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HomeMy Public PortalAboutApril May 2012 Inside this issue: Medina Lakes Declared Impaired .................. Pg. 1 Medina Police & Target Bike Rodeo ............. Pg. 2 Park Commission Nature Walk ..................... Pg. 2 Protect Yourself from Identity Theft ............ Pg. 2 Burning Permits for 2012 ............................... Pg. 2 Night to Unite .................................................. Pg. 2 Wolsfeld Cabin Open House ......................... Pg. 3 City Business Profile: Kumon of Medina ..... Pg. 3 City Seeks Election Judges .............................. Pg. 3 Homeowner Program Funds ......................... Pg. 3 Planning Projects Under Review ................... Pg. 4 Open to Business Program ............................. Pg. 4 Protecting Area Waterways Starts in Your Own Yard ......................................................... Pg. 4 Free Medicine Disposal Drop Boxes ............ Pg. 5 Medina’s Tobacco-Free Parks Policy ............ Pg. 5 Lake Medina CAMP Monitoring ................... Pg. 5 City Clean-up Day............................................ Insert City Calendar April 3rd Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 10th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 11th Wed—Board of Appeal and Equal. 6:30 pm 17th Tues—City Council Work Session 6:00 pm 17th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 18th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm 21st Sat—Council Office Hours (by appointment) 28th Sat—City Clean-Up Day 8:00 am-Noon May 1st Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 8th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 15th Tues—City Council Work Session 6:00 pm 15th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 16th Wed—Park Commission 5:30 pm 19th Sat—Council Office Hours (by appointment) 28th Mon—City Hall Closed (Holiday) All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas on web site when available. Board of Appeal and Equalization on April 11, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall This meeting is held annually for the purpose of reviewing and cor- recting the 2012 assessed property values or property classifications in the City of Medina. All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said as- sessment, or who wish to complain that the property of another is as- sessed 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 proper- ty 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 www.ci.medina.mn.us. SWPPP Public Hearing April 17, 2012 at 7 p.m. in City Hall The purpose of the hearing is to receive public input on the adequacy of the City of Medina Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). A copy of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program is available at Medina City Hall. Any person wishing to express an opinion on this matter will be heard orally or in writing at the hearing. Written comments may be sent prior to the said public hearing to: Scott Johnson, City Administrator, 2052 County Road 24, Medina, MN 55340. DON’T MISS THE CITY CLEAN-UP DAY FLIER INSIDE THIS ISSUE CITY OFFICE INFO 2052 County Road 24 Medina, MN 55340-9790 p: 763-473-4643 f: 763-473-9359 e: city@ci.medina.mn.us PUBLIC SAFETY p: 763-473-9209 f: 763-473-8858 City Hall Office Hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mayor Tom Crosby 612-332-9111 City Council Elizabeth Weir 763-473-3226 Jeff Pederson 612-916-6448 Melissa Martinson 763-473-8082 Mike Siitari 763-473-2563 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 City Administrator Scott Johnson Other Contributors Jodi Gallup Apr / May 2012 Medina Lakes Declared Impaired! MCWD to Seek Public Input on TMDL Process The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) will be seeking public input in the near future on the process to determine and update the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) information for lakes in the watershed. A TMDL is a scientific study conducted on impaired waters to determine how much a pollutant load needs to be reduced in order for the lake or stream to be re- stored to a healthy condition. Impaired lakes in Medina include School, Theis, Wolsfeld, Holy Name and Mooney Lakes. The purpose of the TMDL exercise is “… to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters” per the federal Clean Water Act. The process is required by the federal Clean Water Act. The implementation stage will set goals to reduce pollutants, like phosphorous, from draining into lakes and streams from lawns, farm fields and hard surfaces such as roads and driveways. Re- sponsibility for implementing the TMDL is delegated to the Minnesota Pollution Con- trol Agency (MPCA). The scope of the TMDL study will concentrate on 20 area lakes and bays, includ- ing impaired lakes in Medina, to determine what improvements are necessary in the future to comply with the federal Clean Water Act. MCWD will partner with the City of Medina and the MPCA to collect & submit data, serve as a liaison to the public, and ensure consistency and minimize duplication of efforts between government agencies. The goal is to make the plans at all levels of government as consistent