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2017-04 Summer Heights Highlights1-41`,1 ' MENDOTA HEIGHTS 4.6, 1 .•.--k ,.; 1.rlt. ,p...x4iiTt( APRIL 2017 Neil's News page 2 Sump Pump Update _; 2 Spring Cleanup Day Joint Shredding Event Backyard Chickens Citizens Police Academy Door to Door Solicitations 4 3 Summer Road Construction 4 Only Rain Down the Drain 5 Plant for Pollinators Sewer Rate Increase Parks and Recreation Summer Camps Adult Programs Back Cover Don't miss the Scott Patrick Memorial 5K and Parks Celebration on June 2 and 3, 2017 Bring your family and friends to kick off summer and celebrate our beautiful parks. This annual event brings our community together to reconnect with neighbors and celebrate the beauty of our city. The celebration starts on Friday, June 2nd, with free music at Market Square Park starting at 6:30 pm. 4.4 Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run to *4 Benefit Special Olympics 1; Saturday, June 3rd, is packed with activity, starting at Market Square Park with the Scott Patrick Memorial 5K to Benefit Special Olympics. This year's 5K walk/run event, sponsored by 5K•` Gateway Bank, will start at 9:00 am. Registration is $25 before 6:00 pm on June 2nd, or $30 on the day of the event. Registration includes a t -shirt and refreshments. Awards will be presented to the top three males and females in three age categories. Door prizes will be given away. All participants will enjoy complimentary pizza after the race donated by Gateway Bank. Mendota Heights Parks Celebration The fun continues on Saturday with the Parks Celebration from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Mendakota Park. There will be free games and events including a petting zoo, fitness demonstrations, pony rides, fire truck rides, a climbing wall, athletic games, inflatables, �-` face painting, door prizes and more. There will be a DJ playing your favorite music, along with live entertainment. Be sure to take in a game or two at the Mendakota ballfields all weekend during the Mendota Heights Athletic Association baseball/softball tournament. For more information, visit mendota-heights. com or call City Hall at 651.452.1850. • . The Village Shopping Center Concerts start at 6:30 pm. May 31 Talent Show July 12 Echos of Elvis June 2 Fu -Ga -We Tribe Band July 19 Pat Donohue June 7 TreVeld July 26 Retro Swing Sister June 14 Connie Evingson August 2 "Surprise Entertainment" June 21 Vinnie Rose August 9 Percolators June 28 Michael Handler Project August 16 Kids Dance Party/Petting Zoo/Face Painters August 23 Cathy Pine A SMALL TQWN FEEL,IN, AN URBAN SETTING Mayor Neil Garlock After a relatively mild winter, spring has arrived, and all of a sudden we are looking forward to summer in Mendota Heights. It's hard to imagine that the season has changed so quickly. With spring comes the opening of the City's Par 3 and other outdoor activities. One of the things to which I always look forward to is the annual 5K walk/run. In February, the City Council unanimously voted to change the name of the event to the Scott Patrick Memorial 5K—the name change helps to commemorate a fallen Mendota Heights Police Officer. The family of Officer Patrick appreciates the honoring of Scott's memory, and also the continued support of the entire Mendota Heights community. Mark your calendars for this on June 3rd. June 3rd is also the date of the annual Mendota Heights Parks celebration. There will be activities for all ages, but especially the younger ones, from Ilam until 2 pm at Mendakota Park. Another season of concerts at the Village of Mendota Heights will kick- off the preceding night on Friday, June 2nd. Regular weekly concerts will then follow each Wednesday night, weather permitting, until August 23rd. Please be certain to note that the annual Clean Up Day will be April 29th this year, which is one week earlier than what has been done previously. Check the City's website for the materials that will be accepted— for the most part, those are unchanged, but Mendota Heights will not be offering paper shredding locally. Instead, as part of a partnership to increase overall recycling participation, Mendota Heights residents may take paper to be shredded to West St. Paul City Hall on Saturday, April 22nd from 9 am until 12 noon. Again, check the website, or call City Hall for details. That recycling partnership goes beyond Clean Up Day. Mendota Heights now shares a part time recycling coordinator with the Cities of West St. Paul and South St. Paul. While her time