events or programs.
Announcements
- 10 posts by 4 authors
- Last post by Jessica Buchberger at 3:28pm, Sep 22, 2017
Keywords:
- cities
- tour
- committee
- council
- Minneapolis
Nominate your home for the 30th Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour, homeowners open
their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling experience. Visitors are
particularly interested in seeing period-accurate restoration and expansions
sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the tour gives homeowners feedback as
well as the incentive to finish those last few projects.
At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or request an
application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo Ashmore at
612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have visited most of the
eligible homes by early February, but will also consider applications that help
meet tour goals, through February 15. Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate,
and contractors, architects and other professionals may also submit projects
that they worked on.
The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour, homeowners open
their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling experience. Visitors are
particularly interested in seeing period-accurate restoration and expansions
sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the tour gives homeowners feedback as
well as the incentive to finish those last few projects.
At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or request an
application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo Ashmore at
612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have visited most of the
eligible homes by early February, but will also consider applications that help
meet tour goals, through February 15. Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate,
and contractors, architects and other professionals may also submit projects
that they worked on.
Don't forget about the Prospect Park Home Tour in the spring. If you want
to help build community in our neighborhood, meet your neighbors, and help
raise some funds for the Prospect Park Association, please let us know.
We'd love to have you. We'll start planning (and would love for you to join
us) in April, so contact Lydia McAnerney (<email obscured>) or Jessica
to get involved - your house or your volunteer time will both be
appreciated.
On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 10:22 AM, Jessica Buchberger <
to help build community in our neighborhood, meet your neighbors, and help
raise some funds for the Prospect Park Association, please let us know.
We'd love to have you. We'll start planning (and would love for you to join
us) in April, so contact Lydia McAnerney (<email obscured>) or Jessica
to get involved - your house or your volunteer time will both be
appreciated.
On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 10:22 AM, Jessica Buchberger <
<email obscured>> wrote:
> Nominate your home for the 30th Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
>
> The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
> applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour, homeowners
> open their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling experience.
> Visitors are particularly interested in seeing period-accurate restoration
> and expansions sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the tour gives
> homeowners feedback as well as the incentive to finish those last few
> projects.
>
> At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or
> request an application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo
> Ashmore at 612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have
> visited most of the eligible homes by early February, but will also
> consider applications that help meet tour goals, through February 15.
> Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate, and contractors, architects and
> other professionals may also submit projects that they worked on.
>
> Jessica Buchberger
> Prospect Park, Minneapolis
> About/contact Jessica Buchberger: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/jessica1
>
>
>
> ------------------------
> Reply: Reply-All or visit http://forums.e-democracy.org/
> r/topic/4LB4j1b7fyJ4CNpht8eIRP
> New Topic: mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
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>
>
>
> *** #Got Community? ***
> Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
> Add your donation today!
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Help? http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
>
>
> Nominate your home for the 30th Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
>
> The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
> applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour, homeowners
> open their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling experience.
> Visitors are particularly interested in seeing period-accurate restoration
> and expansions sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the tour gives
> homeowners feedback as well as the incentive to finish those last few
> projects.
>
> At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or
> request an application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo
> Ashmore at 612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have
> visited most of the eligible homes by early February, but will also
> consider applications that help meet tour goals, through February 15.
> Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate, and contractors, architects and
> other professionals may also submit projects that they worked on.
>
> Jessica Buchberger
> Prospect Park, Minneapolis
> About/contact Jessica Buchberger: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/jessica1
>
>
>
> ------------------------
> Reply: Reply-All or visit http://forums.e-democracy.org/
> r/topic/4LB4j1b7fyJ4CNpht8eIRP
> New Topic: mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
> Digest: Subject: digest on
> Leave: Subject: unsubscribe
> Forum Home: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-prospectpark
>
>
>
>
> *** #Got Community? ***
> Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
> Add your donation today!
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Help? http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
>
>
I have a lovely two-story loft home in East River Mews and am willing to open
it for the tour. Not a restoration but a new-build on a long time polluted
brownfield. Would this be of interest?
MARY JO SCHIFSKY
612 501 4126
<email obscured>
it for the tour. Not a restoration but a new-build on a long time polluted
brownfield. Would this be of interest?
MARY JO SCHIFSKY
612 501 4126
<email obscured>
-----Original Message-----
From: Minneapolis Prospect Park Neighbors
[mailto:mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org] On Behalf Of Lydia McAnerney
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2017 2:06 PM
To: Jessica Buchberger <<email obscured>>;
mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: [ProspectPark] Announcements
Don't forget about the Prospect Park Home Tour in the spring. If you want to
help build community in our neighborhood, meet your neighbors, and help raise
some funds for the Prospect Park Association, please let us know.
We'd love to have you. We'll start planning (and would love for you to join
us) in April, so contact Lydia McAnerney (<email obscured>) or Jessica to
get involved - your house or your volunteer time will both be appreciated.
On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 10:22 AM, Jessica Buchberger <
<email obscured>> wrote:
> Nominate your home for the 30th Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
>
> The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
> applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour,
> homeowners open their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling
experience.
> Visitors are particularly interested in seeing period-accurate
> restoration and expansions sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the
> tour gives homeowners feedback as well as the incentive to finish
> those last few projects.
>
> At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or
> request an application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo
> Ashmore at 612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have
> visited most of the eligible homes by early February, but will also
> consider applications that help meet tour goals, through February 15.
> Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate, and contractors, architects
> and other professionals may also submit projects that they worked on.
>
> Jessica Buchberger
> Prospect Park, Minneapolis
> About/contact Jessica Buchberger:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/jessica1
>
>
>
> ------------------------
> Reply: Reply-All or visit http://forums.e-democracy.org/
> r/topic/4LB4j1b7fyJ4CNpht8eIRP New Topic:
> mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
> Digest: Subject: digest on
> Leave: Subject: unsubscribe
> Forum Home: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-prospectpark
>
>
>
>
> *** #Got Community? ***
> Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
> Add your donation today!
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Help?
> http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
>
>
Lydia McAnerney
Prospect Park, Minneapolis
About/contact Lydia McAnerney: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/lydiamcanerney
------------------------
Reply: Reply-All or visit
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3o8PqBngMico3CM3ST48gk
New Topic: mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
Digest: Subject: digest on
Leave: Subject: unsubscribe
Forum Home: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-prospectpark
*** #Got Community? ***
Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
Add your donation today!
http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Help?
http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
From: Minneapolis Prospect Park Neighbors
[mailto:mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org] On Behalf Of Lydia McAnerney
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2017 2:06 PM
To: Jessica Buchberger <<email obscured>>;
mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: [ProspectPark] Announcements
Don't forget about the Prospect Park Home Tour in the spring. If you want to
help build community in our neighborhood, meet your neighbors, and help raise
some funds for the Prospect Park Association, please let us know.
We'd love to have you. We'll start planning (and would love for you to join
us) in April, so contact Lydia McAnerney (<email obscured>) or Jessica to
get involved - your house or your volunteer time will both be appreciated.
On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 10:22 AM, Jessica Buchberger <
<email obscured>> wrote:
> Nominate your home for the 30th Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
>
> The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, April 29-30 2017, is accepting
> applications with a first deadline of January 20. On the tour,
> homeowners open their doors to share ideas based on their remodeling
experience.
> Visitors are particularly interested in seeing period-accurate
> restoration and expansions sensitive to the surroundings. Being on the
> tour gives homeowners feedback as well as the incentive to finish
> those last few projects.
>
> At www.MSPHomeTour.com, click on âsubmit a homeâ to apply online. Or
> request an application and more info by contacting coordinator Margo
> Ashmore at 612-867-4874 or <email obscured>. Organizers want to have
> visited most of the eligible homes by early February, but will also
> consider applications that help meet tour goals, through February 15.
> Homeowners are welcome to self-nominate, and contractors, architects
> and other professionals may also submit projects that they worked on.
>
> Jessica Buchberger
> Prospect Park, Minneapolis
> About/contact Jessica Buchberger:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/jessica1
>
>
>
> ------------------------
> Reply: Reply-All or visit http://forums.e-democracy.org/
> r/topic/4LB4j1b7fyJ4CNpht8eIRP New Topic:
> mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
> Digest: Subject: digest on
> Leave: Subject: unsubscribe
> Forum Home: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-prospectpark
>
>
>
>
> *** #Got Community? ***
> Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
> Add your donation today!
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Help?
> http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
>
>
Lydia McAnerney
Prospect Park, Minneapolis
About/contact Lydia McAnerney: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/lydiamcanerney
------------------------
Reply: Reply-All or visit
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3o8PqBngMico3CM3ST48gk
New Topic: mpls-prospectpark@forums.e-democracy.org
Digest: Subject: digest on
Leave: Subject: unsubscribe
Forum Home: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-prospectpark
*** #Got Community? ***
Join 45 neighbors who have donated over $2500 toward our $12K goal.
