Grace Center needs volunteers on SUNDAY, May 20th for the Return of SHOEBOX CITY!

Grace Center needs volunteers on SUNDAY, May 20th  for the Return of SHOEBOX CITY!! This was a very successful event last year. Families build magnificent cardboard cities and sculptures for our onsite exhibit, free of charge. Last year hundreds of people participated.

Volunteer Opportunities:

WELCOMERS: SHIFTS OF ONE HOUR OR MORE BETWEEN NOON AND 5PM. You can sit at sign-in table; you’ll welcome families (ask them to sign in, offer a photo release form, direct them to the build area.)
BUILD HELPERS: SHIFTS OF ONE HOUR OR MORE BETWEEN NOON AND 5PM. Help kids and families think about what they want to make. Monitor supplies. Cut cardboard as needed. Help folks get their finished building placed in our “city!”
PHOTOGRAPHER: SHIFTS OF ONE HOUR OR MORE BETWEEN NOON AND 5PM. Take pictures at the photo booth, where kids bring their final creations. Camera provided.
CLEAN-UP (5 TO 6PM): Help us clean up the space and put away supplies, assist builders who are coming in to pick up finished work they may have left earlier.
1500 6th St NE, Mpls 55413.
http://gracenempls.org/
612-788-2444

Zero Waste Implementation Plan

Zero Waste implementation plan image, garbage truck next to trash pile

Share your feedback on how the City should reduce waste and recycle and compost more in 2019-2021 at one of two community meetings.  With the adoption of the Zero Waste Plan in December 2017, City Council directed Solid Waste & Recycling staff to coordinate the development of a three-year implementation with assistance from Regulatory Services, CPED, and the Health Department.  Join us to learn more and share your opinion before the 2019-2021 implementation plan goes to City Council mid-June, 2018.

Upcoming meetings include:

Thursday May 17th, 2018

Emerge (1834 Emerson Ave N)
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Monday May 21st, 2018

Seward Friendship Store (317 38th St E)
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit minneapolismn.gov/zerowaste.

Attend the Food Policy Forum on May 23 with Homegrown Minneapolis

Please join the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council to discuss strategies for continuing to grow our local food system.

Location: Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center
1250 West Broadway Ave Minneapolis (map)

4:30 – 5:30 pm Registration, reception and light bites from Minneapolis Public School Catering and Breaking Bread Café.

5:30 – 8:00 pm  Dynamic program will include welcome remarks from Mayor Frey, Homegrown Highlights, performances by the Appetite for Change youth including their viral song “Grow Food” and panel discussions about food system priorities with community representatives, City of Minneapolis policymakers and staff, and the Public Health Law Center.

RSVP here (RSVP encouraged but not required). Attendees who RSVP will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a copy of The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen cookbook by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley, winner of the 2018 James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook.

View the 2017 Homegrown Minneapolis Highlights.

2nd Precinct open house May 14, 2018. All welcome!

Minneapolis Police Departments – 2nd Precinct Open House

1911 Central Avenue NE
Monday May 14, 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Come visit with Officers and see displays from the 2nd Precinct, K-9, Mounted Patrol, the Bomb Unit, Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center (Dispatch), SWAT, Crime Prevention Specialists and Animal Control.

The Open House will give you the opportunity to meet some of the great people that work for the City of Minneapolis.

Come enjoy a fun night with your neighbors! There will be food and beverages.

Free Family Friendly Event!

Departamentos de Policía de Minneapolis – Exhibición Abierta del 2 ° precinto
1911 Central Avenida NE
Lunes 14 de mayo de 2018
5:00 p.m. a 7:00 p.m.

Venga a visitarnos con Oficiales y vea exhibiciones del 2do.

Precinto, K-9, Patrulla Montada, la Unidad de Bombas, Centro de Comunicaciones de Emergencia de Minneapolis (Despacho), SWAT, Especialistas en Prevención del Crimen y Control de Animales.
 
La Exhibición Abierta le dará la oportunidad de conocer a algunas de las grandes personas que trabajan para la Ciudad de Minneapolis.
 
¡Ven a disfrutar de una noche divertida con tus vecinos!
Habrá comida y bebidas.

¡Evento gratuito para familias!

