West metro briefs: $5 million grant funds work at Hennepin County homeless shelters

$5M federal grant funds work at homeless shelters

The Hennepin County Board accepted last week a $5.4 million federal grant for local homeless shelters.

The grant will fund health care clinics at nine homeless shelters through 2019 and extra staffing. The Health Care for the Homeless shelter-based clinics, which are overseen by the county's public health department, served more than 4,000 patients in 2014.

KELLY SMITH

Orono is the latest city to explore how to regulate short-term vacation rentals as the popularity of sites like Airbnb grows.

The City Council discussed a new ordinance last week that would regulate short-term rentals, but tabled a vote on the ordinance until later this year. The ordinance would have required residents who want to rent their property for fewer than 30 consecutive days to get a license, and the owner would have to make sure guests don't create unreasonable noise or disturbances, provide a 24-hour emergency contact, require a minimum stay of two consecutive nights and provide at least two off-street parking spaces.

From Burnsville to Duluth, cities have grappled with regulating short-term rentals. In Orono, the city held public hearings after fielding complaints last year about noise, traffic and trash from short-term rentals. The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the ordinance.

The statewide coalition ACT on Alzheimer's is inviting the Chanhassen community to participate in a conversation about Alzheimer's and dementia. The organization will host the discussion on April 23 as part of an effort to support its residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia as well as their caregivers.

The community awareness event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 23.

Residents will be able to learn more about ACT for Alzheimer's work in their community, sign up for activities with the organization and receive information on support available in the community.

According to the organization, Carver County can expect more than 2,000 people living with the disease by 2020. The Carver County Office of Aging approached its cities about addressing the needs of residents living with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Chanhassen was selected as a pilot community for a focus group that discussed how people in the community were living with the disease.

Earth Day celebrations in St. Louis Park on Sunday, April 24, will be highlighted by a free community dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. sponsored by Seeds SLP. Registration is required; to register, visit bit.ly/EarthDaySLP. Organizers hope for zero waste, so dinner-goers are encouraged to bring their own plates.

The dinner, along with exhibits and other events, will be at Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. The dinner will include a community visioning and goal-setting exercise on sustainability. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., a number of workshops on gardening and composting will be held at the Lenox Kids Place edible garden playground, 6300 Walker St.

JOHN REINAN

Wayzata has a new top city leader.

The City Council approved a contract April 12 for a new city manager, naming Chaska assistant city administrator Jeff Dahl. Dahl, who starts May 16, was chosen out of three finalists. He replaces Heidi Nelson, who left in December to be the city administrator of Maple Grove. Since then, Doug Reeder has been the interim city manager.

The "Lake Effect" project includes everything from new bike lanes and beach improvements to a lake walk, railroad crossings and an eco park. Construction costs for all possible projects are estimated at $19 million funded with a mix of private and public money.

The City Council, which was initially slated to vote on the plans April 19, instead will get a final design report and hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The council is expected now to vote on a resolution to accept receipt of the design work May 3.