2009-02-20 Friday NewsFebruary 20, 2009
Quality Time in St. Paul
John Mazzitello and I each spent some quality time at the League of MN
Cities (LMC) offices on Friday. LMC hosted an 8 a.m. meeting to help
cities understand the requirements and process for application for federal
stimulus dollars (we have at least one project which we intend to submit).
LMC hosted another meeting at 10:30a.m. regarding newly proposed
Critical Area legislation authored by Rep. Rick Hansen. The bill would
require the MN Department of Natural Resources to take an active role in
land use within the Mississippi River Critical Area. The current draft of
the legislation is of concern to Mendota Heights because it would pre-
empt our current Critical Area Ordinance.
Foreclosures -2008
Dakota County CDA compiles data on foreclosures for each city within the county, and has
provided us with a year-end update for 2008. The number of foreclosures in Mendota
Heights went up from 14 in 2007 to 24 in 2008. While the total number of foreclosures al-
most doubled, our rate of foreclosures per household remains very low. In 2008 the County
F experienced a rate of 1.37 foreclosures per household, while Mendota Heights was at .58
foreclosures per household. If there is a silver lining to the dark economic clouds, itis that
Mendota Heights households and home values appear to be more stable than other commu-
Rnities.
I Par 3 Preparations
Ready or not, spring is just around the comer. Preparations are underway for our second
full year of operations at the Par 3 golf course. Par 3 staff has been contacted,, program-
ming has been set and the Greens Committee has been active, discussing promotions and
improvements at the course. One exciting bit of news is that Sage Landscaping has pro-
vided the City with a landscape plan for the area in between the clubhouse and parking lot.
The greens committee feels that the project will be a very nice addition to the course,, not
yonly for customers but for people walking, biking and driving by the course.
Mayor/Managers Meeting
I filled in for Jim at the monthly Dakota County Mayor/Managers meeting on Friday morn-
ing The guest speaker was Bill Lester with the Metropolitan Sports %_'of.1111nassion (MSC).
NMr. Lester described Minnesota's sports scene, and related it to the current debate over
building a new stadium for the Vikings. The Metrodome has provided a great return on
investment for the state. The MSC supports the concept of a new stadium for positive im-
pacts on the local economy and for maintaining quality of life. Mr. Lester also answered a
variety of questions about the Vikings franchise, the NFL and other activities which occur
at the Metrodome.
S' State of the City March 5
Mayor Huber will be giving our 2009 State of the City address on Thursday, March 5,
starting at 7:30 AM at the Dakota County Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. The
event is hosted by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Zanmiller
will also be giving West St. Paul's State of the City address at this event.
February 20, 2009
Planning Commission Meeting
2-24-09
7:00
Dates to Remember len March
Tomorrow
City Council Meeting
3-3-09
7:00 p.m.
State of the City Address
3-5-09
7:30 a.m.
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
3-10-09
6:30 p.m.
Airport Relations Commission Meeting
3-11-09
7:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Airports Commission
3-16-09
1:00 P.M.
City Council Meeting
3-17-09
7:00 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting
3-24-09
7:00 p.m.
LUM
Just the Facts, Pipeline, Planning Commission Meeting Agenda, MNSLTN Article "DARTS launches new ser-
vice vice program for northern Mendota Heights seniors'.
Five-day forecast
Tomorrow
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Feb 21
Feb 22
Feb 23
Feb 24
Feb 25
Cloudy
Cloudy PM Sun
Clear
Cloudy
Sprinkles
H 210
Hi: 230
Hi: 330
H 360
Hi: 330
Lo: 00
Lo: •131
Lo: 200
Lo: 1 240
Lo: 240
Have a great weekend! !
F ebr-umy 20, 2-009
2/20/2009
_I_
2/20/2009
again and the police were called. The suspect was given a Valentine's Day present: she was arrested
for 5th Degree Domestic Assault and was transported to DC Jail. Time to find a new roommate.
Theft of Motor Vehicle: 02/15/09 @ 1658 hours
Officer Mike Shepard was requested to call a homeowner who was out of town on the possibility his
vehicle had been stolen by his ex-girlfriend/stepsister. The owner advised Officer Shepard that he
had received information 'third -hand' that the suspect was last seen with the car while at the
residence. She has some very questionable friends and was very suspicious that she was involved.
