In Touch_Jan/Feb 2024JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
NO. 224
What's Inside
Getting In Touch
NEW HOPE CITY HALL
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, MN 55428
763.531.5100
CITY WEBSITEnewhopemn.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
City Manager - Reece Bertholf
rbertholf@newhopemn.gov | 763.531.5112
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
PAGE 2
Battery Recycling
2024 Infrastructure Improvement Projects
Bulky Waste Curbside Cleanup
Mark Your Calendars
PAGE 3
In Focus Photo Contest Winners
Snowman/Snow Sculpture Contest
Be a Smart Salter
Recreation Corner
PAGE 4
Good Citizenship Award
Employee of the Year
New Drive-Up Utility Bill Drop Box
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Pet Licensing Reminders
Council Approves 2024 Budget, Tax Levy
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the New Hope City Council approved the City’s 2024 budget
and tax levy.
The 2024 general fund budget is $18,578,101, a 7.8% increase over the 2023 budget.
The total tax levy for 2024, including the general fund, street and park infrastructure
funds, economic development and housing and redevelopment authorities, prior debt
levies and bonds, is $20,075,245, representing a 5.36% increase, or $1,021,929, over
the 2023 levy of $19,053,316. The total levy includes three new levies of $100,000
each to build reserves for future capital needs for City facilities, including the ıre
station, aquatic park and city hall/police station facility as outlined in the City’s long-
term plan. Also included is a 5% increase in the street and park infrastructure levies to
support the long-term funding of street and park infrastructure improvements.
Included in the 2024 budget is a Housing Redevelopment Authority tax levy of
$459,743 and an Economic Development Authority levy of $168,683 to help fund re-
development activities within the City, including the Scattered Site Housing Program.
These levies received required approvals from the New Hope City Council and the
Economic Development Authority at the Dec. 11 meeting.
New Hope will receive $1,306,156 in local government aid in 2024, an increase of
$458,326 from 2023. The City will utilize the revenue to offset central garage
equipment and building replacement charges; it is not used for general operations.
While the overall tax rate may appear high compared to other cities, New Hope in-
cludes infrastructure improvements in the general property tax levy rather than
assessing the beneıting property owner. Thus, New Hope does not assess taxable
properties for street improvements.
According to the Hennepin County Assessor, the 2023 median home value for taxes
payable in 2024 is $326,050, a 0.32% increase from 2023. Per updated information
recently received from the County, the estimated impact on residential homes based
on the proposed 5.36% is 3%. For homes valued between $175,000 and $500,000,
the tax increase amounts to a property tax increase of between $29 and $93 per
household.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS
The State of Minnesota provides direct property tax relief to qualiıed taxpayers,
including the Homestead Credit Refund Program and the Senior Citizen Property Tax
Deferral Program. More information about these programs and others is available at
revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-relief.
Links to the 2024 budget and corresponding presentation are available on the City's
website at newhopemn.gov/ınance.
City Approves 2024 Utility Rates
The City of New Hope has ınalized utility rate changes for 2024. The New Hope City
Council approved the rates as part of the 2024 budget at its Dec. 11 meeting. Water
and street light rates will increase by 5%, while sanitary sewer and storm drainage
rates will increase by 4%. Recycling will increase by 18% or 90 cents per month.
The operation, maintenance and capital improvements to the City’s sanitary sewer,
water and storm sewer utility systems are each funded by separate enterprise funds
within New Hope’s budget. The revenue for each fund comes from the fees charged
to the City’s utility customers.
The total impact of the rate increases on an average residential utility customer using
5,000 gallons of water per month is estimated to be approximately $5.34 per month.
The 2024 utility rates went into effect on Jan. 1. For additional information, visit the
utility billing section of the City’s website at newhopemn.gov/utilitybilling.
Photo by Silverman, courtesy of Stantec Engineering
Presidential Nomination Primary is March 5
The presidential nomination primary (PNP)
decides which presidential candidates will
be on the ballot in November. This
election is partisan, so voters will select
the ballot from their preferred major
party. In Minnesota, the major parties
participating are the Democratic-Farmer-
Labor Party, the Legalize Marijuana Now
Party and the Republican Party. Election
Day is March 5. More information about
the presidential primary is available on
the Minnesota Secretary of State’s
website at mnvotes.org.
REGISTERING TO VOTE IS EASY
Minnesota makes it easy to check your
voter registration status, register to vote
and update your registration at mnvotes.
gov.
Are you already registered to vote? It's still
a good idea to conırm your registration is
correct and up to date. You must update
your registration if you’ve moved or
changed your name since the last time
you voted.
WANT TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL?
