Ward 8 Update: Friday, July 26th, 2019

CM Andrea Jenkins

612.673.2208

andrea.jenkins@MinneapolisMN.gov

Office Hours: Monday 9-11 a.m.

Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.

City Council approves policy priorities for City’s Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan

img

The City Council has approved policy priorities for the City’s first-ever Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan, a four-year plan that embeds racial equity principles into all aspects of the City’s work and defines goals that can be objectively measured and inform resource decisions.

The City’s three policy priorities include:

  • Reducing involuntary displacement in rental housing for black, indigenous and people of color communities.
  • Increasing the number of Minneapolis-based businesses owned by black people, indigenous people and people of color; and increase businesses with black, indigenous and people of color ownership that are still in business after five years.
  • Increasing the number of black people, indigenous people and people of color ages 10 to 24 living in higher violence areas of Minneapolis who participate in high quality youth programs.

Responding to the urgent need to prioritize and address historic racial disparities in Minneapolis, this is the first time the City has merged its strategic planning with a racial equity framework.

The Strategic Racial Equity and Action Plan also builds on Minneapolis 2040, the City’s comprehensive plan, and will inform the City’s budgets in 2020 and beyond. Minneapolis 2040’s first goal is to eliminate disparities, and a targeted number of policy areas from it have been identified as the policy priorities for the Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan.

Additionally, the City Council adopted eight goals earlier this year to guide the plan and four City enterprise goals in December 2018 as part of the action plan: increasing the retention of racially and ethnically diverse employees, diversifying the City’s vendor base, improving the use of racially disaggregated data in policymaking, and improving the capacity of the City’s boards and commissions to advance racial equity work.

As for next steps, the City’s Racial Equity Community Advisory Committee will provide an annual evaluation report to the community on the City’s progress in closing racial disparities. The City’s Racial Equity Steering Committee will also monitor the City’s progress and provide regular updates to the City Council. City departments will use existing reporting and monitoring processes to report progress on goals, including the Results Minneapolis program and the City Council committee reporting structures.


Public hearing on proposed wage theft prevention ordinance July 29

img

The public can comment on a proposed wage theft prevention ordinance Monday, July 29, during a public hearing before the City Council’s Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement Committee.

The proposed ordinance would give workers in Minneapolis an avenue to recover unpaid wages through the City’s Civil Rights Department. It would complement other new municipal labor standards, including the City’s minimum wage and sick and safe time ordinances, by requiring that employers provide written pre-hire notices and a statement of earnings at the end of each pay period, including the number of sick and safe time hours accrued and unused, among other things. If approved, the City’s ordinance would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Wage theft occurs when employers do not pay their workers all wages earned for the work they have performed. Between 2005 and 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor found over 5,500 violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act by employers in Minneapolis, totaling over $2.7 million in unpaid wages. Estimates of wage theft that goes unreported to authorities are much higher.

The City’s proposed ordinance comes as the State of Minnesota’s new wage theft law took effect July 1. The state law provides new funding for enforcement of the state’s wage and hour laws and adds criminal penalties for employers who commit wage theft.

Wage theft prevention ordinance public hearing

City Council’s Committee on Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement meeting Meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 29 Room 317, City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.


National Night Out Tues, Aug. 6th, Deadline to Apply for Street/Alley Closure Monday. July 29th

img

The 37th annual Minneapolis National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 6. If you’re planning a neighborhood gathering, there are important deadlines for registering your event with the City and for blocking off your street or alley. It’s free to participate in National Night Out. Last year more than 1,600 events registered with the City.

Registering a National Night Out event and applying to close a street or alley is a single online process, or you could register your event and apply for street closure by calling 311. Registering your event places it on the official list of National Night Out events that gets distributed to police and other departments. Dozens of teams of officers, supervisors and command staff attend as many events as possible.

Deadlines to apply for street or alley closure

  • By July 29: $100.
  • July 29 is the last day to apply for street closure.

Notes: Not every street can be blocked off. Generally, bus routes and high traffic streets cannot be used for block events. Street closure requires the permission of 75% of neighbors; applicants should keep their names and addresses handy in case the permit application needs to be reviewed. Signatures are not required.

Rain plans are encouraged; organizers should decide if their event will go forward if it rains or be rescheduled. Anyone applying to close the street will have a rain date of Wednesday, Aug. 7, unless they decline it during the application. If you aren’t closing the street, you can choose any rain date that works for your group.

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 to prevent crime. It's a great way to promote community-police partnerships and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening surrounded by friends and family.

Find out more about National Night Out at www.minneapolismn.gov/nno


July Update from Community Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC)

img

The citywide removal of ash trees due to invasive species gives us an unforeseen opportunity - once-in-a-lifetime access to boulevards. Metro Blooms is working with residents on their Boulevard Bioswales project to turn that patch of grass between the road and your sidewalk into beautiful habitat for pollinators that prevents water pollution and reinvests in the community - all at no cost to the property owner. Click here to see if you are eligible. 

