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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWinter 2009-10 Hastings Rivertown Newsø ø Volume XIII, Issue 2www.ci.hastings.mn. us Winter 2010 ó÷÷÷ î Dealing With Budget Short Fall. .2 This monetary loss has resulted in more It’s no secret, the 2010 budget process has TRAC Up Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 been one of the most difficult budget cyclespressure to fund the City’s programs and CodeRed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 this city has had to go through. maintain levels of operations the citizens of Warm & Safe Winter. . . . . . . . .8 Hastings have come to expect. During the Winter DO’s & DON’Ts. . . . . . . . 10 budgeting process, which begins in April each What some might not understand is how the 2010 Construction Projects . . .11 year, the Finance Committee of the Council budget got so tight. The major contributors to Selecting a Contractor . . . . . ..12 the budget issues include the cumulativecame up with goals they wanted the 2010 April is Earth Month . . . . . . . . .13 budget to achieve including: lost of $737,350 in Local Government Aid Leisure Services . . . . . . . . . . . .15 • Maintain current programs (LGA) money in 2008 and 2009 and it is likely • Maintain service levels by not laying off that there will be an un-allocation of both LGA and Market Value Homestead Creditcurrent personnel • Add an equal amount of revenue sources (MVHC) again in 2010 in the amount would Mayor : as well as decrease the overall budget. be $900,000. Paul Hicks 437-8866 mayorhicks@ci.hastings.mn.us With those goals, the proposed 2010 tax Revenues for the city have also decreased in Ward Council Members: the past two years as a result of the economiclevy for all purposes is the same as the 2009 levy of $11,581,000. However, the downturn in the following areas: Ward 1 Anthony Alongi total overall budget for the City has been • Building and construction permits have 319-0066 decreased by $1.9 million (or 7.196%). dropped by $250,000 aalongi@ci.hastings.mn.us • Planning fees have decreased by Ward 2 Joe Balsanek $100,000 438-5998 • Interest revenue has decreased by Detailed information pertaining to the 2010 jbalsanek@ci.hastings.mn.us budget, it’s breakdown, and what it will mean for $400,000 you personally can be found on page 2. • Tax levy base have decreased by Ward 3Tony Nelson 437-4194 $500,000 tnelson@ci.hastings.mn.us Ward 4Danna Elling Schultz 438-3878 dellingschultz@ci.hastings.mn.us The Hastings City Council will be considering the adoptionof a storm water utility in At-Large Council Members: What is a storm water utility? December. A Storm Water Utility would consist of Barb Hollenbeck 480-0268 a fee charged to every property owner (including tax exempt properties) to cover the bhollenbeck@ci.hastings.mn.us expense of managing storm water runoff from their property. The fee would be included on a property’s utility bill listed as the Storm Water Utility Charge. The Storm Water Mike Slavik 437-4637 Utility fee would be based on the amount of the property’s impervious surfaces – mslavik@ci.hastings.mn.us Storm Water Utility For more detailed information seepage 11 General City Council E-mail citycouncil@ci.hastings.mn.us Volume XIII, Issue 2 City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East Hastings, MN 55033 Each year the preliminary budget levy is set in September, then the final budget is approved in December. City Administrator: The 2010 Budget has been set at the current levels and each department’s individual budgets were closely Dave Osberg 480-2383 reviewed to ensure all services will remain fully funded and yet items that could be reduced or postponed dosberg@ci.hastings.mn.us were eliminated from the budget. The following are just some of the changes made in the 2010 Budget: • No new staff will be addedoccur due to cuts in the ERF’s (i.e. large Asst City Administrator planned purchase/repair savings accounts) • 5 unfilled full-time positions were cut, (this is Melanie Mesko Lee 480-2326 • Delay purchasing fire ladder truck a 4% decrease in FTE’s (full time employees) mmesko_lee@ci.hastings.mn.us • 2 paid internships cut• Delay repairs to the roof at city hall • Seasonal staff will be reduced• Delay to maintenance on brick building exteriors • Overtime will be reduced Finance Director • Delay updates to the pool, arena, tennis • 7% increase in health insurance costs Char Stark 480-2354 • Mandatory increase in the City’s contribution courts cstark@ci.hastings.mn.us to PERA• Delay updates to phone system, computer • Mandatory increase to Fire Department’s Fire hardware and software for various departments Relief Association Pioneer Room Curator • Capital expenditures will be reduced Cindy Thury Smith 480-2350 • Delays to future purchases and repairs will csmith@ci.hastings.mn.us Proposed Tax Levy Implications The proposed tax levy results in a 2010 tax capacity rate of 52.525% compared to the 2009 tax capacity Community Relations rate of 49.811%. However, due to the decrease in property values throughout the City, residents should Shannon Rausch 480-2344 not see a significant increase in the actual City tax amount. For example: srausch@ci.hastings.mn.us 20092010 Home Valuation 2009 City Tax Valuation 2010 City Tax Property A$200,000$997$186,000 $977 Property B$250,000$1,246$232,500 $1,222 Property C$300,000$1,496$279,000 $1,466 a decrease of 7.2%. What Happens Next: On September 8, 2009, the City Council approved the preliminary levy and budget for 2010, which is certified to the