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2010-10-01 Friday NewsMM AAAAAAA October 1, 2010 Commission Openings for 2011 All three of our citizen advisory commissions will have open seats in 2011. These commissions (Planning Commission, Airport Relations Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission) play a very important role in implementing city codes and policies and making recommendations to the city council. If you know of anyone who is interested in applying for one of the open seats please have them contact David McKnight at city hall. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest by December 10, 2010. Candidates will be interviewed by the city council in January 2011 with the commission terms to begin on February 1, 2011. Ribbon Cutting F Anytime Fitness will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new location at the Mendota Plaza on Monday, October 4, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Representatives from Anytime Fitness and the Mendota Plaza have invited the city to participate in this Revent. If you have the time and want to check out the new location of this business in Mendota Heights please feel free to stop in on Monday at the event. Congratulations I to both Anytime Fitness and the Mendota Plaza on your new partnership. The new Plaza and the new location for the fitness center both look great. Good luck to Anytime Fitness and thank you for staying in Mendota Heights. DMendakota Playground Work A Work will begin next week on an improved play area for 2-5 year olds at Mendakota Park. Contractors will be removing existing equipment on the east end of the playground, installing new equipment and replacing the poured -in place rubber Ysurfacing in that section of the play area. The Parks and Recreation Commission worked very hard on this project, which will be a nice addition to our "flagship" park. Thanks Joe NPlanning Commission Chair Joe Lally submitted his resignation to the city council this week. Joe did an excellent job serving on the Planning Commission and serving as E chair for a number of years. Please take the time to say thank you to Joe for his service to the residents of Mendota Heights. The professional manner in which conducted yourself and the manner in which you ran the Planning Commission Wmeetings is appreciated by all of us and will be sorely missed. Thanks for your service Joe and good luck with your future endeavors. Saint Thomas Fireworks Next Week Next Friday evening (10/8/2010) is the St. Thomas Academy homecoming football game. As they have in years past, the Academy is planning a small fireworks display. Residents in the area can expect a halftime show, and another small display at the end of the game. October 1, 2010 Fire Department Events The Fire Department has a number of events scheduled in the upcoming weeks, including events that coincide with Fire Prevention Week which runs October 3, 2010 through October 9, 2010. The annual Fire Department open house is scheduled for Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the fire hall. In addition, please do not forget about the annual firefighters dance which is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at Royal Cliff in Eagan. Please take some time to participate in these two events and say thank you to all of our volunteer firefighters in Mendota Heights. We appreciate everything you do for all of us and the dedication that you show to the community. Heights Highlites The latest edition of the Heights Highlites was mailed out to residents of Mendota Heights this week. A big thank you goes out to Jake Sedlacek and Nancy Bauer for the work they put into updating the look of our newsletter. The goals were to make the newsletter easier to read and to look more appealing. Both of these goals were accomplished and the newsletter looks great. Congratulations to both of you on your work and thanks for putting in the extra effort!! Dates To Remember City Council Meeting Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Airport Relations Commission Meeting City Council Meeting Planning Commission Meeting Election Day 10-5-2010 7:00 p.m. 10-12-2010 6:30 p.m. 10-13-2010 7:00 p.m. 10-19-2010 7:00 p.m. 10-26-2010 7:00 p.m. 11-2-2010 Al Attachments � c Attachments Just The Facts, The Pipeline, Pre -Application Meeting Synopsis, SouthwestReviewNews.com Article "Mendota Heights decreases tax levy" and NDC4 Media Release "Candidate Forums and Meet the Candidates Will Replay on Community Channel 14, Government Channel 18, and on the Internet October 1, 2010 10/1/2010 Tie tAie ITfe, <&(ota �feiglits�alite �eyartment The Traffic Safety Saturation Mendota The news has been a bit slower since "Click It or Ticket" and the Labor Day DUI saturations are over, so its time for another wave! Mendota Heights g Heights Police Department will