In a significant move to promote civic involvement among young people, the Mayor and City Council of Minneapolis have officially proclaimed October 17th as Youth Civic Engagement Day. This resolution underscores the crucial role that youth participation plays in the health and future of society. By empowering young individuals to engage actively in their communities, the city aims to foster responsibility, leadership, and a commitment to positive change.
The proclamation highlights the myriad benefits of youth civic engagement, including the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as a deeper understanding of democratic processes and social justice. Local organizations, such as Youth Civic Leaders and Black Political Action, are recognized for their dedication to equipping young people with the tools, opportunities, and support necessary to become effective citizens.
Moreover, the resolution emphasizes that youth participation not only strengthens intergenerational bonds but also enriches community dialogue by incorporating diverse perspectives. By recognizing and celebrating the contributions of young individuals, the city hopes to inspire innovative solutions to community challenges and instill a lifelong commitment to active citizenship.
On this day, the Mayor and City Council encourage all community members to support and celebrate the efforts of young people in their civic endeavors, providing them with the resources and encouragement they need to thrive as the leaders of tomorrow.
 The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) has your back! If you’ve had to say goodbye to one of your trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer between 2020 and 2022, there’s some good news. MPRB is rolling out the Private Property Tree Removal Retroactive Relief Program to help with the cost of removing those trees.
Homeowners in eligible areas can apply for partial rebates—so if you’ve been hit with those unexpected tree removal costs, now’s your chance to get a little financial relief. Think of it as a “thank you” for helping keep our environment healthy!
Here are the deets:
Application Period: October 21 – November 15, 2024
Eligibility: Your property must be in a census tract designated as disadvantaged by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. You also need to have had a private property tax levy for tree removal during the eligible period.
It’s as simple as filling out an application, which you can find on the MPRB website. If you need more info or have questions, contact MPRB Finance at assessments@minneapolisparks.org or 612-230-6400.
Don’t miss out on this chance to save some cash while keeping our city green and beautiful!
The City’s Green Cost Share program continues to help Minneapolis residents reduce their home energy use. From better insulation to new heating and cooling systems, the City helped residents with more than 200 projects so far this year to improve Minneapolis homes.
Need funding for your next home energy-saving project? We are offering rebates up to $14,000 for homes in a Green Zone and $5,000 for homes outside a Green Zone. Learn more about the program and apply now.
Hear from homeowners who received funding from the program
Under an earlier phase of the program, the City offered 0% interest loans for energy-efficient improvements to Minneapolis residents. Watch a video on how residents Vivian Johnson and Mike Rivard used their 0% interest loan.
With Election Day just a couple weeks away, the main Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., is extending voting hours. Elections & Voter Services is also opening two more early voting sites. Anyone who can vote in Minneapolis on Election Day can vote early at these sites or any of the pop-up voting events regardless of where they live in the city.
Beginning Oct. 22, Urban League at 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. and Bethel Lutheran Church at 4120 17th Ave. S. are also open to serve Minneapolis voters.
The last day of early voting is Monday, Nov. 4, which is the day before Election Day, and hours Nov. 4 are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
One-day in-person early voting locations
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.
Voters can apply to vote by mail and check on the status of their mailed ballot on the City’s website. We recommend applying for a mail ballot no later than Oct. 29. Consider applying earlier if you plan to both receive your ballot by mail and mail your ballot back. Ballots can also be dropped off at any early voting location during voting hours. Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Ballots may be dropped off until 8 p.m. on Election Day at Election & Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin Ave. Ballots may not be returned to the polls on Election Day.
Preparing for Election Day
If you’re planning to cast your ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5:
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, go to the City website.
City customers’ garbage day the week of Nov. 25-30 will be their last 2024 pickup of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings.
Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curb line next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day. Set yard waste out in a reusable container, in compostable bags (paper or BPI-certified compostable plastic bags – look for the BPI logo) or bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).
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Reusable containers must be 32-38 gallons in size and at least 26 inches high with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers.
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Any container, bag or bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds.
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Branches must be less than 3 inches in diameter and less than 3 feet long.
Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.
Raking leaves into the street is against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river.
City customers are encouraged to set out properly prepared yard waste as soon as possible. There will be no additional 2024 yard waste service after the last scheduled pickup.
For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can check the City website or call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 Monday-Friday.
When you’re done with your carved pumpkins and other gourds, you can put them in your green organics recycling cart. They don’t need to be bagged. Remember to remove any candles or lights first.
If you haven’t signed up for organics recycling, you can put carved pumpkins and other gourds with your other yard waste.
