News from Cam GordonCouncil Member, Second
Wardhttp://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2http://secondward.blogspot.comwww.facebook.com/camgordonward2
Open Letter Against Hate and Anti Muslim
Bigotry. I am proud to stand with the
more than 500 elected officials from all over the United States, including
several of my colleagues on the Minneapolis City Council and others from St.
Paul, who signed on to an open letter to our constituents and to the American
people. It is a powerful statement of solidarity with the Muslim, Arab, and
South Asian (MASA) communities across the nation. It states, in part, "The
2016 electoral season has featured dangerous levels of xenophobic, anti-Muslim,
and racist rhetoric, as well as a devastating rise in hate crimes. This
rhetoric and violence is not only a threat to our communities, but it also
strikes directly against the most cherished and basic rights guaranteed by our
nation’s Constitution: liberty, due process, freedom of religion, and equality
under law. We write this open letter to stand with the Muslims, Arabs, South
Asians, and Sikhs across the United States as they endure threats, harassment,
violence, and inexcusable political rhetoric. Our message is unmistakable: we
thank you for serving your communities and we are proud to have you beside us
as full and equal members of the American family.” You can find the full letter
here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzQcoSYZoBLfNFRlSzZPczl0VWc/view
Zero Waste Plan Meetings. The City has contracted with Environmental
Initiatives to facilitate three initial community meetings to help inform our
Zero Waste Plan that will be drafted later this year and early in 2017. I
expect there to be more meetings as we
identify the specific goals, strategies and timeline of the plan in the months
ahead. We are convening three
stakeholder meetings this fall that will allow community leaders, businesses,
and interested organizations to share input, ideas, and help influence the plan
before it is drafted. Meetings are open to the public, but an RSVP is
requested. The first was focused on multi-family, apartment building and
condominiums and was held on September 22. The second, focused on the
commercial sector was held Wednesday, September 28, and the third, with a focus
on single family homes and duplexes will be on Tuesday, October 18 from 6:00pm
– 8:00pm at the Minneapolis Urban
League, 2100 Plymouth Avenue N. To RSVP and more information see
http://environmental-initiative.org/our-work/environmental-policy/city-of-minneapolis-zero-waste-plan
Wardhttp://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2http://secondward.blogspot.comwww.facebook.com/camgordonward2
Open Letter Against Hate and Anti Muslim
Bigotry. I am proud to stand with the
more than 500 elected officials from all over the United States, including
several of my colleagues on the Minneapolis City Council and others from St.
Paul, who signed on to an open letter to our constituents and to the American
people. It is a powerful statement of solidarity with the Muslim, Arab, and
South Asian (MASA) communities across the nation. It states, in part, "The
2016 electoral season has featured dangerous levels of xenophobic, anti-Muslim,
and racist rhetoric, as well as a devastating rise in hate crimes. This
rhetoric and violence is not only a threat to our communities, but it also
strikes directly against the most cherished and basic rights guaranteed by our
nation’s Constitution: liberty, due process, freedom of religion, and equality
under law. We write this open letter to stand with the Muslims, Arabs, South
Asians, and Sikhs across the United States as they endure threats, harassment,
violence, and inexcusable political rhetoric. Our message is unmistakable: we
thank you for serving your communities and we are proud to have you beside us
as full and equal members of the American family.” You can find the full letter
here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzQcoSYZoBLfNFRlSzZPczl0VWc/view
Zero Waste Plan Meetings. The City has contracted with Environmental
Initiatives to facilitate three initial community meetings to help inform our
Zero Waste Plan that will be drafted later this year and early in 2017. I
expect there to be more meetings as we
identify the specific goals, strategies and timeline of the plan in the months
ahead. We are convening three
stakeholder meetings this fall that will allow community leaders, businesses,
and interested organizations to share input, ideas, and help influence the plan
before it is drafted. Meetings are open to the public, but an RSVP is
requested. The first was focused on multi-family, apartment building and
condominiums and was held on September 22. The second, focused on the
commercial sector was held Wednesday, September 28, and the third, with a focus
on single family homes and duplexes will be on Tuesday, October 18 from 6:00pm
– 8:00pm at the Minneapolis Urban
League, 2100 Plymouth Avenue N. To RSVP and more information see
http://environmental-initiative.org/our-work/environmental-policy/city-of-minneapolis-zero-waste-plan
Street Sweeping Begins October 18. The four week long comprehensive fall street
sweeping will begin Tuesday, October 18. To make sure the sweepers can do the
best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24
hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. Anyone
who parks on the street will need to follow street sweeping parking rules or
their cars may be ticketed and towed. Parking is banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. on the day a street is swept. In addition to the “No Parking” signs that
will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about
3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street
will be swept the next day. People can also use a feature on the City’s website
to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The tool
will be available by October 14 at www.minneapolismn.gov/streetsweeping
and will show which week any street is scheduled to be swept. Then, starting on
each weekend, the daily sweeping schedule for the upcoming week will display.
Early Voting in 2016. While Election Day is still a few weeks away,
Minneapolis voters can cast early ballots both by mail and in person now. Early
voting runs from Friday, September 23rd
to Monday, November 7th. Early Vote Centers will be operating from 8:00am
until 4:30pm at 217 S. Third Street
(downtown); 2100 Plymouth Ave N (in the Minneapolis Urban League); 2516 Central
Ave NE (in the Water Bar); and, 1860 E 28th St (in the Roof Depot). Voters must
complete a request form to receive an absentee ballot. This form is available
from the City’s elections website, so voters should download and complete the
form and bring it to one of the City’s four Early Vote Centers. You can access
the request form at www.vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/absentee.
Visit vote.minneapolismn.gov www.facebook.com/votempls,
www.twitter.com/votempls, #WhereIVote,
www.facebook.com/events/1072432446185951/
for more resources.
Register to Vote. If you are not registered to vote, please
considering doing so before Election Day. Same-Day Registration was the single
biggest factor contributing to long lines and wait times in the polls in 2012.
