In photo above: The 6th ward office coordinated the Swedish delegation’s visit to City Hall with the African Development Center. Presentations included an orientation to City Hall structure by Council Vice President Robert Lilligren, Ahmed Muhumud from Neighborhood & Community Relations Department, and Vernon Wetternach from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

Minneapolis Shares Biking Knowledge with Utah Delegation

On October 4th and 5th the City of Minneapolis played host to a delegation of public and private partners interested in creating more and safer biking opportunities in their home communities in Utah. They came to learn from the progress we’ve made here. Mayors, County Commissioners, Utah Dept. of Transportation officials and community advocates made up the delegation of nearly 20 people. The group was sponsored by Quality Bike Products in their first ever attempt to hold this type of event. The statewide bike advocacy group Utah Bikes coordinated things from their end.

The group toured the city on the distinctive green bikes provided by Nice Ride MN, our very popular bike share program. They visited MetroTransit, the Midtown Bicycle Center and Midtown Greenway Coalition offices. The Utah visitors spent time in city hall with Shaun Murphy, the Minneapolis Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator to learn the nuts and bolts of the work here. Remember to check out the City of Minneapolis’ Emmy nominated videos on understanding bike street markings.

Council Member Lilligren addressed the group at breakfast on Friday, October 5th on the topic of “Building Political Will” around bike investments. He called on experience as a community activist before being elected to office around transportation issues, especially on alternative transportation. He emphasized the importance of the local biking and bike advocacy community for the national reputation Minneapolis enjoys as a leader in biking. He related transportation investments to his dedication to environmental, social and economic justice explaining that it is important to evaluate what groups benefit and what groups suffer negative impacts from investment decisions. Increasing bike investments in our core city communities help improve the health, livability and environment in formerly blighted areas. Lilligren also encouraged the group to emphasize the economic benefits to their state of increased biking.

Robert cited his experience advocating for the Midtown Bike Center, part of the Midtown Exchange/Global Market project that was the focus of his first term in office. He used this to illustrate the importance of political leadership in bike innovations. The Midtown Bike Center Project stalled several times and it was through the tenacity and insistence of Council Member Lilligren, and the dedication of community partners like Free Wheel and the Greenway Coalition that kept it alive.

In photo above, Utah delegation members take the road with their Nice Ride Minnesota bicycles.

Midtown Greenway Alternatives Analysis

The Metropolitan Council, our regional government that also operates MetroTransit, is conducting an Alternatives Analysis (AA) study to determine the best type of transit for the Midtown Greenway.

Hennepin County Railroad Authority (HRRA) which is made up of the members of the Hennepin County Board, purchased the Greenway rail corridor for transit with the bike and pedestrian amenity built first. The City of Minneapolis, the Midtown Greenway Coalition and the Midtown Community Works Partnership, a private/public partnership at work in the area; all support streetcars as the preferred type of transit for the Greenway. The Greenway AA closely parallels a similar study that the City of Minneapolis is conducting to reintroduce streetcars on Nicollet and Central Avenues.

I am part of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) convened by the Met Council to guide this work. On Wednesday, October 3rd I took a tour of the project area with other PAC members as we start the 18-month study. Stay tuned for progress reports! 

In photo above, Council Member Lilligren participates in the Alternatives Analysis group tour on the Greenway.

Hiawatha Project Update

In 2009, Xcel Energy proposed the Hiawatha Project, a plan to construct two new substations and two 115 kilovolt transmission lines in the Midtown District of south Minneapolis to bolster existing capacity, which is insufficient to meet growing demand in the area due to population growth and economic development. 

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a certificate of need for the project and a route permit locating the transmission lines underground along 28th Street. Commissioners also required Xcel Energy to collaborate with stakeholders on the substations’ design. An advisory work group, included representatives from Xcel Energy, City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and community organizations, worked for four months, and conducted several open houses, to develop a design that would be technically feasible and aesthetically pleasing. The proposed design was submitted to the commission in August. A decision is expected in October.

Construction of the Hiawatha Project began in mid-October and will continue through 2014. Duct banks are being installed underground across Highway 55 and down 28th Street to house transmission and distribution lines. Construction activity will require lane closures along 28th Street. Xcel Energy and the City of Minneapolis are working to mitigate the impact to motorists and residents.  Two new substations will be constructed, one will be located at Highway 55 and 28th Street and the other at Oakland and the Greenway.

Xcel Energy is holding an open house to update residents about the project’s construction plans and schedule on Tuesday October 30th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Plaza Verde on 1516 East Lake Street in Minneapolis.

Visit the Hiawatha Project and construction updates website for more information or contact Joseph Samuel, Senior Project Manager at 612-337-2338.

Elections Information

Voter Pre-Registration Deadline – October 16th 

State law requires Minnesotans to be registered at their current address before they are allowed to vote. Registrations remain current until voters move or change their names. Voters must also re-register if they have not voted in the last four years.

The voter pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, October 16. You can pre-register to vote by completing a voter registration application which can be found online at www.mnvotes.org or at Minneapolis or Hennepin County government offices and public libraries.

If you are able to register prior to the deadline your name will appear in the roster at your polling place and you will not have to provide additional information at the polling place on Election Day.  If you are unable to preregister, Minnesota allows eligible voters to register on Election Day as long as they provide proper proof of residence. For more information about voting eligibility requirements, visit www.mnvotes.org.

Voter Registration Lookup
You can use the Secretary of State’s online Voter Registration Lookup at www.mnvotes.org to quickly learn whether you are registered at your current address.

Polling Place Location

Remember, due to redistricting, your polling place may have changed since you last voted.  Visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/elections/index.htm to find out whether your polling place has changed. 

Voting Absentee
Will you be absent from your precinct, observing a religious holiday or unable travel to the polls due to illness on Election Day?  If so, visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/elections/absentee/index.htm for information about how to receive an absentee ballot or to learn how to vote in person before Election Day.

Please note: Military and Overseas voters have different absentee balloting procedures. The Minnesota Military and Overseas Voter Service provides information for these voters at: https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org.

Absentee Ballot Lookup
The Absentee Ballot Lookup allows a voter to track where their ballot is in the process and when it has been successfully counted.  In addition, links to additional voter resources such as county auditor contacts and a listing of candidates appearing on a voter's ballot are also provided.

The Absentee Ballot tool can be found at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx.

Preview Your Ballot

You are now able to preview a ballot specific to your precinct before Election Day.  To see what will appear on your ballot visit http://myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us/.

Latino Heritage Month Event

Phillips Clean Sweep

Phillips clean sweep is this Saturday, October 13th! There will be two breakfast locations: Lutheran Social Service Center for Changing Lives on 24th & Park and Welna Hardware on 25th & Bloomington 9:00-10:00 a.m. Pick up gloves, recycling & garbage bags & annual t-shirts at your breakfast site!

For more information please contact Crystal Windschitl, Executive Director, Phillips West Neighborhood Organization at (612) 879-5383.

From the Office of City Council Vice President Robert Lilligren
350 South 5th Street, City Hall, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Robert.Lilligren@minneapolismn.gov · Ward 6 website · (612) 673-2206

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