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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 April Newsletter Hugo City Hall • 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North • Hugo, Minnesota 55038 y« F 2005 Year In Review 2006 City Goals A Commitment to Service Providing Focus and Direction Hugo of the accomplishments At its January 19,2006 meeting,the Hugo City This past year,the accom P � g Council developed its final list of City Focus Goals City Council focused on an overall commitment for the upcoming year. "The focus goals allow the to service. Regarding the projects included in the Council to hone in on certain aspects of the long- ( � 2005 year in review,Hugo Mayor Fran Miron range planning that's been done over the years," explains,"The Council has an obligation to the says Hugo Mayor Fran Miron. He continues,"It public safety and welfare,but this Council has been very focused on service and a commitment to gives us direction and it also provides an opportu- nity to evaluate the work we do based on the goals service the people who live in this community." we set." Mayor Miron also sees a"renewed sense of pride New to the goal-setting process this year,the in Hugo and service to the community." He notes Council established a specific target date for the an increase in both the quality and number of peo- completion of each goal. "Establishing those dates . I- ple coming forward to serve various Commission means that there is a continual effort being made and volunteer positions in the City as an indica- to accomplish the tasks at hand within a specified tion. "I think the Council's mentality and direc- time,not just by the end of the year,"says Mayor tion toward service may be the springboard to this welling of pride and a desire to provide service," Miron. concludes Mayor Miron. _ The following are the top goals for the City of Hugo ' in 2006: - Following is a summary of the major community _ projects and developments that took place in Hugo in 2005: Goal#1:Focus On Economic Development ' The City will apply for development grants,includ- Downtown Redevelopment ing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). In addition,this goal will focus on imple- Design standards for the City's downtown redevel- mentation of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan opment were adopted in 2005. These guidelines and work toward identifying a location for a future reflect a community vision for a pedestrian-friend- ly downtown with mixtures of housing,retail, Year In Review/Page 2 Goals/Page 7 l Public Works Association and the Year f�F - Hugo Economic Facility Grand Development Authority Opening Held ReviewStaff and office equip- An estimated 370 chil- From Page 1 ment officially moved dren participated in -* to the public works activities ranging from carnival games and face facility during the week of January 17,2005. painting to jump rope Beginning in February, making and a magic the building's Rice show. Based on the Lake Centre meeting success of the event,a room became available second Kidz `n Biz Fest 1 Y �7' is scheduled for April for members of the P ✓',. ,� community to rent for 30,2006. meetings,neighborhood gatherings or small par- Oneka ties.Hugo residents had Elementary �n@ the opportunity to tour the new public works Breaks Ground ! facility at a grand open- Hugo Mayor Fran ing held August 4, Miron,members of the - 2005. The new build- Hugo City Council and ing provides stream- the White Bear Lake lined operations in a School Board par- more centrally-located ticipated in the Oneka A rendering of the proposed master plan for downtown and efficient facility. Elementary School redevelopment in Hugo. groundbreaking cer- Kidz`n Biz Fest A emony held April 18, office space and public Road 14 Interchange. 2005. Construction of amenities. Specific These funding pack- Success the building,located objectives include ages($800,000 and The first-ever event at the corner of Oneka preservation of Hugo's $250,000),made pos- for the City brought parkway and Heritage small town character, sible through the office together business own- parkway,remains on improving downtown of U.S. Congressman ers and residents of schedule to be open for access and traffic cir- Mark Kennedy,are Hugo on April 17, the 2006 school year. culation to Highway 61 primarily for the design 2005 for an afternoon and downtown intersec- of the interchange. that truly mixed busi- Population tions(145th, 147th and Construction is cur- ness with pleasure. CSAR),and building rently under way and Kidz `n Biz Fest was Reaches 10,000 on the City's historic should be completed spearheaded by Your The population of Hugo assets. Members of before the end of 2006. Neighborhood News& topped the 10,000 the community were Report, with combined mark in 2005 and new encouraged to give sug- sponsorship from the gestions and opinions Hugo Business Year In Review/Page 7 throughout the process. ,r Federal Grant The