The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2010 Spring NewsletterHugo City Hall • 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North • Hugo, Minnesota 55038 b 30 )8 10172431297 1 25 30 3_ 2009: A Year In Review This past year, residents of Hugo saw advance- ments in transportation planning, witnessed parks and recreation projects continue, wel- comed new businesses and watched the City's overall development keep pace with the needs of its growing community. Economic challenges continued in 2009; how- ever, residents of Hugo saw some positive news from the City's mid -year budget review, which showed that for the seventh consecutive year the City's property tax rate would decline. Hugo also received a generous distribution from the State's Fiscal Disparities Program. Looking back, it was a year in which many of the City Focus Goals moved from the plan- ning and consideration phase to completion and implementation. "Every year staff and Council work together to provide a framework for the continued success of Hugo's growth and devel- opment," notes Hugo Mayor Fran Miron, "and in 2009 we saw tangible evidence of that team- work." The top developments in the City of Hugo dur- 2010: Focus Goals Set City Focus Goals for 2010 were adopted at the March 1, 2010 Hugo City Council meeting. The broad categories of goals are essentially the same from year to year, but details are adapted to meet the current growth and economic condi- tions of the City. The top goals for the City of Hugo in 2010 are: Goal #1: Transportation Planning The Highway 61 Corridor Plan has been a joint project with Washington County and the Min- nesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for several years. In 2009 the project moved one step closer to beginning work on needed improvements thanks to $1.4 million in funding secured from MnDOT. Planned work for 2010 will include traffic signals on TH 61 and turn lane improvements at the intersections of 130th and 147th Streets. Work on the CSAH 8 proj- ect, involving the reconstruction of Highway 8 east of TH 61, will also take place in 2010. Goal #2: Public Safety The City of Hugo continues to review public safety staffing needs in order to best serve its residents. Plans for 2010 include staffing re- views of the Hugo Fire Department and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Year In Review: Page 4 Focus Goals: Page 2 It's Time To Mix A Little Business With Pleasure. Kidz'N Biz Fest You won't want to miss it! Saturday, April 17 11 am to 2 pm Sixth Annual Kidz'N Biz Fest Is Coming! The Sixth Annual Hugo Kidz `n Biz Fest will be held Saturday, April 17 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Oneka Elementary School. This year's event is co-sponsored by the Hugo Business As- sociation and the City's Economic Development Authority and will once again be presented by The Citizen. The event will bring together busi- nesses and residents of Hugo for a few hours of games, entertainment e �`tijye" New and fun. ir The Fest will see a repeat performance of "Junior Idol" — a kids' karaoke contest. Karaoke tryouts will take place on Friday, April 9 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 11 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Sertino's Caf6, located at the entrance to Victor Gardens. Boys and girls age 16 and under are encouraged to attend tryouts — all who participate will get a free ice cream cone. "We were pleased with the success of Junior Idol at last year's Kidz `n Biz and are excited to include it as part of this year's event, too," notes Louis Melamed, publisher of The Citizen newspaper. Finalists who are chosen at this pre -Fest event will perform on stage at Oneka Elementary School during the April 17 Kidz `n Biz Fest. ger=nts• lividz'n' Biz Fest Focus Goals: From Page 1 Goal #3: Parks Projects The City's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission continues to actively seek rec- reational opportunities and programs that could benefit Hugo residents. One of 2010's primary and most visible proj- ects will be the construction of a year-round park shelter at the Hanifl Fields Athletic Park and Rice Lake Park. The Parks and Recreation Programming Sub -Committee will begin to gather input from citizens re- garding its future uses. More details regarding the shel- ter can be found in the article on page 3. Melamed, originator of the event, adds, "Kidz `n Biz has evolved over the years and the resi- dents of Hugo look forward to attending it every spring. The Citizen is so pleased to present this event to the community.,, Admission to the event is free, but those who attend are remind- ed that monetary or food donations can be made at the door to help XUA support the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf. ""• Goal #4: Economic Development The newly formed Busi- ness Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program will be a key component in Hugo's 2010 plans for economic de- velopment. Results of a 2009 BR&E survey, designed to determine if Hugo business owners are getting what they need to successfully run their businesses, will be presented in April. BR&E teams will also begin focusing on a city- wide marketing plan, making