Add your donation today!
http://forums.e-democracy.org/about/donate/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Help?
http://e-democracy.org/support Hosting: http://OnlineGroups.Net
New building developments in Minneapolis must pay a Parkland Dedication Fee to
support the acquisition or improvement of parks or trails in the same
neighborhood as the development. While it is possible for developers to
dedicate part of their land to parkland or trails in lieu of payment, most
developers pay the fee, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB)
uses the funds for parkland investments that fit its capital improvements
goals.
The development now under construction at 117 27th Avenue SE has applied to the
MPRB to have $225,869 of its fee refunded, based on the contribution it can
make to the future Grand Rounds Missing Link, which is planned to run along
27th Ave. SE. Note: Prospect Park was represented on the Citizenâs Advisory
Committee for the 2008 Missing Link Development Study.
The PPA Land Use and Planning Committee (formerly Zoning and Project Review)
met with this developer during the planning process, but this issue was not
presented at that time, and the committee has asked the MPRB for an opportunity
for community engagement before the request is approved. A public meeting is
scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at Luxton Park from 6:30-8:30 pm. View the
plans, discuss the pros and cons of the changed plans, and provide your input
on how neighborhood green space is shaped!
support the acquisition or improvement of parks or trails in the same
neighborhood as the development. While it is possible for developers to
dedicate part of their land to parkland or trails in lieu of payment, most
developers pay the fee, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB)
uses the funds for parkland investments that fit its capital improvements
goals.
The development now under construction at 117 27th Avenue SE has applied to the
MPRB to have $225,869 of its fee refunded, based on the contribution it can
make to the future Grand Rounds Missing Link, which is planned to run along
27th Ave. SE. Note: Prospect Park was represented on the Citizenâs Advisory
Committee for the 2008 Missing Link Development Study.
The PPA Land Use and Planning Committee (formerly Zoning and Project Review)
met with this developer during the planning process, but this issue was not
presented at that time, and the committee has asked the MPRB for an opportunity
for community engagement before the request is approved. A public meeting is
scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at Luxton Park from 6:30-8:30 pm. View the
plans, discuss the pros and cons of the changed plans, and provide your input
on how neighborhood green space is shaped!
Southeast Minneapolis Soccer Club has programs for ages 4-18 in 2017.
Interested in having your child play competitive/traveling soccer but not sure
where to start? Visit our Open House, Saturday, February 11 from 12:00noon â
2:00pm, Matthews Park Rec Center. Coaches and club members will be on hand to
answer all your questions. Treats and activities for the kids while you chat.
Also, free soccer cleat exchange--take a pair or leave a pair.
Lil Dribblers is a fun and exciting environment for kids aged 4-8 that
encourages a love and appreciation for soccer while learning new skills every
week. Five Saturdays, 2:00 â 3:00pm, Matthews Park Rec Center. Program begins
February 18, 2017.
Soccer players wanted! Southeast Soccer fields boys and girls teams from
U9-U18. Itâs not too late to join a team for the summer 2017 season. Interested
players can even attend a couple of Winter Training sessions for free.
To learn more about these programs and Southeast Soccer visit www.sesoccer.org
or contact Pete Munene, Director of Coaching | Club Rep, <email obscured>,
612.396.9511
Interested in having your child play competitive/traveling soccer but not sure
where to start? Visit our Open House, Saturday, February 11 from 12:00noon â
2:00pm, Matthews Park Rec Center. Coaches and club members will be on hand to
answer all your questions. Treats and activities for the kids while you chat.
Also, free soccer cleat exchange--take a pair or leave a pair.
Lil Dribblers is a fun and exciting environment for kids aged 4-8 that
encourages a love and appreciation for soccer while learning new skills every
week. Five Saturdays, 2:00 â 3:00pm, Matthews Park Rec Center. Program begins
February 18, 2017.
Soccer players wanted! Southeast Soccer fields boys and girls teams from
U9-U18. Itâs not too late to join a team for the summer 2017 season. Interested
players can even attend a couple of Winter Training sessions for free.
To learn more about these programs and Southeast Soccer visit www.sesoccer.org
or contact Pete Munene, Director of Coaching | Club Rep, <email obscured>,
612.396.9511
$15 workshops: Creating Weather Resilient Yards
Unseasonably warm weather, long droughts and flooding rains are the new normal
for spring and summer in Minnesota. Learn how your yard can adapt to and even
help mitigate threats posed by these extreme weather events.
Participants receive:
âą An overview of Minnesotaâs changing weather patterns and ways to minimize
their impact in your yard by using alternative turf, raingardens, and other
resilient-yard practices.
âą 1 on 1 design assistance from Metro Blooms and Blue Thumb landscape designers
and U of M Extension Master Gardeners from Hennepin County.
For more information and to register, go to metroblooms.org or call
651-699-2426.
Space is limited.
Unseasonably warm weather, long droughts and flooding rains are the new normal
for spring and summer in Minnesota. Learn how your yard can adapt to and even
help mitigate threats posed by these extreme weather events.
Participants receive:
âą An overview of Minnesotaâs changing weather patterns and ways to minimize
their impact in your yard by using alternative turf, raingardens, and other
resilient-yard practices.
âą 1 on 1 design assistance from Metro Blooms and Blue Thumb landscape designers
and U of M Extension Master Gardeners from Hennepin County.
For more information and to register, go to metroblooms.org or call
651-699-2426.
Space is limited.
February 2017 Newsletter from Cam Gordon, Council Member, Second Ward
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/camgordonward2
State Preemption of Local Employee Protections. The Minnesota House has voted
for a bill that will, if passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor,
remove all local control over workplace protections. That includes the earned
sick and safe time that the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have already
adopted. This bill would remove earned sick and safe time from about 140,000
workers. It would also remove all possibility for local action on a minimum
wage, fair scheduling, and other locally-adopted workplace protections. The
bill is opposed not only by the City of Minneapolis, but also Metro Cities, the
League of MN Cities, and countless labor unions and progressive organizations.
This is a an attack on both economic justice and grassroots democracy, both on
working people and on local governmentsâ right and obligation to protect and
represent the people that elect them. People should not have to choose between
taking care of themselves and their families or keeping their jobs. People
working full time should not live in poverty. If the state wonât solve these
problems â and itâs very clear that they wonât, they shouldnât stop local
governments from doing what we can to solve them.
State Preemption of Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance. Some state legislators are
also trying to take away our ability to regulate single use carry out bags.
Despite my testimony in opposition, bills are moving forward (one in the House,
HF1504, and one in the Senate, SF 1196) out of committee that would prohibit
local governments from banning or taxing paper or plastic bags. If signed into
law, this would completely negate all the work we did, in the face of fierce
industry lobbying, to pass our popular Bring Your Own Bag ordinance that is set
to go into effect on June 1 this year. If you support this ordinance, or just
the principal of allowing local jurisdictions to have the authority to regulate
and manage such things, please let your legislators and governor know. The
House committee sent the bill forward and the Senate committee re-referred it
to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance committee
(http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=3093&ls=90)
I am grateful that there is coalition of organizations forming (including so
far: Eureka Recycling, Linden Hills Power & Light, Sierra Club â North Star
Chapter, Minnesota Environmental Partnership, Nothing Left to Waste, Alliance
for Sustainability, and ISAIAH) opposing this legislation. In a letter the
coalition sent out late last week they offered several action steps
including:1) Call the Governor saying youâre opposed to this legislation: (651)
201-3400; 2) Call members of the Senate Environment and Natural Resource
Finance Committee and urge them to oppose SF 1195 which will be voted on
TUESDAY!; 3) SHOW UP to the Senate Environment and Natural Resource Finance
Committee on Tuesday, March 7 at 10:30am, Room 1150 of the Senate Office
Building (sign up to testify if you want! <email obscured>); 4) Call
your representatives to let them know you oppose these bills. For more
information on why cities should have the right to ban plastic bags â see
Eurekaâs fact sheet at
http://media.wix.com/ugd/8468e6_45687b4963974591933c7f0b084f412e.pdf
Preemption of Local Action. Yes, this year many state legislators seem to have
declared war against local control generally. From workplace protections to bag
ordinances, they are pushing bills to take away the authority municipalities
have to act in our communitiesâ interest. They are also pushing to wrest more
power over the Vikings Stadium to the state, despite the fact that local taxes
are, unfortunately, its biggest source of capital. It has been good to see
people pointing this out. One legislator, Representative Michael V. Nelson
(D-Brooklyn Park), went so far as to move a symbolic âmodest proposalâ that
would strip all authority from municipalities and put the state in complete
control of every decision at the local level, to make the point that that is
the logical conclusion of the stateâs recent actions. Except in cases when
basic civil rights or public health would be clearly harmed by local laws, I
believe that the state should preempt fewer actions on the local level. There
are unique problems in Minneapolis on issues that have already been preempted,
such as guns, campaign finance and pesticides to which state level road blocks
have been preventing us from making progress for years. We should be undoing
those kinds of preemptions that are unnecessary and detrimental, not adding
more. Cities and counties should be able to craft our own solutions, to meet
the needs and concerns of our communities. I am hoping that more legislators,
like Representative Randy Jessup (R) District: 42A, who voted against
preempting cities on regulated carryout out bags, will realize the value of
letting local government do their job and will vote down these bills and that,
for those that do get passed, Governor Dayton will stand firm and veto all of
them that reach his desk.
