The day of the shooting, Gordon was observed driving a vehicle on westbound I-394 near Louisiana Ave at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Zarrett pursued Gordon’s car, activating the emergency lights and siren in an attempt to get her to stop.

Gordon did not pull over, and her car wove in and out of the traffic lanes, still at a high rate of speed. She eventually pulled her car to the left lane of I-394 near Hopkins Crossroad, quickly exited the vehicle through the driver’s door, and pointed a handgun at Zarrett. In the interest of his own safety and that of others on the busy freeway, Zarrett fired upon Gordon, fatally wounding her. The gun was recovered next to Gordon’s body.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office handled the criminal investigation.

“This was a tragic event for Zarrett, Gordon and her family, and the community as a whole,” says Golden Valley Police Chief Stacy Carlson. “It does highlight the dangers police officers face every day. In this case, what started out as a possible speeding violation actually turned into a suspect threatening deadly force upon a police officer.

“Officer Zarrett is a highly trained officer who responded appropriately according to state law and years of tactical and firearms training,” adds Carlson. “Despite a situation that evolved in seconds, he was able to contain Gordon without harm to himself or dozens of passing motorists.”

Zarrett has been with the Golden Valley Police Department since 1998, is a member of the SWAT team, and has 17 letters of commendation in his personnel file.

The Railroad Authority is considering two options for the LPA–the Golden Valley alignment or the Minneapolis alignment. The selected LPA will then move forward for further study.

Citizen input is an important component of the process, and the following public hearings will be held before the LPA is selected:

May 10, 2012 – 4:30-7:30 pm
Bottineau Policy Advisory Committee Public Hearing
Crystal Community Center
4800 Douglas Dr N, Crystal

June 5, 2012 – 7 pm
Golden Valley City Council LPA Decision Public Hearing
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley

June 12, 2012 – 1:30 pm
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority LPA Public Hearing and Testimony
County Board Room
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S 6^th St, Minneapolis

June 26, 2012 – 1:30 pm
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority LPA Decision
County Board Room
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S 6^th St, Minneapolis

For more information about the Bottineau Transitway and its proposed routes visit www.bottineautransitway.org or contact Brent Rusco, project manager, at 612-543-0579.

The first annual Lilac Project Maintenance Morning will be May 26, from 9 am – noon, at 9010 Olson Memorial Hwy. Volunteers are needed to weed and survey the plants this spring and to add mulch to planting areas in the fall.

The goal of the Lilac Project is to continue until the expanse from Wirth Parkway to Hwy 169 is planted. The grass-roots community project is a collaboration between Bridge Builders, the City of Golden Valley, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership Program.

The fifth annual Lilac Planting Party will be Sept 22 from 9 am to 1 pm. Consider gathering a group from your neighborhood, church, business, or club to form a planting team, and see the fruits of your labor beautifying the community for years to come.

Register ahead of time with Sandy Werts at 763-512-2341 or swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov, or sign up online.

The City Council is looking for residents to serve on the task force who are interested in bringing opinions and thoughts about the feasibility of forming a new Human Rights Commission, along with the mission of such a Commission.

Purpose Of Task Force

The purpose of the task force is as follows: “through community dialogue, assess the need for and scope of a Human Rights Commission as an advisory board of the Golden Valley City Council.”

As a starting point for discussion, the task force would consider the following:

• Does Golden Valley need a Human Rights Commission?
• What would the City expect its Human Rights Commission to offer as events/activities?
• Does such a group need to be a Commission, or could it be more informal, with interested volunteers putting together events?
• If a Human Rights Commission is formed, how should the City generate interest and volunteers, and then communicate with residents about activities?
• Is a Human Rights Commission the best way to foster inclusiveness and cultural awareness?

To Apply

Golden Valley residents interested in participating on the task force must apply by June 1. The City will review applications and contact all applicants.

Questions? Contact Chantell Knauss, assistant city manager, at 763-593-3989.

