Ward 8 Update: Sept. 27th, 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.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 17th for the 38th St. Thrive! Community Design Workshop from 6pm - 8 pm

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When: Thursday, Oct. 17th from 6 pm - 8 pm 

Where: Sabathani Community Center, 310 38th St. E, Minneapolis, MN 55409, 2nd Floor Target Banquet Center

What: Join us in planning and designing a concept for 38th Street infrastructure and future developments. This design workshop is an opportunity for us, as a community, to discuss physical and cultural attributes of 38th Street, imagine new ideas and brainstorm solutions. The concepts and ideas from this workshop will be used to establish the visioning direction for the Thirty-Eighth Street Cultural District Strategic Development Plan.

Let’s Creatively Design 38th Street Together!

Program: 6 pm to 6:30 pm – The 2nd floor Community Room will be available for attendees to walk through the "Owning Up: Racism and Housing" Exhibit before programming begins at 6:30 pm in the Target Banquet Center, 2nd floor. Refreshments will be provided.

Background on the project:

In 2015, the community held a series of meetings titled “The Future of East 38th Street,” hosted by then Ward 8 Council Member Elizabeth Glidden. Those meetings led to the generation of several ideas, priorities and recommendations from community members.

In February 2019, Ward 8 Council VP Andrea Jenkins reconvened community members to co-create a strategic development plan by the residents, business owners, and neighborhood organizations in the E 38th Street community, in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis’ Department of Community Planning and Economic Development.

In March 2019, a smaller planning committee was formed with community members who expressed interest in driving the planning process from the initial February event, to conduct community engagement and draft a proposed plan for the larger community’s approval.

The planning committee has met five times to craft the district's vision, assets, and strategies based on priorities identified by the broader 38th Street community. Currently, a draft plan is being developed as more engagement opportunities are under way to get community input on cultural assets, streetscape design, and draft review. The 38th St. Cultural District Strategic Development Plan will be completed by December 2019.

You can find this information on our Ward 8 Facebook page here


Comment on the draft Vision Zero Action Plan to prevent traffic deaths, severe injuries on City streets until Oct. 16th

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The City of Minneapolis has released a draft of the Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan, which outlines key steps for the next three years to advance the City’s goal of ending traffic deaths and injuries on City streets by 2027. The City is taking public comment on the plan through Oct. 16.

The draft plan was developed by City staff from multiple departments with significant direction from community stakeholders, partner agencies and the public. The City of Minneapolis officially became a Vision Zero city in September 2017 when the City Council passed a resolution setting a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and injuries within 10 years. Minneapolis is one of more than 35 Vision Zero cities in the United States.

An average of 95 people suffered life-altering injuries or were killed in traffic crashes each year on streets in Minneapolis from 2007 to 2016. Traffic crashes disproportionately impact people in neighborhoods with lower incomes, Native American residents, and people walking and bicycling. Traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable and preventable.

The draft Vision Zero Action Plan includes 16 strategies and 68 actions to be implemented between 2020 and 2022.

Highlights of proposed strategies include:

  • Reduce speed limits. Slower speeds on our streets make travel safer for everyone no matter how they get around. Minnesota cities recently received authority to control speed limits on City-owned streets and the City is taking appropriate steps to lower speed limits on most City streets.
  • Make safety improvements on High Injury Streets. Seventy percent of severe and fatal crashes happen on just 9% of streets in Minneapolis. The City and partners will proactively install traffic safety treatments on High Injury Streets. These treatments will include four-to-three lane safety conversions, pedestrian medians, bump outs, and other street safety best practices.
  • Address leading unsafe traffic behaviors. The five traffic behaviors that lead to the most severe and fatal crashes in Minneapolis are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, speeding, red light running and unsafe turning. The City will address these unsafe behaviors head-on through a combination of education, communications, and enforcement actions.
  • Seek to implement automated traffic enforcement. Automated traffic enforcement has proven effective at saving lives and it eliminates the need for officer interaction. The City will seek legislative authority to implement camera enforcement while studying and engaging on the details to implement it effectively and equitably.

Comment on the draft plan

Comment online on the draft plan at visionzerompls.com or provide feedback during two upcoming events.

  • Open house, 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 City Hall, room 319
  • Online open house, 6-6:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10

Next steps

A final Vision Zero Action Plan will be brought to the City Council for approval by early 2020 after incorporating any changes based on public feedback.

The Vision Zero Action Plan is being coordinated with the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan, a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around. A draft of the Transportation Action Plan will be released in early 2020.


