Our elections department is filming a series of videos with Council Members to encourage voting. Watch my video by clicking on the photo above. For more details about voting, including polling locations, early voting info and sample ballots, visit vote.minneapolismn.gov!
On Oct. 1 at a community ice cream social held in his honor, I presented Tom Neiman with a resolution honoring him for his 43 years of service to Southwest Minneapolis. It was a unanimous act of City Council.
Tom started the Southwest Community Education Program in 1974 as a way for members of the community to do things they had never done before. During his tenure as the coordinator for the program, he encouraged thousands of kids and adults and created numerous successful community programs, including the popular Southwest Super Summer Program.
Anyone who knows Tom (and I'm sure that many of you do!) knows that he is a great asset to our community and an inspiration to all of us. Even though he is retiring, Tom assures me that he is going to stick around and continue to volunteer.
Please join me in thanking Tom Neiman for decades of outstanding service with Southwest Community Education and his
commitment to residents of Southwest Minneapolis and for his tireless work on behalf of the well-being and
education of families, youth, neighborhoods, and communities. We wish Tom all the best with his retirement!
To read a copy of the resolution honoring Tom Neiman:
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is hosting a second public meeting for planned trail and access improvements around Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun. Improvements will focus primarily on pedestrian and bicycle circulation at Northeast Calhoun and Southeast Harriet, as well as general trail and access upgrades around both lakes. Park users are encouraged to attend to review and discuss the preferred concept, ask questions and share ideas.
The first open house for this project was held on Oct. 4 (see materials from that meeting here).
Mayor Betsy Hodges presented her
2017 recommended budget to the City Council on Aug. 10. My colleagues and I will be engaged in considering the budget from now
through early December. The final approval of the 2017 budget is scheduled for
Wednesday, Dec. 7. To see the full details of the mayor's proposed budget,
visit the City's website.
I've already heard feedback from many constituents expressing their concern over the proposed levy increase for 2017 (read Mayor Hodges' budget address here), and that will shape my work over the next few weeks.
The Mayor’s proposed budget does include many things that I support and that I know are important to 13th
Ward constituents:
$1.3 million for 15 new sworn police officers, which includes 12 for community policing and three for a police/mental health co-responder pilot program, which partners police with mental-health professionals
Nearly $1 million for community-based strategies to improve public safety, including community-driven public safety strategies in two locations with high levels of youth violence
More than $1 million annually for a new, ongoing community service officer class to build more capacity for a proven, effective pathway into the police department for people from different backgrounds
A historic 20-year agreement between the City Council and the Park & Recreation Board to provide badly needed resources for our neighborhood parks system and street repairs
$14.5 million in affordable housing development, including continued
funding for very low income families and a new strategy to purchase existing
(“naturally occurring”) affordable housing units
Investments to help small businesses, including a full-time position — one person, with one email and one phone number — who will make it easier for smaller businesses and entrepreneurs to navigate City systems, get up and running, and prosper
Continued investment in pedestrian safety including Safe Routes to School funding, and bike safety improvements, in addition to the $30 million annual investment in road repair that will include more safety improvements for all users
The
addition of an auditor in the department of internal audit; as Chair of the City's Audit Committee, I know the good work this department does to ensure our tax
dollars are spent appropriately, and the additional work that can be done with
added staff
I welcome your questions and
comments about the budget (contact me here). We have also scheduled two public hearings on the proposed 2017 property tax levy
and budget. Both will be held at 6 pm at in City Council Chambers at City Hall (350 S. 5th St., Room 317):
The City is currently in the process of putting together the Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan (Minneapolis 2040), which will shape future development of our city. Your input is crucial in making sure this plan reflects the needs and priorities of the residents and there is an easy way to do so. The City has put together a "Meeting in a Box" that allows you to host a meeting with your neighbors, complete a survey and return the feedback to the City. This can be easily downloaded by clicking here.
This month, I spent several hours touring Ward 13 with the new Public Works Director, Robin Hutcheson, to give her a better understanding of the issues that need attention and the priorities of my office. There are several public works issues that are unique to Ward 13 and I wanted Robin to see firsthand how these impact our neighborhoods. We included a visit to Minnesota Honey, one of our great local businesses at 50th and Xerxes.
(Pictured: Minnesota Honey co-owner Kelley Flanders with Minneapolis Public Works Director Robin Hutcheson)
In 2015, the City Council requested a study on the effects of a municipal minimum wage ordinance in Minneapolis. Earlier this month, those results were presented to the Council's Committee of the Whole. Earlier this fall, Council directed staff to prepare a draft municipal minimum wage ordinance for spring 2017, as well as to develop an engagement plan to involve interested stakeholders. See here for more details on the study and next steps. We'll be sure to share more in the future about how to be involved in the discussions.
Our focus on responsible budgeting and paying down debt
is paying off. Minneapolis has been assigned some of the highest
credit ratings of cities in the country from all three major rating agencies.
As a result of the high ratings, the City was able to sell bonds totaling
$119 million at an interest rate of 1.45%. Some of these bonds ($33 million)
refunded previously issued bonds, leading to future interest savings of nearly
$5 million. High bond ratings and positive comments from the ratings agencies
enable the city to save taxpayer dollars by issuing bonds and borrowing funds
at the lowest possible interest rates.
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.