2011-10 Fall Heights HighlightsHeights Highlights
MENDOTA HEIGHTS GOVERNMENT NEWS
Living Green
Many people find the beautiful colors of fall to be an incentive to look at ways
to be more environmentally friendly. “Living Green” is not only becoming
more popular but it is getting easier to do. We are all finding new ways to
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
As you enjoy this beautiful fall season hiking, playing golf or enjoying a brisk
walk please find time to include these practices in your daily life:
Take your name off of junk mail lists. Visit www.reduce.org for information.
Always use re-usable containers – whether it is for your groceries,
your lunch or your morning coffee.
Look for less packaging and avoid disposables or buy in bulk.
Educate yourself by visiting www.RethinkRecycling.com and
www.reduce.org for more tips.
We live in a beautiful city in one of the most beautiful states in the country.
Let us continue to enjoy it and preserve it for years to come by committing to
living greener lives!
FALL 2011 : Issue 89
INSIDE...
Mayor’s Message
............................Page 2
The Snow Plows
are Coming
............................Page 3
Rental Housing in
our Community
............................Page 3
Common Code
Violations
............................Page 4
Fire Prevention Week
............................Page 5
Lets Go Ice Skating
............................Page 6
School Break &
Holiday Youth Trips
............................Page 7
Halloween Bonfire
............................Page 8
A small town
feel in an
urban setting
Mendakota Country Club, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
2 : HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 3
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Mayor Sandra Krebsbach
Mendota Heights is thriving.
You can feel it in the fall air.
Businesses are opening at the
Mendota Mall and Mendota
Village. Le Cordon Bleu
Culinary Art School has a new
restaurant that is open to the
public. Schools are alive with
children and teenagers studying
for the future and hopefully having fun. It is a fitting time to
look at what has transpired since our last newsletter and look
to see what is around the corner for 2012.
The Mendota Heights preliminary levy with a .43 percent
increase is one of the lowest levy increases in several years. The
total preliminary levy is $6,228,442. We are happy to report
there are no cuts in current services that the city provides.
I would like to thank city staff for the stewardship of city
resources and the careful development of the budget. The
city council members should be commended for providing a
thoughtful and detailed review of the budget.
A special thank you to Interim City Administrator and
Public Works Director John Mazzitello, Assistant to the
Administrator Jake Sedlacek, City Clerk Sandie Thone and
Finance Director Kristen Schabacker and all of the staff for
seamless quality service in the interim period as we conduct
the city administrator search.
The Parks and Recreation Commission dedicated new
playground equipment on Super Saturday Soccer at
Kensington Park during the month of September. Another
highlight of the month was the Clifford Timm Fishing
Derby where 183 fish were caught by young anglers ranging
in age from one to fourteen. Teresa Gangelhoff, Recreation
Programmer for the city organized the annual event and
did an excellent job of receiving donations for prizes. Parks
and Recreation Commissioners were present to weigh and
measure the fish that were caught. A special thank you goes
to Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Ray Morris for
his leadership. We wish him luck and thank him for his
contributions as he will be stepping down after the December
2011 meeting to pursue other volunteer opportunities.
The Planning Commission will be looking at procedures and
ordinances on the Mississippi River Critical Corridor area,
rental housing, the critical area, commercial property
maintenance and airport noise attenuation. They are a very
competent commission and the perfect team to work on these
matters as well the regular planning cases that come before them.
The Airport Relations Commission is diligently representing
us on airport matters as well as keeping track of the flight
patterns at the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Airport. Long
time ARC member Robin Ehrlich resigned recently due to
an adjunct teaching position on Wednesday evenings that
conflicted with the Airport Relations Commission meetings.
We would like to extend our appreciation to Robin for his
dedicated service.
The Fire Department held a respectful ceremony remembering
the “Fallen First Responders in 9/11.” I know you join me in
thanking and honoring the service of the Mendota Heights
Fire Department and Mendota Heights Police Department
for the protection of our community. 9/11 brought home
that the frontline of our freedom is our First Responders who
are right here, serving Mendota Heights.
