BlaineMN.gov
CityConnect July/August 2021
What’s Inside
Summer Blaine
Bucket List
Blaine Summer Bucket List Event Schedule........................................................4
Lochness Park Photo by Tom Stuart, Impressions of Blaine
Blaine City Council Finalizes New Vision Statement
Longtime Supporter Donates K9 to Blaine PD......................................8
Over the last two years the Blaine City Council has worked with city staff on a strategic plan. As a part of this strategic plan a new mission statement and set of core values were created. The final foundational piece to the strategic plan is a new vision statement. As staff started the implementation work on the six strategic initiatives in the plan, discussions continued on the vision statement. The vision statement is designed to be forward looking. The vision statement is what Blaine strives to be or what Blaine could be if all the strategic initiatives are completed. In late May the City Council held a retreat and devoted part of the retreat to finalizing the vision statement. We are excited to share the vision statement with everyone in Blaine and look forward to working together to see this vision become reality.
“
Blaine is where residents want to call home, businesses thrive, and visitors choose to stay. Boosted by its natural beauty and vibrant community, Blaine is more than a city, it is a destination.
Inaugural Memorial Day Ceremony
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID TWIN CITIES, MN Permit No. 32324
POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL
DATED MATERIAL PREPARED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
POSTAL CUSTOMER
at Veterans Memorial Park of Blaine
ECRWSS City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449
Final Piece in Strategic Plan Process
Veterans Memorial Park of Blaine is located inside Tom Ryan Park next to Blaine City Hall. Over the last few years community volunteers have transformed this park into a spectacular tribute to veterans from the Revolutionary War all the way through current conflicts. On Memorial Day an inaugural ceremony was held at the park. Hundreds of community members gathered for the event that honored those who lost their lives in service to our country. The memorial park features several large monuments and everyone is encouraged to stop by and walk through the park. For more information about Veterans Memorial Park at Tom Ryan Park, visit BlaineMN.gov/ VeteransMemorial Park.
“
Summer and Fall Program Information.............................................6
Page 2
BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Upcoming Meetings
Recycling Calendar July s
m
t
City Council*
w
t
f
s
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
August
10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-784-6700
t
w
t
f
s
Natural Resources Conservation Board*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
July 20 | August 17 7pm | City Hall Council Chambers
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
30
31
s
m
Tim Sanders 763-203-3286 TSanders@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 1 Wes Hovland 763-228-1117 WHovland@BlaineMN.gov Jason Smith 612-460-0199 JSmith@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 2 Julie Jeppson 763-354-4709 JJeppson@BlaineMN.gov Jess Robertson 612-964-0503 JRobertson@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 3 Chris Massoglia 612-524-9447 CMassoglia@BlaineMN.gov Richard Paul 763-290-3000 RPaul@BlaineMN.gov
CITY MANAGER Michelle Wolfe 763-785-6120 MWolfe@BlaineMN.gov
Park Board* July 27 | August 24 7pm | City Hall Council Chambers
t
w
t
f
s
1
1
2
3
4
Planning Commission* July 13 | August 10 7pm | City Hall Council Chambers
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Traffic Commission*
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
July 6 | August 3 6:30pm | City Hall Council Chambers
Holiday
MAYOR
July 7 | July 12 | July 19 August 2 | August 9 | August 16 6pm | City Hall Council Chambers
m
Communications@BlaineMN.gov
City Council
City Council Workshops
s
September
Blaine City Hall
July 7 | July 19 August 2 | August 16 7:30pm | City Hall Council Chambers
Zone A
Zone B
For more information, visit WaltersRecycling.com or call 763-780-8464.
City Directory
*Meetings can be seen live on cable channel 16 and 799. A livestream of meetings is available at BlaineMN.gov/Video.
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 ....... 763-785-6141 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
Receive Emergency Communications BlaineMN.gov/CivicReady
NotifyMe®
Connect with your community and sign up for topics that interest you BlaineMN.gov/NotifyMe
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 2021
Page 3
Blaine Council, Boards, and Commissions Move to In-Person Meetings Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the City of Blaine has looked for ways to be innovative in how services were offered to residents and businesses. One of the first things the City put in place was a way to participate in City meetings without coming to Blaine City Hall. Remote participation in council, board, and commission meetings was an important pandemic service to offer the community. As case rates decline and vaccination rates increase the Blaine City Council has made the decision to return to in-person meetings in July and end remote public participation. In the last few months remote participation levels dropped as more people chose to come in-person to city hall. A livestream and live cable broadcast of meetings will continue for those who want to watch meetings from home. View upcoming meetings agendas at BlaineMN.gov/Agendas. Watch live and recorded meetings at BlaineMN.gov/Video.
