Happy Spring Ward 5!

As we welcome the arrival of spring, we also welcome a new season of growth, renewal, and positive change in our community.

This newsletter is here to keep you informed with important updates, resources, and opportunities to stay connected. As many of us begin our spring cleaning, out with the old and in with the new, we’re also encouraging everyone to take part in keeping our Ward clean, safe, and thriving.

Thank you to all of our constituents who continue to call, share your voices, and engage in open, honest conversations about solutions for our ward. Your input matters more than you know, and it plays a vital role in shaping the work we do every day. Please continue to reach out and stay engaged.

The Ward 5 office is open, and we look forward to hearing from you and having those important conversations. My staff and I understand that with big decisions come big feelings. We want to extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to connect with us on a deeper level to better understand how and why decisions are being made.

Together, we can continue building a community that stays clean, connected, and moving forward.

Wishing you a fresh and energized start to the season!

Urban League Twin Cities Open House

Group photo of Council member Warren with community and staff at the Urban League Twin Cities Open House

I recently had the honor of attending the open house at the Urban League Twin Cities. It was an inspiring experience to see firsthand the impactful work being done to support our community.

I encourage any residents who are looking for resources, support, and opportunities to connect to utilize Urban League Twin Cities—they are truly here to serve.

photo of community gathering at the Urban League Twin Cities Open House

Their services support individuals and families at every stage of life, including:

• Workforce & Employment Support: Job training, career placement, and pathways into high-demand careers like construction and skilled trades 
• Financial & Housing Support: Credit building, financial coaching, and homeownership counseling to help families build long-term wealth 
• Youth & Education Programs: College and career readiness programs, mentorship, and life skills support for young people 
• Family & Caregiver Support: Resources for families, including support for relatives caring for children and help accessing basic needs 
• Community Engagement & Advocacy: Opportunities to get involved, attend community events, and help shape policies that impact our neighborhoods 

From employment to education, housing, and advocacy, their work is centered on helping our community build stability, opportunity, and generational success. If you or someone you know is in need of support, I strongly encourage you to connect with them, they are a powerful resource right here in our community.

Proper garbage disposal and drop-off sites in Minneapolis

Keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe starts with all of us. The City of Minneapolis provides designated drop-off sites for items that don’t fit in your regular trash, but there are important rules to follow.:

Dumping Vouchers Required 

Minneapolis homeowners receive **6 free disposal vouchers each year** to use at City drop-off sites. These vouchers help cover the cost of disposing of large or bulky items. Be sure to bring your voucher(s) with you when visiting a site.

Who Can Use Drop-Off Sites?

Minneapolis homeowners receive 6 free disposal vouchers each year  to use at City drop-off sites. These vouchers help cover the cost of disposing of large or bulky items. Be sure to bring your voucher(s) with you when visiting a site.

What You  CAN Drop Off:

• Household garbage and bulky items
• Furniture (mattresses, couches, tables)
• Electronics (TVs, computers, small devices)
• Appliances (fees may apply for some items)
• Yard waste (leaves, brush, grass clippings)
• Scrap metal and recyclables

What You CANNOT Drop off:

•  Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, gasoline)
•  Medical waste (needles or biohazards)
•  Explosives or flammable materials
•  Commercial/business waste
•  Large amounts of construction debris

Drop Off Locations:

South Transfer Station

2850 20th Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55407

 (612) 673-2917

Important Reminders:

•  Bring your vouchers and ID
•  Follow posted hours and site rules
•  Separate materials as directed
•  Some items may require additional fees

For full details, including hours and accepted materials, please visit:

👉 City of Minneapolis Garbage Drop Off Site

When we dispose of waste properly, we keep Ward 5 clean, safe, and strong. Thank you for doing your part!

Neighborhood traffic calming projects

Through the Neighborhood Traffic Calming program, Minneapolis Public Works is finding ways to make your neighborhood streets safer and reduce risky driving. We have identified several areas for traffic calming projects in 2026.

We want to hear your concerns about traffic safety near the projects. You can provide feedback in several ways.

Tell us about traffic safety concerns in your neighborhood

Use the project feedback map to tell us about safety concerns you experience near the projects.

Complete a short survey by May 1 to share more of your thoughts.

Attend a neighborhood open house

Attend an open house to learn about specific projects in your neighborhood and provide feedback to staff.

• North open house #1
  • April 7 from 5-6:30 p.m. Folwell Recreation Center, 1615 N. Dowling Ave.
• East Central open house
  • April 9 from 5-6:30 p.m. Powderhorn Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave. S.
• South open house
  • April 14 from 5-6:30 p.m. Pearl Recreation Center, 414 E. Diamond Lake Rd
• North open house #2
  • April 15 from 5-6:30 p.m. North Commons Recreation Center, 1801 N. James Ave.
• South/Uptown open house
  • April 21 from 5-6:30 p.m. Whittier Recreation Center, 425 W. 26th St.
• Northeast open house
  • April 22 from 5-6:30 p.m. Van Cleve Recreation Center, 901 15th Ave. SE

North Commons Park construction update

Construction workers overlooking a constuction site where work is actively being done.

Construction is 40 percent complete!

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is making a historic investment to expand and transform facilities at North Commons Park. When completed, the park's northeast corner will include a new three-gym fieldhouse, lobby and renovated community center, as well as a new waterpark.

Updates

• Structural steel over the field house and the aquatics wing is in place, and steel roof decking will be complete by the end of April.  
• Exterior siding installation is in progress around the field house and will continue through early summer.

What’s Next in April

• Installation of glu-laminated wood beams (salvaged from the old pool house and newly fabricated) over the facility’s lobby.
• Metal stud framing on the building’s interior and exterior.
• Work by additional contractors begins inside the building as it is enclosed.

