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2004-05-14 Friday NewsThe Friday News -- --- May 14, 2004 Dakota County Meeting Sue McDermott and I met with Dakota County Officials this week to discuss the County's CIP status. Among the issues that we discussed were the Delaware/TH110 signal light project to add left turn lanes. The County informed us that the project had been held up pending some Right -of -Way acquisition and the design required for a modification made by MnDot at the last minute to extend their WB left turn lane on THI 10. The County still feels that the project will be able to be completed this year but it will not be started until late in the summer or fall. They said this type of project should only take about one month to construct once it is started. Most of you have probably noticed the construction along THI 10 between Mendota Road and Charlton. That is the beginning of the North Urban Regional Trail (HURT). The County informed us that the NURT that will extend from Charlton through to Dodd Road is currently being designed, but probably will not be constructed this summer. The segment through Mendota Heights will be a difficult segment to construct. Mendota Heights had asked that the trail through Mendota Heights be constructed to be between the frontage road and TH 110 — early designers thought that it would be too narrow and not possible to put the trail there, but we were informed Tuesday that the designers were still working to try and build it there. (There are issues with snow storage and drainage). We told them to be sure and inform us early of the design so that we could inform our affected residents. Finally the County informed us that they are overlaying Delaware Avenue beginning at THI 10 and going south into IGH this summer. The overlay will include paving any existing gravel shoulders. City Hall On Wednesday, a member of the Mendota Heights Garden Club (Lou), installed new plants around the entrance sign in front of City Hall. At various times members of the club clean out old plants, amend the soil, plant and maintain a variety of seasonal flowering plants that provide a colorful display welcoming visitors to the City Offices. Lou reports that the club's plant sale, held last Saturday, was a great success. Tree Trimming We were informed by Wright Tree Service this week that they were preparing to trim trees and branches from around Xcel's power lines located on Victoria Road. There are a few large trees along this stretch that are scheduled to be removed, and the landowner at Kay Avenue and Victoria has requested them to remove all the trees near the power lines adjacent to his yard. The work is scheduled to be completed in a couple weeks. I remember twelve years ago when this line was last trimmed and the problems that occurred — particularly from our residents, so did the tree trimmers— hopefully things will go smoother this time (they informed us that he has been contacted and that lie did not object). Respectfully Submitted, James Danielson City Administrator Attachments. Pipeline, Just the Facts, City Council Agenda, Planning Application Synopsis, SoLithWest Review Article "MH approves Mendota watermain extension", Star Tribune Article "To The Rescue", Sun Article "Fishing stays status quo at Rogers Lake", "District 197 sets process for deciding bond referendum and District 197 effort brings life-saving device to schools, Friday Fax. N E wsm The e L E T T E R Public Works Engineering May 13, 2004 Code Enforcement Public Works The Parks Crew planted flowers in Mendakota Park around the buildings and cleaned out the planter garden at Ivy Falls Park near the pond. They finished renetting the hockey goals for Friendly Hills summer roller hockey. Rich sprayed for weeds at Ivy Falls Park. He had to clean grease off of the floats at Lilyclale's lift staion. Rich and Tom Olund met with a representative from mosquito control to discuss their treatment of our sump manholes. Rich met with Mangey Construction at the main lift station to discuss upcoming bypass pumping of station. The Street Crew cut down a tree by the Ivy Falls Creek bed and got it ready to put down rip rap in part of the ditch. They cleaned storm grates and reinstalled no parking signs on Warrior Drive and High Ridge. They added two more no parking signs on Centre Pointe Blvd. Engineering Cullen Road has been patched. The road had been torn up last year to install a sewer service. Jim and Sue met with Dakota County to discuss the County's five year C.I.P. This year the County will be overlaying and paving the shoulders on Delaware Avenue from TH 110 to TH 55. They also informed us that the 110/Delaware Avenue signal project has been delayed until later this year due to the need for additional right-of-way. North Urban Regional Trail (N.U.R.T.) The Dakota County Planning Department has hired LHB Engineering and Architectural Consultants to design and prepare construction plans for the North Urban Regional Trail through Mendota Heights. The proposed trail segment will be constructed along the north side of Highway 110 from Dodd Road, easterly to Delaware Avenue and beyond into West St. Paul. Preliminary alignment schematics are currently under review by MnDOT because most of the trail will be constructed within the Highway 110 right-of-way. Planning and construction costs are shared; 80% Federal Grant and 20% local funds (Dakota County). The trail segment currently under construction from Charlton to the new Dakota County Government Northern Service Center is not part of the N.U.R.T. trail, but only a "spur" trail segment to provide walking access to the government center. This segment will connect to the N.U.R.T. planned for construction next year and is funded by County Bikeway improvement funds. Mary Jackson from Dakota County Planning and design engineers from LHB Consultants will meet with City staff next week to review and discuss issues regarding the proposed trail alignment through Mendota Heights. Issue # 21 T41A;(fA41eV4?4P,01V-C HZ414U