recommendations regarding local events and downtown improvements. More details on the BR&E Pro- gram are included in the article on page S. Goal #5: Comprehensive Plan Implementation The City's new 2030 Com- prehensive Plan has been of- ficially adopted, and the goal for 2010 is to begin its imple- mentation. The first step will be for the City's Ordinance Review Committee to look at relevant sections of the exist- ing City code and determine whether it is in agreement with the new Comprehensive Plan. Additional steps include researching and seeking Met- ropolitan Council grant op- portunities to help initiate land use studies in the eastern part of Hugo. More details on the history of the Plan can be found in a related ar- ticle on page 3. New Comprehensive Plan Adopted At its March 15, 2010 meeting, the Hugo City Council formally adopted its new 2030 Com- prehensive Plan. This adoption is the culmina- tion of a lengthy and detailed process that the Metropolitan Council requires of all cities in the seven -county metro area every 10 years. After two years of work — including input from hundreds of citizens who attended resident workshops — the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan was completed and approved by the Hugo City Council in 2008. After submitting it to the Metropolitan Council for review, the Plan was approved on December 9, 2009. The City then had nine months to formally adopt the Plan. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan includes up- dates on transportation, utilities, zoning and subdivision ordinances. Now that the Plan has been adopted, the first steps in implementing its details are already underway. The City's Ordi- nance Review Committee is looking at sections of existing City code to make certain that it is in agreement with the new 2030 Comprehen- sive Plan. For example, changing zoning dis- tricts may be necessary to coincide with future intended land use. The City will hold public hearings on these changes to obtain resident in- put. Dates of the hearings will be posted on the City's website and noted in The Citizen. Residents are encouraged to review a copy of the newly adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan at Hugo City Hall or on the City's website. New Shelter At Hanifl Fields Athletic Park Under the guidance of the City's Parks, Rec- reation and Open Space Commission, devel- opments at Rice Lake Park have been moving forward at a steady pace. Work began in 2008 with grading the site, installing irrigation and utilities, planting turf and creating a parking lot and access roads. The park has space for five adult soccer fields and several youth soccer fields. Thanks to a generous donation from the Han- ifl family, the second phase of the project will get underway this spring — years earlier than originally anticipated. Initial plans called for a park shelter that could have been used only during warmer months; because of this dona- tion, a more extensive, year-round facility can be built. Sharon Hanifl, a Hugo resident, approached the City regarding a potential donation to be used in conjunction with the development of Rice Lake Park. A gift of $500,000 from her fam- ily's Hanifl Foundation, based in Barrington, Il- linois, will be used to fund the construction of a "green" shelter at the park that will feature an open-air pavilion, gathering room, concession stand and restrooms. The shelter will have a north woods character and feature the use of re- cycled materials, skylights and high -efficiency heating and cooling systems. Rain barrels and native plants will also surround the shelter. The construction of the shelter is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2010, and the ath- letic complex will be called the Hanifl Fields Athletic Park. „e=="$5p"a"°'A° This fun -filled event is de- signed for the general ' public to interact D� with local area - businesses. The event is FREE and loaded with great raffle prizes, refreshments and provides a perfect opportunity to get to know your Hugo area businesses in a relaxed fun and social environment. Join In The Fun At The Spring Savings Show! Where: Hugo City Hall When: Sat. May 8, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Any Hugo area business that would like to ticipate, please contact Faith Rattei at 651 5437 or visit wwww.hugobusinesses.com. Hugo To Hold Earth Day Event April 17, 2010 When: Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 8:00 am until noon Where: Clearwater Creek Preserve (near Fable Hill Circle North in the Fable Hills neighborhood) Residents are invited to join members of the Hugo Parks Commis- sion to help clear trash and prepare the Clear- water Creek Preserve nature trail for use this summer. Pizza and refreshments will be available. Please dress accordingly. Call 651-762-6300 if you would like to vol- unteer j 'D 1 �k Hugo Business Association 23 30 1 � 24 31 2 25 3 19 2R i Year In Review: From Page 1 ing 2009 were: 130th and 1471h Street Improvements For several years the City of RRICADES Hugo has recognized a need S BAfor traffic improvements on Highway 61 at the intersections of 130th and 147th Streets. In 2009, $1.4 million in fund- ing from MnDOT was secured. Construction will begin in