News from Hennepin County

HC_alltemplatesbanner_2013

 

Commissioner_Marion_Greene
 

January


IN THIS ISSUE


CONTACT US

Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883

Ray Hoover
Principal Aide
612-348-7125

Pam Fahlstrom
Administrative Assistant
612-348-0863


ABOUT THE DISTRICT

The 3rd District serves the city of St. Louis Park, and parts of west and downtown Minneapolis.

3rd District map

View larger map


GET INVOLVED

SWLRT Neighborhood update
Hennepin County, along with the City of Minneapolis and representatives from the Southwest Project Office, will be holding a neighborhood meeting to discuss the upcoming year.

Join Marion at the Kenwood Recreation Center, 2101 W. Franklin Ave, from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, January 21st.

Marion to hold office hours across district in 2015

Marion will continue her efforts to expand awareness of and involvement with the county in 2015 as she holds office hours across the district each month. Join her in January at Rustica near West Calhoun on Friday the 23rd from 2-4pm to talk about issues in your community or to find out more about Hennepin County. Check out the website for more information.

Hennepin County sponsors free monthly Fix-It Clinics this winter
Got a beloved holiday decoration that won’t light up? A toaster that needs a little TLC? Give your broken stuff a second life at Hennepin County’s Fix-It Clinics.

The clinics offer county residents free guided assistance in disassembling, diagnosing and fixing a range of household items: small appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more.

For more information about Fix-It Clinics, visit www.hennepin.us/fixitclinic

Hennepin County to host Code-a-thon
Hennepin County is hosting its first open data event called Geo:Code. Over the course of two days, February 21-22, 2015, the Geo:Code code-a-thon will bring technology developers and coders together with Hennepin County community members and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals and enthusiasts to create technology solutions that improve county services, give residents greater access to government data and make a difference in our communities. 

For more information or to sign up, click here.

Public hearing on the land sale at Lake Street East and Hiawatha Avenue

The Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) will hold a public hearing regarding the sale to L&H Station Development of residential land within a redevelopment project at Lake Street East and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. The county is planning to build the South Minneapolis Regional Human Services Center at the location. The hearing will take place during the first meeting of the HCHRA in February. Date to be confirmed in January.


COUNTY RESOURCES

County departments, agencies & other entities

Hennepin County libraries

Hennepin County Medical Center

Hennepin volunteers

Online services

Phone directory

Service Center information

Southwest Light Rail

Understanding your property tax

City of Minneapolis

City of St. Louis Park


E-NEWS ARCHIVE

July

August

September

October

November

December

Happy Holidays!

As we wrap up 2014 at Hennepin County, I want to wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season.

This last month of the year has been busy, with a focus on the 2015 budget and planning for the year ahead. Three highlights:

  • My amendment to the 2015 budget to pay for childcare for families transitioning out of homelessness was supported unanimously by my colleagues
  • At my urging, the board has scheduled public hearings in January regarding the County's regulation of electronic cigarettes
  • In February the county will host its first ever open data event, or code-a-thon- join us!

It has been an amazing year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

 

My best,
Marion


News

hennepin

The board approves 2015 budgets and property tax levy
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved its 2015 property tax levy of $695.6 million -- a 2.1 percent increase over 2014. The proposed budget presented in September called for a property tax levy of just under $700 million. Since then, commissioners trimmed over $4 million during the budget review process to reduce the property tax levy increase to $695.6 million or 2.10 percent. The approved 2015 budget for Hennepin County is $1,809,790,375. Read more in the news release about the budget.

marion

Marion Greene uses Commissioner Amendment to provide gap funding for child care

About 300 families stay in Hennepin County paid emergency shelter each month, and the vast majority of these families receive Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Diversionary Work Program (DWP) services. Families are also eligible for subsidized child care, but the state’s process has many steps before child care payments can actually begin. Often, the process can take one month or more. This timeline does not fit with MFIP and DWP requirements that adults in the family get jobs quickly in order to provide for rent money to leave the emergency shelter.

The bridge funding provides families leaving shelter with immediate access to child care, which would provide a bridge until the family’s child care eligibility is approved by the state. This will empower families to conduct work-related activities and begin employment to help them leave shelter as quickly as possible and not return. Equally as important, it will enable the families to access quality child care. Staying in emergency shelter has been shown to set children back in their learning and development due to the stressors of unstable housing.It is estimated that the bridge funding would cover approximately 75-100 families for up to one month until they are approved for state-subsidized child care.

Public hearing on electronic cigarettes

The county will hold a public hearing regarding proposed changes to the county’s smoke-free ordinance, which currently prohibits smoking in bars and restaurants in Hennepin County. The proposed changes ban the use of electronic delivery devices (e-cigarettes) in all facilities in which Minnesota's Clean Indoor Act prohibits smoking. The hearing will take place during the county board committee meetings on January 13, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.

oath

Oath of Office to be administered in Hennepin County

Hennepin County officials elected in November will be sworn in on Tuesday, January 6th at 1:30pm in the County Board Room at the Government Center. Commissioners Marion Greene, Linda Higgins, and Peter McLaughlin will join County Attorney Michael Freeman and Sheriff Richard W. Stanek for the event.

The ceremony is being broadcast live and will be repeated on Friday, January 9th at 8pm on Metro Cable Network/ Channel 6. Board meetings are also available live and on-demand at www.hennepin.us.

Youth Sports grants awarded

The board approved $1,849,665 in Youth Sports grants for 2015. The Hennepin Youth Sports Program awards capital grants to build, repair, renovate or expand youth sports facilities in Hennepin County.