County on September 15 th. These numbers are then used to compute the truth and taxation notices that are mailed to every parcel in November. The Finance Committee of the City Council will continue to hold meetings to review the proposed budget and to refine the tax levy, which can only go down from the preliminary amount. The City Council will hold a budget hearing at the December 7, 2009, council meeting at 7:00pm. Then the final budget will be approved at the following council meeting on December 21, 2009, at 7:00pm. 2 õù ùôû õù ùôû Winter 2010 ??????????????????????????? December 5 & 6, 12 & 13 The City continues to eval- Tours and holiday shopping fun can be uate options for continuing found at the LeDuc Historic Estate, a locally run transit service December 5-6 and 12-13. in 2010. House and store hours are Early in 2009, the Metropolitan Saturday 10am to 5pm, Council, which has provided a Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Tours significant amount of funding start at 10am, 11:30am, for the City’s TRAC transit 1pm, 2:30pm, and 4pm. program, announced a restruc- ture of the regional dial-a-ride The home will be elegantly transit program and loss of decorated just as it was in local funding for existing its day. Join us on programs. This restructure will December 13 for a traditional result in a regional dial-a-ride program called Victorian dinner which will TransitLink to be introduced to Dakota County feature fine food and and Hastings in May 2010. entertainment. Reservations required. For details, please call Current subscription riders of the Hastings TRAC 437-7055 or check the website: program will be grandfathered into the www.dakotahistory.org TransitLink system during this transition. As a reminder, the LeDuc Historic Estate will The loss in funding from Met Council to the City’s be otherwise closed from December through May program means that the City-operated TRAC for daily tours. Special events such as weddings, tour groups, teas, dinners, program will be unable to continue to operate in luncheons & meetings may still be scheduled. The LeDuc Book Group will its current form. While dial-a-ride will still be continue to meet during the winter months on the first Thursday of each month. available through the Metropolitan Council’s TransitLink program, the City is exploring Look for the Estate to reopen for the full 2010 season on May 26, 2010. whether to continue to operate a complementary For more information on scheduling an event, please call 437-7055 or visit service. www.dakotahistory.org. their website at Public meetings will be held in Hastings in early 2010 to provide more information about the Metropolitan Council’s Transit Link service and how riders can use this service. Citizens of Hastings, your lives are busy and hectic. The City understands this and has established three easy ways for you to consider when paying your City For more information about the TransitLink Utility Bill:Online Payments, ACH Direct Withdrawal, and our newest program program, call the Metropolitan Council at the CC Pay Plan. For details on each of these payment options or to get signed 651-602-1000. Information about the City’s up today, visit the City’s website under City Services/Pay your bill online at TRAC program is also available on the City’s www.ci.hastings.mn.us . ww.ci.hastings.mn.us website at . Hopefully one of these forms of online payment systems will fit your needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Finance department at 480-2350. 3 Volume XIII, Issue 2 City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East Over the past ten months, the City has been reorganizingtown, funded rehabilitation programs, assisted in Hastings, MN 55033 the way it approaches Economic Development andhistoric preservation, acquired and cleared land to facilitate private development and contributed to City Redevelopment throughout the City. With the establishment of an Economic Development andpublic improvement projects. HEDRA Director Redevelopment Authority (EDRA), the City has John Grossman480-2347 essentially combined the duties and responsibilitiesAs for redevelopment projects and programs, jgrossman@ci.hastings.mn.us of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA)examples include: •Acquired and relocated industries such as and the Economic Development Commission (EDC) into one Authority, which will allow this new AuthorityMasters Tannery, Local Oil, the UBC lumber yard Planning Director to be more efficient and effective.from downtown to the Industrial Park. Acquired John Hinzman 480-2378 the Hastings Elevator and Feed Mill and vacant jhinzman@ci.hastings.mn.us railroad property next to the station and demolished The Hastings EDRA board consists of five citizens, Pam the buildings and when necessary, removed Holzem, Ron Toppin, Robert Hollenbeck, Kurt Keena, Planning Associate Dennis Martodam and two Council members, Dannahazardous substances. Kari Barker 480-2377 Elling Schultz and Anthony Alongi. The commissioners • Assembled parcels for new commercial buildings kbarker@ci.hastings.mn.us will continue to facilitate redevelopment and historic and parking. preservation as the HRA has in the past, but in addition they will focus on business and industrial develop- • Assisted the remodeling and updating of many HPC Staff & ment, formerly the responsibility of the Industrial Park commercial buildings in the downtown area Planning Associate Board and Economic Development Commission. through rehabilitation loans. A few of the many Justin Fortney 480-2381 historic commercial