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2005-10-14 Friday NewsFIRE PREVENTION WEEK This week is Fire Prevention Week, and to celebrate the Fire Department is hosting their, annual Fire Prevention Open House at the Fire Station this Saturday from 10,:00 A.M. to .3:00 P.M. The Fire Department will be conducting tours of the station, having a car fire demonstration, teaching safety tips, having fire truck rides and serving refreshments. Please stop by and meet your Firefighters and join in the fun. Some of the Firefighters visited the local fourth grade and preschool classes at the schools and talked to the kids about fire safety and prevention. It's been a busy week for our Firefighters. The Fire Department will end the month with their 57th Annual Firefighters Dance on October 28th at the Prom Expo. The dance will start at 8:30 P.M., and this year's band is Jonah and the Whales. Mark your calendars for this event!! If you still need tickets, contact Nancy at City Hall. A STAR IS BORN Be sure and watch channel 14 next week at 3, 7 or 11 p.m, Lilydale's City Clerk, Administrator, Public Works Director, maintenance man etc. is featured on Insight 7. Mr„ Bernie Weitzman does a terrific job and we are all sure the Hollywood agents will be contacting him after next week. CDBG TRAINING WORKSHOP On Thursday morning, Patrick attended the annual CDBG Training Workshop at the Dakota County CDA office in Eagan„ Dan Rogness of the CDA provided the attached update on the status of CDBG funding at the federal level (See "CDBG Budget for Fiscal Year 2006".) Dan reminded everyone that in order to pay for recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the federal government is looking to other programs for opportunities to cut costs, and that CDBG funding is definitely one of those candidates for cutbacks.. Dan said that he would keep cities in Dakota County updated as the budget process continues. HOLIDAY PARTY Council Member Mary Jeanne Schneeman has reserved the Pool and Yacht Club January 20th from 4:.30 to 7:00 p.m, for this year's Holiday Party. Please mark your calendars. Respectfully submitted, Jim Danielson City Administrator Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts, City Council Meeting Agenda, Pre -Application Meeting Synopsis, Twincities,com Article "Saving Pilot Knob hill sight", CDBG Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 and Project Hope Flyer Public Works Safety Assure held a meeting at the Public Works Garage regarding personal protective equipment and hearing conservation. The Parks Crew removed boards along the edge of the tennis court at Valley Park. They trimmed lilacs along the pedway on Lexington Avenue between Marie and Overlook. A fall workshop in Prior Lake was attended on play equipment demonstrations and displays. Dirt was hauled out to the Fire Hall and fill brought in to the washout on the north side of the building where it was leveled out and seed put down. Rich took out the impeller at the St. Thomas lift station (pump 1) and brought it to a machine shop for re -sleeving of the wear ring. He flushed the Biel easement to Abbey Way. He replaced the belt on the furnace at the Mendota Heights Road lift station, changed the air filters, greased the fan motor and prepared the furnace for the upcoming winter season. The Street Crew patched Park Place and Park Circle where curbs were removed and patched other pothole complaints. They marked street lights on Mendota Heights Road east of the 35 E bridge that aren't working, and called an electrical contractor to fix the breaker that trips the transformer. They opened the beehive storm grate detention pond behind Cherry Hill Road. They also cleaned storm grates. A sofa was disposed of that was dropped off on the side of the road on Valencour Circle. Engineering Sue attended a meeting at MnDOT to discuss 2006 construction (money) needs data that has been complied by MnDOT utilizing information provided by all MSA cities. The estimated total apportionment that Mendota Heights will receive in 2006 is $385,483.00. This is an increase of $38,177.00 over what we received in 2005. Driveways were paved on Sunset, Dodge, and Ivy Falls. Boulevard restoration is scheduled for next week. Jared, a.k.a., ""The Crack Man" from Iworq Systems in Logan, Utah spent the week rating the condition of all our City streets. Dave and Sam spent time in the field with him learning the rating system. On Friday, he trained staff on how to manipulate the data in the pavement management system program. Issue # 09-38 1/i 44 T4 F" it TA 10" 4%ZW* �40,01 1A HWOU H444 Pd1a 10/14/2005 The Found Property 10-07-05 1236 hours Mendota Officer Todd Rosse responded to the call of a sword in the woods If near a walking trail,. Officer Rosse arrived and found a 9 Police decorative, two foot Ion knife 5-7 feet off of the trail. The knife g had clearly been dropped recently. The knife was placed into Department properly. CSC 10-08-05 0118 hours Support Officer Tanner Spicer responded to a local motel in regards to a Staff sexual assault. Upon arrival it was learned the victim was still in Cathy Ransom the room she had rented and her estranged husband had fled the scene. In speaking with the victim Officer Spicer learned the two Police Officers had been separated and were attempting to get back together. Jerry Murphy The husband had become upset when the relationship didn't Brian Convey Bobby Lambert head where he thought it would. 