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2020-Fall Heights HighlightsFALL 2020 Neil's News 2 2021 Preliminary Budget Adopted 3 New Staff Member Welcome 3 2020 Mayoral Candidates 4 2020 City Council Candidates 5 Voting Information 5 Community Development 6 Marie Avenue Improvements 7 Green Communities 8 Pumpkin Recycling 8 Identify and Remove Buckthorn 9 Document your Valuables 10 Fire Prevention Drive-Thru 10 Parks and Recreation 11 MENDOTA HEIGHTSHEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS a small town feel in an urban setting CALENDAR Events may be subject to change. Check the website for current updates. Absentee Voting 9/18-11/2 Fire Prevention Drive-Thru 10/10 Pumpkin Recycling 11/7-11/8 General & City Election 11/3 Fire Station Nearing Completion Work on the Mendota Heights Fire Station remodeling/ addition wound down in September. In March 2019, the City Council had awarded 20 sepa- rate contracts for different aspects of the construction, to- taling approximately $6.76 million. The over- all project cost, including architectural, engineering, and other “soft costs” is $8.1 mil- lion. The project more than doubled the size of the existing 1985-era station and added training, vehicle garage space, and administrative areas. In April, the Fire Department moved from the existing building into the new addition, which allowed for the existing building to be brought up to current building and safety codes. The re- maining remodeling, and the finishing of the exterior work, proceeded into Oc- tober. Due to COVID 19 restrictions on large gatherings, a Public Open House and Dedication is not planned at this time. “We do look forward to the day that we can invite all of Mendota Heights, and the three neighboring communities that we serve, in to see this new and renewed space,” said Mendota Heights Fire Chief Dave Dreelan. “We are excited about the new facility, and are grateful to the community for their ongoing support of the MHFD.” Election Information See pages 4-5 to find the following election information: •Meet Local Candidates •Voter Registration •How to Vote •Where to Vote 2 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS Neil’s News The City’s number one priority continues to be ensuring the health and safety of Mendota Heights residents, property owners, and its employees. From its mid-March shutdown, City Hall was able to reopen to the public in early July with safety modifications in place. And while City facilities have reopened, residents are still encouraged to use contactless methods to conduct business when possible. Thank you to those who continue to support public health efforts by following the current safety guidelines. In response to challenges surrounding the local business community, in early August the City Council approved a Small Business Relief program to designate approximately $85,500 of the City’s CARES Act funds to assist for-profit small businesses that have suffered financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City grants of up to $10,000 were awarded to selected Mendota Heights businesses in late August who weren’t otherwise selected for a similar Dakota County program. Funding from the grant may be used to cover payroll, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and other operational expenses incurred since March 1, 2020. Applications from 58 Mendota Heights businesses were received. And I think we’ll all agree that this summer was an extraordinary one. Despite the cancellation of City events and in-person recreation programs through early July, the community has enjoyed healthy recreation at the Par 3 golf course – in record- setting numbers. Thank you to Parks and Recreation for pivoting nonstop to launch COVID-compliant play at the golf course, keep our beautiful parks open, offer virtual and live concerts and entertainment, and other creative programming this summer. It also would have been logistically easier this year to cancel or postpone the annual Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/ Run for Minnesota Special Olympics, but we were able to modify the race accordingly and I’m grateful for a community that showed up virtually to support this great cause. There were 294 participants and over $14,400 was raised, with 122 door prizes donated. The amount which was donated to Special Olympics this year was the second highest amount ever raised. That is significant, given the “virtual” nature of the race. Thank you to all who participated! The community also gathered on July 30 to remember the sixth anniversary of Officer Scott Patrick’s sacrifice with a moment of silence at 12:20 p.m., the time of the shooting. In honor of Officer Patrick, reach out and thank an officer today for their service. On the development front, the Fire Station project is nearing completion. The “move in” to both the new addition and remodeled original section was finished in September. Unfortunately, because of precautions which need to be followed for COVID 19, a public Open House will not able to be done at this time. We hope to be able to do that at some time in the future. Coming soon to Mendota Heights is The Linden, a new luxury rental building for adults 55 and older with a sit-down restaurant. Grand Real Estate Advisors and project partners gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking on August 13. The Linden is anticipated to open to its new residents in September 2021. Lastly, it is time to get out and