buildings that were restored jfortney@ci.hastings.mn.us The History:are the Schaller Building (Claire’s) in 1984, Reissner’s Market in 1985, the Adsit Building The City Council established the HRA in 1971 and the (Red Rock Café) in 1989, Oestreich Building Downtown Redevelopment Project Area in 1974. The (Second Childhood) in 1999, the Gardner House principal responsibility of the HRA at that time was to and the Mertz Building (Emporium) in 2006 and facilitate downtown revitalization, using tax increment Hetherington’s (RJ’s) in 2008. financing to fund projects. • Participated with the City in public improvements. Over 38 years of operating, 30 residents of Hastings The HRA removed railroad tracks and streets from served as HRA commissioners, and together over the Levee Park before the City installed the Riverfront years they have done so much for the Community. Trail. The HRA also improved a vacant lot on Just a few examples of the work the HRA has done Second Street as the public use space and include establishing master plans for various areas of parking area known today as Oliver’s Grove. 4 Winter 2010 assistance. A second Redevelopment Project Area, • Contributed to the reconstruction of Ramsey, on both sides of Vermillion Street from 11th Street Tyler, Sibley and Second Streets and paid for to 25th Street, was recently established by the City design improvements such as street lights, Council in 2008 based on the master plan was benches and planters. • developed by the Economic Development Robert Neujahr • Included future commuter bus and rail services • John Scullin Commission. This project area permits the use of in their downtown plan, and set aside property • James Caturia the redevelopment and rehabilitation programs like for parking and transit-oriented development • Paul Welshons those used in the Downtown Area. near the railroad station. • Rollie Dankers • Mike Gegen The Tax Increment Districts, Redevelopment Areas, • Supported affordable housing, including down- • James St John programs, projects, funds, real estate, existing • town apartments and converting Guardian Ted Shannon loans and agreements of the HRA are now all • Judy Sivak Angels school for apartments. handled by EDRA, which has both EDA and HRA • Tamsen Aichinger powers under Minnesota Statutes. The HRA was • Made low interest loans and grants throughout • Tom Simmons formally dissolved as of September 21, 2009. the City for necessary or emergency repairs or • Robert Kulzer updating owner-occupied and rental residential • Donald Eddy The EDRA can be contacted by calling Hastings City property, frequently with historic preservation • Paul Kranz • Hall, 651-480-2350, or through the City web site, components included. William Johnston • Dave Legler www.ci.hastings.mn.us. Click on Building and • Clarence “Skip” Soleim Development and then on Economic Development One misconception involving the HRA is that it owns • Pam Thorsen and Redevelopment. Topics include Residential and or operates public housing. This is something that • William Wendler Commercial Rehabilitation and applications; Fire the HRA has always delegated to the Dakota County • Arden Sanstead Alarm Assistance for mixed use buildings; CDA. • Arvid Evensvold Downtown and Vermillion Redevelopment Project • Dennis Morris Areas and Plans, maps and procedures to acquire The bonding authority of the HRA was also used to • Sandra Winters land in the Industrial Park, a listing of commercial finance the remodeling of the former courthouse • Laurel Cox space currently available and a list of contacts for into the current City Hall, the former jail into the • Harold Birkeland affordable rental housing in Hastings. Police Department, and the Fire Department expansion. • Dennis Martodam Rehabilitation programs have been funded by the • Robert Hollenbeck HRA levy. Public improvement, acquisition and • Kurt Keena • clearance projects were funded mostly by Ronald Toppin • Pam Holzem Tax Increment. Thank you for your dedication After nearly 35 years the Downtown Redevelopment Project Area remains in place today, allowing for continued access to rehabilitation and redevelopment 5 Volume XIII, Issue 2 Hastings Police Department 150 Third Street East Hastings, MN 55033 The Dakota Communications Center (DCC) hasin a community of emergenciesthat may have, recently be unveiled a new feature calledor are occurring in that neighborhood. Non-Emergency: 480-2300 CodeRed Emergency Notification as part of the Emergency: 911 county-wide system. If you do not have a landline or wish to register www.ci.hastings.mn.us your cell phones or email address, so that you This system is intended to allow quickwill receive notifications even when you are not notification to the public and individualat home, you can do so by going to the DCC Police Chief: residences throughout Dakota County of awww.mn-dcc.org website at and click on the Mike McMenomy 480-2300 particular emergency situations such as CodeRed link. mmcmenomy@ci.hastings.mn.us hazardous material spills, pandemic warnings, and missing and endangered children or Those without internet service may contact the Think “reverse 911” DCC at 651-322-8660 between 7:00am and vulnerable adults.. Lieutenant: 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. You may Joe Kegley 480-2300 register as many phones, cellular phones or All landline phone numbers in the county have jkegley@ci.hastings.mn.us email addresses on the system as you like. automatically been registered for this emergency notifications system which allows police and fire personnel to notify