[0:01] Hello,

I’m Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt,

[0:03] welcome to my 2025

state of the city message.

[0:06] I'm going to tell you

about some of our key

[0:07] accomplishments

from 2024, and preview

[0:10] some of our priority activities

for 2025 and beyond.

[0:13] Let's get started.

[0:15] Every two years, the City

Council selects

[0:17] strategic priorities

[0:18] that merit

a special amount of analysis

[0:21] based on resident

[0:21] feedback collected through

the biennial Community Survey.

[0:24] The strategic initiatives

for the 2025 to 2028 cycle are

[0:28] related to water, environmental

stewardship, and public safety.

[0:32] Here's a brief progress

update on each item.

[0:36] As many of you

are already aware,

[0:37] the city is working

with multiple state agencies

[0:39] to construct a permanent water

treatment plant

[0:42] to address per

and polyfluoroalkyl substances,

[0:45] also known PFAS, in the city's

drinking water.

[0:48] In November, the city broke

ground on the treatment plant,

[0:51] which will be constructed

[0:52] east of Radio Drive

and south of Hargis Parkway.

[0:55] It is the largest public

infrastructure project

[0:58] in the city's

[0:59] history, and is expected

to be operational in 2028.

[1:03] State managed 3M settlement

funds will cover a majority

[1:06] of the construction.

[1:08] Motorists should expect roadway

and or lane closures,

[1:11] travel delays,

[1:12] as well as temporary

closures of trails

[1:14] along the pipeline routes

this summer

[1:16] and throughout the project.

[1:18] We appreciate

[1:18] your understanding, patience

and support.

[1:21] Meanwhile, as we construct

the permanent water treatment

[1:23] plant, a temporary treatment

[1:25] facility is treating

water from six impacted wells.

[1:28] An additional temporary

treatment is now

[1:30] operational at three other

well sites.

[1:32] In addition, two new water

production wells were added

[1:35] to the city's

water system in 2023 and 2024.

[1:39] I assure you, water

treatment is a top priority

[1:42] and we are doing everything

we can

[1:44] to provide the highest quality

[1:45] water possible today

and for generations to come.

[1:49] More information

is available on our website.

[1:52] Another strategic priority

is environmental stewardship.

[1:55] One of the focus areas of this

[1:57] initiative is to begin

implementing the vision

[1:59] and goals outlined in the new

Environmental Stewardship Plan,

[2:03] which was adopted by the City

Council in December 2020

[2:06] for alongside the Environmental

Stewardship Plan.

[2:09] A two year

roadmap has been developed

[2:12] incorporating community

feedback and priorities.

[2:15] Staff will focus on identifying

and expanding key actions

[2:18] to begin in the first two years.

[2:20] Every two years, staff

will collaborate with the Parks

[2:22] and Natural Resources

[2:23] Commission to update

and adjust the roadmap.

[2:27] Our last strategic initiative

for this cycle focuses on

[2:29] enhancing crime prevention

efforts and increasing

[2:32] public safety connections

with the community.

[2:34] Through the years,

our Public Safety Department

[2:36] has evolved in a proactive

and forward thinking manner

[2:40] while providing exceptional

public safety services.

[2:42] We regularly evaluate

and adjust our services

[2:45] to meet the changing needs and

expectations of our community.

[2:49] In 2019, Woodbury Police created

the Community Support Team

[2:53] to enhance the service

and resources provided

[2:55] in mental health crises.

[2:57] Since creating this team,

we have seen an increase

[2:59] in calls

related to mental health,

[3:01] substance

use disorders, domestic abuse,

[3:04] and those experiencing

housing insecurities.

[3:07] In 2024,

we added an additional detective

[3:10] Sergeant and mental health

practitioner to this team

[3:13] to continue

to provide the resources

[3:15] our community needs at

exceptional levels of service.

[3:19] Public

[3:19] safety continues to use data

driven analysis, innovation

[3:22] relationships, and proactive

work to prevent crime.

[3:26] We are working with local retail

areas to spearhead

[3:28] proactive efforts

to address criminal activity

[3:30] in those spaces.

[3:32] These coordinated efforts

not only help stop

[3:34] criminal activity,

[3:35] but they also strengthen

[3:37] our relationships

with our retail partners.

[3:39] This work and strong

[3:40] relationships, coupled with

our increased use of technology

[3:43] over the past two years, helped

keep our residents

[3:46] safe and prevent crime

from occurring in our community.

