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Greetings Ward 11,
Happy New Year! On Monday, January 1st, I was sworn in for my second term representing Ward 11 on the Minneapolis City Council. I am beyond grateful to continue to represent you at City Hall.
The following day was the 50th Anniversary of the 1974 Swearing In Ceremony, the year my father Al Hofstede was appointed Mayor. It was a historic election, the first DFL-majority Council. Among the many policy wins, this City Council passed a gay rights ordinance, and Minneapolis also became the first city to protect transgender rights in December of 1975. I am so grateful for the leadership of these former Aldermen in their service to our City, and it was an honor to join the ceremony. |
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Yesterday, the City Council convened our Organizational Meeting for the 2024-2025 Term. Council Member Elliott Payne was elected as Council President and Aisha Chughtai as Council Vice President. I am pleased to share that I will remain in leadership as Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, and that will now be a standing committee, meeting year- round. I advocated for this change to improve the finance and oversight function of City Council, and allow more time for public engagement around the budget.
Public Works and Infrastructure was renamed "Climate and Infrastructure" and I will also remain in leadership of that committee as the Vice Chair. Click here for Standing Committees and Membership; and Click here for the 2024-2025 Council calendar.
During the meeting, we honored the City’s first-ever poet laureate, Heid E. Erdrich, who read a poem for the occasion. I was touched by these words:
"This is the City dreaming in winter, into the silence of frozen spaces in this bare year. The quiet broken by wishes. The quiet broken by calling down the snow, calling for home.
The City makes its own way home, makes its many ways home. This is the City dreaming under cold and deep skies on icy streets moving with care. Winter swallows background noise, makes the perfect place to listen, to hear one another.
Snow just another sign for home. We can laugh at it together, whether we park on one side or the other. To find our street, or find it restricted.
We plow on through. We are in it together.
When the City dreams in winter, what does it learn?
Listen to the City dreaming, calling us home, calling for a home in many languages.
Listen to the City dreaming, moving toward a chorus, learning its multiple and singular voice."
This poem is a reminder of the good work we will do together in 2024. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the many issues our City faces- collaborating, finding solutions and working every day for the residents we serve, plowing through the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Our first in-person Ward 11 Meeting is the Cedar Edgewater Pilot Update and Townhall on January 25, 2024 (see below). Please stay tuned to this bi-weekly Newsletter as dates will be shared about upcoming Seniors Meetings, Ward 11 Public Safety Meetings, Monthly Ward 11 Meetings, Office Hours and more. And as always, please reach out to me and my staff below with any questions.
In Gratitude,
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The first in-person Ward 11 Office Hours of the year featuring special guest Senator Zaynab Mohamed is on Friday, February 9th from 8:30-10am at Guavas Cuban Cafe, 5607 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
We’ll discuss issues in the City, talk about the year ahead, and hear a preview of the upcoming Minnesota Legislative Session.
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On December 12, 2023, the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) voted to deny demolition of the home at 400 Prospect Avenue in the Tangletown neighborhood, and direct staff to start a designation study of the potential Washburn Park historic district.
An appeal of that decision has been filed, and will be heard by the Business, Housing and Zoning (BHZ) Committee of the City Council on January 30, 2024. If the appeal is granted, demolition will be approved and no study will be conducted.
City Planner Erin Que will be at the Tangletown Neighborhood Association meeting on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00pm at Fuller Recreation Center in the multi-purpose room (4802 Grand Ave) to discuss potential outcomes of this process. You can also email her questions about the project & potential designation study at erin.que@minneapolismn.gov
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In the Fall 2023, the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Hennepin County, tested improvements to the Cedar Edgewater Intersection and collected data and community input about the future of the intersection to increase pedestrian, bike and car safety.
The Cedar Edgewater Pilot is complete, and the Townhall is Thursday, January 25th, from 7-8:30 PM, at Nokomis Community Center Gym, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway. At the meeting, we will discuss the findings from the pilot & survey, and take additional feedback from the public. See here for more information: Cedar Ave and Nokomis Pkwy - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov)
The City Council Chamber is closed through the year for City Hall renovations. Until this construction is completed, regular council meetings will take place in the Minneapolis Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S. They’ll still stream on the City’s YouTube channel.
