BlaineMN.gov
CityConnect July/August 2020
What’s Inside
2020 Brings Big Changes to Summer in Blaine...............................................4
City Hall Back Open to the Public
Elections Information............................................5
Adopt a Park Program Information.............................................8
At the end of business on March 17, the City of Blaine closed all city buildings to the public. However, even with the buildings closed the work never stopped. Building permits continued to be issued, inspections were conducted virtually, the city council continued to meet in a new virtual environment and staff developed new ways for the public to stay engaged and provide public comments during meetings. Public works projects moved forward and engineering got summer road projects kicked off. Recreation programming moved online and now is slowly coming back to some in-person settings. The Blaine Emergency Operations Center has continued to operate as Blaine navigated the changing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The police department continued to respond to calls for service. Now Blaine is taking the first step to welcome the public back into city buildings. Starting with Blaine City Hall, residents and others will be able to book in-person appointments. All the virtual methods of conducting city business will remain in place and in many instances will remain the preferred method for business. Blaine City Hall is also the location that houses many of the city’s first responders. Police staff are in the building 24/7 and firefighters respond out of city hall during the daytime hours during the week. To help protect these first responders as well as the rest of the staff there will be limited appointments available to start. Anyone entering city hall will be required to wear a facemask, and the city will be supplying disposal facemasks for those who do not have their own. With protections in place for both staff and visitors the city is happy to start welcoming the community back into city hall. For more information on the city’s reopening process, visit BlaineMN.gov/COVID19
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID TWIN CITIES, MN Permit No. 32324
New Appointment Program When Visiting Blaine City Hall
City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449
POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL
DATED MATERIAL PREPARED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Blaine City Hall is now open to the public by appointment only. Appointments can be made with the following departments: • • • • • • • • •
Building Inspections City Clerk Community Standards Elections Engineering Parks and Recreation Planning Police Utility Billing
Appointments must be booked by visiting BlaineMN.gov. Customers with appointments will receive a text message with a link to click when they arrive at city hall. City staff will acknowledge the customer’s arrival and send them a message when they can enter the building for the appointment. Upon entering the building, customers will be met by a staff member who will ask some screening questions and direct the customer to the appropriate service location. Appointments will be staggered so as to not have multiple people waiting in the same area at the same time. There will be eight locations set up in the first floor atrium which will be sanitized before each appointment. Please remember that everyone visiting city hall must wear a mask before entering city hall and at all times while in the building. If you do not have a mask, the city will provide a disposable mask. To make an appointment go to BlaineMN.gov/ByAppointment and fill out the appointment request form. If you have any questions about the appointment process, please email Communications@BlaineMN.gov or call 763-784-6700.
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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Upcoming Meetings
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WARD 1 Wes Hovland 8650 Van Buren Street NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-228-1117 WHovland@BlaineMN.gov Dick Swanson 926 - 97th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-370-2557 DSwanson@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 2 Julie Jeppson 3062 Aspen Lake Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-4709 JJeppson@BlaineMN.gov Jess Robertson 4175 - 114th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-964-0503 JRobertson@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 3 Andrew Garvais 12744 Petersburg Street NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-229-8890 AGarvais@BlaineMN.gov Richard Paul 1560 - 123rd Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-290-3000 RPaul@BlaineMN.gov
CITY MANAGER Michelle Wolfe 763-785-6120 MWolfe@BlaineMN.gov
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Zone A
City Council Workshops July 6 | July 13 | July 20 August 3 | August 10 | August 17 6PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional Arts Council Meetings canceled until further notice.
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MAYOR Tom Ryan 12147 Radisson Road NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-757-3390 TRyan@BlaineMN.gov
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10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-784-6700
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City Council* July 6 | July 20 August 3 | August 17 7:30PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional
Zone B
Historical Society Meetings canceled until further notice. Mayor’s Office Hours Meetings canceled until further notice. Natural Resources Conservation Board* July 21 | August 18 7PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional Park Board* July 28 | August 25 7PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional Planning Commission* July 14 | August 11 7PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional Traffic Commission* July 7 | August 4 6:30PM | Virtual Meeting/In-Person Optional *Meetings can be seen live on cable channel 16 and 799. For links to virtual meetings, visit BlaineMN.gov/CityMeetings.
