The New Hope City Council recently accepted the audit report of the 2009 City of New Hope Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from the audit firm of Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich, and Co. The audit results were very good – a “clean opinion with no exceptions,” which is the highest opinion that an auditor can give. The audit report also indicated “no findings” in a review of state compliance and internal control reports. The auditor noted that, with the guidance of its financial management consultant Abdo, Eick, and Meyers, LLP, the city made a number of improvements to its internal control systems and accounting procedures in 2009. The city of New Hope will be submitting its 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for an achievement for financial reporting certificate from the Government Finance Officers’ Association, similar to the award recently received for the 2008 report.

The New Hope City Council presented Lifetime Fitness with the Spring 2010 Outstanding Business Award on May 24. The award recognizes local businesses for their contributions to the New Hope community and to encourage other businesses to strive for the excellence achieved by recipients. Lifetime Fitness has been serving health and fitness enthusiasts from its location in New Hope Mall, 4239 Winnetka Ave. N., since 2003. The New Hope Lifetime has 20 full-time and 55 part-time employees. In accepting the award, general manager Sam Remus noted, “The members (at the New Hope Lifetime) are truly a small community. It’s turned into more of a place for social health and wellness rather than just physical exercise.” Lifetime was nominated for the award by John Del Toro, manager of New Hope Mall. Congratulations to Lifetime Fitness, one of New Hope’s outstanding businesses!

In January, the New Hope City Council amended the city’s sign ordinance to allow temporary signs two feet behind the curb. The ordinance changes apply to all temporary freestanding signs that do not require a permit – including garage sale, open house, and auction signs. The revised ordinance is comparable to temporary sign practices in New Hope’s neighboring communities. The previous ordinance, which inspectors rigorously enforced, required temporary signs to be at least 10 feet behind the curb or behind the sidewalk.

Temporary signs must be no more than two feet by three feet in size and stand no more than three feet in height. Signs placed at the two foot setback that impede or interfere with the use of a sidewalk must be placed behind the sidewalk. The city also reminds residents to get permission from the property owner before placing a temporary sign on any private property they do not own. Temporary signs may not be placed on public property, for example, in a city park.

For more information about temporary sign requirements in New Hope contact the New Hope Community Development Department at 763-531-5127.

Minnesota law now requires residents in the Twin Cities area who bag their yard and organic waste to put their waste out for pickup in compostable bags – either paper (kraft) bags or compostable plastic bags.

Compostable plastic bags look different from regular plastic bags. They are usually clear or a translucent shade of green, white or pink. To ensure that bags comply with the new state law, they should clearly state that they meet the ASTM D6400 standard, or display the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable logo (below). Most home improvement, grocery, and hardware stores and some online suppliers now carry compostable bags.

Please be aware that if you do not use a compostable kraft or plastic bag or a cart from your refuse hauler for yard waste, they will not collect it.

At the suggestion of a resident, the New Hope City Council recently amended the city code to expand the types of items that can be composted in the city. The revised ordinance allows residents to compost fruit and vegetable waste, egg shells and coffee grounds, in addition to yard waste in their back yards. Other types of food waste, especially dairy, fats and meat products, as well as animal waste still may not be composted.

Many of the composting guidelines in the city code remain unchanged. Compost sites must be at least five feet from any rear or side property line, may not be located in a front yard or a side yard that is adjacent to a public right-of-way, may not be in a drainage easement, and may not be closer than 25 feet from any residence. They must be 25 square feet or less in size, and a maximum of four feet in height. Compost sites must be totally contained within a permanent structure constructed of nondegrading material, allow circulation of air, and be visually complimentary to the property’s primary structure.

Work began on April 12 on reconstruction of Winnetka Avenue between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue in New Hope. The project will also include replacement of the 12 inch water main in the area and improvements to the storm water system. Winnetka Avenue will remain open as much as possible throughout construction. New Hope received a $779,000 federal stimulus program grant to fund much of the street and storm water portions of the project and a $419,000 low-interest loan from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Drinking Water Revolving Fund program to fund the water main replacement.

