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2009-02-06 Friday NewsFebruary 6, 2009 Is Snyder's Open? This Thursday morning the Pioneer Press printed an article about Snyder's Drug Stores being closed in the Metro Area. The new Snyder's that recently moved from Mendota Mall to the Village was on the list as one of the stores being closed. We were all very concerned! However, upon further investigation we learned that the article was wrong and that our Snyder's will remain open. The Mayor sent a complaint to the paper about the error, and he had results. The paper reprinted the article in Friday morning's paper correcting the error. Reverse 911 At the Executive Board Meeting of the Dakota Communications Center this week I learned that there are plans being made to install a mass telephone notification system. If all goes well, by July, Cities will be able to notify individual residents by phone of impending haz- ards such as severe weather, technical or manmade hazards etc. This system will allow for rapid dissemination of any warnings or other information to their residents. The City of Eagan has had this capability already and provided some good information on its use at the meeting. R Chamber of Commerce Meeting update Jake attended the monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting for Mendota Heights and West I St. Paul on Thursday morning. The speakers for the morning were Jay Haugen, Superin- tendant from ISD 197, and Debbie McConnell, a volunteer with the school district. Jay spoke to their upcoming budget cuts — the school has employed a 24 person task force to D evaluate all aspect of the district's budget. While the process is difficult, Jay is hopeful that the district will come out of the process stronger as a result. Deb spoke briefly on mar- keting efforts for the school — the current economy is causing families to re-evaluate their Apriorities, which makes it a good time to remind people of the strong track record our local schools have. The School will be 150 years old this year, but 150th Anniversary celebra- Y tion plans have had to be scaled back, and will be paired up with the annual Mendota Heights Parks Celebration held on June 6ffi at Mendakota Park. Also of note, the Mendota Heights "State of the City" presentation by the Mayor will be held jointly with West St. Paul on Thursday, March 5, beginning at 7:30 and held at the NNorthern Service Center. The event will be live on NDC4 cable, and be available via web streaming. E League of MN Cities Conference Call Last Friday (after Friday News went to the presses) Jake participated in a conference call W hosted by the League of MN Cities regarding the State's budget shortfall, and the potential impact upon cities. The Governor's proposal includes a $2.5 billion reduction in State ex- penditures and $3.2 billion in one time actions, including shifting deficit to future budget cycles. The League was concerned as there is already a $2.5 billion deficit anticipated for the 2012-2013 budget cycle, and the structure of the currently proposed cuts would leave the State with very few tools to address expenditures in future budgets. Aid to cities, in the form of local government aid (LGA) and Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC) have become a form of budget reserve for the State, utilized in the 2003 budget crisis, as well as February 6, 2009 the current crisis. While city aids make up 3% of the total budget, the cuts make up 11% of the proposed solution. Mendota Heights lost $41,000 (in MVHC) in 2008, and should not anticipate any State aid anytime soon. We do receive limited funding for streets, and police and fire pensions. At this time, those monies seem to be secure. 1, i '` •air• � •� •. Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Airports Relations Commission Meeting Valentines Day Presidents Day City Council Meeting Planning Commission Meeting FIN "IUMM 2-10-09 6:30 2-11-09 7:00 2-14-09 2-16-09 Office Closed 2-17-09 7:00 2-24-09 7:00 Just the Facts, Pipeline, Airport Relations Commission Agenda, TwinCities.com Article, "Snyders Drug to close 19 stores", MNSUN Article "Mendota Heights City Council debates vacating alley", Reward Flyer and the Friday Fax. ire -day forecast ---_...._........_ Tomorrow Sunday ( Monday j Tuesday Wednesday Feb 07 Clear Hi: i 380 ILo: 4160 Feb 08 Clear Feb 09 Showers _.. i•Y ^_� 380 L.