Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 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 Smart Salting Tips ...........................2 Oneka Lake Park Reconstruction ....3 Be A Battery Hero ...........................4 Stick It to the Sharps ......................4 Construction Updates .....................5 All About E-Bikes ............................6 Burger Night with Deputies ............6 Updates from the Fire Chief ..........7 HFD Training Prop Arrives ...............7 North Environmental Center ..........8 Letter from the Mayor The City of Hugo has seen a lot of growth in recent years. The population has tripled since I moved here in 1999, and the look and feel the community has changed quite a bit as development has reached new areas of the City. Even with all of this growth, the City Council has made a priority of maintaining high development standards and ensuring that growth is managed responsibly. Throughout all of the planning efforts of the past few decades, public input has played a crucial role, because the long-term future of the community should be influenced by the community members themselves. I’d like to take this opportunity to share how the City is planning for the next phase of growth, and give Hugo residents an idea of how they can be involved in shaping the community’s future. Looking at a map of Hugo, the developed area of the City is particularly concentrated on its western side, close to the transportation infrastructure of Highway 61, County Road 8, and Interstate 35E which is just outside of our border. The developing area of the City has been moving further north from County Road 8, and there has been significant development interest in properties along 165th Street in recent years. Part of what makes Hugo an attractive area to live are the number of wetlands that provide wild- life habitat very close to the view from people’s homes. However, this means that there is less buildable land overall for developers to construct homes on. The properties along 165th Street have a lot of natural con- straints such as wetlands, floodplain, and high ground water that makes developing property more difficult. In addition, 165th Street is currently a gravel road and will need to be improved when development comes to the area. The best design for the road upgrade is going to depend on what is actually able to develop along the road, and nearby development that will depend on it for east-west connections. There are a lot of questions the City needs to answer to ensure that future develop- ment in this area is in the community’s best interest. (continued on page 4) “Hugo residents have numerous opportunities to engage with the City’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan” 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 2025 2 A WORD FROM PUBLIC WORKS STREET SWEEPING begins around September 22nd (weather dependent) HYDRANT FLUSHING starting around September 16th (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. Keeping these things in mind makes getting through a Minnesota winter a bit easier! 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 FIRST 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. SNOW REMOVAL With winter knocking on our doors, now is a good time to talk about some of the issues 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 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 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. 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 replaced with a stan- dard 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 happens, the damage is not repaired by the City. SOD DAMAGE Snowplow damage to sod 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 sod 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. New Playground Design Anticipated opening late September 3 Oneka Lake Park Reconstruction Oneka Lake Park is under construction. A public meeting was held on April 16 where new playground equipment was selected by the neighborhood. The new playground will include a large structure for 2-5 year olds in addition to a traditional post and deck structure for 5-12 year olds. A variety of swings, independent play features, and a cozy dome are also included in the design. The neighborhood selected a light blue, turquoise, and yellow color scheme for the equipment. The playground will also feature pour- in-place solid surfacing in lieu of wood fiber safety surfacing. Other improvements in the park include painting the picnic shelter, asphalt trail replacement, and landscaping. Construction will be completed this fall. PARKS &RECREATION Former Playground Removed August 2025 The City is currently engaged in an Alterna- tive Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) study of the 165th Street area to determine the best way to plan for its future. Since the study encompasses a fairly large area and develop- ment may be impactful, public engagement is a critical tool for understanding community needs. An open house was held on August 14th of this year, but there will be further opportunities to provide input in the coming months. If you live, work, or have some interest in the area, and would like to speak with staff about the study in gen- eral or about your property in particular, please contact Community Development Director Rachel Juba (651-762-6304). The work the City is doing now related to 165th Street will be very useful in the next few years, when work begins on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. The way that Hugo will look and feel over the next several decades is guided by the Com- prehensive Plan, which is a long-range docu- ment that describes the location, timing, and intensity of different types of development. Items that are guided by the Comprehen- sive Plan include future land uses (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.), development densities, future roads, parks, trails, and util- ities. Since the Comprehensive Plan is such an important tool for guiding the future of the City, the primary source for informing its direction will be members of the communi- ty. There will be a number of opportunities to provide input as the 2050 Comprehensive Plan is being put together, and I invite all res- idents of Hugo to engage