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In Touch_May/June 2024Upcoming Election Dates May 21-June 4 Candidate ıling period. Friday, June 28 Absentee voting opens for the Primary Election. Vote by mail or at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tuesday, July 23 Last day to pre-register to vote before the Primary Election. Friday, July 26 Direct balloting absentee voting period begins (voters may insert their completed ballots directly into the tabulator). Saturday, Aug. 10 Absentee voting at City Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12 Absentee voting at City Hall ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 Primary Election Day. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. MAY/JUNE 2024 NO. 226 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 Citywide Garage Sale Food Truck Friday 2024 Infrastructure Improvement Projects Scattered Site Housing PAGE 3 Water Service Line Inventory 2023 Water Quality Report Utility Billing Update Music and Movies in the Park Young Mudder PAGE 4 Elevate Hennepin Now Accepting RAVE! Award Nominations Night to Unite is Aug. 6 West Metro Fire-Rescue Open House Fireıghter Recruitment Candidate Filing Period The ıling period for mayor and two city council member seats on the New Hope City Council opens on Tuesday, May 21. All positions are four-year terms, at-large (represent the entire city), and non-partisan. Candidates for public ofıce must be: • An eligible voter in Minnesota • At least 21 years of age upon assuming ofıce • Have resided in the city 30 days before the General Election Interested candidates can ıle for ofıce with the city clerk at New Hope City Hall on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 21. The ıling period concludes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Please note that New Hope City Hall will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27. A $5 ıling fee is required, or candidates may choose to present a petition with the required number of signatures of eligible voters in lieu of the ıling fee (Minnesota Statute 204B.07-204B.11). Contact New Hope City Clerk Valerie Leone at vleone@newhopemn.gov or 763.531.5117 with questions. Serve Your Community as an Election Judge The City of New Hope is looking for dedicated individuals to serve as election judges for the Aug. 13 Primary Election and Nov. 5 General Election. Election judges play a crucial role in administering voting procedures and ensuring a fair and accessible election for all eligible voters. Election judge duties include checking voters in, explaining voting procedures and use of voting equipment, distributing ballots, registering new voters, offering assistance as needed, closing the polling place at the end of Election Day and verifying and certifying results by precinct. Election judges may be assigned to serve in the precinct where they live or elsewhere in the city. The City of New Hope asks that election judges be available to work all day, from 6 a.m. until all ballots are counted (approximately 9:30 p.m.). The City provides training and pays election judges. State law permits employees to take time off from work without loss of pay to serve as election judges. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Must be eligible to vote in Minnesota. • Must be able to read, write and speak English. • Cannot be a spouse, parent, child or sibling of any election judge serving in the same precinct. • Cannot be a candidate or spouse, parent, child or sibling of any candidate on the ballot in that precinct. For more information or to apply, contact the New Hope City Clerk at 763.531.5117 or vleone@newhopemn.gov. Dive Into Summer at the New Hope Aquatic Park! Enjoy summer at the New Hope Aquatic Park! The park will be open June 1-2 and June 6 - Aug. 18. Please note that it will be closed July 12-14 for a regional swim meet. The aquatic park features a shallow water recreation area with zero-depth entry, fast and slow body slides, a current channel, a vortex pool, a tot slide and play features. There is also a separate 50-meter pool with one- and three- meter diving boards, a drop slide and the Wibit loating obstacle course on weekends. The facility offers seating throughout and a concessions area with a variety of menu items. Additionally, select Saturdays will feature tot time – a special event for children ages 5 and under to enjoy the shallow water recreation pool before the park opens to the general public. Season passes start at $70 per person. With a season pass, swimmers will enjoy unlimited access during open swimming. Adults with a season pass may also participate in lap swimming or water walking at no extra charge. Season pass rates increase after 4:30 p.m. on May 31. For information about aquatic park hours, season passes, swimming lessons, water aerobics, cabana rentals and more, visit newhopemn.gov/aquatics or call 763.531.5151. Mark Your Calendars JUNE June 1, 2 New Hope Aquatic Park Open June 3 Human Rights Commission Meeting June 4 New Hope City Council Candidate Filing Closes No Planning Commission Meeting June 5 Music in the Park: Minneapolis Commodores Barbershop Acapella Chorus June 6 New Hope Aquatic Park Opens for the Season June 7 Food Truck Friday Begins June 8 Young Mudder June 10 New Hope City Council Meeting June 11 Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting June 12 Morning Music in the Park: Kid Power with Rachael June 13 Movie in the Park: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny June 14-15 Citywide Garage Sale June 17 New Hope City Council Work Session June 19 Juneteenth, City Ofıces Closed June 24 New