Have a great fall and see you at the Halloween bonfire!
Mayor Sandra Krebsbach
The Snow Plows are Coming!
Winter is coming..... is your
property prepared for snow
removal? Last winter was one
of the snowiest seasons in Twin
Cities history; our public works
staff is preparing for another heavy
snowfall this winter. There are a
number of simple tips to help with
the snow removal process.
The first thirteen feet of yard behind the curb is public right-of-way. This
right-of-way serves to house underground utilities and provides a place for
snow storage. After a big snowfall, the city pushes snow piles back from
the curb to make room for the next big snowfall. If there are objects or
landscaping in this right-of-way, they may be damaged by snow removal and
storage activity. The city will repair damage to the grass in the right-of-way,
but is not responsible for damage to items such as ornaments or additional
landscaping. We ask that residents remove ornaments from the right-of-way
prior to the first snowfall. If you choose to leave a lawn ornament within the
right-of-way, please place a 4-foot high reflective flag on the curb-side of the
object so our plow drivers can avoid it after the snow falls. Reflective flags can
be obtained at most home improvement or hardware stores.
Mailboxes are sometimes damaged by snow plows despite our best efforts
to avoid them. Per City Code, the city will repair or replace a mailbox if
a city snow plow strikes the mailbox. The city is not obligated to repair or
replace mailboxes which are improperly installed or damaged by the weight of
the snow. Please see our city web page www.mendota-heights.com to ensure
your mailbox and post are installed correctly. Be sure to check your mailbox
to determine if it is strong enough to last the winter. If the plow hits your
mailbox, the city will repair or replace it up to a $50 value for the post and a
$50 value for the mailbox itself.
If you have any questions regarding snow removal or any other issues for
the Public Works Department, please contact Public Works at City Hall.
651.452.1850
The City of Mendota Heights has three commissions
which are advisory to the city council, as well as represen-
tatives to other regional groups which discuss technical
matters, all of which are appointed by the city council.
The city is currently collecting contact information for
residents interested in serving on the following advisory
committees and commissions: Parks and Recreation
Commission, Planning Commission, Airport Relations
Commission, Gun Club Lake Watershed Management
Organization and Lower Mississippi Watershed Man-
agement Organization. If you are interested in apply-
ing, or learning more about any of these advisory com-
mittees or commissions, please contact City Hall and
ask for administration.
Citizen Volunteers Needed
Rental Housing
in our Community
In 2006 the City of Mendota Heights passed
a Rental Housing Ordinance. Licensing for
rental properties ensures that single family
rental homes do not become a nuisance to
their neighborhood. The Rental Licensing
Ordinance also serves to protect property
values across the community.
Every rental property in a single-family
residential zone is required to be licensed
through the city. Licenses are renewed
annually. Benefits of the process include
keeping property owners aware of calls
for service to their properties, which their
tenants may or may not share with them.
If a property owner fails to address code
violations at their rental property, a rental
license can be withheld or revoked.
Each new and renewing license goes through
a review process to ensure there are no
outstanding code violations and the utility
account is current. In addition the Police
Department looks at calls for service for the
property to be licensed. We thank property
owners for adherence to this process and
tenants for their considerate care of these
properties.
2012 Dog Licenses Available November 1, 2011
It is time once again to think about Rover and Spot’s dog tags for 2012.
Dog licenses for the 2012 year will be available after
November 1, 2011 at City Hall.
The licensing period is effective January 1, 2012
through December 31, 2012.
The cost for licenses are $5 for spayed or neutered dogs
and $10 for unaltered dogs
Please provide a certification of rabies vaccination with registration.
Visit our website at www.mendota-heights.com or
city hall for more details 651.452.1850.
4 : HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 5
Fire Prevention Week
October 9 through 15, 2011
Protect Yourself and
Those you Love From Fire
Mendota Heights Firefighters will be conducting fire safety
activities during Fire Prevention Week, October 9 through
15, 2011. This year’s theme is Protect Your Family From Fire.
