Loading...
2004-01-09 Friday Newsi l �4' The Friday 4� y News New Acting Mayor Appointed State statutes require statutory cities to take several annual actions at their first meeting of each year. Among those required actions is the appointment of a member of Council to serve as Acting Mayor during any absences of the Mayor during the year. On January 6, Council unanimously appointed Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman as Acting Mayor for 2004 and expressed their appreciation to Councilmember Krebsbach for her excellent service as Acting Mayor for 2003. Congratulations Mary Jeam-ie! Official Newspaper On Tuesday evening, Council acknowledged letters from the Sun Newspapers and Lillie Suburban Newspapers requesting appointment as the city's official newspaper for 2004. Corxncil unanimously reappointed the Southwest Review (Lillie) as our official paper. All legal notices and advertisements will be published in the Review again this year. Revised Fees Adopted Also on Tuesday evening, Council adopted a revised schedule of miscellaneous fees and an ordinance setting fees for building and development related activities. The most significant effect of this action is an increase in the fees charged for building permits. This is the first increase in permit fees since 1979 and raises the city's fees to the same level that most metropolitan area cities have charged since 1997. Town Center Lot Sales The Town Center development took a big leap forward on Tuesday evening. Council amended the city's business subsidy criteria to accommodate Town Center, approved a subsidy agreement with Mendota Heights Town Center, LLC (Ross Feffercorn), and approved an escrow agreement and amendments to the Town Center developer's agreement. Council also authorized city staff to execute documents to finalize the sale of Lots 1--3, Block 5 and Lot 1, Block 1 to Mendota Heights Town Center, LLC. The closing was conducted on Wednesday afternoon. This transaction paves the way for construction of the Gateway Bank building and the first phase of the row townhouses. Audit in Process The city's new auditing firm, HLB Tautges Redpath , began their interim work on the city's 200.3 Financial Statement on Tuesday. They interviewed with Mayor Huber and various city staff members with regard to frai.id standards earlier this week and completed internal control testing on Thursday afternoon. They will return in May to complete the audit process. Cliff Timm Makes the News Attached is an article that appeared in " the enemy" newspaper last Sunday on our old friend Cliff Timm. Cliff called Gary Kullander this week from Rogers Lake to tell him that he was there with a Pioneer Press photographer and that an article about him would also appear in that newspaper soon, We'll all be on the lookout. Respectfully Submitted, Jim Danielson Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, Park and Recreation Commission agenda, Airport Commissions agenda, Planning Application Synopsis, Minneapolis Tribune article on Cliff Timm, and MHAA Board Member Roster, AMM News. _z.r anuaay 01-03-2004 0036 hours Stop Sign I Drive After Revocation / Warrants Officer Todd Rosse was on patrol in a fully marked squad car when he watched a car drive through the stop sign at Mendota Heights Road and Pilot Knob. After stopping the car the driver told him that she knew he was stopping her for running the stop sign. A computer check showed the driver was revoked and had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants and one gross misdemeanor warrant out of Hennepin County. She was arrested and transported to the Dakota County Jail and the car was impounded. 01-03-02004 0206 hours 4th Degree DUl / Open Bottle Sergeant John Larrive stopped a car on Hwy 13 at Lilydale Road for driving over the center line. Sgt Larrive had to pull onto the shoulder to allow the car to pass without hitting him head on. After trying to stop the car it eventually pulled into the Holiday, and stopped in a parking space. The driver failed all SFST's (Standardized The Mendota Heights Police Field Sobriety Tests) and was arrested for Department DUI and open bottle. After being read the Implied Consent, he agreed to provide a breath test, which revealed a BAC of .11. jonn Hnaerson 01-04-2004 1500 hours Suspicious Car t Neil Garlock Caller reported a suspicious car in front of t John Larrive her house. Upon arrival, Officer Scott or Mario Reyes Patrick discovered that the suspicious car it Brian Convery had been parked in the caller's front yard for icer Yvette Tillery months. She was not aware that she could er Lee Flandrich r, Scott Patrick see the car by looking out her front window. r Jerry Murphy 01-04-2004 2204 hours AOA / Possession Eric Petersen of Burglary Tools Tanner Spicer Officers were assisting WSPPD by looking ar Todd Rosse for a suspect in an attempted burglary were r Chad Willson the suspects had pulled up and put on ski ,r Jeff Vonfeldt masks and attempted to enter a house. 