Saturday, Oct. 5th Twin Cities Informational Expungement Fair with the MN Attorney General's Office and Ramsey County Attorney's Office

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Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office are hosting an Informational Expungement Fair on Saturday, October 5.The full details are below:

Saturday, October 5

High School for Recording Arts

1166 University Ave W,

St. Paul, MN 55104

11:00AM – 1:00PM

Expungement is a process where legal records of an arrest or a criminal conviction are sealed. Sealing a criminal record can make it easier to secure employment and housing. Come learn if an expungement can help you by having a one-on-one conversation with an attorney on hand. This event is free and open to the public.

Please note that Attorneys will not offer legal advice or representation, but will be available to provide information and answer questions about the expungement law and process.


Register to vote, make sure you’re ready for the presidential primary

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With fewer than six months to go until the March 3 presidential primary here in Minnesota, it’s a good time to remember to register.

If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or if you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register.

All voters must register before voting. They can do one of the following:

Get ready for the presidential primary

Minnesota is one of the “Super Tuesday” states voting in early March, and for the first time in years the state will have a presidential primary. There will be separate ballots for each major party in the presidential primary, and voters need to choose which one to complete. The party voters choose will not be public information, though it will be made available to each major party.

Find more information on the presidential primary on the Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services webpages.

The deadline for pre-registering for the March 3 presidential primary is Feb. 11. Check to see if you’re registered at mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterStatus.aspx.


Fall street sweeping begins Oct. 22, please review information regarding the street sweeping process to avoid a ticket and a tow

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Crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis to clean the streets before winter to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible. Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city on Tuesday, Oct. 22, over the course of four weeks.

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. 21, 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. However, the “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking after the signs are removed. 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.
  • 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 3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day. There’s no guarantee that the calls will reach everyone, so residents should be sure to check the various ways to be aware of the rules, and watch for signs.
  • Interactive web feature – Folks can use a feature on the City’s website to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The Street Sweeping Schedule Lookup will be available at www.minneapolismn.gov/streetsweeping once we get closer to the start date. The fall street sweep takes four weeks, and visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.
  • Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish as part of the City’s  “Did you know...” series of short videos that can be viewed at www.YouTube.com/cityofminneapolis and on Minneapolis City TV. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos. 
    • English: See how and why Minneapolis sweeps streets and what you can do to help keep streets and waterways clean in this video from the Minneapolis “Did you know…” series.
    • Spanish: En este video vea por qué la Ciudad de Minneapolis limpia las calles y qué puede hacer usted para ayudar a mantener limpias las calles y vías fluviales.
    • 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.
    • 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 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.


Minneapolis selects CURA for final phase of Neighborhoods 2020

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The City of Minneapolis has engaged the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) for the final phase of Neighborhoods 2020. CURA has several decades of experience working with many neighborhood organizations to create strategic initiatives, planning and board development. It also works to benefit historically marginalized communities. CURA will help the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department with these elements of the final phase of Neighborhoods 2020:

  • Developing overall program goals and outcomes.
  • Developing metrics to measure progress toward goals.
  • Developing the Neighborhoods 2020 program guidelines.
  • Defining a racial equity analysis of neighborhood association operations and activities.
  • Developing a “logic model” for the new neighborhoods program that includes inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes.
  • Convening the governance and funding workgroups and include additional stakeholders such as Neighborhood Revitalization Program Policy Board members, Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission commissioners and neighborhood association members.
  • Emphasizing renters and community members who are not currently engaged in neighborhood associations.
  • Identifying a budget-neutral structure for the City to best support neighborhood associations.
  • Developing accountability measures for exclusionary practices.

Next steps

In the fall of 2019, the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department and CURA will hold meetings for various stakeholders including neighborhood organizations and black and indigenous communities and communities of color to further develop program guidelines, a racial equity analysis and a “logic model” for the new program. These materials will be posted for a 45-day public comment period in late January 2020. The final draft will go to the City Council’s Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights and Engagement Committee in late March with final approval by the City Council in late March or early April 2020.

Background

Neighborhoods 2020 is a plan for continuing to fund neighborhood organizations and community-based organizations in Minneapolis and identifying expectations for the work they do. When the existing funding source for Minneapolis neighborhood organizations ends, Neighborhoods 2020 is the City of Minneapolis recommendation for carrying on the vision to preserve its neighborhood organizations and the expectations to create equitable communities where all people are valued, communities are engaged and leadership mirrors the diversity of the city.

Find more information on Neighborhoods 2020 and its process here.


Public Works is hiring service workers and trainees throughout October

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Public Works is hiring throughout October for service worker positions and service worker trainee positions. See the required qualifications and experience here.