A Fire Department Open House at the Mendota Heights
Fire Station tops off this important week on Saturday,
October 15, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Come
join us for a tour of the fire station and a chance to view
fire trucks up close. Enjoy free hot dogs and soda after a
ride in the big red fire truck! All ages one to ninety-one are
welcome and encouraged to attend.
Firefighters will be visiting local classrooms during the week
at Mendota Elementary, Somerset Elementary, Visitation
School and Children’s Country Day School to discuss the
following fire prevention topics:
Smoke Detectors should be installed inside every bedroom,
outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home,
including the basement. Replace batteries in all smoke
alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps” warning the
battery is low replace the battery immediately. Test your
smoke alarms once a month. Roughly two-thirds of home
fire deaths happen in homes with non-working smoke
alarms! Fully operating smoke alarms cut the risk of dying
in a home fire in half.
Home Fire Sprinklers save lives and property. Only the
high temperature of a fire will activate the sprinkler. Fire
departments will typically use almost ten times more water
than a fire sprinkler to contain a fire. Fire sprinklers are
environmentally friendly and can reduce the amount of
water run-off and pollution. They save you on average
$71,000 in fire damage costs and decrease water usage in
fighting a home fire by as much as 91 percent. A home fire
sprinkler system for a new home averages just $1.61 per
sprinkled square foot and can have a positive effect on your
homeowner’s insurance premium.
Home Escape Plans need to be made and practiced. Draw
a map of your home showing all doors and windows and
know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make
sure all doors and windows open easily. Establish a meeting
place that is a safe distance from the home where everyone
should gather. Two times a year practice your home fire
drill at night and during the day.
Change Your Clock – Change Your Batteries
The Mendota Heights Fire Department reminds you to
replace the batteries in all smoke detectors when setting
your clocks for daylight savings time on Sunday, November
6, 2011. The most cited cause of non-working smoke
alarms is due to discharged or missing batteries. This is
also a good time to vacuum your detectors for any dust
accumulation. Smoke detectors should be replaced every
ten years. Smoke detectors save lives!
Adopt-A-Hydrant
Winter 2010/2011 was one of the top five snowiest
winters on record for this area. The Mendota Heights Fire
Department encourages you to adopt your neighborhood
hydrant. Keeping the hydrant free of snow will make the fire
hydrant easy to find and hook up to if needed. Thank you
to all of you who take the time and care to keep fire hydrants
free of snow in the winter and weed-free in the summer. We
appreciate your dedication to this important project!
Mendota Heights is a wonderful place to live, work and play. This may be
partially attributed to residents doing a wonderful job of keeping their homes
in good repair. By and large our community is very well maintained, but there
are some common code violations which can be found across the community:
Poorly screened trash containers: Trash containers are required to be screened
from public view. Screening may include fencing, landscaping, or storage in a
garage.
Pet peeves: Like your parents always told you, owning a pet is a big responsibility.
All dogs must be licensed and must be kept on a leash when outside of your
property. Please clean up pet waste in a timely manner.
Lawn and weed growth: Lawns must be kept less than twelve inches in height.
Please be sure to dispose of yard waste properly – either with your trash hauler
or at a local compost site.
Parking on lawns: All licensed vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, etc. must
be parked on a hard surface. Each residential property is allowed to park up to
four licensed and operable vehicles on their driveway.
Please help us keep Mendota Heights a beautiful place to live, work and play. The
city enforces code violations on a complaint basis but encourages all residents to
lead by example.
Common Code ViolationsCrime Prevention
Practice Crosswalk Safety
Fall is in the air and school is in session. Now more
than ever it is important to keep an eye out for
pedestrians. State law requires vehicles to stop for
pedestrians crossing within a marked crosswalk or at
an intersection with no marked crosswalk. Mendota
Heights takes this law seriously.
A driver must stop for a pedestrian crossing within
a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no
marked crosswalk. A vehicle can proceed once the
pedestrian has completely crossed the lane in front
of the stopped vehicle.
