Based on the content of the transcript, the speaker identifies himself at the beginning [0:05] as **Paul Reinke**. *Note: While your provided list mentions Kevin Zabel as Mayor, this 2022 address was delivered by Paul Reinke, who served as Mayor until the end of 2022. He actually mentions Kevin Zabel at [0:40] as a then-current council member.* [0:05] Paul Reinke: welcome to the 2022 state of the city address for Oakdale I'm Paul Reinke mayor of Oakdale and I've had the privilege of serving the residents of Oakdale since 2005. initially as a council member and most recently as the mayor a monitor to serve this great City I'm proud to be part of a city council that works together for the overall good of the people of Oakdale this Council continues to Value thoughtful dialogue hearing opinions I'd like to take a moment just to recognize our city council members Jay king of britson Susan Olsen Colleen Swedberg and Kevin zabel our success is due in large part to strong relationships between the city [0:51] Paul Reinke: council the city administrator and the city staff I'm pleased to be here today to share details of the city's accomplishments over the past year first the city of oakdale's credit rating was upgraded to double A1 from double a two this is great news for our taxpayers the upgrade to double A1 reflects the city's very strong financial position its growing tax base with solid resident wealth and income and also its moderate debt burden the last upgrade for Oakdale was in 2010 when we went from double A3 to double A2 Oakdale is among the top Echelon of cities in Minnesota that enjoy and benefit from this outstanding Bond rating which in turn reduces our cost of [1:38] Paul Reinke: debt to further enhance our strong financial position the city rolled out a new Financial tool open gov that will make city government more transparent than ever this platform gives the public information on the city's expenses and the proposed budget for the years ahead our finance team spent a lot of time converting old spreadsheets into usable data for the open gov and I'd encourage everyone to take a look at this important budgeting tool a link for that tool can be found on our home page over City website our City website was redesigned and launched in September with a fresh modern look the website provides easier access to some of its most used features [2:26] Paul Reinke: later this year the website address will change to www.oakedalemin.gov an official announcement will be made on the city website and social media platforms Oakdale offers a variety of fun community events all designed to increase the quality of life for the people that live here for our annual Acorn award residents nominate our City's most beautiful properties in three categories residential business and public this year's winners are the Gomez family for residential Lake Elmo bank for the business in Guardian Angels Church for public we were able to tour each of the winning properties and the winners attended a [3:12] Paul Reinke: recent council meeting where they were presented with an award and Gifts in appreciation for their excellence in landscaping each year we hold an Arbor Day tree giveaway at Walton Park where the city council hands out free trees to the first 200 residents who register for them this fun event is in honor of Pete grasky who helped arrange the very first arbitrary giveaway in Oakdale Oakdale is honored to be a tree City USA recipient and has received this distinction since 1995. [3:46] Paul Reinke: that's 27 years in a row and this event is one way to recognize that honor each spring a mystery egg hunt is put on by our Oakdale Recreation Department kids parents and grandparents can join in on the fun of an egg hunt plus games refreshments and more Summerfest oakdale's annual summer celebration was back in full force in 2022 with new entertainment and a return of family favorite events that Drew huge crowds the week started out with a medallion hunt then the Ted birth Grand parade concerts in the Branch Jail beer garden food vendors 5K at the Nature Preserve pancake breakfast [4:31] Paul Reinke: numerous kids activities and concluding with the always popular fireworks extravaganza it's a great summer event in a signature signature event for Oakdale our movies in the park are fun-filled events for the entire Community to enjoy this year we showed Encanto in Reya in The Last Dragon in our Summer Concert Series highlights local music Talent at the Walton Park Bandshell the concert series takes place on Wednesday nights throughout the summer and it's a lot of fun oakdale's Family Fun Inflatables is a local favorite with bouncy Inflatables music and food residents come out in [5:18] Paul Reinke: droves to enjoy this annual family event at Walton Park the Oakdale Farmers Market is every Wednesday all summer long and into the Fall located in the city hall parking lot local farmers showcase wonderful fruit vegetables flowers meat and bakery items for sale to all National Night Out also called night to unite is a time of neighborhood community Gathering all designed to help build and continue the positive relationships with our neighbors in local public safety staff such as the Oakdale Police and Fire every police officer and firefighter is out and about attending these neighborhood gatherings [6:05] Paul Reinke: Touch a Truck was a huge success once again this year it seems to get more popular each year there are many different trucks to climb on and explore and enjoy while the varieties differ each year Oakdale police fire and Public Works vehicles are always in attendance this year a SWAT mobile command truck FedEx truck trash haulers County sheriff and state vehicles are all participated it was a very impressive display welcome to Halloween at our very own Oakdale Nature Preserve with our flashlight pumpkin hunt families come and enjoy a pumpkin hunt food drink a bonfire games and scary [6:53] Paul Reinke: spooky stories summer turns to fall to winter we host the indoor market at Discovery Center it's a wonderful