EDA meets on Received For the third Monday 1-35E/CSAR 14 ` Interchange ■ of the month at The City received two 8:30 a.m. federal funding grants "= in 2005 to be used € for the I-35E/Coup �' The children of Hugo have something great to look forward to this fall. This is the new Oneka Elementary School scheduled for completion summer 2006. Downtown Redevelopment Moves Forward Tax Increment Financing To Be Considered comments Bear. He adds,"It's led to some very good businesses coming to the community and the The City of Hugo began working on a downtown creation of jobs." Building on that success,the redevelopment plan in 1998. Planning moved City is moving forward to have this same financing forward in 2003 to establish architectural and site method available for use in the downtown redevel- design standards to ensure a commercial area that opment. would respect local traditions and fit in with the character of the City. A community-wide open While the Hugo City Council has authorized City house was held in 2004 to encourage public input staff to begin the process of implementing TIF, during this redevelopment planning process.And Minnesota statute requires several tests be con- now, in 2006,the time has come again to take a ducted to quality for its actual use. "We are going major step forward in this process. "The City has through the necessary steps right now to determine There was a huge turn been working for quite some time on a downtown if we qualify,"says Bear. That includes inspec- redevelopment plan,"notes Hugo Community tions of buildings,calculations on the condition out from the community Development Director Bryan Bear. He continues, of those buildings and how much the properties at an open house held "The final step is implementation of that plan." are already developed. If it is determined that the qualifications are met,then a recommendation January 18 for review One of the ways that the City has started that from the Hugo Economic Development Authority of the downtown plan, implementation is with the use of a Tax Increment will be made to the Council asking to formally Financing(TIF)instrument. There are several adopt a resolution that would create a TIF district. pictured above. costs involved with any downtown redevelopment, including property acquisition,relocation and Bear comments, "The feedback that we've demolition. This can become very expensive for received from the community is that they are a developer and TIF provides a financing method excited about the City's plans for downtown.They for the City to assist with those costs. The use would like us to move forward and find the means A TIF has been an effective means for other cit- necessary to implement that plan,and TIF is a ies and something that Hugo successfully used valid way of doing so." Hugo Mayor Fran Miron in the development of its Bald Eagle Industrial adds,"If used properly,TIF can help us immensely Park. "We've used TIF before and it has worked," in accomplishing our goals and provide some real opportunities for redevelopment within Hugo." Meet Nugo's Newest Employees TWO Community Development Building Department COMMISSIONERS Intern Receptionist APPOINTED Rachel Simone recently joined - ""` Debi Close started in her posi- the Ci staff as its com- tion as the City's building t City The Hugo City Council .f, munity development intern. department receptionist on Simone,who started her six- March 20,2006. Although recently appointed Tom --- month internshipon February she has only been on staff for �' a short time,Close says,"The Denaway as new com- 22,2006,works with Hugo Community Development Director Bryan Bear. people I work with are wonderful. Everyone has missioner on the Hugo " He comments,"We've had excellent success with welcomed me with open arms. Economic Development our internship program;we've had very high qual- ity individuals with the program and Rachel is Her main responsibilities in this newly-created Authority(EDA)and no exception." Her responsibilities range from position include answering calls to help schedule Rachel Berger to the working on the use of Tax Increment Financing inspection appointments and handling the City's (TIF)in the City to preparing agendas and taking commercial and residential building permit appli- Parks, Recreation and minutes for EDA Commission meetings. "I've cations. Close holds a degree from the Minnesota Open Space Advisory .earned more in the last month and a half that I've Medical and Dental Institute. Before her current been here than I did in my entire time at school," position, she spent more than 10 years as a recep- Commission. Simone comments. She adds,"The people here tionist in medical and dental offices and in the are great." insurance industry. � I Not News From The Hugo Fire Department CPR Classes Watch For Children .:. The Hugo Fire Department will With the end of the school year Datime continue to offer its bi-monthly nearly here, Chief Jim Compton CPR classes. The next class reminds all Hugo residents to will be held Wednesday,May watch out for children and to Firefighters 17. For more information or drive safely. to sign up,contact Jodie at the Needed Hugo City Hall at 651-762- 6309. The Hugo Fire ON Thank You TR Wise Department still has GOYS Pizza! openings for day- Hugo Fire Chief Compton would like to thank Wise Guys time firefighters. Pizza of Centerville for donat- Information and appll- ing 12 large pizzas to all the cations are available at firefighters who participated in a major training burn that took .;:: the Hugo City Hall. place in Hugo on April 8. 