Waaxda booliiska ee Minneapolis – Xaafada 2-aad
Soo dhawenynta Bulshada
1911 Central Avenue NE
Isniin Maajo 14, 2018
5:00 galabnimo ilaa 7:00 fiidnimo
Walaalayaal waxaan idinku casuumaynaa in aad soo booqataan saraakiisha ka tirsan ciidamada booliska. Waxaad arki doontaan bandhig ama sawiro eey kuu diyaariyeen xaafada 2-aad, Askarta Eeyuhu la Shaqeeyaan (K-9ka), Askarta Roondada ah, Qaybaha Bombooyinka quseeya, Xarunta Isgaarsiinta Degdega ah ee Minnneapolis, Ciidamada meelaha halista ah gala (SWAT), Khabiirada Kahortaga danbiyada iyo kuwa xakameenta xoolaha. Soo dhaweyntaan waxeey kuu siinaysaa fursado aad kula kulanto dad sar sare oo u shaqeeya magaalada Minneapolis. Fadlan kaalaya oo waqti laqaata habiinkaas dariskaada ama dadka xaafadaada dagan! Waxaa jiri doona cunto iyo cabitaan. Waa isku imaad saaxiibtinimo una wanaagsan qoyska!

For questions, contact:

Abdirashid Ali
Minneapolis Police Department, 2nd Precinct
(612) 673-2874
abdirashid.ali@minneapolismn.gov

18th Ave NE Reconstruction Project

From the Minneapolis Department of Public Works:

 

Dear Minneapolis Resident or Business Proprietor:

Spring is here and it’s time for the 18th Ave NE reconstruction project to begin again.  Last fall, we wrapped things up for winter with plans to return and finish starting in the spring.  Items remaining include the removal of the temporary path and placement of the new shared use path on the south side, complete the remaining driveway aprons and pedestrian ramps, plant the grass boulevards, complete the signal work at Monroe St NE and Johnson St NE, remove the asphalt pavement wedges that were installed to protect the curb edges, and place the final layer of asphalt.  Minneapolis Forestry will also plant trees in the new boulevard areas along 18th Ave NE, this is expected to occur in the spring of 2019.  The project area is shown in red on the enclosed map.

You can sign up to receive email project updates on the project web site: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cip/2017/WCMS1P-147114.

Construction activity for this season is expected to begin with the week of April 16th, weather permitting, and estimated to be substantially completed in early summer 2018. Please understand that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and unforeseen circumstances.

If we need to do work on the approach to your driveway, we will notify you in advance of placing your new driveway approach and ask you to park at another location for eight days after concrete placement to allow time for the concrete to cure. During the majority of construction, local access to homes and businesses will be maintained.

As a reminder, our construction activities are likely to cause you some inconvenience, but we are hopeful that you will be patient and understanding as the work progresses. For our part, we will do our best to keep these inconveniences at a minimum.  If you have any questions or concerns about this improvement project, please call me, at 612-673-3762.  You can also contact the Chief Field Inspector on the Project, John Benjamin at 651-443-1096.

Important:

  • Our equipment is large and heavy and can be extremely dangerous if one is not alert around it. We urge you to stay at a safe distance at all times. Please, above all, impress upon your children not to go beyond the sidewalk at any time and to stay away from material piles and equipment parked on or near the job site. Please observe all posted detour routes and warning signs and arrange to park on side streets or on another block when work is under way in your immediate area.
  • Help us prevent vandalism during construction. It not only delays the project but adds to the costs. Your cooperation in reporting or preventing such acts is critical and directly benefits you.
  • To save yourself time and money, if you have experienced any problems with your sewer and/or water connection it is recommended that you contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible to correct the problembefore the street is paved. One problem frequently encountered in connection with street paving is the condition and age of the private water and sewer services from the house or business to the City main in the street. Occasionally, because of the age and condition of these services, they may require repair or replacement within a relatively short period of time after the new paving is completed. So, if you are planning to upgrade your water or sewer service, please call me at 673-3762 to coordinate with the project’s schedule.
  • To install new shared use path, we will need to excavate within the City right of way. Please note that the City right of way extends beyond the back of the temporary path on the south side.   After we complete this work we will remove our construction debris and place new topsoil and sod where it was disturbed.  If you have concerns or questions regarding your specific property, contact me or John.

Once again, we ask that you impress upon all children the dangers near construction equipment.  We hope to inconvenience you as little as possible and would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding while your neighborhood is being improved.

