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HomeMy Public PortalAboutAug Sept 2009 Inside this issue: Open House for 2010 Budget........................Pg. 1 Proposed Uptown Hamel Monument Sign..Pg. 1 2009 Road Project Update..............................Pg. 2 Co Rd 116/Hwy 55 Intersection Update......Pg. 2 Cemetery Ownership Transfer.......................Pg. 2 Emerald Ash Borer Informational Session...Pg. 2 Protecting Groundwater..................................Pg. 2 Lawn Maintenance Ordinance........................Pg. 3 New Zoning Regulations................................Pg. 3 Economic Development Report....................Pg. 3 Wranglers Bar & Restaurant Approval..........Pg. 3 Field House Project Update............................Pg. 4 Hamel Legion Park Master Plan....................Pg. 4 Park Bench Donation Program......................Pg. 4 County Road 116 Trail Update ......................Pg. 4 Organics Compost Used in City Parks..........Pg. 4 False Alarm Fees..............................................Pg. 5 City Business Profile: Clam Corporation......Pg. 5 Organics Recycling Program ..........................Pg. 5 Fire Merger Discussions Continue ................Pg. 5 2008 City Audit Available for Review...........Pg. 5 City Calendar August 5th Wed—City Council 7:00 pm 11th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 18th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 19th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm September 1st Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 7th Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) 8th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm 15th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm 16th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm 19th Sat—City Council Office Hours 9:00 am All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas on web site when available. City Council Saturday Office Hours City Council Saturday Office Hours will reconvene in September and continue 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 opportunity for residents to bring your thoughts to elected officials for a better Medina. Normally, one or two members of the Council will be present during the office hours. Residents are encouraged to check the City’s website for scheduling confirmation/cancellation. Upcoming Public Hearings/Meetings Planning Commission Sign Ordinance Review, August 11th, 7:00 p.m.—The Planning Commission will be reviewing the City’s sign ordi- nance to discuss if pylon signs should be allowed in the Public/Semi- Public and Residential Zoning Districts. Forming a New Lake Association Presentation, August 12th, 6:30 p.m.—Citizens that are interested in protecting and improving the water bodies in their back yard are invited to join a presentation put on by Min- nesota Waters and your local Watershed District to learn how to form a lake association. The presentation will be held at the Hamel Community Building, 3200 Mill Drive. Call Jodi Gallup at 763-473-4643 for more in- formation. 2010 Budget Open House & Public Works Facility Tour, August 27th, 6:00 p.m.—Residents are invited to attend an open house of the existing Public Works Facility from 6:00 p.m—7:00 p.m. A presentation/ overview of the public works facility and the proposed 2010 budget will continue at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. DON’T MISS THE MEDINA CELEBRATION 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 Carolyn Smith 763-475-1003 Daniel Johnson 763-473-0744 Elizabeth Weir 763-473-3226 Mike Siitari 612-719-2453 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 Aug / Sept 2009 City Seeks Resident Feedback on Proposed Uptown Hamel Monument Sign The City Council has been reviewing monument sign options for Uptown Hamel. The proposed sign will be placed on Sioux Drive (on the northeast corner of the West Financial Credit Un- ion lot) to provide visibility and an attraction to Uptown Hamel from Highway 55. Please visit the City of Medina’s website at www.ci.medina.mn.us to view the design and color options. If you desire to provide feed- back on the options, please send an e-mail to city@ci.medina.mn.us. All comments should be submitted by Wednesday, August 12th. The City Council will be reviewing the sign options at their August 18th meeting. Open House for 2010 Budget and Public Works Facility Thursday, August 27th, 6:00 p.m. The City of Medina invites residents to an open house to discuss the 2010 pro- posed budget and an update on the Public Works Facility project. The event will begin with an open house of the existing Public Works Facility from 6:00 p.m—7:00 p.m.. A presentation/overview of the Public Works Facility and the proposed 2010 budget will continue at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers. A study and report completed by a Citizen’s Advisory Committee in 2007 demon- strated a need for a new Public Works Facility to be located off site of the existing grounds due to land constraints. The open house on August 27th will address the pro- ject scope and size, methods of financing the project, and project schedule. The proposed 2010 budget currently includes a reduction in overall general fund expenditures. While discussions continue on the City’s tax levy, the City is targeting no property tax increase to residents for 2010. The City is required to adopt a preliminary tax levy by September 15th and desires resident input on the 2010 budget and tax levy. Once the preliminary levy is established, the City will not have the ability