H&P P,01"a Dq-444� May 14'h,2004 Driving Complaint 06-07-2004 1915 hours Officer Hurst responded to the area of Wentworth and Wachtler to look for a silver minivan. The van had pulled to the side of the road and a teenage boy got out and urinated on the side of the road. The license plate did not match the vehicle description. The van was not located. Attempted Burglary I Damage 05-08-2004 0744 hours A business on Pilot Knob Road reported that the neighboring business's alarm was sounding and the door had been shattered. Upon arrival, Officer Patrick checked the building and then found owner information and had them respond to the scene. The owners were unable to locate anything was missing. The alarm had malfunctioned and had not called out as it was programmed to do. Open Door 05-08-2004 2232 hours While checking St Thomas Academy, Officer Chad Willson located three unlocked doors one of which was being held open by a rock. Nothing appeared disturbed inside the building. No key -holder could be located. Officers cleared after securing the building. DAR 05-09-2004 2332 hours Officer Tanner Spicer ran a vehicle license check and determined that the registered owner of the car was revoked. Officer Spicer attempted to stop the car by activating his emergency lights and siren. The car slowed to approximately 20 mph and continued to drive. The car eventually pulled over. Due to the strange driving conduct a high-risk stop was executed. The driver told Officer Spicer "that he thought he was just the ambulance." The driver was the registered owner and was revoked. He was cited and transported home; his car was towed to Southeast. 10-29 (Stolen Auto) 05-09-2004 2347 hours Officer Jennifer Hurst responded to the Mendota Saloon to take a stolen truck report. Upon arrival, she met with the owner who advised that he had the only set of keys to the truck with him. The truck, a blue Chevy with matching topper, had been parked Issue # 21 May 14'h, 2004 outside for about an hour. The owner reported that the truck was not locked and was full of tools. Theft from Auto 06-10-2004 1350 hours Vicitm advised Officer Jennifer Hurst that she had parked her car at the Great Rivers Trail Head and had gone rollerblading. As she left, she noted a suspicious male party who said, "Hello." Upon returning she found her car had been broken into and her purse, along with all of it contents, was missing. The victim was very concerned that the thieves now knew where she lived and had the keys to her house. *Bike patrol officers have begun working the area and a bait car is being readied to try and catch the thieves. Juvenile Complaint 05-10-2004 1510 hours Sergeant Donn Anderson responded to check the welfare of a neighbor. The caller reported that three young men, who were now in the residence with her, followed the neighbor's teenage daughter home. Upon arrival, Sgt Anderson spoke with the young lady who told him that she was alone and nothing was wrong. About that time her father arrived home. She screamed for the young men to go out the back door. Unfortunately, Sgt Anderson met them. The young men were taken to their car at school and the daughter was left with her father. Motorcycle Accident 05-10-20041904 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to 941 Sibley Memorial Highway on a motorcycle crash. Upon arrival, he learned that the motorcyclist had crashed in the parking lot when he attempted to stop. The motorcycle fell on the driver's leg breaking it. He was transported to Regions Hospital and the motorcycle was left in the parking lot at the driver's request. Damage to Auto 06-11-2004 1041 hours The victim, an employee at the high school, reported to Sgt Donn Anderson that she had parked her car in the faculty lot in the morning. Sometime during the morning, someone threw a rock at her car. The rock struck the back window causing the window to shatter. No suspects at this time. DUI 05-12-2004 0152 hours Officer Tanner Spicer arrived at the intersection of Dakota Drive and 35E to investigate a crash. The driver of a small foreign car had attempted to make his own entrance ramp onto the freeway. When Officer Spicer located the driver, it was immediately obvious that the driver was intoxicated. He failed all SFST's, including the PBT. The driver was arrested, read the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory and agreed to provide a test. The test revealed his BAC was .19. Both the driver and passenger were sent to Detox. AOA Road Rage 05-13-2004 1929 hours Officer Eric Petersen responded to assist the Minnesota State Patrol on a road rage incident that had turned physical. Upon arrival the parties were separated without incident. When MSP arrived, one of the drivers was arrested for DUI. Clear. Have a great fishing opener! Stay warm and dry! 10A (D CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA May 18, 2004 - 7:30 P.M. Call to Order 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Agenda Adoption 5. Approval of the May 4, 2004 City Council Minutes. 6. Consent Calendar a. Acknowledgement of the NDC4 Meeting Agenda. b. Acknowledgement of the May 12, 2004 Approved Airport Relations Commission Minutes. c. Acknowledgement of the April 2004 Treasurers Report. d. Acknowledgement of the April 2004 Fire Department Monthly Report. e. Acknowledgement of the Radio Study. f. Acknowledgement of information on Traffic on Hwy 13 at Annapolis. g. Authorization to Hire Career Development Engineering Aide. h. Authorization for Police Car Equipment Ordering. i. Approval of Sign Permit for Boltz'sTae Kwon Do, 780 South Plaza Drive. j. Approval of Fence Permit for Tempco at 2444 Enterprise Drive. k, Approval of Amendment to Dispatching Agreement and Authorization for Mayor's Signature. I. Approval of Contractor List. m. Approval of Claims List. 7. Public Comments 8, Presentations St. Thomas Academy Environmental Studies 9. Public Hearings 3.2 Malt Liquor License Renewals Off -Sale SuperAmerica —Highway 110 SuperAmerica — Mendota Heights Road On -Sale Par 3 Golf Course 10. Unfinished and New Business a. Case No. 04-08: Scott Landsman, 661 Cheyenne Lane, Conditional Use Permit and Wetlands Permit for a Fence — Resolution No. 04-28: "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND WETLANDS PERMIT FOR A FENCE AT 661 CHEYENNE LANE". b. Discussion of Developers Agreement for Planning Case #04-05, Klingelhutz Development Company. C. Discussion of Minor PUD Amendment at Mendota Plaza Resolution No. 04-29: "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MINOR PUD AMENDMENT FOR MENDOTA PLAZA". d. Discussion of MAC Sound Insulation Program e, Discussion of NOC — 2nd Alternate. Discussion of Salary Adjustments. 