Hope City Council Meeting JULY July 2 Planning Commission Meeting July 4 & 5 Independence Day, City Ofıces Closed, No Food Truck Friday July 9 Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting July 10 Music in the Park: Los Rebeldes July 12 No Food Truck Friday July 12-14 New Hope Aquatic Park Closed to Host Regional Swim Meet July 17-20 Off-Broadway Musical Theatre Presents “Bye Bye Birdie” July 24-27 Off-Broadway Musical Theatre Presents “Bye Bye Birdie” July 22 New Hope City Council Meeting July 31 Music in the Park: Pan Handlers Steel Drum Band 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 Avenue North unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome to attend. NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 2 2024 Infrastructure Improvement Projects The New Hope Public Works Department has several construction projects planned for 2024. These projects involve maintaining, repairing and replacing infrastructure in order to keep it safely functioning. We understand that these projects may cause inconvenience for pedestrians and motorists and appreciate the public’s understanding and patience. In addition to the City's projects, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will continue its work in New Hope in the coming months. These projects, focused on enhancing highway safety and trafıc low, include the construction of a sound barrier wall along Highway 169 and the replacement of the 36th Avenue bridge. 2024 INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT As part of scheduled improvements in the City's pavement management plan, the City will complete street improvements on various City streets. Mill and overlay improvements are planned for 36th Avenue between Highway 169 and Winnetka Avenue and numerous streets in the Jaycee Park neighborhood. Reclaim and overlay improvements, as well as water valve and hydrant replacements, are planned for Hillsboro Avenue between Medicine Lake Road and 30th Avenue and on the 29th Avenue cul-de-sac off Hillsboro Avenue. Reclaim and overlay improvements are also planned on Municipal State Aid streets including 56th Avenue between Boone and Xylon avenues, and Xylon Avenue between 56th Avenue and Bass Lake Road. Isolated pavement and curb improvements are also scheduled on 62nd Avenue, west of Winnetka Avenue, and at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Oregon avenues. This project began this spring and is expected to be completed in the fall. LOUISIANA AVENUE/31ST AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT The City has partnered with the City of Crystal to complete a total reconstruction of Louisiana Avenue between Medicine Lake Road and 32nd Avenue and on the 31st Avenue cul-de-sac off Louisiana Avenue in 2024. This project includes removing and replacing the existing streets, water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer along the project corridor. The City of Crystal is coordinating this project. Over the winter, project staff from both cities met with the residents and businesses along the corridor to discuss project logistics. This project began this spring and is expected to be completed this fall. HIGHWAY 169 SOUND BARRIER WALL (BASS LAKE ROAD TO 62ND AVENUE) MnDOT began construction on a standalone sound barrier wall along the east side of Highway 169 between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue in 2023. The sound barrier is constructed of concrete piers and wood planks. MnDOT resumed construction this spring and the project is expected to be completed in June. 36TH AVENUE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT HIGHWAY 169 MnDOT will be closing, demolishing and rebuilding the 36th Avenue bridge over Highway 169 on the boundary of New Hope and Plymouth. The project is necessary due to a mandated replacement because of the bridge's current condition. Crews will raise the height of the new bridge to provide a safer standard clearance over Highway 169. This will increase safety signiıcantly by reducing vehicle strikes on the bridge. The existing standalone pedestrian bridge that was constructed in 2008 already meets current clearance standards and will remain open during construction. New Hope's Scattered Site Housing Program Creates Step-Up Housing Options The New Hope Scattered Site Housing Program aims to improve the City’s residential neighborhoods through the redevelopment of distressed single-family properties across the city. The program has several objectives, including removing distressed and/or blighted properties, providing step-up housing options within the city, improving the overall housing stock, investing in and instilling conıdence in neighborhoods, and increasing housing and land values. Currently, several projects are underway throughout the city, with more expected to begin later this year. Two homes, located at 4201 Boone Avenue North and 3611 Louisiana Avenue North (pictured), were completed and sold this spring. Construction is currently underway for the homes at 4205 Boone Avenue North and 5692 Boone Place North. Construction for homes located at 7901 and 7911 50th Avenue North (elevation pictured) will begin this summer. The Economic Development Authority has approved the purchase of three more properties for demolition and rebuild projects, with closing likely to occur this summer. For more information about New Hope's Scattered Site Housing Program, visit newhopemn.gov/scatteredsitehousing. 