The pre-registration
cutoff for this year’s general election is at 5pm on Tuesday, October
18. 2016 Voter Guide. I am
delighted to report that we will be distributing an improved and expanded 2016
Election Voter Guide to all households this year. This is something I’ve
advocated
for since my first campaign for city council and builds on the success of the
first voter guide we did in the 2013 municipal election. This year the guide
will include a sample ballot that is an exact match of the specific
ward-and-precinct, zip-code based official ballot for that household. These are
intended to inform voters about ballot content and provide an opportunity to
pre-mark selections as a guide to reduce time spent in the polls marking the
official ballot. The voter guides will be arrival to all households one week
before Election Day. Kids Voting Minneapolis is a community-based,
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to prepare Minneapolis' 50,000 K-12
students to be educated, informed voters. It is part of a national network of
that combines civic learning in the classroom, with an authentic voting
experience. Volunteers are needed to make this a success. To volunteer, sign up
at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0aawZVRRi6yueiZsKXB5_Prm_LsvMXXYOpvH7xEBImrHWog/viewform?c=0&w=1
Election Judges. The City is hoping to
hire a total of 2,000 election judges this year. I thank the estimated 1,883
people who have already stepped forward to serve as judges, but more are
needed. Election judge are paid $13.30 per hour. For more information visit
vote.minneapolismn.gov
or call 311 or 612-673-3000. Police
Stops. I am glad
to report that, starting on September 15,
Police began tracking demographic data, including race and gender, when
conducting stops, even where this is no citation issued or arrest made. This
includes suspicious vehicle stops,
suspicious person stops, and traffic stops. This grew, at least in part, out of
a motion I made in December 2014 directing the Attorney’s Office and Police
Department to “make recommendations concerning the development of a policy and
potential protocol for the recording and reporting of demographic information,
especially race and location, of police stops that do not necessarily lead to
an arrest.” As a result of this, and a subsequent
report from the Police Conduct Oversight Commission in May of 2015 that showed
how little information was being collected, the police have reaffirmed and
strengthened their policy on data collection and added reporting software
mechanisms that require officers to enter the information before they can clear
a call. Demographic information will also be tracked on calls involving
truancy, curfew and attempted pick-ups for individuals wanted for criminal
activity. I commend the Chief for moving forward with this and for her
commitment to report the results out to the public on a quarterly basis. The
data that will be gathered by officers will include demographic information,
the basis for the interaction, whether a search was conducted and what
demographic
information was provided to dispatchers if it was in response to a 911 call.
Police Complaint Report. In September the Public Safety, Civil Rights
and Emergency Management Committee reviewed the results of a study the Police
Conduct Oversight Commission conducted about the various methods available to
people to submit complaints to the Office of Police Conduct Review. They also
shared recommendations on how to improve current practices and processes and we
heard from Police staff about progress already be made on several
recommendations. The committee also approved a motion I made directing staff
from the Civil Rights Department Office of Police Conduct Review to work with
the Police Department staff to review the Commission’s recommendations and
report back to the Public Safety Civil Rights and Emergency Management
Committee on process improvements by March 31 of 2017. You can read news
coverage of the report here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/09/issues-found-filing-minneapolis-police-misconduct-reports,
and the full report here:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@civilrights/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-184609.pdfelete
Recycling Chute Requirements. The resolution I authored that would
establish Recycling Chute Requirements for new apartment and condominium
buildings passed the Community Development Regulatory Services committee on
September 27. Approval by the full Council will give support to the Minneapolis
Building Official to mandate that when a garbage chute is installed in new
construction or major renovations, a recycling chute will also be installed in
such a way as to provide equivalent access at all floors served by the garbage
chute, as required by the State Building Code. This resolution clarifies how
the city interprets this state requirement and will help us meet citywide
recycling
goals. I also plan to move an amendment
to this resolution that would encourage – not require – builders to include
organics chutes in their buildings as well.
There is more info here
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-187016 Organics
Recycling. There will be a community workshop on
organics recycling on Thursday October
13 from 6 - 8 pm at Windom Park at 2251 Hayes St NE. There, people can get
organics recycling
questions answered and participate in hands-on learning, demonstrations and
pick
up a yard sign to promote the organics recycling program. Organics
kitchen collection containers will be distributed to attendees while supplies
last. You can learn more and RSVP at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste/index.htm
or contact Laura Horner at <email obscured>
or 612-673-3318 for more information. Diversity Audits. This year the city is
surveying members of
both city advisory bodies and neighborhood a group board members to better
understand the basic demographics of the people who serve their communities and
city in these important ways. Since 2009, at my urging, the City has been
collecting basic demographic information on volunteers serving on the City’s
boards and commissions. We started this
in response to repeated concerns we heard about some sectors of our city
population not being well represented on our boards and commissions. In 2015 we
also surveyed our neighborhood association board members. The information we
have gathered from the surveys has helped us set goals and track progress and
develop better recruiting strategies to increase the diversity of viewpoints
and people engaged in guiding neighborhood and City decision-making. For past
results on our diversity audits of boards and commissions see
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ncr/boards/WCMS1P-124674,
and for the results of the 2015 Neighborhood Board survey visit
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@ncr/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-138467.pdf.
Clearly, the information we get from the
surveys is useful and the more people who complete surveys, the better. If you
serve on one of the bodies being surveyed and have completed the survey, I
thank you, if not, I encourage you to do so. 2017 Budget. 0n September
21, the Board of Estimate and Taxation approved a maximum levy increase of
5.5%, consistent with the Mayor’s proposed budget. This would raise the total
amount levied by $16.4 million, from $297.6 million in 2016 to $313.9 million
in 2017. The council will approve the final levy in December, but it may not
exceed this amount. From September 22 – November
17 the Ways and Means Budget Committee will review City departmental budgets
(dates can be found at www.minneapolismn.gov/finance/budget). We
will have two public comment hearings on the proposed property tax levy and
budget
in the City Council chambers. The first
will be on November 30 at 6:05pm. Then, on December 2 the Ways and Means Budget
Subcommittee will
consider and vote on amendments starting at 9:30am at our annual “budget
markup” meeting. The second hearing will be on December 7 at 6:05pm, after
which the Council may consider
additional amendments before taking a final vote on the budget that evening.
You can watch the budget hearings on
Minneapolis 79, or at www.minneapolismn.gov/tv/79. Minimum Wage Study. The
minimum wage study the City Council
contracted for several months ago is nearly complete. I expect it to be
released and presented to the City Council in early October, probably at
Committee of the Whole on October 5th. I am hopeful that it will
demonstrate how the economic impacts of a higher minimum wage would be positive
on businesses, workers, families and the community at large as has been
demonstrated in areas where it has already been implemented. Intentional
Communities. I am expecting the Intentional Communities
ordinance amendments that I am co-authoring with Council member Goodman to come
forward for a public hearing in October or early November. Because we are
making changes to both the Zoning Code and Housing Code, there will be two
public hearings, one before the Planning Commission and one before the
Community Development and Regulatory Services Committee. You can find more
information
at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ward2/
under Current Projects. It has been written about in the press here:
http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/2016/06/calls-for-more-cooperative-housing/,
here:
http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-may-open-door-to-more-communal-living/381263841/
and here:
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2016/05/changes-unrelated-adult-housing-rules-could-bring-intentional-communities-out-shad.
