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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 Fall Newsletterr • CITY OF i Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North Hugo, MN 55038 651-762-6300 www.ci.hugo.mn.us Fire Department 651-762-6362 Washington County Sheriff's Office 911 Non -emergency: 651-439-9381 A Word from Public Works ....................... 2 Housing Update ....................................... 2 7th Annual Tour de Hugo ......................... 3 Economic Development Extra .................. Implementing Water Conservation.......... 4 4 Thank You Bob Rosenquist ......................4 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update & Community Workshops Summary........ 5 We Need Your Photos! ............................ 5 Making Hugo Seizure Smart .................... 6 Hopkins Schoolhouse Status ................. 6 Washington County Sheriff's Update ...... 6 Fire Dept. Open House/Fun Run .............. 7 Movie Night/Good Neighbor Award ........ 8 COMMUNITY NEWS, INFORMATION AND FVENTS -_�- Ask the Mayor As the City works to update the Comprehensive Plan, it becomes more clear what qualities make Hugo a unique and inviting place to live. Talking with the community through workshops and open houses has provided a great deal of insight as to what makes this City so special. The first strength, and what I love most about Hugo, is the diversity of lifestyle opportunities offered here. Hugo has welcomed urban development at a thoughtful and intentional pace while preserving its rural character. The balance of urban and rural life in Hugo allows the City to offer the best of both worlds to its residents and businesses. We have a close knit community, beautiful landscapes, and a good selec- tion of public amenities. As a result, Hugo residents have a strong sense of community and mutually benefit from everything the City has to offer. As we develop the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the City is working to preserve and highlight this strength. The second strength that has become evident through the Comprehensive Plan process is Hugo's population size. Some may see this as a weakness and others a strength, but in my opinion, the size of Hugo's population is perfect for where the City is today. Hugo is just big enough to allow for a healthy and exciting amount of development to occur over the next few decades and small enough to understand the What do you think are Hugo's greatest strengths?. needs and wants of the community. In fact, Hugo's relatively small population is one of its biggest strengths because it provides an opportunity for everyone's voice to be heard — something larger cities struggle with. Hugo has become a highly -regarded community throughout the state. This can be attributed to the residents that live here and the attitude that we take towards our future. The City Council will be approving the 2040 Comprehensive Plan to be reviewed by the Metropolitan Council in the beginning of 2018. There are a handful of meetings scheduled until then and I want to encourage residents to stay informed and provide feedback. The City has aready gained so much helpful input from our residents from the open houses and workshops held. We want to continue to hear the needs and wants from our community mebers and make sure the vision for the future of Hugo corresponds with resident desires. If you cannot attend any public meetings or workshops, please check out the City's website at www.ci.hugo.mn.us/2040CompPlan and sign up to receive e-mail updates as the process moves forward. 44. CIO If you have a question you would like to ask the Mayor, send it to info@ci.hugo.mn.us. Tom Weidt, Mayor Your question could be featured in the next newsletter! A Word From Public Works Winter Parking Ordinance Beginning November 1 and extending through March 31, parking is prohibited on all City streets from 2:00 am to 7:00 am. Also, if we receive two inches or more of snow any other time during the year, parking is prohibited at those times. This is to allow the Public Works Department to clear the snow from the roadways in a safe and efficient manner. Snow Removal The City of Hugo would like to remind everyone that it is against the law to deposit snow on or next to a public street. Minnesota State Statute 160.27 prohibits plowing, shoveling, blowing or otherwise placing snow onto any public road right-of-way, and doing so is punishable by a misdemeanor. Snow, which is moved to the public right-of-way, can create hazardous situations, including slippery areas, frozen ridges, bumps, sight obstructions and drainage problems. Property owners are liable should an accident occur as a result of improper snow placement. Also, residents should check their mailboxes to ensure they are sturdy and in good condition. Mailboxes that are damaged by snow, and not actual plow contact, will not be repaired by the City of Hugo. Housing Update Compost Site The compost site is located on the south side of 170th Street North approximately 1/2 mile west of Highway 61. The site is open for Hugo residents on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm (or dusk) and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is a deposit site for grass clippings, leaves, and soft organic matter only. No brush, twigs, branches or woody materials accepted. Stormwater The City maintains many stormwater ponds, control structures, ditches, and wetlands. We ask residents to help us keep these features in good condition with one simple lawn care tip: Don't blow grass clippings, leaves, brush, or any organic material into the roadways or stormwater ponds. These decompose and