Voters can ıll out a ballot from the
comfort of their homes with an absentee
ballot by mail. Apply for an absentee
ballot online at mnvotes.org.
WANT TO VOTE EARLY IN PERSON?
Absentee voting for the PNP is available
from Jan. 19 through March 4 at New
Hope City Hall during regular business
hours and on Saturday, March 2, from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m.
Call 763.531.5160 with election-related
questions.
Mark Your Calendars
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5 Human Rights Commission Meeting
Feb. 12 New Hope City Council Meeting
Feb. 13 Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting
Feb. 19 City Holiday, City Ofıces Closed
Feb. 20 New Hope City Council Work Session
Feb. 23 Blacklight Dodgeball
Feb. 26 New Hope City Council Meeting
Feb. 27 Precinct Caucuses
MARCH
March 2 City Hall Open for Absentee Voting on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
March 4 Human Rights Commission Meeting
Absentee Voting at City Hall Ends at 5 p.m.
March 5 Presidential Nomination Primary Election Day
March 6 Planning Commission Meeting
March 11 New Hope City Council Meeting
March 12 Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting
March 16 New Hope Skating School Skating Exhibition
March 18 New Hope City Council Work Session
March 25 New Hope City Council Meeting
March 26 Children's Concert Featuring the Jolly Pops
March 31 Deadline for Snowman/Snow Sculpture Contest Submissions
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
Dead Batteries? Recycle Responsibly
From phones to lashlights, batteries power our daily lives.
However, batteries will eventually reach the end of
their useful life and need to be recycled.
National Battery Day is Feb. 18, and it’s a chance to
remind you of how to deal with batteries when
they’re done. Single-use batteries can go in your
trash, but the metal housing can be recycled into
rebar and other steel items.
Rechargeable and button batteries found in electronics,
hearing aids, greeting cards and more can start ıres if
punctured, so keeping them out of the trash is essential.
More speciıcally, trash trucks that compact their loads. The
number of ıres started by rechargeable batteries grows every year.
Bring your batteries to the Hennepin County Drop-Off Facility, 8100 Jefferson Highway,
Brooklyn Park, or to the Special Materials Drop-Off Days held each spring and fall at
the Brooklyn Park Operations & Maintenance Facility. Both options are free.
NOT SURE IF IT'S RECYCLABLE? ASK THE WASTE WIZARD
Hennepin Recycling Group offers the Waste Wizard to help determine the best way
to recycle common (and not-so-common) household items. Find it at hrg-recycling.
com/recycling or in the HRG app. Click on the magnifying glass, type the name of a
waste item, and the waste wizard will tell you the best way to recycle or dispose of
the item.
2024 Infrastructure Improvement Projects
Although New Hope is still ırmly in the clutches of winter, warmer weather will
(hopefully) be here before we know it. With spring comes construction season.
Here's a rundown of infrastructure improvement projects kicking off across the city in
the upcoming months.
2024 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
A contractor will begin work on the 2024 infrastructure improvement project this
spring. The City selects streets included in the project based on pavement conditions
and underlying utility conditions.
The project’s location includes streets in the Jaycee Park neighborhood and
Pennsylvania Avenue just south of the intersection of Oregon Avenue. Municipal-
state-aid (MSA) streets within the project include 36th Avenue between Highway
169 and 300 feet west of the Winnetka Avenue intersection, 56th Avenue between
Boone and Xylon avenues, and Xylon Avenue between 56th Avenue and Bass Lake
Road. The MSA street system is a collection of higher-volume streets identiıed by the
state. Cites are eligible to receive assistance to construct and maintain streets
included in the municipal state-aid street system. There is also a smaller section of
62nd Avenue between Utah and Winnetka avenues included in the project.
This spring, the City will also partner with the City of Crystal for a full road reconstruction
and public utility replacement on Louisiana Avenue between Medicine Lake Road and
32nd Avenue and on the 31st Avenue cul-de-sac. This portion of the project will be
designed and managed by the City of Crystal. These improvements are expected to
wrap up this fall.
HIGHWAY 169 & 36TH AVENUE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
MnDOT is preparing for a replacement of the 36th Avenue bridge to be completed in
2024. The existing pedestrian bridge will remain in place as it meets clearance
requirements. New Hope City Council approved a waiver of municipal consent at its
Jan. 23, 2023 meeting. MnDOT has prepared ınal plans for the project, and the City
provided comments on additional catch basin protection downstream of the bridge
and ramps at 36th Avenue and Highway 169.
This project kicks off this spring and is anticipated to be ınished this fall. More
information about trafıc impacts and detours will be shared as it becomes available.
