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Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. In addition to my monthly newsletter, the county sends various newsletters and notifications available by email or text message. To explore the many opportunities to subscribe or to change your preferences, visit the subscription webpage.
Please feel free to send me your comments through my feedback form on issues that concern you or you would like covered. I value your opinions.
Warm regards,
Jan Callison
January 2, 2018
2018 board structure set
At its annual organization meeting, the County Board voted to reappoint me as the chair for 2018. I am honored to continue my role as chair and to continue working with my colleagues to face the challenges of 2018. The board also voted to re-elected Commissioner Linda Higgins, District 2, to serve as vice chair of the board.
The board also established board committees and selected committee chairs:
- County Administration:
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, District 4
- Health: Commissioner Marion
Greene, District 3
- Human Services: Commissioner
Debbie Goettel, District 5
- Operations and Libraries: Linda
Higgins, District 2
- Public Works: Commissioner Mike
Opat, District 1
- Public Safety: Commissioner
Jeff Johnson, District 7
Regional Railroad Authority leadership
Acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority
(HCRRA), the board re-elected Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, District 4, as
chair and Commissioner Mike Opat, District 1, as vice chair of the HCRRA.
January 23, 2018
Pilot program aims to keep more North Minneapolis residents in their homes
The board accepted a $260,000 McKnight Foundation grant to
provide emergency assistance to North Minneapolis households at risk of
eviction.
As part of this pilot project, 200 low-income families will
receive legal help, along with social and employment services. The county will
work with NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid on
this effort.
Learn more about this action.
Reducing eviction rates is part of the county's overall strategy
for preventing homelessness. Learn about how the county is working to end
homelessness, one person at a time.
Leaders appointed to Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Voting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the
board re-elected District 2 Commissioner Linda Higgins and District 5
Commissioner Debbie Goettel as vice chair of the authority.
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 board room on the 24th floor of the
Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
January 11, 2018
Super Bowl LII
The Board received an update from county staff and the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee on final planning for the Super Bowl as well as what to expect during the event period. County staff has been working hard to create a plan of action to keep Hennepin County open for business during the 10 day event. Details on what to expect for services can be found further down in this newsletter. Information on Super Bowl festivities can be found here.
Housing Strategy
The purpose of this briefing was for staff to provide updates on housing governance and the county's use of data, and to receive Commissioner input on the housing prioritization structure. Housing stability is divided into three pillars for success: education, jobs and income; support services; and affordable housing. There is currently an unmet need for our priority populations resulting in a gap in site based settings of 525 units and a gap in community based settings of 2,575. Staff maximizes resources by prioritizing and focusing on vulnerable, high-risk clients. In order to make this approach more effective, staff is implementing the Hennepin Housing Key to match openings with housing programs that are monitored by county staff.
January 25, 2018
Hennepin County 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Hennepin County is currently working to complete its Comprehensive Plan that will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council in the 4th Quarter of 2018. The comprehensive plan creates a long-term vision and overarching policy framework for how Hennepin County will grow over the next 20 years. The Board established the Comprehensive Plan Policy Advisory Committee to provide guidance and direction for the plan. Three County Commissioners and 18 appointed members serve. The briefing was an update on where the plan is - the goal of what we are trying to accomplish, what was asked of members - key issues/ challenges and how to address issues/challenges to remain successful, and next steps - Met Council requirements and other county topic areas.
February 9, 2018
Twenty-Five African American artists you should know
Learn about African American artists and their works that
are widely collected by museums and art auction collectors. Discover how to
recognize the styles, the important characteristics of their art, and major
influences on their work.
When: Friday, February 9, 2018 from 1:00pm to 2:15 pm.
Where: Edina Library, 5280 Grandview Square
Learn
more about this art discussion.
February 22, 2018
Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board
Applications are now being accepted for a vacancy on the Lower MN River Watershed District Board of Managers. Applications are due by February 22, 2018. Interviews are scheduled to be held during the County Administration Committee meeting on February 27, 2018 or tentatively March 20, 2018.
A member may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district. The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District in Hennepin County includes portions of Bloomington and Eden Prairie.
Members serve three-year terms.
More information can be found on the webpage here.