and effective as possible. The following tentative timeline has been set by MCWD: ► 2nd round of stakeholder meetings – Late April 2012 - Review preliminary model- ing and discuss load allocation approaches ► Periodic public meetings/updates – May-October, TBD ► Draft report and Implementation Plan – Winter 2012 - Comment period and meet- ing ► Final report and Implementation Plan – Summer 2013 - Comment period and meeting Meeting dates will be published in a future newsletter. For more information from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed contact Becky Houdek at (952) 641-4512 or email bhoudek@minnehahacreek.org. For more information from the City of Medina contact Medina City Administrator Scott Johnson at (763) 473-4643 or email scott.johnson@ci.medina.mn.us. More information on TMDLs can be found at: www.pca.state.mn.us. Updates for this study are available at: www.minnehahacreek.org/projects/studies. Public Safety & Events Page 2 Apr / May 2012 Burning Permits for 2012 Just a reminder, every Spring the DNR restricts burning until the area greens up. Please check the city’s website at www.ci.medina.mn.us or call for current burning restrictions. If you are planning on burning large amounts of brush or vegetation, a burn permit is required. Stop by the police depart- ment to apply for the permit. Medina Police and Target Bike Rodeo The Medina Police and Target would like to invite you to the an- nual Bike Rodeo for kids! Join us on the morning of Saturday June 9th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Medina Target located at 300 Clydesdale Trail. The bike rodeo will run until 1:00 p.m. The event is intended for children ages 3-12. We want to reinforce their bicycle skills before summer kicks in full gear. They will also have the opportunity to have their bikes inspected. This event will allow children to go through ob- stacles that they may face every day while riding their bikes. There will be refreshments and a drawing for prizes! The best part is that the whole event is FREE! To register for the bike rodeo, go to our city website at www.ci.medina.mn.us and fill out the registration form. You can either mail it or drop it off at the Medina Police Department, 2052 County Road 24, Medina, Minnesota 55340 or email the form to Community Service Officer Kordiak at Jeffrey.kordiak@ci.medina.mn.us. If you have any questions, please call the Medina Police Depart- ment at 763-473-9209. Let’s have a safe and fun summer this year! Night to Unite Night to Unite will take place on Tuesday, Au- gust 7th. Night to Unite is a program established to take a stand against crime in our neighborhoods. How it works is parties are held in neighborhoods which gives our residents a chance to get to know their neighbors. Crime is solved and prevented by having neighbors watch out for each other. The police cannot be everywhere all the time so we rely on our citizens to be alert and to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Currently, the Police Department is asking Me- dina residents to step up and act as block leaders and work with the police department to organize parties in their neighborhood. If you are interested in being a block leader, please contact Community Service Officer Jeff Kordiak at 763-473-9209. Let’s work together to keep Medina a great place to live. Protect Yourself From Identity Theft The Medina Police Department continues to have identity theft cases in Medina. This is where a thief steals a purse, wallet, or your mail out of your mailbox, and uses your identification to steal your identity. Thieves apply for credit and run up huge bills in your name which can destroy your credit history. In some cases 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 your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep these where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred. You will need this to prove to credit providers you were diligent. This is a first step toward starting an investigation. Next, notify the three national credit reporting organizations im- mediately to place a fraud alert on your name and social security num- ber. By placing an alert with the credit reporting companies, if credi- tors check 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 and stop thieves from doing more damage to your credit. Below are the numbers for the three national credit reporting compa- nies. If you have any questions, please call the Medina Police Depart- ment at (763) 473-9209. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW): 1-800-301-7195 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271 Park Commission Nature Walk Residents are invited to join the Medina Park Commission on a Saturday morning wild life/nature walk on Saturday, June 2nd from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Tomann Preserve at the corner of Pio- neer Trail and Tom- ahawk Trail. Residents interested in attending should register with Jodi Gallup at Jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us or call 763-473-8850 by May 21st. Apr / May 2012 Page 5 Parks & Environment Come Out and Enjoy Medina’s Tobacco-Free Parks! Medina is one of many other cities, coun- ties, and districts in Min- nesota that designates its parks and recreation areas tobacco-free. In Novem- ber 2011, the Medina City Council adopted a policy that prohibits tobacco-use in all Medina parks and recreation areas. This includes all city parks and nature areas with amenities such as picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, walking paths, athletic fields, sledding hills and skating rinks. Enforcement of the policy will come via the signs and commu- nity awareness measures. The Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) program, a state- wide tobacco prevention program, is providing Medina with metal tobacco-free signs free of charge. “We are pleased to have Medina on our growing list of Minnesota communities with tobacco-free park policies,” said Brittany McFadden, Director of TFYR. Cur- rently, 142 communities in Minnesota prohibit tobacco use in their park areas. A group of Orono High School students lead the efforts to get this policy adopted by presenting to the Medina Park Commission and the City Council. The students key points for approving a to- bacco-free parks policy were that 1. parks are established to pro- mote healthy activities; 2. cigarette litter is dangerous; 3. Secondhand smoke is harmful in outdoor settings; and 4. policies provide consistency among community athletic facilities and groups. Above: Orono High School students Lottie James and Ashley Melcom present before the City Council a re- quest to adopt a Tobacco-Free Parks policy in Medina. Dispose of Unwanted Medicines at Free Drop Boxes Getting rid of medicines just got easier for Henne- pin County residents. Residents can drop off unwanted medicines at drop boxes at three Sheriff’s Office facili- ties: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters 9401 83rd Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hennepin County Public Safety Facility 401 Fourth Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week You are required to go through a metal detector at the Public Safety Facility. Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol 4141 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Materials accepted Medicine from households will be accepted, including: Prescription medicines, including controlled substances Over-the-counter medicines Vitamins and supplements Pet medicines Not accepted No needles, sharps or syringes No liquids No medicines from businesses Guidelines ► No ID required. ► Free. ► Bring medicines in their original container or pack- aging. ► Place loose pills and powders in a clear plastic bag. ► The boxes are self-serve. Pull the handle to open and drop the medicine into the box. Properly disposing of unwanted medicines is im- portant to prevent abuse or poisoning and protect the environment. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens, and accidental poi- sonings from medicines are on the rise. Medicines flushed down the drain or disposed of in the trash can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking water supplies. For more information, visit www.hennepin.us/ medicine, or call Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612-348-3777. Lake Medina CAMP (Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program) The Elm Creek Watershed District is looking for a Medina resident near Lake Medina to volunteer to participate in a lake monitoring program April - October. The volunteer would collect samples of the lake water two times per month. Lake Medina is the headwaters of Elm Creek that has been designated an impaired water. A resident of Foxberry Farms who would have direct access to the lake's open water would be ideal, but anyone interested in a Citizen Science Project would be wel- come to inquire. This project could possibly be an educational pro- ject for a family or older scout troop. Please contact James Kujawa at 612-348-7338, or James.Kujawa@co.hennepin.mn.us for more information about requirements. Planning & Public Works Page 4 Apr / May 2012 Planning Projects Under Review The following land use and development pro- jects and the following updates to the zoning regu- lations are currently under review by the City. For more information on one of the projects, or for an update on the review schedule, please contact the Planning Department at (763) 473-4643. 116-lot single-family subdivision – Brockton Lane, south of Hamel Legion Park Lennar (U.S. Home Corporation) has requested PUD Concept Plan approval for a subdivision of the existing nine properties south of Hamel Legion Park and west of Brockton Lane into 116 single- family home lots. The developer proposes to in- corporate these homes into “The Enclave” which is located immediately to the west and was ap- proved by the City Council in the summer of 2011. The Planning Commission and City Council re- viewed the proposal and requested a number of changes. The Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to review an updated concept on April 10, 2012. Conservation Design Subdivision – 2700 and 2900 Parkview Drive The property owner has requested a PUD Concept Plan Review for a Conservation Design subdivi- sion proposing 8 lots on 110-acres (the applicant has reduced the concept from 10-lots). The pro- posal includes permanent conservation easements over a portion of the property and is requesting a density bonus to allow for additional lots. The Planning Commission and City Council reviewed the proposal and requested a number of changes (including a reduction in the number of proposed lots). The City Council is tentatively scheduled to review the request again on April 3, 2012. Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Nursing Homes in Commercial Districts Around the Clock Home Care has requested that the City add Assisted Living Facilities to the list of uses permitted in the Commercial zoning districts. The Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold a Public Hearing on the matter on April 10, 2012. Free One-on-One Technical Assistance for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Are you thinking about starting your own business, or are you cur- rently operating a small business and interested in FREE technical assis- tance? Medina has partnered with the Metropolitan Consortium of Com- munity Developers (MCCD) to offer the “Open to Business” program. This pro- gram provides FREE one-on-one assis- tance from MCCD’s expert staff, custom- ized 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. MCCD staff will be available in the area every 2nd Monday of the month. For more information or to schedule a session, please contact Rob Smolund from MCCD at rsmolund@mccdmn.org or (612) 789-7337 ext. 11. More information is available on the City’s website: www.ci.medina.mn.us/ed/OpenToBusiness.htm Protecting Area Waterways Starts in Your Own Yard Before we revel in the newfound warmth and breathe in the blos- soms of spring, there’s a nasty chore to be done: cleaning up the post- winter crud in the yard. As you do so this year, remember that tidying up your yard now, if done properly, can also help keep local waterways clean. Whatever washes off your yard, driveway, sidewalk and street and into a storm sewer will go directly to lakes and rivers. It’s very im- portant that people keep things such as grass clippings, pet waste, ferti- lizer, and tree leaves and seeds out of the runoff from their home. All these things contain phosphorus, which turns lakes and rivers green with algae and reduces the water quality. Spring cleaning for your yard Clean up pet waste and trash. Rake up leaves and twigs and put in your compost pile or bag them for disposal with your other yard trimmings. Keep storm drains clear, and don’t rake debris from the lawn to the street. Direct water from your downspouts away from the house and paved surfaces, and onto the lawn. Maintaining your lawn and water quality too If you fertilize your lawn, use zero-phosphorus fertilizer. Sweep up and reuse any lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalks and driveways. Use compost and manure appropriately, as they also contain phosphorus. [To view the complete article on protecting area waterways, check out the City website at www.ci.medina.mn.us.] Apr / May 2012 Page 3 Community News City Business Profile: Kumon of Medina Kumon, the world’s largest after-school math and reading enrich- ment program, helps pre-school to high school age students master fundamental concepts vital to success inside and outside of the class- room. Noticing a need for an enrichment program in Medina, local business owner Mrs. Yvonne Lee Wong was determined to bring a Kumon Center to the community. The curriculum is designed to foster independent learning skills that allow students to progress through the work, eventually studying above their grade level. Yvonne’s center has grown quickly over the last 2 years. Currently, she is helping 170 children soar academically through Kumon. “We truly believe at Kumon that children have unlimited potential to succeed,” said Yvonne. “My goal is to help each child develop strong academic skills, a love of learning and the confidence to excel beyond the classroom.” During the month of March, Kumon partnered with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization dedicated to providing books and literacy resources to underserved children across the country. Kumon of Medina celebrated this part- nership with a literacy open house for local families in support of RIF. Families enjoyed games, prizes, refreshments and read-aloud sessions from popular children’s books featured on Kumon’s Recommended Reading List. Kumon of Medina class hours are: Monday & Thursday, 3:00pm - 7:00 p.m. and is located at 5145 Highway 101N, suite 1035. For more information, call 763-205-4933, email yvon- nelee@ikumon.com or visit www.kumon.com/medina. City Seeks Election Judges The City is seeking election judges for the 2012 State Primary on Tuesday, August 14th; and for the 2012 General Election on Tuesday, November 6th. Election judges supervise and help with elections at the polls. 