with the process in some way, whether it be attending an open house, having meetings with staff, or explor- ing the current 2040 Comprehensive Plan to get an idea of what will be discussed in the coming years. The City Council and I, along with City Staff, are happy to help residents get involved in the process. I am looking forward to hearing feedback from the com- munity that will be essential to our continued growth and progress. Tom Weidt, Mayor CONSTRUCTION UPDATECONSTRUCTION UPDATE 4 Letter from the Mayor (continued from page 1) CONSTRUCTION UPDATECONSTRUCTION UPDATE The Shores of Oneka Lake The Shores of Oneka Lake neighborhood has been growing since construction began in early 2023, and is currently in its fifth and final phase with 52 single-family lots. Following this phase of construction, the 219 homes originally planned will have been constructed. Additionally, the trail along the western shore of Oneka Lake has been constructed and provides the public with views of Hugo’s largest lake that haven’t been accessible until now. This trail is planned to eventually connect to the city’s Bernin Park property to the south. 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. The City received a propos- al to construct five 12-unit apartment buildings in 2024, 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. Construction on these apartments be- gan in the spring of 2025, and they are expected to open in 2026. Arbor West Apartments The Arbor West apartments is an 89-unit apartment project being constructed on Rosemary Way, adjacent to Festival Foods and the Victor Marketplace shopping center. The project received site plan approval in 2022, and was platted in 2025 as the fifth addition of Frenchman Place. The project also includes a new 2-acre City park east of the building. Construction in the early summer of 2025, and the building is expected to open in 2026. Watercrest of Hugo The City Council approved the 1st and 2nd additions for the devel- opment known as Watercrest of Hugo in 2024. The development created 59 single-family lots on property located south of the Birch Tree Ponds and east of the Adelaide Landing developments. The first phase with 30 lots has nearly finished construction, while the second phase with 29 lots has begun construction recently. Zoning Code Review The Community Development Department is currently in the process of studying the zoning code with the goal of modernizing it and better aligning with contemporary development trends. The study is being led by the city’s consultants at Landform Professional Services, and includes an evaluation of all zoning districts, the uses allowed in each district, and geographic considerations. The study will include public engagement opportunities in late 2025 and early 2026.. Questions? Please contact Rachel Juba, Community Development Director 651-762-6304 5 and Forget Itand Forget It Bring all of your bags of papers with confidential and personal information to be shredded. We are offering a FREE paper shredding event in the City Hall parking lot. Residents only. Thursday, October 2, 2025 • 12:00 - 2:00 pm UPDATESHERIFF’S OFFICE 6 As the popularity of e-bicycles has exploded, so have calls to the Sheriff’s Office about them, ranging from nuisance issues such as teens riding them in parks to serious incidents involving accidents and injuries. Early fall still provides plenty of time for riding – maybe even to school – so it’s helpful to know some basics about e-bike capabilities, statistics, and safety issues. Depending on their class, e-bikes can reach speeds of 28mph and are legal on sidewalks, trails, streets, and private property, with permission. They are not permitted in public parks. Safety rules require e-bike riders under 18 to wear a helmet. E-bikes cannot have passengers and must use a headlight and rear reflec- tor if riding at night. (See attached chart.) These speedy riders can take pedestrians as well as drivers by surprise, often resulting in complaints and near misses, all the way to full-on crashes. On a national level, e-bike accidents surged from around 3,500 in 2017 to 34,200 in 2023, according to the latest numbers from Consumer Shield. Roughly 38% of e-bike crashes nationally involve motor vehicles. Most e-bike accidents are single-vehicle accidents where the rider loses control and hits a stationary object, like a parked car, or runs off the road. Many riders take time to adjust to e-bikes, and they risk crashing while they learn how to use them. Motor vehicle drivers, on the other hand, often don’t hear these quiet bikes, or they misjudge their speed or distance. Inattention and distracted driving are also a common cause of crashes with e-bikes. With e-bike ridership still growing, it’s important to be aware of the laws and local ordinances that apply wherever you ride. Always use caution, follow traffic rules, and wear the proper safety gear. Let’s all do our part to ride responsibly and safely—so everyone can make the most of these final weeks of good weather before winter rolls in. Vehicle Tampering Warm summer nights have brought a rash of tampering and thefts from motor vehicles, ranging from stolen sunglasses and backpacks to more serious items like wallets and keys. Sometimes thieves will use a garage door remote to enter a garage or unlocked home. So it’s im- perative to know how keep your car safe, regardless of the season. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but they’re important to repeat because too often people think crime won’t happen to them. • NEVER leave keys anywhere in your vehicle. • ALWAYS lock your car! • Close all windows so thieves can’t reach inside to unlock the vehicle. • Make sure the glove box and trunk are locked. • If you can’t park in a secure garage at night, park in a well-lit area. • Take all valuables like identification, wallets, purses, cash, phones, back- packs and bags with you; if that’s not possible, put them in a locked trunk before you get to your location. • Install an anti-theft system so that if a thief breaks a window to get in your car, a loud alarm could scare them off. ALL ABOUTE-BIKES Burger Night with WCSO Deputies Come meet your deputies at Hugo American Legion on Monday, Oct. 27. Sponsored by Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network, this fun-filled event will include burgers and chips for $7. Proceeds will help support military families. Stop by to show your support! Cash or checks only. 5383 140th St. N • 5 pm - 8 pm Most importantly, if you see someone breaking into your car, don’t confront them. Call 911! UPDATES FROM FIRE CHIEF Jim Compton Jr. jrcompton@ci.hugo.mn.us HUGO FIRE DEPARTMENTANNUAL OPEN HOUSE You are invited to the Fire Department Open House on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 11:00 am to 3:00pm at the Hugo Fire Station. The Kids Fun Run will take place at noon, and costumes are encouraged! Smoke/CO Detectors 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 will need to be replaced. You may want to consider hardwired ten-year life smoke/CO detectors that you don’t have to change batteries. Open Burning The Hugo Fire Department asks that residents use caution while having recreational fires and to 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. Charge into Safety Did you know that Lithium-ion batteries supply power to many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, toys, skateboards and even cars? If not used correctly, or if damaged, these batteries can catch on fire or explode. Come learn more about batteries and other fire safety tips at this year’s Hugo Fire Department’s Open House! Training Prop HFD has a new training prop to practice firefighting skills in-house. The Taylor’d Series 12 prop was paid for with chartable gambling funds donated from the Hugo and Bayport American Legions and with funds donated from the Hugo Firefighters Relief Association. 7 HFD teaching fire prevention at Primrose School. Engineer Esch and Chief Engineer Kaspszak showing kids how to use a fire hose at Fridays with Firefighters. HFD fighting a semi-truck fire at a commercial business. HFD working with new Taylor’d Series 12 Training Prop. FALL2025 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 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. Twin Cities, MN 12/24 Drop It Off at an Environmental Center HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | ELECTRONICS RECYCLABLES | FOOD SCRAPS Scan for more information WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter 651-275-7475 Locations and Hours Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Stay in the KNOW. Subcribe today! Sign up to recieve email updates on environmental service and events by visting WashCoRecycles.com/Subscribe. Or stay updated by following us on Facebook! North Environmental Center South Environmental Center Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday 4039 Cottage Grove Dr. Woodbury, MN 55129 651-275-7475 651-275-7475 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. Forest Lake, MN 55025 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed on all county-observed holidays. Open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. To find drop-off procedures and more, visit WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter. 12/24 Drop It Off at an Environmental Center HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | ELECTRONICS RECYCLABLES | FOOD SCRAPS Scan for more information WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter 651-275-7475 Locations and Hours Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Stay in the KNOW. Subcribe today! Sign up to recieve email updates on environmental service and events by visting WashCoRecycles.com/Subscribe. Or stay updated by following us on Facebook! North Environmental Center South Environmental Center Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday 4039 Cottage Grove Dr. Woodbury, MN 55129 651-275-7475 651-275-7475 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. Forest Lake, MN 55025 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed on all county-observed holidays. Open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. To find drop-off procedures and more, visit WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter. 12/24 Drop It Off at an Environmental Center HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | ELECTRONICS RECYCLABLES | FOOD SCRAPS Scan for more information WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter 651-275-7475 Locations and Hours Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Stay in the KNOW. Subcribe today! Sign up to recieve email updates on environmental service and events by visting WashCoRecycles.com/Subscribe. Or stay updated by following us on Facebook! North Environmental Center South Environmental Center Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday 4039 Cottage Grove Dr. Woodbury, MN 55129 651-275-7475 651-275-7475 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. Forest Lake, MN 55025 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed on all county-observed holidays. Open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. To find drop-off procedures and more, visit WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter. 12/24 Drop It Off at an Environmental Center HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | ELECTRONICS RECYCLABLES | FOOD SCRAPS Scan for more information WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter 651-275-7475 Locations and Hours Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Stay in the KNOW. Subcribe today! Sign up to recieve email updates on environmental service and events by visting WashCoRecycles.com/Subscribe. Or stay updated by following us on Facebook! North Environmental Center South Environmental Center Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday 4039 Cottage Grove Dr. Woodbury, MN 55129 651-275-7475 651-275-7475 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. Forest Lake, MN 55025 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed on all county-observed holidays. Open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. To find drop-off procedures and more, visit WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter. 8 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. | Forest Lake, MN Visit the Free Product Room, drop off hazardous materials, electronics, recyclables, and more! North Environmental Center NOW OPEN Visit WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter or call 651-275-7475 learn more.