° .._...� 270 Feb 10 Scattered Flurries i; 310 ILo:...1210 11 -1 -1.1 -.1 - Enjoy the warm weather and have a great weekend!! Feb 11 Flurries 33 Lo- 122- February 6, 2009 7A -e Latest t1w N-extq'fitA �feiy�itsJ'odice�epart est Q 2/6/2009 Hit and Run Accident 01-30-09 0804 hours Officer Chad Willson took a report from a resident who heard a crash in front of his home around the time his paper is usually delivered. As the complainant left for work he noticed fresh damage on his vehicle which was parked outside. It is suspected the paper delivery person struck the vehicle while backing out after delivering the paper. Under investigation. Liquor License Violations 01-30-09 1815 hours The Mendota Heights Police Department routinely checks businesses with liquor licenses to insure they are complying with the state statutory requirements. In late November Officer Meyer delivered invitations to attend alcohol compliance training to all licensees. Only one business sent a representative to the training. Sergeant John Larrive worked with a 19 year old male to check for statute compliance he entered a restaurant in the City of Mendota Heights to check to see if the staff would properly ID him before to serving him alcohol. The waitress served the 19 year old a beer without asking for identification. Sergeant Larrive identified the female employee who violated the law. She admitted to serving the department representative a beer without asking for ID. A half hour later the underage decoy entered a Lilydale bar and requested a beer and again was served without .being asked for ID. After Sergeant Larrive confronted the bartender she stated that she knew she should have carded the young man. Both cases were sent to the appropriate City Attorney for formal charges. Notices of the violations will be sent to the City Clerk who is responsible to see that a penalty is assessed against the license to sell alcohol. The sale violation is a gross misdemeanor. I'm guessing the next class may have a few more attendees. Driving After Cancellation 1-30-09 at 2303 While working a Dakota County Traffic Enforcement detail Officer Urmann observed a vehicle with an equipment violation. Officer Urmann stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver am 2/6/2009 who handed her a MN identification card. It was determined the driver was operating the vehicle on a cancelled license and admitted to drinking. He submitted to standardized field sobriety testing and it was determined he was not under the influence. He was subsequently arrested and jailed for driving after cancellation. When asked why he was driving without a license after drinking, he replied that he had less to drink then his passenger. DUI 02-03-09 0046 hours While on routine patrol Officer Peyton Fleming observed a slow moving vehicle approaching him from the opposite direction on Hwy 13. He clocked the vehicle on radar at 34 mph in the 50 mph zone. As the vehicle went past him he observed the driver was straddling the fog line. Officer Fleming stopped the vehicle and made contact with the 24 year old driver who was obviously intoxicated. The driver failed field sobriety tests and provided a preliminary breath test which resulted in .187 reading. He admitted to having 5 beers prior to driving. He was read the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory and eventually agreed to provide a urine sample. The sample was sent to the BCA for analysis. Charges are pending toxicology results. Speed 01-31-09 0619 hours Officer Tanner Spicer was running stationary radar on Hwy 13 in a 40 mph zone when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer Spicer activated his radar and received an initial reading of 55mph. He continued to clock the vehicle which was coming at him and appeared to be accelerating. The radar display continued to increase...... 