14 -Jennifer Hurst minutes later, we were dispatched to a gry Bekky Trost suspicious person call six blocks away. Cathy Ransom While en route to that call, Officer Lee - 1 - Flandrich spotted a mini van matching the description of the WSP burglars. A short time later, both were in custody along, with a variety of burglary tools. The West St Paul victim identified the suspects as a possible match. Transported and held on the Mendota Heights charges and referred to the WSP investigators for follow-up, 01-06-2004 025 hours Careless Driving Sgt John Larrive was westbound on Wentworth when he passed an eastbound car with its hazard lights on. As he watched the car in his mirror, the car's brake lights never came on as it went through the stop sign at Delaware. While catching up to the car, it turned off its hazard lights and drove along normally. When he came to the next stop sign, he activated the hazards and drove through without slowing or stopping. When stopped, the driver advised that the clutch was going out and he could not stop. After being cited, he started the car and drove around the corner to a friend's house without a problem. 01-06-2004 1627 hours Theft of Services Amoco (BP) in Lilydale reported that a green Mercury had pulled into the automatic car wash and entered multiple codes until the wash started. While Officer Scott Patrick was speaking with the victim, Officer Brian Convery checked the area until locating the Suspect. The driver said he found the codes on the Internet and he had plenty of money to pay if they wanted him to. 01-07-2004 1130 hours DAS / No Insurance Officer Scott Patrick ran a computer check that showed the registered owner of the car to be suspended. The description of the owner matched the driver and the car was stopped. The driver's status was confirmed as suspended. He could only produce an expired insurance card. The driver assured Officer Patrick that he had current insurance and was just missing the card. The insurance company advised he had lapsed 90 days earlier. The driver was cited for DAS and No Insurance and the car was towed by Southeast. The occupants were taken to a restaurant in WSP. REFERENCE SECTION 2004 ACRONYMS FOR NEWSLETTER USE: DAR=Driving After Revocation DAS=Driving After Suspension DAC=Driving After Cancellation SFST=Standardized Field Sobriety Tests BAC=Blood Alcohol Concentration W/B=west bound E/B=east bound S/B=south bound N/B=north bound Detox=Dakota County Receiving WSP=West St Paul AOA= Assist Other Police Agency ID=Identified or identification MSP=Minnesota State Patrol DC=Dakota County GOA= Gone on Arrival UTL=Unable to locate 10-50=property damage accident 10-52=personal injury accident 10-33=emergency radio traffic 10-56=drunk driver Note: this is not a complete list (whenever I think it is someone will add new ones). During the year any that have not shown up will be referenced at that time. Crime Prevention reminder: Do not leave anything of value in your car. Do not park and place items in the trunk to secure them. Your car is not safe storage for anything of value. Thieves take the opportunity to strike when they feel they will not be caught. They watch and wait (it is the hardest work they do) until you provide them the opportunity to break a window and walk away with your stuff. Be aware and responsible to see that you keep your stuff. Have a safe and crime free week. -- Mike-- - 2 - NEWS LETTER The Pwipelmine Public Works Engineering January 8,, 2004 Code Enforcement Public Works Tom Olund and the Parks Crew staff attended the annual Minnesota Green Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center where companies display and promote supplies and equipment for parks and grounds improvements and maintenance. Rich Burrows attended training sessions to maintain his certification to handle and dispense fertilizer and pesticide chemicals at the City. The Street Crews trimmed trees on Valley Lane, performed maintenance on equipment, and built some shelving in the sign shop so that they could reorganize storage