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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 November Newsletter i r Hugo City Hall • 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North • Hugo, Minnesota 55038 Developments On The Downtown Redevelopment Redevelopment History that the founda- tions of the new In 1998, the City of Hugo downtown build -- c established a downtown plan upon the rich •� and preliminary guidelines traditions of r to address the redevelop- Hugo." City �- ment of its downtown area Council (from Nadeau's Market to member Mike • the Post Office,primarily Granger 1 along Highway 61). It was remarks, "It's determined that this first plan important to ;� - needed to be updated for two have an actual major reasons—to take into plan in writing . µ� consideration areas that could —so that we be developed along County have the appro- Road 8 and to address the priate infrastruc- impact of a re-aligned County ture in place, and a� Road 8 and Highway 61 inter- so that we have section. some guidelines for things like G ...._. In September 2003, the Hugo zoning, build- City Council hired Landform, ing placement, /. a Minneapolis firm that spe- and architectural Hugo , ets`Uown ' cializes in planning and urban design." To Business design, to assist the City in Page 2 updating and finalizing a mas- While develop- The downtown master plan was prepared in ter plan for downtown Hugo. ing the plan, 2004 after significant public involvement at a Winter Parking The goal of the master plan is Landform has series of workshops. Ordinance. to develop architectural and relied heavily ment of the downtown area Page 4 A site design standards that will on input from the City staff, has been a long-term goal and create a commercial area that the City Council, the Planning has evolved as part of a pub- What's''. respects the local traditions Commission, and current and lic process with a tremendous Developin In and fits in with the character potential business owners. In amount of public input,"notes o0 of the community. Hugo addition, a community-wide Miron. The City Council and e ;. Mayor Fran Miron comments, open house was held in May the Planning Commission "Establishing these design 2004 to encourage public recently held a joint meet- guidelines will help to ensure input. "The redevelop- ing to downtown:See Page 5 { Hugo ets Down To Business HtJG( } r h a VICTOR MARKETPLACE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY AUGUST 16,2005 a M KindetG �ns nq GRAND OPENINGS& GROUNDBREAKINGS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Waters Edge Community Center,Festival Foods/rictor Marketplace, " KinderGardens,Hugo Fairview Clinic An Update on Commercial/Business Development In addition to the many residential developments underway in Hugo, the City is also experienc- ing growth in new business developments. "The City's commercial development will provide residents with an opportunity to work in the community in which they live and also provides an expanded opportunity for our residents to make purchases and do commerce within the com- "The City's commer- munity," says Hugo Mayor Fran Miron. "This not only provides for a diversification in tax base, but it also allows for services within the community that residents would demand. The mix we're cial development seeing right now meets the goals that were established, not only by this Council, but previous Councils." Following is an update of a few of the most recent businesses to come to Hugo: will provide resi- Festival Foods KinderGardens dents with an oppor- Festival Foods broke ground on August 16, KinderGardens Child Development Center tunity to work in the 2005; construction is currently on schedule for opened in June 2005. It is a 7,500 square-foot a June 2006 opening. When construction for facility that can accommodate up to 120 chil- community in which the store was approved in May 2005, it was dren,with space for before-and after-school they live..." noted that the placement of a stoplight was participants up to age 8. The center includes needed at the intersection of County Road 8 amenities ranging from touch-free faucets in the and Victor Hugo Boulevard. Hugo Community diaper changing area and dimmer switches in Development Director Bryan Bear confirms, the infant rooms,to a carpeted pre-school gym "There will be a permanent traffic signal in and a theatre area. In addition to these physical place at the intersection prior to the store open- details, individual programs at KinderGardens ing." are designed using Minnesota's Early Learning New Businesses:See Page 3 li The City Of Hugo Wants Your Opinion: Is The Old v, I 2t r ' Water Tower Worth Saving. 4r - . At its July 18, 2005 meeting, the Hugo City the structure if it is preserved as a landmark. Council asked the staff to solicit quotes Annual costs for this upkeep are estimated at for both the demolition and the repainting $3,750 (or$75,000 every 20 years). Exterior of Water Tower#1. The Hugo Historical painting would need to be done immediately = Commission was consulted, and they do not (at a cost of$28,950), and interior painting in have a strong opinion as to whether the water 10 years (costing $7,500 - $9,500). : 1 tower should be saved or demolished. The 1! 