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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Fall NewsletterTUNE INTO Government Channel 16 for community updates and to watch City meetings 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 Non-emergency: 651-439-9381 In this issue... A Word From Public Works ..........2 Diamond Point Park Upgrades ......3 Glacial Hills Trail Update ...............3 Northern Yard Waste .....................4 Washington Cty. Recycling ...........4 Construction Updates ...................5 FREE Paper Shredding Day ...........5 911 Response Center....................6 Updates from Fire Chief ................7 General Election Information .......8 Butterfly on Purple Cone Flower Letter from the Mayor As the summer winds down and cooler weather is around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge an important piece of the City that touches every corner: our streets. Hugo residents are fortunate to have a reliable network of roads that serve as conduits for daily activities, getting people to work, school, and everything in between. City streets can often seem like part of the backdrop, a permanent fixture in everyday life that you don’t tend to think about, except for the occasional construction project occurring on your daily route. Providing a street network that is contiguous, safe, and reliable involved a lot of behind the scenes collabora- tion with multiple agencies, all of whom are dedicated to providing a high-quality public service. The City Council is committed to keeping Hugo moving forward, literally and figuratively, by investing time and energy into the street network. The majority of the roads in Hugo are city streets, mean- ing that the City owns and the Public Works Depart- ment maintains them. These streets can be surfaced with asphalt and gravel in rural areas, or built into full urban streets with curb, gutter, and paint striping. As the City’s road network grows, so does the cost of maintaining and repairing them. New streets are typically constructed by private developers with their residential, commercial, or industrial projects, but must be designed to City specifications. This makes it so that when the City takes ownership of the street, the Public Works Department will be able to use the same equipment and procedures to maintain every street. Additionally, it ensures that all city streets are constructed to a high standard of quality and will be able to handle the esti- mated traffic volumes. Each city street is individually surveyed and rated every summer, giving the Pub- lic Works and Engineering staff valuable data to de- termine which streets will have upcoming needs for reconstruction or replacement. As helpful as the data can be, mother nature can always throw a wrench in the works. During a particularly bad winter, some streets will experience extreme damage from fluctuating temperatures, moving them up higher on the list in priority for repair. Due to these factors, the City Council has the difficult task of budgeting for costly repairs -- prioritizing the streets that need it most, but ensuring that the entire network is functioning smoothly. In any case, the City Council works as a team with the engineering and public works staff to ensure that city streets are plowed, clean, and ready to meet the needs of a growing community. The spirit of teamwork reaches over into the City’s partnerships with the county and state to serve Hugo residents on a larger scale. Washington County and MnDOT have their own network of roads to collect and transport traffic at higher density than neighborhood city streets. Washington County operates three high- ways within the City of Hugo. County Road 8 is the major east-west thoroughfare operating (continued on back page) “all city streets are constructed to a high standard of quality and will be able to handle the estimated traffic volumes.” If you have a question you would like to ask the Mayor, send it to info@ci.hugo.mn.us Your question could be featured in the next newsletter! FALL 2024 2 A WORD FROM PUBLIC WORKS STREET SWEEPING begins around September 30th (weather dependent) HYDRANT FLUSHING starting around September 23rd (weather dependent) SMART SALTING Salt helps melt ice on roads and sidewalks and protects drivers and pedestrians, but when the snow melts, de-icing salt, which contains chloride, runs into nearby bodies of water. Chloride accumulates in the water over time, and there’s no feasible way to treat or remove it. Residents and business owners can do their part to reduce chloride levels in local water bodies by using a few simple tips: Shovel: Manually remove as much snow and ice as possible. Apply Less: A coffee mug of salt will cover about 10 sidewalk squares or a 20-foot driveway. Sweep Up Extra: If you see salt on a dry surface, it is no longer working. Sweep up and reuse excess salt. 15 Degrees (F): Most salts stop working at this temperature or colder. Use sand for traction. PREVENT STORMWATER POLLUTION REPORT ILLICIT DISCHARGES An illicit discharge is an unlawful act of disposing, dumping, spilling, emitting or other discharge of any substance other than stormwater into the streets, gutters, ditches, and ponds that make up our stormwater drainage system, or directly into streams or lakes themselves. As a community member, you play a large part in identifying and reducing illicit discharges in our community. What can you do about illicit discharges? If you see anyone discharging any material other than rainwater in roadside ditches or storm drains, please report it to Public Works at 651-762-6301. For potentially hazardous materials and petroleum spills, call 9-1-1 when there is an immediate threat to life or property. WINTER PARKING ORDINANCE Between 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 