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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for
staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county
news and services. A special highlight this month is the District 3 profile. Laura Hoffman joined your District 3 team this week and looks forward to working with you.
As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to
learn more about how to get involved.
My best,
‘It saved my life’ – program graduate
During a commencement ceremony Friday, Hennepin County Drug Court recognized 25 graduates who overcame addiction and abstained from repeating the behaviors that brought them to court.
Drug Court aims to increase public safety by quickly identifying and intervening to break the cycle of chemical dependency and crime. The voluntary program works with nonviolent adult offenders who are chemically dependent.
Marta Chou, Drug Court presiding judge, said it is her privilege to work with a dedicated team of professionals focused on reducing criminal recidivism and illegal drug usage, and improving communities through increased employment, education and housing.
Learn more here.
Issuing Debt Under Capital Improvement Program
The board established a public hearing on issuing debt to finance new capital improvements included in the county's 2018-2022 capital improvement program.
- Tuesday, March 20, 1:30 p.m.
- Board room (A-2400), Hennepin County Government Center
- 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis
Read more about the public hearing.
February 6
Expanded NorthPoint campus design moves forward
The board approved a design for an expanded NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center at the intersection of Penn and Plymouth avenues in North Minneapolis.
On Tuesday, the board also approved a contract to continue design of the new facility. The NorthPoint campus expansion is one component of a larger North Minneapolis Community Wellness Center project.
As part of the larger project, the Estes Funeral Chapel is moving to the southwest corner of Penn and Plymouth avenues. Thor Construction is also developing a corporate office, parking ramp and retail space on the southeast corner of the intersection.
NorthPoint will remain open throughout construction, slated to take place between fall 2018 and summer 2020.
Read more about this action.
Read more about the campus expansion project.
The board awarded Natural Resources Good Steward grants to three landowners and the following organizations to preserve, protect or improve natural resources and water quality:
- Minneapolis Public Schools – Field Community School to install rain gardens, provide educational signage and enhance curriculum
- Metro Blooms/Nokomis East Neighborhood (Minneapolis) to install a variety of stormwater management systems, including rain gardens, native plantings and permeable pavement throughout the neighborhood
- Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association (Minneapolis) to install up to 20 rain gardens throughout this neighborhood
Hennepin County also awarded a Natural Resources Opportunity grant to Metro Blooms to implement the first two years of a five-year storm water retrofit plan for an apartment complex in Brooklyn Park.
Learn more about this action.
Learn more about Hennepin County natural resources grant funding.
 Four representatives from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota pose with the Hennepin County Board.
The board accepted a $100,000 grant from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota to dedicate an additional staff member to a team investigating and prosecuting sex trafficking crimes. Many thanks to Deputy County Attorney Lolita Ulloa, who helped make this grant possible.
This new position will join six other staff dedicated to the county's work on No Wrong Door and Safe Harbor initiatives. These initiatives focus on the principle that sexually exploited youth should be treated as survivors and victims, rather than criminals.
County staff work year-round to combat this persistent issue. The number of sex trafficking cases submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office increased from 27 in 2015 to 95 in 2017, thanks in part to improved understanding of these complex cases.
Read more about this action.
Learn more about the county's work to help sexually exploited youth.
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Laura Hoffman
East Hennepin, South Minneapolis
District Aide, Office of Commissioner Greene
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Tell us a bit about yourself.
Well, as you can see from the profile picture, I'm really excited to join Commissioner Greene's Office as District Aide. I
graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Political Science
in 2013. I’ve spent the last few years working in campaign management and
community organizing.
Describe your work as District Aide.
As
the District Aide for District 3, I have a wide range of responsibilities.
I’m usually the first point of contact for constituents calling with questions
or concerns; I also handle scheduling and committee prep for the Commissioner.
I will assist in developing the office’s relationships with community
organizations and constituents, occasionally attend meetings on behalf of the
commissioner, and help District 3 maintain a strong social media presence.
What do you find most enjoyable?
I’m
excited to use my previous experience to make county government and District 3
operations even more accessible to the community and to show the public all the
amazing things that happen here on a daily basis!
What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?
We’re
here to help you! If you have a question about a policy, an issue in your
neighborhood, or an opinion to voice, we want to hear about it. Hennepin County
has so many amazing resources available to its residents, and we want to make
sure that you’re able to take full advantage of them.
March Schedule
As 2018 gets into full swing, I want to issue this spring’s
schedule of community “office hours.” (I am always available for 1:1
appointments, so don’t feel limited to these hours; if something is on your
mind please reach out.)
Issues are taken up in two week cycles, first on Tuesdays in Committee meetings, then voted on on the following Tuesday during Board meetings. "Office Hours" are planned on Monday evenings the night before Committee meetings.
Mondays before committee meetings, 5pm – 7pm
March 19
- Yum! Kitchen
- 4000 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park
April 2
- Vicinity Coffee
- 3350 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
April 16
- Caffetto Coffee House
- 708 W 22nd St, Minneapolis
April 30
- Five Watt Coffee Kingfield
- 3745 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
Please come with friends, family, community groups, advocacy
groups, or with your own perspectives. Contact me office ahead of time, or just
show up; I look forward to talking about how to improve our community for
everyone.
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.
Wednesday, March 21:
- 9:30am -11:30am: Transportation and Transit
MnSpin is a stage for local musicians
Chess Club is a winning move at Minneapolis Central Library
- Games of pickup chess are an island of contemplation in the atrium
of the busiest library in the county.
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Read
more about Chess Club.
Laughter is a channel for discussion
- BLACKOUT Improv is a mix of comedy, social justice and arts
access. This all-black troupe masterfully creates comedic dialogue around serious
truths by examining difficult topics and current events. Performances planned
during March and April at Minneapolis Central, Hosmer, Sumner and Brookdale
libraries.
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Learn
more about Laughing Matters events, including dates and locations.
March is Women’s History Month
Tibetan
Lunar New Year
- Saturday, March 3, 3 to 4 p.m.
- Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue,
Minneapolis
- Celebrate Tibetan Lunar New Year - LOSAR! Phuntsok D. Tsawog and
friends will perform traditional Tibetan music and cultural dance. Feel free to
attend in traditional clothing.
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Learn
more about this Celebrate Asia event.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-7883
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