1 City now wants your opinion about Water So what do you think? Is the tower worth sav- Tower#1: Should it be preserved or should it ing? Please let us know by responding in one be demolished? of the following ways: Demolishing the water tower would involve - through the City's website at www.ci.hugo. a one-time expenditure of$20,526 to tear it mn.us down, and it would free up space at Lions - in writing to City Hall, c/o Michele Lindau, Park for expansion of the Lions Building, as Survey Coordinator desired by the Lions Club. - by calling Michele at 651-762-6315 Keeping the tower would require repaint- Opinions will be collected until the end of the ing the exterior every 10 years and the inte- year. They will then be compiled and posted rior every 20 years. The City would also be on the City's website. required to continue to carry insurance on New Businesses:From Page 2 Standards as a founda- least 10 years. It's tion. something that was badly needed in the Fairview Hugo Clinic community." Opening next door Waters Edge to KinderGardens, in Community and the Victor Gardens Fitness Center Shops at County Road 8 and Victor Hugo At the Waters Edge Boulevard, is the Development, a rib- Fairview Hugo Clinic. bon cutting ceremony 1� The clinic includes for a community and Town Meeting three full-time family fitness center took Monday,November 28,2005 practitioners and one place on September � pediatrician. Exam 85 2005. This private 7'00 p.m. rooms, laboratory facility—intended Rice Lake Centre meeting room at the Hugo Hugo residents are and x-ray services fill only for the use of Public Works Facility invited to a Town the 6,200 square-foot Waters Edge residents space. The facility —includes a commu- Hugo residents are invited to learn more Meeting to learn opened on Tuesday, nity and fitness center, about the City's Emergency Management more about the November 1,2005. pool, exercise room, Plan. Hugo Fire Chief Jim Compton, City ' "It was a very big day meeting space,play- Administrator Mike Ericson, and the City City's Emergency for Hugo,"notes Bear. ground equipment and Council will present the plan and be available Management Plan. "There hasn't been a a basketball court. to answer your questions. Refreshments will clinic in Hugo for at be provided. Not News From The FireDepartment Fire Department Hires Two Firefighters Hugo Fire Chief Jim Compton would like to thank: j At its November 7, 2005 meeting, the Hugo City Council approved the hiring of two new • The Garden for donating 200 pumpkins for firefighters. Gina Duncanson and Christopher the Fire Department's Open House held a Elletson will begin work immediately as pri- October 15. mary daytime responders. Hugo Fire Chief • North Country Auto and the Hugo Fireflies Jim Compton noted "These are two very for all of their work at the Open House. ' • National Recycling for donating the alumi- dedicated people. They have rearranged work num recycling"can cage,"as well as the schedules or made special child care arrange- many Hugo residents who bring their alu- ments to be available during daytime hours." minum cans to the Fire Department's ongo- ing can drive. Compton also notes that the Department All of the many Hugo employers who still has openings for daytime firefighters. allow their employees to leave during work Complete application information is available hours in order to serve on the Hugo Fire at the Hugo City Hall. Department. CPR CLASSES The Hugo Fire Department will once again be holding CPR classes. For more information or to sign up, contact Jodie at the Hugo City Hall at 651-762-6309. streamlining our operations into a single, cen- In The WO&S trall -located, efficient facility." Public Works News Don't Place Snow On Public Roadways With winter quickly approaching,the City of Hugo would like to remind everyone that it is against the law to deposit 40%. Winter Parking snow, in any fashion, on or Ordinance next to a public highway E��� ���� Please remember to fol- or street. Minnesota State ''° low the Hugo winter 'Alf Statute 160.27 parking ordinance. From prohibits plowing, shovel- November 1 through ing,blowing or otherwise March 31, no parking placing snow onto any is allowed on any street public road right-of-way, in the Ci between the and doing so is punish- ` City Public Works Facility Grand Opening able as a misdemeanor. hours 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Outside of those dates, Hugo residents had the opportunity to tour Snow which is moved to the same restrictions the new Public Works facility and Rice Lake the public right-of-way apply if there is a snow Centre meeting room at the Grand Opening can create hazardous accumulation of 2 inchessituations, including slip- ` held August 4, 2005. We have had a very or more. positive response from the community,"notes pery areas, frozen ruts Public Works Director Chris Petree, "and it and ridges,bumps, sight has already proven to be a good investment by obstructions and drainage Snow:See Page 6 ' 1 1 Downtown:From Page 1 Redevelopment Financing discuss and begin to finalize the new guide- There are a number of costs involved with lines for the downtown area. Carolyn Krall, the implementation of any downtown rede- 2006 a planning and urban design consultant from velopment. These costs include property Landform,prepared and presented the final acquisition, relocation, demolition and pos- Calendars draft at the meeting. sible environmental issues. To address these Available costs, the City will consider utilizing tools Redevelopment Details such as tax increment financing (TIF). Mayor Miron notes, The City Council is currently The Rice Creek Watershed The design guidelines presented reflect the looking at the possible use of TIF financing District has 2006 Calendars