turn into nutrients which cause algae blooms in ponds. If you live on a stormwater feature and you notice a structure is plugged please call the City so maintenance crews can remove the obstruction. Fall Clean -Up Day Fall clean-up day will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Hugo Public Works. This event will only be for City of ` Hugo residents and a photo ID will be required to verify residency in Hugo. Hazardous materials and electronics will be accepted free -of -charge from households only (no businesses). This event offers a great opportunity to do a last minute clean-up - of your property before winter hits! Questions? Call Hugo City Hall at 651-762-6300. Clearwater Cove 4th Addition D.R. Horton received approval in June, 2017 to begin Clearwater Cove 4th Addition. This is the last phase of the development and will consist of 20 single family lots. Adelaide Landing The Excelsior Group, LLC. received approval of a Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a residential project consisting of 319 single family lots and 10 outlots on 216 acres of property. Site work for the first phase of development started in July, 2017 and will consist of approximately 80 lots. Lots Available Hugo remains a prime place to live in Minnesota. Our residential statistics reflect this. There are 121 single family lots and 124 multi -family lots available. For more information on these properties, check out the Planning/Community Development section of the City website. 0 Questions? Please contact City Planner Rachel Juba at 651-762-6304 Join us Saturday, September 23, 2017 for the 7th Annual T'Our de Hugo! _! This community bike ride is fun for all ages and biking abilities. The ride will start at Lions Park at 5524 Upper 146th Street North (across from City Hall). City Six 6 miles FREE! Join our elementary school Principals, Ms. Dahlem and Mr. Healy, on a fun bike ride. The majority of the route is on paved trails. There will be stops at Park Dental and Oneka Elementary with snacks and family - friendly activities. Following the ride, there is a Kids Parry. STARTS AT 8:30 am Town & Country 20 miles Tour the city and countryside of Hugo! STARTS AT 9:00 am Rolling Rambler 35 miles Registration is available at www.tourdehugo.com Travel the countryside of Hugo and beyond, over rolling hills, and cruise around beautiful Big Marine Lake. STARTS AT 8:45 am Big Beauty 50 miles Challenge yourself on some of the most beautiful terrain Hugo and Washington County has to offer. Cruise around beautiful Big Marine Lake, out to Marine on St. Croix, and on the Gateway State Trail before heading back to Hugo. STARTS AT 8:00 am Metric Century 62.2 miles Ride through Hugo and several other communities where the metro meets "up -north." Discover this beautiful mix of lakes, hills, climbs, and countryside. STARTS AT 7:00 am Volunteer staffed energy stops are featured along the routes. Stop for tasty refreshments and water to keep you energized! All routes are well marked with full support if an emergency or flat tire occurs. If you are riding any of 1istratior the extended mile rides, you will have the opportunity to stop and enjoy delicious cake with friendly volunteers at the infamous Cake Break at Withrow Elementary. We will ride rain or shine. Those registered by September 1 will receive a Tour de Hugo t -shirt and Registration is $40 until the first 200 riders will receive a bike bag full of sponsor goodies. Plus, all September 1, paid riders will receive a commemorative Tour de Hugo bandana to remember their after which it is $50. participation and will enjoy our "Fiesta at the Finish Line" from Fiesta Cancun. All Day -of -registration proceeds from the Tour de Hugo go to support the enhancement of Hugo Parks and Trails. will start at 6:30 am Call Shayla Denaway at 651-762-6342 for more information. 0 The Hugo City Council is proud of the economic development activity that has been occurring in the community. The City has been excited to witness the growth and expansion of existing businesses in Hugo and would like to showcase a few of these success stories: Sprouts Pediatric Dentistry Sprouts Pediatric Dentistry is currently located in the Victor Gardens North Village retail center. They received approval for a 4,520 square foot building to be construct- ed on the commercial lot west of Fairview Clinic, in Victor Gardens South Village. Meredith Kurysh, DDS is excited to continue to provide her patients with the high- est standard of dental care while creating a positive experience in a comfortable, pleasant, and fun environment. Red's Savoy Pizza Red's Savoy Pizza has added 2,701 square feet to their current location within the Victor Gardens North Village retail center. This addition has allowed the restaurant to offer more seating and serve alcoholic beverages to their adult guests. These changes will be utilized to continue to serve residents in Hugo and surrounding communities. Oneka Chiropractic Oneka Chiropractic has moved from TH 61 into a newly renovated space within the Victor Gardens North Village retail center. The 1,300 square foot location provides both doctor and patients with a better functioning clinic. Dr. Aaron Arvig is excited to continue to offer his patients quality care in this new setting. Western Spring Western Spring is currently located in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park and specializ- es in springs and wire forming. They received approval for a 35,000 square foot building to be constructed on a 4.71 acre vacant lot in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park in May, 2017. The new building will accommodate for the continued expansion of