42ND AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS
GMH Asphalt was awarded the 42nd Avenue improvement project contract, which
began in June 2023. This project consisted of a new trafıc signal light and pedestrian
push buttons at Boone Avenue, a new water main between Xylon and Gettysburg
avenues, ADA ramp improvements between Gettysburg and Winnetka avenues, a
trail on the south side of 42nd Avenue between Boone and Gettysburg avenues, new
decorative street lighting between Xylon and Gettysburg avenues and a mill and
overlay of 42nd Avenue between Gettysburg and Xylon avenues. Due to delays last
fall, project crews will complete the remaining mill and overlay of 42nd Avenue
between Xylon and Winnetka avenues and restoration throughout the project area
this spring.
NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 3
Recreation Corner
FAMILY ESCAPE ROOM
Work together and think creatively to achieve a common goal and escape the
room. This experience will be a unique, interactive and challenging night of family
fun on Friday, March 8 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley. Each
session is a timed 50-minute experience coordinated by a game master. Groups
can be between 4-10 people, no exceptions. Open to youth ages 9+ (under 16
must be accompanied by an adult). There will be two different rooms: Toy
Collector Room or Prison Break Room. Register by Feb. 23 by calling Golden Valley
at 763.512.2345. $225 per group of residents of New Hope, Crystal, Golden Valley
and Robbinsdale; $232 per group of nonresidents.
SPRING BREAK CAMPS
Not traveling for spring break and looking for something fun to do? New Hope Parks
and Recreation is offering several spring break camps! There's basketball camp for
youth grades 3-8, gymnastics camp for grades 1-6, Lego Brick Harry Potter for ages
5-12 and musical theater camps for ages 4-7 and 7-12. Learn more at newhopemn.
gov/rec.
SPRING GYMNASTICS
This spring, New Hope's gymnastics staff will offer instruction in the vault, beam,
bars and loor. Participants will achieve better coordination and lexibility as they
learn gymnastics skills. The spring session begins in March, and has an ability-level
curriculum designed to help adults determine which class is best for their child.
CLUBHOUSE AND PATIO RENTALS
The New Hope Golf Course Clubhouse is available for family gatherings, business
meetings, baby and bridal showers, birthday and anniversary parties and more. Rent-
als are available from November through mid-March. Once the weather warms,
move your event outside onto the golf course patio. For more information, call the
golf course at 763.531.5178.
OPEN SKATING
The New Hope Ice Arena offers public open skating on most Fridays from 6:30 to
8 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Need skates? The
ice arena offers hockey and ıgure skate rental during open skating sessions in sizes
youth 8 through adult 13. Skate rental is $3 per pair. Check the complete schedule at
newhopemn.gov/rec or by calling 763.531.5181.
For more information about these programs or to register, visit
newhopemn.gov/rec or call New Hope Parks and Recreation at 763.531.5151.
Don't Slip Up: Be a Smart Salter
Many rely on salt to help rid driveways and sidewalks of ice during the long Minnesota
winter. Meanwhile, it only takes one teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute ıve
gallons of water. Winter salting signiıcantly impacts Minnesota lakes, streams,
groundwater and wastewater, including long-term damage to local waterbodies like
Northwood and Meadow lakes.Reducing salt usage by salting smartly can help reduce
damage to infrastructure, vehicles, plants and water supply.
Shovel - Clear walkways before snow turns to ice and apply salt only if needed. The
more snow and ice removed; the less salt is needed to be effective.
Select - Salt doesn’t melt ice below 15 degrees F. Use sand for traction when it’s too
cold, or a different deicer.
Scatter - Use salt only if critical. Aim for three inches of space between salt granules –
more salt does not equal more snow and ice melt. A coffee mug full of salt is enough
to treat a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares.
Sweep - Clean up leftover salt, sand and deicer to save and reuse as needed.
NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 4
Carbon Monoxide Safety Reminders
Winter can be a prime time for carbon monoxide poisoning as people turn on their
heating systems and mistakenly warm their cars in garages. Carbon monoxide (CO)
is an odorless, colorless gas that often goes undetected, striking victims caught off
guard. When the gas builds up in enclosed spaces, people or animals who breathe it
can be poisoned.
The National Safety Council recommends you install a battery-operated or battery-
backup CO detector in your home within 10 feet of bedrooms and check or replace
the battery when you change the time on your clocks in the spring and fall. Replace
detectors every ıve years. West Metro Fire-Rescue District recommends digital read-
out CO detectors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these additional tips:
• Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas or coal-burning appli-
ances serviced by a qualiıed technician every year.
• Do not use portable, lameless chemical heaters indoors.
• Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or outside less than
20 feet from any window, door or vent; fatal levels of CO can be produced in just
minutes.
• Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year, and make sure your ıreplace
damper is open before lighting a ıre and well after the ıre is extinguished.
• Ensure gas appliances are correctly vented; never use a gas oven to heat your
home.
• Never let a car idle in a garage attached to a house, even with the garage door
open; always open the door to a detached garage to let in fresh air when running
a car inside.
STEPS TO TAKE WHEN A CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM SOUNDS
• Never ignore a CO alarm or try to ınd the source of the gas.
• Immediately move outside to fresh air.
• Call emergency services, the ıre department or 911.
• Do a head count to check that everyone is accounted for.
• Only reenter the premises once permitted by emergency responders.
• Wait to open doors and windows once you evacuate until emergency responders
order you to do so. It makes it more difıcult for emergency responders to ınd the
source of the problem.
Do You Have a License for that Ferret? (or Dog or Cat)
The City of New Hope requires licensing of all dogs, cats and ferrets over six months of age. Pet owners must provide a copy of
their pet’s rabies vaccination certiıcate to receive a new license. An animal’s license runs concurrently with its rabies vaccination
(up to three years). When a pet receives its rabies vaccination, its owner must renew its animal license.
The fee for an animal license is $15 for a spayed or neutered pet or $30 for an unaltered animal. Animal licenses for indoor-only
cats and ferrets are free. Cats found at large and impounded will no longer be considered indoor-only and are subject to licensing
fees.
Animal license applications are available at newhopemn.gov/pets. Pet owners can complete the licensing process by mail or at the
New Hope Police Station.
For more information, call the New Hope Police Department at 763.531.5170.
Submit a Nomination for the Good Citizenship Award
The New Hope City Council established the Good Citizenship Award program in 2011
to recognize persons who exemplify acts of good citizenship. Frequently, individuals
volunteer in various ways to make New Hope a better place to live, work and play and
receive no acknowledgment for their work.
The City recognizes that the strength of a community is dependent upon a strong
network of citizens who devote time and effort to improve the quality of life by help-
ing others.
Examples of volunteer work to improve the quality of life in New Hope include help-
ing others, protecting the environment, providing opportunities for youth, exem-
plifying good citizenship or promoting equity and inclusion. Nominations must be
received by March 31.
The New Hope City Council will publicly recognize award recipients at a council
meeting. More information and a nomination form may be found on the City's
website at newhopemn.gov/recognition or by calling the city clerk at 763.531.5117.
New Hope Names 2023 Employee of the Year
New Hope accounting technician Andrea
Phinney was named New Hope’s 2023
Employee of the Year at an employee
recognition event held in December. Phinney
began with the City in 2020, quickly mastering
her expected duties and asking to take on
additional responsibilities. Early on, Andrea
completed several FEMA courses to ensure
ınancial function redundancy in the event of
an emergency operations center activation.
When the City transitioned vehicles to a leet
model, she took it upon herself to learn the
nuances of enterprise leet operation. When
the utility billing clerk position was vacated
this summer, Andrea didn’t hesitate to learn the
utility billing system and related operations to
ensure a seamless transition for all involved.
She also participated in the recruitment process for the new utility billing clerk. She
trained them – all while continuing to fully support and complete all tasks required in
her accounting technician role.
Additional nominees for the award included Melissa DeLeeuw, evidence technician;
Josh Eernisse, patrol sergeant; Tony Portesan, recreation facilities supervisor and
Johnny Vang, housing/code enforcement inspector.
The City also recognized the long-tenured employees of New Hope who reached a
ıve-year milestone in 2023.
35 YEARS Valerie Leone, city clerk
30 YEARS Mark Severson, recreation facilities manager
25 YEARS Tom Mahan, animal control ofıcer
Matt Remore, recreation facilities supervisor
15 YEARS Dave Fritzke, police ofıcer
Mike TenEyck, patrol sergeant
Jeff Winkel, mechanic
Jeana Allen-Hatcher, police ofıce supervisor
10 YEARS Shari Rains, accountant
5 YEARS Brad Johnson, maintenance worker
Beth Kramer, communications coordinator
Kelly Thompson, maintenance worker
Johnny Vang, housing/code enforcement inspector
New Drive-Up Utility Bill Drop Box
There are now two 24-hour utility
bill drop boxes at New Hope City
Hall for your convenience! A new
drive-up drop box has been added
to the median across from the
main City Hall entrance.
The walk-up drop box is still available
on the front of the building.
If you’re looking for a convenient
way to pay your utility bill without
heading to City Hall, sign up for
automatic payment or pay by
phone or online. Learn more at
newhopemn.gov/utilitybilling.
Please note: Utility bill payments
are no longer accepted in person
or by drop box at the public works
facility.