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Friday News 1/15/21
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 01/15/2021 02:16 PM CST
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FRIDAY NEWS | January 15, 2021
THE LATEST - New City Council Convenes
Mayor Levine is sworn in by City Administrator Mark McNeill at the January 12, 2021 City Council meeting. Pictured
below Councilor Jay Miller was sworn in over virtual attendance, and Councilor Joel Paper (far bottom) was also sworn
in.
Welcome Mayor Levine
and reelected council
members
At its meeting on January 12, 2021, newly
elected Mayor Stephanie Levine took her
Oath of Office to serve a two-year term.
Reelected City Council members Jay
Miller and Joel Paper also took their
Oaths of Office to serve four-year terms.
Both councilors are serving a second term
in their respective seats.
Congratulations to all!
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COVID-19 vaccine information
The state has rolled out a new vaccine data dashboard, and information is also available to
learn about the distribution process and phase schedule. You can also access vaccine
information and answers to questions on the Minnesota Department of Health's vaccination
webpage.
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/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp for more information.
Learn more about the COVIDaware MN app
You can help protect your community and add your phone to the fight against COVID-19
today! It’s free. It’s anonymous. It helps slow the spread of the coronavirus in our
communities. Visit covidawaremn.com for more information.
Update on filling City commission vacancies
A total of 19 Mendota Heights residents submitted applications for consideration for the
single Parks and Recreation Commission, and two Planning Commission vacancies. At its
meeting on January 12, due to the high number of interested applicants, the City Council
decided to narrow the list of candidates to their top five for the Planning Commission and
their top four for the Parks and Recreation Commission. The City Council will be updated on
the finalists on January 19, and finalists will be interviewed virtually on Wednesday, January
27, beginning at 5 p.m. Formal appointments will be made at the February 2 City Council
meeting.
Rogers Lake aeration underway
Stay clear of the marked area
The City of Mendota Heights has obtained a permit from the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources in order to install and operate an aerator on Rogers Lake during the
winter months. The purpose of the aerator is to maintain healthy oxygen levels for water
quality, as well as prevent winterkill of fish and other aquatic life. If using Rogers Lake
during aeration operation, please exercise caution and remember ice is never 100 percent
safe. Heed posted warning signs and stay well away from open water that may be created
by the aerator. Always drill test holes periodically as you move across ice to gauge
thickness. Operation of snowmobiles within city limits is prohibited. If you have any
questions contact City Hall at 651-452-1850.
Public meeting announcements
Planning Commission Meeting Cancelled
The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 26 has been cancelled
due to lack of agenda items. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, February 23 at 7
p.m.
City Council Work Session | January 27, 5:00 p.m.
The City Council will be interviewing finalists virtually beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday,
January 27, for the open City commission vacancies.
City Council Work Session | February 9, 3:15 p.m.
There will be a City Council work session on Tuesday, February 9, at 3:15 p.m. to be held at
City Hall and virtually. The City Council will be discussing priorities and setting goals moving
forward for the next two years.
Recent highlights
The Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking a student representative; high
school sophomores or juniors encouraged to apply by February 1.
RECYCLING
Did you know?
Shreds of paper cannot make it through the recycling
process and end up causing a headache for recycling
facilities. Instead, save your documents or already-
shredded paper for one of our city-wide paper shred
events. Otherwise, bring shredded paper in a paper bag
to The Recycling Zone, or place in the trash. Shredded
paper isn’t advised to be composted due to plastic window envelopes and metal staples.
Recycling tips for bathroom items
You have mastered recycling in your kitchen, now let’s move on to the bathroom. Toiletries
come wrapped in plastic and cardboard, which can all be recycled. Below is a list of items
that can be recycled, although not all can be directly placed in your home recycling cart.
Plastic Bottles
Shampoo and conditioner
Body wash
Hand soap (discard pump)
Contact lens solution
Lotion
Empty pill and medicine
Nail polish remover
Rubbing alcohol and peroxide
Cardboard and Boxes
Razor refill
Tissue
Toothpaste
Soap
Toilet paper rolls
Aerosol cans – take to The Recycling Zone
Air freshener
Spray deodorants
Hair spray
Shaving cream
Spray sunscreens
Plastic Film – take to grocery store
Shrink wrap on toilet paper and tissue packs
Cotton ball bags
Ends January 31
Thanks for keeping these tanglers out of the
trash and recycling carts!
As you begin taking lights down for the holidays swing
by City Hall during business hours and drop any
broken or unwanted lights 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.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Smart salting for our waters
Salt and other deicers can pollute our surface waters, including
lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. It can also pollute our
drinking water supply if it is able to reach our groundwater.
When applying salt at home
Do not use more salt than needed.