Waste Tires on Playgrounds and Fields. The Councilâs Health, Environment and
Community Engagement committee unanimously voted for a resolution I authored to
curb the use of waste tires on playgrounds and athletic fields. Thank you to
Play it Safe Minneapolis for bringing this issue forward, to our Community
Environmental Advisory Commission and Public Health Advisory Committee for
looking into it and making recommendations, and to our partners at the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minneapolis Public Schools for their
willingness to engage in this discussion. The resolution that will be
considered by the full Council on March 10 prohibits the use of City funds for
the installation or replacement of any facilities using waste tire and
encourages others to discontinue the use of waste tire materials in
Minneapolis. You can find the resolution and more information here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-194284
Collective Bargaining Agreement with Police. On March 1 the Executive
Committee, with my support, voted to recommend approval of a new police
contract that has already been ratified by the police union and has the support
of the Police Chief and Director of Human Resources. The police have been
working without a contract since 2015 and the last potential agreement was not
ratified by the union. This is a one of our largest and most significant labor
agreements and represents a payroll (in 2014) of $60,224,000. The agreement
actually represents two contracts, one for 2015-2016 and one for 2017-2019.
When the 1 to 4% annual salary increase per year is added up, it amounts to a
14.5% increase over the 5 years. This will get our officers in the top 1/3 of
other metropolitan area police department salaries, but not at the top. Some of
the more interesting changes to the contract include: giving the Chief more
authority over administrative leaves during investigations and to make
transfers due to performance related issues. Other noteworthy changes will
allow officers more frequent opportunities to initiate transfers; modify
âcompensatory timeâ rules to reduce overtime; and change health club
memberships to a strictly reimbursement program. It also sets in motion the
creation of a Critical/Traumatic Incident work group to review best care for
officers who experience a critical or traumatic incident. Currently the focus
in on short term recovery to determine when officers can return to work, but
research indicates that trauma can have long term impacts on officer well-being
and job performance, so looking forward we will focus on long term, as well as
short term care, with ongoing evaluations and consideration of ongoing impacts
from traumatic incidents.
Energy Benchmarking Report. A new report was presented at the February 27
Health Environment and Community Engagement Committee that examined the
electric, natural gas and water use of 264 commercial and 153 public properties
in Minneapolis. This includes 107 million square feet of floor space and
accounts for more than 8.1 million British Thermal Units of total energy use
per year, which is the equivalent use of roughly 60 percent of the households
in the city and represents 15 % of the cityâs total greenhouse gas emissions.
The report estimates potential savings of more than 108,000 metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions annually and $27 million per year on energy costs if
there was a 15 percent reduction in energy consumption. Hospitals, places of
worship and offices show the potential for the most savings.
Third Community Solar Garden. In March the City will likely issue its third
solar garden request for proposals. This third garden, one built, will include
options for middle and low income residents to participate. To make this
possible 20% of the subscriptions will be set aside for lower income residents
and the City will guarantee to take on any of those the subscriptions if a
participant cancels it.
Sex Trafficking Grant. In February, the Council took another step to fight sex
trafficking in our city and region by accepting a grant of $117,033 from the
Minnesota Department of Public Safety that will allow us to hire an
administrator for our recently developed secure sex trafficking web portal
program. The portal provides Minnesota law enforcement agencies the ability to
share information and resources for investigating sex trafficking. The
administrator will approve access, maintain information and provide support to
the Police Department on investigations. At the committee we heard from
Sergeant Grant Snyder, who has been leading this effort at the City, about how
interagency coordination can be critical to breaking cases and rescuing the
victims, who are often young, immigrant and/or runaways.
Section 8 Anti-discrimination Ordinance. Council Members Warsame and Glidden
are moving forward with their ordinance proposal to prohibit discrimination
against Section 8 voucher holders. Their proposal includes an incentive fund
for landlords serving Section 8 voucher holders, and support for many changes
recommended to the Section 8 program. I am supportive of this proposal because
affordable housing choices are limited in our rental market and too many
landlords refuse to accept Section 8 voucher holders. There will be a public
hearing on the proposal on Wednesday, March 22, 10:15 am in City Hall, Room
317, 350 S 5th Street at a joint meeting of the Community Development &
Regulatory Services Committee and the Public Safety, Civil Rights, and
Emergency Management Committee.
City Trees. This year, the city will use a lottery in our City Trees program.
Any Minneapolis property owner can register to order a tree to plant this
spring. Registration will go from March 13 to 20. Lottery entrants will hear
back by March 22. About 1,000 property owners, selected by lottery will be able
to order a $25 five- to eight-foot tree to plant on private property in the
city. Fifteen varieties available this year include large species, flowering
trees and several kinds of fruit trees. Comparable trees cost about $125 at a
nursery. Trees must be picked up May 20, 21 or 22. Enter the lottery at
www.treetrust.org. In the past 11 years, the City Trees program has provided
more than 12,000 trees for planting on private property to help build the
cityâs tree canopy.
Clean Energy Partnership Work Plan Approved. The Clean Energy Partnership has
approved a work plan for 2017. I thank the Energy Vision Advisory Committee and
our staff for helping develop the plan and was glad to see the city taking the
lead on so many initiatives aimed at reaching our Climate Action goals. In the
future I hope we can see more balance among who the lead organization is for
action items. I also hope to see more focus on creating ways to get more energy
from clean, renewable sources. You can find the work plan here
https://mplscleanenergypartnership.org/
Sherco Plant âBeckerâ Bill. I was very disappointed to learn that Governor
Dayton (despite the City Councilâs formal opposition) signed the Xcel âBeckerâ
bill that ignored the Public Utilities Commissionâs (PUC) role and invest
millions of dollars in new fossil fuels. When Xcel decided - with the strong
and vocal support of the City and environmental advocates - to close the Sherco
coal plants it was a big a win for the environment. But, when they approached
the PUC to get permission to build a new natural gas plant in Becker, the City,
environmental advocates and advocates for low-income people fought this idea.
The PUC agreed with us, and ordered Xcel to go through the normal process in
which they study alternatives, including renewable sources like solar and wind.
Unfortunately Xcel decided to try to circumvent that process to go around the
normal PUC process. This is a loss for the environment. It's also bad for
ratepayers, because we will bear the costs of this plant - which has not been
proven, through the normal process, to be the most cost-effective option in the
long term. It's bad for the PUC process, because it's now clear that elected
leaders will undermine it even when it provides an effective voice for
ratepayers and the environment. It is also, in my opinion, a failure by Xcel to
meet its commitments to help the City of Minneapolis reach our climate action
goals. If the people of Minneapolis had a democratically controlled electric
utility, I'm pretty sure it would not act this way. For more on this, see:
http://cubminnesota.org/provisions-to-protect-ratepayers/.
Workers Day at City Hall. March 8 will mark what I hope will be our first
annual Workerâs Day at City Hall. Modeled, partially, after what has been an
annual event for years, Business Day at City Hall, this event will give council
members, city staff and the Mayor the opportunity to meet with and have focused
discussed on worker issues and needs. I thank Council Member Benderâs office
for taking the lead on this and look forward to a participating in a productive
series of meetings on the 8th.
Minimum Wage and a Tip Penalty. In February I joined a meeting with Saru
Jayaraman, from the Food and Labor Research Center at the University of
California, Berkeley
(http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/topic/food-labor-research-center/) and author
of âForked: A New Standard for American Dining.â She made a powerful case for
why tipping should not be considered in any minimum wage law, just like it is
currently excluded in 7 states that have minimum wage laws, including Minnesota
where we have a healthy and thriving restaurant industry. Studies have shown
that tipping creates an environment in which people of color, young people, old
people, women, and foreigners tend to get worse service than white males, and
where nonwhite servers make less than their white peers for equal work. She
also encourages us to consider the power imbalance between tippers, who are
typically male, and servers, 70 percent of whom are female, and the fact that
the restaurant industry generates five times the average number of sexual
harassment claims per worker. It has made me only more convinced that I cannot
support a tip penalty as any part of a City minimum wage ordinance. I do,
however, support a gradual phase in, with technical and other supports for
smaller businesses. I am committed to finding a solution that will support and
lift up all low wage workers while also protecting our independent and small
businesses from undue hardship. For more, see:
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/07/abolish_tipping_it_s_bad_for_servers_customers_and_restaurants.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/i-dare-you-to-read-this-and-still-feel-ok-about-tipping-in-the-united-states/?utm_term=.8598aa083547.
Homes Hummel & Pay as You Save. I worked with advocates from Community Power
and the Clean Energy Partnershipâs Energy Vision Advisory Committee to bring
Dr. Holmes Hummel to Minneapolis to talk about inclusive financing for energy
efficiency and renewable energy. The way that these kinds of projects â from
insulation and furnaces to small rooftop solar installations â are currently
financed makes it impossible for many people to participate. If someone rents,
has poor credit, or canât or wonât take out debt, they are effectively turned
away by the current model. This is a problem because it limits our capacity to
make energy efficiency upgrades everywhere, and because it means that only
relatively wealthy homeowners can take advantage of most efficiency programs.