11. Council Comments 12. Adjourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids, however, this may not be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 452-1850 with requests. This meeting is being taped by NDC4 (651-450-9891) and will replay on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the NDC4 Government Channel 18 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO May 12, 2004 TO: City Council, Commission Members, and City Administrator FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Pre -Application Meeting Synopsis Staff met with seven potential applicants on Monday, May 10, 2004. Steve Grittman, Sue McDermott, and Patrick Hollister were present. Don Baier, 741 Mohican Court (Staff spoke to Mr. Baier by conference call.) Mr. Baier currently has an attached two -car garage. He would like to keep his attached garage and add a second garage, which would be detached. The existing attached garage would then be used for the storage of antique vehicles. Staff told Mr. Baier that the City's zoning ordinance only allows one garage, either attached or detached, and that he would need both a Conditional Use Permit for a detached garage and a variance for more than one garage. Staff told Mr. Baier that such an application would be unlikely to be approved. Mr. Baier said that lie would probably not submit an application. Tracy Stude, 2050 Teresa Ms. Stude lives on a corner lot and would like to install a six-foot fence within the 30 - foot front yard setback. Staff told Ms. Stude that this would require a Conditional Use Permit and gave her the appropriate materials for a Conditional Use Permit application. Ms. Stude intends to apply in time for the June 2004 Planning Commission meeting. Ken Henk, Paster Enterprises Mendota Plaza Mr. Ken Henk of Paster Enterprises met with Staff to discuss pians to lease space at Mendota Plaza to Tuesday Morning, a home furnishings retail chain. Paster Enterprises would use the empty hallway space running north -south through the mall as the new space for Tuesday Morning. There would be additional signage on the building and on the freestanding pylon sign for the new store. With the addition of Tuesday Morning, Mr. Henk said that Mendota Plaza would be fully leased. Mendota Plaza is approved as a Planned Unit Development. Staff determined that these proposed changes would constitute a minor amendment to the Planned Unit Development, which requires Council review. Mr. Henk intends to appear before the City Council soon for this minor amendment. Doug Anderson, Center for Reproductive Medicine 1250 Northland Drive Mr. Anderson is a consultant retained by the Center for Reproductive Medicine to find a new location. Mr. Anderson's clients are infertility doctors who are interested in moving into vacant space in the United Properties building at 12.50 Northland Drive. The building at 1250 Northland Drive is in the "I" zone. The "I" zone description does not list medical clinics as a permitted or conditional use, but does list "business and professional offices" as a permitted use. Mr. Anderson met with the Council at their last meeting to inquire if his proposed use could be considered a "professional office". The Council was divided on the subject, with two members stating that they thought that this use could be permitted now under the current language, two members stating that the I zoning language could be amended to make this a Conditional Use, and one member stating that this use should not be allowed at all in the "I" zone. Mr. Anderson met with Staff the following Monday to discuss his next steps. Staff said that although the Council's corriments were advisory only and not binding upon the City in any way, it appeared from the Council discussion that his best approach would be to apply for both an amendment to the "I" zoning description to make this use a conditional use, and the actual Conditional Use Permit at the same time.. Mr. Anderson intends to apply in time for the June Planning Commission meeting. Walter H. Rockenstein II, Faegre & Benson LLP Ecolab, Sibley Memorial Highway (Jim Danielson joined us for this discussion.) Mr. Rockenstein met with Staff to discuss the redevelopment potential for the Ecolab site on Sibley Memorial Highway. Mr. Rockenstein added that his inquiry is on behalf of Opus and has no connection to airport issues. Mr. Rockenstein said that Opus is interested in re -developing the property to a residential use. Staff told Mr. Rockenstein that this would require a comprehensive plan redesignation from LB to a residential designation, a rezoning from 13-1A to a residential zone, a subdivision, and a Critical Area Permit. Mr. Rockenstein said that he would continue his research and contact Staff again later if Opus decided to pursue redevelopment of the site. Eugene Priborkin, 2361 Apache Court Mr. Priborkin wishes to add a covered stoop to the front of his house. Staff determined that this addition would require a front yard setback variance because of the "string rule". Staff provided Mr. Priborkin with the appropriate materials for a variance application. Mr. Priborkin intends to apply in time for the June 2004 meeting of the Planning Commission. Jerome and Jan Kahnke, 716 Maple Park Court Mr. and Ms. Kahnke met with Staff to discuss their plans to purchase the house at 716 Maple Park Court and build an