This morning, the City Council unanimously approved a
municipal ordinance dealing with sick and safe time. Minneapolis now joins the
dozens of jurisdictions that have already tackled this important issue. I was
proud to support this package and was overjoyed that the Council was able to
support it unanimously after months of thoughtful conversations with
Minneapolis residents, employees and employers.
I initially had many concerns about this new policy and made
a point to engage in discussions over the last few months with many small
business owners in the 13th Ward as we approached this vote. I take their concerns and feedback to heart. In many cases, they have opened their books to
me and shared their fears in depth, which I truly appreciate.
Ultimately, I came to understand how important this issue is
to so many people in our City and we simply couldn’t wait any longer for it to
be addressed. The lack of sick pay overwhelmingly affects low-income workers and
people of color and I believe all employees should never risk losing their jobs
because they or their families get sick. This legislation ensures that people
aren’t faced with that decision. Additionally, there is ample research that
sick pay policies improve public health. It benefits all of us when sick people
are able to stay home.
Additionally, I successfully proposed an amendment to this
ordinance, which allows employees to use their accrued sick time to care for a child
in the case of a sudden school or daycare closure. Families should be able to
have the flexibility in these situations without fear of losing their job.
Thank you again to all who have reached out to me about this
issue. My office did not have the bandwidth to return every phone call and
email over the last few weeks, but I received and carefully considered every one of your messages.
Thank you for your active engagement! It truly helped to shape this
legislation.
For more details, see the final ordinance language here.
As Chair of the Audit Committee, I've taken the opportunity to help shape our Internal Audit department and to shine a light on the great value that this department brings to our city. This department takes an unbiased look at city practices and presents the results in a way that allows policymakers to make better decisions. Due to restructuring the Audit Committee and the Internal Audit department over the past two years, we have had the opportunity to take a look at organizations that partner with the City of Minneapolis. The report on one of these organizations, Move Minneapolis, a Transit Management Organization (TMO), was presented at Audit Committee meeting this week.
The report, which was initiated as the result of a complaint made by a former employee of the organization, includes troubling results. Findings of grant mismanagement, destruction of documents, and invoice fraud were included in this report, in addition to a number of personnel issues. This pattern of improper, fraudulent and illegal practices is not in line with the City’s ethical standards and will not be tolerated. At this meeting, I made a recommendation to dissolve our partnership with Move Minneapolis and to remove our appointees from their Board of Directors. Further formal action by the City Council will follow in the coming weeks and we will work with local agencies to see that justice is served.
To view the report, click here. For news coverage, click here, here and here.
Photo: Internal Audit Will Tetsell presents before Audit Committee on May 24, 2016.
In the 13th Ward, we take advantage of the summer
weather by hosting more block parties than anywhere else in our city! I love stopping by block events on the weekends—it’s a lovely opportunity to meet people and
gather feedback about the issues we’re tackling at City Hall. If your block is
hosting a block party and would like me to stop by, please send an email to patty.day@minneapolismn.gov
to get on my schedule!
And if you need help on how to close the street for your
party, there are great resources and instructions here.
For example, did you know that if you plan ahead you can close your street for
as low as $25? [Note: there is no fee for National Night Out events if you register by July 19.]
I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!
Summer is fast
approaching, and that means it’s time for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation
Board’s Music
and Movies in the Parks. More than
250 free outdoor concerts and movies will be hosted in parks across the city, with several right here in the 13th Ward.
Since 1892, local Minneapolis artists and bands have put on
a show every day in the summer for their residents and neighbors. Genres vary
from swing, folk, rock, bluegrass, classical and much more. The 2016 season
fills the air daily with music at six outstanding concert venues running from
Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Lake Harriet Band Shell: Weekdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.,
Sundays at 2 and 5:30 p.m.
Nicollet Island Park: Mondays at 7 p.m.
Father Hennepin Bluffs Park: Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Minnehaha Park: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m.
Bryant Square Park: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Theodore Wirth Park: June 14, July 12, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
Movies in the Parks will travel to more than 45 neighborhood
parks throughout the summer. The season runs from Monday, June 6 to Saturday,
Aug. 27. All showings begin 15 minutes after sunset.
Concerts and movies are free, and everyone is welcome. Bring
lawn chairs, blankets, food and bug spray. For the most up-to-date schedules
and weather related information, click here.
You can also keep track of Music and Movies in the Park on Twitter
and Facebook.
One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to students at City Hall. I come to work every day in a beautiful, historic building. I love introducing youth to their local government and explaining how to make their voices heard.
Need to get rid of batteries, cleaners or paint? You can drop off your household hazardous wastes for free at any
of these Hennepin County events in Minneapolis from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June
2–4, City of Minneapolis Public Works Garage, 3607 44th St. E.
July
7–9, Jenny Lind School, 5025 Bryant Ave. N.
Aug.
18–20, 340 27th Ave. NE
Accepted items include:
Automotive fluids (except
oil) and lead-acid batteries
Household, lawn and
garden hazardous waste
Aerosols
Batteries – tape both
terminals
CFLs and other
fluorescent lamps and HID lamps (limit 25)
Drain, oven and other
corrosive cleaners
Gas cylinders – propane
less than 40 lbs. Specialty gases (oxygen, helium, etc.) less than 59 lbs. will
be evaluated on-site; some may not be accepted.
Mercury thermostats
Paint, stain, varnish,
solvents (limit three 5-gallon pails); no limit on 1-gallon pails or smaller)
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.