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Welcome to the District 5 July newsletter! Scroll down to read more about
 I will be joining Congressman Ellison and Richfield Mayor Pat Elliott for a civics forum and town hall meeting at the Richfield Municipal Center. All are invited to attend.
When: Thursday, July 6th | 6-7:30pm
Where: Richfield Municipal Center | 6700 Portland Ave, Richfield
Half-cent sales tax for transit and transportation
On June 13, my colleagues and I
voted to increase the county’s transportation-dedicated sales tax from a
quarter-cent to a half-cent and add a $20 tax on the sale of cars/trucks
starting on October 1. This was preceded by three public hearings and extensive
deliberation with District 5 residents, local leadership, county staff, and
experts in economic development and transportation. These decisions are always
complex, but the central issue is this: Hennepin County is growing, and we need
to keep up.
We are projected to add more people, households, and jobs over the
next 20 years. Of the projected regional growth by 2040, Hennepin County’s
share is forecasted at 32% of the population growth, 33% of the household
growth, and 48% of the job growth. Supporting that development is the most
responsible action for the board to take.
 The decision corresponds with other developments that have put
Hennepin County in a position to move forward with Southwest LRT, the I-35W
Orange Line BRT, and other critical infrastructure projects. The Counties
Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) will dissolve on September 30. The next day,
the counties of Hennepin and Ramsey will both implement a new half-cent sales
tax to support transit and infrastructure projects. There are currently 27 counties utilizing
the same half-cent sales tax to fund infrastructure investment, with Hennepin, Ramsey, and Wright
counties joining them in the coming months.
More information about the sales tax and
the projects it supports
2018 Budget Meetings
The County Board will begin 2018 budget planning sessions
this September. This is a long process, and our careful consideration is
required to balance the needs of many different priorities. Throughout this
process it’s important that the county’s priorities align with the needs of our
cities. I will be meeting with city staff and elected leadership in our
district, (Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie) during the summer months to
ensure that budget considerations meet the needs of our suburban communities.
 Bloomington's Summer Fete | July 3 at Normandale Park
West 84th Street and Chalet Road
This year's fun starts with a carnival, includes two entertainment
stages – the Kid's stage and the Main Stage – featuring a great lineup
of performers, and as usual, culminates with a fantastic fireworks
display just after dusk!
Eden Prairie Hometown Celebration | July 3 & 4 at Round Lake Park
16691 Valley View Road
Enjoy entertainment, food, activities and more throughout the day at Round Lake Park!
Richfield 4th of July | July 2 - 4 at Veterans Memorial Park
6335 Portland Ave
There's a Car Show, Family Night, Street Dance, Fireworks, Parade, and a wide range of entertainment. Click to learn more about the whole celebration!
Since our last newsletter in June, here are a few of the highlights from Commissioner Goettel's work...
- Attended a board briefing on our libraries and renovation projects
- Met with Dr. Chris Johnson to discuss paths to reducing opioid addiction and deaths
 Toured the Hennepin County Jail
 Toured the Hennepin County Crime Lab and was briefed on our crime scene processing services
- Met with Jill Crafton to discuss the work happening at the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
- Took part in a fundraiser for Cornerstone, an organization working to support vulnerable families
- Attended a town hall hosted by Rep. Jenifer Loon at the Eden Prairie Library
- Attended the MELSA board meeting, discussing ways that metro-area libraries can coordinate services and save taxpayer money
  Hosted an open house at the Richfield Farmers Market
- Met with members of People Power, a group in Eden Prairie working to protect the rights of immigrants and their families
- Received a legislative update from People Incorporated Mental Health Services
 Toured County security facilities
- Met with staff and Assistant Chief Judge
Todrick Barnette for an orientation on the 4th Judicial District and
criminal justice in Hennepin County
- Attended the CAPHC board meeting
- Briefed the Hennepin County Library Board on recent board activity
- Met with county and court staff to discuss reforms to the criminal expungement process.
Augsburg Park librarian wins writing award
Hennepin County Library–Augsburg Park librarian Phuoc Tran
has won the Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award for her work sharing
Vietnamese stories and culture. Her book, “Vietnamese Children’s Favorite
Stories,” came out in 2015. Her writing also was featured last year in “Sky
Blue Water: Great Stories for Young Readers,” an anthology of short stories by
Minnesota writers. Though her storytelling happens outside of her work for the
library system, both passions ignite each other. Tran recently helped to
organize a multimedia exhibit that launched on World Refugee Day in June,
"If the Waves Could Talk, What Would They Say," in collaboration with
the City of Richfield.
Learning is fun at the library
Keep the kids’ minds active and
strong this summer with summer learning at Hennepin County Library. During
summer vacation, neighborhood and regional libraries offer learning
opportunities in science and nature, arts and crafts, games, computers and
technology, and of course book clubs and discussion groups.
Ask about summer learning at your
local library, or visit
the library website.
Take better vacation photos with
Hennepin County Library
Whether you are taking a world
tour, seeing the great American sights or enjoying a Minnesota staycation,
Hennepin County Library can help you memorialize your experiences. Library
cardholders get free access to online courses on Lynda.com, a
resource to learn creative, technical and professional skills. Create an
account to access the “Mobile Photography Weekly” courses, to learn about
composing, editing and sharing your photos online, and more.
Current Events Book Club, Thursday,
July 20, 7 to 8 p.m.
Eden Prairie Library, 565 Prairie
Center Drive, Eden Prairie
Read, listen to or watch something
from our list of recommended titles, or bring in your own recommendation. Then
join us to share what you've learned. July topic: Overlooked U.S. History.
Click
here for the recommended title list.
Learn
more about this discussion group.
66th Street in Richfield and Bloomington's Normandale Boulevard are in the midst of major construction projects. Skip the traffic jams and sign up for updates on the projects impacting your commute.
You can also visit the Hennepin County website for updates on road maintenance projects and all other road construction.
Housing crises, energy assistance, child protection, emergency situations; we are here to advocate for you when it comes to navigating local and county services, and we want to help. Please call our office at 612-348-7885 with any questions or for assistance.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield
612-348-7885 | debbie.goettel@hennepin.us
Casey Krolczyk
Principal aide
612-596-7078 | casey.krolczyk@hennepin.us
Michael Ohama
Policy director
612-348-7885 | michael.ohama@hennepin.us
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