In This Issue

• Governor Issues Stay at Home Order
• City Launches COVID-19 Newsletter
• Additional Access for Pedestrians - Including Lake Harriet!
• 2020 collection of leaves and bundled brush begins week of April 6
• Minneapolis Foundation Offers COVID-19 Grants
• Medical Donations Needed

Governor Issues Stay at Home Order

To slow the spread of COVID-19 across the state, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-20 directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their home beyond essential needs. This order takes effect at 11:59pm on Friday, March 27 and ends at 5:00pm on Friday, April 10.

Modeling released today by the Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota predicts that more than 70,000 Minnesotans could die from COVID-19 if we take no action. The Governor’s two-week order to stay home is forecasted to significantly slow the spread of COVID-19 and allow the state time to make key preparations for the pandemic. These preparations include building hospital capacity, increasing access to life-saving equipment like ventilators, increasing testing, planning for how to care for vulnerable populations, and assessing public health data to determine which community mitigation strategies are most effective.

Can I still go outside?

Yes! You can absolutely still go outside. You should do so for only the following activities though and must practice social distancing.

• Health and safety activities, such as obtaining emergency services or medical supplies
• Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing
• Necessary Supplies and Services, such as getting groceries, gasoline, or carry-out
• Essential and interstate travel, such as returning to a home from outside this state
• Care of others, such as caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household
• Displacement, such as moving between emergency shelters if you are without a home
• Relocation to ensure safety, such as relocating to a different location if your home has been unsafe due to domestic violence, sanitation, or essential operations reasons
• Tribal activities and lands, such as activities by members within the boundaries of their tribal reservation

Is my work considered "critical"?

Workers who work in critical sectors during this time are exempt from the stay at home order. These exemptions are based on federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with some Minnesota-specific additions. This includes, but is not limited to, jobs in:

• Healthcare and public health;
• Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders;
• Emergency shelters, congregate living facilities, drop-in centers;
• Child care;
• Food and agriculture;
• News media;
• Energy;
• Water and wastewater; and
• Critical manufacturing.

A full list of which sectors are and are not considered critical can be found here. Anyone with questions about whether their job or business is considered essential should email criticalsectors@state.mn.us

The Governor also issued executive orders extending the closure of bars, restaurants, and other public accommodations until May 1, 2020 at 5:00 pm and authorizing the Commissioner of Education to implement a Distance Learning Period for Minnesota’s students beginning on March 30 through May 4, 2020.

City Launches COVID-19 Newsletter

In an effort to keep Minneapolis informed on the coronavirus, its impacts on the city, and share important resources, the City's communication's team is launching a newsletter for COVID-19 information. To sign up click here to opt-in to receiving this newsletter and select "Coronavirus News and Updates" under Alerts/Reminders.

Additional Access for Pedestrians - Including Lake Harriet!

Over the last week I have heard from several residents who have voiced concerns about the crowded areas around our lakes and walking trails. I have been working with our Public Works office and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) to implement a strategy to allow for more space to walk/run/bike outside while still adhering to best social distancing practices. I am happy to say we will be implementing closures around parkways and select City streets beginning this afternoon.

Starting today (March 27) at 5:00pm, the following traffic closures and modifications take affect:

• Lake Harriet Parkway will close.
• West River Parkway will close between Plymouth Avenue N and 11th Avenue S. One lane will remain open to provide access to the Stone Arch Bridge Parking Lot and parking serving 200 2nd St. S.
• Main Street SE will close between Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue SE.
• West 36th Street between Dupont Avenue to Bde Maka Ska will have enhanced protected space for walking and biking.

Starting Monday (March 30) Lake Nokomis Parkway will also close to traffic for additional pedestrian use.

Once the closures go into effect parkway roads will be dedicated to pedestrian traffic in both directions. Bike paths will remain bike paths in their current direction, if applicable and walking paths will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.

Emergency vehicles will always be allowed on closed sections of the parkways and streets, while service, delivery and sanitation vehicles will have access as part of their regular operations.

2020 collection of leaves and bundled brush begins week of April 6

The 2020 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 6. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day. Here are some do's and don'ts for yard waste pick-up.

Do

Set yard waste out in a reusable container, compostable bags (paper or certified compostable plastic) or bundled with string or twine.

• Reusable containers must be 32-38 gallons in size and 26-32 inches high with sturdy handles.
• Each container, bag or bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds.
• Branches must be less than 3 inches in diameter and cut to less than 3 feet or shorter.

Don’t

• Don’t use bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable.” They don’t meet the State law and are not accepted.
• Don’t leave out dirt, soil, sod, branches wider than 3 inches in diameter or longer than 3 feet, stumps or trees. We can’t pick those up.
• Don’t rake leaves into the street. It’s against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river.

For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can check the website or call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Minneapolis Foundation Offers COVID-19 Grants

As we face the many challenges in front of us due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, I am very pleased to see so many groups stepping up to help our community. Recognizing that the outbreak will have immediate and long-term economic effects on people and organizations all over our community, the Minneapolis Foundation has re-focused their OneMPLS Fund to assist those groups.

"We are supporting business and essential program continuity for local nonprofits through our OneMPLS Fund. This collective impact fund is designed to be nimble and responsive to emerging needs aligned with the Foundation’s mission."

These OneMPLS grants will support organizations that:

• Provide services to address the economic impact on individuals whose employment has been reduced or eliminated as a result of the pandemic, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the workforce (e.g., contract workers, artists, and students).
• Meet basic needs for vulnerable populations, particularly older adults and youth.

Applications will be accepted online starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020. You can find more information on the program and application materials here.

Medical Donations Needed

There are so many healthcare professionals in our ward, and they are reaching out in need. There is a serious shortage of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) that they desperately need to keep themselves safe while working during this crisis. To help combat that shortage Hennepin County has established drop-off locations for these much needed items.

The closest drop-off location to Southwest Minneapolis is:

Southdale Library
7001 York Ave. South 
Edina, MN 55435

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily

These priority items include:

• Protective face wear – N95 or N100 respirators, PAPRs and surgical masks
• Nitrile gloves
• Tyvek coveralls
• Tyvek foot covers
• Eye protection (wrap arounds or chemical splash)

For donation questions contact: 

Michael Tupy
763-614-0503
Michael.Tupy@hennepin.us