City of New Hope

A publication of the city of New Hope, Minnesota e www.ci.new-hope.mn.us

Spring 2014Number 189

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

Some highlights of this issue include:Emergency Water Supply JWC cities approve well projectCompass Point Apartments Approved at 62nd and W BroadwayNational Night Out Sign up your neighborhoodIn Business • Gates of New Hope • BUCO Program2013 Water Quality Report Drinking water test results for 2013Duk Duk Daze is July 18-20 New Hope's summer celebration

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A great place to grow!4401 Xylon Avenue North

New Hope, MN 55428

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Prsrt StdU.S. Postage

PAIDTwin Cities, MNPermit No. 2330

Current resident or

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The Winnetka Learning Center started coming down in mid-March to make

way for a new housing development.The New Hope City Council finalized the purchase of the 17-acre Winnetka Learning Center site from Robbinsdale Area Schools in November 2013. Later that month, the Council selected Cen-tra Homes as the preferred developer for the site.Centra Homes is planning to build 34 single family homes and 27 detached townhomes on the former school dis-trict property at 55th and Winnetka avenues. The single-family homes will be located on the western end of the new develop-ment. Highlights include:v 2,600 to 3,500 square feet including

two stories and a basementv flexible floor plan with up to 4 bed-

rooms and a three-car garage

v a sale price of between $275,000 and $350,000

Centra Homes believes that these single-family homes will be particularly attractive to growing families that are looking to “move-up.”The detached town homes, which will be located just west of Winnetka Ave-nue, are a new housing product in New Hope. Highlights include:v about 1,800 to 2,200 square feetv freestanding townhomes, each with

its own yard, and no shared walls with the townhome next door

v flexible floor plans with up to 4 bed-rooms and a two-car garage

v maintained by an associationv a sale price of between $225,000 and

$275,000Centra Homes believes that the town-homes will appeal to young families, young professionals, and couples look-

ing to downsize.In January, the City Council selected the low bidder, Land-wehr Construction, to demolish the Winnetka Learn-ing Center build-ing and remove the parking lots and underground storage tanks. Demolition work began in mid-March, with removal of as-bestos from the old

Winnetka Learning Center is demolished to make way for new homes

In late January, three devel-opers presented concept

plans for redevelopment of the city-owned, former Kmart site in New Hope’s City Center area. The Coun-cil reviewed proposals by Amcon Construction, Ander-son Companies, and Beard Group at a work session in early February and agreed that the proposal by Ander-son Companies for a grocery store was the most intrigu-ing, and worth pursuing further. Council members pointed out that residents have been asking for a grocery store in New Hope for many years. And, although the city

Hy-Vee grocery store proposed for City Center

has had discussions with several other grocery chains, none have expressed interest in locating here. Later that month, the Council met representatives from the developer and the grocery store – Hy-Vee – to discuss their redevelop-ment proposal and suggest refinements to the preliminary concept plan.At its second meeting in March, coun-cil members, acting as the city’s Eco-nomic Development Authority (EDA),

approved a preliminary development agreement with Anderson Compa-nies. The agreement is a com-mitment by the city to work exclusively with Anderson Companies for the next six months on re-development of the former Kmart site. During that time the developer will work through the details of the site and building plans for the development, while

the city identifies the public improvements that would need to be completed for the project to proceed, determines a sale price for the property, and drafts a redevelopment agreement.

Hy-Vee ProposalAnderson Companies is proposing to construct a 90,000 square foot Hy-Vee grocery store on the north end of the

New Hope City Day is June 21

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Hy-Vee is proposing an attractive storefront with several separate entries.

The fifth annual City Day, on Satur-day, June 21, will be a great oppor-

tunity to have some fun and get a little better idea of what’s going on at New Hope City Hall.The open house event, which is sched-uled from 9 a.m. until noon, will pro-vide residents with a chance to have an informal chat with members of the City Council or city staff and to learn about city programs,services and current projects.City Day also features a variety of fun activities for the entire family. While details are still being worked out, planned activities include:v Heavy equipment from the Public

Works Departmentv Police and fire vehiclesv Twelve TV production truckv Tours of the Police Department v Tumbling demonstrations by the

New Hope Tumblers competitive gymnastics team at 9 a.m.

v Dance program sampler at 10 a.m. v Police K-9 demonstration at 10:30 a.m.v Highlights from Off-Broadway

Musical Theatre’s production of the

musical “Into the Woods” at 11:30 a.m.City Day is being coordinated with the West Metro Fire Open House, which will have lots of fun and informative displays, demonstrations, and a waffle breakfast going on at the same time, right down the street at Station 3, 4251 Xylon Ave. N. Weather permitting, City Day activi-ties will be outside in front of City Hall, 4401 Xylon Avenue N., and at the New Hope Outdoor Theatre next door.

The Eastchester is one of Centra's single family home models.

There are lots of fun and interesting things for the whole family to see and do at City Day.

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

Kathi Hemken Mayor763-537-7990 khemken@ci.new-hope.mn.us

John Elder Council Member763-913-1472 jelder@ci.new-hope.mn.us

Andy HoffeCouncil Member763-537-2647ahoffe@ci.new-hope.mn.us

Eric LammleCouncil Member763-544-0912elammle@ci.new-hope.mn.us

Frequently Called City NumbersGeneral Telephone ........... 763-531-5100Inspections ...........................763-531-5127building permits, complaintsParks and Recreation ........763-531-5151Public Works .......................763-592-6777sewer backup, snowplowing, forestryUtility Billing ........................763-592-6760Police (non-emergency) ....763-531-5170TTY (through MN Relay) ...651-602-9005

Kirk McDonaldCity Manager763-531-5112kmcdonald@ci.new-hope.mn.us

City Hall Address 4401 Xylon Avenue NorthNew Hope, MN 55428City Websitewww.ci.new-hope.mn.usTell us what you think...24-Hour Opinion Line .... 763-531-5102E-mail .......cityhall@ci.new-hope.mn.us

