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Greetings Ward 11,
Last week we completed the first Council Cycle for the 2024-2025 term. Appointments to outside Boards and Commissions were approved, and I am very excited to represent Minneapolis by serving on the Meet Minneapolis Board, League of Minnesota Cites, Youth Coordinating Board, Northstar Corridor Development Authority, Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, Minnehaha Creek Watershed Policy Advisory Committee, and MSP Noise Oversight Committee. I am looking forward to connecting with residents to hear from you and give updates on the broad set of issues these boards and commissions address.
During these long winter months, I am so grateful to our community organizations and the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board for hosting events that bring neighbors together and build community. The Field Regina Neighborhood Association recently hosted Fire & Ice at McRae Park; and next month I am looking forward to Frost Fest at Pearl Park on February 9th, and the Tangletown Winter Fest on February 24th. Even with a warmer winter, these fun, free events are what Minneapolis is all about!
I am looking forward to a year full of time to connect and be together as a Ward 11 community. Our calendar is fully updated with this year’s meetings. Please see the Ward 11 Calendar for upcoming neighborhood meetings & events, Ward 11 Seniors Meetings, Ward 11 Monthly Meetings and Ward 11 Public Safety Meetings.
Our first Ward 11 meeting of the year is Tuesday, February 6th 7-8:30 at the Pearl Park Recreation Center (414 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419). We will discuss the top priorities for this Council term. Come prepared with your ideas... we want to hear from you!
Read on for news about local development in Ward 11, City news, and more.
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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The Ward 11 2024 Calendar is live on the City of Minneapolis's Ward 11 Webpage. Use the Ward 11 Calendar to find neighborhood meetings and events, Ward meetings, Seniors meetings and more.
Council Member Koski will host Ward 11 Meetings on February 6, March 4, May 7, June 4, September 10 & October 8 at the Pearl Park Recreation Center (414 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419).
Ward 11 Public Safety Meetings will be April 18, August 6, & November 12 at the Pearl Park Recreation Center (414 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419).
Click here to view the Ward 11 Calendar.
New Life Properties is a local real estate development company who specializes in developing small- to mid-size projects on infill sites in Minneapolis. Owner Dan Carlson started New Life Properties in 2001 strive to make housing available and create safe housing for families. Dan utilizes the City of Minneapolis 4D Program, which aims to preserve affordable homes in Minneapolis.
They are currently working on two projects in Ward 11 with September Son Architects:
The Pearl- 5401 Chicago Ave S. A four-story, mixed-use building including 47 apartment units, 22 internal parking spaces and 3,600 SF of commercial space located on the ground floor. It will feature a ground level restaurant called “Stonegarden", created by one of the founding team members of Baldamar in Roseville.. The building’s name “The Pearl” was proposed by a Ward 11 community member and selected through a neighborhood competition.
Fun fact: The artist, Julie Thomas, hid a pearl in each picture on the bottom floor common room of the building.
Book Trader Apartments 5344 34th Ave S. Book Trader Apartments is named in honor of the former owner, who was a pillar in the community and was famous for allowing people at the bus stop to come inside of the bookstore to stay warm. Book Trader Apartments will be a 3 story, 21 unit apartment building. Construction will start in the summer of 2024 and the project should be complete by April 2025.
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The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) has begun maintenance dredging at the Amelia Stormwater Pond, located southwest of Lake Nokomis. This and other stormwater ponds in the metro area collect and treat runoff to protect water quality in area lakes; maintaining them is critical so that they continue to protect community water resources.
Maintenance dredging occurs during winter months to minimize the impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The process usually takes four to six weeks, depending on a pond's size and depth; any disturbed vegetation will be restored in the spring.
Background
Built in 2001 to address water quality issues in Lake Nokomis, Amelia Stormwater Pond was last dredged in 2011. An August 2023 sediment survey identified that dredging maintenance was again required so it can continue to function as designed.
The stormwater pond treats runoff from 307 surrounding acres, allowing sediment and other pollutants to settle before the water flows into Lake Nokomis. MCWD staff estimate that 6,740 cubic yards (cy) of sediment will be removed from Amelia Pond.