kick off the new year grant cycle with Police the first saturation of the grant. We are expecting between 8 and 10 Department other departments to have squads in our communities working traffic. This detail will be focused on all traffic violations: if you break the law, Support expect to be stopped and cited. Staff Kim Henning Flooding Sandie Ristine For the second time in a year, Mendota and Lilydale are Susan Donovan Cathy Ransom experiencing flooding. The levels are expected to peak late on Becky Pentel 10/01/2010 and stay up for 24 to 36 hours before they recede. Police Officers The crest will be approximately a foot higher than the spring Jerry Murphy flooding. The impact on the community is very controlled, thanks Scott Patrick to thoughtful planning after the big floods in the 1960's. Most of John Larrive Bobby Lambert the impacted property was mitigated out which cost a lot of Tanner Spicer money up front, but in comparison to the cost of rebuilding it Todd Rosse twice in one year, it was money well spent. Chad Willson Jeff vonFeldt Suspicious Behavior Thursday 0923 hours Denise Urmann Neighbor called to report two men drilling out the locks on the Michael Shepard house next door. Officer Scott Patrick confirmed the men were Peyton Fleming with the mortgage company and the home had been taken back Jenny Fordham School Resource in a foreclosure. Officer AOA Thursday 1422 hours Steven Meyer Investigations Sergeant Eric Petersen and Officer Scott Patrick responded to Mario Reyes help WSPPD with three suspects running from a stolen car. The Tanner Spicer employees of a local body shop watched a car pull in behind their Sergeants building as a squad went running by code 3 and were pretty sure Neil Garlock Brian Convery something was up. They got a good description of the car, the Eric Petersen occupants and license number. A quick 911 call to the DCC Reserves revealed the car was a stolen out of Apple Valley. The squad Randy Pentel that was enroute to a medical diverted back to the body shop and Gino Messina soon it was like rats from a sinking ship. In less than 10 minutes Jesse Messner Andrew Quinlan all the car thieves were in custody. Chief Mike Directions Thursday 1930 hours Aschenbrener A local business called after a young man stopped in, asking for -1- 10/1/2010 directions to Hwy 52. The young man was high and intoxicated; no wonder he needed directions. The other occupants of the car were drinking Colt 45 and smoking marijuana as well. Unfortunately, Officers were out of position so the call was passd on to the MN State Highway Patrol. AOA Thursday 2323 hours Sergeant Petersen and Officer Peyton Fleming responded to assist EPD with a suicidal man armed with a shotgun. His 911 call somehow ended up in the Scott County 911 center. A ping (locate of the phone) revealed it was in Eagan near a motel. Our Officers assisted with searching the exterior while EPD searched inside. Shortly after our arrival the man was taken into custody; Officers cleared as HealthEast Ambulance arrived on scene. DUI Thursday 2345 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt clocked a vehicle at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. He eventually caught up with the car and stopped it in Eagan. The driver was having some problems responding to his requests as she moved very slowly. She was able to attempt SFST's but failed those she attempted. She then determined she had a medical condition and quit trying the tests. As she was being read the MN Implied consent form the woman pretended to pass out, (she even gently lowered herself to the ground!). The woman was released from custody to HealthEast Ambulance. Before she left she was asked for a blood and/or urine test. Unfortunately, in her passed out state, she was only able to give Officer VonFeldt the finger. It should make for a fun court date. AOA Friday 0212 hours You have to love the call that makes no sense what so ever, but then ends up on the right side of the street (e.g. a WSPPD call). Officer Peyton Fleming received a call of a car stolen from the SA on Hwy 55. Caller reported his buddy stole his car and was now crashed on a rock. After a few minutes of looking Officers located the man; dispatch reported he was babbling about the economy, evil people and money. It turned out the car was not missing and became a WSPPD call to deal with the disoriented man. Burglary Sunday 2051 hours Officer Chad Willson responded to a burglar alarm at a local business. Upon arrival he found the front window smashed out. An Eagan PD K-9 assisted in searching the business; unfortunately, the thief was GOA along with a brand new TV. It replaced the one taken about one month earlier in a similar break in. Entered MINCIS / NCIC and turned over to investigations. DUI Monday 0151 hours Officer Fleming was approaching a green light when