For more information, visit WaltersRecycling.com or call 763-780-8464.
City Directory
Stay Connected
Police & Fire................................................. 911 Police (non-emergency) ..........763-785-6168 Fire (non-emergency)...............763-786-4436 Public Works After Hours.........763-427-1212 City Hall......................................763-784-6700 Mary Ann Young Center...........763-786-9375 Public Works..............................763-785-6165 Building Inspections.................763-785-6170 City Cable Channel 16 .............763-785-6192 City Clerk ...................................763-785-6122 City Manager.............................763-785-6120 Communications.......................763-785-6181 Community Standards.............763-785-6187 Community Outreach...............763-785-6113 Economic Development...........763-785-6180 Engineering................................763-785-6172 Finance.......................................763-717-2677 Fire Inspections ........................763-785-6187 Forestry .....................................763-717-2660 Housing Services ......................763-785-6146 Human Resources ....................763-785-6109 Newsletter.................................763-785-6192 North Metro TV.........................763-780-8241 Parks & Recreation ..................763-785-6164 Planning & Zoning ....................763-785-6180 Recycling & Solid Waste ..........763-785-6192 Sewer Backup............................763-785-6165 Streets .......................................763-785-6165 Stormwater................................763-785-6188 Utility Billing ..............................763-785-6141 Water & Sewer System ............763-785-6165 Web.............................................763-717-2638
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BlaineMN.gov/CommunityConnect CityConnect is published bimonthly by the City of Blaine and distributed to all residents and businesses. Past copies of the city newsletter are available at BlaineMN.gov/Newsletter
July/August 2020
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Blaine Police Department Message to the Community
Your Blaine Police Department is committed to working in partnership with others in our community to make this the greatest place it can be. A couple years ago, we worked diligently to build a foundation of ideals upon which our organization is built. All members of the Blaine Police Department are expected to memorize and live this mission statement and integrated core values. That mission statement reads:
‘As proud members of our community, we, the members of Blaine Police Department, strive to enhance the quality of life in Blaine by serving with integrity, respect, and professionalism’. ‘As proud members of our community…’ We take great pride in what we do and it is an honor to serve you in good times and in bad. In policing, one of the current problems we have is when we talk about police-community relations; we treat them like two distinct entities. This creates a foundational separation rather than unity. In the belief that we are members of our community, we take ownership in our collective successes and failure. We are an important part of the community, with the ability to not only keep you safe but take away the freedoms and even possibly the lives of others in our community. I can assure you we do not take this lightly and believe strongly in the sanctity of life for everyone here.
‘…we, the members of the Blaine Police Department…’ Our mission statement is intentionally written to reflect an oath of sanctity. We take our responsibilities seriously and recognize the critical importance of the functions we provide. We believe it is truly an honor to be part of this profession and this incredible department.
‘…strive to enhance the quality of life in Blaine…’ We are always working to make Blaine a better place. This certainly includes our residents, but additionally those who work here, the millions who visit here every year, and travel through here. We are fortunate to play host to many events for people from all over the world. We want your lives and your time here in Blaine to be the best that it can be.