specificareas Lieutenant: Jim Rgnonti 480-2300 jrgnonti@ci.hastings.mn.us As snowmobilers are itching to get their sleds out for another season of playing in the powder, we’d like to remind all operators that snowmobiles are only permitted to operate within the City limits while traveling from home to outside the city limits. Stopping is only permitted within the Service District. Also remember that heading out of town, snowmobiles must follow the snowmobile corridors outlined on the “snowmobile map,” www.ci.hastings.mn.us which can be found on the City’s website at . No recreational snowmobiling is allowed within the City limits. Please follow the City’s Snowmobile Ordinance when operating a sled in town. In short, the ordinance states that riders need follow the corridors and stay on the streets, (and off of boulevards, side- walks, bike paths, alleys, City parks or ponding basins, and School or City property.) One final reminder, snowmobile use within the City is permitted only between the hours of 8:00am. and 10:00pm. After 10:00pm, snowmobiles if you are riding within town, you must be returning to home. 6 Winter 2010 Winter is on it’s way and now is the timetoIf you are traveling in severe, snowy weather conditions and have an accident, put together an emergency travel bag to carry in all of your vehicles during the coldgo off the road, or get stuck in the snow, winter months. Any emergency kit shouldremain in the vehicle and do not attempt to include walk for assistance. In snowy conditions it is easy to get lost and disoriented, further • jumper cables • blanket exposing yourself to the conditions. • candles• shovel • Matches• basic tool kit • bottled water • window scraper More people are killed or injured each year • flashlight • crackers attempting to go for help than those who • canned nuts •extra batteries In an effort to partner with local liquor remain in their vehicle waiting for help to • bright colored •portable radio license establishments in an attempt to arrive. clothes •first aid kit eliminate sales of alcohol to minors, the City recently updated its compliance check policy and adopted a Best Practices Program. The City has a goal to conduct liquor license compliance checks at least twice per year. If a licensee fails the check and sells to a minor, a penalty is charged. Under the new program, businesses can work with the City to Hired as a Patrol Officer in 2000, Officer Jeremy train their employees on how to avoid Jacobson has been with the Hastings Police illegal sales of alcohol. Licensees who Department for the past 9 years. Now, beginning in complete the Best Practices Program January 2010, Officer Jacobson will be moving and are certified are subject to a from the nineteen officer Patrol Division to the different penalty schedule should an three person Investigation Division. illegal sale occur. Investigator Chris Weid, who has been working The first round of training was held in within the Investigation Division for the past three years will be transferring from October and licensees who successfully the Investigation Division back to the Patrol Division. complete the program will be issued a When an officer is assigned to the Investigation Division certificate to post at their place of it is for three years. Now at the end of his assignment, business. For more information about Officer Weid has requested to return to the Patrol the program, check out the City’s Division, where began his career with the Hastings www.ci.hastings.mn.us website at . Police Department in 2000. 7 Volume XIII, Issue 2 Hastings Fire Department 115 Fifth Street West Hastings, MN 55033 sthe temperature outside drops, • Make sure you plug the space heaters Non-Emergency:480-6150 power cords directly into outlets and families take to the indoors to keep warm. Emergency: 911 never into an extension cord. What they may not realize is that turning up www.ci.hastings.mn.us • Inspect heaters for cracked, frayed or the heat in their homes, can sometimes broken plugs or loose connections. If Fire & EMS Director : increase the risk of home heating fires. you find any plugs that are bad, Mike Schutt480-6150 replace thembefore using. mschutt@ci.hastings.mn.us According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home-heating fires occur during the winter Assistant Fire & EMS months. The latest research shows that • Have your chimney inspected each year Director/Fire Marshal: heating equipment (i.e. space heaters, wood and cleaned if necessary. John Townsend480-6150 fire places, etc.) were involved in 62,200 jtownsend@ci.hastings.mn.us reported U.S. home structure fires in 2005, • Use a sturdy fireplace screen. and caused 670 deaths, 1,550 injuries, and • Allow ashes to cool before disposing. over $909 million in direct property damage. Fire Inspector: Dispose of ashes in a metal container. Al Storlie480-6155 While these numbers are frightening, nearly • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, astorlie@ci.hastings.mn.us all of these fires unfortunately were outside each sleeping area and on preventable. You can reduce the number of every level of the home. For the best home heating fires in our community by protection interconnect all smoke taking some simple precautions and using alarms throughout the home — when heating equipment properly.  one sounds, they all sound.  • Test smoke alarms at leastonce a The Hastings Fire Department recommends month. some simple home heating safety tips, so  residents can be both safe, and warm, this • Install and maintain a carbon monoxide winter. alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area. • Never use an oven to heat your home. • Space heaters need space. Keep any thing that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture,at least3 feet away from the heater. • Turn space heaters offwhen you go to bed or leave the room. 8 õöôùôûúøöùõøú õöôùôûúøöùõøú Winter 2010 Winter Holiday The Hastings Fire Department is pleased to announce that they will once Safety again have the annual “Keep The Wreath White Campaign” this year. Winter holidays are a time for families and friends This campaign is to promote fire safety to get together. We decorate our homes for the and awareness during the busy holiday festivities, light our fireplaces and candles to add season. to the atmosphere. Please remember as you enjoy good times with company to also following Hastings firefighters will place a large these few simple tips can help ensure a happy wreath on the Vermillion Street side and fire-safe holiday season. of the fire station. This wreath is decorated with all white lights. Then, from Thanksgiving until January 1 st, for • Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose every preventable structure fire within the decorations that are flame resistant or Hastings Fire response area, a white light flame retardant. bulb will be replaced with a red light bulb; • Keep lit candles away from decorations and our goal is to have all white lights remaining on our wreath. other things that can catch on fire. • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. • Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. • Keep decorations away from windows and doors. • Test your smoke alarms and tell guests Be sure to blow out lit candles and turn off all about your home fire escape plan. light strings and decorations before leaving • Keep children and pets away from lit home or going to bed. candles. • Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. • Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the • December is the peak time of year for stovetop. home candle fires. • Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind • 30% of home fires start in the kitchen. smokers to keep their smoking materials with • Unattended cooking is the leading cause them so young children do not touch them. of home fires. • Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. • Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. 9 Volume XIII, Issue 2 Hastings Public Works • Department – Cal Ruedy Public Works Facility Please do not place garbage and recycling con- 1225 Progress Drive tainers in the street or gutter area on your Hastings, MN 55033 garbage collection day. Containers placed in the • 480-6185 street and gutter area will prevent snow removal www.ci.hastings.mn.us crews from plowing the parking areas on streets. The garbage truck lifting arm can reach 6 to 8 automatically A snow emergency goes into feet. Please keep the containers at the end of effect when 2 inches or more of snow has fallen. Public Works Director: your driveway. Under a snow emergency, no parking on any City Tom Montgomery 480-6185 street is allowed until that street has been tmontgomery@ci.hastings.mn.us cleared to its full width. Violators will be ticketed • and towed. Check cable channel 12 or KDWA - Many children walk to school each 1460 AM if you are not sure if a snow emergency is day and manypeople enjoy walkingyear round. City Engineer: in effect. Homeowners with sidewalks on their front or side Nick Egger480-2334 yards are asked to shovel and maintain their engineeringdept@ci.hastings.mn.us • - A normal snowfall takes eight to walks in a timely manner to assist all users. As a ten hours to clear, with City crews typically start- reminder, City ordinances require property owners Public Works ing snow removal operations at 4:00am. Snow to clear snow and ice off of sidewalks abutting Superintendent: windrowed in the downtown area is generally their property within 48 hours after each storm, removed the following day. John Zgoda480-6185 and also prohibit blowing or shoveling snow out into the street. publicworksdept@ci.hastings.mn.us • - Remember, snow plow drivers’ visibility is limited and there is a large blind spot directly behind the trucks. When following a snow plow, please stay well back. The plows occasion- ally have to stop and back up and the drivers can- not see vehicles directly behind the trucks. • - Snow plow opera- tions occasionally damage mailboxes. The City has a policy to repair or replace mailboxes struck by snow plows. However, mailboxes damaged by snow thrown by the plow are the homeowner’s responsibility to repair. Mailboxes are supposedto be installed flush with the back of the curb, 8 inches behind the edge of the street. The Postal Service requests that homeownerskeep the area in front of their mailboxes clear so that postal vehi- cles are able to get close to the mailbox. 