spring 2010 and will include traf- fic signals, turn lanes, drainage and utility im- provements at both intersections. Work at 147th Street will also include sidewalk construction. City Acquires land For Community Park The Hugo City Council approved and finalized the purchase of the former Hansen property — 125 acres of land located near County Road 8 and Irish Avenue — for use as a community park. City officials held a neighborhood meet- ing with residents who live along the borders of the property to discuss its future uses and deter- mined that in the short term, the park would be open to residents of Hugo for passive use such as walking and mountain biking. Based on the growth and needs of the Hugo community, the City will continue to consider additional long- term uses for the park. Get Booked in HU90 The City of Hugo recently received a Library Services and Technol- ogy Act grant that will be used to place a Washington County Library kiosk outside Hugo City Hall. Starting this summer, residents will be able to use this e -branch library as an alternative to the existing li- brary locations in the county — providing access to the Washington County Library inventory 24 -hours a day, seven days a week. An e -branch library uses an outdoor locker and access code system for checkout and book return. Book requests are made online — on an individual's home computer or using a designated computer that will be located inside Hugo City Hall. An e-mail notification is sent once the requested book has been delivered to the kiosk. The e- mail message will include an access code to open the outdoor locker. Books may then be returned to the City Hall kiosk or to any Washing- ton County library. More specific information about the kiosk, including its official open- ing date, will be posted on the City's website. Hunting Banned On Bald Eagle Lake In 2009 the Hugo City Coun- cil banned hunting on Bald Eagle Lake within City lim- its. Based on factors such as growing lake traffic and the urbanized development pattern on the Lake- shore, the Council determined that hunting would compromise the safety of its residents. Comprehensive Plan Approved The Metropolitan Council mandates that all cit- ies in the seven -county area update their Com- prehensive Plans every ten years. The Plan out- lines development goals ranging from types of housing and units within a particular develop- ment, to infrastructure needs such as road sys- tems and storm water. Hugo's Comprehensive Plan, written with input from its residents, was approved by the Metropolitan Council on De- cember 9, 2009. For more details on the Com- prehensvie Plan, see the article on page 3. New Food Shelf Opens With the support of the City of Hugo, the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf held its grand opening during the 2009 Good Neighbor Days celebration in June. The new Food Shelf serves over 90 families and provides an average of 4500 pounds of food to Hugo residents each month. Located behind the Hugo City Hall in the former Youth Garage, the facility has estab- lished itself as an important part of the com- munity. Hugo Recognized As "Yel- low Ribbon City" Hugo was named a Yellow Ribbon City in 2009 and is now a part of the Yellow Rib- bon Network. In conjunction with the Minnesota National Guard, the Network helps connect schools, lo- cal units of government, law enforcement, so- cial services, churches, and civic and volunteer organizations for the special needs of military families during a deployment. o�E Primary Elections To Be Held August A 2010 Primary elections in the state of Minnesota will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010; previous- ly, primary elections took place in September. The change is being made in order to comply with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, which was passed in Oc- tober 2009, and increases the required period for absentee ballots to be returned and counted from 30 days to 45 days. The purpose of this federal act is to ensure that all those serving overseas will have their votes counted. "In 2008, almost 400,000 military and over- sees absentee voters failed to have their bal- lots counted," notes Bob Carey, director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program. He adds, "These voters experience much more difficulty than the average voter in exercising their right to vote." Because August is a popular vacation month for Minnesotans, Rep. Steve Simon (DFL -St. Louis Park) notes that the success of an August prima- ry will require special efforts by local cities and election officials in letting people know of the change. In addition to Minnesota, nine other states and the District of Columbia will have to change primary dates in order to meet the new law. The statewide general election will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Residents may check the City's website for ward information and voting locations. Business Retention And Expansion Program The Hugo Economic Development Authority (EDA) continues to work on its new Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program, established in the fall of 2009 to discover the needs of local businesses and determine if those needs are being met. A