Police Body Cameras. Body cameras are now being used by the police
patrol officers in all the Second Ward neighborhoods that are west of the
river. So far 363 officers have been trained and equipped with the cameras in
the city’s First, Third and Fourth police precincts. This week the remaining
Ward 2 patrol officers (who work out of the Second Precinct, which serves all
of Ward 2 neighborhoods east of the river) are being trained and equipped.
Officers in the last precinct, the Fifth Precinct, will receive training and
cameras in the third week of October. That means that 224 more devices will be
issued over the next four weeks. All officers across
the city will be wearing body cameras by the end of the year. I am very
supportive of this roll-out of body
cameras, and hope that they will significantly reduce violence between police
and community members. There is good
reason to believe that they will: a recent study by the University of Cambridge
found a 93% decrease in complaints made against officers clearly wearing the
cameras, which record what happens during police incidents, compared to the
previous year. You can read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/29/police-body-cameras-lead-to-90pc-drop-in-public-complaints-again/
Bird Safe Skyway Ordinance. The ordinance amendment that I co-authored
with Council Member Palmisano to better regulate skyways was passed unanimously
by the full City Council on September 23. The amendment codifies standards and
sets requirements for skyways, including a requirement for bird-safe glazing.
It clarifies that skyways are only allowed in certain areas, like downtown and
on large university or hospital campuses, and may only be built to connect 2nd
stories. I am hoping that this is just a first towards seeing even greater
consideration of bird-safe building practices in the future. I thank my
co-author Linea Palmisano, lead staff Aaron Hanauer and stakeholders from the
Audubon Society and elsewhere for their work on this ordinance. Biking to
Work. According to the latest data from the U.S.
Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, which was released this month,
5 percent of Minneapolis residents
biked to work that year – an increase from 4.6 percent recorded in 2014. This
is the highest percentage the survey has shown for Minneapolis bike commutes to
date and the second highest per capita bicycle commuting of all major U.S.
cities. Our City’s Climate
Action Plan sets a goal of having 15 percent of commuters biking to work by
2025. For more information on bicycling and walking in Minneapolis, go to
www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles
and www.minneapolismn.gov/pedestrian. U.S. Department of Health Grant. The City
has been awarded a five-year, $5
million federal grant to promote health and healing for those who have faced
trauma due to the civil unrest connected to law enforcement issues and
specifically the Jamar Clark killing. We are only one of eight cities in the
country to receive this promising grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The City will be awarded $1 million annually for up to five
years to create a Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST)
program. The program will support community organizations that work with high
risk families, provide training for staff, and align the work of the City and
community organizations to promote community healing and better relationships
between city government and residents. It will include a needs assessment, and
focus first on community engagement/healing and intervention/prevention for
high risk youth and their families, and, second, on training for city and
community-institution staff in trauma informed approaches. Organizations
identified
in the grant application as being committed to being part of the program
include the Youth Coordinating Board, Minneapolis Neighborhoods Organizing for
Change, the Urban League and the UROC – Trauma Project (part of the U of MN’s
Urban Research and Outreach Center). It is my hope that this program will build
effectively on the work started by the National Initiative for Building
Community Trust and Justice, and help us reduce implicit bias and foster
reconciliation and healing needed as a result of systemic racism and historic
trauma
and tensions with law enforcement. The program will be operated out of the City
Coordinator’s Equity and Inclusion division, under Joy Stephens, and a soon to
hired full time program manager. Target Market Ordinance. The Council has
approved a new program that
will target some of our smaller contracts so that smaller businesses can more
realistically compete for them. Qualified small businesses will have the
ability to bid alongside other small businesses for City contracts up to
$100,000 instead of having to compete against larger companies. The program
will launch January 1, 2017. To qualify for the Target Market Program,
businesses must be independently owned and controlled, within the 13-county
metro area and not exceed the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) size
standards. The average annual gross receipts of the business for the previous
three fiscal years must also not exceed the limit for its industry category.
The program is race and gender neutral. The development of the program follows
significant outreach work by the City’s Supplier Diversity Team to gather
feedback from the small business community. The Target Market Program is part
of a larger effort to diversify the City’s supplier base and see more of our
public
dollars going to support local, small businesses, often owned by people of
color or woman. Urban Forestry Policy. In response to the presentation
in early 2015 by U of M Professor Gary Johnson of his Tree Failure Study Report
and with input from the Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission, the Minneapolis
Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities, the Pedestrian Advisory
Committee and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Forestry Department, in
September
the Council adopted an updated 2016 Urban Forestry Policy. The new policy makes
changes to sidewalk and road construction repair procedures to better protect
trees and clarifies that the urban forest and tree roots should be regarded as
valuable public as utilities, similar to how underground water and sewer lines
would be valued. Additionally, as a result of this effort, the Park Board has
created a new position called the Forestry Preservation Coordinator (FPC) to
support tree health during design review and construction activities. To see
the new policy, the study and more
visit: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185879 New
Community Action Agency Gets Final
Approval. After a month’s long process and
Council approval this summer, as of August 26th, the Community
Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) passed its last step in a
lengthy designation process, when it received Governor Dayton's Assurance
Statement, officially recognizing it as the community action agency for
Minneapolis. CAPSH had been providing services on an
interim basis since in Minneapolis since October of 2014 and has a long history
of
receiving good audit reports from the Minnesota Department of Human Services,
the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and independent auditors. It has worked
in suburban Hennepin County for
decades offering services such as energy assistance programs,
homeownership services, food support, free tax assistance, legal services,
employment counseling, and financial counseling. In the months ahead CAPSH
will continue
providing these services in Minneapolis, participate in a Community Needs
Assessment, engage in a strategic plan (and name change), and expand the board
of directors to include Minneapolis representation. To learn more contact
<email obscured> or visit http://www.capsh.org/ Downtown Public Realm Framework.
The Council has
approved a new downtown public realm framework and added it to our
Comprehensive Plan. The framework builds
on our Complete Streets Policy and Access Minneapolis plan and was a
collaborative effort between Public Works and the Planning department. It
creates another layer of guidance by
designating and prioritizing downtown streets into three types: destination
corridors, local commerce corridors, and connector corridors. You can see the
full plan and much more at
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185230. Greening the
Public Right-of-Way. In September, as a follow up to the passage
of our Complete Streets Policy, the Council also received a report summarizing
current
work related to greening the public right-of-way and recommending possible
future approaches. If interested, go here:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185877. Minneapolis
2040. Early next month I expect the Council to
approve the Minneapolis 2040 Civic Engagement calendar for the drafting of
Minneapolis’ next rendition of our 20 year comprehensive plan, Minneapolis
2040.
