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2002-10-11 Friday NewsThe Friday News October 11, 2002 City Council to Consider 2002 Deer Hunt Request The City has received inquiries from residents of the Somerset Area with the request that the City once again authorize a limited deer hunt within the City boundaries. The City of Mendota Heights, with its abundant open space, has its fair share of the deer population. Maintenance of a manageable deer herd will require periodic, or regular, limited hunts. On six previous occasions, the City Council has authorized limited deer hunts on private property at the request of landowners within an 87 -acre tract of land in the Somerset Area bound by Dodd Road, Wentworth Avenue, Delaware Avenue and Marie Avenue. The Metro Bow hunters Resource Base (MBRB), under the conditions specified by the City of Mendota Heights, has coordinated the hunts. The first two hunts in 1995 were conducted under a special permit from the DNR outside of the regular hunting season. The special permit allowed hunting to be conducted from elevated tree stands shooting over bait. The hunts in 1997 and 1998 were conducted during the regular hunting season without the use of bait, or the need for a special permit from the DNR. Sixteen deer were harvested in 1995, nine deer were harvested in 1997 and nine deer in 1998. Seven deer were harvested in 2001.Given that prior hunts were conducted successfully, it is suggested that this year's hunt use the same methodology. I have been in contact with Mr. Ron Cormere, of MBRB, to discuss the hunt. The DNR will be asked to determine a reasonable target number of deer that could be taken. As was done in the past, the City will contact each of the surrounding property owners, as well as the other neighbors that have participated in the past, asking if they would like to take part in the limited hunt. The City Council will be considering the authorization for the hunt at the meeting on Tuesday night. Metropolitan Council Redistricting Proposal For the past few months a Metropolitan Council Redistricting Advisory Group has been meeting for the purpose of making a recommendation on new Metropolitan Council districts based on the 2000 census. While the final decision on a redistricting plan for the Council is a legislative responsibility, the Metropolitan Council is submitting a recommendation to the Legislature at the start of the 2003 session. The Advisory Group is seeking public comments on three redistricting proposals prior to making their recommendation to the Metropolitan Council. The Advisory Group has formulated three plans that have each district of substantially equal population. They also tried to retain two districts that are entirely within the municipal boundaries of Minneapolis and one that is entirely within the municipal boundaries of St. Paul. Finally, they claim that they tried to group communities in the same district that share some common local interests. Option I breaks up the Dakota County communities and places Mendota Heights in District 16. This option places Eagan, Apple Valley and Burnsville in District 15. Option 2 leaves Mendota Heights in District 15 with Eagan, West. St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, and Rosemount. Option 3 places Mendota Heights in District 13 with West. St. Paul, Mendota, Lilydale, St. Paul and Maplewood (two Ramsey County communities).Currently, the City of Mendota Heights is in District 15 with Mendota, Eagan, Lilydale, Burnsville and Apple Valley (all Dakota County communities). If Mendota Heights is placed with the City of St. Paul, as in option three, I am afraid that the interests of our City will be dwarfed by St. Paul and other Ramsey County interests. I believe that it is in the best interest of the City to remain with other Dakota County communities in District 15, as in option 2 as these cities better represent the interests of Mendota Heights. On Tuesday, I will be asking the City Council to discuss the three options proposed and provide an official comment to be submitted to the Met Council. Skateboard Park Open House at Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting The Parks and Recreation Commission held a public information meeting on Tuesday, October 8"' to hear input from Friendly Hills residents and all other interested Mendota Heights residents regarding the proposal to install a skateboard park on the paved surface of the skating rink at Friendly Hills Park. The skateboard park would consist of a course of temporary ramps and jumps that would be removed each winter and re- installed in the spring. Approximately sixteen residents attended the meeting, most of whom voiced their opposition to placement of the amenity in Friendly Hills Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission agreed to discuss the item further at their next regular meeting on November 12th. The Commission will also be soliciting input from skateboarding enthusiasts. AMM 2002 Policy Adoption Meeting The policy adoption meeting is one of two major meetings the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities holds each year for the membership. All mayors, council members, managers and administrators as well as city staff are welcome to attend. A 45 -minute social featuring light hors d'oeuvres will begin at 5 pm, followed by the business meeting from 5:45-7:00 PM. This is your opportunity to debate and adopt AMM's 2003 Legislative Policies and to determine the top priority issues that AMM will spend much of its time and resources on during the 2003 Legislative Session. If you would like more information about the meeting, give me a call at 651-255- 1123 Fire Prevention Week Our Fire Department has been busy all week providing fire prevention education to all three elementary schools in the City (Somerset, Mendota and Visitation), as well as a few day care centers. This is a big commitment, as all of the firefighters participating must take vacation from their normal employment to get the message to the kids. The department knows their message is effective however, as they already had at least one instance where the parents of some children credit the department's education efforts with saving their family members' lives in a fire. Don't miss the open house at the Fire Hall tomorrow from 10am-3pm. It will be a fun day for everyone! Halloween Bonfire Join us at the annual City Halloween bonfire on October 31 from 7-9PM. The event will be held on the undeveloped portion of the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center property. The Volunteer Fire Department will carry on the tradition and run this year's event. Hot dogs, soda and other goodies are free and a ghostly good time is guaranteed. Residents of Mendota Heights are allowed to deposit brush no larger than 4" in diameter as fuel for the fire. In the past, the City has had problems with illegal dumping at the site which costs the City a great deal of money. In order to prevent the illegal dumping, the City will be limiting the hours of operation from 8am- 7pm from the 19th —29th of October. We will also be increasing the signage and limiting access to the dumping site. Unauthorized dumping is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000. Council member Vitelli is a Grandpa again! Jack and Char Vitelli are proud grandparents for the seventh time. Debbie and Joe Vitelli are the proud parents of their first child, Mariella Louise Vitelli, born Saturday October 5th. Mariella weighed 71b, 9 oz. Mother and daughter are doing fine! Congratulations Jack and Char! Congratulations To Brian and Stacy Convery Congratulations to Officer Brian Convery who is getting married on Friday, October 1 I to West St. Paul Officer/Investigator Stacy Conley. We wish you all the best in your new life together! Final Thought "Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end (that) requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson Respectfully Submitted, Cari Lindberg Administrator Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts, City Council agenda, Sun Current article `MH Fire Department to have open house," and Highland Villager article "Housing eyed for historic hilltop overlooking the Mendota Bridge. "