Daniel StaunerCouncil Member763-536-1415dstauner@ci.new-hope.mn.us

The fifth annual New Hope In Focus photo contest will give local pho-

tographers an opportunity to showcase their skills and show a little community pride. You don’t need to be a serious photographer or have fancy equipment to enter and win – many past winners used point-and-shoot cameras. You just need to pick the right subject in our fair city and capture an image at just the right moment.The deadline for this year’s In Focus photo contest is Friday, August 15, but photos can be submitted any time after June 1. Photographers can enter pho-tos in one of three main categories – People, Places and Nature. The category winner with the highest overall score will receive a $100 prize, the other category winners will receive $75. The first place win-ners in the Youth category (16 and under), and the People’s Choice category will each receive a $50 prize.Photographers who live or work in New Hope may submit up to three photos. In order to qualify for the contest, a photograph must have been taken somewhere in New Hope and must be

Enter the New Hope In Focus photo contest

the work of the person submitting it. Each photo must be submitted as a 5x7 print, and prints will not be returned. Like any contest, there are lots more rules that need to be followed. A com-plete list of contest rules is available on the In Focus webpage and the entry form. To obtain an entry form, see last year’s winners, or for more information, visit www.ci.new-hope.mn.us/infocus or call 763-531-5103.

"Little Girl," by Amos Vodis was awarded first place in the People, Youth and People's choice categories last year.The filing period for two council

member seats on the New Hope City Council continues until June 3. An individual may run for City Council in New Hope if they are an eligible voter, will be at least 21 years old on January 1, 2015, and have maintained a residence in the city for 30 days before the general election. Candidates may file for office with the city clerk from May 20 until

In January 2014, the three member cities of the Joint

Water Commission (JWC) ap-proved a plan to construct an emergency water supply system.New Hope has been purchas-ing treated water from the city of Minneapolis through a joint powers agreement with the cities of Crystal and Golden Valley since 1963. In recent years, the JWC cities have become concerned that all of the city of Minneapolis’ water comes from one source – the Mississippi River, and Minneapolis has no emergency water supply in place should anything happen to jeopardize the water from the Mississippi River.In 2012, the JWC authorized a study to explore the options for and the cost of establishing an emergency water supply in our area. Emergency water supply system The $4 million project approved in Janu-ary involves drilling three new wells near the JWC’s reservoirs (two in Crystal and one in Golden Valley) and making the existing well near New Hope’s north water tower operable again. The well water supply system will be able to make about 6 million gallons of water a day available to the JWC. The wells will only be used in an emergency. The well water would be treated so that it would be safe to drink, but it would not be softened.

Construction of the project should begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2015.Paying for the projectEach of the JWC cities are responsible for funding a portion of the emergency water supply project. New Hope’s share of the project is $1.1 million. In February, the City Council approved an additional water fee of 20 cents per thousand gallons to fund New Hope’s share of the project costs. The new fee will go toward constructing and main-taining the emergency backup system. The cost to an average residential util-ity customer is about $1 per month (based upon 5,000 gallons of usage). The fee took effect in March and began appearing on utility bills in April.

JWC cities approve emergency water supply project

The city's inspections division has recently been receiving numerous

complaints about improperly stored waste and recycling containers. In New Hope, waste containers must be screened from view and the amount of time they may be left at the curb is limited.Section 9-11 of the New Hope City Code requires waste containers to be stored in the side or rear yard of a resi-dential property.In single-family neighborhoods, waste containers must be screened from the view of all homes within 50 feet and from adjacent streets. Many residents choose to conceal their waste contain-ers by storing them in the garage. For those who prefer to construct an outside trash enclosure, a simple plan is available on the city's website at www.ci.new-hope.mn.us/trashenclosure or at the Community Development Depart-ment in City Hall.The city code also stipulates that waste containers, yard waste and other bulky materials may not be placed at the curb any earlier than sunset on the day pre-ceding the scheduled pickup and must be removed by sunset on the scheduled pickup day.Another important consideration when

placing waste containers near the street for pickup is that the contain-ers should not be placed in the street. They can be a traffic hazard and may hamper snowplowing and other street maintenance activities. Residents who violate the waste con-tainer requirements in the city code may receive a citation or fine. For more information about New Hope's waste ordinances, contact the inspections di-vision at 763-531-5127.

Candidate filing period ends June 35 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3. The city clerk’s office is at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N. The filing fee is $5. If five or more residents file for the two city council seats a local primary will be held on August 12 to nar-row the field to four candidates. For more information, contact city clerk Valerie Leone at 763-531-5117 or vleone@ci.new-hope.mn.us

City code regulates placement of waste containers

The city code does not allow waste containers to be stored in the front yard and requires that they be screened from view.

An existing well in New Hope will be renovated as part of the JWC's emergency water supply project.

Nominate a neighbor for a New Hope RAVE! Award

Jeri Nowak was the first renter to win a RAVE! Award in 2013 for the beautiful gardens she has created at the townhome she rents at 2845 Flag Avenue N.

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

Do you have a neighbor who takes special pride

in their landscaping, has a beautiful garden, or recently completed a noteworthy home improvement project? Why not nominate them for a New Hope RAVE! Award? Any residential property in New Hope is eligible to be nominated for a RAVE! Award, that includes both single-family and multi-family homes that are owner-occupied or rental property. Any New Hope resident or business person can make a nomination. In fact, if you’re really pleased with how a recent project turned out at your home, feel free to nominate yourself!While gardens and landscaping are easily the most popular categories, the RAVE! Awards also include categories for remodeling or renovation projects, additions, general property mainte-nance, and environmentally sensitive improvements (including a rain garden or a project that uses “green” building materials).A panel of volunteer judges will screen all of the entries and tour and evaluate the top entries before they make award recommendations to the City Council. Judging will occur in mid-August.

The Council will make the final deci-sion on award winners and recognize them at a City Council meeting. Win-ners also have their names inscribed on a permanent plaque at City Hall, receive a personalized garden stone or plaque, and are highlighted in the In Touch newsletter.To nominate someone for a RAVE! Award, download a nomination form from the city’s website, www.ci.new-hope.mn.us/rave. For more information or to volunteer to be a RAVE! Award judge, call the New Hope Community Development Department at 763-531-5196. The deadline for nominations is Friday, August 1.

New Hope has conducted a City Services Survey every year since

2011 as part of its participation in the voluntary Performance Measure-ment Program. The purpose of the performance measurement program is to help residents and local officials determine how effective the city has been in providing core city services and to measure residents’ opinions of those services. The New Hope City Council adopted and implemented 19 performance measures in March. Those perfor-mance measures include both objec-tive and subjective indicators of the quality of police services, fire and EMS services, city streets, water system, sanitary sewer system, and general areas including the overall quality of city services, overall ap-pearance, changes in taxable market value and bond rating, etc.