he spotted a car approaching at a very high rate of speed. The car went through the intersection without slowing on the red. Initially it appeared the car was planning on fleeing; Officer Fleming immediately activated his emergency lights and siren, watching as the car randomly stopped in the middle of Hwy 110 for about 30 seconds before driving away slowly. This continued for several miles. When other squads were in position to assist, a high risk stop was executed. The driver did not comply with directions; once a _2_ thorough assessment of the situation was completed, he was removed, pulled, from the car, put on the ground, cuffed and searched. The only SFST done was the PBT which revealed a BRC of .225. A heavy smell of alcohol came from the subject who alternated speaking English and Spanish. When read the MN Implied Consent advisory a translation service was used. Ultimately the man who originally claimed to be with the MN Twins refused because he was played for the MN Vikings (um, no). Booked into the DCSO jail. Robbery Monday 1245 hours SRO Steve Meyer learned from staff that a student had taken forcibly taken money from several other students during lunch. After being read Miranda, the 17YOA denied taking the money. He did tell a nice story about collecting on some bets and had several witnesses lined up to cover his alibi. He was placed at the DC JDC in Hastings as he had enough points to warrant being locked up. The points are from a RAI (Risk Assessment Instrument) that is designed to allow only the most deserving JV's to be locked up. Homecoming Hi Jenks Monday 1918 hours Over the weekend we prepared for the normal homecoming fun and games; (and re- stocking our supply of toilet paper). Tuesday, Officer Todd Rosse spoke with a homeowner who reported their house was hit with splat balls. They did not believe they received any damage. Report of H.S. age kids egging in the area of Cherry Hill, not located. Approximately 2359 hours near Wachtler and Hwy 13, Officer Urmann stopped to 17 YOA's who were wanted by Eagan PD for splatballing and terroristic threats. They were turned over shortly after the stop. About 10 minutes later Officer Willson stopped another car full of kids from MH and WSP also related to the Eagan incident. Citations were issued to this group by Officer Willson for EPD and they were released at the scene. A Loving Caring Relationship Tuesday 0640 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to a 911 call for medical assistance. The caller reported that her boyfriend was having an insulin or diabetic attack. He was still upright but wobbly when she left. The door was left unlocked. HealthEast and Officer Urmann handled the situation! Robbery — ops just kidding Tuesday 1203 hours Sergeant Neil Garlock responded to a call of an assault and robbery. Upon arrival the victim was interviewed, his injuries were photographed and a robbery was carefully documented. Sgt Garlock and Investigator Spicer spent considerable time putting together a good case along with a blind sequential photo line-up by which the victim clearly identified the robber. Shortly after that interview on Wednesday, the victim called back to say "just kidding," he was not going to purse the matter. Suspicious Tuesday 2256 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a cell caller's request to check a disoriented male walking barefoot on the bridge. Officer Fleming located the student from Brown College walking home from school. Not suspicious, just disoriented or barefoot. Harassment Wednesday 2156 hours Officer Mike Shepard spoke with a homeowner about harassing phone calls and learned the calls had occurred multiple times. The victim is not certain if they were the intended target or someone else in the house. They were advised to call the phone company for assistance. -3- NEWS LETTER The Pipeline Public Works Engineering- Code Enforcement October 1, 2010 Public Works The Parks Crew attached the mulching kit to the #500 xmack mower for the fall mulching of leaves. They repaired the hydraulic line on the #5900 groundmaster mower. The Streets Crew cut back trees that were on the shoulder and hanging over the road on Coleshire Lane. They started trimming trees on Emerson Avenue and Dodd Road. Tree limbs were also trimmed at Copperfield and Delaware Avenue. Storm sewer Fa' grates were cleaned. They filled in a well holding tank with sand on a city lot on the west end of NIV the city. The repair of storm sewer pipes was started on Annapolis Street at Chippewa Avenue and Medallion Drive at Lexington Avenue. Cones and barricades were dropped off at the Police Department. Engineering Picture of well discovered at 1181 Bourn Lane. Photo by Terry Blum Highway 55/Mendota Heights Road Intersection - The construction project has begun. Temporary traffic signals at the intersection have been installed, safety markings and signs are in place, and the project is being surveyed and marked for upcoming demolition. Residents should be aware of traffic revisions at this intersection through the end of December. 