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3/24/2025
Dear Ward 6 neighbors,
I am deeply disappointed by Mayor Frey's administration's decision to discontinue the Violence Interrupters services in the Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park area. This program has consistently demonstrated its value, playing a crucial role in reducing violence, de-escalating conflicts, and fostering trust within our community.
By choosing to eliminate these services, the administration is not only disregarding the evidence of their success but also abandoning the very community that has benefitted from their presence. The proactive approach of the Violence Interrupters has proven effective in preventing violence before it occurs, saving lives and strengthening relationships among neighbors, local organizations, and public safety agencies. The absence of this essential program will create a void in safety and support, leaving our community more vulnerable.
Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park deserve ongoing access to Violence Interrupter services that ensure the safety of our neighborhoods. The decision to eliminate these services overlooks the voices of our residents, the compelling data that underscores their effectiveness, and the fundamental principle that communities should have a say in their own safety. Our city leaders cannot genuinely prioritize public safety while simultaneously dismantling programs that work to prevent violence.
I remain committed to advocating for the funding and support needed for these vital programs in the Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park area.
Sincerely,
CM Osman
Franklin Ave Construction (2025-00101)
The Franklin Avenue Reconstruction Project will rebuild approximately 1.2 miles of Franklin Avenue, from Lyndale Avenue South to Chicago Avenue. Approved by the City Council on April 11, 2024, this project is led by Hennepin County in coordination with the City of Minneapolis.
The reconstruction is necessary due to the deteriorating condition of the roadway and will transform the existing four-lane undivided street into a three-lane design that includes a center turn lane and medians at key locations. The project will also improve pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure by removing sidewalk obstructions, adding pedestrian space at transit stops, and constructing protected bike lanes. Additionally, boulevards with trees and green stormwater infrastructure will be incorporated to enhance the corridor’s environmental and aesthetic quality. Parking along Franklin Avenue will be removed as part of the redesign.
Throughout the planning process, the project team has coordinated with various partners, including Metro Transit, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and other related infrastructure projects. These include Hennepin County’s Lyndale Avenue reconstruction, the Park and Portland Avenue bikeway project, and the City of Minneapolis’ First Avenue South reconstruction. By aligning with these efforts, the Franklin Avenue project aims to create a more cohesive and accessible transportation network.
This week, the City Council took several important legislative actions related to the project. One of the key decisions was the approval of special assessments to help fund the reconstruction. The total assessment amount for the project is $1,252,652. Property owners within the affected area will be assessed based on the 2025 Uniform Assessment Rates, with non-residential properties being charged $2.98 per square foot and residential properties being charged $1.00 per square foot. Assessments exceeding $150 will be collected through real estate tax statements beginning in 2027, with interest applied at a rate determined by the Finance Department. Smaller assessments of $150 or less will be collected in full on the 2027 tax statements. Property owners have the option to prepay their assessments in full without interest. Additionally, homeowners who are 65 years or older or those with a permanent and total disability may qualify for a deferment due to financial hardship.
In addition to approving the special assessments, the City Council also passed a resolution requesting the Board of Estimate and Taxation to authorize the issuance of $1,252,652 in assessment bonds to help finance the project. Another significant action taken by the Council was the approval of a resolution ordering the abandonment and removal of conflicting areaways located in the public right-of-way. Under Section 95.90 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, property owners are responsible for resolving areaway conflicts that interfere with public infrastructure projects. If they fail to do so, the city has the authority to remove the obstructions and later assess the costs to the affected properties. A public hearing will be scheduled to address these removals, allowing property owners to provide input before any assessments are finalized.
With these approvals, the Franklin Avenue Reconstruction Project continues to move forward. The improvements planned for this corridor will enhance safety, accessibility, and sustainability, creating a better experience for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers. More information about the project, including updates on construction timelines and public engagement opportunities, can be found on the City of Minneapolis website.
The City is looking for community input before advancing a development group for Peoples’ Way to the mayor and City Council for approval. Please take a survey by March 28 to share your feedback.
Redeveloping the Peoples’ Way site for community use is a part of the City’s effort to work with community on a new vision for George Floyd Square. Years of feedback from community members has informed a shared vision for the area.
Read more about Peoples’ Way on the City website and take the survey by March 28. You can also see presentation materials and video recordings from a Feb. 26 event with four applicants to redevelop the site.
 The City of Minneapolis is moving forward with a plan to create the Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave., the former 3rd Precinct police building. The Minneapolis Democracy Center will house Elections & Voter Services as well as a large, ground-floor space for community use.
