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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
This week started off with a busy weekend. A new pizzeria, Tono Pizzeria, opened in the North Loop on Saturday and I stopped by to visit with Jazz, one of the owners, to wish him the best and offer any help he may need from the 3rd Ward office. Also on Saturday was the annual meeting of the Lower NE Neighborhoods Association (NE Park and Beltrami). The association is thriving with a 70% increase in attendance from last year and all board seats are filled for the first time since the merger in 2023. A big thank you to those who volunteered to step up and serve. I rely on the advice from neighborhood groups. They know best what needs the City should address and I deeply appreciate all the volunteers on the 3rd Ward neighborhood boards.
At the Budget Committee meeting on Monday we received an update that the City's revenues continue to decline. Property tax revenue is down $9 million, franchise fees are down $3 million, and license and permit fees are down $5 million. In his State of the City address on Tuesday, Mayor Frey spoke to the current downward trend in and the need to make difficult choices in the 2027 budget. I agree with the Mayor that we are in a financial crisis and must refocus our limited funds on core city services. The Mayor's address was a truthful look into what his priorities will be as we continue to experience a decline in downtown property values. Until those building values start to rise again, every renter and homeowner will have to pay more to make up the difference.
To understand what the City can do to increase building occupancy, thus increasing the value of buildings, I have taken the initiative to start two listening sessions each month with downtown building operators and tenants. Last week with the help of the Downtown Council (DTC) and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Council Members Osman, Shaffer, and myself met with tenants at 800 Nicollet to hear firsthand how the City can help with vibrancy issues. It was a very productive session with the over 30 attendees.
This week I attended another listening session with the Mayor at Capella Tower. We spent an hour taking questions and we heard two themes: public safety and high property taxes. Both the Mayor and I are committed to continuing these sessions so we can understand how we can better support the revitalization of the downtown core to lower tax costs for residents. A very big thank you to Sarah Anderson of BOMA and Adam Duininck from the DTC for their help in organizing.
- At the Council meeting this week we passed a Firearms Regulation Ordinance which we hope inspires the State Legislature as they consider new gun laws.
- The Council unanimously approved the renaming of Blaisdell Ave between Franklin and 22nd in honor of Officer Jamal Mitchell.
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
Community, City and State leaders, alongside members of the Twin Cities music and arts scene, gathered to break ground on the Community Performing Arts Center in north Minneapolis, launching construction of a new amphitheater on the Mississippi River.
Set to open in summer 2027, the 8,000-seat outdoor concert venue will bring live music and community programming to the riverfront, hosting approximately 50 ticketed shows each year from May through October. A portion of ticket revenue will be reinvested directly into the community through a partnership with the African American Community Development Corporation.
The amphitheater will be operated by the Port of Minneapolis, a collaboration between First Avenue and the Minnesota Orchestra, bringing together local expertise in live music and performance.
The amphitheater is part of the Upper Harbor, a 48-acre riverfront site being transformed by the City of Minneapolis in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and local developers.
Learn more about the Community Performing Arts Center on the City website.
The City has rolled out a new dispatch service to better connect the community with Community Safety Ambassadors in the East Lake Street and East Franklin Avenue cultural districts. Community members, business owners and visitors can now call or email dispatch to request support within the Ambassadors’ scope of services, making it easier to get timely, non-emergency help in the corridor.
Community Safety Ambassadors wear bright blue uniforms and provide a friendly, non-law-enforcement presence in the neighborhood.
Safety Ambassadors provide:
- Safety escorts
- Wellness checks in public areas
- Help filing police and 311 reports
- Connections to City resources and services
- Support for businesses
- Basic first aid such as CPR and NARCAN
The new dispatch system helps ensure requests are routed quickly and efficiently, strengthening coordination and improving access to support for people who live, work and visit the area. Safety Ambassadors provide services five days per week, typically during daylight hours.
To request an Ambassador:
Learn more about the Community Safety Ambassadors program.
Join the Minneapolis Police Department for a precinct open house during National Police Week. These community events are family friendly. Come meet the K9 team, our mounted patrol and more. At the open houses, you can talk with officers, City staff and other law enforcement personnel.
Precinct open houses
- 2nd Precinct 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, May 11 1911 Central Ave. NE
- 5th Precinct 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 3101 Nicollet Ave. S.