this family -run business. Xcel Energy Xcel Energy is currently located in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park. They recently have received approval for the addition of a gas training and emergency response site, as well as a future substation training building addition. Xcel brings in and trains approximately 50 people per week and believes this new addition will help enhance the quality of the training program they offer. Washington County Open to Business Program In July, 2017 the Community Development Agency Board (CDA) approved an 18 -month contract with Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) to begin operating the Open to Business Program in Washington County. Open to Business is a great resource for small and emerging businesses in Washington County that may need support with business feasibility, planning, financing, licensing, and regulatory issues. For more information on the program go to http://www.mccdmn.org/programs/open-to-business/ or contact Tyler Hilsabeck at thilsabeck@mccdmn.org Implementing Water Conservation Practices 00`6 Phase one of the Waters Edge project began in July, 2017 and is expected to be completed by early Fall. This project will allow a portion of the Waters Edge community to use stormwater runoff for irrigation of the development's open space. This portion of Waters Edge currently uses approximately 12 million gallons of potable water for irrigation each year. The City Council is excited to have had the opportunity to work with the Homeowners Association on this creative approach to conserve groundwater. A SINCERE c�JGcan)CYou .1 At its July 17, 2017 meeting, the City Council recognized Planning Commissioner, Bob Rosenquist, for his 21 years of volunteering and public service. Bob began his service in June of 1973, when the City was first incorporated. Meetings were held at the Hopkins Schoolhouse, which served as the town hall, and Bob recalls working on the first Comprehensive Plan for the City. Bob resigned for a period of time, but joined the Commission again in 2001. Bob is still currently serving on the Washington County Conservation Board. At the July 17 meeting, both the City Council and Planning Commission thanked Bob for his leadership and mentorship throughout the years. Bob spoke highly of the City and stated it was the people serving on the Council and various Commissions that make the City function so well. The City wishes Bob the best in his retirement; he will be greatly missed. ILI[ COMPREHENSIVE Summary of Community Workshops PLAN UPDATE April 19, 2017 Visioning At the open house, the City solicited comments from the public on what the strengths, weak- FAQs nesses, opportunities, threats, and visions were for Hugo. City staff were present at the open house to help the public understand what a Comprehensive Plan is, why citizen involvement is important, What is it? and to showcase maps and plans for the City. The staff were available to answer questions raised The Comprehensive Plan is a long range by the public regarding the Comprehensive Plan process and to discuss current and future plans for the City. The information collected gave the City a good idea about how to set goals, outlined planning document for the entire City that what community members envision for the future of Hugo, and provided the foundation for our guides location, timing, and intensity of Comprehensive Plan. types of development, such as residential, June 13, 2017 commercial, industrial, parks, and more. Eastern Hugo Who uses the At the workshop, the City solicited comments from the public on how best to plan for the rural Comprehensive Plan? portion of Hugo. From information received, eastern Hugo residents appreciate the diverse lifestyle opportunities the City offers and believed having these opportunities should be preserved as the Citizens, City officials, and the development City grows. Residents of eastern Hugo also desire mild infrastructure improvements in this portion of the City, such as improved internet services, paved roads, and an increase in trail and outdoor community when making decisions recreational connections. The final common interest surrounded the preservation of natural concerning purchasing property, deciding resources in the eastern Hugo area. where to live, and determining how develop- August 8, 2017 ment should be managed in the City. Parks Why is it important? At the open house, residents were asked questions such as what park amenities they preferred, what natural resources should take priority, and what they saw as the most urgent An effective Comprehensive Plan is created need for the parks, trails and open space system. An online survey gathered additional input from with community input and guides future residents. Altogether, the input received has shown that the community's priorities include an integrated growth. As such, it helps provide predictability parks and trails system, safe recreation for all users, all -access facilities, and natural resources. and fairness concerning land use decisions. The summaries of the open houses and workshops can be found on the City website at The plan is also important in providing for www.cLhugo.mn.us/2040compplan. proper interaction between development The City continues to solicit comments from the public. If you have any questions, comments, or within our City and the regional infrastructure would like to request a change to your property, please email us, call us, go on the City website, or of the Metropolitan area. stop by city Hall. We Need Your Photos! The City is seeking photos that have been taken in the City of Hugo. Photos can include