Sincerely,

Beverly Warmka, P.E.                                                        
Project Manager                                                     
Minneapolis Department of Public Works

Streets closing near U.S. Bank Stadium for Super Bowl

Several streets near U.S. Bank Stadium will close Saturday, Jan. 27 and Monday, Jan. 29 to prepare for Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Feb. 4.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, the following will close:

  • Fourth Street between Park Avenue and Interstate 35W (detour via Washington Avenue).

On Monday, Jan. 29, the following will close:

  • Sixth Street between Chicago and 11th avenues (detour via Eighth Street).
  • 11th Avenue between Third and Sixth streets
  • Hiawatha Trail between 15th Avenue in the Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood and 11th Avenue in downtown Minneapolis (detour: use Washington Avenue, or ride Metro Blue Line LRT between Cedar Riverside and U.S. Bank Stadium stations.

The closures will be in place until after the Super Bowl.

Additionally, streets, sidewalks and bikeways may see intermittent closures near U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Over the past several months, the City of Minneapolis has worked closely with stakeholders, including the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, NFL, their vendors and several other local partners to craft a traffic management plan that will enhance the Super Bowl LII experience while providing the minimum disruption to traffic and parking possible.

Stay up-to-date on the latest information related to Super Bowl LII street closures by signing up for City traffic alerts at minneapolismn.gov/traffic. For more City-related Super Bowl LII information, go to minneapolismn.gov/SuperBowl. For additional travel tips for the 10-day Super Bowl festival, visitmnsuperbowl.com/transportation.

Call for our Art of Hosting participants!

From Christina Kendrick, City of Minneapolis:

Our Community Connections Conference is coming up fast and our new Mayor and City Council want to be a big part of this year’s event.

The closing general session is going to be facilitated dialogues with our elected officials.  The structure will be several “circle conversations” that are structured by 3 questions… much like our Art of Hosting Neighborhood’s 2020 community dialogues.  The dialogues will be for roughly ½ hour and then the elected officials will “report out” their take-aways from their specific circle.

We need

  • Facilitators (to simply ensure the conversation moves along and sticks to the questions)
  • Note Takers (not verbatim – just capture the general themes of the conversations)

Having our neighborhoods and community partners be front and center of these dialogues is a great way to demonstrate our partnership. The time commitment is from 2:45-3:30 (but of course we encourage you to participate in the whole conference!)

Please let me know if you are willing to help us out!  Also, feel free to pass to friends/family/colleagues who you know have skills with facilitation or/and notetaking.  We are hoping to get 15 or more volunteers!

Christina Kendrick, MA  MBA       
Senior Community Specialist
Neighborhood and Community Relations
105 5th Ave S   Ste. 425
Minneapolis MN 55415
612.673.3952
612.704.6835
[email protected]
www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr

Pronouns: she/her

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department at 612-673-3737. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700 – Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 – Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.

 

Engage online or at one of four Minneapolis 2040 events in December

Over the past year, City planners have been doing a lot of listening about the future of Minneapolis. One theme we’ve heard is that everyone must benefit from a growing city.  Done right, population growth can help our city become a healthy, sustainable, and thriving place for all. We have some ideas on how to achieve that, and would like to hear your thoughts.

We want to hear from you!

New Online Engagement Activities at minneapolis2040.com

  • What can we do? Explore and respond to how we’re turning what we’ve heard from you into a plan for the future.
  • Make a map.  Show us opportunities to expand housing choice, improve access to retail, and expand connectivity.
  • Meeting in a box. Download a tool kit to host your own engagement meetings and report back.
  • Sign up from our email list
  • Follow us on Twitter @Mpls2040

Engage in Person at Community Meetings in December

Please attend one of the following interactive engagement events. Each event will feature the same family-friendly activities created by artists and City-staff, as well as free food from local businesses.

Saturday, Dec. 2
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Van Cleve Park Gym
901 15th Ave. SE
Co-hosted by SE Como, Waite Park, and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods

Tuesday, Dec. 5
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Farview Park Gym
621 29th Ave.N
Co-hosted by Hawthorne neighborhood

Saturday, Dec. 9
10 a.m.-noon
Roosevelt High School gym
4029 28th Ave. S
Co-hosted by Standish Ericsson and Corcoran neighborhoods

Monday, Dec. 11
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Park multi-purpose room
4055 Nicollet Ave.
Co-hosted by Tangletown, Kingfield, Armatage and Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association

About Minneapolis 2040

Minneapolis 2040 is an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that shapes how Minneapolis will grow and change. The plan will cover topics such as housing, job creation, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets.

