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2020-07-24 Friday NewsWe only use cookies that are necessary for this site to function, and to provide you with the best experience. Learn more in our Cookie Statement. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. 0 Receive Updates Enter Email Address Go Friday News 7/24/20 City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 07/24/2020 01:52 PM CDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. FRIDAY NEWS | July 24, 2020 THE LATEST Minnesotans must wear face coverings indoors beginning July 25 As of July 25, 2020, per the Governor's Executive Order 20-81, people in Minnesota will be required to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses, unless you are alone, and other exceptions as noted. For more information and answers to questions, visit health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facecover.html. In addition to the previously announced safety guidelines for City Hall visitors, effective July 25 face coverings will now be required in all City facilities. Please follow the posted safety signage; residents are still encouraged to use non-contact methods of communication, such as phone and email, to conduct business when possible. For tips and guidance on how to wear a face covering, watch the Minnesota Department of Health's video: Mask Do's and Don'ts. Scott Patrick Memorial Gathering Thursday, July 30, marks the sixth anniversary of the murder of Mendota Heights Police Officer Scott Patrick, who was killed while making a traffic stop. The event will begin at noon with a gathering near the shooting location at Smith and Dodd in West St. Paul, and will include a moment of silence to be held at 12:20 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Continue to Stay Safe Mendota Heights Minnesota’s Stay Safe order is in effect. It is important to note that protections for those in our communities that are most vulnerable to the virus are still in place and are those at greatest risk of serious illness are encouraged to continue staying home. For more information visit mn.gov/covid19. VOTE NOW by Absentee Absentee voting for the August 11 primary is available for those who wish to vote before election day. Due to COVID-19, residents are encouraged to vote by mail this year if possible. There are two ways to vote absentee: Absentee Vote by Mail Apply for an absentee ballot at MNVotes.org. After applying for your ballot it will be mailed to your home and it can be returned right away. Absentee Vote in Person Absentee voting is underway through August 10 at City Hall during regular business hours. Extended hours will be available: Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, August 10, until 5 pm. In-person voters may experience longer wait times to allow for new safety procedures. Filing for City Offices begins July 28 The filing period for Mayor (2 year term) and two City Council seats (4 year terms) begins at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. The filing fee is $5.00. Candidates must file an Affidavit of Candidacy with the City Clerk’s office. The requirements for running for public office include: Candidate must be eligible to vote in Minnesota. Candidate is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or older. Maintained residence in Mendota Heights for 30 days before the General Election. Candidates’ names will be placed on the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot. Link to the public notice here. Campaign yard signs With the upcoming Election, you will see many political yards signs popping up around our city. Political yard signs will be a common sight for the next few months. Remember to follow the city, county, and state laws regarding the placement of your political yard signs. Signs must be located on private property, with permission from the property owner. They cannot be located on publicly owned land or right-of-way, on utility poles, on street signs, on trees located on public land, or placed between the sidewalk and the street. Signs must be removed within ten days following the election. Remember that going onto someone else’s property to damage or steal signs is against the law. For more information: Campaign Sign Regulations. Public meeting announcements There will be a special meeting of the City Council at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 27, to consider necessary agreements related to the sale of the Village lots, and to consider a non-city debt issuance. This meeting will be followed by a City Council work session at 2:00 p.m. to interview candidate firms for City Attorney. These meetings will be held at City Hall. Recent highlights: Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K T-shirts available for sale while supplies last. The Mendota Heights Par 3 golf course is open for play with new safety rules; tee times required (call 651-454-9822). Putting in a backyard swimming pool this summer? What you need to know about permits. Locate free lunches for children and students using this interactive map. Apply for a census job; pay starts at $22/hour in Dakota County. Dakota County extends protective equipment donation drive; donate items at Western Service Center and all Library locations. RECYCLING Shoe and Clothing Recycling: August 15 through August 23 Get ready to clean out closets and make a difference for the environment by dropping off shoes and clothing, in