| Greetings Ward 11,
This summer and fall, there will be runway construction and maintenance at the Minneapolis St. Paul (MSP) Airport that may affect airport noise. The closure of one runway will send flights to different runways, causing temporary changes in flight patterns. Residents might notice a difference in airport noise during this time, but when construction is complete and the runways are reopened this will return to normal. Read “Upcoming MSP airport runway construction” for more information.
The next Ward 11 Monthly Meeting is Tuesday, May 7th from 7-8:30 PM at Pearl Park Recreation Center. The MSP Airport runway construction and maintenance will be a discussion topic, and guest speakers from the Metropolitan Airport Commission will be present.
At the City Council Meeting on April 25th, the City Council voted to amend the tobacco ordinance. The goal of these changes aim to reduce health disparities, reduce youth consumption of commercial tobacco products, and it protect the health of the City’s residents as a whole. Read “City Council passes amendment to commercial tobacco ordinance” for more information.
The Office of Community Safety is engaging with the community about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center project. The Community Safety Center will include the 3rd Precinct Police Station as well as other programs and services. Share what you envision for the project and what services you’d like to see provided in the new facility through the survey or community meetings. For more information on these engagement opportunities, read “Community engagement opportunities for South Minneapolis Community Safety Center”.
Thank you to all of you who participated in and planted trees with MPRB at the annual Arbor Day event in McRae Park. I look forward to seeing you out and about at several upcoming Spring community events, including the Tangletown & HPDL neighborhood garage sales and the Minnehaha Creek Duck Race hosted by FRNNG this weekend. For more Spring events, see the Ward 11 events calendar.
In Gratitude,
 
Upcoming runway construction at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will impact airport operations this summer and fall. There are two parallel runways that handle a lot of operations (departures and landings) at MSP. One of the runways (the north parallel) will be closed from June 3 to September 21 to complete a variety of projects on or around the runway. The construction includes runway pavement work, grading for runway safety areas, installation of new pavement markings, lighting, and signage Another runway called the “crosswinds” will also be closed but is infrequently used.
The construction work will take place during the summer to late autumn 2024 and will require temporary runway closures. Runway 12L-30R (North Parallel Runway) and Runway 4-22 (Crosswind Runway) will be closed from early June, through late September, weather permitting. Temporary changes in flight patterns and aircraft activity will occur during construction. Flights that would normally use the closed runways must be assigned to open runways. The FAA will adjust runway usage based on factors such as wind direction, aircraft safety, operational efficiency, and a priority Runway Use System.
With aircraft directed to use open runways, residents may notice a temporary change or increase in activity over their neighborhood, depending on the flight patterns and runway configurations chosen by the FAA during the upcoming construction. When the runway construction is complete, and the runways are reopened, the FAA will return MSP to its pre-construction operational patterns.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding airfield operations, aircraft noise, or runway closures due to construction, please contact MAC's Community Relations Office at 612-726-9411, or you can learn more by visiting the MSP Runway Construction website.
Please come to the Ward 11 Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, May 7 at Pearl Park Recreation Center (414 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419) from 7-8:30pm to learn more.
You can sign up for updates through the Metropolitan Airport Commission and read more on the airport’s website.
The Minneapolis City Council passed a comprehensive amendment to the tobacco ordinance April 25. The amendment makes the minimum per-pack price of cigarettes one of the highest in the country and ends price discounts. It focuses on reducing health disparities and on youth initiation of commercial tobacco products, and it protects the health of the city’s residents as a whole. The ordinance includes:
- Increasing the minimum per-pack price of cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products to $15.
- Ending price discounts and coupons for commercial tobacco products.
- Increasing the penalties for licensees that violate City policy.
- Ending the sampling “loophole” for any new commercial tobacco products shop.
An increase in prices is known to decrease commercial tobacco use.
- For every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes, adult smoking decreases by 3-5% and youth smoking decreases by 6-7%.
- An increase in price leads to more attempts to quit.
- Calls to quit lines increase when prices increase.
- A study that looked at raising the state-level minimum price of cigarettes by an average of $2 per pack projected a resulting reduction in cigarette consumption by 15.9%.
Read more on the City website.
The Office of Community Safety is engaging with the community about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center project. The Community Safety Center will include the 3rd Precinct Police Station as well as other programs/services. Participate in the Community Conversations, Neighborhood Meetings, Open Meetings, or the survey to share what you envision for the project and what services you’d like to see provided in the new facility.
Upcoming Community Conversations:
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Senior/Older Adult Community Conversations: May 6, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church (1200 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403)
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American Indian Community Conversation: May 1, 2024 at American Indian Month Kick Off (Contact Ward11@minneapolismn.gov for more information)
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LGBTQIA+ Community Conversation: May 14, 2024 at 6:00-7:30 PM at Matthews Park (2318 29th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406)
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Individuals with Disabilities Community Conversation: May 15, 2024 from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. virtually (Contact Ward11@minneapolismn.gov for more information)
Upcoming Neighborhood Meetings:
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Hale, Page, Diamond Lake Community Association’s Monthly Board Meeting: May 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM virtually (RSVP Required)
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Field, Regina, Northrop Neighborhood Group: June 19, 2024 at 6:30 PM at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (1720 East Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55407)
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Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) and Standish Erickson Neighborhood Association (SENA) May 21, 2024 6:00PM Location TBD
Upcoming Open Meeting:
Survey:
Residents and businesses in South Minneapolis should watch their mail for postcards in late April or early May announcing a survey launching May 1. We hope to hear from everyone who works in, lives in, and visits the area.