to increase the levy, but may decrease prior to the end of December. In addition to the proposed general fund budget and tax levy, the City will provide an overview of proposed capital improvement projects and enterprise fund budgets, which includes water, sewer and storm water rate proposals. More information will be provided on the City’s website a few weeks prior to the Open House at www.ci.medina.mn.us. Public Works & Environment Page 2 2009 Road Project Update Improvements to City streets is well underway for the season. To date, mill and overlays have occurred in the Elm Creek neighborhood, Cherry Hill neighborhood and Sycamore Trail areas of the City. These projects are being funded 50% through assessments and 50% through general taxes. A portion of Pioneer Trail (from Hamel Road to Willow Drive) will be completed as an overlay in coming weeks. Because it’s a collector road, the project will be funded through 20% assessments and 80% general taxes. The City has also substantially completed the Hamel Road project in Uptown Hamel, which has been funded through assessments and tax increment revenues. Seal coating of various City streets have also recently been completed and was funded completely through general taxes. The City has approximately 56 miles of streets to maintain each year and have targeted improvements for the streets through a long-term pavement management program. Protecting Groundwater Groundwater comes from rain, snow, sleet, and hail that soak into the ground. Groundwater is stored in the ground in materials like gravel or sand. Water can also move through rock formations like sandstone or through cracks in rocks. An area that holds a lot of water, which can be pumped up with a well, is called an aquifer. Wells pump groundwater from the aquifer and then pipes deliver the water to cities, houses in the country, or to crops. Most groundwater is clean, but groundwater can become polluted, or contaminated. It can become polluted from leaky underground tanks that store gasoline, leaky landfills, or when people apply too much fertilizer or pesticides on their fields or lawns. When pollutants leak, spill, or are carelessly dumped on the ground they can move through the soil. Because it is deep in the ground, groundwater pollution is generally difficult and ex- pensive to clean up. Sometimes people have to find new places to dig a well because their own became contaminated. What you can do to protect groundwater 1. Recognize and manage possible sources of contamination on your property. 2. Use hazardous products as directed and dispose of them properly. 3. Conserve water. Aug / Sept 2009 County Road 116/ Highway 55 Intersection Update A project newsletter is being sent to properties af- fected by the proposed CR116/TH55 intersection pro- ject. A concept plan has been prepared and formal en- gineering design may begin this fall. Project construc- tion would not take place any earlier than fall 2010 and is largely contingent on receiving additional federal funding for the project. Existing federal funding may be used for design and acquisition of right of way. Emerald Ash Borer Informational Session—September 9th in Maple Plain The cities of Medina, Maple Plain and Independence are inviting the general public to attend an informational session on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on September 9th at the Discovery Center in Maple Plain. The session will begin at 7:00 p.m. The EAB is a serious invasive tree pest and has been confirmed as present in St. Anthony Park, a neighborhood of St. Paul. Both Ramsey County and Hennepin County have been placed into a quarantine area to help slow the spread of the EAB. The Department of Agriculture provides periodic updates regarding the Emerald Ash Borer on their website at www.mda.state.mn.us German Liberal Cemetery Ownership Transfer The City Council at their July 21st meeting authorized staff to prepare plans and official controls for the ownership transfer of the German Liberal Cemetery to the City no later than November 1, 2010. Increased lot sale fees and burial fees will be imple- mented to raise sufficient perpetual care revenues to permanently operate and maintain the cemetery. Maintenance services will be contracted out to limit any bur- den of resources on City staff. No taxpayer funding will be used to operate and maintain the cemetery. Page 5 Administration & Public Safety False Alarm Fees The City encourages residents and businesses to periodically maintain monitored fire/security alarm systems. If your monitored system issues a call for police or fire response and the response is determined to be a false alarm, the City will charge a fee for a multiple response. The most common forms of false alarms in Medina include poor regular maintenance (such as dust trig- gering the system), and con- struction/remodeling activity setting off the alarms. Check with your system’s instruction manual or with your service pro- vider to determine proper main- tenance needs. Additional information on the City’s regula- tions governing false alarms may be found in Sec- tion 355 of the City Code. The City Code is avail- able on the City’s website. The City charges the following fees for false alarms in a calendar year: Police First false alarm No charge Second false alarm $ 25.00 Third false alarm $ 50.00 Fourth false alarm $ 75.00 Fifth alarm and thereafter $150.00 Fire First false alarm No charge Second false alarm $100.00 Third false alarm $150.00 Fourth false alarm $200.00 Fifth alarm and thereafter $250.00 Aug / Sept 2009 