| This section is for my newsletter readers who want the highlights. If you want to dig deeper on a specific topic, click on it in the table contents and it will take you there directly.
- I have Community Office Hours this Friday, 5/17 at 8am
- I am also hosting a community engagement session on the 3rd Precinct Comprehensive Safety Center located at 2633 Minnehaha with CM Koski, SENA, NENA on May 23 at 6pm at Nokomis Community Center. Please come and join!
- Surveys
- Community Safety Center Survey closes end of May
- 100-Day plan Minneapolis Public Schools Survey
- Share your Budget Priorities with me
- A few legislative updates
- I co-authored a legislative directive with CM Ellison to form a workgroup that will determine on how to create an environmental justice checklist to address air pollution and other environmental impacts from industrial and commercial uses.
- More in this section!
- I share updates on the 3000 Minnehaha Site (former 3rd precinct). Tell me what you think, community engagement potentially occurring in June.
- Updates and information below on construction in the area and upcoming events in the community.
Jump to what interests you in the table of contents below!
Join me for Community Office Hours!
 Come hang out and grab a coffee with me at Loons Coffee on May 17th! Send me an email and let me know if you'll be there!
NENA & SENA host a listening session on the Community Safety Center!
 Please join me and Council Member Koski at a listening session with community, hosted by NENA & SENA! We will be at the Lake Nokomis Community Center on May 23, 2024 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM! Our Office of Community Safety will be facilitating this session. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Community safety center update, online meeting May 22
Online meeting May 22
An online meeting about services in the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center will be held May 22. Everyone who lives and works in south Minneapolis is welcome, but an RSVP is required. Check the City website for information on joining the meeting.
Survey
Residents and businesses in south Minneapolis should have received their mail for postcards in late April or early May announcing a survey launching May 1. We hope to hear from everyone who works in, lives in and visits the area served by the South Minneapolis Community Safety center. Take the Survey here.
More information
See information presented to the City Council about the Lake Street Community Center.
Check out the City’s website for more information and the most up-to-date schedule:
 Last week I attended Superintendent Sayles-Adams 100-day Plan Listening Tour at Sanford Middle School. First, Thank you to all the parents, educators, and members of the MPS community that have reached out to my office in the last months in regards to public education. This was a great opportunity for community members to share what they thought was going well in MPS, what needed to be improved, and what excites them. I heard a lot of people sharing their appreciation for educators, diversity, the community feel of public schools, and the special programming. I heard a need for smaller class sizes, working to attract more students, collaborating with the union, bringing back important programming like music + STEAM, and addressing staff needs.
I highly recommend to interested community members to attend future listening tours taking place this month on May 16 and May 20. You can learn more here: https://www.mpschools.org/about-mps/administration/100-day-plan
You can take the 100-Day Plan Survey here: https://mpls.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PdC3CdNbohc01U
Additionally, I met with Superintendent Sayles-Adam to share concerns I had been hearing from parents and educators, and we also discussed ways for future partnership between the City and the School District.
I also attended the last MPS board meeting am grateful to all the community members who showed up to share their voice about the concerns of the impacts of the budget cuts. I especially, want to thank the 5th Grade Band teachers and Education Support Specialist who have reached out and spoken with me.
Budget Season starts now! I will be working on creating and sharing my 2024-2025 budget priorities with our Budget Chair, Budget Vice Chair, and Mayor this Spring and I want to hear from YOU.
Please fill out this form to share what you value and what project, issue, idea, or concern you would like to be addressed in this upcoming budget: https://forms.gle/82SiMw4sFaSHivue7
Promise Act Town Hall shared revitalization resources for small businesses!
 The South Minneapolis Promise Act Town Hall took place on Saturday May 4th, 2024, at Matthews Park!
The panel included State Senator Zaynab Mohamed 63, State Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura 63A, Ward 9 Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez, and myself, along with the Neighborhood Development Center, and MEDA(Metropolitan Economic Development Association). We were joined by about 20 community members and had the chance to highlight how the program aims to provide grants and loans to small businesses across Minneapolis, St. Paul and greater Minnesota, fostering business revitalization in our communities. I'm glad many of you were there!