[3:49] In the EMS Fire Division,

we are working to restructure

[3:52] the staffing schedule to 24 hour

working shifts.

[3:56] This will help us build

a sustainable staffing model

[3:58] given the increasing

[3:59] number of calls for service,

particularly for EMS.

[4:03] It's also important

our staffing model ensures

[4:05] we have the appropriately

trained staff

[4:07] to respond to fire, rescue and

hazardous materials incidents.

[4:11] This model will assist

with our recruitment

[4:13] and retention efforts,

[4:14] enhance our EMS fire

[4:16] response time, and better

serve our growing community.

[4:19] Our Public Safety Department

continues to evolve

[4:21] to the benefit of our residents.

[4:23] I'm proud of our progress,

and I'm looking forward

[4:25] to the continued enhancements

and initiatives

[4:27] ahead, like expanding

our public safety campus,

[4:31] recognizing

the need to accommodate

[4:32] our growing community,

and increasing demands

[4:34] on our staff programs

and emergency services.

[4:37] We are renovating and expanding

the Public Safety campus.

[4:41] In November 2024.

[4:42] Woodbury voters approved

funding this project primarily

[4:45] through a half cent local sales

tax beginning in April 2025,

[4:49] allowing residents

to share the burden

[4:51] with our visitors

and our nonresidents.

[4:54] We're looking forward to

breaking ground on this project

[4:56] in 2026, with plans

to open the campus by mid 2028.

[5:01] Stay tuned

for updates on our website

[5:02] and in the Woodbury City

Update newsletter.

[5:05] Thank you for supporting

our first responders.

[5:08] Moving along to another

[5:09] significant improvement

project underway, the city

[5:12] is currently renovating

Central Park, a popular indoor

[5:15] gathering space

that originally opened in 2002.

[5:19] This versatile

facility plays a vital role

[5:21] in connecting people

and resources

[5:23] by providing a welcoming space

for community gatherings.

[5:26] The city secured $7.5 million

in State of Minnesota bonding,

[5:30] along with other legislative

support

[5:32] to help fund these enhancements.

[5:34] Construction

began in April 2024,

[5:37] with the facility

expected to reopen this fall.

[5:40] A grand reopening

celebration is being planned,

[5:42] with more details to be shared

as the date approaches.

[5:45] Additional project information,

including renderings

[5:48] and progress photos,

are on the city's website.

[5:51] Now, let's talk about why

[5:52] so many of us

chose to live in Woodbury.

[5:55] Our extensive parks and trail

[5:56] system, recreational amenities,

and recreation programs.

[6:00] We've been busy renovating

existing facilities and building

[6:03] new parks,

[6:04] including a new park in

the Copper Hills neighborhood,

[6:06] renovated steps

from the parking lot

[6:08] to the lake at Carver

[6:09] Lake Park, and updated Evergreen

East and Woodland Hills parks.

[6:13] Currently,

a planning study continues

[6:15] to identify and prioritize

potential improvements

[6:18] and state funding opportunities

for Lake Park,

[6:21] including a request

for $2 million to support

[6:24] improvements at La Lake.

[6:26] This year, we're excited

[6:27] to continue enhancing our parks

with court resurfacing

[6:30] pedestrian trail improvements

throughout the community.

[6:33] Playground

replacements at Pioneer Park

[6:35] and the small structure near

the beach at Carver Lake Park.

[6:38] Additionally,

we look forward to the art

[6:40] installations coming

to Hassenbank Park this summer.

[6:43] More details and timelines

on playground replacements,

[6:46] vegetation management

[6:47] and other park improvements

are available on our website.

[6:51] Our recreation team

also continues to introduce

[6:53] new programs to the community.

[6:55] Explore our diverse recreation

offerings by joining

[6:58] a program, Adult League

[7:00] or special event or enjoying

a free park performance.

[7:03] In 2024,

we expanded the opportunities

[7:05] for community members

with varying abilities,

[7:07] with a particular

focus on our adults and senior

[7:10] community members.

[7:12] Another

exciting project includes

[7:14] the significant expansion

of the community garden

[7:17] located at Andy Bark Park.

[7:19] In 2025, we are increasing the

number of available in-ground

[7:23] nine by 14 foot

garden plots from 48 to 96

[7:27] and adding 12 wheelchair

accessible raised beds

[7:30] and 30 raised bed garden tables.

