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Home My Public Portal AboutApril May 2010 Final with Inserts Inside this issue: City Seeks Election Judges..............................Pg. 1 City Grants Preliminary Approvals to OSI...Pg. 1 Hamel Field House Near Completion...........Pg. 2 Plastic Bags Banned from Yard Waste..........Pg. 2 Planting Native is Smart Gardening..............Pg. 2 New Youth Recreation Programs..................Pg. 2 City Business Profile: Polaris Industries.......Pg. 3 Green Acres Property......................................Pg. 3 Park Commission Nature Walk......................Pg. 3 Lennar Concept Plan Review.........................Pg. 3 The Medina Police Department.....................Insert Spring Clean-Up Day.......................................Insert City Calendar April 6th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 13th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 17th Sat—Council Office Hours 9-11:00 am 20th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 21st Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm May 4th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 11th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 15th Sat—Council Office Hours 9-11:00 am 18th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 19th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm 31st Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas on website when available. Upcoming Public Hearings/Meetings Planning Commission Hearings (meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall) April 13, 2010 – the following Hearing is tentatively scheduled: Open Space Protection/Conservation Design Ordinance – Protecting open spaces and natural resources in the City was identified as a high priority in the 2006 City of Medina Community Survey. As a result, the City completed an Open Space Plan in 2007 which identified the need for new regulations in order to protect these important features. This ordinance will be the primary tool to protect open spaces and natural resources. May 11, 2010 – the following Hearing is tentatively scheduled: Development Staging Point System – the City’s 2010-2030 Comprehen- sive Plan establishes timeframes when certain property will be allowed to develop. The Plan allows flexibility to these timeframes if certain City objectives (natural resource protection, low impact design, higher quality architectural design, etc.) are met by a development. The Point System will allow the City to evaluate this flexibility. If interested, please contact City Hall to sign up to receive email updates of Planning Commission and City Council meetings. SWPPP Public Hearing—April 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the council cham- bers at 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 avail- able 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: Chad M. Adams, City Administra- tor, 2052 County Road 24, Medina, MN 55340. City Council Saturday Office Hours City Council Saturday Office Hours are on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at City Hall. The office hours are an informal setting and serve as an oppor- tunity for residents to bring your thoughts to elected officials for a better Medina. 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 Carolyn Smith 763-475-1003 Daniel Johnson 763-473-0744 Elizabeth Weir 763-473-3226 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 Chad M. Adams Other Contributors Jodi Gallup April / May 2010 City Seeks Election Judges The City is seeking election judges for the 2010 State Primary on Tuesday, August 10th; and for the 2010 General Election on Tuesday, November 2nd. 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 general duties of an elec- tion 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 permitted to vote only once. ► Maintain order and ensure a nonpartisan atmosphere 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 11, 2010. Election judge applications can be found on the city website at www.ci.medina.mn.us/election/election.htm or call City Hall. Ques- tions can be directed to Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at 763-473-8850 or email jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us. City Grants Preliminary Approvals to Open System International On March 16, 2010, the Medina City Council granted preliminary approval to Open Systems International (OSI) to construct a 92,000 square foot building on 20- acres at the northwest corner of Highway 55 and Arrowhead. The building will serve as OSI’s corporate headquarters with approximately 250 employees when occupied in the spring of 2011, and OSI will im- mediately become one of the City’s largest employers. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in the late spring/ early summer of 2010, pending final City approvals. For more information, please contact City Planner Dusty Finke at dusty.finke@ci.medina.mn.us or (763) 473-8846. Recreation and Environment Page 2 April / May 2010 Plastic Bags Are Banned from Curbside Yard Waste Collection A new state law that went into effect on January 1, 2010 now bans plastic bags from curbside yard waste collection. Yard waste can be disposed of in a compostable bag, yard waste cart, or paper (kraft) bag. Compostable bags and pa- per (kraft) bags can be found at home improvement, gro- cery and hardware stores. Contact your waste service pro- vider about the availability of yard waste carts. For more information on these requirements and how they affect you, visit RethinkRecycling.com. New Youth Recreation Programs in Medina Soccer Kicks 4 Kids is offering a new summer