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Home My Public Portal About2017 Apr-May Newsletter Inside this issue: Bike Safety Rodeo for Kids ............................ Pg. 1 Become a Volunteer Firefighter ..................... Pg. 1 Land Use Applications Under Review .......... Pg. 2 What is the Purpose of a Building Permit? ... Pg. 2 Xcel Energy LED Street Lighting Upgrades Pg. 2 Tree’s Worst Enemy ........................................ Pg. 3 Scam Alert ......................................................... Pg. 3 Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund ........................ Pg. 3 2017 Spring Open Burning Restrictions ....... Pg. 3 City Meeting Calendar ..................................... Back Board of Appeal and Equalization ................. Back Hwy 55 & CSAH 115/CR 116 Project ......... Back Spring Clean-up Day ........................................ Insert City Meeting Calendar April 4th Tues—City Council 7 pm 5th Wed—Board of Appeal 6:30 pm 11th Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm 18th Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm 18th Tues—City Council 7 pm 19th Wed—Park Commission 7 pm May 2nd Tues—City Council 7 pm 9th Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm 16th Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm 16th Tues—City Council 7 pm 17th Wed—Park Commission 7 pm 29th Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas on website when available. Board of Appeal and Equalization April 5, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is held annually for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the 2017 assessed property values or property classifications in the City of Medi- na. All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, or who wish to complain that the property of another is assessed too low, may appear at the meeting and show cause for having such assessment corrected. The burden of proof is on the resident to justify a decrease in property value. The City is requesting that residents complete a City application prior to at- tending the meeting. The application can be found on the City’s website at http://medinamn.us/boa/. Highway 55 and CSAH 115/CR 116 Project Road construction at the intersection of Highway 55 and County Road 116/CSAH 115 is scheduled to begin in May 2017 and continue through the summer construction season. The project will include replacing the existing signal system at Highway 55, constructing raised medians, modifying accesses, constructing facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, and upgrading the railroad crossing. More infor- mation can be found at: http://www.hennepin.us/residents/ transportation/pinto-drive-medina. CITY HALL 2052 County Road 24 Medina, MN 55340 p: 763-473-4643 f: 763-473-9359 e: city@ci.medina.mn.us City Hall Office Hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PUBLIC SAFETY 600 Clydesdale Trail Medina, MN 55340 p: 763-473-9209 f: 763-473-8858 e: police@ci.medina.mn.us Police Department Office Hours Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mayor Bob Mitchell 763-473-1042 City Council Jeff Pederson 612-916-6448 John Anderson 612-618-5702 Kathleen Martin 612-344-1111 Lorie Cousineau 612-251-3244 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 Jodi Gallup Assistant City Administrator April / May 2017 Make a Difference in Your Community Become a Volunteer Firefighter Did you know that 70% of all fire- fighters in the country are volunteers or that 100% of the men and women that serve as firefighters for Medina are volunteers? Did you know that they also respond to calls for emer- gency medicals, rescues and hazardous material situations? The men and women of the Hamel Fire Department, which serves 75% of Medina, are ordinary people from the local community. They have jobs, raise families and do all the other activities you do. However, when the call for help comes, these same people transform into firefighters/ medical first responders and come together as a team to do extraordinary things! Bonded by a passion and a commitment to serve, they train, prepare and make ready to stand in harm’s way to protect the community … sacrificing their time, efforts and energy in the service of others. It’s not done for pay, recognition or notoriety...but ra- ther for the personal satisfaction of helping someone in a time of need. Don’t be con- fused by the label “volunteer”... they train to the same level and face the same risks as full-time firefighters. They are the .4% of the population, fueled by the need to serve, that earn the title “Firefighter”! Hamel Fire is always looking for new members. You don’t need any special skills, you don’t need to be strong, you don’t need to be young … there is a role for everyone! For