 CM Jenkins with CM Cashman, staff and community members for the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Resolution
Hello Neighbors;
Happy Earth Day! It’s spring-ish here in our fair city. April showers bring May flowers, or so I’ve been told. Another sure sign of spring is street sweeping, which begins this week. Please pay attention to the “no parking” signs planted in the boulevards the night before, to avoid a costly ticket or possible tow. Another sign is road construction: there will be several traffic calming projects beginning this summer that will impact how we move around the ward. The following areas will be addressed.
- 1st Ave S between 42nd St E and 44th St E
- 2nd Ave S between 31st St E and 35th St E
- 3rd Ave S between 46th St E and 50th St E
- 3rd Ave S between 36th St E and 38th St E
- 39th St E between 2nd Ave S and 4th Ave S
- Stevens Ave between 31st St E and 35th St E
We are currently seeking applicants for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committees. Get more information here.
On Thursday, I was honored to present an honorary resolution declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This month and every day of the year, we must listen to, believe and support victim/ survivors. You can read the resolution here.
Last week the council passed an important ordinance, allowing for street food vendors. There are many immigrants from all over the world, who bring our city streets alive with food from various cultures. Now with this new ordinance they can apply for a license to operate legally. This change supports economic development opportunities for many who have been shut out of the traditional labor market. I look forward to trying new cultural delicacies in the very near future.
We are approaching the 5th anniversary of the murder of George Perry Floyd, Jr., there will be several observations and events throughout the city to mark the occasion. On May 3rd, you can Join George Floyd Square Memorial Caretakers! Support the regular needs of the memorial or join us on major community volunteer days. This is the annual Spring community clean-up day at George Floyd Square (E 38th Street & Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis) aimed at cleaning up the neighborhood and repainting. Find more information here.
Additionally, I will be sharing some of my perspectives through many media outlets, including NPR, MPR and The New York Times. Stay tuned.
Lastly, I want to say Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. Your unwavering commitment to Love and Peace will be forever remembered.
Love,
Andrea
The 2025 City of Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 11, at the McNamara Alumni Center. The theme for this year’s event is “Trans Equity and Intergenerational Power: Strengthening the Future by Honoring Our Past.”
The City of Minneapolis and partners are planning the all-day, free event that provides space to connect on social, legal and health issues important to the transgender community.
The summit will include breakout sessions, a job and resource fair and healing justice offerings. Space will be protected for community care and collective witnessing for trans and gender non-conforming neighbors.
Bookmark this webpage and check back for updates.
Federal land near the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam will transfer to Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, a Dakota-led organization working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to create a community space at the site. The space will feature indigenous vegetation, restored water flow, and a renewed connection to the river.
The historic transfer, which will put sacred Dakota land back into the stewardship of Dakota people, has been nearly a decade in the making and reflects years of collaboration between the City of Minneapolis, federal leaders, Owámniyomni Okhódayap, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the four Dakota tribes of Minnesota, groups, and community stakeholders.
Efforts to transfer management of the site began in 2015, when the Upper Lock was closed to maritime traffic to halt the spread of invasive carp. In 2020, Congress passed legislation ordering the transfer of the site from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the City of Minneapolis or its designee. The City chose Friends of the Falls, now Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, as its designee to transform the area into a community space that honors its Indigenous significance.
Read more about the transfer and the project on the City website.
The federal government has pulled back all of its COVID-19 funds. This means that City of Minneapolis work around vaccination clinics and immunization education is stopped. The impact on the community is substantial as we’re canceling the five free clinics in April and do not know the future of our vaccination services right now.
Impact
Decisions at the federal level are impacting lives in our community and hurting employees dedicated to making Minneapolis a healthy place to live.
In 2024, the Minneapolis Health Department partnered with community organizations to hold 87 vaccine clinics in underserved communities. The clinics provided more than 800 COVID-19 shots, more than 700 flu shots and more than 500 mpox shots.
The decision also impacts the immunization work of three Health Department employees. The City is evaluating all options. In the meantime, the three employees will remain on staff and be funded by other sources.
Read more on the City website.
The 2025 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings has started. Customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day.
You can set yard waste out in a reusable container, compostable bags (paper or certified compostable plastic), or bundled with string or twine.
See how to prepare it on the City website.
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Public Works crews will start the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program April 22 to clear away what accumulated in the streets over the winter. Drivers should watch for hot pink temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.
For approximately four weeks, sweeping crews will take care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
Find your street on the schedule
You can see when your street is scheduled to be swept by visiting the interactive street sweeping map.
Learn more about street sweeping.
 The City of Minneapolis has selected LSE Architects to design the new Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave., the former 3rd Precinct police building. The City’s community engagement efforts found 70% of respondents living within the 3rd Precinct support plans to create the Minneapolis Democracy Center.
The Minneapolis Democracy Center will include the Early Vote Center, offices for election staff, flexible space for election-related equipment and supplies, and a large ground floor space for community use.
City crews have been working on cleanup and maintenance of the site to make the building safe for workers and repairs. The City is currently working on the inside of the building, doing cleanup, replacing windows and doors, and rebuilding the front entry at Lake and Minnehaha.
