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2019-12-06 Friday NewsCongratulations Firefighters! Firefighters Joe Ahlstrom, Joe King, Amy Patrick, Dan Rice, and Nick Reding received their badges as members of the Mendota Heights Fire Department at the December 3 City Council meeting. Firefighters receive their badges at the end of their one year probationary period and when they complete their basic training. This group joined the department in December of 2018. The City is grateful for their dedicated work in achieving this accomplishment! Pictured above (L-R): Chief Dave Dreelan; Firefighters Amy Patrick, Nick Reding, Dan Rice, Joe Ahlstrom, Joe King; Assistant Chief Scott Goldenstein. Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com 651.452.1850 City Hall Lobby Hours M-TH: 7:00am-4:30pm F: 7:00am-11:30am Police Department Lobby Hours M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm Upcoming Public Meeting Dates Tuesday, December 10 Parks & Rec Comm Mtg | 6:30pm Tuesday, December 17 City Council Mtg | 7:00pm Thursday, December 19 Planning Comm Mtg | 7:00pm Tuesday, December 24 City Hall Closed (Public Works open) Wednesday, December 25 City Hall & Public Works Closed Stay Connected: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Facebook.com/ MHParksandRec Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsPD Twitter.com/ @mendota_heights Twitter.com/ @mheightsPD December 6, 2019 from the City of Mendota Heights FRIDAY NEWS Adoption of 2020 Budget and Tax Levy At its meeting on December 3, the City Council adopted the budget and tax levy for fiscal year 2020. The adopted budget incorporates recently found savings in employee health insurance alternatives, which reduced the preliminary levy increase from 7.28% to 6.5%. This means that a typically-valued home of $408,000 in Mendota Heights will see an increase of approximately 4.35% for the City’s portion of the property taxes payable in 2020; less than the 5.1% increase which was anticipated in September. Establishment of Historic Pilot Knob task force At its meeting on December 3, the City Council authorized the establishment of a Task Force to pursue short and long-term goals for the preservation of, and improvements to Historic Pilot Knob. This 112 acre area in Mendota Heights is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Task Force will consist of seven members, with a recommended focus on prioritizing capital improvements, developing a multi-year plan for natural resource management, identifying needs and opportunities regarding educational visits and educational resources, and strategic planning for preservation and improvements. To learn more about Historic Pilot Knob visit the Pilot Knob Preservation Association’s website at www.pilotknobpreservation.org. Seasonal reminders The Winter Parking Ban is currently in effect with no overnight parking on any public streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.; please remind overnight guests and young drivers of this important information. Additionally, when it snows 2” or more, or there is a high probability of a 2” or more snowfall, a Snow Emergency may be declared and plows will go into action. Please keep all vehicles off of City streets until roads are plowed curb-to-curb. Thank you for keeping Mendota Heights a safe and operational community! Take part in the 2019 Mendota Heights Community Survey through December 15 The 2019 City of Mendota Heights’ Community Survey is designed to help Mendota Heights follow trends in community sentiment to better serve residents. The survey consists of 16 questions and was designed to cover topic areas more generally, so that later we can dive into individual results that impact our city. The survey is taken online via any preferred digital device and takes just a few minutes to complete. To take part, link directly to the survey and begin answering questions. At the end you will be directed to set up a free Polco account if you do not already have one. Once an account is established, users can receive notifications when new questions are posted. Participants can remain anonymous and responses are viewed as totals. Users can see survey results and how others in the community are responding, and have an opportunity to comment on topics if desired. Winter newsletter on its way Watch mailboxes for the winter issue of Heights Highlights to be delivered! Child safety reminders around gas fireplaces Source: www.safekids.org Blade with the Blue February 8 | 1-3pm Join the MHPD for a fun day of recreational hockey skills and games. Participants will enjoy friendly challenges in fastest skater, passing, shooting accuracy, and longest goal. After the challenges, team up with police officers for 3-on-3 hockey games. Children must provide their own equipment. For ages 6-13. Cost: FREE Location: Friendly Hills Park-Outdoor Rink Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Flag football camp December 26—27 | 10am-1pm Learn the rules of flag football while working on team play and sportsmanship through skill development and games. For ages 6-12; $50 per participant. This activity will take place at the Regional Athletic Center (West Saint Paul Dome). Learn more and register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Royal Ball February 9 | 3-5pm Registration is open for the fifth annual Royal Ball! There will be crafts, games, meet-and-greet with real princes and princesses, a DJ, refreshments, and dancing. Space fills quickly for this popular event! Cost: $22 per child Ages: 10 (4th grade) and under Concord Exchange Building, South Saint Paul Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Registration is open for these winter break adventures! Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/ mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Drakulas Bowling & Movie December 26 Enjoy fun and interactive bowling followed by the movie Spies in Disguise. Ages: 6-12 Cost: $27 per child Time: 9:15am-4:00pm (bus from City Hall) Conquer Ninja Warrior Gym & South Saint Paul Pool December 27 Train and compete like ninjas in the morning, and enjoy swimming the afternoon away at Central Square Community Center Pool. Ages: 6-12 Cost: $35 per child Time: 9:30am-3:30pm (bus from City Hall) Now Hiring – Apply Today! Parks & Recreation Orbit Earth Expo December 30 | 1:30-2:30pm Orbit Earth Expo is coming to the City of Mendota Heights and Tri District Community Education for an unforgettable science experience. Orbit Earth Expo is interactive and entertaining. Orb (a 14-foot inflatable model of Earth) and his friends will take your family on a journey to space to create cycles, systems and relationships between the Earth, Moon and Sun. Admission is limited and registration is required. Thank you to the ISD 197 Education Foundation for their help in making this event possible. Cost: FREE Location: Mendota Elementary Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Community Service Officer Starting Salary: $19.41per hour (2019 rates) Seasonal Skating Instructor Hourly Rate: $15.50 to $16.25, DOQ Seasonal Warming House/ Rink Attendant Hourly Rate: $10.00 to $10.75 https://www.mendota- heights.com/employment for more information Subscribe to weekly city news online Visit www.mendota-heights.com. Go to Our City/City Publications/Subscribe to Friday News For subscription removals or other questions, please email Communications Coordinator Sharon Deziel at sharond@mendota-heights.com. Recycle Holiday Lights at City Hall through January 31 Have a string that won’t light? City Hall will once again be collecting holiday lights, electrical cords, appliance cords, and phone cords for recycling courtesy of ProAct. Beginning November 15 simply drop off items in a collection bin located in the lobby of City Hall. Please note that cord adapters, battery packs, plastic rope lights, CFL lights, garland/ fake trees, and statuary/metal fixtures are NOT accepted. Items may be dropped off Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Holiday lights are also accepted year-round at The Recycling Zone in Eagan. Give with recycling in mind Did you know wrapping paper with glitter or foil cannot be recycled, and most recycling haulers don’t even accept wrapping paper? Since it is such a low-quality paper, paper mills do not want it. Save yourself money this year by reusing gift bags from previous years or using newspaper, old maps or brown paper grocery bags. If you are crafty or can sew, you can make your own cloth bags in neutral colors that can be used for years to come! You can also purchase a large hanky or scarf and fold your gift inside of it, “Furoshiki style.” Plastic bows and ribbons cannot be recycled, so skip them and instead use paper washi tape or make your own bows out of paper. Colorful natural cotton string or twine is also a great option and can be composted afterward. Holiday Food Drive City Hall is collecting shelf-stable food and toiletries for Neighbors, Inc. Donations may be dropped off in the lobby during City Hall business hours. The donation drive will run through the holiday season.  Use re-usable gift bags  Wrap in newspaper, old maps or brown paper grocery bags  Make cloth bags  Make your own bows from paper, string or twine Public paper shredding events City of Andover: Saturday, Dec 14 | 9am-1pm https://www.andovermn.gov/349/Monthly-Appliance-and- Electronic-Recycli City of Blaine: Saturday, Dec 21 | 10am-2pm https://www.blainemn.gov/306/Monthly-Recycling-Saturdays Valley Park Pollinator Project You may notice some additional activity in Copperfield Ponds Park in the next couple of weeks. The City of Mendota Heights has partnered with Great River Greening to help control invasive tree and shrub species in Copperfield Ponds Park. The project entails removing invasive species using cutting and herbicide treatments, as well as replanting with native vegetation. Crews will be removing invasives such as common and glossy buckthorn, and Tartarian honeysuckle. For additional information, please contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician at kristas@mendota-heights.com or 651-255-1123. The Lawns to Legumes Program is accepting applications! Have you been looking for a way to help the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other pollinators? Or maybe you have been wanting to create an environmentally-friendly, low-maintenance landscape? The Lawns to Legumes program offers a simple way to do