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Home My Public Portal AboutFall 2007 c Printed on 20% post-consumer recycled fiber content paper City Hall Office Hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telephone Numbers City Hall..............763-473-4643 Fax.......................763-473-9359 Police emergency .....................911 non-emergency .... 763-473-9209 Official Newspaper South Crow River News 33 2nd Street NE , Box 280 Osseo, MN 55369 Telephone Number: 763-425-3323 Mayor Tom Crosby ..........612-766-8605 City Council Carolyn Smith.......763-475-1003 Daniel Johnson......763-473-0744 Elizabeth Weir .....763-473-3226 Joe Cavanaugh...…763-473-5123 City Administrator Chad M. Adams….763-473-4643 e-mail: chad.adams@ci.medina.mn.us City Council Meetings First & third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Mary A. Verbick, Chair Jeff Pederson Charles Nolan Doug Dickerson Robin Reid Michele Litts Planning Commission Meetings Second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Park Commission Ann Thies, Chair Madeleine Linck Brian Kingsley Galen Bruer Gerald Dykhoff Ben Benson Bob Pastor Park Commission Meetings Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Newsletter Editor City Administrator Chad M. Adams Other Contributors Jodi Wunsch 2052 County Road 24, Medina MN 55340 2052 County Road 24, Medina MN 55340 www.ci.medina.mn.us Inside this issue: 2008 Proposed Budget & Preliminary Tax Levy..Pg. 1 Comprehensive Plan Update...........................Pg. 1 City Council Office Hours...............................Pg. 1 Facilities Master Plan....................................Pg. 2 Uptown Hamel Streetscape Design...................Pg. 2 City Welcomes New Planning Director..............Pg. 2 Planning Commission Appointment..................Pg. 2 Park Commission Appointment.......................Pg. 2 Various City Appointments.............................Pg. 2 Solid Waste, Recycling, & Organics Collection....Pg. 3 New Organics Recycling.................................Pg. 3 Medina Celebration Day 2007..........................Pg. 3 What Your Proposed 2008 City Tax Dollar Buys.Pg. 4 Proposed 2008 Budget Allocations....................Pg. 4 Historical Analysis of City Tax Levy & Tax Rate.Pg. 4 Hamel Volunteer Fire Dept. Awarded Grant......Pg. 4 Brush Pile & Yard Raking..............................Pg. 5 Local Roads & Truck Traffic..........................Pg. 5 Highway 55 Corridor Mapping...........................Pg. 5 Snowplowing Tips for the Upcoming Winter......Pg. 5 City Calendar ► 6th Tues—City Council 8:00 pm ► 8th Thurs—Recycling Day ► 12th Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) ► 13th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm ► 17th Sat—City Council Office Hours 9-11 am ► 20th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 22nd Thurs—City Offices Closed (Holiday) ► 23rd Fri—City Offices Closed (Holiday) ► 23rd Fri—Recycling Day ► 28th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm A Quarterly Newsletter of the City of Medina www.ci.medina.mn.us Fall 2007 ► All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted. ► Meeting agendas on web site when available No v e m b e r ► 3rd Mon—Truth in Taxation Hearing 6:30 pm ► 4th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 6th Thurs—Recycling Day ► 11th Tues—Planning Commission 7:00 pm ► 15th Sat—City Council Office Hours 9-11 am ► 18th Tues—City Council 7:00 pm ► 19th Wed—Park Commission 7:00 pm ► 20th Thurs—Recycling Day ► 24th Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) ► 25th Tues—City Offices Closed (Holiday) De c e m b e r ► 1st Tues—City Offices Closed (Holiday) ► 2nd Wed—City Council 7:00 pm ► 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 9-11 am ► 21st Mon—City Offices Closed (Holiday) Ja n u a r y 2008 Proposed Budget & Preliminary Tax Levy Medina property owners will soon be receiving Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) statements which will outline your proposed property tax payments for 2008. Accommodating the TNT statement this year, will be a City of Medina flyer that explains the distribution of proposed Medina taxes. On September 4th, the City Council approved a 2008 preliminary tax levy and budget. The proposed levy was set at $2,897,197, which is an increase of 34.43% from 2007. The preliminary 2008 levy and budget was proposed to maintain core municipal services while addressing long- term needs including road maintenance and reconstruction, fire equipment and facilities, surface water management, and environmental mandates. The proposed levy may be reduced by the Council