Seal Coating Underway

This month, a number of Minneapolis streets, alleys and parkways are receiving a preventive maintenance treatment known as a seal coat. City crews will cover about two or three locations each weekday, completing the citywide effort by late July. The seal coating process involves applying a thin layer of liquid asphalt, followed by spreading a layer of stone chips. The chips are then rolled to set them in the liquid asphalt. There are always some excess chips left on the pavement that are swept up about one week later.

While seal coating creates roughriding and walking conditions in the short term, the process does extend the lifespan of pavement by protecting the surface from solar radiation, and helping prevent infiltration of water that leads to winter potholes. Seal coating also increases pavement friction, which improves safety, especially during the winter months.

Seal coat is a moving operation and traffic is maintained during the process. Streets will be posted “No Parking” in advance of the work, and the street will be swept before the seal coat operation. “Loose Gravel” signs will be placed at the start of all seal coat locations, and at all street crossings. Flaggers are used to direct traffic during the placement operation.

The bicycle and pedestrian detour map will include updates and details on seal coat projects. In the 13th Ward, seal coating will affect Penn Ave S from 50th to 60th Streets beginning July 20.

Tobacco Law Strengthened

On Friday, July 10, the City Council voted unanimously to change the way we sell tobacco. These ordinance changes do two things: 1) restrict the sale of all flavored, non-cigarette tobacco products to tobacco product shops and 2) require a minimum price for all cigar packages. Both these changes have been proposed by the Minneapolis Youth Congress to address the issue of tobacco use among youth. I wholeheartedly support both of these changes.

Already, cigarettes containing any flavors (other than menthol) are banned in the United States. However, other tobacco products (cigarillos, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco) do not have the same restrictions. The tobacco industry is increasing their focus on these products, selling them with candy flavors such as bubble gum, grape and strawberry, in a clear attempt to market their products to a younger audience and ensure the long-term success of their industry. These products are very popular with youth (for example, over one-third of Minnesota students have smoked flavored cigars). Several other state and local governments have proven restricted sales to be effective (i.e. New York City, Chicago, and Maine). This ordinance will prevent these products from being sold anywhere except licensed tobacco shops, where customers must be at least 18 to enter.

The State of Minnesota also has in place price minimums for cigarette packages. However, these laws do not apply to cigars, and varieties of cigars are frequently being sold in 1- and 2- pack sizes for very cheap prices (such as 2 for 89 cents). Again, these products appeal to younger smokers because of their price. The ordinance change will require packs of 1, 2 or 3 cigars to be sold for a minimum of $2.60 per cigar. Price minimums are already in effect in St. Paul, Bloomington, Maplewood and Brooklyn Center. Price minimums have shown over and over again that as tobacco prices rise, tobacco use decreases.

I am very sensitive to concerns I’ve heard from corner store and liquor store owners about loss of revenue, and I don't take this action lightly. However, my overarching concern is the fact that tobacco use is the #1 leading cause of death in Minneapolis. In Minnesota alone, health care costs exceed $3 billion—costs that are shared amongst all residents in taxes (for those on Medicare, Medicaid), as well as in higher monthly insurance premiums. I will not turn a blind eye to these products that are being advertised directly to young tobacco users. Overwhelmingly, 13th Ward constituents have expressed support for these changes through phone calls or emails to my office and conversations in the neighborhood. The tobacco lobby has successfully prevented necessary changes from happening at the federal level. These changes, taking effect January 1, 2016, can be implemented at the local level and make a real impact.

More Protected Bikeways Coming to Minneapolis Streets

More protected bikeways are coming to Minneapolis streets. Last Friday, the City Council amended its Bicycle Master Plan to address protected bikeways and recommend streets that would be good candidates for them.

There’s growing interest in Minneapolis and throughout the country to create more protected bikeways, which are areas for bicycles physically separated from motor vehicle traffic. Off-street bike trails are the most common type of protected bikeways. However, protected bikeways may also be located along street corridors as long as they are separated from traffic lanes. This can be done with parked cars, curbs, medians, flexible traffic posts, planters or other vertical features.

The Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan approved in 2011 addressed a broad range of bikeway facility types, but did not specifically address on-street protected bikeways. This amendment updates the plan to specifically address a near-term network of protected bikeways while also laying out a plan to achieve the creation of 30 miles of new on-street protected bikeways by 2020, as recommended in the City’s Climate Action Plan.

The revised Bicycle Master Plan now identifies streets and corridors recommended for protected bikeways in the near future. This includes projects slated to get protected bikeways this construction season.

The amended Bicycle Master Plan can be found on the City’s website at www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles.

Residents Invited to Help Plan the Future of Minneapolis Parks

The Minneapolis Park and & Recreation Board (MPRB) is undergoing what may be the most comprehensive planning effort in its 130 year history.  The review may result in neighborhood recreation centers being closed and/or programming being reduced. Learn more and have your voice heard by attending an upcoming public meeting.

There are two remaining meetings that directly affect 13th Ward neighborhoods:

Monday, July 20, 6 – 8 p.m., Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S. (Focus: Bryant Square Park, Lyndale Farmstead Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park)

Tuesday, July 28, 6 – 8 p.m. , Lynnhurst Recreation Center, 1345 W. Minnehaha Parkway (Focus: Armatage Park, Kenny Park, Lynnhurst Park and Windom South Park)

Summer and Fall Festivals: Save the Dates!

Kenny Summer Festival: July 30 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Kenny Park

National Night Out: August 4 (register by July 21 to block your street for free--after that it's $100)

Lynnhurst Summer Festival: August 6 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Lynnhurst Park

Armatage Summer Festival: August 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Armatage Park

The “Big” Corn Feed at Linden Hills Park: August 13 from 6-8 p.m.

Fulton Fall Festival: September 12 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pershing Park

Open Streets 50th & France: September 27 from 1-5 p.m. on 50th Street (stretches from Edina across border to Chowen Ave S)

Reminder: Unsigned Parking Restrictions

We have tried our best to spread the word but would appreciate your help--please share!

The City of Minneapolis has a number of unsigned street parking restrictions:

• Too close to a stop sign or traffic signal: vehicles are not allowed to park within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic signal and within 20 feet of an intersection corner unless otherwise indicated.
• Blocked driveway: vehicles are not allowed to park within 5 feet of the curb radius of a driveway or alley.
• On a sidewalk: vehicles are not allowed to stop on sidewalks, crosswalks or boulevards.
• Drivers should never park temporarily facing the wrong way—no matter how convenient that spot is!

Vehicles parked in violation of these ordinances—even temporarily—create a hazard for the safe passage of pedestrians, as sight lines can be diminished. For these reasons, please be aware that Traffic Control has been doing targeted enforcement of residential areas, particularly near big events.

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact the 13th Ward office at 612-673-2213, or Ken Dahler via ken.dahler@minneapolismn.gov . People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700 •  Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 • Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.