is only a few hours a week in our city, the Recycling Coordinator is here to help Mendota Heights find ways to stay green, and sustainable. If you visit City Hall soon, you may notice new plantings on the south side of the building. A new drainage area in the front of the building was installed last fall. At the suggestion of Mendota Heights residents and Master Gardeners Cindy Johnson and Sue Light, pollinator -friendly plantings are being planted in this City Hall drainage area by volunteers. We are grateful to these Mendota Heights residents—the gardeners and the volunteer planters for their efforts in helping to beautify the City, and provide habitat for pollinators. Pollinators such as certain birds, bees, and other insects, are an important part of our food supply chain. Speaking of food, Mendota Heights residents are now permitted to raise chickens in their backyards. Adoption of a new ordinance by the City Council in March allows residents to construct coops and chicken runs, to house up to four hens. There are, of course, restrictions on the size and location of the structures, and a City permit is required. The City Council will look at the ordinance again in a year's time to see how it is working, In the meantime, you can enjoy fresh eggs daily. In closing, while I've said it before, it merits repeating—patience and extra planning will be needed during road construction season around town. Beginning the first week of June, TH 110 will be closed for six weeks in each direction from its intersection with I-494, to Lexington Avenue as part of a MNDOT road reconstruction project. In addition, streets in the Kensington neighborhood, and Mendota Heights Road will be resurfaced this summer. Please be patient and drive safely when you are in a construction zone. Have a great summer. And if any member of the City Council or I can be of help, please don't hesitate to contact us! SUMP PUMP INSPECTION UPDATE The City has randomly selected approximately 50% of residential homes in three different areas for mandatory sump pump inspections. These inspections will determine if there are any illegal discharges of ground water into the City's sanitary sewer system. These improper discharges raise the rates for all of the City's sanitary sewer users. Foth Infrastructure & Environment has been selected by the City to conduct these in-home inspections. A postcard notification was mailed to approximately 250 residences. Similar notifications will be made every 3-4 weeks until all 2000 homeowners have been contacted. The inspections are projected to extend into mid -summer. The postcard will provide information about available inspection times and contact information to schedule inspections. Additional information about sump pumps, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and a city map with the three inspection areas identified has been posted on the City's website: www. Men dota-Heights. com. 1 JOINT SHREDDING EVENT with the cities of West and South St. Paul Saturday, April 22 9:00 am to 12:00 noon West St. Paul City Hall 1616 Humboldt Ave SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY The annual Spring Clean -Up Day is set for Saturday, April 29th at Mendakota Park starting at 8:00 am and ending at 12:00 noon. This is your chance to clear out your home and property. Through the clean-up, Mendota Heights residents recycle tons of materials; nearly everything brought to the clean-up is recycled or processed. The event is open to Mendota Heights residents with current ID, driving personal vehicles and small trailers. WE WILL ACCEPT Car tires, furniture, mattresses/box springs, electronics with cords, scrap metals (remove all non-metal), bicycles, and mixed solid waste. • Car tires ($5 each) Mattresses/box springs ($15 each) Electronics (Itemized fee list) • Misc. junk (Volume -based fee) • Scrap metals - remove all non-metal (Free) Bicycles (Free) WE WILL NOT ACCEPT • Yard waste • Business waste • Household hazardous waste • Contractor or home remodeling debris • Items which can be recycled at the curb For more information contact Ryan Ruzek at 651.255.1152 or ryanr@mendota-heights.com. Spring Clean -Up Day is made possible by a grant from Dakota County Environmental Management and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Shred your confidential documents. PLEASE REMOVE: 3 -ring binders, binder clips, metal tabs Pioneer SecureShred staff will collect and secure your documents into a locking security container. The documents will be transported directly to a mobile shredding vehicle. The material is deposited directly into the shredding chamber without being touched by human hands. The shredded material is then sent to a recycler. NO BUSINESS MATERIAL ACCEPTED. You must be a resident of Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, or South St. Paul. =, .