Things to Note

• The North Commons Park project remains MPRB’s top priority for the 2026 Minnesota bonding bill. Additional funding from the State of Minnesota is critical to the completion of this project.
• North Commons Community Center is open!  
• Check out current and upcoming programs.
• Regular school-year hours are Monday-Friday 3-8 pm, Saturday 12-5 pm (closed Sunday).

African Heritage Day on the Hill

Our community continues to hear the same message: our young people, especially Black boys and young men need more safe spaces to gather, connect, and feel supported beyond home and school. and places like parks and community spaces, are essential to building belonging and opportunity.

That’s why I encourage  you to show up and support African Heritage Day on the Hill, a powerful day of advocacy, connection, and community.

African Heritage Day on the Hill Flyer with event details

Event Details:
Friday, April 24, 2026

• 9:00 AM – Youth Summit
  Radisson Hotel, Downtown St. Paul
  (Registration required: outreach.cmah@state.mn.us)
• 1:00 PM – Day on the Hill Program
  Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda

During this legislative session, a critical bonding bill is in play to help complete public funding for North Commons Park. While the Minneapolis Parks Foundation is leading the private fundraising effort, public investment is just as essential to bringing this vision to life.

That’s why we encourage you to show up and support African Heritage Day on the Hill, a powerful opportunity to advocate for resources that strengthen spaces like North Commons and communities like ours.

Building a stronger community safety system for the future

Last week, the Minneapolis City Council voted to send the financing and property purchase for the proposed Community Safety Training and Wellness Center back to City staff for further review.

The center is a long-term commitment for our community safety professionals who serve daily, helping ensure safer responses and improved coordination during emergencies. Current facilities are outdated, leased or not designed to meet modern training, coordination and wellness needs. Facilities are spread across Minneapolis, making coordinated, cross-department training more difficult.

The new center is more than just a police training facility; it will include adaptable spaces equipped with modern technology to support safety and wellness work. This investment will benefit all community safety professionals by enhancing training and wellness for first responders, ultimately improving service for residents.

The City will use this additional time to continue developing this important project, which has been in the planning stage for over five years.

Read more from Office of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette.

Yard waste collection begins April 6

Yard waste season begins the week of April 6. During yard waste season, we pick up yard waste every week on your garbage pickup day. There is no extra charge for us to collect properly prepared yard waste.

We accept leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. You should prepare yard waste and set it at your alley or curb next to your garbage cart by 6 a.m. on your garbage pickup day.

You can set yard waste out in reusable containers, compostable bags (paper or BPI certified compostable plastic) or bundles secured with string or twine.

Learn how to prepare your yard waste for pickup.

City releases plan for $7 million aid to support businesses after Operation Metro Surge

The Minneapolis City Council voted to move forward with a plan to help small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

The $7 million Small Business Resiliency Fund was approved by Mayor Jacob Frey and the City Council in February and outlined by the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department on March 24. It will provide license fee relief, support for events and activations in commercial areas, cultural market grants and more, all in an effort to recover from the $81 million in restaurant and small business losses as a result of the federal immigration enforcement earlier this year.

CPED staff designed the fund to get money out to businesses quickly and without too many hurdles. By City estimates, the Surge cost Minneapolis businesses $81 million in lost revenue as many temporarily closed to avoid further impact.

The resiliency fund is divided into two categories: direct financial relief, and activation and marketing support, both aimed at stabilizing small businesses and driving customers back to commercial corridors.

Learn more about the Small Business Resiliency Fund.

City Trees program celebrates 20 years of providing low cost trees

The City of Minneapolis is celebrating 20 years of growing the city’s tree canopy with our annual City Trees Sale. Trees are vitally important, offering environmental, economic and social-emotional benefits to the community.

Sign up for the Public Health Matters newsletter to get updates about the City Trees program.

Free trees for Green Zone residents

City Trees offers free trees for residents living in Green Zones. The City and its partner, Tree Trust, will help you select and plant your tree. You can apply for a tree any time during the year. To quality, you must:

• Live in a Green Zone
• Have enough green space for the tree(s)
• Commit to watering the tree every week for the first three years

If you qualify, visit Trees for Green Zone Residents to request free trees.

City Trees for businesses

Minneapolis businesses, nonprofit organizations and apartment buildings with five or more units can purchase trees for their property for $30 each. The City partners with Tree Trust to provide these low-cost trees and professionally plant them for businesses.

Visit Trees for Businesses to order $30 trees for your commercial property or nonprofit organization.

Beware of phishing scams about permits

Minneapolis City leaders are warning residents about the latest scam targeting permit and zoning applicants. Scammers are asking people and businesses with active land-use permits or zoning applications to pay bogus fees to complete the process.

While planning officials are not aware of anyone in Minneapolis who has fallen victim to the scam, they still urge extreme caution when receiving emails like these.

Scam details

Scammers pose as City or county planning and zoning officials. Information includes:

• An email with fake invoices associated with land use or zoning applications
• Instructions to pay fees right away or face delays or cancellations in the process
• Formatting and imagery that are closely consistent with City or county branding and processes
• Emails from similar City or county usernames but use an @usa.com naming convention or something similar
• Correspondence usually timed to coincide with ongoing, legitimate milestones in the permit process, like a hearing or committee approval

City process and reporting scams

Any legitimate City email correspondence will come from an official @minneapolismn.gov address. The City will never ask for payment via PayPal or other wire transfer, gift card or other electronic methods.

If a request seems suspicious, do not respond, download attachments or click any links. The City also recommends calling 311 to report the suspected scam. Operators can then alert the proper City departments.

Contact us

Online: minneapolismn.gov/ward5
Email: pearll.warren@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2205

City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415

For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311.