2021-11-05 Friday News11/5/21, 4:18 PM Friday News 11/5/2021
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Friday News 11/5/2021
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FRIDAY NEWS | November 5, 2021
THE LATEST
Turn those spooky creations into spectacular
compost this weekend!
November 6 & 7
Toss your seasonal pumpkins and carved jack-o'-lanterns into the outdoor dumpster at City
Hall's parking lot for free, to be turned into compost. Please note that painted pumpkins,
candles, or those with wax are not accepted. Thank you for keeping our city clean and
green! For additional drop-off locations, visit Dakota County's Recycling Guide.
Council approves Phase II of The Reserves at
Mendota Plaza
After a lengthy meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, November 3, the council
approved moving forward with Phase II of The Reserves. Phase II includes a three story,
74,400-sq. ft. apartment building, with 58-living units, and a smaller fourth floor of 3,250-sq.
ft. which will feature indoor pickleball and bocce ball courts; wine bar, patio with fire pit,
fitness area and common lounge space.
In response to public concerns about traffic in the area, the City Council directed city staff to
develop a task force to assess the traffic on Highway 62 and Dodd Road, and to develop
proposed solutions that would address the ongoing traffic issues present at that intersection
and the surrounding areas.
Phase III had also been on the agenda, however was tabled by the council to the November
16, 2021 regular meeting. Phase III is proposed as an 89-unit apartment building located on
the parcel behind the main mall building and across from Gemini Medical.
View a replay of this agenda item at the Nov 3, 2021 City Council meeting
Link to the Nov 3, 2021 City Council Agenda Packet
Winter Parking Restrictions are in effect
Overnight parking is prohibited on any public street, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., between
November 1 and March 31. Additionally, as snow season approaches a reminder that
parking is prohibited during any snowfall of two inches or more, until the street is plowed
curb-to-curb. Please remind young drivers and any overnight guests and avoid a citation.
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Public meeting announcements
The Planning Commission is holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
November 10, at City Hall to discuss Planning Case No. 2021-18 for a wetlands permit, and
their 2022 calendar year meeting schedule.
A City Council work session is scheduled for Monday, November 15, at 6 p.m. to be held at
City Hall. This session is anticipated to include the annual Parks and Recreation Field and
Facility Use Policy review, discussion of a first draft of the Parks and Recreation Strategic
Plan, and discussion of special event requests for the parks system.
Kickoff begins next week!
November 10 - December 10
Get ready to make the holidays merry and bright for local teens, tweens, and families in
need. The Mendota Heights Police Department is collecting unwrapped gifts for youth, ages
ten to eighteen, to benefit A Place of Hope. Items donated provide a holiday shopping
experience for families in Dakota and Washington Counties in need. Gift bundles of $30 to
$40, and $5 stocking stuffers are preferred. Cash donations are also accepted.
With grocery prices on the rise, shelf-stable food, toiletries, and gift cards to local grocery
stores are also being collected to benefit Neighbors, Inc. throughout the holiday season.
Drop off donations in the collection bins at MHPD and City Hall during business hours
Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 11:30 a.m. on Fridays, please deliver
gifts via the MHPD lobby entrance located on the north side of City Hall; park in the north
parking lot off of Lexington Ave S.
View the Holiday Gift and Food Drive flier for additional gift ideas and details.
Attend an open house for the Regional
Roadway System Visioning Study Update
Dakota County is hosting an open house to kick-off the Regional Roadway System
Visioning Study (RRSVS) Update. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about
the RRSVS Update study, share their transportation concerns and needs in the study area,
and ask project staff questions about the study. The open house will be held on Tuesday,
November 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Friendly Hills Middle School Gym.
For those unable to attend, all open house materials will also be available on the project
website at dakotacounty.us, search Roadway Vision Update. Questions and comments
can be submitted to the project team through an online comment form. The open house
materials will be available for comments November 4-24.
Learn More | Dakota County RRSVS Open House Flier
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COVID-19 information
Kids:
Children age 5-11 years old are now eligible to get vaccinated. Minnesotans can use
the Find Vaccine Locations map to find providers offering Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year
olds.
Minnesota has launched ‘Kids Deserve a Shot,’ a vaccine incentives program
rewarding Minnesotans 12-17 years old for completing their COVID-19 vaccine
series.
Vaccination locations:
Walk-ins for Minnesotans are available at any state community vaccination sites.
Booster shots:
Providers can now offer booster shots to Minnesotans who are eligible, and who
previously received any of the three authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines
(Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson). Learn more.
COVID-19 testing:
The Minnesota Department of Health continues to host both saliva and nasal swab
testing events throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance is not required.
Recent highlights:
The City of Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation is accepting applications for
seasonal Warming House/Rink Attendants. You must be 16 years or older to apply.
Yard waste – branches, leaves and grass clippings – are not allowed in your trash;
find a yard waste collection site.
Join close to 16% of Mendota Heights households that are participating in the Dakota
County organics drop-off program; learn more and sign up today!
Small businesses can register for a free virtual Business Law Group Q&A Session
hosted by the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers and Open to
Business, in partnership with the University of MN Law School. The event will be held
on November 17 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Register and send your questions in advance
by emailing events@mccdmn.org.
RECYCLING
Reducing waste through reuse
Our first free “reuse” themed class was a smashing success last night with 33 total
participants learning about decluttering and donation! At least 11 attendees were from
Mendota Heights. Attendees were able to engage with Decluttering Coach Shari Hansen,
and Recycling Coordinator Cassandra Johnson, and left with useful information on
donation, reuse and recycling.