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 gen- eral duties of an election judge: ► Open and close the polls (judges work from 6:00 a.m. to about 10:00 p.m.); half-day shifts are available. ► Ensure that only qualified voters are permitted to vote and that each qualified voter is permit- ted to vote only once. ► Maintain order and ensure a nonpartisan atmos- phere in the voting place. ► Be responsible for the security of all election materials. ► Distribute ballots. ► Ensure that all votes are cast in secret. ► Tally the results after the polls are closed. ► Certify the precinct election results. If you are interested in serving as an election judge, please fill out an application and mail it back to City Hall by June 15, 2012. Election judge appli- cations can be found on the city website at www.ci.medina.mn.us/election/election.htm or call City Hall. Questions can be directed to Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at 763-473-8850 or email jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us. Homeowner Program Funds Available Through Minnesota Housing Minnesota Housing offers two financing programs to homeowners that may need financial help to make improvements to their homes for safety, livability or energy efficiency. The Fix-up Fund is a statewide program that offers affordable, low -interest fixed rate home improvement loans. The Rehabilitation Loan Program assists low income homeowners in financing basic home improvements that directly affect the safety, habitability, energy efficiency or accessibility of their homes. Minnesota Housing also offers two first-time homebuyers pro- grams that offer low fixed interest rates for the mortgage and interest free loans to help with down payment and closing costs for eligible borrowers. For additional information and eligibility on these programs visit www.mnhousing.gov or contact Minnesota Housing Consumer Infor- mation Line at 651-296-8215 or 1-800-710-8871 weekdays between the hours of 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Wolsfeld Cabin Open House An open house will be held during the City’s Annual Clean Up Day on Saturday, April 28th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for residents to come visit the recon- structed 1857 Wolsfeld cabin which sits in front of Medina City Hall. The cabin is furnished with period artifacts and gives visitors a sense of what pioneer cabin life was like in this area. Residents are encouraged to come see the cabin and visit with volunteers that are familiar with its history, while enjoying cookies and warm beverages. SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Rain or Shine) Behind City Hall in front of Public Works Bldg. Accepted Items: Scrap Iron No charge Batteries (all) No charge Anti-freeze No charge All Appliances $10.00 ea Small TV (13” ) Plasma $10.00 ea Medium TV (14-27”) $20.00 ea Large TV (28” and larger) $30.00 ea Miscellaneous Electronics $ 5.00 ea Computer/Laptop $ 5.00 ea Computer Monitor $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* $20.00-$40.00 ea *Depending on size Carpet, furniture, or building materials, etc. $10 small load $30 large load* *(Fully tied down pick-up truck) Keep items separated into categories, as things will be unloaded in various areas of the property. NEW BRUSH AND COMPOST SITE HOURS The City brush and compost site, located behind the Public Works garage, will have new hours of operation starting May 1, 2012. The brush and compost site will be fenced off and will be open Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (with the excep- tion of holidays) and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Accepted items for brush pile: Brush, woody shrubs, vines, Christmas trees, and large logs. Accepted items for compost pile: Leaves and grass clippings (no bags) Items Not Accepted: Treated lumber Recyclables Paint Concrete bricks Commercial printers & fax machines Copiers Household/agricultural chemicals 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 RAIN BARRELS FOR SALE This year, once again, the City of Medina will be selling rain barrels, but are reducing the price to $65.00 each for Medina residents and $75.00 each for non-Medina residents. An order form and additional rain barrel information is availa- ble online at www.ci.medina.mn.us. If you have questions, or would like to order any rain barrels before Clean-up Day, please contact Linda Lane at 763-473- 4643 or linda.lane@ci.medina.mn.us. 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. Sugar Maple $30.00 each Northern Red Oak $30.00 each Swamp White Oak $30.00 each Discovery Elm $25.00 each Redmond Linden $25.00 each The trees are approximately 1” in diameter and 6-8’ tall. The trees are bare root stock and will need to be planted immedi- ately. Before a tree is planted, call Gopher State One-Call at 651- 454-0002 to locate underground utilities. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION Hennepin County is once again sponsoring a household hazardous waste collection in Independence on May 3-5 from 9 am - 4 pm. For a list of items that will be accepted, call 612-348-3777, or visit www.hennepin.us/collectionevents VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Clean-up Day relies on help from volunteers in the community. Residents that volunteer their time are not charged for items they bring to Clean-up Day, other than appliances and tires. If you are interested in volunteering, call City Hall at 763-473-4643 and ask for Linda. BICYCLE COLLECTION The City will once again be collecting good useable bikes for Inter- faith Outreach Community Partners.