in one snow event 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. Please be aware that violations of parking restrictions set forth in § 90-253 shall constitute a petty misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50.00 plus court fees. SNOW REMOVAL With winter knocking on our doors, now is a good time to talk about some of the is- sues that we all face regarding snow removal on local roads and sidewalks. The City of Hugo maintains more than 96 miles of local roads. It takes crews about 8 hours to cover all routes in the city during an average snow event. Starting times vary depending on storm size, expected amounts, time of day and when the storm is expected to pass. The City of Hugo would like to remind every- one 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 that 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. Keeping these things in mind makes getting through a Minnesota winter a bit easier! MAILBOX DAMAGE Occasionally, a mailbox is actually struck by a plow. In those cases, city crews will repair or replace the mailbox. The City ordinance states that damaged mailboxes will be re- placed with a standard mailbox mounted on a 4” by 4” treated post. More commonly, mailbox damage occurs from the force of the snow moving off the end of the plow, or from shifting snowbanks. When this hap- pens, the damage is not repaired by the City. LAWN DAMAGE Snowplow damage to lawns occasionally happens during a snow event. Any damage that occurs from City plow equipment will be repaired by Public Works in the spring. If you notice any lawn damage throughout the winter, please call Public Works at 651-762- 6301, so we can add you to the list. Repairs will start once the frost is gone and yards have dried sufficiently. Keeping these things in mind makes getting through a Minnesota winter a bit easier! Photo by Paul Dols 3 Diamond Point Park Upgrades The Parks Commission has authorized improvements to Diamond Point Park (6355 145th St N) in 2024. Residents were invited to a neighborhood meeting and participated in the selection of a new playground design. Four playground designers presented, and the selected playground was designed by St. Croix Recreation. The design of the playground can be seen in the attached rendering, but the colors chosen have a river/forest color scheme with blues, greens, and earth tones. Construction of the new playground should be completed mid-September. Residents also voted to replace the sand volleyball court with a pick- leball court, adding a 5th pickleball court to the Hugo parks sys- tem. Planned improvements also include trail repairs, landscaping improvements, and basketball court improvements. Stay tuned to the City Website for updates on Diamond Point Park construction. Glacial Hills Regional Trail Washington County is leading a process to plan the Glacial Hills Regional Trail. The long-range plan will provide the vision and guide future development of an east-west multi-use trail through northern Washington County. The future trail will con- nect key destinations, including: Downtown Hugo, Hardwood Creek Regional Trail, Big Marine Park Reserve, Downtown Marine on St Croix, and William O’Brien State Park. Informed by stakeholder input and analysis of the corridor, the county has drafted a recommended alignment. The long range plan will also include guidance on way- finding, trail amenities, and overall manage- ment. Once approved, this will set the stage for future project steps (i.e. preliminary design, funding and acquisition, final design) necessary for implementation of a trail. More information can be found on the county’s website at: washingtoncountymn.gov/GlacialHills DRAFT: 07/23/24 Glacial Hills Regional Trail - Route Recommendation Long Term Alignment Alternate Alignment HUGO Big Marine Park ReserveHighway 61Highway 61County Road 4/170th St County Road 4/ Ostrum Trl County Road 15/Manning AveCounty Road 15/Manning AveHighway 95/St. Croix TrlHighway 95/St. Croix TrlWilliam O’BrienState Park MARINEON ST.CROIX County Ro a d 8 / Frenchma n R d Long Term Alignment Alternate Alignment Parkland Water Feature Wetland Ecologically Significant Area DRAFT: 07/23/24 Glacial Hills Regional Trail - Route Recommendation Long Term Alignment Alternate Alignment HUGO Big Marine Park ReserveHighway 61Highway 61County Road 4/170th St County Road 4/ Ostrum Trl County Road 15/Manning AveCounty Road 15/Manning AveHighway 95/St. Croix TrlHighway 95/St. Croix TrlWilliam O’BrienState Park MARINEON ST.CROIX County Ro a d 8 / Frenchma n R d Long Term Alignment Alternate Alignment Parkland Water Feature Wetland Ecologically Significant Area New Playground Design Anticipated opening mid-September. Colors shown do not reflect the playground colors. Former Playground Removed August 2024 PARKS &RECREATION CONSTRUCTION UPDATECONSTRUCTION UPDATE 4 CONSTRUCTION UPDATECONSTRUCTION UPDATE The Shores of Oneka Lake The Shores of Oneka Lake neighborhood has been growing since construction began in early 2023. 