As a big supporter (and user!) of our excellent parks system,
I am happy to share that the City Council unanimously approved a 20-year
plan that funds the ever-widening gap in our system. I've worked very hard over
the last few months with my colleagues on the City Council and the Park &
Recreation Board to reach this compromise. The plan strikes a balance between both the long-term needs of our
parks and our city's aging roads.
Thank you all for the conversations at local neighborhood
meetings and for sharing your thoughts with me. And thank you to those who came and advocated at City Hall. Our parks are one of our city’s most important assets
and they contribute to the health, safety, wellness and quality of life in our urban setting. We have finally addressed the significant funding gap for our parks in a long-term and sustainable way.
This ordinance also
commits to greater funding for our streets, many of which are being repaired
too slowly. Because the Park Board’s proposed referendum required a decision to
be made now, many felt it was important
to capture both of these important investments. I’m proud that after decades of
deferred maintenance we have found a way to be forward-thinking and put a plan in place for
the next 20 years.
This ordinance
includes specific, identified funding sources for the entire length of the plan
and a clear and transparent method for amending funding sources--if needed--over
time. This ensures that the funding we are committing to will actually be
available when we need it. While we will
need to increase the overall property tax levy over time in order to pay for it, the amount is far less than had been identified through other proposed alternatives (including the referendum). I consistently hear from
constituents that funding parks and roads is a priority and this feedback has made it clear that the
investment is worth it.
I am most proud that throughout this process, Council Members and Park Board Commissioners came closer together instead of growing further apart. We are facing real challenges, and today we unanimously rose to meet them.
Photo: MPRB Commissioner Brad Bourn and I at this morning's signing ceremony.
As many of you know, we’ve had some changes in the 13th
Ward office!
Our new policy aide, Patty Day, started on April 4. Since Patty has joined me at 6 of 7 neighborhood board meetings this month, many of you have already had an opportunity
to meet her. I’m excited about the skills she brings in communications,
constituent services, and office management. Patty’s professional background includes journalism positions and most
recently running a local law office. Patty lives with her family in the Longfellow neighborhood, and has
given enormous amounts of volunteer energy to neighborhood schools, local
businesses, and neighborhood organizations. She is becoming familiar with our local business owners and the specific projects we have been working on
for our constituents. I look forward to bringing
her to meet more residents at block parties this summer.
Emily Ziring, our former Senior Policy Aide, has left us to take a
job with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as their Sustainability
Facilities Program Manager. This is a position that perfectly fits her talents
and career goals. She still lives in the
13th Ward so she will remain involved in local issues. We wish her
the best and thank her for her public service over these last two years!
Your 13th Ward team in front of the Father of Waters at City Hall, 4/29/16
To
reduce the litter, waste, environmental impacts and expense of managing
carryout bags, the City Council has approved an ordinance to regulate the use
of plastic carryout bags in retail establishments. The new ordinance takes
effect June 1, 2017.
I received a LOT of contact
about this from 13th Ward residents and residents were
overwhelmingly supportive of implementing the ban. Only a few businesses
reached out to me to express concern about the ban, but the ban only affects a
small portion of them.
Key features of the
ordinance include:
Retail
establishments may not provide plastic carryout bags to any customer.
Retail
establishments providing bags to customers may only use recyclable paper
bags, compostable plastic bags or bags designed to be reused multiple
times.
Retail
establishments providing bags must charge customers at least 5 cents per
bag. (Customers who receive food assistance are exempted from paying for a
bag.) Retailers may choose to pay a $0.05 fee to a litter cleanup
nonprofit in lieu of charging this fee.
Certain
types of plastic bags will be exempt from the prohibition, including bags that
come into direct contact with food, takeout food bags, and specialized types of
bags (such as those for newspapers or dry cleaning).
I
supported this ordinance with some reservations (it was a 10-3 vote), and
predominantly because of the effects thin-film plastics have on our environment. It’s clear to me we need fewer plastic
bags, and this ordinance will certainly have an impact. While the material in plastic
bags can be recycled, its use is very limited and plastic bags never completely leave our ecoystem. I am pleased that the fee (which businesses
keep) may help motivate people to get in the habit of using reusable bags. We
can’t ignore the environmental impacts of all single-use bags, including paper,
as there are negative consequences from all types. I’m under no illusions that
this ordinance will entirely eliminate plastic bags from our environment, and
there will be challenges, but it is one important step in moving the city
toward zero waste.
Solid
Waste and Recycling, Licenses and Community Services, Regulatory Services, and
Health Department staff will report back to the City Council by Jan. 31, 2017,
with recommendations for implementing and enforcing the ordinance. I will be
monitoring these recommendations closely.
There are two street improvement projects beginning this
summer in the southern section of our ward. Both projects have websites with
the latest news and updates:
Additionally, for the first time, Public Works has put
together an interactive
map of the City’s 5-year infrastructure (capital) improvement projects. With the interactive map, it’s now
much easier to see what projects are scheduled to happen in our neighborhood and what the timeline will be.
For more details about capital improvement projects, click here.
The spring rollout (Phase 2)
of organics recycling carts has begun. If you’ve already signed up for a new
organics cart and have not gotten your cart yet, you can check here
to see when your cart will arrive. You will receive a welcome kit in your mail
one week prior to cart delivery.
Additionally, the Armatage Neighborhood Association will be hosting an organics workshop on Saturday, June 11 at Armatage Park. More details will be forthcoming on ANA's website. All Minneapolis residents are welcome.
Applications are now being accepted
for a number of open boards and commissions positions that the City Council and Mayor will appoint this fall. Board and commission members provide valuable insights, help shape key policy decisions and
provide community-based input into administration of services. The City is
seeking applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to
strengthen the work of the City.
Applications are already being
reviewed, and will stay open until filled. There are currently dozens of open
positions on nine City boards and commissions, including the Workforce Council
and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Visit the City’s website
for a list of appointment opportunities, position descriptions and the
applications.
The City of Minneapolis has
more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that
advise the City on issues and help with policy development and administration
of services.
Keeping in Touch with My Office
Are you facing an issue with the City? My office is glad to assist! 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 Ken Dahler (ken.dahler@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.