community vision for a pedestrian-friendly in this area,but the decision to use that tool downtown with unique mixtures of housing, will evolve as part of a public process." A available featuring great retail, office space and public amenities, such significant part of the public input process will nature shots taken within as a new city park along Egg Lake. Mayor include discussions centered on the mechan- Miron adds, "Hugo also has a strong French ics of this tool and how it may be used for the the Rice Creek Watershed heritage and it is the interest of many residents benefit of property owners. The City website District. The photos dis- and City officials to see some French archi- currently includes an introductory question played in the calendar were tectural elements incorporated in the design of and answer page describing TIF, and the future downtown buildings." implementation of the entire downtown rede- taken by the photo contest velopment plan, in greater detail. winners. Come pick up your'� Specific development objectives include the following: complimentary calendar at the RCWD office(located in character •preserve and celebrate Hugo's small town Milking HiStOrV g the"Village of Blaine"at 35W • maintain a pedestrian-friendly downtown News From The Historical Commission and Lexington Avenue). �. expand civic spaces and uses around City Historical Commission Chairperson Pam Hall Videen offers the following highlights of the • add new retail establishments which comple- Commission's current projects: ment existing businesses and support down- town neighborhoods •Vi Maslowski is working on contacting the • encourage unique small businesses to locate company that recently took aerial photos of downtown the farms in Hugo in order to get copies for • provide life cycle housing to encourage the City's collection. senior living in downtown Hugo . Kitty Cheesebrow has volunteered to be the • provide recreational use for diverse age chairperson for next year. groups • improve downtown access and circulation • The Commission's contribution to the with improvements to Highway 61 and Centennial project will be a booklet on the downtown intersections (145th, 147th and history of Hugo. CSAH 8) • Work is underway to hire an intern for next • increase exposure to Egg Lake while summer to help with oral histories. improving water quality and preserving wildlife habitat The Hugo Historical Commission continues • build upon historic assets with complemen- to welcome residents'photos, documents, tary design and materials journals, and any key historical dates or infor- mation they may have regarding Hugo's his- The Historical While these objectives are already in place, tory. For more information about the Hugo Commission meets Mayor Miron notes, "The City encourages Historical Commission, or if you would like regularly on the third ' community members to continue to give their to help by volunteering, donating your histori- suggestions and opinions on the design guide- cal items, or providing an oral history, contact Tuesday of the month lines by attending upcoming meetings and City Administrator Mike Ericson at 651-762- at 1:00 P.M. writing or calling City Hall." 6312 or Pam Videen at 651-762-5608. J._.... _ _ .a_.._,.. .. Centennial include food booths from area restaurants, a teen dance and a 5K run. An ice cream social Commission U date is planned for August 13, 2006 with buggy Hb &AWOp rides and period costumes. Residents will toualso have an opportunity to see displays from %1E S 0,T A In May 2005, the Hugo City Council the Hugo Historical Commission. As these EST. 1906 authorized the formation of a Centennial dates approach, members of the community Commission to oversee and direct the plan- should expect to see reminders of the upcom- ning and implementation of all activities ing celebration throughout the City. "We'll be pertaining to the celebration of Hugo's asking all of the different civic organizations Centennial. Since then, Commission mem- to put our Centennial logo on all of their fly- bers have been named, sub-committees have ers, and to keep it at the forefront of activities been formed and several meetings have taken that they plan," says Volpe. Banners are also place. "We have a really diverse group," says expected to be going up around Hugo. Volpe Commission Chair Tina Volpe. She adds, comments, "People will know when they drive "Everyone on this Commission just loves through the City that we're celebrating our Hugo." 100th birthday." Centennial activities are planned to begin The Commission will continue to meet regu- Saturday,August 12, 2006 with the"Taste larly on the second Monday of each month. of Hugo" an event that is expected to Snow:From Pago 4 Keep Recycling And Buying problems. Property owners are responsible Recycled Products It Makes A Ton for informing any person who performs snow Of Difference removal on their premises of this law. It is Thanks to your materials would be also important to remember that both the efforts, Hugo resi- back in the trash. It property owner and the person who moved the dents recycled over is up to each of us to snow onto the roadway may be liable should 500 tons of paper, continue the progress an accident occur as a result of improper snow glass, cans, and plas- we've made in recy- placement. If you have questions about snow tic bottles last year. cling by participating removal or would like a copy of the City's Recycling not only in our local recycling Snow and Ice Control Policy, call the Public For