64 lots created with the first and second additions are nearing completion, while the 3rd addition and its 77 lots are under construction. The preliminary plat had included the 4th addition as 24 twin home lots, but these were changed to 25 lots with a more narrow, detached product with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment in 2024. Oneka Fields Apartments The Shores of Oneka Lake general plan had included an area with apartments on a parcel at the entrance to the development, coming in from the roundabout on 159th Street. In the summer of 2024, the City received a proposal to construct five 12-unit apartment buildings on this parcel, to be known as “Oneka Fields.” Each building is two stories high, and each unit will have its own driveway and entrance. The form of these apartment buildings will be similar to the Jack Pine Place apartments west of Lions Volunteer Park. The proposal was ap- proved by the City Council on August 5, 2024, and construction is anticipated to begin before the end of this year. Watercrest of Hugo The City Council approved the 1st and 2nd additions for a develop- ment known as Watercrest of Hugo on February 5, 2024. The devel- opment would create 59 single-family lots on property located south of the Birch Tree Ponds and east of the Adelaide Landing develop- ments. Grading and utility work is underway, with home construction anticipated to begin in late 2024. Oneka Prairie A final plat was approved in June 2023 for the construction of 59 single-family lots to be known as Oneka Prairie. The development is located north of the Oneka Place neighborhood and includes a new park, an extension of Oneka Parkway, and a new lift station that will expand development opportunities to surrounding parcels. Nearly half of the homes within the development have been completed as of August 2024. Premier Banks Relocation In September 2022, the City Council approved a site plan to construct a new 4,500 square foot commercial building at the northwest corner of Highway 61 and 147th Street. The building will be the new home of the Hugo branch of Premier Banks, which is currently located ad- jacent to Speedway gas station. Construction on the new building began in the summer of 2023, and the new bank building opened to the public in the spring of 2024. The Meadows at Hugo 2nd Addition The Meadows at Hugo development, located north of 159th Street, was approved with a PUD in 2021, with flexibility allowing for lots that are smaller and narrower than what is typically seen within the city. The first addition with 47 lots was approved in 2021 and has nearly completed construction. The second addition, with an addi- tional 39 lots, was approved in August of 2022, and construction on homes has begun this year. Residential Zoning Code Review The Community Development Department is currently in the process of studying the zoning code as it relates to residential zoning districts. The study is being led by the City’s consultants at Landform Professional Services, and includes an evaluation of single-family, multi-family, and mixed-use zoning language and geographic considerations. The study will include public engagement opportunities in late 2024 and early 2025. Questions? Please contact Rachel Juba, Community Development Director 651-762-6304 5 and Forget Itand Forget It Residents Only: Bring up to 5 bags of papers with confidential and personal information to be shredded. We are offering FREE paper shredding events in the City Hall parking lot. Friday, October 4, 2024 8:00 am – 10:00 am UPDATESHERIFF’S OFFICE 6 In 2023, the ECRC answered an impressive 192,000 calls. Out of these, over 86,000 were 911 calls, highlighting the crucial role the center plays in responding to urgent situations. Understanding your 911 Emergency Communications Response Center The Washington County Sheriff’s 911 Emergency Communications Response Center (ECRC) is a vital lifeline for the Hugo community, ensuring prompt response from law enforcement, the fire department, and medical services. Staffing and Operations The ECRC is staffed by 27 Public Safety Tele- communicators (PST) and 6 supervisors. These dedicated professionals are trained to handle a wide range of emergencies, providing critical assistance and coordination to ensure help arrives quickly. It takes over one year of training for most Public Safety Telecommunicators to become proficient in handling police, fire and EMS calls, as each require unique respons es. Recent Remodel and Advanced Technology To enhance its efficiency, the ECRC employs advanced technologies like mass notification systems and location mapping. The CodeRed system is used for mass notifications, ensuring that the community is promptly informed of emergencies and critical situations. Additionally, advanced location mapping technology helps pinpoint the exact location of emergencies, allowing for faster and more accurate responses. When to Call 911 Call anytime you need a response from police, fire, or emergency medical services. When in doubt, call 911---we are there for you. Your call may be assessed and prioritized based on urgency, also known as triaging. The 911 system is designed for emergencies where immediate assistance is needed. This includes situations involving crimes in progress, fires, medical emergencies, or any scenario where lives or property are at risk. When you call 911, be prepared to provide essential information such as the nature of the emergency, your location, and any other pertinent details. Your local 911 Emergency Communications Response Center is always ready to assist in times of need. By understanding how it oper- ates and when to use it, you can help ensure that resources are available for those who need them most. Stay safe and don’t hesitate to call 911 in an emergency or when you need public assistance. HFD Brush Truck at 2024 Good Neighbor Days Hugo Fire has a new brush fire truck serving the community. This brand new F-350 is equipped with a K3 Ultra- High-Pressure (UHP) foam system and a water tank that holds 200 gallons. The truck can serve in fighting several types of fires, including brush fires, wildland fires, hay bale fires, and other smaller fires. The truck can also aid in fighting larger fires. In the past, it has been a challenge to get all of the hot spots on a structural fire, but the UHP system will help reduce flare-ups and manpower needed for those fires. This new brush truck is expected to serve the community for 20 years. UPDATES FROM FIRE CHIEF Chief Jim Compton Jr. jrcompton@ci.hugo.mn.us ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE You are invited to the Fire Department Open House on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11:00 am to 3:00pm at the Hugo Fire Station. Please be mindful to change your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries every 6 months. A good way to remember this is to check your detector every time you change your clocks for daylight savings. Please remember that detectors have a service life of eight to ten years and do need to be replaced. You may want to consider hardwired ten-year life smoke/CO detectors that you don’t have to change batteries. Hugo has seen an increase in cooking related fires. Here are some facts and prevention tips that can help keep you and your family safe! Did you know? • Last year in Minnesota, the leading cause of structure fires was cooking • Cooking fires caused nearly $6 million in damage last year in Minnesota Prevention Tips • Stay in the kitchen when cooking • Before leaving the kitchen, turn off the stove and re- move any pans from hot burners • Keep flammable materials – oven mitts, towels, wooden spoons, etc. – at least three feet away from the stove • Avoid loose-fitting clothing that can easily catch fire If you have a cooking fire • If a fire starts on a stovetop, slide a tight-fitting lid on the pan, turn off the heat, don’t open the lid, and call 911 • If you have a microwave or oven fire, leave the door closed, turn off the heat, and call 911 • Do not put water on a cooking fire • In any situation, evacuate your family from the home 7 SMOKE/CO DETECTORS PREVENTCOOKINGFIRES The Hugo Fire Department asks residents to use caution while having recreational fires and have a water source nearby. Burning permits are required for any fire over 3 feet by 3 feet and can be found at www.ci.hugo.mn.us/hfd. Reminder to Hugo residents that as the leaves begin to fall, open burning is not permitted within the City unless a permit was obtained. Open burning includes burning to dispose of vegetative matter. OPEN BURNINGREMINDER FALL2024 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 www.ci.hugo.mn.us 8 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. Twin Cities, MN Letter from the Mayor (continued) along Frenchman Road and 140th Street, among others. County Road 7 collects traffic along the southern edge of the city, primarily running along 122nd Street. County Road 57 runs along Jeffrey Avenue, directing north-south traffic through Eastern Hugo. County Road 4 runs along 170th Street and directs east-west traffic in Northern Hugo. Washington County has its own procedures for design and main- tenance of these highways, including planning for future improve- ments or access. MnDOT operates Highway 61, the primary trans- portation corridor in the city, where the majority of development had been historically directed. As the city has grown, Highway 61 has begun to experience higher traffic volumes than when the road was originally planned, causing several discussions about how the high- way should look in the future. The City of Hugo has been part of a Highway 61 Visioning Study for the past few years, which is being led by Washington County and also involves MnDOT. The goal of the study is to deter- mine a long-term vision for Highway 61, including how many lanes of traffic are constructed in certain sections of the city, how traffic will be controlled at certain intersections, and what kind of safety features for pedestrians and bicyclists will be constructed. Highway 61 historically served as a major north-south highway between St. Paul and Duluth, a task that has largely been taken over in the region by Interstate 35E. MnDOT has indicated that they plan to eventually turn control of Highway 61 to Washington County, and the future of transportation planning in Hugo will largely be guided by this visioning study. As the study nears conclusion, stay tuned for updates including the final design layout of the highway, showing how the highway may look several years into the future. I’d like to thank our partners at Washington County and MnDOT for collaborating with the Hugo City Council and City Staff on this project, as well as our Engineering and Public Works departments for their hard work keeping all of the city’s roads safe! Visit https://washingtoncountymn.gov/highway61 for more! Tom Weidt, Mayor IMPORTANT ELECTION INFORMATION FAQ WHEN? General Election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. WHERE DO I VOTE? Hugo has six polling locations depending on where you live. If you don’t know where to vote, contact City Hall or check the Secretary of State’s website at https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/. ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO VOTE? • Vote in person at the Washington County Service Center between the dates of Friday, September 20, 2024, and Monday, November 4, 2024. • Vote by mail by first completing the application requesting a ballot. It can be filled out electronically on the Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elec- tions-voting/ or contact Washington County or the Hugo City Clerk for a paper application. Once the application is received and the ballots are available, one will be sent to you for you to complete and send back. Ballots must be returned to the County by November 5 at 8 p.m. AM I REGISTERED? Pre-register to save time on Election Day. You can register online on the Secretary of State’s website or contact Washington County or City Hall for an application. The last day to pre-register for the General Election is October 15, 2024. Registration can also be done at the polls. WHAT’S ON THE LOCAL BALLOT? You will be voting for Mayor, Council Member-at- Large, and Council Member Ward 2 (if you live in Ward 2). Current terms expire on December 31, 2024. Council Member terms are four years, and the Mayoral term is two years.