'This resulted in the husband Eric Petersen attempting to throw the wife out the third floor sliding door. When p g g Todd Rosse not successful he raped her., Eventually the woman managed to Tanner Spicer lock herself in the bathroom„ The husband then called the front Cbad Willson desk for help in unlocking the bathroom door. At this point the Jeff VonFeldt woman screamed to call 911 and the man left and only to return Jenny Foshan " while officers were on scene.. The man stated during his Steven - interview that it probably was not a good way to get back with his Denise urmann wife. He is currently in the Dakota County jail. Investigations 3`d Degree DUI 10-08-05 1759 hours Mari° Reyes Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a stalled vehicle in traffic on Scott Patrick Pilot Knob Road. Upon arrival he observed a car stopped in the right traffic lane. The vehicle was occupied and was not running. Sergeants The driver did not respond to Officer Lambert's attempts to wake n°nn Anaerson him up.. After the driver was aroused he was asked to step out of Neil Garlock the car and to move to the curb area at the rear of the car. The John Lanive man was using the car for balance and as he got to the rear of the car, he fell to the ground. As he was extremely intoxicated he Chief did not break his fall and bumped his head causing him to be Mike knocked unconscious. Healtheast ambulance was immediately Aschenbrener called to the scene and the party was awake and alert by the time they arrived. The suspect was transported to Regions Hospital. At the hospital he provided a PBT sample that revealed a BAC -1- Issue # 09-38 10/14/2005 of .334. The man refused to provide an evidentiary test. He was released to detox. DAC 10-10-05 0857 hours Officer Bobby Lambert ran a computer check on a vehicle license plate. The check showed the registered owner (R/O) of the pickup to be revoked. The R/O was the driver. He also admitted to not having any insurance. None of the passengers had a valid driver's license. The truck was impounded, the driver was cited. Bad dream 10-11-05 0134 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a 911 call of an unknown nature. Upon arrival he learned the caller had a bad dream. She was upset and confused when she awoke. The residence was checked and nothing unusual was found. Clear without incident. Code Violations 10-11-05 0859 hours Sergeant Donn Anderson responded with a code enforcement officer and assisted while lie talked with the renter. The property did not have trash service and the trash was lying in bags around the home. Multiple violations were spotted. Sergeant Anderson took some digital photographs. It should be noted that the renter called later in the day and the entire mess was cleaned up. Case closed. 3`d Degree DUI 10-12-05 0201 hours Officer Chad Willson observed a car traveling down Hwy 13 without lights. The car, was stopped and upon having contact with the driver it was immediately obvious that he was intoxicated. The driver agreed to do SFST's which he failed; the man gave it a gallant effort but it was a challenge to stand,. When asked if he had been drinking the driver stated "I'm not going to lie to you I had two beers.." The man continued with that telling Officer Willson he had had nothing to drink for an hour. He was certain he had not had a drink since 11:30. A PBT revealed a BAC of .24. At the MHPD the suspect was read the MN Implied Consent Advisory and agreed to a breath test. His reported BAC was .22. The man was released to the DC jail. DAR 10-12-05 1414 hours Officer Bobby Lambert observed a vehicle with multiple equipment violations. In checking the license of the vehicle the R/O was revoked. The driver did not match the description of the R/O. "The vehicle was stopped for the equipment violations and the driver was found to be revoked. He admitted to not having insurance on the car. The driver was cited and the car was towed. Smoke 10-12-05 1648 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to the area of St Peter's Church on a call of thick black smoke coming from the back of the