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2003-12-05 Friday News The Friday News Livable Communities Grant Update City Council members Vitelli, Schneeman and Duggan joined Pat and me at the Met Council’s offices on Monday to listen to their Community Development Committee consider the Livable Communities Demonstration Grants for 2003. Because there are a number of new members on that committee, the Committee delayed voting on awarding the grants until their next meeting on th December 15 so that they could have more time to think about them. There was only one question on Mendota Height’s proposal and Met Council member Tom Egan answered it(he has been a great ally for Mendota Heights). I spoke with Joanne Barron, Met Council staff member; the next day and she assured me that Mendota Heights would receive the $300,000 grant that is the Livable Community Advisory Committee’s recommendation. This $300,000 combined with the $873,400 Mendota Heights received last year will go a long way toward funding the underground parking structure for the large office and commercial building that Ross will be constructing on Main Street. The Bluffs EIS Update At their Tuesday meeting, the City Council received a proposal from Barr Engineering to assist the City with the Scoping aspect of the EIS. At that meeting the Council informed Mr. Tim Bohlman, Minnstar Project Manager for the project, that the City would not fund any of the costs for completing the EIS and that Minnstar would be required to submit funds to be put in escrow to cover these costs before the project would be advanced. I forwarded an estimate of the costs to Mr. th Bohlman this week and asked him to get back to me before the December 16 City Council meeting with the money. If he does not, the City Council has the option to extend the deadlines for the Scoping meeting. St. Thomas Ice Arena Bill Owens contacted me this week to inform me that St. Thomas Academy is to have a Grand Opening for their new Ice Arena on this Saturday before St. Thomas Academy plays Farmington. There will be a reception for Council members and other dignitaries at 7:00 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 7:20. (There will be an admission charge). An open house (free) will be held the next day with open skating, tours of the facility and an opportunity for meeting the players and coaches. New Prosecutor Mr. Mike Mayer along with Bill Bernard and Barry Wittenkeller from the Grannis and Hauge Law Firm located in Eagan, who will be providing the City’s Prosecuting Attorney services starting next year came to City Hall Thursday afternoon to introduce themselves and field questions. We held the “meet and greet” meeting in the Police Squad Room, most of the Police Department came, Code Enforcement Officer, Dick Gill and Pat Hollister all were there to fire tough questions at them (They did a great job of answering all of the questions). Xcel Power Lines I received a call from Collette Jurek, Xcel Community Relations Manager this week. She informed me that Xcel would begin installing the foundations for three of their new transmission line poles, maybe as early as this week. (We have not seen any activity as of yet). December Meetings Cancelled The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning Commissions have both cancelled their December meetings. Respectfully Submitted, Jim Danielson Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, Airport Commissions agenda, St. Paul Voice News Article “Veteran leader moves up the ranks at Mendota Heights, Sun Current Article “MH Council approves 2004 budget” and CDA Newsletter Article “Construction Progressing on CDA Development”.