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Hennepin Happening
Welcome to the District 5 June newsletter! Scroll down to read more about
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 Last week, I met with seniors at the Realife Cooperative on 94th and Lyndale. It was a
great opportunity for me to learn more about the issues impacting them
the most. Doing good work for you means staying in touch with our community, so I hope you'll reach out to our office and schedule a time for me to visit your community, organization, or just to grab coffee with a few of your neighbors. Call our office at 612-348-7885 or send me an email at debbie.goettel@hennepin.us to get something on the calendar.
 TIF District for Bloomington senior living development
The Bloomington HRA is currently seeking to implement a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district for a senior
living development at Portland Avenue and 88th Street. The developers are following an 80/20
ration of market-rate housing to affordable housing model. Providing this level of affordable housing options ensures that there will be a place in our city for all
of our community members. My staff and I will follow this closely to help it
pass through the county’s approval process.
Justice Assistance Grant for Richfield Public Safety
The City of Richfield was awarded a Justice Assistance Grant of $9,657 from the U.S. Department of Justice. These dollars help support local law enforcement, making Hennepin County's entire criminal justice system stronger. Thank you to the City's staff who coordinated a joint bid with the other eligible municipalities to bring these grant dollars to Hennepin.
Southwest Light Rail clears roadblock with TC&W agreement
The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) held a
special meeting to approve a settlement with the Twin Cities & Western
Railroad Company, which was challenging property transfers proposed for the Southwest
LRT project.
These agreements clear a major roadblock for SWLRT, allowing the Federal Transit Administration to complete its evaluation of the project and proceed to construction.
Since my last newsletter at the beginning of the month, here are a few highlights from my work...
 Attended the ground breaking for The Chamberlain development in Richfield. The new buildings will feature 284 new units, of which 20% will be priced as affordable units. Projects like these help to ensure that there is a place for everyone in our community to call home.
 Spent a lovely morning at the farmers market sampling momos, popcorn, and handing out the latest Hennepin County bike map. We will be adding in a few extra miles of designated bike paths with the completion of 66th Street in Richfield and Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie.
Attended the NACO conference in Nashville. We viewed a
documentary by the Healthy Counties Initiative and Smart Justice on the opioid
crisis, and we had a panel discussion with many of the people featured in the
film. I also attended a round table discussion on integrating healthcare and
housing and another on jails and treating mental health issues. ‘Equity’ is a
pillar of my decision making process. Connecting with experts on these issues
helps me make decisions that take everyone’s livelihoods into account.
Oxboro
Library closes August 19 for major renovation
When the
library reopens, patrons will find a more open and flexible library, including
spaces for collaborative and quiet study and more library computers. Increased
space for youth will include a larger area for teens, as well as an expanded
early literacy area for young children and caregivers. A new second entrance
will welcome pedestrian traffic from the Portland Avenue side, across from
Valley View Middle School.
Learn
more about the Oxboro Library project plans.
More
MnSpin music!
Discover
even more Minnesota artists with MnSpin, an online streaming and downloading
tool on hclib.org. The most recent selection period is nearing completion, and
more than 70 new albums will be available for your listening pleasure. Watch
for a launch announcement on hclib.org and on social media.
Check out MnSpin.
 Photo Credit: David Chanen (Star Tribune)
Homework
Help needs volunteers
Help a
student and make a difference in your community. Hennepin County Library’s free
tutoring service, Homework Help, has openings for new volunteers at all
locations.
Learn more
about volunteering as a Homework Help tutor.
Thursday, August 16 – Exhibit
Opening: Owning Up: Racism and Housing
in Minneapolis
Hennepin History Museum is pleased to host an exhibition created
by graduate students Denise Pike and Kacie Lucchini in the University of
Minnesota’s new Heritage Studies and Public History program. The exhibit focuses
on the history of racial discrimination and housing in Minneapolis and is part
of a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of the Fair
Housing Act. $5, $3 for seniors or
students; free for members.
Saturday/Sunday, August 18 & 19
– History on Two Wheels
Enjoy an overnight bike ride through Minneapolis to tour landmarks of
historical significance in the African American Communities. Ride marshals are
from the Major Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota and are steeped in local
history; Major Taylor was the first African American world champion cyclist in
1899. The ride will set out from Hennepin History Museum on Saturday evening
and is designed for riders with the stamina to ride all through the night.
Adults 18 and older are eligible. For
more details about the tour and information about how to register, go to
hennepinhistory.org; tickets are $65/person.
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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