Winter 2019-20 Hometown Messenger

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

CITY CALENDAR

NOV 28 Thanksgiving , City offices and

Community Center closed. Garbage and recycling delayed by one day.

Hello, Shakopee! It's an exciting time for the City of Shakopee. The past few years have focused on envisioning and planning for our future. Now, it's time to bring some of that vision to life. With the completion of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan, the City Council and department leaders sat down this fall to develop a strategic plan that outlines the council's priorities for the next five years. This plan will be a valuable tool for council and staff to keep focused on the projects and plans identified through our community engagement process.

29 Day after Thanksgiving , City offices closed. DEC 3 2020 Public Budget and Levy Meeting , 7 p.m. City Hall 12 Jolly Jubilee , 12:30-2:30 p.m. Community Center; Registration required 13 Holiday Fun & Games , 6-7:15 p.m. Community Center; Registration required 15 Skate with Santa , 2:15-3:45 p.m. Shakopee Ice Arena Mid- December Outdoor skating rinks open , weather permitting. 24 Christmas Eve , City offices closed. Community Center closes at 4:30 p.m. 25 Christmas Day , City offices and Community Center closed. 31 NewYear's Eve , Community Center closes at 4:30 p.m. JAN 1 NewYear's Day , City offices and Community Center closed. 1-31 Boards and Commissions applications accepted 11 NewYear, NewYou Fitness Sampler , 8-11 a.m. Community Center 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day , City offices closed. Community Center open. FEB 12 Active Older Adults Valentine Brunch , 10 a.m.-Noon, Community Center 17 Presidents Day , City offices closed. Community Center open. Late February Outdoor skating rinks close

Mayor Bill Mars

You can read about some of those projects and plans in this edition of the Hometown Messenger. One of the Big Ideas from the Envision Shakopee process was to reclaim the riverfront. The Minnesota River is a wonderful natural asset that has been slowly eroding its banks and threatening city infrastructure and cultural resources. The city has applied for 2020 state bonding funds to help shore up the river bank, as well as invest in the Shakopee Cultural Corridor. This innovative partnership among the city, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Scott County and Three Rivers Park District is striving to create a cultural attraction that celebrates our history and heritage (page 6). The Shakopee Cultural Corridor has already been recognized with a Local Government Innovation Award. It was one of two city projects to receive the 2019 statewide recognition. Shakopee was also recognized for its collaboration with the cities of Burnsville, Apple Valley, Farmington and Northfield for an automated election judge hiring and training process. Both these awards are examples of how the city is looking beyond traditional models to find new efficiencies and collaborations. So, as we wrap up another year and start looking ahead to a new decade, I think we can all agree Shakopee continues to grow in positive ways, and we have a lot to be thankful and excited for in 2020. Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Bill Mars Mayor of Shakopee Email: wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov | Facebook: Bill Mars: Mayor of Shakopee

MAYOR Bill Mars ...................................................... wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov COUNCIL MEMBERS JodyBrennan .......................................... jbrennan@ShakopeeMN.gov Angelica Contreras ........................... acontreras@ShakopeeMN.gov Matt Lehman ......................................... MattLehmanSr@comcast.net Jay Whiting ............................................................... jaywhtng@aol.com CITY ADMINISTRATOR William Reynolds ............................... breynolds@ShakopeeMN.gov

CITY HALL 485 Gorman St., Shakopee, MN 55379

Phone .................................................................................... 952-233-9300 TTY ......................................................................................... 952-233-3837 Fax .......................................................................................... 952-233-3801 Email .............................................. administration@ShakopeeMN.gov Website .............................................................. www.ShakopeeMN.gov Find us

Comments or suggestions on the Hometown Messenger should be directed to the editor, Kristin Doran, at kdoran@ShakopeeMN.gov.

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