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Issue 54 - Heights Highlights Spring 2001PAGE 1 May, 2001 ISSUE 54 J CELEBRATE MENDOTA HEIGHTS PARKS! Mark your calendars for Saturday June 2, 2001 as we Celebrate Mendota Heights Parks! The celebration will be from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Activities will include: 10:00 am Breakfast With The Bears (Teddy Bear Band — BYOB — Bring Your Own Bear & Ziggy's Deli will be selling juice/donuts) 11:00 Boltz's Tae Kwon Do Demo 11:30 Turner's Gymnastics Center Demo 12:00 Team Ramp In Line -Skate Show 12:30 Alpha Bits Band The following events will run from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Walton's Hollow Petting Zoo/Pony Ride Fire Truck Rides Mendota Heights Athletic Association Ball Tournament Sibley Area Sting Soccer Shoot -Out Mendakota Animal Hospital Face Painting by PROTEC Environmental Consultants Caricatures Inver Grove Heights Clown Club Concessions by Ziggy's Deli & Ice Cream This event is made possible by the generous support of residents, community groups and community businesses. Please remember to sponsor your local businesses and community groups. If you are interested in making a donation, volunteering for this year's event or are a business or community group interested in participating in next year's event, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 651-452-1850. Thank You, Spring Clean Up Parfi6pants! The City of Mendota Heights held its seventh annual Spring Clean Up in the south parking lot of Mendota Plaza on May 5, 2001. Residents brought hard -to -dispose -of items such as mattresses, fur- niture, tires, scrap metal, and construction debris and paid a modest fee for disposal. Volunteers from city staff were on hand to help residents unload their vehicles. The City would like to thank the following individuals for volunteering their time on Saturday to help our residents at Spring Clean -Up: Nancy Bauer Guy Kullander Becky Pentel Jim Danielson Brian Lindberg Kathy Swanson Patrick Hollister Cari Lindberg John Tran Tom Knuth Marc Mogan The City would also like to thank the following businesses and anizations for making Spring Clean Up possible: - Paster Enterprises Nitti Sanitation/Lightning Disposal Scrapbusters Greenman Technologies JR's Appliances Dakota County Environmental Mgmt. Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance Most of all, the City would like to thank our residents for their continued participation in Spring Clean Up! ENJOY OUR CITY PARKS AND TRAILS We invite all residents to enjoy the parks and traits in Mendota Heights. Explore the amenities your city has to offer while enjoying the great outdoors! City parks are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. In order to allow everyone the most enjoyable experience without conflicting with the rights of fellow park users and neighboring residents, we ask every- one's cooperation in abiding by the posted park rules. Park shelters and facilities are available for reservation on a first come, first-served basis. For information on rental procedures and fees, please contact the Recreation Pro- grammer at 651-452-1850. When walking or bicycling along the city's trails, please remember that the trails were designed for mixed use. When you ride your bike, please be cautions and considerate, keeping -your speed at a level that is safe for both you and pedestrians. Walkers, please be alert for bicycles that may be rounding a bend or coming over a hill. City ordinances require all dogs in the city to be leashed. This especially pertains to park property. Pet owners are permitted to have their leashed pets in city parks and on city trails but they are required to clean up any droppings left by their animals. Finally, to assist the city in the maintenance and appearance of our parks and trails, we ask for everyone's cooperation in using the trash and recycling receptacles provided. FIREWORKS PLANNED! Mendakota Country Club, in cooperation with the city, plans to sponsor the fifth annual fire- works display on the Fourth of July. Watch your local newspapers for further information on j parking and other details. Inside "Heights Highlites" Recycling Survey Recreational Fire Information Air Noise Complaint Line Reduce Theft from Vehicles in Parks Community Action Council Information Relay for Life - Mendota Heights Roger's Lake Fishing Derby and See Pages 4 through 7 for Summer Recreation Opportunities PAGE 2 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES May, 2001 Recycling Survey The City of Mendota Heights and Dakota County Environmental Management would like your help in evaluating how effective the current City/County recycling program is for our residents. Please take a moment to fill out the following survey and either bring your answers to City Hall or mail your answers to Recycling Coordinator, City of Mendota Heights, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118. Responses are needed by July 1, 2001. 