Fourteen projects will receive facilities grants for 2015, including the following in District 3:

  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation for $200,000 for a new playground and interpretive history site at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
  • St. Louis Park ISD 283 for $121,000 for improvements at St. Louis Park High School Stadium
  • Minneapolis Public Schools for $84,600 for a new fitness center at Southwest High School

Sixteen small equipment and/or other small capital projects also received $124,955 in funding. Since the program began in 2009, the county has awarded $13.2 million to 80 facility projects and 113 small equipment projects.

Discount health program creates benefits for Hennepin County residents
The board renewed an agreement for a prescription discount program for county residents through 2016. The no-cost Coast2Coast Rx card could provide savings of up to 75 percent on tens of thousands of prescriptions with additional savings available on health care services including diabetes supplies, lab and imaging diagnostics, and vision, dental and hearing care. The program also offers discounts on pet prescriptions and some veterinary care. Each time the card is used to fill a prescription, $1.25 will be generated for public programs. Residents can pick up a card from more than 69,000 participating pharmacies nationwide or print one from the Coast2Coast website here. 

jennifer

Hennepin County assistant administrator to help build new state administration
Hennepin County is sharing its expertise on aligning and integrating complex medical and social services with the state of Minnesota’s Department of Human Services.

Jennifer DeCubellis, the county’s assistant administrator for health, has accepted a one-year appointment as assistant commissioner to lead a yet-to-be-named new state administration that will include mental and chemical health services and services for people with disabilities. She will begin her new responsibilities with the state on January 1, 2015. We're excited the state will benefit from her expertise and leadership.


Hennepin County profile

mikkel

To learn more about the work of Hennepin County, we've started a profile series with county employees who live in District 3. Each month will spotlight a person from varying departments and occupations.

Mikkel Beckmen
Mikkel Beckmen is a resident of the Lynnhurst neighborhood, and the Director of the Office to End Homelessness, which leads Heading Home Hennepin, the joint City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County community's effort to end homelessness. Click here to find out more about how Mikkel helps make Hennepin County tick.


Board meeting highlights

bus

December 2

County supports C Line bus rapid transit on Penn Avenue
The board voted to support Metro Transit in advancing design and engineering of the C Line bus rapid transit route along Penn Avenue (County Road 2). The route is currently projected to be in service late 2016. The county will continue to collaborate with Metro Transit on the planning, engagement and implementation of this project through the Hennepin County Penn Avenue Community Works program. Find more information on the project webpage.

Board supports Minneapolis Promise Zone application 
The board voted to support Minneapolis’ Promise Zone Initiative application. The city is applying to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be one of six urban communities designated as a Promise Zone. Promise Zone cities receive preference for certain competitive federal programs and technical assistance. 

County receives grant for DNA processing
The board approved a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Program to reduce the DNA backlog in the sheriff’s crime lab. The $100,000 grant will fund one full-time employee and provide training to reduce the DNA processing backlog. The grant program offers funding to local units of government to reduce forensic DNA sample turnaround time, increase the output of public DNA laboratories, and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs.

Grant helps connect inmates to behavioral health care
The county received a $30,000 grant from Minnesota Department of Health for a community health worker to assist people with behavioral health needs who are in the Hennepin County Jail and who are likely to return to jail after being released. Medicaid does not pay for health care or care coordination for incarcerated people. The community health worker will serve approximately 600 clients during the first year by helping them find primary care, housing, behavioral health, social services and employment services. The county will contribute in-kind funding of $29,428 for salary and benefits.

County receives additional $585,000 for workforce development
This year, the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recommended to the Minnesota Job Skill Partnership Board that additional allocations be made to workforce service areas experiencing lingering impacts of reduced Workforce Investment Act funding. Hennepin County received funding that will be used for a web-based resource connecting job seekers and workforce professionals and other related workforce development programs in the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Service Area.


December 16

Franklin Avenue bridge construction contract awarded
The board awarded the construction contract for the Franklin Avenue bridge (County Road 5) in Minneapolis to Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc. The reconstruction plans for the bridge will require closing the entire span during construction. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a landmark by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission. The complicated project includes the replacement of the bridge deck, sidewalks, railings and repair or replacement of beams and columns as needed.

valentine

Weddings to be held at Government Center on Valentine’s Day Eve

The board approved the use of the Hennepin County Government Center for marriage ceremonies to be held on Valentine’s Day Eve (February 13, 2015). Up to 20 judges will volunteer to perform up to 40 marriage ceremonies at no charge on the skyway level on February 13, 2015 from noon to 1 p.m. This is the third free marriage ceremony event held in connection with Valentine's Day. Couples must pre-register and should contact nancy.peters@courts.state.mn.us for information.

Board approves reconstruction of Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis 
The county is planning to reconstruct Minnehaha Avenue (County Road 48) in Minneapolis from 46th Street (County Road 46) to Lake Street (County Road 3). The project will add enhanced bicycle facilities, bring pedestrian facilities into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and replace underground utilities. The project also includes streetscaping and enhancements identified through the Minnehaha-Hiawatha community works program. 

The county is also working with the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Metro Transit on connected improvements and updates.

County receives grant to address racial disparities 
The county received a grant for nearly $1 million from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to address racial disparities for families served by the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). The county is charged with developing and implementing subsidized employment strategies and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in employment outcomes for families served by MFIP. Hennepin County will work with NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Incorporated (NorthPoint) to provide targeted employment and supportive services to African American families participating in MFIP through an initiative called On Point. On Point Point clients will be enrolled in one of four tracks: credential training (sector-based); GED completion; career/employment ready; and employability/life skills improvement.

Board approves legislative platform for 2015 
The board approved the 2015 legislative platform. Click here for more info.

Back to Top