Visit the County's Citizen Advisory Board webpage to apply.
February 22, 2018
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board
Applications are now being accepted for two vacancies on the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board of Managers. Applications are due by February 22, 2018. Interviews are scheduled to be held Tuesday, February 27, 2018 and tentatively March 20, 2018.
A member may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district, and reside within the cities of: Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Orono, St. Bonifacius, Spring Park, Tonka Bay and Wayzata. Portions of the following cities lie within the district: Deephaven, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Independence, Maple Plain, Medina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Plymouth, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Shorewood, and Woodland.
Members serve three-year terms.
More information can be found on the webpage here.
Visit the County's Citizen Advisory Board webpage to apply.
March 24-25 2018
Geo:Code registration open
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC- Geo:Code is a code-a-thon where participants pick a
project or problem to tackle with a team and a community-generated
conference that features educational sessions. To share your project ideas,
visit Geocode.coeventer.com.
Join us and bring your ideas, your experiences and your creativity! This
event is for people who are passionate about their community. From organizers
to developers to artists, educators, programmers, entrepreneurs, and designers
the goal of this event is to create a more accessible government and to develop
innovate solutions to some of our community’s most pressing challenges.
Past events have featured discussions, sessions, and projects that covered
topics such as service design, accessibility, transit and bicycle mapping,
prototyping and usability, food access, arts integration, and more.
For additional event details visit Hennepin.us/geocode.
Contact
Andrew Rose
Events Coordinator
Andrew.rose@hennepin.us
Meg Knodl
Media Contact
Meg.knodl@hennepin.us
Page collection events aim to reframe conversations about racial justice
A series of free events will appeal to football fans during
Super Bowl LII. Two NFL
films chronicle Page's remarkable life in sports, on the Minnesota Supreme
Court and in his community.
These
events are concurrent with the TESTIFY exhibit at Hennepin County Library's
Cargill Hall, a display of selected art and artifacts from the Diane and Alan
Page Collection, which chronicles our nation's racial history. This is the last
full week of the exhibit, which is on view until February 6.
All
events will be at Hennepin County Library—Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet
Mall, Minneapolis.
Film screenings explore Page's life story
Page
redefined the defensive tackle position in pro football and made the Hall of
Fame – only to leave the game behind for a new career in law and education.
Both films will be shown Thursday, February 1, Friday, February 2 and Saturday,
February 3.
3-3:45
p.m.: "Black Star Risen" traces Page's life journey in a film
produced by David Plaut.
4-4:45
p.m.: "A Football Life: Alan Page," is a documentary about Page’s
career in sports and beyond.
Collection
traces the history of race in America
The Diane
and Alan Page Collection is a selection of art and artifacts that paints a
portrait of race relations and representation in the 19th , 20th and 21st
centuries. Gathered by Diane and Alan Page over decades of civic engagement and
very personal work in their community, the collection reflects their belief
that even as we face the most painful aspects of our past so that they will not
be repeated, we must also find bright moments of transcendence that point
another way forward.
Learn
more about the exhibit.
The TESTIFY exhibit is presented at Cargill Hall with the
support of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, the National Football
League, the Minnesota Vikings, The McKnight Foundation, the Pohlad Companies,
The Minneapolis Foundation, Robins Kaplan LLP and Tunheim.
Find more information about Hennepin County
Library--Minneapolis Central, including maps and parking information.
For additional information about the collection and the TESTIFY
exhibit, please visit The Diane and Alan Page Collection Facebook page, Twitter feed or Instagram.
Adopt a highway update
New interactive map now
live
We
encourage you to visit our new Adopt-A-Highway program map. From here, you can request a pickup,
manage your account and review safety tips. You also can change your contact
information, select an additional or different segment for adoption (if
available) or cancel your participation in the program.
As
you are looking at your calendar for 2018, make sure you plan time for your
clean-ups.
Safety reminder
A
roadway is a dangerous place and safety should be the top priority for all
volunteers. All members of your group should use common sense and remain alert
while cleaning up the roadway.
Did you know?
Each
year more than 1,000 volunteers collect roughly 30,000 pounds of trash from
430.2 miles of our county roads available for adoption.