[7:34] Updates about our upcoming

performances, special events

[7:37] and other recreation options

are available on our website

[7:40] and the Woodbury Parks

and Recreation Facebook page.

[7:43] Thanks to an extended golf

season, Eagle Valley again

[7:46] surpassed

44,000 rounds played in 2020 for

[7:49] the favorable weather in March

and November helped overcome

[7:52] the impact of fewer rounds

in May and June

[7:54] due to an abundance of rainfall.

[7:57] The clubhouse renovation

project continues

[7:59] to have a positive impact

throughout the year.

[8:01] Staff received

unprompted feedback

[8:03] on how much they liked

the new bar,

[8:05] and the new sliding wall feature

that opens up to the patio.

[8:08] Having the ability

to open the doors

[8:10] and bring the feel of nature

inside was a welcome addition.

[8:13] Our M

[8:14] Health Fairview

[8:14] Sports Center continues

to host our local

[8:16] athletic partners

throughout the year,

[8:18] as well as many casual walkers

and runners who use the climate

[8:21] controlled field house

for regular exercise.

[8:24] The sports center also welcomes

more nontraditional events

[8:27] such as Navratri,

[8:28] a Hindu festival

[8:29] that celebrates

the Goddess Durga

[8:31] and the victory of good over

evil.

[8:33] In addition,

[8:34] the facility hosts

a variety of Expo events,

[8:36] including the biannual “Just

Between Friends” consignment

[8:39] sale.

[8:40] Last year, I introduced

Destination Woodbury,

[8:43] the city's new destination

marketing organization, or DMO.

[8:47] DMO’s are used all over the

state for attracting visitors

[8:50] and generating economic benefits

to local communities.

[8:54] Today,

I'm excited to share with you

[8:55] the launch of the Destination

Woodbury website.

[8:58] Website is really

the heartbeat of a DMO,

[9:00] and it will be a great source

of information

[9:02] for the

[9:03] thousands of out-of-town guests

who visit Woodbury each year.

[9:07] The website will also be

a connection point for major

[9:09] tourism drivers

[9:10] such as the M Health Fairview

Sports Center, Central Park

[9:14] and Eagle Valley Golf Course

[9:15] to hotels, restaurants

and shopping destination.

[9:18] Woodbury is funded through a 3%

[9:20] lodging tax on most Woodbury

hotel stays per state law.

[9:24] These resources can be used only

[9:26] for attracting visitors

to the community.

[9:28] The City Council oversees

the funds.

[9:30] The Economic Development

Commission

[9:32] provides

recommendations and establishes

[9:34] strategic priorities

moving forward.

[9:36] Destination

Woodbury will also be producing

[9:39] a new park

and trail map and visitor guide,

[9:41] and will have a presence

at the renovated Central Park.

[9:44] Woodbury has experienced

[9:45] continued commercial development

activity in 2024.

[9:49] Building

permits were issued for seven

[9:50] new commercial buildings,

[9:51] totaling

more than 260,000ft² of space,

[9:54] which will add to the city's

tax base and employment.

[9:57] The city

now has more than 13 million

[9:59] square feet

of commercial development,

[10:01] with more than 60% of that

being in the non-retail sector.

[10:05] I also want to take a moment

to highlight

[10:07] a couple of the

new commercial developments.

[10:10] We're excited

to welcome Top Golf to Woodbury,

[10:12] which is being constructed

along Bielenberg Drive

[10:14] just south of the former

Hartford building.

[10:17] Additionally, a new Washington

[10:18] County service

Center is under construction,

[10:21] located on Woodlane Drive across

[10:22] from the new park and ride

ramp for the Metro Gold line.

[10:26] The city also saw several

new residential developments

[10:28] continue construction

throughout the community.

[10:31] These projects deliver

on the city's commitment

[10:33] to providing a diversity

of housing types

[10:35] to accommodate people

of all ages,

[10:37] income

levels, and family status.

[10:39] One of the results

of this decades

[10:40] long commitment

to housing diversity

[10:42] is that the city has maintained

an approximate 5050 split

[10:46] between single family detached

[10:48] housing units and detached

housing units in 2024.

[10:52] The city council

[10:53] also approved two affordable

housing developments,

[10:56] which will provide

additional housing opportunities

[10:58] with low to moderate incomes

[11:00] and within close proximity

to our Northeast Business Park.

