THE LATEST
 The newest Mendota Heights firefighters pose for a photo after their pinning ceremony (L-R): Jeff Bostic, Michael Agan, Luke Olson, David Perrault, Steve Reamer, Dustin Truesdell. Pictured below Captain Dan Willems takes his oath of office from Mayor Levine.
This week Mendota Heights welcomed six new firefighters and a new fire captain with their official badge pinning and oath of office at the November 16, 2021 City Council meeting. Captain Dan Willems was promoted in April of 2020 but his formal appointment was delayed due to the pandemic. Firefighters Michael Agan, Jeff Bostic, Luke Olson, David Perrault, Steve Reamer and Dustin Truesdell were all hired in April of 2020 and have now completed and passed their field training and probationary period, and were officially presented with their badges. We welcome them and thank them for their service to our community.
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Mendota Plaza Phase II, Phase III
At its meeting on Tuesday, November 16, the City Council considered findings of fact as part of Resolution 2021-92: approving a conditional use permit authorizing an amendment to the Mendota Plaza Planned Unit Development (PUD), along with a Wetlands Permit to allow new work adjacent to an established wetland feature for the proposed Phase II of the Reserve/58-Unit apartment project by At Home Apartments which was passed at the November 3, 2021 City Council meeting. The findings of fact were approved on a 3-2 vote: voting in favor were Mayor Levine, Councilor Paper, and Councilor Mazzitello; voting against were Councilor Duggan and Councilor Miller.
The City Council was asked to also consider a conditional use permit authorizing an amendment to the Mendota Plaza PUD of 2009 for the proposed development of Phase III by At Home Apartments. Phase III is proposed as a new four story, 89-Unit apartment facility on the vacant 2.04 parcel located behind the main mall building.
During the meeting, At Homes Apartments presented renderings and information on the proposed apartment building. They also asked the City Council to consider tabling the amendment to allow for an extended review period. The City Council voted unanimously to table the item to the January 4, 2022 regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Mayor Levine then appointed Councilors Duggan and Mazzitello to form a committee to further examine the Phase III 89-unit proposal.
Members of the public were then invited to speak about their concerns and ideas regarding the proposed Phase III development.
Watch a replay of the November 16, 2021 City Council Meeting
Link to the November 16, 2021 City Council Agenda Packet
Public meeting announcements
The Planning Commission regular meeting of Tuesday, November 23, 2021 (to include a public hearing for Planning Case No. 2021-19) has been cancelled. There are no other planning cases or hearing items that were scheduled for the meeting. The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Last weekend for fall clean-up at SSP Compost Site
Yard waste – branches, leaves and grass clippings – are not allowed in your trash. The South St. Paul Compost Site recently extended their hours through November 21, weather permitting. Please check with the site in advance as to what types of yard waste are accepted. You can also visit Dakota County's webpage to find additional residential yard waste collection sites.
If you still need to dispose of a pumpkin, visit Dakota County's Recycling Guide and search "Pumpkins" for a list of drop-off locations (note there may be a small fee). Please also note that pumpkins are not accepted at the organics drop-off location at Mendakota Park since this dumpster is not designed for a large collection of their heavy weight.
Watch for the next issue on December 3
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will not be an issue of Friday News on November 26. Watch for the next issue to arrive Friday, December 3. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!
Winter Parking Restrictions are in effect
Overnight parking is prohibited on any public street, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., between November 1 and March 31. Additionally, as snow season approaches a reminder that parking is prohibited during any snowfall of two inches or more, until the street is plowed curb-to-curb. Please remind young drivers and any overnight guests and avoid a citation.
 Donate through December 10
Get ready to make the holidays merry and bright for local teens, tweens, and families in need. The Mendota Heights Police Department is collecting unwrapped gifts for youth, ages ten to eighteen, to benefit A Place of Hope. Items donated provide a holiday shopping experience for families in Dakota and Washington Counties in need. Gift bundles of $30 to $40, and $5 stocking stuffers are preferred. Cash donations are also accepted.
