December and
We currently rely on outside resourc- as pilots, and we hope to certify times per year by the City of Woodbury
received some comments from the
es f0r air support, primarily through and train at least five more officers and mailed to all residents and businesses.
community related to privacy, data
the Minnesota State Patrol helicop- as we move ahead. In terms of Send comments to: Woodbury City Hall,
retention, use/deployment, cost,
ter, the Washington County UAS, cost, the UAS purchase price was 8301 Valley Creek Road, Woodbury, MN
public notification, and training and
and other mutual aid relationships $39,000. There will be nominal 55125-3330. Phone: 651-714-3500. Email:
partnerships. Public Safety staff and
in the county. While these partner- upkeep costs (i.e., battery mainte- jason.egerstrom@woodburymn.gov.
the City Council are reviewing the
ships are effective, the additional nance), which we will have a better Mayor: Anne Burt. Council Members:
feedback from the public and will
drive and flight times often take understanding of once the program Andrea Date, Steve Morris,
determine if additional changes are
longer to get eyes in the sky, delay- is up and running for a while. We Jennifer Santini and Kim Wilson.
merited.
ing our response. In addition, we are also looking into software to aid City Administrator: Clint Gridley.
cannot solely rely on another agency in flight logging and data manage- We are always looking for means to Communications Manager: Jason
to provide this type of support all of ment, but do not expect that to enhance the safety of our residents Egerstrom.
the time. exceed a few thousand dollars. It as well as our staff. The addition of The City of Woodbury is subject to Title
should be noted, however, that one the new UAS emergency responder II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Throughout the year, our Public
UAS operator could replace several is an excellent example of this effort. In accordance with the act, the Woodbury
Safety team responds to situations
people searching on the ground. I am confident its deployment will newsletter is available in other formats.
where a UAS could play a critical
help us more efficiently protect our Call Jason Egerstrom, 651-714-3500;
community. TDD: 651-714-3568.
2
Market value notices set
Open Book
to hit mailboxes in March
Property value notices are expected to 1. Contact the assessor’s office. taken at the Open Book meeting may
meetings set
be mailed to property owners during
the last week of March by Washington
Property owners who have ques-
tions or concerns regarding the mar-
appear before the County Board of
Appeal, consisting of elected county
for market
County. Like in previous years, the
valuation notices will be mailed with
ket value set for their property are
encouraged to contact the property
commissioners, the county auditor,
and/or appointed officials. You must
value appeals
appraiser assigned to their area by Woodbury property owners can
property tax statements for taxes pay- contact the assessor’s office at 651-
calling 651-430-6175. The appraiser attend any of the following Open
able in 2021. 430-6175 by Wednesday, May 5, to be
will review the property data and Book meetings to appeal their mar-
placed on the agenda.
The “2021 Notice of Valuation and ket value or property classification.
sales information with you and, if
Classification for Taxes Payable in 3. Appeal to Minnesota State Tax All Open Book meetings will take
necessary, schedule an interior review
2022” will indicate the market value Court. The alternative method of place at the Washington County
of the property. A large majority of
established this year on Jan. 2. This appeal is bypassing the first two steps Government Center this year due to
concerns can be resolved through this
market value is the approximate listed above. It involves making an the pandemic and will only be held
administrative review without the
amount for which a property could sell appeal directly to the Minnesota Tax if conditions allow.
need for a formal appeal.
and is the basis for your 2022 taxes. Court. The deadline to appeal to the
z Wednesday, April 21, from 10
OR you may attend any of the two Minnesota State Tax Court is April 30
Determining Market Value regional Open Book meetings sched- of the year that the taxes are due. That
a.m. to 6 p.m., Washington
Each year, the county assessor’s office uled by the county (see 2021 schedule County Government Center in
means if a property owner wishes to
reviews the assessed market value in adjacent box). Your appeal can be Stillwater, 14949 62nd Street
appeal taxes due in 2021, they must
of all property to determine whether made in person, through a letter, or North
file an appeal with the court by April
changes in the local real estate market through a representative authorized 30, 2021. For more information, visit z Thursday, April 22, from 10 a.m.
require a change in assessed values. by you. The Open Book process offers the tax court website at mn.gov/tax- to 6 p.m., Washington County
Real estate sales are verified and stud- an informal setting for property court or call 651-539-3260. Government Center in Stillwater,
ied based on the location, age, and owners as well as several scheduling 14949 62nd Street North
If you have any questions regarding the
style of home and quality of construc- options. Property owners who have ques-
appraisal process or the 2021 market
tion to determine these market adjust- tions or concerns are strongly
2. Appear before the County value, contact the Washington County
ments. encouraged to contact the property
Board of Appeal and Assessor’s Office at 651-430-6175 or
If property owners question their Equalization. Property owners who appraiser responsible for their area
visit the Washington County Assessor’s
2021 estimated market value or clas- are not satisfied by speaking with the as a first step. The number to call is
Office website at washington.minneso-
sification listed on their “Notice of assessor’s office or with the action 651-430-6175.
taassessors.com.