more information, visit their website at: filltheboots.hamelfire.org, email filltheboots@hamelfire.org or call (763) 478-6621. Bike Safety Rodeo for Kids The Medina Police Department and Target will be hosting their annual Bike Safety Ro- deo to help children ages 3 to 12 polish up on their bike riding skills before summer quickly arrives. This free event will be held on Saturday, May 20th, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in the Medina Target’s east parking lot at 300 Clydesdale Trail. There will be fire trucks and police cars to tour, bike riding courses, inspections and PRIZES. Registration forms can be found at http://medinamn.us/citygov/departments/police- dept/bike-safety-rodeo/, at Target, or in the Medina Police Department lobby. Regis- tration for the event must be completed by Friday, May 12th, 2017, and either emailed to Andrew.scharf@ci.medina.mn.us, or dropped off at the police department. Remem- ber, registration is required to be eligible for prizes! Planning & Building Page 2 April / May 2017 Land Use Applications Under Review The following land projects are currently under review by the City. For more information or for an update on the review schedule, please visit http://medinamn.us/citygov/ departments/planning-zoning/ or contact the Planning Depart- ment at (763) 473-4643, ext. 1. Highway 12/County Road 29 Comp Plan Amendment and Rezoning – Elim Care has requested a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezoning for 14.6 acres of property north of Highway 12 and east of County Road 29. The request is in an- ticipation of the proposed development of a senior care/senior housing development upon the property. The City’s draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan update includes similar changes, but is currently under review. The Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing on the request at their April 11, 2017 meeting. Solar Array CUP – 1822 Homestead Trail – Peter and Mindy Rechelbacher have requested a conditional use permit to con- struct a ground-mounted solar array with a footprint of 1500 s.f. The applicants have also requested that the City amend its zon- ing code to increase the allowed footprint of solar arrays from 1000 s.f. to 1500 s.f. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on the requests at the April 11, 2017 meeting. Three Rivers Park/We Can Ride CUP – 4301 County Road 24 – Three Rivers Park District and We Can Ride have request- ed a conditional use permit amendment to allow We Can Ride, a nonprofit that provides programming to individuals with disa- bilities or special needs, to occupy the stable previously utilized by Three Rivers Park mounted patrol. The Planning Commis- sion held a public hearing on the request at their Monday, March 20 meeting. The City Council is scheduled to review on April 4, 2017. Xcel Energy LED Street Lighting Upgrades Xcel Energy has launched a multi-year effort to upgrade all Xcel Energy-owned cobra head, high-pressure sodium streetlights to LED solid-state units. The City of Medina has received notice that Xcel will be upgrading their street lights in Medina in April and May of 2017. Learn more at: xcelenergy.com/LEDStreetLighting. What is the Purpose of a Building Permit? Building permits ensure that any building project meets the minimum construction standards established by the MN State Building Code. Standards are in place to help you keep safe and ensure your property is in good condition by regulating the design and construction process, materials, and the use and occupancy of the building. What are some of the projects that require a residential building permit? ► Basement Finishes ► Remodeling ► Decks ► Sheds/Accessory Structures greater than 200 square feet ► Fireplaces ► Furnaces & A/C ► Garage Heaters ► Residing ► Reroofing ► Water Heaters ► Water Softeners ► Egress Windows ► Window & Door Replacements Who do I contact if I have Building Code Questions? The City contracts with Metro West Inspections, Inc. They can be contacted at 763-479-1720. Who do I contact if I have Electrical Questions? The City of Medina does not issue permits for electrical. The State has a contract with DLH Inspections. The con- tact person is David L Hucky and can be reached at 952- 442-2761 or by email at dlhinspections@gmail.com. Accessory Structures Building permits are required by Code for all buildings over 200 square feet. The number of accessory structures al- lowed on your property will depend on the size of your property. Setbacks will also vary on the zoning of your property. Please contact Deb at debra@ci.medina.mn.us to find out what your property allows. Where do I submit for permit or call if I have general questions? The City coordinates all building permits whether residen- tial