‘…by serving with integrity, respect, and professionalism…’ Integrity, Respect and Professionalism are our core values. Integrity: we will maintain the highest moral standards by embracing the principles of trust and honesty. In the law enforcement profession, our integrity is imperative. We often have a difficult job to do but it is important we are always truthful and honest with those we serve as well as ourselves. Respect: we will treat others with dignity and guarantee the constitutional rights of all. It is our job to not only enforce the law, but protect the constitutional rights of all those who we serve. We believe in compassionate service to others and treating everyone with respect regardless of the circumstances we are encountering them on. In public safety we work with people from all walks of life and for many of the people who we encounter, their dignity and self-respect are all that they have left. It is imperative that we treat everyone as fellow human beings and respect them as individuals. Professionalism: we will take pride in our actions, duties, appearance, and professional growth. As professionals we take our role very seriously. We take our training seriously and we train our staff to the highest level possible. We believe in a professional appearance and conveying confidence and professional service to all those we are fortunate to serve. In light of recent events across the country, we collectively feel it is important to provide a message to our Blaine community, especially our indigenous communities and our communities of color, and seek your assistance in ensuring that together we are providing the best services possible to you. We have been contacted from many members of our community with questions, requests, and significant outpourings of support. We sincerely appreciate the support and we want you to know that we want to work collectively with you to make the Blaine Police Department the best that it can be for you. We regularly evaluate our training and hiring process to seek a department that is reflective of our community. Of greater importance is taking active steps to educate our staff on the variety of cultures we have in our community and the importance of treating all with respect. We have strict policies in place to ensure accountability for our officers that specifically pertain to matters of racial bias. Our Administrative Services division supervisors actively monitor, review, and if necessary investigate, every use of force incident. If it becomes necessary to do an administrative employment investigation into a staff member we have the ability to do an investigation by internal staff specifically trained to handle this. We also hire independent investigators to investigate policy and employment violations. The administrative penalties associated with this can range from verbal counseling in less serious matters up to termination in very serious matters. We are constantly evaluating our policing to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent any injustice, including racial injustices. In late 2017, we did an internal policy review, including our use of force policy. We also overhauled our use of force review processes to ensure transparency and accountability. In 2020 we are reviewing and amending our entire policy manual and overhauling all of them in conjunction with Lexipol, a National Law Enforcement policy company that not only ensures policies are legal and defensible, but best practices as well. All of our staff is subject to pre-employment psychological exams and mandatory annual wellness check-ins with a therapist. When new officers start, within their first couple of days of employment, the command staff members sit down with them individually to talk about culture and expectations. One of the items we spend a considerable amount of time on is duty to intervene. We have to empower our officers to be brave enough to step in when an incident is occurring of excessive force or other significant matters. Our city takes the training of our officers very seriously. Blaine has historically committed to high quality police training by providing the resources needed to conduct the best possible training. Better training leads to better performance under stress, which in turn ensures better decision making by officers in uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances. We are eager to listen and continue to engage with others in our community. We know that there may be difficult yet necessary conversations and decisions ahead. Together we will make Blaine an even greater community than it already is. To read more or submit comments, questions, or concerns, please visit BlaineMN.gov/PoliceCommunity.
The Beach is Open Lakeside Commons
