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CITY SURVEY: Circle Pines receives record responses PAGE 6
Journey students continue to overcome obstacles amid pandemic
Dominium apologizes to city for ongoing issues BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR
The pandemic has been particularly challenging for people with disabilities. But one group of students has not let that get in the way of accomplishing their goals. Twenty-two students, ages 18-21, are enrolled in the Journey Transitions program in the Centennial School District this year. Seven of those students have elected to continue the program at home due to their own personal circumstances, but the remaining students continue to learn in person, attend postsecondary classes and work jobs. “This year’s group has suffered. COVID has really taken its toll on folks with disabilities. Just the community in general is shut down,” said Centennial teacher Dan DeRuyck. “Our entire program is dependent on things in the community, and with that being shut down, these folks have not only survived, but they have managed to thrive. When COVID lets up and this is over and the sun starts shining again, these kids are going to be able to tackle the world.” In order to qualify for the Journey program, a student must have a disability. DeRuyck said the most common disabilities are autism spectrum disorder and developmental cognitive delays. The program focuses on three areas of transition, including independent living, employment and post-secondary training. SEE JOURNEY STUDENTS, PAGE 12
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Robbie Montgomery welds at Noble Welding in Centerville. Montgomery works at the local business three times a week as part of the Journey Transitions program in the Centennial School District.
LEXINGTON — Two representatives from the Landings of Lexington apartment complex recently visited the City Council to apologize for the ongoing issues that have impacted neighbors and taxed city staff. Holly McCallister and Gina Estrem, both of Dominium, said they have had “long discussions” with City Administrator Bill Petracek but wanted to attend a meeting in person to apologize. “We wanted to apologize for the way our building has affected the neighborhood. I know we have been a drain on city resources,” McCallister said. “We have what we think is a fairly good plan in place to try rectify it going forward … We wanted to make you aware of what we are doing to hopefully forge a really good relationship with the city.” Shortly after residents began moving in last spring, the Centennial Lakes Police Department (CLPD) began receiving complaints about cars parking on surrounding streets. Many residents who couldn’t afford the cost of underground parking and who were unable to find a spot in the outdoor lot resorted to parking on neighboring streets, such as Dunlap Avenue. SEE LANDINGS OF LEXINGTON, PAGE 7
Summer (and winter) of unrest leads to ordinance discussion CENTERVILLE — After protesters demonstrated outside the Hugo home of Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll on last August, the city of Hugo adopted an ordinance on Sept. 8 setting down ground rules for what is known as “targeted picketing” in residential neighborhoods. The Centerville City Council recently discussed what a similar ordinance might look like in its own city during a workshop session.
The topic was brought up at a council workshop a few months ago, following the events in Hugo, City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz said at the Jan. 27 workshop. Because the protesters intimidated the individual and neighbors in a quiet residential neighborhood, the city of Hugo, as well as other communities, looked into enacting an ordinance, he said. There is a difference between picketing along Main Street and picketing in front of individual houses in a residential neighborhood — making it difficult for a person or neighbors to come and go, Statz
said. Neighbors said they felt unsafe coming and going from their own houses. “Our city to the east told a compelling story of the difficulties with the protest.” If the city were to adopt some sort of targeted picketing ordinance, that ordinance should be used as a “last resort,” City Attorney Kurt Glaser emphasized. The use of this ordinance may have the appearance of suppressing lawful speech, and the risk of improper enforcement can be costly, he said. Glaser cited the case of the State v. Castellano from 1993, where the Minnesota Court of Appeals
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affi rmed the concept of a city ordinance against targeted picketing being constitutional. That decision stemmed from a 1991 protest by some 20 people picketing in front of the White Bear Lake home of Thomas Webber, executive director of Planned Parenthood. Leo Castellano, for whom the suit was named, was arrested at the scene for refusing to leave. The structure of Hugo's ordinance has three principal parts, two of which are already in state statute, Glaser said. The first two deal with targeted marching, standing or
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