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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 1997 Mayor's Message Dear Residents: ~ behalf of the entire City Council, it is our Vhope that all the residents have a prosper- ous and Happy New Year. As we begin the new year, continue to know that you may contact any member of the City Council with any concern or issue that you may have regarding the City of Hastings. The City Council and City Staffwill be determining the future goals and objectives for the City of Hastings, and if you have suggestions for projects or p.-ograms that should be considered, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Hastings City Council or myself. Mayor Mike Werner and the Hastings City Council . .. _~at's insi!! !]ris is!.u~. -'- _ ~~-~-~ ~~ Mayor 's Letter & Fmance 1 1997 Tax Levy ..h............................................. 1 Administration ............................................... 2 Franchise Fees. ................................................... 2 Parks " Recreation ...................................... 3 Civic Arena Hours & Open Skating Rinks ... 3 COlDmunity Development.......................... 4 Meet Hastings' New EmpJoyee ...................... 4 Fire ...................................................................... 5 Smoke Detel.tors , . They Save Lives! .......... 5 Public Works _....n......................................... 6 Snow Plowing & Highway 316 Study............ 6 1997 Street" Utlllty Projects Map ........7 Police .._.........._....._.......................................... 8 Home Security Tips ................... .........8 Volume 2 Issue 1 Volume II Hastings. MN 055033-1955 0 (612)437-4127 1997 City Budget 'Tlte 1997 Proposed Budget was adopted by the City ~ Council on December 16, 1996. The City con- ducted a Public Hearing on the 1997 City Budget on December 3, 1996. The property tax levy has been set at $3,412,497 which will mean no property tax increase on the City's portion of the overall tax bill - assuming the same property value from the previous year. The 1997 Budget will be fmanced by not only prop- erty tax revenues but will also include, state and federal aids and grants, charges for services, use of reserve funds, and bond issues. The three largest revenue sources are property taxes (33.5%), service charges (33%) and intergovernmental revenues (20.4%). The operating portion of the budget covers basic City services such as Police, Fire and Ambulance, Public Works (street maintenance, engineering, utilities and hydroelectric) Park and Arena maintenance, Community Development (planning, building inspections), Finance and other administrative- general government functions. The chart of operating expenditures does not reflect debt or capital outlay payments. Expenditures groupedby major category are as follows: CITY OF HASTINGS 1997 Operating Budget (14.1 %) Are Department (17.9%) Police Department (2.8%) Finance January' 1997 Page 1 Administration Rent the Great River Community Room With a new year upon us, the public is reminded of the wonderful meeting room space that is available in the City Hall. The Great River Conunu- nity Room, which is located on the east side of the City Hall, on the second floor is available for use by the public. During the non-City Hall hours, there is a charge of$25.00 for the first 2.5 hours of usage, and $10.00 per hour for every hour or part of an hour thereafter. The rental fee is to cover the cost of Hastings Police Reserve members who serve as security during the non-City Hall hours. Seating capacity of the Great River Conununity Room is 50. Smaller groups may wish to reserve ~ Hastings smaller meeting rooms that are also available under L\ the same terms and conditions. TRAC Copies of the meeting room usage policy and rentaJ~ 611NGS lRAtJ S . forms are available at the Hastings City Hall. ~ ervlce City Hall Contacts & Telephone Numbers Ward Hastin_ City Councll Mayor Mike Wemer 1 Councilmember Janette Yandrasits 2 Coundlmember Mike Simacek 3 Councilmember Ed Riveness 4 CounciImember Janice Johnson At Large Councilmember Paul Hicks At Large Coundlmember Lynn Moratzka Staff Ctty AdmJnistrator David Osberg City Cerkl Administrative Aasistant Joyce Pruitt Community Development Director Michael Wozniak Finance Director Lori Webster Fire Otief Don Latch Parks '" Recreation Director Marty McNamara Police Otief Nick Wasy\ik Public Works Director Tom Montgomery 437-4143 438-3194 437-3387 437-4416 437-2831 437-8866 437-7869 OFFlCB HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday PHONB NUMBBRS Oty Hall Offices OtyHallFaxNumber Police Departm<!nt Fire Departm<!nt '" AmboIance Service Streets Department Utilities Department . Ovic Arena Parks Department Emergency 9-1-1 437-4127 437-7082 437-4126 437-5610 437-4415 437-3922 439-4940 437-5858 Volume II ----.