soccer program for kids ages 3-10 in Medina. Kicks 4 Kids believes that soccer can assist in preparing kids physically, socially, and cognitively, for life. Soccer is a game that requires all of these items in order to be successful. They have developed a curriculum based around these principles. Classes are divided into three groups: 3 year olds, 4-6 year olds and 7-10 year olds. They will be of- fered in 3 sessions that are 4 weeks each from 9 am to 10 am (3 year olds) and 10 am to 11 am (4-6 year olds and 7-10 year olds), Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each session costs $90 per child, per session. Classes will be offered at Medina Morningside Park (2522 Bobolink Rd.) and Hunter Lions Park (3195 Hunter Dr. Park). To sign up for lessons or to get more information on Kicks 4 Kids, visit their website at www.kicks4kidsmn.com or call David Burns at 612-532-7529. Tennis Are you looking to introduce tennis to your child or wanting to increase their skill level? Steve and Carrie Agre are offering beginner, intermediate and match play tennis lessons for kids 8 years to high school at Hamel Legion Park (3200 Mill Drive). Take one week or sign up for all 5 weeks. For more information call-Steve or Carrie Agre-763-447-8811 or 763-447- 8837. Planting Native is Smart Gardening Courtesy of Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Native plants are the key to an easy, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly garden. Choosing to plant native means you’ve chosen plants that are hardy and well-adapted to the soils and climate in which they grow. This means you have more time and money to enjoy Minnesota’s short-lived summers! Here’s why: Water your garden less—native plants require little more water than normal rainfall and you preserve our precious water resources! Native plants also help storm water runoff infiltrate into the soil with their extensive root system recharging ground water and preventing flooding. Fertilize less—in fact native plants improve your soil fertility! Native plants flourish in native soils and even pull excess nutrients out of storm water runoff before it enters our local water bodies. Weed your garden less—native species resist invasion of alien plant species. In addition, native plants attract wildlife by providing food and shelter. In fact you can choose your plants by the type of wildlife you hope to attract for the habitat in your area. Minnesota hosts a large variety of beautiful and functional native flowers and grasses. For example you can plant a colorful native prairie butterfly garden with Prairie Milkweed, Black-Eyed Susan, Pasque Flower, Rough Blazing Stars, and Little Bluestem. Also, a majority of native plants are per- ennials, which means you save yourself a trip back to the nursery next year! Find more information about how to get started on your own native garden go to www.bluethumb.org Also, find local raingarden workshops at www.minnehahacreek.org/workshops. Hamel Field House Near Completion The Hamel Field House, consisting of restrooms, conces- sion facility, and storage space, is expected for completion this May in time for the youth baseball league and tour- nament play. Check back on the City’s website in a few weeks for more in- formation on the Grand Opening and Field rental. Page 3 Planning & Zoning April / May 2010 City Business Profile: Polaris Industries Polaris has grown and evolved from a small town farm implement and welding shop into a global manufacturer and dis- tributor of industry-leading, on- and off-road vehicles designed for recreational, utility and military purposes. Polaris was producing farm products such as straw choppers when it was incorporated in Roseau, Minnesota, in 1954. Two years later the company built the first Polaris snowmobile, and Polaris went on to pioneer the successful marketing of “snow machines” as versatile vehicles that could be used for recreation as well as work. Over 55 years since that first Polaris Sno-Traveler was built, the company remains the leader in snowmobile innovation and ride and handling technology, as well as a force in snowmobile racing. In 1985, Polaris began its product diversification with the introduction of the first Polaris all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Today, Polaris offers a broad lineup of recreational-utility ATVs as well as sport models that are popular with trail and dune riders and have been highly successful in racing worldwide. In 1998, Polaris introduced the Polaris RANGER, a utility vehicle that offers side-by-side seating, and the company launched its Victory Motorcycles division. Today, the Polaris RANGER is the leader in side-by-side performance and innova- tion, and the RANGER lineup now includes the industry-leading RANGER RZR sport models and the RANGER EV, which uses an emission-free electric motor. The first Victory motorcycle was built on July 4, 1998, and the motorcycle division now offers a wide selection of models in every segment of the cruiser market, including the popular touring and luxury-touring segments. In 2009, Polaris introduced the Polaris Breeze, an electric neighborhood vehicle with the Polaris-exclusive MyChoice™ rear seat that allows a Breeze to be used to carry passengers or carry cargo such as groceries or golf clubs. The Pure Polaris division offers parts, apparel and accessories designed to enhance riders’ experience on Polaris and Vic- tory vehicles. Polaris has manufacturing facilities in Roseau, MN, Osceola, WI, and Spirit Lake, IA, has a product distribution center in Vermillion, SD, and operates a Canadian business office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company’s