1.What kind of dwelling do you live in? (Check one.) Single -Family Home Townhome/Condominium Apartment 2.How many people are in your household? # of people 3.Do you participate in the curbside recycling program? (Yes/No) If you participate in the curbside recycling program, please indicate how many times per week you leave the following items for pick-up by your garbage hauler by marking the appropriate boxes below. Less than Once/ Twice/ Three times/ Item once/month month month month Weekly Glass Aluminum/ Tin Cans Plastic Bottles with necks Newspapers Magazines & Catalogs Mail Corrugated Cardboard 4. Have you ever used the Eco -Site at Dodd Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan to dispose of anything? (Yes/No) 5. Have you ever participated in Mendota Heights Spring Clean -Up held in May of each year? (Yes/No) 6. Do you have a copy of the Dakota County Green Guide? (Yes/No) Thank you for your participation. The City of Mendota Heights will make the results of this survey available in a future Heights Highlites. Acle. Be part of the solution! Recreational Fires In 1998, the City Council passed an c nance change regarding recreational fire per- mits. You may have a recreational fire with- out obtaining a permit from the city. You must, however, comply with the following regulations: • Fires must be extinguished within three hours after they are started, but not later than 11:00 p.m. • Use clean and dry wood only (no re- fuse, grass, leaves, logs over 3 in di- ameter, paper, garbage or other com- bustibles. • The size of the fire cannot be more than three feet in diameter, and flames must not reach a height in excess of three feet. • No fire shall be within twenty feet of any building or structure • A means of extinguishment must be in the immediate area of the fire. • No fire shall be started or maintained in dry conditions or winds over 15 MPH. • Prior notice must be given to the p, lic safety dispatcher, at 450-1111, one hour before the fire is ignited. • Recreational fires must be constantly attended by a competent person until the fire has been completely extin- guished. The Fire Chief or his representative is authorized to prohibit, suspend, or further restrict all fires should atmospheric, drought, wind, state or local circumstance or condi- tions warrant or dictate such action. Viola- tion of any of these regulations may result in the issuance of a citation. If you have any questions regarding these regulations, please call Fire Marshal Paul Kaiser at 452-1850. Please Call Are you bothered by air noise?When air noise be- comes unbearable and dis- rupts your family's lifestyle, the Metropolitan Airports Commission wants to know. Call the MAC air noise complaint line at (612)726-9411. If possible, be prepares' provide the MAC with information on ti, location, direction and aircraft type. PAGE 3 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES May, 2001 Help Reduce Theft from Auto in Our City Parks With the return of nice weather we are seeing a large increase in the number of residents visiting our city parks. The increase in park usage means increased thefts from vehicles. Thieves tend to target park areas because visitors often leave purses, wallets and other valuable in their automobiles. Thieves usually work in parks during daytime hours when they are the most crowded. From an inconspicuous place, they watch vehicles enter the parking area and they then watch the owners place valuables under seats and in trunks. Once the owners are out of sight, the thief approaches the vehicle, smashes the window and grabs the valuables. A typical "smash and grab" takes less than 10 seconds. The cost to a victim of a car break in is approximately $1000.00. This includes replacing windows, which are commonly broken out, as well as replacement costs of the purses and wallets and the cash contained within. This does not begin to cover the expense of the merchandise that is purchased with the forged credit cards and checks taken in these thefts. There are a few simple steps that park visitors can take to minimize the opportunities for auto thieves to strike in our parks. First and most important, NEVER leave