addition onto the back of the house. Staff told the Kahnkes that this property is within the Critical Area, and thus this addition would require a Critical Area Permit. Staff also informed the Kahnkes that a parcel of land had recently been transferred to this property from the neighboring property to the west. The City's GIS data does not indicate that these two lots have been combined. Staff therefore told the Kahnkes that the addition would require a rear yard setback variance unless the two lots were combined. The Kaluikes said that they would look into the issue and if the lots had not been combined they would require the seller to do so as a condition of the purchase agreement. The Kahnkes intend to apply for the Critical Area Permit in time for the June 2004 Planning Commission meeting. StarTrlbune wvvw.startribune.com/variety iepublic 50 VAD.1,1TV SATURDAY he public's eatest wave May1, 2004 q of man. National Historic Preservation Week i'ocuses on Minnesotds endangered properties. COMMENTARY by Linda nfMacly Star Tribitne Staff Writer n In 1904, Danish immigrants built a Gothic style gymnasium and music hall for their residential folk school in Tyler, Minn. A hundred years later, the charming wood-ceilinged hall still is a place where people dance, sing and share community life. But its failing structural condition has landed the Danebod Gyro s x i ;k Hall on the 2004 list of Minnesota's "Ten F Most Endangered Historic Properties" announced today by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. The list raises I1 bill INt�i I' awareness of threats to historic sites. IN Ford Building, St. Paul At one time, 500 Fords a year were assembled in the handsome brick and terra-cotta factory behind the Minnesota Capitol. The state owns the 1913 building, which was vacated recently. A request for $1>2 million to demolish it is in the governor's bonding bill. Danebod Folk School, Tyler The 1904 Danebod Gym Hall with its wooden ceiling, part of a high school built by Danish immigrants in the mid -1880s, is still used for music, social gatherings and folk dancing. Historic buildings such as the Danebod Gym Hall give soul to our increasingly soulless environment. Although these places are valued for their beauty and rootedness, their futures are not assured. Sprawling subdivisions and big -box retail operations threaten to swallow old houses, farms and historic landscapes such as Pilot Knob in Mendota Heights. Cities, counties and the state scrape for money to keep basic services going and see demolition of historic buildings they own as the cheapest choice. Actions of individual property owners destroy what others consider community resources. IFIT That's why Minnesota needs its local heritage -preservation commissions, which seek to identify and protect properties the community deems historic, and why it needs statewide organizations such as the Minnesota Historical Society, which stewards the state's history, and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, which raises awareness and lobbies for Kassenborg Block, Moorhead The 1898 Kassenborg Block is the largest historic commercial building that survived Moorhead's 1970s push for urban renewal. Redevelopment plans incorporate the Kassenborg Block but not the nearby 1872 Douglas House. Guthrie Theater Morehouse Dam preservation. And that's why the Legislature needs to review state Pilot Knob, Mendota Heights First listed as endangered last year, the knoll of undeveloped land overlooking the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers faces development as housing. Known as oheyawahe to the Dakota, Pilot Knob is both a sacred place and the site of the Treaty of 1851 between the U.S. government and the Dakota. policies, such as the one that favors building new schools rather than renovating old ones. 0 As Minnesota celebrates National Historic Preservation Week, the state's preservation ethic is growing, but too often it's still too little, too late, as this list of endangered properties illustrates. Turco to ES for Preservation Week calendar. Shaw -Hammon House Neighborhood schools State institutions Tomorrow a MNSL N - News fid , NDOTA. HT -3. i Lo ,al iu"Vemvs, Fishing stays status quo at Rogers Lake By Blair Reynolds Sun Newspapers (Created 5/6/04 10:31:.39 AM) Those who fish from shore at Rogers Lake in Mendota Heights are safe from restrictions — at least for the time being. At its May 4 meeting, the City Council discussed ways to make the popular fishing hole safer. The council decided to take a `wait and see' approach. "We have received phone calls from residents about the high number of people and cars along Wagon Wheel Trail," said City Administrator .Jim Danielson. "At times there have been more than 100 anglers there. All of those people and especially the children near the road are cause for concern," With recent warm weather and improvements to the shoreline, Danielson said more anglers have come to the lake than in past years. "I think it is the right time for the council to at least look at this issue and see if there something we should do," he said. A project in 2003 to replace the cross -culvert separating the north and south portions of the lake and the installation of an aerator have brought attention to the lake, said Danielson. "Fishing has improved there," he said. "More and more people from all over want to give it a try. There aren't many shore fishing options around anymore." On the weekend of April 17 and 18, Danielson said police responded to several calls from residents regarding a large number of parked cars on Wagon Wheel Trail. "The number of cars and people has gone down," said Danielson. "But it still has been a concern of residents." Councilmember Mary ,Jeanne Schneeman said she is happy so many residents are using the area. "I don't see a problem with it," said Schneeman of the anglers. "I love that residents are out there enjoying themselves. We can't protect people from the water. People need to be aware and look out for and educate their