The âPay As You Saveâ model solves many of these problems by paying for the
energy upgrades as part of the energy utility bill. Customers pay no more than
80% of the savings generated by the upgrade â meaning that they start saving
money immediately. I am very interested in this model, and will be pushing
both Xcel and CenterPoint to implement some version of it as part of the Clean
Energy Partnership. For more information, go here:
http://cleanenergyworks.org/blog/pays-financing/.
Transgender Equity Council. The Council, with my strong support, has approved
the establishment of a permanent Transgender Equity Council to serve as an
advisory board to the City Council and Mayor on matters of importance to the
Transgender community. You can find the details at
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-193269
Protecting Protest Rights. In response to proposed state legislature that would
fine protesters in order to recover costs and the chilling effect this could on
free speech, the city strengthened its legislative agenda to include a
provision that states âThe city of Minneapolis supports the rights of all
people to engage in protected first amendment speech, assembly and protest
without the burden of risk of civil liability for public safety response
costs.â
2016 Resident Survey. The results of the 2016 Resident Survey are now available
at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/coordinator/rm/Monitoring/ResidentSurvey/index.htm.
While generally positive it was interesting to see how some rankings varied
depending on the area of the city respondents lived in, and also the
demographic make-up, especially the race/ethnicity and income of the
respondent. For example, African Americans were much more likely to report
being victims of housing discrimination compared to respondents overall and
people with household incomes are less than $35,000 a year were somewhat more
likely to report that they had been discriminated against in housing.
Final Neighborhood Revitalization Plans Approved. In February the City Council
approved the last 2 Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) NRP Phase II
Action Neighborhood Action Plans, from the Nicollet Island-East Bank and West
Calhoun neighborhoods. Since NRP began in 1991, all Minneapolis neighborhoods
and thousands of residents have participated in planning processes to help meet
their neighborhood's housing, safety, economic development, recreation, health,
education, social service, environment and transportation needs. A report and
presentation at the Health Environment and Community Engagement Committee
provided a high level look at the impacts of this 26 year long program. Please
check it out at:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-192726
Restored Neighborhood Organization Funding. On February 10 the Council
unanimously approved a motion that I have been working on for months to restore
$9,141,951 to Phase II Neighborhood Revitalization (NRP) plans over the next
four years. This represents the $10 million frozen by the City Council in 2010
less the $858,049 returned to neighborhoods in 2012-2013. This is possible, in
part, because the revenue from the specially approved âCommon Projectâ Tax
Increment Financing District has been higher than expected, and is expected to
be higher than projected for the next few years, before it expires in 2020. In
2016 in yielded over $10 million more than projected or needed. Over the next
four years the Second Ward neighborhoods organizations can expect to get the
following additional amounts to support their NRP Phase II plans: Southeast
Como - $122,372, Cedar Riverside - $211,372; Prospect Park - $91,225; Seward -
$44,639 and Longfellow Community (including Cooper, Howe and Hiawatha)-$
691,943. You can find the full staff report and payment schedules for all
neighborhoods here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-193147.
Re-elected to Chair Youth Coordinating Board. I was honored to be re-elected as
chair of the Youth Coordinating Board in January. This group works to
coordinates the efforts of the four largest Minneapolis Public Jurisdictions -
the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation and
the Minneapolis Public Schools - to champion the well-being and healthy
development of Minneapolis children and youth. For more information about the
work of the coordinating board see http://www.ycb.org/
Youth Coordinating Board and Youth Congress Response to Anti-Immigrant Actions.
I will be joining members of the Youth Congress, and the Youth Coordinating
Board to release joint Statement of Welcoming on Thursday March 9 at the
Minneapolis Youth Congress meeting at approximately 5:30pm in the Doty Room of
Minneapolis Central Library. The statement says, in part, âWe find the new
Executive Order about immigrants and refugees to be paralyzing. Even though
the Executive Order has been delayed through judicial action, the effects of
these policies are still damaging. They are tearing families apart, instilling
fear in children, adults, schools, businesses and communities. The ripple
effect of these policies has a significant impact on our children, leaving them
afraid and isolated.â
Youth Violence Prevention Report. The 2016 Youth Violence Prevention Results
Report was presented to a Council Committee in February. The report tracks 26
indicators over 10 years related to youth violence. Youth homicides went down
to 17 in 2016, from the disturbing spike of 24 in 2015. There were 11 in 2014.
There were several disturbing results. The total number of violent crime
victims went up, and the number of youth involved in violent crime was up to
2,342 in 2016, including 243 children under the age of 10. The number of
assault injuries and firearm-related assault injuries among residents went down
but the total number of people under age 25 who were victims of gunshots
injuries that occurred in Minneapolis went up from 104 in 2014 and 130 in 2015
to 170 in 2016. Clearly youth gun violence is a growing, significant problem in
our city and am glad that we put additional resources into its prevention in
this yearâs budget. You can find the report and presentation here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-194315
Step Up 2016 Report. This Month the city published our 2016 Step Up Final
Report. Last year STEP-UP prepared over 2,000 Minneapolis youth â over 88%
youth of color â with the skills needed to be successful in a job. Of those,
1,660 were matched with internships for the summer at one of 225 partner
employers. The interns earned a combined $2.7 million in wages, $1.3 of which
was paid directly by the private sector. You can find the full report at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-138705.pdf?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
STEP-UP is accepting applications from businesses, public agencies, and
nonprofits that want to employ STEP-UP interns in summer 2017. To find more
information and complete an application visit
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/metp/WCMS1P-151075
Support of Lawsuit Challenge U.S. Deportation Practices. With my strong
support, the Council has voted to join the local government amicus brief in the
Supreme Court case of Jennings v. Rodriguez. The case is a class action lawsuit
challenging the United States governmentâs practice of detaining immigrants
facing deportation proceedings without providing individualized due process
hearings. The County of Santa Clara, California, has drafted an amicus brief on
behalf of local governments which are home to large immigrant populations,
arguing that such mandatory detentions without individualized hearings violate
constitutional norms, harm immigrant families and communities, and impose
unnecessary costs on local governments.
Amicus Brief Supporting Transgender Rights. In February the Council voted to
join the local governmentsâ amicus brief in Gloucester County School Board VS
G.G. pending before the Unites States Supreme Courts in support of the argument
that Title IX requires that transgender students be treated consistent with
their gender identity for purposes of access to facilities like school
bathrooms.
No Ban No Wall. To respond to the disturbing Presidential orders related to
immigration and refugee resettlement, the Council took comments and action in
February and passed a resolution condemning the January 2017 Presidential
Executive Orders. We also approved establishing a Sanctuary City Task Force
that will make recommendations by March 31, to strengthen city-level policies,
programs, and resources to better protect and defend the rights of refugees,
immigrant families, Muslim residents and others from unfair deportation, acts
of bigotry and hate, and persecution. We will also begin work to create a local
immigration legal defense fund, and review the Presidentâs orders for potential
litigation and defense strategies to protect the City and our residents. I
support these actions and will continue the fight against what I see as this
administration's cruel and likely illegal behavior towards some of the most
vulnerable people in our communities and our world. For a more of my thoughts
on this see: https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2/posts/722858671209828.
Immigration Ordinance. I am grateful to Council Member Cano for introducing
amendments to the city ordinances relating to Administration: Employee
Authority in Immigration matters to clarify policy intent and adding further
provisions to strengthen this important ordinance, sometimes called our
âseparation ordinanceâ which makes it clear that out staff, including out
police, may not act to support federal customs, immigration or homeland
security enforcement. You can find the current law here
https://www.municode.com/library/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT2AD_CH19EMAUIMMA
Community Connections Conference. Registration is now open for the sixth annual
Community Connections Conference â Your Voice, Your City: CommUnity â at the
Minneapolis Convention Center Saturday, April 1. The conference features three
tracks: one -- your city â focused on the writing of the new 20 year
Comprehensive Plan for the city, another -- your neighborhood --- focused on
the future the future of neighborhood organizations and their roles in
communities beyond 2020, and the third --- your voice --- focused on ways
residents can connect with City leaders, find out how to serve on City boards
and commissions, and engage Minneapolisâ diverse communities. To learn more and
register for this free event visit
http://minneapolismn.gov/ncr/communityconnectionsconference
Northern Metals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Northern
Metals have reached a court approved settlement agreement that includes all
operations at the Minneapolis facility being shut down and moved out by August
2019, fines totally $2.5 million dollars that includes a payment of $600,000
to the city over three years to mitigate health problems in the area. The city
funds will go to projects that identify and educate at-risk residents on asthma
triggers; enroll families with children suffering from poorly controlled asthma
in a new asthma trigger mitigation program; implement community blood lead
level screening events and follow-up as needed to help reduce environmental
exposure to lead. While I would have preferred to see all operations moved out
of the city sooner, I consider this a big victory for the city and commend the
MPCA for their diligence and persistence.
