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Home My Public Portal About2020 Jun-Jul NewsletterInside this issue: COVID-19 City Response Pg. 1 Election Judges Needed Pg. 1 Building Permits Issued Electronically Pg. 2 Land Use Applications Under Review Pg. 2 City Considers New Shed Setbacks Pg. 2 Planning Commission Vacancy Pg. 2 Open to Business Program Pg. 2 Help Needed for Ditch Clean-up Pg. 3 Hackamore Road Improvement Project Pg. 3 Stormwater Pg. 3 Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Pg. 3 Share the Road and Public Safety Tips Pg. 4 Fire Department Support Pg. 4 Speed Trailer Pg. 4 Annual Report Now Available Pg. 5 Municipal Elections —Filing for Office Pg. 5 Mosquito Control Pg. 5 Absentee Voting Pg. 5 Medina Celebration Day Cancelled Pg. 5 Keep Pets on Leash Pg. 5 City Meeting Calendar Back Clean -Up Day —NEW DATE Back Night to Unite Postponed Back City Meeting & Event Calendar June 2nd Tues—City Council 7 pm 9th Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm 16th Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm 16th Tues—City Council 7 pm 17th Wed —Park Commission 7 pm July 3rd 7th 14th 15th 18th 21st 21st Fri —City Office Closed (Holiday) Tues—City Council 7 pm Tues—Planning Commission 7 pm Wed —Park Commission 7 pm Sat —Clean-up Day 8 am -noon Tues—City Council Work Session 6 pm Tues—City Council 7 pm Meeting agendas on website when available. MEDINA 2052 County Road 24 Medina, MN 55340-9790 Clean-up Day - NEW DATE: Saturday, July 18th The City will be holding a limited contact Clean-up Day event on Saturday, July 18th from 8 a.m. to Noon at 600 Clydesdale Trail. We will change the event layout to have a single -file drop off. We will have limited staff at the event, so we ask that residents bring family members with them to unload their own items into the appropriate disposal piles. There will be no food served and no trees for sale. Event details and updates can be found at https://medinamn.us/cleanupday/. Night to Unite —Postponed to October 6th li it N1GHTto UNITE! Neighbors Joining Together The annual Night to Unite neighbor- hood gatherings have been postponed nationally from August 4th to October 6th. Watch for more information in a future newsletter on planning your neighborhood gatherings. 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 notifica- tion list, email jodi.gallup@medinamn.gov to sign up. L 1 T O MEDINA 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 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mayor Kathleen Martin 612-344-1111 City Council Jeff Pederson John Anderson Dino DesLauriers Todd Albers 612-916-6448 612-618-5702 612-812-3290 763-360-5532 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 www.medinamn.us Messageh A hi -monthly publication from the City of Medina COVID-19 City Response The City of Medina continues to take precautions to keep our community safe while providing essential services. City Council, Planning Commission, and Park Commission meetings have been held virtually since March and will continue in this fashion until further notice. Residents can join the meeting virtually through a web browser or by phone. The city website will continue to be updated with current meeting content at: https://medinamn.us/. Plans are in place to ensure interactions between employees and the public are safe, however, City employees who are able to work from home will continue doing so. Medina staff will continue to be available to assist the public through email and phone calls or by scheduling an appointment for things that cannot be done virtually. A staff directory is available at: https://medinamn.us/contact-us/staff-directory/. As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, residents will be able to access up- to-date information and resources at:https://medinamn.us/covid-19/. June / July 2020 Exercise your civic duty: help people vote at the polling place. No experience needed; you will be trained. Planning Administration Staff Issuing Building Permits Electronically Building permits continue to be processed as City staff have been mainly working remotely, consistent with recommendations related to Covid-19. Most permits can be processed electronically. For more information, visit https://medinamn.us/citygov/ departments/building-department/ or contact Deb Dion at permits( medinamn.gov or 763-473-8847. City Considers Setback Requirements for Sheds The City Council is scheduled to review regulations related to sheds at their June 2, 2020 meeting. Current City regulations require accessory struc- tures and outbuildings to meet the same setbacks as homes on a lot. There is an exception for small sheds, 120 square feet or less, which can be located as close to five feet to side and rear property lines. The Planning Commission reviewed the regulations and recommended amending to allow sheds up to 200 square feet to be located as close as five feet from side and rear property lines. The Planning Commission also recommended requiring any shed taller than 12 feet to meet the larger setback. For more information or comments, please contact Planning Director Dusty Finke at: dusty.finke@medinamn.gov or 763-473-8846. Planning Commission Vacancy Applications Due: June 19th The City is seeking applications from residents to fill a vacant seat on the Medina Planning Commission. The open/vacant seat has a term expiring on December 31, 2020 with the option to renew your seat at the end of 2020 for a new three-year term. The Planning Commission is a volunteer recommending body to the City Council and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. To learn more or download an application go to: https://medinamn.us/commission-vacancies/. 