Check out the City’s website for more information and the most up-to-date schedule:
The City and engagement team (4RM+ULA and the Cultural Wellness Center) are holding the first visioning workshop for George Floyd Square April 30. Topics will focus on memorial locations and the Peoples Way site. This event will continue the discussion to create a community-centered vision for the area.
Visioning Workshop on the future of George Floyd Square 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 The Square at the Chicago Ave Shops, 3736 Chicago Ave. S. RSVP.
Food and refreshments will be served.
Read more about the event on the City website.
Future visioning workshops will be held from June through the fall.
Sign up for updates
Have friends or neighbors interested in this topic? Forward this newsletter or encourage them to sign up for updates.
To learn more about the City's efforts at George Floyd Square, visit the City website.
The draft 2024 Minneapolis Consolidated Action Plan is posted for public comments through May 21, and the public hearing will be held May 14. The plan describes the City’s housing and community development strategies for residents with low and moderate incomes.
Goals of the Minneapolis Consolidated Plan
- Provide decent affordable housing.
- Develop housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
- Provide special needs housing.
- Expand economic opportunities.
- Improve neighborhood conditions.
2024 Consolidated Plan Action Plan public hearing 1:30 p.m. before the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee Tuesday, May 14 Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S., Room 350
Find out how to participate in a public hearing on the City website or call 311.
If you’re unable to attend this public hearing, you can send written comments by May 21 to Rachel Kennedy Boehm at rachel.kennedy@minneapolismn.gov.
See the draft plan and learn more on the City website.
The City of Minneapolis is proud to provide city residents and businesses with safe, high-quality drinking water. You can look at monthly water quality reports at the City’s website or watch a video about how the City’s water is brought from the river to the tap.
On April 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency responsible for regulating drinking water, issued new standards for several per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are a large group of human-made chemicals.
PFAS are used in many products, including:
- Nonstick cookware
- Food packaging
- Stain-resistant carpets
- Fire-suppressing foam
Unfortunately, research suggests that exposure to PFAS may result in adverse health impacts. The good news for Minneapolis residents is these regulated compounds have not been detected in the Mississippi River, which is our water source, or in the finished water that we send out to your tap.
The City of Minneapolis has been monitoring for PFAS for nearly 10 years. Minneapolis tap water has always met and continues to meet the new federal standards.
For continued information about Minneapolis drinking water, watch for our annual Consumer Confidence Report. This report has data and information about various water quality metrics we provide to customers and state and federal regulators. The new Consumer Confidence Report will be posted by the end of May on the City website.
The City is recruiting members for a newly formed African American Heritage Work Group. This body will serve as an advisory board to the City Council to document and honor African American history.
The work group will advise on the selection of 25 properties associated with Black history in the city to be surveyed for inclusion in a Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context Study. At least three properties will eventually be nominated by the City for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Community members who are knowledgeable on the topic of African American heritage are encouraged to apply by May 12.
Read more on the City website.
Garden tool swaps are coming up May 11. Stop by one of the seven garden tool swap locations to drop off your garden tools you don’t use anymore or to pick up garden tools you need. You do not need to bring anything to take something.
Garden tool swaps 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 11 Seven parks around the city:
- North: Folwell and Harrison parks
- Northeast: Logan Park
- Southwest: Martin Luther King and Armatage parks
- South: Longfellow and Lake Hiawatha parks
See what's accepted and find the park addresses.
Join and share the Facebook event.
Clean your tools
To prevent the spread of bird flu and invasive species such as jumping worms, please clean your tools and bird feeders before bringing them to a swap or before using items you took home.
Wash bird feeders, bird houses, bird baths and all tools with hot soapy water and spray them with a bleach solution or let them soak in a bleach water solution for 10 minutes. Let them completely dry before using them.
Cleaning guides will be available at each of the garden tool swap sites.
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, it has evolved into the largest civic event on the planet. Billions of people each year care for the environment and take action for a brighter future. Here are some ways Hennepin County is taking action and how you can get involved this Earth Day.
- Cleaning up and protecting lakes, rivers and streams.
- Preventing trash.
- Planting and caring for trees.
- Learning and connecting.
- Getting around sustainably.
- Conserving energy and switching to renewable energy.
Find actions you can take for Earth Day and beyond on the Hennepin County website.
Love parks? Make them your office. The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is hiring for summer and beyond.
Job opportunities include
- Sports league staff
- Market staff
- Youth club lead
- Park lead
- Pop-up dog park staff
- Sound technician
- Event attendant
- Ambassador
- Water Works staff
More jobs with Minneapolis parks
See a full list of seasonal, temporary and year-round job postings and apply for any opening on the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board website.
Park Board job fair Drop in 9 a.m.-7 p.m. May 1 Water Works Pavilion, 425 W. River Parkway |