2017 One Minneapolis Fund Request for Proposals. The Council has approved
issuing a request for proposals for the $182,000 2017 One Minneapolis Fund for
organization to provide leadership and civic participation services. For 2017,
$157,000 is available for programs that prepare leaders to serve on
neighborhood and City boards and commissions and $25,000 of the funds will be
designated for City-initiated projects where organizations are asked to assist
with outreach on departmental project where extra outreach seems needed. The
Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and Neighborhood and Community
Relations staff will review proposals and determine the projects to be
recommended for funding.
Black History Month. On February 10 the Council honored Black History Month
with a resolution that highlighted Future History Makers
(https://civilrightsminneapolis.wordpress.com/) a City profile series featuring
emerging and mid-career leaders from the Twin Cities African American community
who share the Civil Rights Departmentâs ideals of advancing civil rights and
removing barriers to equity. Find the complete resolution
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@clerk/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-193895.pdf
Minneapolis Arts Commission Appointments Congratulations to Second Ward
resident Vincent Moniz, who has been appointed to the Minneapolis Arts
Commission for a three-year ending December 31, 2019.
Getting City Data. The City is hosting a session requesting public data from
the City on National Freedom of Information Day, Thursday, March 16, from
4:30-6pm in Room 319, City Hall 350 S. Fifth St. There, staff will explain how
to make data requests and hear from the people who make data requests about how
the data requesting process works for them.
Short Term Food Permits. Council Member Palmisano and I have given notice of
our intent to introduce an ordinance amendment that would streamline the
permitting process for short term and seasonal food sales at public and farmers
markets.
Technology Fix-it Clinics. If you have a computer or laptop that is running
properly you can bring it in for free tech support to the upcoming Fix-It Tech
events Friday, March 10 from 1-5 pm at the Takoda Institute â American Indian
OIC, 1845 E. Franklin Ave. or Wednesday, April 5 from 10am-4 pm at the
University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE.
Historic Designation for the Armory. In March the Council will consider
approving the designation of the Minneapolis Armory located at 500 6th St S, as
a local historic landmark with the condition that the Secretary of Interiorâs
Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties will be used to evaluate
alterations to the property. I support this, especially as it is being
renovated to serve a new purpose as an event center, which I am also glad to
see.
Nicollet Mall Art. Between now and next December, eight artworks will be
installed on the Mall, including three new works and five returning works. The
statue of the late Mary Tyler Moore will be returned to its original home at
Nicollet Mall and 7th Street S. With seven additional works coming in 2018,
there will be 15 total artworks installed. Some works, like the 90 sewer
covers, are a series, so there will actually be 111 total individual pieces in
all on the Mall.
Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center Grand Opening. There will be a grand opening
celebration for the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center, at 515 15th Avenue
South on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center
will serve as a pipeline to public and private sector job opportunities.
Resources will focus on the neighborhoodâs East African community, reducing the
neighborhoodâs unemployment rate and increasing access to educational programs.
WBCDC Riverside Homes Preservation Project. I learned in early March that the
West Bank Community Development Corporation is working to secure funds to
renovate and preserve 191 units, in 74 different buildings, in its Riverside
Homes project on the West Bank. The homes are in a variety of locations in the
neighborhood, in Ward 6 and Ward 2, including several near Riverside Park and
all of the Riverbluff Townhomes that are near the Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge on
the northeast corner of the neighborhood. They are requesting a $20 million tax
exempt bond allocation, which would allow funders to use the investment to
reduce their tax obligation. According to the proposal, work would be done on
both the interiors and exteriors of the buildings and no residents would be
displaced.
Glendale Weatherization. I have heard from the MPHA that that are working
diligently to make the weatherization project happen. There were apparently
many issues that needed to be resolved with the Department of Commerce, and
contractual agreements to go through between MPHA and SRC. I have been assured
that there will be signatures in coming days, and commencement of work to
follow shortly.
Malcolm Yards. Wall Development Company has submitted an application to amend
the Comprehensive Plan for the Malcolm Yards development. The application
requests that the Comprehensive Plan be amended to remove a 9.44 acre site
bounded roughly by Malcolm, the University Transitway, the 29th Ave SE corridor
and the 5th St SE corridor from the SEMI Industrial Employment District, and
change the guidance of the Site on the Future Land Use Map from Industrial to
Transitional Industrial. I have received a formal letter of support from the
Prospect Park Association. I look forward to seeing the staff recommendation
soon, and having a final City position within the next few months.
Green 4th Grant. The City is poised to accept a grant, at our next Council
Meeting, from Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program for the 4th
St SE (29th Ave SE to Malcolm Ave SE) Reconstruction Project. This $485,000
grant will allow us to incorporate some of the âabove standardâ improvements
into the project. This grant was originally applied for and received by the
Prospect North Partnership.
Afro Deli. I was happy to participate at the grand opening of Afro Deli at
their new location in Stadium Village at 720 Washington Ave SE. I am glad they
are still in Ward 2 and that the City has been able to help with a $75,000 low
interest loan to help make this possible.
Openings on Boards and Commissions. A number of board and commission positions
are open for City Council and mayor appointments this spring. The City is
seeking applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to
strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are
available upon request to ensure all residents have the ability to participate.
Applications will be reviewed beginning April 14 unless otherwise marked. There
are 89 open positions on 15 City boards and commissions: Advisory Committee on
Aging, Advisory Committee on People With Disabilities, Animal Care and Control
Advisory Board, Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee, Commission on Civil
Rights, Community Environmental Advisory Committee, Neighborhood and Community
Engagement Commission. Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Public Housing Authority
(MPHA), Telecommunications Network (MTN), Transgender Equity Council â
application reviews will begin Thursday, March 9, Workforce Council, Workplace
Advisory Committee, Youth Violence Prevention Executive Committee, Visit
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings/index.htm for more information and
to apply.
Open Office Hours in the Ward. I usually hold open âOffice Hoursâ in the ward
every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 am. Please feel free to call the
office at 673-2202 to reserve some time when I will be there or just stop by.
First Thursdays at the Oren Gateway Center, Nabo Café, 2211 Riverside Avenue;
Second Thursdays at Black: Coffee and Waffles, 1500 Como Ave SE;
Third Thursdays at T Rex Cookie Café, 3338 University Ave SE;
Fourth Thursdays at Blue Moon Coffee Café, 3822 E Lake St.
Cam Gordon
Minneapolis City Council Member, Second Ward
673-2202, 296-0579
<email obscured>
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2
https://twitter.com/CameronAGordon
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/camgordonward2
State Preemption of Local Employee Protections. The Minnesota House has voted
for a bill that will, if passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor,
remove all local control over workplace protections. That includes the earned
sick and safe time that the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have already
adopted. This bill would remove earned sick and safe time from about 140,000
workers. It would also remove all possibility for local action on a minimum
wage, fair scheduling, and other locally-adopted workplace protections. The
bill is opposed not only by the City of Minneapolis, but also Metro Cities, the
League of MN Cities, and countless labor unions and progressive organizations.
This is a an attack on both economic justice and grassroots democracy, both on
working people and on local governmentsâ right and obligation to protect and
represent the people that elect them. People should not have to choose between
taking care of themselves and their families or keeping their jobs. People
working full time should not live in poverty. If the state wonât solve these
problems â and itâs very clear that they wonât, they shouldnât stop local
governments from doing what we can to solve them.
State Preemption of Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance. Some state legislators are
also trying to take away our ability to regulate single use carry out bags.
Despite my testimony in opposition, bills are moving forward (one in the House,
HF1504, and one in the Senate, SF 1196) out of committee that would prohibit
local governments from banning or taxing paper or plastic bags. If signed into
law, this would completely negate all the work we did, in the face of fierce
industry lobbying, to pass our popular Bring Your Own Bag ordinance that is set
to go into effect on June 1 this year. If you support this ordinance, or just
the principal of allowing local jurisdictions to have the authority to regulate
and manage such things, please let your legislators and governor know. The
House committee sent the bill forward and the Senate committee re-referred it
to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance committee
(http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=3093&ls=90)
I am grateful that there is coalition of organizations forming (including so
far: Eureka Recycling, Linden Hills Power & Light, Sierra Club â North Star
Chapter, Minnesota Environmental Partnership, Nothing Left to Waste, Alliance
for Sustainability, and ISAIAH) opposing this legislation. In a letter the
coalition sent out late last week they offered several action steps
including:1) Call the Governor saying youâre opposed to this legislation: (651)
201-3400; 2) Call members of the Senate Environment and Natural Resource
Finance Committee and urge them to oppose SF 1195 which will be voted on
TUESDAY!; 3) SHOW UP to the Senate Environment and Natural Resource Finance
Committee on Tuesday, March 7 at 10:30am, Room 1150 of the Senate Office
Building (sign up to testify if you want! <email obscured>); 4) Call
your representatives to let them know you oppose these bills. For more
information on why cities should have the right to ban plastic bags â see
Eurekaâs fact sheet at
http://media.wix.com/ugd/8468e6_45687b4963974591933c7f0b084f412e.pdf
Preemption of Local Action. Yes, this year many state legislators seem to have
declared war against local control generally. From workplace protections to bag
ordinances, they are pushing bills to take away the authority municipalities
have to act in our communitiesâ interest. They are also pushing to wrest more
power over the Vikings Stadium to the state, despite the fact that local taxes
are, unfortunately, its biggest source of capital. It has been good to see
people pointing this out. One legislator, Representative Michael V. Nelson
(D-Brooklyn Park), went so far as to move a symbolic âmodest proposalâ that
would strip all authority from municipalities and put the state in complete
control of every decision at the local level, to make the point that that is
the logical conclusion of the stateâs recent actions. Except in cases when
basic civil rights or public health would be clearly harmed by local laws, I
believe that the state should preempt fewer actions on the local level. There
are unique problems in Minneapolis on issues that have already been preempted,
such as guns, campaign finance and pesticides to which state level road blocks
have been preventing us from making progress for years. We should be undoing
those kinds of preemptions that are unnecessary and detrimental, not adding
more. Cities and counties should be able to craft our own solutions, to meet
the needs and concerns of our communities. I am hoping that more legislators,
like Representative Randy Jessup (R) District: 42A, who voted against
preempting cities on regulated carryout out bags, will realize the value of
letting local government do their job and will vote down these bills and that,
for those that do get passed, Governor Dayton will stand firm and veto all of
them that reach his desk.