Registration is open for the next “reuse” themed class taking place November 8 at Mendota
Heights City Hall. Participants will learn all about food and leftovers, with a Thanksgiving
theme. We hope to see you there!
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Upcoming events
Pumpkin Recycling (Free)
Nov 6 & 7 | Mendota Heights City Hall Parking Lot
Food & Leftovers Repurposing Class (Free)
Nov 8 | Mendota Heights City Hall, 6-8pm
Basic Sewing Skills Class (Free)
Nov 18 | Mendota Heights City Hall, 7-8:30pm
Dakota County: Tour a Recycling Center
Celebrate America Recycles Day by seeing what happens to your recycling! Join the free
virtual tour of a recycling sorting facility.
Nov 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Register
Dakota County Fix-It Clinic
Nov 20 | Heritage Library, Lakeville
NATURAL RESOURCES
Eagle Scout buckthorn removal and restoration
project
Last Sunday, Will Kloos completed his Eagle Scout project by removing a large stand of
buckthorn within Valley Park, just west of the tennis courts. Will, a member of troop #248,
along with 10 volunteers, cut and removed approximately 5,000 square feet of buckthorn, a
woody invasive understory tree that shades out and competes with native vegetation. The
volunteers then spread a native seed mix that will help revegetate and restore the native
ground cover, as well as prevent erosion. BSA Troop #248 is chartered by St. Stephens
Lutheran Church in West St. Paul.
Photo courtesy of the MN Department of Natural Resources
Weed of the month
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
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Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a non-native invasive, cool season grass,
with large flat blades and densely clustered single seed heads that look similar to Karl
Foerster grass (non-invasive cultivar). Reed Canary Grass grows from four feet to six feet
tall. This time of year is a good time to identify this cool season invasive grass because it is
still green and active, while many other native species have gone dormant. This invasive
spreads rapidly by an expanding rhizomatous root system, as well as producing large
amounts of seed while able to withstand intensive mowing and grazing. It is native to
Eurasia, and was planted extensively in the U.S. since the 1800s as a grazing vegetation
that could grow well in wet areas. Reed Canary Grass grows most commonly in wetlands
and along stream and lake shores, quickly outcompeting native vegetation.
Control methods for Reed Canary Grass:
Hand-digging of small populations.
Herbicide application. This is best done in early spring or late fall when other native
vegetation is dormant. Wicking (applying chemical directly to the plant by painting or
sponging onto the plant) is a safer method than applying herbicide via spray, as this
can drift into water bodies. A certified applicator’s license is required, as well as
approval from the MN Department of Natural Resources when applying
herbicide in or near a water body.
For more information: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or contact Krista
Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician at 651-255-1123 or by email
KSpreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
Lawns to Legumes program grants now available
The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources is offering cost-share grant programs for
installing pollinator-friendly native plantings:
Individual Support Grants are available to Minnesota residents for funding up to $300 to
create pollinator habitat on their property. Applications are due February 15, 2022.
Neighborhood Demonstration Grants are available to conservation districts, watershed
districts, watershed management organizations, cities, counties, tribes, and
nongovernmental nonprofit organizations for neighborhood projects that incorporate native
planting, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, and pollinator lawns and meadows. Please
contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician, if your neighborhood is interested in
participating in this program.
Krista Spreiter, CWD Natural Resources Technician City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Email: KSpreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov Office: 651-255-1123
For more information: bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l
Recent highlights
The Minnesota Water Steward program is accepting applications for its 2022
Program Year; training begins in January and runs through the spring. Learn more
and register to attend a virtual information session.
Several diseased ash trees, as well as some diseased and invasive, non-native trees
will be removed from the Par 3 Community Golf Course this fall, and replaced by 14
trees of diverse varieties.
What can I do to rid my pond or lake of green algae?
FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS
It's time to change the batteries
As Daylight Saving Time ends, an important safety reminder to
change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 10/29/21 - 11/4/21 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
The MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include Nextdoor. 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 mendotaheightsmn.gov/police.
Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to
pdrecords@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
PARKS & RECREATION
Get out and golf this weekend!
The Par 3 Community Golf Course is still open for golf and footgolf. Enjoy the weekend
weather and special fall rates of $10 per golf round and $7 per footgolf round until the
course closes for the season. Call 651-454-9822 to schedule a tee time.
Calling all superheroes!
Sunday, Nov 14 | 2-4pm
** Registration closes Nov 7 **
Action, adventure and fun awaits! Come dressed as your favorite superhero and enjoy
crafts, games, and activities, a dance party, and refreshments. Register early – space is
limited. An adult must be present during the event; for ages 12 and under.
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Cost: $15 per participant (resident)
Location: Dakota Lodge, West St. Paul
REGISTER
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
City Hall and Public Works will be closed on Thursday, November 11, in recognition
of Veterans Day.
Public Meetings
Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website
mendotaheightsmn.gov/calendar. Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise
noted. Meeting attendees should adhere to the posted City Hall safety guidelines.
Watch regular meetings online at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay)
or on cable television:
City Council: Channel 18/798 HD Planning Commission: Channel 18/798 HD Parks and Recreation Commission: Channel 15/859 HD Airport Relations Commission (select meetings are broadcast): Channel 15/859 HD
Occasionally broadcasted channels may change; check Town Square Television's listings
for updates.
Upcoming Schedule
Parks & Recreation Commission | Nov 9, 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Special Meeting | Nov 10, 6:30 p.m.
City Council Work Session | Nov 15, 6:00 p.m.
City Council | Nov 16, 6:00 p.m.
Airport Relations Commission | Nov 17, 6:00 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.
Public Works Building: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 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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