Maintenance dredging is also underway at the Twin Lakes Park Stormwater Ponds in St. Louis Park, which treat runoff from 1,390 acres before the water flows on to Twin Lakes and then Cedar Lake in Minneapolis.
Visit the MCWD project page for more information.
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In February the City plans to start accepting grant applications to repair failing private sewer pipes and connections to the public sewer. Homeowners can receive grants between $5,000 to $10,000 and may need a match to receive the funds. The City expects this year’s funding to provide grants to 30-35 property owners. You can look at information now to get ready with bids and then apply when applications open.
Eligibility
- Residential property in Minneapolis.
- Owner occupied property.
- Uses a City of Minneapolis Target Market Program contractor. At least three bids will be required from this vendor list.
- Copies (photos or scanned images) of three bids uploaded with the application.
- Copy of proof of residency (license, utility bill or mortgage statement) uploaded with the application.
The Metropolitan Council funds these grants.
Find more information on the City website.
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You can take part in hyperlocal air quality monitoring. The Minneapolis Health Department will place three different kinds of air sensors around the city:
- PurpleAir sensors measure particulate matter.
- AQMesh measures different gases:
- Ozone.
- Nitric oxide.
- Nitrogen dioxide.
- Carbon monoxide.
- Total volatile organic compounds.
- SENSIT SPODs will measure which specific volatile organic compounds are in the air.
To learn more or take part you can:
Check neighborhood air quality levels on PurpleAir's real-time map.
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Thank you to all who reached out to me regarding the ceasefire resolutions that came before the City Council last week. My office had many calls and emails over the past few weeks with almost equal numbers on each side of the issue. You have shared your perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on the atrocities, and on the desperation we all feel for resolution. Many of you shared how the violence in the Middle East has personally impacted you and your family – especially with the rise of Islamophobia and Antisemitism in our country and in our community.
A common thread from everyone who reached out is that we all want peace, and we can all agree that we want an immediate ceasefire, for the release of all held captive, for humanitarian aid, and for the United States to utilize all diplomatic power it has to help bring peace.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is extremely complex and one that Presidents, Congresses, Government Officials, Diplomats, Dignitaries, and conflict resolution experts have spent decades working to resolve. I believe that we are all able to express our support, and our call for an immediate ceasefire, for the release of all held captive, for humanitarian aid, and for ongoing peace.
Council Members have the opportunity to abstain from any vote that comes before us. Often, Council Members will abstain when they have a conflict, when they feel they need more time to review an issue, when the council does not receive enough information to make a decision, or in this case, when an issue is beyond the scope of our job and our role. Tough decisions are part of my job and what we do every day, but I did not believe that the resolutions before us last week offered us a path forward to unite behind this topic. I will continue to listen to and learn from all who reach out to me, and continue to support a ceasefire without triggering, dividing, or isolating a part of this City or the other.
I was elected to serve on the Minneapolis City Council to provide leadership over city operations and help provide a strategic and legislative path forward for issues directly facing our residents, and I will continue to do so.
Last week, I met with the Director of the Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR)in the Office of Civil Rights and learned more about the complaint process.
Anyone with information about misconduct can file a complaint against an officer who works for the City of Minneapolis Police. The Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR) handles any violation of the Policy and Procedure Manual, including: excessive use of force, inappropriate language or attitude, harassment, discrimination in the provision of police services, theft, failure to provide adequate or timely police protection, retaliation or criminal misconduct.
Complaints let police leadership know about policy violations and illegal behavior. When we hold officers accountable, we deter future misconduct. We hope to increase public trust in the police.
You can file a complaint online, in person or by mail. Learn more here
Celebrate Black History Month with us. The City of Minneapolis is offering free, public events under the theme African Americans & the Arts.
Upcoming Black History Month events:
- Black Music and the Arts – The Minneapolis Sound A panel discussion to explore the history of Black contributions to music with a focus on the “Minneapolis Sound.” Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
- Black and Belonging A community discussion around belonging to a collective and creating welcoming spaces where we all belong. Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
- Family Feud: Black History Month Trivia Featuring Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis employees: a live event to have fun, laugh, show off what you know about Black history, or learn something new. Noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 North Point Conference Center, Fifth Floor, Suite 5200 1256 Penn Ave. N.