valuables anywhere in your vehicle when it is unattended. This includes under seats, in glove boxes and in trunks. If you don't plan to keep a purse or wallet with you, leave it with someone you trust or secure it back at home before you leave. Second, take note of any suspicious persons around the parking area or in wooded areas adjacent to parking lots. Also, immediately report any suspicious persons or activities to the Police by dialing 911. Always take note of the license plates of suspicious vehicles and the descriptions of suspicious persons and pass these on to the Police Dispatcher. The Mendota Heights Police Department is asking for your cooperation in stopping auto thieves in our parks. Please be extra vigilant while in or around parks this summer. With everyone's help we can make visiting our parks a safer and more enjoyable experience for all. Community Action Council Community Action Council (CAC) made an informational presentation to the City Council at their April 17 meeting. CAC is a non profit agency that works in partnership with individuals, families, volunteers, schools, churches, service organizations and cities to help our neighborhoods stay strong and healthy. Their motto is "In the spirit of caring for our neighborhoods, Community Action Council provides support to people and communities to prevent violence, ensure school success and promote long-term eco- nomic self sufficiency." Their services in- clude battered women's shelters, domestic violence intervention, sexual assault services and violence prevention education. They also provide a number of neighborhood and community services including: family sup- port, neighborhood services, child care re- sources and referrals, no interest family loans, income tax services and a holiday gift program. Community Action Council also focuses on community education, providing educational programs and presentations to ools, businesses and other organizations. he CAC crisis line phone number is 651- 452-7466. The sexual assault hotline number is 651-405-1500. To contact CAC for more information or to schedule an informational presentation, please call 651-452-7466. cap, DOG GONE? Is your dog allowed outside of your yard without supervision? City staff routinely re- ceive complaints about wandering dogs. Your pet is very special to you, but unsuper- vised dogs can be very intimidating to others. City ordinances are specific about the re- sponsibilities of dog owners. Your dog must be controlled by a leash not exceeding six feet in length unless it is within a vehicle being driven or parked on the public streets or if it is within the property limits of your premises. Dogs must also be licensed annu- ally. The license year runs from June through May, and the $6.00 annual fee is reduced to $3.00 for spayed/neutered dogs. Please protect your dog by licensing it and recognize your neighbors' rights by keeping your dog on a leash or confined to your property. NEIGHBORHOOD ATTRACTIONS Mendota Heights is a community to be proud of, and that pride shows in every neighborhood. Now that summer is nearly here and we are outside more often, perhaps it's time to take a closer look at what's being stored in our yards. City Ordinances set guidelines for what is permissible. Compli- ance with the guidelines ensures attractive neighborhood environments. Non-compli- ance often attracts the attention of the City's code enforcement staff. Unlicensed cars and car parts, including tires, are not allowed in your yard unless they are screened from public view. Recreational vehicles, such as campers boats, snowmo- biles and trailers, may only be placed in the rear yard or on one side of your lot. They may not, however, be stored in any portion of the yard adjacent to a street. A recurring source of complaints is wood- piles. You may legally store one cord of wood (4' by 4' by 8') in your yard. Obvi- ously, an accumulation of garbage is not permissible, but sometimes other objection- able items are overlooked, such as left over construction materials, brush, appliances and similar debris. Please, take a look at your yard through your neighbors' eyes and re- move any unsightly debris. Fences are often taken for granted. When they are not maintained, the whole neighbor- hood can look neglected. A new coat of paint and some minor repairs could make a big difference in your property's appearance. Trees, shrubs and bushes are also taken for granted. If allowed to grow out of control, they can become a real hazard. Sometimes they grow to a point where they block the view of