children about the potential hazards." Doing something before there is a problem is important, said Councilmember Sandra Krebsbach. Pagel of 2 ►ttftge'r. owttle 4`�Ineltles.coro part of the; Tvvil Cities coni Nehvork �a Get 500 F"11 Color Post Cards 4f Your Website For Only 95 http://www.rniisun.com/story.asp?city=Mendota_Heights&story=13.5817 .5/12/2004 MNSUN - News "We shouldn't wait until there is a problem there," she said. "We should be proactive and try to avoid problems before they happen." Some funding for the improvements at the lake were from West St. Paul resident Cliff Timm. "When Mr Timm gave us $50,000 for those improvements, I don't think he envisioned us limiting people's access to the water," said Councilmember Ultan Duggan. "People need to educate and guide their children to help do their part to make the area safe. We need to work on both long-term and short-term goals on this issue " In the future, the road itself will be reconstructed, said Danielson. "The final designs and location of parking lanes are not done yet," he said. "The curve of the road will be made softer one day, Hopefully, it will make things safer." Page 2 of 2 http://www.mnsun.conz/story. asp?city=Mendota_Heights&story= 1.3 5 817 5/12/2004 MNSUN - News Archive Pagel of 2 District 197 sets process for deciding bond referendum By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers (Created .5/6/04 9:40:47 AM) The West St. Paul -Mendota Heights -Eagan school district has a new date in mind for its potential bond referendum and hopes to hammer out the final details over the next month. During a District 197 School Board work session May 3, the board agreed to target the primary election — Tuesday, Sept, 14 — as the date for the referendum. The final pieces needed to get to that date should begin to fall into place during a special work session the board scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 10, in the board's chambers, in Henry Sibley High School, 1897 Delaware Ave., Mendota Heights. "We've been discussing the pros and cons and we've asked an architect who has been working with us on this to provide us with more information that we need to make a decision," Board Chair Lani Bennett said. Since last fall, the board has been discussing the potential shape a bond referendum would take. The referendum was initially planned to go before voters this spring, but the board pushed that back as it worked on the details of the referendum. The referendum would include improvements not only at the elementary school level, but also at Henry Sibley High School. The board has discussed several reorganization possibilities with its five elementary schools and has narrowed them down to three options. The district could decide to make improvements to all five schools and continue to run them as they do today. Or, it could make improvements to all of them with the idea that one would eventually become a "plus one" option, meaning a form or charter or magnet school. The other option under consideration is going to four schools with one of those filling the "plus one" role. Several community members and parents spoke up during the May 3 meeting. West St. Paul resident and Somerset Elementary School parent Susan Sexton pointed to the board's mission statement in asking that the board discard options that close a school, She noted the mission statement calls for a "supportive and challenging learning environment." "I am here to tell you tonight that we really, really appreciate the supportive environment offered at a small neighborhood schools," Mendota Heights resident Susan Sexton said. "It's telling that we put supportive even before challenging in that mission." During the board's April 19 meeting, the district's administrative cabinet recommended improving all five schools at what is estimated to be a cost of $54.9 million, However, the board did not come to a consensus at that meeting. During May 10 meeting, the board will work on narrowing the potential bond referendum plans and discuss ways to present the information to the public. http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=story2&year=2004&storyID=135090 .5/12/2004 MNSON-News Archive Page 2 of 2 That will be followed by public meetings Tuesday, May 25, and Thursday, May 27. Each of those meetings will take place at one of the district's two middle schools at a time to be determined. The board also set two special vvorkoessionafor7toQo.m.VVedneeday.June2.ondFhday.June4. to discuss the public feedback in preparation for ovote authorizing the referendum at its Monday, June 7.meeting. VVaet St, Paul resident Sherry K|ehr, who has children who are Somerset students, also told the board during the May 10 meeting that any option closing a school would be bad for the district. She also said the district could solve what problems it does have by making a harder effort to reach Out toStudents itielosing toprivate schools inthe area. "We have a wonderful, supportive education system," Klehr said. "Buildings aren't the most important thing. Schools are naoUy about the penp|e, it's not about the buildings or the books and we need to remember that." For more information onthe upcoming meetings, contact School District 1Q7atS51-S81-23O0orvisit What's Next What: School District 197 Board work session to discuss referendum options When: 6 p.m. Monday, May 10 VVhere�Henry Sibley High School, 1897Delaware Ave,Mendota Heights Information: 651'081-2300 Nm://www.ninsun.com/archive.asp?display=stoiy2&year=2004&storyID=l35Ug0 5/12/2004 MNSUN - News Archive Page I of 2 District 197 effort brings life-saving device to schools By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers (Created 5/6/04 9:40:46 AM) After spending more than $11,000 on defibrillators to help make School District 197 a safer place, Sibley High School Principal Beth Borgen hopes there will never be a need to use the devices, "The bottom line is I hope it's the best money we spend that we never have to use," said Borgen. AEDs or automated external