•J• Backyard Chickens Now Permitted As a result of action taken by the City Council in March, Mendota Heights residents are now allowed to keep hens on their property— with certain limitations. Up to four female chickens (no roosters!) may be kept for the purpose of egg production, or companionship only. The hens must be kept in a coop, and a "chicken run" is required. Both the coop and the run must meet minimum and maximum size limitations. The eggs produced must be for personal consumption only, or be given away. No sale of the eggs, nor raising of the poultry for meat is permitted. Other limitations to ensure a minimum of impact on neighboring properties have been established; the code will be revisited in one year by the City Council to ensure a smooth operation. Before proceeding, a permit must be obtained from the City. If you have an interest in rais- ing chickens, please contact the City's Community De- velopment Department at 651.452.1850 for more information. HEIGH'It'$ II jGHLIGHTS : 3 Citizens Police Academy Sign up now for the Mendota Heights Citizens Police Academy. Residents and business owners are encouraged to register for this exciting 10 week program. Classes begin September 14 and run through November 16, Thursday nights from 6:00 - 9:30 pm. The Citizens Police Academy is designed to give citizens a working knowledge of the operations and responsibilities of the Police department, Fire department and the Sheriff's office, which serve our community. Students will get hands on instruction from officers in the areas of criminal investigations, traffic stops, use of force, firearms, and DWI sobriety testing. There are also field trips to our training facilities, the Dakota County Jail, and the Mendota Heights Fire Department. This course is meant to challenge your view of police and our hope is that residents and business owners will want to get more involved in their community and county. Go to mendota-heights.com for an application. Those interested can also call Becky at 651.255.1191 or send an e-mail to beckyp@mendota-heights.com. The deadline for applications is August 11th. r Door to Door Soliciting in Mendota Heights Throughout the year, door-to-door soliciting raises questions for residents. Here's a quick look at what you need to know. Allowed: Any person going door-to-door for the primary purpose of exercising that person's basic constitutional rights such as freedom of speech is allowed. No registration with the city is needed. This activity is allowed from 9:00 am to one half hour before sunset. • Candidates for political office • A person promoting religious beliefs or causes. • A non-profit or charitable organization seeking donations, organization memberships, or other financial support for their religious, social, or political organizations. ■ Also Allowed: Comcast and CenturyLink are allowed since they each have a franchise agreement with the city. Not Allowed: Mendota Heights does not allow any commercial type of door to door selling. If you suspect a door-to-door salesperson is violating City ordinance, please call 9-1-1 for a response from the Mendota Heights Police Department. They will try to catch up with the person. Summer Road Construction Update 2017 will be busier than normal with respect to road construction in Mendota Heights. Please be aware of these projects and plan your travel accordingly. Also, please slow down while driving through construction zones. This helps contractors complete the projects on time, and will minimize the safety risks to both drivers and construction workers. 