2007-08-10 Friday NewsI
TOWN CENTER BREAKS GROUND
The City closed the sale on the "ABC" Building lot at Town Center to developer Ross Fefercorn
this August 1St. Ross immediately picked up his building permit at City Hall and began working
on the building. The earth moving machines are all out there now moving dirt. The ABC
Building is the last of Ross's retail/offices, and is a 47,000 sq .ft., two-story building that will
include a 199 car underground and structural surface parking lot. The building will provide the
visual end cap to Market Square with a "landmark" four sided lit clock tower. Ross plans on
celebrating this event with a ground breaking ceremony at 11 am next Tuesday, August 14th at the
site. Hard hats, shovels, photos refreshments, press releases etc are all on the agenda.
MEETING WITH AMM (ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES)
On Thursday, Jake and I met with Sarah Erickson from AMM — a member organization of 86
metropolitan cities. Sarah wanted to find out what development, transportation and/or legislative
issues the City was facing. We discussed MAC representation, redevelopment incentives, the
Market Value Homestead Credit, the Metropolitan Council and the potential for a special session
regarding the 35W bridge collapse. It was a nice chance to touch base with an organization that
lobbies on our behalf. As a take -away from our meeting, Sarah will be contacting the lobbyist
for MAC to express our concerns and work to identify options that may be acceptable to MAC.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
National Night Out was held on Tuesday evening of this week, with the main event being at
Mendakota Park. Brian Convery estimated that about 300 people showed up there. Along with
Mendakota Park, eight other locations in the neighborhoods were used for events around the
City. Police officers and Fire Department personnel attended these events too. Thanks to
Mendota Heights/West St. Paul Rotary for a cash donation, and serving goodies, Mom's Club,
Ziggy's provided ice cream, Fischerville did face painting. Teresa Gangelhoff from Parks and
Recreation had games for kids and the Fire Department was there with their "whopper hopper".
NORA ALI
The City Council was treated to an absolutely beautiful violin recital at their meeting this week
from Nora Ali. After the recital, the Council honored Nora with a plaque for recently winning the
America's Junior Miss title.
MAC CONSTRUCTION
This Monday evening the ARC Commission held their August meeting. After their meeting, the
ARC attended an open house put on by the MAC in the City Council chambers to inform
Mendota Heights residents about their summer's construction program at the airport and its
impact on our City. (See attached information that MAC handed out at the meeting).
PUBLIC WORKS PICNIC
This Thursday noon Public Works held their annual picnic out at their garage. They invited all
the City employees and most of us came. It was a wonderful day (cooler, less humid and
breezy). The food was excellent!!! Thanks guys!!
Respectfully submitted,
James Danielson
City Administrator
Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts, Park and Recreation Agenda, SouthWest Review Article
"Facing debt, Lilydale puts bluff lot on the block" and Sun Current Article "Mendota Heights
offers skateboarding camp".
08-10-07
am
08-10-07
the parking lot where he found her car with a man sitting in the passenger seat.
Fortunately after the intoxicated mom and passenger had words he slid into the
driver's seat and they left.
Medical Assist 08-06-07 2112 hours
Officer Todd Rosse responded to assist with a party refusing to return to the hospital.
They were out on a day pass from the treatment center and were refusing to return.
After a short conversation with the parents and then with the child they agreed to
return without incident.
Financial Card Fraud 08-17-07 1226 hours
Officer Eric Petersen responded to a local residence to speak with the victim of credit
card fraud. The caller had been checking their bank statement when they spotted
several unauthorized transactions in another state. They immediately contacted the
bank and closed the account when they noticed the charges on 08-03-07. The caller
had been studying abroad and left the card at a store in Ireland. The store was
contacted and asked to cut up the card. The victim did have a room mate from the
same area where the improper charges are coming from. The case has been
forwarded to investigations for follow-up.
Abandoned Vehicle 08-07-07 2044 hours
While on patrol Officer Peyton Fleming found a vehicle parked on the north end of
Pilot Knob Road, the car was locked and no one around. The car appeared to have
fresh damage and to have been gone through. A shoe was located on the roof of the
car and the matching shoe on the dash board. Officer Fleming had Oakdale Police
check the address that the car registered too only to find out the house was boarded
up and no one lived there. The car was impounded and put into the system. The
next day the registered owner called and apologized for leaving the car. He
apparently had intentions of watching planes with a young lady but was far to
intoxicated and couldn't remember where his car was when he woke up. After a call
to the Eagan Police Department he was directed to MHPD to retrieve his car.