A pedestrian must not enter a crosswalk if a vehicle
is approaching. While there is no defined distance
before a pedestrian may enter the crosswalk, com-
mon sense should prevail. The law states: “No pe-
destrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place
of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle
which is so close that it is impossible for the driver
to yield.”
When a vehicle is stopped at an intersection to
allow pedestrians to cross the roadway, drivers of
other vehicles approaching from the rear must not
pass the stopped vehicle.
It is unlawful for the driver of a motor vehicle to
proceed through a group of school children cross-
ing a street or highway or past a member of a
school safety patrol or adult crossing guard who is
directing children across the roadway and who is
holding an official signal in the stop position.
Failure to obey the law is a misdemeanor; a second
violation within one year is a gross misdemeanor.
House Check Requests
Planning a trip? Going away on business? Need a
little reassurance everything will be ok back home?
Now you can request extra patrol for your property
while you are gone. Let us know by going to the
City of Mendota Heights website at www.Mendota-
Heights.com and click on the City Services/Police
tab to register on line. Reserve officers will do
periodic checks on your residence to ensure your
property is safe while you are away.
Get Involved - Minnesota and
Mendota Heights Needs You!
Become an Election Judge
Want to take your civic engagement to the next level? Election judges are essential to our
democracy. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the election process and serve
your community. This is a great job for students and young adults looking to make a
difference. AND you get paid!
Upcoming Election Dates: Primary: August 14, 2012 and General Election: November 6, 2012
Required Qualifications to be an Election Judge
To be an election judge you must meet all of the following qualifications:
You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota
You must be able to read, write, and speak English
You cannot be a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any election judge serving in the same
precinct at the same time
You cannot be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any candidate on the
ballot in that precinct
Student Eligibility
College students at least 18-years-old may serve as election judges
High school students 16-years-old and older may serve as trainee election judges
Time Off From Employment to Serve
You may take time off from work to be an election judge.
You must give your employer at least 20 days written notice, and you must attach the hour/
pay rate form you will receive from the city council that appoints you to the notice.
Your employer may reduce your salary/wages by the amount you are paid as an election
judge during the time you are away from work.
Your employer may restrict the number of its employees serving as election judges to no
more than 20 percent at a single work site.
Becoming an Election Judge
Contact the office of the city clerk @ 651.452.1850 to learn more or to sign up to become an
election judge.
RECREATION www.mendota-heights.com
6 : HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 7
Highlights of the annual Cliff Timm Memorial
Fishing Derby which was held on September 11,
2011 included the Minnesota Sea Life Aquarium
and the Minnesota DNR fish tank. Both gave
children the opportunity to view many species of
fish from Minnesota lakes. Special thanks to all
the volunteers who make this such a special event.
Mayor Krebsbach stopped by to encourage the
young anglers. A total of 183 fish were caught
and a grand prize of a MN lifetime fishing license
was awarded. In addition the following contests
saw winners in the most fish caught, the biggest
fish caught, the smallest fish caught and casting
contests. Congratulations to all winners.
Calling all
Young Gymnasts…
Do you love the balance beam, the uneven
bars and floor exercise? How about
tumbling? Come join us for Gymnastics
at Henry Sibley High School this winter!
Sessions begin in early December 2011
and run ten weeks. Children ages three
and older are welcome. Please visit
our website at www.mendota-heights.
com or stop in at city hall to register
651.452.1850.
Women’s League Champions-Foxes
Women’s Playoff Champions-Dunhams
Men’s Tuesday League Champions-Chairshot
(pictured)
Men’s Tuesday Playoff Champions-Chairshot
Men’s Thursday League Champions-Lucky 13
Men’s Thursday Playoff Champions-Lucky 13
Mendota Heights Parks
and Recreation Winter Fun
Let’s go Ice Skating……
The following skating rinks will open on December 17, 2011 and
remain open weather permitting through March 2012. A rink
attendant will be on duty during regular warming house hours.
Please note the outdoor rinks and warming houses will be closed
and outdoor programs canceled when the air temperature falls
below zero. Please refer to the hotline at 651.255.1174 for current
information.