Lakeside Commons Beach is open to the public. With the transition into phase three of Minnesota’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic additional outdoor activities are able to be open. City staff and the Blaine City Council moved to quickly open up this popular amenity for the community. The city will take a phased approach to opening the beach amenities. The beach area will be open and there will be staff on site during beach hours, 10AM – 8PM daily. The beach attendant will enforce beach rules and remind beach users to follow social distancing guidelines. Please note that the attached Lakeside Commons Park closes daily at 9PM, which is one hour earlier than other parks in the city. At this time, only the beach will be open. The splash pad, boathouse, restroom building, volleyball court, and changing facilities will remain closed. Additional portable restrooms will be placed near the beach. The city is projecting a downturn in revenue due to COVID-19 and each amenity brings added costs in terms of staffing and operation. The city is happy to be able to open the beach and additional amenities will be evaluated as the season continues. When using the beach and park please remember to maintain six feet of distance between other park users. Also, please remember to pick up after your group when using the park. The Blaine Police Department will be on site frequently to ensure that visitors are obeying park rules and hours. For the current status on the beach and other events and programs, visit BlaineMN.gov/ParkRecStatus
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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Council Moves to In-Person Optional Meetings Blaine Development Continues During a pandemic, it would be easy to assume that development activity grinds to an abrupt halt. While overall development activity may be down from last year’s pace, the May and June planning commission agendas included commercial and residential projects that will help keep the development economy going in the right direction. New Commercial Projects: • • • •
Kwik Trip (Lexington Meadows at 109th Avenue/Austin Street) McHale Veterinary Clinic (12535 Ulysses Street NE) Pet Suites (9983 Ulysses Street NE) Lexington Market Retail Shops/ Starbucks (Lexington Meadows at 108th Avenue/Lexington Avenue)
New Residential Projects: •
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North Meadows (259 total lots with a mix of villas, twin homes and townhomes, Austin Street NE and 109th Avenue NE) Alexander Woods (45 villa lots and 39 single family lots, 113th Avenue and Polk Street NE) Boulder Estates 2nd Addition (9 single family lots, 9850 Hamline Avenue) Harpers Haven (14 single family lots, 12750 Harpers Street NE)
Recent permits issues for projects: • • • • •
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Midwest Diesel (industrial, 3051 82nd Lane NE) Kingdom Baking (commercial bakery, 10130 Sunset Avenue NE) Nafta Solutions, Inc. (industrial, 10122 Naples Street NE) Murphy Bros. (industrial, 1613 93rd Lane NE) Renovation Church (church, commercial, 12390 Fraizer Street NE) Spire Credit Union (commercial, 10 Northtown Drive NE) National Sports Center—dome project (1700 105th Avenue NE) Domino’s Pizza (10495 University Avenue NE) More Information about current developments is available at, BlaineMN.gov/ DevelopmentActivity.
Starting in July, the city council, planning commission, natural resource conservation board, traffic commission, and park board meetings will again be held at in the city council chambers at Blaine City Hall. These meetings will be a hybrid of Zoom meetings and live in-person meetings. Members of the council, boards, commissions, staff, and the public who wish to attend remotely can still join the meetings via Zoom as has been done for the past few months. The council chambers will have limited seating, with chairs being set up at least six feet apart. There will be an overflow area where the meeting can be watched in the Cloverleaf Farms Room, also with chairs set up at least six feet apart. Please note that all visitors to city hall are required to where a facemask at all times in all public areas of the building. Public Comment Before a Meeting If you will not be attending the meeting in-person, city staff has developed a public comment process for virtual meetings. A public comment email address, PublicComment@BlaineMN.gov, and phone number, 763-7172782, allow individuals to submit comments prior to a meeting. Those comment boxes are available until noon on the day of the meeting. The comments will be compiled and delivered to the Blaine City Council or the appropriate commission or advisory board. Public Comment During a Meeting Members of the public who will not be attending the meeting and who wish to comment during public comment periods will be asked to join the meeting on the Zoom webinar platform. Meeting attendees will be able to click the raise hand button, this will alert city staff that an individual wishes to comment. When it is time for comments, individuals will be recognized and their microphones will be enabled allowing them to comment. Zoom meeting information can be found in the calendar notification and on the agenda for each meeting. For more information and to view the meeting calendar, visit BlaineMN.gov/Calendar. Ways to Watch a Meeting If you do not wish to comment on an item but still want to watch the meeting you are asked to watch through all the normal methods the city provides. You can watch on North Metro TV which is available on Comcast (channel 799 and 16) or through a free app on Apple TV or Roku. You can also watch a live stream at BlaineMN.gov/Video. Any questions regarding Blaine City Council meetings, please contact City Clerk Cathy Sorensen at 763-785-6124 or CSorensen@BlaineMN.gov.