morning to get local goods from local vendors and do some holiday shopping on December 8th Santa will travel down Hadley Avenue in a decorated fire truck spreading goodwill and cheer to all he'll make multiple stops along the way for photo opportunities with all the children then there is Winter Wonderland to be held on December 17th this year this fun winter event offers activities for the entire family including a petting zoo craft stations a visit from [7:38] Paul Reinke: Santa and much much more the city launched a business retention expansion and attraction program that was in partnership with the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce this is designed to better understand the needs of the businesses in Oakdale connect them to resources at the city county and state levels Oakdale Fosters a pro-business climate and continues to see significant residential and Commercial growth due to several projects anticipated to increase the population by approximately 20 percent over the next five years the following slides will highlight some of the projects [8:24] Paul Reinke: for many years we've done a status update on the exciting development projects to come in Oakdale now that many are started or have been completed we have separated the development projects into what has started or is complete and what is expected to come let's take a look at 2022 projects started or completed we welcomed Home Furniture to Oakdale in Maine we are pleased and proud of their relocation to our large and empty movie theater space they transformed it into a beautiful retail destination right here in Oakdale construction of the animal emergency and referral center is well underway with [9:09] Paul Reinke: opening expected to be mid-november this Center is a destination for many in and around the Metro they come to our community for critical care for their pets and now is a new state of the art and larger facility to handle the important Pet Care needs of many right here in Oakdale Eagle Point Elementary is a beautiful school for our residents it's a school rebuild resulting from the district 622 Bond referendum several years ago the ribbon was cutting in September and this school is another point of Pride for the residents and businesses of Oakdale our own Tartan High School is undergoing [9:55] Paul Reinke: Renovations and additions construction has begun and continuous the groundbreaking was June 28 and the city was proud to participate with the school Willowbrook this is a signature new planned neighborhood in Oakdale construction is well underway the new residents are moving in purchase of single-family homes and Villas are happening and rentals are being built and occupied ultimately there will be 1400 new homes and rentals at this wonderful new housing development in Oakdale on the southwest side of the Forefront campus from Willowbrook and the west [10:40] Paul Reinke: side of the Forefront building is parsley it is being built now and will house a two hundred thousand square foot Warehouse building and office the Gold Line lost Rapid Transit is coming soon with two stops in Oakdale the groundbreaking for this will be held October 19th the two stations are at helmo and Greenway and development has started surrounding the Hammel station there will also be a new bridge over 694 connecting Woodbury in Oakdale the Bielenberg helmo Bridge speaking of the Gold Line in the Hummel station a new impressive multi-family building is currently underway it's called impact [11:27] Paul Reinke: Apartments this building will be the tallest building in Oakdale at seven stories it has luxury amenities a rooftop pool and Retail restaurant space at the street level and all the convenience of the new bus rapid transit system will be right there we've been working on a bike and pedestrian plan for many years stalled due to cobid and now we're back up and running this initiative is focusing and focusing on what Oakdale needs for bicycle and pedestrian movement around the community there'll be a series of public engagement opportunities with meetings and online surveys please participate as we want to know the needs of our residents and [12:13] Paul Reinke: businesses now on to what is coming up and expected in 2023 Oakdale Marketplace Apartments was recently approved by the city council this multi-family development will be by pins off County Road 14 at an area that's called Oakdale Marketplace this may also spur further development in the Oakdale Marketplace area along with what is happening at the Forefront in Willowbrook planning for the Glenbrook small area plan began pre-covered and is now gearing up again it is half funded by the grant received from the Washington County Community Development agency you will study land use and needs for this area by Highway 36 and 120. [13:01] Paul Reinke: that area is in need of development and also Redevelopment in this small area plan is expected to guide both public and private Investments a new brewery and restaurant may be coming to Oakdale the city was recently approached by our new business home furniture with a concept plan to create a new space for a brewery and restaurant with outdoor space for music and events the city council supported the concept and the plans are proceeding by Home Furniture which owns this land new affordable senior housing by MWF has proposed a milk deal this proposed development would be behind HyVee and the waters which is [13:48] Paul Reinke: another senior housing site more will be happening on this soon so stay tuned Priority Courier is looking to move the headquarters to Oakdale with a proposed 50 000 square foot building while we are unsure of the timing we do expect this project to move along in 2023 2022 has been a great year for Oakdale and the future looks bright with continued development and growth on the horizon thank you for your time in learning about Oakdale and all the amazing things that the city has to offer I am honored to serve this amazing City and capacity of Mayor so on behalf of the city council for your support