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HomeMy Public PortalAboutApril May 2015 Inside this issue: Board of Appeal and Equalization .................... Pg. 1 Water Tower to be Dismantled and Removed Pg. 1 Newsletter Available by Email ........................... Pg. 1 Land Use Applications Under Review .............. Pg. 2 Declining Monarch Butterfly Population ......... Pg. 3 Dogs In the Parks ................................................ Pg. 3 Household Hazardous Waste Events ............... Pg. 3 City Seeks Bluebird Monitors ............................ Pg. 3 Wildlife/Nature Walk ........................................ Pg. 3 Seasonal Spring Road Weight Limits ................ Pg. 4 Open Burning Restrictions are in Effect .......... Pg. 4 Sump Pumps ........................................................ Pg. 4 City Seeks City Business Profiles & City Business Profile: Jensen’s Beer, Wine & Spirits ............... Pg. 5 Annual Medina Business Forum ....................... Pg. 5 Business Recycling Grants Available ................ Pg. 5 City Calendar ........................................................ Back SWPPP Public Hearing ....................................... Back Agendas & Minutes Email Notifications.......... Back Bike Rodeo—June 13th—Save the Date ......... Back Clean-Up Day Flier ............................................. Insert City Calendar April 7th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 8th Wed—Board of Appeal Meeting 6:30 pm 14th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 15th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm 21st Tues—City Council Work Session 6:00 pm 21st Tues—City Council 7:00 pm May 5th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 12th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 19th Tues—City Council Work Session 6:00 pm 19th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 20th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm 25th Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas on website when available. SWPPP Public Hearing April 21, 2015 at 7 p.m. in City Hall The City will be holding a public hearing at the April 21, 2015 City Council meeting on the adequacy of the City of Medina Storm Water Pollu- tion Prevention Program (SWPPP). A copy of the program is available at Medina City Hall. Any person wishing to express an opinion on these mat- ters will be heard orally or in writing at the hearing. Don’t Miss: Clean-up Day Flier inside this issue! City Council Agendas and Minutes Email Notifications Stay informed on what is happening at upcoming City Council meet- ings. 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@ci.medina.mn.us to sign up. Bike Rodeo—June 13th—Save the Date Save the date for Medina’s annual bike rodeo for kids on Saturday, June 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will be held in the Target parking lot at 300 Clydesdale Trail. The event is free and is intended to have your children ages 3-12 polish up their bicycle skills. Kids will be able to ride through obstacles and bikes will also be inspected. Come for family fun, education on bicycle safety and prizes! 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 to City Administrator April / May 2015 Old Water Tower in Hamel to be Dismantled and Removed On March 3, 2015, the Medina City Council approved a Dismantle and Removal Services Agreement with Iseler Demolition, Inc. The agreement covers dismantling and removing, down to the concrete founda- tion, the 75,000 gallon elevated water tower at 3574 Pinto Drive (Hamel well house #1) for $15,800. The water tower has not been used for a number of years and would require expensive maintenance. The cellular antennas will be removed from the water tower and a temporary cellular tower will be in place no later than May 8th. Iseler will have the old water tower removed no later than June 15th. The City Council also approved a Site Lease Agreement with Verizon Wireless. The site lease is for the area currently occu- pied by the 75,000 gallon elevated water tower at 3574 Pinto Drive. The leased area will consist of ground space for installa- tion of a 150 foot monopole tower along with a five foot light- ning rod (155’ total) and associated communications facilities and equipment including transmission lines, cables or conduits, an equipment shelter and generator, and electronic equipment and antennas. The monopole project will be completed by the end of 2015. Board of Appeal and Equalization on April 8, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall This meeting is held annually for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the 2015 assessed property values or property classifications in the City of Medina. 