How are we doing with core city services? City officials want to know

The City Council approved a devel-opment agreement with Ron Clark

Construction and Design in late March to build a new apartment building on city-owned land on the southwest cor-ner of 62nd and West Broadway.New Hope purchased and demolished three fourplexes on the site in 1998, with the intention of redeveloping the site. Although the city has received sev-eral proposals to redevelop the property over the years, none of them moved forward. The city purchased the final piece in the redevelopment puzzle, the Swift gas station on the corner at 6113 West Broadway, through tax forfeiture in 2012. A contractor for the city de-molished the gas station, removed the underground fuel tanks and cleaned up contaminated soils on the site. The city began discussing an apart-ment proposal with Ron Clark Con-struction and Design in the spring of 2012. The developer obtained federal tax credits through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in late 2013 to fund the project. In December, the City Council toured, and was favor-ably impressed by Village Commons, a similar apartment project built by Ron Clark Contruction in Savage. And in January, representatives from Ron Clark presented the Compass Pointe proposal to the public. Ron Clark Construction modified the apartment plans it presented in January to address concerns expressed earlier by neighbors. Most significantly, the developer reduced the height of much of the rear facade of the building (the side facing homes to the south) from four stories to three.

Compass Pointe Apartments approved

The projectCompass Pointe is a 68-unit apart-ment building, varying in height from three to four stories, with a total value of about $13 million. The building fea-tures high quality construction and amenities. The complex is placed close to the street to create an urban feel, but is designed to blend in with surround-ing residential properties. Dormers and a variety of architectural details of brick, stone, and precast concrete, complement the lap siding and asphalt shingles to create a visually appealing, low-maintenance exterior. Building amenities will feature under-ground parking, community room, fitness room, a tot lot, basketball half court, outdoor grilling area and a pro-fessional on-site property manager. Each apartment will have a walk-in closet

in every bedroom, a maintenance-free deck, a washer and dryer, and sound-deadening material between floors. Compass Pointe is workforce housing especially geared toward working adults and young families. Because the project is being constructed with federal tax credits, tenants must be income quali-fied. The project is not subsidized hous-ing. Tenants pay all of their rent. Rents will range from $733 per month for a one-bedroom to $1,017 per month for a three-bedroom. Because the complex is oriented toward families, 80 percent of the units have two or three bedrooms.Next stepsThe city of New Hope and Ron Clark Construction expect to close on the sale of the property in July. Construc-tion is tentatively scheduled to begin in September and be completed by the end of 2015.

New Hope’s 2014 City Services Sur-vey has been available online since April 1. A paper copy of the survey was mailed to residents in late April with their utility bill. This year’s survey has 12 questions and is very similar to last year’s survey. One difference is that this year’s survey differentiates between the quality of county roads in New Hope and city-maintained streets. It also includes a question about how likely residents would be to use public transit if it were readily available.To complete the survey online, follow the link on the homepage of the city’s website. If you prefer to complete the paper version of the survey, you can return it with your utility bill pay-ment. Please submit only one survey per adult New Hope resident. The city will be accepting survey responses through July 31.

Consider planting one of these tree varieties

Spring is the best time to plant a tree in Minnesota. The New Hope city

forester has compiled a selection of trees that have the potential to thrive in New Hope’s harsh climate. There are a number of important fac-tors to consider when selecting a tree variety including hardiness, mature size and growth habits, salt tolerance, pest and disease resistance, soil com-patibility, cleanliness and litter prob-lems, rooting habits and maintenance requirements.Based upon these considerations, the following trees are recommended for planting in New Hope. These are also the tree varieties that may be planted within the boulevard (the city-owned right-of-way which is generally the first 14 to 16 feet behind the curb): Disease-resistant American Elms in-

cluding Valley Forge, New Harmony and Princeton

Ginkgo (male only) Hackberry Honeylocust (thornless) Maples – Freeman, red, and sugar Oaks – Bur, Northern Pin, Red,

Swamp White, and White River Birch White AshIf you have questions or concerns about trees in New Hope, contact the city for-ester at 763-592-6763.

Compass Pointe Apartments as they will appear from the neighborhood to the south (top) and from 62nd Avenue (bottom).

The male Ginkgo tree is a tough, hardy tree that turns brillant colors in the fall. It's also the oldest living tree species.

Use phosphorus-free fertilizerState law requires the use of phos-phorus-free lawn fertilizer in most cases. Look for fertilizer with a middle number of zero. Visit www.ci. new-hope.mn.us/fertilizer for details.

West Metro Fire offers Home Safety Surveys

It’s not too early to sign up for Na-tional Night Out, Night to Unite.

New Hope will once again be partici-pating in both the National Night Out program sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and Nite to Unite, a state program sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association. Although this year’s event on Tuesday, August 5, is still a few months away, neighborhood organizers can register their neighbor-hood celebration now!Whatever you call it, National Night Out, Night to Unite provides a great opportunity to spend some time out-side with your neighbors to renew and strengthen your neighborhood’s com-mitment to work together with the New Hope Police Department to prevent crime and improve public safety in New Hope. While the traditional “lights on” and front porch vigils remain a part of the event, National Night Out activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, visits from police, neighborhood walks, contests and much more.Last year, approximately 4,600 people participated in 89 National Night Out block parties throughout New Hope.

Sign up for National Night OutParticipants also collected food and school supplies that were delivered to N.E.A.R. and local schools for distribution to local families.By registering early for Na-tional Night Out, neighbor-hood organizers can get their choice of popular visitors in-cluding McGruff, West Metro firefighters, police K-9, a North Memorial ambulance, or a City Council member. And, groups that register by July 1 are eli-gible to receive a Picnic Pack

which includes paper plates, forks, and cups for the number of people the or-ganizer expects to attend.This year, all participating neighbor-hoods are encouraged to distribute information on Hands Only CPR dur-ing their event. Flyers and links to the online training videos will be available for all groups. Also new this year, the New Hope Crime Prevention Fund is sponsoring a raffle for all groups who have a National Night Out planning meeting or a regular Neighborhood Watch meeting between May 1 and June 30, 2014. Please contact Officer Korth for information if your group intends to enter in this drawing. The winning neighborhood will receive a $150 gift card to use towards their Na-tional Night Out event.Registration packets will be sent to those who organized National Night Out events last year. Others can get a registration form for National Night Out, New Hope’s Night to Unite by visiting www.ci.new-hope.mn.us/nno. For more information or to have reg-istration materials mailed to you, con-tact Nichole Korth at 763-531-5140 or nkorth@ci.new-hope.mn.us.

