HomeMy Public PortalAbout2018 Jun-Jul Inside this issue:
Open House—Mixed Residential .................. Pg. 1
Land Use Applications Under Review .......... Pg. 2
Open to Business Program ............................. Pg. 2
Municipal Elections—Filing for Office ........ Pg. 2
City Seeks Election Judges .............................. Pg. 2
Permit Required for Solicitors ........................ Pg. 3
Night to Unite—August 7th ........................... Pg. 3
Scam Alert ......................................................... Pg. 3
Medina Receives Twins Community Fund
Grant for New Ball Field Lights .................... Pg. 4
Aquatic Invasive Species ................................. Pg. 4
Noxious Weed Control ................................... Pg. 4
Threat of Emerald Ash Borer......................... Pg. 5
Lawn Care Tips ................................................ Pg. 5
City Meeting Calendar ..................................... Back
Medina Celebration Day—Sept. 15th ........... Back
Consumer Confidence Drinking
Water Report .................................................... Back
City Council Email Notifications ................... Back
City Meeting Calendar
June
5th Tues—City Council 7 pm
12th Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm
19th Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm
19th Tues—City Council 7 pm
20th Wed—Park Commission 7 pm
July
3rd Tues—City Council 7 pm
4th Wed—City Offices Closed (Holiday)
10th Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm
17th Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm
17th Tues—City Council 7 pm
18th Wed—Park Commission 7 pm
All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted.
Meeting agendas on website when available.
City Council Agendas & Minutes Email Notifications
Stay informed on what is happening at upcoming City Council meetings.
The City emails copies of Council agendas and minutes at no cost to
residents. If you would like to be added to the regular email notification list,
email jodi.gallup@medinamn.gov to sign up.
Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report
The 2017 Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report can be seen in its
entirety on the City website at: http://medinamn.us/svcs/utilities-services/
consumer-confidence-drinking-water-report/. If you would like a hard copy
mailed to you, please call Medina City Hall at 763-473-4643.
Medina Celebration Day—Save the Date
Saturday, September 15th from 4-8pm
Mark Saturday, September 15th on your calendars today for Medina Celebra-
tion Day! Please contact Anne Klaers at Anne.Klaers@medinamn.gov or 763-
473-8854 if you are interested in serving on the planning committee or
donating towards the event.
Learn more at https://medinamn.us/medina-celebration-day/
CITY HALL
2052 County Road 24
Medina, MN 55340
p: 763-473-4643
f: 763-473-9359
e: city@medinamn.gov
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@medinamn.gov
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
June / July 2018
Open House to Discuss Mixed Residential Regulations
Tuesday, June 12th from 6-7 p.m.
On June 12, 2018 from 6:00-7:00 p.m., the City will hold an open house to discuss
regulations related to the Mixed Residential land use. The open house will be held at
Medina City Hall (2052 County Road 24).
In the City’s 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan update,
several properties are guided Mixed Residential as shown
in the following map. The properties are generally located
north of Hamel Road, east of Arrowhead Drive and
northwest of Medina Road/Brockton Lane.
The Mixed Residential land use is intended to allow a mix of housing styles with an
overall density of 3.5-4.0 units/acre, but a portion of which are required to be devel-
oped at higher density of 8 units/acre or greater which may include apartments or
townhomes.
The open house will describe the general requirements within the land use and focus
on the standards of the residential development such as building setbacks, density
preferences and building height. If you have any questions, please contact Planning
Director Dusty Finke at dusty.finke@medinamn.gov or 763-473-8846.
Planning & Elections
Page 2 June / July 2018
Land Use Applications
Under Review
The following land projects are currently under review
by the City. For more information on one of the
projects, or for an update on the review schedule,
please visit http://medinamn.us/citygov/departments/
planning-zoning/ or contact the Planning Department
at (763) 473-4643, ext. 1.
2032-2052 Holy Name Drive Concept Plan – Ditter
Properties has requested review of a concept plan for
the potential combination and subdivision of 4 existing
parcels into 6 lots east of Holy Name Drive and north
of Holy Name Cemetery. The Planning Commission
held a public hearing at their May 8th meeting and
provided comments. The City Council is scheduled to
review on June 19, 2018.
Woods of Medina Final Plat –710 Shawnee Woods
Road and 4412 County Road 116 – 4412 JKP LLC has
requested final plat for a 16-lot subdivision on
approximately 8.25 acres. The City Council is
tentatively scheduled to review on June 19, 2018.
Free One-on-One Technical Assistance
for Small Business Owners
and Entrepreneurs
Are you thinking about
starting your own business or
are you currently operating a
small business and interested
in FREE technical assistance?
Medina has partnered with Hennepin County and the
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
(MCCD) to offer the “Open to Business” program.
This program provides FREE one-on-one assistance
from MCCD’s expert staff, customized to meet the
specific needs of each entrepreneur. This can include
creating a business plan, suggestions on financial
management and bookkeeping practices, assisting with
marketing, and referrals for financing. MCCD also
administers a small business loan fund which provides
capital to expand local businesses.
For more information or to schedule a session, please
contact Rob Smolund from MCCD at
rsmolund@mccdmn.org or (612) 789-7337 ext. 260.
More information is available on the City’s website:
http://medinamn.us/opentobusiness/.
Municipal Elections—Filing for Local Office
The City of Medina’s next municipal election will be held on
Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Medina will have three positions on
the ballot during the November General Election. The Mayor (2
year term) and two City Council (4 year terms) positions are at-large
positions, representing all Medina residents.
Persons interested in running for these offices may file at City Hall.
The filing period begins on Tuesday, July 31st and closes at 5:00
p.m. on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The filing fee is $15.
More information can be found on the City’s website at http://
medinamn.us/citygov/elections/ or call City Hall.
Questions can be directed to Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at
763-473-8850 or email jodi.gallup@medinamn.gov.
City Seeks Election Judges
The City is seeking election judges for the 2018 State Primary on
Tuesday, August 14th and General Election on Tuesday, November
6th. Election judges are paid positions that supervise and help with
elections at the polls. You do not need to have previous election
judge experience to serve; each election judge receives three hours
of training prior to Election Day.
You must be an eligible voter in Minnesota to serve as an election
judge, and you must be able to read, write and speak English. Here
are some general duties of an election judge: open and close the
polls, register and sign in voters using an ipad, be responsible for
the security of all election materials, distribute and collect ballots,
help voters requiring assistance, and record and certify vote totals.
If you are interested in serving as an election judge, please fill out an
application and mail it back to City Hall by June 8, 2018. Election
judge applications can be found on the City’s website at http://
medinamn.us/citygov/elections/ or call City Hall. Questions can be
directed to Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at 763-473-8850 or
email jodi.gallup@medinamn.gov.
June / July 2018 Page 5
Environment
Lawn Care Tips that are Useful All Year
By: Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Did you know that you and your neighbors have
waterfront property? Your yard and the nearest lake,
stream, or wetland are connected by a storm drain or
ditch. That means the actions you take on your property
affect the local water bodies.
In urban areas, rain falls on hard surfaces such as streets,
driveways and rooftops and flows into the storm sewer
system, which carries it to the nearest body of
water. This rainfall, called stormwater runoff, brings
along any pollutants it has picked up along the way. You
can help reduce the amount of pollutants entering local
lakes, rivers and streams (and save money at the same
time) by following a few simple steps:
Water wisely – if your lawn needs water, do it in
the morning when it’s cooler to avoid evaporation, and
make sure to aim sprinklers so they don’t water hard
surfaces. Lawns typically only need one inch of water per
week, so if it rains, you can skip the watering.
Mow three inches or higher – Mowing grass to a
height of three inches or higher will encourage thicker
and healthier grass and make your lawn more resistant to
weeds, drought, and erosion.
Leave grass clippings on lawn – Leaving your
grass clippings on your lawn puts the same amount of
nutrients back into your grass as one application of
fertilizer. If you don’t want
grass clippings on your lawn,
compost them. Be sure to
sweep up any clippings that
blow into the street so they
don’t run down the storm drain.
Fertilize smartly – If you choose to fertilize, only
do it in the fall when it’s most effective. Apply only the
amount directed and be sure to choose a
zero-phosphorus fertilizer. Many lawns already have
plenty of phosphorus in the soil and any excess will just
run off into local waters and produce algae. Another
alternative to fertilizing is aerating your lawn.