Staff kicked off the process last April and a Civic Engagement process was
presented in July. Engagement includes a mix of strategies for engaging through
technology, in-person conversations, and large convenings over the course of
the
following five phases. The first phase is ending and included the launch and an
exploration of emerging ideas and trends, current conditions, and existing
policy. Phase 2 is starting in October and will focus on “Big Questions” and
will refine key directions for the plan and will offer opportunities for people
to share their ideas for the future of the city. The next phase, 3, will begin
next spring and focus on the “Proposed Policy Framework” and includes drafting
of City policy options and the tradeoffs associated with them as well as the
chance to discuss and comment on more concrete recommendations from staff.
Phase 4 will center on the Draft Policy Document or plan itself and will run
through the fall 2017 and winter 2018 with a special look at how the policies
and
parts of the plan fit together. The last phase, 5, will be the formal review
and will last for several months in 2018 and will include a public hearing for
anyone to comment on the plan in person, in writing, or online before final
adoption by the City Council. To get involved this fall in helping to shape the
plan you are invited to the following family-friendly, interactive open houses:
from 5-7:30pm on Tuesday, October 25 at
the Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St; and, from 5-7:30pm on Thursday,
October. 27 at North Commons Park,
1801 James Ave. N. Help us build on what’s working and fix what isn’t. You can
also learn more at www.minneapolis2040.com
and @MPLS2040 #MPLSBigIdeas on Facebook and Twitter. Hearing Requirement for
Alcohol Applications.
The Community Development and
Regulatory Services Committee is recommending amending Chapters 360, 362, 363,
and 366 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances so that applications for new
alcohol licenses will no longer require two hearings before a license can be
granted by the City Council. You can find the proposed ordinance at
www.minneapolismn.gov/licensing and can submit written comments to
<email obscured>. Energy Efficiency Home Evaluation. For a
limited time, this fall the City will
be offering 0% financing for
Minneapolis residents toward recommended energy efficiency improvements as well
as free Home Energy Squad visits for income-qualified residents, including
renters. Home visits in Minneapolis are regularly $70 but families with annual
incomes
of less than $48,100 for one person, $54,950 for two people, $61,850 for three
people, or up to $90,650 for eight people can get a home evaluation at no cost.
The home evaluation includes installation of free materials including door
weather stripping, a water heater blanket, high-efficiency light bulbs, water
fixtures, and a programmable thermostat. It may also include a test to measure
your home
for air leaks; an insulation inspection using an infrared camera; a safety
check of your home’s heating system and water heater; and an “energy fitness
plan” with a list of energy-saving priorities and financing information. For
any recommended upgrades, participants will receive a personalized quote and an
opportunity to schedule the work with a qualified contractor. And if the Home
Energy Squad recommends insulation or air sealing, Minneapolis residents also
get special access to 0% financing to complete the work. For more information
call
Beth today at 612-335-5874 or visit mncee.org/hes-mpls
Open Streets - University of Minnesota/West
Bank.
The Open Streets community celebration that will include the West Bank,
Dinkytown and both sides of the U of MN Minneapolis campus will be held on
Saturday, October 1, from 11 am – 5 pm. This is a great opportunity to
promote healthy living, local businesses, sustainable transportation and
our great local communities. For a map and more info visit
http://www.openstreetsmpls.org/u_of_mn Property at 30th Ave and 26th
Street. Kraus Anderson reports that the
property in Seward at 30th Ave and 26th Street has been
sold to a church. I will be reaching out to meet with them soon for more
information about what they plan to do with the property. Habitat for Humanity
Business in Seward. I was happy to see a new Habitat for Humanity
“Restore” open on 27th and Minnehaha Ave in Seward just a block away
Better Futures Minnesota. The two stores work to provide reused and recycled
items from the deconstruction of buildings and/or donations. They offer
building materials, appliances, cabinets, furniture, flooring, plumbing,
lighting and more. To learn more visit http://betterfuturesminnesota.com/
and https://restore.tchabitat.org/shop New Prospect Park “office hour”
Location. After enjoying months of meeting at Espresso
Expose at 600 Washington for regular “office hours” in the ward, I was sorry to
see it close in September as part of the sale and future redevelopment at the
property. Starting in October I will hold my “Prospect Park Office Hours” at T
Rex Cookie Café at 3338 University Ave SE. Provided there are not
unavoidable scheduling conflicts, I will be there every 3rd Thursday from 9:30
– 11:00am. Electric
Steel Elevators. I was
disappointed to learn that city staff failed to report back to the City’s
Historic Preservation Commission with the historic designation study on the
Electric Steel elevators within the legal 12 month timeframe. Since the study
was first ordered, the
University of Minnesota purchased the elevators, but it was my expectation that
the matter would still continue through the City process. This included the
study that was never finished, and, because it wasn’t, the interim protections
that prevented demolition expired September 12. Without the study being
completed, without an extension, and without the opportunity for the city
Council to consider historic designation, I believe that the University can now
re-apply for a demolition permit and it will be considered administratively,
without needing Council approval or any further historic review. The “official”
city explanation for this is that “there were not enough resources to do so.” I
am also concerned that there was lack of staff oversight due, in part, to staff
changes and to the fact that the matter was not a higher priority for the
department. It is the University’s position (not shared by the City Attorney’s
office) that the University does not need to apply for land use approvals for
this project because they, not the city, have authority over construction on
university property. So, they have taken the matter to the Board of Regents and
on September 8, the University administration presented their recommendation to
demolish the Electric Steel Elevator buildings to them. The University’s
historic review that was shared with the State Historic Preservation Office can
be found at http://z.umn.edu/ese2016.