The New Hope Com-munity Farmers

Market will return for its sixth season on June 21. The market, which fea-tures about 80 vendors, is a great place for area resi-dents to get healthy, farm-fresh vegetables and fruits. It’s also a good place to browse the handiwork of local artists and crafters, discover some delightful locally prepared foods, listen to some home-spun entertainment, and learn about a variety of commu-nity groups.Market day is every Sat-urday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August 30. The market will open an hour later, at 9 a.m., from September 6 to October 4, when it closes for the season. The market will continue to be held in the vacant lot across Xylon Av-enue from City Hall (the former Kmart site at 4300 Xylon).The market is a great place for local amateur musicians to get a little ex-posure. And, free booths are available each week for a community group or youth entrepreneurs. Contact

Farmers market returns on June 21

info@newhopemarket.org for more information or john@newhopemarket.org to sign up.The New Hope Community Farmers Market is a 501c4 non-profit corpo-ration led by a volunteer board of directors from the community. For more information, visit its website at www.newhopemarket.org, become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/newhopefarmersmarket, or get on the mailing list for the market enewsletter by sending an email to info@newhope-market.org.

Fresh flowers, fruit, produce and much more are available every Saturday at New Hope's farmers market (Photos by Sarah Butler)

Plan a National Night Out party for your neighborhood.

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

The city of New Hope received nearly $134,000 in federal Community De-

velopment Block Grant funding in 2014. Eighty-five percent of the CDBG funds, or nearly $114,000, needs to be used for neighborhood revitalization activities. The city can allocate the remaining 15 percent of CDBG funding, or just over $20,000, to public service agencies that meet Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements.This year, New Hope allocated funds to five public service programs: Com-munity Action Partnership of Subur-ban Hennepin ($2,457), HOME Line ($5,180), Senior Community Services ($5,000), TreeHouse ($2,457), and Av-enues for Homeless Youth ($5,000).Community Action Partnership for Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) CAPSH provides a wide array of ser-vices to improve the lives of low income residents. New Hope’s CDBG funding goes toward housing education and counseling services including first-time home buyer education, reverse mort-gage counseling, home maintenance advice, and more. For more informa-tion about CAPSH programs, visit www.capsh.org or call 952-933-9639.HOME Line has operated a tenant ho-tline for renters in suburban Hennepin County since 1992. Staff attorneys and law student volunteers help renters, free of charge, with a variety of legal issues including repairs, evictions, security deposits and more. For more information, visit the organization's website at www.homelinemn.org, or call the hotline at 612-728-5767.

West Metro Fire-Rescue District began a Home Safety Survey

program last May to teach residents how to identify potential safety hazards in their homes and suggest solutions to help alleviate those hazards. The home surveys are free and generally take about an hour.The home safety surveys are performed by a team made up of a firefighter from West Metro and a member of the Crys-tal/New Hope Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The trained personnel do a thorough walkthrough with the homeowner of both the exte-rior and interior of their home to iden-tify safety concerns. They also check

smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning and in the proper location.At the end of the walkthrough, the team will leave the homeowner with a checklist of any safety concerns that were found and corrective actions to consider. Participation in the program is completely voluntary, the survey results are confidential, and the rec-ommendations provided are purely advisory. To request a free home safety survey, contact Shelby Wolf, deputy fire mar-shal, at 763-230-7006 or swolf@west-metrofire.com.

Council approves CDBG funding for five public agencies

Senior Community Services HOME Program offers a wide variety of pro-grams for area seniors. New Hope’s CDBG funding will help to support the agency’s Household and Outside Main-tenance for Elderly (HOME) program. The HOME program helps residents age 60+ remain independent and in their homes by providing assistance with housework (cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry), yard work and snow removal, indoor and outdoor painting, minor handyman services, and safety improve-ments. For more information, call 952-746-4046 or visit seniorcommunity.org.TreeHouse is a youth development program that provides one-on-one men-toring, support groups and service op-portunities to at-risk youth throughout the year. TreeHouse staff strive to give teens the support they need and build coping and life skills that will help them overcome the obstacles and risk factors they face to build a solid foundation for the future. The New Hope TreeHouse is located at 4203 Boone Ave. N. and serves nearly 300 teens each year. For more information, call 763-533-9667 or visit www.treehouseyouth.org. Avenues for Homeless Youth - Brooklyn Avenues is a proposed 10-bed short-term housing program for homeless youth to be located in Brook-lyn Park. The program will provide safe and stable shelter and transitional housing with intensive support services for homeless youth ages 16 to 21 in the northwest suburbs. For more informa-tion about Avenues, call 612-522-1690 or visit avenuesforyouth.org.

Terra Linda Park celebration is June 16

The city installed some new play equipment and completed other improve-ments in Terra Linda Park last fall. A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 16, to cel-ebrate the improvements. The park is located on the northwest corner of Lam-phere Ave. and Medicine Lake Road. Refreshments will be served. Come join in the fun!