landscapes, nature, people, places, events, or anything that captures the beauty of our City. By submitting a photo, you will have the chance to have your photo seen by the entire City via the City's website, in the City newsletter, and on oth- er informational and marketing materials. Please visit the City's website for more information on how to submit your photos! "Barred Owl" photo submitted by Jessica School is Back in Session! The old District No. 73 Hopkins Schoolhouse — located at 5970 170th Street North Are you interested in the future of the old school house? Over 50 years after Hopkins School held its last class and after more than a decade of vacancy, the City of Hugo and the Hugo Historical Commission is opening the schoolhouse doors for an evening of history and community engagement. Come learn the history of the schoolhouse, share stories with friends and neighbors, and discuss possibilities for the building's future on Monday, September 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Questions? Please contact History Intern Olivia Schiffman at 651-762-6318. Washington .-vCounty Sheriff Bill Hutton Retires Sheriff Bill Hutton announced his retirement after serving as the County's Sheriff for more than 10 years. He will take over as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association and continue to add to his 33 years of work in law enforce- ment. Along with his everyday work in public safety, Hutton has been involved in a number of community engagement programs, including the Youth Service Bureau, a youth crime diversionary program, which he has been involved with since 1979. The City of Hugo would like to thank Sheriff Hutton for his service and wish him the best in his retirement. Dan Starry Sworn in as Washington County Sheriff The County Board has appointed Chief Deputy Dan Starry to fill Hutton's term of office, which runs through January 7, 2019. Starry has worked in numerous capacities at the Washington County Sheriff's Office since 1993. Starry was appointed as Chief Deputy under Sheriff Hutton in October 2010. Starry's work has allowed him to develop experience in financial administration, program development, strategic planning, leadership, crisis management, staff training and management, and relationship building. The City of Hugo 4 would like to congratulate Sheriff Starry on the new position and is looking forward to working with him in continuing to offer excellent public safety to Hugo residents. Hugo ire Department Annual OHouse Saturday, October 7, 2017 •11:00 am to 3:00 pm Hugo Fire Hall 5323 140th Street North Come Celebrate Fire Prevention Week with the Hugo Fire Department Fun Run: Support the Hugo Fire Department and run along with real firefighters by participating in the Fearless Firefighter Fun Run on Saturday, October 7 2017. Rain or shine, come join the fun! Both the 5K and the Children's Trick -or -Treating Half -Mile Run begin and end at the Hugo Fire Hall. Candy stops will be along the children's route, so kids, wear your favorite costume! Proceeds support the Hugo Fire Department. The Hugo Fire Department Open House will follow after the children's Trick -or -Treating Half -Mile Run. Trick -or -treat Run Pre -register: $10 per person • Same Day Register: $15 per person Registration Starts: 11:00 am • Run Begins: 12:00 pm 5kRun/Walk Pre -register: $20 per person Same DayRegister: $25 per person Registration Starts: 9:00 am 5k Run Begins: 10:00 am All pre -registration can be done at Active.com. The pre -registration will be open until Wednesday, September 30, 2017. After September 30, you can register at the event. Join the Team! The Hugo Fire Department is now hiring part-time firefighters. Applications and additional information are available at Hugo City Hall and online at www.ci.hugo.mn.uslhfdapp. Please submit your application by mail to the Hugo Fire Hall. Smoke/CO Detectors Please be mindful to change your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. Check detector expiration dates every time you change your clocks. Please remember that detectors have a shelf life of eight to ten years and do need to be replaced. Fire Chief Kevin Colvard can be reached at: kcolvard@ci.hugo.mn.us COMMUNITY NEWS, INFORMATION AND EVENTS Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North Hugo, MN 55038 651-762-6300 or info@ci.hugo.mn.us Office Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday -Friday Closed weekends and holidays. Visit our website: www.ci.hugo.mn.us 91 It's Movie Night IN THE PARK! Join the Washington County Sheriff's Department and Hugo Fire Department for a movie in the park! On Friday, September 8, "Sing!" (PG) will be shown. Starting at 6:30 pm, you can stop by Hanifl Fields Athletic Park (7030 137th Street North). You can meet the Deputies and Firefighters and see their squad cars and fire trucks. The movie will be shown at 7:30 pm. There will be a bonfire and free snacks. Please bring blankets or chairs to sit on. This is a free event! A parent or guardian must be present. IT I PG *** NOW SHOWING!*** CURRENT RESIDENT Good Neighbor of the Year Barb Connolly was named this year's Good Neighbor and is the 23rd recipient of this respected title. Barb has lived in Hugo for more than 50 years and volunteers with a number of organizations including the Yellow Ribbon Network, St. Genevieve Church, and the Seniors Club. The individual who nominated Barb stated that, "Barb is a silent leader; well organized, efficient and extremely involved in commu functions. She is v deserving of they Good Neighbor recognition." The City of Hug would like to congratulate Ba and thank her fi her devotion to residents of Huc Photo Credit: The Citize