HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001 Winter NewsletterPage 6
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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 e mergency .....................911
non-emergency .... 763-473-9209
Official Newspaper
Lakeshore Weekly News
10001 Wayzata Boulevard
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Telephone Number: 952 -473-0890
Mayor
John Ferris .............763-476-4323
City Council
Jim Lane ................763-473-3302
Carolyn Smith ........763-475-1003
Phil Zietlow ...........763-473-5263
Bruce Workman ...763-478-8806
City Council Meetings
First & Third Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 p.m.
Planning Commission
Leonard Leuer, Chair
Gerald Brost
Randy Brinkman
Ron Johnson
Sharon Johnson
Dick Picard
Tom Supel
Mary A. Verbick
Elizabeth Weir
Planning Commission Meetings
Second Tuesday of each
month at 7:00 p.m.
Park Commission
Galen Bruer, Chair
Gerald Dykoff
Ray Essendrup
Tom Gregor
Randy Hughes
Brad Kvanbek
Theresa Richey
Park Commi ssion Meetings
Third Wednesday of each
month at 7:00 p.m.
2052 County Road 24, Medina MN 55340
2052 County Road 24, Medina MN 55340
www.ci.medina.mn.us
Page 1
Council Approves 2002 Budget
2002 expenditures to increase by 3.75%
The 2002 budget was approved at the December 18, 2001 Counc il
meeting and includes a 3.75 % increase in expenditures over 2001. The
most significant change was loss of $222,000 of a State aid revenue
called Homestead and Agricultural Credit Aid (HACA). To make up
for this loss of State aid, the City increased its levy by 20.3%. In
addition to the loss of HACA, the City also increased the levy an
additional 1.8% to make up for a loss of $20,000 from a COPS grant for
local law enforcement, and 5.3% to finance increases in expenditures
and loss of interest income due to falling interest rates. The total 2002
levy increase will be 27.4%. The 2002 budget is available on the
City's web site (www.ci.medina.mn.us) as is information on how taxes
are calculated (click on Departments, then Administration).
A Publication of the City of Medina Winter 2001-2002
4th Annual
Uptown Hamel
Skating & Sledding
Party
Saturday
January 19, 200 2
Noon ‘till Dark
A bonfire will help keep you warm!
Behind Fortin Hardware
Hot Chocolate, Hot Apple Cider,
Hot Dogs, & S’mores will be
provided (first come, first served)
Please bring a Pot Luck
side to share
Establishment of Agricultural Task Force
At the December 18th City Council meeting, the Council
formed a Task Force to survey issues related to
agricultural uses in the City. The Task Force will be
made up of Planning Commissioners, Council Members,
and residents. The first meeting will be Monday, January
14, at 6 p.m. at the Medina City Hall. Agenda and
meetings times will be available on the City's web site.
The Task Force will assess what is happening in
agriculture today and how that will affect the City in
coming years. The Task Force will also consider whether
additional regulations on a variety of agricultural practices
(including livestock and horses) are necessary. These
could include regulating the size or total square footage of
accessor y structures, limits on number of animals per acre,
manure management practices, protection of wetlands from grazing,
etc. If you are interested in these issues, please come to voice your
opinion.
There will be a time for public comments at each meeting and the Task
Force also will try to invite impacted residents and property owners to
meetings. Councilmember Jim Lane will cha ir the Task Force. If you
have any concerns, you can call him at 612-343-7488 (days) or call City
staff at 763-473-4643.
Moratorium on
Agricultural Uses
Recently, the Council became aware of
potential weaknesses in some City's
ordinances regardin g regulation of
agricultural uses in the City. Because of
this concern, the City Council
established a Task Force (see article on
this page) to address these issues.
Additionally, the Council will consider
enacting a moratorium on new and
expanded agricultural uses within Rural
Residential and Agricultural Preserve
Districts, while it considers whether
new regulations of agricultural
structures and practices are warranted in
those zoning districts. This will be
addressed at the January 15, 2002
Council meeting. If you have any
concerns, please plan to attend.