[11:04] We're hopeful

[11:04] that both projects

will begin construction in 2025.

[11:08] I encourage you

to look at the city's

[11:10] development map on its website.

[11:11] If you have any questions

about the new developments,

[11:14] we anticipate a busy 2025

roadway construction season.

[11:19] Work continues on Metro Transit

[11:20] new Gold Line

bus rapid transit route

[11:22] along the Bielenberg and Guider

drives.

[11:25] The ten mile Gold Line,

which opened in March, connects

[11:27] Saint Paul and Woodbury.

[11:29] In 2024, construction included

Bielenberg Drive, Guider drive,

[11:33] two bus stations, and the

Woodland Station Park and Ride.

[11:37] In 2025, work

[11:39] will focus on landscaping,

lighting, and final cleanup.

[11:42] Woodbury Public Safety

is working with Metro

[11:44] Transit police

and other local partners

[11:45] to assure the Metro Transit Gold

Line is ready and safe

[11:48] for writers, local businesses

and our community.

[11:51] We are proactively leaning

[11:53] into a leadership role

with the safety of the Gold Line

[11:55] research and how we can leverage

technology,

[11:57] best practices, knowledge

[11:59] learned from other cities

and relationships

[12:01] to create a positive

transit experience for all.

[12:04] Metro transit also is now

piloting a new on demand

[12:07] shared ride service

in a 13 square mile area

[12:10] in Woodbury and parts of Oakdale

and Lake Elmo.

[12:13] Metro micro works similarly

to other ride share services.

[12:17] Only It uses ADA accessible

mini busses

[12:20] that allow other customers

to be picked up

[12:22] and dropped off anywhere

within the service area

[12:24] during their trip.

[12:25] Because it is a shared ride,

the bus may pick up or drop off

[12:29] other passengers along the way.

[12:31] To book a ride, download

the free Metro Micro app.

[12:35] Back to local roadway projects.

[12:37] The 2025 roadway rehabilitation

project in the Fox Run

[12:41] neighborhood will include

pavement replacement and minor

[12:44] utility repairs, with completion

expected in the fall.

[12:48] This summer, the Woodlane Drive

Trail project will add a ten

[12:51] foot wide trail

on the west side of Woodlane

[12:53] Drive and small sections

on the east side to close gaps.

[12:57] Some impacts to roadway travel,

including shoulder or short

[13:00] term lane closures, are expected

on the southeast side of town.

[13:04] The Bailey Road water tower

project will start this year,

[13:07] while most work will occur off

road.

[13:09] A trunk pipeline crossing

Bailey Road West of Settlers

[13:13] Ridge Parkway will require

a temporary full closure.

[13:16] Dale Road will be reconstructed

between Radio

[13:18] Drive and Copper Ridge Drive,

requiring a full closure.

[13:22] Improvements

include a center median, left

[13:24] turn lanes and trails

on both sides.

[13:26] Tamarack road

will be rehabilitated

[13:28] between rear

drive and radio Drive,

[13:30] including Tamarack Bay, Coller

Way, and Seasons Parkway.

[13:34] A new trail will connect

[13:35] Bielenberg Drive to Radio

Drive on the north side,

[13:38] while the trail on the south

side will be reconstructed.

[13:41] Lastly, significant

traffic impacts are anticipated

[13:44] with the construction

of the city's water treatment

[13:46] plant and pipeline

project mentioned previously.

[13:49] Lane and roadway

closures will impact

[13:51] vehicle travel on Valley Creek

Road, Interlachen Parkway,

[13:54] Pioneer Drive,

Rodeo Drive, Bailey Road,

[13:58] Cottage Grove

[13:59] Drive, and Settlers

Ridge Parkway

[14:00] for the installation of water

pipes.

[14:03] Construction activities

have been phased

[14:05] to coordinate the work

in these roadway corridors.

[14:07] City staff has worked with South

Washington County school staff

[14:11] to provide access to adjacent

schools during construction.

[14:14] We encourage residents

to review the planned roadway

[14:17] closure phasing,

which is available

[14:18] on the project website

for more details.

[14:21] Next,

I'd like to share a little bit

[14:23] about how we conduct

our business at the city.

[14:25] I'm honored to serve

[14:26] with a group of council members

who work together

[14:28] to address our priorities

and achieve our goals.

