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2006-10-20 Friday News The Friday News October 20, 2006 DAKOTA COUNTY PARKS PLANNING The Dakota County Parks Department is actively working on Parks Systems planning as a part Dakota County’s Comprehensive Plan update. On Wednesday parks and recreation staff from cities around the county joined Dakota County Parks, DNR and Three Rivers Park District Staff to discuss visioning for the parks system for years to come. Three primary alternatives were identified, from focusing on parks as destinations to utilizing parks as a means to preserve a system of natural areas. County staff are working to encompass the needs/concerns of citizens all over the county – those in the developed urban area, undeveloped rural area and all points in-between. County staff has reported that connections between parks (county and city), natural areas and residents are a common theme with all visioning groups. Nearing the end of the visioning phase, Dakota County hopes to bring a draft plan to the communities in late 2006 or early 2007. CITIES’ NOISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE The Cities’ Noise Oversight Committee met on Wednesday, October 18th – the topic of discussion was getting representation for communities within the 65 DNL noise contour on the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Different approaches and tactics were discussed at length. Taking the input from this meeting, Eagan staff is going to draft two pieces of legislation for communities to discuss with their legislators immediately following the election (The add four new members to the MAC – two for the 65 DNL cities located north of the river and two for south of the river proposal, and the reconfigure the MAC to remove the four out State members to a new organization and replace them with the four 65 DNL members, or the “MPLS Plan”). Mendota Heights, along with Eagan, Richfield, and Bloomington are the four 65 DNL cities. Our “homework” is to find out if either of the proposals is likely to succeed in the legislature, in our districts, and in the state as a whole. With good feedback from our legislators, the next steps would be to choose an approach, then working to get a bill introduced. There are a number of issues we need to address – avoid being seen as single issue members of the MAC, addressing concerns that metro communities with smaller airports will key in on, and building consensus that change is necessary to name a few. FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS The Fire Department is going to implement a new way of appointing their Captains beginning this year. In the past , sele ction of Capt ains was on an election or votes from the Firefighters. This is not the preferred way and the League of MN Cities and our labor attorney had recently strongly suggested that we change the policy. The Fire Department has agreed to implement the change, and their Captain selection is now going to be similar to how the City already promotes other employees and selects commissioners. There will be a board who interview and evaluate candidates and then make a recommendation to the Chief who will make the final appointment. There are four Fire Captains with two alternating appointments every other year. Remember, tonight is the Firemen’s Ball at Ro yal Cliff in Eagan beginning at 8:00 p.m. and the Rockin’ Hollywood’s will be rocking out until midnight. Last Saturday there was a very well attended Fire Safety Day at the Fire Hall where there was lots of “hands on” stuff for the kids to do such as a simulated fire for them to put out and “Snuffer the Fire Dog” had his dog house for the kids to jump on. Respectfully submitted, Jim Danielson City Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, Planning Commission Agenda, Pre-Application Meeting Synopsis, Memo from Jack Sedlacek on Land Using Training Opportunity, Email regarding “Minnesota Motorists’ Buckle Up Rate Drops”, Letter from Mayor of South St. Paul to Fire Chief John Maczko, Sun Articles “MH Council nixes change to lot requirements”, “Mendota Heights sisters’ trail a not-so-scary success story” and South-West Review Happenings Article “A not so haunted forest”.