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 attending the meeting. The application can be found on the City’s website at http://medinamn.us/ boa/. Medina Message Newsletter Available by Email Would you like to receive this publication by email? The email version will be sent out earlier to residents than the mailed version. However, residents will continue to receive the mailed version of the newsletter even if they receive the email version be- cause the mailing list is used for a number of city purposes. To subscribe for emailed newsletters, email Jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us. Planning Page 2 April / May 2015 Land Use Applications Under Review The following land use and development 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. Puptown CUP Amendment – 810 Tower Drive – Puptown has requested an amendment to their CUP to permit additional dogs on the property for daycare/playcare. The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on March 10 and recommended approval. The City Council is tentatively scheduled to review on April 7. Varney Accessory Building CUP – 3985 County Road 19 – Jeff Varney has requested a CUP to construct a 10,000 square foot storage building for storing hay and farm equipment. The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on March 10 and rec- ommended approval. The City Council is tentatively scheduled to review on April 7. Aldi Site Plan and Variance - 3522 Sioux Drive - Aldi has requested approval of a Site Plan Review for construction of a 17,825 square foot grocery store at the intersection of Highway 55 and Sioux Drive. The applicant also requests a variance to increase the amount of hardcover permitted to 50% (up from 25% allowed adjacent to Elm Creek). Staff is conducting a preliminary review, potentially for review at the April 14 Planning Commission meeting. Medina Country Club Site Plan – The Medina Country Club has requested a site plan review for construction of a new mainte- nance facility to replace the existing barn which will be demolished as part of the Villas of Medina Country Club project. The applicant also proposes to construct small restroom facilities on the course. Staff is conducting a preliminary review, potential- ly for review at the April 14 Planning Commission meeting. Monger Animal Structure Setback Variance – 1272 Homestead Trail – Todd and Katie Monger have requested a variance to reduce the required setback for an animal structure from 150 feet to 75 feet. The property includes enough grazeable acres for a few small animals, but has no location which can meet animal structure setbacks. Staff is conducting a preliminary review, potentially for review at the April 14 Planning Commission meeting. Wealshire of Medina – NW corner of Mohawk Drive and Chippewa Road The applicant has requested to rezone 22 acres to Business Park and has also requested a Site Plan Review for construction of a 173,000 square foot building for Alzheimer’s/Dementia care. The applicant has also requested an interim use permit to allow continued agricultural use of the southern 11 acres that they do not propose to construct upon. The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on February 10 and recommended approval. The applicant has requested a delay in review, and the City Council is tentatively scheduled to review on April 21. Villas at Medina Country Club Final Plat – East of CR116, south of Shawnee Woods Road – Rachel Contracting has requested final approval of a subdivision to include 43 single family homes along the west and north of the Medina Golf and Country Club. Staff is conducting a preliminary review and the application may be presented at the April 21 meeting. Solar Equipment – Ordinance Amendment — The City Council recently adopted an ordinance amendment to allow ground-mounted solar equipment in the Business and Industrial Park districts, but with various limitations (including a maximum of 20% of a site). During its re- view, the Planning Commission discussed whether there was any interest to allow ground mounted solar equip- ment in the rural residential zoning district as well. This discussion is tentatively scheduled for the summer (potentially July or August Planning Commission meet- ing). Business Recycling Grants Available Are you a business that wants to start recycling? Maybe improve the recycling program you already have? Hennepin County is offering grants of up to $50,000 for businesses to start or improve programs to divert recyclables and organics (food and non-recyclable paper) from the trash. Nearly two-thirds of waste created at businesses is recyclable. Having a strong recycling program conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, can help a business’s bottom line, and demonstrates their commitment to sustainability to their custom- ers. Most businesses and non-profits in the county — from large of- fice buildings to small churches, restaurants and apartment buildings — are eligible to apply. These grants can help with the purchase