 For release: Jan. 28, 2014
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Public Affairs, 612-348-5969
News release
From the Jan. 28, 2014, meeting of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
County Board Actions includes summaries of only a portion of the total actions of the board, selected for general news interest.
Special election set for 3rd District
The
board approved a special election for the 3rd District. The special election
will take place May 13 and a special primary, if needed, on April 29. The special election
is to fill the seat that will be vacant upon Commissioner Gail Dorfman's departure
at the end of February.
Hennepin County approves $750k ‘Moving the Market’ grant from McKnight Foundation
Hennepin County, as part of a collaborative with the Neighborhood Development Center and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association, was awarded a $750,000 Moving the Market grant from the McKnight Foundation to implement an employment transit oriented development (ETOD) pilot program.
The pilot will look at two Southwest LRT station areas to connect transit, jobs and workforce development. The plan is to take auto-oriented job centers and turn them into pedestrian and bike-friendly places, allowing employees easier access to restaurants, grocery stores or other amenities in the area.
The goal will be to identify strategies to enhance and retain employment opportunities along the transit corridor, as well as expand the potential for minority-owned businesses along the corridor.
Board approves lease agreement with Circle of Discipline, Inc
The Circle of Discipline, Inc, a boxing gym for at-risk youth, has a proven record of providing skill-building and character development opportunities (including tutoring) in the community. The organization supports work done by Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, and the Juvenile Probation Department. Hennepin County will lease space to the group in a building located on East Lake Street.
Chair and vice chair elected for HRA Board
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, unanimously elected 3rd District Commissioner Gail Dorfman as HRA chair; and 6th District Commissioner Jan Callison as HRA vice chair.
Cost participation for Blake Road Corridor study
The board approved up to $100,000 in cost participation with the City of Hopkins for the Blake Road Corridor study. The study will look at the corridor from Interlachen Boulevard to West 36th Street. It is expected that this area will change over the next 20 years with the implementation of the Southwest Light Rail Transit line, redevelopment of the Knollwood Mall and a cold storage site, and other redevelopment along the corridor.
The study will develop a conceptual plan that would identify improvements to the road, sidewalks, trails, pedestrian and bicycle crossings, and make recommendations for landscaping and lighting, and other amenities to support access to the Blake Road Station for Southwest LRT.
Public hearing for subsurface sewage treatment standards
The board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 25 at 1:30 p.m. for comments on changes to County Ordinance Number 19, Subsurface Sewage Treatment Standards. The changes to the ordinance are required by state rule changes.
Environmental response fund grants awarded
The board approved the 25th round of
environmental response fund grants. Eleven grants were awarded for the
following projects.
-
129 Plymouth - $21,835 to the City of
Minneapolis for contaminated soil cleanup to assist with development of a
new retail building on a vacant property.
-
Boeser Site, Minneapolis - $260,000 to The Cornerstone Group for contaminated
soil cleanup and underground storage tank removal necessary for redevelopment
of a vacant commercial lot into a transit-oriented market rate and affordable
housing building.
-
Commons at Penn, Minneapolis - $195,700 to Building Blocks of Minnesota for
abatement, demolition, dewatering, and soil cleanup for redevelopment of
several vacant and under-utilized parcels into a new affordable housing
building.
- Excelsior Library - $66,315 to Hennepin County
Property Services for contaminated fill cleanup for construction of a new
public library.
-
Miller Bag Building - $55,071 to the City of
Minneapolis for abatement and contamination fill cleanup for redevelopment
of a under-utilized industrial property into new retail, office and warehouse
space.
- Minnesota Brownfields Gap Financing Program -
$150,000 to Minnesota Brownfields to assist non-profit organizations, community
groups, and public entities with abatement, investigation, and/or cleanup at
sites across Hennepin County.
-
Penn and American Phase 2 Redevelopment -
$154,550 to the City of Bloomington Housing, Redevelopment Authority for
contaminated soil cleanup needed to complete development of an extended stay
hotel, retail space, restaurant and grocery store.
-
Plymouth Building Hotel - $25,000 to the City
of Minneapolis for private well sealing associated with renovation of an
underutilized office building into a new hotel.
-
Project for Pride in Living, Inc. (PPL), Double
Flats, Elliot Apartments, Central Neighborhood Apartments, and College House
Recapitalization (DECC) (Minneapolis) - $287,650 to PPL for removal of
lead-paint and asbestos hazards from existing affordable housing units during
renovation.
-
Seward Commons Phase III - $110,000 to the City
of Minneapolis for abatement, demolition, and contaminated soil cleanup to
complete development of market-rate housing necessary to support the previous
affordable housing phases of the project.
-
The Xenia - $101,999 to the City of Golden
Valley for contaminated soil cleanup for a housing redevelopment.
The environmental response fund program provides grants for
environmental assessment and cleanup of sites that present a known threat to
human health or the environment; provide community benefit from the cleanup;
and lack funding from other sources. Priority is placed on projects that
promote public/green space, affordable and moderately priced housing, and
economic development.
County approves Green Partners environmental education program grants
The board approved grants to organizations that will provide peer-to-peer education on environmental issues. Organizations eligible for funding include schools, congregations, youth programs and other non-profit community organizations. This round the following grants were awarded.
- Alliance for Sustainability - $15,000. The alliance will engage 300 members from 25 congregations in taking actions to protect water quality.
- Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy - $15,000. The center will engage 200 Native American youth and families in taking energy efficiency and conservation actions and reducing use of toxic cleaners in the home.
- Grand Aspirations - $15,000. The organization will engage 200 residents of south Minneapolis in making energy improvements in their homes and rental units.
- Minnesota African Women’s Association - $15,000. The association will engage 350 East African women and girls to increase recycling, reduce waste and reduce use of toxic cleaners in the home, school and workplace.
- North Hennepin Community College - $15,000. The college will actively engage 250 students and campus staff in recycling, waste reduction and water protection initiatives on campus.
- Pillsbury United Communities, Waite House - $15,000. The organization will expand its successful Phillips Environment Action Project and engage over 420 youth and community members in recycling and waste reduction.
- Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities, Voyageur Environmental Center - $8,000. The staff will engage 1,300 economically disadvantaged youth from across the county in recycling and waste reduction, including organics composting.
- Kaleidoscope Place - $8,000. The organization will engage more than 500 youth, families, employees and community members at the Center for Changing Lives in recycling and waste reduction.
- Metro Blooms - $5,500. It will engage 165 youth and community members from Bethune Community School in protecting water using its Blooming Schoolyards curriculum.
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center - $8,000. Phyllis Wheatley Community Center will engage more than 150 economically disadvantaged youth, families and community members in reducing waste and use of toxic materials.
- Shingle Creek Watershed Management Organization/West Metro Water Alliance - $8,000. The West Metro Water Alliance will engage 1,900 students in water protection activities.
- YouthCARE - $8,000. YouthCARE will engage 14 economically disadvantaged youth and more than 140 community members in environmental initiatives, including recycling and waste reduction, through its Community Service Stars program.
Board supports statewide immunization information system
The board approved a continued agreement with Minnesota Department of Human Services to support ImmuLink, Hennepin County’s portion of the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection. Immulink provides services for Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Washington and Hennepin counties. It is a confidential immunization registry used to track children and adult immunizations. The Department of Human Services reimburses the county for costs associated with supporting ImmuLink. These services include enrolling children from participating counties, enrolling private and public immunization providers, and assisting in training the immunization providers that use the registry, assuring the quality, completeness, accuracy and security of the data.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/media/county-board-actions.
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