church,. Upon arrival the smoke was traced to a neighbor's residence.. The neighbor was burning trash. The fire department arrived on scene a short time later and the fire was extinguished.. The fire department advised the homeowner about legal fires. Cleared without incident. Suspicious Activity 10-13-051107 hours Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a call about a suspicious SUV near the high school. The vehicle pulled into a cul-de-sac and then up to the school. The vehicle was located near the school and was being driven by the R/O's son. The driver advised that nothing illegal was occurring that he had just dropped off a friend.. /f&.a�a.,WW d/ 0 AA REMINDER: CLOSED SESSION AT 6:30 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA October 18, 2005 - 7:30P.M.. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Agenda Adoption 5. Approval of the October 5', 2005, City Council Minutes (Available Monday). 6 Consent Calendar a. Acknowledgement of NDC4 Meeting Minutes & Agenda b. Acknowledgement of the Unapproved Minutes from the October 11th 2005 Parks and Recreation Meeting c. Acknowledgement of the Approved Minutes from the September 14, 2005 Airport Relations Commission Meeting. d. Acknowledgement of the Fire Department September 2005 Fire Report. e.. Acknowledgement of the 2005 Treasurers Report. f. Acknowledgement of Residents Request for Construction of Two Trail Segments.. g Authorization of Purchase Order for Snowblower Attachment for Bobcat. h. Approval of Rescheduling of Parks and Recreation Meeting. i.. Approval of Cancellation of December Planning Commission Meeting and Reschedule of January Meeting j. Adoption of Resolution No. 05- : "A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE DISPATCHING CONTRACT WITH DAKOTA COUNTY." k. Adoption of Resolution No. 05- : "RESOLUTION ORDERING PREPARATION OF FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR IVY FALLS ADDITION STREET RECONSTRUCTION" I. Approval of Contractors List.. m.. Approval of List of Claims. 7. Public Comments 8, Public Hearings a. 2005 Improvement Project Assessment Hearing Resolution No. 05- : "RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND CONFIRMING ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2005 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (IMPROVEMENT NO. 2005, PROJECT NO. 1) Resolution No. 05- : "RESOLUTION DEFERRING THE MAKING OF ASSESSMENT AS TO DODGE PROPERTY (IMPROVEMENT NO. 2005, Project No. 1)" Resolution No. 05- : RESOLUTION DEFERRING THE MAKING OF ASSESSMENT AS TO CLARK PROPERTY (IMPROVEMENT NO 2005, PROJECT NO. 1). b. Pilot Knob Hearing 9. Unfinished and New Business a. Case No. 05-51: Mike and Kathy Doyle, CNS Construction, Inc.. — Old Fischer Gas Station, 2156 Dodd Road — Building Permit Authorization for Parking, Signage and Lighting for a Cafe. 10. Council Comments 11. Adiourn 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 452-1850 with requests. This meeting is being taped by NDC4 (651-450-9891) and will replay on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the NDC4 Government Channel 18 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO October 12, 2005 TO: City Council, Commission Members, and City Administrator FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Pre -Application Meeting Synopsis Staff met with four- potential applicants on Monday, October- 10, 2005. Steve Grittman, Sue McDermott, and Patrick Hollister were present, Greg and Marie Bolton, 2300 Pagel Road Mr. and Mrs. Bolton met with Staff to discuss the possibility of subdividing his property at 2.300 Pagel Road.. Staff reviewed the GIS data for their property and determined that it could only be subdivided into two lots, given the R-1 zoning requirements for- lot area and street frontage. Staff also advised the Boltons that the City is holding a joint Council/Planning Commission workshop in November on the subject of infill development and that new regulations may emerge from this workshop. Staff advised the Bolton to wait until after the workshop before spending money on a survey of his property. The Boltons said that they would wait to see what happened at the workshop. Chuck Morrissette and Matt Ropchak, Lloyd's Barbeque 1455 Mendota Heights Road Mr. Morrissette and Mr.. Ropchak met with Staff to discuss Lloyd's plans for an additional outbuilding for a waste treatment facility on an adjacent parcel to the main building. Planner Grittman determined that the outbuilding would be considered an accessory structure and therefore require a Conditional Use Permit and that one condition of the CUP would be that the two properties be combined. Staff provided Mr. Morrissette with the appropriate materials for a CUP application.. Mr. Morrissette intends to apply in time for the November 