Attend one of four Minneapolis 2040 upcoming engagement events in December

Minneapolis 2040 graphic

Over the past year, City planners have been doing a lot of listening about the future of Minneapolis. One theme we’ve heard is that everyone must benefit from a growing city.Done right, population growth can help our city become a healthy, sustainable, and thriving place for all. We have some ideas on how to achieve that, and would like to hear your thoughts.

We want to hear from you!

Engage in Person at Community Meetings in December

Please attend one of the following interactive engagement events. Each event will feature the same family-friendly activities created by artists and City-staff, as well as free food from local businesses.

Saturday, Dec. 2
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Van Cleve Park Gym
901 15th Ave. SE
Co-hosted by SE Como, Wait Park, and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods

Tuesday, Dec. 5
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Farview Park Gym
621 29th Ave.N
Co-hosted by Hawthorne neighborhood

Saturday, Dec. 9
10 a.m.-noon
Roosevelt High School gym
4029 28th Ave. S
Co-hosted by Standish Ericsson and Corcoran neighborhoods

Monday, Dec. 11
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Park multi-purpose room
4055 Nicollet Ave.
Co-hosted by Tangletown, Kingfield, Armatage and Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association

Engage Online and with your friends

  • Starting November 20, visit www.minneapolis2040.com and check out our new interactive content and leave feedback.
  • Follow us on Twitter @Mpls2040
  • Sign up for our email list
  • Download the Meeting-in-a-Box tool kit to host your own engagement meetings and report back

About Minneapolis 2040

Minneapolis 2040 is an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that shapes how Minneapolis will grow and change. The plan will cover topics such as housing, job creation, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets.

Reading Partners

Reading Partners is seeking volunteer tutors at Northeast College Prep. Our volunteers fight for educational equity for students in Northeast Minneapolis by working to reduce the achievement gap for students of color and students experiencing poverty. Our volunteers make a lifelong impact on a child who struggles with reading, setting them up for future success.
– Give as little as one hour a week (we welcome more, if you are able)!
– Tutoring takes place Monday-Thursday during school hours (approximately 8am-3pm).
– Follow a highly effective, structured, and easy-to-use curriculum.
– No formal teaching experience is required.
– Change your life and the life of a child by developing a positive, mutually transformative relationship.
For more information or to sign up, please visit our website, or contact us at volunteerTC@readingpartners.org or (651) 362-0430.

Minneapolis 2040 Open Houses

The Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development wants to hear from YOU! Join your neighbors in shaping our city to become a healthy, sustainable, and thriving place for all.

Minneapolis 2040 is an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that shapes how Minneapolis will grow and change. The plan will cover topics such as housing, job creation, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets.

Over the past year, City planners have learned a lot from Minneapolis residents about the future of our city. We’ve heard that as the city grows, everyone must benefit from that growth. You told us that it can be difficult to access jobs that are not located nearby. We’ve heard concerns about the rising cost of housing, and that not everyone has access to the type of housing that meets their needs. We’ve also heard that people value well-designed and environmentally sustainable buildings, and that there is a desire for the city to be more walkable, bikeable, and mass transit-friendly.

Please attend one of four upcoming family friendly, interactive open houses in early December. Enjoy complimentary refreshments from local vendors. For more information and to sign up for updates at minneapolis2040.com.
 

December 2nd from 10:30-12:30
Van Cleve Park Gym
901 15th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

December 5th from 5:30 – 7:30
Farview Park Gym
621 N 29th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411

December 9th from 10:00 – 12:00
Roosevelt High School Gym
4029 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406

December 11th from 5:30-7:30   
MLK Park Multi-Purpose Room
4055 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Energy Assistance Program Applications Now Available