Added synthetic materials such as paint, permanent markers, glitter or jewels make pumpkins non-compostable, and then they have to go in the black garbage cart.
Wrappers from Halloween candy go in the garbage. They are not recyclable or compostable. Find more information about organics recycling on the City website.
You can once again get up to four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits through the federal government. With a high number of cases in our community, it’s important to protect ourselves and our families. Regular testing can help you stay informed about your health and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones.
You can use these whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms. You can take the test at home and receive results within 30 minutes — no need to drop anything off at a lab. The tests and shipping are free. Order your free tests today.
COVID test expiration dates
Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may still be able to use them after the date printed on the box. To check if your test has an extended expiration date, check the Food and Drug Administration’s list of extended expiration dates.
 Come join us Wednesday, October 30th from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Folwell Recreation Center's multipurpose room.
Whether sitting around with friends or making s’mores, be prepared whenever you build a backyard fire. Burning wood can affect local air quality by increasing harmful pollutants in the air, which creates health risks for the community.
Wood smoke is especially harmful to older adults, children and anyone with asthma. Follow these steps to be a good neighbor:
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Let your neighbors know before you start a backyard fire. It’ll give them a chance to close their windows.
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Limit your number of fires, and consider a different location if your backyard is too close to your neighbors.
Follow the rules to keep everyone safe
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Make sure the fire is 25 feet away from a building and has a barrier around it.
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Keep a fire extinguisher and bucket of water or hose nearby.
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Don’t burn when the wind exceeds 10 mph or when the air quality is poor.
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Never burn treated or painted wood, cardboard boxes, trash, or debris because the smoke can be toxic.
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Minneapolis allows outdoor recreational fires from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Keep your fires less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.
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Fires must be supervised by someone 18 or older.
 Come join us October 30th at 6pm at 4205 Webber Parkway for a community discussion on reporting and addressing hate incidents.
On November 19, CPKC Railway personnel will begin the removal of the Lyndale Avenue railroad crossing, located just north of Webber Parkway, with the closure expected to last through November 21. This maintenance activity is part of the railway's routine upkeep to ensure safety and efficiency. CPKC is working closely with the City of Minneapolis to coordinate the closure, and marked detour routes will be in place to guide motorists during this period. To ensure the safety and awareness of drivers, advance warning signs will be posted ahead of the outage.
As winter approaches and the nights get longer, let’s keep our streets lit and safe! A well-lit neighborhood keeps our community safe, and reporting any street light outages helps keep our community shining bright.
If you notice a street light that’s out, head to www.minneapolismn.gov/report-an-issue/street-light-issue/. Don’t forget to include the cross street or address and whether it’s a metal or wood pole—it’ll help us bring back the light in no time!
Let’s work together to keep Ward 4 glowing, and making our neighborhood a safe place for all to enjoy the season.
October is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, and Minneapolis Animal Care & Control has plenty of four-legged friends available for adoption as the shelter is at maximum capacity.
The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) through the Subaru Loves Pets initiative granted the City $4,000 to cover adoption fees during a “clear the shelter” event this month. Normally Minneapolis residents pay no adoption fees for cats or adult dogs but $250 for dogs 6 months and younger. Non-residents normally pay a $250 adoption fee for any of the pets.
Adoptable cats and dogs are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. While adoption fees are covered, licensing fees for cities of residence still apply.
Clear the shelter event Community members can take home a furry companion with no adoption fee (normally $0-$250.) 1-5 p.m. Oct. 25 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26
The Best Friends Society has also awarded $10,000 to the City to waive first-time impound fees (up to $85) for cats and dogs to reunite them with their owners – now through the end of the year.
Find adoptable pets on the City website.
Bites from dogs and cats are projected to be up nearly 30% since this time last year in the Twin Cities metro area. That’s nearly 600 bites in 2024 so far compared to 480 in all of 2023. Reasons vary, but Minneapolis Animal Care & Control Director Tony Schendel says many of these bites happen when Minneapolis residents in particular don’t abide by the City’s leash ordinance. The ordinance requires owners to properly restrain dogs at all times. A first-time offense is a $75 fine. (There is no leash law for cats in the city.)
Schendel explained that animals are more likely to feel anxious or feel the need to protect their owners while out in public. Animals don’t have to display a long history of aggression to bite someone. It can happen very quickly and without much warning. Oftentimes animals react differently in an environment they aren’t familiar with. People should keep their distance from animals they don’t know.
Schendel says bites are getting more severe, affecting large areas of the face, arms and hands. Cat bites or scratches, while not considered as severe, could still lead to more infections.