2020 Brings Big Changes to Summer in Blaine The City of Blaine is home to many large events each summer. These events bring in millions of dollars of economic impact to the Blaine economy. Due to COVID-19 many large events are being canceled and the impact will be felt far beyond the field, course, or stage. In June, Blaine would usually be home to the two-day Joyful Noise concert festival. This event brings in over 10,000 people per day to the National Sports Center. Also in June the Blaine Festival brings thousands of people to Aquatore Park over a long weekend and the Patriot Ride brings more than 12,000 motorcyclists to the Blaine Airport. In July sporting events take over Blaine. First up is Target USA Cup, which has been canceled for the first time in its 35-year history. The tournament brings 25,000 people per day to Blaine for 10 straight days each July. The 3M Open is also held each year in July, the tournament will take place as scheduled but without spectators. The 3M Open will be limited to about 1,200 people on site each day, which will include staff, volunteers, media, and players. Target USA Cup and the 3M Open have a combined economic impact of $85 million per year. With the cancellation or reduced capacity of these large events, it is more important than ever to support local businesses that will be missing large revenue streams this summer. For more information on city events or program status, visit BlaineMN.gov/ParkRecStatus
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Primary Election Procedures During the Pandemic
Absentee Voting at Mary Ann Young Center - 9150 Central Avenue NE Absentee voting for the August primary began on June 26 at the Mary Ann Young Center, 9150 Central Avenue NE. This is a change from past elections where absentee voting was held at Blaine City Hall. The Mary Ann Young Center (MAYC) opened in February but had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This facility will work very well to provide additional space for absentee voting and yet accommodate any phased reopening plans for MAYC. Voters can take advantage of voting by mail to help reduce spread of disease. Voting from home is easy and available to any Minnesota voter through the absentee balloting system. For more information on absentee voting or other voting-related questions contact Blaine Elections Office at Elections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737. To request a ballot by mail to vote from home go to MNVotes.org.
The August state primary election will likely look a little different this year. With the current COVID-19 pandemic the Secretary of State’s Office is working hard to help provide protective supply items for all polling places across the state. In addition to hand sanitizer, disinfectant, and masks for election judges voters will also see shields to protect judges and voters while checking in to vote. Plans are in place to provide a small number of masks for voters who do not bring their own but would like to use one as well as disinfecting pens and other measures. Election officials will be following the CDC recommendations for polling places with additional guidance from the MN Department of Health on social distancing, cleaning, and other ways to reduce the possible spread within the polling place.
Vote from Home The Secretary of State’s office is also encouraging all eligible voters to vote from home, to reduce spread of COVID-19 and keep communities healthy. Voting from home is easy and available to any Minnesota voter through the absentee balloting system. Request a ballot to be mailed to your home at MNVotes.org. For more information, visit the city’s website at BlaineMN.gov/Elections or contact the Blaine Elections Office at Elections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.
Register to Vote You may register to vote in Minnesota if you: • • • • •
Are a U.S. citizen Will be at least 18 years old on Election Day Are a resident of Minnesota for 20 days Are finished with all parts of any felony sentence Are under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote. For more information about voter registration, visit MNVotes.org or the Blaine Elections Office at Elections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.
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RecConnect Summer 2020
Many Different Programming Offerings Available Enjoy the Rest of the Summer
The Blaine Parks and Recreation Department is offering many in-person and virtual program opportunities to finish off the summer.
In-Person Skyhawks Sports Camps The progression of camps and programs, led by expert staff are geared toward youth looking for a sport introduction or those who want to refine and master their sport specific skills. Sports including multi-sport, basketball, cheerleading, flag football, and volleyball are available for $109. Wear comfortable clothes, bring two snacks, and a water bottle and if applicable, bring sunscreen. For more information, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keyword Skyhawks.
New Online Registration System The City of Blaine Parks Recreation Department will be launching a new online registration system at the beginning of the fall season. Stay tuned for details at BlaineParks.com.
In-Person Tennis Lessons The Blaine youth tennis program uses the USTA Quick Start tennis format. This format helps kids ages 12 and under learn to play the game of tennis easier by changing the court size, racquet size, balls being used, scoring system, and the height of the net. Bring a tennis racquet. Held at Roosevelt Middle School. For more information, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keyword Tennis.
In-Person QC Dance Classes for Youth QC Dance offers Tummy Time infant movement, Story Time with a Twist, Tutus for Tots, Melody Bear, Kids Yoga, and much more. All classes held at QC Dance, 9967 Ulysses Street NE. For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords QC Dance.
In-Person QC Dance Classes for Adults QC Dance is offering Zumba/Zumba Gold and ballet classes this summer. For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords QC Dance.