The cold weather is here! CAP-HC is accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Energy Assistance Program (EAP) season. EAP is a federally-funded program that provides financial assistance to low income households to help them maintain electricity and heat during the winter months.
Assistance is available to all eligible Hennepin County residents, including the City of Minneapolis.
CAP-HC staff is available at various locations throughout Hennepin County to accept applications and answer client questions.
Important notes regarding CAP-HC’s Energy Assistance Program:
  • Energy Assistance Applications are available now through May 31st, 2018.
  • Both renters and homeowners can apply.
  • It is a grant, not a loan. Benefit recipients do not have to pay the money back.
  • The grant is intended to cover a portion of the household’s electric and heating bill. It is important that those who receive assistance continue to make payments and/or request a reasonable payment plan with their utility provider.
  • The grant is paid directly to the electric and heat provider.
  • Homeowners may be eligible for emergency heating unit (ex. furnace, boiler) repair or replacement.
  • Applicants are encouraged to apply before they face an emergency.
  • Applications are processed on first-come, first-served basis.
Eligibility for the program is based upon income guidelines. Benefit amount is based on household size, income, and consumption.
How to apply?
The 2017-2018 EAP application may be download from the link below or requested by calling CAP-HC at 952-930-3541.

Ranked Choice Voting

Rank Your Choices: Easy As 1-2-3

By Casey Joe Carl, Minneapolis City Clerk

2017 is a municipal election year, and that means time for Ranked-Choice Voting. RCV is easy as 1-2-3. You have the option of ranking the candidates in each race on the ballot as your first, second, and third choice (including the ability to include a write-in candidate). With RCV, voters choose the candidate they prefer, just like they would with a traditional ballot. However, they also have the ability to rank other candidates in the same race, if they wish. If a candidate receives a majority of first-place choices, that candidate wins. If not, the least popular candidate(s) is/are eliminated and the ballots for that candidate are divided among the remaining candidates based on a voter’s subsequent choices. That process continues until one candidate gains a majority of support. Or, in the case of multi-winner elections, until all seats are filled.

Minneapolis voters approved the use of RCV for municipal elections in 2006. It was first used in the 2009 Municipal Election and then again in the 2013 Municipal Election. In a 2013 post-election survey, 92% of participating voters knew they would be given the option of ranking their ballots and 82% of voters did so. Of the respondents, 87% found RCV simple to use and 81% indicated they understood RCV fairly or perfectly well. Those high marks reflect an informed electorate. In the end, a solid majority—53% of voters—said RCV should continue to be used for municipal elections in Minneapolis.

RCV fosters wider participation in political processes by expanding ballot access through a single, high-turnout general election in November. It also promotes greater civility in political campaigning, as shown in the 2013 election here in Minneapolis. And, most importantly, it increases choice and the strength of a voter’s voice in the electoral process. In order to prepare, the City’s Elections & Voter Services Division encourages you to review the educational materials available on our website, at vote.minneapolismn.gov, and to use your sample ballot to practice making your choices in each race. You can bring your marked sample ballot to the polls with you to help complete your official ballot, too. Election workers will be attending a number of community events this summer to help promote awareness and turnout for the municipal election on November 7. That includes education about Ranked-Choice Voting and the options it provides to all voters.

Update on the 18th Ave NE Reconstruction project

curbmachinev

street

Concrete Paving

After heavy rain on Monday night, the schedule was pushed back a day. However, Park Construction & Curbmasters finished laying the concrete section of the street between Quincy & Monroe. They followed this by installing concrete curb and driveway aprons between Quincy and Central on Wednesday & Thursday.

The concrete crew use a combination of slip formed curb through a machine and hand poured sections using formwork around intersections, catch basins and driveways. After the concrete has cured, they will continue to prepare the sidewalks for paving and also build up the asphalt layers between the curb to full height. A total of 8 inches more asphalt will be placed between the curb to the finished driving surface.

After the concrete has been laid it will take a number of hours until it can be walked on without leaving marks. Please be extra careful around the fresh concrete while it is being poured and setting. Curbs are sprayed white after installation, this is a curing compound which regulates the moisture content in the concrete while it is setting.

 

Asphalt Paving

Mid week next week, Park Construction plan to begin laying asphalt from Johnson and heading towards Central Avenue. As they lay the asphalt, it will not be able to be driven on until later in the day when it has cooled and stiffened. We will provide letters to properties through 18th Avenue requesting cars be relocated during paving operations.

Electric conduit

The electrical contractor is also installing gray pvc conduit which will sit behind the curb. This will be used for traffic signals as well as future use.

Xcel Energy

In the coming weeks. Xcel will begin the process of relocating the power poles as the new curb is placed through the project. This will involve planting new poles, transferring cables and removing the old poles to allow the shared use trail to be constructed. Further notice will be provided by Xcel to any customers who may be affected during transfers.