It is my understanding that the University wants to tear down the elevators to
relocate a sports bubble and field to serve Twin Cities campus students in
intramural athletics. The University is accepting comments on the proposed
demolition via email to <email obscured>. Approval
of the demolition will be on the agenda for Board action at the
meeting October 13 – 14. You can see what the Regents reviewed in
September here:
https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/docket/fac_-_sep_2016_1.pdf
New French Bakery
Addition. The City has approved
the site plan review to allow for an addition to at the New French Bakery at
828 Kasota Ave SE. As part of the project there will improvements made to
landscaping and lighting on the property including additional shrubs and
hedging
to help screen the parking lot and proposed loading area. I see this addition
as another great example
of the resurgence of local food manufacturing in our local economy. 1501 Como
Ave SE S. The City Planning
Commission has approved the staff recommendations for the construction of the
new 30 unit apartment building at 15th and Como. This includes a
conditional use permit to increase the maximum allowed height of a building
from 2.5 stories to 3 stories; a variance to reduce the minimum front yard
requirement adjacent to the 15th Ave SE from 15 feet to 0 feet
provided the first floor building wall shall be set back at least 6 feet from
the front lot line; a variance to reduce the minimum interior side yard
requirement adjacent to the north lot line from 9 feet to 6 feet; a variance to
reduce the minimum rear yard requirement adjacent to the east lot line from 5
feet to 0 feet to allow for a transformer, provided that the transformer is
decoratively wrapped, that there is
landscaping to increase screening from Como Ave. and that the applicant
explores locating the transformer further from Como Ave.; a variance to reduce
the minimum parking requirement from 15 spaces to 12 spaces as long as there
are at least 39 bicycle parking spaces. The building owner was also strongly
encouraged
to incorporate a small-scale commercial tenant space on the ground floor as
supported by the comprehensive plan and the small area plan. You can find more
info at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-186508.pdf
Open Office Hours in the Ward. I usually hold open “Office Hours” 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 (NEW LOCATION)
T Rex Cookie Café, 3338 University Ave SE; Fourth Thursdays at Blue Moon
Coffee Café, 3822 E Lake St. Cam GordonMinneapolis City Council Member,
Second Ward673-2202, <email obscured>
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2https://twitter.com/CameronAGordon If
you want help translating this or need this
material in an alternative format, please contact <email obscured> or
612-673-3737 (673-2157 TTY/VOICE)
Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koj dawb, hu
612-673-3737; Atención. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita
para traducir esta información, llama 612-673-3737 Ogow. Haddii aad dooneyso in
lagaa kaalmeeyo tarjamadda macluumaadkani oo
lacag la’ aan wac 612-
673-3737.
sweeping will begin Tuesday, October 18. To make sure the sweepers can do the
best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24
hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. Anyone
who parks on the street will need to follow street sweeping parking rules or
their cars may be ticketed and towed. Parking is banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. on the day a street is swept. In addition to the “No Parking” signs that
will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about
3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street
will be swept the next day. People can also use a feature on the City’s website
to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The tool
will be available by October 14 at www.minneapolismn.gov/streetsweeping
and will show which week any street is scheduled to be swept. Then, starting on
each weekend, the daily sweeping schedule for the upcoming week will display.
Early Voting in 2016. While Election Day is still a few weeks away,
Minneapolis voters can cast early ballots both by mail and in person now. Early
voting runs from Friday, September 23rd
to Monday, November 7th. Early Vote Centers will be operating from 8:00am
until 4:30pm at 217 S. Third Street
(downtown); 2100 Plymouth Ave N (in the Minneapolis Urban League); 2516 Central
Ave NE (in the Water Bar); and, 1860 E 28th St (in the Roof Depot). Voters must
complete a request form to receive an absentee ballot. This form is available
from the City’s elections website, so voters should download and complete the
form and bring it to one of the City’s four Early Vote Centers. You can access
the request form at www.vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/absentee.
Visit vote.minneapolismn.gov www.facebook.com/votempls,
www.twitter.com/votempls, #WhereIVote,
www.facebook.com/events/1072432446185951/
for more resources.
Register to Vote. If you are not registered to vote, please
considering doing so before Election Day. Same-Day Registration was the single
biggest factor contributing to long lines and wait times in the polls in 2012.
The pre-registration
cutoff for this year’s general election is at 5pm on Tuesday, October
18. 2016 Voter Guide. I am
delighted to report that we will be distributing an improved and expanded 2016
Election Voter Guide to all households this year. This is something I’ve
advocated
for since my first campaign for city council and builds on the success of the
first voter guide we did in the 2013 municipal election. This year the guide
will include a sample ballot that is an exact match of the specific
ward-and-precinct, zip-code based official ballot for that household. These are
intended to inform voters about ballot content and provide an opportunity to
pre-mark selections as a guide to reduce time spent in the polls marking the
official ballot. The voter guides will be arrival to all households one week
before Election Day. Kids Voting Minneapolis is a community-based,
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to prepare Minneapolis' 50,000 K-12
students to be educated, informed voters. It is part of a national network of
that combines civic learning in the classroom, with an authentic voting
experience. Volunteers are needed to make this a success. To volunteer, sign up
at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0aawZVRRi6yueiZsKXB5_Prm_LsvMXXYOpvH7xEBImrHWog/viewform?c=0&w=1
Election Judges. The City is hoping to
hire a total of 2,000 election judges this year. I thank the estimated 1,883
people who have already stepped forward to serve as judges, but more are
needed. Election judge are paid $13.30 per hour. For more information visit
vote.minneapolismn.gov
or call 311 or 612-673-3000. Police
Stops. I am glad
to report that, starting on September 15,
Police began tracking demographic data, including race and gender, when
conducting stops, even where this is no citation issued or arrest made. This
includes suspicious vehicle stops,
suspicious person stops, and traffic stops. This grew, at least in part, out of
a motion I made in December 2014 directing the Attorney’s Office and Police
Department to “make recommendations concerning the development of a policy and
potential protocol for the recording and reporting of demographic information,
especially race and location, of police stops that do not necessarily lead to
an arrest.” As a result of this, and a subsequent
report from the Police Conduct Oversight Commission in May of 2015 that showed
how little information was being collected, the police have reaffirmed and
strengthened their policy on data collection and added reporting software
mechanisms that require officers to enter the information before they can clear
a call. Demographic information will also be tracked on calls involving
truancy, curfew and attempted pick-ups for individuals wanted for criminal
activity. I commend the Chief for moving forward with this and for her
commitment to report the results out to the public on a quarterly basis. The
data that will be gathered by officers will include demographic information,
the basis for the interaction, whether a search was conducted and what
demographic
information was provided to dispatchers if it was in response to a 911 call.
