County board actions: May 21

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county board actions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

Plan to address housing gaps

Hennepin County will pursue a new strategy to help house a target population for whom housing instability leads to the worst health and safety concerns.

Voting May 14 as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the board approved new housing program guidelines and criteria to proactively aid in the development of supportive housing for households with very low incomes and other barriers.

"The county is excited to lead the way in increasing the supply of quality affordable housing for our target populations," said Commissioner Marion Greene. "No city, region or state has figured this out yet, so we are embarking on a new approach and we invite collaborators from all parts of the community to join us in this urgent work."

These changes will enable the county to play a more active role in the housing market by prioritizing investments that serve the priority population. The goals are to improve lives, while decreasing the strain on public systems.

Funding for the strategy will be considered as part of the 2019 budgeting process later this year.

School and public space recycling grants

On Tuesday, the board awarded school recycling grants to help schools reduce, reuse, recycle or compost waste. The following schools will receive grants:

  • Anoka Hennepin Public School District
  • Blake School, Hopkins
  • Breck School, Golden Valley
  • Eagle Ridge Academy, Minnetonka
  • Eden Prairie Public Schools
  • Hope Academy, Minneapolis
  • ISD 728, Rogers
  • Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Osseo Area Schools, Zanewood Elementary, Brooklyn Park
  • Partnership Academy, Richfield
  • St. Anthony-New Brighton School District

The board also awarded three public space recycling grants to the following cities:

  • Brooklyn Park
  • St. Louis Park
  • Edina

Youth Sports grants

The board awarded $107,100 of Youth Sports grants to six playground projects:

  • City of Dayton, playground at River Hills Park
  • City of Eden Prairie, playgrounds at Nesbitt Preserve Park, Bluffs West 1 and Bluffs West 2
  • City of Robbinsdale, playground at Norma Kelly Park
  • City of Tonka Bay, playground at Wekota Park & Beach
  • Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Adventure Ninja Playground at North Mississippi Regional
  • Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, inflatables at multiple parks

In addition, the board awarded $104,999 for 17 projects to purchase equipment. 

The Twins ballpark sales tax, approved in 2006, funds the Youth Sports Program and additional hours at Hennepin County Library locations.

Eliminating roadway deaths

Hennepin County is developing a safety program aimed at zero roadway deaths on our county roads. The program will engage local agencies, law enforcement, emergency responders, policy makers and others. It is aligned with a national Road to Zero effort. On Tuesday, the board accepted a state grant to assist with program development.

Other actions

On Tuesday, the board also:

Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.