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2014 MH State of the CityMendota Heights State of the City Address 2014 Mayor Sandra Krebsbach February 6, 2014 2014 State of City Address Mendota Heights delivers competent and courteous service in a friendly, stable environment. 2014 State of City Address Strong Fundamentals •Dedicated City Council & Commissions •Solid Tax Base •Capital Assets •Quality Housing & Commercial property •Public Safety •City Staff •Public Works •Quality of life About Mendota Heights •Population: 11,168 •Housing Units: 4,620 •Home Ownership Rate: 90% •Number of business: 1,596 •Median Housing Value: $301,750 –Highest median home value in Dakota County –3.8% increase from 2013 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 •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 City Council –Sandra Krebsbach, Mayor –Ultan Duggan, Council Member –Liz Petschel, Council Member –Mike Povolny, Council Member –Steve Norton, Council Member 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, Pat Hinderscheid, Ira Kipp, Joel Paper and Jack Evans. •Planning Commission: –Chair Litton Field, Jr., Commissioners Doug Hennes, Ansis Viksnins, Mary Magnusson, Michael Noonan, Howard Roston and Robin Hennessy City Staff Management Team Justin Miller, City Administrator Kristen Schabacker, Finance Director John Mazzitello, Public Works Director Mike Aschenbrener, Chief of Police John Maczko, Fire Chief Sue Donovan, IT Manager Tamara Schutta, Assistant to City Administrator Lorri Smith, City Clerk Nolan Wall, Planner City Staff •Administration: –17 full time employees •Public Works: –10 full time employees •Police: –17 licensed officers –1 full time & 2 part time support staff –5 volunteer reserves –10 volunteer chaplains •Fire: –35 volunteer firefighters 2013 Spring Clean Up Crew Council & Fire Fighters pictured with new fire truck City Staff Welcomed •New city attorney Tom Lehmann, Eckberg Lammers, P.L.L.P. •New staff members –Trista Miller, PT Police Support Specialist –Nolan Wall, Planner –Sloan Wallgren, Recreation Program Coordinator •Planning Consultant Tina Goodroad (Stantec Consulting Services) •Mike Andrejka, Contracted Building Official Thank you to •Paul Berg State of City Staff “The quality of a community reflects the dedication and commitment of those who serve it.” Fourteen staff members were recognized for a combined total of 195 years of service to the community. 2013 Highlights Public Safety –Social Host Ordinance and Tobacco Code Update –New Fire Engine Delivered End of 2013 Engine 11 2013 Highlights Public Works –71 miles of streets to plow, 28 miles of trails. –19 snow events in 2013; 7 snow emergencies –398.27 tons of pavement repairs –127 miles of streets swept –16.4 miles of sanitary sewer cleaned –16 water/force main breaks 2013 Highlights Police Department •7508 Calls for service •1542 Citations issued •1218 Warnings issued •1053 Police Reports •Average response time for calls is 5.25 minutes •Community Involvement –Citizen’s Academy, Crime Prevention Neighborhood meetings, Night to Unite, Special Olympics & Toys for Tots. 2013 Night to Unite 2013 Highlights Fire Department •243 fire calls •365 fire inspections •3 residential/2 commercial fires •Average response time for calls is 7 minutes •Community Involvement –Fire Prevention Week & Open House, school visits during Fire Prevention Week & Night to Unite. Fire Demonstration 2013 Highlights •Updated Garage Code •Continued street improvement program •Updated Mendakota Park playground 2013 Highlights •Temporary ordinance to allow small motorized boats on Rogers Lake •Horse grazing trial period at Historic Pilot Knob Rogers Lake Horse grazing at Pilot Knob Taxable Market Value Residential $1,301,020,535 Commercial $247,337,000 Industrial $63,449,100 Utility $11,445,800 Apartments $16,589,400 Other $21,776,800 Agricultural $317,700 Residential Commercial Industrial Utility Apartments Other Agricultural Market Value Taxable Market Value – 2014 Residential $ 1,301,020,535 Commercial $ 247,337,000 Industrial $ 63,449,100 Utility $ 11,445,800 Apartments $ 16,589,400 