defibrillators are small, lightweight devices used to assess a person's heart rhythm. If necessary, it administers an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm in victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The district recently bought six of the devices, which will be kept at Sibley, Friendly Hills and Heritage middle schools and other locations. The effort to buy the devices began this fall when John Lapakko, a Mendota Heights resident whose son, Matt, graduated in 2003, got involved. Lapakko, who is a nurse and also works as a firefighter for the Mendota Heights Fire Department, helped the class of 2003 shape the donation. "My son, Matt, graduated in 2003 and they had some money left over from the graduation party," Lapakko said. "They wanted to do something to remember one of their teachers who had died and they thought about doing a flower garden. But then they thought flower gardens die out so let's do something more permanent." The project really took off from that point, with several other groups getting involved and resulting in a total of seven AEDs being purchased for the district. "I put out the word to other principals in the district that I was looking at doing this and see what kind of response we got," Borgen said. "Ultimately the two middle schools and the high school got on board." The effort involved many people in the district, School nurses, the district's health and safety director, Activities Director Matt Kraft and athletic trainers at the high school all played a part in the process. The schools' PTAs and hockey booster club played big roles in the effort by providing the fundraising necessary to buy the additional devices. Hockey boosters donated $4,400 to the effort, PTA is finishing up a campaign and has raised more than $1,900 and the senior class donated $2,200 to the effort. Through bartering, going through the Internet and finding promotional deals, Borgen was able to get the package price of $2,200 down to $1,850 per device. The plan is for the AEDs to be distributed so that there are two at Sibley, one at each of the middle schools, one traveling AED to go to school events and one at the West St. Paul Ice Arena. Another Sibley parent recently made a donation that was matched by his employer to allow the district to buy another device that will go to Sibley, Borgen said. http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=stoiy2&year=2004&storyID=I X5089 5/12/2004 MNSUN - News Archive Page 2 of 2 The school had a training session a few weeks ago for principals and other administrators at the three schools as well as representatives from the West St. Paul Ice Arena. Besides the device, the case also includes scissors to remove clothing, an instruction booklet, a replacement battery and replacement pads. The AED can be used on people older than age 8. Voice and text prompts on the AED give instructions, walking a first responder through the steps of using the machine Special pads, which sense a person's heart rhythm, are first placed on the chest. The AED can then recognize if the individual is suffering from cardiac arrest. If there is a cardiac arrest, the defibrillator will send the appropriate shock to the heart, restoring its natural rhythm and blood flow to the brain. If the AED finds it's needed, it will tell the first responder to perform CPR. An AED will not shock someone who does not need to be shocked and there is no chance of injuring the victim. The district will also present an informational campaign to let students know about the devices. "The students need to know it's a life-saving device and that it's not a toy," she said. "They need to know the mechanics behind it, that they can't use it to shock their friend as a hazing thing, that it monitors the vitals and only shocks the person if they need it.." Lapakko said the AEDs are especially important because of the necessity for quick action when somebody is suffering a cardiac arrest. "Early intervention is the key," he said. "Every minute that passes by in cardiac arrest, survivability decreases by 10 percent. You get much better results when you can quickly react in those situations." Lapakko said he's been surprised at the reaction to the effort to get AEDs out in the community. Since the Sibley project began, it has expanded to a community wide effort in Mendota Heights. "I was really, really surprised at all of this," he said. "I thought we'd get one or two people involved and do something and not that many people would be interested, but it took off." That effort, known as the PAD (Public Access Defibrillation) program, has already successfully gotten AEDs installed in Police Department squad cars, condominiums, private schools, and other areas where people gather in Mendota Heights. Borgen said in her five years at Sibley she is not aware of a situation occurring where the devices were needed. And she hopes that continues. "It used to be at the Friday night football games the ambulance was sitting there all the time and that doesn't happen any more," she said. "From what I hear, at sporting events it tends to be more of a spectator than an athlete anyway, so having it there so that a trainer could go into the crowd with it if needed or out on the field, it covers a lot of different areas." http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=stoiy2&year=2004&storyID=1 )5089 5/12/2004 May 07 2004 14:55:37 Via Fax _> 65145ZB940 Administrator Page 001 of OHZ LMC -FridayFax- A weekly legislative update from the League of Allinnesota Cities Hurry up and wait The "short" session of the legislature is turning out to be anything but. As the legislature enters the last Len calendar days of the session, resolution on many of the major issues does not appear to be imminent. But that doesn't necessarily guarantee that a special session will be called. On Thursday, Governor PawlenLy stated publicly that he is looking at his alternatives, which include an option to not call a special session and instead fix the budget deficit