vote! Residents are encouraged to vote early by mail this year if possible, or vote early at City Hall to reduce crowding at the polls. However you feel comfortable voting, the important thing is that you do. There are also City elections on the ballot. Many of you know that I decided to step down from my Mayoral duties at the end of this year. Therefore, be sure to read this issue for information on the three candidates who are running to take my place as the Mayor of Mendota Heights next year! Stay safe – Neil Garlock, Mayor Photos: Safety partitions being installed at City Hall's front desk; guests enjoying the Teddy Bear Band in socially-distanced circles at Mendakota Park; the Fire Station nearing completion; remem- bering Officer Scott Patrick.CITY HALL 2021 Preliminary Budget Adopted At its meeting of September 15, the Mendota Heights City Council adopted a preliminary budget, and property tax levy for the new fiscal year, which will begin January 1, 2021. If adopted in December as final, the final levy will see an increase of 4.32% over the levy adopted in 2020. Overall, residential properties on average would see an increase of 2.79% in their property taxes paid. For the median valued house in Mendota Heights ($426,600), that would mean an increase in taxes paid of about $3.75 per month. These numbers are estimates. Da- kota County will send out notices in November. Note that these figures re- flect the maximum increase; the City Council could choose to reduce these figures upon final adoption before December 28. Because of concerns about the COVID-impacted economy on City finances, the proposed budget was created to be lean, with no new positions or ongo- ing programs created. The City will rely upon one-time revenues from the sale of the Village lots properties to pay for major one-time equipment pur- chases and expenditures. Those include the OSHA-mandated replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus for the Fire Department ($225,000); the second half of the City’s Natural Resources Plan update ($55,000); and replacement equipment for the Public Works Department ($128,200). The Village lots sales proceeds also will pay for the purchase of property to expand Historic Pilot Knob, and funding for the Fire Station expansion and remodeling project which wasn’t covered by the original General Obligation bond sale ($303,300). The budget does contain money for the annual Fourth of July fireworks dis- play, and a continuation of the summer concert in the parks program. The proceeds from the Village lots also leaves a cushion of $129,000 which could be used to cover revenue shortfalls which might be seen by the end of the year, to reduce taxes, or for other expenditures which are determined to be a high priority by the City Council in December. The City Council will hold a hearing on the proposed budget and levy at its regular meeting of December 1, 2020. Welcome New Staff Member Sheila Robertson joins the Administration team as a full-time office support assistant. Originally from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Sheila and her husband Sam just bought their first house in Hastings. She holds a B.A. in Health and Exercise Science from Gus- tavus Adolphus College. She has 10 years of experi- ence in youth management and programming, com- ing from the YMCA and Community Education. Sheila is excited to join the City’s team and provide administrative support for Parks and Recreation, Community Development/Planning, and Finance. Email: sheilar@mendo- ta-heights.com Stay Connected E-Publications Subscribe to receive City news and public meeting information via email on the City’s website. Subscrip- tions are self-maintained and can be modified or un- subscribed to at any time. Select from: ƒFriday News ƒCity Council agenda packets ƒNEW - Planning Commission agenda packets ƒNEW - Parks and Recreation Commission agenda packets Public Meetings Attend In Person All council and commission meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Prior to attending check the City’s website calendar to confirm the date and time. Meeting capacity is limited and face coverings are required at City Hall during the pandemic. Watch Online City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission meetings can be streamed live or viewed for replay at townsquare.tv/webstreaming. Watch on TV Broadcasted meetings can be viewed live on Cable Channel 18. Register for Emergency Alerts In the case of emergencies alerts are sent to landline phones only. To receive alerts by cell phone, text mes- sage, email, or additional phone numbers register on- line with the Dakota Communications Center at mn- dcc.org/community-notification. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 3 4 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS4 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS Candidates for Mayor Voters will elect one candidate to serve a two-year term. Liz Petschel Liz is a 33 year resident of Mendota Heights and has served the city for 27 years: 17 years on the Airport Relations Commission and ten on the City Council. She is a former chair of the Noise Oversight Committee for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, former acting mayor of Mendota Heights, and the current chair of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Dakota County Sheriff. Liz’s accomplishments include drafting a na- tionally recognized document to prevent ad- verse forms of air traffic control at MSP; ad- dressing infrastructure and an unmet need for senior housing; achieving a triple AAA bond rating; supporting pollinator-friendly and solar initiatives; development of The Vil- lage, which is nearing completion with new senior apartments and a restaurant; and sup- porting firefighters with the station improve- ments needed to guard their safety and en- hance their training. Going forward she would like to address the budgeting challenges associated with CO- VID-19 shortfalls, find long-term funding for parks improvements, complete the city’s Natural Resources Plan, develop a future plan for Historic Pilot Knob, and address workspace issues in the Police Department. Liz values respectful listening, creative prob- lem solving, and building consensus, and would be honored to serve Mendota Heights as its next mayor. Stephanie Levine Stephanie has been an active member of the Mendota Heights community for the past 30 years when she and her husband, Jimmy, moved here to raise their family. She has a background in finance and has served both the city and wider community in a variety of leadership roles. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from UW-Madison and a mas- ter’s degree in Mathematics from the Univer- sity of Minnesota, Stephanie spent 15 years as an actuary. Following her work in the private sector, she focused on community service. She is a ready volunteer with a mul- titude of leadership experiences at the city, county and state levels. She spent eight years on the Mendota Heights Parks and Recre- ation Commission, including two as chair. Currently, she serves on the ISD197 School Board where she previously served as trea- surer and vice-chair. These unprecedented times present the city with many challenges. Stephanie values working collaboratively and strategically to maintain and enhance city services. Her focus areas include fiscal discipline, com- munity wellness during COVID-19, infra- structure management, public safety and greenspace preservation and protection. She would like to leverage both public and pri- vate funding to ensure the future vitality of Mendota Heights. Patrick Watson Patrick (He/His/Him) and his wife Nicole have lived in Mendota Heights for 14 years with their twin 15-year-old sons, Will and Owen. Nicole grew up in the area, and they moved here for the excellent schools, ac- cess to outdoor recreation spaces, and most importantly, the close-knit and supportive community. Patrick is an avid outdoorsperson, spending time hiking, gardening, fishing, watching his boys play baseball, and walking their family dog, Annie. His professional background is in hazardous materials regulation and work- place safety. He has worked in this field for over 20 years, effectively navigating, inter- preting and communicating complex in- formation; working with people across the globe; and advocating for political changes at the local, state and federal levels. He is an invested volunteer for Scouting and public schools, and according to friends and neigh- bors always willing to lend a hand. He strives to serve the community that his family calls home and make it a better place. Patrick's top priorities when elected will be equality, transparency, infrastructure, and the environment. He wants to see Mendota Heights become welcoming to its next gen- eration of residents and preserve the quali- ties that attracted his and other families here. More Voting Info & Forms Go to MnVotes.org for answers to your voting questions… Am I registered to vote? Apply for an absentee ballot How to register to vote Where do I go to vote? What are the election dates Get a copy of your ballot Voting at the Polls on Election Day Polls in Mendota Heights are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, No- vember 3, for the General Election. You may vote in person at your assigned polling location. Locate your precinct and voting loca- tion on the map, or use the Polling Place Finder on the Secretary of State’s website at MnVotes.org. Election and City staff will be working hard to support COVID-19 safety protocols at the polls. Voters should be prepared to follow social distancing and sanitation procedures, and face coverings will be required. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 5 Candidates for City Council Voters will elect two candidates to serve four-year terms. Jay Miller Born and raised in Mendota Heights, Jay Miller has spent his life living and working within the city. He has been employed as a special education teacher at Henry Sibley High School since 2000. Jay has also served as the head varsity soccer coach at Visitation School since 2013. He has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Educa- tion from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (2000) and a master’s degree in Education from Bethel Uni- versity (2004). Jay joined the Mendota Heights Fire Department in 2008 and has served as a captain since 2016. He also serves as secretary on the department’s Board of Trustees. Prior to his election to the City Council in 2016, Jay served as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Jay’s priorities are to ensure that the city’s parks, wa- ters, and natural spaces remain healthy and vibrant for future generations of Mendota Heights residents to en- joy, that city infrastructure (roads, sewer system, etc.) continues to be safe and functional throughout the city, and that fiscal stewardship continues to be a