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In Touch_September/October 2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 NO. 216 What's Inside Getting In Touch NEW HOPE CITY HALL4401 Xylon Avenue North New Hope, MN 55428 763.531.5100 CITY WEBSITE newhopemn.gov EMAIL cityhall@newhopemn.gov NEW HOPE CITY COUNCIL Mayor - Kathi Hemken khemken@newhopemn.gov | 763.537.7990 Council Member - John Elder jelder@newhopemn.gov | 612.578.4322 Council Member - Andy Hoffe ahoffe@newhopemn.gov | 763.537.2647 Council Member - Michael Isenberg misenberg@newhopemn.gov | 612.568.2337 Council Member - Jonathan London jlondon@newhopemn.gov | 763.546.1293 Acting City Manager - Tim Hoyt thoyt@newhopemn.gov | 763.398.1203 FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS Inspections: 763.531.5127 Parks and Recreation: 763.531.5151 Public Works: 763.592.6777 Utility Billing: 763.592.6760 Police (non-emergency): 763.531.5170 NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA A great place to grow! 4401 Xylon Avenue North New Hope, MN 55428 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2330 Current resident or CITY OF NEW HOPE New Hope City Council Approves Preliminary 2023 Budget PAGE 2 Help Community Members in Need 2022 General Election Information Mark Your Calendars PAGE 3 RAVE! Award Winners Announced Is Your Home Ready for Fall? Trick or Trot and Transylvania 2 Recreation Corner PAGE 4 Special Materials Drop-Off Day is Oct. 8 Leave Your Leaves at the Yard Waste Site Take the Guesswork Out of Recycling Day Oct. 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week West Metro Fire-Rescue District Open House Enter the 2022 In Focus Photo Contest Tri-City Community Engagement Forum The New Hope City Council approved the 2023 New Hope preliminary budget and maximum tax levy at its meeting on Sept. 12, with both certified to the Hennepin County auditor. The proposed 2023 general fund budget is $17,235,207, which is an increase of $1,056,014, or 6.5%, over the 2022 budget. Major changes in the 2023 budget include: • An increase of $643,628 for wage and benefit increases. • An increase in IT charges to the general fund for $62,158. • An increase of $145,000 for police department portable radios due to the phase- out of their current equipment. • An increase of $133,595 in the budget for West Metro Fire-Rescue District for payment toward two new fire truck leases. • A $62,661 decrease in central garage charges. The City is scheduled to receive $847,830 in Local Government Aid from the State of Minnesota in 2023. The revenue will be utilized in the general fund to offset central garage vehicle/equipment replacement costs. The preliminary total tax levy for the entire 2023 budget, including all fund and debt payments, is $19,053,316, which is an $822,305 or 4.51% increase over 2022. The total tax levy includes a 5% increase in the street and park infrastructure levies to support the long-term funding plans for street and park improvements. An HRA tax levy of $437,850 and an Economic Development Authority (EDA) levy of $160,650 will help fund redevelopment activities within the City, including the Scat- tered Site Housing Program. The EDA approved the levy at its Sept. 12 meeting, following the council meeting. Although the tax levy is increasing, the city’s tax capacity has also increased, and the estimated tax rate is expected to decrease from 62.82% to 57.23%. The estimated impact on property owners is an 8% increase. For homes valued between $150,000 and $400,000, the tax increase is estimated to be between $61 and $192 per household. The preliminary 2023 budget is posted on the city’s website at newhopemn.gov/ finance. The City Council will continue to review the budget and tax levy, and a public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. to take input from residents. The City Council will approve the final budget and tax levy at the Dec. 12 council meeting. 2023 Budget Expenditures Breakdown 2023 Budget Public Hearing Monday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. New Hope City Hall Public comment is welcome. Looking for a Job? Come to the Job Fair! New Hope City Day is Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at New Hope City Hall. Meet New Hope Council and staff members and learn more about local government, check out public works and police vehicles and grab a bite to eat at one of the food trucks. That's not all! Kids of all ages can stick around for the FREE trunk or treating event sponsored by the New Hope Police Department and New Hope Crime Prevention Fund from 7 to 8 p.m. The City of New Hope is hosting a job fair on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Hope City Hall. Learn about local career opportunities, chat with