or commercial. The contact person for all non-building code related questions pertaining to permits and submittal is Deb Peterson at 763-473-8847 or debra@ci.medina.mn.us. The Building & Planning Department recently moved to the lower level of City Hall. Stop in and see us at our newly remodeled location in City Hall, 2052 County Road 24. Environment & Public Safety April / May 2017 Page 3 The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund In the past decade, hundreds of millions of acres of critical habitat for honey bees, monarch butterflies and birds have been lost to development, crop production and changing agricultural practices. The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund is a unique conservation solution that establishes essential and diverse forage for pollinators through NextGen Habitat Projects to help these populations thrive. The Fund brings together landowners through an acreage enrollment program, conservationists, scientists, bee- keepers and wildlife enthusiasts to make real impact on pollinator populations in the Midwest. It’s a partnership between Pheasants Forever, Project Apis m. and Browning’s Honey Company as a 501c3. Landowners interested in learning more about the program and applying to obtain free seed, can visit www.beeandbutterflyfund.org/landowers for more information. With the help of generous corporate sponsors and individual donors, more effective habitat can be planted to boost populations of pollinators, birds and other wildlife. 2017 Spring Open Burning Restrictions Spring open burning restrictions typically go into effect sometime in March. Every year the DNR restricts open burning to reduce the number of grass fires in the State. Recreational fires, no larger than 3’ x 3’ x 3’, are still al- lowed. Please use extreme caution to ensure the recrea- tional fire stays under control. If you are planning other burns such as large amounts of brush or vegetation, per- mits will be available once the DNR lifts the restrictions as the environment greens up. Please contact the Medina Police Department at (763) 473-9209 if you have any questions. If you would like to apply for a permit, you can stop by our office at 600 Clydesdale Trail. Weekly Assaults from a Tree’s Worst Enemy You’ve planted your young maple in amended soil in a hole bigger than its root ball and in the perfect spot on your lawn. For the last two or three years, through the dry summer months, you’ve wa- tered and talked to it and whipped away weeds and grasses from its base. Yet your tender maple is showing signs of stress. It’s sending out side shoots low on its trunk; it’s crown is thin and poor. The likely diagnosis of what ails your young tree is weekly acts of aggression inflicted by a lawn tree’s worst enemy— the weed whip. Look carefully at its base, where the trunk meets the soil. If it looks flayed, with damaged bark and has new tissue attempting to heal the wound, then you have a diagnosis—it is either you, or your lawn service, who are abusing your tree. People have the idea that trees are tough-skinned and can take regular whipping without being harmed. But like a baby’s skin, a young tree’s outer bark is thin and tender. Directly beneath the bark is the vascular phloem, the veins that transport nutrients from the roots to feed the crown and the growth of the tree. Flay the bark off with a weed whip, and the closely associated vas- cular life-line of the tree is also ripped apart. Life-giving sap leaks and, each week, the tree attempts to heal the wounds, but is re- damaged. Even 10 and 20 year-old trees are subject to weed whip trauma, yet this regular harming is easily avoided. Place a generous four- inch-thick ring of wood chips around the base of each lawn tree and renew the wood chips every two years. The chips will prevent grass and weeds collaring your tree, and they will help to retain moisture in the soil during dry periods. Medina thanks you for continuing to beautify our City with new trees and wishes your trees a trauma-free weed whipping season. *******Scam Alert******* Over the last month, the Medina Police Department has investigated two crimes where scammers call senior citi- zens telling them they are one of their grandchildren and they were arrested and need bail money. The scammers instruct the victims to go to Target, Best Buy or Walmart and buy gift cards. The victim is then instructed to call the scammers back and give the scam- mers the card number with the PIN number. The scam- mers tell the victims not to call the police or anyone else. In the two cases we have investigated, one victim lost over $38,000 and the other lost over $17,000. The money is not recoverable due to the fact that the victims buy the gift cards of their own free will and give the information