Parks Celebration is Aug. 9-11

Don't miss this annual opportunity to get outdoors, explore City parks and enjoy free fun for the whole family!

Friday: Food Truck Fest: Mendakota Park

4:30-8 p.m. Food Truck Festival

5-6 p.m. KidsDance Party

6:30-8 p.m. Live music from Big Mike & The SS Express

Saturday: Passport to Parks

Yoga in the Park
Ivy Hills Park | 7:30-8:45 a.m.

Kid's Festival
Friendly Hills Park | Noon-2 p.m.                                       

Hooked on Heroes
Roger's Lake Park | 3-4:30 p.m.

Movie in the Park
Mendakota Park | 8:30 p.m.

Sunday

Pickleball Tournament
8 a.m. at Marie Park*

Bogey with the Red and Blue - canceled.

*Registration Required

Primary Election Day

Aug. 13
7 a.m.-8 p.m.

To vote in person on Primary Election Day, visit your assigned precinct. New this year, if you are voting in Precinct 4 and previously voted at St. Thomas Academy, your new precinct location is Friendly Hills Elementary, which is also the location of Precinct 5.

Absentee voting by direct ballot is taking place in person at City Hall:

• Saturday, August 10, 2024, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Monday, August 12, 2024, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

If you have a ballot you received by mail, be sure to return your completed ballot in the City Hall drop box by 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.

City Council Candidate Filing

This election year, there are three positions for the Mendota Heights City Council on the ballot.

The filing period for Mayor (two-year term) and two City Council seats (four-year terms) begins Tuesday, July 30 and ends at 5:00 pm Tuesday, August 13.

 Requirements to be a candidate:

• must be eligible to vote in Minnesota
• must be 21 years of age or older upon assuming office
• must live in Mendota Heights for at least 30 days before the general election
• must have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election

Candidates are placed on a ballot in Minnesota after they file for office. Complete an affidavit of candidacy and pay a filing fee to the appropriate filing officer during the two-week filing period. Candidates must provide a non-governmental issued email address or attest they do not have an email address.  

The FAA wants to hear from you!

With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planning a 2025 update to procedures airplanes use to navigate as they depart the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the organization is set to host two virtual public meetings on August 14 and 15 to share more information and gather community input on the FAA's proposed updates.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) have been working with the FAA to ensure that information is shared with surrounding communities about proposed updates to these flight procedures. As the sole authority over where and how aircraft fly, the FAA is fully managing and implementing the update to departure flight procedures, which are anticipated to be finalized in February 2025 and go into effect in August 2025.

Your Input Needed: Parks Master Plan

The City of Mendota Heights recently completed the first phase of community engagement as part of the Mendota Heights System Master Plan. Concurrently, a team of City staff and consultants completed an audit of the Park System’s level of service, condition, programming, and financial sustainability.

Both the first phase of engagement as well as the audit identified potential park improvements, program diversification, and new amenities that would better support a high quality of life for the residents of Mendota Heights now and in the coming years. Over 90% of participants in the first phase of engagement supported expanding recreational opportunities in the Park System. The operating budget of the Park System cannot currently support the improvements.

In this second phase of engagement, we have two primary questions:

1. What of the requested improvements (if any) are a priority for the community?

2. How will these improvements (if any) be funded?

Fall Tree Canopy Planting

The Mendota Heights Tree Canopy Program provides a full-service purchasing and planting program to property owners within Mendota Heights at a subsidized rate to help grow the tree canopy in Mendota Heights, and to mitigate the loss of tree canopy due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). 

Application deadline for fall planting is Oct. 4.

City Code Reminder: Temporary Signs

Temporary signs are not allowed on public property, including boulevards, right-of-ways and easements.

To report signs on public property, please contact the City at 651-452-1850.

Weed of the Month: Spotted Knapweed

Spotted Knapweed is an invasive species native to Asia and Europe. Spotted Knapweed is a biennial herb that gets its name from dark markings at the base of its purple flower heads that give them a spotted appearance. It often invades disturbed areas along roadsides or abandoned fields. It prefers dry, sandy soils and can be found in a wide range of natural and disturbed habitats.

Spotted Knapweed forms a low-lying rosette and deep taproot in the first year. In the second year it produces a stiff branching system of stems with alternate leaves and small pink-purple flowers. In the second year it can grow up to four feet tall. Spotted Knapweed blooms June through August. Spotted Knapweed is a noxious weed listed on the MN Department of Agriculture Prohibited Control noxious weed list.

Spotted Knapweed spreads quickly via seed and can populate very quickly in a variety of habitats.

To prevent the spread of this invasive:

• Removal should focus on plants that have not yet flowered. If the plant has flowered, cut off flowering heads.
• Pulled or cut plants that have already flowered should be bagged to prevent spread.
• Large infestations may be best controlled by herbicide treatment before flowering.

Weekly Crime Report

The Mendota Heights Police Department provides a weekly list of incidents taking place in our community. Historical crime reports are available in the Laserfiche archive system. 

Coffee, Cribbage and Cards

Wednesdays, 8-10 a.m.
Par 3 Community Clubhouse

Ages 55+ for this free event; no experience required. Registration recommended.

Primary Election Day

Aug. 13
7 a.m.-8 p.m.

To vote in person on Primary Election Day, visit your assigned precinct. New this year, if you are voting in Precinct 4 and previously voted at St. Thomas Academy, your new precinct location is Friendly Hills Elementary, which is also the location of Precinct 5.

Absentee voting by direct ballot is taking place in person at City Hall:

• Saturday, August 10, 2024, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Monday, August 12, 2024, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

If you have a ballot you received by mail, be sure to return your completed ballot in the City Hall drop box by 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.

Find everything you need to know about the Election at MendotaHeightsMN.gov/Elections.

Fall Program Registration Begins

Aug. 15; 8 a.m.

Make plans to enjoy the fall season to its fullest with Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation classes, special events, no-school day camps and more! Browse programs today at MendotaHeightsMN.gov/Register.

Music in the Park: Skipin' Stones

Wednesday, Aug. 21; 6 p.m.
Market Square Park

Join Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation on various Wednesday evenings this summer for Music in the Park at Market Square Park! Bands will feature family friendly music for everyone. Don't forget your lawn chair!

Skippin' Stones Trio features a music for everybody, with a set list of over 1,100 songs. Popular tunes they feature include music from The Monkeys, James Taylor, Jackson Brown, Simon & Garfunkel, and more! Other artists they cover: Electric Light Orchestra, Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Beatles, Van Morrison, The Vogues, Creedance Clearwater Revival (CCR), Jason Mraz.

Mattress and Box Spring Collection

Aug. 24; 9 a.m.-Noon
Mendakota Park

For residents of Mendota Heights, Lilydale & Mendota, drop off mattresses and box springs. They will be recycled by our partner Second Change Recycling.

Cost:

Mattresses $10 each
Box Springs $10 each
Crib Mattresses $5 each

Payment by cash or check only.