during the Decem- ber TNT hearing, or subsequent budget meetings in December. The Coun- cil is prohibited by state law to increase the levy above the amount set on September 4th. Medina’s TNT date is scheduled for Monday, December 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Medina City Hall. Property owners are welcomed to attend the hearing to present com- ments related to the proposed property tax levy. Written comments may also be submitted prior to the hearing. Comments or questions may be directed to City Finance Director Jeanne Day at jeanne.day@ci.medina.mn.us The City has included more information on the 2008 proposed budget on page 4 of this newsletter as well as comparable statistics with neighbor- ing communities on the City’s website at www.ci.medina.mn.us. City Council Office Hours City Council Saturday Office Hours are now being held on the third 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. The office hours will con- tinue on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Residents are encouraged to check the City’s website for scheduling confirmation/cancellation. Comprehensive Plan Update Tuesday, November 27 Public Hearing The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel hosted two open houses on October 25th and 27th to present draft plans, receive public feedback, and answer any questions. The formal public hearing for the comprehensive plan will be held at the November 27th Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Hamel Community Building. Residents may submit formal written comments prior to the Novem- ber 27th meeting to be entered into the formal public record, or may attend the public hearing to provide verbal comments. The City encourages the public to submit comments on the proposed comprehensive plan, and also to monitor the City’s website for updates on the timeline or continued hearings. Upon completion of review of the comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission will forward their recommendations to the City Council for review and approval. The City must then send the plan to adjacent juris- dictions for up to a six-month review prior to submitting to the Metropoli- tan Council for review. Medina’s final approvals of the comprehensive plan will occur after receiving Metropolitan Council review and approval. The City is required to submit the comprehensive plan to the Metro- politan Council by December 2008. The City of Medina is currently ahead of schedule for meeting this mandatory timeline. Planning and Appointments Page 2 Planning Commission Appointments The Planning Commission has three seats open for appointment/re-appointment on January 1st. Two seats will be for a three-year term and one seat will be filling the remaining two years of an existing term. The seven-member Planning Commission is a rec- ommending body to the City Council and will have the following responsibilities in the next few years: ► City Ordinances—with the comprehensive plan completion nearing, several zoning and land use ordinances will be updated and reviewed by the commission. ► Development project review—Includes subdivisions, site plan reviews, planned unit developments, vari- ances, conditional use permits, etc. Interested applicants may pick up an application at City Hall or via the City’s website. Deadline for the applica- tion is Friday, December 14. City Welcomes New Planning Director The City of Medina is pleased to welcome Tim Benetti as the new Planning Director. Tim began his duties on August 31st of this year. Tim will serve as head of the planning depart- ment and is responsible for current and long range planning and development activities, reviewing land use development plans, department budgeting, implementing and maintaining the City’s ordinances and Comprehensive Plan, and serving as staff liaison to the Planning Commission. Park Commission Appointments The City is seeking residents to serve on the Medina Park Commission. Two seats on the seven member com- mission are currently up for appointment/re-appointment effective January 1st. Both seats include a three-year term. The Park Commission is a recommending body to the City Council and will be involved with the following pro- jects in the next few years: ► Open Space Preservation of Medina’s natural features & resources ► Long-term Capital Improvement Plan of trails, park equipment, and acquiring new parks, trail easements and open spaces. ► Development projects—Review of subdivisions to determine proper location of trails, dedication of parks, and utilization of park dedication fees. ► Trail Study—Updating a comprehensive