Please be aware once the concrete has been placed it will not be able to be driven over for a minimum of 7 days to allow the concrete to reach sufficient strength. We will speak to the affected business & residential properties prior to placing the concrete to ensure alternate access arrangements are in place.

Further access restrictions will be in place when laying the asphalt paving and concrete curb/driveways through the rest of the project. Notice will be given prior to these being scheduled.

If you have any access concerns please call  651 443 1096 (John Benjamin, Chief Field Inspector) to discuss further.

 

Learn to Create Beautiful, Low-Input Lawns Turf alternatives support clean water & biodiversity

Learn to Create Beautiful, Low-Input Lawns Turf alternatives support clean water & biodiversity

What?
Increasing numbers of property owners are looking to replace their
lawn with something that is beautiful, ecologically friendly, and
lower maintenance.

Installing Turf Alternatives – your guide to a low maintenance
lawn, a workshop presented by Metro Blooms in partnership with
Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water® covers the advantages of
using perennial ground covers to maximize ecological impact. It also
demonstrates handy how-tos for replacing traditional turf by
installing and maintaining two popular types of turf alternatives:
Low Maintenance Lawns and Bee Lawns.

When?

Tuesday, October 24 2017
6:30-8:30pm
Lynnhurst Recreation Center
1345 W Minnehaha Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55419

How to
Register?
Cost: $25 per household. Register for this event online at
metroblooms.org/events; by sending your name, organization, title,
email address and phone number to [email protected]; or
calling 651-699-2426.

Why Turf Alternatives?
Turf alternatives provide a range of ecological benefits when compared to sterile
expanses of traditional turf. They are drought tolerant, slow growing (less mowing),
require less fertilizer, and are adaptable and weed-suppressing. They can also support
beneficial insects, fix nitrogen in the soil, better infiltrate runoff, and require less
maintenance from property owners.

What is Blue Thumb?
Blue Thumb—Planting for Clean Water® is a public/private partnership that promotes
native plants, raingardens, shoreline stabilization projects and turf alternatives to
reduce runoff and improve water quality. Partners include local governmental units
(watershed districts, conservation districts, cities and counties), non-profit
organizations, and private companies such as nurseries, landscape design and build
companies, sustainable lawncare and tree care services. www.bluethumb.org

Volunteer at Open Streets Northeast this Sunday!

Northeast is back with a bigger and better route! Sunday, August 6th. Open Streets is rolling out in Northeast. Open Streets Minneapolis gives residents an opportunity to explore their neighborhood and local businesses in a safe, fun, and family-friendly way. It encourages the use of active transportation and healthy living, and has a goal of giving residents an opportunity to rethink our streets as public space. With almost one hundred businesses, community groups, and performers on the street – there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

200 volunteers needed for Open Streets Northeast and this is one of the last few Open Streets! Don’t miss out

Volunteering is the best way to experience Open Streets Minneapolis.Get your free 2017 Open Streets Mpls T-shirt & mystery coupon by volunteering in a new role- Event HostsBreak-down crew (the shortest shift!), a Pop-up Protected Bikeway Crew Memberhttp://www.openstreetsmpls.org/northeast_pop_up or another important role! There are many fun volunteer options to choose from, but hurry…the last day to sign up is tomorrow. It’s a great way for families, neighbors, and friends to volunteer together. Sign up for a shift today!

Open Streets Northeast August 6th, 2017 11:00am – 5:00pm

Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Takes Effect July 1

Most Workers in Minneapolis Now Get Sick Time Off

For healthy workers, healthy businesses and healthy communities, a new ordinance protecting time off for people who get sick and work in Minneapolis takes effect July 1. Employers with six or more workers will be required to provide time off at a minimum threshold of at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employers with five or fewer workers must also provide sick time, but it may be unpaid. The goal of the ordinance is to protect public health and prevent workers from being penalized because of illness or a need to care for a sick loved one.

Until this law took effect, four out of 10 Minneapolis workers lacked access to paid sick time.

With some exceptions, the new ordinance governs all employers in Minneapolis and includes full-time, part-time and temporary workers and paid interns.​ Other requirements include:

  • Workers may use leave for their own health and certain family members’ health.
  • Victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking may use leave to receive medical treatment and other necessary services.
  • Workers may use leave to care for family members during emergency closure of school or place of care, including for inclement weather.
  • Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked until they accrue 48 hours per year or 80 hours overall including carryover during additional years.