- Electric Franchise Ordinance Custon1ers of Northern States Power and Dakota Electric will notice a line item in their electric bill referencing a franchise fee. This franchise fee that was set at 4% as a result of new ordinances that were adopted in November, 1996 by the City Council, that grant electric franchises to Dakota Electric Association and Northern States Power. The City will be using the revenues derived ftom the franchise fee to offset operating, capital and debt service payments on the Hydro Power Plant. The ftanchise fee will terminate in 2006 after the bonds to pay for the Hydro Power Plant are retired. Hastings TRAC is a Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. flexible curb to curb transit service available to Hastings residents. Our policy is to pick our riders up at their door and deliver them to their destinations. Individuals that have difficulty getting in and out of vehicles will benefit ftom Hastings TRAC buses that are handicap accessible. Hastings TRAC service is a low cost, efficient mode of transportation for all city residents. You can save money and help the environment by riding TRAC! Our rates are reasonable, making the bus an affordable method of transportation for everyone. Residents of all ages who need a ride can use this service! In addition, while you are saving money, you are also helping to reduce air and noise pollution by lowering the number of individual cars on our roads. In order to make the ride efficient and enjoyable for everyone we ask that you schedule your appoint- ment with TRAC at least 24 hours in advance of your trip. Rides may be scheduled ftom 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling 437- TRAC (8722). The cost for a one-way ride is $1.50 with a token ($3.00 round trip). The cash tare is $1.55 for a one-way ride. Page 2 Parks & Recreation Open Swimming Open Gym Monday nights from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. the Sr. High Available to only School District 200 residents at School pool at 11th & Pine is reserved for Sr. High Main Gyms. The gyms are set up for FAMILY SWIM. Children should be accompanied by volleyball and basketball. Monday nights Jan. 6, 13; at least 1 aduh. Cost is $1.00 students, $1.50 Adults, Feb. 3, 10,17the gyms are open 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. for $3.00 Family. Dates are Jan. 6, 13; Feb. 3, 10, 17, middle schooler and 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. for Sr. High & 24; March 3,10,17,31; April 7, 14,21,28. Adults. Cost is $1.00 students, $1.50 adults, $10.00 Saturdays Jan. 11,25; Feb. 1,8, 15 and March I, 8 book of 12 tickets. from 1:00 - 2:45 p.m. the pool is open for recreational Open gym is open on Saturdays from 10:30 - 12:30 swimming. Cost same as family swim. on Jan. 4, 11, 18,25. January - March (except Jan. 20, 27 and March Memorial Tree Program 24, 26) Monda~ & Wednesdays ~ 8:.00 - 9:00. ~e City of Hastings has a Memorial Tree Pro- p .m. the pool IS reserved for lap swunmmg. Cost IS Crttzen' . ha rtunrty' to Iant tree $1 50 gram. s ve an oppo p a " Winter Swim Lesson in one of the City Parks in honor of a loved one. The Registration will be held at theSr. High Auditorium City will plant a 1 1/2" - 2" balled & burlapped tree Foyer, Saturday J~uary ~ from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. and engrave the name of the individual on a memorial . . ~pnng SWIm Lesso~ tree placque located in City Hall. The fee to partici- Registration will be held at the Sr. High, Saturday, pate in the program is $200.00. a- VI- March 15 from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. _ . Outdoor Skating Rinks Lake Isabelle Park - East 2nd & Franklin Lions Park - W. 5th St. & State St. Kenoedy School- E. 11th & Bailey St. Pioneer Park - W. 15th St. & Pine St. Wilson Park - W. 5th & Eddy St. Dakota Hills Park - W. 23rd St. & Westview Drive The outdoor skating rinks are scheduled to close for the season February 15, 1997. Hastings Civic Arena and Events ",., Morning Public Skating January - March 1997 Admission: $2.50 Skating $3.50 Hockey -Fridays, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Rent Skates -Thursday 8:30 a.m.