trail study to prioritize trails and address surface types, width, loca- tion, and other trail characteristics in the city. Interested applicants may pickup an application at City Hall or via City’s website. Deadline for applications is Friday, December 14. Various City Appointments The City is also seeking people interested in being appointed to serve as a city representative on various commissions such as the Lake Minnetonka Cable Com- mission, Elm Creek Watershed Commission, etc. The Council reappoints Medina residents to the various com- missions during the first Council meeting in January of each year. Please contact City Administrator Chad Ad- ams if interested in serving on any of these commissions. Uptown Hamel Streetscape Design Open House on November 19th The City of Medina is hosting an open house on Monday, November 19th between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Hamel Community Building to so- licit public comments on streetscape design concepts for Hamel Road. The City Engineer is in the process of preparing a feasibility report for the reconstruction of Hamel Road, from Brockton Lane to Hunter Drive. Exam- ples of streetscape design concepts will be displayed at the open house. The streetscape design concepts will assist the City in determining projected cost estimates for the project, feasibility for proceeding forward with a public improvement project, as well as funding mechanisms which could include tax increment fi- nancing or special assessments. Interested parties may attend the open house at any time during the event. Facilities Master Planning Upon accepting a Facilities Master Planning report earlier this summer, the City has initiated a site selection review process for a new public works facility. The Facilities report identified the need for 20 to 30 acres of buildable acreage between Tamarack Drive and Willow Drive along the Highway 55 Corridor as the preferred location for the public works facility and grounds. In addition to reviewing sites, the City will also be discussing op- tions to finance the facility. The Facilities report also identified the need for a new City Hall and Police facilities, at the preferred existing location on City grounds. Additional analysis on the City Hall and Po- lice facility will begin after decisions the public works facility is relo- cated. Contact City Administrator Chad Adams to learn more about the process. A full copy of the Facilities Master Plan and facility cost projec- tions are included on the City’s website. Page 5 Public Works and General Info. Snowplowing Tips for the Upcoming Winter Weather Season ► Starting of Snowplowing Season: As a general rule, snow removal operations may start as soon as two inches of snow has accu- mulated. If a heavy snow fall is predicted, snow removal will be based on the existing conditions, snow forecast, wind conditions and time of day. Ideally the crew works to keep the roads passable during the morning and evening hours. During a normal snow fall, all roads are plowed. During a snow storm, lesser traveled residential roads and cul-de-sacs may have the plowing delayed while the crew concentrates on main thru-roads. ► City Methods for Ice Control: The City uses a salt/sand mixture for ice removal. During extremely cold conditions salt will not melt ice, so the use of sand will be used for traction. The City is con- cerned about the environmental impact of salt and sand, as well as the fiscal impact of materials. Therefore, the City does not have a bare pavement policy, which may cause City roads to be slippery and drivers should be cautious. ► Damage to Property: During any plowing operation, there is always potential for damage to mailboxes, sod, or other structures that are on the public right-of-way. The City assumes no responsibility for damage to property caused by snow plows, including mailboxes. If a mailbox is damaged, the City may provide a temporary mailbox. Before the snow season begins, mailboxes should be checked for sturdiness and repaired as needed. To limit sod damage, it is advised to place a marker along curb lines. Wood and fiberglass markers are permitted. Metal poles are strictly prohibited within the City right-of way. ► Location of Receptacles on Garbage/Recycling Days: On garbage and recycling days, please place garbage receptacles out of the way where the plow drivers will drive. Plow drivers do not want to get out and move containers, but at the same time, we do not want garbage or recyclables spread all over. ► Street Parking Details: The City has an ordinance that prohibits parking on any public street from November 