2010 Reconstruction/Rehabilitation Project - Work for the 2010 portion of the project is substantially complete with small, punch -list items remaining. Remaining portions of wear course asphalt on Butler and Ivy Falls Park, Spring Street, and Simard Street will be completed in the spring of 2011. Assessment hearing for the completed project will be held at the October 19th City Council meeting. The final mailboxes were re -installed by the contractor this past week. Water Tower Rehabilitation - The painting of the tower body is substantially complete. Weather (rain and wind) prevented the contractor from meeting their previously stated September 30th completion date, but with the cooperation of the weather, the tower project should be substantially complete by the end of this coming week. 2011 Street Reconstruction Project (Wagon Wheel Trail) - Staff has completed the Feasibility Report for the 2011 Street Reconstruction Project and it is scheduled to be presented to Council at the October 5th meeting. The project will reconstruct Wagon Wheel Trail from Lexington to Dodd Road and will include the installation of storm sewer, curb & gutter, and an eight foot bituminous trail along the length of the project. Sewer Lining Contract - Each year the City contracts out services to clean, video inspect/record, and line portions of our sanitary sewer system. The cleaning and video recording contract was awarded earlier this year, and the sewer lining work is scheduled to be before Council at their October 5th meeting. These projects allow the City to reduce the amount of groundwater and storm water that finds its way into our sanitary sewer system increasing the total volume the City contributes to the Metropolitan Council sewage treatment facilities. This in turn increases the amount we have to pay to Met Council as a City. Summit Development - Staff met with representatives form Opus Corporation on •. - • to discuss the development of •twin -homes development Wachtler and Highway 13. It is the intention of the parties involved to start construction in the • • Lilydale Racquet Club Site - Staff was contacted last week by develope currently •. • on proposed r _ •• plan throughof Lilydale. The plan includes.• •from the City of Mendota Heights. Once past accounts on the site have been settled, staff can continue work on connecting this area CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO DATE: September 27, 2010 TO: City Council, Commission Members, and City Administrator D�44 FROM: Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrato%ZACj SUBJECT: Pre -Application Meeting Synopsis Staff met with three potential planning applicants on Monday, September 27, 2010. Steve Grittman, John Mazzitello and Jake Sedlacek were present. Greg Bolton, 780 South Plaza Drive Mr. Bolton has begun a process to consider options to expand the Boltz's Tae Kwon Do studio located at 780 South Plaza Drive. Mr. Bolton and his contractor hoped to discuss building and zoning requirements they need to be mindful of. Staff walked through the conditional use permit process, as any expansion would require a new CUP. Staff will follow up with stormwater, impervious surface and parking requirements to help him in his evaluation of different options. No planning application is anticipated at this time. Paul Neisius, re. 1921 Glenhill Rd Mr. Neisius met with staff to discuss a potential addition at 1921 Glenhill Rd. The home owners would like to construct a second story over an existing screen porch, as part of a remodeling project. Staff reviewed the proposed project and advised Mr. Neisius that a critical area permit would be required, as the project expands the mass of the home. As a property located within the Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area, the project would be subject to public hearing and City Council approval. Staff provided Mr. Neisius with application materials; he will discuss the requirements with the homeowner. Materials may be returned for consideration at the October Planning Commission meeting. Micheala Whelan, Sunde Engineering, Re 2156 Dodd Road (Fischerville) Ms. Whelan presented staff with a sketch showing stormwater management for a proposed parking lot at the Fischerville site. Staff provided feedback on the stormwater plan. Staff also provided application materials for a variance request, as the proposed parking lot would require at least one variance to city code. Staff explained that a variance is extremely difficult to obtain when following the findings of a recent MN Supreme Court ruling. Specific to this parcel, the applicant would need to prove