The 13th Ward office is hosting several community forums this year to share some of our city's efforts in particular areas of interest. We've scheduled two this month:
Implicit Bias in the Minneapolis Police Department
When: Wednesday, February 17, 7-8 PM
Where: Studio 2 Café, 818 W. 46th St.
The City Council recently approved funding to train the MPD on implicit bias. I've invited MPD Deputy Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo to discuss what implicit bias is and what the training will cover. A couple officers that have already been through the training will also be present to share their experiences. This yearlong procedural justice training is being done in conjunction with the Department of Justice's National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. Every MDP officer will receive this training in 2016.
Minneapolis' Environmental Services Department
When: Wednesday, February 24, 7-8 PM
Where: Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave. S.
Minneapolis Health Department's Environmental Services Unit is responsible for addressing air, land, noise and water pollution in Minneapolis. The department's Environmental Initiatives Manager, Patrick Hanlon, will present on the very cool (and often unheralded) work his team is doing, from analyzing the urban tree canopy to administering the Green Business Cost Sharing program.
I hope to make forums like this a regular part of the work my office does. Please let me know your ideas about future topics!
Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance amendment coauthored by me and Council Member Cam Gordon to update our food truck regulations to make it easier for these small businesses to operate. Before this change, food trucks had to have two redundant licenses in order to appear at a farmers market. Now the license they get to operate on the street will let them into farmers markets too—as long as they have the market’s permission to be there. It also increases the number of food trucks allowed to operate from private parking lots outside of downtown from one to three, so now more trucks may operate at farmers markets and breweries (for example). Finally, it eliminates the minimum number of days per year a licensed food truck must operate. This is a great step forward under the umbrella of Business Made Simple. It will serve to expand farmers markets’ customer base—introducing more Minneapolis residents and visitors to healthy, local food and all the other wonderful offerings of our markets—while simultaneously easing the economic burden on these small business owners. I’m thankful to the Libby Wyrum, the Linden Hills Farmers Market manager, for providing the inspiration for these changes.
This spring, a full reconstruction of W. 54th St. will begin between Penn Ave. S. and Lyndale Ave. S. While this project is long overdue, it will have effects on anyone who travels on 54th St. during this year's and next year's construction seasons. While I'll keep you updated as we get closer to the beginning of construction, see the website for more details: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cip/all/WCMS1P-132238. The photo above is from a public meeting held to discuss this project at City Church in January.
On March 1, Minnesota voters have the chance to make our voices heard in the selection of our presidential candidates. Caucusing is easy and fun, and I encourage everyone to participate! The Secretary of State's office has put together a helpful caucus finder to help you figure out where you need to go, no matter which party or candidate you're supporting.
This morning, the City Council voted to award the City’s recycling contract to Eureka Recycling. Eureka offered the lowest per ton
processing fee while still proposing an 80/20 revenue sharing package with the
City.
Never had I imagined that so many constituents would be so
passionate about who their recycling processor is! Thanks to everyone who
called and wrote to urge me to vote for Eureka, the local company whose
reputation for paying fair wages and committing to a zero waste future--in conjunction
with Solid Waste staff’s thorough analysis and recommendation--made the decision easy.
Also this morning, the City Council voted to approve
significant amendments to our animal care ordinance. Authored by Council Member Andrew Johnson, this is a major rewrite that I believe will bring our policies and practices
into better alignment with community expectations to be an animal-friendly
city, using best practices for humanely regulating animals in urban areas. The
new ordinance provides more transparent protocols for use of euthanasia,
transfer to rescue partners, and a holding period for stray and surrendered
animals. I am hopeful this will help us reduce the number of animals being killed
by the city. It will also allow people to keep non-toxic,
non-venomous, non-poisonous reptiles and amphibians as pets, eliminate
the requirement for a rabbit license, prohibit the use of bullhooks with
elephants, and increase the number of mature pets allowed in one
home or apartment from 3 to 4 (no more than 3 of which can be dogs) unless a
“multiple animal” license has been issued to the resident.
This week, the process of mailing out property
valuation notices began. Those notices include information
advising property owners of their rights to appeal their estimated market value
(EMV) and/or property classification, both of which form the basis of property
taxes levied against property in the city.
If you believe that your valuation is not accurate, you may file appeals with the Office of City Clerk.
Information on how to appeal is
available here. Many of those who filed appeals with the City in 2015 saw some decrease in their valuation.
Also, a new email address has been created this year to expedite
communications about property appeals; that email address is marketvalueappeal@minneapolismn.gov.
Staying in Touch with My Office
Are you facing an issue with the City? My office is glad to try and help! Whether this means a phone call, an email conversation, or an in-person meeting (I'm happy to meet constituents in the ward!), please reach out.
Additionally, if you want to be updated about airplane noise issues, please subscribe to my airport-specific newsletter by sending an email to my aide Emily Ziring (emily.ziring@minneapolismn.gov) with the subject line "Airplane Noise Newsletter."
Yours in service,
For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact the 13th Ward office at 612-673-2213, or Ken Dahler via ken.dahler@minneapolismn.gov . People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.
Para asistencia 612-673-2700 • Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 • Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.