both! The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources is now offering grants as part of the new Lawns to Legumes Program. This program offers workshops, coaching, guides, and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential landscapes. These pollinator habitats could consist of any of the following:  A Native Pocket Planting or garden with native, pollinator beneficial flowers  Establishing a Pollinator Lawn by removing existing turf and replacing with a pollinator seed mix that includes no-mow fescues and low-growing flowers, or seeding no-mow fescues and low-growing native flowers into existing lawn  Pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs  Establishing a Pollinator Meadow or a large area with a diversity of native plants, such as a native prairie that includes both native grasses and wildflowers The Lawns to Legumes program offers two types of grants: Individual Support Grants are available to Minnesota residents for projects that establish pollinator habitat in their yards. If awarded, up to $350 in grant funds are available to applicants. To apply, visit Blue Thumb's Online Application Page. The first application period ends February 28 for Individual Support Grants. Demonstration Neighborhood Grants are available for community neighborhood projects that establish pollinator habitat in key corridors. Local government agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits are eligible to apply. These organizations work with local residents to install four types of beneficial planting practices: native pocket plantings, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, pollinator lawns, and pollinator meadows. If you or your neighborhood is interested in becoming or participating in a Demonstration Neighborhood project, please contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician at kristas@mendota-heights.com or 651-255-1123. For more information on the Lawns to Legumes Program, visit https://bwsr.state.mn.us/lawns-legumes-your-yard-can-bee-change. Adopting a storm drain simply involves keeping it free of sediment, trash, leaves, and other debris by sweeping and collecting it at least twice a month. It is a simple, easy way you can help do your part to improve water quality in our community! Online sign-up at https://www.adopt-a-drain.org/. The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) wants to hear from you! The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization is in the process of updating its 10-year Watershed Management Plan, and they need your input! Make your voice be heard by taking their brief survey. By answering just a few short questions, you will help the WMO to better understand your concerns, priorities and goals for the health of the watershed. The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization provides a valuable forum for member cities to evaluate and resolve drainage and water quality issues within the watershed. To learn more about the LMRWMO, visit their website: Lower Mississippi River WMO. 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department DECEMBER 06, 2019 CHIEF Kelly McCarthy CAPTAIN Wayne Wegener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming POLICE OFFICERS John Larrive Todd Rosse Chad Willson Philip McCarty Weston Raberge Peter Renteria Cara Hogan Tony Patton Ryan Yauch Tommy Albindia Eric Hagelee Leif Vandersteen Alex Randall Jared Powell INVESTIGATIONS Nick Gorgos SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Steve Hilyar COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER Josh Rosenberry SUPPORT STAFF Kim Richter Trista Miller Shayna Hoechst Becky Pentel RESERVES Jim Knox Jeff Parker CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Mike VerWay 2 THEFT — 7XX MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 11/29/19, 1810 HOURS Officers responded to a ﬁre alarm . Upon arrival officers found a room where the sprinkler was going off. It was determined that a guest had hung clothing from a sprinkler and upon removing it set the sprinkler off. Mendota Heights Fire assisted with clean‐ up. Officers spoke with staff who decided not to pursue the maƩer. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 2XXX MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 11/29/19, 1939 HOURS Officer responded to a report of damage to property. Caller had their car window broken. Nothing is known to be taken from the inside. No suspects known. Case inacƟve. THEFT FROM MV — 7XX HWY 62 11/29/19, 1900 HOURS Officers responded to a phone call report of a theŌ from vehicle. ReporƟng party stated their window was broken out and a dia‐ per bag was taken. No suspect informaƟon is known at this Ɵme. Case status inacƟve. THEFT FROM MV — 7XX SOUTH PLAZA DR 11/29/19, 2249 HOURS Officer took a damage to property report . ReporƟng party had a window broken from their vehicle and a checkbook taken from the inside. No suspects known. Case inacƟve. DWI — 1XXX MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 11/30/19, 0037 HOURS Officers noƟced a running vehicle siƫng in a closed business parking lot. Officer approached to check the welfare of the occupants. The driver was asleep and difficult to wake. Officers woke the driver and determined he was impaired. Officers