The owner also advised that while the suspect has lived with him for approximately one year, he has
never given her permission to use the vehicle as it is his company car, and he is currently in the
process of evicting her. Officer Shepard and Sergeant Convery went to the residence and were able
to bring the suspect in for a chat. A lengthy discussion revealed that the suspect invited other "friends"
to the residence and upon waking in the wee hours of the morning, found the vehicle gone. Of
course, she only knew these "friends" by their first or slang names. She was able to finally give some
identifying information on the suspects. She advised that she had requested help from friends and
then proceeded to confess she had suicidal thoughts; she was ultimately taken to the hospital for
observation. In the meantime, the vehicle was entered as Stolen in the state system, resulting in
Brooklyn Park recovering the vehicle and arresting the drivers. Investigation continues.
Disturbance/Warrant Arrest: 2/16/09 @ 0440 hours
Officers Peyton Fleming and Tanner Spicer were dispatched to the same location as above where the
complainant had reported his vehicle stolen. He was now reporting that a group of individuals,
possibly including the actual vehicle theft suspect, were at the residence pounding on his door.
Officers were able to identify the offenders; two were handed citations for DAS and DAR, and one was
discovered to have an active Dakota County Warrant. That lucky man was ultimately transported to
the Dakota County Jail. None ended up being suspects for the Theft of Vehicle, simply more "friends.
Suicide Attempt: 02-16-09 @ 2223 hours
Officer Tanner Spicer and Sergeant Larrive were called out on report of a suicide attempt. A man had
reportedly tried to stab himself with a knife an unknown amount of times (?!?!). Dispatch informed us
that the reporting party/brother had been able to get the knife away from the victim who was now in a
separate room and that the victim was currently not violent toward anyone. Officers from West St
Paul had also arrived to assist with emergency medical first aid. Officer Spicer gathered more
information from the brother, who said his brother was currently on medication and that he reportedly
had felt suicidal recently. He believed the victim had also consumed all of his prescription medication
before attempting suicide. MHFD and HealthEast ambulance responded and continued medical care
victim transported to the hospital. Officers cleared the scene.
Warrant Arrest: 02/16/09 @ 2242 hours
While on patrol, Officer Fleming ran a license plate check that revealed the registered owner of MN
License ##-------- to have an active Dakota County Gross Misdemeanor Warrant. The car full of people
stopped at a local gas station. Officer Fleming approached the suspect (a frequent flyer), informed
him he was under arrest. When he began to search him the suspect then tensed up and pulled away.
Stating to the officer he was afraid the $1500 he had just won at the casino would be stolen. He
J
XAInntari to rlivin it to hi -q niriffiend before he went to iail. Sat Convery had arrived to assist and after
V V P -A 11 I. %.0 %A G %.0 1
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some effort and "encouragement," together they were able to get the suspect to listen. The warrant
was confirmed and the suspect was taken to jail. His friends were released at the scene.
Theft of Gas: 02/19/09 @ 1930 hours,
Sergeant Convery was dispatched on report of a gas drive off. Upon arrival, he was given a
description of the suspect and the vehicle; the state computer showed a match. The suspect had
pumped gas and entered the store to pay for some separate items. The suspect approached the
counter, placed the items on the counter and was told that the amount was $5.16. The suspect put
$5.25 on the counter and started to walk away, saying to keep the change. The employee asked if he
was going to pay for his gas; he said "no," ran to his car and drove away, but not before the employee
obtained a good license plate number. When Sergeant Larrive tried to make contact with the suspect,
he was told he had the wrong number. My crystal ball tells me a citation may be in his future.
Am, a 'al%'a e 41"41(dll k/or
_2 -
The skating rinks were closed on Wednesday, February 18t" due to the
recent warm weather and rain. The Parks Crew plowed all peways and
parking lots. The flooding hoses and fittings were picked up from the
warming houses.
Rich cleaned and organized the, utility area within the shop and put up new
shelves. He checked for ice in the shallow sanitary sewer line in Town
Center.
John Ambrose and Andy welded the locks on the backhoe. The boom kept
coming unlocked when driving on the highway. The Streets Crew picked up
new flashers at Highway Technologies. All plow trucks were washed,
greased and checked over.
Snow Events for the Week:
Date: Amount: Response:
2-18-09 rain and 1/2" snow early start to sand and plow as needed
Fngineering
John met with representatives from The Visitation School and Saint Thomas
Academy on Wednesday to discuss the schools' preference to alleviate
traffic congestion issues along Visitation Drive, Lake Drive, and Mendota
Heights Road related to school generated traffic. The schools have reached
consensus that a roundabout at Mendota Heights Road and Visitation Drive
is the solutions the two schools would like to see. An application for Federal
Funds to help construct the project has been requested by both schools.