In Business e Spring 2014

City requires registration and inspection of new businesses

In January 2008, New Hope began requiring every new business to reg-

ister with the city and arrange for an inspection of their facility before they open for business. The purpose of the Business Use Certificate of Occupancy (or BUCO) program is to ensure that the new business is safe, appropriately equipped, and meets building and fire code requirements for the type of oper-ation planned. Existing businesses are not required to obtain a Business Use Certificate of Occupancy at this time. The most cost-effective time for a busi-ness to make necessary modifications to its building is before it moves into the building and before it opens for business. Therefore, it’s in the best in-terest of new business owners in New Hope to register for the BUCO pro-gram early.Before the BUCO program was imple-mented, many new businesses moved into New Hope without the knowledge of city staff. New business owners sometimes did not have a complete understanding of all of the fire safety and building code requirements that applied to their type of business in New Hope and, consequently, failed to comply with some of those require-ments. Now, new businesses can avoid potential fire safety and building code problems by registering with the city through the BUCO program and working with New Hope building in-spectors and West Metro Fire-Rescue District fire inspectors to resolve

any code issues before they open for business. The process begins when a new business completes an application that provides the city with basic information about its proposed operation. The $25 fee, which accompanies the application, helps to pay for the program. After reviewing the application, city inspectors advise the new business owner of building code and safety requirements they must com-ply with. Once a new business owner believes they are in compliance with all code requirements, they schedule an ap-pointment with city inspectors. After the inspection has been com-pleted, a business that has met all city code requirements is issued a Business Use Certificate of Occupancy certifi-cate and is able to begin operation. If the inspection identifies a few minor is-sues that need to be resolved, the busi-ness may open with a temporary BUCO certificate but must make the required changes within 15 days. If a business needs more than two inspections, there is a $50 charge for each additional inspection. By proactively addressing building code and fire hazards, the BUCO program helps to ensure the safety of employees at local businesses and the surround-ing community and protect the invest-ment of commercial property owners. For more information about the BUCO program, contact the New Hope In-spection Division at 763-531-5127.

Dominos PizzaDomino’s Pizza has completed nearly $200,000 in renovations to the out-dated commercial building it pur-chased late last year at 2720 Winnetka Avenue N. They began by extensively remodeling the interior of the building, including the installation of partition walls to create three tenant spaces. Exterior improvements included an updated front facade for the building with larger windows, stone veneer and insulated stucco panels. The remainder of the building was painted to match the color scheme of the new facade. Other improvements include a new pylon sign and updated heating and cooling equipment. The Domino’s Pizza shop relocated from Midland Shopping Center to the southernmost bay of the small remodeled mall in early March.

Auto ZoneConstruction of a new Auto Zone store began with the demolition of the old Jack’s gas station at 7117 Bass Lake Road in April. In August of last year,

In May, the City Council approved the final plat, site plan and a variance to

the building setback for a new apart-ment building at 9390-9398 Medicine Lake Road. Gates of New Hope will be a four-story, 32-unit apartment com-plex at the northeast corner of Medi-cine Lake Road and Hillsboro Avenue. The secure building will include 10, one-bedroom apartments of about 800 square feet each, and 22, two-bedroom units with approximately 1,200 square feet of space. The developer has com-bined two lots – one containing a sin-gle-family home and the other a small business – to create a 1.6 acre lot. The property is zoned for multi-family hous-ing and is surrounded by similar uses. The developer requested a rear yard setback variance of 10 feet to accom-

Gates of New Hope apartments approved

modate a 34-stall garage while main-taining the required number of surface parking spaces and a suitable fire lane design. The project will also include a 2,600 square foot fenced, outdoor rec-reation area with picnic tables, a grill, and play equipment, and three storm-water ponds to handle the runoff from the site. Although 25 mature trees will need to be removed to make room for the project, they will be replaced by 27 new trees and additional landscaping. The building design, which includes modular brick veneer, steel, vinyl and cement board siding, and asphalt shingles, complies with New Hope’s de-sign guidelines. The developer plans to begin construction this summer. New Hope development update

the City Council approved a request to combine the parcels at 7117 Bass Lake Road and 5551 Louisiana Avenue (the vacant parcel to the south) into one parcel that will pro-vide adequate space for Auto Zone’s new 7,360 square foot retail auto parts store. Vehicle access for the new store will come off of Louisiana Avenue.

The current access points off of Bass Lake Road will be closed, substantially reducing vehicle conflicts on heavily-traveled Bass Lake Road. Auto Zone will construct both an underground detention tank and an open infiltration area that will be more than adequate to handle the additional storm water run-off that the larger building and blacktop on the site will generate.

Sol AztecaA new Mexican restaurant opened at 7112 Bass Lake Road in early May. Sol Azteca moved into the space previously occupied by Agua Brava restaurant, which closed last fall. The new busi-ness made some minor improvements including new signage and adding a couple walls and a bar in the dining area. The restaurant received an on sale liquor license for the new establish-ment in February. Sol Azteca features a wide range of authentic Mexican family recipes ranging from tacos and burritos to grilled items including fajitas and shrimp.

Program provides technical advice to small businesses

Gates of New Hope is a new apartment complex that will be constructed in southern New Hope.

Dominos has completed renovation of an outdated strip mall.

New Hope has collaborated with the city of Golden Valley and the

Metropolitan Consortium of Com-munity Developers (MCCD) since 2012 to provide free one-on-one business advice and counseling to local small businesses through the Golden Valley/New Hope Open to Business program. The New Hope City Council recently approved a one year extension of the contract with MCCD for the program.Open to Business provides intensive one-on-one technical assistance to entrepreneurs who live, own a busi-ness, or are planning a business in either Golden Valley or New Hope. An MCCD advisor can help local busi-ness people develop a business plan, or provide guidance on essential business skills such as record keeping, cash flow analysis and marketing. Advisors can also help emerging businesses obtain loans – either through commercial banks or the MCCD.In 2013, the program assisted 20 start-ups and existing businesses in New Hope and Golden Valley.

The Open to Business program is funded by $2,500 each from the cities of New Hope and Golden Valley and $5,000 from the Hennepin County Housing Redevelopment Authority. Local busi-ness people can arrange to meet with a MCCD business advisor by contacting Rob Smolund at 612-789-7337, ext. 260 or rsmolund@mccdmn.org.

MCCD's Rob Smolund shares his business expertise with local small businesses.