2005 Planning Commission meeting. Dan Eldredge and Bill Burg, 1680 Lexington Mr.. Eldredge and Mr. Burg met with Staff to discuss the possibility of redeveloping the property at the Southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Highway 1.3.. The property currently has one vacant single-family home, but the gentlemen would like to redevelop the property for town homes.. Staff' pointed out that given the fact that the property is within the Critical Area and has steep slopes, the best scenario would be to replace the old single-family home with a new single- family home. The gentlemen said that they would do some more research and contact Staff again later if they were still interested in the property.. Litton Field, 679 Hidden Creek Trail Mr. Field met with Staff to talk about the possibility of installing a berm and landscaping along the edge of a wetland on his property. Staff determined that this would require a wetland Permit. Mr. Field said that he was not sure if he would pursue the project or, not, but that he would meet with Staff again if' he decided the go ahead with the project. Saving Pilot Knob hill in sight Posted on Fri, Oct. 14, 2005 Saving Pilot Knob hill in sight €.,itizen ornin tz ght—,on 4 0,00.0 fron city BY BRIAN 3,0NNER Press Page 1 of 2 Preservationists are closing in on raising the $1••97 million needed to buy 8••5 acres of Mendota Heights' Pilot Knob hill•• The purchase would prevent development of one of the state's most historic and scenic plots of land, But the deal is not done yet, and the public will have the opportunity to weigh in. The Mendota Heights City Council will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, during its regular meeting, to take comments from citizens The St.. Paul suburb of 11,600 residents will be asked for a $400,000 contribution, the amount needed to reach the purchase price,. Any decision by the five elected city officials could come as early as their Nov.. 1 meeting. Nearly $1••6 million in contributions is coming from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Dakota County and the nonprofit Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land's Minnesota office, which has had the property appraised and helped assemble the funding, has an option to buy the property that expires on Dec. 31. If the purchase goes through, the Trust for Public Land would transfer the land to the city of Mendota Heights, which would own it and be required to restore and preserve it, One city -hired consultant estimated the restoration costs — a return to mid -1800s prairie vegetation and habitat — at $140,000 over 10 years, with several thousands of dollars in optional costs. "I'm hopeful we can do it," said Mendota Heights Mayor John Huber. But Huber still wanted a better understanding of the potential future costs for the suburb's taxpayers. "I'm not going to say yes to any dollar amount," Huber said. The nonprofit Great River Greening in St.. Paul was hired to study the issue and concluded that the city "can anticipate that substantial funding for the restoration project can be generated through grants," according to a summary of its report.. "So far, it's looking favorable," said City Administrator Jim Danielson, who has reviewed drafts of the Great River Greening study, adding that "$400,000 is still a lot of money, It's something we don't take lightly." Preservationists and even the landowners will be cheering the city on, although some people in Mendota Heights wanted to see the land developed as housing. John N. Allen, who owns the land in partnership with Joel Buttenhoff, wanted to sell the land for luxury town houses, But the city, responding to stiff public opposition, ordered environmental studies that forced the landowners to reconsider. Pilot Knob is a 100 -acre hill near the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. It served as a navigational reference for riverboaters•• Now, it serves as a gateway to Dakota County over the Mendota Bridge from Minneapolis, whose skyline is visible from the hill. A road bearing its name cuts through much of Dakota County today. The hill is where Dakota Indians in an 1851 treaty ceded 35 million acres of land to European -American settlers. Acacia Park Cemetery takes up about three-quarters of the hill, but Indians also are believed to be buried on other parts• The hill's scenic vistas are a strong selling point to preservationists and developers alike. Before Minnesota statehood in 1858, the hill was considered as a site for a territorial Capitol building, Allen, the co-owner, said he's ready to sell the land to preservationists. http://www.twincities.com/mldltwincitieslnews/local/12897624.htm?template=contentM.••..