Friday, August 21, 8PM Blaine City Hall Parking Lot
Virtual Classes about the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Wargo Naturalists are offering classes about plants, reptiles, and amphibians, For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords Wetland Sanctuary.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Presented by Blaine Parks and Recreation Sponsored by Blaine Festival BlaineEvents.com/ PerformanceintheParkBlaine
Stay Connected BlaineParks.com More information about Parks and Recreation is available at 763-785-6164 or in the current Recreation Connection online.
BlaineEvents.com
Paddle boarding is a fun, cool, great workout. Class sizes are very small and the instruction is short and easy so most of the time will be out on the water. No experience necessary. Maximum of 6, ages 12 and up. Held at Lakeside Commons Park next to the boathouse. Participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver before class. For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords Paddle Boarding.
Virtual Classes with Tech Tac Toe Learn the ins and outs of creating a custom adventure map, stunning worlds and gain a greater understanding of Minecraft’s mechanics. Discover the exciting world of app development. Learn how to create and develop multiplayer games using the Roblox Studios Software and learn to take an Obby to the next level. For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords Tech Tac Toe.
Virtual Classes with Tech Academy Learn about augmented reality (AR) coding with scratch (free web app). AR is said to be the future of the gaming industry. Work as a team to create a custom theme park in Minecraft. For more information and to register, visit BlaineParks.com/Register and search keywords Tech Academy. All this and more can be found at BlaineParks.com/Register.
July/August 2020
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NMTV Video to DVD Transfer Service In this time when so many people are separated from families, memories are more important than ever. North Metro TV in Blaine is here to help preserve those memories and convert them to a format you can more easily watch, share, and enjoy. North Metro TV converts video tapes, film reels, photos, slides, and just about everything else to DVD and digital. The service costs $10 per hour of footage from tapes, $20 per hour of footage from film, and $10 for every 25 photographs or slides. Individuals can even learn how to transfer your own video tapes to DVD for free at the North Metro TV station. More information is available at northmetrotv.com/transfer. Those interested can also contact Eric Houston at 763-231-2803 or Eric@NorthMetroTV.com.
Blaine Recycling Saturdays 10am — 2pm
3rd Saturday of Each Month Drop-Off Location Green Lights Recycling Enter at 1525 - 99th Lane NE The City of Blaine sponsors a recycling drop-off day the third Saturday of each month. Participants do not need to be a Blaine resident to bring items to the drop-off day. Please note, no garbage will be accepted. As a part of their COVID-19 safety plan Green Lights Recycling is asking all people to remain in their vehicles during the drop-off event and to please wear a mask. The recycling drop-off day is funded by Anoka County and Minnesota SCORE funds (Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment). Green Lights Recycling 763-785-0456|GLRNow.com Cash or Check Only Mattresses, box springs, carpet, appliances, florescent lamps, electronics, rechargeable batteries, and tires are some of the items collected. Free items include scrap metal and vehicle batteries. See complete list of fees at BlaineMN.gov/ RecyclingSaturdays
Summer Pet Reminders Dogs Must be Leashed When Out for a Walk Please remember that all dogs must be on a leash and under control while off their owner’s property. If you wish to have dogs run and play off leash, the city has an off leash dog park available at Aquatore Park. For more information on using the off leash dog park, visit BlaineMN.gov/DogPark
Residents Will Need More than a Leash to Walk a Dog Under city ordinance, pet owners are required to clean up after their dogs when taking them for a walk. Dog owners must carry a plastic bag or some other means of picking up after their dog whenever they are off their own property. Dog waste, like other animal waste, contains bacteria that can end up in ponds, creeks, and rivers when washed away with the rain. In fact, Coon Creek and the Mississippi River are exceeding state bacteria standards. While largescale practices like retention ponds help keep bacteria out of local waters, your help at home is also needed and helps keep mitigation costs down by reducing pollution in the first place. This ordinance was enacted in response to multiple complaints regarding the amount of animal waste accumulating within the park system and along walkways. Please be a courteous pet owner and clean up after your pet.
