As your elected representative, it is imperative that I represent my constituents in requesting changes to the budget that best reflect your needs. Overwhelmingly, the biggest concern I’ve heard from constituents about the budget is the resulting increase in property taxes for many residents. The frustrating truth is that even if the City had zero increase in spending, many residents would see an increase in their own property taxes. Due to the rapidly increasing property values in the 13th Ward, we’re seeing a larger portion of property taxy levy distributed to the 13th Ward in comparison to other areas of the city where property values have not kept the same pace.

Over three-quarters of the proposed increase simply covers inflation and debt obligations. This is a big change as the three most recent budgets have all been held below inflation, often resulting in cuts to staff and services. While I do think it's important to accept the inflationary and debt-payback portions of the increase, I am proposing specific strategies to my colleagues to lower the total levy increase. I believe that the City should focus on enhancing core services, such as public safety and public works. (Additionally, our parks system is incredibly important and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's own levy proposal factors into my decision making here.) My proposal prioritizes basic services and lowers the proposed levy increase in appropriate ways. While I support additional safety staffing, I am looking to ensure there’s a plan to reach those target numbers (for police and firefighters). We languished this summer with our numbers of sworn police officers in the mid-770s for headcount, and yet the 2014 budget was funded at 850 officers. When the MPD is shorthanded, it’s our community officers that are the first to get re-assigned.

At the same time, many neighbors have written or called my office to urge additional funding for the arts and affordable housing. Those issues are both very important to me, and I'd like to comment briefly on each. In terms of funding for the arts, the Mayor has proposed re-distributing funds for public art on a one-time basis as there are still adequate funds available from previous years. I support her decision. The key to public arts funding is a long-term approach, as public art is important, but expensive. I support a plan that solicits, plans for and makes decisions on ideas, rather than on arbitrary dollar amounts. I plan to support proposals that come forward with this approach so that arts is a permanent part of our city's future.

In regards to affordable housing, dozens of residents have written my office urging $20 million in funding for stable and affordable housing. I share the concerns and hopes of those who have taken the time to write me. I have also heard from just as many residents who are attempting to age in place, even though their property values are rising exponentially and they are struggling to make ends meet on a fixed income. I will work with my colleagues to employ any and all tools the City has available that will help those in need of affordable housing, while trying to decrease the total dollar amount of the levy at the same time.

In addition to the public hearing held at City Hall last week, I (along with Council Members Quincy and Glidden) hosted the Mayor for a recent public meeting at Mayflower Church a couple weeks ago. We have one final public hearing on the budget, immediately prior to budget adoption. Your feedback at the hearing (or beforehand in writing) is welcomed and appreciated.

Public Hearing on the Budget
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014
6:05 p.m.
City Hall (350 S. 5th St.), Room 317

Stay in the Know on Snow

At my office’s request, we’ve added an additional snow emergency route to the 13th Ward this year: W. 43rd St. from Xerxes Ave. to Linden Hills Blvd. In this busy commercial corridor, this will help to ensure that the street is cleared much quicker both for shoppers and diners, as well as the residents who rely on on-street parking. Our plowing crews have historically had a very difficult time plowing these streets curb to curb because of the high customer traffic and the quick turnaround of the vehicles parked there. Making this a snow emergency route will meet that the street is plowed overnight on Day 1 of the Snow Emergency.

Snow Emergencies are declared whenever there’s enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. To get that done, people need to follow the parking rules and move their vehicles so crews can plow the full width of the street. When the snow flies, City Public Works crews have enormous jobs to do, with more than 1,500 miles of streets, parkways and alleys that need to be cleared. It’s important for drivers to follow the Snow Emergency parking rules so plows can do the best job possible clearing snow. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of Snow Emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.

There are a number of ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared and what to do when they are. Put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways you use to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared you will be, and the less likely you will be to be towed because you didn’t know one was declared.

• Hotline - By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared. If a Snow Emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
• The City’s website - Go to www.minneapolismn.gov/snow to find out whether a Snow Emergency has been declared and for a wealth of information on Snow Emergencies in many languages. Also, check out the street lookup, which lets you put in an address or a neighborhood to see where you can park during a Snow Emergency.
• Phone alerts - Minneapolis uses a phone alert system to notify residents when Snow Emergencies are declared. It is an automated notification system that can place thousands of calls per hour. You can add your cellphone or unlisted landline number to the alert system by signing up at www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.
• Email alerts - You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed to you. Go to www.minneapolismn.gov/snow/snow_esubscribe for more details.
• Facebook – Like Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.

New Sidewalk Clearing Procedures in Place

Effective this winter, a snow removal pilot project will be in place city-wide. The new process will use a contractor to clear sidewalk snow and ice, resulting in tighter timelines between when an icy or unshoveled sidewalk is reported and when a work order for the sidewalk to be cleared is completed.

Remember that Minneapolis ordinance requires that property owners clear sidewalks after the end of a snowfall within 24 hours for homes and duplexes. Shovel the sidewalks on all sides of your property, the full width of the sidewalk down to the bare pavement. After the sidewalk is cleared, sprinkling a little sand can help prevent slipping on frosty sidewalks. Pile snow into your yard and boulevard. It’s against the law to shovel snow into streets and alleys. If you have a corner property, clear curb cuts at corners and crosswalks to the street gutter.  You are not required to clear snow ridges or piles left by the plows beyond the gutter.  City crews will make an effort to return to do this work as quickly as possible, but with some 20,000 corners to clear across the City, it may take a while.  However, your neighbors would appreciate it if you could clear an opening sooner to help shorten the wait and provide a clear passage.

As always, the most effective and efficient way to report sidewalks that have not been shoveled is by using 311. You can call, or report it via the easy online tool.

Winter Markets

Just because the snow has come does not mean that you can’t find fresh, local vegetables in the neighborhood. Linden Hills Farmers Market is hosting weekly markets at Sunnyside Gardens through December, while Fulton Farmers Market has teamed with Kingfield Farmers Market to host monthly winter markets at Bachman’s on Lyndale beginning in January. This is a great opportunity to support the local vendors that we all rely on during the summer months!

Find out more details at the Linden Hills Farmers Market and Fulton Farmers Market websites.