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In Touch - Spring 2021City of New Hope A publication of the city of New Hope, Minnesota e newhopemn.gov April 2021 No. 209 City of New Hope,Minnesota e April 2021 Some highlights of this issue include: NHPD Implementing Body Cameras Department-wide rollout this summer Join the Bike Rodeo on May 6 Saddle up and put safety first! Railroad Track Repairs Much anticipated project begins soon CEE Loan Program Loans available for home improvement Corner Park Improvements Project to begin this spring! Tax Capacity Rate New Hope's numbers explained 2 2 3 A great place to grow! 4401 Xylon Avenue North New Hope, MN 55428 3 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2330 Current resident or 4 4 Movies, Music Coming to Civic Center Park This Summer Slide Into Summer, Aquatic Park Opening in June Get the sunscreen and swimsuits ready. After three years without a pool, the city of New Hope is excited to announce the opening of the New Hope Aquatic Park on June 5, 2021! The aquatic park is gearing up to provide a summer full of splashes and smiles, open swimming, pro-gramming and swim team rentals while adhering to all COVID-19 protocols. There are plenty of summer programs available at the aquatic park, including swim lessons for all abilities, a lifeguarding course, lap swimming and water walking. The New Hope Aquatic Park truly offers something for everyone during open swim hours. Adventure seekers can dive into the 50-meter, eight-lane lap pool from the one- or three-meter diving boards, zoom down the drop or tower water slides or take a pass at the WIBIT obstacle course. For pool posses that include little ones, the shallow water area features a zero- depth entry pool and kiddie play structure complete with a tot-sized slide. The fun in the sun is rounded out with water basket-ball hoops and a vortex pool and current channel. Those looking for a little relaxation can stretch out on the sunny turf area or one of the many chaise lounge chairs throughout the facility. Season passes are available for the New Hope Aquatic Park, with resident rates applied for those residing in New Hope, Crystal and Golden Valley. Season passes purchased by June 4 qualify for early-bird pricing. Admission coupon books, con- taining 10 admission coupons, are also available. Complete details including hours, admis- sion rates, programming and employ-ment opportunities may be found at newhopemn.gov/aquatics. A view of New Hope Aquatic Park from the top of the water slide, taken last summer. Originally scheduled for 2020, the aquatic park's opening was delayed due to COVID-19. Enjoy a movie on the jumbo screen or listen to the sounds of local musicians for free this summer at the outdoor New Hope Performance Center at Civic Center Park, 4401 Xylon Ave N. Concessions will be available for purchase, provided by the New Hope Dance Competition Line. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. Although the events are free, spaces are limited based on event capacity. Those interested in attending should pre-register at webtrac.nhexpress.com or by calling 763.531.5151. Movies in the Park June 17 at 9:15 p.m.: Big Hero 6, sponsored by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union July 15 at 9:15 p.m.: Monsters, Inc., sponsored by West Metro Fire Rescue Auxiliary Aug. 19 at 8:30 p.m.: Black Panther, sponsored by New Hope Lions Music in the Park May 26 at 7 p.m.: The Percolators, sponsorship available June 9 at 7 p.m.: The Castaways, sponsorship available July 7 at 7 p.m.: Brass Menagerie, sponsored by New Hope Lions Aug. 11 at 7 p.m.: Blue Groove, sponsored by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Mark Your Calendar May 6 - Bike Rodeo May 26 - Music in the Park June 5 - New Hope Aquatic Park Opens June 5 - Vehicle Fair June 9 - Music in the Park June 12 - Young Mudder June 17 - Movies in the Park June 18 & 19 - City-Wide Garage Sale July 7 - Music in the Park July 15 - Movies in the Park July 22-Aug. 7 - OBMT Summer Theater Performances (Thursday through Saturday) Aug. 6 - Wet & Wild Water Day Aug. 11 - Music in the Park Aug. 19 - Movies in the Park More information is always available at newhopemn.gov. Nothing "Beets" the Farmers Market! The New Hope Community Farmers Market will return to Civic Center beginning in mid-June and running through early fall. Each Saturday, the market features fresh fruits and vegetables, locally prepared foods, handicrafts and more. The New Hope Community Farmers Market is a 501c4 non-profit corporation led by a volunteer board of directors from the community. For more information, visit newhopemarket.org. City of New Hope, Minnesota e April 2021 NHPD to Implement Body-Worn Cameras West Metro Fire-Rescue Offers Free Home Safety Surveys John Elder Council Member 763.913.1472 jelder@newhopemn.gov Andy Hoffe Council Member763.537.2647 ahoffe@newhopemn.gov Frequently Called City Numbers General Telephone .....................763.531.5100 Inspections ............................................763.531.5127building permits, complaints