2020-12-04 Friday NewsFriday News 12/4/20
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 12/04/2020 02:23 PM CST
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FRIDAY NEWS | December 4, 2020
THE LATEST
Let's continue to push pause to save lives, slow the
spread, and support frontline workers
In an effort to combat the spike in COVID-19 cases, the Governor's executive order 20-99 is
in effect through December 18, 2020. For safety reasons no one outside of your
household should enter your home with certain exceptions as noted in the executive
order. As a targeted approach to combat community spread, restrictions are also in place
for bars, restaurants, health clubs, entertainment venues, and other establishments, as well
as organized adult and youth sports. While indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited, we can
continue to support Mendota Heights restaurants by ordering drive-thru, curbside, take-out,
and contactless delivery.
staysafe.mn.gov | Executive Order 20-99
Find a free COVID-19
community testing event
The Minnesota Department of Health is hosting
both saliva and nasal swab testing events
throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance
is not required. Visit mn.gov/covid19/for-
minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/index.jsp for
more information.
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City Council vacancy update
The application period to fill the remaining term of a council position closed at 4:30 p.m. on
November 30, 2020. A City Council Work Session is scheduled for December 8, 2020,
beginning at 3:15 p.m., for the Council to narrow the number of candidates to the number to
be interviewed. The number of applications received was 20. Selected candidates will have
an opportunity to be interviewed at a City Council Work Session scheduled for December
14, 2020, beginning at 5 p.m. Both work sessions will be conducted virtually.
After the work sessions are conducted, it is anticipated that the City Council will make the
appointment at its regular meeting on December 15, 2020.
Public meeting announcements
How to attend the virtual City Council Work Session on December 8, 2020
During its Work Session on December 8, all or most of the members of the City Council will
be participating remotely, however the Council Chambers will be open to the public during
this meeting, assuming that social distancing protocols are followed. Interested individuals
may access the meeting by using the meeting connection through log-in or dial-in. With both
the log-in or dial-in options, the line will be muted. Observers wishing to make comments on
any of the agenda items will need to contact the City Clerk no later than noon on Tuesday,
December 8, and provide their contact information and the agenda item which they want to
address. Note that any applicable long-distance telephone charges may apply. Check the
City’s website (mendota-heights.com) on Monday, December 7, for meeting
connection information.
Information on how to attend and provide comment for the December 14 City Council Work
Session will be available on the City's website and included in the next issue of Friday
News.
Next Planning Commission meeting moved to December 17, 2020
The next Planning Commission meeting has been moved from Tuesday, December 22 to
Thursday, December 17, beginning at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Attend a virtual Open
House to improve
student biking and
pedestrian safety
Dakota County, in collaboration with the
Minnesota Department of Transportation
(MnDOT), is conducting a study to
proactively address safety for students
traveling to and from the 48 schools in
Dakota County next to county and state
roads. The study and recommendations
are focused on pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
The county is currently hosting a virtual open house to share preliminary recommendations
of the study. You can view the draft recommendations for your school and share your
feedback. The virtual open house materials are available now on the project website. The
open house will be available for comments until December 11. Open house materials are
provided in English and Spanish.
Attend the open house and provide comment at:
co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/TransportationStudies/Current/Pages/school-safety-
assessment.aspx.
Drop off donations through Wednesday, December 9
The Mendota Heights Police Department is once again collecting donations for two
organizations this year:
Holiday gifts for teens & tweens benefiting A Place of Hope. Please keep gifts
unwrapped when donating.
Shelf-stable food items benefiting Neighbors, Inc.
Drop off items in the collection bins at City Hall and the Police Department lobby during
regular business hours. Get donation ideas for gifts and learn more.
Recent highlights:
Winter parking restrictions are in effect through March 31; no overnight parking on
city streets from 2 to 6 a.m. Link to more winter snow plowing information here.
Planned weekend bowhunting underway in select Mendota Heights parks to manage
deer and coyote populations.
Dakota County extends protective equipment donation drive; donate items at
Western Service Center and all Library locations.
RECYCLING
Now through January 31
As you begin decorating for the holidays and run into that string that will no longer light,
swing by City Hall and drop it into the collection barrel for recycling. In addition to holiday
lights, you can drop off electrical cords, appliance cords, and phone cords through the end
of January. Lights attached to wreaths, holly or trees must be removed first. Holiday lights
are also accepted year round at The Recycling Zone in Eagan.
Sustainable gift wrap ideas
Friday, December 11, 12-12:30 p.m.
As the holidays approach, consider wrapping your gifts with sustainable options. Tune in to
Dakota County Parks' upcoming Facebook live event for creative tips and
tricks: facebook.com/events/170658801403248.
