In this Newsletter:

• Budget Ward Forum Recap
• Street Sweeping Schedule
• Encampment Update
• Fats, Oils, and Grease Ordinance Update
• Armatage Street Resurfacing

Budget Ward Forum Recap

Thanks to all who made it to the Palmisano Presents: The Proposed 2019 Minneapolis Budget Ward Forum.

Here is the recap of the conversation, as well as outstanding questions. We grouped them into topics. 

With the assessed values of homes skyrocketing in the last two years, how can any tax increase on homeowners possibly be justified?

The increases are caused mainly by inflation to provide current services.

Additionally, we have seen significant cuts in Local Government Aid since 2003. The State Legislature decided to make these substantial cuts while at the same time changing the formula for how the dollars were distributed amongst all cities, which meant fewer dollars for Minneapolis. In order to continue to provide the services that residents have come to expect, we have had to find ways to fill that gap. Since the state limits the ways in which we can generate revenue, one of our few options is through the property tax levy.

How does that formula work? It’s based on how the state determines need. That includes jobs per capita and age of housing stock. Cities who have job shortages and very old housing will receive more funding. Since Minneapolis is seeing a job boon, we are receiving less LGA per capita than other cities.

So, the reason we can’t return the property tax levy to 2002 levels is because we don’t have the same revenue from the state that we had in 2002.

Are there any programs that are being reduced?

There aren’t many traditional cuts in the proposed budget. Instead the mayor chose to not provide continued funding to programs that were one-time funding last year.

What kind of process do you use to assure that each [decision] is being cost effective?

The process the City currently used to assure effectiveness is called Results Minneapolis.  Historically, Results Minneapolis was not linked to budget priorities. I have been working for the past couple of years to change that, and I'm proud to say I am finally bringing performance metrics into every budget conversation.

A great example of innovation potential is Minneapolis Public Works using scope cameras in pipes and tunnels to identify problems more precisely. That way we are using data to prioritize projects throughout the city.

How much will my taxes on my house increase next year?

 The median Estimated Market Value (EMV) for a home in the 13th Ward is $420,000. For a home like this, the property tax rate will rise roughly $150 a year.

Street Sweeping Schedule

Fall street sweeping begins Oct. 23

With fall’s arrival, crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis to completely clean the streets before winter, and keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 22, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

Ways to stay informed of the parking rules:

• “No Parking” signs – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. The “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
• Social media – The City will use Facebook and Twitter to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
• Facebook: To “like” the City of Minneapolis Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/cityofminneapolis.
• Twitter: To follow the City’s Twitter account, go to www.twitter.com/CityMinneapolis

Clean streets mean a healthier environment

Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable.

Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring, and again in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.

Encampment Update

City Council approves site for Navigation Center in response to homeless encampment

The City Council has approved a site in south Minneapolis for a temporary Navigation Center that will provide a safe and service-rich environment for people living at the Franklin/Hiawatha homeless encampment who face challenges connecting to traditional shelter housing.

The City Council voted Sept. 26 to direct City staff to work with community and government partners to establish the center at 2109 Cedar Ave., a 1.25-acre site that includes parcels owned by the Red Lake Nation and the City. The goal is to open the Navigation Center this fall. Until the center opens, there are no plans to close the encampment.

Hennepin County, nonprofit partners and community will take the lead on developing and implementing the services at the Navigation Center with support from the City. As a longer-term solution, the City and coalition partners have also recommended a new transitional housing program geared toward Native Americans experiencing chronic homelessness. An update to the Council on that recommendation is scheduled for Oct. 24.

Ongoing outreach efforts at the encampment continue to focus on harm reduction strategies to improve health, hygiene and sanitation in addition to assessments to help people secure emergency shelter and supportive housing.

Fats, Oils, and Grease Ordinance Update

The Fats, Oils, and Grease or FOG Ordinance update was recommended for approval unanimously in Wednesday's Transportation and Public Works Committee. I am really proud to support this update. It helps us as the City to make meaningful change toward a zero waste city, despite federal policies that are pushing practices backwards.

The ordinance updates focus mainly on education, rather than punishment, of restaurants. The proposed language does allow for staff to cut off water or fine restaurants who do not comply after repeated warnings. Currently, the ordinance does not explicitly ban dumping grease into the sewers. The changes would address that as well as update outdated language dealing with "butcher's offal" and require restaurants to maintain their grease traps. 

 For more background on these changes, click here.

Armatage Street Resurfacing

On Thursday, September 27th, street resurfacing activities started in the Armatage neighborhood. The first phase of work for Public Works will be to remove and replace some minor amounts of curb and gutter on the streets.  When that work is complete the city will mill and overlay the streets with new asphalt.

All of the work should be completed by the end of October.

Those in the impacted areas should have received a letter earlier this month from Minneapolis Public Works detailing the projects. For more information, click here.