As we get ready to celebrate Independence Day, it's a great time to review what's legal and what's not when it comes to fireworks. We'd also like to encourage you to be mindful of your neighbors when celebrating. Happy 4th!
What’s Legal?
Minnesota law permits the sale, possession and use of some non-explosive and non-aerial fireworks. Examples include sparklers, cones and tubes that emit sparks, and novelty items like snakes and party poppers. Sale, possession and use may occur at any time during the year. Fireworks can only be sold from inside a permanent structure. These consumer fireworks may not be used on public property such as roads, alleys, schools, and parks.
What’s Illegal?
The law prohibits explosive and aerial fireworks for public sale, possession and use. Examples of illegal fireworks include firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles, roman candles, mortars and shells—any fireworks that are explosive and aerial.
Making Fireworks Complaints
Be a considerate neighbor and comply with the fireworks law! Fireworks can be extremely frustrating for neighbors, especially when homes are close to each other, people are trying to sleep or when small children and pets are frightened. Fireworks are also very dangerous and pose a risk of personal injury and house fires.
If you would like to make a complaint about fireworks, you may do so online or by calling 311.
Reserve the use of 911 only for urgent concerns involving life safety. Minneapolis 911 will have increased staffing during the holiday but fireworks noise complaints can tie up a significant amount of resources, resulting in longer 911 answer times for callers.Due to the large volume of calls received, police officers will not be dispatched to each fireworks noise incident.
Early
voting is now open for the August 9 primary election! The Early Vote Center is located at
217 S. 3rd St. Early in-person voting can be very convenient, especially for voters who need special accommodations such as language support.
Standard
hours throughout the absentee voting period are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
During the final two weeks before each election, these hours will be extended
and include weekend times. These hours will be posted on the website once they have been
set.
People
can vote early (by absentee ballot) by mail or in person.
Save time at the polls by following these three steps:
Make sure you’re registered to vote, or pre-register. Voters
can register or check the status of their registrations at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/register.
Download and complete the absentee ballot application form
in advance, and bring it when you go to vote. Find the request form at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/absentee.
Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it with
you to refer to when you go to vote. Find your sample ballot at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.
Election Judges Needed - We Need a Lot More!
Election
judges are needed for the primary election August 9 to serve voters in local
polling places. Election judges are paid $13.30 per hour for their service,
which includes training. Serving as an election judge provides an opportunity
to learn about the election process and is an important service to our
community. Judges who are fluent in a second language are especially needed to
provide additional language support in the polling place.
State
law allows you to bring materials into the polls to help complete your ballot, and the sample ballot is the single best tool available for this
purpose. By downloading and printing your sample ballot (which are customized
to your specific ward and precinct), you can practice marking your ballots.
Find
sample ballots for all 132 Minneapolis precincts here.
New Voting Locations
Throughout
the city and the ward, we have added additional polling locations for 2016. If
you’re voting on August 9 or November 8, confirm your polling
location before you go!
Last week I took a tour of the Early Voting Center. Also pictured is Assistant City Clerk Grace Wachlarowicz and Council Member Jacob Frey.
Our office is always happy to help
with city issues and concerns, but sometimes the best, most efficient and
quickest way to deal with issues is by using 311, either by phone or online. (There’s an even a 311
app!) This system also allows the city to keep a record of issues and complaints, which can be very useful when dealing with ongoing issues.
We find that many residents don’t
know that 311 exists or don’t know how to use it—here’s some helpful info!
What is 311?
Minneapolis residents,
businesses and visitors can call 311 to inquire about city services,
report problems, check the status of issues, or get information. Instead of
having to weed through a list of more than 200 seven-digit City numbers, the only number you need to know is 311. From reporting graffiti or long grass, to finding
out where to vote, to reporting a stray dog in your neighborhood and a whole
lot more, 311 agents are ready to help.
Who can call 311?
Anyone in the Minneapolis
city limits can call 311 free of charge (however pay phone and cellular phone
airtime charges do apply).
When can I call 311?
Customer service agents staff the phone weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you’d like to report an issue outside of these hours, you can
leave a voicemail or send an email to Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov.
What do I do when I need to call 311 from outside the city
limits?
People outside the
Minneapolis city limits, including cell phone users, can reach 311 customer
service agents by calling (612) 673-3000.
When do I use 311, and when do I use 911?
Call 911 whenever a
response from police, fire, or ambulance is needed. Examples of proper use
of 911 includes fires, violent crimes, loud parties, and suspicious activity
like prowlers or suspected drug dealing. For all other city services, call 311.
Call 311 for all
non-emergency questions, issues and complaints.
Some examples of 311’s
services include:
Construction issues: Report
after-hours construction work.
Traffic sign issues:
Request installation of a new sign or removal of an existing sign.
Traffic signal issues:
Report burnt-out street lights or pedestrian signals.
Sidewalks: Report
unshoveled sidewalks or blocked sidewalks.
Streets: Report potholes
Animal control: Report
animal bites, barking dogs and loose animals.
Residential: Report
overgrown grass or request zoning information.
Last week (June 20-26) was National Pollinator Week. The City urged all Minneapolis property owners, residents,
businesses, institutions and neighborhoods to protect pollinators. This means
avoiding pesticides that poison bees and butterflies, whether by applying
pesticides or planting flowering plants that had been treated before purchase.
It also means landscaping or gardening with the kinds of plants that nourish
them.
My office handed out wildflower seeds at several events last week (both Pershing Park's and Kenny Neighborhood Assocation's annual ice cream socials and the Fulton Farmers Market). (In the photo is my aide, Patty, handing out packets at Pershing Park with her children.)
Pollinator populations are
in sharp decline because of an ongoing loss of habitat coupled with a
simultaneous large-scale expansion of pesticide use by homeowners, landscapers,
property managers and farmers. Pollinators are a necessary
component of a healthy ecosystem and food system, providing pollination of
plants needed to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits. Local food production is
needed to improve the health and food security of Minneapolis residents, and
insect pollination is an essential component of local food production.
I co-authored a 2015 resolution committing the City to more pollinator-friendly practices
and encouraging property owners to do the same.
Find
more information about protecting pollinators here.
This year, National Night Out is Tuesday, August 2! As with many past National Night Outs, Minneapolis was ranked No. 1 among all U.S. cities over 300,000 people in 2015. The 13th Ward led the pack with nearly 300 block parties! We expect that this year will be no different. If you’re planning a neighborhood gathering, however, there are important deadlines for registering your event and for blocking off your street.
Here is some helpful information as you plan your National Night Out celebration:
Register your National Night Out event. There is a single online process to register your National Night Out event and apply to close your street. If you want to close your street for your event, street closure is free if youapply by July 19. From July 20 to July 27, there is a $100 fee for blocking off the street. (You will not be able to block off your street if registering after July 27.) You need permission of 75 percent of your neighbors to be approved for street closure. (You do not need their signatures.) Get started here.
It is free to participate in National Night Out.
When you register your event, you will get free Mystery Point Passes for Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America.
Make rain plans. Decide if your event will go forward if it rains or be rescheduled for another time. If you apply to close your street, you’ll have a rain date of Wednesday, August 3, unless you decline it during the application. If you don’t close your street, you can choose any rain date that works for your group. Just remember to plan ahead.
National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that encourages residents to get out in the community, holding block parties and getting to know their neighbors as a way to encourage crime prevention. It's a great way to promote community-police partnerships and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening surrounded by friends and family. For more information, see the Minneapolis Night Night Out mission statement.
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."