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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.03.17 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, March 17, 2025 7:00 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance COUNCIL PRESENT: Krull, Miron (via Zoom), Petryk, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Attorney Dave Snyder, City Engineer Mark Erichson, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approve Minutes for the March 3, 2025, City Council Meeting Strub made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on March 3, 2025, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made Motion, Krull seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network Annual Report – Chair Chuck Haas Prior to this meeting, the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network held a 15th-anniversary celebration in the Oneka Room, where there were several display tables. Hugo YRN Chair Chuck Haas presented Burger Night Sponsor Certificates of Appreciation to those present, including the Hugo Fire Department, Centerville Lions, St. John’s Men’s Club, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Bald Eagle Sportsman Association, Xcel Energy, and Blaze Credit Union. Also receiving certificates but not present were Acres for Life, Mueller Memorials, and Honor Fitness. A plaque was awarded to the Burger Night Sponsor of the Year, Oneka Ridge Golf Course. Chuck thanked the Council and staff for their support. Mayor Weidt commented on Hugo being known all over the world due to the fantastic job of the Hugo YRN. He thanked the volunteers and sponsors and congratulated them on 15 years of service. Weidt called for a short recess. Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 2 of 8 Washington County Assessors Update - Appraisers Dan Squyres and Tyson Terry Washington County Residential Property Appraiser Tyson Terry provided the Council with an update on the County and Hugo property assessments in preparation for the Local Board of Appeals and Adjustments meeting on April 3, 2025. He discussed the assessment year timeline, the color coding of tax statements, and the quintile review mandated by Minnesota law for assessing properties. There will be about 1,500 property reviews to complete this year. He said the goal of an assessor is to equalize values and ensure they are fair and reasonable. He noted that April 3 is the time for Hugo property owners to appeal their proposed taxable value for 2026. There were 220 “arm’s length” residential sales in 2024. Tyson explained these were sales that took place in a competitive and open market, helping to determine the sales ratio and adjust values accordingly. The historical average sales price had increased to $405,100 from $300,311 over the past five years. While the volume of residential sales has declined, the average sales price has remained stable. Tyson reported that, according to the Minnesota Realtors Association, the median sales price of a single-family home in Hugo was $493,145, which was close to the Washington County average and about $75,000 higher than in the Twin Cities. The number of days on the market dropped significantly when interest rates were low last year. Hugo properties were on the market for an average of 30 days. Over the past five years, the price paid for homes had on average not been below 100% of the asking price. Lender-mediated sales have declined across the county. A large portion of recent sales in Hugo consisted of newly constructed homes. There were 170 new construction starts in Hugo in the past year, which was more than most cities except Cottage Grove and Woodbury. Countywide, there were 1,122 new construction starts, with Hugo accounting for 14% of them. Commercial sales had declined over the past two years. He provided information on median home values, stating that they increased by 5% from last year and are now equal to the 2023 value of $408,700. Tyson reviewed the historical class adjustments, pointing out that the residential class adjustment decreased by 4% last year and increased by 3.4% this year. He said he believed the County had a solid grasp on values and that the market is stable. He concluded his report by comparing closed sales data from the past three years, which showed that the Twin Cities average declined by 31.8%, while Hugo saw a decrease of 19.1%. This indicated that Hugo did not experience as significant a decline as other cities. Over the past year, Hugo saw a 21.5% increase in closed sales, indicating that people were moving to the city. Hugo Fire Department Annual Report – Fire Chief Jim Compton, Jr. Fire Chief Jim Compton presented the Hugo Fire Department 2024 Annual Report. He began by providing a breakdown of the 27 total staff positions, stating that there was a vacant lieutenant position. The department responded to 411 calls in 2024, with 23 of them being mutual aid calls. There were 56 alarm calls, which was a reduction compared to 2023, and he attributed it to the reclassification of gas leaks and carbon monoxide issues. There were 125 fire and service calls last year that resulted in $85.6 million in fire losses. Eleven of those calls were for structure fires in Hugo. This was the fifth year assisting M Health Fairview with major medical calls and lift assists, and the department responded to 178 medical Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 3 of 8 calls in 2024. There were also 29 motor vehicle accidents. Compton noted that trends showed an 8% increase in call volume, which was standard for the industry, and he predicted call volume would continue to rise with the City's ongoing growth. He talked about their new Urban Logiq software from the State Fire Marshal that tracks calls and will help the department focus its efforts and provide better public education. Data showed that December had the highest number of calls, while June had