Pick up pet waste regularly – In addition to
preventing lawn burns, regular pick-up of pet waste will
keep bacteria from running off into storm drains and
our local waters.
Following these tips will help keep your lawn healthy
while keeping our waters clean and safe this summer.
Learn more at www.minnehahacreek.org/education.
Options for Managing Ash Trees from the
Threat of Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest that attacks and kills ash
trees, is the biggest current
threat to our tree canopy.
There are over 1 million ash
trees in Hennepin County,
and 100 percent of them are
threatened by the emerald
ash borer. Most residents
live within 15 miles of an infested ash tree, which means you
should be taking steps now to determine if you have ash trees on
your property and how you are going to manage them.
Identifying ash trees
Learning to identify ash trees is the first step. Look for the
following characteristics to determine if your tree is an ash tree:
► Branches that grow directly opposite from one another
► Compound leaves, or multiple leave on one stalk joined to a
branch.
► Bark with a diamond-shaped pattern.
► Seeds that are oar-shaped samaras that typically hang in clus-
ters.
Preserving
You can work with an arborist to save ash trees that are of high
value. Ash trees within five miles of an emerald ash borer
infestation should be treated. Hennepin County recommends
using a trunk injection of emamectin benzoate (commercial name
Tree-age). Prevention treatments must be administered by a
certified arborist every two years in late spring.
Removing
Any ash tree not being treated will eventually need to be removed
and disposed. If you decide to proactively remove ash trees,
remove them between October 1 and April 30 to avoid the season
when emerald ash borer is active and in flight. Trees should be
removed by a certified arborist, and you can coordinate with your
neighbors to reduce individual costs of removing trees.
Replanting
Trees provide numerous benefits, including improving air and
water quality, reducing soil erosion, increasing wildlife habitat,
providing savings in heating and cooling, and improving health.
So planting new trees in place of any you remove is a great idea!
Select a diversity of tree species that are well-suited to your
growing conditions. Be sure to call 811 before you dig, follow
proper planting techniques, and give your young tree enough
water.
Learn more
Learn more about emerald ash borer and options for managing
ash trees at hennepin.us/ashtrees.
Parks & Environment
Page 4 June / July 2018
Noxious Weed Control
The City of Medina Weed Inspector would
like to remind residents to do their part in
controlling any noxious weeds that may
show up in your yard. Noxious weeds
need to be taken care of seven days before
going to seed. Minnesota Policy states
that
residents be protected from the effects of
noxious weeds on public health, the
environment, public roads, crops, livestock
and other property. The following web-
site: www.mda.state.mn.us/weedcontrol
contains a list of noxious weeds as well as
procedures for controlling and
eradicating.
Medina Receives Twins Community Fund Grant for New Ball Field Lights
The City of Medina has been working in partnership with the Hamel Athletic Club to address safety concerns on the City’s
aging Little League baseball field in Hamel Legion Park. The aging field did not meet Little League International’s regulations
for safety for insurance purposes and to host tournaments. The City of Medina collaborated with the Hamel Athletic Club late
last fall to apply for a grant from the Twins Community Fund, which we were successfully awarded $45,000 to help us address
our safety needs. This grant money along with a $60,000 donation from the Hamel Athletic Club is what the City needed to
complete the installation of new lights and other field improvements. The old lights were over 30 years old and no longer
functioning properly, creating a potential electrical hazard. The new Musco LED Total Light Control fixtures provide tight
control of unwanted spill and glare light and save on energy use and costs. The tight cut-off control of unwanted spill and glare
light makes the lights environmentally friendly to nearby residential areas.
Above: New Musco LED Total Light Control fixtures lighting up the
Little League Field in Hamel Legion Park on May 17, 2018 with no
light spilling onto nearby properties.
Photo Credit: Mike Kneller, Hamel Athletic Club Treasurer
Above: Hamel Athletic Club President Mike Mohs and VP of
Player Operations/Safety Officer Andy Wahlquist present
$60,000 donation check to the Medina Park Commission at
their February 21, 2018 meeting.