administratively. During a joint radio interview this morning, House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson both stated that they are not encouraging a special session. In that public radio interview, the schism between House and Senate leadership appeared to be widening rather than narrowing. Speaker Sviggum accused the Democrats of circumventing the legislative process by not holding sufficient public hearings on major bills like the bonding bill. He went on to call the Senate's budget balancing bill a "garbage bill" that violates the state's constitution. Majority Leader Johnson countered that the Democrats have a simple agenda that includes balancing the state's budget, closing corporate tax loopholes, passing a bonding bill and enacting tougher laws on sexual predators. He chastised Republicans for being preoccupied with their social agenda. All in all, their discussion was not a promising dialogue. During Thursday's floor session, the Senate failed to pass SF 3057, the capital investment May 7, 2004 Page I (bonding) bill, which is traditionally the centerpiece of even -year legislative sessions. Three Republican members joined the Senate's only Independence party member and the 35 members of the DFL party in support of the bonding bill, but the Senate fell short of the 41 votes required to pass the bill. (Most bills must receive a simple majority of the votes in each body to pass, but bonding bills require a supermajority, or 60 percent, to pass.) Although Majority Leader Johnson has suggested that the Senate may not resurrect the bonding bill, any one of the Republican senators who voted against the bill could move to reconsider the bill. Meanwhile, the two bodies cannot even agree on a process to resolve the different budget balancing approaches adopted by the House and Senate. The Senate crafted its budget - balancing package in one major vehicle while the House distributed its solution among eight different bills. The lack of consensus on how to conference these budget bills has left the House and Senate in a holding pattern for close to a month. Although these issues seem to be stuck in a political mud -puddle, legislation to finance as many as three stadia is progressing in the House and Senate. This week the Senate Look- up the Gophers' stadium bill while House committees spent time on the Stang proposal to fund facilities for the Twins and Vikings. Today, the House Ways and Means committee "temporarily" defeated the Stang bill on a 13 to 13 vote. However, the bill may have another life before the end of the session. The House and Senate held floor sessions today but failed to make progress on any of the major remaining budget and spending bills. Although For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations learn. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 lay 07 2004 14:50:09 Via Fax _> G514520940 Administrator Page HOZ of 002 ri _77 LMC -FridayFax- A weekly legislative update from the League of Allinnesota Cities the logjam could break at any time, and everyone could work around the clock to finish up by May 17"', the outlook, at least on Friday morning, is not very promising. Eminent domain provision in omnibus transportation bill On Thursday night, the House Ways & Means committee approved an omnibus transportation bill, HF 2247, which contains the changes to eminent domain that were part of HF 1901. The omnibus bill includes a provision requiring an acquiring authority to prove by a preponderance of evidence that a taking for redevelopment serves a public, not private purpose. An amendment to change the effective date of the eminent domain provision also passed. Under the amended language, changes to the condemnation process would apply to takings for which the acquiring authority obtained its first appraisal on or after August 1, 2004. This language has the effect of excluding certain projects that are "in the pipeline," but fails to address the impact on future development projects. While the Senate companion bill, SF 2335, includes certain changes relating to property appraisals, it does not contain the problematic public purpose provision. Both bills are awaiting action on the House and Senate floors. The League remains concerned about the impacts of the House language on economic development and redevelopment projects. However, we have had constructive discussions with the auto dealers association about an alternative approach that would address their concerns without halting important economic development and redevelopment projects. May 7, 2004 Page 2 Impaired waters funding discussions continue The Senate Tax committee discussed SF 2889, a bill by Sen. Many that proposes raising corporate and personal income taxes to generate $100 million of funding per year to address meeting Clean Water Act mandates related to cleaning up impaired waters in the state. While this particular proposal was set aside for the session, the administration was strongly urged to return with a long-term funding proposal as part of the budget next session. Sen. Pogemiller, chair of the committee, also made it clear that he intends to hear a second bill containing funding for impaired waters yet this session. That bill (SF 401/Sams) proposes that the next election ballot contain a constitutional amendment question that would dedicate part of the state sales tax to fund a number of quality of life issues, including parks, addressing impaired waters, game and fish programs and the arts for the next twenty years. Tracking the final days The next ten days at the capitol will likely be hectic. To follow the events at the capitol, visit the legislative web site at: W ww. E At their site, you can find legislative schedules, links to bills, legislator contact information including e-mail addresses and even Internet broadcasts of live and archived floor sessions and committee hearings. As always, if you have a question about a specific legislative issue, call any member of the League's IGR Learn at 1-800-925-1122. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations learn. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 MH approves Mendota watermain, extension Looping of water system to improve public health and safety Seth Loy news editor Reversing itself, the Mendota Heights City Council approved a water extension agreement with the city of Mendota last Tuesday night, Mendota officials want to extend a watermain 400 feet from Mendota Heights' boundary along Highway 13 into their city. The extension would be used, and paid for, by three single-family homes South-West Review along the highway. The watermain extension is the first step toward looping the tiny city of Mendota's water system, a move that's important for health and safety reasons. Mendota is currently served by a dead-end water system. Before reaching a decision, how- ever, council members spent some time debating whether they should even hear the issue again, after voting against the agreement at a previous meeting. Council member Sandra Krebsbach, in par- ticular, wondered if the council was following the right procedure. "It really isn't anything new; it's ,just being presented differently," Krebsbach said. "I think that resi- dents will begin to doubt that a decision holds." On April 20, the council voted 3-2 against the agreement, raising concerns with the size of the pro- posed homes along Highway 13 that the watermain would serve. The homes, which will have eleva- tors, are expected to Bost about $800,000 each and will be the most expensive in Mendota. There also were concerns with erosion and river bluff impact. Council member Ultan Duggan said that Krebsbach's comments were true, but that it would be "churlish" not to address the issue again, describing it as an opportu- Watermain.. break in the pipe at a critical location will put the entire city — and some areas of continued from page 1 Mendota Heights — out of water, according to a memo). whether the issue warranted w • Risk of Well Contamina- another discussion and vote tion --- Ground water is by the city council. Swanson always at risk of contamina- is usually the final word on tion, so access to public matters of procedure, he water systems is best when said. possible. "(City Attorney) Dan e St. Paul Regional Water (Schleck) and I spoke about System — Looped water - it, and we felt there should mains are more dependable, be a new discussion," Swan- and SPRWS supports the son said. "I recommended to extension and encourages (City Administrator) Jim Mendota Heights to sign the (Danielson) that we handle agreement. it this way." "As Mendota Heights was The council then voted 4-1 installing and enlarging their to hear the issue again; Kreb- water system, we were sbach voted against the always looking for a way to motion. become part of that," Golias become Deputy Mayor Mendotsaid. Steve Golias then gave a Golias added that it is brief presentation to the important for Mendota's council, outlining why the water system to be com- city is making the water pletely looped and finished extension request. Some of one day. the, city's concerns: "This is not completing e Fire Protection — Loop- the loop, but it is a big step ing the watermain will in the right direction," snhance fire protection by Golias said. "This would adding fire hydrants, increas- greatly improve conditions ing the water pressure avail- in Mendota." able for fire fighting and pro- Vitelli agreed that extend- viding a more reliable water ing the watermain will bene - supply. (Because the city of fit both cities. Mendota is on a dead end, a "It does improve fire pro- tection and our ability to protect homes in Mendota, as we've been paid to do," Vitelli said. He pointed out that Men- dota could still build the three homes with private wells if the agreement weren't signed. The council voted 4-0 to approve the watermain extension; Krebsbach abstained from voting. In other business: . The council discussed hosting an open house to update the public on the Town Center project. How- ever, officials weren't sure how many people would attend such a meeting, or what exactly could be pre- sented. Instead, they recom- mended that residents con- tact city council members or City Hall to find out infor- mation on the project. e Council members dis- cussed interpretation of the city's "I" Zone classification, which includes "business and professional offices" as a permitted use. There is talk of a new business, the Center for Reproductive Medicine, pos- sibly moving into a vacant nity to build on the relationship between the two cities. Council member ,Jack Vitelli agreed with Krebsbach that the council wasn't following the right procedure. But he was in favor of revisiting the issue, since new information was being offered. "The way I look at it, any appli- cant could bring forward new information at the next meeting to be heard again [by the council]," Vitelli said. "But I think we made a mistake two weeks ago not approving it." Mayor ,John Huber then asked City Clerk Kathleen Swanson see Watermain on page 5 building at 1250 Northland Drive. The center would offer in -vitro fertilization services (not on site), includ- ing interviews with patients, physical examinations, blood drawings and urine tests. The council did not make a decision but indicated that the business might be allowed to operate with a conditional use permit — unless there are changes to the "I" Zone classification, e The council discussed problems with shoreline fishing at Roger's Lake along Wagon Wheel Trail. On April 17 and 18, police responded to several calls from residents regarding parking (30 -plus vehicles) and the large number of peo- ple along the S-curve section of the roadway. Fishing at Rogers Lake may be increasing for several reasons, including installa- tion of a lake aerator, the stocking of game fish by the DNR and a recent Project to replace the lake cross -cul- vert, according to a memo. The council decided not to take any action at this time, since the fishing seems to have died down somewhat.