Other $ 21,776,800 Agricultural $ 317,700 Total $ 1,661,936,335 (an increase of 3.26% from 2013) Preliminary 2014 City Budget •2014 Budget Process Guarantees Quality Essential Services •Tax rate remains the lowest among Dakota County Cities City Budget •2013 Total Levy = $6,416,559 •2014 Total Levy = $6,603,749 •An increase of 2.92% 2014 City Revenues General Fund 2014 City Revenues General Fund City Revenues - 2014 Property Tax Levy $ 5,454,959 Charges for Services $ 451,956 Intergovernmental $ 372,070 Licenses/Permits $ 213,600 Miscellaneous $ 149,500 Fines/Forfeits $ 74,500 Total $ 6,716,585 AAA Bond Rating 2014 AAA Bond Rating •AAA bond rating issued by Standard and Poor Rating Services •Approximately 50 cities nationwide with populations under 12,000 have a AAA rating •S & P noted: –Very strong budget flexibility with available reserves –Strong budgetary performance –Strong management conditions –Very strong liquidity with strong cash levels to cover expenditures Reflection of years of disciplined financial decisions Building Activity •1526 Building Permits issued in 2013 •Valuation of all permits $23,931,128 •Building permit revenue: $334,003 Investing in Mendota Heights •Approved 72,000 square foot office/flex industrial building – to be built by Scannell Properties of Indiana •Visitation School Heart and Mind Project •Haiku Japanese Bistro, Mendota Plaza •Apricot Lane Boutique , The Village of Mendota Heights Haiku Japanese Bistro Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Recreation •Recreation Opportunities for Youth –Summer Playgrounds –Puppet Wagon at the Village –Tennis –Golf –Fishing Derby –Skating Lessons •Community Events for All –Parks Celebration –Music in the Parks –5K Run/Walk – 463 participants, raised $8,000 for Special Olympics –Seasonal events at The Village at Mendota Heights and Mendota Plaza Skating Lessons at Friendly Hills Recreation Traditional Halloween Bonfire Mendota Heights 5K Walk/Run Annual Parks Celebration Mendota Heights Par 3 •Wide array of programs for youth and adults •Family friendly •9550 rounds played in 2013 (an increase of 5% from 2012) •Revenues covered operating expenses Mendota Heights Par 3 •Cross Country Skiing added in December Public Infrastructure •Major 2013 Projects –Hunter/Victoria Reconstruction –Crown Point/Overlook Neighborhood Rehabilitations –Highway 110 and Dodd Road Intersection Improvements –Lexington Avenue Trail Rehabilitation 2014 Infrastructure Projects -North Victoria Reconstruction -Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation -Trail Rehabilitation (cost split with County) -Wentworth between Wachtler and Dodd -Pilot Knob between Mendota Heights Road and Highway 13 Communication •Enhanced Communication for Businesses and Residents –Heights Highlights (quarterly) –Facebook (140 Likes) –Twitter (98 followers) –Online documents •City council minutes as far back as 1950s available on website •Re-Evaluation of sign code •Begin discussions on water system contract renewal with St. Paul Regional Water Services •Participate in NDC4 cable franchise renewal with Comcast •Construct off-leash dog park •Monitor increasing storm water regulations 2014 City Council Goals Commercial/Industrial Triangle Assets and Opportunities •Mix of office and industrial uses •Access to both downtowns and 10 minutes from the Mall of America, largest mall in North America. •6 minutes from the International Airport. •Productivity gain for businesses that rely on air travel for clients & employees •Limited land still available Commercial/Industrial Triangle •Existing building revitalized •White Pine Senior Living open for business •Multiple lots: retail, office and daycare available Mendota Plaza •Market Square Park is home to several community events •Destination Shopping •Stable occupancy for retail and office •One lot still available Village at Mendota Heights 2011: Securing the Future 2012: Moving on Opportunities 2013: Moving Mendota Heights Forward while Maintaining Low Taxes 2014 Communicating Mendota Heights assets and opportunities as we move forward without losing our essential character.