Staff submitted the Federal funds request under the newly passed Economic
Stimulus Bill.
Staff held a Neighborhood Meeting on the proposed reconstruction &
rehabilitation project for Hunter Lane and Orchard Place on Wednesday
evening. The meeting was very well attended by area residents, and many
good questions were asked. This project is scheduled for Public Hearing
before City Council on March 3ra
0
Staff has begun working with SRF Consulting Group on the Feasibility Report
For Pedestrian Improvements at Highway 110 and Dodd Road. Staff has
provided the consultant with background information and utility as -built
drawings for their use in completing the report. Staff will be coordinating
with Dakota County in the coming weeks for their cost share funding
contribution.
John will be out of the office next week attending the Intermediate
Development Course (Commanders" School) with the Air National Guard.
He will be back in the office on Monday March 2nd
a
Ryan attended a project management seminar on Wednesday and Thursday.
To
Will -
I
PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
Febuary 24, 2009 - 7:00 P-14
1) Call to Order
2) Roll Call
3) Election of Officers
4) Approval of the January 27, 2008 Planning Commission Minutes
5) Hearings
a) Case No. 09-01: Lincoln Danforth, Yardscapes, Inc. — 665 Hidden Creek Trail —
Wetlands Permit to Install a Fence. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
b) Case No. 09-04: Boyd Knudsen of Knudsen Carpentry, Inc. — 629 Hampshire
Drive — Variance to the Front Yard Setback. Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
c) Case No. 09-05: Eric Bergum of Krech Exteriors — 1199 Culligan Lane —
Variance to the "String Rule" Front Yard Setback and Critical Area Permit.
Public Hearing 7:00 P.M.
6) Verbal Review
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, however, this may not be possible on short
notice. Please contact City Administration at 651-452-1850 with requests.
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Print Page
DARTS launches new service program for northern Mendota Heights seniors
BY MEGAN ANDERSON
• SUN NEWSPAPERS
j�q� 20 09 12:544, PM CS11
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Fostering community and addressing the needs of a new generation of seniors - those are goals for a new DARTS
service.
DARTS launched the River Bluffs Village program in January. It is a membership -based, independent -living program for
those 55 and older in northern Mendota Heights, Lilydale, Mendota and Sunfish Lake.
At the Mendota Heights City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17, DARTS Executive Director Mark Hoisser said it is a
project that is both exciting and unique.
Residents north of Highway 110 in Mendota Heights are part of the target community. The four communities were
selected based on demographics, he said.
It is a unique suburban model, Hoisser said. River Bluffs isn't a physical senior -living facility. Instead, seniors living
independently in the four communities may pay an annual membership fee for the program and have access to
handyman hours to do work on their homes, transportation services from DARTS, and social connection opportunities
to get people out into the community.
It allows seniors to maintain healthy lives while staying in their own homes and neighborhoods. "It's really about
keeping people who want to stay in their home of choice as long as possible," Hoisser said.
"I think this sounds wonderful," Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman said.
Three-year funding for the project is provided by the Daniels Fund, which has the goals of making it affordable, making
it work and making it replicable, Hoisser said.
Local residents interested in this type of program approached DARTS two years ago with a similar concept offered in
Boston.
DARTS has a mission to partner with others and respond to community needs, he said. "We wanted to see if we could
test this [program] out in a suburban community," Hoisser said.
To investigate how the service model might work with DARTS operations, a group was created, which included seven
Mendota Heights residents.
Jessica Hagemann, River Bluffs director, said the goal for the first year is to have 60 members in the program.
There are two levels of membership and residents can choose options within those levels, Hageman said.
The first level costs $480 a year for a single person and $640 for a two -person household. The second level costs
$1,040 a year for a single person and $1,180 for a household.
The program will help residents age in place and create and sustain community connections as people age, Hoisser
said.
It will also help DARTS assess the needs and target services for future groups of aging adults. "What's this next
generation going to want in terms of services?" Hoisser said.
DARTS hopes the program can eventually become self-sustaining through membership fees, Hoisser said.
"I'm very impressed," Councilmember Jack Vitelli said.
DARTS has been around for 35 years and provides a variety of services to seniors, he said. "This is one more thing that
we think will be a need or demand of our services into the future," he said.
For more information on River Bluffs Village program, call 651-234-2241 or 651-455-1560 or, e-mail