Lawn Sprinkling Reminder Year-Round, Odd-Even Sprinkling Days, No Sprinkling Between 10AM and 6PM With the entire state of Minnesota experiencing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions it is very important to follow the City’s watering restrictions. •
Year-round, odd-even sprinkling days. Residents with an even numbered address can water on even number dates. Residents with an odd numbered address can water on odd number dates.
•
From May 15 until September 15, no sprinkling is allowed between 10AM and 6PM. This is the hottest part of the day and most water is lost to evaporation. For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/LawnSprinkling.
SBM Fire Explorer Program
Recycling Saturdays 8am — noon
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. Follow the signs for the entrance and staff directions through the drop off process. 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 Randy’s Environmental Services 763-972-3335 RandysEnvironmental Services.com Randy’s offers free paper shredding. Please note, there may be a long wait times for shredding. Four box or bag limit for paper shredding.
Fire Explorer Post #3710 Being a fire explorer is a unique opportunity for youth aged 14-20 to gain experience in the career of firefighting and emergency services. Explorer Post #3710, hosted by the Spring Lake Park-BlaineMounds View Fire Department, is made up of youth from several area high schools in the fire district. SBM firefighter advisors train and mentor the explorers with all the necessary skills and abilities to one day join a fire department. The advisors are dedicated to helping youth develop leadership, master technical skills, engage in community service, and experience the profession of public safety. Learn first-hand how exciting a firefighter’s job is by working side-by-side with actual firefighters in weekly trainings. Fire explorers also assist the department with community outreach, which includes community parades, fire prevention activities, open houses, and adopt-a-highway clean-ups, just to name a few. If you are interested in learning more or would like to become a member of Explorer Post #3710, please contact Post Coordinator Anthony Scavo at 763-767-4003 or ascavo@sbmfire.org. Start your journey today.
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. Bike collection is available from April through October.
Walters Recycling & Refuse 763-780-8464 WaltersRecycling.com/Blaine Contact Walters to report missed garbage, recycling, or yard waste pickup. City Recycling Information 763-785-6141 BlaineMN.gov/Recycle
Page 4
BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
July
8 9-17 Performance in the Park
The High 48s Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Sum
Bla
Buck
Target USA Cup The Largest Youth Soccer Tournament in the World National Sports Center BlaineMN.gov/USACup
13 15 19-25 Performance in the Park
Mixed Nuts Tuesday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Performance in the Park
The Backyard Band Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
3M Open Minnesota Event of the Summer TPC of the Twin Cities More information and discount tickets for Blaine residents available at BlaineMN.gov/3MOpen
Additional information available at
BlaineEvents.com
20 23
BlaineMN.gov/ PerformanceinthePark
Performance in the Park Kidpower with Rachel Tuesday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Movie in the Park The Secret Life of Pets 2 Friday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
22 27
Performance in the Park The Percolators Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Performance in the Park Bob and the Beachcombers Tuesday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
July/August 2021
mmer
aine
Page 5
August
10 ket List 19 3 19
Performance in the Park Alphabits Tuesday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Performance in the Park The Sandy and the Hitman Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Night to Unite
Bark in the Park
Blaine’s Biggest Community Building Night of the Year Tuesday, 6pm - Neighborhood Near You
Mark the Start of the “Dog Days” of Summer Thursday, 5-7pm - Swanson Dog Park
BlaineMN.gov/N2U
BlaineMN.gov/BarkinthePark
3 5
Performance in the Park Teddy Bear Band Tuesday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
Performance in the Park
26
Performance in the Park The Pair of 7 Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
The Squires Thursday, 6pm - Tom Ryan Park
September
11
WorldFest Sharing Cultural and Ethnic Diversity Saturday, 1-4pm - Tom Ryan Park BlaineMN.gov/WorldFest
Page 6
BlaineParks.com or BlaineEvents.com - Recreation Connection
Skyhawks Sports Camps Ages 2 to 12 The popular Skyhawks Sports Camps are back for another summer. These sports camps are led by expert staff and are geared toward youth looking for a sport introduction or those who want to refine and master their sport specific skills. Skyhawks goes the extra mile to focus on safety and has a long-standing proven safety track record.