arrested the driver and transported him to jail. WARRANT/DRUGS — MARIE / DELAWARE AV 11/30/19, 0652 HOURS Officer conducted traffic stop at the intersecƟon of Marie Avenue and Delaware Avenue. Registered owner had a misdemeanor warrant for theŌ. During a search of the driver, a substance suspected to be methamphetamine was found. Driver was arrested for the warrant and the drugs, he was released aŌer bail was posted and transported to St. Paul. Case has been forwarded to the Drug Task Force. SUSPICIOUS PERSON — 1XXX NORTHLAND DR 12/02/19, 1830 HOURS Officer was ﬂagged down by a guest of a hotel who reported suspicious acƟvity that occurred at the hotel involving his juvenile daughter and another unrelated adult guest of the hotel. Officer spoke with the child and suspect and completed a report. DOMESTIC — 2XXX DODD RD 12/02/19, 1830 HOURS Officers responded to a reported family domesƟc. AŌer interviewing the involved parƟes, the male suspect was arrested for do‐ mesƟc assault and transported to the Dakota County Jail Staff. HIT & RUN ACCIDENT — DODD RD / WENTWORTH AVE 12/03/19, 1324 HOURS Officers were called to a traffic accident near the intersecƟon of Dodd Road and Wentworth. The suspect vehicle had ﬂed the scene but witnesses recorded the license plate number. The suspect was idenƟﬁed as the registered owner by witness descripƟon as well as the past citaƟons issued to the vehicle owner while driving the same car. Forward for charging. HIT & RUN ACCIDENT — 1XXX CENTRE POINT DR 12/03/19, 1747 HOURS Officer was dispatched to call a vicƟm of a property damage hit and run crash that. VicƟm reported that a vehicle backed into his passenger door and took off. Report taken. THEFT — 1XXX WINDWOOD CT 12/03/19, 1747 HOURS Officer was dispatched to call a resident regarding a theŌ of package. The reporƟng party believes a package they had leŌ out for UPS to pick up was stolen. Case is inacƟve. 3 DWI — HWY 62 / DELAWARE AV 12/04/19, 0004 HOURS Officer iniƟated a traffic stop on Highway 62 at Delaware Avenue. While speaking with the driver, the officer could smell the odor of consumed alcoholic beverage coming from the driver's breath and his eyes were watery. Driver admiƩed to drinking prior to driving. The driver performed a ﬁeld sobriety test and was determined to be over the legal limit. The driver was booked and re‐ leased from the Dakota County Jail for 4th Degree Misdemeanor DWI. The vehicle was impounded. MV TAX EVASION—DELAWARE / ANNAPOLIS AV 12/04/19, 2213 HOURS Officers ran the plate of a vehicle traveling on the roadway near Delaware Ave and Annapolis St and the vehicle returned with expired registraƟon. Officers stopped the vehicle and discovered that there were fake 2019 tabs on the vehicle. Officers arrested the driver for tax evasion and for her outstanding warrant. Officers towed the vehicle and seized the license plates as evidence. FRAUD—7XX KEOKUK LN 12/05/19, 1145 HOURS Officer was dispatched to take a report of fraudulent acƟvity. The reporƟng party was in the PD lobby and stated that her card was used online for a purchase. No suspects. Case Status is inacƟve. HIT & RUN — 1XXX DELAWARE AV 12/05/19, 1524 HOURS VicƟm reported being involved in a hit and run accident in the school parking lot. The striking vehicle was a school bus. Witness to the incident was able to get the license number and bus number. Bus company was noƟﬁed and contact was made with the driver. WaiƟng for pictures and insurance informaƟon. VicƟm is aware of the status of the invesƟgaƟon. Case Status: Pending 4 11/29 ‐ 12/05 2019 YTD Calls for Service 186 11,215 Police Reports 21 1084 Citations 65 1691 Warnings 58 2462 Response Time Average 7.59 6.67 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. The Vacation/House Check Request online form is available on our website; you can also complete a form found in our lobby, or simply give us a call! MHPD offers a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely & anonymously dispose of their prescription drug medication. This program is mainly meant to keep narcotics off the streets and dispose of medications in environmentally sound ways. ** No needles/sharps. Visit the Green Guide for tips. ** Please visit the Dakota County Recycling Zone for helpful resources for all safe disposal solutions. Car Seat Checks—TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE Please visit the MN DPS for more information. Questions/Comments? Email us at: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Questions? Call our Non-Emergency Line @ 651.452.1366. Need Public Safety Response? Call 911 Whether you are out or online shopping, here are a few Ɵps to keep the season bright and your purchases and home safe. Big boxes for big giŌs? Consider how you dispose of the revealing box and packaging vs simply puƫng it at the curb. Consider a safe opƟon for package deliveries—your work, require a signature or use an alternate drop locaƟon vs the front door. Be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious acƟvity. For all online or store payments, use cash or a secure credit card, instead of a check or debit card. For websites, be sure the checkout/payment secƟon is secure, and the URL has HTTPS w/ the small padlock icon in the address bar.