Page 2
Willow Drive
Traffic Signal Update
Earlier this year, the Council
approved the reconstruction of
the TH55 and Willow Drive
intersection, including installation of a
signal light. Currently, City staff is working
on many of the details needed to be
completed before construction can begin.
This project is moving forward in great part
to cooperation of property owners, keeping
the total cost of the project down. If all
goes according to plan construction is
scheduled to begin in summer 2002.
Snow Plowing
Notwithstanding a mild fall, the snow season is now upon us. When
plowing roads, it is almost impossible to preve nt damage from being
done. There are a few things that homeowners can do to help:
ü Make certain that your mailbox is secure and in good condition.
Also, it is the homeowners responsibility, not the City’s, to
remove snow by mailboxes to provide accessibility for mail
carriers.
ü When plowing, it is difficult to plow the fine line between the
edge of the road and maintained lawns. If homeowners desire,
they can place markers behind the curb line to mark the edge of
the road. These markers make it easier for the plow driver. If
there is a tremendous amount of snow, these markers may be
destroyed when the snow banks are pushed back.
In general, the City does not repair damage caused by snow plowing.
It is also illegal to push or blow snow from your driveway onto or
across a public road. While the City has not actively enforced this, it
will be enforced if problems develop. Homeowners are also
responsible, even if they contract to have their driveway plowed.
The City does not have a bare pavement policy and City roads will be
more slippery than most State or County roads. A salt/sand mixture is
used, mainly on hills, curves, and intersections.
If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, it would be
appreciated if you could keep them accessible.
If at anytime you have questions about the City’s snow and ice
procedures, do not hesitate to call the Public Works Department at
763-473-4643. Christmas Tree Disposal
On your regular trash pick up day for the 1st
and 2nd week of January, your hauler,
Randy’s Sanitation or Superior Services,
will pick up your Christmas tree, free of
charge. Trees must not have any lights or
ornaments on them and must not be in a
plastic bag. Trees need to be
placed next to your trash
container. If you cannot get
your tree to the curb d uring
either of these two weeks, you
will be responsible for
disposal.
Do you know of any water problems in your
area...flooding…drained wetlands…etc?
The Pioneer Sarah Creek and Elm Creek Watershed Districts are
completing their second generation watershed management plans.
As a part of the this, they have requested the Cit y inform them
about any problem areas in the City. This could include areas that
see occasional flooding, or changes in wetland s, creeks, or
streams. If you know of any areas that you believe to be a prob-
lem, please call the City staff.
Brush Pile Closed!!
IMPORTANT: The City brush
pile is closed for the season. Watch
for more information in the spring
newsletter.
Page 5
CABIN SOCIAL
Plans are in progress for
the City’s fourth annual
Cabin Social. If you
would like to help with this
event or would like to
donate money, give Sandie
a call at the City Hall, 763-
473-4643.
Page 5
RECYCLING REMINDERS
Medina recycling pick-up occurs every other Thursday. Please have your recyclables out by
7:00 a.m. so that they can be collected. If you would like free stickers for your calendar in
order to help you remember, stop by City Hall and pick up some. If you would like an extra
bin, the City is now selling additional recycling bins for only $3.00. Calendars are being sent
out this week. Please call if you have not received one.
If you missed a pickup, call EZ Recycling at 651-644-6577 or Ameilia Kroger, our recycling
coordinator, at 952-476-0012 to make alternate arrangements.
Wheel kits are now available to help you haul your recycling bin. Cost is $5.00 per set and
they, too, are available at City Hall.
Remember that the City bills residents for recycling services. Any questions regarding billing
should be directed to the City and not EZ Recycling. Call Laura Sulander, Deputy Clerk, with
your questions at 763 -473-4643.
2001 Medina City Survey
Several months ago, a 55-question survey was distributed to all households in Medina to gauge public op inion on several key
issues and City services. All results have been tallied and summarized. In total, 431 surveys were receiv ed and processed.
This was a great response; and the City thanks all those who took the time to respond. The results will be us ed to guide public
policy and service improvements. A few highlights:
·431 of 1,350 surveys were returned, a return rate of 32%.
·94% of respondents also read the Medina News City newsletter.
·18% had used the City’s website (www.ci.medina.mn.us).
·65% favor ed regulating light in commercial areas, while 57% favored regulating light in residential areas. This survey
result has already guided policy (see “Lighting Ordinance Adopted” on page 4 of this newsletter).
·71% of those that have cable T.V. rated the service as “fair” or “poor”. The Cable Commission has been asked to
address this concern.
·81% rated their service at City Hall as “good” or “excellent”; only 5% found service “fair” or “poor.”
·85% rated the services provided by the Public Works Department their service at City Hall as “good” or “excellent”;
only 8% found service “fair” or “poor”. The main concern raised related to the quality of City’s water.
·68% rated Medina Police service as “good” or “excellent”; only 5% found service “fair” or “poor.”
·Police services that respondents most wanted to see offered or improved were “more general patrols” (45% favored
this option) and a “neighborhood watch program” (42% favored this option).
·Walking/running and biking topped both the list of respondents’ current activities and the list of activities they would
partake in if the activities were made available. Walking/running, biking, and children’s play equipment were the
most popular choices for future City funding.
·47% rated the condition and usability of the City’s parks to be “good” or “excellent”; only 11% found the condition
and usability to be “fair” or “poor.”
Complete survey results are available on the City’s website (www.ci.medina.mn.us), click of Administration the City Survey.
Thanks again to those that responded to the survey and to Andrew Gustafson (who organized this as a part of his
Eagle Scout project) and to the Boy Scouts who assisted him in mailing and tallying the surveys.
Page 4 Page 4
Newly Adopted or
Amended Ordinances
Since the previous newsletter, several
ordinances have been amended or adopted.
They include:
·Uptown Hamel PUD
·Rural Commercial Holding (RCH)
·Rural Residential Urban Reserve (RR-
UR)
·Lighting Ordinance
·Administrative Se ction (Added a Site
Plan review)
All of these ordinances are available at City
Hall or on the City’s web site. (www.ci.
medina.mn.us)
PERMIT ACTIVITY
Through November,
permit activity has
been fairly strong.
General permits,
which include
plumbing and
mechanic al work etc. total 237 and
building permits total 125. Building
permits included 18 new residential
dwellings with a total value of
$10,634,700. The value of all permits
was $16,150,000. There was one new
commercial office/warehouse in the
Hamel area on Tower Drive for
Spraungel Construction.
Lighting Ordinance Adopted
Recently, the City Council adopted a
lighting ordinance. Originally the
ordinance was going to regulates light in
both the commercial and residential
areas of the City. However, the final
approved version only regulates light in
the commercial areas of the City. One of
the significant issues for the businesses
is the section requiring compliance by
2004. A copy of this ordinance is
available on the City's web site.
Lighting & Its Impact on Neighbors
During development of the new lighting ordinance, the City learned a
lot about light, both its positive and negative effects. One of the most
significant issues was the impact of light on your neighbors. It is like a
barking dog, if the neighbors can't hear the dog, it does not bother them.
Same with light. If the glare of light is not visib le, then it often does not
bother most people.
While the City Council did not decide to regulate light in residential
areas, they did discuss the need for neighbors to be aware of the
potential negative impact their lights might have on their neighbors.
There are several ways that you can help reduce or eliminate glare from
reaching your neighbors’ property. The easiest way to fix this is to
install shades or blinders on your lights. Another way is to purchase
full cut off fixtures. This type of fixture tends to have a higher initial
cost but is more efficient and can pay
for itself over time. An example of
street light with full cut -off versus non
cut-off is provided below. If you
would like to know more about the
potential impacts of light, a
PowerPoint presentation made by Tine
Thevenin is available on the Planning
Department’s page on the City's web
site.
PLANNING ACTIVITY
·A twinhome P.U.D. (Planned Unit Development) has been approved
for the Charles Cudd Company. The site is north of Highway 55
and east of County Road 101. Site work has begun, and the first t wo
permits have been issued. The project, called Medina Highlands,
will consist of 68 units, 34 buildings.
