BOARD NEWS
July 24, 2012
Joint Powers Agreement for Fort Snelling Upper Post Approved
The JPA includes all of the site users; Hennepin County, which previously has taken a leadership role in trying to redevelop and restore the site; and other partners, including federally recognized American Indian tribes.
The JPA will establish an interim organization to continue building stabilization and redevelopment, and establish a permanent governance organization for the area. The DNR will be the lead agency staffing and providing support resources to the organization. Hennepin County will provide economic development and redevelopment support.
When appropriate, draft Requests for Qualifications or Requests for Proposals to seek qualified developers for certain lands within the Fort Snelling Upper Post could be issued. National examples of successful redevelopment for similar historical forts include the renovation and restoration of historic military bases in San Francisco, California; and Fort Vancouver in Washington State.
The JPA extends from Aug. 12 of this year through Dec. 31, 2015.
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 Ambulance Response Times Well Above Standards
The Board approved ambulance response time standards for Code 3 (lights and siren; life-threatening illnesses or injuries) and Code 2 (no lights and siren; non-threatening illnesses of injuries) calls.
County ordinance requires that Hennepin’s Emergency Medical Services Council make recommendations to the Board for response times every two years. The Council reviewed 2011 data and found that ambulance service exceeded standards countywide:
- 93 percent of Code 3 ambulance runs arrived in less than 11 minutes – better than the current standard of 90 percent
- 97 percent of Code 2 ambulance runs arrived in less than 21 minutes – better than the current standard of 90 percent.
The Council determined that some municipalities continue to be difficult to serve quickly, due to their location, low volume or other factors.
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 Upgrades in Minneapolis Traffic Signals Will Smooth Traffic Flow
The Board approved an agreement with Minneapolis for cost participation, including $980,000 in funding for county maintained roads, to upgrade traffic signal systems managed by the city.
Many of the existing signals are decades old. The improvements – the first in nearly 40 years – are expected to move cars, buses, light rail and even bike and pedestrian traffic more efficiently through the city. There also will be less waiting during peak traffic times at signals where there is no side street traffic.
The project will include replacement of 62 individual intersection traffic control systems, and an upgrade of the centralized computer system that controls the signals, including collection of data that will create new signal timing patterns.
Total cost of the project, which will take place over the next two years, is estimated at $16.2 million – largely funded by the federal government. Under the terms of the agreement, Minneapolis will be responsible for the project and the county will reimburse the city for its share of project costs on county maintained roads (approximately $1 million) not covered by federal funds. Minneapolis will spend approximately $2 million.
City officials expect the new system to reduce traffic delays by at least 15 percent.
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Volunteers Appointed to Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Board
The Board reappointed Jill Crafton of Bloomington and appointed Mary Bisek of Minnetonka to the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Board.
This watershed board coordinates management of water and related land resources within the areas generally tributary to Riley, Purgatory and Bluff creeks in southwest Hennepin and northeast Carver counties.
This news release contains information about these items and other Board actions taken on July 24, 2012. For video and minutes of all Board meetings, click here.
BOARD BRIEFINGS
In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the board often meets on Thursday mornings to receive "Board Briefings." These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made. Board Briefings occur in the Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
July 19, 2012
Foreclosure Prevention – The Board Briefing topic was foreclosure prevention, presented by county staff as well as staff from the Minnesota Foreclosure Partners Council and the City of Minneapolis. Among the topics covered were: historical data, including the number of Sheriff’s sales in 2002 (920) and projected in 2012 (4,416); county activities in response to foreclosures; activities by the Minnesota Foreclosure Partners Council and by the City of Minneapolis; and the National Mortgage Settlement. This map shows the distribution of foreclosures in Hennepin County from January through June 2012.
COUNTY CALENDAR
Absentee Voting Available
 The primary election is Tuesday, August 14. If you can't make it to the polls to vote in the primary, absentee ballots are available through the business day on Monday, August 13.
Review our Absentee Voting page for more information or call the Hennepin County Elections Division at 612-348-5151. |
Wayzata Boulevard Open House
What: Hennepin County and the cities of Long Lake and Orono are announcing a public information meeting to discuss the improvement of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 112. The purpose of the public open house is to provide an introduction to the project, and schedule of the study; and identify community values for the corridor. This process will evaluate concepts for the corridor and develop a preliminary design of the roadway for future construction.
The public is encouraged to attend, provide input, and ask questions concerning the study. Hennepin County staff and design team representatives will be available to answer questions and discuss the study on an individual basis. Visit the CSAH 112 homepage for more news about this construction project. When: Thursday, August 9, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lake Community Bank - Community Room - 1964 W. Wayzata Boulevard, Long Lake
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance
What: A public hearing was established to obtain public comment on amendments to County Ordinance No. 7 - Hazardous Waste Management.
The Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance was originally adopted in 1980 and amended in 2006. MN Statute requires when State rules are changed, the county must adopt the changes. Since 2006, two rule packages were adopted by the MN Pollution Control Agency, which requires amendments to the county's ordinance.
When: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 1:30 during the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee.
Where: Hennepin County Government Center Boardroom - 24th floor, 300 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis
HUD Consolidated Plan
What: A public hearing to obtain public comment on the implementation of the second year (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) portion of the 2010-2014 HUD Consolidated Plan, which includes the suburban Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires submission of an annual performance report covering progress during the previous year. Federal regulations require the opportunity for public comment on the county's performance.
When: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 1:30 during the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee.
Where: Hennepin County Government Center Boardroom - 24th floor, 300 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
 9 Mile Creek Watershed District Vacancy
What: Applications are being accepted due to the expiration of term of office. The cities of Hopkins, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka have land within the district.
When: Applications are scheduled to close on Friday, August 24, with interviews to be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 1:30.
Where: Hennepin County Government Center Boardroom - 300 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis
 Participate in Hennepin's First Official Pedestrian Plan
The county invites you to participate in one of its upcoming workshops:
6 – 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15, at Crystal Step To It, Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal.
7 – 8:30 p.m., Sept. 11, at New Hope Citizens Advisory Commission, New Hope City Hall, Council Chambers, 4401 Xylon Ave. N., New Hope.
These community engagement opportunities will help the county:
- Generate ideas about making walking a safe, convenient and enjoyable transportation choice.
- Develop a vision for improving and enhancing the pedestrian environment along the county road system.
- Collect input about sidewalk gaps, difficult intersection crossings and walking conditions along county roads.
- Collect input on criteria for prioritizing improvements.
The draft Hennepin County Pedestrian Plan will be released for review this fall and is expected to be completed in mid-2013. For more information about the pedestrian plan and additional workshops, visit www.hennepin.us/pedestrianplan. |
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