Paid time off, sick, vacation or other types of leave used at employee discretion often qualify as “sick and safe time.” Employees who already receive such leave in sufficient amounts do not receive additional time off under the new law. The 40 percent of employees – often part-time workers – who previously lacked such access will now receive it, and the ordinance creates a minimum standard of protection for everyone.

Paid sick and safe time is intended to:

  • Ensure that workers can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families.
  • Reduce public and private health care costs by enabling workers to seek early and routine medical care for themselves and their family members.
  • Make Minneapolis a more secure and productive community.
  • Safeguard the public welfare, health, safety and prosperity of Minneapolis’ residents, workers and visitors.

People who work in Minneapolis whose employers don’t provide the sick and safe time required by the new law can call 311 or visit www.minneapolismn.gov/sicktimeinfo to ask a question or file a complaint with the Labor Standards Enforcement Division of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights.

Note: In a lawsuit brought against the City of Minneapolis in the case of Minnesota Chamber of Commerce et al v. City of Minneapolis, Court File No. 27-cv-16-15051, the Hennepin County District Court issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the City of Minneapolis from enforcing the Sick and Safe Time Ordinance against any “employer resident outside the geographic boundaries of the City.” This case is currently on appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. This temporary injunction order will be applied until further action of the court.

Summer transportation maintenance activity begins

Hennepin County Minnesota

With the arrival of summer, you will see a lot of maintenance activity on Hennepin County roads.

Crews are busy working on the more than 2,200 lane miles of county roads that are owned and operated by the county. There is a lot of work that happens so quickly and out of sight, like pothole filling, mowing and pavement restriping, that you may not even notice much of it.

But we want to take the time to make you aware of some of the more noticeable activities that crews will be doing to maintain the safety and durability of the county roads, including crack sealing, drainage repairs and repaving roads.

Repaving segments of county roads

The county monitors the pavement condition on county roads and creates an annual list of projects best suited for repaving. These are referred to as mill and overlay projects. Pavement from the existing road is removed by milling. Then, crews overlay the road with a new layer of pavement. Each year, the county completes approximately 140 lane miles of repaving.

For the traveling public and worker safety, we put up signs similar to those you may see for major reconstruction activities. However, mill and overlay projects are substantially shorter than a full reconstruction of a road, typically lasting only a few days to a couple of weeks. Also, they typically do not require full closures or detours.

Due to the nature of this work and the weather, the exact starts and finishes of these projects can vary. Changeable message boards will be placed at these locations about one week prior to the start of work.

mill 4

Sealing cracks in the road

Cracks in the road may not seem like a big deal, but they are when water gets in them and under the pavement. Crack sealing projects take place on the road, alongside traffic. As a result, they can look like big projects. They typically last only a few days and do not require road closures or detours.

Drainage repairs

Water can cause a lot of damage to our roadways and roadsides. Crews may address concerns on the county roads by repairing or replacing catch basins, culverts and curbs; they also may be cleaning ditches and reestablishing shoulders. Often this work will require a lane to be closed and barrels to be placed that may cause lanes to be slightly restricted. Please use caution when you see that work is being done.

Safely navigating through these projects

The majority of these bigger operations and maintenance activities are done under traffic. This means traffic can continue to use the road. However, you should expect some changes in the traffic configurations from day to day. It may take longer to travel through the area.

For the safety of our crews and your safety, we ask that you obey all posted speed limits and slow down when crews are working.

Additional information and staying informed

For the most current project information, please visit Hennepin County operations and maintenance online:
http://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/road-maintenance

Click here to get updates about major construction activities and traffic impacts for county roads:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNHENNE/subscriber/new?category_id=MNHENNE_C79.

Live Mural Painting with the MN Timberwolves

Join the Minnesota Timberwolves and Juxtaposition Arts at Logan Park this Sunday, May 21st from 12-5pm for a live mural experience during NEMAA Art-A-Whirl event. The mural, with a design inspired by the team’s new identity and vision for the future, will remain in Logan Park once complete for neighborhood kids and families to enjoy as a lasting visual of the team’s New Era.

This event will take place on the outdoor basketball courts at Logan Park, 690 13th Ave NE-Rain or Shine!