The City Council is also planning an improvement project along Bass Lake Road between Winnetka and Yukon avenues. That project, which is expected to begin in July, involves the expansion of the water main along the north side of Bass Lake Road from eight inches to 16 inches. The larger water main will improve fire safety and accommodate redevelopment in the neighborhood.The project will also include a new bus shelter on the south side of Bass Lake Road at Yukon Avenue, the installation of decorative pedestrian street lights, and new sidewalk. Funding for the $978,000 Bass Lake Road improvement project will come from municipal state aid, a $350,000 Transit Oriented Development grant from the county, the city’s utility fund, and possibly Tax Increment Financing.

Both projects should be substantially completed by this fall.

Two dog parks are now open in New Hope at the hockey rink enclosures in Civic Center and Lions parks. A pet waste station with a bag dispenser and waste bin is provided for the convenience of dog owners. The dog parks are free and open from dawn until dusk. Parking is available at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N, for the Civic Center dog park and on 38th Avenue just east of Oregon Avenue for Lions Park.

Dog park users are asked to follow a few common sense rules, including:

• Dogs must be on leash when entering and leaving the rink enclosure and owners must carry a leash with them while their pet is exercising.
• Dog owners must be in verbal control of their animals at all times and should leave if their pet becomes aggressive or barks excessively.
• Dogs should be properly licensed and vaccinated.
• Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries or damage caused by them.

The hockey rink dog park in Lions Park is a one year trial and will be reevaluated next winter. The dog park in Civic Center Park went through a one year trial last year and is now a permanent amenity of the park.

In fall 2009, the New Hope City Council approved ordinance revisions that changed the duration and fees for animal licenses in New Hope. Previously, licenses for dogs, cats and ferrets in New Hope were annual; expiring on December 31 of each year. Now, the duration of an animal’s license is the same as the duration of its rabies vaccination (up to three years). For example, if a pet’s current rabies vaccination expires in June of 2011, the pet owner needs to renew its license in January 2010, and again in June 2011 to coincide with the rabies vaccination. The change makes New Hope’s animal license ordinance similar to Crystal’s, reduces staff time and postage costs to administer license renewals, and is more convenient for residents.

Pet owners need to provide a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate from their veterinarian to receive a new license. The fee for an animal license is now $15 for a spayed or neutered pet or $30 for an unaltered animal. Fee adjustments will be made if an animal’s rabies vaccination expires during 2010. Pet owners can complete the licensing process by mail, or in person at the New Hope Police Department, 4401 Xylon Ave. N. (east entrance), Police office hours are 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday, or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. (Click graphic at left for a larger illustration of City Hall entrance and parking lot locations.)

Hennepin County has housing rehabilitation funds available to income-eligible New Hope homeowners who live in a single-family home or duplex that needs some work. The funds are provided in the form of a deferred loan, with no monthly payments, secured by a fifteen year lien against the property. If the homeowner moves within the term of the loan, the amount borrowed and, in some cases, interest must be repaid.

In order to be eligible for assistance, the borrower’s total household income may not exceed 80 percent of the area median income, which is $44,800 for an individual or $64,000 for a family of four. Other conditions apply. The maximum loan amount is $30,000. Once the county determines that a borrower is eligible for the loan program, Hennepin County staff will schedule an appointment to inspect the property and establish, with the help of the homeowner, the improvements and repairs that are eligible and necessary. Owners of a home built before 1978 may also be eligible for a small loan to help pay for work needed to resolve lead-based paint hazards. The county will prepare a scope of work which the borrower will use to obtain competitive bids from contractors for the work. Hennepin County will inspect completed work and pay the contractor directly.

For more information about the housing rehabilitation funds available to New Hope residents through Hennepin County, contact Jim Graham at 612-348-2235.