RecConnect Summer 2021 Registration Now Open
View Full Catalog or Register Online
BlaineMN.gov/ Register
Track & Field Ages 6-12 August 9-12, 9am-noon, $129
Soccer Ages 5-12 August 16-19, 9am-noon, $129
Super Tots Baseball
Volleyball
Ages 2-4 July 19-August 9, See Website for Times, $65
Ages 7-12 August 2-5, 9am-noon, $129
For locations and more detailed camp information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/YouthSports or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
RevSports Ninja Warrior Fitness Camp Ages 2 to 11 Campers will learn to move faster, react quicker, kick and throw farther. This camp is designed for the players that already have an interest and experience in sports but want to train to be better. The camp involves obstacle training, active games, and individual challenges. This camp will be held at the Peterson Athletic Complex.
Ages 2 to 3, $51 Mon-Thu, July 12-15, 5:15-5:45pm
Ages 4 to 7, $59
Fall Program Registration
Ages 7 to 11, $59 Mon-Thu, July 12-15, 6:55-7:55pm
Begins August 23 The Blaine Parks and Recreation Department is preparing to offer a full slate of fall programming. Registration opens Monday, August 23. The full fall program catalog will be available soon at BlaineMN.gov/Register. To receive program updates, visit BlaineMN.gov/NotifyMe and sign up for park and recreation updates.
Stay Connected Stay up to date with the latest program offerings. Sign up for the RecConnect online at BlaineMN.gov/NotifyMe, choose News: BlaineParks. More information about Parks and Recreation is available by calling 763-785-6164 or in the current RecConnect online.
For more detailed camp information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/YouthSports or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
Mon-Thu, July 12-15, 5:15-6:50pm
QC Youth Dance Ages 3 months to 11 years QC Dance provides quality dance instruction and a variety of fun opportunities to learn and demonstrate dance skill while building self-esteem. QC Dance encourages academic excellence as well as other involvements that contribute to the development of a multi-talented, wellrounded individual. Classes and camps include: • • • •
Magical Storybook Fairy Frolic Sparkle Squad Dance Descendants
• • •
Frozen Friends Mermaid Medleys Kids Yoga; and more.
For specific information on all camps, classes to be offered, and to register, call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164 or visit BlaineMN.gov/DanceTumblingGymnastics.
Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Ages 10 & Under or Unless Noted Come and explore the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. 11980 Lexington Avenue NE.
Plants and Wetland Communities
Boardwalk and Books
All Ages, July 8, 6-8pm, $5/person or family
August 3, 9-11am, $5/person or family
Author and Art
Connecting With Critters
August 2, 9-11am, $5/person or family
August 4, 9-11am, $5/person or family
For more information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/Register or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
Summer 2021
Page 7
Tech Tac Toe Grades 1 thru 5 Fun and engaging camps and classes to learn critical skills for today’s high-tech world. Science and technology is radically changing the world we live in. No aspect is left untouched. Technological literacy has become an essential skill, much like reading and writing. Tech Tac Toe makes learning technology exciting and fun. All classes held in the Tom Ryan Park shelter.
Kids vs Wild, Grades 1 thru 4 July 19-22, 9-11:55am $125 resident; $137 non-resident
RecConnect
For more information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/ComputerGamingMediaTechnology.
Summer 2021
Tech Academy Grades 2 thru 7 Tech Academy is Minnesota’s premier STEM camps and classes provider. Tech Academy is an exciting learning environment specializing in technology education for children and teens ages 4 to 15. Learning should be fun, innovative, challenging, and hands-on. Camps are kid friendly and promote hands on learning experiences with time to experiment to foster creativity. Classes held at the shelter in Tom Ryan Park.
Robotic Builders: Gamer-bots Grades 2 thru 6 July 27-29, 9am-noon $108 resident; $118 non-resident
Junior Engineering-Theme Parks Grades K thru 3 July 27-29, 1-4pm $108 resident; $118 non-resident
Citizens Academy
Stand Up Paddleboarding Ages 12 to adult Ages 12 and up. Come out and enjoy a fun, new, easy, cool, and great way to workout. Class sizes are small and the instruction is short and easy, so most of the time will be out on the water. No experience necessary. Class held at Lakeside Commons Park next to the boathouse. Participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign waiver before class. Wednesday, July 21 Ages 12-15 – 5-6:30pm Ages 16 & up – 6:30-8pm $30 resident; $33 non-resident Monday, August 23 Ages 16 & up - 2:30-4pm $30 resident; $33 non-resident For more information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/StandUpPaddleboarding
QC Adult Dance All activities held at the QC Dance Studio, 9967 Ulysses Street NE Zumba Wednesdays, July 28-August 25, 7:15-8pm $30/session resident; $33/session non-resident
Yoga Tuesdays, August 3-24, 7:15-8:15 pm $40/session resident; $44/session non-resident For more information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/DanceTumblingGymnastics.