1 through March 31 during the hours of 1:00AM – 6:00AM. This parking policy is enforced by the Medina Police Department. If at all possible, the City plow crew would appreciate having no vehicles parked on City streets when snowfall occurs during the daytime also. By do- ing so, the plowing will be more efficient and will result in a quicker snow removal. ► Plowing of Sidewalks and Trails: It is the responsibility of property owners to remove snow on their sidewalks. The City will begin plowing trails this winter season, but only after all other surfaces are plowed. The Medina Public Works Department strives to maintain safe, clean and passable roads all winter long. Roads are maintained using City equipment and personnel. In some areas, the City contracts out plowing services. Brush Pile & Yard Raking The City offers a composting facility at the public works shop building located northwest of City Hall. Leaves, grass clippings, and brush are all welcome. Please follow the posted signs as to where to put what you bring in. Remember no bags or containers are to be left on the site. Residents may drop brush off any time during business hours, on Wednesday evenings until 7 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. As the leaves con- tinue to fall off the trees, remember to take the time to rake and bag them up rather than letting them fall into the streets. Leaves in the street get washed into storm drains. In large quantities, leaves can block drains and contribute to localized flooding. In smaller quanti- ties, the leaves flow through the storm drains down to the streams and creeks where they disrupt the natural ecosystem. Local Roads and Truck Traffic With the desire to limit or prohibit additional truck traffic through the community, the City Council, at their October 2nd City Council meeting, formally requested Hennepin County to review and consider the turn back of some, all or portions of County Road 115 (Hamel Road) and County Road 201 (Parkview Road and Homestead Trail) to the City of Medina. The County’s review process and response to the City could take up to eight months. The City also conducted a cost analysis of taking back the roads from the County. Results of the analysis demonstrated a potential $985,000 cost to take back the roads in their current condition and $6,075,000 to maintain them over 20 years. Other options, such as encouraging the County to in- stall signs limiting trucks on these roads, are being reviewed as well. Highway 55 Corridor Mapping The Highway 55 Corridor Coalition has been working with communi- ties along the corridor from Plymouth to Annandale to prepare a preferred long-term design of the highway. The City Council will be considering an endorsement of a preferred alternative through Medina at the November 20th Council meeting that includes long-term interchange concepts at the intersections of CSAH 116 and County Road 101. The public is encour- aged to review the plans on the City’s website and is welcome to attend the November 20th meeting to comment. Page 4 2008 Budget & General Info. Hamel Volunteer Fire Department Awarded Fire Act Grant The City of Medina is pleased to announce that the Hamel Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) was recently awarded a 2007 Fire Act Grant from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $28,073 for the purpose of replacing their SCBA air compressor. SCBA is a self-contained breathing apparatus. The grant amount of $28,073 is 95% of the estimated cost of $29,550 requested in the application (the program requires a minimum 5% match). In addition to replacing the compressor the Hamel VFD will be purchasing and installing a fill station containment system which will improve the overall safety of the firefighters when refilling SCBA bottles. This grant was funded as a "Responder Health and Safety" project and packaging both the compressor replacement and addition of the containment system was an impor- tant part of the presentation and justification or this project to the review committee. The Hamel VFD also recently received funding from the Corcoran Lions which will allow them to purchase a second Auto- mated External Defibrillator (AED) and upgrade their existing defibrillator to handle pediatric emergencies. The additional AED and upgrade of our existing AED will give them identical response capabilities for their two engines (E11 and E12). What Your Proposed 2008 City Tax Dollar Buys Culture and Recreation 4% Council & Administration 16% Planning & Zoning 16% Public Works 13% Other 4% Public Safety 47% Proposed 2008 Budget Allocations Increases in the