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.