of their sign making supplies. Engineering The Engineering Department received a set of plans for review covering the signal installation and intersection work planned for Highway 110 and Delaware Avenue. Barr Engineering delivered plans and specifications to the City for bidding purposes this week for the Mendota Heights Road Lift Station Reconstruction/Rehabilitation project. The bid opening for this project is scheduled for 3 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2004. Drew Budelis of Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates met with Marc Mogan on Thursday to present information on the consulting services that they could provide in developing the policies and ordinances required under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit issued to the City by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Code Enforcement Paul Berg and Dick Gill were gone for the entire, or portion of the week, respectively, to attend the Annual Institute for Building Officials Conference. The conference is sponsored by the State to help the building officials maintain their certification requirements. Russ Wahl filled in on a part-time basis performing the building inspections that were scheduled for this week while they were gone. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Tuesday, January 13, 2004 6:30 p.m. — Council Chambers 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. November 13, 2003 Minutes 4. Recreation Programmer's Update 5. Clifford Timm: Snowmobiles on Rogers Lake 6. Changes to "Rules and Rental Fees for Use of City Parks and Property" 7. Trail Planning 8. Grant Programs Available 9. Verbal Updates • Playground Improvements in 2004 • Wagon Wheel Trail/Rogers Lake Improvements • Buckthorn Control • Clifford Timm Article • E-mail Addresses • Police Report 10. Other Comments 11. Adjourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at (651) 4.52-1850 with requests. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION AGENDA January 14, 2004 — Large Conference Room 1. Call to Order - 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of December 10, 2003 Minutes 4. Unfinished and New Business: a. Introduction Packet b. NOC -Bylaws Review C. City Administrator Update 5. Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence: a. Article from Metro Region "Activist faults airport -noise panel". b. Email from Chad L,egve C. Memorandum from Nigel D. Finney d. Email from Scott Beaty e. Email from Jack Vitelli f. Airport Noise Report, December 5, 2003 g. Airprot Noise Report, December 12, 2003 h. Airport Noise Report, December 26, 2003 i. MAC meeting minutes from the December meeting of the Planning Environment Committee. j. MAC Approved 2004 Capital Improvement Program. 6. Other Commissioner Comments or Concerns 7. Public Comments 8. Adjourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at (651) 452-1850 with requests. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS January 8, 2003 TO: City Council, Commission Members, and City Administrator FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Planning Application Synopsis The Planning Commission will discuss the following applications at their January 27, 2004 meeting: Planning Case 404-01 "GNB" Building Variance for a Monument Sign 1110 Centre Pointe Curve Planning Case #04-02 Robert Fink. Preliminary Plat/Subdivision 1850 Arvin Drive Planning Case 904-03 Patterson Dental Conditional Use Permit to amend the Planned Unit Development and Wetlands Permit 1031 Mendota Heights Road Planning Case #04-04 Terry Schneider Concept Plan for an Office Development Highways 5.5 and I') "The main thing is if I can make for betterfishing. fishing. That's what pleases me." —Cliff Timm, West St Paul Cliff Timm to fish. Always has. West St.Paul mancontributing his dollars that • • lers fin d1good fishing for years to come. By Jon Lentz Special to the Star Tribune hen Cliff Timm was grow- ing up on a farm in south- ern Minnesota, he would fish every chance he got. With nothing more than a wil- low pole, a piece of string, a safety pin and some worms, he'd ramble off to a nearby lake or the Minneso- ta River to catch sunfish. "I just loved to fish," Timm, 84, said. "I'd get up early in the morning with my flashlight — it'd be dark yet — and go down on the dock. By the time they rung the bell [for break- fast] at 7 a.m., I'd have 70 or 80 sun- fish. It'd be one right after another." "Sometimes when I was sup- posed to be hoeing corn I'd sneak off down by the