58, 59, 60, and 61 eventually topping off with a top speed of 77mph! Officer Spicer stopped the 17 year old driver who admitted to speeding because he was late for wrestling practice. He was driving his father's vehicle at the time of the stop. Officer Spicer made a courtesy call to the juveniles father to advise him as to how is son was operating the family vehicle.....he was not pleased. The young driver was released with a citation for speed which will cost him $380.00. Assist Fire Department 02-04-09 0748 hours Officer Chad Willson was dispatched along with the Mendota Heights Fire Department to investigate white smoke billowing out of the basement of a residence. The caller was a neighbor who could see the smoke from across the street. Further investigation revealed the source of the smoke was a dryer vent. The Fire Department was cancelled prior to arriving at the house. Drive After Revocation 02-05-09 0601 hours While on routine patrol Officer Peyton Fleming observed a vehicle being operated by a driver who he knew to have a revoked driver's license. They pull into a local business parking lot and stopped. Officer Fleming made contact with her as she parked her car in the lot which is located next door to where she works. She told Officer Fleming she knew she was revoked and was driving because she needed to get to work. She mentioned she could have had her husband drive her, however, Officer Fleming who knows him from past contact advised her that would not be a good idea as his license is cancelled. She was cited for DAR and advised not to drive. Mam a jefa .1 & /04 N E W S LETTER The Pa peline�r . Public Works► Engineering February 6, 2009 Code Enforcementjj The Parks Crew continues to sweep, flood and blow snow off the rinks daily. The broom and snow blowers were serviced, the oil was changed and the equipment washed. Rich ran the standby generator at the Mendota Heights Road lift station. He pulled the aerator pump at Rogers Lake to check the pump and it was ok but the main circuit breaker had issues. Rich and Tom met with Lloyds BBQ plant manager, Chuck Morrisette, to discuss the on going FOG (fat, oils, and grease) issues. Lloyds just installed a new FOG skimmer and asked the City to monitor the sanitary sewer lines and the Mendota Heights Road lift station for grease. The Streets Crew opened up Pilot Knob Road so Wright Tree Service could trim trees around their wires. The road was also plowed to the turn around. The concrete barriers were then put back. Snow was pushed back from the fire hydrants on Warrior Drive, by Sibley High School and at Town Center. A dresser, TV and miscellaneous appliances were picked up from Warrior Drive. Engineering John has been meeting with representatives from The Visitation School and Saint Thomas Academy to discuss traffic congestion issues along Visitation Drive, Lake Drive, and Mendota Heights Road related to school generated traffic. An application for Federal Funds to help construct the project has been requested by both schools. Staff has completed the Feasibility Report for the 2009 Reconstruction Project. The neighborhood meeting is scheduled for February 18th, and notification letters went out this week. Public Hearing before Council is scheduled for March 3rd. Staff has notified the selected consultant of the Notice to Proceed for the Feasibility Report for Pedestrian Crossing at Dodd Road and Highway 110. A kickoff meeting is scheduled for next week. There was another water main break this week. This time it was in the relatively new area of the Copperfield neighborhood. Saint Paul Regional Water Service crews arrived to repair the damage on Thursday. 1 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION AGENDA February 11, 2009 —City Hall Council Chambers Call to Order - 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. 4. 5 rel 7 Approval of the Minutes from the January 14th, 2009 Airport Relations Commission Meeting. Unfinished and New Business a. Election of Officers b. 2009 Plan of Action Discussion C. NOC Update d. Updates for Introduction Book. Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence: a. December 2008 ANOM Technical Advisor's Report b. December 2008 ANOM Eagan/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis C. Letter from Jeff Hamiel of MAC d. Washington N.O.I.S.E Watch e. Airport Noise Report, January 16, 2009 f. Airport Noise Report, January 23, 2009 g. Airport Noise Report, January 30, 2009 Other Commissioner Comments or Concerns Upcoming Meetings City Council Meeting MAC Meeting Planning Commission 8. Public Comments 9. Adiourn 2-17-09 7:00 p.m. 2-17-09 1:00 p.m. 2-24-09 7:00 p.m. 