Political yard sign
recycling event a huge
success
Thank you to all who dropped off political yard
signs for recycling. In its first year for this
event, Dakota County collected 1,164 pounds
of plastic and cardboard signs, and metal
stakes from the participating cities of Mendota
Heights, Hastings, and Lakeville.
Repair instead of replace at Dakota County's
upcoming virtual Fix-It Clinic
Saturday, December 19, 10 a.m. - noon
Sign up for a Fix-It clinic and get free repair assistance and advice on many different types
of items. Learn more and sign up for a free Zoom virtual clinic.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Images courtesy of the University of Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Weed of the Month: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus
orbiculatus)
Oriental bittersweet is a woody vine that wraps around trees and structures, often girdling
and smothering native trees and shrubs. It can invade forested areas and create
impenetrable masses of vines that shade out native species, and inhibit movement of
wildlife. Oriental bittersweet is on the Eradicate list under the Minnesota Noxious Weed
Law. It is most often found in Southeastern Minnesota.
Identification: Oriental bittersweet can grow to lengths of 66 feet, and has alternate, green
leaves that turn yellow in the fall. It produces green berries that turn bright red and yellow.
Control: Avoid spreading by recognizing and not planting it. Oriental bittersweet was
originally sold as an ornamental. Remove and bag or burn all fruit. Stumps can be cut and
treated with herbicide. Regular mowing of sprouts can also be effective.
Parks and public space stewardship
As much of our normal activity has changed due to COVID restrictions, many people are
spending more time outdoors, and taking advantage of the many great parks and open
spaces that Mendota Heights has to offer. While this is a great opportunity, please
remember to also be a good steward of our Parks and open spaces, as well as our natural
resources.
Stay on paved and/or marked trails.
Do not create new paths or trails, as this can potentially cause erosion and trample
native vegetation, as well as spread invasive species.
Only collect dead, down leaves or other plant materials along trails. Do not cut or pick
live native vegetation, as it then cannot propagate. This also leaves space for
invasives to spread and overtake the area.
Be a good steward of our Parks, so that all users can enjoy them!
Recent highlights
Protect local lakes and rivers and help your community by becoming a Minnesota
Water Steward. The Lower Mississippi River Water Management Organization would
like to sponsor two participants this year; learn more and apply at
minnesotawaterstewards.org.
Keep leaves and other debris from polluting waters; sign up to Adopt-a-Drain today.
Fall is the perfect time for buckthorn removal. Learn how to identify and remove this
invasive from your property.
The City of Mendota Heights is developing a Natural Resources Management Plan to
manage invasive plant species and restore healthy native plant communities.
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 11/27/20 - 12/3/20 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/.
Stay in touch through Nextdoor
As a way to reach more of the community and specific neighborhoods, in addition to their
popular Facebook page MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include
Nextdoor. Nextdoor accounts are verified based on your address, and the platform is
already used by 40% of the households in Mendota Heights. Learn more and sign up
at nextdoor.com.
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
Get ready for a fun and free weekly competition
against West Saint Paul's Parks & Recreation
Kicking off this week is the Mendota Heights vs. West Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Quarantine Cup! Each week Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation will post to their
Facebook page a fun activity for households to do. After completing the activity, simply
comment on the post and our city will earn a point. As you participate in activities, please
remember to follow all COVID safety guidelines.
Week 1: Post-Turkey Burn!
Get out to one of our amazing parks and burn some Thanksgiving calories! Anything that
gets you moving counts. Go for a walk, jog, throw a frisbee, play on a playground or
anything else that sounds fun. Comment on Park & Rec's Facebook page by Monday,
December 7, for your point to count.
Winter seasonal positions
If you enjoy the outdoors and would like to earn part-time income, the City is currently
accepting applications for the following positions:
Ice skating instructor
Rink flooders
Learn more and apply at mendota-heights.com/employment.
Winter recreation programs
See what's coming up for winter fun and register for open programs
at secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. Please note that programs may
change at any time in response to public health guidance and regulations.
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 watch City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks & Recreation
Commission meetings live on Cable Channel 18 or online
at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay). Select Airport Relations
Commission meetings are broadcast on Cable Channel 19. Occasionally broadcasted
channels may change; check Town Square Television's listings for updates.
City Council Work Session | Dec. 8, 3:15 p.m.
Parks & Rec Commission | Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.
City Council Work Session | Dec. 14, 5:00 p.m
City Council | Dec. 15, 6:00 p.m.
Planning Commission | Dec 17, 7:00 p.m.
City Business Hours
City Hall: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Friday 7-11:30 a.m.
Police Department: 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
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