  Other Legislative Updates
Council Member Ellison and I authored a Legislative Directive to develop a work group of relevant City department staff and the City Attorney's Office to work with us to research, analyze and develop environmental justice goals that would reduce air pollution and other off-site impacts that make them inappropriate in an urban environment. We are expecting a report back to council with the findings by October of this year, and I will share these findings when they are presented to council.
50 years ago on March 29th, the Minneapolis City Council passed a ordinance protecting the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people. We celebrated this with a resolution honoring the council and mayor for their groundbreaking work to ensure the safety of the LGBTQIA community of Minneapolis. Read the Honorary resolution here.
The City Council approved 16 contracts with community vendors for the 2024 Homegrown Minneapolis Community Project. These vendors were selected from a group of 44 applicants for the Homegrown Minneapolis Community Project. The Homegrown Community Projects Fund intends to provide resources for community-led projects that implement specific strategies outlined in the Minneapolis Food Vision, the 2024-2026 Minneapolis Food Action Plan and the 2023 Climate Equity Plan (with a focus on the Food, Zero Waste Circular Economy (FZW) and Green Spaces & Trees (GST) chapters)
View the legislative file listing the selected vendors.
The City Council unanimously approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Laborers Local #363. I want to take a moment to celebrate LiUNA 363 and the Minneapolis Public Works employees that fought for and won a historic 30% wage increase over the next 3 years. I am honored to have been able to stand in solidarity with LiUNA 363 during their strike and negotiations.
View the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
City Council confirms Timothy Sexton as director of City’s Public Works Department
The City Council has approved the Mayor’s nomination of Timothy Sexton to be the City’s new director of the Public Works Department. Sexton currently serves as the assistant commissioner for sustainability, planning and program management for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Sexton begins his new role with Public Works on May 6, overseeing a department with approximately 1,100 employees that build, operate and maintain the City’s public infrastructure and deliver critical services, such as solid waste and recycling collection, safe drinking water, street maintenance and emergency sewer and road repairs.
At MnDOT, Sexton leads a staff of 350 people and provides strategic direction for all modal programs (freight, rail, waterways, aeronautics, transit, walking, biking, shared mobility), research and innovation, asset management, and sustainability and public health.
Read more on the City website.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Many Minneapolis landmarks and buildings will light up green during the first week of May for Mental Health Awareness Month. If you join in by wearing green, tag us on Facebook or X and use #GoGreenMinneapolisMHAM to show your support.
Resources for mental health
Physical health benefits your mental health
Regular physical activity can lower stress, reduce symptoms of mental health conditions, and improve sleep, which further improves mental health. Remember that helpful physical activity includes stretch breaks, five-minute walks, standing and dancing.
Read more.
Applications open for new African American Heritage Work Group
 The City is recruiting members for a newly formed African American Heritage Work Group. This body will serve as an advisory board to the City Council to document and honor African American history.
The work group will advise on the selection of 25 properties associated with Black history in the city to be surveyed for inclusion in a Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context Study. At least three properties will eventually be nominated by the City for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Community members who are knowledgeable on the topic of African American heritage are encouraged to apply by May 12.
Read more on the City website.
Current and Upcoming Construction in Ward 12
42nd Street Repaving coming in 2025
Hennepin County is planning to repave 42nd Street East (County Road 42) between Cedar Avenue (County Road 152) and Minnehaha Avenue in 2025. As part of the repaving project, Hennepin County is evaluating ways to improve comfort and safety for all people traveling along the corridor. One improvement being considered is closing gaps in the existing bike lanes near Cedar Avenue and 28th Avenue. Closing the short bike gaps to improve safety would have some parking impacts on one side of the street near these intersections. The planning and design stages for the repaving are expected to wrap up by summer 2024. Implementation will occur during the 2025 construction season with short-term one-direction closures. View Hennepin County's project updates page.
Continued Storm Pipe Repair work and Outfall replacement on Nokomis Ave.
In Ericsson, on Nokomis Ave S from 45th St E to Minnehaha Creek the City continues the storm pipe repair work and an outfall replacement to Minnehaha Creek. The project is replacing over 800 feet of storm water sewer main that has deteriorated and also replacing the outfall to the Minnehaha Creek. There have been some 311 reports from neighbors on noise and vibration, which is one of the less savory but necessary parts of maintaining our public assets. You can always contact my office, or the Project Engineer with any questions. View Project information and staff contact information.