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. This may not, however, be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at (651) 452-1850 with requests. Job cuts in hundreds; chain cites economy By Gita Sitaramiah gsitaramiah@pioneerpress.com Updated: 02/05/2009 09:46:40 PM CST Minnetonka -based Snyders Drug Stores is closing 19 of 47 company-owned stores in Minnesota amid the challenging economic environment for retailers. Another 30 independent stores that bear the Snyders name won't be affected. "Hundreds" of job cuts are in order, a spokeswoman said but would not be more specific. Some store employees are unionized and may bump others, the spokeswoman said. For customers of each store to be closed, pharmacy care will be provided at a nearby store, the company said. The chain will be smaller but stronger going forward, Snyders President Dave Schwartz said in a statement. Drugstore competition has been heating up in recent years. Walgreens has multiple Twin Cities locations, and the CVS chain has been expanding since it entered the Twin Cities market in 2004. Some independent drug stores have closed, including Bober Pharmacy & Gift on trendy Grand Avenue in St. Paul, which sold out to CVS in 2006 after more than 40 years. Founded in Minneapolis in 1928, the Snyders chain was acquired by the Katz Group of Canada a decade ago. In 2003, Snyders filed for Chapter 11 Advertisement bankruptcy reorganization, saying it needed to sell or close the Drug Emporium subsidiary it had bought in 2001 in a bankruptcy sale. Here is the list from Minnetonka -based Snyders Drug Stores of company-owned stores to remain open and the 19 that will close: STORES TO REMAIN OPEN 720 Wldwood Road, Mahtomedi U.S. 71, P.O. Box 280, Menahga 101 N. Main, Park Rapids 2083 Ford Parkway, St. Paul 2705 Winnetka Ave., New Hope 1121 Larpenteur Ave., Roseville 400 Main St., Cold Spring 2380 Shadywood Road, Orono 4600 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 120 W. Third St., Monticello 7105 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park 1865 Wayzata Blvd., Long Lake 309 North Faxon Road, Norwood 750 Main St., Suite 103-104, Mendota Heights 2525 County Road 10, Mounds View 602 S. Front St., Mankato ., yy ys ,r-� 0 (� s« g4 g6ra t ✓� *'.. k o f i B,.,n I _G E � � ir. a i �. o III S 8 G ti{ -.i ��1 �...� A:i � ' CF �. � �� PrinterStitial® ads by Format Dynamics. Print Powered By d.v orrnatCtynamics t I`, 7 t y�fi� i" s� t .v0saEa3� 3}fir{ Fornnat:Dynamics° Print Powered By d.v orrnatCtynamics 720 N.W. Fourth St., Faribault 3235 Chaska Blvd., Chaska 1425 County Highway 101 N., Plymouth 5101 Gateway St. S. E., Prior Lake 641 Market Place Drive, Waconia 800 White Bear Ave., St. Paul 14617 59th St. N., Stillwater 2120 Silver Lake Road, New Brighton 1037 County Highway 96, Shoreview 1750 Weir Drive, Woodbury 1260 E. Fourth Ave., Shakopee 3065 N. Montana Ave., Helena, Mont. STORES THAT WILL CLOSE 1205 Southview Blvd, South St. Paul 1201-A-2 E. Franklin, Minneapolis 5159 Bloomington Ave. S., Minneapolis 4151 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis 15 Ninth Ave. S., Hopkins 6666 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Heights 10615 France Ave. S., Bloomington 201 W. Main St., Albert Lea Advertisement 7658 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park 14625 Excelsior Ave., Minnetonka 8545 Edinburgh Center Drive N., Brooklyn Park 2714 County Highway 88, St. Anthony 2099 Hudson Road, St. Paul 2920 Rice St., St. Paul 12521 Central Ave. N.E., Blaine 12455 Champlin Drive, Champlin 5135 W. 98th St., Bloomington 8925 Penn Ave. S., Bloomington 780 W. 66th St., Richfield Print Powered By °�Foir1 1ztqynam1cs t,. ' i t 1 k N 4 a� �• -'+�; g SQA ',,ara si, __ i" x E..ie i��V'd� �i i.l.•�:.✓":.2 °ei 1��4D�C�\.✓ C�fi U�.O .a ��zyB PrinterStitial® ads by Format Dynamics, FormatM3ynamics' Print Powered By °�Foir1 1ztqynam1cs ���� � U�� ���������0U�� °��" v ��-�� �= .== " n 44rummvn/rynewspapers Mendota Heights City Council debates vacating alley BY MEGAN ANDERSON p SUNNEWSPAPERS (creotcu:Wednesday, February 4`zoo*4:nspMCST) [ Print Page Eugenia Avenue in Mendota Heights is considered a nuisance bysome neighbors, while others consider itan amenity. Eugenia, which does not allow for vehicle traffic, connects Sibley Memorial Highway to Hiawatha Avenue. Living adjacent tothe land is Brian Brunette, who said it has become a path with foot traffic. Brunette, who lives at 591 Hiawatha Ave. in the Cherokee Park Heights division, has asked the city to give him ownership to a strip of land south of his home, Eugenia Avenue, and his portion