2017 projects include: City Projects: Contact the City Engineering Department at 651.452.1850. Mendota Heights Road Reconstruction: The City will be reconstructing Mendota Heights Road between Lexington Avenue and Dodd Road. The project will include a new road bed, pavement, sanitary sewer extension, storm sewer, and trail modifications. A full closure is necessary between Lake Drive and Visitation Drive, traffic will be detoured to Lake Drive. Condon Court is also included in this project. Kensington Neighborhood Rehabilitation: This project will consist of pavement replacement on Bedford Court, Claremont Drive, Lockwood Drive, Stockbridge Road and Whitfield Drive; along with spot curb and storm sewer catch basin repairs. County/State Projects: Pilot Knob Road (CSAH 31), Mendota Heights Road & Northland Drive will have intersection modifications installed in 2017. Mendota Heights Road will be widened for the addition of dedicated turn lanes. Northland Drive will have its intersection turning movements reduced in order to improve traffic safety. Construction is expected to begin in June. Highway 110 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be reconstructing Highway 110. Directional lane closures are estimated to start the first week of June. Dakota County will also be installing a pedestrian underpass just east of Dodd Road. For more information about this project and to sign up for email updates, visit the project website at mndot.gov/ metro/projects/hwy110mendotaheights. ONLY RAIN DOWN THE DRAIN Did you know stormwater does not go to a wastewater treatment facility? Pollutants that go down the storm drain on the streets where we live, such as grass clippings, leaves, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, and residue from automobiles, flow to the nearest waterbody. Your street is a local tributary that connects to our local lakes, streams, wetlands, natural and manmade ponds—as well as the Mississippi River. The pond behind your house or the lake down the road most likely receives stormwater runoff. Excess phosphorus is considered one of the major causes of water quality problems in our waterways. Household yard maintenance contributes to excess phosphorus in our waterways. Grass clippings and leaves are water pollutants as they contain phosphorus, which fuels oxygen -depleting algae. Wildlife that live in water need oxygen to survive. Algae blooms block sunlight which prevents beneficial plants from growing. And One bushel of grass clippings sprayed into our roads from a lawn mower creates 50 pounds of algae in our waterways. decaying algae smells foul. One bushel of grass clippings sprayed onto our roads from a lawn mower will create about 50 pounds of algae in our waterways. The equivalent of five bags of leaves produces about 500 pounds of algae in our waterways. The cumulative effect of leaves and grass clippings in our waters takes its toll: a single pound of phosphorus can produce up to 1,000 pounds of algae. Please help make an impact in reducing local water pollution by keeping your driveway, street curb, and storm drain swept and clear of pollutants. Now The equivalent of five bags of leaves will produce 500 pounds of algae in our waterways. This Spring, Plant for Pollinators! Make a place for pollinators in your yard. There are many ways to incorporate plants for pollinators into your landscape. Whether it is incorporating native shrubs, trees, or flowers into your existing landscape or planting a new garden bed, there are many native plants you can choose. The first step is to know your site. Check your soil - is it sandy, clay, wet, dry? The U of M has soil testing services available to help you determine your soil. Go to soiltest.cfans. umn.edu for more information. If it is a new area to be planted, remove the sod with a sod cutter. Choose plants according to your soil type and moisture levels: wet to dry, light quirements: sun to shade. Choose plants for successive blooming: some plants that will om in spring, and then some in summer, and also in the fall, so that the pollinators have a constant source of food. The U of M has a Native Plant List to guide you with these choices - extension.umn.edu \ A few good books found at your local library will help you get started on • your natie planting: Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy, Grow Native by Lynn Steiner, Pollinator Friendly Gardening by Rhonda Hayes, Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm. You can also learn by doing! Come out with , your neighbors this May and help the U of M Master 'Gardeners plant the new native landscape at City Hall. You will learn about native plants and planting for pollinators. Look for date to be posted on the City's website. Excess nutrients from grass clippings and leaves cause water quality problems in our ponds, lakes, and streams. Image courtesy of MPCA is a great time to clean up winter's accumulated debris from the curbs and stormwater drains in front of your house. Sweeping up and properly disposing of debris now before it starts to decay will keep pollutants from being washed down the stormdrain by melting snow and spring