river," he added with unrepentant cheerfulness: A longtime resident of West St. Paul, Timm earned a reputation as a supporter of metro, area fishing projects. His thin, slightly hunched figure is familiar at metro area city council meetings and legislative sessions, where he relentlessly pro- motes fish -feeding programs, geese control, and water preserva- tion projects. He donates tens of thousands of dol- lars for piers, aera- tors and pond -relat- ed research -- in- cluding about $70,000 already this year'. And when he has time, usually at least once a week, he still does some fishing. "The main thing is if I can make for better fishing," Photos by Tom Sweeney/Star Tribune Timm said. "That's what pleases me. It's just a great relaxation, and it's a great thing for the kids to do." Timm, a widower with no chil- dren, doesn't resemble a typical philanthropist. He drives a 1983 Buick and has lived in the same small house for years. But among his recent gifts: more than $50,000 for a study on improvements to Rogers Lake in Mendota Heights, $10,000 for a pier at West St. Paul's Thompson Lake, and most recent- ly, a $16,000 donation to Inver Grove Heights for a new pier at Gun Club Lake at the Lion's Club Park. Many of the projects wouldn't have gotten done without him. "He cares a lot about people and their ability to recreate out- doors," said Rick Walsh of the De- partment of Natural Resource's Fishing in the Neighborhood pro- gram'.. "He's persistent and he goes after what he wants. He's kind of a bulldog type. He's generous, too. He's definitely donated lots of money to those projects he's taken a shine to." 'I'iMM continues on C19 Cliff Timm (above) displays a morning catch of panfish on Round Lake. His time -tested equip- ment includes a space heater, right. Timm (left) has en- Joyed fishing of all sorts since he was a youngster, and is hoping to help youngsters get easi- er access to the sport. An old violin case (far left) gives Timm a handy spot to store. some ice fishing gear. ;`SIMM ACK-Om cis .dove for° fishing is still strong Jim Mueller, a longtime Li- ons Club member, was part of an effort to bring fishing back to Gun Club Lake. The lake had'been a prime fishing spot in Inver Grove Heights before Hwy. 52 came through, but the changes made it largely in- accessible to anglers. "It's been a good lake," Mueller said. "It was kind of a local secret. Just the locals would fish there." When Timm heard about the pier project, he decided to help make it a reality. Through his financial support, anglers should be returning to the lake Vy 11- Yvu.. - "He's a very energetic guy, 'll 11- that 11Mueller said Carlo (Abe) Abrahamsen, right, contributed a fish to Cliff Tirrim's catch on Round take recently. ing their size, which has been dwindling over the years. He has been urging the DNR to take action, and he's been making progress. "In some instances making the fish easier to catch is a good thing," Walsh said. "In these littler ponds you're just trying to catch fish and that can probably work. The feed- ing of fish [to grow] requires a little more study. There's some interest right now in that at the DNR, but it's in the dis- cussion stages." "Cliff is dedicated to im- proving fishing for people who maybe don't have the re- sources," said Robert Timm, Cliff Timm's nephew and fre- quent fishing partner. The elder Timm isn't con- tent with the progress he's made, but he feels good about what he's accomplished, "You know, I win some and I lose some," said Timm. "You can see I've been making some progress. I have to spend some money in it, but that's what I saved it for. "It's a wonderful feeling. of Timm. "He's just a straight - He's really into enough money to fish. shooter guy. fishing and supporting youth." "In 1937 things were pretty hard," Timm said: "My first Growing up on a farm, Timm developed a love for the job was as a busboy for a cou- outdoors at a young age. He ple weeks. Then I got a job as a bellhop and I had it made. learned to swim at age 3, start- ed fishing a year later, and was "I couldn't affords given his own shotgun when 9. In ninth hetoday," t on't doto it and buy p p, o he added. "Life is a he was grade, used a slush -bucket and a habit. When you get into a cer- that's team of horses to build him- tain thing, generally what you proceed to do." self a small fishpond. "T would have been The same could be said of never able tocome to the Cities if it many aspects of Timm's life. Even though he's retired, he weren't .for hunting," said Timm, who sold raccoon pelts still does some repair work to afford the move. "I had a with glass. For more than 25 years he's been working to im- Police dog. If it was a young coon that weighed under 20 prove fishing. And about six pounds, he would have it. I years ago he began putting his where his mouth is, giv- sold those pelts and made $60 from it. So I bought a few money ing at least $20,000 each year to clothes and I had.