Wednesdays, September 8 - October 27, 6:30-9:30pm
For more information and to register, visit BlaineMN.gov/ ComputerGamingMediaTechnology.
Blaine Citizens Academy is an eightweek course designed to introduce residents to the structure and daily operations of the Blaine Police, Fire, and Community Standards departments that comprise City of Blaine Safety Services. The fast-paced academy provides both classroom and hands-on training, offering a fun and safe behind-thescenes look at the functions of Safety Services while allowing participants an opportunity to perform tasks otherwise reserved for police officers and firefighters.
Topics Include • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Code Compliance Crime Prevention Traffic Enforcement Felony Traffic Stops Criminal Investigations Fire Investigations Fire Inspections Motor Vehicle Extrication Firefighting Skills Housing Maintenance Fire and Life Safety Police Use-of-Force Drug Awareness
Citizens Academy is free. Participants must live or work in Blaine, be at least 18 years old, and pass a criminal history background check. The academy is limited to 20 participants. For more information and to apply, visit BlaineMN.gov/CitizensAcademy.
Page 8
BlaineParks.com or BlaineEvents.com - Recreation Connection
Retirement Celebration for former Mayor Tom Ryan and Councilmember Dick Swanson On June 17, 2021 the community gathered to celebrate former Mayor Tom Ryan and former Councilmember Dick Swanson. Ryan and Swanson both retired at the end of 2020 after a combined 63 years of public service in Blaine. At the event Mayor Tim Sanders proclaimed June 17, 2021 as Mayor Tom Ryan and Councilmember Dick Swanson Day in the City of Blaine. Ryan and Swanson were instrumental in turning Blaine into the destination city that it is today and we are thankful for their decades of service. To view photos from the event, visit
BlaineMN.gov/RyanSwansonPhotos.
Night to Unite Civic Ready Test Tuesday, August 3 On the first Tuesday of August each year, Blaine joins communities around Minnesota for Night to Unite, 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. Find a part near you or start your own event. For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/N2U The City will also 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. To sign up, visit BlaineMN.gov/CivicReady
Home Movie Transfers Available thru NorthMetro TV
K9 Donation Longtime Supporter Donates K9 to Blaine PD Leo Luskey has been a longtime friend to the Blaine Police Department. Over the years Leo has made donations to the K9 unit and has also sent countless notes of encouragement and snacks to first responders. Several years ago Leo met Officer Reggie Larson, one of Blaine’s K9 handlers. Reggie and Leo quickly developed a friendship and started meeting for coffee almost every day. As Leo puts it ”we met at Starbucks to solve the world’s problems”. The relationship Leo and Reggie formed had a big impact on Leo. Reggie’s K9 partner Rex will retire in August and Leo felt that he was supposed to help find a replacement for Rex. Leo recently appeared before the Blaine City Council to make a $15,000 donation to cover the cost of a new K9 and the training school. Leo, who has had some health problems, included this donation in his will in the event he was not able to make the presentation in person. We are very thankful for Leo and that he was able to see the impact of his donation. The new K9 is named Tyrone, after Leo’s hometown of Tyrone, MN. Tyrone and Officer Larson are already getting to know each other and Tyrone will start training later this summer. Thank you to Leo for the legacy of friendship and generosity.
North Metro TV is here to help preserve those precious family memories. North Metro TV converts video tapes, film reels, photos, slides, and just about everything else to DVD and digital. Blaine residents can use the transfer equipment for free and make your own DVDs. If you would rather have North Metro TV’s professional staff complete the transfers the service costs $10/hour of footage from tapes, $20/hour of footage from film, and $10 for every 25 photographs or slides. More information is available at NorthMetroTV.com/Transfer Those interested can also contact Eric Houston at 763-231-2803 or Eric@NorthMetroTV.com.