3611 Louisiana Ave N 7911 50th Ave N NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 3 Recreation Corner PLAYGROUND PROGRAMS If you want a fun outdoor experience for kids ages 3 to 12 this summer, look no further than the New Hope Playground Programs starting in June! Playground Leaders will plan activities, games and crafts, all centered around a new theme each week. Morning programs are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m., June 24 through Aug. 7 at Holiday Park, and Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 25 through Aug. 8 at Hidden Valley Park. Afternoon programs are 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays or Tuesdays at Hidden Valley Park. REVSPORTS YOUTH ATHLETICS This summer, we will be offering youth athletic classes through Revolutionary Sports. These non-competitive, instructional-based programs are designed to foster the skills of players at all levels, tailored to their age. Offerings include tennis, pickleball and soccer for youth ages 2 to 16. SPORTS CAMPS Several sports camps for youth in kindergarten through eighth grade will be held in June, including boys' and girls' basketball, skateboarding, Quidditch and archery. JUNIOR GOLF LESSONS Looking for a fun and educational outdoor activity for your kids? Consider our junior golf lessons at the New Hope Village Golf Course.These lessons, focus- ing on the 'fundamentals and fun' of golf,are a great way for participants ages 5 to 15 to learn rules, etiquette, and scoring, and gain a better understanding of the game.Clubs are available, or participants may bring their own. JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE The junior league at the New Hope Village Golf Course is an excellent way for kids to enjoy outdoor time with their friends. Youth of all skill levels between the ages of 8 and 17 can participate in this 10-week league.The league focuses on recreation, learning, and fun and features weekly instruction with events and treats. For more information about these programs or to register, visit newhopemn.gov/rec or call New Hope Parks and Recreation at 763.531.5151. New Hope is taking steps to ensure the safety of our community by reducing lead exposure in the water system. As per the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its Lead and Copper Rule, municipalities are required to conduct an inventory of residential water service lines to minimize the presence of lead in the water system. As part of the new federal requirements, the City of New Hope is compiling an inventory of each water service line in the city to determine the pipe’s composition and to see if it is lead, galvanized steel, non-lead or unknown material. Please note: The drinking water provided to New Hope residents does not contain lead. WHAT IS A SERVICE LINE? A service line is the pipe that connects the water main on your street to your property and the piping inside of your home. Property owners are responsible for maintaining water service lines from the main into the home. If your service pipe is identiıed as lead or galvanized steel, it will eventually need to be replaced. WHY IS LEAD A PROBLEM? Lead is a hazardous substance that can cause harm to almost every organ and system in the body. Children and infants are at a higher risk of lead exposure, and even a small amount of lead can have a signiıcant impact on them. HOW DOES LEAD GET INTO DRINKING WATER? Lead can enter drinking water when pipes, plumbing ıxtures and lead-based solder corrode. These materials were commonly used before 1986. WHAT IS THE INVENTORY? The City is inventorying all water service lines in New Hope using tools such as historic records, visual identiıcation and documentation from replacement projects. The completed inventory will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health in October and we need your assistance! COMPLETE THE WATER SERVICE LINE INVENTORY SURVEY New Hope residents are asked to complete the water service line survey by visiting newhopemn.gov/waterservicelinesurvey or scanning the QR code above. The survey asks for contact information, pipe information and a photo of the service line where it meets the water meter. The water meter is usually found in the basement utility room, crawl space or near an exterior tap. We urge you to complete the survey as soon as possible. Questions? Contact New Hope Public Works at 763.592.6766. Important Utility Billing Update Effective July 1, the City of New Hope will implement a 3% credit card fee for all online utility bill payments made with a credit or debit card, including one-time and automatic payments. Payments made using a checking account on the City's Invoice Cloud payment system will not be subject to this fee. Questions? Contact Utility Billing at 763.592.6760. The City of New Hope is dedicated to providing safe, reliable drinking water that adheres to federal and state water quality requirements. To do so, City staff works with the Minnesota Department of Health to test the water for more than 100 contaminants. The results of these tests are published in the annual water consumer conıdence report, which provides information on the water quality for the previous year. The 2023 report can be found on the City's website at newhopemn.gov/waterquality, or a copy is available at New Hope City Hall. Questions? Contact New Hope Public Works at 763.592.6777. 