The City Council’s Organizational Meeting takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, in Room 100 of the Minneapolis Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S. In that meeting, the council organizes its members for the coming term, mainly by electing officers and creating its committees. All other council and committee meetings after that will be in Room 350 of the Public Service Center until construction is completed.
Independent bodies that also meet in the Council Chamber will move to Room 350 of the Public Service Center beginning Jan. 22. The following meetings before that date will be held in Room 100 of the Public Service Building:
- The Planning Commission meeting Jan. 8.
- The Board of Estimate & Taxation meeting Jan. 10.
- The Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings, Jan. 18.
Up-to-date meeting locations
For the most up-to-date information on meeting locations, go to the City’s Legislation Information Management System.
Also, due to equipment relocation work, live streams of the above meetings taking place before Jan. 12 will not be available on the City’s website or on the City’s cable channels, but can be watched on the City’s YouTube channel.
The Minneapolis Police Department is launching a new public survey tool to better understand local residents’ concerns, attitudes, and trust in their police officers. The survey, launched in partnership with Zencity, will appear to Minneapolis residents on their mobile devices. The tool will enable the MPD to more holistically understand local neighborhood safety issues and enhance their responsiveness to community priorities.
The survey is offered in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Amharic, Oromo Lao, and Vietnamese. The survey will appear to residents with digital ads in various locations, such as news websites, social media platforms and other applications. Based on responses, the survey will measure resident satisfaction regarding their feelings of safety and trust in police, while also identifying key concerns residents want the MPD to address.
On Jan. 9 and 10, three teams will publicly present how they would, if chosen, evaluate and report on the City’s compliance with its settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The selected independent evaluator will also provide technical assistance on things like policy and training development.
The three teams are:
Community sessions
- 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Cowles Auditorium), 301 19th Ave. S.
- 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 Plymouth Congregational Church, 1919 LaSalle Ave.
Read more about the presenters and next steps on the City website.
Negotiations for a new contract with the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis are likely heading to mediation.
The Police Federation made the request for mediation earlier this month. The federation represents police officers, sergeants and lieutenants in the Minneapolis Police Department. When public employers and unions negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, either can request mediation. If the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services determines it would be useful, the City and the union can begin mediation.
Contract negotiations began in September. The most recent contract, which ended Dec. 31, 2022, is extended until a new contract is in place. The City looks forward to continuing the bargaining process with the Police Federation during mediation.
Find information on the Police Federation contract negotiations on the City website.
The City's Partnership Engagement Fund is now open for applications. Community-based organizations, groups and individuals can apply for funding for small-scale, meaningful projects to make Minneapolis communities more socially connected, healthy and safe.
In 2024, a total of $1 million is available for 40 $25,000 contracts with the City. Applicants will need to work with one of the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations for their project engaging underrepresented residents in Minneapolis.
Previous community projects have included youth mentorships, public events, garden infrastructure, civic leadership development, entrepreneurship training, addressing health disparities, employment support, youth peace building, corridor development, resource support for unsheltered neighbors, community building, youth media and storytelling, arts programming and placemaking.
Online information sessions
Two online information sessions will cover more about the Partnership Engagement Fund program and how to apply.
Potential applicants can sign up to join either of the workshops or find a recorded webinar afterwards on the Partnership Engagement Fund City webpage.
Applications are open now with an interest form due Feb. 19 and the completed application due March 3.
Learn more on the City website.
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If you’re planning to apply as an exhibitor for the next Community Connections Conference, the deadline has been extended to Jan. 15. We invite everyone in the community to share information, skills, resources and opportunities through exhibitor booths. We’re especially looking for informative, fun, interactive exhibits for both children and adults.
The 2024 Community Connections Conference is planned for Feb. 17. This yearly event brings together residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods and local government.
Exhibit space is free for nonprofits and public institutions.
The conference will be held in the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Read more and apply on the City website.
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Join the teams that keep the city running. Many of the positions include paid on-the-job training.