more than 25 New Hope employers from a variety of sectors and grab lunch at one of the visiting food trucks. Learn more at newhopemn.gov/jobfair. New Hope City Day Mark Your Calendars OCTOBER Oct. 3 Human Rights Commission Meeting Oct. 4 No Planning Commission Meeting West Metro Fire-Rescue District Open House Oct. 6 New Hope City Council Candidate Forum Oct. 8 Special Materials Drop-Off Day Trick or Trot and Transylvania Oct. 10 City Council Meeting Oct. 11 Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting Oct. 12 Tri-City Community Engagement Forum Oct. 13 New Hope Job Fair Oct. 17 City Council Work Session Oct. 24 City Council Meeting Oct. 27 City Day and NHPD Trunk or Treat Event NOVEMBER Nov. 1 Planning Commission Meeting Nov. 7 Human Rights Commission Meeting Nov. 8 Election Day No Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting Nov. 11 City Holiday, City Offices Closed Nov. 14 City Council Meeting Nov. 21 City Council Work Session Nov. 24-25 City Holiday, City Offices Closed Nov. 28 City Council Meeting City council and commission meetings begin at 7 p.m. City council work sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome to attend. NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 2 Vote Early for the General Election New Hope residents may absentee (early) vote for the Nov. 8 General Election through Nov. 7. BY MAIL Fill out your ballot from the comfort of your home with an absentee ballot by mail. You can apply for an absentee ballot by filling out an application online at mnvotes.org or by requesting an application by mail by calling New Hope Elections at 763.531.5160. Once you have returned your application, you will receive your ballot by mail from Hennepin County. IN PERSON If you prefer to vote early in person, you may apply and vote at New Hope City Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday through Nov. 4. Extended voting hours are available Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Direct balloting (inserting your completed absentee ballot directly into a tabula- tor) begins Tuesday, Nov. 1. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those who prefer to vote on Nov. 8. Find your polling location at mnvotes.org or by calling 763.531.5160. Are You Prepared? What to Do Before Heading to the Polls Whether you're voting early or on Election Day, now is the time to take steps to make your voting experience as smooth as possible. PRE-REGISTER OR CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS Pre-register to vote at mnvotes.org. Oct. 18 is the last day to pre-register before the General Election. Already registered? It's still a good idea to confirm your registration is correct and up to date. You will need to update your registration if you've moved or changed your name since the last time you voted. If you miss the pre-registration deadline, don't worry. You can register in person when you vote. REVIEW A SAMPLE BALLOT Find out which candidates and questions you'll vote on by viewing a sample ballot at mnvotes.org. FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION Voting early? No problem. You'll do that from the comfort of your own home or at New Hope City Hall. Voting on Nov. 8 and not sure where to go? Find your polling location at mnvotesorg. General Election Dates • Now through Nov. 7 - Vote early by mail or in person for the General Election from Sept. 23 through Nov. 7. • Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Last day to pre-register before the General Election • Tuesday, Nov. 1 - Direct balloting begins (absentee voters may insert ballot directly into tabulator) • Saturday, Nov. 5 - Absentee voting at New Hope City Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Monday, Nov. 7 - Absentee voting at New Hope City Hall ends at 5 p.m. • Tuesday, Nov. 8 - Primary Election Day. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Help Community Members in Need New Hope employees are sponsoring coat, food and toy drives in the months ahead to help local individuals and families in need. FOOD DRIVE Non-perishable food items are collected at New Hope City Hall all year long, however, the larger food drives occur in the late fall in time for the holidays. Items collected by mid-November will be delivered to the North Suburban Emergency Response (NEAR) Food Shelf in time for Thanksgiving with a second collection delivered mid-December. Unopened, nonperishable food items or checks are accepted. Please make sure that items are not beyond their “use by” date. Food drive donations may be dropped off at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. COAT DRIVE The New Hope Police Department is collecting new or gently used winter coats in all sizes. Collected coats will be delivered