of the alley behind his home. Jake Sed|acek, assistant city administrator, said at the City Council mooting Tuesday, Feb. 3, that the land is not on the tax rolls. "It's primarily a liability to us," he said. Privacy, Brunette said, is the main reason he is making his request. After break-in at his home in November, police suggested that Brunette explore finding a way for the city to prevent foot traffic along the avenue. The November incident happened at night and Brunette said police suspect the burglars came up Eugenia into the alley and broke into the basement window. "They said that could be a factor that the homeowner might want to address," Sed|acokoaid. Brunette said he has two young daughters. "It's kind of scary when you've got two young children," he said. "I want to create privacy for myfami|y." The path becomes a hangout for people during the summer, Brunette said. "T spend a lot of time picking up trash," he said. Brunette said he also maintains the land by mowing it. "I've maintained that property ever since I've lived here," he said. Some neighbors are concerned about losing a play area, he said. "I don't want tn get into a pushing match with neighbors," he said. Brunette's neighbor across the alley also supports vacating both Eugenia and the alley. The City Council had concerns that adding land to the neighbor's property could make his property large enough to subdivide. The other residents, who live along the alley, however, want the city to continue maintaining it, Sod|aceksaid. Sed|acek said the city could instead vacate a fourth of the alley, plus Eugenia Avenue. The city would also maintain an easement |nthe alley for utilities. Brunette said hewould add fencing and landscaping to make his property more private. If Eugenia were closed of, residents would still have access tothe alley tothe north, via Garden Lane, Sed|acekoaid. Bill Dunnigan, who lives south of Brunette across Eugenia, said he sometimes uses it to access the river bluffs. "That was an asset to me in buying the house," he said. "It creates a buffer zone between neighbors." Some children in the neighborhood like to use it as a place to play, he said. "It's a nice right of way for the community to have," he said. There are pine trees on both sides of Eugenia, Dunnigan said, and putting up more trees would create more places for burglars to hide. Celeste Riley said she lives two blocks away and likes that Eugenia is available for public access to walkers. "I'm a big walker," she said. "I don't like to walk in the street with cars." Rather than making an immediate decision, Mayor John Huber said the council plans to explore the issue. "I want to be real fair about this," Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman said. "There's concerns on all of the people." The council tabled the resolution to the April 21 council meeting. This site and its contents Copyright @ 2007. Sun Newspapers - Main Office: 952-829-0797 suninfo@acnpapers.com - u1l�,�r:+��ttn��er F �I Jan 30 2009 1729:12 Via Fax —> 6514520940 Administrator Page 001 of 003 J01) LEAGUE or, ,MINNESOTA CITIES -Frid.a.31fax"M A weekly legislative updatefton-i the League ql'Minnesota Cities Ilouse Property Taxes Committee announces working groups Local government interests will be the -focus of three working groups under the direction of the House Prot)ertv and Local Sales "Tax nnasion. Chair Paul Marapart (DFL -Dilworth) shared with the committee and public. on Thursday that lie is establishing three working groups to enhance re-form., accotaitabi.lity, value and effliciene.y in the property tax system, The groups will researcli the areas, work with appropi-I ate individuals and groups, and develop legislation to introduce a comi-nitteebill by February 26. In all likelihood, the legislation will have other committee stops, such as the Local Government Division. While men�bersbip of the groups is not yet knowt), the details are as, follows: State property tax system benchmarks and critical indicators Chair: Rep. Denise Dittrich (DFL- Champlin) Goal: To provide state policyniakers with the tools to create a more accountable and efficient Property tax system First meeting: Monday Feb. 2 at 10:30(LDI, III 400 State Office Bailding, South Local government performance management and improvement program Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL -Dilworth) Goal: To provide taxpayers with greater value and efficiency and performance in local governments First meeting: Thursday Feb. 5 at I p.m. in 500 State Office Building North Local government decision-tiial(iiigllexibilitv and mandate reduction Chair- Rei). Morrie Lanning (R -Moorhead) Goal: To empower local decision-making and flexibility in local budgets. First meeting, Tuesday Feb State Office Building North January 30, 2009 Page 1 3 Lit 4:30 p.m. in 500 The League will participate it) these groups, 651.281.1261 Cities, encouraged to request street improvement district authority The League is encouraging cities that want authority to Implement a Municipal street improvement district to request special legislation. Street improvement district authority would allow a city to collect fees from property owners wilbin a district tofund tilunicipal street Maintenance, constrixtion, recoIistruction and facility upgrades. III recent legislative sessions, the League, along with the City Ieineers Association of Minnesout has requested this authority for al I cities. Efforts have been met with, resistance from statewide business associations. The need for a new funding too] has continual ly grown, and now cities, are facing levy limits, iinallotment and additional budget pressures. Passage of the 2008 transportation finding bill provided new revenues for the state, for all counties and for some cities (those with populations over 5,000), The U11 did not provide now money for the 39,000 latae miles of 110II-State aid city street-, in Minnesota. Given the Legislature's refusal to provide broad authority for implementation of street improvement districts, the LeAgne believes there is an opportunity for limited authority if individual cities are willing to tnake a case. Cities are encouraged to look at the street improvement district Le, H)tLi_ce.kit and to consider For more infbrmalion on oily logislativc iss7acncontact any mornbcrol'the League ol'Minnesoto Cities, Intergovernmental Relations team. 051,291,1200 Or 800,925,1122 and WWw,1MC,0r9 Jan 30 2009 17:30:OZ Via Fax (? G) j,�AGUEOF .MINNESOTA CITIES -> 6514528940 Administrator Pd9E HOZ Of 003 -FridayFax"W A weekly legislative 1,11xiatefiroin the League QfMinnevola. Cities seeking special legislation. The League will assist interested cities in reclLiesting the bill draft and hearings, and with working with key legislators. To view the resource kit, go to hth)--, //WWw. I I U)&C-Ll larg.,ot i wnro V uno-ti-sa - Questions? C.IontacrAnne fi'll'in at 651.281.1263 or qC11-7?7Ladtnc,.oiV. or 13116117 Sfrttb of 65 1, 281 . 1256 oi- Committees meet to consider governor's budget proposal On Wednesday evening, the governor's budget proposal received its first hearing at ajoint. njeetbig of t1le H.ou.se Ways and Means Cm-naCUtag and theFing-ilce Qon1L1),jq.2g, The hearing was a briefing only on the content,-, of the overall budget pi.oposal and the committees did not take any formal action, Torn Hanson, Commissioner of Minnesota Management arid Budget along with State Budget Director Jim Schowalter provided metubers with an overview of the budget. The counilittees focused their attention to the education an(] health and hirman service-, sections of the proposal and spent relatively little time discussing the cuts to cities and countie.5. The committees also extensively discussed the governor's proposal to securitize a portion of the state's annual tobacco seffletnent payments to generate revenue to pay for the state's ( ninual debl: service costs, Over the. next several Weeks, the components of the governor's proposal will be sent to budget and policy committees for consideration. The Legislature is discussing hearings arourid the state to receive public input oil the governor's proposal, The front-page of the Januai-y 28, 2000 edition of the Cities 1111e in featured as More extensive JaIlUary 30, 2009 Page 2 article cle on the budget proposal. For more. details on the governor's proposal, dOCUrneftiS can be found on the website for the Minnesota Deparunej:)t of.Maugertien.t & Budget at. -bjt-t12,-,/-/ WW'11un L)Aafe - -,�/ Questions? Contact (Yapy (" r1son or League testifies, on Federal Stimulus Package On Tuesday, the League testified before the Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division Committee oil what cities are doing to actively engage congress on the proposed stimulus plan, speci-fically relating to housing, The cornmIttee was upd;a.ted on the Leagues work with the Natiq11aLLg.