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Home My Public Portal About2008-2009 Dec-Jan Newsletter c Printed on 20% post-consumer recycled fiber content paper City Hall Office Hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telephone Numbers City Hall ..............763-473-4643 Fax ......................763-473-9359 Police emergency ....................911 non-emergency .... 763-473-9209 Mayor Tom Crosby...........612-766-8605 City Council Carolyn Smith.......763-475-1003 Daniel Johnson......763-473-0744 Elizabeth Weir ......763-473-3226 Joe Cavanaugh...…763-473-5123 City Council Meetings First & third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meetings Second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Park Commission Meetings Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Newsletter Editor City Administrator Chad M. Adams Other Contributors Jodi Gallup 2052 County Road 24, Medina MN 55340 Website: www.ci.medina.mn.us Inside this issue: Council Approves Wind Turbine...............Pg. 1 General Election Results............................Pg. 1 Hwy 55/CR 116 Intersection Project.........Pg. 1 Planning Commission Vacancies...............Pg. 1 Code Enforcement Actions/Initiatives.......Pg. 1 Park Commission Vacancies .....................Pg. 2 Snowplowing Tips for Winter ...................Pg. 2 Lake Sarah TMDL.....................................Pg. 2 Street Assessment Policy Under Review...Pg. 2 New RR Animal Unit Density Standards ..Pg. 3 Medina Celebration Day Recap.................Pg. 3 e-mail: city@ci.medina.mn.us General City Information Upcoming Public Hearings/Meetings Monday, December 8, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall— Truth In Taxation Hearing. Residents will have the opportu- nity to express your concerns to the City Council on the pro- posed property taxes for your property for 2009. Please re- view your “Proposed Property Tax for 2009” Truth in Taxa- tion and City Budget Flyer that were mailed to you a few weeks ago or the City’s website for additional budget detail. Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall— The Planning Commission will be reviewing a request for amended conditional use permit for Woodridge Church at 1500 County Rd. 24 from an existing 28,069 sq. ft. facility to 48,515 sq. ft. facility. Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall—The City is proposing planning and zoning fee revi- sions that have been scheduled for a public hearing before the City Council as required by State law. Please review the City’s website to remain updated on any changes in scheduled public hearing times, dates, and locations. City Calendar De c e m b e r Ja n u a r y ► 2nd Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 8th Mon– Truth-in-Taxation Hearing 6:30 pm ► 9th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm ► 16th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 17th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm ► 20th Sat—City Council Office Hours 9 am to 11am ► 25th Thurs—City Offices Closed—Holiday ► 26th Fri—City Offices Closed ► 1st Thurs—City Offices Closed—Holiday ► 6th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 13th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm ► 17th Sat—City Council Office Hours 9 am to 11am ► 19th Mon—City Offices Closed—Holiday ► 20th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 21st Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm A Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the City of Medina www.ci.medina.mn.us December/January 2009 ► All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. ► Meeting agendas on web site when available. General Election Results The official results of the 2008 General Election were canvassed by the City of Medina City Council on Wednesday, November 5th. Tom Crosby was re-elected as the Mayor of Medina, serving a two-year term. There were two seats open for City Council. Elizabeth (Liz) Weir was re-elected and Mike Sittari was elected to serve four-year terms on the Medina City Council. Vote totals for all of the Medina candidates can be found on the Hennepin County website, www.hennepin.us/electionsresults. The newly elected officials will be sworn in at the January 6, 2009 City Council meeting. Medina’s voter turnout for the 2008 General Election which includes actual votes compared to registered voters was 90%. Highway 55/County Road 116 Intersection Project Update On Tuesday, November 18th City Council approved a revised County Road 116/Highway 55 intersection preliminary layout and au- thorized staff to submit the revised layout to Hennepin County and Mn/ DOT for final review and approval. The City will continue to work with affected property owners to sufficiently address their concerns until final plans are approved. The proposed timeline for the project is as follows: ► December 2008—February 2009: Work with Hennepin County and Mn/DOT to resolve layout concerns. ► February 2009: Prepare Feasibility Study (if necessary). ► March—July 2009: Prepare Mn/DOT Geometric Layout, environ- mental documentation and determine right-of-way needs. ► August 2009—July 2010: Assemble comprehensive funding package for construction. Acquire right-of-way. Prepare final plans and specifications for the intersection reconstruction project. ► Fall 2010: Begin Construction. 