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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/.