Doors Open Minneapolis and France Ave Closure (and Opening!)

Council Member Linea Palmisano

13th Ward News from Council Member Linea Palmisano

May 15, 2025

house of balls

Doors Open Minneapolis House of Balls (left) and Fire Station #1 (right).

Dear Neighbor,

Doors Open Minneapolis will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. This annual event invites the public to several locations throughout the city where all the magic happens. I'm personally excited about the House of Balls and I think Fire Station #1 is the best in all the land. I've even personally slid down the fire pole! 

Click here for the list of venues and hours.

This event will mark the first public tour of City Hall since recent upgrades were completed. 

And don't miss some special places in the 13th Ward like the Bakken Museum, Lakewood Cemetery, the Theodore Wirth Home, and the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line - George Isaacs Carbarn.

Yours in Service,

Linea signature


Improving Emergency Response

Some of you have been reading the news about local agencies working proactively to make certain we are coordinated in emergency management for any potential headlines these coming weeks from President Donald Trump  intervening in Derek Chauvin’s federal conviction for the murder of George Floyd and other matters around this 5-year anniversary of this murder. While Mr. Chauvin would still need to serve out the rest of his state conviction if this were to occur, it can be upsetting to many of us that have been through every part of this injustice, the destruction in our city, and the trial that put him in federal prison. We still do not have any formal notice or any future knowledge about if or how President Trump might turn his attention and executive power to Minneapolis on this matter.

I want you to know that our city has worked very hard since the unrest in 2020 to establish and fortify our plans and coordination as a city for unplanned events and emergency management from things like bad weather to any other potential disruption in our environment. For example, a few weeks ago, the threat of a potential severe storm (that moved to the south of the Twin Cities) actually had many city departments preparing differently than I have seen in my entire time in this role, in a new way- and it is impressive. We embarked on a path after 2020 to overhaul our coordination and ramp up our standards for National Incident Management Systems and response (commonly referred to as NIMS protocol).

Part of any good emergency response is about effectively communicating with you as residents of our city. To that end, there is something YOU can do to help! Please be sure to sign up for our new Smart911 notification system so we can send important information to residents during an emergency. Please see the instructions for how to sign up below.


Sign-up for Emergency Alerts

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The City uses Smart911 to send important information to residents during an emergency.

How you can get alerts

You can choose to receive Smart911 alerts by:

  • Text messages
  • Emails
  • Phone calls
  • Push notifications in the Smart911 mobile app
  • Wireless emergency alerts*

*Wireless emergency alerts come through the nationwide Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

Alert topics

The City of Minneapolis will use Smart911 to send alerts on many topics, including:

  • Snow emergencies
  • Severe weather
  • Public safety incidents
  • Major infrastructure issues
  • Major special event impacts

To subscribe, text MPLSAlerts to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online.


France Avenue Opening at West 60th Street and Closing (One Day Only!) at West 49th Street

electronic road sign

Construction for the Metro E Line station at France Avenue South and West 62nd Street is ahead of schedule! Northbound traffic between West 60th and West 66th Streets has already reopened. Traffic in ALL directions is expected to be open by Friday, May 16.

France Avenue between Market Street and West 49th Street is expected to close May 21 or 22 (weather dependent). It will be closed for approximately 8-12 hours (7 a.m.-7 p.m.) This is the first of six expected one-day closures necessary for construction of a new apartment building.


Warning for Contractors!

construction truck

Please remind any workers or service people that might come to your home to lock the doors to their vehicles. We have many recent reports of trucks, vehicles and trailers belonging to contractors working at commercial or residential properties being robbed. Everything from lunchboxes, to wallets, tools, and even weapons were stolen. Active investigations by police are underway and most of these incidents are related. These thefts happen very quickly, even if they are only going to be inside "for a minute". And if you have a contractor who has been a victim of theft, please make sure they file a police report. It is helpful to know all incidents for investigative purposes and MPD resource deployment.


Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 16

Bike to Work logo

The City of Minneapolis will celebrate Bike To Work Day Friday, May 16. 

Join us for a group ride into downtown

Four group rides to downtown will meet up at 7:30 a.m. across the city. I'll be kicking off the ride from Lyndale Farmstead Park. Meet at:

  • Farview Park (intersection of Lyndale Avenue and 26th Avenue North)
  • Great Northern Greenway (intersection of Fifth Street and 18th Avenue Northeast)
  • 38th Street Station (intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and East 38th Street)
  • Lyndale Farmstead Park (intersection of Bryant Avenue South and West 40th Street)

Group rides will end at Government Center Plaza where you can join enjoy free coffee, donuts and more.

7-9 a.m. Friday, May 16 Hennepin County Government Center Plaza

Read more about bicycling in Minneapolis on the City website.


May 27: 13th Ward Neighborhood Safety Walk

05.27 -

Join me for the next 13th Ward Neighborhood Safety Walk around Lake Harriet where lights are out due to copper wire theft. This walk spans four different neighborhoods and will take about 60 minutes. 

13th Ward Neighborhood Safety Walk
Lake Harriet Parkway | Meet at Bandshell
Tuesday, May 27 | 7:00-8:30 PM


MPD Resources

Minneapolis Crime Data Dashboard:
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/government-data/datasource/crime-dashboard/

Minneapolis Crime Locations Map: 
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/police-public-safety/crime-maps-dashboards/crime-locations-map/
Hover or click on the icons to learn more. 

Crime Tips & Sign up for Crime Alerts:
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/prevent-prepare/crime-prevention/

General Public Safety Links:
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/

Meet with Council Member Palmisano

One of the best parts of my job is getting to meet with my constituents, learn more about you and hear your questions, concerns, hopes and dreams for our shared community. 

If you'd like to schedule a time to meet with me, send me an e-mail and my staff will help get it scheduled. Please let me know what you'd like to talk about and a convenient place to meet—a coffee shop, a park, your home, my office, etc. I try to reserve Fridays for constituent meetings, but can work them in other times, as necessary, too.

Contact the 13th Ward Office

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 formats 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.

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