2nd zBiz Festri Free Carnival Games, Contests, Magic Show c& Loads Of Raffle Prizes! The Second Annual Hugo Kidz `n Biz Fest,presented bake-off. This year,all extra cookies will be sold by Your Neighborhood News&Report and the Hugo and proceeds will go to the Hugo Elementary School Business Association,will be held on Sunday,April Playground Fund. In addition,children and adults Ne`ghborhood News&RepOrt 30 from 1:00-4:00 pm at the American Legion Hall. will have a chance to be mesmerized by the award- The event is designed to bring together businesses winning magic of The Great Loudini at a special Kidz In and residents of Hugo for a few hours of games, show beginning at 3:30 pm. Oft Fest magic and fun.While this year's event will "I've always viewed -2006- once again be held at our future as being in April 30, • the American Legion, our youth. This year those attending can we're celebrating Admission to the 2nd look forward to a our history with our Annual Kidz `n Biz Fest little extra"elbow City's Centennial, room." "We had but we're also cel- is free and is made pos- such a great turnout ebrating our future sible because of generous last year,that we when we have decided to add a tent programs like the support from the Hugo outside the Legion to Kidz `n Biz Fest," Business Association, better accommodate comments Hugo the Hugo Economic the expected crowd," Mayor Fran Miron. says Louis Melamed, Admission to the Development Authority publisher of Your Kidz`n Biz Fest is and several local area Neighborhood News Smokey Bear greets children with a bucket ofgoodies that were free and is made pos- businesses. &Report. handed out to all who attended the Kidz 'n Biz Fest in 2005. sible because of gen- erous support from The Kidz`n Biz Fest will include carnival games, the Hugo Business Association,the Hugo Economic raffle prizes,jump rope contest,Domino's Pizza box Development Authority and several local area busi- folding contest and the popular chocolate chip cookie nesses. Centennial Commission = ' On Track For A Great Celebration This Summer The Hugo Centennial Commission hosted a sponsorship breakfast at Hugo City Hall on January 24, 2006. Leaders from more than 25 of the City's businesses attended the meeting and were informed of the various sponsorship levels available for participation in the funding of this special event. "The reaction fit from the City's businesses has been enthusiastic,"says Centennial Commission Marketing Chair Louis Melamed. He adds,"We've nearly reached the half-way mark in our funding efforts and there are many other business leaders who have told us they want to participate." 1906- 2006 Centennial activities are planned to begin Saturday,August 12,2006 with the"Taste of Hugo" —an assortment of food booths featuring items from area restaurants, a 5K run and karaoke. The festivities Centennial activities will continue on Sunday,August 13 with an ice cream social and buggy rides. In addition,residents will have an opportunity to see displays from the Hugo Historical Commission,as well as a model train are planned to begin exhibit at Hugo City Hall on both days. On Tuesday,August 15,the City's official 100th anniversary, Saturday,August 12 Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is expected to be on hand as a time capsule is buried for future gen- erations of Hugo residents. The Centennial Commission continues to meet on the second Monday of each month as the celebration date approaches. Planting Grants And Rebates one Newspaper For Hugo Available To RCWD Residents Publishers of the City's two newspapers, Your The One-Stop Shopping to Restore Your Yard& Neighborhood News &Report and the Hugonian, Shore program provides all the information you have joined forces to create a single newspaper to . need to complete your own native landscaping, serve the community. "Over the past two years raingarden or shoreline buffer project.Visit www. of publishing, it became more and more obvious that there was a great deal of duplication between ricecreek.org for details. the two papers,"says Your Neighborhood News& If you live within the Rice Creek Watershed Report Publisher Louis Melamed. He continues, "I think both the readers and the advertisers will p' District(RCWD)boundaries,you can apply for the ¢ 1 M ^1 � � , RCWD cost-share grant and/or the rebate program. appreciate having