[14:31] Our role as a city council

in Woodbury is focused on policy

[14:34] and oversight,

not the day to day operations.

[14:37] Each council member

and I have part time roles.

[14:40] We balance

our professional careers

[14:42] while doing our best

to serve our community.

[14:44] When it's appropriate.

[14:45] We also seek ways

to involve the community

[14:47] in key decisions

about city operations,

[14:49] policies, and projects.

[14:51] We engage the community

[14:52] through an equity lens

so that we can ensure

[14:54] we are hearing

from diverse perspectives

[14:56] and being intentional

with our outreach.

[14:58] When decisions

are before the City Council,

[15:01] we hope this approach

also will lead

[15:02] to increased involvement

from our community members.

[15:05] Also, as the city continues

to grow and become more diverse,

[15:09] we are intentional

[15:10] about fostering an inclusive

and welcoming community.

[15:13] We hosted a Welcome to Woodbury

event for new residents

[15:15] in November,

[15:16] and in September,

worked with other community

[15:18] leaders and organizations

[15:20] to host the second annual

One Woodbury event,

[15:23] which celebrated the diverse

people,

[15:24] perspectives, backgrounds,

and experiences in Woodbury.

[15:28] The city also hosted

an educational Juneteenth

[15:31] walk around the trail behind

City Hall.

[15:33] Now, let's take a quick, broad

look at the city's

[15:35] 2025 budget

and cost for city services.

[15:39] City taxes on a residential home

valued at $441,000,

[15:43] the median value for taxes

payable in 2025

[15:46] increased an estimated $73

for the year.

[15:49] This is for the city portion

of your tax bill.

[15:52] About 24% of that total bill.

[15:55] About 53% of your property

[15:57] tax bill goes to your school

district.

[15:59] 20% goes to Washington County,

and the remaining 3%

[16:02] goes to other

special taxing districts.

[16:05] Most of your city

tax money goes to maintaining

[16:07] streets, parks, trails

and providing public safety.

[16:11] The estimated monthly cost

to provide city services

[16:13] to residents

in 2025 is approximately $113

[16:17] per household.

[16:19] That's a pretty good value

when you compare

[16:20] that to a monthly smartphone

or cable TV bill.

[16:24] We're also increasing some fees

for 2025 to help cover costs

[16:27] for utility infrastructure

replacement activity.

[16:30] Some of you are noticing

these changes

[16:32] on your first quarterly

bill of the year.

[16:34] You can view

these changes on our website.

[16:36] Moving along, Woodbury

[16:38] will be hiring a new city

administrator in 2025.

[16:41] That's right, our longtime city

administrator, Clint Gridley,

[16:44] is retiring on June 6th

[16:46] after serving our community

for more than 20 years.

[16:49] Our community

and organization have evolved

[16:51] considerably during Clint's

tenure.

[16:54] He's done an outstanding job

[16:55] guiding us through multiple

capital

[16:57] improvement

projects and initiatives,

[16:59] including the current

construction

[17:01] of our water treatment plant.

[17:02] On behalf of our community,

[17:04] thank you, Clint,

for your tireless dedication

[17:06] and leadership over the past

two decades.

[17:09] You are leaving us

[17:10] in an excellent position

to ensure a smooth transition.

[17:14] The city is working with Baker

Tilly, a recruiting firm,

[17:17] to conduct a national search

for clients replacement.

[17:20] We expect to have the new person

on board sometime this summer.

[17:23] Finally, there are lots of ways

that residents and businesses

[17:26] can stay connected

with the city of Woodbury.

[17:28] You can visit our website

or follow us on Facebook

[17:31] and Instagram.

[17:32] You can also sign up for

In touch email notification

[17:35] service.

[17:36] Our Woodbury City Update

[17:37] newsletter

is mailed to all businesses

[17:39] and households

11 times per year,

[17:41] and our recreation brochure is

mailed out three times per year.

[17:44] And lastly,

you can watch city council

[17:46] and commission meetings,

as well as other programing at

[17:50] SWCTC.org

and our city YouTube channel.

[17:54] We need can also be viewed on

SWCTC channel 16, and additional

[17:59] programing is available

on channel 18 or HD channel 859.

[18:04] That wraps up this year's video.

[18:06] Thank you for being engaged

in your community

[18:08] and watching this year's update.

[18:09] It's truly an honor to serve our

community in my role as mayor.

[18:13] I look forward

to seeing you out and about.