corporate headquarters is lo- cated in Medina, MN, and Polaris has more than 1,800 employees in Minnesota and over 3,000 worldwide. Polaris Industries Inc., which had annual 2009 sales of $1.6 billion, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories, is available from authorized Po- laris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com. Green Acres Property Minnesota Statutes regulating the Green Acres Program were changed in both 2008 and 2009. Land owners enrolled in the Green Acres Program should check the current laws because certain op- tions are available up until May 1, 2010. An over- view of the Green Acres Program changes are avail- able on the City’s website at www.ci.medina.mn.us. If you have any further questions about the Green Acres Program changes, please contact City Asses- sor Rolf Erickson at (763) 473-3978. Lennar Receives Feedback on Concept for 195-Lot Single Family Development The City reviewed a Concept Plan Review from Lennar for a 195-lot subdivi- sion on property at 3212 Hunter Drive during February. The property is located east of Hunter Drive be- tween Hamel Road and Medina Road. A Concept Plan Review is not a for- mal request for review, but an opportunity for area property owners, the Planning Commission, and the City Council to pro- vide feedback on a potential development. The Planning Commission and City Council heard extensive feedback from neighboring property owners during meetings on Feb- ruary 9 and February 16. Minutes of these meetings are available on the City’s website at www.ci.medina.mn.us. Since this was only a Concept Plan Review at this time, the City did not take formal action. Adjacent property owners will be notified if and when a formal application is submitted in the future. Property Location Park Commission Nature Walk Residents are invited to join the Medina Park Commission on a Saturday morning bird watching nature walk on Saturday, May 22nd from 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Tomann Property at the corner of Pioneer Trail and Tomahawk Trail. Residents interested in attending should register with Jodi Gallup at jodi.gallup@ci.medina.mn.us or call 763-473-8850 by May 3rd. The Medina Police Department The Medina Police Department continues to strive for excellence in providing our citizens with the most profes- sional law enforcement services available. Our department consists of ten licensed officers, one full-time administra- tive assistant, one part-time community service officer, and one part-time transcriptionist. Of the ten licensed offi- cers, we have a chief, a sergeant, six patrol officers, an investigator, and a member on the West Metro Drug Task- force. We respond to calls for service and all types of emergency situation throughout the City of Medina. Our mis- sion is to protect and serve the citizens of Medina and their property to the best of our ability. Administration The Administration oversees the daily operations of the Patrol Division, In- vestigations, community service, and emergency management services. The Administration consists of the police chief, the patrol sergeant, administra- tive assistant, and the part-time tran- scriptionist. Patrol Division Our Patrol Division consists of a ser- geant and six patrol officers. These seven officers cover the streets of Me- dina 24/7, 365 days a year. The offi- cers respond to all calls for service and all traffic incidents; they enforce our traffic laws through aggressive enforce- ment and education. They respond to criminal complaints and follow up on reports throughout the City. Rollover Accident County Road 24 Our Patrol Division has on average over 18,000 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) incidents in an average year. The pie chart to the right shows our 2009 CAD activity which is generated through Hennepin County Dispatch. These incidents range from motorist assists to death investigations, to crimi- nal assaults, burglaries, and robberies. We cover over 26 square miles within the City of Medina. The patrol officers are here to serve and protect our citi- zens. Investigations Our in-house investigator takes all the incidents that need follow-up or crimes that are not immediately solved, and follows up on them. Our investigator averages over 400 cases a year and averages approximately a 70% clearance rate. By having our own in- vestigator, our citizens are assured that each one of the incidents that happen in Medina are being looked at and followed up on to the best of our ability. (See Medina Crime Statistics on backside). We also have a West Metro Drug Task- force (WMDT) member who represents our department in a joint taskforce to address drug cases specifically. The West Metro Drug Taskforce has been in place since 2004. The taskforce consists of an officer from West Hennepin Public Safety Department, Mound Police Department, Orono Police Department, Medina Police Department, and two deputies from Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. Over the last five years, there has been over $50,000,000 worth of street drugs taken off the street by our taskforce. They continue to work to keep drugs out of our communities. Marijuana Grow House Seized by WMDT 2009 Com puter Aided Dispatch (CAD) Totals 1% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 53% 33%4% Alarms Animal Disturbance Fire Medical Other Person Property Service Traffic Traffic Service Community Service We have one part-time community service officer who assists the patrol officers in their duties in a support role. The community ser- vice officer, along with the rest of the department, assists