Police Complaint Report. In September the Public Safety, Civil Rights
and Emergency Management Committee reviewed the results of a study the Police
Conduct Oversight Commission conducted about the various methods available to
people to submit complaints to the Office of Police Conduct Review. They also
shared recommendations on how to improve current practices and processes and we
heard from Police staff about progress already be made on several
recommendations. The committee also approved a motion I made directing staff
from the Civil Rights Department Office of Police Conduct Review to work with
the Police Department staff to review the Commission’s recommendations and
report back to the Public Safety Civil Rights and Emergency Management
Committee on process improvements by March 31 of 2017. You can read news
coverage of the report here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/09/issues-found-filing-minneapolis-police-misconduct-reports,
and the full report here:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@civilrights/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-184609.pdfelete
Recycling Chute Requirements. The resolution I authored that would
establish Recycling Chute Requirements for new apartment and condominium
buildings passed the Community Development Regulatory Services committee on
September 27. Approval by the full Council will give support to the Minneapolis
Building Official to mandate that when a garbage chute is installed in new
construction or major renovations, a recycling chute will also be installed in
such a way as to provide equivalent access at all floors served by the garbage
chute, as required by the State Building Code. This resolution clarifies how
the city interprets this state requirement and will help us meet citywide
recycling
goals. I also plan to move an amendment
to this resolution that would encourage – not require – builders to include
organics chutes in their buildings as well.
There is more info here
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-187016 Organics
Recycling. There will be a community workshop on
organics recycling on Thursday October
13 from 6 - 8 pm at Windom Park at 2251 Hayes St NE. There, people can get
organics recycling
questions answered and participate in hands-on learning, demonstrations and
pick
up a yard sign to promote the organics recycling program. Organics
kitchen collection containers will be distributed to attendees while supplies
last. You can learn more and RSVP at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste/index.htm
or contact Laura Horner at <email obscured>
or 612-673-3318 for more information. Diversity Audits. This year the city is
surveying members of
both city advisory bodies and neighborhood a group board members to better
understand the basic demographics of the people who serve their communities and
city in these important ways. Since 2009, at my urging, the City has been
collecting basic demographic information on volunteers serving on the City’s
boards and commissions. We started this
in response to repeated concerns we heard about some sectors of our city
population not being well represented on our boards and commissions. In 2015 we
also surveyed our neighborhood association board members. The information we
have gathered from the surveys has helped us set goals and track progress and
develop better recruiting strategies to increase the diversity of viewpoints
and people engaged in guiding neighborhood and City decision-making. For past
results on our diversity audits of boards and commissions see
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ncr/boards/WCMS1P-124674,
and for the results of the 2015 Neighborhood Board survey visit
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@ncr/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-138467.pdf.
Clearly, the information we get from the
surveys is useful and the more people who complete surveys, the better. If you
serve on one of the bodies being surveyed and have completed the survey, I
thank you, if not, I encourage you to do so. 2017 Budget. 0n September
21, the Board of Estimate and Taxation approved a maximum levy increase of
5.5%, consistent with the Mayor’s proposed budget. This would raise the total
amount levied by $16.4 million, from $297.6 million in 2016 to $313.9 million
in 2017. The council will approve the final levy in December, but it may not
exceed this amount. From September 22 – November
17 the Ways and Means Budget Committee will review City departmental budgets
(dates can be found at www.minneapolismn.gov/finance/budget). We
will have two public comment hearings on the proposed property tax levy and
budget
in the City Council chambers. The first
will be on November 30 at 6:05pm. Then, on December 2 the Ways and Means Budget
Subcommittee will
consider and vote on amendments starting at 9:30am at our annual “budget
markup” meeting. The second hearing will be on December 7 at 6:05pm, after
which the Council may consider
additional amendments before taking a final vote on the budget that evening.
You can watch the budget hearings on
Minneapolis 79, or at www.minneapolismn.gov/tv/79. Minimum Wage Study. The
minimum wage study the City Council
contracted for several months ago is nearly complete. I expect it to be
released and presented to the City Council in early October, probably at
Committee of the Whole on October 5th. I am hopeful that it will
demonstrate how the economic impacts of a higher minimum wage would be positive
on businesses, workers, families and the community at large as has been
demonstrated in areas where it has already been implemented. Intentional
Communities. I am expecting the Intentional Communities
ordinance amendments that I am co-authoring with Council member Goodman to come
forward for a public hearing in October or early November. Because we are
making changes to both the Zoning Code and Housing Code, there will be two
public hearings, one before the Planning Commission and one before the
Community Development and Regulatory Services Committee. You can find more
information
at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ward2/
under Current Projects. It has been written about in the press here:
http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/2016/06/calls-for-more-cooperative-housing/,
here:
http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-may-open-door-to-more-communal-living/381263841/
and here:
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2016/05/changes-unrelated-adult-housing-rules-could-bring-intentional-communities-out-shad.
Police Body Cameras. Body cameras are now being used by the police
patrol officers in all the Second Ward neighborhoods that are west of the
river. So far 363 officers have been trained and equipped with the cameras in
the city’s First, Third and Fourth police precincts. This week the remaining
Ward 2 patrol officers (who work out of the Second Precinct, which serves all
of Ward 2 neighborhoods east of the river) are being trained and equipped.
Officers in the last precinct, the Fifth Precinct, will receive training and
cameras in the third week of October. That means that 224 more devices will be
issued over the next four weeks. All officers across
the city will be wearing body cameras by the end of the year. I am very
supportive of this roll-out of body
cameras, and hope that they will significantly reduce violence between police
and community members. There is good
reason to believe that they will: a recent study by the University of Cambridge
found a 93% decrease in complaints made against officers clearly wearing the
cameras, which record what happens during police incidents, compared to the
previous year. You can read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/29/police-body-cameras-lead-to-90pc-drop-in-public-complaints-again/
Bird Safe Skyway Ordinance. The ordinance amendment that I co-authored
with Council Member Palmisano to better regulate skyways was passed unanimously
by the full City Council on September 23. The amendment codifies standards and
sets requirements for skyways, including a requirement for bird-safe glazing.
It clarifies that skyways are only allowed in certain areas, like downtown and
on large university or hospital campuses, and may only be built to connect 2nd
stories. I am hoping that this is just a first towards seeing even greater
consideration of bird-safe building practices in the future. I thank my
co-author Linea Palmisano, lead staff Aaron Hanauer and stakeholders from the
Audubon Society and elsewhere for their work on this ordinance. Biking to
Work. According to the latest data from the U.S.
Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, which was released this month,
5 percent of Minneapolis residents
biked to work that year – an increase from 4.6 percent recorded in 2014. This
is the highest percentage the survey has shown for Minneapolis bike commutes to
date and the second highest per capita bicycle commuting of all major U.S.
cities. Our City’s Climate
Action Plan sets a goal of having 15 percent of commuters biking to work by
2025. For more information on bicycling and walking in Minneapolis, go to
www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles
and www.minneapolismn.gov/pedestrian. U.S. Department of Health Grant. The City
has been awarded a five-year, $5
million federal grant to promote health and healing for those who have faced
trauma due to the civil unrest connected to law enforcement issues and
specifically the Jamar Clark killing. We are only one of eight cities in the
country to receive this promising grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The City will be awarded $1 million annually for up to five
years to create a Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST)
program. The program will support community organizations that work with high
risk families, provide training for staff, and align the work of the City and
community organizations to promote community healing and better relationships
between city government and residents. It will include a needs assessment, and
focus first on community engagement/healing and intervention/prevention for
high risk youth and their families, and, second, on training for city and
community-institution staff in trauma informed approaches. Organizations
identified
in the grant application as being committed to being part of the program
include the Youth Coordinating Board, Minneapolis Neighborhoods Organizing for
Change, the Urban League and the UROC – Trauma Project (part of the U of MN’s
Urban Research and Outreach Center). It is my hope that this program will build
effectively on the work started by the National Initiative for Building
Community Trust and Justice, and help us reduce implicit bias and foster
reconciliation and healing needed as a result of systemic racism and historic
trauma
and tensions with law enforcement. The program will be operated out of the City
Coordinator’s Equity and Inclusion division, under Joy Stephens, and a soon to
hired full time program manager. Target Market Ordinance. The Council has
approved a new program that
will target some of our smaller contracts so that smaller businesses can more
realistically compete for them. Qualified small businesses will have the
ability to bid alongside other small businesses for City contracts up to
$100,000 instead of having to compete against larger companies. The program
will launch January 1, 2017. To qualify for the Target Market Program,
businesses must be independently owned and controlled, within the 13-county
metro area and not exceed the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) size
standards. The average annual gross receipts of the business for the previous
three fiscal years must also not exceed the limit for its industry category.
The program is race and gender neutral. The development of the program follows
significant outreach work by the City’s Supplier Diversity Team to gather
feedback from the small business community. The Target Market Program is part
of a larger effort to diversify the City’s supplier base and see more of our
public
dollars going to support local, small businesses, often owned by people of
color or woman. Urban Forestry Policy. In response to the presentation
in early 2015 by U of M Professor Gary Johnson of his Tree Failure Study Report
and with input from the Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission, the Minneapolis
Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities, the Pedestrian Advisory
Committee and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Forestry Department, in
September
the Council adopted an updated 2016 Urban Forestry Policy. The new policy makes
changes to sidewalk and road construction repair procedures to better protect
trees and clarifies that the urban forest and tree roots should be regarded as
valuable public as utilities, similar to how underground water and sewer lines
would be valued. Additionally, as a result of this effort, the Park Board has
created a new position called the Forestry Preservation Coordinator (FPC) to
support tree health during design review and construction activities. To see
the new policy, the study and more
visit: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185879 New
Community Action Agency Gets Final
Approval. After a month’s long process and
Council approval this summer, as of August 26th, the Community
Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) passed its last step in a
lengthy designation process, when it received Governor Dayton's Assurance
Statement, officially recognizing it as the community action agency for
Minneapolis. CAPSH had been providing services on an
interim basis since in Minneapolis since October of 2014 and has a long history
of
receiving good audit reports from the Minnesota Department of Human Services,
the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and independent auditors. It has worked
in suburban Hennepin County for
decades offering services such as energy assistance programs,
homeownership services, food support, free tax assistance, legal services,
employment counseling, and financial counseling. In the months ahead CAPSH
will continue
providing these services in Minneapolis, participate in a Community Needs
Assessment, engage in a strategic plan (and name change), and expand the board
of directors to include Minneapolis representation. To learn more contact
<email obscured> or visit http://www.capsh.org/ Downtown Public Realm Framework.
The Council has
approved a new downtown public realm framework and added it to our
Comprehensive Plan. The framework builds
on our Complete Streets Policy and Access Minneapolis plan and was a
collaborative effort between Public Works and the Planning department. It
creates another layer of guidance by
designating and prioritizing downtown streets into three types: destination
corridors, local commerce corridors, and connector corridors. You can see the
full plan and much more at
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185230. Greening the
Public Right-of-Way. In September, as a follow up to the passage
of our Complete Streets Policy, the Council also received a report summarizing
current
work related to greening the public right-of-way and recommending possible
future approaches. If interested, go here:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meetings/legislation/WCMSP-185877. Minneapolis
2040. Early next month I expect the Council to
approve the Minneapolis 2040 Civic Engagement calendar for the drafting of
Minneapolis’ next rendition of our 20 year comprehensive plan, Minneapolis
2040.
Staff kicked off the process last April and a Civic Engagement process was
presented in July. Engagement includes a mix of strategies for engaging through
technology, in-person conversations, and large convenings over the course of
the
following five phases. The first phase is ending and included the launch and an
exploration of emerging ideas and trends, current conditions, and existing
policy. Phase 2 is starting in October and will focus on “Big Questions” and
will refine key directions for the plan and will offer opportunities for people
to share their ideas for the future of the city. The next phase, 3, will begin
next spring and focus on the “Proposed Policy Framework” and includes drafting
of City policy options and the tradeoffs associated with them as well as the
chance to discuss and comment on more concrete recommendations from staff.
Phase 4 will center on the Draft Policy Document or plan itself and will run
through the fall 2017 and winter 2018 with a special look at how the policies
and
parts of the plan fit together. The last phase, 5, will be the formal review
and will last for several months in 2018 and will include a public hearing for
anyone to comment on the plan in person, in writing, or online before final
adoption by the City Council. To get involved this fall in helping to shape the
plan you are invited to the following family-friendly, interactive open houses:
from 5-7:30pm on Tuesday, October 25 at
the Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St; and, from 5-7:30pm on Thursday,
October. 27 at North Commons Park,
1801 James Ave. N. Help us build on what’s working and fix what isn’t. You can
also learn more at www.minneapolis2040.com
and @MPLS2040 #MPLSBigIdeas on Facebook and Twitter. Hearing Requirement for
Alcohol Applications.