Waste Tires on Playgrounds and Fields. The Councilâs Health, Environment and
Community Engagement committee unanimously voted for a resolution I authored to
curb the use of waste tires on playgrounds and athletic fields. Thank you to
Play it Safe Minneapolis for bringing this issue forward, to our Community
Environmental Advisory Commission and Public Health Advisory Committee for
looking into it and making recommendations, and to our partners at the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minneapolis Public Schools for their
willingness to engage in this discussion. The resolution that will be
considered by the full Council on March 10 prohibits the use of City funds for
the installation or replacement of any facilities using waste tire and
encourages others to discontinue the use of waste tire materials in
Minneapolis. You can find the resolution and more information here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-194284
Collective Bargaining Agreement with Police. On March 1 the Executive
Committee, with my support, voted to recommend approval of a new police
contract that has already been ratified by the police union and has the support
of the Police Chief and Director of Human Resources. The police have been
working without a contract since 2015 and the last potential agreement was not
ratified by the union. This is a one of our largest and most significant labor
agreements and represents a payroll (in 2014) of $60,224,000. The agreement
actually represents two contracts, one for 2015-2016 and one for 2017-2019.
When the 1 to 4% annual salary increase per year is added up, it amounts to a
14.5% increase over the 5 years. This will get our officers in the top 1/3 of
other metropolitan area police department salaries, but not at the top. Some of
the more interesting changes to the contract include: giving the Chief more
authority over administrative leaves during investigations and to make
transfers due to performance related issues. Other noteworthy changes will
allow officers more frequent opportunities to initiate transfers; modify
âcompensatory timeâ rules to reduce overtime; and change health club
memberships to a strictly reimbursement program. It also sets in motion the
creation of a Critical/Traumatic Incident work group to review best care for
officers who experience a critical or traumatic incident. Currently the focus
in on short term recovery to determine when officers can return to work, but
research indicates that trauma can have long term impacts on officer well-being
and job performance, so looking forward we will focus on long term, as well as
short term care, with ongoing evaluations and consideration of ongoing impacts
from traumatic incidents.
Energy Benchmarking Report. A new report was presented at the February 27
Health Environment and Community Engagement Committee that examined the
electric, natural gas and water use of 264 commercial and 153 public properties
in Minneapolis. This includes 107 million square feet of floor space and
accounts for more than 8.1 million British Thermal Units of total energy use
per year, which is the equivalent use of roughly 60 percent of the households
in the city and represents 15 % of the cityâs total greenhouse gas emissions.
The report estimates potential savings of more than 108,000 metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions annually and $27 million per year on energy costs if
there was a 15 percent reduction in energy consumption. Hospitals, places of
worship and offices show the potential for the most savings.
Third Community Solar Garden. In March the City will likely issue its third
solar garden request for proposals. This third garden, one built, will include
options for middle and low income residents to participate. To make this
possible 20% of the subscriptions will be set aside for lower income residents
and the City will guarantee to take on any of those the subscriptions if a
participant cancels it.
Sex Trafficking Grant. In February, the Council took another step to fight sex
trafficking in our city and region by accepting a grant of $117,033 from the
Minnesota Department of Public Safety that will allow us to hire an
administrator for our recently developed secure sex trafficking web portal
program. The portal provides Minnesota law enforcement agencies the ability to
share information and resources for investigating sex trafficking. The
administrator will approve access, maintain information and provide support to
the Police Department on investigations. At the committee we heard from
Sergeant Grant Snyder, who has been leading this effort at the City, about how
interagency coordination can be critical to breaking cases and rescuing the
victims, who are often young, immigrant and/or runaways.
Section 8 Anti-discrimination Ordinance. Council Members Warsame and Glidden
are moving forward with their ordinance proposal to prohibit discrimination
against Section 8 voucher holders. Their proposal includes an incentive fund
for landlords serving Section 8 voucher holders, and support for many changes
recommended to the Section 8 program. I am supportive of this proposal because
affordable housing choices are limited in our rental market and too many
landlords refuse to accept Section 8 voucher holders. There will be a public
hearing on the proposal on Wednesday, March 22, 10:15 am in City Hall, Room
317, 350 S 5th Street at a joint meeting of the Community Development &
Regulatory Services Committee and the Public Safety, Civil Rights, and
Emergency Management Committee.
City Trees. This year, the city will use a lottery in our City Trees program.
Any Minneapolis property owner can register to order a tree to plant this
spring. Registration will go from March 13 to 20. Lottery entrants will hear
back by March 22. About 1,000 property owners, selected by lottery will be able
to order a $25 five- to eight-foot tree to plant on private property in the
city. Fifteen varieties available this year include large species, flowering
trees and several kinds of fruit trees. Comparable trees cost about $125 at a
nursery. Trees must be picked up May 20, 21 or 22. Enter the lottery at
www.treetrust.org. In the past 11 years, the City Trees program has provided
more than 12,000 trees for planting on private property to help build the
cityâs tree canopy.
Clean Energy Partnership Work Plan Approved. The Clean Energy Partnership has
approved a work plan for 2017. I thank the Energy Vision Advisory Committee and
our staff for helping develop the plan and was glad to see the city taking the
lead on so many initiatives aimed at reaching our Climate Action goals. In the
future I hope we can see more balance among who the lead organization is for
action items. I also hope to see more focus on creating ways to get more energy
from clean, renewable sources. You can find the work plan here
https://mplscleanenergypartnership.org/
Sherco Plant âBeckerâ Bill. I was very disappointed to learn that Governor
Dayton (despite the City Councilâs formal opposition) signed the Xcel âBeckerâ
bill that ignored the Public Utilities Commissionâs (PUC) role and invest
millions of dollars in new fossil fuels. When Xcel decided - with the strong
and vocal support of the City and environmental advocates - to close the Sherco
coal plants it was a big a win for the environment. But, when they approached
the PUC to get permission to build a new natural gas plant in Becker, the City,
environmental advocates and advocates for low-income people fought this idea.
The PUC agreed with us, and ordered Xcel to go through the normal process in
which they study alternatives, including renewable sources like solar and wind.
Unfortunately Xcel decided to try to circumvent that process to go around the
normal PUC process. This is a loss for the environment. It's also bad for
ratepayers, because we will bear the costs of this plant - which has not been
proven, through the normal process, to be the most cost-effective option in the
long term. It's bad for the PUC process, because it's now clear that elected
leaders will undermine it even when it provides an effective voice for
ratepayers and the environment. It is also, in my opinion, a failure by Xcel to
meet its commitments to help the City of Minneapolis reach our climate action
goals. If the people of Minneapolis had a democratically controlled electric
utility, I'm pretty sure it would not act this way. For more on this, see:
http://cubminnesota.org/provisions-to-protect-ratepayers/.
Workers Day at City Hall. March 8 will mark what I hope will be our first
annual Workerâs Day at City Hall. Modeled, partially, after what has been an
annual event for years, Business Day at City Hall, this event will give council
members, city staff and the Mayor the opportunity to meet with and have focused
discussed on worker issues and needs. I thank Council Member Benderâs office
for taking the lead on this and look forward to a participating in a productive
series of meetings on the 8th.
Minimum Wage and a Tip Penalty. In February I joined a meeting with Saru
Jayaraman, from the Food and Labor Research Center at the University of
California, Berkeley
(http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/topic/food-labor-research-center/) and author
of âForked: A New Standard for American Dining.â She made a powerful case for
why tipping should not be considered in any minimum wage law, just like it is
currently excluded in 7 states that have minimum wage laws, including Minnesota
where we have a healthy and thriving restaurant industry. Studies have shown
that tipping creates an environment in which people of color, young people, old
people, women, and foreigners tend to get worse service than white males, and
where nonwhite servers make less than their white peers for equal work. She
also encourages us to consider the power imbalance between tippers, who are
typically male, and servers, 70 percent of whom are female, and the fact that
the restaurant industry generates five times the average number of sexual
harassment claims per worker. It has made me only more convinced that I cannot
support a tip penalty as any part of a City minimum wage ordinance. I do,
however, support a gradual phase in, with technical and other supports for
smaller businesses. I am committed to finding a solution that will support and
lift up all low wage workers while also protecting our independent and small
businesses from undue hardship. For more, see:
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/07/abolish_tipping_it_s_bad_for_servers_customers_and_restaurants.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/i-dare-you-to-read-this-and-still-feel-ok-about-tipping-in-the-united-states/?utm_term=.8598aa083547.