With grocery prices on the rise, shelf-stable food, toiletries, and gift cards to local grocery stores are also being collected to benefit Neighbors, Inc. throughout the holiday season.
Drop off donations in the collection bins at MHPD and City Hall during business hours Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 11:30 a.m. on Fridays, please deliver gifts via the MHPD lobby entrance located on the north side of City Hall; park in the north parking lot off of Lexington Ave S.
View the Holiday Gift and Food Drive flier for additional gift ideas and details.
COVID-19 information
 Kids:
- Children age 5-11 years old are now eligible to get vaccinated. Minnesotans can use the Find Vaccine Locations map to find providers offering Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds.
- Minnesota has launched ‘Kids Deserve a Shot,’ a vaccine incentives program rewarding Minnesotans 12-17 years old for completing their COVID-19 vaccine series.
Vaccination locations:
Booster shots:
- Providers can now offer booster shots to Minnesotans who are eligible, and who previously received any of the three authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson). Learn more.
COVID-19 testing:
- The Minnesota Department of Health continues to host both saliva and nasal swab testing events throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance is not required.
Recent highlights:
Sewing Basics Reuse Class caps series
The last free Reuse Class took place on November 18 at Mendota Heights City Hall, with eleven participants learning basic sewing skills. Each attendee received a small sewing kit for free and learned threading a needle, knotting the needle thread, sewing on a button and sewing a hem. The class wraps up the recent series of recycling classes that included the topics of decluttering, leftover food repurposing, and basic sewing skills.
Upcoming events
Nov 20 | Heritage Library, Lakeville
Get your landscape ready for winter
It may not be as enjoyable to be outdoors tending to your landscape once temperatures begin to drop. However fall is an important time to prepare your yard and landscape for winter. Below are some tips and tasks to make sure your landscape remains healthy throughout the winter and is ready when spring arrives.
- Late fall and winter months are the preferred time to prune most trees, especially trees that are prone to disease, such as oaks. Pruning oak trees during the months of April to June greatly increases the probability of oak wilt disease.
- Continue to water trees, shrubs, and new plantings up until ground freeze. This helps insulate roots and prevent frost damage. Cover root zones with three to four inches of shredded wood mulch to reduce root injury.
- Place tree guards on trees to prevent sun scald, as well as rodent and wildlife damage. Sun scald causes fissures on trunks of trees when light is reflected off the snow during winter months.
- Surround evergreens, as well as sensitive shrub and plant species with burlap cloth, leaving the top open to allow light and air in.
- Protect plants, trees, and shrubs that are planted near roads from salt damage. Avoid and reduce the use of de-icing salt on sidewalks and driveways whenever possible.
- Plant hardy tree, shrub, and plant species that can withstand Minnesota winters (Zones 3 and 4). Native species are always a good choice.
- Plant for energy savings. Plant deciduous trees on the south side of your landscape and home to create cooling shade in the summer, and let sunlight in during the winter when trees lose their leaves. Plant evergreen trees on the north, west, and east sides to block cold winter winds.
Lawns to Legumes program grants now available
 The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources is offering cost-share grant programs for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings:
Individual Support Grants are available to Minnesota residents for funding up to $300 to create pollinator habitat on their property. Applications are due February 15, 2022.
Neighborhood Demonstration Grants are available to conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, cities, counties, tribes, and nongovernmental nonprofit organizations for neighborhood projects that incorporate native planting, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, and pollinator lawns and meadows. Please contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician, if your neighborhood is interested in participating in this program.
Krista Spreiter, CWD
Natural Resources Technician
City of Mendota Heights
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Email: KSpreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov
Office: 651-255-1123
For more information: bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l
Recent highlights
Tennis and pickleball net removal
To ensure nets remain in good shape for play next season, tennis and pickleball nets were removed at the parks on November 15, with the exception of the pickleball nets at Marie Park. Staff will be removing the pickleball nets and posts at Marie Park on Monday, November 22. The posts need to be removed before freezing temperatures to convert the rink for ice hockey. Rink flooding will begin when temperatures fall below freezing and remain steady.
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