2009 Planning Commission Vacancies The Planning Commission has three seats open for ap- pointment/re-appointment beginning January 2009. All three seats will be for a three-year term. The seven-member Planning Commission is a recom- mending body to the City Council and will have the follow- ing responsibilities in the next few years: ► City Ordinances—with the comprehensive plan comple- tion nearing, several zoning and land use ordinances will be updated and reviewed by the commission. ► Development project review—Includes subdivisions, site plan reviews, planned unit developments, variances, conditional use permits, etc. Interested applicants may pick up an application at City Hall or via the City’s website. Deadline for applications is Fri- day, December 19th. Code Enforcement Actions/Initiatives The City has increased its code enforcement actions and initiatives in 2008. Code enforcement review has been oc- curring citywide for junk vehicles and nuisances as well as septic system compliance. Please Contact Planning Assistant Deb Peterson- Dufresne at City Hall if you have questions or complaints. Council Approves Wind Turbine On Tuesday, November 18th the City Council approved an ordi- nance authorizing the construction of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) and civil defense siren at the Hennepin County Public Works Facility at 1600 Prairie Drive. The ordinance included findings of fact to support the approval as well as twenty-two conditions that must be met by Hennepin County. The approved or- dinance may be viewed on the City’s website. Parks & Public Works Page 2 Snowplowing Tips for the Upcoming Winter Weather Season Starting of Snowplowing Season: As a general rule, snow removal operations may start as soon as two inches of snow has accumulated. If a heavy snow fall is predicted, snow removal will be based on the existing conditions, snow forecast, wind conditions and time of day. Ideally the crew works to keep the roads passable during the morning and evening hours. During a normal snow fall, all roads are plowed. During a snow storm, lesser trav- eled residential roads and cul-de-sacs may have the plowing delayed while the crew concentrates on main thru-roads. City Methods for Ice Control: The City uses a salt/sand mixture for ice removal. During extremely cold conditions salt will not melt ice, so the use of sand will be used for traction. The City is concerned about the environmental impact of salt and sand, as well as the fiscal impact of materials. Therefore, the City does not have a bare pavement policy, which may cause City roads to be slippery and drivers should be cautious. Also, be cautious of what you use and the amount you apply for your own personal ice control, as it will eventually end up in the storm sewer and out to our lakes and rivers. Damage to Property: During any plowing operation, there is always potential for damage to mailboxes, sod, or other structures that are on the public right-of-way. The City assumes no responsibility for damage to property caused by snow plows, includ- ing mailboxes. If a mailbox is damaged, the City may provide a temporary mailbox. Before the snow season begins, mail- boxes should be checked for sturdiness and repaired as needed. To limit sod damage, it is advised to place a marker along curb lines. Wood and fiberglass markers are permitted. Metal poles are strictly prohibited within the City right-of way. Location of Receptacles on Garbage/Recycling Days: On garbage and recycling days, please place garbage receptacles out of the way where the plow drivers will drive. Plow drivers do not want to get out and move containers, but at the same time, we do not want garbage or recyclables spread all over. Street Parking Details: The City has an ordinance that prohibits parking on any public street from November 1 through March 31 during the hours of 1:00AM – 6:00AM. This parking policy is enforced by the Medina Police Department. If at all possible, the City plow crew would appreciate having no vehicles parked on City streets when snowfall occurs during the daytime also. By doing so, the plowing will be more efficient and will result in a quicker snow removal. Plowing of Sidewalks and Trails: It is the responsibility of property owners to remove snow on their sidewalks. The City will begin plowing trails this winter season, but only after all other surfaces are plowed. The Medina Public Works Department strives to maintain safe, clean and passable roads all winter long. Roads are maintained using City equipment and personnel. In some areas, the City contracts out plowing services. 