Randy’s Environmental Services 763-972-3335 RandysEnvironmental Services. com Randy’s offers free paper shredding. Please note, there may be long wait times for shredding.
Bike Collection for Bikes4KidsMN.org Drop off any size bicycle. Bikes will be refurbished or have their parts used in refurbishing other bikes. Bikes are then donated to people in need. There is no charge to drop off a bike. Bikes for Kids is part of the Robert & Wilma Burbach Bike Foundation. Walters Recycling & Refuse 763-780-8464 WaltersRecycling.com/Blaine Contact Walters to report missed garbage, recycling, or yard waste pickup. City Recycling Information 763-785-6192 BlaineMN.gov/Recycle
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Adopt a Park The Adopt a Park program is an opportunity for residents of all ages to become involved in improving the city parks and trail corridors. This is a partnership between you, neighbors, friends, and the city. Groups will work together to accomplish needed park and trail improvements. Activities may range from monthly clean-up activities, to planting flower gardens, to creating new landscape features, or maintaining existing landscape areas. Adopt a Park can involve individuals as well as neighborhood groups or community service organizations. Blaine has 65 city parks. Everything in the parks keeps growing, so volunteer help is vital to enhancing the work of park staff. Volunteering in city parks is a healthy, outdoor activity, in the fresh air and sunshine. Parks can be adopted by one or more groups, as there is always something to do. If you have a park you would like to adopt that is great. Residents who just want to volunteer, city staff would love to help find the perfect park for you. When Volunteers are welcome anytime at the park between 8AM to ½ hour after sunset. Tasks Help with different landscaping and maintenance tasks. Requirements Sign up with parks and recreation staff to reserve your activity. Email AdoptaPark@BlaineMN.gov or call Joy Handt 763-354-4658 to adopt a park. More information is available at, BlaineMN.gov/AdoptAPark
Gail Marinac: Loyal Volunteer On April 5, 2020 Gail Ann Marinac died due to complications from COPD and heart failure. Gail was a longtime volunteer at the City of Blaine and friend to many. Gail lived in the senior building next to Blaine City Hall. Almost every day Gail would be at city hall either in a volunteer capacity, or just stopping by to visit with her many friends as she passed by on her daily walk. She considered Blaine City Hall her home and the people inside her family. Gail was Blaine’s Citizen of the Year in 2014. She was involved with the Police Department at Safety Camp and available every year for helmet fittings. Gail was the greeter at every blood drive for years. She knew everyone by name, and if they did not show up, she was concerned for their wellbeing. Gail was involved with the Parks and Recreation Department. She helped at holiday parties and any opportunity volunteers were needed, she was the number one go to volunteer and was always reliable. Gail was an election judge every year for the city. Anytime she was asked to help, she was there. Though Gail is gone, her memory will always remain. She had a servant’s heart, if she was needed or asked to serve, she was there. No matter how poorly she felt, she would push her walker with the oxygen tank in the basket, and hike over to city hall for any event. If the weather was bad or her breathing was exceptionally poor, and she was unable to walk the short distance from the senior apartments to city hall, she would request a ride just to be present to serve her community and be involved. Gail was a treasure and the city was lucky to have her as such a valued volunteer. For those of us who were lucky enough to have spent time with Gail, to have known the loving, kind, generous and quality individual that she was, we are thankful to have had her in our lives.
Night to Unite This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Night to Unite has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 6. The event is subject to change due to current public health guidelines at the time of the event. Night to Unite is an evening of neighborhood festivities aimed at crime prevention and building a strong community. Members of the Blaine Police Department and SBM Fire Department make an effort to visit as many registered block parties as possible during the event. For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/N2U This year the city will conduct a test of the CivicReady notification system on Night to Unite. CivicReady is a service available to Blaine residents to receive emergency notifications from the city. Residents need to sign up to receive the notifications and can customize how and where you receive the notifications. Sign up today at BlaineMN.gov/CivicReadySignUp.
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