We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for connecting to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. Visit our website to find more ways to connect with the county.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I value your opinions.

Best regards,

Girls Rock! the Capitol

Commissioner Marion Greene, Representative Erin Maye- Quade (DFL-57A), and Brooklyn Park City Councilmember Susan Pha pose with particpants of the Girls Rock! Civic Engagement Program.

On February 20, Commissioner Greene joined Minnesota Women's Consortium's Girl's Rock! the Capitol event to discuss civic engagement with the group of young women ranging in age from 13-18. Conversation included an introduction to the world of government, local and state engagement, and advancing equity for all women through advocacy and collaboration.

Upcoming Safety, Pedestrian, and Transportation Projects

Warmer seasons are around the corner, and with them bring infrastructure projects that better our District. Click the linked maps here and here to see specifically in our district where the projects are happening.

Pedestrian Related

Improvements to Excelsior Blvd/West Lake St intersection in Minneapolis
Pedestrian ramp retrofits along 46th St from Lyndale Ave to Cedar Ave

Bikeway Related

Modification of the existing off-road trail along Excelsior Blvd/Lake St/Lagoon Ave between West Calhoun Pkwy and East Calhoun Pkwy in Minneapolis
Feasibility study of a trail along the I-394 Frontage Road in St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, and Minneapolis
Implementation of a bicycle facility along Portland Ave at Crosstown in Richfield and Minneapolis

Safety Related

Implementation of pedestrian crossing enhancements at the intersections of Lyndale Ave & 49th St, and Franklin Ave & 24th Ave
Implementation of trail crossing improvements along the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis
Expansion of the county’s Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) on Excelsior Blvd and Minnetonka Blvd in Hopkins and St. Louis Park
Traffic signal upgrades along 50th St in Minneapolis

Roadway Related

46th St striping modifications; including a bikeway facility
Corridor study along Excelsior Blvd/Lake St to determine feasibility of eliminating a vehicle lane (currently 3 in each direction)
MnDOT is currently performing work on Highway 100, and also has significant improvements planned for Highway 169 and Interstate 35W for the next few years

Board meeting highlights

February 7

County Supports Bottineau LRT Engineering

Voting as the Regional Railroad Authority, the board approved funding to in support of 40 percent of the engineering costs of the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail transit Project, commonly known as Bottineau LRT. The Counties Transit Improvement Board is expected to fund the remaining 60 percent required for the engineering phase. Engineering work will position the project to apply for Federal Transit Administration funding later this year. The Bottineau LRT is a proposed 13-mile transit line extending from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.

Grant Funding Accepted for Family Engagement Practice

The board accepted Minnesota Department of Human Services grant funding to continue the Family Group Decision Making Program throughout 2017. The program helps families resolve issues of safety and permanency in the context of preserving child and family well-being. Through meetings facilitated by social workers trained in this model, the program aims to engage family’s informal supports to safely prevent foster care placements, reunite children with their families and help youth in long-term foster care transition to independent living.

Grant Funding Will Help Mental Health Patients Transition to Community

The board accepted grant funding for the Transitions to Community Initiative, which helps patients transition from mental health hospitals to community settings. Hennepin County will use Minnesota Department of Human Services funding to support county residents experiencing a delay in discharge at the Anoka Regional Treatment Center and the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota.

February 23

Federal Legislative Platform Approved

The board approved the 2017 federal legislative platform. The board particularly asks Minnesota members of Congress to support the county’s safety-net health services.

Read the summary of Hennepin County's federal legislative platform.

County to Save Thousands on Affordable Housing Legal Costs

The board approved county participation in MinnDocs, a system that will save money and staff time by consolidating legal documents for affordable housing projects.

By offering one set of loan documents to developers receiving loans from multiple public funding sources, MinnDocs could reduce affordable housing legal costs by approximately $10,000 per lender, per project. Hennepin County will work with local housing finance agencies to develop this system.

Board briefings

You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.

Thursday, March 9:

9:30am -10:30am: Bridges
10:30am - 12:00pm: Library Preservation

Thursday, March 23:

County calendar

3/4/17

Poet's Corner: Workshop with Wendy Brown- Baez

All levels of poets are welcome to a six-week class that culminates in a public reading to celebrate National Poetry Month. Learn more about Poet’s Corner.
Saturday, March 4th, 1pm - 3pm at the Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

3/10/17

Be a Visitor in Your Own City

Explore all that Minneapolis has to offer with the director of the new Minneapolis Visitor Information. Learn more about this local tourism program.
Friday, March 10, 1pm to 2 pm, Washburn Library, 5244 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

3/10/17

Ward 10 Minneapolis Mayoral Forum

Minneapolis City Councilmember Lisa Bender will be hosting the first mayoral candidate forum of the election season on Wednesday, March 8 at Calvary Church, 7:30pm - 9:30pm located at 2608 Blaisdell Ave, Minneapolis and moderated by Tane Danger of the Theatre of Public Policy

Candidates present will include Mayor Betsy Hodges, City Councilmember Jacob Frey, Representative Ray Dehn, Nekima Levy-Pounds, and Tom Hoch.

3/15/17

Creating Characters

Learn how to dig deeper into your characters to make them complex, conflicted and compelling. Learn more about the Creating Characters workshop.

Wednesday, March 15, 6pm to 7:30pm, Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

3/16/17

Local Parks- Local Food: Innovation Lab, Food Building

Join farmers, activists, bee-keeprs, soil health specialists, water quality experts, foragers, food makers, restaurant owners, food system innovators, and park board candidates to envision a healthy, sustainable, equitable - community driven parks & local food system in Minneapolis.
Thursday, March 16th, 6pm - 8:30pm at the Food Building, 1401 Marshall St NE Minneapolis

3/17/17

Palestine in the 20th Century

Hugh Tyndall will examine Palestine in the later part of the Ottoman Empire leading into the turmoil of the 20th Century. Learn more about Hugh Tyndall’s program.
Fridays, March 17, 24 and 31, 10am to 11:30am, Washburn Library, 5244 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

3/18/17

Architectural Legacy of Master Builders Henry Ingham and Henry Parsons

Take a virtual tour of North and West Yorkshire, England the home country of Ingham and Parsons, and learn about the buildings they designed and built in Minneapolis. Learn more about this architecture program.
Saturday, March 18, 1pm to 3pm, Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

3/25/17

Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum: The East Side Freedom Library

Join us for this research-based lecture series. Learn more about this Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum lecture.
Saturday, March 25, 10am to Noon, Washburn Library, 5244 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

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