rains. And throughout the summer, please keep grass clippings and other yard debris out of the street. Directing rain downspouts into your yard or garden areas, rather than down a sidewalk or driveway, is also very helpful. As they say, "Only rain down the drain" Sewer Rate Increase You will notice a slight increase in your sanitary sewer bill on your first quarter statement arriving April 2017. The city council increased the base residential sanitary sewer rate by $1.09 (5%) per month at its February 21, 2017 meeting. The new rate was driven largely by increased charges billed by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) and due to rising costs of maintenance to the city's sewer system. The storm sewer utility fee will also increase from $7.25 per quarter to $10.00 per quarter in 2017. The storm sewer utility fee finances improvements to the sewer system, as well as regulatory reporting and compliance activities. Please contact the Engineering Department at 651.452.1850 for additional information. HEIGH1 $ IJ jGHLIGHTS : 5 Parks and Recreation SPRING 2017! Registration Open Now! for information or to register online go to www.mendota-heights.com or stop in at City Hall. Playground Program Join us at Mendakota Park (rainy -days at Mendota Heights Fire Hall) for a week of summer fun! Please bring sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, snack, hat, change of clothes, and a towel each day. Sign up for all the weeks or just the ones that you can make. These camps are guaranteed to make summer a blast. Morning session - Ages 4 to 7 years 9:30 to 11:30 am - $39/week Afternoon session - Ages 7 to 10 years 12:30 to 3:30 pm - $49/week WEEK El WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK R 6 WEEK El June 12-16 Game Show Mania June 19-23 Ninja Warrior Camp June 26-30 Water Works I Camp July 10-14 Secret Spy Camp (no pm session) July 17-21 Treasure Island Camp July 24-28 OOPY GOOPY Camp July 31- August 4 Water Works II Camp FIELD TRIPS Youth ages 7-13 Minnesota Zoo and Imax Theatre Thursday June 15 $25 Thursday June 22 Minnesota Twins Game $25 Thursday June 29 Edina Water Park $25 Thursday July 20 Old Log Theatre & Air Max Trampoline Park $30 Thursday July 27 Valleyfair $35 TEEN FIELD TRIPS Ages 12-15 Tuesday June 13 Valleyfair $35 Tuesday June 20 Bunker Beach $25 Tuesday June 27 Log Rolling/Paddle Board/Disc Golf & Fishing Trip $25 Tuesday July 19 WNBA Lynx Game $25 Tuesday July 25 Parkour Training & Edina Water Park $30 Cliff Timm Memorial Fishing Derby Wednesday June 21, 2017 Bring your fishing pole and come on down to Roger's Lake fishing pier to catch "the big one!" Prizes and goodie bag will be provided to all participants. Parents are welcome to watch. We will provide hotdogs, beverages, and a cold treat. One lucky boy or girl will win a Minnesota Lifetime Fishing License. i))\ 4C4 Ages: 14 & under (parent/ guardian must accompany participants) Fee: $10 Time: 5:30 pm - check-in 6:00 pm - fishing begins 7:00 pm - awards and prizes nn SPORTS Unlimited Sports Camps Basketball Camp - June 19 - 22 $79 Multi -Sport Camp - June 26 - 29 $79 Flag Football Camp - July 17 - 20 $79 Cheer, Dance, Tumbling Camp - July 17 - 20 $79 Disc Golf Camp - July 31 - Aug 3 3 SIKAIMIEBOARD Camps Staff from 3rd Lair has been teaching the Twin Cities how to skateboard since 1997. Highly trained instructors teach proven techniques in a fun and supportive setting. All necessary equipment will be provided. Camps are held at Rogers Lake Skate Park, 1000 Wagon Wheel Trail, Mendota $79 Heights Camps are held Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Cost: $99 per camp Dates: Camp #1 - June 13, 14, 15 Camp #2 - June 27, 28, 29 Camp #3 - July 18, 19, 20 Camp #4 - August 22, 23, 24 GOLF Camps Ages: 7 - 12 years old Fee: $89, includes a free round of golf and a t -shirt Days: Monday through Thursday (Friday may be used as a rain makeup day) Morning Camps: 9:00 to 11:30 am Afternoon Camps:12:00 noon to 2:30 pm gL7A.III7 Camp Camp leaders include volunteers from local police and fire departments. Safety Camp participants will learn about stranger safety, first-aid and more. On Thursday, we will take a field trip to a water park to practice the water safety skills we learned. Date: July 11, 12, 13 Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Ages: Youth entering grades 3 and 4 in the fall Fee: $30 includes lunch, snack and field trip Thursday Location: Kaposia Park, South St. Paul L Junior Golf Leagues Ages: 6 - 15 years old League Fee: $110 for 11 weeks of