Domestic 08-08-07 1427 hours
Officer Jennifer Fordham responded to a local residence on a mother son dispute.
The son had left home with out permission. He had recently completed in patient
treatment and was supposed to go to a half way house before coming home. The
son really didn't want to go to the half way house and ended up at home. The young
man was expecting his girl friend to come over and her transportation fell through.
She was now in route on her bicycle from Minneapolis. The domestic began when
mom refused to allow son access to a vehicle to go pick up the girlfriend. Counseling
provided and advice on how to handle the situation. Mom advised to call 911 if
further issues developed.
DUI / Controlled Substance Violation 08-09-07 0056 hours
Officer Steve Meyer clocked a car at 76 mph in a 55 mph zone. After stopping the
car he immediately smelled alcohol coming from the driver. He was run through
SFST's and failed all of them including the PBT which showed a BAC of .101. While
in route to MHPD, the suspect was squirming around and attempting to lay down in
the backseat of the squad car. At MHPD Officer Meyer found a bag containing crack
cocaine in the back seat. *Note the seat is checked at the beginning of every shift
and after each prisoner is removed. After being read the MN Implied Consent
Advisory the man provided a urine sample to be sent to the BCA lab for analysis.
The suspect was provided room and board at the DC jail. ffa� a ptw�i�
-2-
N E W S
LETTER
Public Works
Engineering
Code Enforcement
Public Works
The Parks Crew aerated the soccer and ball fields throughout the City. The
hockey boards were painted at Wentworth Park to cover up graffiti. The
fields at the Civic Center and Mendakota Park were top dressed.
Rich's summer helper, Andy, filled in for Rich while he was on vacation.
Andy trimmed trees in the sewer easement in Friendly Hills. He painted fire
hydrants on Lexington Avenue, Centre Point Curve and Centre Point Blvd.
Public Works treated the City Hall and Police employees to a summer picnic.
The food was excellent and the day beautiful. Thanks to Public Works
employees!! A great time was had by all who attended.
Engineering
There was a water main break on Monday at the east end of Lakeview
Avenue.
On Wednesday, Sue, Guy, Sam, and Mandy toured the Shakopee
Mdwankanton Sioux Community's Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The
$20 million facility is the cleanest, most advanced wastewater plant in
Minnesota. Effluent from the facility is used to irrigate the community's golf
course and other areas. It also features a 31,000 sf green roof that
contains more than 45,000 seedlings along with seeds from native prairie
grasses and flowers.
Sue will be on vacation in sunny California the week of August 13tH
Sam is out of the office until Tuesday, he is hiking the Rockies in Laramie,
Wyoming.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AGENDA
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 6:30 P.M.
City Council Chambers
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of June 12, 2007, Minutes
4. June/July Parks & Recreation Report (Available Tuesday)
5. Par 3 Financial Status
6. Project Updates
a. Valley Park Tennis Courts
b. Dakota County "Nurt" Trail
C. Par 3 Golf
d. Tennis Court Maintenance
e. Trail Reconstruction
f. Maintenance of Native Plantings Around City Ponds
g. 2008 Capital Improvement Projects & 2008 Maintenance Budget
h. Pilot Knob
i. Civic Center Ball Field
j. Pilot Knob Site #2
7. Commission Comments
8. Adjourn
Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available 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.
• • :4-911
•
puts bluff lot on the. block
Unique parcel of
open space highlights
city's money woes
Seth Loy
news editor
Developing a one -acre bluff in
Lilydale, 1124 Sibley Memorial
Highway, could put the city in the
black.
Officials want to sell the prop-
erty,. donated by one of the city's
late founders, John Thompson, for
$349,900 — partly to settle a
$231,000 debt,
In the red
The city is struggling to pay
back $155,000 in tax -anticipation
certificates and a $76,000 loan
from its sewer fund, used to pay
sanitary sewer expenses, general
maintenance costs and Metropoli-
tan Council fees.
Mayor Tom. Swain says the cur-
rent .financial situation is a result
of "complicated fiscal manage-
ment" and not raising enough
money through taxes — though
property taxes are- up 17 percent
this year.
Swain noted the city enjoyed a
surplus not long ago. He believes
that continuing to operate in debt
"is poor fiscal management,"
which is why the city council
voted. 4-1 to develop the lot.
