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2016-01-22 Friday NewsDATES TO REMEMBER: January 26 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. February 2 City Council 7:00 p.m. February 9 Parks Commission 6:30 p.m. February 10 Airport Commission 7:00 p.m. Attachments.• Pipeline, Just the Facts Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452.1850 ®Visit us on: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Twifter.com/ @Mendota_heights January 22, 2016 FR.DDAY NEWS City of Mendota Heights Weekly Update Annual Staff Recognition ISixteen staff members were recognized for a combined total of 245 years of service to the community this week: Five Years of Service "The quality of a community reflects the Jacob Husnik, Fire Fighter dedication and commitment of those who Jason Stone, Fire Fighter serve it." —Author Unknown Ten Years of Service Vince Belmares, Fire Fighter Kim Henning, Police Support Specialist John Mendez, Fire Fighter Steve Meyer, Police Officer Dale Stein, Training Officer/Fire Fighter Denise Urmann, Police Officer Fifteen Years of Service Eric Petersen, Police Sergeant Todd Rosse, Police Officer Tanner Spicer, Police Sergeant Twenty Years of Service Richard Burrows, Public Works Utilities Lead Tim Oster, Public Works Street Maintenance Twenty Five Years of Service David Dreelan, Assistant Fire Chief Thirty Five Years of Service Gordy Skjerven, Fire Fighter Jeff Stenhaug, Captain/Fire Fighter The council also recognized this year's recipients of the Core Values Award. The four core values include respectful, ethical, service oriented and professional. Congratulations to Todd Rosse, Jenny Fordham, Nolan Wall and John Maczko. More information on the Core Values Award will be featured in the February Heights Highlights. N E W S The Pipeline LETTER Public Works Engineering January 22, 2016 Code Enforcement - Public Works The Parks Crew continues to flood and sweep the ice rinks. Repair work was done on the Toro mower. They also picked up trash in the parks daily. The pedways were plowed this week. The new truckster was ordered. New picnic tables and a pedway bench were ordered. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. He did a sanitary sewer inspection on Caren Road after the homeowner had their service repaired. He also inspected two new sanitary sewer service lines in Lemay Shores. A manhole was pumped out on Highway 13. The generator was exercised at the main lift station. He attended the required safety meeting. The Streets Crew replaced traffic light bulbs in the traffic light at Dodd Road and Mendota Heights Road. A new faucet was installed in the back shop. They had an early start on Wednesday with the one inch snowfall. They plowed the main lines and salted. The plow trucks were washed and steamed cleaned afterwards. The wings and sanders were greased. More welding work was done on the parks V plow. Ice was cut out of the street on Junction Lane and the catch basin was cleaned out. New curb rubbers were installed on the wings of 308 and 304. Engineering City Proiects (construction year) New Information in Italics Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/20151 - A new pedestrian ramp at Stratford and Victoria will be installed in the spring. Staff is working with an adjacent property owner on potential drainage modifications to be completed in the spring. Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) - A second neighborhood meeting to go over design issues specific to individual property owners is anticipated in February. The project is expected to be bid in March 2016. Project will consist of reconstructing Mendota Road (Hwy 110 Frontage Road) from Delaware Avenue to Oak Street, and rehabilitating Warrior Drive, High Ridge Circle, and Sibley Court. County Proiects New Information in Italics Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) - County staff met with City Council in a workshop on January 19th. The County will be recommending a modified, custom box culvert as the preferred underpass crossing alternative for the project. The County Board, ultimately will select the structure type for the project to move forward. County Board will hear the recommendation at their February 2„d meeting. If approved, the pedestrian crossing project would be constructed with MnDOT's rehabilitation project for Highway 110 in 2017. Traffic Signal Improvements: I-494 & Pilot Knob Road (2016) - Staff reviewed plans for the signal modification project and provided comments to the County. The project will replace the existing signal with a new one, including the "flashing yellow" left turn signal from Pilot Knob Road onto the I-494 on -ramps. Construction is anticipated to begin in July. State Projects New Information in Italics Highway 13 Slope Repair (2015-2016 - MnDOT has granted a permit to temporarily close Highway 13 between the Ivy Falls Bridge and Sylvandale Road in conjunction with a slope repair project being accomplished by a private property owner. This is not a City or State driven project. The contractor on the vroiect is estimating Highway 13 to re -oven by January 25th. Additional work will need to be completed in the spring. MnDOT directed the contractor not to commence with work until June - after school is done for the year. In June of 2014, bluff slopes in this area failed during a large rain storm. The repair project is intended to restore and stabilize the bluff slope by constructing a retaining wall and revegetating the slope. The posted detour route takes traffic along Dodd Road, Wentworth Avenue and Wachtler Avenue. See the City Web Page for a detour route map. Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) - MnDOT will be requesting Local Government Concurrence from Mendota Heights for this project at a City Council meeting sometime in February. MnDOT staff is currently working on easement identification and right-of-way issues. They are also developing a construction schedule that may include one-way highway closures during construction. This project will resurface Highway 110 between I -35E and I- 494, including drainage improvements. Several access changes and turn lane extensions are proposed with the project, including changes to accesses across the median as well as closing the right-in/right-out to the east of Lexington Avenue. For more information about this project, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state. mn. us. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (20181 - This project will replace the pavement surface of Highway 149 from I-494 north to West 7th Street in Saint Paul. The project also includes a complete re -decking of the High Bridge. Also included in the project will be drainage improvements, curb replacement in specified areas, trail rehabilitation from Highway 110 south to Mendakota Park, and new trail construction from Maple Street north to Marie Avenue. Staff met with representatives from MnDOT and Dakota County on Friday to discuss potential grant opportunities to extend pedestrian facilities along Dodd Road north of Marie Avenue. Grant opportunities for separated trail construction would be for construction years after the MnDOT project. MnDOT is looking at what may be possible within the scope of the 2018 project to improve pedestrian safety along the corridor. For more information, contact Tara McBride, Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us. The project web page is: httn://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/nroiects/hwv149hiahbridae/index.htmI Highway 13 (Annapolis Street) Rehabilitation (2018) - MnDOT will be resurfacing Annapolis Street as part of this project in conjunction with the Highway 149 project in 2018. City staff has contacted some adjoining property owners about the possibility of sidewalk installation on the south side of Annapolis. All responses were against the sidewalk proposal and have been forwarded to MnDOT. For more information, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Highway 13 Drainage Repair (2016) - MnDOT will be correcting and repairing erosion on the north side of Highway 13 between Fremont Street and Annapolis Street beginning next week. No traffic impacts on Highway 13 are anticipated other than the closing of the bluff -side shoulder. The project is estimated to be complete by March 1St. For more information, please contact Tara McBride, Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us. Other Activities New Information in Italics Future Cities Competition - Staff helped students rehearse their city presentations this week. The State competition is at Dunwoody Institute this Saturday. This year's theme is, "Waste Not - Want Not," and will focus on how the cities of the future handle municipal and solid waste. The competition is open to 6th -8th grade students and involves developing a "City of the Future." Teams are graded on a virtual city using Sim City software, completing a project schedule, a 1500 word essay, scale model, and oral presentation. This is the seventh year Mendota Heights' Engineering staff has assisted FHMS with the program. FHMS will be sending three teams to the competition, and the teams are scheduled to present the results of the competition to the City Council at their March 3rd meeting. Saint Paul Regional Water Service (SPRWS) Water Service Agreement - Staff is scheduling several additional approvals that will need to take place in conjunction with the approval of the new Omnibus Agreement with SPRWS. It is anticipated that all approvals will be complete by June 2016. Once the signed Omnibus