Valuation” form, they should:
Loan programs...from page 1
The Woodbury HRA contracts with improvements that would increase exterior door and gutter screens as of the program, but I think it is worth
NeighborWorks Home Partners to the value of the home. Also eligible part of the program. Without this the time and effort.”
perform underwriting and application are any improvements that address funding, I would have been waiting
Woodbury’s HRA (the HRA’s board
analyses. For more information, visit health and safety, habitability, energy for years to make the improvements
is composed of the Mayor and
woodburyloans.com. conservation or accessibility. Ineligible to my home. I cannot say for sure that
Councilmembers) continues to find
improvements include recreational my heating bill is lower, but I know
Neighborhood success with its loan programs it
improvements, working capital, pay- now that my bedroom no longer has
Reinvestment Fund launched in 2009, having since
ments for owner’s labor, debt service drafty windows that made it uncom-
issued 258 loans in the total amount
The Neighborhood Reinvestment or refinancing existing debts. fortable when there was a breeze or in
of roughly $6.135 million through
Fund is a companion program to the extreme temperature conditions.”
By way of a real-life example, Ken R., the end of 2020. In addition to help-
First-Time Homeownership Program
a homeowner in the Park Hills neigh- Ken recommends other residents con- ing provide housing affordability
and provides 3% interest loans to
borhood of Woodbury recently used sider if the program also is a good fit within the community, the programs
income-qualified borrowers. The
the Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund for them. described above help ensure that
loan program was designed to ensure
to replace the 1960s-era windows in Woodbury employers have access to
that Woodbury ages with grace in “Everyone I spoke with was very
his house. the workforce they require while also
the coming years as well as offering helpful in walking me through the
providing access to capital to residents
the ability to provide a resource to “The program allowed me to get a sec- program steps and details,” he added.
in need of making repairs and updates
a resident as the city works through ond mortgage at a low interest rate to “I would definitely refer the program
to their homes.
code enforcement activities. Eligible cover the costs of the improvements, to other Woodbury residents. It does
projects include renovation that which made my home more energy take some effort and organization as a
remedies a code violation as well as efficient and livable,” Ken explained. homeowner to work through the steps
exterior improvements such as new “I installed eight new windows, a new
roofs, siding, windows or interior
3ECRWSS
PRST STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
8301 Valley Creek Road Twin Cities, MN
Woodbury, MN 55125-3330 Permit No. 1573
INSIDE
Homeowner loan
opportunities
Page 1
Sign up to receive
emergency calls
Page 1
Summer recreation registration begins March 24
Market valuations
arrive in March
Page 3
Summer play is on its way! Discover a wide-variety of programs, classes, camps and
community events designed to boost creativity, explore new interests, build new
Postal Patron
Woodbury, MN
friendships and, most importantly, have fun!
From classic events such as the Coin Carnival to new activities such as the Zombie
Apocalypse Chase, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the summer.
More details will be available in the city’s summer recreation programs brochure,
which will be mailed the week of March 15. Online registration for summer recre-
ation programs begins March 24.
March 2021 • Volume 22, No. 3
HERO Center range reopens Community EXPO postponed to Oct. 2
The indoor shooting range at The annual spring Woodbury throughout the day.
the Health Emergency Response Community EXPO sponsored by
The city has a booth at the event
Occupations (HERO) Training Center the Woodbury Area Chamber of
where attendees can learn about city
in Cottage Grove has reopened to the Commerce has been postponed to
facilities, services, seasonal employ-
public. Saturday, Oct. 2, due to the COVID-
ment, recreation programs, develop-
19 pandemic. This year’s expo, which
Twelve, 50-yard lanes are available for ment projects, water quality, water
is free and family-friendly, will take
rent between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on efficiency opportunities and car seat
place at HealthEast Sports Center.
Saturdays and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on safety.
Sundays. The public is encouraged to Typically, more than 130 local busi-
For more information, call the
log on to herocentermn.org/shooting- through the HERO Center. Visit hero- nesses and non-profit groups par-
Woodbury Area Chamber of
range to reserve lanes, fill out waiver centermn.org/civilian-training-acade- ticipate, promoting their companies
Commerce at 651-578-0722 or email
forms and find pricing. Walk-ins also my for details and to register. and organizations. There also will be
chamber@woodburychamber.org.
are accepted. entertainment and demonstrations
The HERO Center is located at 10125
Safety officers are always inside the 85th Street South in Cottage Grove,
range during public shooting hours to adjacent to the Cottage Grove City
help maintain a safe, family-friendly Hall and Public Safety Building. The
range environment. facility is jointly owned and operated
by the cities of Cottage Grove and
Civilian firearms courses Woodbury. For more information,
Civilian firearms courses for youth visit herocentermn.org or call 651-
and adults of all abilities are offered 458-2811.You can also read
