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CITY COUNCIL SETS GOALS FOR 2002 The Hugo City Council held its annual goal-setting session (RCWD), the City has submitted a comprehensive funding and finalized a list of goals for 2002 at its March 4, 2002 proposal to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to meeting. Mayor Fran Miron notes, "We got started some- fix these culverts. what late in our goal-setting process this year, partly because we involved the Parks Commission and the Planning City Council member Chuck Haas adds that the RCWD Commission in the process." He adds, "We actually had a has also applied for a Legislative Committee on Minnesota number of meetings to discuss the functions and responsi- Resources (LCMR) grant to clean up the accumulated sedi- bilities of the City's commissions and the Council, and then ment that has resulted from years of inadequate water flow. one work session to set the goals for 2002. It was not a dif- He states, "This project is designed to restore the natural ficult process and consensus was reached very readily on the scenic and, most importantly, the hydrological features of issues." Hardwood Creek. It has gotten the support of environmen- tal organizations and wildlife management groups because The City Council identified these seven high-priority goals this will hopefully bring needed closure to the long struggle for the City of Hugo in the year 2002: with the Hardwood Creek land owners, and it will provide responsible management for one of our most scenic and nat- 1. Implement a storm water and flood Plain management ural areas." plan for the West Oneka Lake area. This project originated with a request to the City from property owners who need- 3. Determine the realignment design for County State Aid ed help in cleaning up a ditch at 165th Street. Community Highway(CSAR) 8/14. Please see the story on page six for Development Director John Rask explains that it then further explanation. evolved into a look at a comprehensive storm water and flood plain management plan for the area west of Oneka 4. Finalize the plans for a new elementary school site in the Lake. In addition to cleaning out the ditch, a study of the Everton Avenue neighborhood. Please see the story on page area indicated a need for providing storm water retention ten for further explanation. ponds as well as flood water management,so that area homes and businesses can be removed from the flood plain. Rask 5. Complete the needs study and site selection process for notes, "The City is trying to be proactive in providing storm a new Public Works facility Please see the story on page one water management in anticipation of future development in for further explanation. the area." City Council member Chuck Haas adds, "The fundamental idea is to encourage developers to do area-wide 6. Complete the full Comprehensive Plan. The planning so that we can create neighborhoods that enhance Comprehensive Plan sets forth the policy and goals for our quality of life." growth of the community and land preservation. Community Development Director John Rask explains that 2. Design and replace culverts at Hardwood Creek. There the plan has been submitted to the Metropolitan Council, are four roads that cross Hardwood Creek (also called the regional planning agency in the Twin Cities area, for its Judicial Ditch #2), and the creek runs through culverts review. "We are at the end of the process and anticipate hav- beneath these roads. These culverts have inadequate ing the Metropolitan Council complete its review by the end hydraulic capacities and are at incorrect elevations. Two of of July 2002," he explains. these roads are the City of Hugo's responsibility, one is Washington County's and one is Forest Lake's responsibility. GOALS In cooperation with the Rice Creek Watershed District (Continued on Page 4) 3