2023 Water Quality Report New Hope's Night to Unite (formerly National Night Out) is an annual community-building campaign held on the ırst Tuesday in August. Participating in Night to Unite not only fosters police-community partnerships but also cultivates a sense of camaraderie in our New Hope neighborhoods. This collective effort makes our community a safer and more caring place to live. It's a unique opportunity to engage with public safety personnel, elected ofıcials and City staff serving the City of New Hope. Neighborhoods host various events, including block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, sharing of safety and crime prevention strategies, visits from police, neighborhood walks, contests and more. REGISTRATION The registration deadline for parties requesting barricades is Friday, June 28, and for parties not requesting barricades, it's Friday, July 19 . We recommend completing your registration as soon as possible, especially if you wish to request a visit for your event. The ırst 50 registered parties are eligible for a free party pack, including plates, napkins and silverware. You can ınd the Night to Unite registration form at newhopemn.gov/ntu. THE ULTIMATE NEW HOPE NIGHT TO UNITE EXPERIENCE One lucky registered party will be randomly chosen for the Ultimate New Hope Night to Unite Experience, including a catered barbecue meal for your party and drop-in visits from police, ıre and City staf! MORE INFORMATION Questions? Contact Ofıcer Brad Kallio at bkallio@newhopemn.gov or 763.398.1229. New Hope’s Night to Unite is Aug. 6 NEW HOPE IN TOUCH | PAGE 4 Want to Become a Firefi ghter? Here’s Your Chance! West Metro Fire-Rescue District (WMFRD) is seeking applicants for part-time ıreıghters, a crucial role in ensuring the safety of our community. No prior experience is required. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Sept. 4. These positions are part-time and paid-on-call, with an hourly wage and eligibility for a pension. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a permanent residence within six minutes of one of the three WMFRD stations, possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and demonstrate a positive attitude and a desire to help others as well as the ability to work well as part of a team. WMFRD provides all necessary training. Training sessions are held in the evenings and on weekends. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a paid, part-time ıreıghter in Crystal and New Hope, please email jnelson@westmetroıre.com or visit wmfrd.org to ınd out more. Applications can be obtained from WMFRD Headquarters at 4251 Xylon Avenue North in New Hope, or downloaded from the website. An informational meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 28. Those interested in joining the WMFRD team should attend this meeting along with their families. Did you know local businesses throughout Hennepin County are eligible to receive business advising and consulting services at no cost? New Hope is proud to partner with Hennepin County’s Elevate HennepinTM initiative to bring expert advising and other business resources to businesses at no cost. Elevate Hennepin offers business advising from professional consultants, provided by the County. Businesses can get up to 25 hours of consulting from each advisor. The more than 40 advisors have expertise in many business topics, including: • Access to capital • Business certiıcation • Financial management • Marketing consulting • Legal questions • Human resources • Strategic planning • Business technology • Starting a business To get started, visit elevatehennepin.org to take advantage of this incredible resource. Elevate Hennepin New Hope Police Ofıcer Lee Larson was selected as the City’s Employee of the Quarter for the ırst quarter of 2024. Ofıcer Larson's exceptional work in supporting crime victims and her peers has not only earned her two nominations, but has also had a signiıcant impact on the community. Her proactive approach, going beyond the completion of reports to assist in follow-up investigations, has helped the investigations division immensely and also led to the identiıcation of a suspect in multiple thefts across Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. Larson's commitment to service is evident in her consistent willingness to take calls above basic response and her efforts in ınding resolutions and resources for the individuals she assists. Her victim- and problem-centered approach, utilizing various department resources, has not only beneıted the department but also helped to build public trust. Ofıcer Larson has served with the New Hope Police Department since 2020. Her dedication and contributions over this time have been instrumental in her recognition as the City's Employee of the Quarter for the ırst quarter of 2024. New Hope Police Offi cer Selected as City's Employee of the Quarter Now Accepting RAVE! Award Nominations Nominations are now open for the 2024 New Hope RAVE! Awards, a celebration of our community's commitment to home ownership and property maintenance. The program recognizes the efforts of New Hope residents who invest signiıcant time and energy into maintaining or improving their homes to make them something special. The New Hope City Council invites residents to nominate a neighbor who embodies exceptional pride in ownership or is particularly diligent in maintaining their residential property. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. Nominations are accepted through July 26. Nominations may be for one of several categories, including general property maintenance and improvements; remodel, renovation or addition; landscaping; gardens; environmentally sensitive improvements (i.e., rain garden, green building, etc.) or other. Award recipients receive an engraved stone to display in their home or garden, are recognized at a city council meeting, and are featured in City publications and on the City website. A nomination form is available at newhopemn.gov/rave or by calling New Hope Community Development Specialist Jeff Alger at 763.531.5119.