Joint Water Commission 2014 Water Quality Report

The Joint Water Commission (JWC) cities of Crystal, Golden Valley and New Hope provide drinking water to their residents through a contract with the city of Minneap-olis for treated surface water drawn from the Mississippi River. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Pro-tection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contami-nants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides the same protection for pub-lic health by regulating the contaminants permitted in bottled water.This Water Quality Report includes the results of monitoring done by the JWC on its drink-ing water from January 1 through December 31, 2013. The purpose of this report is to ad-vance consumers’ understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources. Although the water the JWC provides its res-idents meets drinking water standards, the Minnesota Department of Health has deter-mined that the Mississippi River is poten-tially susceptible to contamination. If you wish to obtain the entire source water as-sessment for your drinking water, please call 651-201-4700 or 1-800-818-9318 during normal business hours. Also, you can view

Before water is used for a water supply, it is tested for contaminants and other water quality factors. The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over land or through the ground it dissolves naturally oc-curring minerals and, in some cases, radio-active material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial Contaminants:Viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife

Inorganic Contaminants:Salts and metals which may be naturally-occur-ring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farmingPesticides and Herbicides:May come from a variety of sources such as agricultural, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses

Organic Chemical Contaminants (including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals):By-products of industrial processes and petroleum production can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems

Radioactive Contaminants:Can occur naturally or result from oil and gas production and mining activities

Substance Detected (7/26/12) (units) MCLG Action

Level

90% of Samples Were Below This Level

Number of Samples Exceeding Action

LevelTypical Source of Contaminant

Lead (ppb) 0 15 3.2 0 out of 50 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits

Copper (ppm) 1.3 1.3 .07 0 out of 50 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits

Contaminant (units) MRDLG MRDL Lowest and Highest

Monthly Average Highest Quarterly Average Typical Source of Contaminant

Chlorine (ppm) 4 4 2.9-3.4 3.28 Additive used to control microbes

Chlorine – The Minneapolis Water Works adds chlorine to water during the treatment process to control microbes. Chlorine has a Maxi-mum Residual Disinfectant Levels (MRDL) and a Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) set by the EPA.

Lead and Copper – If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily the result of plumbing corrosion in individual homes, not the water distribution system. The city of New Hope is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When water has been sitting in the pipes for several hours, you can substantially reduce the amount of lead in your water by simply letting the tap run for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may want to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Understanding Water Qualitythe assessment online at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa.If you have questions about your drinking water or would like information about op-portunities for public participation in de-cisions that may affect the quality of the water, contact Bernie Weber, New Hope utilities maintenance supervisor, at 763-592-6777. Information about New Hope’s drinking water is also available at the Joint Water Commission website, jwcontap.org, or the city of New Hope website, www.ci.new-hope.mn.us. For more information about the federal regulation of drinking wa-ter visit www.epa.gov/safewater.

Compliance with National Drinking Water Regulations

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contami-nants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, including those with cancer un-dergoing chemotherapy, those who have had an organ transplant, those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders,

Non-Native SpeakersEste informe contiene innformacion muy inportante sobre su aqua beber. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.Noy yog ntaub tseem ceeb. Yog koy tsi to taub,nrhiav neeg pab txhais rau koh kom sai sai.

Key to Abbreviations: ppb - parts per billion ppm - parts per million TT - treatment technique N/A - Not Applicable

TurbidityMonitored MCLG Action

LevelLowest Monthly Percentage of

Samples Meeting Turbidity LimitsHighest Single Measurement Typical Source of Substance

Turbidity (NTU) N/A TT 100 0.28 Soil runoff

Turbidity – Turbidity, which is a measure of the clarity of the water, is monitored at the Minneapolis Water Works treatment plant as a measure of the effectiveness of the filtration system.

Regulated Substance Detected (units) MCLG MCL

Level Found in JWC WaterTypical Source of Contaminant

Range (2013) Average Result✱

Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 .9-.98 .97 State of Minnesota requires all municipal water systems to add fluoride to the drinking water to promote strong teeth; erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) 0 60 nd-44.8 33.38 By-product of drinking water disinfection

Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) 10.4 10.4 N/A .26 Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, erosion of natural deposits

Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) 0 80 9.1-57.7 39.13 By-product of drinking water disinfection

Total Coliform Bacteria 0 present >5% present N/A 1%◆ Naturally present in the environment

✱This is the value used to determine compliance with federal standards. It sometimes is the highest value detected and sometimes is an average of all the detected val-ues. If it is the average, it may contain sampling results from the previous year. ◆ Follow-up sampling showed no contamination present.

2013 Tap Water Test ResultsIn 2013, no contaminants were detected at levels that violated federal drinking water standards. However, some contaminants were detected in trace amounts that were below legal limits. The table below shows the contaminants that were detected in trace amounts last year. (Some contaminants are sampled less frequently than once a year; as a result, not all contaminants were sampled for in 2013.) If any of these con-taminants were detected the last time they were sampled, they are included in the table along with the date that detection occurred. Regulated Substances – Several substances have Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) set by the EPA. This is the highest level al-lowed in drinking water. Some regulated contaminants also have MCL Goals (or MCLGs). This is the level of a substance where there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as possible using the best available treatment technology. All water systems must monitor about 80 regulated substances.

Special Health Needssome elderly, and infants can be particu-larly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provide guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be ob-tained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Unregulated Substances – Monitoring may have been done for additional contaminants that do not have MCL's established for them and are not required to be monitored under the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminant Unit Percent Removal Required

Percent Removal Achieved

Quarters Out of Compliance Typical Source of Contaminant

Total Organic Carbon Percent Removed 25-30 46.4-60.2 0 Naturally present in the environment

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

Hy-Vee Proposal for City Center (continued from page 1)

Recycle yard waste for free in Maple Grove

The Maple Grove yard waste site is open from April 1 through No-

vember 30 each year. Use of the facility is free for residents of New Hope.The site accepts:• Grass clippings • Garden materials• Leaves • Brush• Branches up to 10 inches in diameter• Small quantities of sod, gravel or soilAll of the materials are recycled at the site. Users who bring yard waste in bags must empty them and remove the bags. Yard waste site hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. The site is closed on May 26, July 4, September 1, and November 27. Residents must show proof of residency to use the site.The Maple Grove facility is located at 14796 101st Avenue North. For more information, call 763-420-4886 or visit www.mgyardwaste.com

former Kmart site at 4200-4300 Xylon Ave. N. The approximate value of the proposed project is between $12 and $14 million.Hy-Vee is an employee-owned grocery store chain based in West Des Moines, Iowa, with more than 230 stores in eight Midwestern states. Although Hy-Vee has had stores in Minnesota since 1969, with 17 stores in the southern part of the state, the stores planned for New Hope and Woodbury would mark the chain's entry into the Twin Cities market. The proposed Hy-Vee building would include about 65,000 square feet of conventional grocery store space sur-rounded by several specialty depart-ments with a “boutique feel” – some with separate entries. The specialty offerings would include:G a full-service, sit-down restaurantG a deli with a large selection of cheesesG a wine and spirits section, featuring