Parks and Recreation .....................763.531.5151 Public Works ......................................763.592.6777sewer backup, snowplowing, forestry Utility Billing .......................................763.592.6760 Police (non-emergency) ............763.531.5170 City Hall Address 4401 Xylon Avenue NorthNew Hope, MN 55428 City Websitenewhopemn.gov Tell us what you think...24-Hour Opinion Line ...............763.531.5102 Email .......................cityhall@newhopemn.gov Jonathan London Council Member763.546.1293 jlondon@newhopemn.gov Kirk McDonald City Manager763.531.5112 kmcdonald@newhopemn.gov Michael Isenberg Council Member612.568.2337 misenberg@newhopemn.gov Kathi Hemken Mayor763.537.7990 khemken@newhopemn.gov Thank You For 31 Years of Service! This summer, the New Hope Police Department will begin implementing body-worn cameras to its officers, department- wide. The camera program includes 35 body-worn cameras and 17 in-car video systems for police and animal control officers. Originally proposed as a two-year phased rollout, the implementation plan was accelerated to recognize cost savings and ensure police officers' transparency and accountability with the community. New Hope Police Chief Tim Hoyt presented the proposed body-worn camera policy for public comment at the March 8 New Hope city council meeting. The policy outlines guidelines for use of the cameras as well as accessing and retaining the cameras’ media. The complete draft policy can be viewed at newhopemn.gov/nhpdcameras. Questions or concerns about the program may be directed to the New Hope Police Department at 763.531.5170. West Metro Fire-Rescue District provides free home safety surveys by a member of the fire department. The survey includes a home walk-through to identify fire hazards and advice on mitigating any risks found. The survey also includes: • Assistance developing a fire escape plan and information on conducting a family fire drill. • Verification of properly-located smoke detectors, including free replacement of old smoke detectors, batteries in smoke detectors and additional smoke detectors, if needed. • Verification of properly-located carbon monoxide detectors and a free digital carbon monoxide detector, if needed. • A free fire extinguisher, if needed. Contact Deputy Fire Marshal Shelby Wolf at swolf@westmetrofire.com or 763.230.7006 to schedule your free survey today.Officer Andy Lamers retired March 26 after serving 31 years with the New Hope Police Department. The city of New Hope thanks him for his dedication to the department and service to the community!Have You Used tip411? tip411 is the New Hope Police Department's 100% anonymous crime tip reporting system. There are three ways to use tip411: 1. Send anonymous text tips to 847411 using the keyword "NHPD". 2. Submit anonymous tips using the FREE smartphone app for iOS or Android. 3. Use the anonymous web tip form at newhopemn.gov/tip411 from your desktop. Learn more about tip411 and find a link to download the app at newhopemn.gov/tip411. tip411 is not monitored 24/7. Always dial 911 for emergencies. Join the Bike Rodeo on May 6 Saddle up and put safety first at the FREE Bike Rodeo on Thursday, May 6 from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at the Crystal Community Center (4800 Douglas Dr). The Bike Rodeo provides riders the opportunity to have their helmet properly fitted and navigate through a safety skills course staffed by police and fire personnel. Participants can also enter a door prize drawing to win a new bike! This event is sponsored by the cities of New Hope, Crystal, Golden Valley and Robbinsdale. Pre-registration is required for ALL persons attending. To register, call New Hope Parks and Recreation at 763.531.5151. Meet NHPD's Newest Officers New Hope Police Officers Lee Larson, Rajaneé Michael, Corey Cracknell and Josh Arthur all recently began with the department. Officer Larson recently completed her field training, and Officers Michael, Cracknell and Arthur finish in May. Don’t hesitate to say hello if you see them around town. The newest faces on the NHPD include (from left to right) Officers Larson, Michael, Cracknell and Arthur. Officer Andy Lamers (left) with Police Chief Tim Hoyt. Note: Masks were only removed briefly for this photo. National Crime Victims' Rights Week The city of New Hope recognizes the importance of maintaining a safe and secure community, and understands the courageous role that crime victims have in the criminal justice process. To honor this role, New Hope has proclaimed April 18-24, 2021 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Since the passage of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, significant progress in improving the treatment of crime victims has been made through the efforts of thousands of victims and survivors, who have turned their own experiences into a force for positive change, ensuring that others can receive justice, meaningful assistance, and compassionate treatment before the law. This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and