one newspaper in the commu- nity." To find out if you live within the RCWD boundar- A total of 7,500 copies ies,follow this link http://ricecreek.org/maps or click on the"maps"tab on the homepage. The new publication will continue to feature some of the new publica- of the columns that originated in the Hugonian, Cost-share grants generally provide the plants and such as its science and nature column,and the tion will be distributed materials for the project and the recipients provide American Legion Post 620 updates. Readers will bi-weekly through the the planting,weeding and watering. also find popular features from Your Neighborhood Hugo Post Office and News&Report,including the Katie K-9 column Rebates will be awarded upon completion of the and the Hugo Police reports. "I think there's some racks placed in local project-typically one growing season after the wonderful contributions from both papers,"says area businesses. It is project is planted. Rebates are based on the square Hugonian Publisher Bill Bremer. delivered to every home footage of successful plantings.To obtain appli- cations,go to http://ricecreek.org/grants or go to Although the City is back to a single newspaper and business within the ricecreek.or and click on the rants tab at the to for its local information and news,Melamed com- g g p ments "We are still committed to providing the 55038 distribution area of the homepage. best quality newspaper filled with balanced report- and to every home and Get your application in now so you're ready to ing'13 business in Hugo with a plant in May! 55110 zip code. � � I The population of Hugo now exceeds 10,000 people and new construction in the City has grown right along with the number of residents. "Residential and commercial construction grew at record levels last year and it looks like the pace will continue in 2006," states Scott Anderson, Senior Engineering Technician with the City. He continues,"Several developers are preparing to submit plans for more development projects." With County Road 8 serving as the main roadway to many of these developments,the City con- tinues to work in cooperation with the County to assure easy access and smooth traffic flow;Anderson e ity serves as the project coordinator for the City's utility portion of the County Road project. Following are details regarding location,number of lots and type of homes in some of the City's current development Projects projects: Development Location Number of lots UpdateFable Hill South of Victor Gardens 76 single-family homes Heritage Ponds East of Elmcrest Avenue N. 207 multi-family homes South of 165th Street N. 126 single-family homes Beaver Ponds South Fondant Trail N.south of 43 single-family homes 128th Street N. Waters Edge North West of Creekview Preserve at 738 multi-family homes Waters Edge South 159th Street and TH 61 Diamond Point East Goodview Avenue N.and 125 single-family homes 145th Street N. Diamond Point West Goodview Avenue N.and 49 single-family homes Geneva Avenue N. Oneka Ponds Goodview Avenue N.north of 68 single-family homes Oneka Lake Boulevard Generation Acres Oneka Lake Boulevard(1/2 41 multi-familytownhomes mile east of TH 61) Victor Gardens 4th County Road 8 and 92 multi-family homes Everton Avenue N. Victor Gardens East Val Jean Boulevard(east 36 single-family homes of Cosette Lane) Spring Street Sweeping Watering Restrictions The Hugo Public Works Department began Hugo residents and property owners who use the sweeping City streets on Monday,April 3, 2006. municipal water supply are being asked to help Sweeping is scheduled to take place on all paved ? conserve water and protect the environment by streets in Hugo, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm for approximately six weeks. Any restricting their watering of lawns, trees or other questions regarding the street sweeping should be vegetation. The days you may water are deter- directed to the Public Works Department at 651- mined by your street address. If your address ends 762-6300. in an odd number,you may water on only odd- numbered calendar days; if your address ends in an even number,you may water on even-numbered A recycling container is calendar days. available from your refuse hauler or by calling City An exemption from the odd-even restriction, of up to 30 days, is available for new sod, seed or plant- ings. You may call the Hugo City Hall at 651-762- Hall at 651-162-6300. 