Apply if you’re 18 or older with a valid driver’s license, fluent in English and open to working in all weather. We have opportunities for you whether you’re skilled or need paid on-the-job training.
Job openings in Public Works include:
- Public Works service worker trainee. This position performs manual labor and learns to drive and operate equipment. You’d support the department’s construction and maintenance activities. You will be supported in obtaining your CDL Class B license.
- Public Works service worker 1. This position performs manual labor and drives and operates equipment to support construction and maintenance work.
- Public Works service worker 2. This position performs manual labor and drives and operates heavy specialty equipment to support construction and maintenance work.
- Water distribution operator trainee. This position performs manual labor to maintain the City’s water distribution system.
- Water distribution operator. This position performs manual labor and semi-skilled work to maintain the City’s water distribution system.
- Automotive mechanic. This position maintains and repairs the City’s fleet of vehicles and machinery including snowplows.
Find online and in-person information sessions on the City website.
Read about these jobs and find out how to apply on the City website.
Apply on the City website by Jan. 14, 2024.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Minneapolis a $20 million grant to address the highest priority unfunded safety projects on streets in Minneapolis.
We will use the federal grant to make safety improvements on high priority projects and actions in the City’s 2023-2025 Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan. The plan outlines priorities for the next three years to advance the City’s goal of ending traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2027.
This significant award of federal funds will allow Minneapolis to implement safety improvements on nearly all streets with the highest percentage of severe and fatal crashes that don’t already have a plan for safety-focused investment.
Highlights include:
- Safety improvements along 25 miles of high-injury streets.
- Traffic signal improvements at 526 intersections.
- More safety planning work, such as evaluating the speed limit change and quick-build safety treatments.
Read more about the grant and the City’s work to make streets safer.
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The first Twin Cities Immigration Forum of the new year will be Jan. 11. This monthly online meeting is hosted by the City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs and the City of Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program.
This monthly forum covers:
- Federal immigration news, with information on how developments impact our local immigrant and refugee community, and where to go for help.
- City, community and advocacy organization news and updates.
- More topics of interest and importance to people in immigrant, refugee and new American communities.
January 2024 Twin Cities Immigration Forum 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 Click here to join the meeting.
Links for past forums can be found on the “meetings and events” tab of the City’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) webpage. For questions or to receive a calendar invite, contact michelle.rivero@minneapolismn.gov or 612-394-6018.
The Minneapolis Health Department offers a free program to help kids with asthma. The program includes:
- A home assessment to help identify common asthma triggers.
- Personalized asthma trigger education for you and your family.
- Free services and products, such as air purifiers, to help improve indoor air quality.
If you have a child 21 or younger with asthma, email the City Health Department or call 612-673-2301 for more information.
Learn more about the City’s free asthma program.
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Honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the annual MLK Day Celebration at MLK Recreation Center!
Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for an evening of powerful performances and inspiring speakers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 15, 2024, 6:30-8 pm at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S.
This year the keynote speaker is Dr. Verna Cornelia Price, co-founder and president of The Power of People Leadership Institute. Enjoy a musical performance by NUNNABOVE, a sibling-based Twin Cities band that has been called “the next generation of Minneapolis sound.” NUNNABOVE was featured in season 13 of America’s Got Talent and has shared the stage with three-time Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness, PJ Morton of Maroon 5, Boyz II Men, Chaka Khan, Stokely, and many others.
Additional event highlights include a presentation from participants in the MPRB Youthline program and a ceremony recognizing the 2024 Living the Dream Award recipient, Walter "Q Bear" Banks Jr., DJ and Operations Manager at 89.9 KMOJ.
This uplifting annual event is emceed by Chad Jackson, Director, Brand Partnership Development for the Minnesota Twins and Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Light refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the event, which is free and open to all.
Feeding the Dream Food Drive
The celebration will also mark the 14th annual “Feeding the Dream” Food Drive. People are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at any MPRB recreation center through January 15.
The community service project was initiated in the fall of 2009. Since then, more than 15,000 pounds of donations have been collected. This year, all donations will go to YouthLink and Avenues for Youth.
See here for additonal Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations organized by MPRB
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