In the event of any bites, people are urged to call 911 for medical attention.
From supporting renter rights to creating healthier homes and neighborhoods, our community and City offer a wide range of renting, housing and health services. The Minneapolis departments of Regulatory Services and Health are bringing several resources to you this fall at two fairs open to everyone.
Overcome common renting issues
More than half of Minneapolis households rent their homes. We’re here to support renters and rental property owners every step of the way. Come find help with common renting issues such as renter rights, your role as a property owner, maintenance and repair issues, retaliation, and mediation between a property owner and renter.
Free vaccines and health resources
Nobody wants to miss school, vacations or the holidays with family. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and the community. Get your free COVID and flu shots at our fair.
Other health resources involve these programs: Air Quality, Green Careers, Lead and Healthy Homes, Emergency Preparedness and City Trees.
Renter rights and health resource fairs
Whether you have questions about a renting issue or are curious about health programs available through the City, all are welcome.
4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
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.
Avoid the hassle and expense of getting towed during a snow emergency this winter. Don't let the unpredictable weather catch you off guard. Sign up for Minneapolis alerts to stay ahead of the snow and know about parking rules.
Sign up for alerts today Text "MPLSAlerts" to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online to stay informed this winter.
Please take a survey on the New Nicollet redevelopment. The City plans to construct Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and Cecil Newman Lane beginning in 2025. After the road is constructed, the City will work in partnership to develop the remaining site into a high-density, mixed-use, walkable area.
The project team wants to hear from you: the people who live, work and play here. We want to hear about your priorities and desires for the site, so we can reflect that in the redevelopment.
Survey
The City recently launched Phase III of engagement to ask for input on the priorities for property uses and buildings on the New Nicollet site. Phase III engagement is now focused on gathering community input through a survey: Please take the survey in English, Spanish or Somali and share it with your networks. The survey closes at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. Visit the https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/new-nicollet/. Please reach out by email with any questions.
Leadership with the City of Minneapolis has postponed the Trans Equity Summit, originally taking place on Oct. 30. The decision comes after engaging with a broad coalition of Twin Cities area LGBTQ+ leaders, particularly those in the trans and gender non-conforming community.
The free summit will be rescheduled in the next few months as the City continues to work alongside a broad group of community leaders and the summit planning team to shape this event and ensure it is a meaningful, productive and inclusive experience for attendees.
The City will provide additional information as soon as it is available
The City of Minneapolis has selected the awardees for the 2024 Minneapolis Cultural Districts Fund. In its first year, the fund will grant 65 awards totaling $690,000 across the city’s seven cultural districts. This fund supports:
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An arts ambassador for each cultural district.
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Festivals, cultural venues and cultural spaces.
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Pop-up projects and creative activations.
The projects and arts ambassadors will showcase a vibrant tapestry of community engagement, artistic expression, and cultural celebration across the seven Minneapolis cultural districts. The districts are: Lowry Avenue North, 38th Street, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East and West Broadway.
Highlights of the funded projects include:
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Transforming train cars into mural canvases.
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Engaging community elders, stakeholders and youths to document and exhibit Native stories.
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Art workshops to empower youths through self-expression.
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Events featuring Día de los Muertos, art demos, and workshops connecting diverse residents.
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A monthly photo exhibition, iron pour, and a celebration of Native artists.
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Northside Art Crawl revitalizing the local art economy.
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Showcasing local fashion designers and artists.
The City of Minneapolis is working on replacing the system that handles requests and information about City services. We use this system when people call 311 to report things like potholes or graffiti. We have different ways for people to contact 311, such as phone, email, a mobile app, texts and the City website.
We want to get feedback from the public to help us create a new system that’s easier to use and better meets people’s needs. We’re asking you to answer a few quick questions to give us your input. This will help us build a better system that works well for the community. Please take a moment to answer these quick questions. Take the 311 survey by Nov. 15 in English, Español, Soomaaliga or Hmoob
If you want to schedule a meeting or phone call with me, reach out to Maggie Kohl via email maggie.kohl@minneapolismn.gov or leave a message at:
612-673-2204
You can also reach me directly at my email: latrisha.vetaw@minneapolismn.gov
Join us for open office hours with the council member every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ward Office, located in the historic Camden Theater building at 4205 Webber Parkway. Whether you’d like to discuss concerns, share ideas, or simply stop by to say thank you, all are welcome!
Contact Ward 4
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward4
Email: ward4@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2204
We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:
Room 100, Public Service Center
250 South 4th St.
Get directions
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