- 1st and 3rd Precincts 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14 330 S. 12th St.
Learn more about these precinct open house events.
Bushes, branches and tall grass that hangs into the alley are a safety hazard for our collection crews and your neighbors. It reduces visibility for driving and scratches people and vehicles. That’s why we need your help keeping brush and branches along the alley trimmed.
Check your property for these other common nuisance violations too. They can be fire hazards and attract rodents.
- Garbage, litter, junk in yards
- Piles of brush and branches
If a City inspector sees a violation, they’ll send a notice to the property owner. We typically give owners about a week to address an issue. If it’s not resolved by the due date, contractors will correct the violation, and the City will charge the owner a fee for the work.
If you receive a violation notice and have questions, call 311 and ask to leave a message for the inspector.
Read more about property maintenance on the City website.
While the City of Minneapolis does not observe “No Mow May,” you can still help pollinators by:
- Waiting until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees to rake your yard
- Setting your mower to a higher level
- Using grass seed mixes that include flowering plants such as Dutch white clover and creeping thyme
- Choosing native plants for your garden to feed pollinators all season
- Delaying yard cleanup until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees
- Using less — or no — pesticides
Everyone deserves to breathe clean air. Some neighborhoods — especially lower-income areas and communities of color — are more affected by pollution.
In 2021, the Minneapolis Health Department started the Community Air Monitoring Project. It has a network of 55 PurpleAir air sensors placed throughout Minneapolis. The sensors:
- Help us understand overall air quality in Minneapolis and how it may vary by location
- Are installed outside of homes, schools and businesses
- Report air quality in real time
The City recently purchased 80 new PurpleAir sensors and is looking for people to host them in their neighborhoods.
Learn how to host a PurpleAir sensor in your neighborhood.
Sign up to receive air quality alerts.
Join us for “From Rain to River: A Community Conversation,” a public learning and feedback event about stormwater and water quality.
Learn how stormwater affects our lakes, rivers and neighborhoods — and how we can work together to protect water quality. Talk with City staff, visit information tables, ask questions and share feedback to help improve programs and future projects.
We’ll also recognize Adopt-a-Drain and storm drain stenciling volunteers who help keep storm drains clear and protect our waterways.
Event details 5-6:30 p.m. May 19 Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE
A presentation will begin at 5:15 p.m. Volunteer recognition will begin at 5:45 p.m.
Questions? Email waterresources@minneapolismn.gov.
National Night Out is a beloved Minneapolis tradition — a chance for neighbors to connect, celebrate summer and strengthen community ties. Many blocks host cookouts, games and activities while kids enjoy playing freely in the closed street.
National Night Out takes place every year on the first Tuesday in August. This year’s National Night Out is August 4.
The event is sponsored by the City of Minneapolis and organized through the Minneapolis Police Department.
Learn more about National Night Out on the City website.
Register your block
National Night Out event registration is now open. Make a plan for your neighborhood and sign up early to receive digital flyers and information about our National Night Out Pop-Ups, where registered hosts can receive supplies for their National Night Out neighborhood events.
Register your block’s National Night Out event by July 28.
The City of Minneapolis offers free use of Aira, an app that connects people with blindness or low vision to a live agent for navigation assistance.
Aira can be used for free at:
- Minneapolis City Hall and Hennepin County Courthouse
- Public Service Center
- Public Service Building
- Nicollet Mall
- Minneapolis Convention Center
- Target Center
Aira is also available across the entire Metro Transit service area, including the METRO Blue and Green lines, and at the MSP Airport.
Learn more about using Aira across the city.
Metro Transit has shared that buses will replace METRO Blue Line trains between Target Field and Fort Snelling stations May 9-10 to allow for construction and repair work.
Replacement bus timing can vary and trips will take longer because of routing and traffic conditions. Metro Transit recommends planning extra time for your trip.
Additional dates for buses replacing trains:
- May 30-31: Blue Line, Target Field to Fort Snelling stations
- June 29-Aug. 19: Blue Line, Target Field to Mall of America stations
- June 29-July 27: Green Line, Target Field to West Bank stations
- 16-19: Green Line, Target Field to West Bank stations
Find replacement bus locations and maps on the Metro Transit website.
Stay informed about service changes and project updates by signing up for email or text alerts from Metro Transit. |
