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Home My WebLink About2002 December Newsletter December 2002 1 YOUR CITY HUGOREPORT+-r1 r...gy .�"• 33" .y"` ..;s3'.n "SS�'° - i HUGO CITY HALL, 14669 FITZGERALD AVENUE NORTH HUGO, MN 55038 (651) 762-6300 CITY BUDGET UPDATE HUGO PUBLIC WORKS DECREASED HOUSING ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF DEPARTMENT STATE AID VYILL EFFECT THE CITY BUDGET � GROWING For the second consecutive year,building permit revenues in the City of Hugo have been flat or declining. With the State of Minnesota facing a tremendous budget Rapid growth in the City of Hugo deficit, the City does not anticipate receiving any state aid next year. Low interest and a need to provide road mainte- rates will cut investment earnings in half. As a result, the City must rely heavily nance services formerly performed by on property taxes to balance the budget. Property taxes account for approximate- ly 82%of general fund revenues, up from 80%the previous year and 52%in 2001. '�, Washington County have resulted in the tremendous growth of the City's The total property tax levy proposed for 2003 is $2,406,690, which is $502,273 Public Works department over the higher than the previous year. Of this increase, $242,481 is needed to pay the past three years. "When I started principal and interest on bonds. The remaining $259,792 of the increase is need- with the City in 1999, we had one ed for general operating purposes, including the purchase of snow plowing equip- part-time employee besides myself," ment. Although the dollar amount of taxes has increased,the tax rate has increased explains Public Works Director Chris only 5%.This is the first time the City has increased the tax rate in the past seven Petree. "As far as equipment, we had years. one pick-up truck and a few hand tools. We didn't even have a push Total general fund expenditures are expected to increase 13.5%, with the largest mower." increases occurring in the public works and public safety departments. Hugo's Public Works department Washington County has been phasing out the road maintenance services it pro- I now has four full-time and two sea- vides to the City. Two additional staffing positions and major equipment pur- chases are necessary to maintain adequate levels of snow removal and street main- '� sonal summer employees and expects tenance services. The budget contains an appropriation of $100,000 to buy an to hire two more full-time employees additional snow plow truck for the 2003-2004 winter season. by the summer of 2003. Their list of equipment includes two large single- In the area of public safety, the fire department budget has increased 29% to pro- axle snow plowing trucks, a motor vide training and safety gear to the volunteers. The City is also taking an aggres- grader for maintaining the nearly 33 sive approach to replace antiquated trucks and equipment. Law enforcement miles of gravel roads in Hugo, five expenses will also increase as federal COPS grant funding expires. Another factor small trucks, a skid steer loader, a driving up the City's budget is a 30% increase in the outlay to retire the firefight- large air compressor, a large ers pension deficit resulting from a weak stock market. mower/snow blower, and a trailer mounted 150 Kw In looking forward, City officials anticipate a continued strong reliance on proper- GROWING ty taxes in 2004, unless future housing construction projects are developed. Continued on Page 2 GROWING be a cooperative process. determine exactly what the facility Continued from Page 1 needs to include. "We're going to What this has meant for Hugo is a look to see what we need to get start- generator. Purchases planned for fairly rapid and extensive transition ed, as well as what our Public Works 2003 include an additional plow process taking place over the past two building might need to be 15-20 years truck and a large tractor with a ditch years. "The biggest thing that resi- from now," Granger states. He hopes mower. Plans also call for a portable dents will notice is that the City to draw on the experience of the com- pothole patch unit (or "tar buggy"), a Public Works crews will be doing the mittee members to streamline the one-ton dump truck, and a tractor majority of the snow plowing begin- process and come up with a building back hoe to be purchased in the next ning this winter," states Petree, "and plan that allows for future growth. He few years. we expect to be capable of maintain- adds, "Our goal is for the Public ing and plowing all of our roads next Works department to occupy a new The list of City services and mainte- year." He adds, "We also expect to be facility in 2004." nance provided by the Hugo Public grading all the gravel roads ourselves Works department is a long one and beginning in the spring of 2003." "People tend to take public works ser- includes: well, water tower, and sani- vices for granted," states Granger, tary sewer system maintenance; park The Public Works department is cur- "but the fact is that there are numer- maintenance; snow plowing, grading rently operating in the former City ous labor- and equipment-intensive of gravel roads, and all other road Hall building; however, this facility is services that must be provided." maintenance such as patching pot- inadequate for the demands of the Petree adds, "We are taking on many holes, repairing culverts and pipes, growing department. "We have run functions over a fairly short period of installing street signs, street sweeping, out of garage space for our equip- time, but we have an experienced tree trimming, and ditch mowing. ment," explains Petree. "We also have staff, and we are committed to meet- anumber of pieces that won't physi- ing or exceeding the level of service � While Hugo has always performed its cally fit into our current building." that Hugo residents have come to own water, sewer, and park mainte- The two used plow trucks that were expect." nance, the City has contracted with purchased