in all the community events throughout the year. These events, such as the Hamel Rodeo, Bike Rodeo, Night to Unite, Medina Celebration Day, the Loretto FunFest, and the Holiday Train are great opportu- nities for our officers to meet and get to know our citizens. Bike Rodeo Hamel Rodeo Our community service officer also assists with maintenance of all the police department equipment. With the growth of technology this responsibility continues to grow over time. In the last few years we have seen new in-car computers, GPS units, and advanced radio systems. Training As licensed police officers, we are all required to receive annual training on topics such as use of force, emergency vehicle operation, and first aid. We also train on all the other operating procedures we use on a regular basis. These training responsibilities take coordina- tion and time. Each officer is responsi- ble for completing these required classes. Administration ensures that the officers receive this training to keep their licenses current. We provide in-house training on fire- arms, Taser use, hands-on defensive tactics, and emergency manage- ment. Emergency Management The City of Medina is required by the state to have an emergency operations plan in the event that a catastrophic event would affect the City of Medina. We are required to re- spond and take responsibility for all incidents within the City. The chief of police is assigned as the emergency manager for the City by city ordinance. The chief is responsible for the coordination of all the emergency services that would respond to a major disaster. All em- ployees of the City of Medina are trained in the basics of emergency management. There are four parts to our system: mitigation, preparation or plan- ning, response, and recovery. Police offi- cers and firefighters receive additional training on incident command and the National Incident Manage- ment System. Each year we have tabletop ex- ercises and live drills to ensure that we are pre- pared for any major disasters. Our plan is an all hazards plan adaptable to any situation. We partner with the surrounding communities to share resources. Medina belongs to the Lake Minnetonka Emergency Management Group which consists of 14 cities who share a com- mon ordinance allowing the cities to work to- gether on all the requirements of emergency management. Part 1 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Murder 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rape 3 2 2 4 0 1 Robbery 0 0 1 1 0 0 Assaults 5 5 4 1 4 1 Burglary 18 30 25 27 16 20 Thefts 21 24 22 22 108* 100 Auto Thefts 3 10 5 4 7 2 Arson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Medina’s Crime Statistics 2009 Part 2 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Forgery 11 4 6 14 2 2 Fraud 5 2 4 11 6 10 Stolen/Theft Related 64 92 63 68 23 12 Vandalism 31 29 38 40 27 43 Weapons 1 1 2 2 2 1 Narcotics 22 79 66 33 55 62 DWI 63 89 63 136 142 159 Liquor Laws 14 21 13 21 42 28 Disorderly Conduct 26 12 13 16 18 13 Other As- saults 7 8 16 8 14 5 Other 21 71 41 49 16 15 TOTAL 315 479 384 457 482 474 The Medina Police Department Annandale Shoot House Training SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Rain or Shine) Accepted Items: Brush No charge Leaves No charge Scrap Iron No charge Batteries (all) No charge Anti-freeze No charge Air conditioners $15.00 ea Water Softeners $15.00 ea Dehumidifiers $10.00 ea Televisions $3 - $8 ea Computers $3 - $8 ea Appliances $10.00 ea Mattresses/Box springs $15.00 ea Tires - Car $ 4.00 ea Tires - Truck (w/o rim) $ 8.00 ea Tires - Truck (with rim) $12.00 ea Tires - Tractor* $20.00-$40.00 ea *Depending on size Carpet, furniture, building Materials, etc: $10 small load $30 large load* (*Fully tied down pick-up truck) When loading your items, keep them separated into categories, as things will be unloaded in vari- ous areas of the property. 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. 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 (click on environment) Hennepin County is sponsoring a household haz- ardous waste collection at Independence City Hall from April 29-May 1, 2010. For a list of items that will be accepted, call 612-348-3777, or visit www.hennepin.us/collectionevents. RAIN BARRELS FOR SALE The City of Medina will be selling rain barrels at the reduced price of $75 to Medina residents and $85 to non-residents. An order form and additional rain barrel information is available online at www.ci.medina.mn.us. Questions on rain barrel orders should be directed to Jodi Gallup at 763-473-8850. BICYCLE COLLECTION: The City will be collecting good useable bikes for Interfaith Outreach Community Partners. BRUSH AND COMPOST SITE Located behind the Public Works garage, the brush and compost site is open year round during daylight hours seven days a week. 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 TREES FOR SALE: The City of Medina will be selling a limited number of trees at the Spring Clean-up Day. Sugar Maple $30.00 each Autumn Blaze $30.00 each Hackberry $30.00 each 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 im- mediately. Before a tree is planted, call Gopher State One-Call at 651-454-0002 to locate underground utilities. Wood chip mulch will be available to Medina residents on a first come first serve basis at no charge. Mulch can be picked up behind the Public Works garage during daylight hours 24/7. RECYCLE HOLIDAY LIGHTS: Bring your old holiday lights that you are no longer using to be recycled. The strings of holi- day lights are disassembled and all the parts, in- cluding the copper wires and light bulbs, are re- cycled.