more informa- saves natural resourc- programs and buying Works Department at 651-762-6300 or check es and energy but recycled products. the City's website at wwwci.hugo.mn.us. tion on recycled also reduces the need products or to for new landfills and EDA VACANCY Hugo Community businesses to Hugo. download a other waste disposal Development Director facilities. But plac- Bryan Bear. Any Those interested in comprehensive Due to the resig- p ing materials out for nation of Theresa person interested in fulfilling the remain- recycled content pick-up is only one Charpentier,there becoming a mem- ing two years of step of the recycling is a vacancy on the ber of the EDA will Charpentier's term products guide, go be responsible for can obtain an applica- y process. Another Hugo Economic to the Recycling important step is to Development economic develop- tion form on the City buy products made Authority(EDA). ment issues in the website. Applications Association of City, concentrating in are due December from recycled materi- "Theresa was a very Minnesota's web valuable member three areas: keep- 2, 2005;Hugo City als. of the EDA and we ing businesses in the Council members will site at www.recy- community, helping then schedule candi- Without these mar- are sad that she ' cleminnesota.org/ can't serve any existing businesses date interviews. kets for our recycla- that want to expand Rec cledProducts. longer," comments y tiles,collection would and attracting new htm. cease and these i New Nome Starts Grow At Record Levels Update On Residential Developments i b Residential construction in the City continues to grow at record levels. Hugo Community Development Director Bryan Bear states, `By the end of this year,the City will have issued permits for construction of nearly 800 new housing units." He adds, "This compares to 200 0000 permits issued last year and for each of the past five years." This increase is partly due to the expiration of the City's housing moratorium in 2003. For two and one-half years new residen- tial construction was not allowed in Hugo. "After the moratorium expired there was pent-up demand for residential development," says Bear. He continues, "We're expecting 2006 to be almost as strongor stronger than this year. There is no indication that it's going to slow down g Y g g next year." Following is a list of some of the many current residential developments in the City: Development Location Number of Lots Fable 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 IW iamond Point East Goodview Avenue N. and 125 single-family homes Multi family homes in the Victor 145th Street N. Gardens Development Generation Acres Oneka Lake Blvd. (1/2 mile 41 multi-family townhomes east of TH 61) Victor Gardens 4th County Road 8 and 92 mutli-family homes Everton Avenue N. Victor Gardens East Val Jean Blvd. (east of 36 single-family homes Home in the Fable Hills Cossette Lane) Development City Adopts Multi-family Design Guidelines Recent residential community. "There Development Director guidelines for future issue. Hugo residents construction in Hugo has been some com- Bryan Bear. multi-family residen- who were unable to has included not only ment from the pub- tial developments in attend the meeting,but single-family homes, lic that we could Members of the Hugo the City. Hugo resi- still want to provide but multi-family and potentially be doing City Council and the dents, along with local input to the guidelines, townhouse projects as a better job with the Planning Commission and national home are encouraged to Con- well. Along with the architectural design have also voiced a builders,were invited tact City Hall. Bear construction of these and site planning need for guidance and to attend an open expects the guidelines multi-unit develop- associated with the as a result,these two house on November to be ready for adop- ments have come developments,"says groups held a joint 16, 2005 to provide tion by the Council in comments from the Hugo Community session to develop input regarding this January 2006. BULK RATE Hugo City Hall• 14669 Fitzgerald Ave.N.•Hugo,MN 55038 POSTAGE PAID HUGO, MN 55038 PERMIT NO. 21 OCCUPANT Visit our website: www.ci.hugo.mn.us City Directory City Staff Service City Administrator Mike Ericson 651-762-6312 Directory Community Dev.Dir. Bryan Bear 651-762-6320 Public Works Director Chris Petree 651-762-6316 Building Official John Benson 651-762-6313 Building Inspector Gary Schwartz 651-762-6317 GeneralCity Hall Buildin g Insector Chuck Preisler 651-762-6300 I I Sr.Engineering Tech. Scott Anderson 651-762-6326 to • City Clerk Mary Ann Creager 651-762-6311 Monday—Friday except holidays Community Dev.Asst. Michele Lindau 651-762-6315 651-762-6300 Bldg.Dept.Receptionist Eileen Ottney 651-762-6310 i Billing Clerk Jodie Guareschi 651-762-6309 Finance Director Ron Otkin 651-762-6314 MY H811 FAX Number • Fire Chief Jim Compton 651-429-6366 651-426-2859 City Council Washington , Mayor Fran Miron 651-429-5961 Sheriffs Department t�• Ward 1 Becky Petryk 651-426-4722 (Police non-emergency) Ward • - ,- Ward 2 Frank Puleo 651-653-9369 651-439-9381 Ward 3 Chuck Haas 651-439-4475 Council-at-Large Mike Granger 651-426-8171 Fire Hall Monthly Meeting Schedule (Non-emergency)- • , •• City Council 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. FirePolice Emergencv Parks Commission 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. • 11 Historical Commission 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. EDA Commission 3rd Monday at 8:30 a.m.