&P," with tl _qp. qf Lties the hope of being included as -ful I partners in helping stimulate the economy. For example, the League sent Minnesota's congressional delegation a letter endorsing the oudities of a potential stimulus package and noted that the package includes: support to individuals, city access to financial markets and investments in infrastructure. The League has also surveyed our members regarding potential infrastructure projects that could be ready to bid within 120 days. The committee was provided with a list of housing related projects submitted by cities, The League stressed to the committee that the housing crisis has resulted in an unprecedented number of vacant and foreclosed properties; a top concern for many communities. If these issues are left unaddressed, abandoned and blighted properties Could destabilize neighborhoods, depress property values and drive tip the costs of municipal services, The League highlighted the fact diat cities are doing their best to preserve the For inorc inrarniation on city legislative issues, contact any memberol'the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations tcnrn. 6,51.28),N)00 or 900925.1122 a lid WwwJi-ric,org, Jan 30 2009 17:30:55 Via Fax 00 j_,EAGUE or ,MINNESOTA CITIES _> 6514520940 Administrator Page 003 Of 003 -F-141-idayFax- A lveelcly Ieg-Islative u1niate firom the Leagrue qI'Minnesoto C*ues vitality and safety of neighborhoods btit we will need both federal and state assistance. tiven tv (55.1-281- 1260 Or Housing Improvement Area legislation heard in Senate A bill to remove the eurrent strnsel: on the Housing .Improvement Areas (HIA) statutes, _SF 8 DFL -St, Louis Park) was heard oil Thursday morning in the 5,tLLq1&'aLK.aL 1 ittge. The League supported die bill, and submitted a letter of support for the general authority to be made pernianew, St, Louis Park's Conimunity DeveJopin.ent Director, Kevin Locke was on hand to testify and ,,viswer questions for the committee. Cir€:.irtrta.nl. ii (DFL -Cook) said tile ,,ai committee would likely put somethingintllej-r onuilbu.s bill, but said that extending the sunset another few years would be aii alternative option. Sen. Ann Rest (DFL -New Hope) expressed her hope that the general authority be made perniatient, and that the tool had basically proven AS 11,90. 7,17be cominittee ultimately laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. Tile companion bill is Lj E' 2 (Wirdder. DPL Golden Valley). Questions? 651,281.1261 o Town hall meetings Town hall meetings are great OPPOALU)itieS to ineet with your legislators and tell your city story, sometimes ri-a-ht. inside city haR. Upcorning, ineetings in a city- nem you include: Ja-nuary 31 h) St. Clotid (Whitney'Senior Cei)ter' 9 a.m.) with Sen, Tarry] Clark., Reps. Larry Haws and Steve Gottwalt January 30, 2009 Page 3 January 3 L in Rockvillo (Granite Edge Caf6, downtown Rockville, 10 a.m.) with Rep. Steve Gottwalt January 31. in Eoen Prairie (Eden Prairie City Council Chambers, 10 ami,) with Sell, David Hann and Rep. Jennifer Loon January 31 in Prior Lake (Public Library, 6210 Eagle Creek Avenue SE, 10 a.m.) with Sen. Claire Roblin g and Rep. Mike Beard January 31 In Shakopee (Public Librat­y, 235 South Lewis Street, 12 noon) with Sen. Claire Robling and Rep, Mike Beard January 31 in St. Patil Park (City Hall, 600 Portland Avenu.e, 9 ami-) with Sen. Katie Sieben and Rep. Karla Bighani Jamiary 31 in 'South St. 11,aul (.0tyliall, 125 3rd Avenue, I I a.m.) with Sen, Katie Sieben and Rep. Karla Bightun Jainiary 31 it) New Brighton (Fainily Service Center, Room 224. 1.0 aam) witli Rep, Kate Knuth Febi*uary 7 in Dulutli (Duluth Ejitetuinillent Convention Center, French River.Roorn, 10 a.m.) with Rep, Roger Reinert Check your local newspaper or radio station for additional dates. To receive e -triad notice of upcoming town lial.) meetings ilear you, subscribe online at 1 htt�://www lailin ) _q,1.jse.leg.,5tarej n.u.s/maillist/n Ll S t.a S Q and htt A p,'//www..,5en ate. legZtate. rn n. us/sch edul e/l istser VJI.tiii, al 051.281, .I25 ]-or more information on city lccplslsfivc issueri, contact any member oi'the Lca�ue orNfinnewta Citich Intorgovernmcrital Relations team. 651.291.1200 or 900,92.15,11272 'WId www,1r1)C,0r9