10 Winter 2010 The City Council has ordered feasibility studies for the 2010 reconstructionof Pleasant Drive between 15th Street and Highway 55, Westview Drive between 15 th Street.and its intersection with Pleasant Drive north of Highway 55, and the North Frontage Road from Highway 55 to approximately 1,200 feet west. The City Council has also ordered feasibility studies for Lyn Way between 15th Street. and South Frontage Road, and 15 th Street between Pleasant Drive and Meadow View Trail as alternate proj- ects to be constructed if road construction costs remain favorable and the project costs fall with the bonding budget. Look for more information about these proposed projects to be www.ci.hastings.mn.us posted on the City’s web site, . ÷öú÷ú÷÷ continued from page 1 Stricter regulations and pollution prevention requirementshave What would a typical Storm Water Utility fee be? caused the City’s storm water management costs to increase A storm water utility study has identify existing and future storm dramatically over the past few years. The federal Clean Water Act water management costs and determine typical storm water mandated the EPA to impose new rules for municipal storm runoff volumes for different propertytypes; using this information water management for every urban area with 10,000 or more the city has develop a proposed storm water utility rate inhabitants. These new rules implemented best management structure. Information on the proposed storm water utility and practices, monitored runoff discharges and met various other rate structure was recently presented at a November 12 Open requirements spelled out in a permitissued to a community under House held at City Hall. the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.Hastings came under the NPDES permit system The presentation and information provided at this event is avail- in 2007. In addition, the Vermillion River Watershed has able online at the City’s Website. For information regarding what recently adopted new rules, regulations, and storm water other communities are doing please visit the Cities Web site at management requirements for communitieswithin the watershed. www.ci.hastings.mn.us In the near future, the City will be required to adopt tougher standards for storm water discharge to meet TMDL (total The 2007 Metropolitan Council storm water utility survey found maximum daily load) standards for specific pollutants, and the average annual storm water charge for a single family home non-degradation requirements - rolling back the volume of water was $44, or a little more than $11 on each quarterlyutility billing. discharged to the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers to 1988 levels. 11 Volume XIII, Issue 2 Hastings Department of Building Safety: 101 Fourth Street East Few business transactions are more importantsatisfied with the quality of the work or Hastings, MN 55033 than those negotiated with a residential buildingencountered problems. contractor. Having a comfortable and well built• Ask the contractor how long they have been in 480-2342 home, as well as protecting a considerable finan-business and where they have done business. www.ci.hastings.mn.us cial investment, all rely on the successful comple-• Ask for a Minnesota business address other tion of the job.thana post office box. Building Official • Obtain a local phone number where the Tom Bakken 480-2342 It is strongly recommended that you hire a con-contractor can be reached during business tbakken@ci.hastings.mn.us tractor licensed by the State of Minnesota. Thishours. ensures the company has met certain require-• Ask neighbors, building supply companies, or ments, including having passed an appropriateothers in the industry for reputable contractors. Code Enforcement: examination and that they have liability and • Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if Dawn West480-2342 property damage insurance. A licensed contractorit has received complaints against a particular dwest@ci.hastings.mn.us must also take a number of continuing educationcontractor. classes each year. City Recycling Hiring a licensed contractor provides another very Kristin Behrens 480-6175 • refuse to provide a written contract or important benefit: access to the Contractor kbehrens@ci.hastings.mn.us estimate; or refuse to provide references Recovery Fund. This fund reimburses consumers • show up unsolicited who suffer financial lossesas a result of a • ask you to obtain permits for the job licensed contractor’s misconduct. • require full or substantial payment before work begins • appear to be willing to do the job at an unusually low price • refuse to provide a state license number • Ask for references, and then actually contact • use high-pressure tactics. these former customers to see if they were öù÷ú÷öúþ Continues page 13 Water Quality Is Everyone’s Responsibility one example of Storm Water Management mandated The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit created by the Federalby the federal government. An infiltration basin was Clean Water Act requires cities to comply with sixalso added on the upstream end of the ravine designed to infiltrate low volume storms and reduce minimum control measures subdividedinto 34 Best the amount of flow reaching the Vermillion River. Management Practices aimed at improving water quality. As part of the effort, the City has imple- mented storm water quality practices into its roadThe 2009-2 Three Rivers Pond Stormwater reconstruct projects this year. Diversion project along 31st St and Millard Avenue is similarly designed to reduce the flow to the ravine by taking low volume storms and diverting the storm The 2009-1 Industrial Park Area Improvement project along Spiral Boulevard, Millard Avenue, andwater into an area infiltration pond. Both projects Industrial Court has implemented water qualitywere completed this fall and have proven to be efforts by restoring a heavily eroded ravine. This iseffective thus far. 12 Winter 2010 Winter 2010 Continued from page 12 Consider installing a raingarden! You should always receive at least three detailed bids on any project. The bids A raingarden soaks up rain water, mainly from roofs, driveways, and lawns while should be in writing and be detailed