Agreement is returned by SPRWS, staff will begin bringing these approvals before City Council. These approvals include: 1) A Lease Agreement for cell tower use and City storage at the water tower site - anticipated at the November 17th City Council meeting; approved 2) An easement agreement(s) for SPRWS access to the water tower across city property and water mains not located within City Right-of-Way; 3) Conveyance of deed, title, and ownership of the system; 4) An amended City Ordinance to reflect the new agreement; after February 9m Financial Summit 5) An amended Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the other municipal partner agencies (West Saint Paul, Maplewood, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale) to gain a second seat on the Board of Commissioners. City-Wide Trail Plan Update - City Council authorized staff to make an application for a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant from Dakota County at their3anuary 19th meeting. This grant will fund the completion the City-wide Trail Improvement and Maintenance Plan (TIMP). The updated TIMP will benefit the renewal/revision of the City's Comprehensive plan that is due to kick off at the end of 2016 and can be used for subsequent grant applications related to trail development, maintenance, and improvement. Engineering Basics Seminar (April 6, 2016 - Eagan Community Centerl - Staff has been working with other Public Works/Engineering staff from other municipalities in Dakota County to build a curriculum for a seminar covering the essential functions of City Engineering/Public Works staff. The seminar is intended to offer background in infrastructure systems (streets, traffic, water supply & distribution, sanitary sewer, surface/storm water, environmental, etc.) to city officials that do not necessarily have an engineering background. Participants in the seminar may include, but are not necessarily limited to City Council members, appointed commission members, director/management level City staff. Due to other conflicting events, the seminar has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 6th 2016 at the Eagan Community Center from 6:00pm - 9:00pm. Invitations will be sent out in the coming weeks. Minnesota 2050 (MN2050) - Staff has been involved with the MN 2050 project for the past several years. The mission of MN2050 is to educate the general public on the importance and needs of our State's infrastructure systems. MN2050, in conjunction with TPT Public Television, has produced a series of 30 minute documentaries entitled ""State of Repair" about various components of State infrastructure. Airtimes for the documentaries are: - Roads & Bridges o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 4:30 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 10:30 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 4:30 PM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 10:30 PM - Industries of Constant Motion (Rail, Port, & Airport) o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 5:00 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 5:00 PM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 11:00 PM - Liquid Assets o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 5:30 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 11:30 AM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 5:30 PM o Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 11:30 PM Documentaries are also available through the MN2050 web page at www.MN205O.org. 1 CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming Bobby Lambert POLICE OFFICERS John Larrive Todd Rosse Jeff VonFeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Nick Gorgos Robin Nelson Steve Hilyar Phillip McCarty INVESTIGATIONS Chad Willson SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Jennifer Fordham SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Becky Pentel RESERVES Randy Pentel Jim Knox Jeff Parker CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Lenny Andrie JANUARY 22 2016 1 DAKOTA COUNTY JUVENILE FIRESETTER EDUCATION PROGRAM This program was developed by the Dakota County Juvenile Firesetter Task Force in cooperation with the State Fire Marshal Division and utilizes fire service, law enforcement, I juvenile justice, social services and mental health divisions. Who is the program for? First-time offenders of all ages for the following offenses: Between ages 10-12: • False Fire Alarm • Negligent Fires (Felony) • Negligent Fires • Arson III • Dangerous Smoking • Arson IV • Fire Related City Ordinance • Fireworks • Arson V Class Information: IThe class is a 4 1/2 hour class held at Dakota County Juvenile Services Center in Hastings. It is offered quarterly on a Saturday and the cost is $25.00. If a family is unable to pay the fee, the juveniles parent or guardian should contact the Project Coordinator. Class topics include: • Rules and laws -consequences, if broken. • Fire behavior -what is fire. • Fire safety -smoke detectors, escape plans, and fire sprinklers. • Fire prevention -home hazards. For more info: CLICK HERE --.