The design process for the Democracy Center will begin this summer and will incorporate community input. A conceptual design presentation will be made to the City Council later in the year. The project is anticipated to move into construction in 2026.
The City of Minneapolis has a new online dashboard showing 911 emergency incidents. The dashboard’s rollout coincides with the testing of encryption on the City’s main emergency-response channels. This encryption meets requirements for Minnesota’s state data privacy regulations. Testing will continue until May 1, when the channels will be encrypted full time.
The new dashboard will be updated every 30 minutes and include the following features:
- 911 calls over the last 12 hours
- Incidents categorized into police, fire and behavioral crisis response calls
- Incidents categorized by date, agency, neighborhood or problem code
Read more about the dashboard on the City website.
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Organizations are invited to apply from April 14-May 5, 2025 through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Selected organizations will be eligible to receive work orders over the next three years to support efforts that help prevent and reduce violence while enhancing community safety. The department’s approach is grounded in the understanding that a comprehensive, citywide approach to violence prevention must use strategies that leverage the knowledge and experience of community-based organizations.
What we’re looking for
We're building a pool of experienced and trusted partners who can deliver community-driven services across one of the four priority areas:
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Hospital-based violence intervention Programs that offer support to individuals impacted by violence during and after hospital stays, including crisis intervention and long-term case management.
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Supportive services for youths and families Services that strengthen families, promote youth development, and connect youth with mentors and positive role models.
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Street engagement, community justice partnerships, and community norm change Outreach efforts that build trust, mediate conflicts, connect high-risk individuals to resources, and foster community-wide shifts in norms around violence.
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Environmental design and safety enhancements Projects that improve public spaces and promote safety through neighborhood beautification, green spaces, and other environmental changes.
Note
Responders may only apply to one category, provided they meet the specific requirements for that category. While the master contract establishes the framework for engaging selected responders, it does not guarantee work or a set total compensation.
Who can apply
Eligible responders are non-profit organizations, neighborhood organizations, cultural organizations, places of worship/faith-based organizations, and other entities registered to do business in the State of Minnesota. Government entities are not eligible.
Responders must have a history of serving people in Minneapolis for at least one (1) year and must not be listed on the Federal or State of Minnesota Debarment List. The responding organization’s leadership personnel must not have any felony convictions for committing financial fraud or similar crimes.
Why get involved
This is your opportunity to be part of a citywide strategy focused on targeted, community-led change. These services fall under the preventive category of the city's ecosystem for building safe and thriving communities. Preventive services focus on upstream programming that helps build resilience in individuals, families, and communities. While being selected does not guarantee funding, it gives your organization access to upcoming contracting opportunities based on community needs and available resources.
Important dates
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Proposals Due: May 5, 2025, by 12:00 PM
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Pre-Proposal Meeting: April 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM Learn more about the application process and ask questions directly to NSD staff. Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams.
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Question and Answer Period: April 14, 2025 through Monday April 21, 2025 at 4:00PM
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The City of Minneapolis has selected four organizations to host street fairs for the 2025 Open Streets Minneapolis season, slated to kick off Aug. 2. Mark your calendar for entertainment, music, food and more.
- Aug. 17 Cedar Avenue between 15th Avenue and Sixth Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 19th Avenue Hosted by the West Bank Business Association.
- Sept. 20 Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets Hosted by the Uptown Association.
Read more about Open Streets on the City website.
Join a work group to advise the City on its safety services. The Safe and Thriving Communities work group will also support on engagement opportunities to connect with community members. Applications are open through May 4.
The new work group will provide community feedback as the City develops its community safety ecosystem. This includes services and procedures around:
- Prevention
- Non-police response
- Restoration
- Community safety centers
We’re looking for people who have expertise or lived experience in:
- Violence prevention services
- Unarmed violence intervention services
- Restorative justice and healing services
- Criminal justice system
Learn more about qualifications, expectations and the appointment process by visiting the City's website.
 Now that Minnesota’s cannabis regulations have been approved, it won’t be long before legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries start to open across the state. Wondering where you might find one in your neighborhood?
Check out the map for zoning on cannabis dispensaries.
At a public listening session coming up May 1, a City advisory group will discuss the projects currently under review for the Minneapolis 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan. The committee invites public participation for a deeper understanding of community perspectives, to incorporate public input into their discussions with City departments, and to share information about the committee’s role in shaping the City’s long-range capital planning.
Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee Regular meeting, public listening session 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1 Sibley Park Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room 101 1900 E. 40th St.
The Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee is an advisory group for the City that provides recommendations for the its six-year Capital Improvement Plan through an annual report and project ratings system.
See the projects under review on the City website.
News of layoffs – federal workers, tech workers and others – have topped headlines recently. Unexpected job loss is tough for anyone, but there are resources to help. The Dislocated Worker program helps workers laid off through no fault of their own. This free program offers services including:
- Career planning and counseling
- Education and training support
- Help with your expenses around employment or training goals
Visit the City of Minneapolis' dislocated worker webpage or contact staff at CareerForce for help finding a new job.