If it is below 15 degrees, don’t use salt -- it is ineffective at
these temperatures. Use sand for traction.
Use an item to help measure the salt. One 12-ounce cup is
enough to cover ten sidewalk squares or a ten-foot driveway. A limited supply of
salt-measuring cups are available at City Hall for free! Pick one up the next time
you are in.
Use only the amount of salt and deicers needed, and sweep up excess salt to use
again.
For additional tips on salt reduction and pollution-free winter maintenance, visit
MPCAs website.
How the City applies salt on streets
In an effort to further reduce surface water pollution, all Public Works staff have taken
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency training focused on reducing the amount of salt put
down on the city’s road system during snow removal and deicing operations. This winter,
Public Works plans to continue measures to support salt reduction and elimination while
maintaining safe and timely-cleared roadways by:
Plowing earlier and more often during a snow event to try to mechanically remove
as much snow from the road surface as possible.
Reserving salt use for hills, intersections, and curves with limited use on most
straight sections of roads.
Evaluating the use of salt brine (liquid deicing) in the future to further reduce salt
use and costs associated with deicing of the roads.
Periodic quarantines for COVID 19 this year may mean that the plow operator who normally
clears the route where you live might not always be available; the substitute driver may do
some things differently. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all navigate
this winter!
Lexington-Marie and Sutton stormwater pond
maintenance
The City has hired a contractor to maintain two of its stormwater ponds in conjunction with
the Marie Avenue Road Improvements Project. These stormwater ponds are located at the
intersection of Lexington Avenue and Marie Avenue, and Sutton Lane and Marie Avenue.
This work is a requirement of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, under the City’s
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit. The MS4 general permit is
designed to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering our surface waters
via stormwater drainage systems. The work will include removing sediment that has
accumulated in order to restore the stormwater basins to their original functioning capacity.
Sediment and other pollutants enter stormwater ponds through storm drains located along
the curb in the street, and sometimes within open areas. Keeping sediment and other
pollutants out of streets, and those areas that drain to the street and storm drains, increases
the life of our stormwater ponds and saves on the cost of maintenance. It also improves the
water quality of our stormwater ponds and other surface waters; benefiting aquatic life and
improving the water quality in our lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. Improved surface
water quality also means less algae and less foul smells for those that live near, or use our
ponds, lakes, rivers and other surface waters.
Simple things you can do to help:
Keep leaves, grass, sediment, deicers/salt, and other pollutants off of hard surfaces
including streets, sidewalks, and driveways
Clean up after your pet
Sign up for Adopt-a-Drain
City of Mendota Heights Natural Resources
Management Plan update
Public hearing and presentation February 2, 2021
The City of Mendota Heights is currently updating its Natural Resources Management Plan
(NRMP). The plan will serve as a tool to help guide the City in creating decisions and
actions to conserve and manage its natural resources into the future. The public hearing
and presentation on the draft of the Natural, Resources Management Plan will be at the City
Council meeting on February 2, 2021, which begins at 6 p.m. The council will be asked to
authorize a "Notice to Proceed" for the remaining Phase 2 of the NRMP. Watch for a copy of
the NRMP draft to be posted for review on the City’s website prior to the City Council
meeting. Learn more about the plan.
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 1/8/21 - 1/14/21 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
Athletic field and facility permit use requests
Due February 1 for use March through July 2021
Permit requests to use City athletic fields and facilities from March through July 2021 are
due Monday, February 1. Reservations received after the deadline will be handled on a first-
come, first-serve basis. More information and application forms are available at mendota-
heights.com/parksrecreation.
Outdoor ice rinks are open
Thanks to the hard-working efforts of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, rinks are
open for the season! In response to public health guidance and regulations warming houses
are not currently open.
Stay safe before heading to the rinks:
Call the ice rink/warming house hotline at 651-255-1174 for conditions and updates
Dress for the weather, bring proper gear, and plan your time outdoors according to
temperature and weather
Use a vehicle to warm up in if possible
The City has three hockey and three pleasure rinks located at:
Friendly Hills Park | 2360 Pueblo Lane
Marie Park | 1780 Lilac Lane
Wentworth Park | 739 Wentworth Ave
Rink lights are on automatic timers from dusk until 9 p.m. Let's get skating!
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
City Hall will be closed Monday, January 18 in observance of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day
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, online
at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay), or through dial-in when offered.
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 | January 19, 6:00 p.m.
Airport Relations Commission | January 20, 6:00 p.m.
This meeting will be held virtually with public attendance through dial-in:
1-312-535-8110, Access Code 177 598 8660 ##
Planning Commission | January 26 - CANCELLED
City Council Work Session | January 27, 5:00 p.m.
City Council | February 2, 6:00 p.m.
City Council Work Session | February 9, 3:15 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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