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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Due to the holiday weekend, my next Coffee with Chris, which is usually held on the first Saturday of each month, will be in person on Saturday, July 10. We will meet at the Edina Library Conference Room at 10:00 a.m. with coffee to share. To RSVP, click here. I hope to see you there!
Updates in this week's newsletter:
⛵️ Wayzata Sailing Aquatic Invasive Species Sails: Wayzata Sailing brought together five remarkable artists that worked to highlight this issue through five unique sail designs, funded via Hennepin County AIS grants.
🍎 Hennepin County takes next step on anaerobic digestion facility to recycle organics: The county has released a Request for Proposal for a facility that would be capable of processing a minimum of 25,000 tons per year of organic materials.
🌳 Updating the Natural Resources Strategic Plan: Hennepin County is seeking community input as we update the Hennepin County Natural Resources Strategic Plan, which will define our natural resources goals and strategies for the next ten years.
🏠 30 bed women’s shelter needs new temporary home: Hennepin County and the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center are looking for a temporary site for an already operating emergency 30 bed women’s shelter
🏠 Rental assistance for LGBTQ+ Families Experiencing Homelessness: Call 612-388-2138 to inquire about availability or click here to learn more.
💼 Upcoming Elevate Business HC webinars: Elevate Business HC offers free webinars to help you rebuild, reestablish, and reignite your business
☕️ Coffee with Chris (in-person) Saturday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m.: Join me for my first in-person coffee with Chris at the Edina Library Conference Room.
In service,
Chris
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention requires all of us to do our part. This past weekend, Wayzata Sailing brought together the five remarkable artists that worked to highlight this issue through five unique sail designs, funded via Hennepin County AIS grants.
The art installation intends to use diverse and underrepresented voices to form a complete picture of lake usage, history, and connection while creating long-lasting and widespread awareness of AIS on Lake Minnetonka and the surrounding community. WCCO coverage of Wayzata Sailing AIS sails unveiling >>
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Commissioner LaTondresse speaking at the Wayzata Sailing unveiling of AIS sail art. |
 Pictured above, Commissioner LaTondresse and Hennepin County staff at the Brooklyn Park Recycling Center and Transfer Station look over the railing at a potential future site for the anaerobic digestion facility.
On June 1, the county board advanced efforts to develop organics recycling infrastructure by adding an anaerobic digestion facility to the county’s 2021 capital budget and approving a bonding request of $21 million for the state’s 2022 bonding bill. The county then released a Request for Proposal for a facility capable of processing a minimum of 25,000 tons per year of organic materials.
The need to increase local organics processing capacity
Organics recycling is the biggest opportunity to reduce our trash. Waste sort studies continue to show that organic materials, including food, food-soiled paper, and compostable products, are the largest proportion of our trash – about 25%. Anaerobic digestion is similar to composting. It is a natural, biological process that breaks down organic matter into beneficial products but without oxygen.
Increasing local capacity to process organic materials is needed to keep pace with growing organics collection programs. The metro area is served by only two compost sites that are at or near capacity. Anaerobic digestion provides an opportunity to expand and diversify local organics infrastructure.
Making progress on climate action and zero waste
Diverting more organics from the trash through anaerobic digestion is one of the foundational strategies in the county’s recently adopted Climate Action Plan and helps the county make progress toward zero waste. Food and organic materials decomposing in landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Climate experts rank anaerobic digester as a top climate solution because the methane created and captured from the controlled process effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions and creates renewable natural gas, fertilizer, and compost.
For more information, contact John Jaimez at john.jaimez@hennepin.us.
 We all play a role in protecting our natural resources, and we need to hear from you. Hennepin County is seeking input from the community as we update the Hennepin County Natural Resources Strategic Plan, which will define our natural resources goals and strategies for the next ten years.
About the Natural Resources Strategic Plan
The Hennepin County Natural Resources Strategic Plan guides the county’s work to improve, protect, and preserve natural resources and provides a framework for our natural resources policies, programs, and partnerships.
The updated plan will seek to better align with new county initiatives, shifting demographics, and changing landscapes. This is the first opportunity to incorporate the county’s climate and racial equity priorities into the plan's foundation.
Current feedback opportunities
We will be seeking input from the community throughout the year-long plan development process to ensure your values and priorities are reflected.
Take our survey by August 1, 2021, to help shape priorities and let us know how you would like to be engaged in the plan's update.
Learn more and stay up to date
Learn more about the county’s role in protecting natural resources and the plan update process and timeline at hennepin.us/natural-resources-plan.
Sign up for Natural Resources Strategic Plan email updates to stay informed of the process and opportunities to provide feedback at each step.
Hennepin County and the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center are looking for a temporary site for an already operating emergency 30 bed women’s shelter that would be fully operational by or before September 2021. Ideally, the property owner would provide property management services and Salvation Army will provide on-site services. Hennepin County and the Salvation Army will cover the cost of rent and a small amount for facility upgrades. The space will serve as a temporary location until a permanent site is established – it could be at least a year until the permanent location is ready. If you have a property that would meet this need, contact Danielle.Werder@Hennepin.us.
Rainbow Rapid ReHousing is a program designed for LGBTQ+ families experiencing homelessness.
If you think your household qualifies for this program, call 612-388-2138 to inquire about availability or click here to learn more.
Minneapolis leaders prepare for evictions despite state's new deal
 Photo Credit: Rich Pedroncelli, AP
By Faiza Mahamud, Star Tribune
Since last spring, Minneapolis, St. Paul and a number of other cities have been working closely with Minnesota Housing and Hennepin County to help tenants pay back rent to prevent an eviction crisis. Tenants also have been requesting rental assistance on their own through the statewide RentHelpMN program.
But to expedite the process and improve access, Minneapolis and other local jurisdictions recently launched the "Zero Balance Project," a program for landlords and property managers to apply for rental assistance on behalf of tenants.
Julia Welle Ayres, manager of housing development and finance for Hennepin County, said they are pushing to shorten the wait time for people in dire emergencies using the Zero Balance program even though it normally takes at least 30 days for pandemic relief dollars to get out.
Access the full story here.
They've been spotted in lakes across the state, competing with Minnesota's native wildlife, photojournalist Brad Earley shows
Access the full story here.
Elevate Business HC offers free webinars to help you rebuild, reestablish, and reignite your business as we transition out of the pandemic and work together to build an even more inclusive and resilient economy to carry us forward.
Reopening and Rehiring Do’s and Don’ts
Cómo renovar el registro de su negocio con el Secretario de Estado de Minnesota gratis (How do you renew your business registration with the Minnesota Secretary of State annually free)
How to Cultivate Clarity and Capacity in Business
Post-COVID Legal Review: Insurance, Leases and Contracts
Reminder that the next Coffee with Chris will be held on Saturday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m. in-person at the Edina Library Conference Room due to the holiday weekend.
RSVP here.
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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Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885
Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168
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