City Business Profile: Clam Corporation, Inc. Clam Corporation Inc., located in Medina since 2005, is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of ice fishing houses and ice fishing gear. Clam Corp. employs sixteen full-time employees and during the winter takes on another 20 temporary workers who all together produce fifteen different models of ice fishing shelters and a full line of other gear that includes everything from rod and reels to clothing designed for the biggest ice fishing fans. Legendary ice fisherman, Dave Genz, who marketed the first flip- over ice fishing house in 1979 is still a company consultant and spokes- person. Clam Corp. is located at 600 Clydesdale Trail in Medina, Minne- sota. For more information on Clam Corporation, check out their web- site at www.clamcorp.com 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 plans to provide a profile of one local business each issue of the newsletter. Organics Recycling Program The City began offering organics collection in January 2008 through Randy’s Sanitation. Organics recycling allows you to recycle your food scraps and food-soiled paper into compost. Organics makes up approxi- mately 25% of what we throw away. Organics collection is picked up every Wednesday along with your garbage service. The addition of or- ganics is only $4 a month, and it reduces your recycle bill from $2.20 to $1.70 per month. By participating in this program, you can reduce your monthly trash service by obtaining a smaller con- tainer or even every other week collection. Contact Randy’s Sanitation at 763-972-3335 to sign up for organics collection, change your level of garbage service, or if you have any questions. Fire Merger Discussions Continue Representatives of the Hamel Volunteer Fire Department and Loretto Volunteer Fire Department were present at the June 16th Council meeting to provide an update on their discussions to determine best approaches to merge together. The two departments are meeting on a monthly basis to dis- cuss options and plans for merging. Day-to-day operations, ex- isting facility use, future facility needs, training and pension is- sues are all being discussed. The departments will prepare a re- port/plan to the Council by the end of the year. 2008 City Audit Available for Review The City’s auditors Abdo, Eick, and Meyers have completed the audit of the City’s 2008 Financial State- ments. A copy of the annual report and management let- ter are available at City Hall for review. Please contact Finance Director Jeanne Day for any questions or to in- spect a copy of the reports. The City’s fund balances and financial management were found to be in good order. The report was accepted by the Council at the June 2nd Council meeting. County Road 116 Trail Update The City Council will be reviewing plans and specs for a bituminous pedestrian trail along CR116 at their August 5th meeting. The primarily off-road trail will be located on the west side of CR116 from Hackamore Road to Trunk Highway 55. The project is being funded in part through a $150,000 grant from Hennepin County, with the remainder of the project funded through park dedication funds. In addition to utilizing existing right of way on CR116, the City is ob- taining some easements for the project. Upon receiving approval of the plans and specs and authorization to solicit bids, the pro- ject would be awarded in September for late September or early October beginning con- struction. The project would be completed this fall 2009. Page 4 Aug / Sept 2009 Parks & Recreation Field House Project Update On July 21, 2009 the City Council authorized drafting of a resolution granting a Conditional Use Permit to build a field house consisting of a concession area, storage, and bathrooms in the center of the four-plex ball fields in Hamel Legion Park. The Field House Task Force is cur- rently working with the Project Architects to finalize the project bid specs, which are planned for review by the City Council on August 5th. The new building would include the following sustain- able design initiatives: low flow toilet fixtures, locally pro- duced materials, recycled materials, recycled paving, day lighting of all occupied spaces, lighting sensors/controls, recycling of construction waste, high-efficiency ventilation systems, and a future irrigation system utilizing captured storm water run-off. The project schedule is: ► August: Construction project bidding ► September 1: Award construction bid ► Mid-September: Construction begins ► December: Construction substantially complete ► Spring 2010: Field house open to the public The project is being funded by donations and City park dedication funds. The Hamel Athletic Association raised approximately $100,000 for the facility. The City continues to discuss management and budgeting of the facility’s operation for 2010. Park Bench Donation Program The City of Medina Parks Donation program enables people to donate a 6 foot bench or picnic table for $1,000 or an 8 foot bench or picnic table for $1,100 to any Medina city park. Donat- ing a bench or table is a personal and generous way to honor a loved one and contribute a lasting gift to the community. Your contribution may be tax deducti- ble. See your tax advisor. The 6’ and 8’ benches and tables are made of recycled plas- tic planks attached to bronze powder coat metal frames and mounted in a concrete base. The 2.5” x 10” cast-bronze plaques are flush mounted into the bench or table. For more informa- tion, please contact City Hall at 763-473-4643. Hamel Legion