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Issue 17 - Heights Highlights Fall 1989PAGE 1 NOVEMBER, 1989 ISSUE 17 PARKS REFERENDUM PASSES! On August 15th, Mendota Heights resi- dents voted their approval of a $3.4 million parks bond referendum. The referendum consisted of two questions, both of which were approved. The first question, for $2.7 million, will be used to immediately upgrade the City's existing seven neighborhood parks. It will also be used to complete development of three new neighborhood parks, develop a 27 -acre community ballfield complex in the southeastern part of the City, and with ad- ditional state funding, add 15 miles of bicycle/pedestrian trails. Funding is also authorized for development of an athletic facility with Sibley High School, and for acquisition of land for a third ballfield site ,eneral park expansion. Existing neighborhood parks will receive additional landscaping, parking improvements, new play structures, im- proved play fields for soccer and softball/baseball, half -court basketball and other amenities. The three new neighbor- hood parks, Victoria Highlands Park, Hagstrom-King Park and Mendakota Park will have new play structures, ballfields, landscaping, asphalt parking, half -court basketball and other amenities. The second question, for an additional $700,000, enables the City to authorize is- suance of additional bonds, at some time in the future, for development of the third ballfield site and/or acquisition of more land. It will provide latitude for the City to acquire additional park land as it becomes available in the community. It The referendum also includes a com- plete bicycle/pedestrian trail system throughout the City. The City's engineer- ing staff is currently preparing plans and specifications for 6.6 miles of off-road trail construction in 1990. Other extensions of the trail system are planned throughout the —mmunity to be designated or built in owing years. The Park and Recreation Commission has been extremely busy since the August referendum on the design phase of the project. They have been meeting twice monthly to review designs and prepare plans and specifications so that bids can be received over the winter. This will enable the City to begin the improvements desig- nated for the neighborhood parks and trail system in the spring of 1990. The City is currently working with School District 197 on the use and main- tenance of the Sibley athletic complex. It is also working with Centex Development on the dedication of the Kensington com- munity park and the two major athletic facilities. These athletic facilities will in- clude full sized soccer, softball and baseball fields as well as play structures and comfort stations. Kensington Park is especially attractive as a picnic area and will include picnicking features as well. The City has also made an offer to C.G. Rein for a parcel of land just south of the city's fire station. If the City is successful in acquiring the land, it will be used as the third ballfield site. During the late winter or early spring, the Parks and Recreation Commission will be holding meetings for the public to review the designs of the new parks and the neighborhood park improvements, so that residents may view improvements scheduled in their neighborhoods. For further information regarding the park improvement project, contact Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander at 452- 1850. COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTED On October 17th, Burt Anderson was unanimously appointed by Council to the Council seat vacated by former Councilmember Elizabeth Witt. Burt had been a member of the Plan- ning Commission since February 1, 1987 and served as vice -chair of that body from July, 1988 until his ap- pointment to Council. Councilmember Ander- son was sworn in at 7:30 P.M. on November 7th. Im- mediately following the swearing in ceremony, he was seated with the Council and participated in the regular meeting scheduled to be conducted that eve- ning. PAGE 3 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES NOVEMBER,1989 RECYCLING UPDATE It has been a very successful year for recycling in Mendota Heights. We began our curbside recycling program on March 27, 1989 with about 1,200 participating households. Currently we have over 2,000 households participating in the curbside program. There are approximately 2,800 households in Mendota Heights. In addi- tion, the Lexington Heights Apartments and Eagle Ridge Condominiums are par- ticipating in our multi -family programs. Our goal for 1989 was to reduce our solid waste stream by 9%. This amounts to a reduction of 384 tons of solid waste. County records indicate that for the period from January to June of 1989, Mendota Heights had recycled 258 tons, including yard waste. We are confident that we will more than exceed our goals for 1989. In 1990 the main thrust of the program will be to increase participation and to add one additional material to be recycled. Currently, our curbside program collects newspaper, glass bottles and jars, and aluminum beverage cans. The County is reouesting that all city programs begin .ling "tin" cans by February 1, 1990. We v,—, soon be announcing the collection of "tin," or metal cans. In 1990 we will also be working with the County to bring commercial and institu- tional organizations into the recycling busi- ness. The recycling legislation that Gover- nor Perpich recently signed into law man- dates that all governmental buildings pro- vide for the recycling of three materials. At City hall we have been recycling office paper, aluminum cans and newspapers for almost a year. Those residents who have not signed up for the curbside recycling program and wish to do so should contact City Hall. We will provide a free recycling container to all residents who wish to begin recycling. If you wish to join our program, or have any questions or concerns about our recycling program, please contact Kevin Batchelder at 452-1850. METRO RECYCLING HOT LINE TTT*TTT PIT TTT � 1ge Plastics Recycling The Goodwill -Easter Seal Recycling Drop Off Center, sponsored by four north- ern Dakota County Cities, is now accepting plastic detergent bottles, plastic milk jugs, plastic pop bottles and plastic anti -freeze and oil containers for recycling. The Drop Center is located in the parking lot of the West View Valu Shopping Center at Men- dota Road and South Robert Street in West St. Paul. The plastic containers must be rinsed out and can be dropped off between 10:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M., seven days a week. In addition to recycling plastic bottles, Good- will accepts aluminum and glass