-- - - - ------___. ------------------ • p Subtnjtted B Did Von ojic'Supports Suy Shaypa ort specialist I Hoechst 1 In 2014, 361 people died on Minnesota highways, lowest number since 1943, 29,439 were injured, I INabout 2/3 of these injury crashes thankfully were minor injuries. n an ADaYinverage Minnes I • Contributing factors in SINGLE vehicle crashes 1 Death Crashes ota ♦ Illegal or unsafe speed 25.5% ath and 81 Injuries I ♦ Driver inattention 12.6%, I ♦ Chemical impairment 6.9% I I♦ Overcorrecting 7.2% 1/3 of crashes involved one vehicle • Contributing factors in MULTIPLE vehicle crashes I ♦ Driver inattention 20.3%, I ♦ Failure to yield 18.6%, ♦ Following too closely 12.4% I ♦ Speed 7.7% i @Qq a� @QTOOO RECOVERED PROPERTY FRIDAY 1016 HOURS While on routine patrol, Sergeant Tanner Spicer observed a vehicle missing a front license plate. He followed the vehicle and ran the rear license plate that came back to be a stolen vehicle out of St. Paul. Spicer along with WSP Officers, conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the sole male driver who gave a false name. He eventually gave his real name which came back with several outstanding warrants. Case under investigation. I THEFT FRIDAY 1642 HOURS Officer Mike Shepard responded to a local business on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by business owner who stated that his companies van had been broken into and several power tools had been stolen. No , suspects at this time. I IDENTITY THEFT TUESDAY 1354 HOURS Officer John Larrive took a walk-in identity theft report from a male who stated that as he was going through his bank statement, he discovered a check and three automatic withdrawals that he did not authorize. He notified his bank of the activity and also provided Larrive with a copy of the check. The check had the correct routing and account number on it however, had a fraudulent name. The fraudulent name is currently under investigation. I TRAFFIC STOP/DRUGS TUESDAY 1559 HOURS While on routine patrol, Officer John Larrive observed a vehicle at a high rate of speed. Larrive conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the sole male driver. Larrive asked for his identification and the male opened his backpack to retrieve it. At that point, Larrive could smell marijuana coming from the backpack. Larrive asked to look inside his bag and found two baggies with marijuana in it. Larrive took custody of the drugs and issued the male a citation for Possess Marijuana In A Motor Vehicle. I WARRANT ARREST WEDNESDAY 1139 HOURS Officer John Larrive responded to a local business of two unwanted males. Larrive arrived and made contact with the two adult males. Larrive asked for their identification and one of them had an outstanding warrant out of Anoka County. While searching the male, a marijuana pipe was found in his jacket pocket. Larrive issued him a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and he was transported to Dakota County Jail for his warrant. I 3 (1, T poiTt ��R 6 PLUNGE Founded in 1998, the Polar Plunge, presented by Minnesota Law enforcement, is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to support Special Olympics MN by jumping into frigid Minnesota waters. JANUARY 30 WHITE BEAR LAKE OWATONNA WI LLMAR/SPICER FEBRUARY 6 MAPLE GROVE ST. PETER SAUK CENTRE FEBRUARY 13 ROCHESTER WOODBURY FEBRUARY 20 ST. CLOUD PRIOR LAKE FEBRUARY 27 SOUTH METRO FEBRUARY 28 ALEXANDRIA MARCH 5 MINNEAPOLIS BRAINERD MARCH 12 EDEN PRAIRIE MILLE LACS MARCH 19 GRAND RAPIDS WARROAD Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com 2 our feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. o � I I 01/15 - 01/21 2016 YTD Calls for Service 123 438 I I Citations 23 55 I Warnings 19 52 Police Reports 17 58 I I Response Time Average 4.80 4.94 I Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: httj2s://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. ' The House Check Request online form is available on r� our website; you can complete a form found in our lobby, or simply give us a call and we'll help you out. ILI. AA MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. I To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 or email A jennyf@mendota-heights.com to contact Officer Jennifer Fordham. MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the A00A PD where Dakota County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and ' over-the-counter medication. Take it to THE Box i-fiAVE A 5.4FE- WE5E51G!