Help Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
By: Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
With the Minnesota fishing opener upon us, you can help protect your favorite
lake from aquatic invasive species (AIS). While boating, you simply have to fol-
low three simple steps:
1. Clean – before leaving a lake, boaters should clean all visible plants and oth-
er debris from all equipment (motors, jet skis, trailers, paddles, etc)
2. Drain – drain any water from the boat and keep drain plugs out
3. Dry – wipe everything dry
MCWD has an early detection guide book that will give you the tools you need to
identify what’s invasive and what’s native. The book is free and available either
online at www.minnehahacreek.org/early-detectors or at the MCWD office at
15320 Minnetonka Boulevard in Minnetonka.
More information about aquatic invasive species can be found on our website at
www.minnehahacreek.org/AIS.
June / July 2018 Page 3
Public Safety
Permit Required
for Solicitors
Medina City Ordinance 640. PED-
DLERS, SOLICITORS, TRANSI-
ENT MERCHANTS AND DOOR-
TO-DOOR ADVOCATES requires
solicitors to obtain a permit from the City
prior to selling products door to door. If
you have a solicitor come to your door,
ask them for their City permit. If they
don’t have proof of a permit, send them
away. If they refuse to leave, call the
police department by dialing 911.
The ordinance also allows you to post
“No Solicitor” signs on your property,
which will prevent even the permitted
solicitors from coming to your door. If
you have a sign posted, and they come on
your property, we can charge them with a
violation of our ordinances.
When a solicitor comes into City Hall for
a permit, we check for past criminal
histories before the permit is issued. Just
because they have a City permit, it does
not mean that the City endorses them or
their products. As the saying goes,
“Buyer Beware”.
There are several exceptions to the
ordinance. Exceptions include regular
route sales persons, sales to businesses,
newspaper delivery, and nonprofit
organizations such as societies,
associations or corporations solely of its
members, (ie. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
Lions). If a nonprofit organization is out
selling in our City, they are required to
notify the City of their intent to sell door
to door.
If you have any questions, please feel free
to contact the Medina Police Department
at 763-473-9209.
Scam Alert
The Medina Police Department continues to receive calls regarding new and old
potential phone scams. One reported scam involves scammers saying they are
from the IRS threatening to arrest you for non-payment of taxes. The IRS will
not initially call you on the phone; you will receive notification via mail. Another
one is the scammers will tell you that you are a beneficiary of a wealthy relative
from another country and you need to pay money to claim your portion of the
estate. The latest one is the scammer calls and tells you that you have won the
Publishers Clearing House prize and you will need to pay taxes on it. The bottom
line is that if the call is “too good to be true”, it probably is too good to be true.
If you get suspicious calls, mail, or emails, call the Medina Police Department.
These scammers search out anyone who will listen to them. If you get repeat
calls from these individuals, hang-up and block their numbers. Do not pay
anyone who calls you up and demands you send them cash or gift cards for
something that seems suspicious. We have had citizens who have fallen victims
to these scams and they have lost thousands of dollars. Don’t be the next victim.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Medina Police
Department at 763-473-9209.
Night to Unite is Tuesday, August 7th
Plan Your Neighborhood Party Today!
Neighborhoods throughout Medina
are invited to join the Medina Police
Department, along with thousands
of communities nationwide, to
participate in the Night to Unite
celebration on Tuesday, August 7,
2018. Medina Police officers,
firefighters and City Council
members will stop by and participate
in neighborhood parties throughout
the city!
This is an opportunity to get to know your neighbors, strengthen neighborhood
spirit and police community relations, let criminals know that neighborhoods are
organized and willing to assist the police, and generate support and participation
in crime prevention efforts. Night to Unite get-togethers can be as extravagant as
a cookout, or as simple as an ice cream social.
Please call the police department at (763)-473-9209 by July 25th with your party
plans and times. We will arrange a visit from the police and fire department to
come out and join your party!
School Supplies Drive: As part of our “Pack a Backpack” drive, new school
supplies will be collected from our neighborhoods for K-12 students that are
in-need at our local schools. Supplies can be dropped off at the Medina Police
Department Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or items will
be picked up during Night to Unite. Additional information on supplies needed
can be found at https://medinamn.us/citygov/departments/police-dept/night-to
-unite/.