Homes Hummel & Pay as You Save. I worked with advocates from Community Power
and the Clean Energy Partnershipâs Energy Vision Advisory Committee to bring
Dr. Holmes Hummel to Minneapolis to talk about inclusive financing for energy
efficiency and renewable energy. The way that these kinds of projects â from
insulation and furnaces to small rooftop solar installations â are currently
financed makes it impossible for many people to participate. If someone rents,
has poor credit, or canât or wonât take out debt, they are effectively turned
away by the current model. This is a problem because it limits our capacity to
make energy efficiency upgrades everywhere, and because it means that only
relatively wealthy homeowners can take advantage of most efficiency programs.
The âPay As You Saveâ model solves many of these problems by paying for the
energy upgrades as part of the energy utility bill. Customers pay no more than
80% of the savings generated by the upgrade â meaning that they start saving
money immediately. I am very interested in this model, and will be pushing
both Xcel and CenterPoint to implement some version of it as part of the Clean
Energy Partnership. For more information, go here:
http://cleanenergyworks.org/blog/pays-financing/.
Transgender Equity Council. The Council, with my strong support, has approved
the establishment of a permanent Transgender Equity Council to serve as an
advisory board to the City Council and Mayor on matters of importance to the
Transgender community. You can find the details at
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-193269
Protecting Protest Rights. In response to proposed state legislature that would
fine protesters in order to recover costs and the chilling effect this could on
free speech, the city strengthened its legislative agenda to include a
provision that states âThe city of Minneapolis supports the rights of all
people to engage in protected first amendment speech, assembly and protest
without the burden of risk of civil liability for public safety response
costs.â
2016 Resident Survey. The results of the 2016 Resident Survey are now available
at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/coordinator/rm/Monitoring/ResidentSurvey/index.htm.
While generally positive it was interesting to see how some rankings varied
depending on the area of the city respondents lived in, and also the
demographic make-up, especially the race/ethnicity and income of the
respondent. For example, African Americans were much more likely to report
being victims of housing discrimination compared to respondents overall and
people with household incomes are less than $35,000 a year were somewhat more
likely to report that they had been discriminated against in housing.
Final Neighborhood Revitalization Plans Approved. In February the City Council
approved the last 2 Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) NRP Phase II
Action Neighborhood Action Plans, from the Nicollet Island-East Bank and West
Calhoun neighborhoods. Since NRP began in 1991, all Minneapolis neighborhoods
and thousands of residents have participated in planning processes to help meet
their neighborhood's housing, safety, economic development, recreation, health,
education, social service, environment and transportation needs. A report and
presentation at the Health Environment and Community Engagement Committee
provided a high level look at the impacts of this 26 year long program. Please
check it out at:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-192726
Restored Neighborhood Organization Funding. On February 10 the Council
unanimously approved a motion that I have been working on for months to restore
$9,141,951 to Phase II Neighborhood Revitalization (NRP) plans over the next
four years. This represents the $10 million frozen by the City Council in 2010
less the $858,049 returned to neighborhoods in 2012-2013. This is possible, in
part, because the revenue from the specially approved âCommon Projectâ Tax
Increment Financing District has been higher than expected, and is expected to
be higher than projected for the next few years, before it expires in 2020. In
2016 in yielded over $10 million more than projected or needed. Over the next
four years the Second Ward neighborhoods organizations can expect to get the
following additional amounts to support their NRP Phase II plans: Southeast
Como - $122,372, Cedar Riverside - $211,372; Prospect Park - $91,225; Seward -
$44,639 and Longfellow Community (including Cooper, Howe and Hiawatha)-$
691,943. You can find the full staff report and payment schedules for all
neighborhoods here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-193147.
Re-elected to Chair Youth Coordinating Board. I was honored to be re-elected as
chair of the Youth Coordinating Board in January. This group works to
coordinates the efforts of the four largest Minneapolis Public Jurisdictions -
the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation and
the Minneapolis Public Schools - to champion the well-being and healthy
development of Minneapolis children and youth. For more information about the
work of the coordinating board see http://www.ycb.org/
Youth Coordinating Board and Youth Congress Response to Anti-Immigrant Actions.
I will be joining members of the Youth Congress, and the Youth Coordinating
Board to release joint Statement of Welcoming on Thursday March 9 at the
Minneapolis Youth Congress meeting at approximately 5:30pm in the Doty Room of
Minneapolis Central Library. The statement says, in part, âWe find the new
Executive Order about immigrants and refugees to be paralyzing. Even though
the Executive Order has been delayed through judicial action, the effects of
these policies are still damaging. They are tearing families apart, instilling
fear in children, adults, schools, businesses and communities. The ripple
effect of these policies has a significant impact on our children, leaving them
afraid and isolated.â
Youth Violence Prevention Report. The 2016 Youth Violence Prevention Results
Report was presented to a Council Committee in February. The report tracks 26
indicators over 10 years related to youth violence. Youth homicides went down
to 17 in 2016, from the disturbing spike of 24 in 2015. There were 11 in 2014.
There were several disturbing results. The total number of violent crime
victims went up, and the number of youth involved in violent crime was up to
2,342 in 2016, including 243 children under the age of 10. The number of
assault injuries and firearm-related assault injuries among residents went down
but the total number of people under age 25 who were victims of gunshots
injuries that occurred in Minneapolis went up from 104 in 2014 and 130 in 2015
to 170 in 2016. Clearly youth gun violence is a growing, significant problem in
our city and am glad that we put additional resources into its prevention in
this yearâs budget. You can find the report and presentation here
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-194315
Step Up 2016 Report. This Month the city published our 2016 Step Up Final
Report. Last year STEP-UP prepared over 2,000 Minneapolis youth â over 88%
youth of color â with the skills needed to be successful in a job. Of those,
1,660 were matched with internships for the summer at one of 225 partner
employers. The interns earned a combined $2.7 million in wages, $1.3 of which
was paid directly by the private sector. You can find the full report at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-138705.pdf?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
STEP-UP is accepting applications from businesses, public agencies, and
nonprofits that want to employ STEP-UP interns in summer 2017. To find more
information and complete an application visit
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/metp/WCMS1P-151075
Support of Lawsuit Challenge U.S. Deportation Practices. With my strong
support, the Council has voted to join the local government amicus brief in the
Supreme Court case of Jennings v. Rodriguez. The case is a class action lawsuit
challenging the United States governmentâs practice of detaining immigrants
facing deportation proceedings without providing individualized due process
hearings. The County of Santa Clara, California, has drafted an amicus brief on
behalf of local governments which are home to large immigrant populations,
arguing that such mandatory detentions without individualized hearings violate
constitutional norms, harm immigrant families and communities, and impose
unnecessary costs on local governments.
Amicus Brief Supporting Transgender Rights. In February the Council voted to
join the local governmentsâ amicus brief in Gloucester County School Board VS
G.G. pending before the Unites States Supreme Courts in support of the argument
that Title IX requires that transgender students be treated consistent with
their gender identity for purposes of access to facilities like school
bathrooms.
No Ban No Wall. To respond to the disturbing Presidential orders related to
immigration and refugee resettlement, the Council took comments and action in
February and passed a resolution condemning the January 2017 Presidential
Executive Orders. We also approved establishing a Sanctuary City Task Force
that will make recommendations by March 31, to strengthen city-level policies,
programs, and resources to better protect and defend the rights of refugees,
immigrant families, Muslim residents and others from unfair deportation, acts
of bigotry and hate, and persecution. We will also begin work to create a local
immigration legal defense fund, and review the Presidentâs orders for potential
litigation and defense strategies to protect the City and our residents. I
support these actions and will continue the fight against what I see as this
administration's cruel and likely illegal behavior towards some of the most
vulnerable people in our communities and our world. For a more of my thoughts
on this see: https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2/posts/722858671209828.