Volunteer profile
The Suicide Commandos
McGinty Road (County Road
16) volunteers
The
Suicide Commandos, a Minneapolis-based punk rock band, has been working with
Hennepin County to clean up McGinty Road in Minnetonka since July 2015. The
band's guitarist Chris Osgood said, "We saw there was an opportunity to
tend a stretch of road near where we had our band HQ and rehearsal space in the
1970s, so we went for it!"
Drummer
Dave Ahl and Osgood are the main roadway crew members, but they are often
joined by guest Commando volunteers. "Our favorite thing about the program
is how nice people are along the highway we tend. One guy offered us some
lemonade and another person offered us a pitcher of martinis! Being "on
duty," we had to turn down the martinis," said Chris.
From
left to right: Steve Almass (bass), Chris Osgood (guitar), Dave Ahl (drums)
Working to prevent the sexual exploitation of youth
The
issue of sex trafficking/exploitation gets a spotlight during big events such
as Super Bowl, though sexual exploitation affects our community 365 days a
year. Since 2014, Hennepin County has worked to enact the No Wrong Door
initiative, which works across county services to help prevent the sexual
exploitation of youth, and to provide resources and tools for a journey
of healing. Youth who have been sexually exploited are not criminals, but
victims, and like all kids, they deserve their best lives.
If you
or someone you know is being sexually exploited call the
National Human Trafficking Hotline, at 888-373-7888
or text “Be Free” to 233733.
"Football in Minneapolis Before the Vikings"
See artifacts from the Minneapolis Marines and the
Minneapolis Red Jackets, the city’s first professional teams dating back to
1920. Special Collections is at Hennepin County Library—Minneapolis Central,
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, fourth floor.
Find hours and
other information.
See
a preview of the display.
Renewing a library book is easier
 The Hennepin County Library system has enhanced our notification and renewal service to make it easier for patrons to manage their accounts. If we have your email address, you’ll get a notice that says which items renewed, which didn’t, and new due dates. To add or update your email address, log in to your account on hclib.org.
Learn more about auto-renewal.
Hennepin County remains open for business during Super Bowl
events, although some services may be limited or moved to other locations.
The county continues to work closely with partner agencies to
ensure a smooth experience for visitors, residents and employees who come
downtown.
Hour and location details
Government Center, 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis
- All offices will remain open
during normal business hours, including the service center.
- District court at this location
will hold emergency hearings only during the week of January 29-February
2. Suburban courts will remain in session.
Health Services Building, 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis
Note: Emergency Mental Health services will be available around
the clock, as usual.
- Human Service Center
Central-Northeast Minneapolis will be closed January 29-February 2. Services will be available at five other
non-downtown locations. Call 612-596-1300 for assistance by
phone.
- Public Health Clinic will
remain open for walk-in clients, but clients are urged to visit before
January 26 or after February 5. Please consider using transit to go to the clinic.
- WIC Office will be closed
January 26-February 5. Walk-in services will be available at Hennepin
County Human Service Center–South Minneapolis, Brookdale Regional Center
and NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center.
Other buildings
- Child Support services at the
Family Justice Center, 110 4th Street South, Minneapolis, will not be
available from January 29-February 2. Face-to-face walk-in services will
be available at all non-downtown human service center locations.
- Hennepin Health Walk-In Service
Center at the Grain Exchange Building, 400 South Fourth Street, Suite
201, Minneapolis, will relocate. From January 22-February 5,
visit Brookdale Regional Center at 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway,
Brooklyn Center, or and 1800 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis.
- Hennepin County Library
locations, including Minneapolis Central, will be open during regular hours.
Parking
- The parking ramp beneath the
Government Center will operate 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 29-February 2.
Several dozen public parking spots are based on availability. Parking will
be open during the Open Appointment interview process on January 30, 5:30
to 7:30 p.m. The ramp will remain closed on weekends.
- Parking ramps at Hennepin County
Library--Minneapolis Central and Target Field Station will operate
regularly. Event parking is $8 at the library and $15 at Target Field
Station beginning at 5 p.m.
 The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Allyson Sellwood
Policy Aide
612-348-6885
Christine Hoyles
Administrative Assistant
612-348-3168
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