• 10/14/2005 Saving Pilot Knob hill in sight Page 2 of 2 "It's my reasonable expectation there's enough people with interest in preserving the site that the City Council and Trust for Public Land will close on it on Dec. 31, 2005," Allen said. "Unfortunately, I will have missed a tremendous development opportunity, but we will be done with it." The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, with headquarters in neighboring Mendota, opposed the development„ Its 282 members, though not part of a federally recognized Indian tribe, trace ancestry to Dakota Indians in the area. Their cause was joined by many other groups, including the Pilot Knob Preservation Association, whose president is Gail Lewellan. "It's a terrific opportunity, not only for the city of Mendota Heights, but the whole region, to have one of the major gems along the riverway preserved for all time," Lewellan said. Al Singer, manager of the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program, said the funding mix for buying the 8..5 acres includes $400,000 from the county and roughly $1 million from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, through three separate conservation programs: $500,000 from a remediation program; $300,000 from a natural and scenic program; and $250,000 from the metro greenways program. Another $120,000 is coming from the Trust for Public Land„ "I think this is a really positive solution to a difficult situation, and the public is going to benefit from it in the long run," Singer said. Brian Bonner can be reached at)bnr�er [)F orieerpress.,COIr3 or 651-228-2173„ IF YOU GO The next meeting of the Mendota Heights City Council is at 7:30 p.m,. Tuesday in City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. http://www.twincities.comlmldltwincities/news/localI12897624.htm?template=contentM. ,,. 10/14/200.5 Tom turkeys cross the road Wednesday on Pilot Knob hill in Mendota Heights 4 CDBG Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 7/01106 — 6/30/07 Status Report on 10/13/05 • Two of eleven appropriations bills have been signed into law. Both the House and Senate passed continuing resolutions to keep the federal government operational through November 18. •'The CDBG budget is within the Transportation, Treasury and Housing & Urban Development ("TTHUD") appropriations bill. • The full House passed its TT'HUD appropriations with formula grant portion of CDBG being recommended at $3.860 billion, which compares to $4.115 billion in FY05. • 'The full Senate has not yet passed its TTHUD appropriations, but a Senate Committee recommended $3.767 billion, which is about 8% below last year's funding level. • Once the Senate approves its appropriations amount for CDBG, a House - Senate conference committee must resolve differences before it is sent to the President for his signature. • The total CDBG budget is being recommended at $4.150 billion by the House and $4.323 billion by the Senate Committee, which compare to the actual FY05 allocation of $4.669 billion (11 % and 7% reductions respectively). The formula grant allocations for entitlements is established after deducting various set -asides, the largest being the "Economic Development Initiative Grants". Summary: CDBG Program EDI Grants Other Set Asides All Set Asides FY05 Actual $4.669 billion $260 million $294 million $554 million FY06 - House $4.150 billion $290 million $50 million $340 million FY06 - Senates $4.323 billion $290 million $266 million $556 million Formula Grants $4.115 billion $3.860 billion $3.767 billion * Senate Appropriates Committee recommendation PROJECT H.O.P.E. HELP OUR POLICE EFFECTIVELY The entire State of Minnesota is teaming up to help our law enforcement brothers and sisters in need. These are desperate times for hundreds of police officers located in the storm ravaged gulf coast area. This fund is specifically designated to help these officers, many of whom have lost their homes and everything they own. They are separated from their families and are working or on call 24/7, with no relief in sight. Their cities and towns have been destroyed. They are in shock, depressed, burnt out, and asking for help. One officer is recovering from a gun shot wound to his head, and two families are mourning the deaths of their officers from suicide. There are hundreds of stories. We are asking the Minnesota Law Enforcement community to help by donating funds, of which 100% will go directly to our comrades. Working together, we can make a difference. Please help to give them hope. Notes and letters of encouragement will also be greatly appreciated. Checks may be made out and sent to: Project H.O.P.E. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association 1951 Woodlane Drive #100 Woodbury, MN 55125-2994 Thank you in advance for your help. Jill Olmstead, Coordinator Project H.O.P.E. 1-952-445-8192