2009 Park Commission Vacancies The City is seeking residents to serve on the Medina Park Commission. Three seats on the seven member commission are currently up for appointment/re- appointment effective January 2009. All three seats will be for a three-year term. The Park Commission is a recommending body to the City Council and will be involved with the following projects in the next few years: ► Open Space Preservation of Medina’s natural fea- tures & resources ► Long-term Capital Improvement Plan of trails, park equipment, and acquiring new parks, trail easements and open spaces. ► Development projects—Review of subdivisions to determine proper location of trails, dedication of parks, and utilization of park dedication fees. Interested applicants may pickup an application at City Hall or via City’s website. Deadline for applica- tions is Friday, December 19th. Lake Sarah TMDL The City is presently working collaboratively with Three Rivers Park District and area communities to address Lake Sarah’s designation as an “impaired” body of water. Due to high levels of phosphorous loading in the lake, the area jurisdictions are preparing a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) that will outline implementation measures to reduce the loading of phosphorous into the lake. The Medina City Council will be hearing a presentation on the TMDL implementation recommendations at the December 2, 2008 City Council meeting. Residents are welcome to attend to learn and ask questions. Street Assessment Policy Under Review City Staff and Council members have been working the past several months on drafting a street assessment policy for all City road construction, reconstructions, as well as mill and overlay maintenance projects. The pur- pose to create a written policy is to provide a consistent policy on all road types when the City’s 56 miles of roads need improvements. Street assessments and road improvement bonds are being approached by the City to help fund future road improvement needs instead of relying entirely on annual property tax levies. The Medina City Council will be discussing a draft policy at the December 2, 2008 City Council meeting. Page 3 Administration & Planning Medina Celebration Day 2008 Recap Medina Celebration Day was held on Saturday, September 27th at the Hamel Community Building. The City was excited to once again see a wonderful turn-out from the community. There were a lot of great activities at this years’ event for the whole family to enjoy, including a business expo, farmer’s market, a display of Medina’s historic past, bingo, wandering musicians, pumpkin paint- ing contest and games, kiddie parade, hair braiding, face painter, clown doing balloon art, petting zoo, Hennepin County K-9 dem- onstration, s’mores around the campfire, local food and beverage vendors, as well as a spectacular fireworks display, sponsored by area businesses. The City of Medina would like to thank all the contributors, exhibitors, and volunteers who were involved in Medina Celebration Day. This event could not have happened without their support. Medina Celebration Day Committee Cub Scouts & Boy Scouts Brownies & Girl Scouts 4-H Clover Patch Club Adam’s Pest Control, Inc. Anytime Fitness Applebee’s Argent Parc Boy Scouts Troop 570 Buffalo Wild Wings Cold Stone Complete Eye Care of Medina Countryside Café Cub Foods Culver’s Ditter Heating & Cooling EcoSolutions of Minnesota Elm Creek Golf Course Fantastic Sam’s Farmers State Bank of Hamel Fortin Health & Wellness Clinic Friends of Wolsfeld Woods Gramercy Club Gregor Farms and Greenhouse Hamel Athletic Association Hamel Electric, Inc. Hamel Fire Department Hamel Library Hamel Lions Hedtke Marketing Hennepin County Sheriff’s K-9 Hollywood Video/Plymouth Howie’s Barber Shop In the Spotlight, Inc. Intercomp Jackson Hewitt Jazzercise Jimmy’s Pizza Joe Senser’s Lakes Area Realty Loram Inc. Lunds/Byerly’s Martha Burns Swimming School Mayer Mobil Gas Station McDonalds Medina Entertainment Center Medina Golf & Country Club Medina Just for Kix Rockler Inc. Rotary Club Scherer Pumpkin Patch Shamrock Golf Starbucks/Plymouth Station State Farm Insurance Sticks & Bricks T Nails Target Temroc Metals/Signature Aluminum The Cellars Wine & Spirits Tolomatic Uptown Hamel Business Assoc. West Financial Credit Union West Hennepin Pioneers Assoc. West Metro Tax Services, Inc. Westland Dental Willows Home Accents Wine Styles Wright Hennepin Electric You won’t want to miss next years’ celebration, which will be held on Saturday, September 26th. Children’s Activities Farmer’s Market Traveling Musicians New Rural Residential Animal Unit Density Standards As of October 10, 2008, the City of Medina has adopted regulations regarding the number and keeping of animals on properties inside the City’s Rural Residential zoning areas. Please note that the number of animals is now subject to a certain amount of “grazable acreage” a property contains. The new standards reflect the animal unit (A/U) number assigned to various or typical live- stock, plus the maximum amount of animals you may raise as a ratio to grazable acres. Section 826.25 of the Medina City Code con- tains a table which reflects these animal unit numbers. The number of animal units is calculated based on one A/U for the first two grazable acres and one additional A/U for each grazable acre thereafter. See the examples below. Example 1: If you had 10 grazable acres (as determined by the new definition), and you chose to raise just horses, this would allow you to keep or stable up to 9 horses. One mature horse = 1 A/U 10 acres (grazable): 1 A/U for the first 2 acres + 1 A/U for the remaining 8 acres = 9 A/U total. This would allow up to 9 horses. Example 2: If you had 5 grazable acres, and you chose to raise 4 horses, 5 goats and 20 chickens, this would calculate as follows: 5 acres (grazable): 1 A/U for the first 2 acres + 1 A/U for the remaining 3 acres = 4 A/U total. This would allow only 4 horses, but the goats at .1 A/U would equal .5 and the 20 chickens at .20, or 4 + 0.50 + .20 = 4.70 A/U. Therefore, the goats and chickens would not be allowed, unless you chose to remove one horse.