The Community Development and
Regulatory Services Committee is recommending amending Chapters 360, 362, 363,
and 366 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances so that applications for new
alcohol licenses will no longer require two hearings before a license can be
granted by the City Council. You can find the proposed ordinance at
www.minneapolismn.gov/licensing and can submit written comments to
<email obscured>. Energy Efficiency Home Evaluation. For a
limited time, this fall the City will
be offering 0% financing for
Minneapolis residents toward recommended energy efficiency improvements as well
as free Home Energy Squad visits for income-qualified residents, including
renters. Home visits in Minneapolis are regularly $70 but families with annual
incomes
of less than $48,100 for one person, $54,950 for two people, $61,850 for three
people, or up to $90,650 for eight people can get a home evaluation at no cost.
The home evaluation includes installation of free materials including door
weather stripping, a water heater blanket, high-efficiency light bulbs, water
fixtures, and a programmable thermostat. It may also include a test to measure
your home
for air leaks; an insulation inspection using an infrared camera; a safety
check of your home’s heating system and water heater; and an “energy fitness
plan” with a list of energy-saving priorities and financing information. For
any recommended upgrades, participants will receive a personalized quote and an
opportunity to schedule the work with a qualified contractor. And if the Home
Energy Squad recommends insulation or air sealing, Minneapolis residents also
get special access to 0% financing to complete the work. For more information
call
Beth today at 612-335-5874 or visit mncee.org/hes-mpls
Open Streets - University of Minnesota/West
Bank.
The Open Streets community celebration that will include the West Bank,
Dinkytown and both sides of the U of MN Minneapolis campus will be held on
Saturday, October 1, from 11 am – 5 pm. This is a great opportunity to
promote healthy living, local businesses, sustainable transportation and
our great local communities. For a map and more info visit
http://www.openstreetsmpls.org/u_of_mn Property at 30th Ave and 26th
Street. Kraus Anderson reports that the
property in Seward at 30th Ave and 26th Street has been
sold to a church. I will be reaching out to meet with them soon for more
information about what they plan to do with the property. Habitat for Humanity
Business in Seward. I was happy to see a new Habitat for Humanity
“Restore” open on 27th and Minnehaha Ave in Seward just a block away
Better Futures Minnesota. The two stores work to provide reused and recycled
items from the deconstruction of buildings and/or donations. They offer
building materials, appliances, cabinets, furniture, flooring, plumbing,
lighting and more. To learn more visit http://betterfuturesminnesota.com/
and https://restore.tchabitat.org/shop New Prospect Park “office hour”
Location. After enjoying months of meeting at Espresso
Expose at 600 Washington for regular “office hours” in the ward, I was sorry to
see it close in September as part of the sale and future redevelopment at the
property. Starting in October I will hold my “Prospect Park Office Hours” at T
Rex Cookie Café at 3338 University Ave SE. Provided there are not
unavoidable scheduling conflicts, I will be there every 3rd Thursday from 9:30
– 11:00am. Electric
Steel Elevators. I was
disappointed to learn that city staff failed to report back to the City’s
Historic Preservation Commission with the historic designation study on the
Electric Steel elevators within the legal 12 month timeframe. Since the study
was first ordered, the
University of Minnesota purchased the elevators, but it was my expectation that
the matter would still continue through the City process. This included the
study that was never finished, and, because it wasn’t, the interim protections
that prevented demolition expired September 12. Without the study being
completed, without an extension, and without the opportunity for the city
Council to consider historic designation, I believe that the University can now
re-apply for a demolition permit and it will be considered administratively,
without needing Council approval or any further historic review. The “official”
city explanation for this is that “there were not enough resources to do so.” I
am also concerned that there was lack of staff oversight due, in part, to staff
changes and to the fact that the matter was not a higher priority for the
department. It is the University’s position (not shared by the City Attorney’s
office) that the University does not need to apply for land use approvals for
this project because they, not the city, have authority over construction on
university property. So, they have taken the matter to the Board of Regents and
on September 8, the University administration presented their recommendation to
demolish the Electric Steel Elevator buildings to them. The University’s
historic review that was shared with the State Historic Preservation Office can
be found at http://z.umn.edu/ese2016.
It is my understanding that the University wants to tear down the elevators to
relocate a sports bubble and field to serve Twin Cities campus students in
intramural athletics. The University is accepting comments on the proposed
demolition via email to <email obscured>. Approval
of the demolition will be on the agenda for Board action at the
meeting October 13 – 14. You can see what the Regents reviewed in
September here:
https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/docket/fac_-_sep_2016_1.pdf
New French Bakery
Addition. The City has approved
the site plan review to allow for an addition to at the New French Bakery at
828 Kasota Ave SE. As part of the project there will improvements made to
landscaping and lighting on the property including additional shrubs and
hedging
to help screen the parking lot and proposed loading area. I see this addition
as another great example
of the resurgence of local food manufacturing in our local economy. 1501 Como
Ave SE S. The City Planning
Commission has approved the staff recommendations for the construction of the
new 30 unit apartment building at 15th and Como. This includes a
conditional use permit to increase the maximum allowed height of a building
from 2.5 stories to 3 stories; a variance to reduce the minimum front yard
requirement adjacent to the 15th Ave SE from 15 feet to 0 feet
provided the first floor building wall shall be set back at least 6 feet from
the front lot line; a variance to reduce the minimum interior side yard
requirement adjacent to the north lot line from 9 feet to 6 feet; a variance to
reduce the minimum rear yard requirement adjacent to the east lot line from 5
feet to 0 feet to allow for a transformer, provided that the transformer is
decoratively wrapped, that there is
landscaping to increase screening from Como Ave. and that the applicant
explores locating the transformer further from Como Ave.; a variance to reduce
the minimum parking requirement from 15 spaces to 12 spaces as long as there
are at least 39 bicycle parking spaces. The building owner was also strongly
encouraged
to incorporate a small-scale commercial tenant space on the ground floor as
supported by the comprehensive plan and the small area plan. You can find more
info at
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-186508.pdf
Open Office Hours in the Ward. I usually hold open “Office Hours” 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 (NEW LOCATION)
T Rex Cookie Café, 3338 University Ave SE; Fourth Thursdays at Blue Moon
Coffee Café, 3822 E Lake St. Cam GordonMinneapolis City Council Member,
Second Ward673-2202, <email obscured>
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ward2
http://secondward.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/camgordonward2https://twitter.com/CameronAGordon If
you want help translating this or need this
material in an alternative format, please contact <email obscured> or
612-673-3737 (673-2157 TTY/VOICE)
Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koj dawb, hu
612-673-3737; Atención. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita
para traducir esta información, llama 612-673-3737 Ogow. Haddii aad dooneyso in
lagaa kaalmeeyo tarjamadda macluumaadkani oo
lacag la’ aan wac 612-
673-3737.