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 https://medinamn.us/citygov/ departments/planning-zoning/ or contact the Planning Department at (763) 473-4643, ext. 1. Meadow View Townhomes — north of Highway 55, west of CR116 Lennar has applied for Preliminary Plat approval for development of 125 townhomes south of the Fields of Medina neighborhood. The applicant had previously requested review of a Concept Plan with 138 townhomes and has adjusted the plan following comments. A public hearing has tentatively been scheduled for the June 9 Planning Commission meeting. Roehl Subdivision —1735 Medina Road The Estate of Robert J. Roehl has requested a preliminary plat for sub- division of 28 acres into two lots, located on Medina Road, west of Tamarack Drive. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 12 and recommended approval. The request is scheduled to be reviewed by the City Council on June 2, 2020. 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@a,mccdmn.org or (612) 843-3260. More information is available on the City's website: http://medinamn.us/opentobusiness/ Annual Report Now Available The City's 2019 Annual Report can now be found on the City's website at https://medinamn.us/ citygov/history-vision/ in the right sidebar. The annual report provides an overview of the City's activities, accomplishments, and fiscal responsibility for 2019. The report outlines activity for each of the city departments including administration, planning, public works, police, and fire as well as statistics and charts demonstrating trend history. Mosquito Surveillance and Treatment Activities Each year, the field staff at the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) monitors and treats wetlands that breed mosquitoes with a fleet of trucks and helicopters. The difference in 2020 is that due to precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, more people may be home to notice MMCD activities in local neighborhoods and parks. Learn more at https://medinamn.us/mmcd/. 2020 Medina Celebration Day Event Cancellation Due to COVID The Medina Celebration Day Committee members, along with the City of Medina, have recently made the decision to cancel the annual event that was scheduled for September 19th. Due to the uncer- tainty and unpredictability with COVID-19, we felt it was best to act pro -actively to keep our residents and local businesses safe by cancelling the event. This event attracts a large attendance and involves a lot of planning with our local businesses. While we will miss the community celebration, we are looking forward to planning for this event in 2021. Municipal Elections —Filing for Local Office The City of Medina's next municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. 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 28th and closes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. The filing fee is $15. More information can be found on the City's website at https:// medinamn.us /citygov/elections/. Questions can be directed to Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at 763-473-8850 or email jodigallup@medinamn.gov. Keep Pets on Leash and Pick Up Waste If you are outside in public walking with your pets, please ensure they are on a leash. City Ordinance 515 requires 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 city, parks, and trails by keeping it safe and clean. Vote from the Safety of Your Home by Requesting an Absentee Ballot Today Minnesotans can submit a request today for an absentee mail ballot for the upcoming August 11th and November 3rd elections! Residents voting absentee by mail instead of in person on election day will help the City maintain social distancing at the polls. How it works? Go to mnvotes.org and select "other ways to vote" to request your absentee ballot. Your request will be processed and queued, so Hennepin County will be able to mail you a ballot as soon as the absentee balloting period opens, which is 46 days before the election; allowing you plenty of time to review your ballot, vote, and return before Election Day. Your ballot will come with instructions and a return envelope. Voters can also track the status of their mailed ballot to ensure their vote has been counted at: https: / / mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx. REQUEST YOUR Absentee 3allot Available today! Questions? Contact Election Coordinator Jodi Gallup at Jodi.gallup@medinamn.gov or 763-473-8850. Page 2 June / July 2020 Page 5 June / July 2020 Public Works Want to get outside AND help the city? The City of Medina is looking for interested family units who are willing to participate in a ditch clean up effort. Public Works would provide bags, gloves, and safety vests for use and then would arrange pick up of the bags from the streets. We would appreciate your assistance but encourage following all CDC guidelines of social distancing. If interested, please contact Steve Scherer at steve.scherera,medinamn.gov or call 763-473-8842. We would like to thank Boy Scouts Troop 3570 for their efforts in previous years, which was coordinated with spring clean-up day! Hackamore Road Improvement Project The cities of Medina and Corcoran are in the planning stages for future improvements to Hackamore Road from west of County Rd 116 to east of County Rd 101. Improvements being considered include widening, turn lanes and trail connections. It is anticipated that improvements will be constructed in phases over multiple years, potentially beginning in 2021. For more information, visit https://medinamn.us/ hackamore. At this site, you can also take part in an online mapping activity showing two alignment options with the ability to provide comments and thoughts (available until June 4th). For more