priority. Joel Paper Joel Paper was raised in Mendota Heights. He gradu- ated from Henry Sibley High School and the University of St. Thomas where he studied business. Joel and his wife, Rachael, have two sons, Wil and Levi, who both attend Friendly Hills Middle School. Their family has also recently added a puppy named Snoop Dogg. Joel owned his own lawn and landscape business and was a partner at Paper Brothers Construction. Joel’s current job is being a stay-at-home dad, which now in- cludes being a teacher, and part-time driver to his two sons and their friends. Joel currently serves on the City Council and is the vice mayor, and also represents Mendota Heights on the Northern Dakota County Cable Commission Board. Joel also spent four years serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission beginning in 2012. He does a wide variety of volunteer work including at the schools and coaching in the local youth athletic associations. Joel would appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve this community on the City Council. Get Out (or Stay in) and Vote This has been a unique year for elections, with the third one just around the cor- ner. Whether you will be voting early or at the polls on November 3, here’s what you need to know: Voter Preregistration If you are not already registered to vote, you may preregister up until 5 p.m. on October 13. After that date, you must register when you vote. Voters can check their registration status and register now at MNVotes.org. You can also print out a paper form or obtain a paper form from City Hall. You will need to register if you have never voted before, if you have changed your name or address since you last voted (including moving to another apartment in the same building), or if you have not voted in four years. Minnesota does allow voters to register on Election Day at the polls with the required identification. Early Voting Options Absentee voting is available for those who wish to vote before Election Day. Due to the pandemic, voting absentee is highly encouraged. There are two ways to do this: ƒAbsentee Vote By Mail: Apply for an absentee ballot at MNVotes.org. Re- member to allow enough time for postal delivery. ƒAbsentee Vote In Person: Vote at the Mendota Heights City Hall during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. Extended absentee voting hours will be available Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Monday, November 2, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please allow extra time for safety protocols and face coverings are required. 6 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS Henry Sibley High School Improvements The Henry Sibley High School’s new aquatic cen- ter and gymnasium improvements are still under construction, with an anticipated opening in No- vember/December 2020. BP-Amoco (Mendota Heights Auto Service) The BP-Amoco, located at 2030 Dodd Road is slated to remodel and expand a third auto ser- vice bay to their automobile service station. Construction set to begin early fall 2020. The gas and auto service station will remain open during construction. Friendly Hills Middle School Improvements The new gymnasium addition to Friendly Hills Middle School is complete; and the school is wrapping up the new driveway access off Men- dota Heights Road and parking lot improve- ments to the school. The school hopes to have the improvements completed before the fall 2020 school start-up. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTThe Linden of Mendota Heights New Luxury Senior Housing & Restaurant – The Village at Mendota Heights Grand Real Estate Advisors has broken ground on the new 48-unit senior housing apartment with a 4,300-sf. sit-down style restaurant. The three-sto- ry apartment/restaurant facility will have an underground secured parking garage, and includes a private community room with upper seating terrace, an indoor golf simulator room and a fitness center. The facility is scheduled to open late summer of 2021.Visit grandrea.com for more information. If you have any other questions about this or other developments, please contact Community Development Director Tim Benetti at 651-255-1142 or email timb@mendota-heights.com. The Heights Apartments The second phase of The Heights Apartments, a new 64-unit, senior-pre- ferred apartment building located at 2180 Highway 13 is completed and is now accepting tenants. Visit michaeldevelopment.com for more informa- tion. Verizon Wireless Cellular Communication Improvements Verizon Wireless received approval to install three new wireless/cellular antenna arrays on top of Deerwood Bank located at 1060 Dakota Drive. These new antennas will help with overall cellular and wireless capacity coverage in the central sector of the community. No timeline of when the installation will take place, but Verizon is hoping to have the new antennas in place very soon. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 7COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTMarie Avenue Street Improvements The Marie Avenue Street rehabilitation project will be completed this fall. The project included a number of design elements meant to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety. Curb bump outs were installed at higher volume pedestrian crossing locations including a new flashing beacon (RRFB) near the tennis courts at Valley Park. Other traffic calming measures include narrower lane widths and a radar feedback speed limit sign. Another major element of the project included rehabilitation of a land bridge between Trail Road and Sutton Lane. The land bridge received a new concrete surface as part of the rehabilitation. The storm water ponds along the cor- ridor are being dredged including modifications to their outlets to improve water quality. Additional native plantings are proposed in the new bump out areas. Contact the City's Engineering Depart- ment for additional information at 651-452-1850. Marie Avenue Planting Thank you to the many volunteers who helped in planting 90 shrubs and 180 plants above the new retaining wall at the intersection of Marie Avenue and Victoria Road. The new retaining wall was a part of the Marie Avenue Road Improvements project that took place this summer. The planting was designed and planned by resident Cindy Johnson. The planting includes Gro-Low Sumac (shrub), and Canada Anemone, a native, low-growing forb that blooms in spring and early summer that will also act as a ground cover. The planting has many benefits including preventing erosion of the slope above the retaining wall, slowing and filtering stormwater runoff from the homes above, and providing food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. The planting is one of the many actions the City takes to fulfill its commitment to its Pollinator-Friendly Community Resolution, adopted in 2016. 8 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS Sell Online to Help Your Wallet and the Trash Can When it comes time to clean out your home storage, remember the old adage: one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Don’t toss items that would be useful to others. Instead, sell them. Earn extra cash by selling stuff you no longer need on one of these online sites and phone apps: ƒNextDoor: nextdoor.com ƒCraigslist: craigslist.com ƒFacebook Sale Groups: facebook.com – search for your city or neighborhood ƒE-bay: ebay.com ƒThredUP: threadup.com for women and kids clothes and accessories Tips when selling and buying online ƒDon’t ignore the small stuff like kitchenware or shoes. Ten dollar sales add up! ƒChoose your price but be open to negotiation. ƒGive yourself a timeframe that you are willing to wait for an item to be sold. Try two weeks. If it hasn’t sold, lower the price or donate it instead. ƒGive details in the listing like brand and measure- ments. ƒTake good photos. Think about what you would want to see if you were shopping online. ƒSet free or claimed items on your porch for no-con- tact pickup. ƒIf meeting in person, maintain a 6 foot distance. If online is intimidating, use local consign- ment options for clothing, books or sport- ing equipment. Check the Reuse in Dakota County Guide at dakotacounty.us for a list of consignment stores. You’ll make money and reduce waste! Partially funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Dakota County. Assess Your Landscape Now Fall is a good time to assess your landscape with these questions: ƒWhat worked or didn't work this past growing season? ƒDo you have any overgrown trees or shrubs that need pruning? ƒAre there diseases that you found on your landscape plants? ƒDo you have habitat and food resources for the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee that still finds its home here? ƒDo you have any invasive species on your property that need to be re- moved? Be sure to look for and remove these invasives from your property: Siberian Elm, Buckthorn, Amur Maple, Burning Bush, Barberry, Garlic Mustard, Japa- nese Hedge Parsley, Spotted Knapweed. After you have assessed your land- scape and removed any invasives, take some time to find out about native plants and trees that are beneficial for our pollinators and our ecosystem. Then you will be prepared and ready to order when the native plant sales and Men- dota Heights Tree Sale arrives in the spring! Pumpkin Recycling November 7 & 8 Bring pumpkins to Mendota Heights City Hall’s parking lot and toss them into the dumpster for free. No painted pumpkins, wax or candles will be accepted. For questions contact Recycling Coordinator Cassandra Johnson at 651-255-1347 or cassandraj@mendota-heights.com. Plastic Bags Recycling Update Due to market conditions, City Hall cannot accept plastic bags for recycling at this time. To locate a site that may be ac- cepting plastic bags, visit plasticfilmrecycling.org. Bags must be clean and dry, and without soiled or sticky residue. GREEN COMMUNITY Keep Leaves out of Storm Drains Help protect and clean up our sur- face waters by keeping the storm drains near your house clean and free of leaves and other yard waste. You may not realize it, but even if you can’t see water from your front door, every storm drain on your street flows to a nearby lake, wetland, stream, or river. Leaves and other yard waste are often an unseen source of pollu- tion. They are considered natural, however, leaves, yard waste, and the fertilizers and chemicals that are used on our lawns become a large source of pollution when they are washed into our surface waters after it rains. Once they get into surface waters, the leaves release nutrients that contribute to accelerated growth of algae. This can result in low oxygen levels, fish kills, and unsafe swimming and recreation conditions. Simple ways YOU can help: ƒAdopt-a-Drain: This program is an easy way to make a big dif- ference. It only takes 15 minutes every other week to sweep up around a storm drain in your neighborhood. Learn more and register online at adopt-a-drain.org. ƒLeave the leaves in your garden and other areas of your land- scape to provide food and shelter for pollinators and for added organic matter. ƒCompost yard waste in your backyard. Adding leaves to a compost pile is an inexpensive way to add nutrient-rich fertil- izer to your gardens. ƒBring leaves to a compost site or other acceptable disposal site. Many sites take leaves and other yard waste free of charge or for a small fee. ƒUse a service such as TaskRabbit to hire out the task of raking and/or removing leaves for you. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 9GREEN COMMUNITYAs the leaves on your trees start to turn color and fall, do you notice any trees with leaves still green and in- tact? This is one trait of Buckthorn, an invasive, non- native understory tree that is often pruned as a shrub. This invasive tree out competes its native counter- parts by growing rapidly and leafing out early, as well as holding its leaves late into the fall. Buckthorn also produces a large amount of black berries that ripen in August and September, and germinate quickly. There are two varieties of Buckthorn: Glossy Buck- thorn and Common (European) Buckthorn. Glossy buckthorn has smooth, glossy, toothless leaves that are oval in shape. The bark is dark in color, with light-colored spots, and contains thin, sharp thorns. Branches and leaves are alternate. Common buck- thorn looks similar except branches contain thorns at the terminal. Leaves of common buckthorn are pointed, mostly opposite, and finely toothed. Both can often be confused with the native Black Cherry tree, so identify carefully before removal. If you are unsure if you have buckthorn on your property, con- tact City staff for a site visit and proper identification. Control methods: ƒPulling: Best done when trees are small – one inch in diameter or less. ƒCutting and herbicide treatment: Best used on large trees in the fall, but can be done anytime, except for the spring months during heavy sap flow. Cut buckthorn close to the ground and immediately treat the stump with herbicide. If you do not plan on treating or covering (see method below) the cut stump, do not cut, as the stump will produce sprouts at a more rapid rate the following year. ƒHerbicide alternatives: Cut stumps can also be covered using a Buckthorn Baggie, other dark-colored plastic bag, or similar alter- native when herbicide use is not desirable. Make sure your bag or alternative is tightly secured to the stump, and fanned out at the bottom to catch any new shoots. Leave the bag on the stump for a minimum of one year, and then re- member to remove. The City also has a weed wrench for mechanical removal that can be loaned out to residents free of charge. Contact City staff for more information. If you are unable to do the work of removal yourself, there are native restoration companies that perform removal and treatment as well. For more information visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources web- site at dnr.state.mn.us and search buckthorn, or contact Natural Resources Techni- cian Krista Spreiter 651-255-1123 or kristas@mendota-heights.com. Identify and Remove Buckthorn Now 10 : CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTSSAFE COMMUNITYAre Your Valuables Documented? Documentation plays a key role in our lives. We need identity documents when applying for a driver’s license or passport, enroll- ing in benefit plans, complying with policies, and ensuring security at our jobs. When you are at home, surrounded by things you have purchased with your hard-earned money, do you take the same care with documentation? But what if disaster struck, like a tornado or fire, or a burglar gained access and stole items from you. Would you know every item you lost that had a dollar value? Do you have documentation available that includes serial numbers and purchase price or value? At the police department, most people are unable to provide serial numbers for their property, which greatly impacts our success in recovering stolen items. In fact, thieves count on it. Do you have photos of your valuables, like jewelry? Documentation of your TVs, phones, computers and tablets? What about all of your credit card numbers in the event they are lost or stolen? Maybe it’s time to get that information documented before disaster strikes. Insurance companies and disaster recovery experts highly recommend keeping photos of your valuables in a manner that can be safely and securely accessed when needed. There are several apps available now that help simplify setting up and maintaining your inventory documentation. Search for an app of your preference and get started today. Fire Prevention Drive-Thru Mendota Heights Fire Station 2121 Dodd Road Saturday, October 10 9 - 11 AM Drive through the parking lot of the newly remodeled Fire Station and say hello to firefighters and junior firefighter Snuffer! Kids will receive a fun and educational fire prevention activity packet, along with information for adults. Each family will be eligible for a door prize drawing of one $100 Visa gift card and one toy fire truck! View the COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for this event on the City's website. New Fire Prevention Resources Available The Mendota Heights Fire Prevention team has created short videos and oth- er online resource materials to learn about fire safety. Several of the videos feature Mendota Heights