·In the same neighb orhood, just to the south of Medina Highlands,
talks are underway for a multi-family condominium building with
approximately 114 units for those 55 years of age and older. A
concept plan review is tentatively scheduled for the February
Planning Commission and City Council meetings. Developers
would like to start construction in the summer of 2002.
·The Wild Meadows Project, north of Highway 55, north of
Evergreen Road, and west of County Road 101, is progressing on
schedule with a model home completed and applications for 4
additional homes on the south end of the development.
·During the past few months, the Planning and Zoning Department
has been conducting site inspections of businesses to check for
compliance with their conditional use permits.
Page 3
·Seasonal Parking Restrictions
No parking between the hours of l:00 a.m., to 6:00 a.m.,
November 1st to March 31st.
·Snowmobile Operation in Medina
Please remember snowmobiles are allowed to operate on
designated trails but not on private property without the
consent of the landowner. Remember to ride cautiously,
follow all rules, and respect the property of others. If you have
questions feel free to contact the Medina PD or the DNR.
·Out of Town
Please call the Medina Police at 763-473-9209
to arrange for a house check.
·Dogs at Large/Barking Dogs
Dogs are prohibited from running at large.
Frequent or persistent barking, howling , or
yelping that unreasonably annoys or disturbs
others is prohibited in the City and is subject
to enforcement action
Page 3
Medina Police Reserves
The Medina Police Reserve Program has added several new
officers this year. Training for these recruit s and other reserve
officers occurs at monthly meetings and local training sessions
throughout the year. Through the end of September, the
department has provided 450 hours of training. In January
2002, the department will send one officer to the Hennepin
County Reserve Officers Training school for the 10-week
program.
Last fall several reserves participated in local fire depa rtments’
open houses. Child Safety was this year’s theme, including
demonstrations of the proper use of car seats for children. Two
booklets were given out to families—one discussed internet
safety, another provided reflective stickers for Halloween
costumes.
Service hours by these local volunteers continue to grow. As of
September 30, the total 2001 hours logged stood at 2,490,
compared to 1,236 for the same time period in 2000. Some of
the activities that the reserves participated in included the Cabin
Social, the Hamel Rodeo, and other events in neighboring
communities. On a weekly basis, reserves assist licensed
officers with a wide range of duties, assist motorists with lock-
outs or stalls, transport suspects to jail, and respond to animal
complaints.
“Our reserve officers have developed an excellent reputation
among surrounding police departments,” according to Officer
Chris McGill, the program’s coordinator.
Chief Ed Belland explains, “Their activities not only save the
department money, but also help us provide a high level of
service to the community.”
Two of the reserves will be moving on to professional law
enforcement careers, creating new openings. Anyone interested
in volunteering for the reserve program should contact Officer
Chris McGill at (763) 473-9209.
Identity Theft Threatens Your Credit
Over the last year we have had several cases of identity
theft. This occurs where a thie f steals a purse or wallet,
and uses the identification, along with the victim’s social
security card, to steal the victim’s ide ntity. Thieves apply
for credit and run up huge bills in the victim’s name, often
destroying the credit history of the victim. It may take
years to recover from being a victim of identity theft.
Here is some critical information to limit the damage if
you or someone you know becomes a victim. First, cancel
your credit cards immediately. Keep toll free numbers,
and card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep
the numbers where you can find them easily.
File a police report immediately in the jur isdiction where
the theft occurred. You will need this to prove to credit
providers that you were diligent. This is a first step toward
starting an investigation.
Next, notify the 3 national credit-reporting organizations
immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#.
By placing an alert with the credit reporting companies, if
some creditor checks your credit they will be advised that
your information was stolen and they must contact you by
phone to authorize new credit.
Don’t wait if your purse or wallet is stolen. Report it as
soon as possible. Stop thieves from doing more damage to
your credit. Below are the numbers for the 3 national
credit -reporting companies. If you have any questions,
please call the Medina Police Department at (763) 473-
9209.
Equifax: 1-800 525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-800-301-7195
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Admin. Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271
Police Notes