information or to provide comments: Steve Scherer, Public Works Director -763-473-8842 steve.scherer@medinamn.gov Dusty Finke, Planning Director -763-473-8846 dusty.finke@medinamn.gov Stormwater What is Stormwater? Stormwater is rain and snow melting runoff that is not treated and ends up in lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands. Due to this, stormwater contributes vastly to water pollution. Why does it matter? The force in which water travels and water pollution can destroy habits for fish and other aquatic life. Impervious surfaces also prevent stormwater from filtering into the ground and recharging groundwater. The city is required to report annually to the MPCA on how the city is handling stormwater discharges and how they are educating the public and owners/ operators. What does the city do? The city collects a stormwater fee from all residents based on acreage and uses it to help cover the costs for projects that try to reduce phosphorus and other unwanted pollutants and monitoring and enforcement of construction sites. These funds can only be used for stormwater purposes. For more information visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's website: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/cifizens-guide-stormwater Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report Medina's 2019 Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report is based on the many water samples that are drawn from the water system by the Minnesota Department of Health. The City strives to provide good quality water, as well as excellent service, and we rely on the residents to notify us of any irregularities in the delivery of that water. The City of Medina has three separate water systems. Medina is also supplied with water by Orono for the Keller Estates Addition, and Maple Plain supplies water to the far southwest corner of the City. The report can be viewed at: https: / / medinamn.us /svcs /utilities -services /consumer -confidence -drinking -water -report/. Page 3 June / July 2020 Public Safety Share the Road — Follow the Rules Each year, we receive numerous complaints of automobile drivers and bicyclists driving poorly on the roads in Medina. The Medina Police Department's objective is to keep our roads safe for all users. As for automobile drivers, please give bicyclists room to ride on the roadway and ensure that you are passing at a safe distance. The state law requires that motor vehicles stay three feet away from bicyclists when passing a bicycle on the roadway. As for the bicyclists, you are riding a vehicle which is required to follow the rules of the road: ride to the far -right side of the roadway; no more than two bicyclists abreast on the road- way at a time; obey all traffic signs including stop signs. For more information, you can check out Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota at www.bikemn.org. Our officers will be out looking for problems, making sure all the driv- ers are following the rules. Medina is a beautiful place with great roads and beautiful views. Please respect each other on the roads. Stay safe and enjoy the ride. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Medina Police De- partment at 763-473-9209. Fire Department Support —Donate to Support your First Responders During COVID-19 If you are able, your local fire departments are looking for support to meet budget shortfalls due to COVID-19. Learn how you can help at: https://medinamn.us/fire-support/. Safety Tips Auto Theft Prevention - The easiest way to keep your vehi- cle from being stolen is to lock all the doors, roll up the win- dows, and remove the keys. Also, please remove all valuables or keep them out of sight. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately. You are also our eyes and ears in assisting to apprehend these criminals. Pedestrian Safety - Each year, more pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents. Heavier traffic levels and lack of sidewalks are two dangers faced by pedestrians. The following tips help make your journey safer: cross intersections carefully (stop and look both ways), respect traffic lights, pay attention, walk on the shoulder facing traffic, wear reflective clothing, and supervise/teach your children about safe walking. Remind your children to wear bike helmets when riding their bikes. Kids & Cars - How to be Safe - Never leave your child alone or let them play inside a vehicle. Temperatures (hot or cold) can reach deadly levels in minutes. Children left alone in cars are potential targets for child abductors. Always keep the car keys out of your children's reach. If your child is ever locked inside your vehicle, call 911 immediately. Speed Trailer —Helps Control the Speed The Medina Police Department has started putting the speed trailer on the roadway now that the snow is gone. The trailer displays the speed of oncoming vehicles on a 24" electronic board. The speed limit is also posted on the trailer. This reminds drivers of their speed. Research has shown that the majority of the driving public does not intentionally speed; they are just not paying atten- tion. Our speed trailer will be there to remind them to slow down. The trailer also has an onboard computer that records traffic flows along with vehicle speeds. We will be using this information to do target enforcement. The planning department will use the information as a tool to complete traffic studies for each road. These traffic studies are for future planning. The Smart Speed Trailer will be coming to your neighborhood in the near future. If you would like it in your neighborhood for a specific traffic issue, please call the Medina Police Department at 763-473-9209. Page 4 June / July 2020