in the providinga beautiful flower garden to enjoy. Compared to a conventional lawn, a scope of the work, type of materials, colors, raingarden allows 30 percent more water to soak into the ground. Want to learn grades, styles, model numbers, and total more about designing a raingarden? Dakota County facilitates severalworkshops cost. If time is a factor, an approximate each spring to provide residents with the knowledge necessary to make it happen. completion date should be indicated. For more information go to the following link and click on raingardens. The contract should include the names of http://www.ci.hastings.mn.us/CityServices/PublicWorks/PWEngineering/PWE any subcontractors and suppliers of materials. NGStormWaterRunoff.htm Any clean up of construction debris should be included in the contract. The contractor should obtain the necessary permits so the contractor is responsible for meeting all building codes. Earth Day activities. Check the City’s Citywide Spring Clean Up: The City is website for more details this Spring or once again planning to hold the Annual Any changes to the scope of the work or contact Kristin at 480-6175 or Spring Clean Up at the Cal Ruedy Public total contract price should be reduced to a kbehrens@ci.hastings.mn.us . Dates and times will Works Building. written ‘change order’ and signed and dated be announced this spring . Check by the homeowner and contractor. Arbor Day: This year’s Arbor Day the City’s website for more details or April contact Kristin at 480-6175 orCelebration will be held on Friday, The contract should have a holdback clause kbehrens@ci.hastings.mn.us30th at Wallin Park. with anyCome and cele- that allows the job to be inspected by the questions.brate Arbor Day with us! Volunteers are Hastings Building Department and the also needed to help with planting of homeowner before final payment is made. trees and bushes. Contact City Forester Earth Day: In celebration of Earth Day, Before making final payment, be certain to Paul Mahoney if you would like to City Parks the City is planning to hold a obtain full and final lien waivers by each of volunteer or with any questions about & Trails Clean-Up Event on Saturday, the subcontractors and material suppliers. the day’s activities at 480-6177 or April 24th. Help us clean-up our parks pmahoney@ci.hastings.mn.us . and trails and stay for food, drinks, and Minnesota law requires builders and remod- elers to warrant that a new home or home improvement project is free from different types of defects for varying lengths of time the work is performed.  HHS If issues or complaintsarise during or after The City and Waste Management would like to express appreciation to the construction process and cannot be Cross Country Ski Team Hastings Girl Scouts and the for all their hard resolved between you and the contractor, work in recycling during the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2009. They each received signed contracts, pictures, any other approximately $550-600 for their participation in the Youth Green Team relevant documents will be essential to Recycling Program! any legal recourse you may have.  If your youth group is interested in this program, contact Sandy Spring at 480-0307, ext. 0104, complete the application form, and submit to: Waste Management 2800 Millard Avenue, Hastings, MN 55033 Participants will be notified well in advance of their three month term. õþôöùøÿúôÿû øþôôööõý 13 Volume XIII, Issue 2 Hastings Parks and Winners will be chosen and their photos Recreation displayed at the 2010 Frosty Frolic event at Pioneer Park. Prizes will be awarded! 920 10th Street West This is a free program, just have your Hastings, MN 55033 Temperatures are dropping and snow photos submitted by January 21 st . is on its way! Celebrate the season Phone: 480-6175 by getting friends, family, and Call 480-6175 with questions or Fax: 437-5396 neighbors together and building a www.ci.hastings.mn.us www.ci.hastings.mn.us visit under snowman, while you are at it, show Parks & Recreation – Camps & off a little! Take a photo of everyone Parks & Recreation Hotline Special Events. involved with your chilly friend and 480-2392 send it either via e-mail or regular Hastings Parks & Recreation mail to the City to be entered into our Parks & Recreation Director: Attn: Snowman Snapshot “Snowman Snapshot”contest. You can Barry Bernstein 480-6176 920 West 10th Street also drop a print off at the Parks and bbernstein@ci.hastings.mn.us Hastings, MN 55033 Recreation office whichever is most kbehrens@ci.hastings.mn.us convenient for you! Parks Superintendent: Kevin Smith480-6178 ksmith@ci.hastings.mn.us Frosty Frolic! City Forester: Paul Mahoney480-6177 frosty For more information visit our website at Don’t miss this annual evening of pmahoney@ci.hastings.mn.us www.ci.hastings.mn.us under Parks & Recreation family fun! There will be outdoor skating, games, – Camps & Special Events or call 480-6179. bonfire, hot chocolate, popcorn, winter crafts and Hastings Family Aquatic more. Center: 480-2385 Thursday,January 28, 2010 Pioneer Park 5:00 8:00 PM Darbie Johnson480-6179 djohnson@ci.hastings.mn.us Civic Arena Manager: Sliv McGree480-6195 jmcgree@ci.hastings.mn.us Come enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, work in Santa’s workshop decorating crafts, and talk to St. Nick while getting your picture taken. Children can also write a letter to Santa and receive their Youth First Coordinator: personalized letter at the breakfast. Further details and registration forms can be found at the City’s Ann Grotjohn480-6182 