firefighters teaching this valuable information. Top- ics included are: ƒCooking fire safety ƒFun fire safety for kids ƒPreventing home electrical fires ƒFire truck tours of Engine 10 and Engine 11 ƒCarbon monoxide safety ƒGeneral fire safety information – great for families and teachers! ƒAnd more! Visit the City’s website to access these videos and resources. The Annual Halloween Bonfire will not be held this year. HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS : 11PARKS & RECREATIONPlaying it Safe this Fall Fall registration is open. Register online at secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights- mn/catalog. Please register at least one week before your program begins. Cancel- lations due to low attendance are made 2-5 days prior to start dates. Limited reg- istrations will be taken and COVID-19 Pre- paredness Plans (made in accordance with current recommendations) will be emailed prior to the start of a program. Fall Golf Rates Enjoy playing at the Mendota Heights Par 3 until the course closes for the season at a special rate of $9 per golf round, and $7 per footgolf round. Call 651-454-9822 to schedule a tee time. Sports Unlimited Soccer October 14-15 9am-noon Ages 5-10 $47 Registration closes October 8 at 11am or when full Regional Athletic Center (Dome) 1655 Livingston Ave, West St. Paul Learn the rules of soccer while work- ing on team play and sportsmanship through skill development and games. Individual skills taught: shooting, pass- ing, dribbling along with learning the strategies of offense and defense. Flag Football October 14-15 1-4pm Ages 5-10 $47 Registration closes October 8 at 11am or when full Regional Athletic Center (Dome) 1655 Livingston Ave, West St. Paul Learn the rules of flag football while working on team play and sports- manship through skill development and games. The following skills will be taught: passing, catching, kicking and strategies of offense and defense. Toy Story 4 Musical Theater Camp October 14-16 9am-noon Ages 5-9 $77 Registration closes Oct. 13 at 11am or when full Mendota Heights Fire Department Room What happens when your toys come to life? Let’s become our favorite toys and go on a mu- sical theater adventure! We will learn music and choreography from Toy Story and put together our own musical! Everyone will learn how to put together a professional show from start to finish. Learn how to properly speak your lines, block a scene, develop your character and much more. We will also play fun creative games! No experience necessary. All that is needed are comfortable clothing and lightweight tennis shoes or dance shoes. Rec Pack Superhero Masquerade November 12-13 $20 Ages 6-12 Registration closes November 4 at 11am Action, adventure and fun awaits in your very own Superhero Masquer- ade Rec-Pack. Your little superhero will enjoy a fun pack of games and activi-ties in their own space at their own pace. Rec Pack pick up will take place at Mendota Heights City Hall on Novem-ber 12, 7:30am-4:30pm or November 13, 7:30-11:30am. Now Hiring Winter Seasonal Positions Do you enjoy the outdoors and would like to earn part-time income? The City is hiring for winter seasonal positions: ƒIce rink flooders ƒWarming house attendants ƒSkating instructor Visit mendota-heights.com/ employment for details. Leave the Leaves & Keep the Stems Every time we rake up or shred leaves, clip our gardens to the ground in fall or spring, “clean up” the garden, or spread landscaping fabric over soil, we unknowingly remove vital habitat for many pollinators such as butterflies, bumblebees, and moths, as well as fireflies and other beneficial insects. Many insects that don’t migrate need hollow stems, leaf “litter,” natural “hiding places,” or soil to overwinter or to reproduce. Insects are the backbone of the food chain for both humans and wildlife. For example, nearly 96 percent of bird species typically found in our suburban yards feed only insects to their young. Most yard birds can’t feed birdseed to their nestlings as it is indigestible to baby birds. The nutrient-dense caterpillars and other insects in our yards provide this vital food for birds. The tiny chickadee needs up to 9,000 insects to successfully raise one clutch of baby birds. Want to offer crucial habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to help wildlife up the food chain? Roll out the insect welcome mat in your own yard!      City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 www.mendota-heights.com HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS Fall 2020 ISSUE: 121 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 651.452.1850 Mark McNeill City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson Asst. City Administrator Mike Andrejka Building Official Tim Benetti Community Development Dir. Dave Dreelan Fire Chief Ryan Ruzek Public Works Director Kristen Schabacker Finance Director Lorri Smith City Clerk Police Department Emergency 911 Police Administration 651.452.1366 Kelly McCarthy Chief of Police Public Works Facility 651.454.4059 John Boland Public Works Superintendent © Copyright 2020 City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 www.mendota-heights.com City Hall Lobby Hours Mon.–Thurs.: 7:00am–4:30pm Friday: 7:00-11:30am MHPD Lobby Hours Mon.–Fri.: 8:00am–4:30pm Follow Us Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/@mendota_heights Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsPD Facebook.com/MHParksandRec Twitter.com/@MHeightsPD