beverage containers, newspapers, and clothing and household items that are in good condition. For further information, call 646-2591. SAC Refunds Available When you built your home, you were probably required to pay a sewer availability charge (SAC). This charge, which is assessed by the Metropolitan Waste Control Com- mission, (MWCC) is used to support the cost of improvements to the metropolitan sewage treatment plant. The charge has ranged from $375 in 1973 to the current rate of $575. The MWCC is allowing the City to refund SAC charges to property owners who meet all of the following criteria: • You are currently operating a septic sewerage system. • Your home and/or septic system was initially constructed sometime between 1973 and 1986. You paid a sewer availability charge during that. timeframe. If you meet all of these criteria, you maybe entitled to a refund. Contact Klayton Eckles or Guy Kullander at 452-1850 before December 20th. These City staff members will assist you in applying for your refund. Share A Ride The Metropolitan Transit Commission is encouraging people to start car pooling by offering Minnesota Ride Share. A total of two or more people is considered a pool. Car pooling relieves traffic congestion and other transportation problems. It also con- serves energy and reduces pollution. You can save $400 to $1,000 a year on operating costs and save wear and tear on your vehicle by driving less and riding more. By Ridesharing you can increase the life of your present car and save money on gas. Free and reduced parking rates are offered to poolers in downtown Min- neapolis and St. Paul. Pooling also reduces the tension caused by rush hour traffic and unpleasant weather conditions. Poolers can enter several access ramps to interstates ahead of single passenger cars. These ramps formerly used by buses only, now allow car poolers. If you are interested in Ride Sharing, call Minnesota Rideshare at 349 -Ride. An application will be sent to you, asking about home information, work information, work schedule and commuter information. You will then be sent a match list, at no cost, with names of other interested poolers who live near you, work near you and have similar schedules. It is then up to you to call the people on your match list and form your own car pool. For more information call Minnesota Rideshare at 349 -Ride. The Heights Highlites is a government newsletter distributed to residents to in- form them 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 a resident who is not receiving the Heights Highlites but would like to, please invite them to con- tact City Hall at 452-1850. PAGE 4 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES NOVEMBER, 1989 PASSING SOME BUCKS! In its recent special session, the State Legislature passed a revenue bill which will result in some major changes in the manner in which counties, school districts and cities will receive state aid and levy taxes. The most significant change in the bill is a reduction of State Aid for the City and the transfer of this aid to School District 197. For Mendota Heights, the affect is the elimination of Local Government Aids totalling $237,409 and a reduction in Homestead Transition aid of $153,609. The City's levy limit is increased by the dollar amount of lost aids, while the School District levy limit is reduced a like amount. ADOPT A HYDRANT Have you adopted a fire hydrant yet? Everyone who attended the Fire Preven- tion Week open house in October had the opportunity to apply to become the proud guardians of their very own hydrant. If you did not sign up for a hydrant at the open house or did not attend it, don't miss your chance to do so now. To qualify, all you need to do is promise to keep the area around the adoptee free of snow and ice and accessible in time of need. If you're interested, please contact Diane at 452-1850 for further information. "CHANGE YOUR CLOCK: CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES" The Mendota Heights Fire Department participated in the second year of a nation- al program entitled "Change your Clock: Change your Batteries." This program en- courages people to check their SMOKE DETECTORS, transistor radios, and flash- lights and change the batteries when they set their clocks back to standard or daylight savings time. This is an easy way to help remember the importance of checking these items so that you are prepared in an emergency. This simple procedure may save your life or the life of a family member. PLEASE, if you didn't check your detectors, radios and flashlights when you set your clock to standard time, do so now. If you don't have detectors, please install them.Your safety is important to us! The City's proposed General Fund budget for 1990 reflects an increase in spending of 8%, which is more than off -set by a growth of 10.3% in taxable valuation. Prior to adoption of the revenue bill, Men- dota Heights property tax payers would have seen little or no change in the City share of their tax bill. Under the new law, City taxes will increase 22%, primarily be- cause of the shifting of aids to the School District. In addition to the shift in aids, the new law reduces the tax capacity on various classes of property. Tax capacity means the maximum amount of tax which may be levied against a property. For homes wit. market values from $68,000 to $100,000, the tax capacity has been reduced from 2.5% to 2%. As an example of the impact of this change, the maximum tax which could be levied against a home with a market value of $100,000 in 1989 was $2,500; the maximum tax for the same property value will be $2,000 in 1990. On Wednesday, December 6th, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 1990 Budget and tax levy. Resi- dents are invited to attend the hearing and give comments. SAVING SOME DUCKS! Engineering Department employees don't spend all of their time at the drawing boards. On July 20th, two of the engineeringpersonnel, Klayton Eckles and Guy Kullander, responded to an emergency call from a worried resident who had just seen a motherduck and five ducklings waddling down Cheri Lane. Mrs. Duck safely made it across a storm sewergrate, but her little ones did not and mama was frantic. Klayton and Guy, who were assisted and encouraged by the folks who called, retrieved the ducklings safely and reunited them with their mother at the edge of Rogers Lake. From: City Of Mendota Heights Bulk Rate 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, Mn. 55118 U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6166 St. Paul, Mn. 55118 POSTAL PATRON CARRIER ROUTE MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN PRESORT 55118 AND 55120