"That's what initially triggered
our interest in looking -at the lot,"
Swain says. "Those who live
nearby are probably most con-
cerned, and others in the city
knew if we were in debt and had
this ability to sell this land that
had no other good service, [we
would do so]."
Last open parcel
However, a handful of local resi-
dents and City Council member
Marilyn Lundberg oppose the idea,
saying it could destroy Lilydale's
last remaining parcel of open
space.
"A petition has been circulated
in my building and [nearby] con-
dos," says Lundberg, who lives a
block away at 1077 Hwy. 13. "I
feel it's really important theciti-
zens of Lilydale are aware of it."
While the city lacks an inter-
ested developer, Lundberg' says,
officials are exploring the'possibil-
ity of selling the land. She prefers
keeping it "passive, open space"
rather than allowing another
home.
"A lot of people have contacted
me who don't want it sold," -Lund-
berg says. "If a buyer comes, _then
[there] will be negotiating;. The
city has asked a Realtor to see
about selling."
Public can attend meetings
Officials must hold at least two
see Loton page 6
W
ot/ Housing project coed worsen traffic, increase water runoff
continued from page 1
dences'in neighboring Men-
dota Heights.
public hearing on the issue in
The land was donated by
order to change the land's
Thompson and his wife June;
zoning and amend the city's
who owned Thompson Light -
ight-comprehensive`
comprehensive plan.
Hing Protection Inc., 901 Sib-
Lilydale's Planning Com-
ley Memorial Hwy., next to
mission will discuss the mat-
Diamond Jim's Mall in Lily -
ter at 4:30 p.m.'Aug. 9,,a ."
dale. Lloyd and Katherine
meeting open to the public.
McNulty also donated some
The City Council will vote on
of the land, Lundberg says,
the commissioners' recom-
though less is known about
mendation at 4:30 p.m. Aug.
them.
20.
In the 1970s, Thompson, a
Swain says the .84 -acre lot
local businessman and real
includes 256 feet of frontage
estate agent, preserved the
along Highway 13. It can
land in connection with Lex -
accommodate one home,
ington Court, a 33 -unit town -
maybe a twin home, which
house development. He later
would be surrounded by resi-
donated the parcel to the city.
basic city services; just to pay
off the bonds."
Lucille Collins, who lives at
1137 Sibley Memorial High-
way, wants the property to
remain open space. She --says
the previous landowner left
the bluff to the citizens as <a
gift, and it become a kind
of "birdsanctuary," with reg-
ular turkey sightings.
"We'`need that piece of
open land — it shouldn't be
touched,"' Collins says.
"There's a lot of wildlife
there. It's thelast piece of
open space left. If [the; city]
needs the money, they should
try to get the money some
other way. There' area lot of
9"Voivement incFeases;
"I believe the steep bluffs
along the Mississippi River
should be protected," Lund-
berg says. "The land is dedi-
cated park land because that
is what the :donors wanted.
All the area benefits from the
bluffs protected by, St. Paul
and Minneapolis and other
cities."
The parcel presents two
challenges: no parking on
Highway 13 and a grade over
18 percent (Lilydale's ordi-
nance prohibits building on
such a slope). The Met Coun-
cil and DNR must approve a
change to multi -family resi-
dential, Lundberg says, if the
citizens against this.
She also fears water runoff
from a new home and a
potential increase in traffic',
on Highway :13, which she
calls a "dangerous" roadway. j
"I just think people should
get to the [Planning Commis-
sion] meeting. It's going to be'.
important, and I think the
city council and mayor
should leave this alone. If
they need another source of
money, that's not the citizens'
fault."
Seth Lob can be reached at
748-7815 or slob0lillienews.'
com.
city changes its comprehen-
sive plan and applicable ordi-
nances.
Margaret Levin, a conserva-
tion organizer for the Sierra
Club North Star Chaper, says
her group is "aware of the
issue."
"The city wants the money
and some don't think the
land has any open space
value," Lundberg says. "The
city is in bad financial shape
and has had to borrow for its
operating budget. Part of the
reason for the shortfall is that
over 35 percent of Lilydale's
tax capacity is in tax incre-
ment financing, which means
the money is not available for
The Mendota Heights Park and
Recreation Department presented its
http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2007/08/09/sports/cwO9skateboardbw.prt 8/10/2007