periodic wine tasting eventsG a bakery with artisan breadsG a pharmacy with a registered dieticianG cooking demonstrations by a staff chefG a flower shopG and a large organic food sectionHy-Vee puts a strong emphasis on cus-tomer service, with their motto being... "where there’s a helpful smile in every aisle.” Hy-Vee officials indicate that a New Hope store would likely hire about 150 full-time and 300 part-time local employees.The developer’s proposal also includes two smaller buildings and a public gathering space on the south end of the

site. The concept plan includes a 4,500 square foot Hy-Vee convenience store with a gas island and a major franchise coffee shop with a drive through on the southwest portion of the site. A 9,200 square foot office or small retail space is proposed for the southeast corner. And, a public area with a city monument sign is proposed at the intersection of 42nd and Xylon avenues.Hy-Vee integrates its gas and grocery components with the Hy-Vee Fuel Saver program. By purchasing featured grocery items each week, shoppers can earn cents off each gallon of Hy-Vee gas they purchase.The Hy-Vee proposal includes several features important to the City Council. In addition to a main entry from 42nd Avenue into the development, the site plan also includes a road that would connect the development to Winnetka Avenue and the shopping centers to the east as well as Xylon Avenue to the west. The site plan incorporates lots of landscaping to beautify the site and visually break up the parking area. It also includes internal sidewalks and connections to nearby properties to make the development pedestrian and bicycle friendly.New Hope’s development consultant, Ehlers, Inc., believes that the proposed grocery store would generate a sig-nificant amount of traffic to the City Center area and would likely serve as a catalyst to stimulate additional future redevelopment in the area.

Evaluating the proposal and next stepsOn April 17, the city hosted an open house so that Anderson Companies

and Hy-Vee could present their proposed redevelopment to the community and get some feedback. About 200 people attended the open house and 102 completed surveys about the proposal. Eighty-five percent of the open house sur-veys supported the Hy-Vee proposal. The Council reviewed the open house comments at a work session on April 28.In addition, the city posted information about the Hy-Vee proposal on the city’s website and more than 150 residents submitted comments through an online survey. Seventy-three percent of the online surveys supported the Hy-Vee proposal. The Council also reviewed those com-ments at a work session.Anderson Companies and Hy-Vee will continue to refine their proposal based upon discussions with city staff and city consultants. They will also com-plete a traffic study and other analysis to determine and address potential impacts of the redevelopment. The city and the developer are in the process of negotiating a sale price for the land. If the City Council approves the project, Hy-Vee has indicated that they would like to begin construction in October

2014, and that construction and train-ing of staff would take about a year.The city plans to provide periodic updates about the progress of the An-derson Companies/Hy-Vee proposal for City Center on the city’s website and possibly in emails to interested residents. For more information about the proposal, visit www.ci.new-hope.mn.us/hy-vee or contact the Commu-nity Development Department at 763-531-5196. For more information about the Hy-Vee grocery chain, visit www.hy-vee.com

This summer, Off-Broadway Musi-cal Theatre will present “Into the

Woods” at the New Hope Outdoor Theatre on three consecutive weekends beginning July 24.Into the Woods is a two-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sond-heim and story by James Lapine. The show, which premiered on Broadway in 1987, intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters' wishes. The main characters are taken from "Cinderella", "Little Red

Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel" and others. Nine performances are planned from July 24 through August 9. Because Into the Woods has a longer performance time, the shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights will all begin at 8 p.m. The August 7 performance will be signed by an American Sign Language interpreter (rain makeup on August 8). Because seating is often limited, guests are encouraged to arrive early. Items may not be placed on unattended seats to save them for an extended period.Performances of Into the Woods are free, but a free will donation of $4 per person is suggested. The New Hope Outdoor Theatre is located just west of City Hall at 4401 Xylon Ave. N.For more information about Into the Woods, or to make a contribution to the Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, visit www.obmt.org.

Off Broadway Musical Theatre will venture "Into the Woods" this summer

Movies in the Park

• Free family movies• New Hope Outdoor Theatre• Begin at dusk The Mighty Ducks

July 11

New voting machines

This fall, the city of New Hope will be using new voting ma-

chines, Electronic Systems and Software Model DS200. The voting process will remain the same. Vot-ers will still complete a paper ballot and insert it into the vote tabulator. During the month of July, the new DS200 voting machine will be available in the lobby of City Hall. Residents will be able to fill out a demonstration ballot and see the machine in action.

The Hy-Vee proposal includes a 90,000 square foot grocery store on the north end of the site and a gas station/convenience store and small office/retail building near 42nd Avenue.

Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf are among the Grimm fairly tale characters in Into the Woods.

Visit the city of New Hope's Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/cityofnewhopemn

UpJune 13

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - August 15

City of New Hope, Minnesota e Spring 2014

school, and was completed in May.In mid-April, the Council established a Centra Homes tax increment financ-ing (TIF) district. Minnesota law al-lows cities to capture the additional tax revenue (or tax increment) gener-ated by a property that is redeveloped for a period of time to help pay for redevelopment. Centra Homes will receive no TIF funds for the project. Because this is a new residential development, however, they will need to construct infrastruc-ture including public streets, sidewalks, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water utilities, street lights and storm water ponding in the project area. The Coun-cil has agreed to sell the land to Centra Homes for $700,000 less than it cost the city to acquire and clear the site to offset those infrastructure costs. The city will use the tax increment funds generated by the TIF district to fully recoup its investment. The city expects to finalize a purchase agreement with Centra Homes in the near future. Once the purchase goes through and the project receives final approval, construction of the streets and utilities for the new neighborhood can begin. Centra Homes hopes to complete construction of models of their town-home and single-family homes by this fall’s Parade of Homes. They plan to construct about 15 new homes each year over the next few years.

