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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.