$40 when I improve ponds and fishing ac - cess. The money comes from a came to the Cities. He arrived in 1937 -to study charitable fiord he set up from the trumpet, performing old- . -investments he has made. In November, Timm went time and jazz numbers in smoke-filled joints as a side before the Inver Grove job. He met his future wife, Heights City Council when it Hulda, who was the sister of a accepted his donation the Lion's Club for the fellow band member, and they were married in 1942. He later through new pier. He took advantage found more lucrative work in of the situation to promote a construction and as a glazier, but for his first 10 years in the few of his causes. "Now hopefully, if this pier City he didn't even have goes trough, they won't use this to feed the geese on," said Timm, eliciting laughs from the council members. "I want to have it so the kids can wade in that water. That's my idea of pleasure. Now maybe I'm old- fashioned, but I used to like to wade in the water when I was a kid. "Now this feeding the fish is the future," he added. "I'll tell you why. You can take one little fish pellet, and it's the equivalent of several hundred little insects. They claim that they can take one 5- or 6 -inch sunfish, and in one season, they can bring that fish up to 71h or 8 inches. So it's a must." Back at his house, Timm said, "Being an old trumpeter it's right down my alley if I get a chance to spout my mouth off. I get a kick out of that. But they don't always like what I have to say. If I live a few more years I might amount to some- thing. This feeding of the fish is really something." The prospect of adding feeding programs at small ponds and lakes in the metro area clearly excites Timm. He says such programs can im- prove fishing by attracting fish closer to piers and by increas- joai Lentz is a jOrse*1aaiisr;1 strukutat Macalester College. Mendota Heights Athletic Association: MHAA Board & Contacts Page I of 2 SUPPORT BUYA I M FUNDRAISING: build a vveb sitel fundraisingl conimunityl collect le•mss -1nlir�ej epoh-ftzj hot topicz Mendota Heights Athletic Association: MHAA Board & Contacts L�j Office Number The MHAA Office number is (651) 454-0433 Registration Questions Please send an email to Amelia for questions with registration. Website Questions or Comments Please send an emai I to Chris for questions with the site. http://vAvw.eteamz.com/niliaaonline/news/iiidex.cfm?cat=220778 1/8/2004 Mendota Heights Athletic Association 2003 Board Members . ...... ... h4v Site News President Charles Noel :450-6649: UPDRTED I Vice President Mark.Ayplte 688-8022; Vice President Ellen Kuenster '450-76051 Locations Secretary I Joe Lueman 452-0270 • ,doufS UPMTEI); Treasure OPEN • Liroks At Large Mark Desmond 450-93941 b o o k 454-5132 ;',AI -!AA Poard C' I At Large Sandy McCown At Large Shinya McHenry 405-05551 `0- At La Lar e Bob Spurr 451-7564 ` ,. sitter _ 'Basketball Steve Karel 450-7687 Admin Commissioners I Greg _5pringer 455-6001 tit pcinled Baseball Commissioner Dove Liber-tini 905-3851 4 06 9 FY, T- Ball Commissioner Anita Toth Menclojajwjeights AthleticJohn Soccer Commissioner Morone y 453-05204 Association Amelia Olson Softball Commissioner: Mary Karth 457-6719 651 454 C0433 FIX: 651 086-9191 Football Commissioner Tim McManus 454-0433' Lotto ,_e% -El Program Director 1 Amelia. Olson 454-04331 W--61 St floui, P"Onrip '-soia 55118 L�j Office Number The MHAA Office number is (651) 454-0433 Registration Questions Please send an email to Amelia for questions with registration. Website Questions or Comments Please send an emai I to Chris for questions with the site. http://vAvw.eteamz.com/niliaaonline/news/iiidex.cfm?cat=220778 1/8/2004 Association of Metropolitan Municipalities AM.M.