- History Makers at Home The Minneapolis Civil Rights Department will recognize leaders in the areas of business, criminal justice, education, economic development, health, housing and government. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway Ave.
- Rock Your Crown This is the event where hair rules! With the State of Minnesota signing the Crown Act into law, we will celebrate the history of Black hair and the art of styling it. Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
The mayor and City Council passed a resolution honoring Black History Month. The resolution states that “the Mayor and City Council do hereby commemorate the achievements of Black Americans as history makers and legacy trailblazers and their role in the development of the region and the nation since its inception, and we join in recognizing the annual celebration of Black History Month and the anniversary of the Minneapolis Black Employee Network.”
The events for Black History Month are presented in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County through the efforts of these employee resource groups: City of Minneapolis Black Employee Network, Hennepin County People of Color Employee Resource Group and Hennepin County African American Employee Resource Group. History Makers at Home is presented by the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights.
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Early voting has begun in Minneapolis for the presidential primary. Voters in the city are among the first in the nation to cast in-person ballots in this high-profile race. They can do that at the Early Vote Center now through the day before the March 5 primary. The Early Vote Center is at 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
Unlike with other elections, voters in the presidential primary choose which of the participating major party’s ballot they want. The party they choose is not public information, though it will be available to the selected major party.
Standard hours for the Early Vote Center are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center is closed on Presidents Day, Feb. 19. The center is also open the last two weekends before the primary. Besides the Early Vote Center, voters can vote early at the downtown Hennepin County Government Center, 300 Sixth St. S. You can find more information on early voting options on the City website.
The Early Vote Center makes early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. Voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.
Vote early by mail
Any voter can vote early by mail; no reason is required. Please allow enough time to complete the process by mail. It can take up to seven days. You can complete your applications online on the City website.
Make sure you’re registered to vote
While people can register to vote at the polls, preregistering speeds up voting on the day of the primary. Voters can check the status of their registrations on the City website. If you’ve moved to a new address or had a name change since last registering, you’ll need to reregister to vote. If you haven’t voted in the past four years, you’ll need to reregister.
Preregister online, or fill out and mail in a registration application, which is available at government offices and the City website. Preregistration ends 21 days before the March 5 primary.
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Open Streets will once again take place in 2024, and the City of Minneapolis is seeking event organizers for the 2024 event series.
The City is soliciting proposals for up to five event organizers to coordinate and implement up to two Open Streets events each. The City will provide up to $50,000 for each event. If an event organizer is awarded two events, the contract would be up to $100,000.
Open Streets Minneapolis events give local businesses, artists and community groups a one-day opportunity to transform the streets into a place where people can gather and celebrate the diversity and creativity of the city while walking, biking and rolling. From the first event in 2011 through the 2022 season, Open Streets events have drawn more than 677,000 people.
There are plans for five Open Streets events in 2024:
- West Broadway.
- Lyndale Avenue South.
- Central Avenue Northeast.
- Franklin Avenue.
- Nicollet Avenue.
Proposals are due by 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15.
Open Streets Minneapolis was first inspired by other initiatives around the world. However, our version is one of a kind and specific to our city. It stands apart from Open Streets events in other states, nations or globally. During Open Streets, our local businesses, artists and community groups come together to turn the streets into a special space temporarily free from car traffic. They’re a place to grow community connections and embrace what’s unique about Minneapolis.
Find more information on the City’s website.
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The City of Minneapolis is seeking an artist or artist team to create asphalt art murals on two intersections. The murals will be on the South-Folwell Safe Route to School. The artist must have experience working with young people to create large murals. The artist will work with students at South and Folwell schools to create and paint the designs. The chosen artist or artist team will receive a $20,000 artist fee and $4,000 for materials.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is supporting this City study as a traffic calming strategy.
Deadlines
The Intent to Apply form is due by 4 p.m. Feb. 5. Apply by 4 p.m. Feb. 7.
Find more information on the City website.
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