total of 38 Hugo businesses were visited and surveyed by members of the Program's leader- ship and task force teams. Survey questions fo- cused on topics such as labor force, customers, community, telecommunications and technical assistance. Once the fact gathering was com- pleted, surveys were sent to the University of Minnesota Extension for an analysis of the in- formation. A report showcasing the survey results and pro- viding information about the strategic imple- mentation plans for the next three to five years will be presented on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the Hugo American Legion. Hugo Associate Planner Rachel Simone notes, "Four project teams have already started on next steps, focusing on marketing, events and downtown improvements." City of Hugo Assessment Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the Board of Ap- peals and Equalization of the City of Hugo in Wash- ington County, Minnesota, will meet at City Hall in said City on Thursday, April 22, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing and correct- ing the assessment of real estate for the year 2010. All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, or who wish to complain that the property of another is assessed too low, are hereby notified to appear at said meeting and show cause for having such assessment corrected. No complaint that another is assessed too low will be acted upon until the person so assessed, or his agent, shall have been notified of such complaint. BY ORDER OF THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL Michele Lindau, City Clerk New Sewer Rates At its March 15, 2010 meeting, the Hugo City Council adopted a reso- lution establishing sani- tary sewer rates to be adjusted as follows: The quarterly base charge for residential sewer customers in the City of Hugo has been increased from $42 per Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) to $47. The rate in excess of 9,000 gallons per quar- ter will remain at $1.85 per thousand gallons. The quarterly base charge for churches, educational, institu- tional, commercial and industrial customers be increased from $14 per SAC to $16. The rate in excess of 3,000 gallons per quarter will remain at $1.85 per thousand gallons. The City's finance de- partment estimates that these rates will restore the sewer fund to profit- ability for 2010. IMPORTANT: Be Sure To Get Counted! U.S. Census Bureau Distributes Census Forms In Hugo The 2010 Census is important to our community's future. The data gathered will determine funding for vital local services as well as representation at all levels of government. To ensure an accurate count, please take 10 minutes to fill out the form and mail it back. Households served by the United States Postal Ser- vice will receive their forms in March 2010. Census workers will hand -deliver forms through April 2010 in all other areas. Here's what you should know about the 2010 Census: It's EaSY. One of the short- est census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The in- dividual in whose name the housing unit is rented or owned should complete the form on behalf of every person living living in the residence, both rel- atives and nonrelatives, should be included on the form. People should be counted in the resi- dence where they live and sleep most of the time. It's Important. Census data are used to reapportion seats in Congress and ensure proper district representation in state and local governments. Infor- mation from the census helps determine locations for child- care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers. It's Safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with any- one, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau em- ployees take an oath of nondis- closure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlaw- ful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Finally, the most efficient way to respond to the 2010 Census is to complete the form as soon as it arrives and return it in the postage -paid return envelope. Mailing back a form ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door- to-door to collect census data. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. Additionally, the Census Bureau saves $60- $70 per census form returned by mail. For more information, visit 2010census.gov. or contact City Clerk Michele Lindau at 651- 762-6315. Saturday, April 24 8:00 a.m. - Noon City of Hugo Spring Ckam, .Jy The following items will be accepted from Hugo residents only for a fee. Callfordetails. • Trash • Lawn mowers • Household & commercial appliances • Mattresses • Furniture • Carpet • Bicycles • Scrap Metal • Tires Washington County will accept hazardous materials and electronics from households only (no businesses)free-of-charge. Proof of residency required. Home Improvement: Household Items: • Computers • Latex paint • Aerosol cans • Computer monitors • Oil-based paint • Mercury thermometers and • Peripherals (keyboards, • Paint remove thermostats mice, speakers, etc.) • Paint stripper/thinner • Fluorescent bulbs • Printers • Stain/varnish • Some household cleaners • TVs Automotive & Recreation: Yard & Garden: • DVD & VCR Players • Antifreeze • Insect/roach/ant