 April is Youth Employment Month in Minnesota. Many young people looking for work struggle, but we can help. City of Minneapolis Employment & Training has programs and resources specifically for youths.
Minneapolis Youth Works is a year-round program for youth ages 14-24 with challenges to employment. The program provides support to finish school, get training in job skills and find or keep a job.
Visit the City’s Youth Works page for full eligibility requirements and next steps. You can also fill out the interest form to have an employment coach contact you.
Resources
The Minneapolis Employment and Opportunity Guide for Youth lists options for jobs, internships, volunteer work and more. You can also visit CareerForce in person or online.
Service guides are arriving in the mail for City Solid Waste & Recycling customers. Your guide includes a collection schedule for the year; ways you can create less trash and reuse what you already have; and a catalog of what belongs in the black garbage cart, blue recycling cart and green organics cart. The guide also has instructions for setting out large items and for managing household hazardous waste.
Find more resources for recycling and organics on the City website
 The rest of the trees for sale in the spring City Trees Sale can be ordered until April 30, while supplies last.
- Choose from shade or evergreen trees.
- Only $30 per tree.
- Order up to three trees per planting address.
- Trees must be planted on private property, not on the boulevard (area between street and sidewalk) or City right of way.
Order your trees today.
Save money and help the environment by reducing food waste at home. An average family of four spends more than $2,500 a year on food they don’t end up eating. The biggest thing you can do to prevent wasted food is to buy food you’ll eat and eat what you buy.
Tips to save food
- Use the fridge check guide (PDF) to identify the foods you toss most and why.
- Plan weekly meals.
- Create an “eat this first” section in the fridge.
- Eat food before it goes bad.
- Only buy what you need.
- Take restaurant leftovers home, and eat them for lunch the next day.
- Compost food scraps.
Find resources and learn more to prevent wasting food.
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 When cleaning out your storage this spring, hang on to unused yard tools and gardening items. Bring unwanted tools to an upcoming garden tool swap. You can bring or take – or both. Or you can drop off your tools at the Brian Coyle Center by May 16.
- Saturday, May 3: north, northeast and southeast Minneapolis
- Saturday, May 10: south and southwest Minneapolis
- Friday, May 16: central Minneapolis
The times and additional activities vary by location. Find times, locations and instructions for this year’s garden tool swaps on the City website.
 Hennepin County is hosting three events near Minneapolis in 2025 for county residents to safely dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes.
Bring unwanted paints, stains, varnish, aerosol cans, gasoline, antifreeze, batteries (put tape over the ends), pesticides and more to an upcoming event.
Mark your calendar for events happening near Minneapolis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday May 2-3, June 27-28 and Aug. 8-9.
Learn more about what's accepted, safety guidelines and event locations.
Minneapolis is finding ways to make your neighborhood streets safer and reduce risky driving. We’ve identified several areas for traffic calming treatments to be implemented this year. Learn about the 2025 projects and please give us your feedback through our upcoming open houses, online interactive feedback map and survey.
Learn more about the traffic calming project and ways you can get involved on the City website.
 Natchez Beaulieu (left), Daniela Bianchini (upper middle), Pablo Kalaka (bottom middle) and Greta McLain (right)
As part of the Hiawatha-Lake intersection redesign, the City of Minneapolis is working with artists Natchez Beaulieu, Daniela Bianchini, Pablo Kalaka and Greta McLain. They will collaborate with the community to design and fabricate a 5,200-square-foot mural on the north and south walls of the underpass. The intersection and the highway underpass are being redesigned to create an area that’s safer and more comfortable for pedestrians.
All four artists are Southsiders with a deep commitment to Minneapolis. They’ll combine community engagement activities, community painting techniques and community mosaic-making to create a work for this area. Their vision is a mural that will uplift the intersection at Hiawatha and Lake into a symbol of community resilience, unity and pride.
To participate in this spring’s community engagement and design activities, contact Kirstin Wiegmann.
Come to the Minneapolis Music Summit for a day of community-building, celebrating and imagining the future of Minneapolis music. Whether you’re a musician or a promoter, working in management, recording, venues, studios or policy, and whatever your genre, you’re invited. This event is free.
Connect to resources, give feedback on policy ideas, and be a part of the conversation.
Minneapolis Music Summit 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 10 Green Room, 2923 Girard Ave. S.
The Minneapolis Music Summit is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis and Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance.
Please RSVP, and watch the City website for updates.
 The City of Minneapolis is finishing up renovations to City Hall that improve accessibility and update workspaces while preserving the 130-year-old historic building. City offices have begun to return with the Office of Mayor moving to Room 330, City Hall, last month.
The construction updated heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems. The third floor now features a new formal media room and more natural light, as the process uncovered many windows.
Meetings that use the Council Chamber will move back to City Hall over the next few months. For locations, check the meeting’s agenda. As departments move back to City Hall, find their locations in the contact section of each department’s webpage.
Read more building updates on the City website. |