intersections, endangering both ve- hicular and pedestrian traffic. Owners of cor- ner lots should regularly check and trim any overgrowth that obstructs the view of signs or street intersections. These guidelines were adopted years ago to ensure the enhanced appearance and safety of our community. Adherence to the guidelines will be appreciated by the City, and, more importantly, by your neighbors. Relay for Life Approaches Plans for the American Cancer Society Re- lay for Life of Mendota Heights are under- way. The Relay will take place at the St. Thomas Academy track on August 10-11. Relay for Life is an overnight event where teams of 8-12 people walk around a track all night to raise money to fight cancer. At least one member of each team must be circling the track at all times. All money raised funds American Cancer Society research, educa- tion, advocacy and patient services. If you are interested in forming a team, volunteering on the event planning commit- tee or learning more about the event, please call Cori at the American Cancer Society 952-925-6311 or Barb Howell at 651-457- 4548. PAGE 4 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES May. 2001 MENDOTA HEIGHTS PARKS AND RECREATION, FAMILY PERFORMANCES IN THE PARKS The Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a series of "FREE" Performances in the Parks! Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the entire performance. In the case of inclement weather, all shows will move to the Henry Sibley High School. Enter through the main entrance and watch for signs directing you to the performance location. Mark your calendars! Wednesday, June 13 — 6:30 p.m. Mendakota Park Shelter (Dodd Rd. & Mendakota Dr.) "KIT & KABOODLE" Kit & Kaboodle are a crowd -pleasing duo, performing music and comedy for family audiences. This talented twosome trans- forms children's songs into hilarious comedy routines people of all ages can enjoy. Kit & Kaboodle deliver music and humor with harmony and style. Wednesday, June 27 - 6:30 p.m. — Rogers Lake Park Shelter (Wagon Wheel Trail) "THE PAUL HEFFRON MUSIC" This father and son duo performs a variety of old s time hits and some modem music with a "Big Band" sound. This performance is bound to bring back many musical memories. OFFICE INFORMATION: Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve Phone: (651)452-1850 Park Maintenance Phone: (651)454-4059 PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF: Mary Hapka, Recreation Programmer Terry Blum, Parks Leadperson John Boland, Parks Crew Mike Maczko, Parks Crew E ND RECREATION INFORMATION LINES: Ballfield Reservations (651)255-1172 Conditions and Rain -outs (651)255-1173 Recreation Programs (651)255-1175 Wednesday, July 11 - 6:30 p.m. — Rogers Lake Park Shelter (Wagon Wheel Trail) "LEROY'S RIVER MINSTRELS" Back by popular demand, LeRoy's River Minstrel's will take you down memory lane with golden oldies you love and remem- ber. The performance will include music from the roaring 20's, the Big Band Era, folk music and show tunes. Join us for a relaxing evening in the park! Wednesday, July 18 - 6:30 p.m. — Friendly Hills Park Shelter (Pueblo Ln. & Decorah Ln.) IMAGINATION STATION The Imagination Station will be making a special evening appearance at Friendly Hills Park. Puppets, songs and dancing will entertain families with young children. If you have been unable to make it to the afternoon Imagination Station shows don't miss this opportunity. This program will be cancelled in the case of inclement weather. IMAGINATION STATION The Imagination Station traveling variety show will be making appearances at both Wentworth and Friendly Hills parks this summer. This new program will provide creative, quality per- formances free of charge. The shows will include choreographed performances, puppet shows, songs and dances. Performances last approximately thirty minutes and are designed to entertain families with young children. Performances will not be held if it is raining. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets to sit on. Mondays: June 25 —August 3, 2001 1:30-2:00 Wentworth Park (Wentworth Avenue) 3:00-3:30 Friendly Hills Park (Pueblo Lane & Apache) PAGE 5 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES May, 2001 YOUTH DAY TRIPS All youth trips depart and return at the front entrance of the West St. Paul City Hall, 1616 Humboldt Avenue. You may register by mail using the registration form included in this newsletter or you can register in person at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. Anyone interested in chaperoning youth trips should contact Mary at 452-1850. Registration Deadlines are one week prior to the dates of the trips. Thursday, June 14 —Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center Come and have a ton of water fun! We will be spending the day at the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center. Build sand castles or head for the pool and water slides. Bring a bag lunch. Cost is $11.00 per person .Ages: 8-12 years of age Depart/Return: 9:45 am/3:00 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, June 21—Robin Hood at The Old Log Theater and Swimming at Minnetonka Regional Park Beach Join us for the legendary story of Robin Hood and his band of merry men who feud with the sheriff of Nottingham, a rousing tale of adventure, honor and bravery. After the play we will be heading to the Minnetonka Regional Park Beach for some fun in the sun. Bring a bag lunch or $$ for concessions, swimsuit & towel. Cost is $13.00 per person. Ages: 8-12 years of age Depart/Return: 9:00 am/3:15 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, June 28 —Twins Game Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox Take me out to the ballpark! Spend an ex- citing day at the Metrodome. Game time is - 12:15 pm. Fee includes upper deck admission, a hot dog or popcorn & pop. You may want to bring extra money for snacks. Cost is $11.50 per person Ages: 7-12 years of age Depart/Return: 9:30am/3:45 pm (WSP) Thursday, July 12 - Bunker Hills Wave Pool & Box Lunch Come surf the waves. Bring your swimsuit, towel, change of clothes & if you want to rent an inner tube bring an extra $2.00 (for two hour session). We will be at the wave pool from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Trip includes box lunch (small pop, hot dog, chips & cookie); however you can bring extra money for additional snacks. Cost is $14.00 per person. Ages: 10 and older Depart/Return: 9:00 am/3:15 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, July 19 —Crystal Caves Explore Crystal Caves in Spring Valley Wisconsin. Discover an incredible new world while exploring this geological wonder. We will have a guided tour of the caves (wear a jacket it is "cool" in the caves). After the tour we will have lunch and then we will top at Dairy Queen for a treat on our way home. Children should pack a bag lunch and bring money to purchase a treat at Dairy Queen. Cost is $9.00 per person. Ages: 7-12 years of age Depart/Return: 8:30 am/3:00 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, July 26 —Cascade Bay Ahoy, Cascade Bay! Join us for a fun filled day exploring sandpiper beach, twin falls, lookout point and the lazy river at Cascade Bay Family Aquatic Center located in Eagan. Bring a bag lunch, swimsuit and towel. Cost is $12.50 per person Ages: 842 years of age Depart/Return: 9:45 a.m./3:15 p.m. (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, August 2 — Youth Performance Company & Cliff French Park Begin your day with the rollicking musical adaptation of Mark Twain's story of Tom Sawyer &Huck Finn at the Youth Performance Company. /// Afterward, a trip to Cliff French Park in Plymouth which includes swim- �t o ming at the beach and fun at the crea- tive play area. Please bring swimsuit, towel, bag lunch and extra $$$ for concessions. Cost is $12.00 per per - Son. Ages: 8-12 years of age Depart/Return: 9:15 am/3:00 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, August 9 —Taylor Falls Wild Mountain Water slides, alpine slides and go-carts. Join us on this Wet ` n ' Wild, totally refreshing daylong adventure. An unlimited slide pass allows you unlimited use of water slides plus go-carts and an alpine slide ride. Bring a hearty bag lunch and/or money to buy a lunch, swimsuit & towel. Cost is $23.00 per person. Ages: 8 years and older Depart/Return: 8:15 am/3:15 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Thursday, August 23 —Valley Fair As usual, we are saving the best for last with our grand finale trip. This will truly be THE BIGGEST FUN DAY AROUND. Bring a bag lunch or purchase one there. Youth are not directly supervised. Check in times will be assigned. Call the Parks and Recreation Dept. for more informa- tion. Cost: $25.00 per person Ages: 10 years of age or older Depart/Return: 9:00 am/6:30 pm (West St. Paul City Hall) Parent/Guardian Name: Home Phone: Work Phone: Address: City: Zip Code: Please check for $5.00 Non -Resident Fee Participant Name Gender Birthdate Activity Name Start Time FEE (Circle) Date 1. M F / / /_✓_ $ 2. M F M F / / / /' _/_/ '_ $- $ 3. / / PAGE 8 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES May, 2001 PLANNING ]IMPROVEMENTS? Are you planning any remodeling or addi- tions to you home, or thinking about fencing your yard or installing a swimming pool? If �--� so, please contact City Hall before you begin. Building permits are required for most ( types of construction. Permit appliations for new structures or additions that may require variances because they are too close to a lot line, or those that may require wetlands or conditional use per- mits must be reviewed by the City Planner. If he determines that requirements of the Zoning Ordinance cannot be met, a planning application must be submitted for review by the Planning Commission and City Council. In order to avoid delays, submit your build- ing plans to the code enforcement depart- ment well in advance of the date you plan to begin construction. Heights Highlites is a government newslet- ter distributed to inform residents on events and activities that affect Mendota Heights. All articles, as well as layout and production, are done by city staff members. If you know any residents who are not receiving the Heights High lites, please invite them to contact City Hall, 452-1850, to be placed on the newsletter mailing list. CITY DIRECTORY Council Members: 452-1850 Charles Mertensotto, Mayor 454-3394 Michael Dwyer 452-7872 Sandra Krebsbach 454-5696 Mary Jeanne Schneeman 457-4337 Jack Vitelli 455-5625 Staff Members: Cari Lindberg, City Administrator 452-1850 Kathleen Swanson, U.S. Postage City Clerk 452-1850 James Danielson, Public Permit No. 6166 Works Director 452-1850 Jeff Piotraschke, Acting Police Chief 452-1366 John Maczko, Fire Chief 406-4774 Code Enforcement Officers: Paul Berg & Dick Gill 452-1850 ROGER'S LAIC FISHING DERBY Come enjoy a morning of fishing fun at the new Roger's Lake Fishing Dock. Dig out your fishin' pole and come on down to the Roger's Lake dock to try to catch the "BIG ONE"! Prizes will be awarded in such categories as: biggest fish, shortest fish, most unusual cat prettiest sunfish, ugliest bullhead and more! Bring your own pole and bait or lures. There w�.. be a $3.00 fee to participate. The DNR completed installation of the fishing dock at Roger's Lake last fall. The dock extends 108 feet into the lake with a thirty-foot "T" at the end. If you like to fish, Roger's Lake is definitely worth a cast. co When: Saturday, July 28, 2001 Where: Roger's Lake Fishing Dock & lake area (Wagon d dQ Wheel Trail) - Ages: All youth 16 and under All youth must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian. J) Participants must pre -register, as space is limited. Register at the Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. — Time: Check -In at Park Shelter: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Fishing on your own: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Largest Fish Contest & Casting Contest: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Fish Weigh -ins End 12:00 Noon Awards Casting Contest: A fun program that helps kids learn how to cast, and rewards the best in two age groups: 8 and under, 9 – 16. Prizes will be awarded! National Big Fish Contest: We could have the state or even the national contest winner at our derby! Pictures will be taken of the winners in each category, to be sent to "Hooked on Fishing International!" WEED ALERT! The city's Code Enforcement staff is ac- tively enforcing ordinances regulating the removal of noxious weeds or grass more than 12" tall. Violators will be notified and given five days to correct the problem. If notices are ignored, the city will contract to have the property mowed, and then bill the property owner. You can maintain your property cheaper than we can maintain it for you. If you've overlooked the impact your neglected lot has on your neighborhood, don't overlook the impact it may have on your wallet. POLICE CHIEF DEPART" Mendota Heights Police Chief SCou Johnson has accepted a position with the City of Apple Valley as their new Police Chief. Scott had been with our department since 1998. His last day was Friday, May 4. He began immediately on May 7 with the City of Apple Valley. Although he will be greatly missed, this is a wonderful opportunity for Scott and we wish him the best of luck. At the May 1 meeting, the City Council appointed Captain Jeff Piotraschke as the Acting Chief until a permanent successor is appointed. From: Prsrt. Sid. City of Mendota Heights U.S. Postage 1101 Victoria Curve PAID Mendota Heights, Mn. 55118 Permit No. 6166 St. Paul, Mn. 55118 POSTAL PATRON MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN 55120