Black plastics are not recyclable. What other recycling mistakes are we making? These great illustrations and Q&A by MinnPost (link) will help you minimize waste from your recycling bin.

Your opinions are valuable! There are two vacancies on CEAC, and they hope you will join CEAC on citywide initiatives like climate action, zero waste, and electric vehicle charging. Click here to apply today. Also, check out their Friends of CEAC Facebook page (link). Lastly, remember that you do not have to be a member of CEAC to attend its monthly meeting or join a sub committee to tackle specific issues. 

Here is the next CEAC Meeting (link): August 1, 2019, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Webber Park Library, 4440 N Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55412.


Saturday, Aug 3rd New 90's Car Show from 2-5 pm at Green Central Park

img

What: 1st annual Car Show that features Music, Video Games, & Clothing from the Era. A true Community event.

When: Saturday, August 3rd from 2 pm to 5 pm

Where: Green Central Park, 324 E 35th St. Minneapolis, MN 55408

Partners for this event include: CANDO, Bryant, Corcoran, MLK Park Legacy Council, Minnesota’s Black Community Project

Sponsors: Seward Co-Op, Jonny Pops, Dairy Queen, Cub Foods, Games N Go
Vendors Urban Jungle & Dusty Rags


City, Metro Transit partnering on three bus lane projects

img

Bus lanes are coming to sections of three busy transit corridors to improve service.

Bus lanes will be permanently implemented on Hennepin Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Lake Street during peak weekday times beginning this fall. Bus lanes will also be permanently implemented on southbound Chicago Avenue from East 28th Street to the Chicago/Lake Transit Center and piloted on Nicollet Avenue from Franklin Avenue to Lake Street later this year.

The projects are moving forward following a successful 2018 pilot of bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue. The bus lanes will be specially painted. Signs will indicate parking restrictions that will be in effect during peak hours.

Lessons learned will help inform work on the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan, a 10-year plan to implement the transportation visions outlined in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

The bus lane projects are supported by the City’s participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Cities Climate Challenge. The City of Minneapolis is one of 25 cities participating in the challenge, a two-year acceleration program that provides new resources for cities to tackle carbon reduction goals.


Hands-free law takes effect Aug. 1

img

Beginning Aug. 1, Minnesota law requires drivers to put down their phones and go hands-free while driving. At no time may a driver hold a phone in their hand unless it’s to obtain emergency assistance, if there is an immediate threat to life and safety, or when in an authorized emergency vehicle while performing official duties.

The law allows drivers over 18 to use their cell phones to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts or get direction, but only using voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone. Under this law, there is no change for drivers under 18. All previous restrictions will stay as currently enacted.

Drivers can use a cell phone if tucked into a headscarf, wrap or hijab if the phone is securely situated to remain hands-free and not blocking the driver’s vision in any way. Smart watches are also considered an electronic communications device under the hands-free law and can be used only as a conventional watch to check the time when driving.

With the passage of the hands-free cell phone law, Minnesota joins 18 other states, along with Washington, D.C. to enact laws regarding hands-free use while driving. Distracted driving, including those involving cell phone use, are responsible for one-fourth of crashes and one-fifth of fatalities. Data from several states that currently have enacted hands-free laws show a 15% decrease in traffic fatalities.

Additional information and resources are available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Hands-Free and the Minnesota Safety Council’s Hands-Free Resources pages.


Prepare for natural disasters with free training

img

Minneapolis residents can now sign up for a free, two-evening training course that teaches how to be resilient and how to prepare for and recover from disasters with little assistance for 72 hours. This course contains important information about dealing with natural or human-caused emergencies and keeping yourself, your family and your neighbors safe until emergency services arrive.

The course will include topics such as: spotting severe weather, evacuating or sheltering in place, and preparing your home.

City of Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management Ready Camp

5:30-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5 and Tuesday, Aug. 6 Augsburg University, 2211 Riverside Ave., Christensen Center (Augsburg Room) Sign up here.


Upcoming Closures on 35W

img

I-94 east will be closed in both directions between I-394 and I-35W from 10 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 5 a.m. Saturday, July 27.

Watch for two closures of I-35W in both directions in August and September between I-94 and Highway 280 for resurfacing and ramp work between Portland and Washington Avenues. It will not be during the State Fair. Some ramps will be closed for the weekend and others for up to seven days. (See attachment) More information will be provided as dates are announced.

Watch for overnight single-lane closures of I-35W north between 40th Street and 42nd Street starting in August for retaining wall constriction for a drainage improvement project. More information will be provided as dates are announced.

Use the following link for more information about this project: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/35w94/


Visit us at minneapolismn.gov/ward8

Central • Bryant  Bancroft  Field  Regina  Northrop  Lyndale  Kingfield

Andrea Jenkins, 350 S. Fifth St., City Hall Room 307, Minneapolis, MN 55415

 

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please call 311 at 612-673-3000.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.

City logo reverse