-News Page 1 of 2 January 5 - 9, 2004 ARCHIVES 2004 Legislative Session Looming With the 2004 legislative session scheduled to begin Monday, February 2, several alliances, organizations and individual legislators have begun to announce legislative initiatives they plan to pursue during the upcoming session. While several issues and initiatives, such as the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, have already received significant media attention, the following, somewhat less publicized issues, are also likely to be of interest to metropolitan cities Alliance for Reasonable Municipal Regulation A newly formed group called the Alliance for Reasonable Municipal Regulation recently released a four point legislative agenda that seeks to " level the current imbalance of power between municipal government and private land owners." Alliance members include associations representing automobile dealers, residential builders, realtors, grocers, outdoor advertisers, petroleum dealers and automotive service providers. During the 2004 session, the Alliance plans to seek legislation that would allow non -conforming land uses to continue, even if damaged, by eliminating the current 50 percent damage threshold. The also seek to limit land use moratoriums to one year, require city fees to be directly related to a need created by a proposed development project, and to amend erninent domain laws to "protect the interest of property owners." Plat Authority Among the legislative positions adopted by the Metropolitan Inter County Association (MICA) is one seeking the authority for counties to approve plats that are adjacent to the right-of-way of any county road. Counties currently have the authority to review and comment on proposed plats, but are seeking approval authority based on what they argue is the potential for local decisions to "lead to restrictions in future design and construction options, impact the function of the highway and create traffic safety issues." The Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) has adopted a similar position. LGA and Transit Aid It appears likely that some rural legislators will introduce legislation to increase funding for local government aid (LGA) by reducing funding for transit aid and/or the market value homestead credit program, both of which are viewed as disproportionately benefiting suburban communities. Rep. Paul Marquuart (DFL -Dilworth), has been quoted as proposing a $25 million reduction in state funding for transit and continuation of the $20 million reduction in the market value homestead credit, which is currently scheduled to be restored in 2005. TIF Several local government organizations have begun meeting with legislative staff and representatives of the Revenue Department and the Office of the State Auditor to discuss possible changes to the state's tax increment laws, The changes being discussed relate to mixed-use districts, the five-year rule and shortfalls in pay-as-you-go notes. Legislation related to TIF http://www.aiiiinl45.org/newsletter.litm 1/6/2004 Association of Metropolitan Municipalities Page 2 of 2 shortfalls has been pre -filed in the House by Rep. Davids (R. -Preston) as H.F. 1684. The bill would amend the definition of pre-existing obligations to include both bonds and pay-as-you-go notes and establishes a state funded grant program. If you have any questions regarding any of the above proposals or want additional information. please contact Gene Ranieri at (651) 215-4001 or gene�amn1145_org. Coming Up: On Friday, January 16, city officials and staff are invited to attend a briefing by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency regarding the recently released housing needs study, "The Next Decade of Housing in Minnesota." The briefing will run from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the St. Croix Room of the League of Minnesota Cities building at 145 University Ave W. in St. Paul. To register, please call AMM at (651) 215 - 4000 by Wednesday, January 14. On Friday, January 30, Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell will present the annual State of the Region address at the Schneider Theater in the new Bloomington Civic Plaza, located at 98th Street and Old Shakopee Road. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with the program to run from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. To register, please visit «-ww.metrocouncil_org. AMM News is sent periodically to all AMM city managers and administrators. The information is intended to be shared with mayors, council and staff in order to keep officials abreast of important metro city issues. © Copyright 2004 AMM 145 University Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55103-2044 Telephone: 651-215-4000 Fax: 651-281-1299 Email: amm@amm145_org http://www.anrrn 14.5.org/newsletter.lrtrn 1/6/2004