6300 to be added to a 30-day exemption list. Goals/From Page 1 to provide extended at Oneka Elementary GOBI A Council industrial park. service to the com- School. Workshops r munity. This public Three workshops are _HUG() Goal#2: safety goal also includes Goal#5: Update scheduled for 2006: determining long-range Comprehensive City policies, y $' Transportation cit Hugo Fire Department Plan employee salaries,and Planning employment and facil- Along with the research ity needs,as well as a Based on a mandate funding of future storm of various transporta- review of charges for by the Metropolitan water management tion funding methods, medical calls. Council,the City is needs. this goal moves forward required to update its with the placement of Goal#4: multiple comprehensive plan by Goal#B: traffic signals at 130ththe year 2008. This goal RecodlficatiOn Of Parks Projects and 147th Streets, ensures that the updating ON Code The City is seeking process will get under continued progress on fundingfor a ball field There are a number of the CSAH 14/I-35E way and completed City ordinances that Interchange project, complex,the develop- before the deadline. have become outdated ment of Rice Lake Park updating the City's and Diamond Point Eastand are no longer reflec- transportation plan and Park(near Rice Lake). Goal#6. Rice Lake tive of the Council's the development of Management Plan current philosophy. standards for collector This goal also encom- The City Council will These ordinances may roads. passes a review and work with the Rice also be out of step with update of the Parks Creek Watershed today's development Goal#3: Public Master Plan—moving District and the practices. As a means Safety ahead with the Parks Minnesota Department of keeping Hugo's The Hugo City Council Commission goals and of Natural Resources ordinances current,the has made a commit- realization of a Joint (DNR)to develop a Council will go through ment to move forward Powers Agreement with management plan that a recodification of the with Basic Life Support the White Bear Lake takes into consideration City Code. (BLS)Ambulance Area School District the use of Rice Lake and Service in an effort for a community gym the surrounding area. Year In Review/From Page 2 building construction kept pace with the City's Spring Nvdrant Flushing growth in number of residents. More than$130 million was spent on residential construction and The Hugo Public Works Department began $25 million was spent on commercial develop- flushing hydrants in the City on Monday, ment. Some of the City's new businesses include April 17,2006. Hydrant flushing will take Hugo Fairview Clinic,Festival Foods,Oneka Pet place Monday through Friday from 7:00 am Resort and KinderGardens. In addition, Schwieters to 3:00 pm. Flushing allows the Public Works Companies,an existing business in Hugo, expand- Department to purge rust and stagnant A ed its presence by adding a 45,000-square-foot water from the distribution system. In building to its campus. addition, it allows the Department to iden- tify hydrants in need of maintenance. , Centennial Commission Formed In May 2005,the Hugo City Council authorized As a result of the hydrant flushing, it is the formation of a Centennial Commission to over- inevitable that some residents will receive j see and direct the planning and implementation of rust-colored water that could stain laundry. all activities pertaining to the celebration of Hugo's Please check that water coming into your Centennial. house is clear before doing laundry during this time period. Any questions regarding The Commission continues to meet regularly on hydrant flushing should be directed to the the second Monday of each month as it plans for Public Works Department at 651-762-6300. this once-in-a-lifetime event scheduled to take place August 12-15, 2006. .o,rL BULK RATE Hugo City Hall•14669 Fitzgerald Ave.N.•Hugo,MN 55038 POSTAGE PAID HUGO, MN 55038 PERMIT NO. 21 OCCUPANT I t Visit our website: www.ci.hugo.mn.us City Directory City StaffService City Administrator Mike Ericson 651-762-6312 Community Dev.Dir. Bryan Bear 651-762-6320 Directory Public Works Director Chris Petree 651-762-6316 Building Official John Benson 651-762-6313 Building Inspector Gary Schwartz 651-762-6317 GeneralCity ll Building Inspector Chuck Preisler 651-762-6302 ' yy Building Inspector Scott Baller 651-762-6322 Information a Sr.Engineering Tech. Scott Anderson 651-762-6326 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 • City Clerk Mary Ann Creager 651-762-6311 Monday—Fridayexcept • Community Dev.Asst. Michele Lindau 651-762-6315 651-762-6300 Bldg.Dept.Receptionist Eileen Ottney 651-762-6310 Bldg.Dept.Receptionist Debi Close 651-762-6300 Billing Clerk Jodie Guareschi 651-762-6309 city Hall FAX Number Finance Director Ron Otkin 651-762-6314 651-426-2859 Fire Chief Jim Compton 651-429-6366 Washington County City Council Sheriffs Department Mayor Fran Miron 651-429-5961 (Police non-emergency) Ward - . - Ward 1 Becky Petryk 651-426-4722 651-439-9381 Ward 2 Frank Puleo 651-653-9369 Ward 3 Chuck Haas 651-439-4475 Council-at-Large Mike Granger 651-426-8171 Fire Hall • Monthly Meeting Schedule 9-6366 City Council l st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Fire&PoliceEmergency Planning Commission 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. • 11 Parks Commission 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Historical Commission 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. EDA Commission 3rd Monday at 8:30 a.m.