to the scammers. We continue to pursue the scammers criminally, but they are very complicated cases which stretch over our country and internationally. If you receive one of these calls, the first thing you should do is call your local police by dialing 911. The police will assist you in verifying that this is a scam. SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Rain or Shine) Located at 600 Clydesdale Trail at PW/Police Facility (Follow signs off Hwy 55) ACCEPTED ITEMS: Scrap Iron No charge Batteries (all) No charge Anti-freeze No charge Computer Towers No charge Laptops & handhelds No charge Miscellaneous Electronics $5-10.00 ea All Appliances $5.00 ea Computer Monitors $10.00 ea TVs (small - under 26”) $10.00 ea TVs (large flat screen) $15.00 ea TVs (large tube style) $25.00 ea Mattresses/Box springs $25.00 ea Tires - Car (w/ or w/o rim) $ 4.00 ea Tires - Truck (w/or w/o rim) $ 6.00 ea Tires - Truck (semi-w/o rim) $10.00 ea Tires - Truck (semi-w/rim) $15.00 ea Tires - Tractor* $25.00-$60.00 ea *(Depending on size) Junk Pile Items (i.e. carpet, furniture, or bulky items): $10 small load/$30 large load* *(Fully tied down pick-up truck) Please keep your item types together as much as possible as there will be separate stations for each category. NOT ACCEPTED ITEMS: Treated lumber, recyclables, paint, concrete bricks, commercial printers & fax machines, copiers, household/agricultural chemicals or containers, oil/oil products, household garbage, and hazardous waste. For options on recycling these items, or to recycle other times of the year, visit: www.hennepin.us/dropoffs FREE PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM Medina Police, along with Hennepin County Sheriff’s office, will conduct a prescription drug take back program at this years’ Spring Clean-up Day. Proper disposal of prescription drugs helps reduce crime, addresses the opioid epidemic and reduces the environmental effects on our water supply. Please bring in your unused and expired prescription drugs for free disposal. No needles, sharps or syringes will be accepted. If you have questions, please contact the Medina Police Department at 763-473-9209. Hennepin County offers medicine disposal drop box sites all year round. For program locations, hours, rules and additional options, visit: www.hennepin.us/medicine LUNCH WILL BE SERVED 10 A.M. UNTIL NOON Everyone is invited to join us for a free lunch of grilled hot dogs served on Dobo’s freshly made buns, along with pickles, chips & drinks. BICYCLE COLLECTION Do you have any extra bicycles in your garage? Bring any good useable bikes to Clean-up Day to donate to Interfaith Out- reach Community Partners. Besides bike refurbishment, the IOCP also offers programs such as: Caring for Kids Emergency Services Employment Food Shelf Housing Transportation ReSale 101 Shop (clothing/housewares) CONTACT INFORMATION: Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners 1605 County Road 101 N. Plymouth, MN 55447-2708 Phone 763-489-7500 | Fax 763-489-7510 www.iocp.org TREES FOR SALE - $15 EACH The City is selling trees to Medina residents at a subsidized rate of $15 each. Residents are al- lowed to purchase four trees per household (no more than two of each species - see list below) Red Maple Autumn Blaze Honey Locust Redmond Linden Hackberry Swamp White Oak Northern Pin Oak American Elm The trees are approximately 1” in diameter and 6 -8’ tall. The trees are bare root stock and will need to be planted immediately. The tree sales area will be blocked off this year and absolutely no trees will be sold before 8 a.m. We will have staff available to help bag trees and answer questions. If you are interested in purchasing more than the four tree limit, check back at 11:30 a.m. to see what trees may still remain. Before a tree is planted, call Gopher State at 651-454- 0002 to locate underground utilities. FREE SEEDS FOR MONARCHS Pick up your free packet of milkweed seeds and plant them in your yard to help the monarch butterflies. FREE COMPOST FOR ORGANICS CUSTOMERS Organics customers will be receiving a coupon in the mail from Randy’s that can be brought to Clean-up Day for a free bag of compost. BRUSH AND COMPOST SITE Located northwest of City Hall at 2052 Cty. Rd. 24, the brush and compost site is open year round Tuesday thru Thursday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (except holidays) and Friday 7 a.m. to Monday 3:30 p.m. (open all weekend during daylight hours). Accepted items for brush pile: Brush and woody shrubs and vines Christmas trees Large logs Stumps that have been cut up Items not accepted: Painted or treated lumber and railroad ties. Accepted items for compost pile: Leaves/grass clippings (no bags please) Items not accepted: Hay and/or straw, animal waste and garbage.