killer • Fax Machines • Used motor oil and filters • Fertilizers/pesticides/weed • Cell phones • Propane tanks killer • Rechargeable batteries City of Hugo Public Works Building at 6900 137th St N 651-762-6300 %1-71n9s Y40" 51-740"Id know ... Dog Ordinance Barking dogs and dogs running at large are con- sidered a nuisance by many residents. If you own a dog, the City is asking for your help. Please follow Hugo's ordinance regarding dogs running at large and dogs that continually bark. Your dog must be licensed and under your con- trol at all times and must not bark repeatedly for more than five (5) minutes without at least a one (1) minute lapse in time. Please be courteous and respectful to your neighbors. The City of Hugo now has several passive -use City parks where dogs are allowed off leash. Owners and their pets can enjoy time at Clearwa- ter Creek Preserve and the City's new commu- nity park located at the former Hansen property. Other passive parks in the City are also available for off -leash use; check the City's web site at www.ci.hugo.mn.us for more information. That's Hugo, Today! The City's cable television show, "That's Hugo Today" had its debut in October 2007. The show is a half-hour program that airs on cable channel 16 at 9:00 am, 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm every day. The format of each episode typi- cally includes two in -studio interviews and one on-site segment called, "What's The Story Be- hind... " Past shows have highlighted in -studio guests ranging from Mayor Fran Miron and Princess Kay of the Milky Way to retired City Clerk Mary Ann Creager. The on-site stories have focused on business development in the City, including a story with Chad Wagner, owner of the Blue Heron Bar and Grill. The City is currently looking for new story ideas for future programs. Residents are encouraged to submit ideas by contacting City Hall at 651- 762-6300 or by sending an e-mail to the City's website. Watering Restrictions In Effect Hugo residents and property owners who use the municipal water system are being asked to help conserve water and protect the environ- ment by restricting their watering of lawns, trees or other vegetation. In a resolution ad- opted May 15, 2001, the days you may water are determined by your street address. If your address ends in an odd number, you may water only on odd -numbered calendar days. If your address end in an even number, you may water only on even -numbered calendar days. An exemption from the odd -even restriction (of up to 30 days) is available for new sod, seed or plantings. You may call the Hugo City Hall at 651-762-6300 to be added to the 30 -day ex- emption list. Spring Hydrant Flushing The Public Works Depart- ment will be flushing hy- ]rants in the City of Hugo beginning April 12. Hydrant flushing will take place Mon- day through Friday, from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm, for approximately four weeks. Flushing allows the Public Works Department to purge rust and stagnant water from the dis- tribution system. In addition, it allows the De- partment to identify hydrants in need of main- tenance. Due to the hydrant flushing, it is inevitable that some residents will receive rust -colored wa- ter that could stain laundry. During this time, please check that water coming into the house is clear before doing laundry. Questions regarding hydrant flushing should be directed to the Public Works Department at 651-762-6300. Please Take Note Of The Watering Restrictions Spring Street Sweeping The City of Hugo Pub- lic Works Department will begin sweeping City streets on April 1. Typically, sweeping will take place Mon- day through Friday, from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm, for approximate- ly eight weeks. The City of Hugo will be sweeping all bitumi- nous (paved) streets during this time. Any questions regarding street sweeping should be directed to the Pub- lic Works Department at 651-762-6300. Hugo City Hall • 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N. • Hugo, MN 55038 Visit our website: wwwAlugo.mmus City Directory City Staff City Administrator Mike Ericson 651-762-6312 City Clerk Michele Lindau 651-762-6315 Community Dev. Dir. Bryan Bear 651-762-6320 Public Works Director Scott Anderson 651-762-6326 Building Official Chuck Preisler 651-762-6313 Building Inspector Scott Baller 651-762-6322 Sr. Engineering Tech. Steve Duff 651-762-6316 Community Dev. Asst. Dennis Fields 651-762-6311 Planner Rachel Simone 651-762-6304 Bldg. Department Secretary Debi Close 651-762-6300 Finance Director Ron Otkin 651-762-6314 Accounting Clerk Anna Wobse 651-762-6338 Billing Clerk Jodie Guareschi 651-762-6309 Fire Chief Jim Compton 651-429-6366 City Council Mayor Fran Miron 651-429-5961 Ward 1 Becky Petryk 651-426-4722 Ward 2 Phil Klein 651-762-6340 Ward 3 Chuck Haas 651-247-0354 Council -at -Large Tom Weidt 651-334-4076 Monthly Meeting Schedule City Council 1 st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Parks Commission 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Historical Commission 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. EDA Commission 2nd Monday at 8:30 a.m. BULK RATE POSTAG E 4 HUGO, MN 55038 PERMIT NO. 21