the theme is “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities,” emphasizing the importance of leveraging community support to help victims of crime. This past year has undoubtedly been challenging, with victims of crime often isolated from their family, friends and support systems while support providers met barriers to victim outreach and care. As we carry crime victims' rights into 2021 and beyond, our community’s continued engagement with the challenges faced by victims of crime will ensure that the progress made to date is not lost, and that new ground is broken to gain greater justice and healing for all victims. City of New Hope, Minnesota e April 2021 Report Potholes, Plow Damage and More to New Hope Public Works Spring is a busy season for public works employees who work to fill potholes and restore any boulevard turf that the snow- plows have damaged. Residents can report these and many more issues, including street light outages or weed violations, on the city’s website at newhopemn.gov/ reportanissue. By using online reporting, residents will receive notification of ac-tions taken without even picking up the phone! Those preferring to call can dial 763.592.6777 to reach New Hope Public Works. Nearly all of the damage caused by snow-plows occurs in the city-owned boulevard, typically the first 12 to 15 feet behind the curb. Residents who place irrigation sys-tems, trees, shrubs, flower beds, brick, stone or other items in the boulevard do so at their own risk. New Hope will repair boulevard turf damage caused by snow-plows with black dirt and grass seed. Public works staff will begin filling potholes as soon as hot-mix asphalt is available. 2021 Infrastructure Project At its Feb. 22 meeting, New Hope City Council approved the 2021 Infrastructure Proj- ect. The project includes street, water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer improve-ments in the residential areas along Erickson Drive and the Lions Park neighborhood. The project also includes trail improvements at Liberty Park and parking lot improve-ments at Lions Park. The areas identified for the project were recommended based on deteriorating pavement conditions as specified in the 2020 Pavement Management Plan and utility conditions in the area. Construction begins in late spring with the major- ity of all work expected to be completed this year. More information can be found on the project website at newhopemn.gov/2021construction. Much Anticipated Track Repairs Coming This Summer Exciting improvements are coming to the Winnetka and Boone avenue railroad tracks this summer! Many residents have noticed the large potholes surrounding the railroad tracks on Winnetka Avenue. In May, Hennepin County will begin work to replace a fail-ing storm sewer pipe and relocate a gas main. Following this work, CIP Railroad will replace the tracks and coordinate with the County to re-pave the intersection. Weather depending, this work should take approximately two months to complete. Winnetka Avenue will be closed for a majority of this work with a detour route posted. Following the re-opening of Winnetka Avenue, work will begin at the Boone Avenue railroad crossing. Similar to the work at Winnetka Avenue, crews will r eplace a storm sewer pipe, followed by the replacement of the railroad tracks and re-paving of the area. Detours will be in place for the work’s duration, which will take three to six weeks. Rid Yourself of Spring Cleaning Rubbish As temperatures warm, many are completing indoor and outdoor spring-cleaning projects. Residents have many options to dispose of waste and recyclables properly. Hennepin County Recycling Center Dispose of a wide variety of household waste items year-round at the Hennepin County Recycling Center and Transfer Station located at 8100 Jefferson Highway in Brooklyn Park. The facility accepts household, lawn and garden materials (paint, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, oil filters, automotive fluids and more), batteries and some electronics for free. For a fee, dispose of tires, TVs, computer monitors and laptops and select appliances. Recyclable items including cardboard, glass, metal, paper and organics are also accepted. Call 612.348.3777 or visit hennepin.us/dropoff for details about items accepted, fees, facility hours and directions. Maple Grove Yardwaste Site The Maple Grove Yardwaste Site accepts leaves, grass and brush, logs and tree waste up to 10-inches in diameter. The site also takes garden waste, including apples, cornstalks, pumpkins and straw, and small quantities of sod, dirt, sand, and gravel. Larger logs, up to 36 inches, are accepted for a fee. Tree stumps and mixed loads are not accepted. Plastic bags used to transport yard waste must be emptied and removed from the site. Biodegradable bags are NOT accepted. The yard waste site is located at 10300 Maple Grove Parkway N, just east of the Maple Grove Super Target. The yard waste site is open annually from early April to late November. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The site is closed on Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. For more information, visit mgyardwaste.com or call 763.420.4886. Special Materials Drop-Off Day Drop off mattresses, carpet, electronics, appliances, tires, scrap metal, batteries and more at Brooklyn Park’s Operations & Mainte- nance facility (8300 Noble Ave N) on Saturday, April 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to all residents of New Hope. Fees may be charged for some items. A complete list of accepted items can be found at hrg-recycling.com or by calling 763.493.8006. Next Curbside Cleanup Event – Spring 2022 New Hope’s curbside bulky waste cleanup event is held every two years, on even years. The next curbside event is scheduled for the spring of 2022. The Home Energy Squad offers free virtual home energy audits to all New Hope residents. After the free virtual visit, you and your energy expert may decide that the best next step is an in-person visit, which can be performed safely with health and safety guidelines in mind. As an incentive, the city of New Hope buys down the cost of in-person visits for residents. Free in-person visits are also available to income-qualified households. Schedule your visit by calling 651.328.6220 or visiting mncee.org/hes. Free Home Energy Survey CEE Loan Program Are you considering a home improvement project this year? The city partners with the local nonprofit Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to offer residential property owners access to an array of financing and rehabilitation services. Loans of $2,000 to $15,000 are available to property owners at a 2% fixed interest rate. There are no income limits, however, funding is limited. Contact the CEE at 612.335.5851 or visit mncee.org to learn more about available programs. New Hope Golf Course Open for Season New Hope Village Golf Course is a beautiful nine-hole, par-three course. The course, located on 23 acres of gently rolling terrain, provides a collection of bunkers and water hazards that make it a challenge for beginners and experienced golfers alike. A variety of lessons and leagues are available for youth and adults. The clubhouse features a pro shop, snack bar, an indoor seating area with televisions and fireplace, and an outdoor seating area with patio tables and umbrellas. The clubhouse also has a covered patio with picnic tables and gas grills that is an excellent venue for a group or company outing. Tee times should be booked in advance. Book online at newhopegolf.org or by calling 763.531.5178. OBMT Returns to New Hope This Summer The Off Broadway Musical Theater will present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in the summer of 2021 at the New Hope Performance Center, 4401 Xylon Ave N. Open auditions will be held in the spring. If you’d like to audition, visit obmt-newhope.org for more details on audition dates and locations. Perfor- mances will take place Thursdays through Saturdays, from July 22 to Aug. 7 with an American Sign Language date on Aug. 6 (rain make-up date is Aug. 7). A free-will donation of $4 per person is suggested to help cover the cost of production. City-Wide Garage Sale New Hope's second annual city-wide garage sale will be held June 18-19. Participation is open to all New Hope residents and there is no charge to partake in the event. Sign up now to have your garage sale listed on a city-wide map that will be posted on the city's website. To register, call 763.531.5151 or go to newhopemn.gov/rec. New Hope Hy-Vee received approval to construct a 1,200 square-foot, four-lane drive- thru kiosk at the March 22 city council meeting. A similar design was approved in 2019; however, Hy-Vee elected not to proceed with the project at that time. The new Aisles Online facility will provide a dedicated pick-up area for customers placing their Hy-Vee grocery orders online, expediting the process. Hy-Vee intends to begin constructing the kiosk this spring/summer. Hy-Vee Drive-Thru Kiosk The New Hope Business Networking Group meets the first Wednesday of every month with times alternating between 8:30 a.m. (even months) and 2 p.m. (odd months). New Hope business owners started the group in 2010 to create an open forum for networking within the city. It is open and free to all New Hope, Crystal, Plymouth, Robbinsdale and Golden Valley business owners for the purpose of networking, sharing business and leads, and reaching decision-makers that might otherwise be difficult to engage. To join the group, host a meeting or be added to the group's email distribution list, contact Community Development Specialist Jeff Alger at jalger@newhopemn.gov or 763.531.5119. New Hope Business Networking Group City of New Hope, Minnesota e April 2021 New Hope Employee of the Quarter Congratulations to New Hope’s first employee of the quarter for 2021! Matt Remore, recreation facilities supervisor, began his career with the city in 1998 as an ice arena maintenance operator and has been in his current position since 2012. One of Matt’s many responsibilities is scheduling ice time at the New Hope Ice