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2013 MH State of the CityMendota Heights State of the City Address 2013 Mayor Sandra Krebsbach February 27, 2013 About Mendota Heights •Population: 11,168 •Housing Units: 4,620 •Home Ownership Rate: 90% •Number of business: 1,596 •Median Housing Value: $357,300 –Mendota Heights homes currently listed for sale range from $7.9 Million to $79,000 About Mendota Heights •Well educated community: –57% of residents have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) –Compares to 32% for the state •Median household income: –$97,560 for Mendota Heights residents –$58,476 for the state –Source US Census Quick Facts Highlights 2012 City Council – a Great Team A Vibrant Business Community Varied Housing Options •Strong Civic Engagement –8,429 registered voters at 7:00 a.m. on election day –8,129 total ballots counted –96% of registered voters •Mendota Heights City Council: –Sandra Krebsbach, Mayor –Ultan Duggan, Council Member –Liz Petschel, Council Member –Mike Povolny, Council Member –Steve Norton elected to City Council –Jack Vitelli retires from Council Redistricting •Changes to our Legislative Districts: –U.S. Representative John Kline now represents our community in Congressional District 2 –State Representative Atkins represents House District: 52B –State Representative Rick Hansen represents House District: 52A –State Senator James Metzen represents Senate District: 52 2012 Highlights •Commercial Property Maintenance Code –Basic standards for commercial property maintenance •Brisk Building Activity –Over $35 million in project valuation –Decrease in residential projects –Significant increase in commercial/industrial projects •St. Thomas Academy Fieldhouse - $10.6M •White Pine Senior Living - $4.8M •Renovations at former Brown College Building $.9M •Convent of the Visitation “Heart and Mind” expansion – $1M 2012 Highlights •Civic Center Ball Field Renamed –Mertensotto Field at Civic Center in honor of Mayor Chuck Mertensotto •Spring Clean Up Partnership –Partnership with Dakota County for 2012 Clean up •Over 30 tons of waste accepted •All materials diverted from landfills •Over 500 private vehicles/trailers Dedication of Mertensotto Field Advisory Commissions •Airport Relations Commission: –Chair David Sloan, Commissioners William Dunn, Sally Lorberbaum, Gina Norling, Kevin Byrnes, Jim Neuharth and Paul Portz •Parks and Recreation Commission: –Chair Stephanie Levine, Commissioners Michael Toth, David Miller, Mary McGrory-Ussett, Pat Hinderscheid, Ira Kipp and Joel Paper •Planning Commission: –Chair Litton Field, Jr., Commissioners Doug Hennes, Ansis Viksnins, Mary Magnusson, Michael Noonan, Howard Roston and Robin Hennessy 2012 Highlights •Public Safety Professionals –Police, Fire and Public Works Departments maintain a safe and secure community •June 19 Wind Storm –Large scale event, impacting entire community –Staff and citizens worked together to restore community –Presidentially declared disaster –Over $100K reimbursed by FEMA –Public works staff spent an entire month clearing brush and debris Taxable Market Value Residential $1,249,416,700 Commercial $247,673,100 Industrial $63,405,500 Utility $11,445,800 Apartments $1,540,000 Other $21,801,600 Agricultural $323,700 Residential Commercial Industrial Utility Apartments Other Agricultural Market Value Taxable Market Value – 2013 Residential $ 1,249,416,700 Commercial $ 247,673,100 Industrial $ 63,405,500 Utility $ 11,445,800 Apartments $ 1,540,000 Other $ 21,801,600 Agricultural $ 323,700 Fiscal Disparities •Program designed to equalize tax base among metropolitan cities •Cities with growth in commercial/industrial tax base contribute more than other cities •Mendota Heights is one of the largest “net contributors” per capita •Amount of tax base lost to fiscal disparities pool: 2012 $1,007,532 2010 $940,369 2008 $649,664 2006 $598,041 City Budget •2013 Budget Process Preserves Essential Functions •Tax rate remains one of the lowest among Dakota County Cities •Mendota Heights “Lives within its means” 2013 City Revenues City Budget •2012 Total Levy = $6,170,072 •2013 Total Levy = $6,416,559 •An increase of 3.99% Bond Rating •Aa1 bond rating reaffirmed by Moody’s Investor Services •Second highest rating available, among top 15% of cities nationwide •Moody’s noted: –Consistently strong general fund reserve levels –Favorable location in Twin Cities –Stable operations among the county’s largest employers and taxpayers –Below average debt burden •Conduit debt used by St. Thomas Academy for construction of field house –No liability to City –Allows STA to access better rates City Staff •Administration: –27 full time employees •Public Works: –9 full time employees •Police: –18 licensed officers –3 part time support staff –6 volunteer reserves –7 volunteer chaplains •Fire: –35 volunteer firefighters Building Activity •1531 Building Permits issued in 2012 –3% increase in total number of permits issued in 2011 •Valuation of all permits $35,376,387 –92% increase in total project valuation over 2011 •Building permit revenue: $567,187 Recreation •Recreation Opportunities for Youth –Summer Playgrounds –Puppet Wagon at the Village –Tennis –Golf –Fishing Derby •Community Events for All –Parks Celebration –Music in the Parks –5K Run/Walk – 421 participants, raised $7,200 for Special Olympics –Seasonal events at The Village at Mendota Heights and Mendota Plaza Traditional Halloween Bonfire Mendota Heights 5K Walk/Run Annual Parks Celebration Par 3 •Wide array of programs for youth and adults •Family friendly •Walk-up rounds stabilized for 2012 •Improved focus on growing the business in 2013. Public Infrastructure •City-Led Projects in 2012: –Lemay Lake Road Neighborhood Reconstruction (City) –Mendota Heights Road Rehabilitation (City) –Diane Road Neighborhood Rehabilitation (City) –Marie Avenue (Delaware to Dodd) Rehabilitation and water main replacement (City) •State-Led Projects in 2012: –Highway 110 Resurfacing and Bridge Repairs –Highway 13 Rehabilitation 2013 Infrastructure Projects: •Hunter Lane/Orchard Place Neighborhood Reconstruction and Rehabilitation •Crown Point Neighborhood Rehabilitation •Overlook Road Neighborhood Rehabilitation •Highway 110 and Dodd Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements (Met Council Grant) •Lexington Avenue Trail Rehabilitation (Highway 110 to Douglas Road) •Highway 13 Trail Construction (Lilydale Road to Riverside Lane) Administration •Enhanced Communication for Businesses and Residents –Facebook –Twitter –Online documents –Email distribution list 50 Years of Service •Three high schools: •Henry Sibley •Convent of the Visitation •St. Thomas Academy •Three elementary schools: •Mendota •Somerset •Convent of the Visitation •Three middle schools: •Friendly Hills Middle School •St. Thomas Academy Middle School •Visitation Middle School •Higher Education •Le Cordon Bleu •Brown College Great Education •Re-Evaluation of Garage Door Code •Modernization of Sign Code •Focus on economic development opportunities –Industrial Park –Mendota Plaza –Village at Mendota Heights •Formalize RFP process for Professional Service Consultants •Streamline Application/Permitting Processes •Update tobacco code to regulate new products 2013 City Council Goals •Healthy mix of office and industrial uses •Proximity to both downtowns and 494 strip •Limited land available Commercial/Industrial Zone •Existing building revitalized •White Pine Senior Living opening soon •Multiple lots: retail, office and daycare available Mendota Plaza •Market Square Park is home to several community events •Stable occupancy for retail and office •One lot still available Village at Mendota Heights 2012: Securing the Future 2013: Moving Mendota Heights Forward While Maintaining Low Taxes