Job openings

  • Public Works service worker 1 trainee: performs manual labor, learns to drive and operate equipment. Supports the department’s construction and maintenance activities. You will be supported in obtaining your CDL Class B license.
  • Public Works service worker 1: performs manual labor and drives and operates equipment to support construction and maintenance work.
  • Public Works service worker 2: drives and operates a wide variety of construction equipment and mechanical devices used in construction and maintenance work, performs skilled and manual labor to repair and maintain Public Works infrastructure.
  • Water Works service worker 1: performs manual labor and semi-skilled work to maintain the City’s water distribution system.
  • Water Works service worker 1 trainee: performs manual labor to maintain the City’s water distribution system.

Public Works information sessions

Public Works representatives will answer questions and help attendees apply.

1-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 Project for Pride in Living, 1021 E. Franklin Ave.

1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 Emerge, 1834 Emerson Ave. N.

5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 Public Works Hiawatha Facility, Second floor conference room, 1901 E. 26th St.

9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 American Indian OIC, 1845 E. Franklin Ave.

3-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 Summit Academy OIC, 935 Olson Memorial Highway

5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 Urban League Glover Sudduth Center, 2100 Plymouth Ave N.

3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 CAPI Immigrant Opportunity Center, 5930 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center

Find more information here and watch these videos about what it’s like to work with Minneapolis Public Works.

Applicants can attend an information session or apply online Oct. 1-31 at www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.


40th St. Pedestrian and Bicycle bridge to re-open next month and additional 35W@94 Downtown to Crosstown Updates

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40th St. pedestrian and bicycle bridge reopens early October (ahead of schedule!)

 Exciting news from MnDOT: the 40th Street pedestrian and bicycle bridge is expected to open in early October! The bridge is opening one year ahead of schedule. The bridge was demolished in August 2018. The new bridge is wider and has better accessibility. Locals artists have been commissioned to create artwork for the bridge. The artwork will start appearing next year. The bridge is a key crossing point for people in south Minneapolis.

10th St./4th Ave. ramp to SB I-35W reopens Sept. 26

The ramp from 10th St./4th Ave. in downtown Minneapolis to southbound I-35W reopened to traffic on Thu, Sept. 26, about two years ahead of schedule.

MnDOT worked together with the construction contractor this summer to get the ramp, which was closed in June 2018, open to traffic earlier than expected. When the ramp reopens, drivers will use a single lane to access southbound I-35W and should anticipate some short-term closures in spring 2020 to allow crews to complete additional work.

Access to southbound I-35W from 12th St. in downtown will remain open to transit only to continue to provide a transit advantage through the end of the project.

I-35W Minneapolis (11th Avenue bridge repair)

  • The ramp from I-35W northbound to Third Street and Fourth Street is closed Sept. 23 to Oct. 11.
  • The ramp from Highway 55 west to Third Street is closed Sept. 23-Oct. 11.
  • The ramp from Fourth Street to I-35W south is closed through Sept. 30; then open for a single lane through Oct. 11.

*All closures are weather permitting and subject to change.

Stay connected

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit 511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.


Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council recruiting for 2019-2020 members, attend the applicant information session

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The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council is recruiting for 2019-2020 members from now through October 18th, 2019. The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council is a City advisory group that convenes and engages diverse stakeholders to identify and propose innovative solutions to improve the local food system. There is an upcoming informal informational session available for those interested in applying. Minneapolis residents are encouraged to apply, although some exceptions are made for non-Minneapolis residents. Find the application online or contact the City Clerk’s office at 612-673-2216 for a copy of the application. The translated application is also available in SpanishSomali, or Hmong.

Attend the informal Food Council info session followed by a Food Council meeting on Wednesday, October 16, 5:00-5:30 pm at the Northeast Rec Center, 1530 Johnson Street NE, Minneapolis.

Visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/sustainability/homegrown/WCMS1P-143142 for more information.


Check out photos from the Building Bridges and Breaking Bread Dinner Event on Sept. 11th at Sabathani Community Center!

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The Photos are in! Check out some of the many wonderful moments captured in photo from our Building Bridges and Breaking Bread (Rain Plan) event on Sep. 11th at Sabathani Community Center on the Ward 8 facebook page. Photos courtesy of Carina Lofgren Photography.

A big thank you to all of our sponsors and co-hosts MarnitasTable, The Minneapolis Foundation, Bryant Neighborhood Organization (BNO), Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO), Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA),Minnesota Department of Transportation, Xcel Energy Minnesota, Seward Community Co-op, City of Minneapolis Public Works Department, Sabathani Community Center, and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Newspaper.


Save the Date: Friday, Nov. 1st Afternoons with Andrea! Event from 12 pm to 1:30 pm at Butter Bakery Cafe, more information soon!


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.

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