Arena. With recreational guidelines during the pandemic constantly shifting, Matt has been in a constant cycle of read, interpret, apply, communicate and repeat. Additionally, shifting hockey seasons meant managing the complexity of updating scheduling for not only high school and youth hockey seasons, but adult hockey leagues, open skate and the lesson program. Throughout it all, Matt ensured that all groups had the time they needed on the ice and knew exactly what to expect when arriving at the arena. The city is so appreciative of all Matt has done, and continues to do, and how he’s represented New Hope in a first-class manner to those in our community and beyond. Property Maintenance Guide Addresses Common Questions The New Hope Property Maintenance Reference Guide summarizes minimum maintenance requirements and standards required for premises, structures, equipment and facilities located within the city. It addresses common violations of city ordinances and frequently asked questions. It also features a home maintenance guide, which pro- vides tips for keeping properties healthy, safe and well-maintained. Visit newhopemn.gov/code to view the document or request a printed copy by contacting the community development department at 763.531.5110. Property owners should always review the city's fence ordinance, locate property lines and contact Gopher State One before installing a fence. Fences may not be placed in the right-of-way or sight triangle on corner lots, and any fence placed within an ease- ment is installed at the risk of the property owner. Height limits for fences in residential districts are as follows: • All yards: Up to 42 inches allowed. • Rear yards and side yards that do not abut a street: Up to six-and-one-half (6.5) feet allowed. Up to eight (8) feet allowed when fence meets setback requirements for principal buildings within the applicable zoning district. Up to eight (8) feet allowed up to property line when lot directly abuts commercial or industrial use. A fence over seven (7) feet requires a building permit and must be engineered to withstand a 90-mile-per-hour wind gust for three (3) seconds. It is recommended that fences be placed two (2) feet inside property lines for ease of maintenance, with a gate. Building a Fence? Read This First Improvements Coming to Corner Park Corner Park, located at 4653 47th Ave N, will be updated with new playground equipment during the spring and summer of 2021. The project will include replacing the playground equipment, container, entrance ramp, sidewalk, and new benches and park signage. The playground at Corner Park was last replaced in 1997 and is currently the oldest in the New Hope park system. Last fall, a mailing was sent to Corner Park neighbors asking them for input on the park improvements and inviting them to participate on the planning committee. Meetings were held in February, with those in attendance identifying the new equipment's final design and selecting the equipment color. Later this spring, the City Council will approve the design and approve contracts for the project. Construction on the park is anticipated to be completed this summer. The existing playground equipment at Corner Park is the oldest in the parks system, last replaced in 1997. New Hope's Tax Capacity Rate Explained The city of New Hope often receives questions from residents and potential residents about the property tax rate. This is because when comparing the property taxes New Hope homeowners pay yearly, New Hope's rate appears to be higher than neighboring communities. In 2021, New Hope's total tax capacity rate is 63.96%. This percentage does not take into account that New Hope is one of the only communities in the area that does not levy special assessments for street infrastructure improvement projects. In most communities, when a street project is completed adjacent to a property owner's home, the property owner is billed for at least a portion of the project's cost. New Hope funds these projects through the city's annual street infrastructure levy. As a result, the cost of street improvements in New Hope is spread across all tax-paying properties without singling out individual properties for special assessments. Removing New Hope's street infrastructure levy from the tax capacity rate comparison puts it on an equal playing field with neighboring communities. In that comparison, the total tax capacity rate for New Hope in 2021 decreases to 55.73%. The tables below illustrate the difference. Join the Step to It Challenge! Build healthy habits this spring by tracking activity during the Step to It Challenge, a fun and free program that encourages people of all ages and abilities to become more active. Participants can join the challenge on behalf of their community, school, workplace or group home and compete against other Hennepin County cities. The challenge isn't about just walking – easily convert any physical activity into steps, including walking, running, cycling, dancing, manual wheelchair use and more. Registration is now open at steptoit.org.