Park Master Plan Open House August 19th, 6:00 p.m. The Medina Park Commission will be holding an Open House on August 19th at 6 p.m. at the Hamel Community Build- ing, 3200 Mill Drive, to gain feedback from residents and stake- holders on an updated Master Plan for Hamel Legion Park. The City’s design consultants will present design options and educate stakeholders on operation and maintenance considerations. Questions can be directed to Jodi Gallup at 763-473-4643. Organics Compost Used in City Park Projects The organics recycling program began when the City of Medina re- ceived a $21,500 Public Entity Waste Abatement Incentive Fund Grant from Hennepin County in 2007. The grant money was used to: help pay for organics recycling carts and compostable plastic bags, send out educa- tional materials, and purchase compost for city park projects. The City of Medina was able to use some of those grant dollars to buy back organics compost from the facility that processes Medina resident’s organics recycling. In the Independence Beach neighborhood the compost was used at Walnut Park to create a storm water retention pond and along the lake shore for a storm water project to help with phosphorus reduction. The compost was also used in Holy Name Park for a new rain garden and infiltration swale. In 2008, the City used compost in Rain Water Nature Area while rede- veloping the area. This fall, the City will be tilling more compost into the soil at Rain Water Nature Area prior to planting grass seed. This process will give the grasses a much better chance of thriving, particularly in an area that will not be watered. Aug / Sept 2009 Page 3 Community Development City Proceeds with New Zoning Regulations The City Council approved the 2010-2030 Comprehensive Plan at the end of 2008. Implementing the new Plan will re- quire re-writing many existing zoning regulations and also cre- ating some new ordinances. Following is a summary of the work that has been com- pleted and the topics which will be discussed in the coming months. If you wish to be involved in the process or desire additional information, please contact Associate Planner Dusty Finke at (763) 473-8846 or dusty.finke@ci.medina.mn.us Commercial Zoning Regulations The City Council approved new regulations for commercial districts on March 17, 2009. These districts will be in close proximity to Highway 55 or Highway 12 and are meant pre- dominantly for retail, service, and office uses. Rural Public/Semi-Public and Rural Residential The City Council created a new district called Rural Public/ Semi-Public on June 16, 2009. This district is intended to regu- late institutional facilities such as governmental, religious, and educational uses in the rural area of the City. The City Council also removed these institutional uses from the list allowed across the Rural Residential zoning district. Sewered Residential Zoning Regulations The City has begun discussing regulations for future single- family and multiple-family residential development. An Open House was held on June 30 and the Planning Commission re- viewed regulations at their July 14 meeting. The City Council will discuss the regulations in August. Future Ordinances The City will discuss a variety of additional topics in the months to follow, including: ► General Business and Industrial Business zoning district ► Mixed-Use zoning regulations ► Parking and Signage regulations ► Storm water and Low Impact Development regulations City Council adopts 8” Lawn Maintenance ordinance On July 7, 2009, the City Council adopted a lawn maintenance ordinance. The ordinance declares it a nuisance to allow grass or weeds to grow over eight inches. Rural areas and ap- proved natural vegetation are exempt from this requirement. If you have any questions, or wish to make a complaint against a property, please contact Planning and Zoning at (763) 473-4643. Complaints made to the City are kept confidential and are not public information. Economic Development Report City Intern David Trinh recently presented a report to the City Council on July 21st outlining some options to consider for improving economic development and busi- ness relationships in the community. Research provided for the report included review of other community pro- grams, available state/local programs, past Medina com- munity surveys, and business owner meetings with Mayor Tom Crosby and staff. The options outlined in the report included: ► Establish an Administrative Review process for small land-use applications to reduce bureaucratic waste ► Streamline/expedite land use review process ► Explore the creation of an Economic Development Authority ► Establish development fee credit or deferral program ► Promote and support Hennepin County/City of Min- neapolis Common Bond Program ► Conduct business forums and tours of businesses Discussion was held on the report and options for imple- mentation at the meeting. The City will continue discus- sion of the options at future meetings. Wranglers Bar and Restaurant Approval At the July 21st City Council meeting, the City ap- proved a final plat and site plan to DW Holdings, Inc. for Wranglers Restaurant and Bar at 32 Hamel Road in Up- town Hamel. The plat approved will combine the exist- ing property (formerly known as the Provenance building lot) with the lot to the west. Improvements to the property will include a small addition to the existing building, landscaping elements, and parking lot construction. Owners of the property are desiring the restaurant and bar to be open by the end of the year.