golf Tee times: from 8:30 to 10:30 am (Monday evening league tee times from 6:00 to 6:30 pm) Add: $39 for a season pass and play all summer long. Monday League: June 12 - August 28 Monday Evening League: June 12 - August 28 Tuesday League: June 13 - August 29 Wednesday League: June 14 - August 30 Friday League: June 16 - September 1 Tiger Tots Golf Ages: 5 - 7 years old Fee: $39 includes a free round of golf and a t -shirt. Max: 6 participants per class Dates: June 3, 10, 17, 24 July 8, 15, 22, 29 TENNIS Our tennis programs are for learning and enjoying the game. Programs run from June 12 through July 27. (No tennis the week of July 3-7 LITTLES TENNIS: Ages 4-7 Fee: 4a Classes are held once a week for 6 weeks. This is an introduction to tennis using mini nets and junior tennis balls. Parents/chaperones are encouraged to stay. TENNIS LESSONS: Ages 7-12 Fee: $85 Classes are held three times per week. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced play. Sign up all of your children for one session. Classes are held every Saturday for 6 weeks at Ivy Hills Park Fee: $40 1IN HOUSE LEAGUE: Ages 10 + Fee: $90 Three sessions per week. Instructors will divide participants into singles or doubles play each day and will be on hand to keep the matches moving. Instructors will provide coaching on serving, strokes, footwork and scoring. RECREATION AND TRAVEL LEAGUE: Ages 10 + For players who are looking to play matches. Instructors will provide coaching and supervision of matches. The team will practice the first two weeks and play matches the last four weeks. Matches are held on Mondays & Wednesdays. There will be 3 home matches and 3 away matches. (Transportation is not provided.) USTA LEAGUE: Ages 12 -18 This program is for youth looking to play at the highest level. Players should be on or intend to be on their schools tennis team. There will be a 14 & Under team and an 18 & Under team. Matches will begin in June with the 14U team playing on Tuesdays and the 18U team playing matches on Thursdays. There will be 2 or 3 home matches and 2 or 3 away matches. Instructors will provide coaching and supervision for the matches. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 2017 Issue: 109 City Directory Council Members: Neil Garlock, Mayor 651.775.3850 Ultan Duggan 651.452.5179 Joel Paper 612.237.1133 Liz Petschel 651.454.3256 Jay Miller 651.994.0482 Staff Members: City Hall Mark McNeill, City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Mike Andrejka, Building Official Tim Benetti, Community Development Director Dave Dreelan, Fire Chief Ryan Ruzek, Public Works Director Kristen Schabacker, Finance Director Lorri Smith, City Clerk 651.452.1850 Police Department Emergency 911 Police Administration 651.452.1366 Kelly McCarthy, Chief of Police Public Works Facility 651.454.4059 Terry Blum, Public Works Superintendent © Copyright 2017 City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:00 am - 4:30 pm www.mendota-heights.com Follow Us Learn more about the City of Mendota Heights and keep updated with happenings by following the city online. 11 Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/@mendota—heights City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 www.mendota-heights.com *****ECRWSS***** POSTAL CUSTOMER Wednesday Night Women's Golf League Dates: June 7 - August 23 Fee: $110 Sign up on your own or with your foursome for League Play. Fee includes green fees and weekly prizes. All levels of experience are welcome. You will have a standing tee time weekly between 4:00 - 6:45 pm. Adult Tennis Lessons PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #32324 Twin Cities, MN Have fun, stay in shape and meet new friends while playing the lifetime sport of tennis! Beginner classes are for those who have little or no tennis experience. Learn the basic strokes and begin to play. Advanced Beginner/Intermediate players continue developing their stroke consistency while learning net play, court coverage and match strategy. Series of 6 classes taught by USTA-trained instructors. Dates: Session 1, Thursday evenings, May 25 - June 29 Session 2, Thursday evenings, July 13 - August 17 Times: Beginners: 6:15 - 7:15 pm Advanced Beginner/Intermediate: 7:30 - 8:30 pm Location: Friendly Hills Park Tennis Courts Fee: $50 per session Canoe Rack Available The City of Mendota Heights has a canoe rack available at Rogers Lake Park. Space on the rack can be rented out for $50 per summer. For more information, or to rent a space, contact City Hall at 651.452.1850.