that no reasonable use can be made of the property can be made without a variance for parking. Staff reminded Ms. Whelan that the zoning of the property would allow for office use, which meets code with the existing parking configuration. Southwest Review I Mendota Heights decreases tax levy Page 1 of 1 PEtIWt `=e'p Ltl1Si ofv i ew om '''a5 _ S ii c4 zk. ic.. a` _ Monday, September 13,20 10 Mendota Heights decreases tax levy Danielle Cabot Review Staff Monday, September 13, 2010 Mendota Heights approved a preliminary 2011 property -tax levy decrease of 0.86 percent at the city council's meeting Sept. 7. The total levy amount will decrease by about $54,000. The city's market value also declined by about 6.6 percent, said finance director Kristen Schabacker. "The fact that Mendota Heights is proposing to collect fewer taxes in 2011 than we did in 2010 is a significant accomplishment on the part of the city," said City Administrator David McKnight. The plan is "a maintenance budget," according to Mayor John Huber. "Staff knows... it's basically make do with the same amount of money you had last year." It includes a 2 percent wage increase on top of mandated PERA increases for salaries and benefits. On the revenue side, a 20 -year parks improvement bond retired this year, reducing the city's debt obligations. The six percent decline in the city's property values is relatively small compared to neighboring communities and others in Dakota County. "In this economy we're doing very well in terms of getting through this," commented council member Sandra Krebsbach at the meeting. Property owners will receive an estimated truth -in -taxation statement based on these numbers in November. The final levy will be adopted at the city's Dec. 7 meeting, when a final public hearing will also be held. Danielle Cabot can be reached at southwest@lillienews.com or 651-748-7815. Q SHARE Content © 2010 Software © 1998-2010 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved http://www. southwestreviewnews.com/print.asp?ArticleID=5930&SectionID=62&SubSee... 9/27/2010 NODI-11'.RN DAKOTA COUNTY CAgLI-- COMMUNIC:AIIONS COMMISSION 5845 Blahe Avenue N 0"I.,, lover Glove 1-1c,1gws, m nnesoto 55076 1X1171 651/450-9891 fox 551/4,50-909 e-rncril: NDC(ct)townsgrrare,ty Media Release Contact: Dennis Rafftery, Government Coordinator 651/450-9891 Gate: October 1, 2010 CANDIDATE FORUMS AND MELT 7HL CANDIDATES WILL REPLAY ON COMMUNITY CHANNEL 14, GOVERNMENT CHANNEL 18, AND ON THE INTERNET NDC4 and Town Square Television produced eight Candidate Forums and two Aleet the Ccindidates programs and will provide LIVE Election coverage on both Community Channel 14 and on the web at wtww.townsquare.ty. The Candidate Forums will replay on Government Channel 18 from nolo until November 1". The forums feature candidates for Minnesota District 57 Senate and District 57A House of Representatives, Inver Grove Heights Mayor & City Council, South St. Paul City Council, Mendota Heights Mayor and City Council, West St. Paul Mayor and City Council, Sunfish Lake Mayor and City Council, Mendota Mayor, and Minnesota District 39 Senate and Districts 39A & 39B House of Representatives. The jUeet the Candidates shows will replay on Community Channel 14 from September 30'x' through November lir. jlleet the Ccinchdotes features five-minute interviews with candidates for US Houise of Representatives, Minnesota Statewide Offices, Minnesota Senate & house of Representatives, Dakota County Offices, Judicial Offices, and City Offices in Inver Grove Heights, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, and West St. Paul. For playback dates and tinges go to www.townsguare.ty or call 651-451-7834. All shows are also web streamed on -demand at www.townsguare,tV. LIVE Election coverage will begin at 8 PM, when the polis close on November 2"(1. Results for the cities of Inver Grove Heights, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, and West St. Paul, along with Dakota County, State, and Federal races will be posted on Channel 14 with precinct by precinct results on the web at wwvv.townsguare.ty. Along with results, candidates for various offices will be interviewed throughout the night. NDC4 is a joint powers cooperative formed by its seven inember cities to administer and enforce the cable television franchise ordinance for each of the seven cities. NDC4 is the local franchise authority representing cable subscribers' consumer interests, and also oversees seven local comimmity access channels on the Comcast cable system. Town Square Television is a non-profit organization producing local television programs and providing access to video production equipment, studios, training, and cable TV channel time for community members who wish to televise their own programs. For more information, call 651-451-7834, or go to mm.townsquare.ty.