City Beat: Parties, Parks, Heroes and more!

July 27, 2021

Ready for some summer fun? River City Days begin next week August 6th to 8th. City staff, elected leaders, and Youth Commission members will be at our Bay Point Park booth to hear from you. Curious about the Old West Main Street project or the pedestrian bridge and trail? Need information on the Rental License program? We'll be there to answer questions. For the full River City Days schedule, check out this link.

Which Neighborhood Party Are You Going to

August 3rd?

26 neighborhoods have registered to participate in this year’s Night to Unite events. Together with thousands of neighborhoods across Minnesota, neighbors and public safety officers will gather on Tuesday, August 3 for an evening of outdoor fun and community building that promotes unity and safety in our city. Click here to view a map of all the celebrations around town and find one closest to you. Contact Officer Tim Bohmbach at 651-267-2653 with questions. Let’s unite, Red Wing!

Memorial Park's New Overlook Coming Soon

Have you visited Memorial Park recently? The scenic overlook area is receiving a radical renovation! Since July 6th, crews have worked to remove the former retaining/sitting wall and build a new observation deck. The plan includes stone amphitheater seating, a flagpole monument, limestone paths, and a compass rose tile medallion. The work is going fast and should be complete by late August; drive up and check out the progress for yourself.

Hiring Heroes Now

Being a paid on-call firefighter is one of the hottest jobs around (pun intended), and we're hiring them now. If you're interested in becoming one and want a chance to see what the job is actually like, join us out at the training tower at Fire Station 2 on August 10th from 6-8 pm. You'll meet other firefighters, and see and hear what they do on the job. It's a great way to decide if this could be the right position for you. Come check it out!

Making Cents of City Finance

We get it; city finance reports can be confusing and loaded with tons of technical jargon. That’s why we’ve created a streamlined, less detailed document called the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) that communicates city financial details for a broader audience who may be less familiar with the financial realm. Easily readable with many colorful graphs, the PAFR is the perfect way to digest the City’s important accounts and their conditions for the 2020 fiscal year. The usual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2020 is also now available. Both reports can be located on the City’s website. Our financial details are at your fingertips; give them a click today.

More New Housing Approved

Housing continues to be a serious need in Red Wing, and on Monday night City Council approved two new permits that will help meet this need. First, the former Black Dog Animal Hospital on Old West Main Street near Pottery Place will be converted into two new units. Second, Elysian Senior Homes will develop a one-story senior assisted living facility with 30 beds on Riedell Court. To read more, view the most recent City Council agenda.

Rental Licenses: Council Approves 1st Vote

City Council unanimously approved the first reading this week to enact the new Rental License Program. The program, planned to start January 1, 2022, will require health and safety inspections of all rental properties every three years. Landlords will pay $40 per year per unit. Council decided Monday that properties on the east side of town will happen first in 2022, followed by the middle of town in 2023, and the west side of town in 2024. Read the report here and visit the web page for more details. The Council will hear once more from the public at its August 9th meeting, then potentially make its second and final vote toward approving the program into city law. Questions? Call Dan: 651-385-3697.

Human Rights Commission Votes for Progress

Last Thursday, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) approved two key documents to recommend to City Council. The first, a Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Emergency, outlines steps the City needs to take to meet this crisis. The second, a Resolution Denouncing Hate Symbols on Public Property in Red Wing, serves as a value statement that our community stands up against hate. Do you or someone you know have an interest in furthering human rights? The HRC currently has four open seats. Click here for an online application, or call 651-212-3812 to pick up a paper copy.

Youth Voices Matter--Are You Listening?

The City's Youth Commission has begun their new term, electing Molly Bradley as Chair, Matthew Lu as Vice Chair, and Deyahni Cooper as Pro Tem. Their new work plan includes helping strengthen our sustainability through composting and recycling policies, increasing diversity, and providing input to Council on issues such as student voting policies. Youth are not only future leaders but dedicated leaders today. If you know a local youth who'd like to be a part of this commission, encourage them to apply today.

All in a Day's Work

Join us in congratulating Sue Iverson, the City of Red Wing’s Finance and Accounting Manager, in her election to the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Executive Board. This national board represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. Only a few professionals are elected to the board each year, and Sue's commitment to making government finances accessible and understandable to everyone helped earn her seat there. If you read the Popular Financial Accounting Report (PAFR) we mention in an article above, you've already read Sue's handiwork. While we're proud of her achievement in joining the Executive Board of GFOA, we're equally proud of the work she does every day.