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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
This week I spent a lot of time in budget hearings and conversations with other council members about my thoughts on reducing property taxes. To learn more about this week’s budget hearings, please click the specific links below:
Some great news on new housing in Downtown, three projects by Sherman and Associates have come online. O2 and Ladder 260 apartment buildings have opened on Portland Avenue between Washington and 3rd Street and the first office building conversion to housing opened on the corner of 2nd Ave South and 6th Street, that project is called Groove Lofts. This represents over 500 new housing units.
Some of my activities in the ward included:
- Touring the new Graco Park Building along the river
- Touring the new NorthStar Apartment building with Minneapolis Delegation members to explain the need for a state tax credit to convert office buildings into residential housing.
- Touring the Circle of Discipline Facility in Marcy-Holmes. They offer extensive after school programming for youth, both in sports and homework tutoring.
- Walked with the Sheridan Neighborhood on its first safety walk. We were joined by 2nd precinct Inspector, Nick Torborg
- Toured the new Midway Contemporary Art Building on Marshall Avenue in the Sheridan Neighborhood. They recently had their first exhibit, and the attendance was higher than anticipated.
- Received an update on the Reconstruction of 4th Street SE and University Ave SE between Central Avenue and 35W.
- Attended a fundraiser for the Lundstrum Center for the Arts. This is an amazing dance studio that provides scholarships to youth in North Minneapolis for after school dance and music programs.
- Spoke to the residents on the Public Housing Highrise on Spring Street about the upcoming remodeling for their building and then toured the new Children’s Dental Service Building expansion, both in the St. Anthony East Neighborhood.
Next week I will be taking time off for my mother's funeral and burial so we will not be sending out a newsletter next Friday.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
Minneapolis City offices – including election services, 311 and the Minneapolis Service Center at 505 Fourth Ave. S. – are closed Monday, Oct. 14, for Indigenous Peoples Day. City offices resume regular business hours Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Garbage and recycling pickup will not be affected. The City's metered parking spaces are not enforced Oct. 14. Other metered parking restrictions in Minneapolis may be in effect and subject to enforcement, including Park Board, University of Minnesota and private organizations that operate their own meters. Always read the information posted on the meter to be certain.
Minneapolis police and fire emergency services and 911 are not affected.
Crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis this month and November to clean the streets before winter. Street sweeping helps keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and from ending up in our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River.
Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb street sweeping throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 22. 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 hot pink “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:
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Interactive web feature – The Street Sweeping Schedule Map will be available on the City’s website before street sweeping begins. 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.
- “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. The sweeping takes several steps, so people should not resume parking until the signs are removed.
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Email and text alerts – You can sign up to get an alert automatically emailed or texted to you at the start of street sweeping.
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Social media – The City will use Facebook and X to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
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Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong on the City’s YouTube channel and on Minneapolis City TV.
Clean streets mean healthier water
Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring and again in the fall. You can do your part by not pushing leaves, grass clippings or other debris into City streets. It’s bad for our lakes and waterways, it can cause safety hazards and it’s against the law.
Leaves that wash into storm drains end up in our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River. They may quickly begin to break down, creating pollutants that overfertilize lake water and help harmful aquatic plants and algae grow. The murky lake water that results is not good for swimming or fishing. It can also harm wildlife and pets.
Learn more about street sweeping.
Learn the basics of emergency preparedness at Ready Camp Oct. 22 and 23. The free two-day training will provide you knowledge and skills to build an emergency kit, develop a communication plan, prepare for severe weather emergencies and recovery from an emergency or disaster. The City of Minneapolis Emergency Management Department hosts Ready Camp.
All ages are welcome. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Ready Camp 4:45-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Wednesday, Oct. 23 Minneapolis Emergency Operations Training Facility, 25 37th Ave. NE
Register now on Eventbrite. Class capacity is 50 people.
Questions about Ready Camp? Reach out to LaVina Branscomb, Emergency Management communication and outreach coordinator.
Attend the Oct. 23 seniors fair with a free ride on Metro Transit. Get your voucher online or by mail:
The seniors fair is tailored for our senior community members and caregivers. The day will feature workshops, an elected officials panel, a resource fair, and a free breakfast and lunch. The workshops will cover yoga and meditation, City services, public safety and connecting with community.
Seniors fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave. S.
Schedule
Raffle with prizes to be announced.
9 a.m. - Welcome and breakfast 10 a.m. - Morning workshops: yoga for all – mind and body, City services presented by Public Works and 311 11 a.m. - Resource fair and lunch Noon – Panel discussion with local elected officials including Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury. More to be announced. 1 p.m. - Afternoon workshops: the City’s holistic approach to community safety, a discussion about making community connections through art.
The seniors fair is sponsored by Wards 8, 11 and 12. Watch the video invitation.
Hosted by the City of Minneapolis, the 2024 Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit takes place Oct. 30. The summit is free and open to the public.
Trans Equity Summit: “A Safe and Thriving Trans Community” 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 Oak St. SE
The Trans Equity Summit is an event for trans and gender non-conforming community members to connect to resources and each other, and for all attendees to learn more about issues impacting their communities.
For general questions about the Trans Equity Summit, please email City staff.
Sign up
Sign up now to attend – space is limited – and watch for more details.
Minneapolis residents can visit one of our 11 one-day pop-up early voting locations to cast their ballot. Each of these sites is open one day only between Tuesday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Nov. 1.
Services
- Early in-person voting
- Same-day voter registration
- Language interpretation services
Find pop-up voting locations, dates and other details on the City website.
Other early voting
Voters can still vote at the main Early Vote Center, vote by mail and vote on Election Day.
If voting on Election Day, find your polling place on the Secretary of State website.
The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect. The Cold Weather Rule means that if you can’t pay your home heat bill, your heat can’t be shut off Oct. 1-April 30. If you get a notice about disconnecting your primary heat source, make sure to immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan.
Find resources on the State of Minnesota website. This information is also available in Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali. |