good condition, to be reused and repurposed. Drop off items at any of these locations: Mendota Heights City Hall: 1101 Victoria Curve, outdoor metal drop box in the parking lot West St. Paul Sports Dome: 1655 Livingston Ave, outdoor metal drop box South St. Paul Doug Woog Arena: 141 6th St S, inside rolling bins For questions contact Recycling Coordinator Cassandra Johnson at 651-552-4118 or cschueller@wspmn.gov. Greening up a summer picnic Summer weather calls for picnics with friends and family, but not additional waste. Tips to keep your picnics a bit more "green": Visit a Farmers Market Plan your picnic with dishes that can be made from fresh food at a farmers market. You can find local bread, fresh produce of all kinds, herbs, and even jellies and jams. Tomatoes + basil gives you the beginning of a great pasta salad or caprese salad Hunks of fresh bread with local jam or jelly is a great start to any meal A variety of soups, even cold soups like gazpacho, can be made from market veggies Pack reusable items Avoid zip-top baggies if you can. To elevate your picnic and create less waste: Pack food in reusable containers Wrap sandwiches in a tea towel or large bandana that can double as a napkin Portion salads into individual mason jars for easy eating and clean up Bring along forks or plates from home Fill reusable water bottles or thermoses with drinks Make homemade wipes Green clean up by making your own wet wipes. Before leaving home take a few washcloths, dampen with water, and stuff into a large empty pickle jar or other container. Wipe sticky fingers with the damp cloths and stuff back into the jar to take home to launder. Plastic bags Due to market conditions, City Hall is NOT accepting plastic bags for recycling at this time. NATURAL RESOURCES Why is the pond green and smelly? This time of year and into early fall, you may notice your local stormwater pond or wetland is becoming more green and less attractive, and may even be producing an unpleasant odor. This is mainly due to high amounts of algae, which increase with high temperatures and large storm events that wash nutrients and other pollutants into our surface waters. What is a stormwater pond and how does it differ from a wetland? Stormwater detention ponds are designed and constructed to reduce flooding and treat stormwater runoff before it enters our lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. They are manmade features that trap sediments and other pollutants carried by rainwater runoff from paved surfaces such as roads and parking lots, as well as lawns and roofs. Some of these pollutants include oil, bacteria, fertilizer, heavy metals, and organic contaminants such as animal waste, grass clippings, and leaves. Wetlands are naturally-occurring wet areas. Sometimes wetlands hold water year-round, and others are only wet seasonally or for a short period of time. Like stormwater ponds, they also aid in providing storage for flood waters, but they are not manmade and have not been excavated or designed for stormwater treatment. Wetlands are protected under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation sto ate t eat e t et a ds a e p otected u de t e esota et a d Co se at o Act (WCA), which prohibits filling, draining, or otherwise disturbing a wetland without a permit. Before the WCA came into effect, wetlands were often excavated to be used as stormwater ponds, and still are used as such. However, these ponds are still protected by the WCA as wetlands. How can I reduce the amount of algae and pollutants in my stormwater pond or wetland? Collect leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste and dispose of them properly, or mulch what you can into your lawn and garden. Don’t allow grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste to runoff into the street, storm drain, and into your pond or other surface water. Pick up after your pets regularly on your own property, and always pick up after them while out on walks. Install a raingarden, or redirect your downspouts off of paved surfaces and onto gardens and landscaped areas instead. Create a native plant buffer around your stormwater pond or wetland. What’s that blooming? Have you noticed a white flowering plant recently blooming, perhaps along roadsides, trails, or woodland edges? It may be Japanese Hedge Parsley. Japanese Hedge Parsley is an invasive flowering plant with tiny, white clusters of flowers. The leaves are alternate, and look similar to parsley or carrot that stay green until late fall. In its second year plants grow to two to six feet in height. If you think you have these invasive plants on your property, do what you can to remove them in order to control their spread. They are easily hand-pulled, but you may need to use a broad-leaf herbicide for large infestations. If you are unsure if you have invasive plants in your yard, City Staff can help you with identification. You can also report sightings at mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/arrest-pest. There are also additional resources available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/noxious-invasive-weed-program. For more information on invasive plants contact Natural Resources Technician Krista Spreiter, CWD, kristas@mendota-heights.com or 651-255-1123. Recent highlights Learn about the Emerald Ash Borer discounted treatment program available for residents in partnership with Rainbow Tree Care. Tree planting at