from Washington County Washington County to perform all are being stored at that County's facil- road maintenance services. That ity, and the motor grader is stored at arrangement began to change in 2000 the Hugo Fire Hall. In addition, the when Hugo's growth became too building is not handicapped accessi- RESIDENTS great for Washington County. "We ble, portions of the roof are failing, could see the growth taking place in and it lacks space for such basics as an SOUGHT FOR Hugo," states Greg Felt, Operations employee training room and locker PLANNING Manager for Washington County, room.It COMMISSION and we knew we weren't going to be able to grow our maintenance forces At its November 18, 2002 meeting Terms for two Planning to accommodate the future needs of the Hugo City Council formed a Commission members will Hugo." Felt also notes that the Public Works Building Committee. expire at the end of 2002. The County needed to focus its attention City Council Member Mike Granger, City of Hugo is looking for resi- on the County road system, for exam- a member of that committee along dents who might be interested in ple, freeing up County employees for with Council Member Frank Puleo, serving on the City's Planning a second shift of snow plowing work- City Administrator Mike Ericson and Commission. Please call City ers. He adds that the County has Petree, explains that the purpose of Hall at (651) 762-6300 for more agreed to assist Hugo throughout the this committee is to find a site for a information and an application. transition, noting that it continues to new Public Works facility and to 2 MANCE Huco FI WHArS HAPPENING ON DIRECTOR THE CSAH 8/14 IMPROVEMENT RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF PROSECT? ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN Washington County, Anoka County, the Cities of Hugo and FINANCIAL Lino Lakes, along with their consultant TKDA, are REPORTING A conducting a study of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 8/14 corridor between The Certificate of Achievement Interstate 35E (1-35E) and Trunk Highway for Excellence in Financial (TH) 61. Proposed improvements for this Reporting has been awarded to major east-west connection to I-35E include the City's Finance Director, V expanding to four lanes and adding turn lanes, Ronald J. Otkin, by the a center median, a pedestrian/bicycle path, Government Finance Officers and new drainage systems. Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the Washington County gave the Hugo City Council an update on the Environmental ninth consecutive year. Assessment (EA) and schedule for the proposed project at the November 4, 2002 City Council meeting. Sandy Cullen, Transportation Manager for Washington The Certificate of Achievement County, stated that an Environmental Assessment, which includes the 142nd is the highest form of recognition Street, 145th Street, and 147th Street alignments, has been completed. The EA is in the area of governmental an in-depth study of the pros and cons of potential social, environmental, and eco- accounting and financial report- nomic issues associated with each alignment. The analysis shows that all alignment ing, and its attainment represents alternatives have potential impacts including wetlands, floodplains, noise, cultural a significant accomplishment by resources, water quality, neighborhoods, current and future businesses, right of a government and its manage- way, and relocations. ment. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Residents and interested persons will be provided with several opportunities to (CAFR) has been judged by an obtain information and give comments during the EA process. In early 2003 the impartial panel to meet the high EA will be distributed and available for review at Hugo City Hall, Lino Lakes City standards of the program includ- Hall, Washington County and Anoka County government offices, and local ing demonstrating a constructive libraries. A minimum 30-day comment period will provide residents the opportu- "spirit of full disclosure" to clear- nity to submit written comments. A combination public information ly communicate its financial meeting/public hearing will be held in February or March to provide residents a story and motivate potential forum to make formal comments to be included in the public record. The City of users and user groups to read the Hugo will also be discussing their recommendation on the preferred alternative at CAFR. City Council meetings shortly after the comment period ends. The GFOA is a nonprofit profes- Watch for advertisements and legal notices in the White Bear Press and the Quad sional association serving Community Press, which will provide information on when the EA will be avail- approximately 14,000 govern- able for review and the Public Hearing date. Meeting notices will be sent directly ment finance professionals with to those property owners adjacent to the project. For more information, visit the offices in Chicago and Washington County web site at www.co.washington.mn.us/trnsphdv/projects.htm Washington, D.C. or contact Chris Manthey, Design Coordinator, at (651) 430-4316. 