Immigration Ordinance. I am grateful to Council Member Cano for introducing
amendments to the city ordinances relating to Administration: Employee
Authority in Immigration matters to clarify policy intent and adding further
provisions to strengthen this important ordinance, sometimes called our
âseparation ordinanceâ which makes it clear that out staff, including out
police, may not act to support federal customs, immigration or homeland
security enforcement. You can find the current law here
https://www.municode.com/library/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT2AD_CH19EMAUIMMA
Community Connections Conference. Registration is now open for the sixth annual
Community Connections Conference â Your Voice, Your City: CommUnity â at the
Minneapolis Convention Center Saturday, April 1. The conference features three
tracks: one -- your city â focused on the writing of the new 20 year
Comprehensive Plan for the city, another -- your neighborhood --- focused on
the future the future of neighborhood organizations and their roles in
communities beyond 2020, and the third --- your voice --- focused on ways
residents can connect with City leaders, find out how to serve on City boards
and commissions, and engage Minneapolisâ diverse communities. To learn more and
register for this free event visit
http://minneapolismn.gov/ncr/communityconnectionsconference
Northern Metals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Northern
Metals have reached a court approved settlement agreement that includes all
operations at the Minneapolis facility being shut down and moved out by August
2019, fines totally $2.5 million dollars that includes a payment of $600,000
to the city over three years to mitigate health problems in the area. The city
funds will go to projects that identify and educate at-risk residents on asthma
triggers; enroll families with children suffering from poorly controlled asthma
in a new asthma trigger mitigation program; implement community blood lead
level screening events and follow-up as needed to help reduce environmental
exposure to lead. While I would have preferred to see all operations moved out
of the city sooner, I consider this a big victory for the city and commend the
MPCA for their diligence and persistence.
2017 One Minneapolis Fund Request for Proposals. The Council has approved
issuing a request for proposals for the $182,000 2017 One Minneapolis Fund for
organization to provide leadership and civic participation services. For 2017,
$157,000 is available for programs that prepare leaders to serve on
neighborhood and City boards and commissions and $25,000 of the funds will be
designated for City-initiated projects where organizations are asked to assist
with outreach on departmental project where extra outreach seems needed. The
Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and Neighborhood and Community
Relations staff will review proposals and determine the projects to be
recommended for funding.
Black History Month. On February 10 the Council honored Black History Month
with a resolution that highlighted Future History Makers
(https://civilrightsminneapolis.wordpress.com/) a City profile series featuring
emerging and mid-career leaders from the Twin Cities African American community
who share the Civil Rights Departmentâs ideals of advancing civil rights and
removing barriers to equity. Find the complete resolution
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@clerk/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-193895.pdf
Minneapolis Arts Commission Appointments Congratulations to Second Ward
resident Vincent Moniz, who has been appointed to the Minneapolis Arts
Commission for a three-year ending December 31, 2019.
Getting City Data. The City is hosting a session requesting public data from
the City on National Freedom of Information Day, Thursday, March 16, from
4:30-6pm in Room 319, City Hall 350 S. Fifth St. There, staff will explain how
to make data requests and hear from the people who make data requests about how
the data requesting process works for them.
Short Term Food Permits. Council Member Palmisano and I have given notice of
our intent to introduce an ordinance amendment that would streamline the
permitting process for short term and seasonal food sales at public and farmers
markets.
Technology Fix-it Clinics. If you have a computer or laptop that is running
properly you can bring it in for free tech support to the upcoming Fix-It Tech
events Friday, March 10 from 1-5 pm at the Takoda Institute â American Indian
OIC, 1845 E. Franklin Ave. or Wednesday, April 5 from 10am-4 pm at the
University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE.
Historic Designation for the Armory. In March the Council will consider
approving the designation of the Minneapolis Armory located at 500 6th St S, as
a local historic landmark with the condition that the Secretary of Interiorâs
Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties will be used to evaluate
alterations to the property. I support this, especially as it is being
renovated to serve a new purpose as an event center, which I am also glad to
see.
Nicollet Mall Art. Between now and next December, eight artworks will be
installed on the Mall, including three new works and five returning works. The
statue of the late Mary Tyler Moore will be returned to its original home at
Nicollet Mall and 7th Street S. With seven additional works coming in 2018,
there will be 15 total artworks installed. Some works, like the 90 sewer
covers, are a series, so there will actually be 111 total individual pieces in
all on the Mall.
Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center Grand Opening. There will be a grand opening
celebration for the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center, at 515 15th Avenue
South on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center
will serve as a pipeline to public and private sector job opportunities.
Resources will focus on the neighborhoodâs East African community, reducing the
neighborhoodâs unemployment rate and increasing access to educational programs.
WBCDC Riverside Homes Preservation Project. I learned in early March that the
West Bank Community Development Corporation is working to secure funds to
renovate and preserve 191 units, in 74 different buildings, in its Riverside
Homes project on the West Bank. The homes are in a variety of locations in the
neighborhood, in Ward 6 and Ward 2, including several near Riverside Park and
all of the Riverbluff Townhomes that are near the Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge on
the northeast corner of the neighborhood. They are requesting a $20 million tax
exempt bond allocation, which would allow funders to use the investment to
reduce their tax obligation. According to the proposal, work would be done on
both the interiors and exteriors of the buildings and no residents would be
displaced.
Glendale Weatherization. I have heard from the MPHA that that are working
diligently to make the weatherization project happen. There were apparently
many issues that needed to be resolved with the Department of Commerce, and
contractual agreements to go through between MPHA and SRC. I have been assured
that there will be signatures in coming days, and commencement of work to
follow shortly.
Malcolm Yards. Wall Development Company has submitted an application to amend
the Comprehensive Plan for the Malcolm Yards development. The application
requests that the Comprehensive Plan be amended to remove a 9.44 acre site
bounded roughly by Malcolm, the University Transitway, the 29th Ave SE corridor
and the 5th St SE corridor from the SEMI Industrial Employment District, and
change the guidance of the Site on the Future Land Use Map from Industrial to
Transitional Industrial. I have received a formal letter of support from the
Prospect Park Association. I look forward to seeing the staff recommendation
soon, and having a final City position within the next few months.
Green 4th Grant. The City is poised to accept a grant, at our next Council
Meeting, from Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program for the 4th
St SE (29th Ave SE to Malcolm Ave SE) Reconstruction Project. This $485,000
grant will allow us to incorporate some of the âabove standardâ improvements
into the project. This grant was originally applied for and received by the
Prospect North Partnership.
Afro Deli. I was happy to participate at the grand opening of Afro Deli at
their new location in Stadium Village at 720 Washington Ave SE. I am glad they
are still in Ward 2 and that the City has been able to help with a $75,000 low
interest loan to help make this possible.
Openings on Boards and Commissions. A number of board and commission positions
are open for City Council and mayor appointments this spring. The City is
seeking applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to
strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are
available upon request to ensure all residents have the ability to participate.
Applications will be reviewed beginning April 14 unless otherwise marked. There
are 89 open positions on 15 City boards and commissions: Advisory Committee on
Aging, Advisory Committee on People With Disabilities, Animal Care and Control
Advisory Board, Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee, Commission on Civil
Rights, Community Environmental Advisory Committee, Neighborhood and Community
Engagement Commission. Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Public Housing Authority
(MPHA), Telecommunications Network (MTN), Transgender Equity Council â
application reviews will begin Thursday, March 9, Workforce Council, Workplace
Advisory Committee, Youth Violence Prevention Executive Committee, Visit
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings/index.htm for more information and
to apply.
Open Office Hours in the Ward. I usually hold open âOffice Hoursâ in the ward
every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 am. Please feel free to call the
office at 673-2202 to reserve some time when I will be there or just stop by.
First Thursdays at the Oren Gateway Center, Nabo Café, 2211 Riverside Avenue;
Second Thursdays at Black: Coffee and Waffles, 1500 Como Ave SE;
Third Thursdays at T Rex Cookie Café, 3338 University Ave SE;
Fourth Thursdays at Blue Moon Coffee Café, 3822 E Lake St.
Cam Gordon
Minneapolis City Council Member, Second Ward
673-2202, 296-0579
<email obscured>
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2
https://twitter.com/CameronAGordon
Familywise's First Step Early Childhood Education Center has immediate openings
for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers!
Looking for quality early childhood education in a safe, small, nurturing
program? First Step is your answer!
* Nationally Accredited
* 4 Star Parent Aware Rating
* Affordable. We gladly accept childcare assistance
* Spacious classrooms
* Low child-to-teacher ratio, amazing learning environment
* Small program: everyone will truly know your child
* Convenient location new U of M (corner of University and Malcolm)
Call 612-877-7821 for a tour
Enroll by March 10 and we will waive your registration fee!
for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers!
Looking for quality early childhood education in a safe, small, nurturing
program? First Step is your answer!
* Nationally Accredited
* 4 Star Parent Aware Rating
* Affordable. We gladly accept childcare assistance
* Spacious classrooms
* Low child-to-teacher ratio, amazing learning environment
* Small program: everyone will truly know your child
* Convenient location new U of M (corner of University and Malcolm)
Call 612-877-7821 for a tour
Enroll by March 10 and we will waive your registration fee!
The level 3 Community Notification Meeting on Michael Wragg has been set for
Thursday, September 28th at 6pm. It will be at the Luxton Rec Center, 112
Williams Ave SE in their Multi-Purpose room. Let me know if you have any
questions.
Jamie Kieffer
Case Investigator/Level 3 Coordinator
Minneapolis Police Department~Predatory Offender Registration Unit
Office~612-673-3932
Fax~612-673-2807
Thursday, September 28th at 6pm. It will be at the Luxton Rec Center, 112
Williams Ave SE in their Multi-Purpose room. Let me know if you have any
questions.
Jamie Kieffer
Case Investigator/Level 3 Coordinator
Minneapolis Police Department~Predatory Offender Registration Unit
Office~612-673-3932
Fax~612-673-2807
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