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.