Progress on cleanup
City crews are cleaning up the site. Fences are now off the sidewalk, and the razor wire is gone. Cleanup inside the building includes selective demolition before a complete building renovation. More work will include building systems updates, replacing windows and doors, and rebuilding the front entry at Lake and Minnehaha. Work will continue through the summer.
Read more on the City website.
The Vibrant Storefronts pilot program is expanding to offer rental support for artist spaces in new parts of Loring Park, Downtown and Uptown. Bringing property owners and artists together ensures stable tenants for the owners and furnishes space for the local creative community.
The first three awardees from November have opened their doors in the Harmon Place Historic District: Black Business Enterprises, Blackbird Revolt and Pride Cultural Arts Center. The two remaining awardees will open this spring. The Vibrant Storefronts pilot is a part of Minneapolis 2040.
Applications opened March 14. The City will hold site visits April 11, 12 and 19. Interested artists can learn more and apply by May 16 on the City website.
 National Night Out is a time for City residents to come together and celebrate with neighbors. Many blocks in Minneapolis take this opportunity to reconnect, eat and build relationships while kids play and bike freely in the closed street.
Registration is now open and is free. Pro tips:
- Include neighbors in your organizing efforts.
- Register only one event per block (appoint one neighbor to register).
- Consider whether you want your street blocked off to traffic.
- Checking the box for 75% approval is fine if you plan to notify every household of the event.
- Call 311 to request a firetruck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.
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Contact a City crime prevention specialist with questions.
Registration closes July 29. Read more about National Night Out and register your block’s event on the City website.
March is Explore Construction Employment month in Minnesota. This industry offers good wages and career advancement. Registered apprenticeship is a common path to a job in construction. The City is a partner in a new resource on apprenticeships, the Apprenticeship Outreach Office. The office is a valuable resource for anyone looking to start their careers and earn while they learn.
Construction companies hire the most apprentices in Minnesota. Apprenticeships are also growing in other industries.
The Minneapolis Apprenticeship Outreach Office is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Apprenticeship 101 workshops are held monthly at the CareerForce Minneapolis North. If you have questions, please contact Navigator Harrell Mathieu or call 612-494-8755.
City staff and elected officials met with other cities’ leaders and with our congressional delegation at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference. At the conference, city leaders discussed shared goals for working with the federal government, heard from key Washington leaders, and solidified ways to work together better.
City Intergovernmental Relations staff and five City Council members met with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith, and Rep. Ilhan Omar to thank them for their work and to discuss Minneapolis’ needs and concerns. The work our congressional delegation members do on behalf of Minneapolis includes supporting grant applications for important infrastructure projects, securing congressionally directed spending for City projects, and protecting important federal funding. That funding supports the City and residents with affordable housing, homelessness response, emergency management, public safety and transportation.
The City will continue to engage with members of the congressional delegation throughout the year as we face uncertainty in Washington.
You can find out more about the City Intergovernmental Relations team’s work at both the state and federal levels on the City website.
Minneapolis is making history by becoming the first city in North America to own and operate a biochar facility. The City will process wood waste from Xcel Energy’s tree trimming around power lines. The facility will transform the wood waste into biochar, a specialized charcoal that holds onto carbon dioxide. This helps clean the air while also serving as an extremely powerful soil amendment for growing plants and trees.
Read more about the plan for biochar on the City website.
 The City of Minneapolis has launched an initiative aiming to move the Minneapolis community toward a future grounded in racial equity and justice by harnessing the power of conversations to heal racial divisions. "Minneapolis Your Story,” a partnership with independent nonprofit StoryCorps Studios, will create an archive of community-centered stories focused on racial healing.
Now through May, people can record their perspectives in their own words and archive them as part of this special partnership. The community archive will include stories about the history of racial discrimination and injustice in Minneapolis, George Floyd’s murder, the civil unrest that followed, and the ongoing efforts to reform the Minneapolis Police Department.
The City will then host a community listening session to hear selected recordings.
Read more about StoryCorps and share your story on the City website.
Join us in our City’s annual celebration of National Public Health Week honoring our local public health heroes. The City will host a resource fair and Local Public Health Heroes Awards ceremony on April 9. This year’s theme is Building Bridges to Create Healthier Communities. This event is free and open to the public.
Local Public Health Heroes April 9 11 a.m.: Resource fair Noon: Award ceremony Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 100
A free lunch will be served.
Nominate a local public health hero
The work community members do in public health is essential to building healthier communities in our city. To honor those who do this important work, we give Local Public Health Hero Awards to individuals, teams/collaborations and organizations.
Nominate a Local Public Health Hero by 5 p.m. March 19.
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