Hagstrom King Park through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Tree Planting Grant. Keep surface waters clean by adopting a neighborhood storm drain. Attend a virtual Landscaping for Clean Water introductory or maintenance workshop; apply for $250 in grants and on-site assistance MnDOT stormwater repairs at Valley Park FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS Apply to become a firefighter by 4 p.m. on July 27 Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? The Mendota Heights Fire Department is accepting applications to become a firefighter until 4 p.m. on July 27. Learn more about this exciting opportunity by viewing the video above. For complete details visit mendota-heights.com/employment. Annual Report recently mailed The Fire Department recently mailed its 2019 Annual Report highlighting construction progress on the Fire Station, call report summary, firefighter retirees, public education efforts, and more. The report was mailed to all addresses in Mendota Heights and is also available in Publications on the City's website. POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS Just the Facts Incident reports 7/17/20 - 7/23/20 Previous Just the Facts publications are available in the Laserfiche archive system on the City's website. Sign up for emergency alerts The Emergency Alert Program is available through the Dakota Communications Center (DCC) at mn-dcc.org/community-notification/. For immediate public safety response and non- emergency police assistance call 9-1-1 The Police Department will also continue to process requests for police reports, gun permits, etc. Link to the forms under Public Resources at mendota-heights.com/police. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to pdrecords@mendota-heights.com. PARKS & RECREATION The Teddy Bear Band is coming to town July 29, 6-7 p.m. at Mendakota Park At this free community event enjoy socially-distanced interaction with this family-friendly band, whose mission is to help children gain and maintain a positive sense of self, and develop an appreciation of their own abilities. Participants are encouraged to bring their own teddy bear or stuffed friend. This event is limited to 240 (non-bear) participants. To monitor attendance, tickets will be handed out at the park the evening of the event, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The soccer field will be painted with socially- distanced marked areas for a maximum of eight members, of the same household, to share. The COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for this event is posted on the City's website. Summer Safety Camps go virtual Safety Camps have been shifted to an online experience this year. Join the West St. Paul and Mendota Heights Police Departments (MHPD), South Metro Fire Department, Mendota Heights Fire Department, and other great community organizations to learn about fire safety, public safety, nature safety, and more through engaging videos. In addition to the videos, children will have the option to participate in up to three live Q&A sessions with the MHPD at varying times. Choose to attend all three Q&A sessions or tune into one to ask questions, get answers, and interact with officers and other camp participants. Q&A sessions will last about 30 minutes. Participants will also receive a supply and swag bag sess o s ast about 30 utes a t c pa ts a so ece e a supp y a d s ag bag with a Safe Kids Safety Camp t-shirt, snacks, craft and activity supplies, and more. The bag will need to be picked up curbside at City Hall on the specified date. Little Tykes Camp Grades K-2 | Cost $15 Online link active July 31-August 21 Swag bag pickup July 30 at City Hall, 9-10am or 5-6pm Register by July 24: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog Safe Kids Camp Grades 3-5 | Cost: $15 (reduced rate) Online link active August 18-September 8 Swag bag pickup August 17 at City Hall, 9-10am or 5-6pm Register by August 10: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog Summer recreation registration Registration is open. Please note that programs/events may be subject to change based on state and federal safety guidelines. Browse programs & register: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Public Meetings Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website mendota- heights.com/calendar. Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting attendees should adhere to the posted City Hall safety guidelines and be aware that capacity in the City Council Chambers will be limited. As much as possible, the community is encouraged to continue watching broadcasted meetings live on Cable Channel 18 or online at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay). City Council Special Meeting July 27, 1:30 p.m. City Council Work Session July 27, 2:00 p.m. Planning Commission July 28, 7 p.m. City Council August 4, 5 p.m. Parks & Recreation Commission August 12, 6:30 p.m. City Business Hours City Hall Business Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Friday 7-11:30 a.m. Police Department Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. City Hall Contact Information Official Website of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Phone: 651-452-1850 Stay Connected with the City of Mendota Heights: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Help | Unsubscribe from all Topics Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help