Duk Duk Daze, New Hope’s an-

nual community celebration, will be Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20. Most of the events will be in Northwood Park, 38th and Boone avenues. The festival will in-clude a variety of fun activities for the en-tire family, many of which are free! Fair hours are Friday, July 18, 5 to 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 19, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 20, 12 to 5 p.m.Again this year, the dazzling Duk Duk Daze fireworks display will take to the skies above Northwood Park on both Friday and Saturday nights at dusk (about 10 p.m.).There will be so much to do at Duk Duk Daze, that once again Boone Av-enue will be closed and activities will flood out into the street. Boone Av-enue will be closed to through traffic between 36th and 42nd avenues from 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, to 6:30 a.m. on Monday, July 21. Visit the city’s website for detour details.Duk Duk Daze 2014 will feature the return of many popular favorites in-cluding carnival games and rides, a de-lectable assortment of fair foods, Lion’s Bingo, the Timberwolves Basketball Shootout, a pizza eating contest and a little libation at the beer tent for adults. The annual Kiddie Parade, for kids ages 0-12, is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Satur-day (registration begins at 10:30 a.m.)

Duk Duk Daze celebration is July 18-20

This year’s theme is “Out of this World.” The event is sponsored by New Hope Women of Today.Sports lovers can participate in tour-naments for men’s and co-rec softball, and bean bag toss. For more informa-tion about the softball tournament, call 763-531-5129.As always, Duk Duk Daze will feature live music at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night. Other entertainment highlights include an Arts and Crafts Fair from 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a Home Depot "Build a Bird House" workshop at 12 p.m. on Satur-day, and the always popular unlimited ride wristband all day Sunday.Duk Duk Daze is sponsored by the New Hope Lions Club in cooperation with the city of New Hope. Proceeds from the event are donated back into the com-munity. For a complete schedule of 2014 Duk Duk Daze activities and additional details, visit www.dukdukdaze.com.

City has three off-leash dog parks

Animal licenses required in New Hope

New Hope has off-leash dog parks in Civic Center, Liberty and Lions

parks. The seasonal dog parks opened in early May and will close for the season by the end of November. The areas are located in the hockey rink enclosures in each park.There is no fee for using New Hope's dog parks. The off-leash areas may be used during daylight hours only. The hockey boards provide a large, safe, en-closed area where pet owners can allow their pets to run and socialize with other dogs. The city has provided bags for dog droppings, and a trash recep-tacle at each dog park enclosure. Pet owners are responsible for control-ling and picking up after their dogs. Dogs must remain on-leash until they enter the dog park.Please read all of the rules posted at the entrance before using one of New Hope’s dog parks. For more informa-tion, call the New Hope Parks and Rec-reation office at 763-531-5151.

All dogs, outdoor cats and ferrets must be licensed in the city of New

Hope. Pet owners must provide a copy of an animal’s rabies vaccination cer-tificate to receive a new license. An ani-mal’s license runs concurrently with its rabies vaccination (up to three years). When a pet gets a rabies vaccination the pet’s owner will need to renew its animal license. The fee for an animal license is $15 for a spayed or neutered pet or $30 for an unaltered animal. Animal licenses for indoor-only cats are free. Pet owners can complete the licensing process by mail or in person at the New Hope Police Department. For more informa-tion, call 763-531-5170.

Adopt-A-Plot program at Meadow Lake Park

The Meadow Lake Watershed As-sociation and the city of New Hope

are collaborating on the Meadow Lake Adopt-A-Plot program, a project to expand the amount of native plantings along the shoreline of Meadow Lake in Meadow Lake Park. The watershed as-sociation and city are seeking volunteer groups to participate in the project.Meadow Lake is a shallow 11.8 acre lake in northern New Hope, north of Bass Lake Road and east of Boone Avenue. The lake is significantly impacted by storm water runoff. Meadow Lake has been listed on the Minnesota Pollu-tion Control Agency’s Impaired Waters List for excess phosphorus since 2002. Meadow Lake’s phosphorus level is more than four and a half times the state’s shallow water lake phosphorus standard.Native vegetation can help to naturally filter ground water before it enters Meadow Lake, helping to reduce excess nutrients. The Meadow Lake Watershed Association (MLWA) is partnering with the city of New Hope to expand a garden along the shoreline on the west side of Meadow Lake Park. The project will prepare five garden plots in fall 2014 which will be planted in spring 2015, and an additional five garden plots in fall 2015 which will be planted in spring 2016. In all, 3,800 square feet of new native plantings will be added to the shoreline.The city of New Hope has committed $5,000 to prepare the garden plots for planting and to purchase plants. The city and MLWA are seeking volunteer groups interested in planting and maintaining the garden plots. MLWA will manage the program, recruit and mentor volunteers, and oversee restoration of existing native plants, trees and shrubs.For more information about the Meadow Lake Adopt-A-Plot program or to volunteer, contact Sam Wahbah with the Meadow Lake Watershed Associa-tion at sam.wahbah@gmail.com.

Centra Homes Development (continued from page 1)

Fireworks are planned in Northwood Park on both Friday and Saturday nights during Duk Duk Daze. (Photo by Bruce McClurg)

Harty named Employee of the Quarter

Officer Ben Harty

Officer Ben Harty was named New Hope Employee of the Quarter for

the first quarter of 2014.Officer Harty was recognized for the extra drive and dedication he demon-strated when he investigated an attack of one of the students at the North Education Center (NEC) by another student's parents. NEC is an alternative school for Kindergarten through high school students ages 5 to 21. Harty is a school resource officer at North Education Center, not an inves-tigator. He had never taken on a case of this magnitude before. But rather than simply forwarding the incident to the investigations division, he took the initiative to put in the work and do the investigation himself. The investigation involved coordinating with other agen-cies, writing search warrants for cell phone records, and interviewing hostile suspects and witnesses.Harty's nominator noted, "Ben had to learn a lot of new skills to complete the investigation, but did not let that slow him down. He put together the case himself and did a great job. He dem-onstrated to several students and staff members at NEC that he is willing to go to extra lengths to protect them and maintain a sense of security."The Police Department has two school

resource officers (SRO) at Cooper High School and NEC to provide a police ser-vices presence at the schools. The SROs have a close working relationship with school staff and administrators. They work with guidance counselors to assist in conflict resolution and provide referrals, when needed. And, they initiate interac-tion with students to serve as a positive role model and increase the accessibility of police to the school community.Officer Harty has been a school re-source officer for six months. He has been an officer with the New Hope Po-lice Department for 5½ years.

Reserve a New Hope Village Golf Course tee time online at

www.teemaster.com