proposed budget include: ► Total 2008 Increase: $733,944, or 34.43% ► Road Maintenance & Reconstruction: $186,500 increase, up from $13,500 in 2007 ► Environmental Mandates & Projects: $150,000 increase, up from $25,000 in 2007 ► Fire Equipment/Facilities & Public Works Equip- ment: $175,000 increase, up from $25,000 in 2007 ► Police Department Personnel & Contracts: $156,290, or 9% increase from 2007. ► Other Items: $66,154 increase from 2007, which includes other department personnel, wage and salary increases, etc. Historical Analysis of City Tax Levy and Tax Rate Page 3 Community Events and Education Medina Celebration Day 2007 Medina Celebration Day was held on Saturday, September 22nd at the Hamel Community Building. The City was excited to see the great turn-out for this year’s celebration. The weather was wonderful and there were a lot of exciting activities for families and the community. Some of the activities the children participated in were karaoke, face painting, hair braiding, pumpkin painting, an inflat- able bounce toy, and s’mores around the campfire. The whole family was able to participate in bingo, a veterans memorial dedication, Hennepin County K-9 demonstration, educational and historical displays, and local food and beverage vendors. The night ended with an impressive fireworks display sponsored by area businesses. The City of Medina would like to thank all the contributors, exhibitors, and volunteers who were involved in Medina Celebration Day. This event could not have happened without their support. Medina Celebration Day Committee 4-H Clover Patch Club Adam’s Pest Control, Inc. Anytime Fitness Argent Parc Boy Scouts Troop 570 Country Side Café Culver’s Dobo’s Café Doboszenski & Sons Elm Creek Golf Course Fantastic Sam’s Farmers State Bank of Hamel Fortin Hardware Co. Gramercy Club Hamel Athletic Association Hamel Electric, Inc. Hamel Fire Department Hamel Library Hamel Lions Hedtke Marketing Hennepin County Hennepin County Sheriff’s K-9 Highway 55 Rental Inn Kahoots Intercomp Jackson Hewitt Jimmy’s Pizza Lingen Construction Liquor Depot Inc. Loram Inc. Maxxon Midwest Corporation Mayer Mobil Gas Station McDonalds Medina Entertainment Center Medina Golf & Country Club Polaris Industries Premax Scherer’s Pumpkin Patch Shamrock Golf T Nails Target Twinco Automotive U of M Extension Service Uptown Hamel Business Assoc. West Hennepin Pioneers Assoc. West Metro Tax Services, Inc. Wine Styles Wright Hennepin Electric Above is the Hennepin Cty. K-9 demonstration. Below Mayor Crosby recognizes the 4-H Club for their donation towards the fire pit. Don’t miss next year’s celebration, which will be Medina’s, as well as Minnesota’s, 150th Anniversary! Solid Waste, Recycling, and Organics Collection License with Randy’s Sanitation The City of Medina recently received proposals for a five- year license to provide single-family residential solid waste collection, recyclable collection, and optional organics collec- tion in the City. The City will be considering approval of a five-year license with Randy’s Sanitation at the November 6th meeting. The license will be effective January 1st and will re- quire all single family dwelling units and duplexes in the City to receive solid waste and recyclable collection with Randy’s Sanitation. Randy’s Sanitation will be distributing material to residents in coming weeks to define their 2008 collection schedule and information on how to begin your services with Randy’s begin- ning January 1, 2008. New Organics Recycling Program The City of Medina is excited to offer its residents a new optional organics collection recy- cling service through Randy’s Sanitation, begin- ning January 2008. 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. By participating in this program, you can reduce your monthly trash service by obtaining a smaller container or even every other week col- lection. Recycling organics, rather than throwing them away, will take up less space in our landfills and allow the organics to be turned into compost to create a valuable resource used in landscaping and road construction projects. What is Accepted in Organics Recycling? Food Scraps: ● Fruits & vegetables ● Meat, fish & bones ● Bread, pasta & baked goods ● Egg shells ● Dairy products ● Coffee Grounds Food-soiled paper products: ● Paper towels & napkins; Paper plates & cups ● Milk & juice cartons ● Pizza boxes/Egg cartons ● Boxes from frozen & refrigerated foods ● Waxed paper & paper containers ● Coffee filters & tea bags Other compost able items: ● Full vacuum cleaner bags ● Dryer lint ● Tissues & cotton balls ● Floral trimmings & house plants