Skating Rink and Warming House
Locations and Hours:
Friendly Hills Park located at 2360 Pueblo Lane
Marie Park located at 1780 Lilac Lane
Wentworth Park located at 739 Wentworth Park
Ivy Falls Park located at 635 Butler Avenue (no warming house)
Weekdays 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
School Vacation Days 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Christmas Day Closed
Learn to Skate Outdoor Ice Skating Lessons
Learn to skate or improve your skating
skills at Friendly Hills Rink
Lessons begin Saturday January 7, 2012
Smalls and Talls for first time skaters with their parent
Beginners for skaters with no experience to learn basic skills
Advanced Beginners for skaters who can skate forward
Intermediate for skaters that have completed the advanced class
Funstyle/Freestyle for skaters who are ready for more of a challenge!
Register at www.mendota-heights.com or at Mendota Heights
City Hall at 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights MN 55118 *
Phone 651.452.1850
School Break
& Holiday
Youth Trips
Join us on fun, chaperoned,
schools out youth trips.
Trips depart from Mendota
Heights City Hall.
Space is limited so
register early!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Horseback Riding and
Hayride at Bunker Hills
Ride through guided trails on your
own horse and enjoy a hay ride.
This fun day ends with a
campfire and s’mores.
This trip is for children
eight years and older.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Bowling and a Movie
Join us for not one but two
games of bowling followed by
pizza and a movie.
This trip is for children
six years and older.
Go to:
www.mendota-heights.com
or stop in at city hall to
register 651.452.1850
The city and staff at the Mendota Heights
Par 3 golf course would like to thank all
of our customers who visited us in 2011.
More than 9,000 of you played a round
of golf or were a member of a golf league,
youth camp or attended a special event at
the course. It was our pleasure to serve you
and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!
New this winter and just in time for the
holidays we will offer discount golf cards for
the 2012 season. Please visit our website
@ www.mendota-heights.com for more
details or purchase at City Hall.
Mendota Heights Par 3
The Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Men’s and Women’s Adult
Softball Leagues ended the 2011 season with playoffs.
Congratulations to the following teams:
City of Mendota Heights
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
www.mendota-heights.com
HEIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
City Directory
Council Members:
Sandra Krebsbach, Mayor 454-5696
Jack Vitelli 455-5625
Ultan Duggan 452-5179
Liz Petschel 454-3256
Mike Povolny 454-0926
Staff Members:
City Hall 651-452-1850
Sandie Thone, City Clerk
Mike Aschenbrener, Police Chief
John Maczko, Fire Chief
John Mazzitello, Public Works Director
Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to Administrator
Paul Berg, Code Enforcement Officer
Kristen Schabacker, Finance Director
Teresa Gangelhoff, Recreation Programmer
Public Works Facility 651-454-4059
Tom Olund, Public Works Superintendent
City of Mendota Heights
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
www.mendota-heights.com
Join us for our annual Halloween Bonfire on Monday, October
31, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Mendota Plaza. This
great community event is a safe and enjoyable alternative to trick or
treating. Firefighters will be providing free hot dogs and soda and
Paster Enterprises will be handing out trick-or-treat goodie bags
which include coupons to Mendota Plaza merchants.
Residents of Mendota Heights are allowed to deposit brush at the
bonfire site behind Mendota Plaza between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2011 through Friday October
28, 2011. Brush may not exceed four inches in diameter and no grass
clippings or leaves are allowed. Please note once the area is filled it
will be fenced off and no further dumping will be allowed. The city
would like thank Paster Enterprises for allowing the use of Mendota
Plaza for this event.
HALLOWEEN BONFIRE
63rd Annual Firefighter’s Dance November 12, 2011
The Mendota Heights Volunteer Fire Department 63rd Annual Firefighters
Dance will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. to
midnight at the Royal Cliff of Eagan located at 2280 Cliff Road. Music will
be provided by the ever popular Rockin’ Hollywoods. Tickets are $12.00
in advance or $15.00 at the door. Come join us for an evening of fun and
dancing for a great cause!
FALL 2011 : Issue 89
Copyright 2011, City of Mendota Heights