-1O:30 a.m. for $1.75 Evening Public Skating January 1997 February 1997 Wed.Ol 11:15-4:15 p.m. Sat. 08 1:30 - 3:00p.m. Sat. 04 1:30 -3:00 p.m. Sun. 091:15 - 2:45 p.m. Sun.05 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Sat. 22 1 :30 - 3:00 p.m. Sun.19 1:15-2:45p.m. Sun.231:15-2:45p.m. Mon.20 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Sat. 25 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Sun.26 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Hockey -December - March 9, 1997 Hockey practice, youth and High School. - Hastings Hockey Booster Youth game times will vary. Call Arena at 437-4940 or a youth hockey coach. Youth Hockey Tournament Dates January 10-12,1997 A & B Bantams January 31-Feb. 2, 1997 A & B PeeWee Feb. 14-16, 1997 C Bantams & C PeeWee Feb. 28 - March 2, 1997 In House Squirts & Mites Arctic Blades Skating School January 5, 1997 - March 2, 1997 -9 Week session - Sundays 5:45 - 8:00 p.m. -Lessons for all ages and abilities. Hockey beginning skills for girls & boys. .January High School Girls Hockey Games at Hastings Bovs Hastings v. No. St. Paul 8:00p.m. Thurs. 09 Hastings v. Woodbury Hastings v. West. St. Paul 8:00p.m. Sat. 18 Hastings v. Eagan Hastings v. So. St. Paul 8:00 p.m. Thurs. 30 Hastings v. W. St. Paul Hastings v. Sin1ley 8:00 p.m. Tues. 07 Tues. 14 Tues. 21 Tues. 28 Volume 1/ March 1997 Sat. 08 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 7:30p.m. 7:15 p.m. 7:30p.m. Page 3 Community Development New City Employee - Matthew .J. Weiland, Zoning Administrator "T'he City of Hastings recently hired Matt .1 Weiland to fill the position of Zoning Administrator in the Community Development Division. Matt started working in this position on November 19, 1996. Prior to his being hired as Zoning Administrator, Matt had been employed with the City of Hastings as a Planning Intern from July - November 1996. Duties of the Zoning Administrator position include administering City land use regulations including zoning, subdivision and other relevant ordinances. The focus of the position is code enfurcement and making sure that new development is buih according to approved plans. Duties will include administering the Hastings Structure MaintP.l1ance Code for Rental Residential Properties and coordinating enfurcement of the City's nuisance related regulations with Community Service Officer's employed by the Police Department. Matt is expecting to complete a Masters of Urban Planning Degree from Mankato State University in the Spring of 1997. His education also includes a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Minnesota at Duluth. As part of his duties as Zoning Administrator, Matt will serve as the principal contact for residents with complaints or concerns regarding the appearance or condition of blighted or poorly maintained properties. Matt may be reached at 437-4127 with any questions regarding City requirements related to the upkeep of property. Matt Weiland, ZoningAdministrator Commission Continues Historic District Study "T'he City has been awarded a matching grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, .1 through the Minnesota Historical Society, to complete study for a third historic district in Hastings in 1997. Landscape Research, an architectural history consulting finD, has been contracted to continue to work with the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). During the next nine months, an area and individual properties will be proposed for public comment and COUIlCiI consideration as National Register or City Historic Site designation. The study area is from 4th Street to 10th Street, and from Bailey to Forest. The proposed district would be smaller but within the study area. The City's two existing districts, desig- nated in 1977, are on Second Street between Vermillion and Ramsey and between Spring and Forest. Within districts, building, ~ demolition and moving permits, subdivision, new construction, and public improvements are reviewed by the HPC for compatibility with the original design and layout. Historic districts encourage owners to maintain and improve their properties in ways that are compatible with the building's age and the neighbomood's appearance. Experience indicates that historic districts by themselves do not change property values and real estate taxes. There is a bill before Congress to provide federal income tax credits for owners that invest in their historic homes. The house would have to be designated historic by the National Register or local HPC. Volume II Page 4 Fire Departlllent Smoke Detectors Life Savers 'TDe majority of fatal home fires happen at night .1 when people are asleep. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. The poisonous gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep. Inexpensive household smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Smoke detectors save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in private homes. Is One Enough? A ccording to the National Fire Protection Asso- ficiation (NFPA), minimum protection requires a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed in or near living areas such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms. Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke detectors' alarms even with bedroom doors closed. If not, or if any residents are hearing- impaired, install additional detectors inside bed- rooms. For the hearing inipaired, there are smoke detectors that flash a strobe light in addition to sounding an audible alarm. For extra protection, NFPA suggests installing additional detectors in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms, and hallways. Smoke detectors are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms, or garages - where cooking fumes, steam, or exhaust could set off false alarms - or for attics and other unheated spaces - where humidity and tempera- ture changes might affect a detector's operation. Where to Install D ecause smoke rises, mount detectors high on a Dwall or on the ceiling. Wall-mounted units should be hung 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 em) from the ceiling. A ceiling-mounted detector should be attached at least 4 inches (10 cm) from the nearest wall. In rooms with pitched ceilings, mount the detector at or near the ceiling's highest point. In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke detectors anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. But always position smoke detectors at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading to the basement, because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching the detector. Don't install a smoke detector near a window, door, or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with the unit's operation. BASEMENT Where to Install Smoke Detectors in Your Home Choosing a Detector Dozens of brands of smoke detectors are for sale in hardware, department, and discount stores. Be sure that the smoke detectors you buy bear the label of an independent testing laboratory, such as UL. Several types of detectors are available. Some run on batteries, others on household current. Some detect smoke using an "ionization" sensor, others use a "photoelectric" detection system. All approved smoke detectors, regardless of type, will offer adequate protection provided they are installed and maintained properly. Volume 11 Page 5 Public Works Snow Plowing Highway 316 Study Snow plow drivers' visibiIity is limited. There 'T'he Minnesota Department of Transportation has is a large blind spot directly behind the trucks. .1 begun a study of~e Highway 316 corridor from When following a snow plow, please stay well its junction with Highway 61 in Hastings to its junction back. The plows occasionally have to stop and with Highway 61 in Goodhue County. An initial back up and the drivers cannot see vehicles meeting was held on November 19, 1996 to which directly behind the trucks. representatives of the two couoties, three cities, area Snow plow operations occasionally damage townships, Prairie Island Mdewakanton Council, mailboxes. The City has a policy to repair or Metropolitan Council, and area State Legislators were replace mailboxes struck by snow plows. invited. However, mailboxes damaged by snow thrown by No plans for converting Highway 316 to a four the plow are the homeowner's responsibiIityto lane highway are being considered. MnDOT is repair. Mailboxes are supposed to be installed finalizing its metro area 20 year transportation system flush with the back of the curb, 8 inches behind plan, under which priorities for spending are the edge of the street (see diagram below). The maintaining the existing highway system. What little Postal Service requests that homeowners keep funds are left for expanding roadway capacity are the area in front of their mailboxes clear so that being targeted to areas with higher traffic volumes postal vehicles are able to get close to the around and inside the 494/694 beltway. mailbox. The Highway 316 study will work towards determining transportation needs, a long range vision for the corridor, and developing improvement priorities. The needs for shoulders and turning lanes along Highway 316 will be addressed. MnDOT will be holding infonnational meetings and open houses about the study process some time in late January or earlFeb snow _~ goes into wilen 2 incbes or more of snow (as measured at the MinneapoIisISt. Paul Airport) has fallen. Under a snow emergmcy, no parking 00 any City streit is aIIowed 1DIIi11bat streit has beeo c1eared to its full widh. VIoIators will be tidcEted and towIrl Check cable cbarmel12 or Correctl ImtaIIed Mailbox KDW A 1460 AM to see if a snow emergmcy is in effuct Y Street & Utility Projects '"fl1e City and Dakota County have been working cooperatively 00 plans to reconstruct CR #42 (2nd .1 Street and Nininger Road) from the Highway 61 bridge to CR #87 in Nininger. Included with this project is the reconstruction of Grove, River, and Ashland Streets north of CR #42, and Maple St. from 3rd St. to CR #42. Coostruction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 1997 and will include new bituminous paving, concrete curb and gutter, decorative street lighting from the downtown area to the Lakeside Cemetery, a trail from CR #42 and Pleasant Dr. down to the Lock and Dam, a large retaining wall between Forest and Pine Streets on the north side of the road, new and replacement sidewalks, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer and water main replacements and extensions. Other street and utility improvements proposed for 1997 include Roadside Park area improvements involving 12th St. from Eddy Street to Pine Street, Eddy St. from Hwy 55 to 13th St., Ashland St. from 11th St. to 12th St., and Maple St. from 9th St. to 12th Street. This work would include new bituminous paving, coocrete curb and gutter, storm sewer, and sidewalk construction. An open house will be held towards the end of January to receive comments on draft plans and construction proposals. The City Engineering Department is also preparing feasibility studies for improvements to I st Street (Featherstooe Rd.) from Pleasant Dr. west to the top of the hill, and an expansion of the Industrial Park streets and utilities. Expansion of the Bohlken development west of Cannon St., and development of the King Midas addition are also planned. If you have any questions about these projects, please contact Public Works Director, Tom Montgomery. a== :1 I ~ BACK OF II'" CUR~ """,,~\'It ..U:V\.""fJ.~ I Volume II Page 6 1997 Hastings Street Improvements N N,mprovements N Streets County Rd 42 Prolect ~CR M2 from HWY 81 to CR 187 -M.pl.St. From 3rd St. to CR 142 -Grove St., Rlv.... and Ash"nd Stre... north o'CR 142 q ~ Roadside Park Ar.. -12th It from Eddy 8t. to Pine St. . Eddy Bt. from HWV 55 to 13th 81 -Ashland at. from 11th at. to 12th 8t. - Maple 81. from 9th at. to 12th St. 1st street -1.181 (F..therstone Rd.) from Pl....nl Dr. to WHI City Llmlll Industrial Park Expansion - Enterprls. Ave. from 31st 8t. to Veterans Athletic Complex -Spiral BLVD. from Intet to Enterprise Ave. .31st St. from Megan Dr. to Enterprise Ave. Bohlken 4th Addlton - South Park Drtve Extension within the Bohlken 4th Addition Kina Midas Drive - King Mid.. Lane aw I \ Created By:Hastings Planning Dept. 12/1/96 Volume II Page 7 Police Home Security Tips Remember that the key factor in most crimes is OPPORTUNITY. We all can be wlnerable to home burglary. This crime has increased at an alarming rate especially in suburban residential areas. However, positive steps taken by residents can reduce home burglaries to ensure their homes do not attract burglars. The National Sherrif'fs' Association has provided some simple home security tips we can follow to greatly reduce our chance of being burglarized. They are as follows: + Use a timer that automatically turns on a living room light at dusk. + Always close and lock garage doors. + Secure automatic garage door openers in the glove compartment of your vehicle. +Secure all obvious (and not so obvious) points of entry to your home. Pretend you are the burglar and plan how you would get in; then install secure locks on all doors and windows. +Brightly illuminate all entrances, preferably with vandal proof fixtures. +Install new locks when moving into a previously owned home. +Keep extra keys out of sight and in a safe place; never hide a key putside - most hiding places are obvious to burglars. + Avoid displaying valuable items near windows with open drapes or shades. + Never leave a note on the door explaining why you are not at home. +Start a neighborhood crime watch with your neighbors to watch each other's homes. To do this contact Officer Hicks of the Hastings Police Department at 437-4126. Hastings Police Department '97 Fee Schedule Accident Reports $4.00 Fingerprinting Additional Pages $.50 (Appointment Required) Incident Reports $4.00 Gun Permit to Carry After initial report, additional pages $.25 Photocopies Driver's License Print-<>ut $2.00 Photographs (Roll of Film) Faxing: Tapes: 1 to 2 Pages $1.00 Video Audio $5.00 $10.00 $.50 $20.00 $35.00 $25.00 Other ReportslRequest for Information: Fees to be charged according to time and materials used to gather and process the information requested, acco . to State data ractices . delines. City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East Hastings, MN 55033-1955 Carrier Route Sort BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Hastings, MN Permit No. 166 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER CONTAINING NO LESS mAN 10"/0 POST CONSUMER WAS1E -......----