to the Salvation Army for distribution. Coat donations may be dropped off through Nov. 11. TOY DRIVE New, unwrapped toys for children of all ages and cash, check and gift card donations will be accepted for the holiday toy drive sponsored by the New Hope Police Department. The deadline for toy donations is Dec. 14 with donations being delivered to NEAR, PRISM and Toys for Tots. Both coat and toy donations may be dropped off in the police station lobby. The lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get into the Halloween spirit by participating in our Trick or Trot event! Youth ages 3-12 can participate in an evening of trick- or-treating at Civic Center Park, 4401 Xylon Ave N, on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Enjoy activites including face painting, pumpkin decorating, carnival games, DJ music, a costume contest and hot beverages. A taco truck will be on-site as well. Stay to watch a FREE showing of Hotel Transylvania 2 at 6:45 p.m. Wear your Halloween costume and tennis shoes! Registration is $10 per child; visit newhopemn.gov/rec or call 763.531.5151 to register. NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 3 Recreation Corner INDOOR OPEN SKATING The New Hope Ice Arena offers public open skating most Fridays, 6:30-8 p.m., and Sundays, 4-6 p.m. The cost for admission is $5 per person. Don’t have skates? Skate rental is available during open skating sessions in both traditional hockey and figure skates in sizes youth 8 through adult 13. The cost to rent the skates is $3 per pair. Please check the complete schedule at newhopemn.gov/rec or by calling 763.531.5181. GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE RENTAL The golf course clubhouse is available to rent for family gatherings, business meetings, baby and bridal showers, birthday and anniversary parties and more. Rentals are available from November through mid-March. Pictures of the clubhouse are available on the city website. For more information, call the golf course at 763.531.5178. REVSPORTS BASKETBALL This program helps players ages 3-9 develop dribbling, passing and basketball shooting skills. Age-appropriate balls and hoops may be used. Classes are Tuesdays, Oct. 11-Nov. 1. Ages 3-5 are 6-6:45 p.m., ages 4-6 are 6:45-7:30 p.m., ages 5-7 are 6:30-7:15 p.m. and ages 6-9 are 7:15-8 p.m. at the New Hope Community Gyms. NON-SCHOOL DAY CLASSES Parents or kids, are you looking for something to do on non-school days? On Oct. 5, youth ages 5-8 can join us for this Encanto-inspired Madrigal Magic Workshop from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., or youth ages 7-12 can work to build the strongest and most agile robot in Combat Robots from 1-3 p.m. Additionally, on Oct. 20, youth ages 6-12 can design and build solar energy vehicles from LEGO’s in Solar Cars from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., or youth ages 6-12 can join others in an Unlimited Fun Obstacle Course on Oct. 21 from 9:30-11 a.m. For more information about these programs or to register, visit newhopemn.gov/rec or call New Hope Parks and Recreation at 763.531.5151. Trick or Trot and Transylvania 2 RAVE! Award Winners Announced The New Hope City Council recognized five property owners as winners of the 2022 RAVE! Awards at its Aug. 22 meeting. The RAVE! residential property recognition program was developed in 2006 as a way for the City to acknowledge outstanding property maintenance and improvements completed by New Hope residents. The program allows the New Hope City Council to formally recognize and thank residents who have accomplished exceptional property maintenance and improve- ments while highlighting methods homeowners can use to enhance and improve properties within the city. The City accepted nominations through July 22, with 16 properties nominated. A volunteer panel of three judges, including city commission members and past winners, toured the properties and selected the winners. Here’s a look at the winning properties. Outstanding Exterior Remodel & Landscaping Allen Sommerfeld and Max Wojtanowicz Outstanding Gardens Missy and Tom Mound Outstanding Porch/Patio Addition James and Christy Siede Outstanding Landscaping Features Regina Pandey Environmentally Sensitive Design Sheila Coombs Is Your Home Ready for Fall? Don’t wait until it starts to snow to find out you needed to replace your windows or upgrade your furnace. The City of New Hope and Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) can help you take on these home improvements with their loan programs designed specifically for New Hope residents with rates beginning as low as 2%. With these loan programs you can complete a wide range of home improvement projects, from a new heating system or insulating your attic to new floors or a fresh coat of paint throughout your house. The options are endless, get started today! Financing is not one-size fits all. That is why New Hope offers multiple financing op- tions, all of which have flexible terms, so you can find a loan that is the best fit for your home. You can find more information at mncee.org/newhope or by calling 612.335.5884. NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 4 Oct. 