Water Main Cleaning and Lining in Morris Park and Minnehaha
Every Year, the City cleans and lines some of its water main pipes by removing rust from the pipes and installing a high quality lining. The pipes cleaned are selected based on City inspections. This project is funded by water fees, and will not result in an assessment. Neighbors will have temporary waterlines during the cleaning, and the water supply will be monitored during the project to ensure it meets our drinking water standards. View map of impacted blocks for water main lining in 2024.
Come work at the City!
It's an exciting time! A lot of organizations are rebounding from a high number of vacancies post pandemic, but here at the City, we are seeing an increase in applicants, and shrinking our unfilled positions, particularly in understaffed roles such as 911 call takers. The numbers are impressive:
- In the first quarter of 2024, the number of hires increased 26% compared to this time last year, growing from 207 to 258.
- The City saw a 101% increase in applicants for its open positions, from 5,101 to 10,250.
- Additionally, the time to fill positions has decreased from 102 to 71 days.
Take a look at the current listing of available positions at the City.
Earth Day and every day: We can all be a part of the solution
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, it has evolved into the largest civic event on the planet. Billions of people each year care for the environment and take action for a brighter future.
Here are some ways that Hennepin County is took action; let me know if any of these are actions you'd be interested in doing, and find actions you can take for Earth Day and beyond on the Hennepin County website.
- Cleaning up and protecting lakes, rivers and streams.
- Preventing trash.
- Planting and caring for trees.
- Learning and connecting.
- Getting around sustainably.
- Conserving energy and switching to renewable energy.
This year, I joined over 70 volunteers that helped collect dozens of bags of litter from around Bde Psin. It was wonderful to join so many neighbors doing their small part to take care of our land and waterways!
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Updates on 3000 Minnehaha (Former Third Precinct Building).
There is absolutely a desire to see 3000 Minnehaha restored and accessible to the public. I have said multiple times on the record that I would be supportive of any proposal that has been influenced by community engagement. We can expect the corner to be cleaned and remedied this Spring into the Summer.
The concept plan that proposes an election voter services (EVS) center, a warehouse for the EVS Center, and 30% towards a community space was brought before council did not have community engagement nor community info session, as was indicated would take place prior to council action.
I asked staff about this several times before the presentation if they could continue their work without a vote, and asked what their plan for community engagement was, and if it could precede the vote. It was confirmed to me our vote was not necessary yet we were asked to vote on the concept plan before consensus was made on the Council and Council members like me had pertinent information shared and action taken in order to take a vote. As a result, I was not able to endorse the concept plan at this meeting and the council as a whole voted no on endorsing the concept plan.
I am still fully in support of staff conducting community engagement around the proposed EVS facilities, and am looking forward to voting in support of a concept plan that has gone through the process of engaging and informing our community.
The plans for a new location for the third precinct continue to be one of my top ongoing priorities as council member. It's why I pushed for an interim Community Safety Center, and it's why I continue to push for continued and timely engagement and project management on this ongoing project. Our residents deserve to have public safety resources that can be deployed locally and reach them efficiently.
Community engagement is not just a buzzword; it's a vital component of effective public policy strategies. We cannot rebuild trust with the same tools that, in the eyes of many, have failed to secure it. Instead, we have to invest in solutions that cultivate community partnership and empowerment. the City Council wants to explore alternative viewpoints and perspectives that better address the unique needs of our communities. This is the promise I made about the new site of the third precinct; and I intend to keep my word.
I had a productive meeting this week with the project team and they have informed me that they will be having a community engagement even planned for the month of June.
Save the date: 2024 Renter Rights Resource Fair June 4
Summer is right around the corner, and the Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services is gearing up for a Renter Rights Resource Fair June 4. Renters and property owners will have the opportunity to connect with City staff and community organizations about renting questions, common issues and resources.
Urban League Twin Cities, Arrive Ministries and others will join City staff to help community members with topics including:
- Overcoming maintenance issues.
- Renter rights.
- Understanding property owner/tenant responsibilities.
- Housing resources for immigrants and refugees.
- Environmental hazards in homes.
2024 Renter Rights Resource Fair 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 Minneapolis Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S., first floor
A free meal and interpretation services will be available.
Share the event with a neighbor and stay up to date by visiting the Facebook event.
Contact Kaylee Tracy for more information or with questions. |