of containers, equipment purchase and installation, hauling service charg- es and minor improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures. Hennepin County has staff available to answer questions about the grant application, review project ideas, evaluate potential costs and savings, and offer resources to start and improve recycling and organ- ics programs. Applications are solicited a few times a year. Applica- tions are due June 15 or October 15. For more information and appli- cation materials, visit www.hennepin.us/businessrecycling or call 612- 543-1316. April / May 2015 Page 5 Business & Recycling City Business Profile: Jensen’s Beer, Wine & Spirits Jensen’s Beer, Wine & Spirits is family owned and operated. David and Nicole Jensen opened their doors on February 11, 2014. They just celebrated their first anniversary! Jensen’s Beer, Wine & Spirits is located at 314 Clydesdale Trail, next to the Medina Target, Wells Fargo Bank and across from Caribou Coffee. They have a great selection of craft beers, many brewed in Minne- sota, chilled in their walk-in cool- er. They have af- fordable wines rated 90+ and more. The wines also include a nice selection of well known higher end wines like Meiomi-Pinot Noir, Caymus— Conundrum—Red and more. You will also find chilled white wines in their walk-in cooler. Popular liquors including high end whiskey and bourbons, ready made margaritas, mixers and much more. They also offer customer specials at all times, which are as follows: - 5% off with 6 bottles of any wine purchase - 10% off with any 12 bottles wine purchase - 15% off any pre-purchase of 1 case of wine Jensen’s Beer, Wine & Spirits is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check their website at jensenbws.com for holiday and/or store hour updates. For more information on prod- ucts carried, contact David and Nicole at cheers@jensenbws.com or call the store at 651-621- 5474. City Seeks Medina Businesses to Feature in Upcoming Newsletters The City is interested in promoting our business community through the Medina Message newsletter. If you are interested in promoting your business profile and history in a future Medina Message newsletter, please contact Jodi Gallup at jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us. The City has been providing a profile of one local business in each issue of the newsletter since 2009. This is a free service to our Medina business community. Annual Medina Business Forum Thursday, April 23rd at 8 a.m. One of the City of Medina’s goals is to connect with and to im- prove communication between the City and the Medina business community. To this end, we are pleased to invite our Medina Busi- nesses to the City’s annual Medina business forum at the Public Works/Police Training Room, 600 Clydesdale Trail, on Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00 a.m. The meeting is scheduled to last one hour, and the Mayor, some City Council members and staff will be present to answer questions. We plan to give updates on the following topics: Recent development activity The 2015 budget Proposed Tower Drive reconstruction County Road 116/Highway 55 Interim Intersection Improvement Building Code 1306 Available economic development programs We hope this format will provide an opportunity for our business- es to interact with City officials and staff and to learn more about pro- jects and issues that may impact the community and your business in the future. We welcome ideas on how to improve the local business climate in Medina. Coffee and rolls will be provided at the forum. Please RSVP to Jodi Gallup at (763) 473-8850 or email Jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us if you are able to attend. Public Works & Public Safety Page 4 April / May 2015 Seasonal Spring Road Weight Limits The Medina Police want to remind everyone that spring weight restrictions on roads are now in effect. The reason for the restrictions is to protect our roads and keep the cost of road repair down for all taxpayers. We ask all of our residents and business owners to keep an eye out for large trucks using the roads during the restriction period. If you see them using a restricted road, please call 9-1-1 and report it. Help protect your roads! For questions, you can call the Medina Police Department at 763-473-9209. Spring Open Burning Restrictions are in Effect As the small amount of snow we received this year disappears, we are left with very dry conditions. Starting March 25, 2015 the DNR has restricted all permit burns. Recreational fires, no larger than 3’ x 3’ x 3’, are still allowed. Please use extreme caution to en- sure the recreational fire stays under control. If you are planning other burns, such as large amounts of brush or vegetation, permits will be available once the DNR lift the re- strictions 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 their office