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week West Metro Fire-Rescue District is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9-15, 2022. This year’s campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,” works to educate everyone about simple but necessary actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires. • Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. • Install smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound. • Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily. • Have a meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet. • Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention, visit fpw.org and sparky.org. Special Materials Drop-Off Day is Oct. 8 West Metro Fire-Rescue District Open House The West Metro Fire-Rescue District, serving New Hope and Crystal, is hosting an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fire Station No. 3, 4251 Xylon Ave N in New Hope. There will be a live fire demonstration, vehicle extrication and technical rescue with the ladder truck and other demonstrations. The event includes a kiddie obstacle course, truck and equipment displays, safety exhibits and more. Here is your chance to recycle items that can’t go in the curbside recycling cart. Drop off mattresses, electronics, appliances, tires, scrap metal, bikes, batteries and more at Brooklyn Park’s Operations & Maintenance facility, 8300 Noble Ave N, on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fees may be charged for some items. There will also be free paper shredding. The Special Materials Drop-Off Day is open to New Hope, Crystal, Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park residents. For more information, including a complete list of accepted materials, visit hrg-recycling.com or call 763.493.8006. Leave Your Leaves at the Yard Waste Site Remember to keep leaves and other yard waste out of the street. They can clog storm sewers and lead to build-up in stormwater ponds. Sweep or rake up leaves, brush and other yard waste and dispose of it for free at the Maple Grove Yardwaste Site, which is open through Nov. 30. The site is located at 10300 Maple Grove Parkway. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. For more information, visit mgyardwaste.com or call HRG at 763.493.8006. Take the Guesswork Out of Recycling Day We could all use a little reminder now and then. The Hennepin Recycling Group (HRG) has an app that will remind you to put the recycling out. • Download the Brooklyn Park HRG Recycling app from either Google Play or Apple App Store. Plug in your address and receive a reminder the day before your biweekly recycling pickup. If you don't have a smartphone, sign up by inputting your address into the calendar on the curbside recycling page of hrg-recyling.com. • Unsure if it's recyclable? Ask the Waste Wizard. The database includes hundreds of articles and will tell you if the item goes in your recycling bin, trash cart or has a unique disposal option. Visit hrg-recycling.com or call 763.493.8006 for more information. Enter the 2022 In Focus Photo Conest! New Hope’s In Focus Photo Contest allows community members to showcase their photography skills while exploring what makes New Hope a great community to live, work and play. Participants may enter photographs into three categories: People, Places and Wildlife & Nature. Photos entered must be taken somewhere in New Hope, and contestants who live, work or study in the city may submit up to one image in each category. En- tries may be submitted by email to communications@newhopemn.gov or New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N. All entries must be received by Friday, Oct. 21. A panel of judges will evaluate entries on visual appeal, pictorial composition and originality and select winners in each of the three categories and a youth category for photographers under the age of 18. Community members will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite beginning in November. Contest winners will be recognized at a future New Hope City Council meeting and in City publications and receive an award plaque commemorating their achievement. A complete list of contest rules and an entry form may be found at newhopemn.gov/ infocus or by contacting communications@newhopemn.gov or 763.531.5103.