the least. Additionally, 57% of calls occurred between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with Wednesdays and Fridays being the busiest days of the week. In 2024, the department spent 3,360 hours in training. Most of the department has completed active shooter training, and there was one house burn on the north end of Bald Eagle Lake. Operational improvements in 2024 included the first full year with a full-time fire chief, three firefighters completing probation, and three new probationary firefighters being hired. The department also purchased a new grass truck and upgraded some battery-powered tools and scene lighting. Compton shared information on leadership development, community involvement, and the $14,187 received in donations during 2024. He provided updates on the AED initiative and discussed improvements to the Insurance Services Offices (ISO) rating, which could lower property owners’ insurance costs. Other improvements included a kitchen and office remodel, allowing daytime responders to perform their remote work from the station. Goals for 2025 included creating a truck committee, working with the City’s Building Department on the future of the fire marshal position, discussing staffing models, and hiring more paid-on-call firefighters. There was a question about whether the department had responded to any electric vehicle fires. Compton responded that they had responded to lithium-ion battery fires but not specifically to electric vehicles. He added that they hope to track this data with the new records management system. Weidt said he was impressed by the AED program and shared past experiences that had given him a great appreciation for them. M Health Fairview Annual Report – District Chief Kevin Kane District Chief Kevin Kane presented the M Health Fairview Annual Report. He reviewed data from the past five years for the overall Northern Region, which showed that in 2024, they had 4,782 requests. In 2024, there were 341 instances where mutual aid was given to cities outside the region, and they requested mutual aid 176 times. He provided a breakdown of the acuity of calls as they came into the center. The average emergent response time was 7:48, and the combined time was 8:40 on average in the region. In Hugo, there were 963 emergency calls, with 37 of them requiring mutual aid into Hugo. The emergent response time in Hugo was 7:15, and the combined response time was 7:40. He provided a breakdown on call type saying the highest percentage of calls were categorized as "sick person," meaning the exact nature of the emergency was unknown when the call came in. Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 4 of 8 He showed the heat map, which helps determine where to position ambulances. He noted that the fire station location works very well. Kevin explained that M Health has been providing service to Hugo since June 2020 and has participated in extensive community outreach. They attend Fridays with Firefighters, Good Neighbor Days, and Night to Unite, as well as providing assistance with live burns, medical direction, education, and training, all free of charge. These programs also allowed firefighters from other cities to attend. He echoed Fire Chief Compton’s comments on the AEDs, saying it has been a testament to their training and teamwork, resulting in positive outcomes. Mayor Weidt commented that it has been a great partnership, and it was good to have a team that works together for the benefit of the community. Presentation and Approval of Donation to Hugo Fire Department from Hugo Firefighter Relief Association – President Chief Dave Jensen Over the past several years, the Hugo Firefighters Relief Association has held various events to raise funds to purchase equipment for the Hugo Fire Department. Most recently, they hosted an annual golf fundraiser that has helped raise over $28,000. The Relief Association wished to donate $40,000 to the Fire Department to contribute to the fund for purchasing a training prop. All donations to the Fire Department required Council approval. Hugo Firefighters Relief Association President Dave Jensen presented a check in the amount of $40,000 to the City, stating that this was the largest donation the Relief Association had made in a long time. Petryk made a motion, and Strub seconded, to approve the donation from the Relief Association in the amount of $40,000 for the purchase of the training prop. All ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Consent Agenda Weidt made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda. 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Special Event Permit for Hero Gravel Classic Bike Ride on August 23, 2025 3. Approve Hugo Fire Department Purchase of a Taylor’d Series 12 Training Prop 4. Approve Purchase of 2025 Ferris Zero Turn Mower for the Public Works Department 5. Identify and Approve Expired Fire Department Gear as Surplus Equipment Eligible for Donation 6. Approve Resolution Approving Encroachment Agreement for 16168 Empress Ave North 7. Approve Resolution and Cooperative Construction Agreement for the MNDOT, Washington County, and City of Hugo 8. Approve Cooperative Agreement Between the City of Hugo and Washington County for Construction Cost of TH61 Through the Local Partnership Program All Ayes. Motion carried. Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 5 of 8 Approve Claims Roster Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Special Event Permit for Hero Gravel Classic Bike Ride on August Fred Stori from the Chilkoot Velo Cycling Club of Stillwater had applied for a Special Event Permit for the Hero Gravel Classic Bicycle Ride to be held on August 23, 2025. The event would be a 50-mile bicycle ride on gravel and paved roads beginning and ending at the Bavarian Hunter Gasthaus Restaurant in Stillwater. A Special Event Permit approved by Council was necessary because there may be up to 300 people participating. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Special Event Permit for the Hero Gravel Classic Bicycle Race on August 23, 2025, subject to the conditions in the staff memo. Approve Hugo Fire Department Purchase of a Taylor’d Series 12 Training Prop The Hugo Fire Department requested to purchase a Taylor’d Series 12 Training Prop for in- houses and on-site training. This Prop was not included in the Fire Department budget. The Department had contacted several charitable gambling associations for donations, and the Relief Association had donated $40,000 towards the purchase. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the purchase of the Taylor’d Series12 Training Prop from Taylor’d Systems LLC in the amount of $61,800 using funds from the City of Hugo Fire Department Donations Account. Approve Purchase of 2025 Ferris Zero Turn Mower for the Public Works Department The Hugo Public Works Department requested to purchase a mower for maintenance of the City’s expanding parks and public facilities. The purchase of a Ferris zero turn mower with an EZ dump hopper had been discussed with the Finance Department and funds were available in the 2025 CIP Budget. This mower would be purchased through the MnDOT Cooperative Purchasing Venture. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the purchase of a Ferris ISX330 60” zero turn mower with an EZ dump hopper from L.T.G. Power Equipment for $22,857. Identify and Approve Expired Fire Department Gear as Surplus Equipment Eligible for Donation The Hugo Fire Department had 16 structure fire jackets, 21 structure fire pants, 29 sets of wildland gear (coat and pant), 15 helmets and 19 pairs of structure fire boots that no longer met industry standards for fire departments in the United States and thus had no resale value. The National Fire Protection Agency standards required the above-mentioned gear to be retired and neither the Hugo Fire Department, nor any other City Department had any use for the expired gear. The Fire Department requested to donate their expired gear to a nonprofit that would be able to send the turnout gear, helmets and boots to impoverished countries around the world where it would be used by firefighters who could not afford turnout gear and in countries that do not have NFPA standards. In order for the Hugo Fire Department to put their expired gear out for donation, City Council needed to declare the gear surplus. Adoption of the Consent Agenda identified and approved 16 expired structure fire jackets, 21 expired structure fire pants, 29 sets of expired wildland gear (coat and pant), 15 expired helmets and 19 pairs of expired structure fire boots as surplus equipment eligible for donation. Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 6 of 8 Approve Resolution Approving Encroachment Agreement for 16168 Empress Ave North Kelly and Abraao Franco had requested an encroachment agreement to allow construction of a fence within a drainage and utility easement on property located at 16168 Empress Avenue North. The Senior Engineering Technician had reviewed the location of the fence and was comfortable with the request. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved RESOLUTION 2025- 7 APPROVING AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A FENCE WITHIN A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 16168 EMPRESS AVENUE NORTH. Approve Resolution and Cooperative Construction Agreement for the MNDOT, Washington County, and City of Hugo Washington County applied for Local Partnership Program funds from MNDOT for improvements to Trunk Highway 61 from 140th Street N (County State Aid Highway 8) to Frenchman Road (County State Aid Highway 8). The County coordinated this application with the City of Hugo and was successful in receiving funds. The project included grading, bituminous mill and surfacing, drainage improvements, ADA improvements and signal revisions. The project included minor widening and improvements to the signal and turn lane operations. The City costs were related to signal modifications on the local legs of the intersection, minor adjustments to watermain gate valve boxes, and repainting the signal systems which had been the responsibility of the City of Hugo. The total project cost was estimated to be $1,404,541.91, with the City of Hugo being responsible for $47,588.95. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the MNDOT agreement that outlined the City, County, and State responsibilities and approved RESOLUTION 2025-8 APPROVING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND WASHINGTON COUNTY AND CITY OF HUGO COOPERATIVE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT. Approve Cooperative Agreement Between the City of Hugo and Washington County for Construction Cost of TH61 Through the Local Partnership Program Washington County applied for Local Partnership Program funds from MNDOT for improvements to Trunk Highway 61 from 140th Street N (County State Aid Highway 8) to Frenchman Road (County State Aid Highway 8). The County coordinated this application with the City of Hugo and was successful in receiving funds. The project included grading, bituminous mill and surfacing, drainage improvements, ADA improvements and signal revisions. The project included minor widening and improvements to the turn lane operations. The City costs were related to signal modifications on the local legs of the intersection, minor adjustments to watermain gate valve boxes, and repainting the signal systems which was the responsibility of the City of Hugo. The total project cost was estimated to be $1,404,541.91 with the City share being $47,588.95. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Cooperative Agreement Between the City of Hugo and Washington County for Construction Cost of Trunk Highway 61 through the Local Partnership Program. Sketch Plan for 5311 165th Street North Capstone Homes had submitted a sketch plan to develop parcels of land totaling 38 acres, with approximately eight acres of wetland, on property located directly north of The Meadows development and south of 165th Street. The proposal included 90 single-family, slab-on-grade, Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 7 of 8 two-story homes on 50-foot-wide lots. Community Development Director Rachel Juba presented the plan, which showed the location of the lots, ponding areas, and road connections. Streets were shown to connect to the south, and two streets would connect north to 165th Street. There were two approximately one-acre intersecting properties on 165th Street that were under separate ownership. There was no homeowner’s association proposed as part of this development. Juba explained that the parcels were designated as Medium Density (MD) Residential in the 2040 Land Use Plan. The developer proposed a net density of three units per acre, which met the MD requirement. The current zoning on the properties was Future Urban Service, and it would need to be rezoned to Planned Unit Development because the applicant was requesting flexibility on lot widths, lot sizes, and setbacks. The proposal included 50-foot lots where 80 feet was required, 6,500-square-foot lot sizes where 10,400 square feet was required, and reduced setbacks, including a 7.5-foot side yard setback where ten feet was required. Juba stated it was likely they would need flexibility on the impervious surface requirements. The development was expected to have higher standards in exchange for this flexibility. The developer intended to provide scenic views by preserving natural features as much as possible, providing high-quality architectural homes, and creating outlots to reduce impacts on natural resources. Juba discussed the proposed streets in the development and the improvements needed for 165th Street. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan identified 165th Street as an urban-section minor collector road with a future trail connecting to Hardwood Creek. As a collector street, six lots shown on the plan had driveways on 165th Street that would need to be eliminated. Additionally, a long, straight road running north and south would need to be analyzed to determine what traffic- calming measures were needed. Juba reviewed several options for improvements on 165th Street, saying there would be a study beginning this spring to help determine how to move forward. Staff recommendations included submitting a phasing plan, reconfiguring the long north/south road, removing or relocating the six lots with access to 165th Street, reconsidering lots in the Met Council interceptor, incorporating an off-road trail system, enhancing the landscape plan, and evaluating stormwater reuse. Juba reviewed comments made by the Planning Commission at their meeting on February 27, 2025, and the Parks Commission at their meeting on February 19, 2025. In addition to staff’s recommendations, comments were made that the development would be served by other parks, so there would be no required land dedication, but a park dedication fee would be required. There was also a desire to see staggered building setbacks, a one-story product, and more creativity in the layout. Petryk asked about the ownership of the outlot since there would be no HOA. Juba replied that the City would typically take over ownership, but it had not yet been discussed. Land Project Manager Tom Bakritges, representing Capstone Homes, introduced himself and property owner Mary Munger. He said he had been working on this project since last August, and his aim was to balance affordability with environmental stewardship. He reiterated much of what Juba presented and was agreeable to the suggestions made. He discussed projects he had completed in other cities and said the key to this project was that there would be no HOA. He explained that the high water table would not allow for basements and that he did not believe a water reuse project would work on this site. He said water reuse and 165th Street were two of the remaining issues. Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025 Page 8 of 8 The Council had questions about the one-level product, price range, the two existing lots within the proposed development, and whether the lot widths between homes would allow for emergency access. Bakritges replied that he could include some one-level homes. The prices would range from $390,000 to $430,000. He said the numbers would not work if the two existing lots were incorporated. The homes would be located 15 feet apart, which would allow for emergency access. He said none of the homes would back up to each other, and he offered to give the Council a tour of the developments he had completed in other communities. He stated his goal was to have the lots ready by fall. Weidt said the direction from staff and the commissions was good and told the developer to continue working with staff. The Council generally agreed with the comments from the Planning Commission and the Parks Commission and had nothing more to add. Reminder – Local Board of Appeals and Equalization on Thursday, April 3, 2025 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council the Local Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting was scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Oneka Room. Schedule Kidz ‘n Biz on Saturday, April 12, 2025 City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council the City will hold the Annual Kidz ‘n Biz on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 9 a.m. – noon at the Oneka elementary school. Strub made motion, Krull seconded, to schedule a meeting to attend the Kidz ‘n Biz event on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Adjournment Krull made motion, Strub seconded, to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk