 On April 17, at the Public Safety and Emergency Management Council Committee meeting, the Minneapolis Police Department presented its new policy and practices implemented within the Department that prioritize the safety, privacy and well-being of the victim. The presentation coincides with April Sexual Assault Awareness Month. At this meeting, victim survivors shared powerful testimony about their experiences with MPD’s Sexual Crimes Unit and their hope for change within the department.
The MPD, in an effort to incorporate a victim-centered approach for responding to, and investigations of, sexual assault worked with survivor/victim advocates and community leaders to implement a best practices policy that takes into consideration both the Attorney General taskforce's recommendations along with the Board of Peace Officers Standards and Trainings (POST) model policy.
Changes include:
- Victim-centered approach to the MPD’s response to and investigations of sexual assault
- A comprehensive approach to sexual assault investigations through the addition of a sex assault advocate and Hennepin County Attorney to the sex crimes unit
- The development of new policy regarding sex assault response based upon post board model policy and recommendations from the Attorney General’s working group
- Departmental victim-centered sex assault response training delivered to all employees through in-service
- Trauma informed investigative training provided to investigators in the unit
MPD’s presentation can be viewed here.
The Resolution declaring April 2019 as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in the City of Minneapolis can be found here.
 Public Works crews have started the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program to clear away what accumulated in the streets over the winter. The City began sweeping Tuesday, April 16. Drivers should watch for temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.
Starting April 16 for approximately four weeks, sweeping crews are taking care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets in addition to sweeping alleys. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to find out more about street sweeping:
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“No Parking” signs – 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. Drivers should not park along these streets until these temporary “No Parking” signs are removed.
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Phone calls to residents – In addition to the “No Parking” signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about 3,500 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their streets will be swept the next day.
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Interactive web tool – To find out which week your street is scheduled to be swept, go to www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/streetsweeping and click on “street sweeping schedule lookup.” Then the weekend before your week, you can revisit the website to find out which day of the week the street is scheduled to be swept.
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Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong in short videos at www.YouTube.com/cityofminneapolis and on City cable channels. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos.
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English: See how and why Minneapolis sweeps streets and what you can do to help keep streets and waterways clean.
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Spanish: Vea en este video de las series “Sabia Usted” como y porque Minneapolis barre las calles y limpia las vias fluviales.
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Somali: Ka daawo fiidyowga taxanaha… ee Minneapolis ee loo yaqaan “Ma Ogtahay” siyaabaha iyo sababaha minneapolis jidadka ay u xaaqido oo ogow sidii aad uga caawin lahayd ilaalinta nadaafada jidadka iyo biyo mareenada.
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Hmong: Yog xav paub ntxiv, sais nroog Minneapolis cov tshooj xov xwm hu, “Koj pos paub.”
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, trash and other pollutants from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers.
Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb once in the spring and once in the fall.
Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings or anything else into City streets. It’s bad for our lakes and waterways, and it’s against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes, creeks and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.
 Since 2016, the City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations Department has been holding conversations with community and neighborhood leaders and elected officials about the needs and goals of this growing and vibrant city, and identifying the role that neighborhoods should play in meeting them. This initiative, called Neighborhoods 2020, culminated in three work groups being established by City Council in the spring of 2018. These work groups consisted of representatives from neighborhood organizations, cultural groups, those with equity/undoing racism experience and representatives appointed by City Council and the mayor.
The Neighborhoods 2020 framework recommendations are online in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong. The recommendations align with the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which states “Minneapolis will have an equitable civic participation system that enfranchises everyone, recognizes the core and vital service neighborhood organizations provide to the City of Minneapolis, and builds people’s long-term capacity to organize and improve their lives and neighborhoods.”
Goals include:
- Organizations reflecting the communities they serve.
- Simplifying participation for all.
- Saving money and staff time for participating organizations.
On Monday, May 6th there will be a public hearing at the City's Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement (PECE) Committee on the Neighborhoods 2020 Recommendations at 1:30 pm in Council Chambers.
The City is hosting community workshops and an online open house in April and May to collect public input on ways to improve the city’s transportation system as City staff develop the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan and the Vision Zero Action Plan.
The Transportation Action Plan will be a 10-year plan to implement the transportation vision outlined in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It will develop strategies and actions on advanced mobility, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, freight, street operations and street design.
The Vision Zero Action Plan will be a three-year plan to advance the City’s commitment to ending traffic fatalities and severe injuries resulting from traffic crashes on our streets by 2027.
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Online open house (City’s Facebook page) 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 City of Minneapolis Facebook page
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Community workshop (south) 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 9 (rescheduled from April 11 due to weather) Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.
Public Works will conduct community engagement to gather input and feedback on these two plans throughout the year. Staff is expected to submit the plans to the City Council for approval in 2020.
Can't attend an event? You can still get involved.
You can learn more about the Transportation Action Plan and provide direct feedback on our interactive website. Our topic pages include short surveys and are a great place to share your thoughts. You can also use #gompls to talk transportation with us and follow the City of Minneapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
When: Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Central Neighborhood offices located at 3715 Chicago
What: The Bryant neighborhood has been awarded a grant to celebrate the rich Black History within the community through a mural. Artist, Reggie LeFlore, along with the Bryant Neighborhood Organization will be hosting 3 community input and listening sessions to discuss the project. Please join them for the second session being held from 6:30-8:00pm at the Central Neighborhood offices located at 3715 Chicago Wednesday April 24, 2019.
Starting in 2016, Xcel Energy has been converting their Company owned streetlights around the state - having now converted streetlights in 350 communities and more than 90,000 fixtures to the more efficient LED. LED fixtures use approximately 40-60 percent less electricity than traditional streetlights and have a longer life which means less maintenance and fewer replacements.
The savings for the City of Minneapolis is expected to be $150,000 per year due to decreased energy use. Xcel Energy carefully evaluated a wide range of LED lights available and decided on 3,000K LED fixtures, the level recommended by the American Medical Association - these fixtures are also ‘Dark Skies’ compliant.
If you are experiencing issues or have complaints about the new lights please contact Xcel's Outdoor lighting team so they can help resolve issues you may be experiencing. Their outdoor lighting team has already successfully resolved numerous requests to redirect the lights for Minneapolis residents.You can contact them at their Outdoor Lighting Hotline at 1-800-960-6235 or send a request to outdoorlighting@xcelenergy.com. They ask that you include the exact address for the light and describe the issue. The outdoor lighting team will respond within two business days.
For more information on our LED conversion Company-wide, we have more information here.
What is the METRO B Line?
The METRO B Line is a planned bus rapid transit line, like the A Line, that will provide faster and more reliable transit service in the Route 21 corridor along Lake Street and Marshall Avenue.
More information about the project can be found here.
Wednesday, May 1st from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
B Line Open House - South High School (English + Spanish materials)
3131 S 19th Ave, Minneapolis
Sunday, May 5th from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
MayDay - Powderhorn Park
3400 15th Ave S, Minneapolis
Wednesday, May 22nd from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
B Line Open House - Walker Library
2880 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Asthma Program can help. Families with a child with asthma can get a home visit by a healthy homes specialist who can identify sources of asthma triggers in a home. Many homes have asthma triggers that can be reduced by using a HEPA air cleaner to remove pollen, mold spores and pet dander.
The healthy homes program offers the HEPA air cleaner, allergenic pillow and mattress covers and more products free to families.
Help your children to stay in school and reduce their asthma triggers. Request a visit by calling or texting Eliza Schell at 612-685-8512 or emailing her at eliza.schell@minneapolismn.gov. This program is run by the Minneapolis Health Department and is brand new in 2019.
Minneapolis residents can bring in their pets for low-cost vaccinations April 28 and May 19. The City will offer rabies vaccine, feline distemper vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, and microchipping for $10 each or $25 for all three. You can use cash, check or a credit card.
Low-cost pet vaccinations
2-5 p.m. Sunday, Sunday, April 28 Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Shelter, 212 17th Ave. N.
2-5 p.m. Sunday, Sunday, May 19 Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Shelter, 212 17th Ave. N.
All dogs must be on a leash, and all cats must be in a carrier. Must have a valid ID and/or proof of Minneapolis residency to participate.
www.minneapolismn.gov/animals
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has announced the latest short-term and long-term road closures that will affect driving on I-35W. Remember to plan ahead and consider alternative ways to get downtown as work continues on MnDOT’s 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown project. Make sure to check the website before your trip, and sign up for email updates to stay current. Metro Transit bus routes and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be affected by construction.
About the 35W@94 project
- MnDOT, Metro Transit, the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County are partners in the four-year reconstruction of I-35W between 43rd Street and downtown Minneapolis that will improve accessibility, safety and mobility in the corridor. The work started in September 2017 and is scheduled to be complete in fall 2021.
- The work includes reconstructing 2.5 miles of freeway, reconstructing 11 bridges and repairing four bridges, adding new access ramps from I-35W north to 28th Street and from I-35W south to Lake Street, and replacing ramps from I-35W north to I-94 west and I-94 east to I-35W south. Bus riders will experience a new two-story transit station at Lake Street and walkers and bicyclists will have new pedestrian bridges at 24th and 40th streets and improvements near the Midtown Greenway.
- To learn more about this project, current traffic impacts and detour routes, and to sign up for email updates, visit www.mndot.gov/35w94.
- Plan ahead, know your route and check 511 and the project website for updates: www.511mn.org.
- Northbound I-35W between Hwy 62 and I-94 closed from 10 p.m. Fri, April 19 to 5 a.m. Sat, April 20. Crews will work on the 28th St. bridge. Drivers will be detoured to use WB Hwy 62, NB Hwy 100, EB I-394 and EB I-94.
- I-35W in both directions will be closed between I-94 and Highway 62 from 10 p.m. Friday, April 26 through 5 a.m. Monday, April 29. This is for utility and drainage work.
- Midtown Greenway between Nicollet Ave. and 5th Ave. S. closed Thu, April 18 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Crews will pour the I-35W bridge deck above the greenway. Greenway users should follow the posted detours.
- Lake St. between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave closed from 7 p.m. Mon, April 22 to 6 a.m., Tue, April 23. Crews will pouring the I-35W bridge deck above Lake St. Drivers will be detoured to use Nicollet Ave., 31st St. and 3rd Ave. S.
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