www.ci.hastings.mn.us website at under Parks & Recreation – Camps & Special Events. agrotjohn@ci.hastings.mn.us Recreation Coordinator: Jared Flewellen480-6181 jflewellen@ci.hastings.mn.us PRE - REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Deadline is Friday, November 27, 2009. Event Minimum - 50 participants 14 Winter 2010 Hastings Parks & Recreation offers a variety of youth and adult3 vs 3 Men’s & Women’s Basketball Leagues: programs throughout the year. Youth can participate in camps, Beginning January, 2010 special events, and athletics while adults can participate in various Adult Boot Hockey: sports including softball, dodgeball, broomball, and many more. Registration is 11/9 – 12/13 We offer other special events that cover a wide variety of interests. Adult 6 vs 6 Dodgeball: You can find more information on our activities on the City’s website Two sessions; Registration is 9/30 – 10/18 for Session I www.ci.hastings.mn.usunder Parks and Recreation – Adult Athletics Registration 12/12 – 1/10 for Session II. or by calling Jared at 480-6181. Open Basketball: ADULT LEAGUES COMING SOON… Monday nights starting October 19th; 8:00-10:00pm, Adult Softball: Middle School South Gym; No registration required; Cost: Registration for summer leagues will begin in late January. $2 per person Adult 4 on 4 Hockey: Registration is 11/3 – 12/19 Parks & Recreation Information Financial Assistance Available: Adult SVR 6 vs 6 Broomball: Financial assistance is available for most Registration is 11/9 – 12/13 programs. For assistance, or additional information, please call 480-6175. Photo/Video Policy: Periodically the City of Hastings takes pictures or video of participants during programs, special events or people enjoying the parks. These photos may appear in local newspapers, Department and/or the City’s website/ The City of Hastings Parks & Recreation Too Cold to Skate Outside?Skate publication. Department operates six warming houses inside at the Hastings Civic Arena! for the five outdoor recreational skating Call 480-6195 to find out when Public Lost and Found: We retrieve many rinks and the four outdoor hockey rinks. The personal belongings each year that are Skating and Public Hockey opportunities are left behind at parks, programs or special rinks are free for the general public to use available. events. If you have lost something at any during posted dates and times. of our locations, contact us at 480-6175 Something new for the 2009-2010 to see if it was recovered. We hold items Warming houses will be open: or six months before being disposed of. A SKATING OVAL! A skating oval will be December 14, 2009 – groomed at Isabel Park rink for those Removal of Dog Waste: Citizens are February 15, 2010 skaters who wish to have more opportuni- reminded that it is their responsibility to clean up after their pets! Weather Permittingties for exercise! Data Privacy Advisory: In accordance www.ci.hastings.mn.us Please visit under with MN Govn’t Data Practices Act, the Parks & Recreation – Outdoor Ice Skating Parks & Recreation staff of Hastings hereby informs you that the personal information for warming house schedules and locations. we are requesting of you and/or your child on our registration form is considered private. Warming House Hotline: 480-2392 Private data is available to staff to perform their duties. While you may choose to with- Parks & Recreation: 480-6175 hold this data, the resultcould be that staff may not be able to complete your registration and/oryou may not receive updated program information such as schedule changes, etc. 15 PRSRT-STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID Hastings MN Permit No. 166 101 Fourth Street East Hastings, MN 55033 City Hall: Hours: 8am - 4:30pm Postal Customer Phone: 480-2350 Fax: 437-7082 www.ci.hastings.mn.us cityhall@ci.hastings.mn.us Printed on recycled paper containing no less than 10% post-consumer waste. Upcoming issues that the City Council has on its agenda Working for you, the citizens of include cutting over $2 million from the budget over the next Hastings, for the past year as a new member of the City Council has beentwo years, overseeing the architectural amenities for our new river bridge, transforming Levee Park, improving the visual a pleasure. My responsibilities have impact of Vermillion Street, making Hastings an attractive fallen into place and include addressing home for new and existing businesses, and insuring that we constituent concerns, reading documents, attending council andmaintain a high level of service for our residents, even as our budget shrinks during these tough economic times. committee meetings, working with the city staff, and attending functions on We're all in this together, so keep informed, and keep me behalf of the city. informed with your phone calls, letters, emails and discus- sions with me on the street. I'll be happy to help. Of all these, I find working with constituents has been the most rewarding. In the months I've served as your Ward 2 council member I've helped get a curb repaired, brokered an agreement to get a sewer line fixed, sorted out responsibility for payment of a broken water shut-off, mediated an agreement on the installation of a retaining wall for a homeowner, and helped answer neighborhood concerns about a new business operating in a resident's garage, to Ward 2City Council Member name just a few. Throughout all of these issues there were numerous emails, phone calls and meetings with citizens and our fine city staff. And it's all been a pleasure helping citizens resolve these issues.