3 To the residents of Nu go: I'd like to begin by thanking all of you for the confidence you've shown in me and in the entire City Council and staff. I believe that our recent election, in which both the City Council members and I were not only re-elected but unopposed,demonstrated your confidence in our leadership and in the way we have handled the important issues fac- ing Hugo. The passing of the liquor license referendum also underscores the confidence that Hugo residents seem to have in the City Council. First, you took the time to read the information regarding the issuance of new liquor licenses and to understand the issue. And secondly, you showed that you trust the City Council in making good discretionary judg- ment in issuing those new licenses. Please be assured that we will use our best judgment when we issue the new liquor licenses. With respect to the 2003 City budget there are a few things I'd like to make note of. First, building permits in Hugo, and permits in general, are down, so we're not generating the level of revenue that we have been in the past. In addi- tion, we have some fairly significant budgetary demands in the areas of public works and public safety—specifically, replacement and purchase of equipment in both of those areas. This will have a significant impact on the budget,par- ticularly if the Council chooses to handle some of these equipment needs through our budget process rather than indebtedness. The Council is very concerned about incurring more indebtedness,and of course we don't want to jeop- ardize the AAA bond rating that we've enjoyed now for some time. We are also significantly affected by the fact that Hugo is not anticipating receiving any state aid this year, due to the state's budget situation. The Council, staff, and I have worked very hard on the 2003 budget. We've probably spent more time on this year's budget than we have on any budget in the past 12 years—scrutinizing and reviewing every item. We have been very conservative in our approach. Some departments,such as the Fire Department,have made some major cuts from what was initially requested. However, because we want to maintain the level of services that Hugo residents have been accustomed to with respect to public safety and service, most of you will experience a small increase in property taxes. A key factor in the budgetary needs with regard to public works has been the fact that Hugo has essentially had to build a Public Works Department from scratch. Washington County has been phasing out the road maintenance ser- vices it provides to the City. They have agreed to cooperate with us in the transition and to help us in an emergency situation, but as of next year, Hugo will be responsible for all of our own snow plowing, grading of gravel roads, road repair, and other road maintenance. I believe the transition has been progressing very well. First,we have had strong leadership on the part of Chris Petree, our Director of Public Works, who has an excellent understanding of how to run an effective public works depart- ment. In addition, because of budgetary constraints, the Council decided to purchase and refurbish used equip- ment from the county rather than buying new. This might mean replacing the equipment sooner, but offers us some significant initial cost savings. I'm sure many of you will notice our Hugo City logos on the snow plowing equipment this season. I think that as a community, we can take pride in the fact that we're now providing these services to our residents. With best wishes for a happy holiday season, Mayor Fran Miron 4 CITY HALL l GRAND OPENING IS A "SHINING EXAMPLE.. FOR HUGO w RESIDENTS 1 01 1 Hugo residents had the opportunity CITY PROSECT UPDATE to tour the newly completed City From City Engineer Dave Mitchell Hall and its innovative landscaping at Production M(plis a a Grand Opening Celebration held Well No.4 is nearly complete and should be operational before the end of the year. on Wednesday, October 23, 2002. In The building is in place and the contractor is working to install necessary control announcing the event, Mayor Fran equipment. This well is not critical for water service during the winter months, Miron commented, "We want the but will be an important part of the City's water system next summer and as new public to have an opportunity to see homes are built in the City. the completed building that's going �a to serve them for years to come." He Water Tower "Or lamp" The new water tower is in service and providing storage of water for the residents added, "It has set the tone for devel- of Hugo. Residents north of 142nd Street may have noticed a slight increase in opment and redevelopment within water pressure around the Thanksgiving holiday. Related to this, a pressure-reduc- the community." ing valve has been installed north of 142nd Street to regulate pressures north and south of this point. This also provides the automatic flow of water between the The new City Hall incorporates two towers. This is needed in the event of a high demand on the system such as a numerous storm water management fire. The respective contractors will return next spring to seed and restore areas practices, most notably the rain gar- around the water tower site and the pressure-reducing valve. dens,designed to keep virtually all the Trunk Utility Improvements water on site with very little runoff. The contractor installing trunk utilities to serve areas east of TH 61 and north of Rice Creek Watershed District 152nd Street, including the Peloquin Industrial Park, continues to encounter con- (RCWD) Administrator Steve Hobbs struction problems with getting utilities under TH 61. We hope to resolve these praised Hugo City officials for being issues in the very near future and restore the areas along TH 61 for the winter. open-minded and willing to work with RCWD on such an innovative This project will be bid again over the winter for construction next spring and early project and calls it a "shining exam- summer. The City encountered some difficulties in receiving final approval for the exam- ple" of how alternative storm water project from necessary agencies, which forced us to reject the bids received in management practices can comple- October. The approval is expected before the end of the year. The funding for the ment a site's landscaping plan. project continues to be available with funding being provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation,Washington County, and the City of Hugo. 5 CITY ELECTION RESULTS SANTA PICKS MAYOR, CI'T'Y COUNCIL MEMBERS UNOPPOSED; � UP A SLEIGH FULL OF TOYS LIQUOR LICENSE REFERENDUM PASSED FROM THE All three City officials running for re-election in the November 5, 2002 election HUGO FIRE were unopposed. Mayor Fran Miron was re-elected to a 2-year term, and Ward 1 Council Member