at 600 Clydesdale Trail. Sump Pumps Should Not Be Connected to Sanitary Sewer Lines Sump pump systems are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. Cross connections (when sump pumps discharge into the sanitary sewer system) are against City ordi- nance (City Code Section 701.01) and pose economic and environmental problems. Homeowners use sump pumps in their basements to battle moisture and flooding issues. The basic sump system includes drain tile, a sump pit (which extends below the slab and collects surface water that enters the basement/crawl space or ground- water that rises to the slab), a sump pump, a float or switch, and a drain line. The drain line should direct sump water out of your house and onto your yard. What Is a Cross Connection? When a sump pump is connected to a sanitary sewer line, it is called a cross connection. Often, this is a hose leading from the sump to a laundry tub or a floor drain. Water that goes down any drain in your house leads to the sanitary sewer system and eventually ends up at a wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated before being released back into the environment. Cross connections are a significant cause of inflow and infiltration (I/I). What is Inflow and Infiltration (I/I)? I/I is the excess flow of clear water into the City's sanitary sewer system. Inflow is when clear water from illegal connections of sump pumps, downspouts, and foundation drains is channeled directly into sanitary sewer pipes. Infiltration is when ground- water seeps into sewer pipes via cracks or leaky joints. Why Is Cross Connection a Problem? Sump pump water is what engineers call "clear water," most often rain water, ground water, or snow melt. This water flows directly into area streams, ponds, and lakes. Water from sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and washing machines is wastewater and must be treated before it is discharged into the environment. Clear wa- ter, such as that from a sump pump, overloads the sanitary sewer sys- tem. During the rainy season (March through October), this clear water increases the flow through Medina’s sanitary sewer system one to two times the usual amount, primarily because of cross connections. Since sanitary sewer rates are based on the number of gallons that flow through the City sanitary sewer system, treating clear water is costly to everyone. Redirecting Your Sump Pump Connection Sump pumps should drain into the City’s storm sewer system through one of two methods: a direct connection (a pipe from the house to the main storm sewer line), if available directly onto the ground (preferably 20 feet from the house and not into a neighbor’s yard) A proper sump pump connection April / May 2015 Page 3 Environment City Seeks Bluebird Monitors Volunteer Bluebird monitors are wanted April through early August: would require checking several nest boxes every 7-10 days to record nests, eggs, and young that fledge. Park Commissioner Madeleine Linck will train vol- unteers about the types of birds and how to record and submit the data. Nest boxes need to be cleaned out each fall. Medina has Bluebird houses scattered around the city in seven locations (City Hall, Holy Name Park, Rainwater Nature Area, To- mann Preserve, Hunter Lions Park, Hennepin County Public Works and Medina Lake Pre- serve). Monitoring Bluebirds is a great way to learn about our local birds and to help Blue- birds be successful. It could be a fun family project, but a commitment to monitor regular- ly is needed to help the birds succeed. Anyone interested, please email Madeleine Linck at madeleine.linck@gmail.com. Wildlife/Nature Walk Thursday, June 11th Join us as Medina Park Commissioner Madeleine Linck leads us on an insightful and educational evening wildlife/nature walk through Tomann Preserve on Thursday, June 11th from 6—8 p.m. Tomann Preserve is lo- cated at 3112 Pioneer Trail at the corner of Pioneer Trail and Tomahawk Trail in Medina. Residents interested in attending are en- couraged to register prior to the event, by emailing jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us or call- ing 763-473-8850. Declining Monarch Butterfly Population What Can We do to Help? The Monarch butterfly populations have plummeted by as much as 90% in the past 20 years and are on the cusp of moving toward protection on the Endangered Species Act. One of the primary reasons for this decline is the decrease in milkweed plants, which grow easily in Minnesota. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the milkweed plant and it is the only source of food for the monarch caterpillar. If you have milkweed growing in your yards and fields, please don’t pull it, and let it grow. Planting milkweed is one of the easiest ways that we can make a differ- ence for the monarchs. Residents that are interested in planting milkweed in their yards can pick up a bag of seeds, free of charge, while supplies last, at our annual Spring Clean-up Day on Saturday, April 25th from 8 a.m. to Noon at 600 Clydesdale Trail. More information on the Monarch butter- fly and the importance of milkweed can be found at: http://medinamn.us/monarch- butterfly/. Dogs in the Parks With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, we will be out enjoying the parks and trails. If you are headed out to one of the City parks or trails with your pets, please ensure they are on a leash. City Ordinance 515 re- quires that pets be contained or on a leash no longer than six feet in length. The ordinance also requires that pet owners clean up pet feces and dispose of the feces in a sanitary manner. Let’s enjoy our parks by keeping them safe and clean. Have a great summer! Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events Hennepin County annually sponsors household hazardous waste collection events. Collection events are held Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, events will be held at Minnetonka Public Works (May 14-16), St. Louis Park Middle School (June 11-13), Northeast Minneapolis (July 9-11) and South Minneapolis (August 20-22). These events provide a great way to get rid of unwanted household, lawn and gar- den products, mercury-containing items, and auto and fuel wastes. For more information on event locations and accepted items, call 612-348- 3777, or visit www.hennepin.us/collectionevents. SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY LOCATION: 600 Clydesdale Trail Public Works/Police Facility (Follow the signs off State Hwy 55) SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Rain or Shine) Accepted Items: Scrap Iron No charge Batteries (all) No charge Anti-freeze No charge All Appliances No charge Miscellaneous Electronics No charge Computers and Laptops No charge Computer Monitor $10.00 ea TVs (small - under 26”) $10.00 ea TVs (large - 27” & up) $15.00 ea Mattresses/Box springs $15.00 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 Carpet, furniture, or building materials, etc. $10 small load/$30 large load* *(Fully tied down pick-up truck) Try to keep your item types together as there will be separate stations for each category. Items Not Accepted: Treated lumber Recyclables Paint Concrete bricks Commercial printers & fax machines Copiers Household/agricultural chemicals or containers Oil/Oil products Household garbage Fluorescent lights Hazardous waste To recycle any of the above items, or to recycle other times of the year, contact: Hennepin County Recycling Center 8100 Jefferson Highway Brooklyn Park, MN 612-348-3777 www.hennepin.us/dropoffs LUNCH WILL BE SERVED FROM 10 A.M. UNTIL NOON Feel free to join us for a lunch of grilled hot dogs served on Dobo’s freshly made buns, chips, pop and water. BICYCLE COLLECTION: The City will be collecting good useable bikes for Interfaith Outreach Community Partners. BRUSH AND COMPOST SITE Located northwest of City Hall at 2052 Cty. Rd. 24, the brush and compost site is open year round Tuesday and Thursday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (except holidays) and Friday 7 a.m. to Monday 3:30 p.m. (open all week- end 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 Railroad ties Accepted items for compost pile: Leaves/grass clippings (no bags please) Items not accepted: Hay and/or straw Animal waste Garbage REMEMBER: No bags or containers are to be left on the site. Please do not trash this site by leaving garbage or other unsuitable materials. TREES FOR SALE: The City of Medina will once again be sell- ing a limited number of the following trees at the Spring Clean-up Day. Red Maple $15.00 each Sugar Maple $15.00 each Autumn Blaze $15.00 each Redmond Linden $15.00 each Harvest Gold Linden $15.00 each Hackberry $15.00 each Honeylocust $15.00 each Northern Pin Oak $15.00 each The trees are approximate- ly 1” in diameter and 6-8’ tall. The trees are bare root stock and will need to be planted immediately. Before a tree is planted, call Gopher State at 651-454-0002 to locate underground utilities. TREES 50% OFF The trees sold at this years’ Spring Clean- up Day will be subsidized from the City Tree Replacement Fund, which reduced the cost of each tree from $30 to $15. The City is limiting the number of trees that can be purchased this year to ten per household (three of each species) for Medi- na residents only. If you are interested in purchasing more trees, check back at 11:30 a.m. to see what trees may still remain. MONARCH BUTTERFLIES Residents that are interested in planting milkweed in their yards to help the Monarch butterflies can pick up a bag of seeds, free of charge, while supplies last, at our annual Spring Clean-up Day on Saturday, April 25th from 8 a.m. to Noon at 600 Clydesdale Trail. More information on milkweed and the Monarch butterflies can be found at: http://medinamn.us/monarch-butterfly/.