Designed for students, first-time voters, and anyone interested in elections, the interactive workshops will take community members through the entire voting process, from filling out voter registration applications to placing ballots in the ballot counter.

Interested? Contact City Clerk Sue Virnig at 763-593-8010 or svirnig@goldenvalleymn.gov.

The Railroad Authority is considering two options for the LPA–the Golden Valley alignment or the Minneapolis alignment. The selected LPA will then move forward for further study.

Citizen input is an important component of the process, and the following public hearings will be held before the LPA is selected:

May 10, 2012 – 4:30-7:30 pm
Bottineau Policy Advisory Committee Public Hearing
Crystal Community Center
4800 Douglas Dr N, Crystal

June 5, 2012 – 7 pm
Golden Valley City Council LPA Decision Public Hearing
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley

June 26, 2012 – 1:30 pm
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority LPA Decision Public Hearing
County Board Room
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S 6^th St, Minneapolis

For more information about the Bottineau Transitway and its proposed routes visit www.bottineautransitway.org or contact Brent Rusco, project manager, at 612-543-0579.

Isaacson coached youth baseball in Golden Valley for more than 40 years and mentored thousands of kids and hundreds of coaches, says Jerry Sandler, chair of the City’s Open Space and Recreation Commission. He also served on the board of the Golden Valley Little League organization for many years.

The 11-acre Isaacson Park features three ball fields, two of which are new, additional fencing, and a new pedestrian path. The fields will be primarily used for Golden Valley Little League and City Park and Recreation programs. Project funding came from a Hennepin County Youth Sports grant, Golden Valley Little League, and the City.

Camp counselors (City police and fire personnel) will oversee an interactive program that includes fire safety, bike safety, first aid, safety in the home, and much more. While safety education serves as the primary focus, fun, friends, and feeling good are also highlighted. Awards are presented to all participants. Limited to 100 youth.

The $25 fee includes snacks, lunch, supervision, and a Safety Camp T-shirt. Parents must provide transportation to and from Brookview Park. Camp is held rain or shine. Scholarships are available.

Register for Safety Camp online using course code 11213 (have your family PIN and barcode numbers ready) or by calling the Golden Valley Park and Recreation Department at 763-512-2345. Don’t have a PIN and barcode? Call the Park and Recreation office to receive one.

The annual Bike Rodeo, to be held 6-8 pm at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N, will include special treats and and a chance to win prizes. Other highlights include:
•    free bike safety checks
•    bike skills tests
•    demo on bike helmet fitting
•    complimentary refreshments
•    music
•    appearances by McGruff and Sparky

Held rain or shine. For more information, call Golden Valley Park and Recreation at 763-512-2345.

At its April 17, 2012 meeting, the City Council directed the Environmental Commission to study the City’s current ordinance and make recommendation as to whether or not it should be amended  and, if so, what amendments should be considered. As part of the study, the Commission will:

• consult with professionals (Animal Humane Society, Chicken Run Rescue, etc) regarding chickens on private property in urban environments
• review similar ordinances for adjacent and other Twin Cities’ metropolitan cities
• discuss issues and concerns relevant to the topic with code enforcement and police staff for Golden Valley and for adjacent or metropolitan cities
• discuss relevant land use issues with Golden Valley’s Planning staff and Planning Commission
• discuss potential impacts on the environment and other wildlife (coyotes, raccoons, etc) with nature and wildlife professionals
• talk to legal counsel about issues related to neighbors’ consent on fowl keeping
• conduct self-directed, independent information- and fact-finding efforts as needed
• account for diverse views on the topic

The Environmental Commission’s final report will detail all considerations related to chickens on private property, including data and information collected from all the research and interviews conducted, arranged by topic. The report will also include a summary of pros and cons of allowing chickens on private property in Golden Valley and a recommendation to the City Council.

Public Input

On online feedback form is available for Golden Valley residents who wish to provide input about the issue of raising chickens in Golden Valley. The Environmental Commission will consider comments from completed feedback forms when studying the issue, and all feedback will become part of the public record and final report.