Becky Petryk and Ward 3 Council Member Chuck Haas will DEPARTMENT serve 4-year terms. According to City Clerk Mary Ann Creager, this has never hap- pened before in Hugo and likely indicates that residents are satisfied with the City's leadership and the direction in which the City is going. As part of its annual "Toys for Tots" drive, the Hugo Fire Department and With regard to issuing new liquor licenses in Hugo, approximately 60 percent of its Auxiliary, the Hugo Fireflies, the voters answered"yes" to the City Question, "Shall the City Council be allowed arranged to have Santa ride through to issue six 'on sale' licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquor at retail in excess of the number now permitted by law?" Creager noted that this result demonstrates the neighborhoods in Hugo on a fire voter support for allowing new restaurant development in Hugo. truck collecting toys and cash dona- tions on Saturday, December 14. The voting results were: Pictures with Santa were also available Ward 1 Ward 2 Precinct 2 Ward 3 Total Precinct 1 on Sunday, December 15 at the Fire MaEWyor Hall, and all profits from those pic- 1,179 1,014 104 821 3,118 Fran Miron tures are donated to the Toys for Tots Council -Ward 1 Becky Petryk 1,134 1,134 drive. All toys and proceeds collected Council - Ward 3 are taken to the KARE 11 studios, Chuck Haas 770 where the U.S. Marines distribute City Question them to families in the Twin Cities Liquor Licenses area. •YES 900 747 59 630 2,336 • NO 620 501 53 397 1,571 BIG THANK YOU TO OUR N, ELECTION JUDGES On behalf of the Hugo City Council, City Clerk Mary Ann Creager would like to thank all those who served as election judges in both the primary and general elections this year. "The November 5 general election was a long and busy day because of the special supplemental ballots for the Senate race,"notes ��- Creager. "Our election judges put in extra hours and did an excellent job." 6 r E r Z. f� 4. f t t CITY OF HUGO LOOKING TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR PARKS AMERICAN LEGION GROUNDBREAKING The City of Hugo would like to acquire land for neighborhood parks, Hugo Mayor Fran Miron and City Council Members Mike Granger and Becky active recreational areas, and open Petryk join American Legion Commander john Thomas, 1st Vice Commander Phil spaces. "We are primarily interested Kamman, and General Contractor Jim Faulkner at the groundbreaking on in land located in the central portion November 10,2002 for the new 7,500 square foot American Legion building to be of the City," explains Community located next to the Hugo Fire Hall. Development Director John Rask, "but we wouldn't rule out any parcel of 20 to 100 acres suitable for active recreation purposes." REMEMBER TO RECYCLE! Funds for purchasing this land would Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for three hours. The come from the City's park dedication energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four fund, which is obtained from new hours. Every ton of recycled paper requires 7,000 fewer gallons of water to manu- development in the City. A $1,700 facture than virgin paper. fee is collected and deposited into this fund when new residential lots are In Hugo, items for recycling are collected curbside as part of your weekly trash col- created. Anyone who is interested in lection. A recycling container is available from vour garbage hauler or by calling selling land to the City of Hugo is City Hall at (651) 762-6300. Those items which can be recycled include newspa- I asked to contact City Administrator oers,aluminum beverage cans, tin cans,glass jars and bottles,corrugated cardboard, Mike Ericson at City Hall or Parks glossy magazines,junk mail, boxboard (such as cereal boxes),#1 and#2 plastic bot- Commission member Pete Pedersen at (651) 426-4126. tles, and car and tractor batteries. 7 t HUGOBULK RATE �. POSTAGE YOUR CITY REPORT PAID 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North HUGO, MN 5503 Hugo, MN 55038 PERMIT N0,21 OCCUPANT IN THIS ISSUE. . . • City Budget Update • Liquor License Vote Approved • American Legion Breaks Ground Visit our website! www.ci.hugo. mn. us City Staff Service City Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Ericson Directory CommunityDevelopment Director. John Rask Public Works Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Petree Building Official . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Benson City Hall General Information Building Inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gary Schwartz 8:00 a.m. to 430 p.m. City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Ann Creager Monday—Friday except holidays Community Development Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . .Michele Lindau 651-762-6300 Deputy Clerk/Receptionist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Renee Cunningham Billing Clerk/Receptionist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jodie Guareschi City Hall FAX Number Finance Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ron Otkin Fire Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Compton 651-426-2859 City Council Washington County Sheriffs Department Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fran Miron 651-429-5961 (Police non-emergency) Ward 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Becky Petryk 651-426-4722 651-439-9381 Ward 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Puleo 651-653-3736 Ward 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chuck Haas 651-439-4475 Fire Hall Council at Large . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Granger 651-426-8171 (Non-emergency) 651-429-6366 Monthly Meeting IN City Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Fire & Police Planning Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . .2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Emergency Parks Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm 911 Visit our website ! www. ci . hugo . mn . us ,